Abstract: A tumour is a lump or mass of tissue that forms when cells divide uncontrollably. Many people with incurable brain tumours use alternative therapies, such as taking vitamins and homeopathy, in addition to their conventional treatments, according to a study published in the December 14, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The present study shows complete resolution of focal gliosis at right parietal lobe of brain with individualized homoeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum.
Keywords: Gliosis, Individualized homoeopathy, Miasmatic analysis, Natrum muriaticum.
Abbreviations: CNS: Central nervous system, OPD: Outpatient department, NIH: National Institute of Homoeopathy, MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, CECT: Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography, cH: Centesimal potency.
Introduction
Tumours are groups of abnormal cells that form lumps or growths. They can start in any one of the trillions of cells in our bodies. Tumours grow and behave differently, depending on whether they are cancerous (malignant), non-cancerous (benign) or precancerous. (1) The incidence of central nervous system (CNS) tumours in India ranges from 5 to 10 per 100,000 population with an increasing trend and accounts for 2% of malignancies. (2,3) Hospital-based databases capturing CNS malignancies over a period of one year showed Astrocytomas (38.7%) were the most common primary tumours with the majority being high-grade gliomas (59.5%). (4) The median survival time with glioblastoma is 15 to 16 months in people who get surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. Median means half of all patients with this tumor survive to this length of time. Everyone with glioblastoma is different. Some people don’t survive as long. Other people may survive up to five years or more, although it’s rare. (5) Homoeopathy affirms if tumours are curable by means of medicine, it is by far the most pleasant and scientific way of dealing with them. (6) Though homoeopathic literature abounds with medicines having action on tumours but well documented cases especially with brain tumours are lacking. A case from Out Patient Department (OPD) of National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH) is presented here with a small ill defined hypodense non enhancing lesion in the right parietal lobe which was suggestive of gliosis.
Gliosis is a non-specific response of several types of glial cells due to an injury or trauma to the brain or the central nervous system (CNS). It involves the process of formation of a scar in the brain where the injury or trauma occurred. The physical manifestations of gliosis regarding symptoms mostly depend upon the part of the spinal cord or brain that is injured. It can cause varying symptoms based on where the gliosis occurred. A gliosis in the occipital lobe causes visual impairment of the patient, while a gliosis in the motor cortex induces weakness in the patient. Finally, gliosis affecting the sensory cortex of the patient may cause him to feel a tingling sensation and some numbness. In conservative therapy there is no specific treatment suggested for gliosis in particular. The treatment of gliosis is mainly to treat the underlying cause of the trauma or injury that triggered it in the first place. (7) Investigative procedures include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) which create more detailed pictures than Computed Tomography (CT) scans and are the preferred way to diagnose a brain tumour. (8)
Case history
A 28 year old lady visited the OPD of NIH on 30th October 2017, with complaints of headache since last 5 years. On further questioning she said the pain was mostly restricted to the right side of head with throbbing sensation which aggravated at night, with stress and sun’s heat. The pain was relieved during rest and there was a continuous nauseating tendency which was very much annoying and more felt during headache. She brought report of Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) scan of brain done on 28.03.2016 suggestive of focal ischaemic demyelination in right posterior paraventricular region (Figure 2). She was advised repeat CECT scan of brain for confirmation of the pathology.
In the past she suffered from malaria few years back and was treated with non-homoeopathic medicines. Possibly she suffered from hepatitis followed by malaria and was treated non-homoeopathically.
Her father died of stroke and mother had been suffering from Type II Diabetes Mellitus with hypothyroidism.
Mental Picture
The patient had profound grief due to ill treatment from in-laws. She felt none cared about her well being. She was also fearful of night as pain was aggravated during night. Occasionally she suffered from bouts of anger but consolation aggravated her complaints.
Physical generals
Diet: irregular, mixed
Appetite: good but could not eat enough due to nausea.
Tongue: moist, flabby, slightly white coated.
Thirst: profuse, 4-5litre a day.
Desires: fish+++, meat+, sweet+, salt+++, bitter++.
Aversion: nothing specific.
Intolerance: bread which causes dyspepsia.
Bowels: irregular, faecal mass hard consistency passed at 5-6 days interval.
Bladder: urine clear but with occasional burning sensation during micturition.
Perspiration: profuse over head, neck, chest region; stains white; offensive.
Sleep: inadequate
Dreams: could not recall on waking up.
Thermal reaction: hot patient.
Menstrual history: scanty menses; lasting for one day; dark, clotted. Cycle regular. No history of hormonal pills.
Obstetrical history: one live issue, normal vaginal delivery.
General physical examination
The patient was well oriented with time, place and person; lean, thin, dark complexion and poorly nourished. She had pallor but no cyanosis, clubbing, icterus, oedema, engorgement of the neck veins or lymphadenopathy noted. She weighed 47 kg.
