Abstract: The specialty of homoeopathic philosophy is individualistic approach. Individualization is the method of singling out a person from several persons from his unique characteristics. From the stand point of holism we treat every patient, not with the name of the disease but from the special expression of the individual. Same is reflected in a case of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT).
Key words: Homoeopathy – oligoasthenoteratozoospermia – individualization – approach of case receiving and management
Abbreviations: oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT)
Introduction: Hahnemann’s discovery of homoeopathy was the outcome of his philosophical conflict with the prevailing mode of treatment and a humanistic attitude. Hahnemann’s innovative though led him to attach many thought processes forwarded by philosophical and medical maestros before him and contemporaries who provoked though provoked new ideas and shake the German youth (Aufklarung, the renascences of Germany). Name of socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Descartes, Kant, Schelling, Hegel, Sthal, Hoffman, Barthez Hegel from philosophy and Friedrich Mesmer, Paracelsus, Galen, Cullen Edward Jenner from medical word may be connected with evolution of Homoeopathic philosophy[1]. Hahnemann took the best from all under a single umbrella and gave the name –homoeopathy.
Concept of individualization is one of the most vital aspects of homoeopathic prescription. If holism is a part of formation so individualisation is the part of practicability. If holism is a concept than individualization is the basis of homoeopathic prescription. The expression of the disease though occurs through a part but the whole person is sick[2], the Sickness of an individual is the basic phenomenon having its final expression occurs at its part or Homeopathy treats the patient not the disease[3] – are the various phrases are the outcome of the very distinct and scientific concept.
The word “individualisation” is derived from the Latin root, ‘individuous’ means in (not) and dividaus (divisible). The nearest english is individuality. In the light of study of human life, the term Individual signifies a unique human being, distinct form general class and not further classifiable in his essence of being. In its fundamental nature, an individual represents indivisibility not from the anatomical point of view but rather from the aspect of his real essence that is his innermost self. Individuality is fundamental in men. It is not merely a certain aspect of the organism. But it permeates our entire our entire beings. It makes the self — a unique event in the history of the world. It stumps its mark on the whole of the body and consciousness, and, although remaining invisible, on each component of this whole[4].
And simultaneously with physical activities, the body manifests other activities, which are called mental. The existence of the mind, of consciousness, is detected by other procedures, such as those employed in the introspection and in the study of human behavior[5].
This issue is now supported by modern medicine also. “When a patient sees a doctor, he has some expectations and hopes”, API Text Book of Medicine[6] says, “They expect him to be interested in them as an individual. – He should not consider the patient as a bundle of symptoms, abnormal physical signs or pathological tissue specimens but a human being who has approached him for relief from physical and mental agony”. Harrison[7] also declares, “—In this era of ‘Techno-medicine’, physicians need of approach to the patient not as ‘case’ or ‘disease’, but as individual whose problems are also to often transcend their physical complaints”. The ‘ideals’ sited in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine[8] also says, “Treat the whole patient, not the disease”, which sounds like Hahnemann, conveying his unrest request form the last to last century.
Aim and objective: To establish the role of individualisation in the management ofoligoasthenoteratozoospermia
Materials and methods: A single case report of oligoasthenoteratozoospermiawith favourable outcome by homoeopathic treatment.
Case report:
| Before treatment |
The following is a case of a lawyer of 37 years who came with the problem of infertility. He was the father of 7 years son and now planning for the second baby. As per the patient, they were trying for last six months but the result is hopeless. Then the couple had gone to gynaecologist where under a set of investigations he is diagnosed to have oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. The term oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, or OAT, is used when all three of the following factors are present: an abnormally low level of sperm of a healthy shape (teratozoospermia), an abnormally low amount of sperm (oligozoospermia), an abnormally low amount of sperm with good motility (asthenozoospermia)[9]. Along with this, he developed some erection problem, performance difficulty and quick ejaculation. He suffered from increased heart beats two years back and diagnosed to have hypertension. There was one episode of fever when he had elevated blood sugar but that was the first and last time. His father was diabetic and hypertensive and mother has moderately increased blood pressure. His grandfather was diabetic and hypertensive – something that both of the diseases run in the family. Occasionally, he consumed alcohol, takes green tea, sprouts and walks five kilometers – health conscious we may conclude. His appetite was good. He had a desire for less oily, less spicy homemade food. Loves chicken, fish. He likes raw onion. Fond of apples, banana, milk and curd. Stools were not satisfactory has to attain 2-3 times in morning. Sleep was good but he had lot of dreams, especially of accidents and snake. Mentally calm and quite but now disturbed due to complaints. Wanted everything under a routine and feels comfortable. Predictive, on many occasions his predictions were found correct. He said that it was his God gifted ability. Good in leadership ability, firm in taking decision. Thermally towards chilly. Built was medium with frontal baldness, and now developed hanging warts under axilla and neck folds.
