Diabetes Mellitus Cure with Homeopathy

Presenting a case of diabetes mellitus of a psychogenic origin that got triggered after a crisis in her son’s life. It was resolved with a deep-acting homeopathic remedy selected on the presenting totality. The case emphasizes the role of the characteristic particular PQRS symptoms in forming a disease-totality, as well as the selection of the most-suitable mother tincture.

PRELIMINARY DETAILS:

MRS ABC; Age: 54 yrs Housewife

CHIEF COMPLAINT:

Diabetes mellitus since March 2004

Patient’s son has settled in USA and he met with a serious car-crash, which resulted in major musculo-skeletal injuries to him and his wife. They were admitted in the hospital for almost three weeks. It was a major shock to the patient and a severe cause of worry. She wanted to rush for his care but couldn’t go, due to some other family responsibilities. Since the news came, she started feeling drained and low in energy. She got a severe attack of bronchitis that persisted for almost a month.

During her follow-up check-up for the bronchitis, her blood sugar was found quite high with fasting 205 and post-prandial 392. Glycosylated Hb [HbA1C] was 7.5%

Urine always showed glucose in the range of ++ to ++++ and also had persistent proteinuria. Her blood sugar never remained normal for a consistent period of time and hence she wanted to opt for homeopathic treatment.

CASE TAKING DATA:

Diabetes mellitus – presented with chest infection [bronchitis] first in March 2004. Since then there were repeated attacks of bronchitis whenever her blood sugar goes haywire.

Bronchitis: Gets productive cough – sticky expectoration << lying down

No other significant modality or triggering factor

Significant changes in general constitution since diabetes:

1. Perspiration increased especially palms and soles
2. Thermally was ambithermal but now has become markedly chilly.
3. Craving for sweets increased significantly
4. Strong & strange craving to eat raw food / vegetables [spinach / okra / raw rice]
5. Profuse strong smelling urine
6. Dryness of mouth with thirst for large quantities of water
7. Constipation – hard dry stools like balls

Patient as a person:

• Motion sickness [car sickness] +
• Cravings: warm food ++; highly seasoned food ++
• Sleep disturbed due to thoughts with lots of dreams [forgets]
• Menstrual history: menopause 4 yrs back, earlier regular menses; no concomitants
• MIND: Gets along well with everyone – never gets angry even if things do not go her way; superstitious – believes strongly in ill-wills; worry and anxiety about family members and their health; does not like to mix with peers but is not reserved – will talk in social gatherings and will share her problems easily – does not mix, since does not like gossiping.
• Thermally: Ambi-Chilly ? Chilly [since diabetes]
• Family history: strong history of diabetes in family- Mother, Mat-uncles, Brother (most of them have got some or the other diabetic complications as well; patient had sustained her health until this crisis happened)
• Past history: nothing significant

CURRENT MEDICATION:

• Tab Reclide 80 mg twice daily

INVESTIGATIONS:

Urine sugar: ++ to ++++ with consistent proteinuria

Glycosylated Hb [HbA1c]: (reading above 8.0 % indicates poor diabetic control)

Date	Apr 2004	Nov 2006	Nov 2008	Mar 2010	Mar 2011	Aug 2011
HbA1C	7.5 %	8.3%	7.8%	9.0 %	9.2 %	10.5 %

Prescribing Totality:

• Ailments from – Bad news, shock
• Craving – raw food
• Craving – sweets
• Perspiration increased – palms & soles
• Bronchitis recurrent, diabetes with [bronchi as region of affection]
• Urine – profuse, offensive, putrid
• Constipation: stools hard, ball like
• Chilly with tendency to catch cold easily
• Car sickness

Remedy correspondence:

From the repertorization, CALCAREA stood out as the remedy covering most of the significant symptoms. This case presented with a ‘phase totality’ where there are few symptoms that represent the change in the original constitutional features of the individual [after the disease got established] and thus they were given higher value in the totality and remedy correspondence.

While searching for remedies covering Diabetic pathology in Phatak’s repertory, I suddenly came across a rubric: Diabetes mellitus, lung affection with. This case presented exactly the same. The diabetes was detected during an attack of bronchitis, and the rise in BSL always gave rise to respiratory infections even later during the course of the disease.

CALC PHOS thus was selected based on this differentiating rubric.

