5/21/2018 Significance of Understanding Allopathic Drug History for Homoeopathic Prescribing

1/6

SIGNIFICANCE OF UNDERSTANDING ALLOPATHICDRUG HISTORY FOR HOMOEOPATHIC PRESCRIBING

Dr. Anju Jethani M.D. (HOM.)Senior Medical Officer (Homoeopathy), Medical Center, High Court of Delhi,

Dte. of ISM & Homoeopathy, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Organon of Medicine, NHMC & Hospital,

Govt. of NCT of Delhi.

E-MAIL: dranjujethani@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: In context of modern medicine, it is important to appreciate oneimportant avenue of causation i.e. allopathic drug reactions. The onslaught of

allopathic medication in form of Galenical polypharmacy has given rise to thegrowing need to evaluate the drug history of each patient during caseperceiving. This aspect of case analysis has been found useful in clinical caseswhere it served as guiding key to prescribing.

KEY WORDS:Drug history, Concept of causation, Cur, Potentisation

Every effect has an underlying causation and appreciating the fundamental

concept of causation is essential in the study of life sciences. Each and everystream of medical science dealing with therapeutic interventional approach hasto be very unambiguous in its understanding of cause-effect axis. In fact,perception of the causes of disease is important in health not only forprevention, but also application of appropriate therapeutic regimen.

Applying this philosophy to homoeopathic system of therapeutics, SamuelHahnemann gave due consideration to the concept of causation, as can bedeciphered from 5 of his magnum opus work Organon of Art of Healing wherehe precisely states that:

Useful to the physician in assisting him to cure are the particulars of the mostprobable exciting causeof the acute disease, as also the most significant points inthe whole history of the chronic disease, to enable him to discover itsfundamentalcause, which is generally due to a chronic miasm 1

5/21/2018 Significance of Understanding Allopathic Drug History for Homoeopathic Prescribing

2/6

In fact, it is for this reason that most faithful follower and ardent disciple ofHahnemann, Boenninghausenintroduced a case taking schemata that includedthe seven aspects most important to the homoeopath when forming a completesymptom image in which CURor perceptible etiological aspect of illness was

one of the chief factor.2

In the backdrop of this concept of causation and in context of modern medicine,it is important to appreciate one important avenue of causation i.e. allopathicdrug reactions.Hahnemann has extolled the significance of perceiving the effectsof allopathic drugging in 207 as:

When the above information has been gained, it still remains for thehomoeopathic physician to ascertain what kinds of allopathic treatment had upto that date been adopted for the chronic disease, what perturbing medicines had

been chiefly and most frequently employed, also what mineral baths had beenused and what effects these had produced, in order to understand in somemeasure the degeneration of the disease from its original state, and, wherepossible, to correct in part these pernicious artificial operations, or to enable him

to avoid the employment of medicines that have already been improperly used.3

Homoeopaths have studied reactions to allopathic drugs for many years anddocumented a iatrogenic phenomenon called the suppression syndrome. Thesuppression syndrome goes far beyond the normal concept of "side-effects" of

allopathic mediations and records the acute, latent and chronic states caused bythis form of unskillful medical intervention. This theory forms a fundamentalpart of homeopathic philosophy and has been empirically confirmed many timesin practice. This is a deep study that is an integral part of constitutionalhomeopathy. We need to understand that long term employment of crudemedicines play a significant role in distorting the natural manifestation ofsickness and are capable of creating an impeccable hurdle in the path of cure. Insuch a circumstance, we need to heed to the following esteemed advice ofSarabhai Kapadiawho writes:

Previous drugging is an important contribution towards alteration in orsuppression of disease expression; complexes formed by their action oftenbecome a hindrance which must be removed, either by a suitable antidote or itsown preparation in potentised form. 4In his little masterpiece A Compend of the Principles of Homoeopathy forStudents in Medicine, Garthe Boerickewhile describing the general suggestionsfor the treatment of Chronic Diseases has very rightly remarked that we must

5/21/2018 Significance of Understanding Allopathic Drug History for Homoeopathic Prescribing

3/6

carefully consider whether the symptoms and signs present might not beattributed to the effect of previous drugs and medical treatment and if so, wemust be guided accordingly. 5

In this reference, we should carefully glance through the writings of Dr. D.M.Foubister and Dr. P. Sankaran who have done much work in relation to theprescribing for drug-induced disease condition by the use of potentisedpreparation of the culprit drug.

In fact, a concise, yet fantastic, case of D.M. Foubister in this regard wouldhighlight the purpose of foregoing discussionA boy of fourteen was said by his teachers to be intelligent but somehow couldnot use his brain. His mother had been taking pethidine during pregnancy onaccount of osteo-myelitis. The boy was given Pethidine 30 C and his ability to

study shot up. 6

In their seminal books The Mirage of Health and The Medical Nemesis; theauthors, Rene Dubosand Ivan Illrichhave respectively expressed concern aboutthe conventional medicines ability to deal with various types of diseases andstrongly doubt the effectiveness of their drug therapy. The work of E.W. Martin,Hazards of Medication, is also a wonderful exposition on the repercussions ofallopathic drugging. In fact, the vast literature and the ever-increasing evidenceon this subject can eat into pages and pages of any literary work.

