Scientific Research

Is Psorinum of Value in Modern Homeopathy?

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The authors conduct a small scale study to identify symptoms which may be covered by Psorinum.

– Homoepathic Indications in a Psorinum-Treated Group of Patients –

Introduction

Psorinum is an historic homeopathic remedy which was successfully employed in the beginning of homeopathy’s evolution. (1,2). It was an excellent antipsoric remedy, when the psora miasm was clear and dominant. In the last years new homeopathic theories have been proposed and the different experiences of various authors (3, 4, 5, 6 ) have surely enriched homeopathic knowledge. The analysis of the elements of the periodic table in a homeopathic view (3) has allowed us to use a lot of unknown remedies (4). This method has gained worldwide consent. The remedy families theory (5,6) is becoming a cornerstone in homeopathic prescription. Consequently one should ask if there is still a place for Nosodes, such as the remedy Psorinum, which recalls a little bit of old homeopathy and/or of homeopathic prescriptions which are based mainly on local symptoms or partial symptoms and are strongly attached to the pathologic nucleus of the remedy. Recent experiences seem to extend the homeopathic indication for the remedy Psorinum ( 7 ).

In this article we summarize our experience using Psorinum, with special emphasis on underscoring the main aspects which lead to Psorinum’s prescription, in the light of historic and modern homeopathy.

Materials and Methods

Fig. 1 Main Pathologies observed in 24 patients treated with Psorinum.

Twenty four patients were treated at the homeopathic outpatient clinic, at the Luigi Sacco University Hospital of Milan, Italy according to classical homeopathy. There were 15 females and 9 males with an average age of 48.1 years (range 26 to 70 years). They were followed for a mean period of 18 months ( range 12 to 37 months ).

The diseases which occasioned the visits were the following : skin disease in 9 (37.5 %), headache in 2 (8 %), anxious-depressive syndrome in 3 (12.5 %), gastrointestinal diseases in 4 (17 % ), and others in 6 (25 %: asthma 2, recurrent throat inflammations 2 , recurrent cystitis 1 , back cervical pain 1 ) . Fig.1

Skin diseases were diffuse urticaroid rash (one patient), alopecia aerate (one), diffuse seborrhoeic dermatitis (one), Lichen simplex (one), guttate psoriasis (one), Phempigoide bollosum (one), Acne vulgaris (two) patients, chronic itching of the external meatus ( one).

Sixteen patients out 24 ( 67 % ) used conventional therapy. In detail, 7 patients were taking corticosteroids, 2 used FANS,1 pentasa, 3 antidepressive drugs, 1 antipertensive therapy and 2 local lotions. Associated pathologies were chronic head pain in 7 patients (27 %), recurrent back pain in 8 patients (30 %), skin diseases in 10 patients (46 % ), mental problems ( anxiety and or depression ) in 12 ( 50 %).

We looked for common traits in all the patients according to the homeopathic prescription of Psorinum. Relevant coldness was found in all the cases (100% ). Back pain, often associated with curvature of spine and sciatalgic/neuralgic crisis of pain, was observed in 9 patients (32 %). Head pain was another common symptom in the patients. This symptom was considered only if it was important and recurrent. Overall, 8 patients were affected by headache ( 30% ). Three of these patients developed headache after a therapy to treat skin diseases ( Repertory: head pain from suppressed skin eruptions ).

Moreover a significant number (15/24, 70 % ) of patients presented with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Concerning the quality of the mental symptoms, we found irritability in 8 cases (30 % ), self deprecation in 10 patients (46 %), anxiety for business and fear of poverty in 7 cases ( 27 % ), irresolution in 4 (17 % ), anxiety for his health in 5 ( 22 % ), fear of failure and anxiety for future in 8 (30% ).

Psorinum was the only prescription in 18 patients, while in the other six it was the second prescription.

