Cases From Our Rich Heritage
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 Nov / Dec VOL VIII NO 6.
Compiled by :
T K Kasiviswanathan
'Nat-m / Nat-m / Nat-m / Nat-sulp / Nat-sulp

Case 1
A patient once consulted Dr S R Phatak for a chronic, non-malignant ulcer of the tongue. When he tried to palpate it, patient said, "Do not touch it. Touching causes too much pain". Normally one would have inferred this as aggravation from touch. But Dr Phatak immediately asked, "How do you eat?" The patient said that surprisingly he did not get any pain while eating. Dr Phatak took this as a contradictory modality and taking ulcer-tongue, he prescribed Natrum-mur, which cured in no time.
Dr Phatak as quoted by Dr Rajan Sankaran

Case 2
10 year old Master S A, suffered from hoarseness of voice for which his parents consulted Dr Rajan Sankaran. They attributed this to the boy’s constant shouting; it was aggravated in the evening and after speaking. On examination an ENT surgeon noticed three vocal nodules and suggested surgery. The parents wanted to know whether Homoeopathy could cure this condition.

The boy had no other symptoms of importance. He was thin, emaciated with an above average appetite. On history taking it was found that his milestones were normal except that he began talking very late - at 2 ½ years. The boy was intelligent and active. Taking the symptoms - increased, ravenous appetite, emaciation with (KR pg 479) and Talk, late learning to (KR pg 86), the remedy which emerged was Natrum-mur. The patient was given Natrum-mur 30, 200 and later 1M in repeated doses. The hoarseness subsided in 3 months. The ENT examination revealed that two of the nodules had disappeared and the third had shrunk in size. The treatment was continued and after another 3 months the boy developed boils all over the body. On inquiry, it was revealed that there was no history of skin troubles for the boy. However, his mother said that during her pregnancy she had developed boils on her body and also had gestational diabetes. The eruptions came out in the boy with a cure of the nodules demonstrating a peculiar application of the Hering’s law.

Rajan Sankaran says that this case demonstrated the following points:-
It is the most prominent remedy for late learning to talk and in late teething. It is also a penetrating remedy to remove an apparent surgical condition. It has got effects of bringing out suppressed eruptions. This case also demonstrates the value of constitutional treatment. 
Dr Rajan Sankaran from Links

Case 3
Natrum-mur is a major remedy for treatment of malarial fevers. Based on his 50 years of experience with this remedy in treating malaria, Dr William B Griggs gives the following indications for the use of this remedy in malarial fevers. Patient dreads the chill; chill usually begins at 10-11 am with thirst and is long and severe, beginning in the fingers, feet, over small of the back, with blue lips and nails. The headache often makes the patient unconscious; there are nausea, vomiting and bone pains. Heat stage has more thirst.

Sweat and thirst: continued thirst and sweat is profuse, sour and gradually ameliorating all pains except headache; drinking refreshes the patient.

Master J R aged 4 ½ years, who was under the Homoeopathic treatment of Dr Griggs shifted to West Virginia (USA). Within a few months of stay there, the boy began to suffer from a vague type of fever, which was diagnosed as malaria and was treated by allopathy. He was not better, had to be hospitalized and given blood transfusions. His mother in desperation brought him over to Dr Griggs for treatment.

The history revealed that the boy had continued attack of chills and fever for 14 months and as a result he was much emaciated and very weak and unable to sit up. As the doctor found no other symptoms, he gave initially a few doses of Sulph. The boy then developed a severe chill of the type he suffered at the other place. It began at 10.30 AM and he was crying with severe headache, which was followed by fever and intense thirst and at about 4 PM he began to sweat and he felt better. Doctor gave Sac-lac. He had a mild attack the next day but developed a severe chill at 11 AM the following day and a perfect paroxysm developed and did not cease till 5PM. The doctor did not interfere with this symptom, as he wanted to get a perfect picture of the case. It was observed that the hard chill started at 11AM with great thirst, which continued through all stages; the heat was characterized by the most violent headache with general aching. This aching was relieved by the profuse perspiration. After the paroxysm, Dr Griggs gave the boy Natrum-mur 500, every 3 hours and the medicine was stopped after 8 doses. He did not have any more paroxysms subsequently and became well. He remained well even after he went back to West Virginia with his mother to live with his father.
Dr Griggs