Mother tincture: Characteristic constipation with hard ball-like stools & significant offensive urine with proteinuria lead to the selection of ABROMA AUGUSTA

TREATMENT & FOLLOW-UPS:

Date	Follow-up	Prescription
8 Aug 2011	Case defined: Present complaints = constipation + offensive urine No active respiratory ailment HbA1c = 10.5%; Urine: sugar +++, proteins ++ = = = In addition to the medication, was asked to follow strict exercise schedule for at least 45 minutes including brisk walking, cycling on plain grounds, or treadmill for 30-45 minutes	Calc phos 200 stat + Placebo
10 Sep 2011	Constipation = not hard stools but unsatisfactory; Urine offensive; no respiratory complaints Urine: sugar ++, proteins ++ Following the exercise schedule regularly	Calc phos 200 wkly + Placebo
7 Nov 2011	Constipation >>> soft and satisfactory motions; Urine offensive >>> Feeling much fresher; had few hypoglycaemic episodes in between Urine: sugar +; proteins +; HbA1c = 8.6%	Calc phos 200 wkly AbrAug Q 10 QID
23 Jan 2012	No fresh complaints; Hypoglycemic episodes more frequent Visited diabetologist: reduced medication to – Reclide 40 mg BD	Ct all
3 Apr 2012	No complaints – especially no respiratory affection in spite of winter “This is my first winter without bronchitis in last 8 years” HbA1c = 7.0 %; Urine: sugar – nil, proteins – nil	Ct all
25 May 2012	No complaints, keeping well. Doing regular exercise. BSL: F = 96 & PP = 134; Reclide 40 mg BD continues; Urine – WNL	Calc phos 1M stat AbrAug Q 10 BD*
27 Jun 2012	Three hypoglycaemic episodes in last two weeks; HbA1c = 6.2% BSL: F = 76 & PP = 102; Reclide reduced to 40 mg once daily dose	Placebo dose stat AbrAug Q 10 BD
13 Aug 2012	Fasting BSL = 118 and Post-prandial = 142; HbA1c = 6.8% Regular exercise continued; No other complaints	Calc phos 1M /month AbrAug Q 10 BD
28 Nov 2012	Fasting BSL = 78 and Post-prandial = 136; HbA1c = 6.0% [24 Nov 2012] Reclide stopped by diabetologist from 2nd Nov 2012 – yet maintaining sugar levels well with regular exercise and medication	Calc Phos 1M /month AbrAug Q 10 BD

Discussion:

Her health before the crisis [in spite of having a strong family history of diabetes] and having no organic complications was in favour of the patient. The psychosomatic origin of the disease indicated the sensitivity of the patient, which not only helped in deciding the infrequent doses but also was a significant help in achieving faster response to the medication.

As regards the use of mother tincture, I have always found a remedy selected on the basis of the presenting totality as well as the associated symptoms to work in the most beneficial way. Earlier I used to give Syzigium to all patients with not very promising results. Now I have been using almost six remedies based on various indications [which I guess is the topic for a separate article]. In this case, the presence of proteinuria with constipation and offensively smelling profuse urine made the choice ofAbroma augusta easier.

Treat H.pylori infection effectively with Homeopathy

Hundreds and thousands of body functions are going on 24x7 in our body, and we are not even aware of even 5% of them. Do we hear the heart beating, or kidneys filtering, or stomach churning the food that we just ate? No! It is when these bodily functions get derailed, we become aware of them and we term it as dis-ease.

In the similar fashion, there are many bacterias that reside in our body for ages, only to make ourselves aware of them when they start disturbing our health economy. H-pylori is one such bacteria. It is estimated that around 50-60% of the total world population hosts H-pylori, but only few of them get affected by it.

What is H. Pylori ?

Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that infects our stomach, usually during our childhood. It is one of the most common causes of peptic ulcers and is known to be very obstinate to respond to the treatment. Most people with H.pylori will never have any signs or symptoms, since we may have an innate resistance to its harmful effects.

Symptoms:

•          Severe and persistent abdominal pain
•          Fullness or bloating of the abdomen
•          Burning in the food pipe and stomach
•          Nausea and vomiting
•          Frequent eructations (burping)
•          Dark colored vomit or black tarry stools
•          In severe case, difficulty in swallowing

·      Complications:

o   Ulcers in the stomach wall

o   Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)

o   Severe mal-absorption leading to weight loss

Spread:

H pylori infection can spread through direct contact with saliva or vomit/fecal matter. It can thus be spread through contaminated food or water. Thus a poor hygiene is the primary culprit behind the spread of this worldwide infection.

Precipitating factors:

•          Severe anxiety
•          Type A personalities
•          Smoking
•          Surprisingly, spicy food has been proved to have minimal role

Diagnosis:

•          Blood test to detect specific antibodies
•          Upper gastric tract endoscopy
•          Urea breath test

Treatment options:

Allopathic mode of treatment primarily includes antibiotics to kill the bacteria in association with various kinds of medicines to reduce the acidity of the stomach. For those who have got peptic ulcers, surgical correction adds to the treatment plan in addition to the above.