The results of the homeopathic treatment were classified at the end of follow up as follows. To simplify the results and to quantify them, a Score was prepared. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (8) was used to quantify the pain. At the physical level, the score took into account the initial localization of the disease (i.e. the skin), the number of monthly recurrences (i.e. Cephalea) and the quality of symptoms ( i.e. Itching ). The score was generated to evaluate the therapeutic effects: Score W= Worse (worsened after homeopathic treatment), I= Invaried (no benefit from homeopathic prescription), SI= Slight Improvement ( i.e. less than fifty percent of the original VAS, or an improvement which did not last with time), GI = Great Improvement (improvement more than 50%), H= Healed (patients who fully benefit from their therapy and had an objective and subjective remission of symptoms and pathology). At the end of the evaluation we considered the mental and physical symptoms.

Results

Only one patient was lost during the follow up (4.7 %). According to the above mentioned score, out of the remaining 23 patients, 1 remained Invaried ( Score I, 4 % ), 5 had a discrete improvement ( SI, 22 % ), 12 had a great improvement ( GI, 52 % ) and 5 were completely healed ( H, 22 % ). 96 % of the patients, therefore, responded positively to the homeopathic remedy and 74 % showed an evident and important improvement toward the complete disappearance of the symptoms.

Conclusions

In the present series Psorinum was not prescribed as a symptomatic remedy, but a total symptoms’ collection was made according to the classical method of unicist homeopathic diagnosis. However, the strong nucleus of Psorinum versus skin diseases has been taken into account for the remedy choice (9,10,11 ). 19/24 patients (79 %) complained of skin problems as the main pathological problem or secondary one. As regarding the other pathologies we found that back pain and recurrent head pain were very common in Psorinum patients. On the other hand, we never encountered the classical picture reported as typical of Psorinum the “He feels better the day before the disease”.

Moreover we would emphasize that there were strong common traits among the present series of patients on the mental sphere (3). Whatever the predominant pathology was, anxiety and depression were reported in 15/24 ( 62.5%) of patients in the present series. In particular, among the mental symptoms we found that the classical keynotes of Psorinum were represented in the present series of Psorinum cases.This finding is impressive and highlights the contribution of Psorinum to mental disturbances ( 10,12 ).

Recent articles underscore the role of Psorinum in treating cancer patients (7).

We think Psorinum is a powerful homeopathic remedy when indicated for symptoms regarding the skin, for back pain, headache and also for many mental issues. For example in a patient with skin problems, coldness, back pain or headache and irresolution and or anxiety for the future (or other above mentioned mental symptoms ) Psorinum should guarantee a good general response.

Nosodes are very useful in Homeopathy (13,14 ). We think Psorinum should not be prescribed only for psora or the psoric diathesis or as a miasmatic prescription. Similar to any other remedy, it is important to consider any patient as a unique case, to collect all the symptoms, and to take into account the classical keynotes of the remedy. On these bases, it will be possible to obtain an appropriate and strong action, and in the end, a good outcome.

Bibliography

  1. Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine ( 6th edn., translated by William Boericke MD) New Delhi: B.Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd., reprint edition 1997.

  2. T.F.Allen. HandBook of Materia Medica and Homoepathic therapeutics. 2001 reprint Edition , B.Jain Publishers LTD, New Delhi.

  3. Scholten J. Homephaty and the Elements. IV English edition, 2004, Stichting Alonnissos Publisher, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

  4. Sankaran R. The evolution of my practice. Homoepathic Links 2007, 20, 11-14.

  5. Harry van der Zee, Uta Santos-Konig on Massimo Mangialavori. Homoepathic Links, 2007,20, 119-120.

  6. Mangialavori M. Identifyng with society. A case of Kali Carbonicum.Homoepathic Links, 2005, 18, 190-196.

  7. Jonas J. Psora, Psorinum, Cancer. Hpathy Ezine, January 2012. https://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/psora-psorinum-cancer/

  8. Philip BK. Parametric statistics for evaluation of the Visual Analogue Scale. Anesth Analg 1990, 71: 710.

  1. S.Piraneo, J.Maier, F.Pagano. Spigelia Anthelmia Cases. Homeopathy.com, 2010, August 13. https://hpathy.com/clinical-cases/spigelia-anthelmia-cases/.

