Homœopathic treatment of ovarian cysts

British Homceopathic Journal

July 1991, Vol. 80, pp. 143-148

Hom eopathic treatment of ovarian cysts A series o f 40 cases MARIA LLUISA QUERALT GIMENO, MD

Abstract F o r t y women suffering from ovarian cysts, diagnosed and measured by ultrasound, were treated with a single hom0eopathic medicine according to their specific mental, general and local symptoms. The hormonal disorders suffered by these patients lead to several symptoms, some specifically gynaecological, others general or mental, demonstrating how the health deterioration process effects the general state of the sick person. The ultrasound examination was repeated after about nine months. Results were positive.

KEY WORDS: Ovarian cysts, Ultrasound, Homoeopathy

Aetiology

Disease evolution

The commonest cause of ovarian cysts is a hormonal disorder suffered by women over months or even years, which may have been caused by many diverse and different situations ranging from emotional instability, to hormonal contraceptive treatment, or allopathic treatment of a different nature which interfered with the functioning of the ovaries. Examples are psychiatric treatment or hypothalamo-gynaecological hormonal treatments, antihistamines, antiinflammatories and so on.

The spontaneous development of the disease without homoeopathic treatment is linked with the harmful effect of other possible allopathic treatments to ease the symptoms. The most common is the use of oral contraception to suppress ovulation. Symptoms may decrease temporarily both in intensity and in frequency. However, this often leads to a worsening of the problem, because it further unbalances the ovarian-hypothalamo-hypophysis axis leading to rising blood levels of hypophyseal hormones. This process often results in an increase in size of the tumour and a worsening of the symptoms which for the allopathic gynaecologist is an indication for surgical removal of the tumour.

Pathology The pathology is one or several tumours in the iliac fossae, which can be felt on gynaecological examination and visualized by ultrasound. These patients present with certain specific symptoms suspicious of the presence of ovarian cysts. These must be confirmed or rejected by means of further investigation. The most characteristic symptoms are: menstrual delay, amenorrh~ea, mittelschmerz, dysmenorrh0ea, metrorrhagia, spotting, sterility, significant changes in state of mind before or during menstruation, premenstrual symdrome, etc.

Diagnosis By pelvic examination. By ultrasound. By biopsy in patients who have had a previous cyst removed.

Treatment Patients were prescribed their hom0eopathic medicine according to the rules of unicist 143

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British Homreopathic Journal

Taking h o r m o n e s u n b a l a n c e s the hypophysis again. A n a l g e s i c drugs were p e r m i t t e d if r e q u i r e d because they do n o t h a v e such a direct impact on the problem. Method T h e t u m o u r s were d i a g n o s e d b e f o r e t r e a t m e n t was s t a r t e d by clinical e x a m i n a t i o n a n d ultras o u n d c o n f i r m a t i o n with t h e specific m e a s u r e s of d i a m e t e r of the ovary. F u r t h e r controls were

A. Ovarian cyst B. Uterus containing IUCD

A. Bladder

A. Bladder

B. Anteverted uterus

C. Uterus D. Ovarian cyst

Figure 1: Patient 13. (A) Ultrasound image showing 54 mm diameter right ovarian cyst and uterus with IUCD, 26 May 1988. (B) Repeat ultrasound showing disappearance of ovarian cyst, 20 May 1989.

homceopathy. Only o n e m e d i c i n e was prescribed o n the basis of t h e similarity principle a n d the individuality of the p a t i e n t , taking into a c c o u n t the m e n t a l , g e n e r a l a n d local symptoms. All sorts of h o r m o n a l t r e a t m e n t s (oral c o n t r a c e p t i v e s included) were p r o h i b i t e d since by m e a n s of t h e m e d i c i n e we are stimulating t h e o r g a n i s m to r e c o v e r its h o r m o n a l equilibrium.

