Clinical Cases

A Case of Eczema on Nose and its Homoeopathic treatment

A Case of Eczema on Nose and its Homoeopathic treatment
Written by Bisworanjan Das

Careful case taking and repertorization by Dr. Biswo Ranjan Das, result in a cure of longstanding eczema.

Background

A Case of Eczema on the anterior aspect of the nose since 2 years reported at our OPD. Patient was having itching of nose with scratching and mild burning and he was worried about his condition.  He had undergone some allopathic treatment, some sorts of ointment, but the response was unsatisfactory. After going through the detailed history, after repertorization, and basing on the totality of symptoms, Graphites–30 was prescribed. Six doses of this homoeopathic medicine proved to be effective.

Keywords: Homoeopathy,  Eczema,  Graphites,  Atopic Dermatitis,

 

INTRODUCTION

Eczema is often referred to as atopic dermatitis [1] (A form of dermatitis or inflammation of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin).[2] The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions. These include dryness and recurring skin rashes that are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin oedema (swelling), itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Scratching open a healing lesion may result in scarring and may enlarge the rash.[3] Eczema is not contagious and it runs in families.

There is no known cure for eczema in allopathy; therefore, in their treatments, the main aim is to control the symptoms by reducing inflammation and relieving itching by the method of palliation. Corticosteroids in the form of oral medication and ointments are the mainstay treatment in counterpart. Usually it brings about rapid improvement of symptoms, as they are effective in controlling or suppressing symptoms but as soon as the action of the medicine completed, the skin complains flare up more than before. These medications also have greater side effects.[4]

In contrast, Homoeopathic medicine has a great role to play with skin diseases like eczema and many others. It can cure permanently without having any side effects. In this case report, I want to share my own clinical experience in the treatment of Eczema.

 

CASE PRESENTATION:

A Male aged about 56 years presented the following complaints.

  • Severe itching on the anterior aspect of the nose especially on the tip and both alae followed by scratching and mild burning.
  • Dry, exfoliation of skin from the affected part due to severe itching
  • Scaly appearance with mild raw surface of the nose. (As shown in Figure -1)

H/O Eczema since 4 years and was under allopathic medicines like corticosteroids (Oral medications and ointments) but with unsatisfactory response.

Family History: Father – Eczema

Personal History:           Non-vegetarian

Irregular diet habit

Physical General-

Thermal Reaction – Chilly patient

Easily catches cold

Desires: Bitter, warm food

Aversion: Sweets

Intolerance: Nil

Thirst: Normal

Appetite: Normal

Urine: Normal

Stool: Constipation with ineffectual urging

Sleep: Normal

Perspiration: Normal

A Case of Eczema on Nose and its Homoeopathic treatment

Plate- 1, First Visit, Before Treatment on 02/04/2013

 

Analysis and Evaluation of symptoms:

From the above history of the patient, it is observed that, there are more physical general and particular symptoms. According to Dr. Kent, General symptoms are more important than particulars and again Mental Generals are more important than Physical generals. But in this case, there are no mental symptoms, as it is quite difficult to trace out the mental symptoms in the first meeting.

In this case, I have evaluated the symptoms according to Dr. Kent.  The following rubrics were selected for repertorization. (Chart is attached)

 

GENERALS – HEAT – vital lack of

GENERALS – COLD – take cold, tendency to

GENERALS – FOOD AND DRINKS – bitter food – desire

GENERALS – FOOD AND DRINKS – warm food – desire

GENERALS – FOOD AND DRINKS – sweets – aversion

RECTUM – CONSTIPATION – ineffectual urging and straining

SKIN – ERUPTIONS – eczema

SKIN – ERUPTIONS – itching

SKIN – BURNING – scratching, after

SKIN – ERUPTIONS – dry

 

Treatment

 

1st visit:  Graphites -30, 4 doses, BD, Rubrum- 1 dm, BD for 15 days

 

Basis of Prescription-

After going through Repertorization, by RADAR-7, it was seen that Arsenicum Album, Graphites, Lycopodium and Sepia,covered the maximum no. of symptoms. In the chart, Arsenicum Alb. secured the highest mark, but after referring to Materia Medica and on the basis of totality of symptoms, Graphites was prescribed.

Repertorization  (Radar-7 Verbascum)

 

das-sep13-image003

 

1st Follow up / 2nd Visit (17/04/13)

  • Itching of nose was mildly reduced.
  • Burning pain also reduced
  • Exfoliation of skin due to scratching also reduced.

 

Treatment     Rx  : Graph -30, 4 doses, BD, Rubrum- 1 dm, BD for 15 days

 

Basis of prescription:

As, the patient was improving, the same medicine was repeated followed by placebo.

 

2nd Follow up / 3rd Visit (05/06/13)

  • Itching of nose was markedly reduced.
  • Burning pain was no more.
  • Exfoliation of skin due to scratching also reduced mildly.

 

Treatment

Rx  :  Rubrum- 1 dm, BD for 15 days

 

As, the patient was improving, the placebo was prescribed.

3rd Follow up / 4th Visit (12/08/13)

  • Itching of nose was no more
  • Burning pain was no more.
  • Exfoliation of skin was markedly reduced (As shown in Fig-2)

 

Treatment

Rx  : Rubrum- 1 dm, BD 

 

das-sep13-image004

 

Plate-2, Fourth Visit after treatment on 12-8-13

 

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This patient has never come again for those complaints after the last follow up. The efficacy of a single homoeopathic medicine in the treatment of eczema is revealed from the above case report. This case assumes a great deal of significance in the context of a large interest in alternative medical treatment modalities in recent times. This case would help to sustain this interest and also contribute towards encouraging clinicians to undertake similar studies to highlight the usefulness of homoeopathic medicines in eczema.

 

REFERENCES

 

1. Bershad, SV (2011 Nov 1). “In the clinic. Atopic dermatitis (eczema).”. Annals of internal medicine 155.

2. Eczema” at Dorland’s Medical Dictionary

3.  Johannes Ring; Bernhard Przybilla; Thomas Ruzicka (2006). Handbook of atopic eczema. Birkhäuser. p. 4

4. Hoare C, Li Wan Po A, Williams H (2000). “Systematic review of treatments for atopic eczema”. Health Technology Assessment 4 (37): 1–191

 

 Address for Correspondence:

 

Dr. Biswo Ranjan Das, B.H.M.S., M.D. (Hom), PGDHHM

Senior Research Fellow (H),

Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, under CCRH, Marichikote Lane, Labanikhia Chhakka, Puri, Odisha- 752001

About the author

Bisworanjan Das

Dr. Biswo Ranjan Das : I am presently working as a Senior Research Fellow at Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Puri, Odisha under CCRH, New Delhi. I have completed MD (Hom) from Dr. A.C. Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in 2011. Previously I was working as Senior Research Fellow at CCRH, Hqrs, New Delhi and also worked as Lecturer in Repertory, from C.L. Chouksey Memorial Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bilaspur, C.G.

5 Comments

  • sir basically you are pass out from u.h.m.c. and hospital.rourkela.please kindly mention it.vice nice case with a gentle homoeopathic treatment.thanx for your encouragement for us as we are biggner.

  • Why did you have to tell us the remedy you prescribed at the beginning? I would have loved to have gone through the case and tried to work out the remedy. This spoilt it for me and many other people. Please tell us the remedy at the end, not at the beginning!

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