ABSTRACT: In present era, medical science fights very hard with complex pathology to offer a better health. Continuous research and advancement in treatment method are ongoing activities that help medical science in this battle. Every day, there is emergence of new complex pathology or treatment resistance which blocks the path of holistic healing. In this situation, integrated approach is necessary for providing holistic health to persons suffering from complex irreversible pathological illness. Homoeopathy along with other complementary sciences helps modern medicine for better case management. Homoeopathy proves itself as a good healing science in irreversible cases with its gentle palliative care. So, let’s explore this unique characteristic of homoeopathy in palliation.
KEYWORDS: Homoeopathy, incurable diseases, pain, palliation
ABBREVIATIONS: aromatase inhibitor (AI)
INTRODUCTION:
Complex irreversible cases with multiple aetiological factors and variable manifestations make them difficult to manage by physicians and there will be more difficulty if associated with the auto-immune origin. Integrated approach for managing these types of cases gives some relief to physician in case management.
Homoeopathic science understands their limitation in case management that not all cases are meant to be cure. There are many cases with irreversible pathology requires palliation to improve the quality of patient’s life.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES: Primary objective was to study concept of palliation in homoeopathy for incurable or irreversible disorders. Secondary objective was to study role of homoeopathy in pain palliation of incurable diseases in present era.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Study design: literature review, analytical study
Selection of tool: PubMed and homoeopathic literature from various books, articles and other websites regarding pain palliation by homoeopathy in incurable diseases.
Inclusion criteria: Cases or literature regarding homoeopathic palliation with logical explanation included in the study. Incurable cases with integrated approach using homoeopathic method of treatment were included in study.
Exclusion criteria: Cases or literature with vague explanation excluded from study. Incurable cases with integrated approach before 10 years (i. e. before 2012) were excluded from the study.
Observation and results:
Concept of palliation:
Many homoeopathic pioneers mentioned about the cases and medicine used for pain palliation and their successful results.
| Pioneer | Name of medicine | Commentary |
| Dr Dunham in his book quotes Harley. (1) | Conium maculatum | In cancer, he considers ‘hemlock’ a palliative, in that it allays muscular spasm, and thus mitigates pain. In glandular enlargements, and in cerebral diseases, he has found no benefit from Conium. |
| Dr Kent (2) | Carbo animalis | It has cured these troubles in old feeble constitutions with night-sweats and much bleeding. It has relieved in incurable cases, and has apparently removed the cancerous condition for years, even though it comes back afterward and kills. This remedy is often a great palliative for the pains that occur in cancer, the indurations and the stinging, burning pains. of course, we do not want to teach, nor do we wish to have you infer, that a patient with a well-advanced cancerous affection, such as scirrhus, may be restored to perfect health and the cancerous affection removed. One may comfort that patient, and restore order at least temporarily, so that there is freedom from suffering in these malignant affections. |
| Dr C. M. Boger (3) | Phosphorus | In adeno-carcinoma of the uterus with haemorrhage and almost no symptom to guide me, it was found that patient had three attacks of pneumonia which were typical of Phosphorus but she did not receive it. Phosphorus controlled the bleeding, stopped pain, and palliated |
| Dr W. A. Dewey (4) | Chamomilla, China officinalis and Berberis vulgaris | One may use morphine as a palliative in cases of severe pain, intense pain such as the passage of a biliary or renal calculus, but even here let it use be postponed until you have tried such remedies as China officinalis and Berberis vulgaris. Do not give it in every pain which seems severe. Remember that many patients seem oversensitive to pain and the remedy may be Chamomilla instead of morphine. The less of it you use the better for your patients. |
| Dr Richard Hughes (5) | Silicea terra, Arsenicum album, Chlorate of potash, citric acid | Silicea terra in substance, and Arsenicum album in the higher dilutions, have been found palliative of the pains of scirrhus while unbroken; chlorate of potash and citric acid locally when ulceration has occurred. |
Table No. 1
Homoeopathic palliation in integrated management:
| Name of article | Objective of article | Design and materials and methods | Results | Conclusion |
| an integrated approach with homoeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture in anesthesiology during breast cancer surgery: case reports (6) | This study investigates the effect of a combination of homoeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture in two patients with breast cancer and severe Liver disease who could not receive standard therapy due to liver problems. | Design – Case Reports Method: here they employed an integrated approach consisting of induction with hypnotics and muscle relaxants, followed by maintenance with anaesthetic gas, combined with a homoeopathic treatment (Arnica montana 15CH and Apis mellifica 15CH) before and after surgery and also consisting electro-acupuncture treatment | Both the patient treated with integrated approach improved their overall condition without need for other common pain-relieving medicines and also shorter hospital stay. | A multidisciplinary approach incorporating homoeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture can be a solution for patient who need or ask about a different and/ or safer alternative to the standard treatment. This approach can offer a safe, much less expensive, non- invasive and viable alternative for such cases. Moreover, it can be useful for an opioid free anaesthesia. |