Case 4
A young man was hurled from a moving fire engine and was struck on his head. He started having fits for 5-6 months after that accident. Allopathic treatment did not help. He became irritable and wanted to die. His fits drove him to distraction. When he came to Dr Kent’s clinic, he staggered and his eyes were bloodshot; he could hardly see out of them and he wore a shade over them as he had photophobia. He had constant pain in his head along with irritability. There was nothing in his fits indicative of a remedy. His history revealed that he had injured the back of his head by the fall. Dr Kent says, " I found that Natrum-sulph was the best indicated remedy for injuries about the head and I have been in the habit of giving it". So it was given and the first dose of the medicine cured the young man and he did not have any head pain since, nor any fit. Dr Kent advises that "if you will just remember the chronic effects from injuries upon the skull - not fractures, but simple concussions that have resulted from a considerable shock and injuries without organic affections - then Nat-sulph should be your first remedy".
Dr J T Kent

Case 5
A patient may say that "if only you knew what restraint I have to use to keep from shooting myself you would appreciate my condition." It is attended with wildness and irritability. Dr Kent says that no other remedy has that symptom like Natrum-sulph. This wonderful restraint to prevent doing oneself bodily harm is characteristic of Nat-sulph. The satiety of life, aversion to living; the great sadness, the great despondency coupled with irritability and dread of music; music makes her weep, makes her sad, like other Natrums.

This patient who consulted Dr Kent was a constant taker of drugs; he had taken all roots, barks and leaves that grew wild in the countryside. His face was red and chapped, lips and eyelids had fissures. There was green discharge from his eyes and nose. Even the thick skin of the palm was chapped, cracked and bleeding; the tears were acrid. During the last five years he was having morning diarrhoea. In spite of his sufferings he had a good appetite. He worked as a cowboy. Dr Kent asked him as to whether he was happy and enjoyed his life, he replied "Doctor, you do not know how hard I have worked to keep from blowing my head off with this gun". Before that remark the remedy seemed to be Sulphur but now Natrum-sulph came out clearly and Dr Kent gave him a dose of that remedy in 500th potency. His improvement was rapid from that dose and periodically he asked for that medicine. After two years the patient wrote to say he was relieved of all his complaints.
Dr Kent

Case 6
Mrs FBW, aged 37 yrs, was to be operated for gallstones and when informed that Homoeopathy can dissolve such stones, she opted for Homoeopathic treatment. The history revealed that she had a severe case of typhoid. Headaches followed by vomiting of bile, recurrent for years. Headaches during menses, since 15 yrs. The pains started in the Rt eye, extending to forehead with a dragging sensation in the occiput. Mother had gallstones while her grandmother died because of it. Patient started suffering from gallstone colic from Aug 1904. Pain > heat.

Sleeps with shawl over her head; very nervous; easily startled and apprehensive. Sacral pain extends to thigh on the Rt side; She was intensely fastidious. Suffers from cold feet and has hot water bottle in bed at night. The menses flow was thick, clotted, dark and only for one day. Must restrain her lest she would commit suicide.

Dr Kent prescribed Nat-sulph on the basis of the following rubrics:-
Inclination to commit suicide
Sacral pain extending to thigh
Feet cold in bed
Menstrual flow clotted- dark; thick
Vomiting during headache and Vomiting bile.

Repertorisation: Nat-c14; Nat-mur14; Mercury 14; Nat-sulph 12;
Nov 12, 1904 Natrum-sulph 10M given one dose.
Nat-sulph 50M was given on 3-1-1905 and on 24-1-1905
By February the symptoms of gallstones and suicidal impulse were gone.
Dr Kent

Case 7
Mrs N, a 43-year-old housewife, consulted Dr Rajan Sankaran with a case of recurrent bouts of dry cough with dyspnoea and pain in the chest. The complaints were aggravated in the night, from 11.30 pm to 2.30 am and by lying down and by tea. She started coughing as soon her head touched the pillow. There was involuntary urination with coughing. She felt hot, sweated profusely and was very thirsty. She was hypertensive and had a previous history of malaria.

