acute diseases part 2
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 5:18 pm
Treating acute diseases part 2
After having taken the case and specially keeping whatever of the above is
appliacable to our case in view then we have to decide if the case is
individualistic, or sporadic or epidemic as the treatment may differ in each
case.
1. Acute diseases that appear individually may not need any medcine if they
are mild enough. But if they are severe then they need to be treated. In
such diseases the most important thing to look for is the cause. Depending
on the cause, these diseases may be further classified into mechanical,
physical and mental affections. Below are the more commonly indicated (But
certainly not all) remedies.
Mechanical: These include among others burns, concussions. contusions,
wounds etc.
Burns: One good local application for simple superficial burns is
Urt-urens. Cantharis 30 usually stops the pains immediately. Rarely Ars.
may be needed that is if the pains do not go with cantharis or specially if
it seems as if the burn is heading towards gangrene. Carb-ac and caust have
for old burn wounds that refuse to heal.
Injuries:
For simple blunt injuries everyone knows Arnica30 and this is the best
remedy in most cases. But if the injury is to a bone then Ruta is much
better than Arnica. For extravasations that remain after Arnica, Sul-ac may
be given.
In head injuries again Arnica is very important and is the first remedy.
For complaints after head injury such as headaches Arnica may not always be
enough. If there are neurological changes after head injury (such as
convulsions) then hypericum or rarely cicuta and Nat-s may be needed. For
mental changes such as confusion. disorientation etc. after head injury
there is no medicine like Nat-s.
For punctured wounds Ledum is usually needed sometimes hypericum and for
injuries to spine or any area abundant in nerves Hypericum.
For injuries to eyes symphytum and for a blue eye ledum.
Symphytum may also be needed for bone fractures that refuse to heal. Other
remedies for this condition include calc-p and Ruta, though the best remedy
for these conditions is a dose of constitutional remedy.
For blunt injuries to deeper organs bellis may be needed and for injuries to
breasts conium.
For open wounds including lacerations and bed sores calendula may be
applied, in fact there is no local application as effective as calendula in
severe open wounds. Calendula may also be given in potency (preferably six)
to hasten healing.
For surgical wounds or wounds from knives staph is the best remedy. Again
for complaints appearing after surgery staph is our best bet.
For insect bites ledum is a good remedy. Arnica tincture is usually apllied
to wasp stings with good results and Urtica tinctre to bee stings.
For splinters, foreign bodies etc. hyericum and ledum(That is after bringing
out the foreign body first). If these wounds suppurate or of the splinter
can not be brought out then silicea.
2. Diseases from physical causes:
These may be related to items of food, medicines, clothing, temperature
changes, loss of sleep etc:
Food: Overeating. Ailments coming after overeating may need different
remedies depending on the symptoms. For example after overeating if there
is diarrhoea with thirstlessness and a dry mouth Puls may be needed. If
there is severe nausea Ipecac. If there is a feeling of distension or
heaviness Lyco may be the remedy. Rarely Nux may be needed in these
conditions and it will be indicated by tenesmus better after stool. Ant-c
is another remedy that may be indicated after overeating and the white
thickly coated tongue may call for it.
Food items: If a patient is allergic to certain food items then
constitutional treatment needs to be given but sometimes the patient is not
allergic but takes too much of a particular thing which aggravates him.
These cases may be treated like acute diseases and the following are the
most common problems and the most commonly indicated remedies.
Fats and rich food: Acute complaints that come after eating fatty food
usually call for Puls. Sometimes Carb-veg
Sugar: Acute conditions coming on after eating a lot of sweets usually
respond to Arg-nit, sometimes sulph.
Alcoholoic drinks: Nux can be used for the bad effects of alcohol (But not
in chronic alcoholics).
eggs: Ferr., chin-ars. puls etc
Flatulent food: Lyco etc.
Fruits: china etc
Sour fruits: Ars alb ant-c etc
Oranges : Olnd, sometimes Ph-ac.
Ice: Ars
Icecream: Usually Ars sometimes Puls.
Onions: Thuja, Lyco etc.
Pastries: Usually Puls sometimes Ant-c.
Spices: Usually Phos and sometimes Nux.
