Clinical Cases

Umbilical Hernia

Written by Leela D'Souza

A useful article about Umbilical Hernia.Full details about Umbilical Hernia

Introduction: Acute cases are exciting because one can experience the magic of homeopathy and be totally convinced of its power. Below are cases to help you work out your own analysis and see what remedy you come up with. Then you can compare it with the analysis and remedy given. It always helps to sharpen one’s acute prescribing skills as that’s where one can easily convince people that homeopathy works!
CAUTION is the byword for all acute prescriptions, as over the long term we have to be vigilant about suppression or superficial palliation with the acute remedy. Its important that the patient is followed up for long term constitutional treatment.

Case 1: Umbilical Hernia

Excerpt from the history: I have been having trouble with pain from an hernia (Homeopathy Treatment for Hernia) (first noticed with second pregnancy but hadn’t caused pain outside of pregnancy until now, after doing too much exercise a couple weeks ago) and I’m not sure what to do about it. (She has had 3 normal pregnancies and deliveries over the last 6 years.) The Dr recommends surgery since it is symptomatic, although small. I am concerned for the recovery after the surgery since I need to take care of and lift the baby, and it is impossible for me not to. I would really appreciate your honest opinion. Is this something that homeopathy can help with at all?

When the umbilical hernia itself is acutely bothering me, the pain can be a tearing type of pain I think. The belly button area definitely gets red and feels very sensitive and almost raw to touch, as if it was almost an open sore (although it is not, just red and irritated, sensitive). I also get a pin prick type feeling on my belly button. The pain sometimes feels close to what it feels like to have indigestion or bad gas trapped in the intestines. My stomach area can feel very heavy. It is always worse after eating (best after sleep or rest/lying down). Sometimes it feels like there is gurgling or bubbling.

The particular night that the hernia first really hurt me was when I aggravated it…I was extremely dizzy that evening. Normally if I have any type of dizzyness, Ferrum Phos 6x takes care of it fairly quickly but it did not touch it at all so I suspect it was related to the hernia issue somehow.

One strange thing is that although my belly button does feel the burning type feeling…it does not feel hot so much as Cold sensations inside. Seems strange but it does? It definitely feels worse tonight than it has for a couple days though.

Follow Up one day after the remedy:

My husband and I think that the hernia itself looks better (possibly reduced some). It has not been very red or sore the last two days and seems to be a bit flatter. My stomach is upset again tonight though, same as above, trapped wind, feel distended and heavy, almost like I ate way too much…though yesterday it had felt much better.

Follow up 3 days after the remedy:

Yes certainly my belly button looks different, flatter and certainly softer. I think that is a great sign too. My husband said he was surprised to be able to see the difference like that.
My stomach upset is still bothering me, however, so I will update that. The same as I detailed above. I feel full and distended almost as soon as I start eating it seems. This afternoon I have also had some diarrhea. I can see my intestines spasming or rolling from the outside of my stomach very easily which is a bit strange. I feel a bit weak and a bit nauseated.

The following day: I just wanted to let you know that the stomach issue appears to have been viral. I seem to be feeling better today but my husband has the stomach upset now.

Follow up 6 days after the remedy:

My stomach upset seems to be feeling much much better! The rest is going well. I have had no more any pain associated with the hernia. The ‘hole’ that I could feel in my umbilical area has reduced to half the size. I am thrilled!

Analysis:

ABDOMEN; PAIN; General; umbilicus; region of (K571, G485)

ABDOMEN; PAIN; General; eating; agg.; after (K558, G475)

ABDOMEN; HERNIA; Umbilical (K552, G471) (Protrusion; Umbilicus)

ABDOMEN; PAIN; burning; umbilicus; region of (K573, G487)

ABDOMEN; PAIN; General; lying, while; agg. (K558, G476)

GENERALITIES; SLEEP; amel.; after (K1402, SII-599, G1156)

Discussion: I was also aware that she had not slept well for a long time (a month at least), with 3 children and constant visitors (family) staying with her. So she was looking after everyone except herself. She was doing all the housework and cooking, etc.

My differential choice was Plumbum or Cocculus.

Knowing the above history, Cocculus was the obvious choice. One dose of 30C resulted in reduction of the hernia to more than half its size with apposition of the muscles as well. She is also very sensitive to homeopathy and hence was given just one dry pill of Cocculus 30C.

Excerpt from the history: (S is 14 years old. Her mother had just died of cancer after suffering a long time.) I was talking to her today and she mentioned that she was having a lot of anxiety with no obvious reason, had headaches off and on, wanted to cry but couldn’t in front of anyone and a result of not crying her throat and eyes hurt. Basically a myriad of symptoms having no head or tail (at least to me). She felt jealousy from her younger brother (9 years) as he sometimes gets more attention than her.
She mentioned her headaches being continuous with no modalities. She was feeling lonely too.

(I asked a few specific clarifying questions as this history was given by her uncle who obtained it on the phone, long distance.)

