Homeopathy for family and National Health care

1. Homeopathy for family and National Health care Dr D P Rastogi, DMS,MBS,DFHom[London], PGCRH [Glasgow] MD Hom

2. Homeopathy is a safe, effective system of natural medicine, used by millions of people world wide for more than 200 years • Homeopathy recognizes that each person manifests illness in a unique and slightly different way. • That is why two people with the same illness will not necessarily receive the same homeopathic remedy.

3. A cold sufferer with a stopped-up nose and dry eyes would receive a different remedy than a cold sufferer with a runny nose and watering eyes. • A homeopath chooses a remedy that matches a person’s unique symptom profile – including physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.

4. Thus from very ordinary ailment like coryza to very serious aliment like cancer and Aids homeopathy is useful. • It is a myth that homeopathy is useful only for minor ailments like cough and cold and affections of children. • The fact is that homeopathy treats all the ailments of an individual successfully.

5. Some examples

6. Case of headache • When I was working in CGHS dispensary in Delhi I got a patient who had chronic problem of headache. I got the following particulars : • Patient complained of pain in head. • Worse at 4 am • The case was solved by using Kent’s repertory

7. Kent’s repertory • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; before (9) : lach., am-m., anac., caust., chin., dulc. • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; about (12) : kali-c., agar., all-s., arn., ars., elaps • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; after (18) : ars., sil., thuj., agar., bufo, carb-an. • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; 1 a.m (1) : pall. • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; 1 a.m.-10 a.m (2) : chin., elaps • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; 2 a.m (2) : cimic., sulph. • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; 3 a.m (5) : agar., bov., chin-s., nat-m., thuj. • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; 4 a.m (3) : chel., raph., stram. • Head Pain; GENERAL; midnight; 5 a.m (2) : Kali-i., dios.

8. A case of Rheumatoid arthritis • Miss NS aged 23 years was diagnosed a case of Rheumatoid arthritis. • As usual homeopathic treatment was not her first choice. She approached me after she failed to get relief under allopathy. • Her left wrist , dorsum of foot and elbow were affected. • She was greatly aggravated in cold.

9. She had a desire for sweets, sour and condiments.

10. Rubric selection The following rubrics were selected • Lower extremity left • Lower extremities; foot ;dorsum • Lower extremities swelling; foot dorsum of • Lower extremity pain simple; foot • Upper extremities, joints ;wrist • Upper extremities, joints ; elbow

11. Upper extremity ; rheumatic pain • Generalities Agg; when becoming cold • Desire for sweets • Desire for condiments • Desire for sour things

12. The case was repertorized

13. Remedy selection • Sulphur and Rhus tox were the two remedies which were very close. • As Rhus tox had higher grade in aggravation from cold than Sulphur, it was decided to be given. • It was given in LM 1 and resulted in increasing relief. • The case was finally closed with Sulphur LM1

14. A case of Ankylosing arthritis Mr. PSK aged 24 yrs, a soft ware engineer consulted me for treatment. • He was undergoing treatment at the best treatment center in New Delhi without relief. • His knee joints and back , both dorsal and lumbar regions were affected. • He was diagnosed to be suffering from Ankylosing spondylitis.

15. Other symptoms of the case • He had a desire for salty things. • Desired cold ,icy liquids. • Had desire for juicy things. • He had great aggravation at the change of weather. • He revealed a tendency of procrastination.

16. Selection of rubrics I selected the following rubrics: • Joints; knee • Back; dorsal region • Back ;lumbar region • Lumbar region; rheumatic pains • Arthritic pains • Disease; Ankylosing spondylitis

17. Desire for ;salty things • Desire for ; cold; icy liquids • Desire for ;juicy things • Agg; weather; change of • Mind ; Procrastinates I had to use Murphy’ repertory besides BBCR as some rubrics were not found in BBCR.

19. Remedy selection • Phos acid covered most of the rubrics including modalities and the mental symptom procrastination. • Therefore it was selected and administered in LM 1 • It was continued and brought quick overall relief to the patient. • An intercurrent dose of Sulphur LM 1 was given every 2 weeks.

20. Discussion • The patient did not want to stop the allopathic medication and therefore simultaneous use of homeopathic medication continued. • The patient continues well and had no pains and has no difficulty in ascending stairs. • His ESR [westergren] has come down to 10mm/1st hour from 80mm/1st hour during 5 months of treatment.

21. HIV/AIDS Research A double blind randomized placebo controlled clinical trial of homeopathic medicines in HIV/AIDS [1995-1997] on a group 100 patients, showed that homeopathic medicines initiate steady increase in CD4 + cell number [ marker for assessment of drug effects ] and enhance immune response in HIV infected individuals.

22. In a parallel open study in HIV disease it was seen that many opportunist infections related to HIV disease also respond favorably to homeopathic therapy. It has been published in the British homeopathic Journal BHJ (1999) 88,49-57. Another paper entitled “ Evaluation of homeopathic therapy in 129 asymptomatic HIV carriers was published in BHJ,January 1993,Vol.82,pp.4-8

23. Research project on Aids cases receiving ART This is a study in which 4 reputed organizations are taking part. The study is being carried on in a reputed Hospital in Delhi where the CCRH has established a Homeopathic treatment center. There is a target of 100 cases getting ART with CD4 count below 200 out of which 50 cases would get an add on individualized homeopathic treatment and this group would be compared with the group getting only ART I am associated with this research as a senior consultant and would like to show one case.

