Cases from our Rich Heritage

NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 May / Jun VOL VIII NO 3.

T K Kasiviswanathan

'Sym-r / Thuja / Vib

Case 1 Vomiting during Pregnancy:
A young lady three months pregnant was suffering from a deathly
nausea with vomiting and retching so prolonged and violent as to
produce hematemesis. The smell or thought of food was repugnant to the
extreme. An examination of the patient showed no malposition or any
other cause for the trouble. Taking note of the fact that one Dr Burdick
investigated

the

medicinal

properties

of Symphoricarpus-racemosus,

which produced intense nausea and subsequent satisfactory results

obtained for curing morning sickness of pregnant women with potencies
of this medicine, Dr Anshutz gave one dose of the above medicine in the
midst of a violent paroxysm of nausea and vomiting of the patient. In a
few minutes she stopped vomiting and said that she felt soothed and
quieted all over. In half an hour the nausea began again but a few pills of
this remedy checked it promptly and the lady fell asleep. Once during
the night she awoke distressed and took another dose of the medicine
and could sleep comfortably. For a month she was all right but due to
over-exertion one day she became nauseated once more; it was checked
promptly by another dose of this remedy. And such episodes did not
recur during the remaining period of pregnancy.
The indications are a feeling of qualmishness with indifference to food. In
more severe cases there is a deathly nausea; the vomiting is continuous,
with violent retching, but it covers every graduation between these
extremes; it does not seem to be confined to any particular morning
aggravation; a prominent symptom is the disgust at the sight, smell or
thought

of

food.

One

case,

remember

where

the

patient

was

comparatively comfortable while lying on the back but would be

nauseated by the slightest motion of the arms, particularly raising them."

[DD: Dr Kent writes in his Lectures as under:- Kali-carb is often a

remedy for vomiting in pregnancy, but to find when it is the remedy for
vomiting in pregnancy , we have to go to the whole constitutional state.
Vomiting of pregnancy is not cured, although it may be temporarily
relieved by Ipecac, as this is a medicine that corresponds merely to the
nausea itself. The condition really depends on the constitutional state and
the remedy that is to cure must be a constitutional remedy. Sulphur,

Sepia and Kali-carb are

Sometimes Arsenic is

among

needed.

the
When

remedies
a

commonly

pregnant

woman

indicated.
has

no

constitutional symptoms at all, and upon examining the case you find
nothing but overwhelming deathly nausea with continuous vomiting day
and night, a single dose of Symphoricarpus-rac will help. That is
prescribing on very limited information and should only be done in
circumscribed or one-sided cases. It is not a long acting remedy; it is not
a constitutional remedy and acts very much like Ipecac. (page 633)
Dr S P Koppikar writes that I have been badly let down by

Symphoricarpus 30, 200 or 1M and do not use it anymore. Dr TN

Gupta (who wrote about it in Homoeopathic Heritage Journal) uses Q 5
drops tds with success. Cocculus with its weakness legs give way and
sepia, which has nausea on smell of and thought of food ", I have found
extremely useful and frequently needed remedy".
Dr Kent gives two marks to this remedy in his rubric Nausea - during
pregnancy (p 509). It does not figure in the other three rubrics-Nauseafood, Looking at; Nausea- food, smell of and Nausea-food, thought of.
However Dr Boericke and Dr S R Pathak highly recommend it for
persistent vomiting of pregnancy. Dr Boericke says that 200 potency has
proved curative.
Dr A H Grimmer says, "There is one troublesome thing, though that
sometimes is very hard to master even with a Homoeopathic remedythe persistent nausea that some of them will have in spite of good
prescribing. If you get a case where everything seems to center in the

nausea alone of a more or less nervous type, you would be surprised

what Symphoricorpus will do for these cases." Thus the opinion on the use
of this remedy is divided and only further clinical experience will confirm
the usefulness of this remedy in this condition. See also the case in this
issue where Medh has been successfully used for pernicious vomiting of
pregnancy.)

Case 2: Abortion
A lady, aged 23, was brought to Dr B Sahni on 6-12-68 for treatment
of habitual abortions in the third month of pregnancy. At the time of
consultation she was 2 months pregnant and was apprehensive that she
might abort this time also. The earlier abortions could not be checked
despite best treatment. Her husband's blood test, both Wesserman and
VDRL showed positive. There were not many symptoms and still the case
was repertorised as under:Abortion in third month- Apis, Cimicifuga ,croc, Eup-p, Merc, Sabina,

Sec, Thuja, Ust

Worse carriage: Croc, Thu
Aversion to open air- Thuja

Dr Sahni transmitted Thuja 1M on the same day through the hair of the
patient and her palms became sweaty (which is considered by Dr Sahni
as a favourable sign of the medicine acting). Such a transmission was
kept on till 25-4-69 and detached on 26-4-89 due to cough and cold.
She gave birth to a healthy female child on 4-7-69.
(Dr B Sahni-Transmission of Homoeo drug energy from a distance p108)

Case 3
Mrs C, aged 36, in the 26th week of her pregnancy suffered from
crampy pains starting from her lumbosacral region and extending

through her nates to her womb and ending in her legs. The spasmodic
pains were tormenting her so much that she was confined to bed for
days. The womb neck turned out to be flat and 2cm dilated on
examination. She was advised strongly not to leave home because of the
risk of premature delivery. Ten years earlier, her first pregnancy was also
premature.
At the time of first consultation the patient said that she had been
suffering from sharp pains before menses since her first menstruation;
the pains used to come and disappear suddenly. A strong sensation of
pulling and tearing of the womb was always present before and during
menses and the pulling pains extended to the legs, particularly to the
anterior part of the thighs. The menstrual flow has been characterized by
big clots, which relieved the pain each time they were ejected. During her
menses she would be restless which persisted even after menses period
was over. Fresh air gave her a sense of relief.
The doctor gave her Viburnum-opulus 30, two drops twice a day and in
24 hours the pains gradually disappeared. Her gynecologist monitored
her womb neck and the patient delivered 3.1kg girl in her 39th week
normally.
Sometime later the patient complained that she was once more having
crampy pains during the period of lactation and the pains were identical
to those earlier she experienced. On the basis of past history, she was
prescribed Viburnum-op 200. Thereafter, her pains ceased and her first
menses after the childbirth was painless. ( Dr R Pomposelli- European
Journal of Classsical Homoeopathy July-Sept 1996)
(See Dr Boericke's Pocket Manual- It is a general remedy for cramps;
often

prevents

miscarriages;

spasmodic

and

congestive

affections,

dependent upon ovarian or uterine origin. Menses too late, scanty, lasting
a few hours, offensive odour, with crampy pains; cramps extend through
thighs. Frequent and early miscarriage; pains from back to loins and
womb worse early morning.)

A Case of Morning Sickness

NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 May / Jun VOL VIII NO 3.

Dr V Sundaram

'Medo
In March 1997, I visited the house of a relative for condolence. There I
met Dr C, an allopathic doctor, who looked pale and exhausted. On
inquiry, she said that she was pregnant again after losing her earlier
male child and now in her second month. She had severe morning
sickness. She had taken all the allopathic medicines known for this
condition without effect. I asked whether she tried Homoeopathic
medicines from her father, who was serving in a college and also
practicing Homoeopathy. Whatever medicines her father gave, after
consulting the repertories, also gave no relief.
Then I asked her father, who was also present, as to what Homoeopathic
medicines he had already given to his daughter. After ascertaining the
same, I asked him to try Medo 1M- one dose.
A week later I had an occasion to meet the doctor again, in the same
place. There was a sea change in her. She came over to me to thank me
with joy and relief. She never imagined that one single dose would give
such a wonderful result and cure her of her complaint, when all
allopathic and Homoeopathic medicines had failed. She was all praise for
Homoeopathy and thanked me again for curing her sickness.
Dr William Boericke's Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica
guided me in the selection of this nosode, Medo, for morning sickness. Pg
425, under Stomach "Pernicious vomiting of pregnancy".
J H Clarke's Dictionary of Practical MM, states that Medo should be used
in single doses but is rarely, if ever, to be given in the acute stages of a
disease.

How will I survive this month?

NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 May / Jun VOL VIII NO 3.

Dr Vishpala Parthasarthy

'Phos
Mrs MM was 36 and a second para. She already had a 12 yr old son from an earlier marriage.
Her husband was 33, with no previous marriage or child.
She had been vomiting for 15 days, approx 14-15per day. LMP was 30-6-95 and she was 8
wks pregnant. She had been on Inj Stemetil, was hospitalized from 25th-29th, given drips, yet
her vomiting continued unabated. She looked completely drained out; had to be held and brought
to clinic; on coming in, she immediately lay down on the examination couch, turned on her side
and drew her legs up.
Now the details of her Complaints
Location

Sensation

GIT

Vomiting

Modality

Concomitants

< Pregnancy3

Weak3

Since 15dys

< Travel

Throat Dry

F: 14-15/d

< Sleep

Dizzy3

4/9: 7-8 + 3 in

< 3pm

Drowsy3

clinic=11

> Ice

Skin <Rt leg, Ankle

Rash

< Summer

Rx Incidal

Since 1990

Sensitive

< Winter

Tongue dry

1/y for 1mth

Redness

< Evening, night

Thirst +

> Cold
< Waxing
< Footwear
Breast under R&L

Rash Red

< Cloth

Since Dec 96 <2d

Burning 3

< Sweat

Itching

> Cold water

Piles Occasional

< Early morning

Rectum

bleeding
Ear

Oozing

Pt As A Person

Stocky. Wt loss 6kg in 4weeks Wt52.5

Skin: NAD
Nail: NAD
Eyes: Sunken
Teeth: N

Perspiration: Less.
Appetite: Less. Acidity with nausea. Flatulence
Craving: Spices
Aversion: Sweets
Thirst: Increased
Stools: piles, non-bleeding
Micturition: Decreased frequency 2pm/ 10 pm
Thermal: Chilly2 C4H
Menstrual History: Menarche - 14yrs LMP 30-6-95
Cycles- Regular 4/30
MD-3d - Dysmenorrhoea. Dull Backache, legs, cramps
> Hard pressure, Bandaging
Preg I: Vomiting 10-12/d. Saline 3/d for 3days. Then better.
Physical Factors: Likes medium weather, clear skies, open air, covers at
night, bath warm.
Life Story:
Pt born in 1959. She was the 3rd daughter and the 4th child. Mother
lost her male child in 1951 of Nephritis. All the sisters were bright. One
has a gas agency. Si 2 works at hotel reservations. Si 4 at a Travel
Agency.
1980: Arranged marriage. He used to torture her.
1983: Son born, but things did not improve. Finally separated in 1986.
1986: Came back to her mother's house. Started to learn computer. At
those classes only she met and fell in love with her teacher, now her
Husband.
1990: Divorce came through.
1991: Completed her management course and started working with her
sister who had a FERA company, but Husband-to-be felt that company
will fold up. So he made her start her own company. Also studying equity
Research Programme.
92: Married.
95: Now pregnant and sick. So her work is in doldrums. Right now her

only thought is: how can I survive this month? When she came to me,
looked sick and petulant. Husband also looked haggard with pouches
under the eyes. Was it stress related?

They all live with patient's mother, who runs the house. Pt not a good
housekeeper.
Mentals: Irritable. Very outgoing. Loves dressing, reading, meeting people,
going out with close friends. Likes music 3 and has done her visharadh in
music. Has always been a good student.
She is a nervous sort with lot of anticipatory anxiety. Poor memory forgets where she put her keys and her diamonds!
Rubrics
Ro Pg

Rubrics

1068

Irritability

1017

Consolation >

993

Ambitious

1018

Courageous

1078

Forgetful

997

Anticipation

1097

Sensitive

563

Nervous; Travel desire to

537

Cold drinks amel

546

Desires sour

547

Desires tea

Remedies
ACUTE: Ars-Alb 200
CHRONIC: Phos 200
INTERCURRENT: Medo 1M

Discussion: The only keynotes to the remedy were:

1. The way this patient came in and lay down: knee-chest position, folding
the knees up.
2.

The craving for ice. So the case was begun with Medo 1M one dose, and
then followed with Phos as required.

Follow Up:
Date

Symptoms

Interpretation

4-9-95

Vomit 10-15/d

Remedy

Medo 200-1
Phos 200- 4 hrly

6-9-95

>

>

Ct all

Date/Vomits
3rd - 11-13
4th - 11
5th - 6
6th - 4
11-9-95

Medo 1M-2nd dose

Weak. Can't retain

food.Throat dry. Sleep less
App ++

18-9-95

12th - 4; 13th - 4

Wt 54.2( Inc 2 kg/2wks)

Placebo

> 60-70% only

Medo IM- 3nd dose.

14th - 2; 15th - 21
6th - 2 App poor but eats.
Sleep> 12-8am.
Piles < stool after
20-9-95

18th -1 - 19th - 1
20th -6 Tense. Weak
21st - 2 since no food
22nd - 4

25-9-95

withMedh.The beneficial
effect of the Intercurrent
medicine has to be
consolidated. So rptn.

23rd - 4; 24th -3;

Not holding

Medo 10 M-1

> 2 Wt 53

Placebo

? acute force reqd

Phos 200-1

25th -2
2-10-95

26th to 28th- 1 Piles pain

1/2d
29th -5

Energy >

30th to 2 - 2
9-10-95

Vomit OD early morning

16-10-95

No vomits for 3 days. Slight Wt 54 Hb 10.8

SOS

nausea. Craves spicy. Hair

falls.
Av water
20-10-95

Was > 3 but ate paneer

Acute

Ars-alb 200 QDS

palak
30-10-95

27th - 1 Tongue clean.

W 51.3 kg lost /2wks

Piles

BP130/72

Medo 10M- 2nd dose

28th - 2 26,27 now >

29th --6 30th - 6
6-11-95

31st - 1; 1st -0; 2nd - 1

>

Placebo

13-11-95

>3 Vomit 2/w App > had

> but repeat since tendency

Medo 10M- 3rd dose

an egg. No < when the

to relapse

month changed and when

baby turns
20-11-95

>3 Looks lovely. App. Hair>

Placebo

18-1-96

Loose motions

Phos 200-1 dose

2-3-96

> Slight oedema feet

8-3-96

>3

Hb 11.8
Delivery almost due.

Phos 200- 1 dose

Medo 10M -4th dose
Caulophyllum200
QDS / SOS labour

June 96

Delivered a nice bouncy

baby, but she had a naevus
on the Lt cheek. I often told
them to take Homoeopathy
for it. Somehow they never
did.

The pt herself looks fine.

Two Cases Of Habitual Abortion

NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 May / Jun VOL VIII NO 3.

Dr B G Daptardar

'Vib / Kali-c / Vib

In early days of my practice, a lady of primary infertility came to me.
She head been married 4 yrs and had not conceived. I persuaded her to
first go to a Gynecologist to get the cause defined. She was totally against
internal check ups, but finally she agreed to go to a female Gynecologist,
who diagnosed an "under-developed uterus" which will not be able to
carry a child to full term. Was this the reason for the problem, and every
time her periods were delayed, was she actually aborting?? I took on the
case on a trial basis.

The Case History

Mrs SK, 22 yrs, came to me on 9-3-84 for irregular cycles. Menarche

at 14; initially regular cycles; irregularity started after she had influenza,
for which she was hospitalized and lost 2 kg during the attack.
She talks less and is averse to men. She gets palpitation if scolded even
slightly. She is very timid and easily startled. She has a feeling that she is
at fault (feels guilty) and that she is not fit for her duties. She cries easily
while reading and seeing movies. She cannot bear her husband staying
out overnight for his job, even for one night. She cannot tolerate the least
contradiction. She talks about suicide. She is very suspicious especially
with her husband talking to girls. She has carsickness. Giddiness while
cooking.

Physical Generals
Thermals: Chilly patient.
Perspiration: Does not perspire.

Desires: Condiments, spicy food, non-veg, fish, cold drinks, hot food
Hair: Dandruff
Skin: Wart on Rt ring finger AF thorn prick. Cracks in soles
Sleep: Sleeps late; unrefreshing sleep; wakes frequently.
Dreams: Dreams of grandeur; happy dreams.
Menses: Pain in abdomen BM. Pain in breasts BM for 1 year after
marriage
Sex: desire increased
Family History
Fa and PGM - Schizophrenia.
Her husband who was accompanying her, gave most of the symptoms. It
was a love marriage. She was a Muslim, he was a Hindu Brahmin.
This is one of my earliest cases. I was too much tilted by the talks of
suicide and naturally I gave Aurum. Then subsequently followed many
drugs such as Natrum, Thuja, Pulsatilla, Conium, Magnesium, Sulphur,

Lachesis and Aurum-mur-natronatum. She always responded to the

remedy

but

only

partially.

