Dr Harsh Nigam did his MBBS from B.R.D. Medical College, Gorakhpur and completed his M.D. in Human Physiology from M.L.B. Medical college, Jhansi. His first exposure to Homoeopathic way came under his scholarly and renowned father Dr Jagdish Chandra Nigam DF (Hom.) from 1993-1995. In 2001-2002 Dr. Harsh completed MF (Homeopathy.), from the Faculty of Homoeopathy the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, U.K. He has since published several papers like:
- Homoeopathic Management of Chronic Renal Failure;
- Drug picture of Carcinosin; Retrospective Study of Homoeopathic Management of Urolithiasis Assessed by Ultrasonography;
- Psoriasis & Homoeopathy, (Homeopathic Heritage)
- Childhood Care: What Homoeopathy Can Offer? (CCRH/AYUSH)
20 volume series of articles in the section Organon Only of Homeobuzz magazine - Study of efficacy of genus epidemicus in epidemic of chikungunya fever at Kanpur: presented at 66th world homeopathic congress of LIGA.
- Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy with Classroom Notes; Principles & Practice of Homeopathic Case Management both by B.Jain Publishers, New DelhiHis aim is to establish Homoeopathy on its scientific merit and make it integrated with orthodox medicine in such a way that the Scope and Limitation of Homoeopathy are well defined. His ambition also is to educate young Homoeopaths and this has culminated in writing several books on Homoeopathy.
Sketching and painting are two fields in which he is highly involved and his three exhibitions have been critically acclaimed. He is also a noteworthy Hindi poet and his book of Hindi poetry “Paairon Me Aakash” has attracted rave reviews.
He is currently spearheading multi-specialty Outdoor Homoeopathic Centre of excellence in Medical Homeopathy at Kanpur, a centre now well known for providing research based medical solutions to various health issues. His charitable society Sharnam Homeopathy Research society is currently running several research and charitable projects in and around Kanpur. He is currently a member for Special Committee of clinical research at the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi.
Dr Meraj Husain (ED): How and when did you first become acquainted with homoeopathy?
Dr Harsh Nigam (HN): Being born to a famous homoeopathic master Dr. J.C. Nigam homoeopathy was all around me since the beginning. You can say it’s in my blood.
ED: There are several new methods of homoeopathic practice created after Hahnemann. Whichever method a homoeopath follows, the case taking remains an important aspect. What is your advice for the novice homoeopaths?
HN: To a novice homoeopathy I say there are three step for a successful prescription.
• Full and complete case history with a aim to make a portrait of disease.
• Case analysis based on striking singular uncommon and peculiar symptoms with a view to the focus of disease.
•Finally Repertorisation forms the bedrock of successful prescription.
ED: There are several new methods of homoeopathic practice created after Hahnemann. Whichever method a homoeopath follows, the case taking remains an important aspect. What is your advice for the novice homoeopaths?
HN: To a novice homoeopathy I say there are three step for a successful prescription.
• Full and complete case history with a aim to make a portrait of disease.
• Case analysis based on striking singular uncommon and peculiar symptoms with a view to the focus of disease.
• Finaly Repertorisation forms the bedrock of successful prescription.
The aim is to individualize the case and get similimum.
ED: Which book has influenced you the most and why?
HN: Kent’s lecture note; Huge’s, Oto Von Lesser, Farrington, Boericke and Clarke in Materia Medica; Kent’s repertory and Synthesis version 7.0 in repertory. Above all The Organon:- The Bible of Homoeopathy by our fountain head Dr. Samuel Hahnemann because like the bible or Shrimad Bhagwat Gita it is a timeless classic and you find all the answers pertaining to the principles and practice of homoeopathy in it.
ED: Tell us about your clinical practice. What are the scope and limitation of homoeopathy in the treatment of the ailments of the modern world?
HN: Homeopathy is the only answer to chronic maladies ailing the world as for it’s limits Homoeopathy is not the best pathy for surgical disease and medical emergencies today. If you talk of possibilities I keep on pushing the envelope each day with what homoeopathy can do in management even in incurable diseases.
ED: Do you think homoeopathy is made for chronic ailments or it goes well with acute diseases too?
HN: Homoeopathy acts rapidly effectively and decisively in acute diseases too. It is only in medical emergencies that I advice my patients to seek allopathic help.
ED: What should be the role of Homoepathy in emergency cases and surgical cases?
HN: As explained emergency cases and surgical cases are best left untouched because the risk a failure outweigh the benefit and this in turn gives a bad name to homoeopathy and its practitioner. Although in pre and post operative scenario homoeopathy does wonders in healing.
ED: How do aromatic odors, substances etc. affect the outcome of the homoeopathic medicines?
HN: Aromatic odors and raw herbs effect the outcome of medicine if they are specifically antidotal like raw onion is antidotal to Thuja. Vinegar to Ant-Crud; Camphor as antidote to medicine from plant kingdom but otherwise taking the medicine dry on tongue which is clean would set the effect of medicine in action there after these precautions don’t matter much.
ED: How you see the future generation of Homoeopaths what will be your advice to them?
HN: I am hopeful of the future generation of homoeopathy they have a scientific mind and a zeal of doing good. My only advice to them is be a good medical doctor first then a homoeopathic physician study the science of medicine and the art of homoeopathy. Stay away of Pseudo Guru’s of homoeopathy and look up to Hahnemann and Kent as the guiding light in homoeopathy. Experiment with dosage and potency and be unprejudiced. Be your own Hahnemann.
ED: Your insightful and interactive lectures and case discussions that are available in the form of books are indeed a source of inspiration and learning for the serious homoeopaths. Such practical knowledge is quite essential to apply the theoretical concepts of homoeopathic philosophy in practice. What is your say on this (i.e. sharing your experiences with students)?
HN: If I do not share honestly with student what and how I adapt in modern clinical setting the concepts of homoeopathy I do injustice to future of homoeopathy. I am preparing a database and by the end of my career I shall be giving guidelines of management of nearly all diseases to the homoeopathic gen-next. These would be guidelines and not instructions cast in stone so that future homoeopaths improve on that and protocol based homoeopathic medicine becomes a reality.
ED: What do you feel is the most gratifying for you as a professional – medical practice, teaching, writing or research? Or; what has been/will be your most gratifying achievement as a homoeopath?
HN: To me nothing is more gratifying in healing the sick. I would like to be known as a healing artist let me share a poem I have written:
WHY I AM AN ARTIST FIRST
In my mind I construct portraits
Line by line
Crease by crease
Emotion by emotion
I see faces of sickness assemble
In infinite kaleidoscopic forms
My cures Are nothing but corrected illusions
Pathological recovery purely incidental
