Leg ulcers

[Christine Wyndham-Thomas]

Here is a prime example of a GP prescribing a homeopathic remedy and not knowing what he's doing.

Catherine, a girl I work with, knows nothing about homeopathy but knew of my interest in it. She asked me if she were to give me the name of a homeopathic tablet that had been prescribed by her GP to her mother for leg ulcers, would I be able to tell her more about it. I told her I may have to look it up in my books when I got home but I would get her the information she wanted. So she wrote down on a piece of paper Arsenicum Album 200c.

I immediately thought the doctor was prescribing at a constitutional level but Catherine assured me her mother had only gone to her GP for leg ulcers because they were painful (and incidentally she didn't know anything about homeopathy either, and neither had she requested to be treated that way). So I then asked her what exactly were the doctor's instructions - and this is the most shocking part of it - he recommended she take EIGHT 200c ARSENICUM ALB. A DAY FOR TWO WEEKS.

Well my mouth fell open! I told her to ring her mother up immediately and tell her not to take any more. By then, though, she had already taken 12.

Her mother seems to be ok, though, although she did suffer a cardiac problem but after some tests was told she was ok.

It's a frightening thought what would have occurred had she gone ahead with the doctor's intructions blindly!
Christine Wyndham-Thomas
www.dogsonholiday-uk.com
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[Robyn]

Hi Christine
Just thought I would comment on your post briefly - at the risk of being
censured which is happening more on this list it seems

It is not an uncommon practice in India for eg., where there are many cases
of ulcers for Ars alb 200 (amongst a group of remedies) to be prescribed
daily for even longer than two weeks.

It is uncommon amongst so called however, but not
uncommon with a vast number of practicing homoeopaths who don't fit into
this category.

It is possible, that if this woman followed this doctors instruction, she
would find her leg ulcers healing. One will never know if one does not try.

The issue of suppression and provings from prescribing on characteristic
disease totality and repeating doses will always be a bone of contention on
lists such as this. Personally, I will not close myself off from the
possibility that leg ulcers may need aggressive prescribing in order to
achieve a successful outcome and I definitely would like to believe that the
magnitude of experience of others should be witnessed and acknowledged as
having some worth.

Whatever the treatment this woman ends up having, I hope it will be a
successful one.

All the best

Robyn

"If the matter is one that can be settled by observation, make the
observation yourself." (Bertrand Russell)

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[Steve Scrutton]

Thank you for this story Christine. Lots of people think that it must be
safer to consult with a doctor who is prescribing homeopathically rather
than a 'lay' homeopathy. I am sure that there are a lot of good
doctor-homeopaths, and whats more, I am sure that I will meet one someday!

Seriously, in the UK, the Faculty of Homeopathy will only recommend doctor
homeopaths to people who enquire. The British Homeopathic Association
(linked with the faculty) is a charity promoting homeopathy in this country,
but they do not, and will not recognise lay homeopaths. And many medical
insurance companies, including the biggest, BUPA, will support homeopathy
only if their members obtain in via a doctor-homeopath.

So these stories are useful. What you have come across, probably, is a
doctor (no doubt well trained, qualified and competent after his 5 year
training) who has dabbled in homeopathy for several weekends. For the
Faculty, the BHA and BUPA this is fine. For the patient it would have been
better if she had consulted a non-doctor homeopath who was properly trained,
qualified, registered and committed to homeopathy rather than attempting to
ride two horses at once..

Steve Scrutton
Registrar, Alliance of Registered Homeopaths
Homeopathy: a safe, gentle and effective medical therapy

[J.VENKATASUBRAMANIAN]

Hi Christine, Steve & Robin,

One of my prime bewilderment in seeing homeopathy in 'practice' is this
repetition
and has largely been responsible for not going to see any homeopath ( In my
city
in India).
I know one second generation Homeopath very famous hereprescribe a full vial
to
last two weeks.And no oral administration in clinic.I also know a President
Of homeopathic
association who owns a drug store where combinations are the prime
merchandise.
The 'owner' is the main prescriber. Any ailment from a cold to cancer will
be given one
vial (for the sake of classical homeopathy) and a combo.
I know one combo for fever aco, bell, bry,puls and bellisper all in 200 !

Six years back I went to consult the second generation Homeopath who gave me
a drug vial (nux v mostly) for constipation. Immediately on the second day,
I became
an angry man, snappish and feared by every one at home. I had a suspicion
and went
to a GP who gave my BP as 160/110 ! I immediately called up the doc and told
(not knowing it was his mischief) that I got BP. He told me that I take
treatment elsewhere. Asked why, he said homeopathy is not suited to such
ailments !
It took a long time and effort to come out of it.

My opinion is , at least in India, the band of true classicisists is really
a minority. I am
trying to locate a good one for many years for my family and have found
none.There
are two homeopathic colleges where the lecturers themselves are such
prescribers.
One lecturer gave my son three vials to be taken one after the other for two
weeks.
There is something terribly wrong.
Regards
Venkat

[Ellen Madono]

Dear Venkat,

I have been attending services at the Sikh Gurudwara in Pittsburgh because I
like the music. I had expected to meet homeopathy-wise Indians since their
medical system seemed so much better than ours. Instead I am finding young
mothers who know nothing about homeopathic first aid. They give their
children all of the strong allopathic drugs and assume that homeopathy works
on the same principles. They were brought up on homeopathy, but because
there was a clinic down the street, they never had to learn anything about
emergency homeopathy or the principles of healing themselves. My friend
just came back from India and said that she only found the pharmacies that
you described. I have however also met a few Indians who call their family
homeopath from the US or go home and receive good care given the distance
between them. In short, ignorance is multiplied by capitalism and knowledge
is in the hands of those who care to cultivate it. It seems to work the
same way no matter where you go. Good luck in your search for a good
doctor.

Blessings,
Ellen Madono

[Robyn]

>

[Shannon Nelson]

Hi Ellen,

How sad! I'd say this is another illustration as to why "patient education"
should be an important part of any homeopathic (or other alternative)
practice.

Shannon
on 3/19/04 6:43 AM, Ellen Madono at ellen.madono@verizon.net wrote:

[Rochelle]

At college an eminent lecturer suggested Carbo An for ulcers that wouldn't
heal.

Regards
Rochelle
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk

[Shannon Nelson]

Stomach ulcers, or anywhere on the body, or ?
on 3/19/04 6:30 PM, rochelle at rochelle@ntlworld.com wrote:

[Rochelle]

Leg ulcers and fistulas which won't heal.

Rochelle
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk