Hope, Heart and Homoeopathy: Clinical Experiences in the Pandemic of Covid 19 (Case Series Volume 2)

Introduction

COVID 19 affects different people in different ways and those impacted can be categorised as mild, moderate, severe or critical. Almost 80% of the infected develop mild to moderate illness and recover without complications or need for hospitalization. Amongst the usually encountered symptoms we find: fever, dry cough and tiredness. The less common symptoms include aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell, a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes. And the alarming or critical symptoms include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, loss of speech or movement.

Though the incubation period can extend up to 14 days, most of the patients manifest signs and symptoms around day 5–6.

As on date, having treated more than 1300 Covid 19 cases, descriptions of a few are being shared in this second case series, since there seems to be a huge media and pharmaco-medical hype about it which is more misguiding and panic-inducing rather than educating, directing and reassuring.

General disease management guidelines for public/ laymen

Un-infected

As far as possible everyone should keep a healthy lifestyle whether at home or workplace. Maintain regular meal timings with a healthy diet, sleep-hygiene (avoiding as far as possible late nights), stay active (with pranayama (breathing yoga) and stretches and in-house exercises), and keeping social communication with family members/ friends through the phone or internet. Extend extra affection and time to children and senior citizens and give accurate information and guidelines, allaying anxieties and ignorance.

Indulge in board games, playing cards, drawing, colouring, sketching and avoid online gaming as much as possible. Listen to music and catch up on lost hobbies rather than stepping out for a drive or to eat out. Curtail shopping to a bare minimum or for absolute essentials.

It is normal to feel sad, stressed, or confused during a crisis. Rather than surfing ‘phoney-doctor internet’ or any untrained and unqualified social media platform for misinformation, it is more helpful to speak to your family physician, and this is where homoeopathic family physicians fare better than their other colleagues since their routine clinical evaluation is fortified with personal appraisal including lifestyle, psycho-emotional review and cathartic unburdening.

Infected

If feeling sick or suspecting a possible contact or infection, DO NOT PANIC. Self-isolate in a separate room from other family members, and use a dedicated bathroom (if possible).  If it is not possible to stay in a separate room or bathroom, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Rest as much as possible, drink plenty of fluids and eat light and nutritious foods. Consult your family physician for the possible investigations required to diagnose or evaluate.

Do not attempt to self-diagnose by going for self-prescribed investigations, since in India especially we have seasonal changes happening which bring about viral infections and allergies, which can have similar signs and symptoms.

Preamble for homoeopathic management of any epidemic in general and (currently) Covid 19 in particular

My previous case series received appreciation for general guidelines for management of epidemics compiled from Organon and writings of learned homoeopathic physicians. That’s why this preamble is being reiterated, for the second and the last time.

Homoeopathic therapeutic approach vis-à-vis conventional treatment

A homoeopathic therapeutic approach warrants assessment, clinical examination and treatment of the patients with Covid 19 rather than conventional medical targeting of the causative micro-organism or the targeted organ system. This poses unique challenges to each, whilst the former has to ascertain the remedy anew in each case, whilst the latter has to resort to corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants until the vaccine is found. While the former requires no additional funding (since the available remedies are to be administered), the latter requires extreme investments, for example, there are more than 118 vaccine candidates being investigated by various agencies, each with a budget of over a 100 million USD (1).

The only advantage of the conventional system of medicine is the patient management paraphernalia viz ICU care, ventilator support etc. which shall be required by less than 7% of Covid 19 patients in India (2). The remaining nearly 93% of Covid patients can be managed with relatively inexpensive homoeopathic medicines!

Homoeopathic philosophy and rationale to treat Covid 19

Covid 19 as an epidemic/pandemic disease (3)

Organon § 73: ….Allied to these are those diseases in which many persons are attacked with very similar sufferings from the same cause (epidemically); these diseases generally become infectious (contagious) when they prevail among thickly congregated masses of human beings. Thence arise fevers, in each instance of a peculiar nature, and, because the cases of disease have an identical origin, they set up in all those they affect an identical morbid process, which when left to itself terminates in a moderate period of time in death or recovery…

Organon § 73 foot note 1: The homoeopathic physician, who does not entertain the foregone conclusion devised by the ordinary school (who have fixed upon a few names of such fevers, besides which mighty nature dare not produce any others, so as to admit of their treating these disease according to some fixed method), does not acknowledge the names goal fever, bilious fever, typhus fever, putrid fever, nervous fever or mucous fever, but treats them each according to their several peculiarities. (Bold my own) [Comment: The clinical features of previous corona virus infections shall not govern the treatment of the current Covid 19, neither shall these during future recurrence. See § 100 below]

Organon § 73 footnote 2: Subsequently to the year 1801 a kind of pupura miliaris (roodvonk), which came from the West, was by physicians confounded with the scarlet fever, notwithstanding that they exhibited totally different symptoms, that the latter found its prophylatic and curative remedy in belladonna, the former in aconite, and that the former was generally merely sporadic, while the latter was invariably epidemic. Of late years it seems as if the two occasionally joined to form an eruptive fever of a peculiar kind, for which neither the one nor the other remedy, alone, will be found to be exactly homoeopathic.

