Homeopathy takes care of the lingering complaints after an episode of viral fever.
John, age 46 yrs, came to me for his joint pains which he had been suffering with for the past 6 months. He had pain in the lumbar region, pain in the ankles and heels, pain in the shoulders and also pain in the knees, elbows and fingers.
He had sore pain in the lumbar region, < exertion and > lying down. The patient had boring pain in all the joints except the back. The pain in the knees < while rising up from a sitting position and > continuous walking.
Shoulder pain < raising the arm. All the pains were < while in bed, cold weather and > while concentrating on doing things, warmth (washing with warm water, hot fomentation)
All the complaints started after a viral fever which lasted for a week. He had good appetite and thirst. Habitually constipated and stool was hard and difficult to pass. Better after stool. Urine was normal. Perspiration was sour smelling.
He is a hard worker and goes to any extent to get his job done. He craves stimulants like coffee and drinks at least 10 cups a day. He has been a smoker since he was 25 yrs old. He also drank beer occasionally. He often has indigestion with heartburn and sour eructation.
His wife calls him obstinate and said that he likes to exaggerate his problems. He had fear of poverty and fear that he will be a cripple all his life.
While repertorizing the totality of this case, I ended up with Pulsatilla, Rhus tox and Bryonia as the top remedies. Nux vomica was one of the remedies which didn’t score a high grade in the repertorization, but I couldn’t ignore it.
I chose Nux vomica considering the following rubrics:
- Sore pain in the back
- Pain in all the joints, bed in
- Craves stimulants
- Sour discharges
- Hard stools
- Indigestion with heartburn and sour eructation.
I advised the patient to take Nux vomica 30, (2 pills dissolved in 8 oz of water and 1 tsp taken from it in the morning). In the follow up visit 15 days after the commencement of treatment, the patient’s wife said, “He is so lively and happy now”. The joint pains had decreased considerably (60% better) and the constipation was completely gone.
The dosage was decreased to twice a week with no change in the potency and the patient did beautifully. After a month and half, the patient called to report that he had no more pains and was going hiking in the Grand Canyon for the weekend.
We all know that Nux vomica is one of the top polychrests that we often use in our practice. Once again, the efficacy of Nux vomica is proved through this case.
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Dr. Sowmya Sridharan, A.P.H (State of Nevada)
7595, W.Washington ave,
Suite A170,
Las Vegas, NV- 89128
702-504-7092