Medicines: Some medicines have specific antidotes thus for example for
complaints coming on after taking iron Puls is usually indicated. For
complaints after quinine Nat-m is usually indicated. In general if after
taking medicines the digestion is affected then Nux takes care of that. For
other complaints arising from the use of allopathic medicines such as
rashes, neurological changes etc, Sulph is the remedy. Bad effects of
antibioics are usually taken care of by sulph, though sometimes Nit-ac may
be needed.
Temperature: These have been dealt under sporadic diseases.
Clothing:
For complaints coming from wearing woolen clothes sulph is usually the
remedy. Complaints after wearing gold earrings may need lachesis. Ulcers
following tight shoes may need Borax or silicea.
Loss of sleep: For complaints from loss of sleep due to studies or watching
movies etc. Nux will be needed. For complaints from loss of sleep due to
nursing cocculus may be needed. For ailments coming after a long sleep lach
is usually needed, sometimes sulph.
Abortion: For bad effects following abortion Sabina, sec and Kali-c may be
needed.
Ailments after mountain climbing may need coca and Ars.
Haircut, ailments from: Bell sometimes glon.
Travelling, seasickness etc: Cocculus, tabacum.
For complaints remaining after other diseases:
Complaints after acute diseases when the patient does not seem to recover
may call for Carbo-veg and Sulph.
Loss of fluids: For complaints after loss of fluids china is usually
needed.
For weakness following prolonged fever Selenium is usually needed, sometimes
sulph and aranea.
After suppressed malaria: Nat-m
Weakness after chicken pox, measles etc. may call for calc-p.
3. Ailments after emotional upsets
A repertory may may be the best thing to use in such cases. I will mention
a few commonly used remedies here. But to show why it is not possible to
give all indcations in an article I will deal with ailments from anger in
more detail.
Chill from anger Bry
Cough from anger: Staph
convulsions from anger: Cupr and Nux
fever from anger: Cham
Flushes of heat: Phos
Suppression of menses Cham, staph and coloc
Ailments coming in nursing children after anger in mother: Cham
Abortion: Acon
Acidity: Cham
Asthma: Cham
Diarrhoea: Staph, coloc and cham
Colic: Coloc
Faintness: Gels
Hemiplagia: Staph
Jaundice: Nux and sometimes Nat-s
Headache: Petr, Nux, staph etc.
Sciatica: Cham. coloc
Trembling of hand: Sep
Weakness: Zinc
Vertigo: Calc
The above list can go on and on. There must be at least a hundred rubrics
in the repertory dealing with ailments appearing after anger. Usually in
acute ailments following anger Cham. Nux, Coloc and staph are enough to take
care of most cases.
Ailments from grief: Ignatia usually takes care of acute ailments following
grief or bad news. For chronic effects Ign may not be enough then remedies
like Nat-m, Ph-ac, Aur, Calc-p etc. may be needed.
Homesickness: Ph-ac or Caps usually take care of most cases.
Fright: Acon or gels are usually sufficient for the acute effects following
fright, Op may be needed later and in remote consequences of fright Nat-m,
sil and Ph-ac may be needed.
Indignation: Staph
Excessive joy: Coffea
Financial loss: Aur, Ambra
Shame: Staph
Anticipation: Gels, Arg-n etc
II
Sporadic cases: These usually come from changes in temperature and
atmosphere. This is again too vast a topic and only a few generfal hints can
be given.
For complaints that appear immediately after exposure to cold Aconite may be
needed. If after exposure the symptoms appear the next day Hepar may be the
remedy. Paralysis after exposure to cold may need causticum and sometimes
Dulcamara. Exposure to cold after being overheated usually calls for
carbo-veg and sometimes Bellis-p. Complaints after sitting on cold steps
Nux-v; when the days are hot and nights cold- Dulc; Dry cold Acon, hep, Nux
and Caust; wet cold Ars, calc, calc-p, dulc, nat-s, Rhod, R.t. Foggy
weather R.t., Aranea.
Hot weather remedies include Bry, gels, glon, ant-c., Puls, etc. Weakness
in a warm room may call for Puls. Weakness from the heat of summer usually
responds to selenium.
Exposure to sun: For acute condition Glon. is usually sufficient but for
the after effects Nat-c may be needed. For fever from walking in the sun
Ant-c may be needed.
Getting wet: Joint pains may need R.T. or colchicum, Facial paralysis or
neuralgia may call for Dulc. complaints after river bathing Ant-c.
Complaints after getting feet wet may need Puls or silica sometimes Nux.
Getting wet after being overheated may call for Bellis. Immediately taking
bath while perspiring may call for R.T or Dulc. Chronic effects of such an
act may call for silicea.
Wet rooms: Complaints coming from wet rooms may call for Ant-t, Nat-s,
Thuja, aranea and Dulcamara.
III
Diseases that appear epidemically can again be divided according to Dr.
Hahnemann into two groups those that appear once in a lifetime such as
measles, chickenpox etc. and those that recur. For many diseases that
appear once in a lifetime specific vaccines have been made and we see less
and less of such diseases. Nevertheless when we do see these diseases we
should be able to handle them. For this the general guidelines given in the
first part of the article should be used.
In cases where the disease appears epidemically we ask questions from
several patients and combine the symptoms as though they all belonged to one
patient. Then we repertorize and a few remedies appear more prominently
than others. These will form the basis of our treatment of that epidemic.
Once we have this list case taking is easy. Suppose there is an epidemic of
fever and coryza. You see five or six patients and combine their symptoms
and repertorize and get a list of lets say six or seven remedies such as
Merc, All-c, Ars, hep-s, Puls etc. Then differentiating between these is no
big deal Merc would have a moist tongue with thirst, All-c would be better
in the open air worse in the evening, same as Puls, which would have a dry
mouth with no thirst. Hep-s would feel extremely cold and if there is a
sore throat he will feel better by warm drinks, Ars would also be better by
warm drinks but would be extremely restless and anxious and so on. So once
you have found the remedies that cover the epidemic getting to the remedy is
not difficult.
Choice of potency. Normally in acute diseases 30 or 200 potency are good
enough. Repetition depends on the severity of the disease. The more severe
the disease the faster should be the repetition. In most cases of moderate
severity it is usually advantageous to give three doses at hourly intervals
and then increase the duration between doses. Sometimes in fevers if you
are sure of your remedy a single dose of 10M potency does wonderful work.
It aggravates for about an hour or two and knocks out the fever once and for
all.
After having taken the case and specially keeping whatever of the above is
appliacable to our case in view then we have to decide if the case is
individualistic, or sporadic or epidemic as the treatment may differ in each
case.
1. Acute diseases that appear individually may not need any medcine if they
are mild enough. But if they are severe then they need to be treated. In
such diseases the most important thing to look for is the cause. Depending
on the cause, these diseases may be further classified into mechanical,
physical and mental affections. Below are the more commonly indicated (But
certainly not all) remedies.
Mechanical: These include among others burns, concussions. contusions,
wounds etc.
Burns: One good local application for simple superficial burns is
Urt-urens. Cantharis 30 usually stops the pains immediately. Rarely Ars.
may be needed that is if the pains do not go with cantharis or specially if
it seems as if the burn is heading towards gangrene. Carb-ac and caust have
for old burn wounds that refuse to heal.
Injuries:
For simple blunt injuries everyone knows Arnica30 and this is the best
remedy in most cases. But if the injury is to a bone then Ruta is much
better than Arnica. For extravasations that remain after Arnica, Sul-ac may
be given.
In head injuries again Arnica is very important and is the first remedy.
For complaints after head injury such as headaches Arnica may not always be
enough. If there are neurological changes after head injury (such as
convulsions) then hypericum or rarely cicuta and Nat-s may be needed. For
mental changes such as confusion. disorientation etc. after head injury
there is no medicine like Nat-s.
For punctured wounds Ledum is usually needed sometimes hypericum and for
injuries to spine or any area abundant in nerves Hypericum.
For injuries to eyes symphytum and for a blue eye ledum.
Symphytum may also be needed for bone fractures that refuse to heal. Other
remedies for this condition include calc-p and Ruta, though the best remedy
for these conditions is a dose of constitutional remedy.
For blunt injuries to deeper organs bellis may be needed and for injuries to
breasts conium.
For open wounds including lacerations and bed sores calendula may be
applied, in fact there is no local application as effective as calendula in
severe open wounds. Calendula may also be given in potency (preferably six)
to hasten healing.
For surgical wounds or wounds from knives staph is the best remedy. Again
for complaints appearing after surgery staph is our best bet.
For insect bites ledum is a good remedy. Arnica tincture is usually apllied
to wasp stings with good results and Urtica tinctre to bee stings.
For splinters, foreign bodies etc. hyericum and ledum(That is after bringing
out the foreign body first). If these wounds suppurate or of the splinter
can not be brought out then silicea.
2. Diseases from physical causes:
These may be related to items of food, medicines, clothing, temperature
changes, loss of sleep etc:
Food: Overeating. Ailments coming after overeating may need different
remedies depending on the symptoms. For example after overeating if there
is diarrhoea with thirstlessness and a dry mouth Puls may be needed. If
there is severe nausea Ipecac. If there is a feeling of distension or
heaviness Lyco may be the remedy. Rarely Nux may be needed in these
conditions and it will be indicated by tenesmus better after stool. Ant-c
is another remedy that may be indicated after overeating and the white
thickly coated tongue may call for it.
Food items: If a patient is allergic to certain food items then
constitutional treatment needs to be given but sometimes the patient is not
allergic but takes too much of a particular thing which aggravates him.
These cases may be treated like acute diseases and the following are the
most common problems and the most commonly indicated remedies.
Fats and rich food: Acute complaints that come after eating fatty food
usually call for Puls. Sometimes Carb-veg
Sugar: Acute conditions coming on after eating a lot of sweets usually
respond to Arg-nit, sometimes sulph.
Alcoholoic drinks: Nux can be used for the bad effects of alcohol (But not
in chronic alcoholics).
eggs: Ferr., chin-ars. puls etc
Flatulent food: Lyco etc.
Fruits: china etc
Sour fruits: Ars alb ant-c etc
Oranges : Olnd, sometimes Ph-ac.
Ice: Ars
Icecream: Usually Ars sometimes Puls.
Onions: Thuja, Lyco etc.
Pastries: Usually Puls sometimes Ant-c.
Spices: Usually Phos and sometimes Nux.
Medicines: Some medicines have specific antidotes thus for example for
complaints coming on after taking iron Puls is usually indicated. For
complaints after quinine Nat-m is usually indicated. In general if after
taking medicines the digestion is affected then Nux takes care of that. For
other complaints arising from the use of allopathic medicines such as
rashes, neurological changes etc, Sulph is the remedy. Bad effects of
antibioics are usually taken care of by sulph, though sometimes Nit-ac may
be needed.
Temperature: These have been dealt under sporadic diseases.
Clothing:
For complaints coming from wearing woolen clothes sulph is usually the
remedy. Complaints after wearing gold earrings may need lachesis. Ulcers
following tight shoes may need Borax or silicea.
Loss of sleep: For complaints from loss of sleep due to studies or watching
movies etc. Nux will be needed. For complaints from loss of sleep due to
nursing cocculus may be needed. For ailments coming after a long sleep lach
is usually needed, sometimes sulph.
Abortion: For bad effects following abortion Sabina, sec and Kali-c may be
needed.
Ailments after mountain climbing may need coca and Ars.
Haircut, ailments from: Bell sometimes glon.
Travelling, seasickness etc: Cocculus, tabacum.
For complaints remaining after other diseases:
Complaints after acute diseases when the patient does not seem to recover
may call for Carbo-veg and Sulph.
Loss of fluids: For complaints after loss of fluids china is usually
needed.
For weakness following prolonged fever Selenium is usually needed, sometimes
sulph and aranea.
After suppressed malaria: Nat-m
Weakness after chicken pox, measles etc. may call for calc-p.
3. Ailments after emotional upsets
A repertory may may be the best thing to use in such cases. I will mention
a few commonly used remedies here. But to show why it is not possible to
give all indcations in an article I will deal with ailments from anger in
more detail.
Chill from anger Bry
Cough from anger: Staph
convulsions from anger: Cupr and Nux
fever from anger: Cham
Flushes of heat: Phos
Suppression of menses Cham, staph and coloc
Ailments coming in nursing children after anger in mother: Cham
Abortion: Acon
Acidity: Cham
Asthma: Cham
Diarrhoea: Staph, coloc and cham
Colic: Coloc
Faintness: Gels
Hemiplagia: Staph
Jaundice: Nux and sometimes Nat-s
Headache: Petr, Nux, staph etc.
Sciatica: Cham. coloc
Trembling of hand: Sep
Weakness: Zinc
Vertigo: Calc
The above list can go on and on. There must be at least a hundred rubrics
in the repertory dealing with ailments appearing after anger. Usually in
acute ailments following anger Cham. Nux, Coloc and staph are enough to take
care of most cases.
Ailments from grief: Ignatia usually takes care of acute ailments following
grief or bad news. For chronic effects Ign may not be enough then remedies
like Nat-m, Ph-ac, Aur, Calc-p etc. may be needed.
Homesickness: Ph-ac or Caps usually take care of most cases.
Fright: Acon or gels are usually sufficient for the acute effects following
fright, Op may be needed later and in remote consequences of fright Nat-m,
sil and Ph-ac may be needed.
Indignation: Staph
Excessive joy: Coffea
Financial loss: Aur, Ambra
Shame: Staph
Anticipation: Gels, Arg-n etc
II
Sporadic cases: These usually come from changes in temperature and
atmosphere. This is again too vast a topic and only a few generfal hints can
be given.
For complaints that appear immediately after exposure to cold Aconite may be
needed. If after exposure the symptoms appear the next day Hepar may be the
remedy. Paralysis after exposure to cold may need causticum and sometimes
Dulcamara. Exposure to cold after being overheated usually calls for
carbo-veg and sometimes Bellis-p. Complaints after sitting on cold steps
Nux-v; when the days are hot and nights cold- Dulc; Dry cold Acon, hep, Nux
and Caust; wet cold Ars, calc, calc-p, dulc, nat-s, Rhod, R.t. Foggy
weather R.t., Aranea.
Hot weather remedies include Bry, gels, glon, ant-c., Puls, etc. Weakness
in a warm room may call for Puls. Weakness from the heat of summer usually
responds to selenium.
Exposure to sun: For acute condition Glon. is usually sufficient but for
the after effects Nat-c may be needed. For fever from walking in the sun
Ant-c may be needed.
Getting wet: Joint pains may need R.T. or colchicum, Facial paralysis or
neuralgia may call for Dulc. complaints after river bathing Ant-c.
Complaints after getting feet wet may need Puls or silica sometimes Nux.
Getting wet after being overheated may call for Bellis. Immediately taking
bath while perspiring may call for R.T or Dulc. Chronic effects of such an
act may call for silicea.
Wet rooms: Complaints coming from wet rooms may call for Ant-t, Nat-s,
Thuja, aranea and Dulcamara.
III
Diseases that appear epidemically can again be divided according to Dr.
Hahnemann into two groups those that appear once in a lifetime such as
measles, chickenpox etc. and those that recur. For many diseases that
appear once in a lifetime specific vaccines have been made and we see less
and less of such diseases. Nevertheless when we do see these diseases we
should be able to handle them. For this the general guidelines given in the
first part of the article should be used.
In cases where the disease appears epidemically we ask questions from
several patients and combine the symptoms as though they all belonged to one
patient. Then we repertorize and a few remedies appear more prominently
than others. These will form the basis of our treatment of that epidemic.
Once we have this list case taking is easy. Suppose there is an epidemic of
fever and coryza. You see five or six patients and combine their symptoms
and repertorize and get a list of lets say six or seven remedies such as
Merc, All-c, Ars, hep-s, Puls etc. Then differentiating between these is no
big deal Merc would have a moist tongue with thirst, All-c would be better
in the open air worse in the evening, same as Puls, which would have a dry
mouth with no thirst. Hep-s would feel extremely cold and if there is a
sore throat he will feel better by warm drinks, Ars would also be better by
warm drinks but would be extremely restless and anxious and so on. So once
you have found the remedies that cover the epidemic getting to the remedy is
not difficult.
Choice of potency. Normally in acute diseases 30 or 200 potency are good
enough. Repetition depends on the severity of the disease. The more severe
the disease the faster should be the repetition. In most cases of moderate
severity it is usually advantageous to give three doses at hourly intervals
and then increase the duration between doses. Sometimes in fevers if you
are sure of your remedy a single dose of 10M potency does wonderful work.
It aggravates for about an hour or two and knocks out the fever once and for
all.