Integrative Insights into Pneumonia

Abstract: Pneumonia remains a major public health concern, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. This article explores pneumonia through the lens of Homoeopathy and German New Medicine (GNM). Homoeopathy offers individualized remedies that stimulate the body’s vital force to restore balance and aid healing. German New Medicine provides a unique psychosomatic perspective, viewing pneumonia as a biological response to an unresolved conflict. By integrating classical medical knowledge with holistic systems like Homoeopathy and GNM, a more personalized and comprehensive approach to pneumonia care can be achieved. 

Keyword: Pneumonia, Case taking, Homoeopathic Materia Medica, Rubrics for Pneumonia.

Pneumonia: Pneumonia is an accumulation of secretions and inflammatory cells in the alveolar spaces of the lungs caused by infection.

The infecting organism, the inflammatory response and the disturbances of gas exchange caused by alveolar involvement are responsible for the clinical manifestations. ⁽¹⁾

• Classification of pneumonia: 

• Anatomical classification:

• Lobar pneumonia 
• Broncho pneumonia 
• Interstitial pneumonia 

• Etiological classification: 

• Primary pneumonia 
• Secondary pneumonia 
• Suppurative pneumonia 

• Clinical classification:

• Community – acquired pneumonia 
• Hospital – acquired pneumonia 
• Pneumonia in immunocompromised host 
• Health care associated pneumonia 
• Ventilator- associated pneumonia ⁽²⁾

• Clinical features: 

• Symptoms: 

• Sudden onset of rigors 
• Pleuritic chest pain 
• Cough 
• Purulent sputum 
• Hemoptysis  

• Signs:

• Rapid respiratory rate 
• Confusion 
• Hypotension 
• Cyanosis 
• Flushed dry skin ⁽¹⁾

Pneumonia in aspect of German New Medicine 

• Every disease has its biological conflict. 
• During this whole process, every conflicts has two phases: – 1) Conflict active phase, 2) Healing phase  
• For pneumonia, we start with the bronchial mucosa and its biological conflict. 
• Function of the bronchial mucosa: – The main function of the bronchi and bronchioles is to carry air into the lung alveoli, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged during respiration.
• Control Centre in the Brain: – The bronchial mucosa originates from the ectoderm and is therefore controlled from the cerebral cortex. 
• The bronchial mucosa of both lungs is controlled from the right temporal lobe (part of the sensory cortex). The control center is positioned exactly across from the brain relay of the laryngeal mucosa. ⁽³⁾

• The biological conflicts linked to the temporal lobes are first and foremost territorial conflicts.
• The right temporal lobe relates to male territorial conflicts (territorial fear conflict, territorial loss conflict, territorial anger conflict, territorial marking conflict).
• The left temporal lobe relates to female territorial conflicts (scare-fright conflict, sexual conflict, identity conflict, marking conflict) associated with a woman’s “inner space”, including reproduction.
• The female and male conflict experience is largely influenced by the HORMONE STATUS, particularly by the estrogen and testosterone levels (both men and women produce these hormones).
• The production of estrogen and testosterone, which occurs predominantly in the ovaries and testicles, is controlled from the temporal lobes. 
• The estrogen level is regulated from the left temporal lobe, or female conflict area.
• The testosterone level is regulated from the right temporal lobe, or male conflict area.  
• A change of the hormone status alters a person’s biological identity and, consequently, the way conflicts are perceived. 
• Hence, a woman with a low estrogen level experiences conflicts like a male. 
• Conversely, a man with a low testosterone status experiences conflicts like a female.

The Principle of Gender, Laterality, and Hormone Status

	A person’s gender, laterality, and hormone status determine whether a conflict registers in the right or left temporal lobe.
	The hormone status determines whether a conflict is experienced in a male or female fashion. (4)

Biological Conflict 

Biological conflict linked to the bronchial mucosa depending on a person’s gender, laterality, and hormone status.

Male: Territorial Fear Conflict 

Female: Scare- Fright Conflict 

• Right-handed and left-handed male with normal hormone status (NHS)

• For a right-handed male with a normal hormone status, a territorial fear conflict registers in the bronchial mucosa relay. 
• For a left- handed male with a normal hormonal status, conflict is transferred to the opposite brain hemisphere and registers in the laryngeal mucosa relay. 

• Right-handed and left-handed male with low testosterone status (LTS)

• When a right-handed male with a low testosterone status experiences a female scare- fright conflict, the conflict registers in the laryngeal mucosa relay.
• For a left-handed male, the conflict is transferred to the opposite brain hemisphere and registers in the bronchial mucosa relay. 

• Right-handed and left-handed female with normal hormone status (NHS)

• For a right-handed female with a normal hormone status, scare- fright conflict registers in the laryngeal mucosa relay.
• For a left- handed female, the conflict is transferred to the opposite brain hemisphere and registers in the bronchial mucosa relay. 

• Right-handed and left-handed female with low estrogen status (LES)

• When a right-handed female with a low estrogen status experiences a male territorial fear conflict, the conflict registers in the bronchial mucosa relay. 
• For the left- handed female, the conflict transferred to the opposite brain hemisphere and registers in the laryngeal mucosa relay.