Vital Signs
Temperature: Afebrile
Blood pressure: 126/84 mm of Hg
Pulse: 76 beats per minute, regular
Respiratory rate: 17 breaths/minute
Diagnosis and laboratory investigations
CECT scan of brain on 19th December 2017 revealed focal gliosis at right parietal lobe. According to International Classification of Diseases: 2019 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code G93.89 other specified disorders of brain including mass lesion of brain. (9)
Case analysis
The case presented with characteristic mental picture, physical generals and complete particular symptoms. Based on the clinical picture, chronic totality was framed and individualized homoeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum was prescribed keeping in mind the miasmatic background with mixed miasmatic features (10,11) (Table 1). Centesimal (CM) potency was selected with 30c potency depending on the nature of the case. 12 Repertorization was done with repertorization software [RADAR®, version 10.0.028 (ck), Archibel 2007, Belgium] taking Kent’s repertory as the case presented with characteristic mental picture and prominent physical generals.
Miasmatic analysis
Irritability – Syco-psoric
Melancholy – Syphilis
Headache aggravated at night – Syphilis
Headache from exposure to sun – Psora
Headache with throbbing sensation – Psora
Desire for salty food – Sycosis
Menses clotted – Sycosis
Remedial analysis
Natrum muriaticum (27/11), Calcarea carbonica (21/10), Sulphur (19/9), Mercurius (18/9) and Nux vomica (18/9) (Figure 1).
Natrum muriaticum covered all the symptoms with highest grades. Allen’s keynotes was consulted: for the anaemic, emaciation with mental affections; headache with throbbing sensation were considered while making the prescription. (13)
Remedy selection and administration
Natrum muriaticum 30c two doses were prescribed in 30 ml aqua dist. The first dose to be taken on the next day early morning in empty stomach and the remaining dose to be taken after one week interval to avoid any unnecessary aggravation. Liquid Placebo was prescribed to be taken on medicine free period for a period of one month.
Advice given
The patient was advised to avoid sun’s exposure as much as possible. To include green leafy vegetables in the diet which would help her regularise bowels habit and improving anaemia.
Follow up
22.12.2017 Headache much better reduced by nearly 50%. Stools softer in consistency, bowels movement at an interval of 3 days. Mild nausea was still present. Weight 47 kg Liquid Placebo
23.02.2018 Headache again returned but intensity much less. Nausea much better. Bowels movement at an interval of 2 days. Last menstrual cycle lasted for 3 days. Mental irritability reducing. Weight 48 kg Natrum muriaticum 200c two doses for 2 days at one week interval. Remaining days to be taken Liquid Placebo.
06.04.2018 Headache much better, nausea better. Bowels movement regularised. Weight 48 kg Continued with Liquid Placebo.
04.05.2018 Headache relieved by nearly 80% but persistent. The paroxysm was prolonged. Nausea did not occur. Stools passed daily, semi-solid consistency. Menses lasted for 3 days in a cycle. Grief though present but looked much relieved. Weight 50 kg Natrum muriaticum 1M, one dose to be taken in early morning in empty stomach followed by Liquid Placebo.
01.06.2018 Headache did not occur in the last month. Nausea absent. Bowels regular. Weight 50 kg Liquid Placebo, advised for repeat CECT scan of brain.
20.07.2018 No new complaints. Weight 51 kg Continued with Liquid Placebo.
Follow up
The case gradually but steadily improved. The mental and physical general symptoms improved. CT scan of brain done on 13th July 2018 revealed all findings within normal limits. The general well being of the case improved and was considered to be cured from pre-post pathological evidence. Further treatment was warranted if there was any recurrence of symptoms.
Conclusion
The case presented with characteristic symptoms of Natrum muriaticum and prescription was based on the totality of symptoms. The symptomatic improvement and the resolution of the brain lesion were evident from the laboratory reports (Figures 3, 4). More clinical trials are warranted to show the effectiveness of homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of benign or malignant tumours especially in cases of brain involvement where prognosis is not very favourable.
Author contribution
AN: literature search, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, manuscript review.
DKP: clinical studies, data acquisition, data analysis, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, manuscript review.
Funding and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There were no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the Director, National Institute of Homoeopathy; departmental heads of Organon of Medicine and Practice of Medicine, National Institute of Homoeopathy; the patient’s consent was taken and without whom the case study could not have been done.
References
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About the Authors
Dr Arunava Nath (Corresponding author), Former PG scholar of Dept. of Organon of Medicine, National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata. Presently Assistant Professor, Dept. of FMT, Pratap Chandra Memorial Homoeopathic Hospital & College, Kolkata.
Dr Deb Kumar Palit, Former PG scholar of Dept. of Practice of Medicine, National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata. Presently Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, Pratap Chandra Memorial Homoeopathic Hospital & College, Kolkata.
