Of course it is necessary in these cases, as in all others, to consider the possibility of cure, just as Hahnemann taught. This is well summed up in the concluding paragraph of an editorial in the October 1938 issue of the British Homoeopathic Journal, which we quote:.
In estimating the possibility of successful homoeopathic treatment of deficiency disease we must, of course, recognize that the action of drugs is by eliciting a response from a living cell; they cannot do this from those that are dead or restore them to life. It is of no use to attempt the impossible. But we should also recognize that no organ or tissue becomes suddenly destroyed, unless it be by trauma, and that there are all degrees of failure of function, and if the failure has not gone too far it should be, and we believe it is, possible to restore it to the normal by the giving of the similimum.
To this end we need a deeper acquaintance with our remedies. We are using practically the same materia medica that we did fifty or more years ago. It requires no alteration, but it does need to be added to, not by the addition of more remedies, but by fresh provings to pursue the action of our drugs into the realm of modern physiological research, and especially their action on the endocrine organs. If we do not increase our knowledge of the capabilities of our drugs our homoeopathic art will become static. It will make no progress.
It was our purpose to suggest several rubrics from both the Kent and Boenninghausen repertories that are peculiarly pertinent to the conditions we are studying, but when we were brought face to face with the widely varying array of functional symptoms manifested by these patients, it seems we can do no more than comment to you the repertories themselves, and advise the physician who wishes to cure his patient not to neglect these valuable adjuncts to successful prescribing.
In other words, when a cursory glance at a modern work on endocrine dysfunction covers such a wide range of symptoms, it is impossible to limit the possible symptoms in even a few syndromes. Again and again we are faced with the conviction that we are dealing with what we have already long since learned to know as constitutional symptoms, and we cannot think of a few rubrics that might be useful without omitting others even more valuable. So we can only repeat: LEARN THE VALUE OF YOUR REPERTORY FOR REFERENCE WORK, AND YOU WILL BE WELL REPAID FOR THE TIME EXPENDED.
Nor can we, in one brief evening, begin to consider the syndromes which we meet in daily practice, and which we recognize as having endocrine relationships. We may only sketch a few of these conditions with a very restricted consideration of suitable therapeutic measures; and we may briefly outline a few outstanding remedies having general influence on glandular structure.
Probably the type of glandular imbalance we meet most frequently is diabetes mellitus. The accepted therapy is insulin, and it has a definite influence on the sugar output; yet few physicians pause to consider whether this treatment is curative or merely palliative a substitution therapy. Recent experiments indicate that continued massive doses of insulin may result in an increase of sugar following an initial decrease; and that it may remain at a fairly high level so long as the insulin therapy is pushed.
A case recently observed provided the interesting phenomenon of a marked decrease of sugar output when the patient was forced to do without her insulin for a few days; and that when she returned to a decreased insulin dosage the amount of sugar remained at a much lower level than while she was receiving massive doses. A series of observations on patients under homoeopathic care would be valuable.
We must remember that once insulin therapy is established, it tends to become necessary to the patient and there is little hope of establishing normal balance. Therefore it is more practical to begin treatment by the use of the homoeopathic remedy, for we can always go to insulin latter if this is necessary. We find suitable remedies for Sugar in Urine in the repertories, and most of the remedies listed are deep in action or are closely related to emotional states. The diabetic patient usually presents subjective symptoms that clearly indicate the similimum; or he may be able to give a history of emotional shock preceding his present affliction that will point the way to the remedy.
It is possible that his symptoms are so clearly marked that the indications for a constitutional remedy cannot be overlooked, even though his indicated remedy has not been proved to produce the sugar imbalance. In such case, if the patient improves on the indicated remedy, we are justified in adding it to those already listed, giving it a tentative clinical rating. If the general level of health is raised, even though the low sugar threshold remains the same, we may safely rely on the remedy which maintains general improvement, and not be too anxious over the sugar output.
Recent research work has indicated the influence of the pancreas in peptic ulcer. There is probably no surgical condition which yields so readily to the homoeopathic remedy and proper diet, if it is discovered before surgery is necessary to save life. These conditions usually present enough subjective symptoms to define the similimum from the list of suitable remedies Kent gives; in this list, too, we find the polychrests to the fore, probably with the Kalis, Lycopodium and Phosphorus leading.
It is frequently the case that in exploratory operations the close prescriber finds evidence of ulcers healed under his earlier prescriptions in other words, homoeopathic prescribing has left its signature on diseased tissues.
Another frequent exhibition of endocrine imbalance is in the disturbance of the menopause. These patients give us a wealth of subjective symptoms. In fact, many of these woman are so valuable that we cannot overlook that great leader among the many indicated remedies for this particular condition Lachesis. But a well rounded symptom analysis may show us some other remedy to have greater applicability.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a serious condition we meet occasionally. If this condition is met early enough and we can find the indicated remedy, neither surgery nor yet endocrine preparations will be required. In the July 1938 Homoeopathic Recorder Dr. Allan D. Sutherland gives us the distinguishing characteristics for a few of our remedies in these conditions. His article is worth study.
We all know the indications for Ars., Bry., Cocc., Colch., Kali c. (the sudden nausea coming on while walking and the sudden over powering sleepiness after eating a mouthful or two); Nat. mur., Petr., Phos., Sulph., Verat. a. Many of us do not think so often of Aletris farinosa with its muscular atony and chlorotic history. We would add to Dr. Sutherlands list the nosodes, Medorrhinum, Psorinum, Syphilinum and Tuberculinum for consideration. Dr. Sutherland is careful to point out that this is but a brief list of the possibilities; but it is valuable as a suggestion of help in critical conditions.
One of the most distressing conditions we have to deal with (and one we fortunately rarely meet) is enlarged thymus. In his discussion of this condition, Werner states his conviction that it is not the enlargement of the gland itself which causes the sudden death, but that this condition is concomitant to the influence of the vagus nerve on the heart.
This indicates even more strongly the necessity for the constitutional remedy for the small child, and the physician must be keen in watching his development; for all too often the child is in apparently good health until attacked suddenly and without warning. Where cyanosis, suffocative attacks or other symptoms occur, however slight, a remedy may be found that will carry the child through to normal health. If the symptoms take an asthmatic tendency we have more assurance in selecting the constitutional remedy.
In general practice we frequently meet children who are backward in mind and body. Here is a field where we are able to do remarkably good work with our remedies. The Barium salts are not sufficiently appreciated for such work, but the Calcarea group, Silica or Sulphur (to mention but a few) may be more clearly indicated. Even the Kalis and the Natrums are surprisingly successful when indicated. When the constitutional remedy is found, it is surprising how those children under developed, dull, stupid, unable to learn, perhaps nervous and high strung react to normal development.
Often these children are deceitful as well as backward; then we add Arg. nit. and perhaps Bufo to our list; and if they are convulsive children these remedies may be even more strongly indicated.
A consideration of the mental and emotional states is our best indication for the similimum. This is not as simple as to feed glandular preparations, perhaps, but it is less apt to throw other glandular secretions out of proportion, and the results seem to be generally better. And no man who has watched the action of our potencies can doubt their efficacy.