Territorial Fear Conflict 

• Threat to the “territory”, fear within the “territory” – at home, at work, at school, at the playground, in kindergarten or daycare, in a seniors home, in the hospital, or in the village, city, and country where one lives
• Fear regarding one’s own safety – 
• Physical abuse, family violence, mobbing, bullying, an accident, fire or flooding, an acute medical condition, a frightening diagnosis or prognosis, scary medical procedures, or hospitalization are a few examples of what can trigger the conflict.
• In Children – When they are punished, abused, or when they are terrified of a person or a situation, when they watch spooky films or videos showing monsters or vampires, or when they have nightmares. An Adult’s panic can also create a territorial fear in a child. 
• In Unborn Children – Conflict experience in the womb when the mother is in danger or at birth during a difficult delivery. 
• A territorial fear can be shared by people of large regions, for example, during a natural disaster, during wartimes, or through scares of terrorist attacks or pandemic fear-mongering by the media. 

Conflict Active Phase 

• Ulceration in the bronchial mucosa proportional to the degree and duration of conflict activity. 
• Biological purpose of the cell loss is to widen the respiratory passageways so that more air can reach the lungs. 
• There are no symptoms in the conflict – active phase. 

Conflict -Healing Phase 

• Symptoms – Chest Pain, tickles in the lungs, Coughing – coughing facilitates bringing up phlegm containing remnants of the repair process. 
• Bronchitis – When healing is accompanied by an inflammation, typically with fever, headache, and fatigue.

• PNEUMONIA is bronchitis with the Syndrome, that is, with water retention as a result of an active abandonment or existence conflict involving the kidney collecting tubules.
• “Bacterial Pneumonia” indicates that the repair process is assisted by bacteria. 
• Pneumonia is also the most common lung condition associated with HIV and AIDS. There is no causal relation at all to the alleged HIV-Virus but it is due to a “territorial fear” or “scare-fright” conflict associated with the “disease”. ⁽³⁾

How GNM helps in homoeopathic case taking or what you need to ask in cases of pneumonia? 

• Any event in which the person become threatened before sometime of disease presentation? – At home, in relationship, at job, in regards to social status or about children; because there were no symptoms in conflict active phase. 
• When patient comes to physician it is already a healing phase, because symptoms appear in healing phase of conflict. 
• Fear of hospital, injection, surgical procedure? – If present, it may activate existence conflict. 
• GNM guides for which type of symptoms physician has to ask in which direction; not any feel can give that specific disease, fix biological conflict is present for fix disease.
• GNM guide in which condition which type of emotion is involve.

Pneumonia in aspect of Homoeopathic Materia Medica 

• Ammonium carb – bronchopneumonia of the aged with rattling of large bubbles in the chest; cough and copious expectoration < 3-4 A.M.

• Antimonium tart – In pneumonia when parts of lungs are hepatized and fine rales heard over hepatized part; Broncho pneumonia – when resolution has set in, but fails

• Bromium – Pneumonia affecting lower lobe of right lung, lobar pneumonia, sensation as if he could not get enough air into chest. 

• Bryonia – In pneumonia when hepatization or stage of exudation has set in. Pain < by every motion, pain more bearable when lying on affected side. 

• Cannabis sat. – Pneumonia infantalis, with high fever and delirium; lung lesion confined to apex; indicated in late stage of pneumonia

• Cantharis – Pneumonia with stitches and darting in chest, < during inspiration, cannot lie on affected side

• Capsicum – Broncho- pneumonia with dirty- brown sputa; during cough –splitting pain in head; cough < after warm drinks, from any draught. 

• Carbo an. – Last stage of pneumonia, suppuration of right lung; expectoration of green, purulent, horribly offensive sputa < lying on right side. 

• Chelidonium – Infantile pneumonia with prevalence of hepatic symptoms. 

• Cuprum met – Lobular pneumonia; sudden difficulty of breathing, followed by great prostration. 

• Ferrum met. – Dyspnoea slowly increasing; bloody expectoration; epidemic pneumonia.

• Ferrum phos. – First stage of infantile pneumonia, especially when caused by checked perspiration on a hot summer’s day. Pneumonia of adults, very little thirst; profuse expectoration of almost pure blood 

• Hepar sulph. – Mild Suppurative stage, extending only over small part of the lung; chronic pneumonia, with profuse purulent expectoration.

• Hyoscyamus – Pneumonia with cerebral symptoms, delirium, stupor; dry, fatiguing night cough, or rattling in chest; pneumonia of drunkards. 

• Kali sulph. – Pneumonia with wheezing and yellow expectoration. Loose, rattling phlegm or watery mucus; stage of resolution; suffocative feeling in hot atmosphere. 

• Spongia – Broncho – pneumonia; sputa taste sour or salty, worse when lying down; burning and soreness in chest; cough relieved by drinking and eating.  