Figure 2: Patient 19. (A) Ultrasound image showing antever-

ted uterus and 42 mm diameter right ovarian cyst, 30 May 1988. (B) Repeat ultrasound showing normal position of uterus, no ovarian cyst, 22 February 1989.

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Volume 80, Number 3, July 1991

A. Polymicro-cystic ovary A. giant ovarian cyst

Figure 3: Patient 20. (A) Ultrasound image showing polymicrocystic ovary, 28 September 1988. (B) Repeat ultrasound showing normal apearance, 2 March 1989.

carried out in the same centre. P a t i e n t s were reviewed every two or t h r e e m e n s t r u a l cycles a n d u l t r a s o u n d was r e p e a t e d after at least nine m o n t h s . To unify results, I did n o t take the interm e d i a t e u l t r a s o u n d s into account. F o r t y p a t i e n t s were included, a n d data g a t h e r i n g finished in April 1990. T h e size of cysts (Tables 1 a n d 2) was defined as follows. If m o r e t h a n o n e cyst was f o u n d , t h e size given refers to t h e larger. W i t h polymicrocystic cysts, t h e largest cyst is less t h a n 30 m m in diameter.

Figure 4: Patient 31. (A) Ultrasound image showing 70 mm diameter, giant right ovarian cyst, 9 November 1989. (B) Repeat ultrasound showingnormal appearance, 2 November 1989. (C) Follow-up ultrasound showing normal appearance, 30 July 1990.

British Hom~eopathic Journal

146

TABLE I.

Status prior to starting treatment

z

~

.~

g

2

~

-~

o

*

1

24

*

44

*

2

33

*

PQ

*

*

PQ

*

55

*

3

25

*

4

20

*

5

28

*

6

46

*

*

43

7

24

*

*

PQ

*

8

33

*

40

*

r~ -

~

*

*

PQ

*

*

*

*

PQ

*

*

11

32

*

*

PQ

*

12

31

*

13

27

*

54

*

14

33

*

PQ

*

15

17

*

16

42

*

17

30

*

18

18

*

*

*

* *

*

*

*

*

42

*

19

30

*

20

25

*

*

PQ

21

34

*

*

PQ

*

22

29

*

*

PQ

*

*

23

26

*

50

*

*

24

24

*

42

25

27

*

26

26

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Sulphur

*

Ignatia ~

*

Sepia

*

Nat.mur.

*

Sepia

*

*

Silicea

*

*

Acid

*

Pulsatilla

nit.

Nux vomica *

*

Pulsatilla

*

*

Calc.carb.

*

*

*

Ignatia

*

*

Nat.mur.

*

*

Causticum

*

*

Calc.carb

* *

*

Pulsatilla

*

*

50

Calc. carb.

*

Sepia

*

*

80

*

Silicea *

*

42

Nat.mur.

Sulphur

PQ

PQ

*

*

43

*

-=~

Lachesis

*

25

~

*

*

24

*

.~

*

9

30

"~

*

* *

10

*

~

* *

38

2

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Sulphur

*

Nux vom.

*

Phosphorus

*

Pulsatilla

27

30

*

*

35

*

*

*

Sepia

28

38

*

*

PQ

*

*

*

Calc.carb.

29

25

30

25

*

31

23

*

32

27

*

*

55

33

32

*

*

44

*

34

27

*

*

35

*

35

23

*

*

37

*

36

25

*

*

45

*

*

47

*

PQ

*

70

*

37

*

*

39

*

38,

29

*

*

44

*

39

45

*

40

38

Total

35

PQ = polymicrocystic

27

58

*

*

*

Calc.carb.

*

Sepia

*

*

Silicea

* * *

25

18

(see Table 6)

*

*

*

*

ovary

and final prescription

* *

*

*

* = yes = Second

Silicea I Calc.carb.

*

48 *

* *

* *

37

* *

* *

18

6

6

*

*

4

19

2

6

*

Sulphur

*

Phosphorus

*

Nuxvom.

*

Nat.mur.

