New Drug Provings

If you see the history of drug provings in Homoeopathy, it was quite brisk from the time of its inception with Hahnemann,and his followers. The net result was vast and voluminous materia medicas of Homoeopathic medicines.

Have we now reached our saturation point or are more efforts required to induct newer medicines? There are sporadic efforts even now which lack a systematic approach, as far as new drug provings are concerned, in my opinion.

Imagine what can be the result of our sincerest efforts when searching and then selecting a true similimum in cases that are out of the current Materia medicas? In all such cases we will never be able to reach the best selection for the required medicine from out of existing MMS.

Therefore I personally feel that we have to exert systematic efforts to add more medicines, after completed provings, in order to deal with 21st century diseases like HIV and advance stages of caricinoma etc.

Historical Homoeopathic Book by Ruddock

This book by Dr. H. Ruddock, MD " Homoeopathic treatment for infant and children" was published in 1873 in London. It is quite amusing to find such old editions. I am providing this information to my fellow Homoeopaths, just for their academic interest.

HYPOTENSION

Hypotension can be more fatal in certain circumstances than even hypertension. So we homoeopaths have to be very cautious in cases of severe hypotension.

Causes of Hypotension differ depending on whether symptoms are acute or chronic.

The most common causes of acute orthostatic hypotension include

• Hypovolemia
• Allopathic Drugs
• Prolonged bed rest
• Adrenal insufficiency

The most common causes of chronic orthostatic hypotension include

• Age-related changes in BP regulation
• Allopathic Drugs
• Autonomic dysfunction

Postprandial orthostatic hypotension is also common. It may be caused by the insulin response to high-carbohydrate meals and blood pooling in the GI tract; this condition is worsened by alcohol intake.

As all of us know, homoeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. Therefore homoeopathic medicines for cases of hypotension must be selected after a full individualising, full lab examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc.

The most commonly indicated homoeopathic medicines in low blood pressure are:

Carbo-veg, Phos, Sepia, Thyroidinum, Baryta-mur, Aconite, Aranea, Cactus, Curare, Gelsemium, Halo, Histamine, Lachesis, Lyco, Naja, Rauwolfia, Reserprine, Visc., Radium, Theridion, Oleander, Laurocrasis, Acid flour, Adrenalin, Ars alb, Aurum mur, Bartya carb, Bryonia, Crataegus, China, Conium, Ferrum met, lycopus, Nat mur, Pulsatilla.

Personally I am of the opinion that homeopathic therapeutic carries little value and we must select the remedy as per the rules stated above.

When I say Homeopathic therapeutics, I want to say that the normal tendency of claiming that the Aconite, Bryonia, Belladonna, China etc are medicines for fever is an Allopathic way of thinking. I don't believe in this. I am of the firm opinion, that each individual case as per totality will decide the medicine and not these suggested therapeutics. I hope it clarifies my stand.

FOR THE STUDENTS OF HOMEOPATHY

In the orthodox medical parlance, clinical entities of any origin, find its medical name as a specific disease, like Dyspepsia, Hemicranias, Neuralgias , Rheumatic heart disease, CHF( chronic heart failure), Gangrene, Pneumonia, URC (upper respiratory catarrh), PBC (Primary biliary cirrhosis), IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) OA (Osteoarthritis) UC (ulcerative colitis), so on and so forth.

This traditional parlance and concepts about illness prevail so relentlessly upon the mind of ordinary student that it becomes too difficult to carry them to the fundamental ideas and concepts of Homeopathic therapeutics. And the maxim, “Treat the patient and not the disease” ever remain an empty slogan. Whole of their attention and efforts remain focused towards getting rid of these entities, called disease, and caring a little for the patient as an individual.

Many of the students, while treating, simple diseases like constipation, acne, bronchitis, on the basis of each one of these as a specific disease, struggle to find some positive results with homeopathic medicines, they change from one medicine to another still to another and majority of the time, without any result. They lose their confidence; rather some of them really get disappointed, and start having doubts. I don’t blame them, since they were taught like that only.

In order to practice Homeopathy, we must come out of this vicious circle. Yes, we are required to diagnose the disease for the purpose of prognosis and elimination of common symptoms, but it doesn’t carry much value in homeopathic therapeutic diagnosis. We must understand the concept of the disease, as explained in Organon.

And Organon explained to us:

1. At the outset, true dynamic disease must be clearly distinguished from the disorders which are due to any maintaining cause, which may be physical, chemical, physiological, or psychological. In such cases the vital force may be secondarily affected, but should revert to normal soon after
the maintaining cause is removed.

2.The different clinical entities, which are named as so many diseases-are not really themselves diseases, but are effects of disease and may constitute some part of the totality of symptoms, by which any diseased condition of the vital force manifests itself.