Organon § 100: In investigating the totality of the symptoms of epidemic and sporadic diseases it is quite immaterial whether or not something similar has ever appeared in the world before under the same or any other name. The novelty or peculiarity of a disease of that kind makes no difference either in the mode of examining or of treating it, as the physician must any way regard to pure picture of every prevailing disease as if it were something new and unknown, and investigate it thoroughly for itself, if he desire to practice medicine in a real and radical manner, never substituting conjecture for actual observation, never taking for granted that the case of disease before him is already wholly or partially known, but always carefully examining it in all its phases; and this mode of procedure is all the more requisite in such cases, as a careful examination will show that every prevailing disease is in many respects a phenomenon of a unique character, differing vastly from all previous epidemics, to which certain names have been falsely applied..

Organon § 102: In the course of writing down the symptoms of several cases of this kind the sketch of the disease picture becomes ever more and more complete, not more spun out and verbose, but more significant (more characteristic), and including more of the peculiarities of this collective disease; on the one hand, the general symptoms (e.g., loss of appetite, sleeplessness, etc.) become precisely defined as to their peculiarities; and on the other, the more marked and special symptoms which are peculiar to but few diseases and of rarer occurrence, at least in the same combination, become prominent and constitute what is characteristic of this malady. All those affected with the disease prevailing ….. are suffering from the same disease; but the whole extent of such an epidemic disease and the totality of its symptoms (the knowledge whereof, which is essential for enabling us to choose the most suitable homoeopathic remedy for this array of symptoms, is obtained by a complete survey of the morbid picture) cannot be learned from one single patient, but is only to be perfectly deduced (abstracted) and ascertained from the sufferings of several patients of different constitutions. (bold, my own) [Comment: common clinical features are of little value unless indicated by a modality; it is important to have a characteristic totality of symptoms of each patient of Covid 19]

Some persons are immune to the epidemic/pandemic of Covid 19

Organon § 31: The inimical forces, partly psychical, partly physical, to which our terrestrial existence is exposed, which are termed morbific noxious agents, do not possess the power of morbidly deranging the health of man unconditionally; but we are made ill by them only when our organism is sufficiently disposed and susceptible to attack of the morbific cause that may be present, and to be altered in its health, deranged and made to undergo abnormal sensations and functions – hence they do not produce disease in every one nor at all times. [Comment: when researchers tested blood samples taken years before the pandemic started, they found T cells which were specifically tailored to detect proteins on the surface of Covid-19. This suggests that some people already had a pre-existing degree of resistance against the virus before it ever infected a human. And it appears to be surprisingly prevalent: 40-60% of unexposed individuals had these cells(4).]

Assessing the patient and recording the clinical symptoms (for diagnosis) and indications (for individualised homoeopathic treatment) of Covid 19

Organon § 3: If the physician clearly perceives what is to be cured in diseases, that is to say, in every individual case of disease (knowledge of disease, indication)…. (bold, my own)

Comment: In every case of disease of Covid 19, besides the common clinical features (knowledge of disease), there are some symptoms which are unique and distinguishing signs or symptoms, which could be found as a precipitating factor (§ 5), side affinity, direction of symptoms, sensation, alternation of complaints, modality or concomitant generality or disposition. These were termed by Hahnemann as indications, which identify the individual with disease, and which ought to be matched with the symptomatology in materia medica or repertorised.

It is useless to match in materia medica or repertorise the common clinical features of the diseased while determining the individualised homoeopathic remedy.

Organon § 6: The unprejudiced observer – well aware of the futility of transcendental speculations which can receive no confirmation from experience – be his powers of penetration ever so great, takes note of nothing in every individual disease, except the changes in the health of the body and of the mind (morbid phenomena, accidents, symptoms) which can be perceived externally by means of the senses; that is to say, he notices only the deviations from the former healthy state of the now diseased individual, which are felt by the patient himself, remarked by those around him and observed by the physician. All these perceptible signs represent the disease in its whole extent, that is, together they form the true and only conceivable portrait of the disease.