All

her

displeasures,

disappointments,

grievances were revolving around some thing else but she was not
conceiving. The remedies were not having effect to such an extent that
she would conceive. She was taking treatment for more than 4 years.
Her entire mental state was revolving around not having a child. Though
I had her case reasonably well as compared to my short experience and
had prescribed scientifically, her symptoms would return in some another
form. This sort of frustrated me. This was the time that we learnt about
her under developed uterus.
I was reading M L Tyler's Homoeopathic Drug Pictures when I came
across a beautiful article on Viburnum. I bought Viburnum-opulus 30 &
200. When she got her menses I asked her to inform me. I started Vib-

op30 every 3rd day on 30-11-1988, after her menses were over. She
had menses on 30-12-88, scanty, no clots, lasted 3 days. She did not
get menses thereafter so pregnancy test was done on 10-2-89 that was

negative. She still did not get her menses and it was again repeated on
27-2-89 when it showed positive. She had morning sickness and
vomiting and mild vertigo. Vib-op 30 was continued in same way and
her morning sickness went away.
In May 89 she had urinary infection and raised BP (130/90), which was
controlled with Canth 200 3 doses. BP came down quickly, but pain in
urethra after urination remained, accompanied by chest pain on Lt. side
<

lying

on

the

same

side. Natrum-mur 30

doses

relieved.

stopped Vib-opas I thought, I have repeated it more than what I

normally do; let me see the effect. Also were these symptoms due to
frequent repetition? On 29-8-89 she started having pains in thighs and
abdomen as Labor pains. Again Vib-op 30 was started but now every
day till 14-9-89. On 14-9-89 she had pain in urethra before urination.
Pus Cells 100-120/hpf. For this Pulsatilla 1M was given and repeated on
25-9-89. She delivered a normal healthy boy in Oct.

Case 2

As this case was progressing beautifully I had another case of Mrs. K, 33

yrs. She came to me on 18-8-89 with following complaints.
Tendency for abortions; aborted 3 times. 1st in June 84 after a fall
when 7 months pregnant. 2nd in March 87 after a false step when 5
months pregnant and 3rd in January 88 inspite of bed rest, Shirodkar's
stitch and medicines.
She felt that all these had happened because of her obesity. She had come
to me with a pre-condition that she would not undergo hospitalization,
any surgical procedure or take any allopathic medicines. She had also
complained of low backache after abortions < exertion. Pain in Lt lower
limb for last 1 yr. from hip downward < lying on Lt side.

Menses irregular for last 1 yr. Previously menses every 26-27 days,
lasted for 2-3 days; dark clotted flow.
Grey hair from 2-3 yr. Her mother too had early graying of hair.
She gets frequent cough from childhood, which was severe during 1st
pregnancy.
Likes Sweets. Thirst moderate.
Sleeps well; wakes 3 a.m. every day and sleeps or tries to sleep again.
She likes rainy weather and rain; does not like summer at all. Warm to
hot bath always H/O - Jaundice. Whooping cough.
Father has DM. Mother died 1 yr back. Grief .Still cannot believe that
mother is dead - as if it is a dream. She wept while telling about all this.
Mother had DM.
Patient is eldest in family, has 2 sisters & 1 brother. She is B.A.
Observations- Her answers are incomplete and she deviates from the
topic while talking. Appears dull.
She was given Kali-carb 30, 200, 1M on consecutive days.
26-9-89 Feels more energetic. Pain in low back and lower limbs reduced
greatly. 20-12-89 Menses regular, flow is much better, no clots. No
backache, no pain in lower limb. She was asked to try for conception.
Pregnancy test was positive on 26-2-90 She had no trouble at all.
28-4-90 Feels better. She had visited Gynecologist and he told that
cervix is short and external Os is open admitting one finger. Viburnum-

opulus 30 alternate days.

9-5-90 Lumbar backache occ Coryza. Kali-carb 10M 1 dose.
19-5-90 USG Pelvis on 30-4-90 shows: Os 9 mm, coning.
TORCH TEST POSITIVE. Syphilinum 1M 1 dose as antimiasmatic.
20-7-90 Lumbar backache. Kali-carb 50M 1 dose and Vib-op 30
alternate days.

Viburnum-opulus was continued till the end of 9th month. She delivered
a beautiful male child normally.

