“More death are due to overdosing than to underdosing.” This transliteration of a familiar saying provides the theme of this discourse. Food deficiencies and hormone insufficiencies bring prosperity to the medical profession and impecunity to the population. If it is not vitamins, it is minerals, and if not h these, then it surely must be “the glands.” This is the fashionable trend of thought and every commodity from cereals to soap is “fortified” with vitamins “enriched” with minerals or “potentised” with hormones.
It is well nigh impossible to escape this subtle invasion of our daily life. Homoeopathy holds important views upon these matters, however, and as homoeopaths, it is necessary to study and defend our principles in the face of this undermining propaganda. “It is the organic viral force of out body which cures natural diseases of every kind directly-as soon as it is enabled by means of the correct (homoeopathic) remedies to win the victory. ” Thus wrote Hahnemann in his preface to the fourth volume of the Chronic Disease. The emphasis is upon the organic vital force. This is the power which maintains a living creature in harmonious health and vigour. It is also the force which adapts the organism to the perpetual stresses and strains of modern life.
Moreover, so powerful is this vitality within, that it will, to a remarkable degree, restore health and harmony even after the mutilations of modern methods have taken away important glands, assimilators, protectors, and so on. The accomplishment of this adaptation and readjustment is assisted the administration of the similar remedy which stimulates a more potent exhibition of the inherent vital healing force. It is ever remarkable to observe the degree to which this indwelling vitality will overcome the radical anatomical changes produced by modern surgery and re-establish a physiological economy compatible with a state of health.
The case of to be presented here has not yet been followed to complete cure owing to unavoidable domestic circumstances, but the progress during a period of two years may illustrates some important points.
CASE A. Woman aged 52 years. The immediate complaint was an acute traumatic low back strain. The past history was filled with serious medical events.
1 – All the illness started with typhoid fever in 1918. There was some heart involvement at that time. Confinement to bed lasted nine months. Dyspnoea and tightness in the chest, tachycardia and palpitations have occurred with emotional disturbances ever since, E.K.G. no abnormality.
2. -A long history of menstrual irregularities, a difficult pregnancy and X-ray menopause culminated in a hysterectomy in 1929.
3.-Diarrhoea persisted with abdominal pain long after the typhoid infection and in 1936 a diagnosis of amoebic dysentery was made. Arsenic, emetine and chloromycin all failed to eradicate the disease. Aureomycin produced a toxic reaction. Intensive and uninterrupted hormone treatment including
oestrogens in various forms, adrenal cortex, Armour’s pituitary, thyroid, anterior pituitary, has continued for 3 1/2 years; it was used intermittently during the preceding 21 years.
4.-Hyperinsulin reactions followed intake of sugars. The condition at the time of onset of homoeopathic treatment was, as follows:.
Mental: Desire for company and social life but is much exhausted and depleted by people. Nervousness and extreme apprehension of entertaining friends. Fastidious, sensitive to music, but is calmed by it.
Aggravated by noise. Much difficulty in getting to sleep, and is then disturbed by horrible nightmares-of being chased and stabbed, of a dead sister, of floods, of terrible tragedies that never happen. A great fear of thunder storms, and of being locked in a closed space. Concentration is very difficult, memory poor for numbers, names, people.
General: Much ameliorated neat the ocean. Aggravated by even moderate altitudes. Must have fresh air, although chilly. Severe aggravations from all fatty foods, cheeses and oil. Craving for chocolate and sweet things. Extreme hunger in middle of the afternoon, sometimes combined with extreme exhaustion.
The most pressing complaints at this time were severe frontal and vertex headaches with nausea; and throbbing gnawing pain in the liver. Iris versicolor 30. initially aggravated the headaches to the point where Belladonna 6. had to be administered to mitigate the pain. Perfect, natural, undisturbed sleep followed, the first in recent memory. Pain in liver area became more localized but more acute although the general condition was better. Generalized aching of limbs was intense. Typhoidinum 1M, one dose, was followed by acneiform eruption on face. Dyspnoea and leg pains almost gone. Greater relaxation. At this point the oestrogens were voluntarily discontinued. Progressive improvement in the liver pain and sensitivity. Three weeks after administration the report was “much better than for a long time”.
One dose of Sulphur 200. was given a month later-abscess developing in right buttock, probably at the site of an injection in the past. Trembling all over, an inner sensation. Extreme hot flushes one after another. A few days later a “sick headache” much relieved by an enema which was followed by a large volume of dark, offensive liquid bile. From this time headaches could always be averted by an enema and the elimination of bile.
An influenzal type of fever treated successfully with S.L. was followed by a period which the patient described as “very much better in very way.” The lump in the buttock was still rising to the surface.
At this juncture (3 months) a trip to Mexico City was arranged. I strongly advised against vaccination, but gave protection with Vaccininum 3x, t.i.d for 2 days. Headache, nausea, vomiting, and recurrence of pain in liver area followed, but left the patient much better. Unfortunately, while in Mexico laryngitis developed with bronchitis, much expectoration and constriction of chest. Kali carb. 200., followed by Sulphur 200., cleared the infection and left the patient much better and the abscess in the buttock almost healed. By this time all hormones had been discontinued.
Survey of the case at this point suggested that the liver- gall bladder condition was much improved, but that the reproductive system was the focal point of the disturbance. Discussion revealed a lack of interest and satisfaction in sexual relationship, tantamount to a positive aversion. At night acute dyspnoea would awaken the patient with much anxiety. Nervous tension was pronounced. Sepia 1M was administered but Carbo veg. 3x was used to control the nocturnal dyspnoea.
Nightmares of a jealous sister dead for 12 years became very distressing. Lachesis 30, brought much relief from these. Sepia CM was administered about 2 weeks later and gradually produced improvement to the point of freedom from headaches, little dyspnoea, and the poise to entertain her children and grand children for a week-end without ill effect. This was the first time since the onset of treatment (8 months before) that company had been enjoyed and even tolerated without exhaustion or aggravation of symptoms.
Lycopodium 200. was the next remedy. After some aggravation in the biliary tract, progressive improvement was made for 2 months until a sudden serious illness of her son. Headache. loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain followed the news but Ignatia 30. brought this under control.
There then followed a period when the best selected remedies failed to effect the least improvement. There was a recurrence of the nocturnal dyspnoea with fullness and suffocating congestion of the thyroid. Extreme fatigue and aching in all the limbs were especially distressing. To summarize the progress to this point, the breathing was much better, not nearly so nervous or sensitive, enjoys company more, and sleep much better but violent dreams of taking someone else’s husband, and restless aching of limbs persisted.
Loss of memory for names and numbers persisted. Rhus tox. 200 and later 1M brought considerable benefit. When the acute phase passed Arsenicum alb CM was given and proved helpful. Tachycardia in paroxysms, palpitation, insomnia and tightness around the heart became very disturbing at night but were aided by Cactus grand., 6x. Attendance at a funeral caused much emotional upheaval and was physically manifest in the biliary tract. Incidentally, this brought to light an interesting symptom-aggravation in church.
No headaches and no pain in liver was the report. Still some periods of dyspnoea. Morgan 30., a bowel nosode, was given for a period of 8 days. A severe cold with a profuse sinus discharge developed. Dyspnoea and insomnia again became distressing, aggravation after midnight, wants to change to a cool place in bed; heavy perspiration in bed, trembles all over; hands “go to sleep” in bed; difficulty in focusing eyes. Physical examination failed to reveal any abnormality of heart, blood pressure or lungs. After enduring for nearly a month Carbo veg. 200 was reluctantly given, and it did bring about marked improvement.
