QUATERLY HOMOEOPATHIC DIGEST
VOL XV, No 3 & 4 1998
Published by Dr K S Srinivasan, Chennai

Volumes 3 & 4 contain a wealth of information covering 155 pages- a stupendous effort on the part of Dr K Srinivasan to prepare, condense and classify to give us the best of foreign languages journals. Thus a cross section of Homoeopathic practice throughout the world is made available to the reader. Some important tips and cases are briefly listed below:

1. Verbascum-thapsus - Sensitive; words and sounds wound; releases hidden fears. A feeling as if dignity of the person is ridiculed like Staph. Hatred is mild or absent and there is no desire for vengeance /revenge The patient has difficulty in expressing his disagreement and ambivalent feelings. Dr Zala Michel illustrates these with three cases where this remedy cured.
2. Carcinosin: The same author has presented a study of this remedy with cases. Some symptoms, which the cases brought out, were;
   1. very serious child, who has rapidly matured - either extraordinarily brilliant or retarded.
   2. Usual café au lait spots and nevi.
   3. F/H cancer, leukemia, diabetes or TB.
   4. No diseases during infancy or after puberty; serious pulmonary affection before 3 months.
   5. Rigid education or suppression of emotions, rebellious since childhood.
   6. Anticipatory anxiety. Fear of failing in exams or fear of having cancer.
   7. Obsessive , washes hands frequently.
   8. Sad but cannot cry; < consolation < gentle words.
   9. Insomnia.
   10. Changing, moving, contradictory and alternative symptoms.
   
   
   
3. Sepia - Constipation while travelling is a characteristic and frequent, so far unknown symptom of this remedy.
   
   
4. Vanadium - Dr R Ullmann discusses a case of a 30-yr old woman, who came for treatment of Bulimia. She had a strong need for achievement and she was hard on herself. Though strikingly attractive, she never felt satisfied with her weight or appearance. Despite being good at work, she had a constant fear of being fired and pushed herself to arrive at the work place ahead of others. Vanadium, based on the drug picture of Dr Jan Scholten, helped.
   
   
5. ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER in children: such cases are increasing because of the stresses of the modern competitive world. Goodman-Derrick says that in all these cases, it is easier to work, if we understand the parents, their beliefs and emotional needs as well. ADD is the child's response to too little or too much parental control, chaos in the family or severe disturbances between the parents. The child's behaviour is a response to this stress. By acting out and drawing attention to himself, he will bring his quarrelling parents together, who have now to focus on the problem child.
   
   
6. Dr Reichenberg-Ullmann Judyth gives 10 tips for treating this disorder
   1. To prepare the parents and emphasize that it may take a long period to correct.
   2. Give the parents space to speak with you privately.
   3. Use whatever methods to establish rapport with the child.
   4. Try as much as possible to experience the child's state.
   5. Always talk about the pregnancy and problems if any, to identify the cause.
   6. The child's similarity to one or both parents.
   7. Gather objective feedback from teachers, counselors etc.
   8. Question and confirm the diagnosis.
   9. Care to be taken to discontinue the allopathic medicines; if the medicines are effective in controlling a difficult child it is wise to continue them till the appropriate Homoeopathic remedy is found.
   10. Give the parents the support they need.
   
   
   
7. Lac-Caninum This remedy cured a 43-year-old woman, who consulted the Homoeopath for anorexia bulimia. She said "I am very anxious and depressed. At work I have often to go to the toilet in order to weep for no reason. I am scared of everything. I am hurried and very irresolute. I cannot even choose a pair of shoes. I am always scared that I will commit mistake. I cannot tolerate myself and hate myself the most in this world."These fit in fully with the remedy picture- antagonism with herself; contemptuous of self. Delusion falling to pieces. Incapable of accomplishing her work or succeeding.
   
   
8. The right remedy at the right time both in acute and chronic conditions Dr Vassilis Ghegas gives the following tips in this regard: Treat what is in front of view; we must start the therapy with the remedy presenting at the moment the patient comes in. The first prescription is the most important and the second prescription is the most difficult.
   1. Situations inappropriate for acute remedies
      • No acute remedy in the first interview.
      • No acute remedy when the patient's condition belongs to a systemic disease. No acute for epilepsy.
      • No acute for Skin disorders.
      • No acute when one comes with acute bronchitis or when the patient is on antibiotics.

• You can give an acute remedy after an injury, after severe trauma- either emotional or physical injury.
• In very severe pathology, terminal cases and AIDS.
• For a patient who comes after chemotherapy or cancer surgery.

9. Rumex: Dr Filip Degroote says that in his experience Rumex is a remedy which dreams the most along with Mag-mur These two are very sensitive to stress and to suppression of emotions.

10. Tip: Chief symptoms of Stramonium fever are sudden onset, high fever, redness of face, cold extremities, no pain, good appetite. Good general health, sometimes excitement and leucorrhoea.

11. Tip: Hellebores: Meningitis, encephalitis, septicaemia, epilepsy, autism, learning difficulties and acute psychosis of young women. One might think of this remedy in cases of neurological or mental regression. It allows patients who have least interest in themselves, in others and life itself to enjoy life again.
    
    
12. Tip: Rajan Sankaran, in a London seminar, said that we must keep searching and looking until the patient reveals that thing which is most peculiar, until we have reached the end of their feelings about it. Then the patient will reveal his or her innermost problem. He pointed out cases, each of which was solved by finding that one rubric that most clearly described the patient's state.
    He said in another seminar: Do not be a routinist. Listen carefully; anything can come up. Look at the symptoms in an open way. Do not throw away what you do not understand.. Look especially for what does not fit in the case before you prescribe. It must all fit."

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