  2. Vermeulen F. Prisma. The Arcana of Materia Medica Illuminated. 2002, Emyriss bv Publishers, Haarlem, The Netherlands.

  3. Mohan G.R. and Anandhi K.S. Efficacy of homeopathic drugs in dermatitis of atopic diathesis. Homeopathic Links 2003, 16, 257-262.

  4. Schlingensiepen-Brysch I. The subconscious and the source. Systematic Homeopathy: an unexpected approximation to the mystery of the soul. Homoepathic Links 2006, 19, 146-150.

  5. Jutta Gnaiger-Rathmanner and Mirjam Bohler. Medorrhinum- a remedy for modern children. Homoepathic Links, 2003, 16, 105-108.

About the author

Piraneo Salvatore

Dr. Salvatore Piraneo graduated from the Univ. of Milan School of Medicine in 1981 and did a specialization in general surgery. Since 1982 he has worked in University Hospital in Milan. Dr. Piraneo graduated as a homeopath in July 2000 (Dr Roberto Petrucci School of Homeopathy - Milan), Since 2001 he has run a Homeopathic Surgery in University Hospital in Milan. He also works in a hospital where he is responsible for several medical trials in homeopathy. Dr. Piraneo has authored numerous articles on homeopathy and his interests include phytotherapy and Bach Flower remedies.

About the author

Janette Maier

Janette Maier is a Professor of General Pathology, University of Milan.

8 Comments

  • Dear readers
    I read this article with great interest. In order to evaluate this research, we would need to know which potency was used, and who produced the remedy.
    To place any value on this observation, it needs to be established, that the remedy used is identical with the remedy the proving was made with, ie. Hahnemann / Jahr’s source.
    Maybe the author would like to remedy this shortcoming.

    Hans Weitbrecht
    HOMEOPATH

    • We always use Korsakoviane potencies in drops, usually starting from MK and ascending, if request from patient and disease, until CMK.
      We usually recommend to the patient to buy Boiron’s remedies or Unda’s remedies
      Best regards
      SP

  • Hahnemann introduced the classification of diseases as mentioned in § 72 up to 82 in “Organon of medicine”, where he subdivided the chronic diseases in Miasmatic, iatrogenic and lifestyle.
    If you accept the introduction of miasms in homeopathy by Hahnemann and the way he treated them, then you must conclude that curing these deep seated chronic illnesses is only possible by using nosodes.

    • Dear Doctor,
      We prescribed Psorinum not as a merely miasmatic prescription, but, in all the cases, over the totally of patient’s symptoms.
      Moreover, checking back the overall series of patients we has noted some common charactheristics between our patients: those charactheristics regarding to the physical aspect and the mental one.
      Best regards
      SP

  • DEAR DR,
    AS PER YOUR PROVING WE CAN SAFELY PRESCRIBE A PATIENT WHO COMES FOR ANY SKIN DISEASE, BACK PAIN AND MENTAL DISORDER OR HEAD ACH. I HAVE USED ONLY PSORINUM 1M IN SKIN DISEASE AND FETID ODOR IN FLATUS, STOOL, DISCHARGE FROM NOSE, EXPECTORATION,SMELL FROM MOUTH ETC.
    THANKS
    DR SHEKHAR

    • Dear Dr,
      I simply meant that Psorinum may be an excellent homeopathic remedy, to be considered when you have a patient with such physical and mental charactheristics. I such a circumstancies , given Psorinum, the healing ‘s percentages will be considerables.
      Best
      SP

  • I notice that all cases of disturbed mental health that I see (my specialty), there is always a history of skin disorder and digestive disorder. Usually the skin disorder has been repressed and then headache, joint pain, or other musculoskeletal pain ensues as the problem goes deeper.

  • coldness means low vital force,low temperature,being non professional but ace reader, carcinoma cases psorinum 6x they say is used to avoid hypothermia.kindly advise high potency effect on thermal condition.

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