I am presenting a case in which the sole of the right big toe toward the tip was affected by a gangrene like lesion. The affected portion of the toe was removed surgically but the wound was getting worse in place of healing and the foot was getting inflamed and the color of the skin of foot was changing to dark as after thrombosis. It was diagnosed as Buerger’s Disease on 30th April, 2016 through Peripheral Vascular Doppler examination.
A single homoeopathic medicine in very minute doses at long intervals restored the patient completely in a span of one year. According to the medical science the Buerger’s Disease is:
“Also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, a rare disease of the arteries and veins in the arms and legs. In Buerger’s disease, the blood vessels become inflamed, swell and can become blocked with blood clots (thrombi). This eventually damages or destroys skin tissues and may lead to infection and gangrene.”
The signs and the symptoms of Buerger’s Disease are as follows:
“There is a recurrent acute and chronic inflammation and thrombosis of arteries and veins of the hands and feet. The main symptom is pain in the affected areas, at rest and while walking (claudication). The impaired circulation increases sensitivity to cold. Peripheral pulses are diminished or absent. There are color changes in the extremities. The color may range from cyanotic blue to reddish blue. Skin becomes thin and shiny. Hair growth is reduced. Ulcerations and gangrene in the extremities are common complications, often resulting in the need for amputation of the involved extremity.”
As far treatment is concerned in Allopathy it is as follows:
“In acute cases, drugs and procedures which cause vasodilation are effective in reducing pain experienced by patient. For example, prostaglandins like Limaprost are vasodilators and give relief of pain, but do not help in changing the course of disease. Epidural anesthesia and hyperbaric oxygen therapy also have vasodilator effect.
In chronic cases, lumbar sympathectomy may be occasionally helpful. It reduces vasoconstriction and increases blood flow to limb. It aids in healing and giving relief from pain of ischemic ulcers. Bypass can sometimes be helpful in treating limbs with poor perfusion secondary to this disease.
Use of vascular growth factor and stem cell injections has been showing promise in clinical studies. Debridement is done in necrotic ulcers. In gangrenous digits, amputation is frequently required. Above-knee and below-knee is rarely required.”
The cause of the Buerger’s Disease or thromboangiitis obliterans is attributed to excessive smoking or using Tobacco.
From a homoeopathic point of view, any disease arises only from the disorder of the vital force and can only be cured by re-establishing order in the vital force. The irregularity in regimen proves an exciting cause only, and proper regimen is always beneficial. The homoeopathic physicians following Hahnemannian laws are often meeting this fact. The following case is one of the examples.
Patient: A 42 years old gentleman.
First consultation: 27th June, 2016.
History of the case:
- About four years ago he suffered from gangrene on the tip of the second toe of the left foot, which had decayed fallen and then the toe was healed. See photo below.
Photo of second healed toe taken on 27-6-2016
- Now for about three months the sole of the right big toe had been affected by gangrene like eruption. The gangrenous portion was surgically removed by a surgeon. The condition of the toe, bottom and top view photos are given below as on 27th June, 2016.
Photo taken on 27th June, 2016 (Bottom view)
Photo taken on 27th June, 2016 (Top view)
- The whole of the big toe has assumed a dark color and is inflamed.
- He feels light pain in the toe on walking. There is burning sensation in the toe which < from warmth, > from cold.
The gangrenous portion was scraped out by a surgeon which did not heal, rather it has become ulcerous and is decomposing. But the ulcer is absolutely dry.
On 30th April, 2016 Peripheral Vascular Doppler examination was done which revealed –
CFA, SFA, POPLITEAL ARTERIES AND TIBIAL ARTERIES show reduced flow with loss of normal triphase flow. Their peak velocities are reduced.
Dorsalis pedis artery little flow seen.
Impression: Dampened flow with loss of triphasic flow in above said arteries S/O ? BUERGER’S DISEASE.
(The query mark indicates the diagnosis is doubtful).
See copy of the Doppler Examination Below.
Copy of the Doppler Examination report
In this case Secale cornutum seemed to be the indicated homoeopathic medicine so it was given in minute dose once at an interval of two days.
The effect of the medicine was prompt. Burning pain in the toe started reducing and the wound started healing. On 25th July the hue of the toe which was previously blackish started improving towards normal. See photo.
