ABSTRACT:
Effectiveness of homoeopathy can be learnt through discussion of cases. Here is a case of Itching with eruption for 6 years which was effectively treated with Silicea in LM potency. The paper is focused primarily on the effectiveness of homoeopathy in skin disease and to emphasize the importance of LM potency.
KEYWORDS: Allergic dermatitis, homoeopathy, Silicea terra, LM potency
ABBREVIATIONS: LM potency – 50 millesimal potency
INTRODUCTION:
Allergic diseases are the most common disease condition among Indians. Approximately 60 million Indians suffer from allergic diseases. Homoeopathy has a great scope in treating such cases by selecting a suitable remedy on the basis of the symptom similarity. This case was effectively treated with Silicea.
PATIENT AS A WHOLE
An 8-year-old boy, Mst.XXX came with the complaint of itching with the blackish eruption and watery discharge from the eruption.
PRESENTING COMPLAINTS
Location: Extremities upper and lower extremities since 6 years increased since 1 month.
Sensation: ⦁ Itching
⦁ Eruption blackish discolouration and watery discharge
⦁ Dry skin
Modality: <Morning,
<night
< intake of fish
<scratching
HISTORY OF PRESENTING ILLNESS:
Patient’s complaints started before 6 years and increased for 1 month. Itching and eruptions with blackish discolouration and watery discharge from eruptions. Initially, complaint started in the upper arm and later spreads to the forearm and to lower extremities with itching and it is followed by the watery discharge from the eruption. Skin is very dry in nature.
PAST HISTORY:
Recurrent attack of allergic dermatitis from childhood.
HISTORY OF TREATMENT ADOPTED:
Underwent allopathic and ayurvedic treatment for presenting complaints but no relief.
FAMILY HISTORY: Nothing specific
PHYSICAL GENERALS:
Appetite: Reduced.
Desire for Egg, Sweets, Fish
LIFE SPACE INVESTIGATION:
The patient was born and brought up in Kandanvillai. He is the only child to his parent. He is normally delivered, full-term baby. He is studying in 3rd standard. He is very silent in nature, fear of meeting new people and he is moderate in his studies. Feels worried about his condition. He is not willing to go to school because everyone is mocking at him. He used to cry because of his complaints. Initially, the complaint started at the age of 6 months. He developed eruptions in the left arm and later spread throughout the hand and he was taken for allopathic treatment after which it will subside and again it will appear. There is offensive discharge from the eruptions. During childhood, there are repeated eruptions and he was taking much treatment for his complaints but no relief, there is a recurrence of complaints. He is mild in nature, very shy type; won’t mingle with other children. He used to cling with his mother and father. He takes time to talk with others.
MENTAL GENERALS:
A boy is of shy type with nervousness and anxiety on meeting new people. He used to weeps easily and doesn’t want to meet new people.
REACTION TO HEAT AND COLD:
Desire for warm food, fanning and covering.
Thermal: Chilly Patient.
PHYSICAL FINDINGS:
General examination: Nails: White-spotted. Perspiration: Profuse on palms. Others: Nothing specific.
Systemic examination: Nothing specific.
LOCAL EXAMINATION OF SKIN:
Skin is of dry nature with rough with watery discharge from the eruptions with scar marks. No keloid formations, No skin tag, No ulcerated wounds, No bleeding.
ANALYSIS OF SYMPTOMS
COMMON SYMPTOM
⦁ Itching with eruption
⦁ <night
⦁ <scratching
⦁ < intake of fish
UNCOMMON SYMPTOM
⦁ Shy
⦁ Nervous and anxiety on meeting new people
⦁ Weeps easily
⦁ Doesn’t want to meet new people
⦁ Desire – warm food
⦁ Desire – Fanning, covering.
⦁ Sweat- Increased on palms.
⦁ Eruption blackish discolouration and watery discharge
⦁ Dryness of skin
⦁ <Morning,
TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS:
⦁ Shy
⦁ Nervous and anxiety on meeting new people
⦁ Weeps easily
⦁ Desire – warm food
⦁ Desire – Fanning, covering.
⦁ Sweat- Increased on palms.
⦁ Eruption with itching
⦁ Eruptions with blackish discolouration
⦁ Dryness of skin
⦁ Watery discharge from eruptions
⦁ <scratching
⦁ <Morning
DISEASE DIAGNOSIS:
| DISEASE DIAGNOSIS | DIAGNOSIS CONSIDERATION |
| Allergic Dermatitis ICD -10 CM: L-30.9 | C/O Eruption with itching, Blackish discoloration and watery discharge Dry skin LOCAL EXAMINATION(L/E): Skin is dry in nature with rough with watery discharge eruptions with scar marks. |
MIASMATIC ANALYSIS (1,2):
| PSORA | SYCOSIS | SYPHILIS |
| Dry skin Scratching eruptions followed by dry skin. Itching in night and evening. Watery discharge. Unhealthy skin <scratching Desire warm food Weeps easily | Shy Blackish discolouration of the skin Agg: night Anxiety on meeting new people Profuse sweat in palms | Agg: night |
Miasm: Psora Sycotic
REPERTORIAL ANALYSIS (3):
MEDICINE SELECTED: SILICEA
BASIS OF SELECTION OF SILICEA (4,5):
⦁ Shy(4)
⦁ Sensitive to all impression(4,5)
⦁ Fear of meeting new people(4)
⦁ Dry fingers(4)
⦁ Eruptions itch only in day and night(4,5)
⦁ Better by warmth(4,5)
⦁ Nervous.(4)
⦁ Inclined to sweat(5)
⦁ Want of grit both physical and mental(4)
⦁ Painful sensitive skin(5)
⦁ Itching over whole body < night(4)
⦁ Unhealthy skin, every injury tends to heal. (4)
⦁ Chilly patient(4)
FIRST PRESCRIPTION: 01-09-2018
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 /1 DOSES, (1 Poppy seed-sized globule in 1 gram of sugar of milk – dry dose) (M X 1 DAY)
FOLLOW UPS:
22/9/2018
⦁ Patient feels better
⦁ Itching is reduced slightly, bur persist.
