Sports Medicine: An Unexplored Domain By Homoeopaths - homeopathy360

Sports Medicine: An Unexplored Domain By Homoeopaths

Author:
Dr Shamshad Ankalgi
BHMS; MD (Organon)
Asst Professor, Dept: – Organon of Medicine and Homoeopathic Philosophy
Yenepoya Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital
Nirangana – Mangalore

Abstract: -Homoeopathy has huge scope in sports medicine; Homoeopathic medicine has been in use in sports by non-qualified professionals which has resulted in intuitional and empirical homoeopathic prescription causing more harm than good to the science. Homoeopathsneed to explore this field and serve the ailing humanity.

Hippocrates, Father of medicine advocated “Eating alone will not keep a man well, he must also exercise” and “Food and exercise, while possessing opposite qualities, yet works together to produce health

It is usual for people to pick up sports these days as a mean to keep fit and healthy. Perceiving sports as profession is not uncommon too; in this case the training starts from early years of life. With sports practice accompanies injuries. Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and treatment and prevention of injuries and ailments related to sports and exercise.

The word that we associate with sports medicine is injuries and this makes a homoeopath think this field has little scope for the science (since it requires mechanical aid) and as a results homoeopaths have not ventured in this domain. Contrary to the belief 90% injuries in sports are non-surgical. Homoeopathy has a number of remedies for treating various types of injuries and the list is not limited to Arnica or Calendula. Pilot studies and individual clinical experiences have shown that healing is faster with homeopathic medicines. The minuteness of homoeopathic dose is imperceptible and hence it saves the sports faculty and athletes of worries related to ethical and doping issues.  Medicinal side effects are nil. A part of the problem is also intellectual conditioning of laity from popular opinions that homoeopathy is slow acting repercussion of which is the impatient, instantaneous world retreat from Homoeopathy.

Homoeopathic remedies cover various types of injuries and morbidity with every possible diseased sensation and pathological accompaniments that exist.  Repertories have various rubrics regarding injuries some of the examples are;

Injuries, Ailments from –Ip, Acon, Dulc, Kali-m, Mag-c, Mill, Nat-s ,Ruta, Sil, Symphetc

Injuries ailments from concussion- Arn, Hyper, Am-c ,Valer

Injuries extravasation with – Arn, Sul-ac, Con, Led, Ruta, Sulph

Injuries Chronic effect of – Arn, Bell-p, Symph , Con etc

Injuries tendon of – Anac, Calen, Rhust-t ,Ruta.

Injuries rupture of muscle of – Calen

An understanding of repertory and its timely use makes the prescription of a homoeopathic specific remedy easier. In case young homoeopaths feel the goal is unachievable because of the unordinary circumstances;then one specificbook would be of help “Homoeopathy for First Aiders- Dorothy shepherd” who during the First World War undertook the herculean task of practicing homoeopathy in emergencies and injury with great success. This book details a number of indication of remedies and treatment of emergencies with homoeopathic remedies.

“I must admit that homoeopathy has never let me down. Homoeopathy is a life-long study. It requires the burning of the midnight oil, but it is worthwhile.”- Dorothy Shepherd.

Apart from injuries sports medicine deal with chronic health issues that incapacitates an athlete from performing his best. It includes a huge spectrum of illness that homeopathy is capable of curing.  Every sports has its share of emergencies ; if you thought emergencies were not a homoeopath’s purview then read Phyllis Speight’s “Homoeopathy for emergencies” . The first section deals with emergency situations, section two deals with important symptoms of remedies.

Sports psychology   applies psychological principles tohelp athletes to develop skills and abilities for the betterment of an athlete’s sporting performance. Homoeopathy being a holistic science is well aware of the importance of mental health and personality traits. Further it individualizes each case and accordingly a specific homoeopathic remedy is prescribed. Homoeopathic Materia medica has huge collection of remedies with a number of presentations of physical and mental symptoms which has abilities to cure ailments that become hurdle for an athlete’s bestperformance.

It’s a fact that there has been sporadic use of homoeopathic remedies in sports by trainers and coaches. However their knowledge is limited and they lack the insight into homoeopathic principles and their application in practice. One example to explain it would be prescribing Gelsemium to all athletes before the event to avoid anxiety; repercussion of which is un-gratifyingresults, use of compound medicine or patents are common. The need of the hour is trained and certified homoeopathic professional who have knowledge of sports medicine to accept the challenge and explore this field to serve the ailing humanity.

Hahnemann in aphorism one said “The physician’s high and only mission is to restore the sick to health, to cure as it is termed” Ailments of sports should be no exception to it.

REFRENCES:

  1. Organon  Of  Medicine – 6th Edition , – Samuel Hahnemann
  2. Homoeopathy for First Aiders- Dorothy shepherd
  3. Homoeopathy for emergencies-Phyllis Speight
  4. Synthesis Repertory
  5. Complete repertory

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