Homeopathic treatment:

The primary aim of homeopathic treatment is targeted towards restoring the constitutional balance within, to aid in setting the body-equilibrium. It is achieved by carefully selecting an appropriately suited remedy for an individual patient, considering the various characteristics at the physical, emotional and intellectual sphere. A professional is trained in ascertaining these qualities and analysing them to arrive at the most-similar remedy selection.

Homeopathic treatment of H. Pylori infection involves two approaches:

1. Treating the acute symptom picture with a remedy selected on the basis of disease picture alone. Remedies like Carbo veg, Arsenic album, Nux vomica, Robinia and Anacardium have proved to act wonderfully in acute exacerbations of the underlying chronic ailment
2. Supporting the acute remedies with a constitutional deep-acting remedy that will set the basic constitution at its equilibrium, thus restoring and maintaining the health for longer time period. This medicine varies from person to person and is thus selected by a professional homeopath.

Taming the over-active bladder with homeopathy & bach flower essences

Definition & clinical picture:

An overactive bladder is a medical term used for a pathological condition, that is characterised by a pattern of sudden, involuntary contractions of the urinary bladder wall muscles, leading to a sudden and unstoppable need to pass urine, irrespective of the quantity present in the bladder. It is also called as ‘urge incontinence’ and is more common in women compared to men. It is estimated that at least 20% of the elderly population (above 70 yrs of age) is affected by it.

Thus a patient who suffers with an overactive bladder will get a recurrent urge to pass urine even though there is not much left in the bladder to pass. Or in other words, there would be a constant sensation of an overfilled bladder although nothing has accumulated in the bladder in real.

The most common symptoms include a recurrent urge to pass urine, urgency of urination, increased frequency of urination during night time and incontinence of urine especially while coughing , or sneezing, or laughing aloud. An overactive bladder can cause a significant degree of physical, social as well as psychological problem for the individual.

Causes & Mechanism:

The primary disturbance lies in the nerves and the muscles of the urinary bladder. Usually a signal is sent to the brain when bladder gets filled with urine to a specific quantity (approx 350-500 ml). The chief muscle of bladder contraction is named as detrusor, which responds to the signals from the higher nerve centres to contract the bladder. Voluntary control of the sphincter muscles at the opening of the bladder controls the urination at will. In case of an overactive bladder, there is an inappropriate contraction of the detrusor muscle regardless of the amount of urine.

The most common causes include:

•           Urinary tract infection
•           Renal calculi
•           Senility or aging
•           Diabetic neuropathy
•           Prostate enlargement
•           Prostatic surgery
•           Multiple pregnancies
•           Spinal cord injury
•           Stroke
•           Parkinson’s disease
•           Multiple sclerosis

Treatment options:

Apart from the medicines (anticholinergics) that can increase the tone of the bladder muscles, certain pelvic muscle rehabilitation programmes like ‘Kegel exercises’ are used to improve the pelvic muscle tone and prevent leakage. Pelvic-floor electrical stimulation too can help few patients. Behavioural therapists can assist with bladder training.

Most of the medications have some common side effects including dryness of mouth, constipation, blurry vision and confusion (especially in the elderly population). To avoid such adverse effects, one can definitely take help of gentler yet equally effective therapies like Homeopathy and Bach Flower Therapy.

A well selected homeopathic remedy based on the individual symptom picture will act as effectively as any other medicinal options. Remedies like Cantharis, Lycopodium, Sepia and Belladona are used quite frequently in these patients. These remedies can be supported by patient’s constitutional remedy, based on the analysis of the individuality at physical, emotional and intellectual sphere.

Rescue remedy, a wonder combination from the Bach flower essences, has done wonders in relieving the acute discomfort and anxiety, especially during a sudden aggravation or precipitation of the symptoms during an important meeting or programme. Though one can try Rescue remedy as an ‘over-the-counter’ medication, a word of caution is necessary to try homeopathic medicines on your own. It is always wise to consult a professional to select the best one for you.

BACH FLOWER THERAPY FOR PARKINSON PATIENTS

“ The symptoms that you are talking about are nothing but an indication that you are suffering with Parkinson’s disease”. Almost all patients suffering with Parkinson’s disease have heard this statement at least once from their physician, and have not been able to forget it.

Almost all patients suffer with a major setback when they try to adjust with the harsh reality of getting diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). That is usually the beginning of a life-long fight with an irreversible ailment that makes one more and more dependent on the environment with every rising day. Each and every patient (and most of their care-takers) experience an episode of depression at least once in their life time, and at least 50% of them have to take a treatment for it.

