Abstract
Local applications have been used by physicians for a very long time from Aesculapius down to the present day, on the belief that if the external manifestations are removed, the disease is cured.
But the outward manifestation is the outward reflection of the inner deranged vital force, said Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. There is no external/local disease in homeopathy. The nature of the superficial symptoms indicates the nature of the internal disease. Removing the external detriment by external application does not mean curing the disease. But for accidents, injuries, lacerations, burns, etc. we need external applications like local cleaning and dressing.
In the fifth edition of the Organon of Medicine in Aphorism 196-203, Dr. Hahnemann was fully against external application. Still, in the sixth edition (aphorism284-285) of the Organon of Medicine he changed his mind because he said that the way to advocate a medicine given to a patient is not only orally and he said that if the curative medicine is a medicine that is provided internally, the same medicine can be used externally as ointment/lubrication/cerate, etc.
The Hydrastis canadensis is a rich source of alkaloid phytochemicals. The roots and rhizomes of the Hydrastis plant hold three major alkaloids including berberine, hydrastine, and canadine.
Homeopathic medicine, when used internally and externally, has shown an enhanced cure for skin diseases. Hydrastis is an efficacious drug in diseases of the skin, both internally and as a topical application.
Keyword – Homoeopathy, External Application, Hydrastis Canadensis, skin diseases.
Introduction According to Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, on the external application the local symptom soon disappears, and we think the case is cured. But this premature vanishing of local symptoms makes the case difficult and impossible because we cannot judge whether the internal disease has been cured by internal medicine or not.
Similar things happen if the local disease is surgically such as through Cauterization.
On the other hand, in his external treatment, symptoms are present, which show that the cure is/is not complete. We should also remember (according to Hering’s Law of Healing) that nature tries to protect the internally important organ by dumping everything on the less important organ, the outer surface but if the external symptoms are eradicated in reverse, the mechanism occurs and the vital organs will be damaged. For example, suppressing skin disease leads to respiratory complaints like asthma.
In the fifth edition of the organon of medicine, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann mostly criticized external application, as seen in aphorisms 196-203, but in the sixth edition he preferred external application, as seen in Aphorisms 284-285.
The totality of your mental, emotional, and physical symptoms reflects your overall health. It is this set of symptoms that homeopathy treats. Treating as a whole person, rather than simply treating a single condition, symptom, organ, or vital system, is what makes homeopathy a truly holistic system. The patient’s symptoms as a whole are those that are clear to the observer and are called physical symptoms. Examples of such physical signs are temperature, pulse rate and rhythm, respiratory rate and character, temperature, posture, edema, and gait.
The use of external applications in homeopathy is a topic that has caused much disagreement. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann vehemently criticized the use of external applications in the 5th edition of the ‘Organon of Medicine.
The sixth edition of the ‘Organon of Medicine’ published in 1921 is considered the most perfect of all and the last words of Dr. Hahnemann regarding the principles he advocated in the first and following editions, illuminated and enlarged by his extensive experience in the latter part of his medical career in the treatment of both acute and chronic diseases. The whole footnote to paragraph 282 was newly written by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann and it is important because here his advice on the treatment of chronic diseases in psora, sycosis, and syphilis is prepared according to the old Hahnemannian method, the mother tincture medicine to be used in the preparation of the external application should execute with the following instructions-
In the sixth edition he advises doctors to start treatment with large doses of specific drugs on time and, if necessary, several times a day, and gradually increase to higher degrees of dynamization. In the treatment of fig-warts, Dr. Hahnemann says that sometimes requires external application of specific medicine with internal uses of the drug.
External Applications
External applications have been used by physicians for a very long time from Aesculapius down to the present day, on the belief that if the external manifestations are removed, the disease is cured. But Dr. Samuel Hahnemann said that the outward manifestation is the outward reflection of the innervable vital force. There is no external/local disease in homeopathy. The characteristics of the external symptoms indicate the nature of the internal disease. Withdrawing of the external impairment by external application does not mean curing the disease.