3.The Homeopathic treatment must never be directed to any of these isolated clinical entities, but to the whole totality of symptoms, individualized by some peculiar , characteristic symptoms by which a particular diseased condition of the vital force of the individual patient manifests itself.

Conclusion: We must understand Disease, cure, recovery, palliation, as per our science, rather than orthodox medical practices. Remember, we can never practice Homeopathy, Allopathic way.

Obesity Facts and figures WHO

The challenge of obesity

• The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008. According to country estimates for 2008, over 50% of both men and women in the WHO European Region were overweight, and roughly 23% of women and 20% of men were obese.
• Based on the latest estimates in European Union countries, overweight affects 30-70% and obesity affects 10-30% of adults.
  
• Estimates of the number of overweight infants and children in the WHO European Region rose steadily from 1990 to 2008. (1) Over 60% of children who are overweight before puberty will be overweight in early adulthood. Childhood obesity is strongly associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, orthopaedic problems, mental disorders, underachievement in school and lower self-esteem.

Physical activity and diet

• Participation in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week (or equivalent) is estimated to reduce the risk of ischaemic heart disease by approximately 30%, the risk of diabetes by 27%, and the risk of breast and colon cancer by 21–25%. Physical activity also lowers the risk of stroke, hypertension and depression.
• Country estimates of 2008 revealed that approximately 35% of all people in the WHO European Region are insufficiently physically active. Men were more active than women, particularly in high-income countries, where nearly every second woman was insufficiently physically active. The increased automation of work and other aspects of life in higher-income countries is a likely determinant of insufficient physical activity.
• The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) 2005/2006 survey of countries in the WHO European Region and North America found that girls across all countries and age groups report being less active than boys, with the gender gap increasing with age. The survey found that in general 15-year-olds (average 16%) were less likely to report meeting the physical activity guidelines than 11-year-olds (average 26%) in the majority of countries. Only 22% of 11-year-old girls report engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes per day. For boys, the figure is 30%.

Socioeconomic status

• Family affluence was significantly associated with overweight or obesity in around half of the countries surveyed in the HBSC study: those from lower affluence families were more likely to be overweight or obese. This pattern was strongest in western Europe.
• A daily breakfast and at least daily fruit consumption are seen as two of the most important healthy eating habits. In the HBSC study, eating breakfast daily was significantly associated with higher family affluence in the majority of countries for boys and over half for girls. Similarly, low family affluence was significantly associated with lower levels of fruit consumption among boys and girls in the majority of countries surveyed.

Prevention

WHO’s recommendations for preventing and managing obesity emphasize the need for early prevention to ensure lifelong healthy eating and physical activity patterns and the need for coordinated partnerships involving different government sectors, communities, the mass media and the private sector to ensure that diet and everyday levels of physical activity can be changed effectively and sustainably.

Spiritual Health And Homeopathy

In Health

In the healthy condition of a person, the vital force, the dynamis that animates the material body (organism), rules with unbounded sway, and retains all the parts of the organism in admirable harmonious, vital operation, as regards both sensations and functions, so that our indwelling, mind can freely employ this living healthy instrument for the higher purpose( Organon Aphorism 9)

Spirituality

Spirit is unique to each individual. Our “spirit” usually refers to the deepest part of us, the part that lets us make meaning of our world. Our spirit provide us with the revealing sense of who we are, why we are here and what our purpose for living is. It is that innermost part of us that allow us to gain strength and hope.

Finding Meaning

Spiritual wellness may not be something that we think much of, yet its impact on our life is unavoidable. The basis of spirituality is discovering a sense of meaningfulness in our life and coming to know that we have a purpose to fulfill.

For some, spirituality may be equated with traditional religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Islam or Buddhism. For others, it may mean growing in your personal relationships with others, or through being at peace with nature. Spirituality is the way you find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace in your life. Many people find spirituality through religion. Some find it through music, art or a connection with nature. Others find it in their values and principles.

Body, Mind, Spirit

No one really knows for sure how spirituality is related to health. However, it seems that the body, mind and spirit are connected. The health of any one of these elements seems to affect the health of the others. In Homeopathy, we understand that:

“DISEASE IS NOTHING BUT A DYNAMIC DERANGEMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL, SELF ACTING (automatic) ALL PERVADING VITAL FORCE.”

Homeopathy

If we focus on the fundamental peculiarities of homeopathy and its differences from conventional, allopathic medicine, then homeopathy differs in it's understanding as to the goal of treatment. Homeopathy does not address or seek to eliminate physical signs and symptoms but instead understands them to be expressions of the vital force.

In homeopathy we are not trying to manipulate physiology, change high fever to low, eliminate pain, swelling or redness. We are not even trying to eliminate anger, anxiety or sadness. Our ideal is "to restore health rapidly, gently, permanently." Therefore, to achieve complete health harmony, we don’t have any other alternative, except Homeopathy.

