Insulinum-MATERIA MEDICA

[andyh]

===========================================
MATHUR SYSTEMATIC MATERIA MEDICA

Synonyms: Insulin.
Source: It is found in islets of langerhans in pancreas of animals
hence it is a sarcode.
Preparation: Triturations are prepared from the insulin.
Proved by Dr. William F. Baker, Dr. S. K. Ghosh of Calcutta.

SYMPTOMS
Enlarged liver with chronic sepsis. After Typhoid; or pneumonia. Chronic
functional derangement of liver. Chronic suppurative otitis with liver
enlargement. Chronic diarrhoea of children with enlarged liver and
debility. Infantile liver without jaundice. Prolonged greenish diarrhoea
continuing after an attack of dysentery. Chronic intestinal troubles
with diarrhoea and enlarged liver. Chronic dyspeptics with loose motions
resistent to emetine. Ulcers and suppurative ailments with enlarged
liver. Scrofulous ulcers and sinuses when Bacillinum or Ol j Aselli
fail, improve on Insulin. Enlarged liver with dyspepsia, diarrhoea;
chronic ulcers; bed sores; chronic otorrhoea; mastoiditis; intractable
eczema; allergic eczema; suppurative scrofulous glands. Acne, Erythema
with itching eczema. Acute dermatitis with chronic diarrhoea and liver
trouble.

AFFINITIES: Liver. Tissues. Mucous Membranes. Skin. Ears.
Patient is debilitated. Asthenia. Broken down constitution from
infectious or suppurative diseases. Patients have craving for sweets.
Emaciation with loose bowels.
It is a SPECIFIC remedy in the following conditions:
1. Enlarged liver with suppurative conditions i. e., chronic
suppurative otitis media, boils, carbuncles, sinuses, suppurative
tubercular glands with enlarged liver.
2. Enlarged liver with chronic diarrhoea.
3. Enlarged liver with chronic eczema. I cured a child on this
symptoms.
4. Infantile liver without tenderness.
5. Ailments with emaciation, debility, enlarged liver, when well
selected remedies fail.
Liver is enlarged but not painful. Tongue coated white. Fever
intermittent. Foul breath from mouth. Hunger pains of duodenal ulcer
patients.
DOSAGE: Dr. Ghosh recommends 30 to 200c potencies. Dr. Boericke
recommends 3x to 30x.
REPETITION: Only a few doses are to be given, one dose daily till
the response to the remedy is noticed.
DURATION OF ACTION: Not definite.
Comparison
Enlarged liver: Calc ars, Card m, Chel, Chin ars, Chionanth, Cinch,
Dig, Kalmegh, Med, Morgan co, Iod, Lach, Lept, Lyc, Mag m, Merc, Nat s,
Phos, Sel, Tarax, Vip.
Enlarged painful liver: Calc ars, Kalmegh, Nat s.
Thyroid: Chronic diarrhoea in marasmic children.
Morgan co: Diarrhoea: fermentative with liver trouble, in acute and
chronic cases of infants.
Medorrhinum: Infantile liver: with various digestive disturbances
with burning of palms and soles.
Carduus m: Gallstone disease with enlarged liver; enlargement in
transverse direction. Tenderness of liver; cirrhosis of liver with
dropsy; piles and varicose ulcers with enlargement of liver; infective
hepatitis.
Cholestrinum: Obstinate liver engorgement with tenderness;
jaundice; gallstones; cancer liver; insomnia due to liver disorders.
Nat Sulph: Hepatitis with jaundice and vomiting of bile; liver sore
to touch with sharp stitching pains; hypersensitive to tight clothing
around waist; worse lying on left side; bitter taste, acid dyspepsia,
heart burn and flatulence; hydrogenoid constipation.
Myrica: Liver disorders: aching pain in liver, fullness;
drowsiness, despondency, dull heavy headache worse in morning, ash
coloured stools, slow pulse, jaundice with symptoms of liver disorder is
accompanied by thick nasal and post - nasal tenacious mucus difficult to
detach. Cancer liver with jaundice (Burnett).
Kalmegh: Infantile liver, painful to touch, loss of appetite, loose
bilious stools or constipation; jaundice; intermittent fever. Liver
enlargement after malaria and kala - azar.

