MY EXPERIENCES WITH DIETHYLSTILBESTROL (DES) AND FOLLICULINUM

 DIETHYLSTILBESTROL (DES)
The famous contraceptive pill had its birth in early 1940s when it was chiefly introduced as a safest method of contraception. However, time has confirmed that it has never been a safest method of contraception as estrogen pill is loaded with side effects, not only for the woman but also for the children or the generation that follows – whether male or female. Here are some of the astonishing facts:-
·         High incidence of uterine, vaginal, ovarian and breast cancers in women who are on contraceptive pills.
·         High incidence of thromboembolytic phenomena.
·         High incidenc of hypertension and hypercholestremia.
·         High incidence of cervical dysplasia.
·         Children that are born out of DES mothers usually suffer from abnormalgenitals like small testes, infertility, sub-fertility, etc.; and
sons born to DES mothers usually have a low sperm count.
As a homoeopathic student I was very much interested that there has to be a proving of DES
in homoeopathy. Unfortunately till today there has been no Hahnemannian proving of DES. Hence
my experience of using this remedy is purely clin ical. My first experience of this remedy comes
from a lady who had consulted me in 1982. Her husband was an eminent builder in Mumbai and
he wanted me to visit his wife in Harkisandas hospital for threatened abortion (inevitable
abortion). I examined the lady and following were the symptoms:
1. Abortion in early months of pregnancy.
2.    The hemorrhage was bright red – worse on slightest exertion. It was a passive hemorrhage.
3.            Even though the hemorrhage was not so excessive, the patient was complaining of severe
weakness.
4.    She was feeling very thirsty.
At that time my first choice was Arsenic albumin 30C potency. I gave her a few doses but the
next morning to my disappointment there was no change. The bleeding was more. Hence I decided
to change my prescription to Secale cor. 30C. This worked like a miracle. The bleeding was
controlled by more than 50%. Hence I was relieved thinking that this was the right remedy.
Later on during the course of the day I received a frantic call from the husband saying that the bleed-
ing which was better by 50%, had become’ worse; and now she was bleeding like tap. At that stage
the gynecologist decided to go for an early dilatation and curettage. I was quite nervous to repeat
Secale cor. or increase the potency. The patient was in no state or frame of mind and neither were
the relatives ready to give the constitutional symptoms of the patient. Hence, I had to solely depend
on my observation of the local symptoms. One point, which was very strong in the history of the
patient, was that she was married for the last 4. Years and immediately after her marriage she was
on oral contraceptive pills for 2 years. This point, I thought, was worth considering. I decided to give
this DES in potentized form, but to my unfortunate destiny this drug was not available in Mumbai.
Hence the only way the drug could be made available was from Ainsworth pharmacy in London. I
explained my handicap to the husband and asked him to import this medicine as a life-saving drug.
Till the time the medicine arrived, I was too skeptical to start any other medicine. Instead I gave
placebo for a day and after 20 hours I started with DES 30C just one dose. Then I waited for 6 hours.
There was no change. So I repeated one more dose. Next morning the bleeding had reduced by
40% and in the next 4 days, without repetition of the dose, there was no bleeding at all. Of course I
have to admit that the patient was on simultaneous allopathic anti-hemorrhagic drugs. But for 4 days
this was administered to the patient without any effect. It was only on the 5th day that I started
homoeopathy. After a period of 7^1/2 months the patient delivered a healthy child who has now
passed his HSC examination successfully.
The next case was of a girl who was 32 years old and who had complained of premenstrual
breast heaviness. She was treated previously by eminent homoeopaths using Calcarea carb.,
Baryta carb., Calcarea fluor., etc. unsuccessfully. I studied the case and selected the remedy
Graphites as she was full of fear, with poor self-confidence, and was timid, reserved and slow.
Unfortunately there was no result after using various potencies of Graphites. In the history it was
mentioned that she had consulted a skin specialist in the past for treatment for cystic acne for which
he had advised her oral- contraceptive pills. This was a big turning point and I immediately gave
her a few doses of DES in 30C potency, which removed the breast heaviness dur-
ing the subsequent menstrual cycles, permanently.
Gradually I became more mature in under- standing the clinical picture of DES as I saw cases
after cases improving with the help of DES. Here are a few indications where one can use DES suc-
cessfully – uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, cervical dysplasia, genital anomalies, low sperm
count, abortions, metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, and
acne.
The chief indication in all the above conditions will  be-excessive use of contraceptive pills.
FOLLICULINUM
Folliculinum came in my life at a much later stage of my practice. Madame De Mattos
Introduced it in homoeopathy. Later on Melissa Assilem gave a beautiful picture. Folliculinum is a
potentized form of natural estrogen. In 1950s Dr. Donald Foubister, a Scottish homoeopathic
physician declared that it is very closely related to a homoeopathic remedy Carcinosin.
.How do I identify Folliculinum in my practice?
1.     Folliculinum is one remedy that has lost its identity (ego), due to strong influence of a
dominating or dictatorial person in his or her life. To some extent this is a very common
syndrome observed in India where females are still considered inferior to males, where
females are still dominated by males, because in India, till date, many females, especially in
the rural parts, are not at all educated.
2.        Like             Natrium      fluor.,            natrium     brom., Medorrhinum, and Carcinosin – Folliculinum is
a remedy after abuse, sexual assault, rape, sexual violence and incest, where the patient
has not completely recovered from the emotional trauma.
3.     Early and precocious pubescent – which means that there is an early sexual develop-
ment and maturity in young girls and boys. Any problem that arises during puberty,
emotional or physical, Folliculinum can be used as an intercurrent remedy. However the
other symptoms of the remedy should be confirmed.
4.     Folliculinum best covers ailments from menopause and troubles that arise from
menopause.
5.     Delayed convalescence after any acute illnesses.
6.     General aggravation before menstruation.
7.     Difficult emotional bonding with the child, post-delivery problems like – postnatal depression, postnatal hysteria and postnatal psychosis.     ‘
8.      Strong craving for sugar, wheat and farinaceous food is seen in this remedy.
9.    In this remedy all symptoms are better as soon as the menstruation starts.