24. This is a case of a young lady whose husband died from Aids. • This lady got the infection from him and was suffering a lot. • She was on ART yet she was in a very bad shape. CD 4 was 73 • She developed esophageal candidiasis [endoscopy confirmed ] and was unable to drink or eat.

25. She was helped to a very great extent. • Within a week of homeopathic remedy her candidacies cleared and she was able to eat. • On follow up she showed improvement in her CD4 count which has become 173 • Her condition improved so much that she married leaving behind her frustration and helplessness . • This is an advantage with homeopathic treatment which provides real healing.

27. Travelers, missionaries and military personnel from the West brought Homeopathy to India as early as 1810. The credit of receiving official patronage goes to Dr. John Martin Honigberger who was called to the Court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839 for his treatment. INCEPTION IN INDIA

28. After treating Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Dr. Honigberger settled in Calcutta. This paved the road map of development of homeopathy in this country. However it was the state of Bengal, which nurtured homeopathy in its early period through certain training institutions and treatment centers.

29. During the course of its development in India, it has gained substantial governmental patronage and has vast infrastructure. It is one of the medical systems recognized by the Government of India.  

30. The Homeopathic hospitals in Calcutta were famous for the treatment of intractable diseases. The success of controlling epidemics like Cholera and enduring efforts of several stalwart homeopaths helped its acceptance in other parts of the country.

31. Homeopathic Infrastructure

32. Reasons of Preference for Homeopathy Most of patients were of the opinion that homeopathy is safe, easy to take, cost effective and had faith in homeopathy due to their past experiences.

33. For these reasons Homeopathy has been accepted for the care for the Individual and the family. • Homeopathic use is based on the simple study of presenting complaints of the illness and finding a match for these from homeopathic Materia Medica which lists these in simple language. • This has also attracted laymen to adopt it for treatment of common ailments and First Aid.

34. Besides India use of homeopathy is immensely popular in countries like USA where Laymen groups have come up for the study and use for individual care • It has become a first line of care in common day to day ailments.

35. Benefits • Homeopathy is free from side effects. • It provides real healing which is felt at the level of body , mind and spirit. • Its regular use builds up immunity and in the long run the individual turns healthier. • It provides simple answers for various viral diseases for which there is no treatment in conventional medicine

36. Homeopathy for Mother and Child • Realizing the important role of homeopathy in the sphere of Mother and Child , the Govt of India has decided to carry forward the message for the benefit of the people of the country through National Campaign on homeopathy for mother and Child Care through its department AYUSH.

37. National Campaign on homeopathy for mother and Child Care The department of AYUSH launched a multimedia campaign & Three tier workshops at National , State and district levels for the following target groups: Policy and opinion makers Medical practitioners Common man

38. Expected outcomes Sensitizing the target group about the potential role of Homeopathy in the management of Mother and Child Health problems. Greater coordination among practitioners of all the systems of medicine resulting in in an integrated health approach for Mother and Child health.

39. Equipping homeopathic practitioners to deal with mother and child diseases by utilizing the knowledge acquired from the campaign in the management of Mother and Child health matters. A significant improvement in Mother and Child health as a result of Homeopathic treatment.

40. Topics covered in the workshops Potential of homeopathy in maternal and child health Homeopathy in obstetric care Homeopathy in primary health care Homeopathy for safe motherhood Homeopathy for complaints of a new mother

41. National Rural Health Mission : A commitment of GOVT OF INDIA Managing obstetric problems homeopathically Obstetric care and caution Caring of neonates and infants Childhood care Homeopathy for the health of school children Pediatric practice: Care and cautions

42. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Role of homeopathy in ADHD and Autism Efficacy of homeopathy in a pre-term child with failure to thrive Management of obstetric problems in Homeopathy

43. Besides this the AYUSH department has initiated an out reach program through which care to the grass root level is being provided through allopathic along with AYUSH systems which includes homeopathy. • This is called National Rural health Mission

44. National Rural Health Mission This seeks to provide effective healthcare to rural population throughout the country with special focus on 18 states ,which have weak public health indicators and /or weak infrastructure. Training including preparation of basic materials has been entrusted to the CCRH

45. Homeopathy has been successful in managing effectively various epidemics

46. MANAGEMENT OF EPIDEMICS Historically Homeopathy has been used in the treatment of diseases that occurred in the form of Epidemics, particularly in Europe and America in 19th century.

47. It is repeatedly seen during endemics/epidemics that genus epidemicus prevents disease in people living in close proximity of the patients down with disease and also in the population living in the affected area.  Genus epidemicus identified during an endemic/epidemic, proves to be specific for that endemic/epidemic only

48. HOMEOPATHY AND EPIDEMIC DISEASES: INDIAN SCENARIO Homeopathy has been successfully used, both as preventive and therapeutic intervention, in acute microbial infections that keep occurring now and then in endemic and epidemic form in different parts of the country. Notable among them are Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Measles, Meningitis, Jaundice, Gastro enteritis and Conjunctivitis.

49. Homeopathy in Japanese Encephalitis CCRH have provided treatment and preventive measures in the Japanese Encephalitis endemic in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Delhi in 1984 and in Tripura, Gudivada (AP), Hyderabad (AP), Diphu (Assam), Basti (UP), and Gorakhpur (UP)in 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1999 respectively.

50. The Council had also established a Clinical Research Unit in Gorakhpur (UP) in 1997 exclusively to evaluate prophylactic role of homeopathic medicines in Japanese encephalitis A study carried out in Oct-Nov. 1991 had shown usefulness of Belladonna, these studies were, however, confined to distribution of genus epidemicus among the people who lived in the affected areas.