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The asthmatic patient
108
THE BRITISH
HOM(EOPATHIC
JOURNAL
Result The patient came out of her psychosis and became quite cheerful and co-operative. The husband was advised to change their residence forthwith in order to avoid a possible recrudescence. Follow-up During the five years of m y observation after the episode, no major mental break-down occurred. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
(1) Three cases of "Acute Psychotic Episode" treated successfully in general practice are presented. (2) The "miracle-cures" demonstrate the obvious superiority and efficacy of the Principle of Individualization when apphed on the basis of the Law of Similars. The pin-point accuracy with which the abnormal processes are set right speedily without affecting the normal processes, is impossible with the "mass treatments" that are in vogue today. (3) This study is presented so as to enable the profession to appreciate the t y p e of response t h a t is possible in general homceopathie practice when the principles are adhered to strictly. I t is not a study of the comparative efficacy of the different forms of treatment in vogue in the management of "acute psychotic episode".
T H E ASTHMATIC P A T I E N T By DR. P. N. PAl (Bombay) " W E have wonderful remedies for asthma. We are the only people who can cure asthma and other chronic conditions." I am quoting myself and t h a t was the confident manner I used to talk with m y patients in those good old and bad early days of m y practice. No doubt m y faith in Homceopathy is greater than ever now, and the manner of m y discussion with patients also has changed for the better. Well, this is as it should be. Certainly, we can cure a good number of asthmatics provided they co-operate fully. But only a few of the cases presenting good symptoms persist in the t r e a t m e n t whereas the other large group of "one-sided" cases discontinue early. T o be frank I am sorry to state t h a t so far I have been able to cure completely only a few asthmatic patients and of course a good number have been relieved considerably and the latter continue as "periodical patients". By cure, of course, we mean that the patient remains free from the cured complaints for at least two years without medical treatment because if that happens there would almost be no chance of the malady relapsing. W h y do we fail? Firstly we are often unable to relieve the acute attacks. I recall a very recent case of status asthmaticus where an experienced homceop a t h finally (and desperately?) prescribed a simple enema after the patient had patiently, but in vain, swallowed Arsenic alb. 200 and 1,000, Blatta orient., etc., as had been prescribed by him. Result?---on the third day she "came round" but remember that happens in the natural course and our expert, if anything, might have hindered nature's operations. Whether one likes it or not, it has to be admitted t h a t only in some cases of asthmatic attacks, dramatic relief ensues
OUT
OF CASE
BOOKS
109
administration of our remedies. Whatever the reasons, the fact is t h a t we have to improve in this sphere. Secondly, the peaceful interval between the attacks is not well utilized either b y the patient or the physician and sometimes b y both. Proper constitutional t r e a t m e n t is thus not followed up. Nevertheless, asthma is curable--witness the following case: Shri, U.V.A. Aged 44 years. Seen on February 6th, 1956. C/o recurrent attacks of asthma since 1936.
O.D.P. Patient had been quite well till the age of 25. Between the ages of 25 and 28 he suffered from recurrent attacks of diarrhoea. After getting wet in the rains in 1936 he suffered from a severe attack of bronchitis which ushered in regular attacks of asthma.
Family History Patient's elder brother is an asthmatic and otherwise no H/O asthma, T.B. or eczema in the family.
Complaints and Personal History Recurrent attacks of colds followed by asthmatic attacks since 1936. Attacks + + + + in monsoon and hot weather. -t- + + in winter. Slig.htest indigestion ~- an attack. m the night, after midnight and often attacks continue till 6 a.m. by lying down. by slightest exertion. sitting up bent forward. in the open air--wants the windows open and the fan on. Diarrhoea 4-5 loose stools during every attack of asthma. Severe cough persists for 8-10 days after every attack. Expectoration profuse, greenish and offensive. When free from attacks he is quite jovial, likes company and walks long distances. No exertional dyspncea. Appetite normal. Likes hot food and drinks. Craves sweets. Always takes very hot drinks. Flatulence + + + agg. soon after meals. Chews tobacco a number of times during the day. Frequent colicky pain left inguinal region. Constipated--frequent, scanty stools in the morning. Tiny vesicular eruptions appear all over the body between the attacks of asthma.
On Observation Thin, poorly nourished. Chest~--emphysematous.
On Examination R.S.
Percussion notes--resonant. Rales and rhonchi--bilateral. No crepitations. Prolonged expiration with wheezing.
110
THE
BRITISH
HOM(EOPATHIC
JOURNAL
A.S.