Comment: Only the symptoms or modalities or disposition that have developed or altered (increased, decreased or deviated) ought to be considered for delineating the totality of symptoms or indications of the sick individual. For example, if the patient becomes increasingly or decreasingly or abnormally sensitive to cold after onset of disease, then it ought to be considered as an indication of the sick individual and matched with suitable remedy in materia medica or repertory. Similarly, onset of irritability or weeping disposition concurrent to onset of symptoms ought to be identified as an indication. This has also been mentioned under the chapter on Calcarea ostrearum by Constantine Hering in his Guiding Symptoms to Materia Medica and Henry Clay Allen in his keynotes mention, “During either sickness or convalescence, great longing for eggs”

Determining the Genius Epidemicus in homoeopathy

John Henry Clarke in introduction to The Prescriber writes, “The doctrine of genius epidemicus is another practical aid in prescribing. Just as one proving gives only a partial idea of a drug, so one case of an epidemic disease gives only a partial idea of the disease. It is perfectly legitimate homœopathy to take a number of cases and having found the drug disease which corresponds most closely to the disease in all its developments, to give that drug in a routine fashion to all cases which do not manifestly call for some other drug. …. That does not mean that I have given no other remedy, on the contrary, I have had to use in some case or other almost every remedy in the materia medica; but the knowledge of the doctrine of the genius epidemicus has saved a vast amount of trouble, nevertheless.”(5) (bold, my own)

The key fact is to investigate thoroughly a number of cases and try and find out a drug or drugs that corresponds to the disease process in all its developments, that is to say, in its unique peculiarities that are reflected in those afflicted with the epidemic. The similarity between the disease and pathogenetic effect of the genius epidemicus (on the healthy) should be not at the level of common clinical features of the epidemic but in the unique peculiarities (indication, §3) that are found in the individuals’ reaction. And this is what ought to be studied in materia medica or while repertorising. We can’t study the common clinical features of an epidemic in materia medica or repertorise them in order to find a genius epidemicus.

Further, Clarke recommends routine application of the genius epidemicus in all cases but only after verification of the indications. The availability of genius epidemicus however does not obviate the requirement for assessment of the patient, as per the guidelines of Organon and Homoeopathic Philosophy.

Bönninghausen had also published an article titled, ‘Brief instructions for non-physicians concerning the  prophylaxis  and  treatment of asiatic cholera’ for the 1846 epidemic and recommended the use of Camphora as a Genius epidemicus (both therapeutic and prophylactic) to lay-practitioners and non-physicians for the public at large. The homoeopathic practitioners were required to prescribe Camphora or any other remedy after thorough case recording.(6) In other words, the scope of genius epidemicus is to help non-physicians and the common man before they find access to a homoeopathic physician for individualised treatment. The determination of genius epidemicus does not preclude recording of details of history and symptoms in each case afflicted with the prevailing epidemic, for the homoeopathic physician.

EDITOR’S NOTE:   If you have difficulty viewing all 9 columns in the chart below, minimize the screen by holding down CTRL and turning your mouse wheel (about 5 clicks).  Then you’ll be able to see the follow ups and reasons for prescribing each remedy.