| Treatment with Ruta graveolens 5CH and Rhus toxicodendron 9CH may reduce joint pain and stiffness linked to aromatase inhibitors in women with early breast cancer: results of a pilot observational study (7) | To determine the possible effect of two homoeopathic medicines, Ruta graveolens 5CH and Rhus toxicodendron 9CH, in the prevention of aromatase inhibitor (AI) associated joint pain and/or stiffness in women with early, hormone receptor positive, breast cancer. | Design: Prospective, unrandomised, observational study. Method: It was carried out between april and october 2014. Women were recruited in two groups, according to which of the study centers they attended: one receiving homoeopathy in addition to standard treatment (group H) and a control group (group c) receiving standard treatment only. Women of Group H also took Ruta graveolens 5CH and Rhus toxicodendron 9CH twice a day up to 7 days before AI treatment and continued for 3 months. Analysis: demographic and clinical data were recorded using self-assessment questionnaire at inclusion (T0) and 3 months (T3). Primary evaluation criteria were the evolution of scores for joint pain and stiffness, the impact of pain on sleep and analgesic consumption in the two groups after 3 months of treatment. | 40 patients were recruited, 20 in each group. The individual components of pain score (frequency, intensity and number of sites of pain) decreased significantly in group H. Nine in group C and one in Group H increased their analgesic consumption between T0 and T3. | These Preliminary results suggest that treatment with Ruta graveolens and 5CH and Rhus toxicodendron 9CH may decrease joint pain/stiffness in breast cancer patient treated with AIs. A larger scale randomised study is required to confirm these results. |
Table no. 2
DISCUSSION: As mentioned in observation table no. 1, our homoeopathic pioneers were aware about the action of medicine and its utility in incurable disease conditions. utilisation of medicinal action with logical application of principles were important learning from past. Use of medicines for palliative purposes in incurable condition on the basis of law of similia makes the homoeopathic domain much larger for healing purpose.
As per Dr Kent in his philosophy, where he mentioned about the law similia and its application in cure and as well as in palliation. (8)
Dr Rastogi mentioned about palliation in homoeopathic recorder as follows, “the drug so selected, and administered according to natural laws is sure to bring about a cure in curable diseased conditions and an effective palliation in incurable conditions. The most painful conditions are efficiently palliated or cured with a rapidity which is possible consistently with the nature of the disease. Quicker and longer-enduring results are achieved in relieving pain than with morphia, aspirin etc., and without any injurious after-effects. The physicians’ high and only mission, according to Hahnemann, is to restore the sick to health, to cure as it is termed. And the highest ideal of cure is “rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health, or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable and most harmless way and on easily comprehensible principles.” (9)
Observation from table number 2 provides information about the utility and role of homoeopathic medicine in integrated care of patient with incurable diseases. Addition of homoeopathic treatment in management of cancer cases shows its beneficial action in providing relief to the patients.
CONCLUSION: Homoeopathic therapeutic system as a method of healing science has goal of providing relief to suffering humanity. In above literature review study, it is clear that homoeopathy provides a greater relief in patients with incurable disease conditions. At present, in such a disease overburdening situation, homoeopathic science helps modern medicine to manage the cases and giving a hope of healthy world to suffering humanity.
REFERENCES:
- Dunham C., Homoeopathy The science of Therapeutics, Reprint edition April 2007. India: B. Jain Publishers Pvt.Ltd.
- Kent J.T., Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica. Indian Edition. India: Indian Books and Periodical Publishers New Delhi-1110 005 (India)
- Sutherland A.D., Pointers, August (1930) Vol XLV N08. Homoeopathic recorder, Retrieved from Encyclopedia Homeopathica version number 2.2.1-2006/07/24.
- Dewey W. A., Lectures in materia Medica, August (1932) Vol XLVII N08. Homoeopathic recorder, Retrieved from Encyclopedia Homeopathica version number 2.2.1-2006/07/24.
- Hughes R. The Principles and Practice of Homoeopathy.4th edition, India: B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd. India
- Bosco F, Cidin S, Maceri F, Ghilli M, Roncella M, De Simone L. An integrated approach with homeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture in anaesthesiology during breast cancer surgery: Case reports. J Pharmacopuncture. 2018 Jun;21(2):126-131. Doi: 10.3831/KPI.2018.21.016. Epub 2018 Jun 30. PMID: 30151314; PMCID: PMC6054085.
- Karp JC, Sanchez C, Guilbert P, Mina W, Demonceaux A, Curé H. Treatment with Ruta graveolens 5CH and Rhus Toxicodendron 9CH may reduce joint pain and stiffness linked to aromatase inhibitors in women with early breast cancer: results of a pilot observational study. Homeopathy. 2016 Nov;105(4):299-308. Doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2016.05.004. Epub 2016 Aug 9. PMID: 27914569.
- Kent J.T., lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy. Reprint edition. India: B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Rastogi R.S., The rationale of homoeopathy, July Vol LXVI N01. Homoeopathic recorder, Retrieved from Encyclopedia Homeopathica version number 2.2.1-2006/07/24.
About the author
Jaimin R. Chotaliya (M.D.) (Hom.)
(Asst. Professor in Dept. of Repertory)
Swami Vivekanand Homoeopathic medical college and Hospital, Hahnemann Road, Bhavnagar. 390022