But for accidents, injuries, lacerations, burns, etc. Need for external applications like local cleaning and dressing. In the fifth edition of the Organon of Medicine in Aphorism 196-203, Dr. Hahnemann was strictly against external application, but in the 6th edition of the Organon of Medicine, he changed his mind, because he said that the way to administer medicine to man is not only orally, and he said that if the medicinal drug is a drug that is administered internally, the same drug can use externally as ointment/lubrication/cerate etc. example Thuja in sycosis.
On External application the local symptom soon disappears, and we think the case is cured said by Dr Samuel Hahnemann. This premature disappearance of local symptoms, however, makes the case difficult and impossible, because we cannot judge whether the internal disease has been cured by internal medicine or not.
Similar things happen if we withdraw the local disease surgically. For example, cauterization, etc.
Instead, in his internal treatment, symptoms are present, which shows that the cure is/is not complete. We should also remember (according to Hering’s law of cure) that nature tries to protect the internally important organ by throwing out everything that is on the less important organ, that is, on the outer surface. But if the external symptoms are withdrawn in opposition, the mechanism will occur and the vital organs will be damaged. E.g. Suppress skin disease- leads to respiratory c/o like asthma.
In the fifth edition of the Organon of Medicine, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann mostly criticized external application, but in the sixth edition, he favored external application, as seen in aphorisms 284-285. It says that external application of the medicine can be used by rubbing on the back, arms, and limbs, but avoid areas that are painful, spasms, and rash.
Hydrastis Canadensis
The common name of Hydrastis Canadensis is Golden Seal and Orange root, and belong to the Ranunculaceae family. It is proved by Burt. It is a deep and slow-acting medicine. Mother tincture is prepared from fresh roots of the plant which grown abundantly in the USA. Another name is Yellowroot and Indian Turmeric and grown in various regions of India.
Bioactive chemical constituents
Goldenseal is a rich source of alkaloid phytochemicals. Many studies have been performed on the chemical constituents of different plant parts of the plant. The roots and rhizomes of goldenseal hold three major alkaloids including berberine, hydrastine, and canadine. Aside from these, various flavonoids, fungal metabolites, and phenolic acid derivatives are also reported. Rhizomes are the most chemically explored parts and contain numerous alkaloids including berberine, hydrastine, palmatine, canadine, hydrastinine, and lesser amounts of flavonoids, phenolic acids, sterol, and other compounds.
Hydrastis is an efficacious drug in diseases of the skin, both internally and as a topical application.
Goldenseal may be employed alone internally or in some cases its conjoined internal and external use will at times be found most efficacious.
The ointment of hydrastine hydrochlorate, the salt being incorporated in the fat in from 10 to 60 grains to the ounce, has proved a most excellent application in some cases of subacute and chronic eczema; the thickened and irritable state of the skin in the latter condition subsiding at times very rapidly on its application. It has also been serviceable in some scrofulous and varicose ulcers used in the form of an ointment.
Acne –
The front of the head, cheeks, and mentum are covered with little red papules associated with black points punctate and papulules pustules digestion is feeble, and bowels torpid. 10 drops doses of the fluid extract of Hydrastis were given three times daily before meals and the face was sponged night and morning with an aqueous solution of hydrastine hydrochlorate containing 10 grains of the salt to the ounce. In 10 days the patient showed signs of improvement, and in 6 weeks after being placed under treatment he was discharged cured.
Eczema of the Face-
The Scalp and face were covered with thick crusts, which upon removal exposed redraw, and infiltrated patches, digestion poor, and constipation at times followed by diarrhea. Half a drop increased to a drop of the fluid extract of Hydrastis was administered in milk three times daily with the effect, in 12 days, of improving the child’s general condition and lessening somewhat the local inflammation. The red and infiltrated patches remained stubborn, notwithstanding the use of ordinary ointments. At the end of the second week of the constitutional treatment, twenty grains of hydrastine hydrochlorate with one ounce of lard was used freely over the parts. The red and thickened patches gradually disappeared and in second weeks from the beginning of the topical application, only a slightly desquamating surface remained.
Eczema of the Anus-
It had been under treatment at various times with only interim relief. The edge around the anus was thickened and fissured, many of which extended well into the mucous membrane of the parts. No apparent exciting cause could be detected. The use of the ointment of hydrastine hydrochlorate 20 grains of the salt to the ounce being employed was followed by relief within a few days. Many weeks have now passed and the patient having failed to report has doubtless obtained complete relief.
