External Applications in Homeopathy: Expanding The Therapeutic Horizons

Abstract

From the time of Aesculapius till the present day many physicians have been using Local Applications on the belief that if the external manifestations are removed, the disease is cured. Dr. Hahnemann was strictly against external application In the 5th edition of the Organon of Medicine in Aphorism 196-203, but later in the 6th edition of the Organon of Medicine he changed his mind because he said that the way to advocate a medicine to a person is not only orally and if the medicine is a curative one, if given internally, the same medicine can also be used externally as topical applications2 This article shows the efficacy of employment of external application in the mother tincture form by a case cured by Calendula. 

Key Words

External application, Homoeopathy, Calendula, Lotion, Liniment, Ointment

Introduction

External eruption is nothing but the outward reflection of the internal derangement of the spiritual dynamic vital force which when disturbed, expresses itself on the surface as signs. These are not in the strict principle of homoeopathy.  The nature of external symptoms indicate the nature of internal sickness. Treatment of diseases by internal medication is the specialty of homoeopathy. Diseases manifest by signs and symptoms, which are the sole guide of our homoeopathic method of treatment. No disease is external or local. The immaterial spirit-like vital force throws out the internal malady on the external surface. By removal of external affections by external application the disease is never-cured. On the other hand, they may attack some vital organs of our body and as a result we lose the image of the diseases. But for accidental cases, injuries, lacerations, burns etc. we need some local cleansing and dressing of the part3

Master Hahnemann gives some arguments against the external applications in his ‘Organon of Medicine’ (5th edition) in Sec. 196 to Sec. 203. But later on he saw the necessity of external application, while advocating the administration of medicine per month. He felt that the oral route is not the only route for administration of   medicine.

So he clearly explains, in the 6th edition of Organon of Medicine, in Sec. 284 and Sec. 285, about the use of external application. He said that curative remedy should be continued internally while the same remedy is used externally as an ointment, liniment, lotion, cerate etc.

*Note: In inveterate and difficult cases of Sycosis (when the Sycosis remains along with the excrescences) Thuja may be applied externally. This is the only condition where external application of medicine has been advocated by Hahnemann1

External Applications According to Organon of Medicine 

According to 5th edition of Organon of Medicine 

In the 5th edition of ‘Organon of Medicine’ we see Hahnemann’s arguments against the external applications, i.e., disadvantages of external applications from Sec. 196 to Sec. 203.

• 196 – 197: Administration of truly homoeopathic medicine both internally and externally, simultaneously 

With local application the local symptoms will disappear sooner than the internal symptoms, which was often thought that there is a complete cure. Due to this premature disappearance of the local symptoms, it is difficult and impossible to determine whether the internal disease has also been cured by internal medicine or not. 

• 198: Administration of suitable homoeopathic medicine only externally

After removal of the local symptoms by a topical application, we will have to deal with less characteristic and indistinct internal symptoms to select our remedy- which will no doubt be very difficult.

• 200: The persistence of local affection reflects internal deranged vital force. But we cannot know whether the entire disease has been fully cured, if we remove the local disease by external applications. 
• 201 Local symptom, enlarged by vital-force, lessens internal disease
• 202 : When the local symptom is destroyed by the topical application of external remedies then the dormant internal malady is roused up, which had previously co-existed with the affection. 
• 203: Nature tries to protect more vital organs by throwing out everything on the less important organs and on the external surface. But the application of external medicine affects the more important vital organs. Thus, it becomes the source of thousands of  human chronic maladies.
• 203 (Footnote:1) External removal with internal administration of dissimilar medicines cannot cure but weakens the organism and serves to add artificial chronic disease. 

According to 6th edition of ‘Organon of Medicine’, 

Dr. Hahnemann wrote in favour of external application, from Aphorism 284 to 285. 

• 284 : Absorption of medicine

Besides the tongue, mouth and stomach, which most commonly absorb the medicine, the nose and respiratory organs are receptive to the action of medicine in fluid form by means of olfaction and inhalation through the mouth.

But the whole remaining skin of the body, clothed with epidermis, is adapted to the action of medicinal solutions, especially if the inunction is connected with simultaneous internal administration. 

• 285 : The cure of very old diseases may be furthered by the physical application externally in the back, arms, extremities by rubbing the same medicine he gives internally and which showed itself curatively. In doing so, he must avoid parts subject to pain or spasm or skin eruption. 

Few chronic deformed patients, whose skin nevertheless was sound and clean, were cured quickly and permanently after a few baths whose medicinal constituents by chance were homeopathically related. 