S. No. Initials, age, sex	Clinical features	Co-existing diseases	Laboratory and Radiological findings	Severity of Illness 1: Mild 2: Moderate 3: Severe 4: Critical	Lesser accessory symptoms	Prescription	Date wise follow ups	Inference
21. SNG 27 years, Female	Dry Cough Sore throat Fever ~ 99 – 101  F Fatigue [VAS score 2] Dyspnoea [Grade 1] Chills Chest pain Headache Loss of sensation of taste and smell Bodyache since 2 days	–	NASO- PHARYNGEAL SWAB: COVID -19 POSITIVE –	1	FEVER MOSTLY AT NIGHT ~ 8 PM TO 6 AM CHEST PAIN < LYING DOWN USUALLY AT NIGHT HEADACHE < AT NIGHT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SLEEP. WEAKNESS IN THE MORNING ON WAKING	12-6-2020 Syphillinum LM 1 Thrice a day. (Medicine was prepared in a bottle by dissolving a single globule of medicating potency in 100 ml of water, to which 40 drops of alcohol were added. Before taking the medicine, the patient was directed to hold the bottle in the dominating hand and strike it 10 times against the palm of the other hand or a firm mattress, and dissolve 1 teaspoonful of medicine in half cup of plain water, stir and drink all of it, each time.)	18-6-2020 Headache and chest pain better after 8 hours and afebrile after 12 hours of medication. Weakness less but present. Developed some oral blisters and increased salivation over last 2 days. Rx Syphillinum LM 2 Thrice a day   24-6-2020 Feels fine. Tested negative on 19-6-2020. Oral blisters disappeared by 22-6-20. Rx Placebo	Though many remedies have nocturnal aggravation viz. Phytolacca, Merc sol, Chamomilla etc, Syphilinum is the only remedy in our materia medica, that displays the rhythmic nocturnal aggravation- worsening from sunset to midnight and improving thereafter till daybreak. This pattern is what was identified in the patient and while recovering, she also developed oral blisters and increased salivation, which showed healing of the underlying miasmatic taint.
22. UVW 38 years, Male	Cough and Sore throat Fever ~ 100.8 – 101  F Fatigue [VAS score 8] Dyspnoea [Grade 4] Bodyache since 12 days. Thrombocytopenia (80,000/ cu.mm); leucopenia (3400 cells/ cu.mm) Decreased oxygen saturation ~ 85% so hospitalised, nebulised and required oxygen support for previous 5 days.	CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM	RT PCR : COVID-19 POSITIVE   D Dimer- 8.1 mg FEU/L   CRP- 14.1 mg/dL   CXR- Hazy patches b/l lower zones	3	PERSISTENT SOUR TASTE IN MOUTH, AFFECTING TEETH ALSO. ECCHYMOTIC PATCHES ALL OVER THE BODY. H/O  ALCOHOLISM.	15-4-2020 Sulphuric acid 200, 4 pills Thrice a day for 3 days	18-4-2020 Afebrile after 18 hours of medication. The requirement of oxygen support reduced after 36 hours. SPO2 maintained at 93 on day 3. Platelet count improved on day 3 to 100000/ cu.mm and TLC increased to 4200 cells/cu.mm). Rx Placebo   21-4-2020 Loss of sensation of smell observed. No dyspnoea and fatigue now. 20-4-2020 Platelet count: 1.4 lacs; CRP: 2.6 mg/dL Rx Placebo   26-4-2020 Tested negative with normal CXR and discharged on 22-4-2020 D Dimer- 0.19 mg FEU/L Normal smell now Rx Placebo	Sulphuric acid, as materia medica highlight, has characteristic sour taste in mouth setting the teeth on edge. It has also produced in provers ecchymotic patches and is indicated when familial or personal history reveals alcoholism.
23. PM 35 years, Female	Dry Cough Sore throat Fever ~ 100.6 F Fatigue [VAS score 4] Headache < motion and music, Chills Reduced sense of smell Bodyache Since 3 days	–	NASO- PHARYNGEAL SWAB: COVID -19 POSITIVE   CRP: 10.8 mg/dL –	1	POOR THIRST +++ DESIRE FOR JUICY FRUITS +++ PROFOUND WEAKNESS +++ DROWSINESS++, NIGHT SWEATS TOWARDS MORNING	6-6-2020 Acid phos 200 Thrice a day. [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	10-6-2020 Afebrile after 18 hours. Cough reduced. Normal sense of smell. No bodyacheRx Placebo   14-6-2020 Repeat test was negative on 12-6-2020. CRP: 0.49 mg/dL Slight weakness persists Rx Placebo	The symptoms are enough to explain the choice of Acid phosphoric. The nighsweats in this patient   and remedy are found towards later part of night or towards daybreak. Phosphoric acid also has headache which are < movements and music.
24. MS 2 years Male	Rattling Cough Fever ~ 101 F Wheezing for 4 days.	TENDENCY FOR RESPIRATORY TROUBLES	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE –	2	AILMENTS AFTER BROUGHT IN A CHILLED AC ROOM WHILE PERSPIRING; FLUSHED FACE	24-6-2020 Ferrum phos 200 Thrice a day for 3 days [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	27-6-2020 Cough settled within 12 hours and Afebrile on day 2 of remedy. Rx Placebo   30-6-2020 Tested negative Rx  Placebo	Ferrum phos cures personalities susceptible to chest troubles. It is also an important remedy for ailments from checked perspiration on a warm summer day.
25. AM 29 years Female	Sore throat followed by cough and fever ~ 100 – 100.8 F Fatigue [VAS score 6] ? Dimnished sensation of taste Bodyache since 2 days	–	NASO- PHARYNGEAL SWAB: COVID -19 POSITIVE –	1	CHILLY NO THIRST CONCOMITANT TO ONSET OF COMPLAINTS	6-6-2020 Streptococcin 200: Thrice a day [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	11-6-2020 Afebrile after 12 hours of medication. Bodyache subsided. Improved levels of energy. Rx Placebo   15-6-2020 Has regained 90% of energy levels. Tested negative on 14-6-2020 Rx Placebo	Streptococcin is an important remedy for all infections that begin with or have sore throat as a concomitant or predominant or persisting symptom. In addition patient is thirstless and chilly. Also Streptococcin patients describe sore throat as persisting dryness that is soothed but not relieved with warm drinks.