Materia Medica and Homeopathy

• Posted by DR. Sushil Bahl on May 17, 2011 at 7:30am
• View My Blog

Application of Homeopathy in practice is identical to Indian classical music where each raga carries definite notes and sequence (Materia Medica) and it is mathematical in nature (Organon), yet each of the performer creates the ragas, artistically with in the sphere of those notes, which is absolutely governed by the laws of rhythm and notes.Even the slightest deviation will change the color of that Raga. It is an art, but governed by certain stringent laws.

I will like us to dwell on the teachings of the Masters, on this subject

W.Boereick

"Homœopathy is essentially not only many-sided but all-sided. She investigates the action of all substances, whether articles of diet, beverages, condiments, drugs or poisons. She investigates their action on the healthy, the sick, animals and plants. She gives; a new interpretation to that ancient, oft quoted saying of Paul, Prove all things--a new meaning, a new application that acts universally. Elimination of the useless may gradually take place with the growth of accurate physiological and pathological knowledge."

Kent

The Materia Medica can be learned by careful study and by using it. It can be understood but not memorized. All who would memorize the Materia Medica must ignominiously fail. To be constantly at hand, it must be constantly and correctly used. The continuous study of the Materia Medica by the aid of a full repertory for comparison is the only means of continuing in a good working knowledge. To learn the Materia Medica, one must master Hahnemann's Organon, after which the symptomatology and the Organon go "hand in hand." The Organon, the symptomatology, and a full repertory must be the constant reference books, if careful homeopathic prescribing is to be attained and maintained.

Allen H.C.

The life-work of the student of the homoeopathic Materia Medica is one of constant comparison and differentiation. He must compare the pathogenesis of a remedy with the recorded anamnesis of the patient; he must differentiate the apparently similar symptoms of two or more medicinal agents in order to select the similimum.

Farrington

What you want to know is exactly what this medicine will do. What would you think of a machinist who undertook to build a machine when he did not know how the, parts fitted together? what would you think of a physician who does not know the use of the tools he is about to employ ? You now intend to try the effects of this drug on some healthy person or persons. Will it produce alterations in the function or the nutrition of the body or of its organs? If so a symptom or symptoms will be the result. Symptoms, then, are indications of alterations in the functions or the nutrition of a part or of parts of the body. I have been accused of stepping down from the lofty heights of pure homeopathy and dressing myself in physiological livery. The statement made against me is that we cannot know what changes are taking place except through symptoms, therefore if one begins to talk about altered tissue, he at once pollutes homeopathy. This is true and it is false. It is true if you take this altered tissue alone. It is not true if you regard this altered tissue as a manifestation of the change in the vital force. I cannot see how there can be a symptom which is not at least the result of a change of function. I do not mean that you must give Bryonia because it acts on serous membranes ; I do not mean that you must give Aconite because it produces dry skin, heat, etc. I do not say that you shall give Belladonna because it produces hyperaemia of the brain and dilatation of the pupil; but I do say that these drugs produce these effects, and if these effects are not alterations in function what are they ? We can know changes in the vital forces only by results, and these results are symptoms.

Dunham

In the exercise of any art which involves the use of tools or implements of any kind, the first condition essential to success is this:

That the scope and limits of the art be clearly defined and well understood, in order that no attempt may be made to exercise the art under circumstances which do not call for it, and which would necessarily preclude success.

A second condition no less essential is a thorough familiarity with the tools or implements of the art; the origin, nature, powers and capabilities of each, and their relations to each other. This knowledge will teach us properly to select our tools according to the work we have to perform.

NASH

To fasten upon the mind of the reader the strongest points in each remedy. Good off-hand prescribing can be done in simple uncomplicated cases if we have fixed in our minds, for ready use, the characteristic symptoms

The elder Lippe was remarkable for such ability.

To try to discourage the disposition to quarrel over Symptomatology and Pathology. Neither can be ruled out, and it is foolish for our school to divide on such a bone of contention. Every symptom has its pathological significance, but we cannot always give it in words; but the fact that it has such meaning is sufficient reason for prescribing on the Symptom or Symptoms without insisting on, or trying to give, the explanation.

C.M.BOGER

Our pathogeneses, in spite of showing many features due to the provers idiosyncracies, the translator’s command of idioms, clinical experiences and misinterpretations, are nevertheless excellent resumes which place the keynotes in their true light, as points of departure only for their abuse distorts natures image and often brings disaster which ends in scepticism or mongrelism. A concise view not only includes the time and order in which symptoms arise, but also the things which modify them—the modalities.

Of course this is not an end, we may add many more from the modern era, also.