Introduction
Asthma is defined as chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is characterized by increase in responsiveness of the tracheobronchial tree to a multiplicity of stimuli. It is manifested physiologically by widespread narrowing of air passages, which may relive spontaneously or as a result of therapy, and clinically by paroxysms of dyspnea cough and wheezing.
Asthma is an episodic disease, , with acute exacerbations interspersed with symptom free periods. It is more common in developed countries. Seven percent of people suffer from asthma in U.S. and it causes approximately 421 deaths per year.
Homoeopathy has a definite role in treatment and cure of such cases. Through case study we can find the simillimum and prescribe strictly according to homoeopathic philosophy.
Case details
A 35 year old female, suffering from asthma since last three years. She has taken allopathic treatment without much improvement. She has to use an inhaler daily.
LOCATION | SENSATION | MODALITY | CONCOMITANTS |
1) Respiratory
system Since 3 years
Gradually started
2) GIT
Since 4 year
3) Skin |
Dyspnea Coughing Suffocation
Constipation (2 or 3 days) Gas++
Irritation itching |
<Change of weather <Winter <Dust <Smoke > Nebulizer
< Soap |
She spontaneously said that she experiences the same type of dyspnea and suffocation when she gets emotionally upset. The incident which affected her most was the death of her grandfather. At that time she was shocked and became hysterical. She wanted to weep but she couldn’t.
The most critical situation in her life was death of her father in law. When he died (because of heart attack) she was alone at home and she was pregnant. She said that she has to control her emotion because of her pregnancy. She is very mild, submissive, sentimental and emotional.
Physical general
Desire – pickles+++, sour food and ice cream
Thirstless++
Past history
Bronchitis
Piles
Menstrual history
Menarche – 13year
Cycle – irregular – every 2 or 3 moth
LMP – 17-5-2015
Duration – 5 days
Flow – sometime profuse or some time scanty
Color – red, no clots
Physical examination
Weight – 45kg
Blood pressure – 122/ 78 mmhg
Respiratory rate – 17/minute
Pulse – 72/minute
Systematic examination
Respiratory system
At present wheezing not heard.
Investigation
X ray chest – chronic bronchitis (p/h)
Diagnosis : Bronchial asthma
Differential diagnosis : Bronchitis
Emphysema
Pneumonia
Bronchiectasis
- ANALYSIS OF CASE
- Reportorial analysis
- Rubrics
MIND: Ailments from grief cry can not (complete repertory. Page 813)
MIND: Ailments from shock (complete repertory – page 1175)
MIND: Ailments from death of parents (complete repertory – page 267)
MIND: Grief silent (complete repertory – page 816)
RESPIRATION: difficult hysterical
GENERAL: Food and drinks desire pickles desire
GENERAL: Food and drinks cold drinks desire
EXTREMITIES : contraction of muscles hysterical
DISEASE : asthma
- Reperterisation
- Explanation
Initially she said that she had dyspnea while emotionally upset. Here we can see the mind –body connection. One of the most important things in the case is when her grandfather died. She became hysterical. (hg)
She felt shock in a critical situation like the death of her grandfather and death of father in law. So we have to select a remedy which has hysterical behavior, sensitive to death of relatives, tendency to shock.
Now if we take help from the repertory we can see three remedies Ignatia, Nat Mur and Gelsemium emerging.
Ignatia and gelsemium both belong to loganiaceae family.
Nat mur belongs to the mineral kingdom and third row of periodical table. Genius of Nat mur – patient is emotionally vulnerable, reserved, one to one relationship, silent grief and problems in relationship.
Genius of gelsemium – ailments from shock, bed news and gets paralyzed. Genius of ignatia – Emotional, mild, sentimental, silent grief cry cannot, ailments from bad news and death of relatives.
In reperterisation ignatia, nux vomica and gelsemium belong to loganiaceae family.
Now if we study loganiaceae family we see:
A/f shock,
A/f death of parents or relatives,
A/f bed news,
A/f disappointments
THIS IS MAIN THEME OF THIS FAMILY.
- Exactness with Materia Medica IGNATIA
Mentally, the emotional element is uppermost, and co-ordination of
function is interfered with. It is one of the chief remedies for hysteria.
It is especially adapted to the nervous temperament-women of sensitive, easily excited nature, dark, mild disposition, quick to perceive
Effects of grief and worry.
After shocks, grief, disappointment.
- Dr Phatak
Alert, Oversensitive, Nervous.
Highly emotional.
Brooding GRIEF.
GENIOUS |
SYSTEM
KINGDOM – Plant (sensitive to death of relatives and shock reaction is hysterical) SUBKINGDOM – Loganiaseae (A/F – Death of realtives, Shock, Hysterical Behavior) REMEDY – Ignatia MIASM – Syco – syphilitic POTENCY – 1M |
A/F Shock, A/F Death of relatives,
Silent Grief can’t cry, mild Sentimental, Brooding, Signing |
Pt |
Silent and sad.Jerking in limbs.
- REMEDY – Ignatia 1m
- Potency selection
- Indication for high Potency – increased susceptibility
Extreme/ exacting similarity between the patient and remedy
Qualified mentals covered well by the remedy
Hypersensitive patient
More characteristics
- SYNERGY
- Follow up
Date | Symptoms | Prescription |
18-6-2015 | Full case taken
Lmp 17-5-2015 |
Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 7 days |
29-6-2015 | No inhaler needed
Dyspnea improved Suffocation improved Gas complaints improved Constipation improved |
Phytum(tds) for 7 days |
8-7-2015 | 50% improved in all complaints
Last night dyspnea so once pump taken |
Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 7 days |
20-7-2015 | Improved in all complaints
LMP – 15-7-2015 |
Phytum(tds) for 15 days
|
5-8-2015 | Improved but constipation since one week | Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 15 days |
24-8-2015 | Inhaler is not needed
Menses appear Lmp – 18-8-2015 Duration – 8 days |
Phytum (tds) for 15 days
|
14-9-2015 | Improved | Phytum (tds) for 15 days
|
30-9-2015 | Improved
LMP – 20-9-2015 |
Phytum(tds) for 15 days
|
26-10-2015 | Gastric complaint since last week | Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 30 days |
30-11-2015 | No change in gastric complaint
Inhaler is not needed |
Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 30 days |
28-12-2015 | Improved ++
Menses regular |
Phytum (tds)30days |
- Bibliography
Asthma – Harrison’s 15th edition principal of internal medicine (Page 1456)
Material medica of homoeopathic medicine by Dr S.R.Phatak (2ndedition) (Page 359)
Complete repertory by Roger van zandvoort (First edition)
Homoeopathic posology by Dr Ajit koulkarni
Physical diagnosis by Rustum Jal Vakil and Aspi f. golvala (12th edition,page 329)
Homoeopathic medical repertory by Dr Robin Murphy (3RD edition)