Dr Rajan Sankaran observed that she was very reserved, answered to the point, sat erect and did not reveal any emotions easily. It was also gathered that she was extremely fastidious and anxious to get the work at home done. She was very sensitive and would remember any hurt for a long time. She was prescribed Natrum-ars 200, which not only cured her cough completely and also her hypertension improved appreciably that she did not have to take any hypertensive drugs further.

Dr Rajan Sankaran says that the basic feeling of this remedy is that "I cannot trust and may be cheated by the person with whom I have a relationship".

The Rubrics Are:
Starting-suspicious
Restless-anxious
Frightened easily and fear of people.

Case 8
A young woman consulted Dr Anne Schade, with severe sinusitis of few years standing. Most of the mucus would discharge out of the posterior nares into the throat (Catarrh, post nasal: discharge, posterior nares) She also suffered from frequent attacks of irritable bladder. She was observed to be very polite (she did not want to put the doctor into any trouble) and very pleasant. During interview she laughed even when she was talking of serious matters. Her head felt numb during cold and warm weather AGG, (General, cold, heat and cold AGG). Very chilly but craved for fresh air. She could not stand the sun and heat in summer. She had aversion to milk. When this characteristic comes up, Dr Schade always asks about the childhood, especially the relationship with the mother.

Her mother was an alcoholic with fits of anger and jealousy. Whenever she was in her depressed alcoholic state our patient had to take care of the family. When she felt that she could not help her mother anymore, she left that "mad house".

But she still cares about that family (cares, worries full of). During the interview, she started when the telephone rang.( Mind starting startled from noise). She is quick and impatient when others react slowly but does not say so (mind impatience, reading while).

She was prescribed Natrum-carb 1M in Oct 1990;there was a relapse in May91 and was given Nat-carb 12 for a few days; again in Oct 91 she had an attack of acute attack of catarrh and was given Nat-carb-1M.
She was doing well.Then in June 92 she had headache and a general bad feeling because of the summer heat. Nat-carb XM made her alright.

Dr Anne Schadde writes:
Very sensitive like all Natrum, Nat-carb people have a markedly cheerful nature, not always appropriate to the situation. The center of all Natrum has to do with relationships with people. Nat-carb has a lot of fear within of being a burden to others and demanding too much attention and space for himself. Therefore he is always trying to do something helpful for others to fulfil the inner wishes of the loved ones. They do not want to have the demanding part of a relationship; they cannot stand too much attention. ( Del is heavy). They try to do everything for others, to do everything right (Del right, does nothing). Del succeeds never and hence they are conscientious about trifles or fastidious and do too much and industrious. They cannot stand unhappy situations and feel better alone (misanthropy). They have a forsaken feeling (estranged from her family, from friends).

Case 9 VP
A woman of 35 had agoraphobia. She was very tense and it got worse at the end of the day and she does not dare to go home. The complaints started two years ago. She was the head of a nursery school, which was going to be merged with a primary school. She felt that the head of the primary school was not competent yet he was being made the principal of the joint school, because he was a man. This development completely stunned her and she felt that she felt very unappreciated. She was an easygoing and open type of person. She had no relationships, as she wanted to remain free. Dr Jan Scholten gave her Nat-carb because of her local complaints and the keynotes:, agg mental exertion, desire for sweets, < sun and < draught; headache before menses and constipation. To his surprise the remedy worked excellently. He later realised that her case contained the theme of not being appreciated. She felt unacknowledged in her work and she had to bear that on her own.
Dr Jan Scholten

Case 10
A 58-year-old female consulted Dr Linda Johnston for allergies, insomnia and migraine. She had sleep problems since childhood; developed allergic rhinitis at the age of 24. She was allergic to grass, trees, pollens and dust. She described her married life of over 40 years as one-sided. She had to shoulder all the responsibility for the house, bills etc. and she felt lonely and isolated. She had not taken care of herself or satisfied her own desires. She found that her husband had not been honest with her and this resulted in her lack of trust in him over the years. Habitually he would say something but do something else and this when found out hurt her deeply, though his other qualities such as sense of humour and capacity to handle crisis appealed to her.