=================================================
GHOSH
This Pancreatic hormone plays an important part in the process of
sugar metabolism in the body. Its capacity to burn sugar into carbon
dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) and thereby helping the body for fat
combustion, has made it very useful, in the hands of the Allopathic
school where the patient is saved from the jaws of death in cases of
diabetic acidosis.
But from the dynamic standpoint, it will be observed, that Insulin
in potency has even greater utility where glycogenic balance of the
liver is disturbed. In cases of Hepatitis and hepatic enlargement where
the liver is embarrassed by long continued toxic process, it has a very
great scope. Thus in cases where liver is enlarged towards the end of
acute infectious diseases, such as Typhoid, Pneumonia, etc., a few doses
of Insulin 30 will restore normal balance and enhance the process of re
- generation rapidly. It is similar to Cinchona in producing weakness
but it does not affect the biliary passages like Cinchona.
Different from Calcarea Ars, which is one of our great remedies for
painful enlargement of liver. Insulin has no such painfulness of the
liver.
Thus we can observe that the whole action of Insulin in the dynamic
plane revolves round two main factors: -
1. Asthenia.
2. Enlarger liver or Chronic functional derangement of liver.
I was called in to see a girl aged 7 yrs., with a rise of
temperature up to 101 deg. towards afternoon, morning temperature being
normal, when all the symptoms of toxemia of Typhoid abated; she was very
constipated and Glycerin enema had to be used for moving the bowels
every third day. Psorinum 2C was prescribed which brought down the
temperature to 100 deg. after a week without any further improvement for
a long time.
As the ailment had been unduly prolonged, I examined her once more
and found her liver enlarged, hard, but not painful, tongue coated,
thickly white without leaving any mark of indentation; breathing foul
and an offensive discharge from both ears (old history of Otorrhoea).
Without going on to Psorinum in still higher potency, I tried Insulin in
30th potency two doses consecutively one to be given every morning. From
the second day the temperature kept below normal and never rose in the
afternoon. Her liver enlargement disappeared within a week. Another
important fact, brought to my notice, was that the discharge from the
ear had also stopped after the use of Insulin.
Insulin dynamically covers rather diarrhea than constipation. It is
indicated in chronic diarrhea of children, where weakness and enlarged
liver are present. In marasmus and in early stages of infantile liver,
if there is no jaundice, Insulin deserves an important place and in
cases of failure of indicated remedies in improving the chronic
diarrhea. Insulin retains within its scope cases of prolonged diarrhea
of greenish color continuing after an acute attack of dysentery or of
chronic intestinal troubles with looseness and enlargement of liver or
even in common dyspeptics where emetine fails to improve condition of
looseness.
Some points have already been mentioned here to show the difference
of this remedy from Cinchona for explaining and clarifying the nature of
action of Insulin in potency. The position will be clearer if we compare
the action of this medicine with two other drugs not commonly used, of
which one is Morgan Compound and the other is Thyroid (both in 30th or
higher potency) in marasmus of children with chronic looseness of the
bowels. Thyroid is almost the same in action except that the enlarged
liver is not so characteristic as that of Insulin. Morgan co. has much
wider range of action than that of Insulin in diarrhea with liver
troubles. Fermentative condition is more pronounced in Morgan co. and it
acts well, both in acute and in chronic cases. Prostration in Insulin
differentiates it from Morgan co. Medorrhinum in higher potency (200 -
1000) is a very important remedy so often neglected in chronic liver
troubles with various digestive disturbances, connected with infantile
liver even up to the late stage. It is characterized by the sensation of
burning of the palms and feet and slight icteroid tinge of conjunctiva.
Medorrhinum rectifies the obscure metabolic defects in the mother when
her children come in for infantile liver, one after another, which is a
very common history found in cases of infantile liver.
In treating these cases of infantile liver, diet of the child is to
be restricted and regulated, otherwise it will be difficult to prevent
its recurrence and to ensure permanent effect.
