Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Repertorizing H1N1 Symptoms



Credit/Source: Dr. Anil Singhal, MD. HD.

Dr. Hahnemann has mentioned guidelines for physicians to tackle any epidemic in his Organon of Medicine under the aphorisms 100-102:

In investigating the symptomatology of any epidemic or sporadic disease, it is NOT required to know whether something similar disease has appeared in the world before under the same name or any other name. Physician MUST examine every prevailing disease as if it were something new and unknown.

He SHOULD investigate it thoroughly for practicing medicine in a real and radical manner. He should NEVER substitute conjecture (guess or baseless opinion) for actual observations. He should NOT consider this new prevailing disease as if already whole or partially. He SHOULD examine this prevailing disease in all its phases.

Now, considering the guidelines given by Dr. Hahnemann – Inventor of Homoeopathy, I took all the symptoms (as mentioned by CDC) for further analysis.


Analysis of symptoms of hospitalized H1N1 patients


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of US had tabulated the symptomatology of H1N1 virus in human beings:



Fever (93%)
Cough (83%)
Shortness of breath (54%)
Fatigue/Weakness (40%)
Chills (37%)
Myalgias (36%)
Rhinorrhea (36%)
Sore Throat (31%)
Headache (31%)
Vomiting (29%)
Wheezing (24%)
Diarrhea (24%)



You can see in more than 50% of the cases Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath were marked. I would like to mention some Emergency Warning Signs here. If you become ill and experience any of the warning signs, seek emergency medical care at nearest government hospital.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough



Selection of Homeopathic Repertory


In Homeopathy, Repertory is a clinical applied tool, in short, it helps to analyse symptoms of a patient in a clinical setup. There are various homeopathic repertories available (like Boenninghausen’s Therapeutic Pocket Book, Boger’s Boenninghausen’s Characteristics and Repertory, Kent’s Repertory, and some newer repertories) based on certain logic, philosophies or guidelines. Each one is having specific scope and limitations.

Considering the general symptoms of the H1N1 Influenza as mentioned by CDC, I chose Kent’s Repertory to analyse all these symptoms. Kent’s Repertory is the most often used homeopathic repertory worldwide.

Rubrics of Kent’s Homeopathic Repertory pertaining to symptoms of hospitalized novel H1N1 patients: (in bracket total number of homeopathic medicines are mentioned – these number of homeopathic medicines have affinity to cure linked symptom)

Fever; HEAT in general (152)
Cough (238) – here I included homeopathic remedies of all time modalities
Respiration; DIFFICULT (Asthmatic) (259)
Generalities; WEAKNESS (309)
Chill; COLDNESS in general (177)
Extremity Pain; GENERAL (168)
Catarrh+Coryza (224) – for rhinorrhea, I included all the remedies belonging to catarrh and coryza in nose.
Throat; PAIN; Sorethroat (in general) (120)
Head Pain; GENERAL (258)
Stomach; VOMITING; General (177)
Respiration; WHEEZING (62)
Rectum; DIARRHOEA (214)

I observed that Ars. is ranking on top covering almost all the symptoms of H1N1 in highest grade.

Monday, November 9, 2009

University College London Hospitals: Homeopathy - Women's Clinic


Report from the clinic:

Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital Women’s Clinic, staffed exclusively by women doctors, was started by Dr Tessa Katz and Dr Ros McGregor in June 1993. It began in response to a need for a womancentred space for dealing with gynaecological and related disorders.


The Women’s Clinic aims to provide an empathetic space for women to discuss an integrated approach to treatment of gynaecological and related disorders and to treat these problems effectively and safely with homeopathic remedies.


The clinic has dealt successfully with a wide range of problems including:
* Cystitis
* Endometriosis
* Fibroids/ovarian cysts
* Infertility
* Menopausal symptoms
* Menstrual problems
* Pregnancy-related symptoms
* Pre-menstrual symptoms
* Thrush
* Psycho sexual problems including sexual abuse Treatment

Homeopathic remedies are used within the clinics and patients may also be referred for other services within the hospital such as dietary advice and autogenic training (a form of stress management therapy).

Success rate:

This varies with the disorders treated, but approximately 70% of our patients feel a definite improvement, 25% have some improvement of their symptoms and only 5% do not seem to respond to homeopathic treatment.
Usually a response is noticeable after the first or second consultation. When it is advisable to remain on conventional treatment, homeopathic remedies can be used alongside other forms of treatment.

Amazing!