Distended colon. Liver, spleen--not palpable. C.V.S. } C.N.S. N.A.D. B.P. 140/85. A few dry eruptions---arms and chest. No clubbing. Blood count done on January 15th, 1956, was normal except for a slight rise in eosinophils.
Evaluation of the Case and Selection of Remedies Aggravation after midnight, on lying down and slight exertion and amelioration on sitting bent forward and from cool air these symptoms are common to almost all asthmatic attacks. I f our patient had aggravation particularly between 12 and 3 a.m. and amelioration after 3 a.m. and were he chilly during the attacks, then just a couple of doses of Ars. alb. would certainly stop the severest attack within 2-3 hours. Otherwise our Arsenic would take 24-36 hours to afford any relief which nature alone manages to do in most eases. Aggravation in monsoon and summer, slight amelioration in winter, diarrhoea during the attacks, relief from cool open air, cough with greenish expectoration --all pointed to Nat. sulph, as the possible remedy, Desire for hot food and drinks, craving for sweets (desiring sweets in a child is not a valuable symptom but in a South Indian adult craving sweets is), flatulence < after eating, desire for cool open air and the factor (not the causative factor) of "getting wet in the rains" and the precipitating tobacco habit all looked like Lycopodium as a constitutional remedy if Nat. sulph, failed to effect a cure. In order to verify the evaluation, Ars. alb. was tried in 30th, 200th and 1,000th potencies during the first attack under my treatment but the result was disappointing as had been expected. Nat. sulph. 30 or 200 relieved the attacks every time within 5-6 hours. Nat. sulph, was continuously administered in higher potencies up to Cm. at long intervals during the first ten months with Thuja as an intereurrent remedy in 30th and 200th. Attacks appeared less and less frequently but the severity persisted. Lycopodium 30, 200 given in single doses a t long intervals from January 15th, 1957, to October 10th, 1957, and Thujtr 30,200 intercurrently cured the patient completely. The last and memorable attack appeared on September 6th, 1957. Treatment was stopped on October 15th, 1957, and he has remained healthy and free from asthma till date of reporting. A word in favour of my best friend and great polyerest Thuja. Sycotie element is strongly represented in asthma and whenever the need arises of using art anti-syeotie remedy intercurrently and ff there are no specific indications therefore, I prefer Thuja. Remember Thuja has after midnight and cold weather aggravation also.
THE BRITISH
HOM(EOPATHIC
JOURNAL
Result The patient came out of her psychosis and became quite cheerful and co-operative. The husband was advised to change their residence forthwith in order to avoid a possible recrudescence. Follow-up During the five years of m y observation after the episode, no major mental break-down occurred. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
(1) Three cases of "Acute Psychotic Episode" treated successfully in general practice are presented. (2) The "miracle-cures" demonstrate the obvious superiority and efficacy of the Principle of Individualization when apphed on the basis of the Law of Similars. The pin-point accuracy with which the abnormal processes are set right speedily without affecting the normal processes, is impossible with the "mass treatments" that are in vogue today. (3) This study is presented so as to enable the profession to appreciate the t y p e of response t h a t is possible in general homceopathie practice when the principles are adhered to strictly. I t is not a study of the comparative efficacy of the different forms of treatment in vogue in the management of "acute psychotic episode".
T H E ASTHMATIC P A T I E N T By DR. P. N. PAl (Bombay) " W E have wonderful remedies for asthma. We are the only people who can cure asthma and other chronic conditions." I am quoting myself and t h a t was the confident manner I used to talk with m y patients in those good old and bad early days of m y practice. No doubt m y faith in Homceopathy is greater than ever now, and the manner of m y discussion with patients also has changed for the better. Well, this is as it should be. Certainly, we can cure a good number of asthmatics provided they co-operate fully. But only a few of the cases presenting good symptoms persist in the t r e a t m e n t whereas the other large group of "one-sided" cases discontinue early. T o be frank I am sorry to state t h a t so far I have been able to cure completely only a few asthmatic patients and of course a good number have been relieved considerably and the latter continue as "periodical patients". By cure, of course, we mean that the patient remains free from the cured complaints for at least two years without medical treatment because if that happens there would almost be no chance of the malady relapsing. W h y do we fail? Firstly we are often unable to relieve the acute attacks. I recall a very recent case of status asthmaticus where an experienced homceop a t h finally (and desperately?) prescribed a simple enema after the patient had patiently, but in vain, swallowed Arsenic alb. 200 and 1,000, Blatta orient., etc., as had been prescribed by him. Result?---on the third day she "came round" but remember that happens in the natural course and our expert, if anything, might have hindered nature's operations. Whether one likes it or not, it has to be admitted t h a t only in some cases of asthmatic attacks, dramatic relief ensues
OUT
OF CASE
BOOKS
109
administration of our remedies. Whatever the reasons, the fact is t h a t we have to improve in this sphere. Secondly, the peaceful interval between the attacks is not well utilized either b y the patient or the physician and sometimes b y both. Proper constitutional t r e a t m e n t is thus not followed up. Nevertheless, asthma is curable--witness the following case: Shri, U.V.A. Aged 44 years. Seen on February 6th, 1956. C/o recurrent attacks of asthma since 1936.