To elaborate upon this subject matter, let us focus upon the effects of anaesthesiain longitudinal study of the patients. In fact, anaesthesia is one of those medicaldiscovery that has received immense respect because its long term complicationsare usually not found even in the works of most of its critics. However, fromhomoeopathic perspective, we do appreciate that in some cases, the damagingeffect of anaesthesia may hamper a healthy flow of life. In this regard, Dr. D.M.Foubisterin his article The Constitutional Effects of Anaesthesiawrites:

A routine enquiry into the anaesthetic history of patients during the past years

and attempts to antidote by giving the anaesthetic drug in potency have beenrewarding. Modern anaesthesia is complex and it may be impossible to find outwhich of the drugs employed is at fault. Not infrequently, however, there is aclear cut history of patients being unduly upset by chloroform, ether or nitrousoxide. The most definite picture which has emerged from the study is that ofchloroform, an account of which is to be found in Clarks Dictionary, HeringsGuiding Symptoms and elsewhere in the Homoeopathic Materia Medica. 7

5/21/2018 Significance of Understanding Allopathic Drug History for Homoeopathic Prescribing

4/6

In the same article Dr. D.M. Foubister has narrated several interesting caseswhere the presenting totality failed and the prescribing knot was openedthrough the anaesthetic history of patients. I would like to highlight one such

case in order to underscore my point of view.

A woman of 70 years complained of recurrent bouts of flatulent dyspepsiaassociated with discomfort under the right scapula. At the age of 67, she hadbeen operated on for gallstones, which were removed, but not the gall bladder.After a stormy post-operative period complicated by pulmonary embolus, thepatient remained weak and her flatulent attacks persisted. Chelidonium 3X and6X was an effective remedy to relieve flatulence. Her constitutional remedyseemed to be Sepia and this was given with some benefit, but not as much asmight have been expected. Enquiry into the anaesthetic history revealed that she

had six previous operations, all under chloroform, which upset her considerably;she was always violently sick afterwards. Chloroform 30c was given, which wasfollowed by remarkable improvement in the patients appearance and generalhealth and comparative freedom from attacks for six months. An interestingfeature was that her perspiration, which left brown stains, became clear soonafter Chloroform was given. There was a slight relapse after six months andChloroform 100c was given. This was followed by a cold and epigastric pain fortwo days and then further improvement.7

In light of foregoing discussion, I would like to quote three cases from my ownclinical experience that would shed light on the fact as to how history ofallopathic drugging can open the magical door in search of similimum.

A 24 year old patient complained of itching erythematous macules on thebutterfly area of face since approximately 3 months. The itching was followed byburning >: cold water application. He also complained of hair loss and occasionalmood swings. With no further clue in the presenting totality of patient, theanamnesis of case was undertaken. The patient revealed, though reluctantly, that

he had started taking muscle building supplements sometime prior to onset ofpresenting complaint (presumably anabolic steroids) from local gym instructor.Keeping in view the presenting complaints and its correlation with testosteroneeffect, the patient was prescribed Adrenal cortex 30 (TDS X 3 days). The resultwas magical and macules almost immediately got better with no need forfurther repetition.

5/21/2018 Significance of Understanding Allopathic Drug History for Homoeopathic Prescribing

5/6

Similarly, a 31 year old primigravida complained of severe pain in mid-abdomen, especially around the umbilicus. The pain was cramping, paroxysmalin nature and accompanied by increased thirst. The evolutionary study revealedthat patient had suffered from severe infected uterine fibroid almost immediately

after delivery which resulted in excruciating colicky pains in lower abdomen. Inorder to postpone surgery and keeping in view extreme severity of pain, she hadbeen administered morphine at regular intervals. This history of narcotic intakecoupled with concomitance of thirst during pain gave me clue to prescribeChamomilla 200, in dissolved doses with marked resultant improvement inclinical condition of the patient.

A 21 year old male patient developed sensation of internal trembling since 3 yrs.He also complained of undue heaviness tiredness and malaise since 3 years. Theonset of complaint was traced since prolonged penicillin intake for complain of

urethral discharge and burning urination (?gonorrhoea). With no other clue forprescribing and after failure of prescription of Gelsemium in centesimal potency,patient was prescribed Penicillin 200, 3 doses at 12 hourly interval withwonderful results.

The above clinical case studies aptly underscore the importance of appreciatingdrug history as an important avenue of prescribing.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.

Hahnemann, Samuel. Organon of Medicine, Translated from 5th

editionwith an appendix by R.E. Dudgeon; with Additions & Alterations as per

Sixth edition translated by William Boericke, B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd.,

New Delhi.

2. Boenninghausen, C.M.F. von. The Lesser Writings of C.M.F. von

Boenninghausen, Compiled by T.L .Bradford, B. Jain Publishers (Pvt.)

Ltd., New Delhi.

3. Hahnemann, Samuel.Organon of Medicine, 6th edition, Translated with

Preface by William Boericke, B. Jain Publishers (Pvt.) Ltd., New Delhi.

5/21/2018 Significance of Understanding Allopathic Drug History for Homoeopathic Prescribing

6/6

4. Kapadia, Sarabhai (2000). Constitutional and Miasmatic Basis of

Homoeopathic Prescribing, Symposium by I.C.R., Institute of Clinical

Research, Mumbai.

5.

Boericke, Garthe. A Compend of the Principles of Homoeopathy for

Students in Medicine, B. Jain Publishers (Pvt.) Ltd., New Delhi.

6.

Foubister, D.M. Significance of Past History in Homoeopathic Practice, B.

Jain Publishers (Pvt.) Ltd., New Delhi.

7. Foubister, D.M. (1989). Tutorials on Homoeopathy, 1st edition,

Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd., England.