M/G: Shy
Moderate in education.
Sweating over palm and foot.
P/G: GOOD
Perspiration: Profuse on palm
Weight: 20kgs
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
06/10/2018
⦁ Eruption on the extensor aspect of forearm and leg- better.
⦁ Itching is reduced but persists.
⦁ Discharge present but reduced
P/G: GOOD
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
13/10/2018
⦁ Patient feels better.
⦁ Itching is reduced
⦁ Eruptions are reduced.
P/G:
App: Reduced
OTHERS: GOOD
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
20/10/2018
⦁ Patient feels better
⦁ Complaints are reduced but still persist.
⦁ Itching is reduced, but still, slightly persist
⦁ Eruptions are reduced.
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
27/10/2018
⦁ Patient feels better
⦁ Itching is reduced, but still, slightly persist
⦁ Eruptions are reduced.
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
03/11/2018
⦁ Itching is reduced, but occasionally present
⦁ Eruptions and discharges are reduced
⦁ Weakness of memory
⦁ Difficulty in remembering subjects
P/G: GOOD
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
10/11/2018
⦁ Patient feels better
⦁ Itching is reduced, but occasionally present
⦁ Eruptions are reduced
⦁ Discharge is reduced
⦁ Weakness of memory
⦁ Difficulty in remembering subjects
P/G: GOOD
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
24.11.2018
⦁ Patient feels better
⦁ Eruptions are reduced
⦁ Itching is reduced but occasionally present
⦁ < playing in the sand
GENERALS: Good
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
1.12.2018
⦁ Patient feels better
⦁ Itching is reduced but persist
⦁ Eruptions are reduced
⦁ Concentration in studies is increased – Said by the teacher
GENERALS: Good
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
08.12.2018
⦁ Patient feels better
⦁ Itching is reduced but persists occasionally.
⦁ Eruptions and discharges are reduced
GENERALS: Good
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/3 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
15.12.2018
⦁ Patient feels better
⦁ Itching is reduced but persists occasionally.
⦁ Eruptions and discharges are reduced
GENERALS: Good
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/6 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
22.12.2018
⦁ Patient feels better but itching after eating fish and chicken
⦁ Eruption slightly started after eating chicken
⦁ No discharge from the eruptions.
⦁ P/G: Good
RX
⦁ SILICEA 0/6 1DOSE no.30 sized globule in 1grain of sugar of milk – Dry dose (M) X 1 DAY
PHILOSOPHY OF PRESCRIPTION:
SELECTION OF POTENCY:
Aphorism 270(6): During the treatment of chronic diseases, it is best, to begin with the lowest degrees of dynamisation and when necessary advance to higher, ever more powerful but mildly acting degrees. So in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease, we have to start from lowest degrees of dynamisation, i.e., from LM/1 or LM/2 or LM/3. After finishing that prescribed potency than to be applied next higher degree. In any case, treatment is to be started from the lowest degrees of dynamisation, i.e., with any potency from LM/1 to LM/6. In any case, acute or chronic, we generally start the treatment with one of the potencies from LM/1 to LM/6 as per susceptibility of the patient. Then we continue from the next higher potency of the applied medicine gradually (i.e., LM/1, M/2, LM/3, LM/4, LM/5, LM/6, LM/7 and so on). We select one of the lowest possible potencies (i.e. LM/1 or LM/2 or LM/3, etc.) of a judiciously selected medicine in case of the second prescription also. The 0/3 or 0/6 is a good one to start with.
CONCLUSION:
The patient named Mst.XX aged 8 years presented with the complaints of itching with eruption since 6 years and increased since 1month. Initially, he was treated with SILICEA 0/3 weekly one Dose. There is an improvement in his complaints itching with eruptions is reduced, discharges are reduced. Now, there is an improvement as a whole. Thus from this case, we learned about the Silicea’s action over the skin and when to repeat the medicine and also the role of LM potency in treating the case.
REFERENCES
⦁ Patel P.Ramanal Chronic Miasms in Homoeopathy and their cure with classification of their rubrics/symptom in Dr.KENT’S repertory(repertory of miasms).Kerala: Hahnemann Homoeopathic Pharmacy house. 1996. P.1207 – 1221( skin chapter).
⦁ Banerjea Kumar Subrata. Miasmatic Prescribing. Skin. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 2015. p. 82 – 86.
⦁ RADAR 10.0 for Windows Schroyens F. Synthesis 9.0 (English)
⦁ Boericke William. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic materia medica and Repertory. New Delhi : B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd ;2011.p.522-524.
⦁ Phatak S.R Materia medica of Homoeopathic medicine,. New Delhi : B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd. 11th impression : 2010. p.651,660.
⦁ Hahnemann Samuel. Organon of Medicine. Aphorism. 5th& 6th edition. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 2005. p.235.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr.Harshavarthini.M, Post Graduate student, Department of Organon of Medicine in Sarada Krishna Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital.
Under the Guidance of Dr.Murugan.M. Head and professor of Department of Organon. Department of Organon of Medicine and Homoeopathic philosophy. Kulasekharam, Kanniyakumari district, Tamilnadu.
Mail at:[email protected]