In some cases of duodenal congestion with bad liver, it cures the
hunger pain as we get in cases of duodenal ulcer.
Insulin acts in 'suppuration' indirectly due to its action on sugar
metabolism. In material doses it cures suppuration and persistent or
acute inflammatory conditions by regulating hyperglycemia which is
responsible for such condition in diabetics, but in dynamic plane when
there is a tendency to abscess formation and easy suppuration in
asthenic patients during close of or as a sequel to acute infectious
diseases with liver trouble (as if the tissues suffer from hypoglycemia)
Insulin in potency plays a very important part in the cure. It has been
recommended for summer boils co - existent with bad liver and asthenic
condition and heavy perspiration or loss of animal fluid. In the absence
of liver trouble, Bacillinum or Cal. Sulph. single dose in high potency
is required to effect the cure.
I first made use of this important drug in case of a girl who was
having big pyemic abscesses on the body some of them discharging pus
with a sluggish tendency to heal. She had her liver enlarged. Insulin
30th one dose every morning for three days brought about a healthy
reaction healing the draining abscesses and preventing further
recrudescence.
In severe suppurative conditions of confluent types of small pox
(when eruptions are more prominent on the face and neck), Insulin in
potency is wonderfully useful when concomitant liver condition and
prostration are present. It dries up the sores, with extensive
cellulitis and toxemia, within a comparatively short time. It may be
mentioned here that Gaertner, a new nosode on 30th potency may be used
in extensive suppuration with intestinal disorders in small pox. I have
cured with Gaertner in a desperate case of small pox with extensive
suppuration very rapidly.
Lastly, I find it very useful in sinuses formed after suppuration
of the Tubercular glands of the neck. In the first stage of inflammation
of the Tubercular glands Calc Iod, Tuberculinum, etc., in high potency
are very effective in curing the enlargement without allowing it to go
into the stage of suppuration. But when we get cases where the glands
have already given way and draining pus for a long time, or they go on
to suppuration in spite of treatment with gradual emaciation and anemia,
Insulin in potencies from 30th to 200 is very efficacious. It not only
cures the sinuses but regenerates the health of the patient within a
very short time (vide cases).
Two drugs which are worth mentioning here and on which I have great
confidence in scrofulous ulcers and sinuses, are Bacillinum in very high
potencies and Oleum Jacoris Aselli also in high potency. Insulin can be
tried when all these remedies fail to improve.
The therapeutic hints of Insulin on the dynamic plane can be
summarized thus;
1. Chronic intestinal disorder, especially with looseness of bowels
with enlarged liver. The more chronic the diarrhea, the more indicated
is Insulin.
2. Ulcers, boils, bed sores, hypopyon as after - effects of Acute
infectious diseases with disordered liver.
3. Chronic otorrhea and mastoiditis in emaciated children where the
pus is thin especially when combined with enlarged liver and chronic
diarrhea or as after - effects of Acute infectious diseases.
4. In some cases of intractable eczema, with chronic liver
troubles. It is a great reactive remedy in allergic eczema.
5. Suppuration of the scrofulous glands in the neck or any other
types of suppuration on this part of the body to which it has got a
particular affinity.
Potency - I have used the drug very often in 30th potency and
higher.
I think 30th is the best potency and lower potency may preferably
be tried in case of bad types of suppuration when general indications
are wanting as also in cases of Intestinal Tuberculosis with diarrhea
attended with profound weakness and loss of balance in the glycogenic
reserve.
Cases: - Tubercular Gland with Sinuses.
(1) An old lady was admitted in my ward in Calcutta Homeopathic
College and Hospitals on account of edema of the extremities with
dyspnea and pain in the precordium. It was diagnosed as a case of
epidemic dropsy. After a dose of Digitalis 2C with some restriction of
diet (rice and mustard oil being suspended) the case began to improve
rapidly. Within a month, when she was practically free from all her
complaints, she developed enlargement of glands in the neck on the
anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscles markedly more on the
left then on the right side with a rise of temperature to 101 deg.
towards evening.