*

Lycopodium

*

Sepia

*

Calc.phos.

32

~

1

147

Volume 80, Number 3, July 1991 TABLE 2.

Status after nine months of treatment

~3

=

Z

~

'.~

~ <

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

24 33 25 20 28 46 24 33 25 24 32 31 27 33 17 42 30 18 30 25 34 29 26 24 27 26 30 38

29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

25 25 23 27 32 27 23 25 37 29 45 38

Total

~ ~

"~

in

m = better

m

~

o=

~

.~

._~

~

,-,

~

in

m m

--in

-* --

m m m

in

--

PQ

*

m

m

----

m

m

----*

--

in

PQ

m m * m in

---

--

m

* *

in m m * in

--

*

m )

38 PQ

in in in m m

4

1

PQ = polymicrocystic ovary * = yes --=no

.=

9.~

in

m

4

1

in 0

0

0

in 0

0

0

Lachesis Nat.mur. Calc.carb. Pulsatilla Sulphur Ignatia Sepia Nat.mur. Sulphur Silicea Sepia Silicea A c i d nit. Pulsatilla Sepia Nux vomica Pulsatilla Calc.carb. Ignatia Calc.carb. Nat.lnur. Causticum Sulphur Nux vom. Phosphorus Pulsatilla Sepia Calc.carb. Silicea Calc.carb. Calc.carb. Sepia Silicea Sulphur Nux.voin. Phosphorus Nat.inur. Lycopodium Sepia Calc. phos.

148

British Homceopathic Journal

TABLE3- Analysis" of changes seen in 40 patients after nine months of treatment (figures refer to number of patients) Symptom Menstrual irregularities Dysmenorrhoea Pelvic pain Spotting Heavy menses Prolonged menses Premenstrual mood changes Menstrual mood changes Premenstrual migraines Other symptoms

worse

similar

better

Disappearance of symptom

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

6 4 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 19

18 14 18 4 5 4 17 2 6 II

TABLE4- Summary of results of nine months homoeopathic treatment for ovarian cysts (n = 40) No. of patients

Result

36 3 0 1

No cysts Cyst on right side only Cyst on left side only Cysts in both ovaries

TABLE5. Homceopathic medicines prescribed for patients" with ovarian cysts" (n = 40) Presciption Acidum nitricum Calcarea carb. Calcarea phos. Causticum Ignatia Lachesis Lycopodium Natrum tour. Nux vomica Phosphorus Pulsatilla Sepia Silicea Sulphur

Address for correspondence: Dr Maria Lluisa Queralt Gimeno c/C6rcega 173, 5~4~', 08036 Barcelona Spain

TABLE6. Change of homoeopathic prescription at second consultation. Patients with ovarian cysts shown in Table 1 (n = 40) Patient No. 1st prescription

2nd prescription

6 25 28 29 31 35 37

Ignatia Phosphorus Calcarea carb. Silicea Calcarea carb. Phosphorus Natrum tour.

Pulsatilla Lycopodium Nux vomica Lachesis Sepia Pulsatilla Sulphur

No. of patients 1 6 l 1 2 1 1 4 3 1 5 6 4 4

S y m p t o m s (Tables 1-3) were defined according to K e n t ' s Repertory. Menstrual irregularities include a m e n o r r h o e a , f r e q u e n t m e n s e s , irregular m e n s e s , late m e n s e s (at least o n e w e e k ) and s u p p r e s s e d m e n s e s . Pelvic pain includes uterine and ovarian pain. 'Spotting' is not m e n t i o n e d in the Repertory; the rubric used was ' M e t r o r r h a gia'. P r e m e n s t r u a l and menstrual m o o d changes include anger, anxiety, e x c i t e m e n t , irritability, sadness, sensitivity and weeping. For p r e m e n strual migraine, the rubric ' H e a d , pain m e n s e s b e f o r e ' was consulted. ' O t h e r s y m p t o m s ' cover m e n t a l , general and local symptoms.