26. RM 52 years Female	Since 4 days: Dry cough with hoarseness, Fever ~ 100.4 with chills in back of head and trunk Fatigue [VAS score 7] SPO2 90-91; Dyspnoea [Grade 3] with sense of constriction in chest causing restlessness Headache Bodyache	CHRONIC SMOKER, DM	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE   D DIMER: 13.8 mg FEU/L   CRP: 34 mg/ dL –	3	UNDIGNIFIED SCOLDING BY MANAGEMENT OF OFFICE THE EVENING PRIOR TO ONSET OF SYMPTOMS; RETURNED HOME TO EXPERIENCE GRADUAL ONSET OF HOARSENESS AND COUGH, EVEN NORMAL WATER FELT COLD IN MOUTH/ THROAT;	6-6-2020 Staphysagria 200 every 4 hours [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	10-6-2020 Coughing, dyspnoea, discomfort in chest reduced by the end of day 1. Slep well that night. Perspired during sleep. Afebrile by the end of day 2. Rx Placebo.   16-6-2020 Slight tightness remains in chest. Tested negative on day 8 of treatment. CRP: 6.9 mg/ dL D Dimer: 6.7 mg FEU/L  Rx  Staphysagria 1000 single dose, Placebo.	In aphorism 5, Hahnemann mentions the importance of the most probable exciting cause, since it alone is not enough for prescribing. A casual glance of the causation rubrics mentioned in any repertory, show numerous remedies under each one of them. The choice of the remedy depends upon the effects triggered by that possible causation. In this case, the unmerited insult and patient’s inability to articulate what he felt seized and manifested in his larynx and chest. Hoarseness and dry cough, along with chills in back of head and trunk, sensitivity to cold in mouth and throat were other symptoms that pointed to Staphysagria, which cured.
27. AA 27 years Male	Loose watery diarrhoea 5-6 times daily since 4 days. Dry Cough Sore throat Fever ~ 99.8 – 100.2 F Chills Intense bodyache	–	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE   CRP: 18.2 mg/ dL –	2	INTENSE BODYACHE AS IF BONES SCRAPED WITH A KNIFE POOR THIRST +++ NO WEAKNESS IN SPITE OF DIARRHOEA	3-7-2020 Acid phos 200 Thrice a day [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	6-7-2020 Diarrhoea settled by the end of day 2. Afebrile after 36 hours. No cough and headache now. Rx Placebo   10-7-2020 No complaints.Refused to repeat the test since felt alright. Rx  Placebo	Absence of weakness with profuse and frequent diarrhoea is one of the singular (§153, Organon) features of Acid phos. So is the sensation of bones being scraped with knife. This was a different prescription of Acid phos.
28. SY 34 years Female	Dry Cough Vomiting and nausea. Fever ~ 100 F Fatigue [VAS score 7] Watery foul stools- 3-4 times a day. Chills Thoraco-abdominal pains. Headache	–	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE   –	2	SINCE 2 DAYS VOMITING ALL FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES. CAN’T RETAIN EVEN WATER. CAN ONLY RETAIN APPLES OR BANANA OR BOILED POTATOES, BUT IN SPOONFUL BITES. ANXIOUS RESTLESSNESS. WANTS TO BE HELD.	4-7-2020 Bismuth 200 every 4 hours [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	8-7-2020 Vomiting stopped by the end of day 1. Stools normal and non-offensive by day 2. Able to retain electrolyte on day 2. Afebrile  on day 2. Less restless and anxious now. Rx Placebo   12-7-2020 Asymptomatic. Only slight weakness persists. Tested negative on Day 7.  Rx Placebo	Bismuth has the characteristic feature of vomiting water or fluids soon after intake, while the solids are retained longer. It also has the anguish and restlessness like Arsenicum and intolerance of solitude.
29. ASK 7 years, Male	Dry cough Fever ~ 101 Shortness of breath (Respiratory rate 28/min) Chest pain Loose semi solid stools since 2 days.	–	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE –	1	WEAKNESS AND EXHAUSTION +++ WANTS BOTH AC AND FAN AT FULL SPEED, ELSE FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO BREATHE +++ COLD PERSPIRATION.	8-6-2020 Carbo veg 200 every 3 hours [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	11-6-2020 Afebrile after 36 hours of medication. No diarrhoea after starting medication. Slight cough. No chest pain. No respirator distress. Rx Placebo   15-6-2020 Occasional coughing. Tested negative on day 7th.  Rx Placebo	Amongst other symptoms, Carbo veg has intense air hunger in spite of copious cold sweat all over. In some patients, they want to stand right in front of an AC to breathe in directly the cold air!
30. VR 50 Years, Female	Dry Cough Fever ~ 100.8 Dyspnoea [Grade 3] Chills Chest pain Bodyache since 3 days.	–	RT PCR : COVID-19 POSITIVE –	2	MILD LACHRYMOSE DESIRE JUICY FRUITS +++ WEAKNESS AND EXHAUSTION +++ POOR THIRST +++	6-6-2020 Acid phos 200 4 times a day [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	12-6-2020 Afebrile after 24 hours of medication. Cough and dyspnoea improved. No chest pain now. Rx Placebo   19-6-2020 Recovered and tested negative on 14-6-2020	As discussed earlier
31. SB 8 years, Male	Cough with Sore throat Fever ~ 101 F Chills Bodyache since 3 days.	–	RT PCR : COVID-19 POSITIVE –	2	DESIRE JUICES +++ POOR THIRST +++ LAZY AND REDUCED RESPONSIVENESS	4-6-2020 Acid phos 200 every 3-4 hours [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	7-6-2020 Afebrile by the end of day 2. Passed loose stools 4-5 times over 2 days. No coughing. Slight itchy throat. Rx Placebo   10-6-2020 Parents refused for repeat testing since child recovered completely	As discussed earlier