The condition of the toe bottom view as on 25th July, 2016
Now the ulcer which was dry became moist and started exuding slight pus. Gradual healing of the toe continued. By 28th January, 2017 the color of the toe started resuming normal hue.
The condition of the toe on 24th October, 2016 was as shown below.
The condition of the toe on 24th October, 2016 (Bottom view)
The condition of the toe on 24th October, 2016 (Top view)
Gradual healing continued, by 28th January, 2017 the color of the skin had become almost normal but the wound persisted to some extent. See photos below.
The toe as on 28th January, 2017
Improvement continued, see the condition of the toe as on 27th March, 2017 shown below.
By 10th June, 2017 the toe had healed completely. See photos below.
Bottom view
Top view
By 10th June, 2017 the toe has healed completely. The condition remained normal thereafter till this day 25th June, 2018.
Note the color of the skin, it has resumed the natural hue, which shows that the flow in arteries and veins regained its natural free flow. No external manipulation or the methods suggested under allopathic treatment were used. The patient did take regimen as suggested and continued his normal daily routine during the course of treatment. Dr. J. T. Kent has very rightly stated under Baryta carb in his Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica:
“The doctor who prescribes correctly turns the vital state into order. He cures the patient, and the patient, being in a state of order, commences to repair his body, and the tissues go through a general house cleaning, and such things as are not needed are dispensed with; and the physician is considered a wonderful man.”
A few facts about Secale cornutum by some Masters:
Dr. W. H Burt says in his Philosophical Materia Medica – Secale cornutum – Skin (gangrenous ergotism)] – “The contraction of the small vessels, especially of the arteries, by Ergot, particularly when the vis a tergo, i.e. , the cardiac contraction, is a remarkable degree simultaneously affected by this poison, may lead to a complete emptying of blood, not only in the separate smaller vessels, but also in the larger vascular trunks; and it is conceivable, that, by the failure of blood-supply, the arteries themselves (e.g. , in the intima) may become diseased, so that thrombi readily form in them, and so the whole process may be characterized as thrombotic.”-Ziemssen.
Dr. J. H. Clarke says in his Dictionary of Our Materia Medica – [Secale cornutum] – Spasmodic retching, the stomach is violently contracted.
Through the like action on the vaso-motor nerves there is first contraction and then dilatation of blood-vessels; the fingers turn bluish black. This stagnation leads to dry gangrene of the parts.
Cold gangrene of the limbs; the dead part separates at the joints and drops off.
Complete mortification of some parts by sphacelus.
Dr. J. T. Kent says in his Lectures on Materia Medica under- Secale cornutum – The toes become black, gangrenous.
A senile withering, such as is found in feeble old people; the blood-vessels close up; no blood goes to the toes and they become numb and black, devoid of sensation.
Hence, Secale improves the circulation of the aged and postpones senile gangrene.
Old ulcers take on a strange, withered appearance; dryness with no granulations; a shiny, blackish aspect and all at once blackish granulations shoot out, indolent, and finally forming a black sphacelus which slowly separates; the part is dry; there is no discharge except now and then a little bleeding of black blood.
More than 5 years have passed now (end of October, 2021) but there is no relapse of any kind. It means the case has been cured. Cure means complete restoration of health as defined in Aphorism 2 of Organon; consequently, the health condition of the patient as described in Aphorism 9, repeated below.
“In the healthy condition of man, the spiritual vital force (autocracy), 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, reason-gifted mind can freely employ this living, healthy instrument for the higher purposes of our existence.”
Note from Dr. Mamgain:
For your information I have tried to translate Organon in Hindi with my comments as “Homoeo Darshan – (Jaisa Meri Samajh Men Aya)”; A book on practical aspects of Homoeopathy with examples from my own record in Hindi as “Homeopathy Ek Sanjeevani Chikitsa Vigyan” and booklet that too is in Hindi as “Homoeopathic Pathology.” Anybody who wants to study and read these works can ask for e-copy of them. Request by email at: [email protected] They are FREE OF COST as these works are dedicated to The Master as a gesture of gratitude to him.
Moreover many other works including a Repertory on new format “Concordance Repertory” are available for use by the profession FREE OF COST on my website: www.homoeopathy-milddose.co
You are requested to use this information as you deem fit. Thankg you once again.
Dr. S. K. Mamgain