O.D.P. Patient had been quite well till the age of 25. Between the ages of 25 and 28 he suffered from recurrent attacks of diarrhoea. After getting wet in the rains in 1936 he suffered from a severe attack of bronchitis which ushered in regular attacks of asthma.
Family History Patient's elder brother is an asthmatic and otherwise no H/O asthma, T.B. or eczema in the family.
Complaints and Personal History Recurrent attacks of colds followed by asthmatic attacks since 1936. Attacks + + + + in monsoon and hot weather. -t- + + in winter. Slig.htest indigestion ~- an attack. m the night, after midnight and often attacks continue till 6 a.m. by lying down. by slightest exertion. sitting up bent forward. in the open air--wants the windows open and the fan on. Diarrhoea 4-5 loose stools during every attack of asthma. Severe cough persists for 8-10 days after every attack. Expectoration profuse, greenish and offensive. When free from attacks he is quite jovial, likes company and walks long distances. No exertional dyspncea. Appetite normal. Likes hot food and drinks. Craves sweets. Always takes very hot drinks. Flatulence + + + agg. soon after meals. Chews tobacco a number of times during the day. Frequent colicky pain left inguinal region. Constipated--frequent, scanty stools in the morning. Tiny vesicular eruptions appear all over the body between the attacks of asthma.
On Observation Thin, poorly nourished. Chest~--emphysematous.
On Examination R.S.
Percussion notes--resonant. Rales and rhonchi--bilateral. No crepitations. Prolonged expiration with wheezing.
110
THE
BRITISH
HOM(EOPATHIC
JOURNAL
A.S.
Distended colon. Liver, spleen--not palpable. C.V.S. } C.N.S. N.A.D. B.P. 140/85. A few dry eruptions---arms and chest. No clubbing. Blood count done on January 15th, 1956, was normal except for a slight rise in eosinophils.
Evaluation of the Case and Selection of Remedies Aggravation after midnight, on lying down and slight exertion and amelioration on sitting bent forward and from cool air these symptoms are common to almost all asthmatic attacks. I f our patient had aggravation particularly between 12 and 3 a.m. and amelioration after 3 a.m. and were he chilly during the attacks, then just a couple of doses of Ars. alb. would certainly stop the severest attack within 2-3 hours. Otherwise our Arsenic would take 24-36 hours to afford any relief which nature alone manages to do in most eases. Aggravation in monsoon and summer, slight amelioration in winter, diarrhoea during the attacks, relief from cool open air, cough with greenish expectoration --all pointed to Nat. sulph, as the possible remedy, Desire for hot food and drinks, craving for sweets (desiring sweets in a child is not a valuable symptom but in a South Indian adult craving sweets is), flatulence < after eating, desire for cool open air and the factor (not the causative factor) of "getting wet in the rains" and the precipitating tobacco habit all looked like Lycopodium as a constitutional remedy if Nat. sulph, failed to effect a cure. In order to verify the evaluation, Ars. alb. was tried in 30th, 200th and 1,000th potencies during the first attack under my treatment but the result was disappointing as had been expected. Nat. sulph. 30 or 200 relieved the attacks every time within 5-6 hours. Nat. sulph, was continuously administered in higher potencies up to Cm. at long intervals during the first ten months with Thuja as an intereurrent remedy in 30th and 200th. Attacks appeared less and less frequently but the severity persisted. Lycopodium 30, 200 given in single doses a t long intervals from January 15th, 1957, to October 10th, 1957, and Thujtr 30,200 intercurrently cured the patient completely. The last and memorable attack appeared on September 6th, 1957. Treatment was stopped on October 15th, 1957, and he has remained healthy and free from asthma till date of reporting. A word in favour of my best friend and great polyerest Thuja. Sycotie element is strongly represented in asthma and whenever the need arises of using art anti-syeotie remedy intercurrently and ff there are no specific indications therefore, I prefer Thuja. Remember Thuja has after midnight and cold weather aggravation also.