Eczema of the Ears-
The right and left ears were red, somewhat thickened, and covered with scales. The skin back of each pinna was in an identical condition with several fissures at their connection with the side of the head. The swelling of the ears had originally been excited by a dye and had resisted the usual local remedies. The ointment of hydrastine hydrochlorate, of the same strength mentioned in the previous case, was used with good effect within six days. The ears about three weeks had acquired their natural size. The fissures of ears healed quickly, and when last seen about ten days ago, only a little roughness of the integument was apparent. The back surface of both feet was red and slightly infiltrated, mainly about the toes, between which were some well-marked fissures. The disease had been in existence for some time and had been caused by using some remedy to remove corn from the feet. At first, a five, and afterward, a 10 percent. Ointment of hydrastine hydrochlorate was used which completely removed the disease in five to six weeks.
Seborrhœa Sicca of the Scalp-
The skin of the scalp was caked over with a thick sebaceous secretion, the hair being dry and lustreless. The disease had followed after enteric fever, the patient at the time of examination was weak and poorly nourished. The cod liver oil in large doses soon improved the systemic condition, but the local trouble continued the same. The parts were sponged once daily with an alcoholic solution of hydrastine hydrochlorate, 30 grains of the salt being employed to the ounce with the effect of removing within eight or ten days all the crusts and scales and after some three weeks, topical uses but slight evidence of the disease existed. Inflammation of the hair follicles of the beard. The upper lip was the seat of various pustules and papules, especially around the edge of the anterior nares. Two-grain doses of the iron iodide were administered and a 10 percent. Hydrastine hydrochlorate ointment applied to the affected parts brought relief within six or eight days, the patient then vanished and has not since reported many of the follicles of the parts were plugged with comedones, and the skin in patches presented even a dirty hue. An aqueous solution of the first five and afterward 20 grains of hydrastine hydrochlorate to the ounce
lessened the poured-out oily fluid and improved decidedly the deformity of the skin in about 2 weeks.
Hyperhidrosis-
Used for the relief of excessive sweating from the armpits, which had been very annoying for some time. Health goods and local trouble could not be traced to any constitutional cause. The frequent use of Often aqueous solution containing 30 grains of hydrastine hydrochlorate to the ounce proved an effective application within a few weeks.
Ulcers-
It had two small ulcers, one on the right and the other on the left side beneath the inferior maxillary from broken drowned lymphatic glands. The floor and edge of the ulcers were covered with indolent granulations and unhealthy and scanty pus. Constitutional treatment improved without removing the ulcers. Ten increased to 20 %. Hydrastine hydrochlorate ointment healed them completely in a small over one month.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Homoeopathy mainly advocates internal medication alone on symptoms similarity for the treatment of diseases. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann said that in the sixth edition for the use of medicine internally and externally. The use of external applications with an emphasis on Hydrastis Canadensis in homeopathic practice” it is time to conclude several interferences found from the study. External applications can be effective in local diseases. Complete cure of local diseases by external application. Local diseases are more important in receiving cases. Without a homeopathic philosophy, case-taking is incomplete. Evaluation through the homeopathic view is effective, safe, easy to consume, easy to access, and cost-effective. No difficulties or adverse effects of drugs with homeopathic treatment during the study.
Reference
- Dr. Samuel Hahnemann; Organon of Medicine, 6th edition B. Jain publishers, reprint 198.
- Sarkar B. K.; Hahnemann’s Organon of Medicine; Section-6:- A True Practitioner of the Healing Art should be an Unprejudiced Observer; Reprint Edition-2003-2004; Birla Publications.
- Sarkar B. K.; Hahnemann’s Organon of Medicine; Section-6:- A True Practitioner of the Healing Art should be an Unprejudiced Observer; Reprint Edition-2003-2004; Birla Publications.
- Dubey SK. Textbook of materia medica. Dubey; 1975.
- Lloyd JU, Lloyd CG. Hydrastis canadensis. JU & CG Lloyd; 1884.
Author
Dr. Alok Ranjan1 Dr. Madina Ansari2
¹Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, R.B.T.S Govt. H.M.C & Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
2P.G Scholar, Department of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, R.B.T.S. Govt. H.M.C & Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Bihar