She said that she was not the confronting type and that she had learned to say no; she was brought up in that fashion. She was not sure why she had never told her husband that their marriage was not working for her during all these years. She once told her husband that she wanted a separation but he persuaded her not to break-up and agreed to go for marriage counseling, but did not do so. She stayed married because she was afraid that her family would not approve of it and she would be really alone.

She was introverted as a child and a young adult. She is very loyal to her friends and family; felt embarrassed if she said something to hurt another’s feelings. Her mother would not allow her to express herself. She had undergone great grief episodes. She recalled that when her brother was involved in an accident and admitted in the hospital, any member of her family did not inform her. She had to stay alone for several hours in her house before neighbours took her to the hospital though all her relations were there no one uttered a word. She felt that she was kept completely in the dark and none told her anything about what was happening. She felt completely left out and abandoned. Her mother would not allow anyone to talk about the affair. Her mother remained distraught after the death of her son and was inconsolable with grief and the patient’s great efforts to please her proved futile. Two years later she also lost her boyfriend in an accident because of which she was absolutely devastated.

Her father died of a stroke and her mother had to be admitted to a residential care unit and it was extremely traumatic to watch her mother decline in her health.
Later when she met her future husband she was guarded and because of the previous losses she did not want to be close to anyone. She initially appreciated her husband’s not putting pressure on her, emotionally and physically. However this stand off attitude was upsetting her, as she had a healthy libido. The lack of intimacy has been difficult for her.

She always loved to travel and go on cruise and to meet interesting and fun people. She said meeting people made her life more enjoyable and broadened her outlook.
Here is a woman whose whole life speaks of grief arising from losing some dear ones. She allowed all her feelings to be bottled up and brooded over them. This clearly indicated Natrum-mur. On the other hand, her healthy sex desires contra indicated that remedy. Another aspect was her deep interest in other people; Natrum-mur normally keeps people at a distance and prefers to be alone. The patient was gregarious and complained of being lonely. Another remedy, which may be needed for the patient, was Tub. A party in the open space of the ocean with friends, romance and fun suggested a nitrogen situation.

She was therefore prescribed Natrum-nitricum 200. She developed a mild rash followed by discharge from her eyes, which were profuse. Only one migraine headache after the first dose.She felt relaxed and reported that her relations with others were easier. After two months the discharges were considerably reduced; was sleeping better; emotionally feeling much better. Less headaches and they were mild. After seven months she was still fine.
Dr Linda Jhonston

Case 11
A male, aged 40, consulted Dr Hardy for stomach problems- acidity and crampy pains. The history revealed that he had asthma all his life and it was getting worse since the last two years and aggravated in damp weather. He is chilly and cold from the knees even in summer. Pork aggravates. He has poor sleep and wakes up frequently. He is happily married with a 17 year old son.

Further probing revealed that when the patient was 17 he and his future wife had a son outside wedlock and both their parents forced them to give the child for adoption. Both of them now feel guilty for having abandoned that child.

Rubrics:
Del; he has neglected his duty
Del: he has done wrong
Pork aggravates
There were strong features of Ars in the patient such as his chilliness and his neatness. He was therefore prescribed Natrum-arsenicosum 1M The patient started improving and when the stomach symptoms returned the remedy was repeated in the same potency and in 10M. After 11 months the patient was still thinking about his son and was angry that he did not stand up to his parents; he was ashamed of himself. He responded well to Staphysagria 1M
Dr Jonathan Hardy

Sources:

1. Kent’s Minor writings edited by KH Gypser
2. Rajan Sankaran: an Exposition of Natrum-mur- Hahnemann GleaningsFeb& Mar 1985.
3. Homoeopathy & minerals- Jan Scholten.
4. Anne Schadde- Natrum carb- Homoeopathic Links, 1/93.
5. Jonathan Hardy- Homoeopathic links1/98.
6. Dr Linda Jhonston: Four roses and a movie- Homoeo Links 4/97.