Chilly or hot……She feels hot most of the time and likes winter more comparatively.
Effects of heat and sun…Heat has no effect on any symptoms
Any drowsiness….No drowsiness at all at any time of the day
Thirst….I feel very thirsty and like moderately cold water, very cold water causes headache for me
What is the anxiety feeling she has… She says that “I feel as if everyone hates me and I feel something strange happening in my heart (as if sinking) which makes me think that I’m being ignored.”
What happens if she’s alone or feels lonely…When I am alone I always think about how some people treat me
How is she with consolation…I don’t like consolation
Where is the headache..the headache is mostly in my forehead, especially above my right eyebrow.

Update after 2 days:

She took one dose of 30 two days ago and had quite an aggravation of all symptoms i.e. headache, anxiety, anger, jealousy. The aggravation has lasted approx. 2 days as of now.

Just talked to her and she told that headache aggravation is now reducing. Will talk to her in the evening to check the status of other symptoms and update you accordingly.

Update after 1 month:

Update on S, she is absolutely fine and hasn’t had any of the complaints for which she took Hyos 30c.

Analysis:

MIND; AILMENTS from; grief, sorrow, care (K51, SI-19, G40) (death)

Delusions deserted X with jealousy: bamb-a., bar-c., camph., chin., hyos., lach., lil-t., mag-c., ozone, plat., puls., sac-alb., stram.

HEAD PAIN; LOCALIZATION; Forehead; eyes; above; right (K159, G132)

MIND; GRIEF; jealousy, with

Discussion: With grief following death of a close family member, the obvious remedies (Ignatia, Nat Mur and Gels) come to mind and were in the repertorization. Hence I asked questions to help rule out those remedies as well as to find correct details of some symptoms. The important part of this grieving was that she felt lonely and felt everyone hated her. The other characteristic was that she felt jealous of her brother and felt she was not getting any attention! As always, I like to have the chief complaint covered with the remedy. This type of headache as well as the mental state was covered by 3 remedies: Lachesis, Hyoscyamus and Platina.

The last rubric: Grief with Jealousy – only one remedy was present – Hyoscyamus.
She received one dose of Hyos 30C.

About the author

Leela D'Souza

Leela D'Souza-Francisco, MD (Hom), CIH (Cardiology) is a Mumbai-based homeopathic professional whose experience includes intensive graduate medical training at India's leading homeopathic medical institution in Mumbai, completed in 1990. She completed her MD (Hom) from MUHS, Nashik in 2008 with a Dissertation entitled "Emergency Management in Homeopathy". She obtained a post graduate MSc (Homeopathy) degree from UCLAN, UK in 2009 with a Dissertation entitled "How Can We Develop Suitable Clinical Trials for Research in Classical Homeopathy". Her present interests include management of in-patients in homeopathic hospitals, and clinical research in classical homeopathy. She has been in practice for over 20 years and is online at www.homeopathy2health.com for the last 15 years. Presently she is Consulting Homeopathic Physician, with specialization in Cardiology at Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, Mumbai.
Visit Dr. Leela D'Souza at her website : http://www.homeopathy2health.com/member.htm
and contact her at: [email protected]

8 Comments

  • hi
    Dr. Leela,
    I’m thankful to you for your article on umbilical hernia. I’m also thankful for this site.
    raj

  • Dear Dr kindly refer to above case only after giving Hyos 30C. whether there was any recurrent hernia was reported or not please give further treatment detailed thanks

  • hi

    were can i purchase the Hyoscyamus, my husband has umbilical hernia and is overweight

    thank you

    • I think it’s best you see a homeopath. This is not something to self prescribe for.

  • Dear Doctor,

    I am saseedharan from kerala, I am 47 years old male suffering umbilical hernia since last one month, i wold like to know the treatment of above said hernia.my mob no is 9495751791.

    (in allopathic treatment doctor was advised to go surgery.)

    thanks and regards
    saseedharan c

  • I went to the ER these past two days, had a workup there because of severe pain measuring 8 between 1 and 10 in my abdominal area behind my belly button that detected by an abdominal CT scan an umbillical hernia revealing fat protrusion in the abdominal wall w/backed up bowels, also had blood tests with slightly elevated white blood cell count. The CT showed the umbillical hernia that has obviously been there for some years but has increased in size. I also have had a history of IBS or IBD showing inflammation of my intestines and had also taken much demerol, pherenol, ibuprofen, tylenol for migraines that only contributed to the IBD or IBS causing constipation from the usual spasmatic diarrhea i get that makes me run to the bathroom over anything i eat. Also had taken cholestyramine for the IBD that the said i ad. What’s now causing the distention and swelling of my belly and now constipation? I also had my gallbladder removed when i was 9, this going on with much family contention, (ie abandonment by my mother, feelings of loss, loneliness, anger at my mother, sexual abuse by my older brother, abandonment by my ex husband leaving me destitute, loss of my children recently who abandoned me, financial ruin, feeling destitute, despair, and recently loss of my father in the last 3 years prior to that physical and emotional abuse of my exhusband who left me destitute. How do i treat this? And how do i treat the hernia and constipation that is presenting?

    hi I 38 year old female with an umbillical hernia. Is it dangerous to leave it go without doing anything about it?”

  • Dear madam
    I have diagnosed that I have ubalical hernia,when I confirm with doctor,they said operation is only option in regards of this matter.but I have a strong faith in homeopathic ….so can you tell me that how I can get ride of this situation.and what kinds of Medicine you suggest me to take…

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