SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF HOMEOPATHY

- An Article in the Times of India by Dr. Siva P. Nanduri

Very often I get calls inquiring if homeopathy can cure cancer, diabetes, or spondylosis etc.   The callers invariably want to know how long it would take for them to find relief or be cured and whether there is a guaranteed cure - and they want to know these answers in a single telephone call!  These are people who have been suffering for years and have gone to every specialist in town finding little or no relief.  They typically don't ask the same questions of an allopathic doctor and they continue with their prescribed treatments unquestioningly for long periods of time before even thinking of approaching other systems.  And when they do, they expect instant results!

So what does homeopathy offer?

Homeopathy has exceptionally good remedies for autoimmune disorders, allergies, and the effects of occupational disorders, feminine disorders, disorders of growing children and elderly people.  The majority of acute problems in all age groups, including seasonal disorders, can be handled with homeopathic remedies effectively.
In cases such as those mentioned in the first paragraph, it offers a qualitative change in patients' lives.  People with cancer, after chemotherapy, radiation or surgery generally seek alternative medical help because they have become so weak with loss of appetite and vague pains.   Homeopathy in these cases offers much comfort and relief, and the palliative drugs used in homeopathy have no side effects.

Emergencies like acute abdominal complaints, i.e., acute appendicitis, twisted bowel, fractures and accidents, should first be treated surgically, as should congenital anomalies like harelip, or clubfoot.   However, the pain related to such problems can by reduced with homeopathic remedies.   Broken bones need to be set by the concerned surgeons but there are homeopathic remedies that can hasten the mending of the bones after surgery. In all mechanical injuries, after the surgeon has done his/her job the pains can be reduced.   The emergency medical department should first attend to cases of acute poisonings - suicidal, homicidal or accidental, but the chronic effects of exposure to toxins can be homeopathically handled.   Cases of non-healing ulcers in spite of skin grafting are very well cured by homeopathy and many an amputation can be avoided.  In nutritional disorders homeopathy has no role to play. Common sense tells us that the food that is deficient in essential nutrients should first be replenished with the required nutrients.

On the other hand, the effects of malabsorption in spite of a nutritionally balanced diet can be homeopathically helped.   It has been my observation that it is the people who can afford three square meals a day who are the ones who demand a tonic and supplements for their "weakness" when in fact all they require is exercise, a proper attitude and a change in life style.  People do not realize that excess of vitamin intake also causes problems of vague pains and malaise.  Iron preparations need to be taken on an empty stomach because acid media is necessary for absorption of iron.  An oral preparation of iron taken after food is of no use.

The scope of homeopathy is limited to all infections, allergies, autoimmune disorders, occupational disorders, gynecological, pediatric and geriatric disorders.  What is not amenable to therapy must be treated by surgery – this a homeopath should decide about and then act accordingly.  Where there have been gross and irreversible structural changes homeopathy offers effective palliative measures where the patient can lead a comfortable life.  The curability of a case depends on various factors such as age, the general condition of the patient, the nature of the disease, the seat and stage of the disease, the living situation and, very importantly, the attitude of the patient.  Homeopathy is no panacea but it is a misconception that homeopathy is effective only in chronic cases.

It is effective even in acute infectious disorders, intermittent diseases, intermittent fevers and many drug resistant disorders.  Good homeopaths refer their patients to specialists and make full use of the diagnostic tools.  Every branch of medicine has its own scope and limitation, and we should take the best from each of them without prejudice.  As Charaka, the ancient Ayurvedic physician said, 'That which cures is the medicine and the one who cures, a physician."

DO HOMEOPATHS PRY INTO PERSONAL AFFAIRS?

- An article in The Times of India by Dr. Siva P. Nanduri

Ms. S. was furious.   She yelled, "What do you mean by asking me about my periods? I came here for my cold and you are asking me about my periods!!"  It was not the first time I had encountered this reaction to my many questions, so I took the time to explain.  I told Ms. S. that since the cold was not acute or seasonal but was persisting throughout the year, this other information was useful to me in arriving at an effective homeopathic prescription.  In spite of my explanation she walked out of the consulting room swearing under her breath.

However Ms. S. came back some time later with Ms. K., an old patient who had originally referred her to me, Ms. S. profusely apologizing for her rude conduct.  She pleaded ignorance about the homeopathic interview, said that she had been assured by Ms. K. that it was a normal part of the homeopathic case taking, and that she was now prepared to answer all my questions.  Later Ms. S., when she became well, referred many patients to me, giving them instructions that they should answer all my questions without taking offense at the nature of the questions.