• 282: If the fig-warts have existed for sometime without treatment, they will need for their perfect cure, the external application of their specific medicines as well as internal use at the same time

Vehicles as Bases for External Applications 

 (A) Liquid vehicles used for external applications 

1. Purified water
2.  Glycerin 
3.  Olive oil 
4. Almond oil 
5. Rosemary oil 
6. Sesame or Teel oil. 

(B) Semi-solid vehicles used for external applications 

1. Vaseline (Soft – Paraffin)
2. Waxes 
3. Prepared lard 
4. Isinglass
5. Soap
6. Starch

List of External Applications

1. Glycerols
2. Cerates 
3. Ointments 
4. Poultices 
5. Liniments  
6. Fomentations
7. Opodeldocs  
8. Plasters  
9. Lotions
10.  Oils  
11.  Injections 

1. Surgical dressings.

Remedies and their Local Use

1. Argemone Mexicana:- Fresh juice is applied to ulcers and warts.
2. Arnica:– Locally, the tincture, but should never be applied hot or at all when abrasions or cuts are present.  Arnica used as hair oil.* It works better in those who have perspiration is scanty in comparison to Jaborandi which is used when perspiration is perfuse.
3. Balsamum Peruvianum:- as a stimulant to raw surfaces in indolent ulcers, scabies, cracked nipples, rhagades, itch. Promotes granulation, removes fetor. A 1% solution in alcohol or ether may be used with the atomizer in respiratory affections. Internally, as an expectorant, in chronic bronchitis.
4. Borax:-locally in pruritus pudenda. A piece of borax, the size of a pea, dissolved in mouth, acts magically in restoring the voice, in case of sudden hoarseness brought on by cold, and frequently for an hour or so, it renders the voice silvery and clear.
5. Calendula Officinalis:-locally. Aqueous calendula for all wounds, the greatest healing agent. For burns, sores, fissures and abrasions, etc., use calendula cerate. Calendula cream or ointment for chapped hands.
6. Cantharis:– locally, in burns and eczema, 1x and 2x, in water, or as cerate.  In herpes zoster locally, in all cases, a lotion of cantharis 3x, ten drops to the ounce, may be kept applied on linen. Or an ointment of 3x.
7. Chrysarobinum:– locally in ringworm  5-10 percent in glycerine and alcohol. Equal parts.
8. Ceanothus :- Locally as hair tonic.
9. Cineraria:– is used externally, by instilling into the eye one drops four or five times a day. Most effective in traumatic cases. Has some reputation  in the cure of cataract and corneal opacities.
10. Cinnamonum:– Oil of cinnamonum in aqueous solution is the best local disinfectant. 3-4 drops in two quarts of water as a douche, wherever a germicide and disinfectant is needed. ** 3 drops on sugar of milk for hiccough**
11. Cistus Canadensis:- Locally as a wash to arrest fetid discharges.
12. Cochlearia Armoracia:- Locally to cure dandruff.
13. Dioscorea  Villosa :- Locally tincture is applied in whitlow in early cases it can abort the case.
14. Eupatorium Aromaticum :- Tincture, locally, in sore mouth and sore nipples.
15. Graphites :- Locally as a cerate in sore nipples. Also in eczema.
16. Hamamelis virginica:- Distilled extract locally used. Locally to bleeding hemorrhoids (with open or loose bowels) a lotion of mother tincture, 30 drops to half pint of want with which part should be bathed night and morning. Bleeding varicose veins, ulcers use locally the tincture  (1 pint =473.13 ml)
17. Hydrastis :- Locally for cancer of lips, ulcers.
18. Ichthyolum :- Externally, it is used as an ointment, with lanolin 20-50 percent, for chronic eczema and psoriasis, also acne rosacea and gouty joints. Chilblains, scabies. Rectal suppositories for senile prostate.
19. Iodum :- Locally the most powerful, least harmful and easily managed microbicide. Ideal agent to keep wounds clean and disinfected. Bites of insects, reptiles, etc. Gunshot wounds and compound fracture, excellent. Great skin disinfectant.
20. Kali muriaticum :- External use in skin affections with burning sensation (acne, erythema, and eczema, with vesicles containing thick, white contents. Dry, flour-like scales on the skin. Bursitis)
21. Phytolacca :  Externally for mastitis.
22. Plantago major : Tincture local use in toothache in hollow teeth, otorrhoea, pruritus, Incised wounds. 
23. Ratanhia :- Locally, the cerate has proved invaluable in many rectal complaints.
24. Ruta :- Locally the tincture for ganglia and as a lotion for the eyes.
25. Sabina :- Locally for warts, tincture.
26. Sabadilla :-  Locally tincture to head after washing for head lice.
27. Sepia :- Locally for ringworm of the scalp and hairy parts. After washing the head with soap and water, and cutting short hairs a paste of sepia 1x moistened with water to be applied every night.
28. Stellaria media :- Tincture externally – rheumatism.
29. Symphytum :- Externally as addressing for sores and ulcers and pruritus ani.
30. Thuja :- Locally, for warts and excrescences, tincture or cerate5

Case

A female patient of age 33 years came to OPD with the chief complaint of laceration below the right eye after a fall. After thorough case taking, all her generals were good. Based on acute case totality she was prescribed with Calendula mother tincture as an external application twice for 1 week. After 10 days there was improvement with granulation of new healthy tissue.