My Success with Lesser Used Remedies

Case 1

In the first week of March 2020 a fifty-five year old lady presented with complaints of shortness of breath in the morning(6am) after a short walk and evenings(7.30pm) since 15 days. she described it as if something was getting stuck at the supra sterna notch. She had problems in expiration. Needed to go outdoor during these dyspnoea episodes. There was no expectoration. Worse lying down, worse by inhaling air conditioning and better by hot drinks. There was occasional wheezing heard on auscultation.

Along with these complaints there was pain in both temples and irritable on account of this, better by leaning head backwards. She also complained of a thoraco-lumbar backache < lying on bed. Also she had painful corns on both heels. I noticed that every 2 minutes she would cough hence she spoke bare minimum. Cough was dry hacking in nature. Thermal –Hot patient.

Anemnesis– This presentation was in favour of Asthma. Also, in the past history there was a tendency for asthma. I repertorised with Complete Repertory with the following rubrics: 1) Respiration difficult expiration 2) Respiration difficult while lying impossible 3) Head pain bending head backward amelioration. The only remedy that appeared was Senega.

Rx Senega 200 – 1 single dose was administered.

Dr Kent in his materia medica emphasizes the striking action of Senega on mucous membranes of air passages, its chief use being in asthmatic complaints with various forms of dyspnoea. He mentions that the Senega patient cannot walk up hill because of chest symptoms and dyspnoea. He remarks that from taking cold the whole chest is involved and that it very often clears the throat.

Follow up after 5 days– The first thing that happened was that the frequently teasing cough reduced considerably and also headache resolved on the same day after starting the medicine Since then not a single episode of breathlessness, Is able to expectorate easily white phlegm. No headaches since the medicine have been started. The feeling of something stuck at supra sternum has vanished and backache better by 70%. However corns are still painful.

Case 2

A 19 year old girl presented with complaints of pinching pain in both heels only in the morning, since about 1 week. Every step would hurt. Worse by standing. It all started after exposure to sudden change in weather from warm to cold. She had cold sweated only on the feet. Dislikes wet weather. In the family there is rheumatism in grandparents, her father suffers from gout.

I used complete repertory with the following rubrics: 1) Generalities weather change of aggravates warm to cold 2) Extremity pain pinching foot heel. The only remedy that appeared was Ranunculus bulbosus.

Rx 200 Ranunculus bulbosus 200. 1 single dose was administered on 1^st March 2020.

Ranunculous Bulbosus has a keynote, soreness of parts affected and the causation of change of weather.

Follow up after 10 days– The pain in heels reduced considerably and the cold sweat on feet stopped.

Case 3

A 47-year old man working on oil rig presented with complaint of pain in right shoulder since 4 months. He had done an Xray on recommendation of his orthopaedic surgeon and confirmed the diagnosis as deltoid muscle tear. The surgeon advised him operation or intramuscular steroid injections. He refused both and came for homoeopathic treatment. He expressed the pain as if sprained or dislocated. Upon examination his range of movement was painful and difficult between 90-100’. The pain was worse on movement and better by hanging the arm by his side. He also could not remember things since about 4 months. He would forget what he has been told. He had lost his appetite, complained of dry stools and weakness in eyes with dimness of vision. Preferred wet weather.

I consulted BBCR repertory for the following rubric 1) Upper extremities sprained or dislocative pain shoulder 2) Upper extremity Amelioration hang down letting arms. The only remedy that stood out was Asaraum Europaeum.

Rx Asaraum Europaeum, 200. One single dose was administered on 7^th July 2018.

Follow up after 2 weeks– No much pain in right shoulder, can do all movements. Feels overall 50% better. Memory improved and doesn’t forget as before, Weakness in eyes absent.

Follow up after 4 months– Pain in right shoulder 90% cured. Experiences slight strain while raising right hand.

Boenninghausen’s method is very simple. In its use the need to exercise individual judgement is done away with. It just requires a complete symptom to suggest a remedy. The other concomitant can be used for further verification of the remedy; For example, in this case the vanishing of thoughts is concomitant to the shoulder complaints.

Case 4

A 64-year old businessman consulted me for terrible itching, worse at night when he goes to bed, since about 4 years. He was an extremely clean man. Always wearing white neat pajamas. He would scratch although there were no eruptions, felt well after scratching. This itching had nothing to do with any allergy to foods because he ate and drank well everyday from the best food joints. However he strongly suspected environmental influence.  When he even went abroad to Germany but the itching followed him even there (Hence it was psychological).  After much persuasion he revealed that 4 years ago he had to part ways with his business partner. It was hard because he was a family friend since childhood and after this he experienced failure in business. His hobby was reading. His second trouble was in the neck burning pain in left shoulder blade with some stiffness. He would also suffer vertigo’s with empty feeling in the head. Worse after sleep and music.

I repertorised using complete repertory with the following rubrics: 1) Ailments from business failure 2)Skin Itching scratching amelioration 3)Skin Itching voluptuous 4)Vertigo sleep after aggravation. Two remedies surfaced Sepia and Ambra grisea. Ambra grisea people are quite introvert, don’t like company and sensitive to noise. Thinking of the past unpleasant events at night had caused his nerves to express their tension on the skin as itching, relieved by scratching. I prescribed Ambra grisea 200, 1 single dose on 27^th December 2019.

Follow up after 45 days– No complaints of itching. He was very happy about it and filled with great regard for homoeopathy. No vertigo episode after the medicine has been started. Stiffness of neck occasionally. He finally succeeded in getting over his problems.

Follow up on 15^th June 2020–  There is no skin problem but there are complaints of pain in neck due to working long hours on the computer. Pain leads to left sided headache >Lying down+3, <Motion, <Bending backwards.

Since last 2 months his feet feel very cold so that he has to wear socks. (new development). Chilly patient. BBCR repertory was consulted for the following modalities and suggested three remedies; Bry, Nux-v and Kali-c.

At this junction detailed reading of Boenninghausen’s Materia Medica revealed that Kali-carb alone fits this case best, as coldness of feet is absent in Bry and Nux-V.

Rx: Kali-carb 200, 1 single dose. Kali- carb is complementary to Ambra-grisea. Bryonia and Nux-vomica do not complement the work of Ambra-grisea.

Follow up on 21^nd June 2020– Neck pain relieved 85% and no headaches ever since taking the medicine.