Those glands showed signs of suppuration and began to burst one
after another; as a result of this her whole neck within a fortnight
looked like a bag of pus draining continually. This state of things,
persisted for two months and a half during which various remedies were
tried without any effect. From the beginning my prescriptions contained
Belladonna, Hepar Sulph, Oleum Jacoris Aselli, Calcarea Hypophos,
Tuberculinum and Silicea. At last the patient became so weak that she
could hardly move, speak or even swallow anything due to extreme
asthenia. Lastly, I prescribed Insulin 30 three powders one to be taken
every morning. Next day the patient said that she was feeling lighter in
the neck and when the dressings were removed the following day, her neck
was found practically dry with a little slough here and there. Since
then her condition improved satisfactorily and it was after ten days
that I had to repeat 3 doses more for the right side. She was discharged
from the Hospital quite cured after a fortnight.
(2) I was consulted by a physician for a young man aged 20, fair
complexioned and thinly built ailing with several sinuses in the neck
discharging pus from his scrofulous glands. I prescribed Silicea 30X
(trit.) although the attending doctor had already used the same drug in
200 and 1000 potency. It had some effect on the glands and two or three
sinuses healed up but the rest resisted any improvement. In spite of the
continuance of the medicine for more than two months, other sinuses
increased and coalesced with each other forming a big bag of pus in the
neck. Temperature in the evening with anemia and emaciation. Oleum
Jacoris Aselli was given in 200th and 1000th potency which however
brought on a little improvement of the general condition and the sinus
but could not stop the discharge flowing from the sinuses. Bacillinum in
high potency also failed. When I took recourse to Insulin 30, repeated 3
powders every twenty - four hours, with quick response. It healed up all
the sinuses within a fortnight and the general condition of the patient
improved beyond expectation.
Otorrhoea and Otitis (stet) Media.
(1) One case has already been described while dwelling on the
action of the medicine.
(2) A boy aged about 4 years, after an attack of typhoid fever
treated homeopathically, was suffering frequently from diarrhea and
indigestion and voracious appetite. After about a month and a half he
began discharging pus from the right ear with severe inflammation of the
mastoid bone (indicating an acute mastoid abscess) with a rise in
temperature. Insulin 30 in 4 doses twice a day controlled the
inflammation and stopped the discharge with improvement of his
intestinal condition also.
Looseness and Liver Troubles.
(1) A male child aged about a year had been suffering from various
troubles since birth the main trouble being looseness of bowels in spite
of restricted diet. On inquiry it revealed that he was susceptible to
cold and had excessive hankering for sweets. The elder brother of the
child died at the same age, of infantile liver and this boy also had his
liver enlarged more marked on the left lobe. Medicines indicated by
symptoms could improve temporarily the diarrhea only but the enlarged
liver remained quite unaffected still. Lastly, I gave him Insulin 30 one
every alternate day. From the 4th day the diarrhea stopped and from that
time onward the patient began to pass well - formed stool, yellow in
color. After a week when I examined the child again the liver was found
to be almost normal. He made amazing recovery afterwards.
(2) A marasmic female child aged about 2 years had been suffering
from diarrhea with distended abdomen and gradual emaciation of the body.
She had a greedy (or unusual) appetite and hankering for sweets. The
child was the daughter of a homeopathic doctor who had tried many
medicines for improving her digestion and for assimilation of food
without perceptible success. Insulin 30 in this case also in the same
way as above brought about a wonderfully speedy recovery and a permanent
improvement of the bodily system.
Skin Disease.
It was a case of a middle aged homeopathic physician who had long
been a chronic sufferer from diarrhea and liver troubles. Seldom he used
to pass a formed stool. He came in for a sudden and acute dermatitis of
both his palms and fingers were enormously swollen and red with
exudation of yellowish sticky liquid. Considering his previous history,
I tried Insulin 30 three doses as usual, with remarkable improvement and
cure from all his ailments, within a very short period.
=============================================
BOERICKE