The story does not stop here. In the first case you might have noticed
that during pregnancy I had not given Syphilinum, which was given
during 2nd pregnancy. The first child had depressed nasal bridge
whereas the 2nd child did not have.
In first case we can conclude that the pregnancy was carried till the full
term because of Vib-op and Palliation was achieved. The characteristic
symptoms of the lady disappeared to a large extent after the delivery
except suspicious nature, menstrual irregularity, vomiting from riding in
a car etc. So the basic sickness was not altered but most of the
troublesome

manifestations

were

definitely

ameliorated.

had

an

opportunity to follow that lady during her 2nd pregnancy also and she
did not require any Vib-op during that period. In both the cases no
allopathic medicines were given.

Bach Flower Remedies During Pregnancy

NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 May / Jun VOL VIII NO 3.

Dr Padmaja Shenoy

'Syph / Orch
In the first trimester of pregnancy, especially if it is the first pregnancy,
there is a lot of apprehension and anxiety in the patient and the family.
Therefore precise information regarding diet and exercise should be given.

Bach flower remedies are very useful and completely safe during
pregnancies. The first remedy that I would like to deal with is:

Walnut
Walnut is recommended especially when the pregnancy is unplanned,
unexpected and upsetting to the patient. It helps her to adjust to the

idea and not only reconcile but also rejoice at the prospect of
motherhood.
For Nausea Of Pregnancy
If walnut is started as soon as pregnancy is confirmed, it almost always
averts nausea of pregnancy. If walnut fails, I give Colch 30, almost a
specific. It has never failed me.
Terror Of Childbirth
For fear and terror of childbirth, RESCUE remedy (a composite remedy
of some Bach remedies) given in the last three months, plus whenever
required, puts the patient in a relaxed frame of mind.
For Extremely Anxious patients Mimulus can also be prescribed.
Case 1
A female, aged twenty-eight, came to me during the seventh month of
her first pregnancy. She was absolutely terrified, quite sure that she
would die during childbirth. She was in a total state of panic. Rock-

roseTDS helped her substantially. To completely eliminate the anxiety, I

gaveRescue remedy in her final month of pregnancy. It calmed her down
and she had an easy labour lasting only four hours.
Case 2
A female patient aged twenty-four and married only four months, was
planning a child only after three years of marriage. Unexpectedly she
found that she was pregnant and came to me, fretting and fuming. She
was really upset as she held a good job and this uncalled for pregnancy,
would make all her plans go awry. Walnut helped her to come to terms
with her pregnancy, reduce her morning sickness and manage her
pregnancy better.
Additionally to combat any syphilitic taint, avert congenital anomalies
and to minimise the risk of chromosomal disorder, Syphilinum IM, 3
doses on say 1st of every mth for 3 mnths prior to conception is
advocated.

Case 3
28-year old female, having one child was eager to have another child but
was unable to conceive. Tests revealed that the husband's sperm count
was low with reduced motility. Though the husband was a non-smoker
and a teetotaler, he was very obese.
He was advised to lose weight and given Orchitinum IM one dose a week,
for three months. Count and motility increased substantially.
29 March 98: Sperm count 18 million/ml. Grade III & IV 10%, grade I
& II -40%. LMP 16Sept 98.
25 Oct 98: Positive pregnancy Test.
In the second month of pregnancy, the patient suffered from severe
cough. At that time, she was visiting Bangalore. A local Homoeopath
prescribed Hyoscyamus, Coccus - cacti and Belladonna with no relief.
The constant hacking cough exhausted her. She expressed great anxiety
that the cough would cause her to abort.
Robin Murphy pg 1235: A single remedy for constant hacking cough
during pregnancy - Kali-brom.

Kali-brom 200 Tds completely cured her in three days. ( Clinical

confirmation)
A Negligible But Highly 'Valuable' Guiding Symptom To Cure
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 May / Jun VOL VIII NO
3.
Dr V Narasimhan
Kent Says: Any symptom which is far removed from the pathology of the
symptom, however seemingly negligible, helps in finding the similimum.
In my practice, I have verified this a number of times: an objective
symptom helped solve the case.
I present some such cases:
Case 1:
Mr M 59, known diabetic NIDDM for 35yrs, was on allopathic treatment