32. MG 45 years Female	Cough Fever ~ 100 – 101.9 F Fatigue [VAS score 7] Dyspnoea [Grade 3] Chills Headache Since 1 day.	KNOWN CASE OF HYPERTENSION	NASO- PHARYNGEAL SWAB: COVID -19 POSITIVE   CRP: 28 mg/ dL   HRCT CHEST- GROUND GLASS OPACITIES IN B/L LUNG FIELDS	3	DRY  COUGH (DOUBLE PAROXYSM) FREQUENT THIRST: SIPS WARM WATER EVERY 15-20 MIN TO AMELIORATE THE COUGH +++ AND DRYNESS IN THROAT ANXIOUS	12-6-2020 Arsenicum album LM 1 every 3 hours. (Medicine was prepared in a bottle by dissolving a single globule of medicating potency in 100 ml of water, to which 40 drops of alcohol were added. Before taking the medicine, the patient was directed to hold the bottle in the dominating hand and strike it 10 times against the palm of the other hand or a firm mattress, and dissolve 1 teaspoonful of medicine in half cup of plain water, stir and drink all of it, each time.)	15-6-2020 Cough improved but temperature hovered around 99 – 99.5 F. Rx Arsenicum album LM 2 every 3 hours.   18-6-2020 No coughing, afebrile since last 48 hours subsided. RT-PCR positive on 17-6-20. CRP: 4.9 mg/ dL No headache. Persisting weakness and prostration. Rx Typhoidinum 200 Thrice a day for 3 days   21-6-2020 Weakness reduced. Appetite improved. Rx  Placebo   25-6-2020 Tested negative on 24-6-20.	The thirst and anxiety made choice of Arsenicum album easy. Typhoidinum, on the other hand, was prescribed empirically (and successfully) in some cases wherein weakness persisted in the absence of other indication
33. JT 38 years, Male	Sore throat with cough Fever ~ 102 – 103 F Fatigue [VAS score 8] Chills Headache Bodyache Institutionalised since 5 days.	–	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE   CRP: 14.2 mg/ dL   –	2	TAKES SIPS OF WATER OFTEN, PREFERS COLD WATER   WEAKNESS BETTER WHEN IN A WARM ROOM   ANXIOUS & RESTLESS	24-6-2020 Arsenicum album LM 1 every 4 hours (Medicine was prepared in a bottle by dissolving a single globule of medicating potency in 100 ml of water, to which 40 drops of alcohol were added. Before taking the medicine, the patient was directed to hold the bottle in the dominating hand and strike it 10 times against the palm of the other hand or a firm mattress, and dissolve 1 teaspoonful of medicine in half cup of plain water, stir and drink all of it, each time.)	27-6-2020 Not much improvement. On reviewing the patient again found same totality of symptoms. Rx  Arsenicum album 200 every 4 hours   2-7-2020 Coughing improved by end of the day, afebrile on day 2 of 200th potency. Headache and bodyache subsided over 3 days. 1-7-20 CRP 4.8 mg/ dL. Tested negative and discharged on  1st July. Rx  Placebo	It is advisable to prescribe a higher potency of the same remedy, after revaluating the totality of symptoms, if the lower potencies do not show the desired result.
34. PK 63 years, Female	Dry Cough Sore throat Fever ~  100 – 100.5 Diarrhoea with loose watery consistency of stools Fatigue [VAS score 4] Dyspnoea [grade 1 ] Loss of sensation of taste and smell. Headache since 4 days SPO2 88-92	KNOWN CASE OF DIABETES MELLIUS & COPD	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE –	3	BITTER & DRY TASTE IN MOUTH ++ EYES FEEL TIRED PERSISTENT SORE THROAT +++ NO THIRST +++	27-06-2020 Streptococcin 1M x (powders prepared in sugar of milk with 1 granule of medicated potency) Thrice a day for 3 days	30-6-2020 Cough reduced with each dose. Afebrile after 18 hours. SPO2 92-94. Diarrhoea absent from day 2. Slight headache persists. Rx Placebo   4-7-2020 Slight weakness. Almost asymptomatic now so refused for a repeat testing. Rx Placebo	The reasons for prescribing Streptococcin are as mentioned above. He was prescribed 1M potency because of marked intensity of throat irritation.
35. SAK 28 Years, Male	Sore throat Fever ~  103 F Slight dry cough Fatigue [VAS score 5] Dyspnoea [grade 2 ] Loss of sensation of taste and smell Headache Bodyache since 2 Days.	Tendency for frequent respiratory  troubles	Being a cabin crew- he tested positive through NASO- PHARYNGEAL SWAB, on return from a flight. –	3	SUDDEN SPIKING OF FEVER +++ HEAT ABOUT THE HEAD & NECK AND COLD EXTREMITIES +++ 3 PM AGGRAVATION OF FEVER +++ NO SWEATING EVEN AFTER PARACETAMOL 650 +++	25-7-2020 Belladonna 1M 4 pills every 4 hours till improvement.	27-7-2020 Afebrile after 24 hours. Dyspnoea improved. No headache now. Cough reduced. Rx Placebo   31-7-2020 Tested negative on 31-7-20. Rx  Placebo	His 3 other colleagues had also tested positive simultaneously. He recovered fastest amongst all. It is important to highlight that Belladonna patients do not perspire much, even under the effect of anti-pyretic. If they do, then Belladonna is certainly not their curative remedy, even though it may bring their temperature down.