| After treatment |
What data related to the sexual sphere collected from the case are not of very much importance and cannot be considered as characteristics. Because the erectile dysfunction, early ejaculation and performance disability is the outcome of mental dissonance resultant of his disease. In male domination society like India, becomes difficult for a male to accept his physical fault especially at the sexual sphere. Moreover, these complaints developed after he diagnosed to have the disease. Looking upon the physical expressions, nothing special was noticed. So if the target is ‘individualising examination of a case of disease[10]’, this would not help in selection of the drug.
Hence, naturally one needs to explore more. The miasmatic background of this case suggested sycosis. The disease from which the patient suffering is a combination of sycotic and syphilitic miasm. So one needs a medicine that can cover this background with symptom similarity of the case.
The patient was predictive and his predictions were correct. He believed it to be a God gifted ability. He tried to live in a routine and felt comfortable in it. Lawyer by profession and he was successful, meant his ability to put references were correct. Thermally he was towards chilly. His built was medium with frontal baldness, and now he developed hanging warts under axilla and neck folds. A strong history of diabetes and hypertension in the family.
Thuja occidentalis 0/1 (in fifty millicimal scale) was selected. This was prescribed one day interval for seven days. There was better subjective feeling. Stool complaints were better. The same medicine continued up to 0/6 potency. And the report was encouraging.
This prescription was not done with repertorial support but from common understanding of homoeopathic materia medica with miasmatic integration.
REFERENCES:
- Morrell P/ Hahnemann and Homoeopathy / B. Jain/ New Delhi/ 2003/ P = 138
- Kent JT/ Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy/ B. Jain / New Delhi / 1995 / P = 2.
- Close S/ The Genius of Homoeopathy / B. Jain / New Delhi / P = 51
- Carrel A/ Man, the unknown/ / Wilco publishing house/ New Delhi/ 2001/ P = 222, 117
- Shah SN/ Editor / API Text of Medicine/ / 7th. ED./ 2003/ P = 7
- Kasper D, Fauci A / Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine/ Vol l./ McGrew-Hill/ 2005/ P = 1
- Hope R. A., Longmore J. M. / Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine/ Murry Longmore / 15th. Ed./ 2001/ P = 2
- DUTTA D. C. / Textbook of Gynecology / JAYPEE BROTHERS MEDICAL PUBLISHERS (P) LTD/ VI th Edition / P = 232
Hahnemann S/ Organon of medicine / B. Jain / New
Delhi / P = 42
[1] Hahnemann and Homoeopathy/ Peter Morrel/ B. Jain/ New Delhi/ 2003/ P = 138 [2] “There is no diseases, but sick propels”/ Hahnemann/ C. R. / Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy/ Dr. J. T. Kent/ B. Jain/ New Delhi/ 1995/ P = 2. [3] ‘Homoeopathy recognizes the individuality of each drug and substance in nature… Homoeopathy recognizes the individuality of each patient or case.’ / Stuart Close/ The Genius of Homoeopathy/ B. Jain/ New Delhi/ P = 51 [4] Man, the unknown/ Alexie Carrell/ Wilco publishing house/ New Delhi/ 2001/ P = 222 [5] Man, the unknown/ Alexie Carrell/ Wilco publishing house/ New Delhi/ 2001/ P = 117 [6] API Text ook of Medicine/ API/ 7th. ED./ 2003/ P = 7 [7] Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine/ Vol l./McGrew-Hill/ 2005/ P = 1 [8] Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine/ Murry Longmore15th. Ed./ 2001/ P = 2 [9] D. C. DUTTA / Textbook of Gynecology / JAYPEE BROTHERS MEDICAL PUBLISHERS (P) LTD/ VI th Edition/ P = 232 [10] Organon of medicine / Hahnemann/ Section 83
About Author:
(Prof) Dr Partha P. Ray
MD (Hom.) M. Sc. (Applied Psychology) PGDGC, Prof. and HOD, Dept. of Organon of Medicine and Homoeopathic, Philosophy, Shri Bhagwan Homoeopathic Medical College and Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