An active principle from the pancreas which affects sugar metabolism.

Besides the use of Insulin in the treatment of diabetes, restoring the
lost ability to oxidize carbohydrate and again storing glycogen in the
liver, some use of it homeopathically has been made by Dr. W. F. Baker,
showing its applicability in acne, carbuncles, erythema with itching
eczema. In the gouty, transitory glycosuria when skin manifestations
are persistent give three times daily after eating. Given a persistent
case of skin irritation, boils or varicose ulceration with polyuria, it
is indicated.
An aqueous solution of an active principle from pancreas which
affects sugar metabolism. If administered at suitable intervals in
diabetes mellitus, the blood sugar is maintained at a normal level and
the urine remains free of sugar. Overdosage is followed by weakness and
fatigue and tremulousness and profuse sweating.

3X to 30X.
==============================================
BERNOVILLE
Insulin:
It is evident that we should not ignore Insulin and we should use
it in Homoeopathy according to the habitual method. But we should avoid
to give it very frequently and we should not use it in gross doses
because of its dangers.
It should be prescribed in grave cases of diabetes, in lean and
thin consumptive patients and also in coma and in the menace of coma as
a remedy of urgency.
But we know also how to use diluted Insulin either in lower
dilutions 1x or 3x in the same sense of a natural product but it should
be used by mouth, or in medium dilutions or in high dilutions as check,
or regulator, as it is done in France by Martiny, and in America by
Baker.
==============================================

SANKARAN P
INSULIN
Sukerkar gives the following indications for Insulin in potency.
He says Insulin is indicated in: 1. Chronic intestinal disorders,
especially with diarrhoea and enlarged liver. The more chronic the
diarrhoea, the more Insulin is indicated. 2. Ulcers, boils, bed - sores,
hypopion etc., as sequelae of infectious diseases, with disordered
liver. 3. Chronic otorrhoea, and mastoiditis in emaciated children where
the pus is thin, especially when associated with enlarged liver and
chronic diarrhoea, or as sequelae of acute infectious diseases. 4. In
some cases of eczema in patients with chronic lives disorders. It is a
great reactive remedy in allergic eczema. 5. Suppuration of the
scrofulous glands in the neck or any other type of suppuration of this
part of the body to which it has a particular affinity.
Muzumdar has published his experiments with Insulin in potency in
cases of diabetes. He says that Insulin 30 or 200, given thrice a day
reduced the blood sugar levels. Later, in some cases, even after the
doses were reduced and discontinued, the blood sugar levels continued to
remain normal for over six months.
Matani has published her clinical observations with Insulin in
potency. She has summarised the symptoms as follows:
Vertigo when hungry agg. anger agg. looking up agg. moving.
Hair falling.
Headache when constipated.
Dimness of vision in the evening.
Pain throat worse swallowing liquids.
Pain between scapulae in the morning.
Pain lumbar back worse sitting.
Pain right shoulder and knee.
Pulling pain behind knees worse rising from sitting.
Pain calf muscles extending up to gluteal region.
Pain calf muscles, right, then left.
Heaviness of legs when the legs hang down.
Pain left great toe.
Burning in soles.
Drowsiness.
Chill at 11am
Weakness after stool.
References
Matani K. H.: Trans. of the 32nd Int. Hom. Med. Cong. India, 70,
1977
Muzumdar K. P. et al: Trans. of the 32nd Int. Hom. Med. Cong.
India. 64, 1977.
Sukerkar N. P.: Ind. J. Hom. Med. 5, 195, 1963.