with rigid diet control, in spite of which he was emaciated with extreme
prostration. He had all the symptoms of a diabetic patient.
Clinical Features
1. Dim Vision: Some months back he watched a match on TV round
the clock. Then the match was lost, and he was very upset and
had great anxiety. When the patient said 'dim vision' I thought
retinopathy- ie the 'syphilitic' stage of progression of Diabetes in
spite of so called intensive treatment; though even at this stage
Homoeopathy can reverse the condition of the patient to normal.
2. Night watching. Now the etiology was available. Night watching
with Anxiety is the predominant symptom of 'Cocculus'. To further
substantiate Cocculus, there was the non-cordination of Neuro
muscular system. He could not perform voluntary movements at
will. This applied also to the lack of power of accommodation of
the lens of the eye, regulated by the ciliary muscles.
3. Sluggish 'rhodopsin synthesis' in retina etc confirmed. Cocculus1M
was given, giving priority to the eliminating rubric 'dim vision' and
its aetiology.
4. An observation: all through history taking, whenever the patient
talked, he had frothy saliva at the corners of the mouth.
Taking this last sign and repertorizing, two remedies emerged -Plumb-

met and Lac-def.

Plumbum-met has frothy saliva during sleep
Lac-def - frothy saliva during conversation.
Carsickness is in both, Lac-def and Cocculus. When Allen's Keynotes were
consulted, the very first line of Lac-def is, for the successful treatment of
diabetes. Though illness is chronic by number of years - there are several
acute symptoms, which warrant "Similars" esp in the syphilitic stage.
Accordingly Lac-def 6X was prescribed. Reasons for low potency
a. to facilitate repetition and

b. for short action. Lac-def was administered after several doses of

placebo following Cocculus.
In 3 months the patient was much relieved.
Further details of the case
The patient was a railway employee. He got married at the age of 16 to
his niece of 29 years. From the history it is understood that his wife was
Dulcamara in mental plane. He was very affectionate to her, and through
her he got 2 daughters and 2 sons. After some years, he was officially
deputed to Malaysia where he stayed for nearly 10 years. From there, he
regularly sent money to his wife, amounting to Rs 2.25 lakhs.
But the pity was that when he returned to India, he found that his wife
had changed. She went to the extent of manhandling her husband with
the help of her sons-in-law, demanding huge money and denying receipt
of the Rs 2.25 lakhs which he remitted from abroad. He lost the
affection of his wife (disappointed love. He was cheated by his own
people. He used to be homesick, when abroad.
On Analysis
Loss of his property (money)
Homesick and camp life
Disappointed love from his wife
Do these indicate Acid-phos?
These are all pathetic, thickly painted symptoms. But to establish
whether a seemingly negligible symptom is valuable in selecting the
remedy, 'frothy saliva' on the corners of the mouth was taken into
consideration as an 'eliminating rubric' and Lac-def was preferred
over Plumbum-metalicum on the basis of the frothy saliva - esp during
conversation. Patient improved in several aspects. He can live with
diabetes without any fear.
The tendency with diabetic patients is to habitually monitor the blood
sugar level and worry about the numbers, whereas the administration of

an appropriate Homoeopathic remedy makes a diabetic patient live

comfortably with any sugar level in the blood.
Tips: Some Specific Keynotes
Though lowering of blood sugar level was not instantaneous, the following
ill effects of diabetes are removed.
1. Loose teeth became strong (Merc-cor)
2. Burning of sole > open air (Sulph)
3. Dorsum of foot numb (Secale)
4. Restricted Lt side shoulder movement - (Spig)
5. Prostration evening by 4 p.m.
6. Weakness of calf muscle with inability to walk
7. No inclination to do any work (Abies-can)
8. Dim vision, night watching (Cocc-I)
Case 2: Hypertensive Driver qualifies for job abroad
A chronic hypertensive from 15 years found his BP normal with the help
of Arundo! Earlier he had taken allopathic tranquilizers and also
Homoeopathic conventional remedies like Rowalfia, Bar-mur,

Cholestrinum, Aurum etc for about 3 years with no relief.

Now an analysis was made after detailed case taking and for 5 hrs he
was closely observed. Patient's co-operation was excellent as he had
confidence in Homoeopathy. As he was here for hardly 3 weeks, he
wanted to bring down BP to normal level.
Seemingly Negligible Symptom

He frequently stopped talking (not stammering) and flexed his tongue

upward. After watching several times I asked him why he was doing
like that? He said to overcome the sensation of fornication in the
palate with itching.

This was the valuable symptom but in no way related to hypertension

or hypercholestrimia, and this led to Arundo as the remedy. It was
given in 6x TDS for 3 days at a stretch. 7 days gap, placebo and again

for 3 days, with close monitoring of the patient's BP. It was normal
persistently from the 5th dose. He became medically fit for his job.