• Phosphorus – Dryness of air passages; great weight on chest or tightness, hepatization of lower half of right lung.

• Sanguinaria – Second and third stage of pneumonia; cough dry at first; tough and rusty sputa during red hepatization. ⁽⁵⁾

Pneumonia In Aspect Of Homoeopathic Repertory 

• MIND – STUPOR – pneumonia, in ⁽⁶⁾

Chel. Phos.

• Mind; delirium; pneumonia; in:
  ANT-T CHEL hyos IOD kali-bi LACH LACHN LYC MOSCH PHOS PULS pyrog sulph.

• Mind; anxiety; pneumonia, in:
  ANT-T anthr ARS CHEL nat-s squil zinc.

• Face; redness; pneumonia, in:
  ferr-p lachn sang SULPH VERAT-V.

• Stomach; vomiting; pneumonia, in:
  ANT-T apom chel ferr-p IP just nat-s verat-v.

• Rectum; diarrhoea; pneumonia, in:
  ANT-T apis ars chel Cupr elaps PHOS rhus-t.

• Kidneys; inflammation, nephritis; pneumonia, in:
  chel phos.

• Respiration; difficult; pneumonia, in:
  acon ANT-T arn ars-i BAR-C CAMPH CARB-V CHEL GRIN iod KALI-C KALI-I KALI-N KREOS laur LYC merc nux-v PHOS puls queb RHUS-T SANG sulph.

• Chest; inflammation; lungs, pneumonia; bronchopneumonia:
  ACON am-c am-i ant-ar ANT-T ars-i bac BELL BRY caps CHAM CHEL cur DIG ferr-p glyc iod ip just KALI-BI KALI-C lob LYC merc morg morg-g NIT-AC NUX-V OSM PHOS PULS pyrog seneg sol-n SPONG SQUIL SULPH TER tub tub-a tub-k.

• Chest; inflammation; lungs, pneumonia; both sides:
  bry ferr-p KALI-I kali-m SPONG VERAT verat-v.

• Chest; inflammation; lungs, pneumonia; children, in:
  ACON Aeth ALL-C ANT-AR ANT-C ANT-T APEI-S ARN bac BELL BRY CALC Cann-s CARC CHAM CHEL FERR-P hep IP KALI-BR KALI-C kali-i LOB LYC MERC morg nit-ac NUX-V OP PHOS puls SAMB SULPH tub uran-ar.

• Chest; inflammation; lungs, pneumonia; congestion of lungs, rust colored, offensive sputum:
  SANG VERAT-V.

• Chest; inflammation; lungs, pneumonia; expectoration, with purulent:
  bell carb-an CARB-V chin dros dulc ferr HEP hyos KALI-C LACH laur led LYC merc OP ph-ac PHOS puls SULPH.

• Chest; inflammation; lungs, pneumonia; apex, upper:
  ACON Aeth ANT-AR ars bac bor bry calad CALC calc-p CHEL FERR-P hep iod KALI-I merc-su myrt-c nux-v ol-j phys tub tub-a.

• Chest; inflammation; lungs, pneumonia; base, lower: ⁽⁷⁾
  arn ars asc-t bac bor BROM BRY camph Cann-i CHEL CUPR ferr-p gink GRIN hyos IOD KALI-C Kreos lachn LYC MERC merc-meth merc-v myos Naja NAT-S OX-AC PHOS pyrog rhus-t sang STRAM stroph SULPH tub verat-v.

• NOSE – MOTION – Wings; of – fan-like – pneumonia, in

Ammc. Ant-t. Chel. Kreos. LYC. Phos. Sulph.

• COUGH – PNEUMONIA, after ⁽⁶⁾

Ars. Calc-i.

• CHEST – EXUDATION – Lungs; in – pneumonia; after

Ferr.

• CHEST – INFLAMMATION – Lungs – aspiration pneumonia ⁽⁷⁾

Ant-t. Kali-c. Sang.

• SLEEP – SLEEPINESS – pneumonia; in ⁽⁶⁾

Ant-t. Chel. Op. phos.

Conclusion 

The only aim behind the article is to make everyone aware that pneumonia is not just an infectious disease; the emotions or conflicts which causes disturbance must be known. Homoeopathic medicine have affinity on different emotional state, so it will cure the patient rapidly and patient will come out from disease condition without harmful procedures. GNM conflict is helpful to physician in case taking – in which aspect the physician has to go deep and what is to cure?

Reference

1. Golwalla’s Medicine For Students, 25^th Edition 
2. Medicine _ By George Mathew_5^th Edition
3. https://learninggnm.com/SBS/documents/lungs.html#Bronchia_Mucosa_PCL_Pneumonia
4. https://learninggnm.com/constellations/documents/temporal_lobes.html#Manic_Depression_Top
5. Homoeopathic Therapeutics – by Samuel Lilienthal _ 4^th Edition
6. Synthesis repertory 
7. Complete Dynamics – Browser edition 

About the Author:

Keshvi S Dudhagara (Internee)

LR Shah Homoeopathy College, Rajkot (Gujarat)