36. DM 29 Years, Male	Sore throat with productive cough. Fever ~  101-103 F Fatigue [VAS score 6] Headache Chest pain Dyspnoea [Grade 3] Decreased sensation of smell. Bodyache since 4 days Nausea, bloating and vomiting	–	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE –	2	PERSISTING HIGH FEVER FELT BETTER IN OPEN AIR +++ GOOD APPETITE +++ IN SPITE OF HIGH FEVER BURNING HOT PALMS AND SOLES WANTS TO KEEP THEM AGAINST THE WALL OR A COOL SURFACE +++ HEAT OF HEAD EXTREMITIES COLD WHEN FEVER SPIKES +++ DURING AFEBRILE STAGE EXTREMITIES WERE HOT +++	23-6-2020 Sulphur LM 1 every 3 hours (Medicine was prepared in a bottle by dissolving a single globule of medicating potency in 100 ml of water, to which 40 drops of alcohol were added. Before taking the medicine, the patient was directed to hold the bottle in the dominating hand and strike it 10 times against the palm of the other hand or a firm mattress, and dissolve 1 teaspoonful of medicine in half cup of plain water, stir and drink all of it, each time.)	27-6-2020 Afebrile from day 2. Weakness and bodyache persisted. Cough, nausea, vomiting, bloating reduced Rx Sulphur LM 2 thrice a day   2-7-2020 Asymptomatic but still tested positive on 1-7-20  Rx Sulphur LM 3 thrice a day   9-7-20 Developed an itchy rash while on the medicine. Tested negative on 8-7-20 –	When patients require a deep acting anti-miasmatic remedy during an acute disease, then it is important to monitor closely since it shows a compromised vitality reflecting a poor immune status. Under the effect of such a remedy, an eruption or discharge shall always manifest at the time of completion of  healing process.
37. MCD 58 Years, Male	Severe sore throat since onset of complaints. Fever ~  100–101 F Dry cough Fatigue [VAS score 6] Bodyache Headache Chest pain Dyspnoea [Grade 4] SPO2 85-89. On O2 support since 7 days at hospital.	Known case of Diabetes mellitus and Hypertension on Rx	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE –	3	COMPLAINTS STARTED WITH SORE THROAT FOLLOWED BY FEVER AND LATER BY COUGH +++ DIPPING OXYGEN SATURATION DESPITE O2 SUPPORT. THIRSTLESS +++ CHILLY +++	29-5-2020 Rx Streptococcin 200: every 4 hours [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	1-6-2020 Afebrile after 36 hours. Dyspnoea & Coughing reduced. No bodyache and headache. Slight Chest pain persists. SPO2 88-92 Rx Continue Streptococcin 200 every 4 hours   3-6-2020 No O2 support required now.  SPO2 ~ 94 No bodyache, sore throat or cough.  Rx  Placebo   5-6- 2020 Tested negative on 4-6-20 and discharged.  Rx  Placebo –	Vide Streptococcin explained above.
38. ASH, 40 Years, Male	Dry Cough Fever ~  102 F Fatigue [VAS score 7] Dyspnoea [grade 4 ] Bodyache Headache Chest pain Chills Lumbar backache since 2 days	Recurrent Urolithiasis and Respiratory Infections	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE     CRP 32.2 mg/ dL   HRCT CHEST: MULTIPLE GROUND GLASS OPACITIES INVOLVING B/L LUNGS. FEW SUBCENTIMETRIC LYMPHNODES WERE ALSO NOTED. F/S/O INFECTIVE ETIOLOGY: LIKELY COVID	3	ALL COMPLAINTS FEVER/ANXIETY/ COUGH/ CHILLS/ HEADACHE/ PAINS INCREASED FROM ~ 8 PM AND SETTLED BY 5 AM +++	22-6-2020 Rx Syphillinum LM 1 Thrice a day	26-6-2020 Coughing reduced . Afebrile after 30 hours. Headache reduced Rx Syphillinum LM 2  Thrice a day   30-7-2020 Recovered and tested negative. CRP: 9.1 mg/ dL Rx  Syphillinum LM 3  Twice a day   19-7-20 HRCT Chest: None of the previously noticed lymphadenopathy or lung opacities –	Syphilinum indications, especially the rhythmic synchronicity of symptoms with sunset and sunrise have already been mentioned earlier. It is also important to remember what Hahnemann writes in aphorism 248 of 6th edition of Organon, “…. Thus in chronic diseases, every correctly chosen homoeopathic medicine, even those whose action is of long duration, may be repeated daily for months with ever increasing success….”
39. FOPB 45 Years, Male	Sore throat Fever ~  101.5 F with chills  since 5 days Diarrhoea with loose watery consistency with tiny balls. Vomiting Loss of sensation of taste and smell Bodyache Headache Chest pain	–	RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE –	2	THIRST FOR ICY COLD WATER +++ FREQUENT VOMITINGS AFTER SOMETIME ON TAKING WATER +++ DISCOMFORT IN THE CHEST AGGRAVAYTED AFTER LYING OVER LEFT SIDE +++ EVENING CHILLS FOLLOWED BY RISE IN TEMPERATURE MOSTLY AFTER 10 PM +++	27-5-2020 Rx Phosphorus 200 : four times a day  [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	31-5-2020 Afebrile after 48  hours. Cough and chest pain improved No diarrhoea now. Rx Placebo   3-6-2020 Tested Negative on 7th day of medication.	Phosphorus is known to have a craving for icy cold drinks, which are vomited as soon as they become warm in stomach. The same was observed in this patient. Moreover Phosphorus patients are better lying on right side, lying on the opposite side causes worsening of complaints.
40. BG 45 Years, Female	Sore throat with dry cough. Fever upto ~  101.5 F with chills. Fatigue [VAS score 4] Dyspnoea [grade 1 ] Loss of sensation of taste and smell Sometimes has loose stools. Bodyache since 4 days		RT PCR: COVID-19 POSITIVE –	3	ANXIOUS AND FEARFUL OF DISEASE.   PERSPIRES AS SOON AS HE WAKES UP, AROUND NECK AND CHEST.	24-6-2020 Sambucus nigra 200 every 3 hours [WATER POTENCY, 1 DROP IN 100 ML OF WATER; 1 TEASPOONFUL DOSE AFTER 10 SUCCUSSIONS]	27-6-2020 Afebrile after 36 hours. Coughing, sore throat, bodyache reduced. Slight sense of smell, no taste yet. Rx Placebo   1-7-2020 Less anxious now. Regained sense of smell and taste. No other symptoms. Rx Placebo   8-7-2020 Tested negative on 3-7-2020. No complaints.	Sambucus nigra has a characteristic perspiration on waking up or while awake. It is also one of the important remedies antidoting the effects of fright, like Opium.

