Left Alone To Die Of Hunger
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 Jul / Aug VOL VIII NO 4.
Dr John D Rodrigues
'Nat-iod

This is the theme of not so popular remedy called Natrum-iodatum (Nat-iod).It has been used by very few Homeopaths, as it has hardly been discussed in the Materia Medica’s except by Clarke, albeit briefly in his Dictionary.

Common Indications:

1. Pathological conditions like hyperthyroidism, chronic bronchitis bronchial asthma, laryngitis, pharyngitis, heart ailments & syphilis.
2. Nat-iod presents with intense restlessness - paces from one place to another-a state similar to an Iodum condition.
3. They are in a situation where they have not received proper food and nutrition since childhood. Thus develops the fear of poverty, as they do not want to suffer again from lack of food, inadequate place for staying -congested house with many family members, sharing the minimum things they possess. Most graphically represented by the slums of Mumbai, where people stay below the poverty line, trying desperately to staying alive and making ends meet They do not even have a proper shelter to stay. Even the next meal is a constant worry and tension. Their uppermost fear is that they would die of hunger with no one to watch out for them.
4. Nat-iod patients feel that they have been denied their basic rights for survival in this world. But they do not complain nor fight over it, as seen in the case of Magnesium-Iodatum. Mag-iod people feel that they are orphaned and have been forsaken by the society . Hence they put up a protective brave front and fight for their survival. Whereas there is no aggression in the Nat-iod patients. They meekly accept their situation without trying to change it, except maybe brooding over it ,
   In short, they get the feeling of "I am left alone to die of hunger!"

Case :
A 22 yr. old male patient comes with the c /o repeated cough and cold, resulting in breath-lessness. Wheezing worse by change in climate, < cold drinks, < juicy fruits, < 5am, < hot weather, > open air & fresh air.
Besides the above, he also suffers from repeated episodes of sun headaches.
There was no significant past history or family history of any illnesses.

He has marked desires for eating, a voracious appetite, for different types of food like meat, cheese, butter, apples & bananas. Remains still hungry after eating. As a child he always remembers fighting for food with his brothers and sisters.
Thermals : HOT +++

Mentals & Life Situation: He is the 3rd in the family of 3 brothers & 2 sisters. His father was working in a garment mill. Due to some reason, there was a strike in the mill & later it closed down. His father was the only earning member; as a result there was severe financial problems in the family. At that time the patient was only 10 to 11 years old. He was a growing adolescent and his expectations were very high. He would compare himself with his other friends who were brought up in a better condition. Sometimes he was even deprived of his meal, but he had no complaints. He would sometime dream of dying in hunger, which showed his intense vulnerability and attachment to food. This appears like Iodum itself , where the patient is extremely restless with intense hunger. But compared to Iodum, Natrum-iod patient does not complain nor does he reveal to anyone about his condition and state at home and opts to suffer in silence. He was prescribed Nat-iod 1M

Follow-up

Patient was reported to be having occasional cold and cough, which completely disappeared after 2nd dose of Natrum- iodatum IM. No relapses for the last 5 years, The patient is enjoying good health.