"Each one of us is a unique being confronting the world in our own way" Emerson said.  It is this belief that motivates the homeopathic physician in his/her approach to the patient.  The homeopath is looking for the patient's individualized reaction to the disease, and part of that inquiry may focus on changes in the patient's disposition or mood.  Hence the questions that may puzzle the patient because of the seeming unconnected ness to the problem at hand.  One Ms. M was saying, "You know, doctor, my son S, as long as he is feeling well, keeps to himself, he hardly socializes and is happiest when left all alone.  But as soon as he falls sick he wants somebody around him all the time and refuses to be left alone no matter how trivial or serious the complaint."  This fear of being alone and desire to be in constant company is an example of a changed disposition.

Some other examples of illness related changes in disposition: Ms. S says of her son "P is generally very cheerful and hardly cries, but even if he has a simple cold he sulks and cries all the time demanding attention."  Ms. L. says, "When K is down with fever he insists on having coffee, and when he is well he refuses coffee and asks for his regular milk."  Very often patients come to me having a received a diagnosis from a previous doctor, based on a battery of tests.  They tell me that they have migraines, diabetes, amoebiasis, sinusitis, kidney stones, arthritis etc., and want to know if homeopathy can help them.  For the homeopath, however, diagnosis alone in all cases is not enough to arrive at a prescription.  His/her questions will focus in an in-depth way on the patient's specific symptoms before prescribing a drug.  As most practicing physicians know, we do not find a textbook description of disorders in a majority of patients, and it is the person's individualized manifestation of an illness that guides homeopathic treatment.

The patient's relationship to food is important.  Some people tend to suffer from hunger headaches or a feeling of fullness of the abdomen.  Some, if they don't eat in time, may feel irritated or have pain in the chest, trembling and weakness and cannot stand being hungry while for others there is no difference.  People have different types of hunger, described as capricious, voracious, and/or canine, and even this can be of interest to the homeopath.  There may be an unusual craving or aversion to sweets, to meat or to some other food.  Some people have no appetite until they begin to eat or some may throw up if they just take that 'extra' helping.

These are the variations we find which are of utmost importance from a homeopath’s point of view and are to be reported.  Some people wake up with an urge to empty their bowels and must rush to the toilet as soon as they wake up - first thing to be attended to is the nature's call.  Others must have their morning cuppa or cigarette before their bowels move, and in certain others the bowel moves every time after food or drink.  There are people who go for days without any urge.  I had a patient, one Ms. K., who could only have a relieve herself when she heard the sound of running water and used to keep the tap open in the rest room.  It is curious symptoms such as these, which may provide a clue for homeopathic prescriptions.

Certain aspects of sleep are noteworthy, such as whether the person has the ability to sleep anywhere and anytime.  Also of interest is the quality of sleep - and whether it is refreshing or not.  These details give the attending homeopathic physician useful information about individual characteristics.
Even dreams are of interest, though it is sometimes difficult to get a straightforward answer from a patient in this regard - the stock answer is 'ordinary dreams'.  But the homeopathic physician may persist in pursuit of more details: what is the quality and content of the person's dreams? Dreams of snakes, of falling from a height, dreams about water, about daily events or dead relatives - all these may provide clues about the remedies that are indicated for that particular individual.  Individual characteristics are evident in the way people sweat too.  Some people sweat only on the tip of the nose or the upper lip, some sweat from the palms or scalp.  It may be a seasonal thing or a manifestation of tension.  Some people tend to sweat while eating no matter what the temperature of the food or environment; others sweat while sleeping or defecating.  The sweat may be watery or oily, it may be strong smelling, bitter smelling or offensive, it may or may not stain the clothes - all again individuating features.

In women menstrual symptoms are very important.  PMS is a very well known phenomenon.  Mere mention of PMT, however, does not convey anything, and the homeopathic physician may ask further questions to encourage the patient to elaborate.  A woman may experience PMS - mood swings, severe back pain, vomiting, headache or diarrhea before, during or after menses.  There may also be changes in appetite, bowel movements or sleep patterns before, during or after menses, all of which should be reported.
Anxiety and tension are a common phenomenon of the present age.  The manifestations of anxiety differ from person to person, however, and include becoming silent and uncommunicative, stuttering and stammering, having palpitations, trembling, giddiness, vomiting, diarrhea or profuse sweating.  Mere statements like, "I get excited or easily tensed or anxious," do not convey much - what form the tension takes should be reported.  One patient reported that she has menses when she is excited or under tension, in spite of the fact that her normal menses concluded 4 or 5 days ago.  Behaviors are important - characteristics such as taciturnity, being loquacious, being at ease with new people, new circumstances and new places are again very individual characteristics.

Some people lose their temper at the drop of a hat, while for some others the volcano may be boiling inside but never erupts.  Some people tend to brood over insults whether real or imagined.  Some forget the offense very easily while others are vindictive.  Some of these or all of these are the associative features of diseases, ranging from the common cold to cancer.  So the diagnosis plus these associative symptoms make a person unique with that disorder.  Information such as this can help a homeopath in selecting the drug that will help patients in all chronic cases.