To be continued…..

References

1. https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/who-says-8-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-in-clinical-trial/75784597
2. https://theprint.in/india/6-39-of-all-covid-19-cases-require-hospital-support-says-health-ministry/425870/
3. Hahnemann, S. Organon of Medicine. New Delhi, India; B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.; 5th and 6th edition combined; 2016
4. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200716-the-people-with-hidden-protection-from-covid-19
5. Clarke, J.H. Genius Epidemicus. The Prescriber. New Delhi India. Indian Books and Periodicals Publishers. Reprint Edition 2009; pp 34
6. Von Bönninghausen, CMF. Brief instructions  for  non-physicians  concerning  the  prophylaxis  and  treatment of asiatic cholera. The lesser writings of C.M.F. von Boenninghausen; New Delhi, India. B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 1990 (Reprint edition); pp 299-308.

Gyandas G. Wadhwani M.D. (Hom)

Consultant Homoeopathic Physician & Independent Researcher

Holistic Homoeopathic Clinic & Research Center, New Delhi

Member Aude Sapere groups, South Africa and New Delhi

Former Chief Medical Officer (NFSG) (Homoeopathy), Dte. of Ayush, Govt of NCT of Delhi

Senior Lecturer (Organon of Medicine & Homoeopathic Philosophy), Dr B R Sur Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre,

Govt of NCT of Delhi

Mob: +91-9868146489

Email: [email protected]