The ever-increasing dependency, not being able to do small and easy day to day jobs, unaffordable cost of treatment, failure of the current medical world not only to cure but even to control the growth of the ailment,… everything leads to a state of anguish and vexation, which itself can hinder the efficacy of the medication given for the disease.

The most commonly occurring emotional changes are:

· Excessive worrying about the ailment

· Constant unwanted negative thoughts

· Feeling of dependency and being handicapped

· Asocial and aloof feeling

· Loneliness

· Indifference and ennui

· Fear of attaining a vegetative state

· Loss of memory

· Insomnia – loss of sleep

· Suicidal thoughts

· Irrational fear, anxiety and phobias

Medically it has been proved that the ‘orbito-frontal’ region of the brain does not work optimally in these patients. This is the region that deals with generating the positive and healthy feeling states, and is directly under the influence of the dopamine secretion.

Bach Flower Therapy: a simple yet effective therapy for emotional ailments

Bach flower therapy comprise a therapeutic system that uses dilutions of flower essences developed from 38 naturally occurring flowers, to balance physical and emotional disturbances. This therapy was developed and introduced by Dr Edward Bach, a Harley street physician, in 1936, who believed that the right essence can nullify the ‘predominant, persistent negative mental states’ to bring back the patient to a positive mental state. These essences interact with the subtle bodies and so can help people by addressing the emotional responses of patients towards oneself and the disease.

There are 38 original Bach flower remedies, each prescribed for certain mental and emotional problem, together forming a complete therapeutic system of healing. The remedies are prepared by picking fresh flowers, still wet with dew, placing them in a clear glass bowl of spring water and leaving them in sunlight for several hours during the early–morning.

Dr Bach believed that the remedies contained small amounts of the plant’s life-force energy which enabled them to provide vibration patterns needed to either neutralize or serve as an antidote to negative emotional, behavioral, or cognitive states. Each one of the 38 remedies corresponds to a precise psychological imbalance and is suitable for treating an extensive series of symptoms. There is no standard remedy for any one disorder as the same problem experienced by different individuals can produce quite varied psychological reactions. Each individual requires a unique treatment. Depending on the symptoms, the remedies can be used singly or in combinations to a maximum of 7. The remedies are taken on the tongue, under the tongue, or at the pulse point of the wrist a minimum of 4 times per day.

Commonly prescribed Bach flower remedies for PD patients:

1. Gorse:

Very useful to treat the hopeless and depressed state where the patient has lost hope and denies any kind of treatment. These patients literally need to be carried to the doctor. These patients will concentrate more on the intractable nature of the ailment, to feel utterly low.

2. Mimulus & Larch:

These remedies can be prescribed for specific fears and the lack of confidence, respectively. Patient always has got a fear of falling while walking, which can be relieved with Mimulus. The addition of Larch to it will boost the self-confidence.

3. Olive:

This remedy is useful treating the state of marked prostration resulting due to the unfailing tremor, loss of appetite, digestive complaints and recurrent negative thoughts. The patient feels completely drained and exhausted. There is a significant lack of vitality. The remedy Olive can help these patients to regain their strength. Also is useful for the care-taker.

4. White chestnut:

A good remedy for loss of sleep due to recurrent negative thoughts, leading to a state of irritation or agitation.

Advantages of Bach flower therapy:

The flower remedies appear to have no side effects and do not seem to interfere with any form of treatment including homeopathic, herbal or allopathic medication. In fact, due to their ability to improve the receptivity and reaction-pattern of an individual, these remedies can in fact improve the efficacy of the concomitant medication. Many psychotherapists take help of these remedies as an adjunct healing force, along with their counseling. It is important to know that the remedies seem to act as catalysts in releasing unwanted negative psychological states.

In case of patients suffering with Parkinson’s disease, these remedies can help the patient (and the care-taker) to get relief from the negative emotions like fear, anxiety, depression and hopelessness. Once the emotional balance is achieved, one can deal with the physical ailment in a better shape and can face life more positively.

Love, Affection, Sympathy, Care and Homage, we use flowers in all situations of life. Bach flower therapy has proved that, flowers not only represent our emotions, but can also help to heal them, naturally !

For more details contact:

Dr Amit Karkare

Homeopath and certified Bach Flower Practitioner

amitkarkare@gmail.com || Mobile: +91 98222 52533 || www.dramitkarkare.com

Homeopathic Remedies For Apoplexy Or Paralysis

The incidence of apoplexy or paralysis of nervous origin leading to unconsciousness has drastically increased with increasing number of patients suffering the medical conditions like hypertension or atherosclerosis. It can also be seen in conditions like meningitis or some other cerebro-spinal diseases.

Here, we will discuss few homeopathic remedies indicated for such cases.

Arnica:

Apoplexy due to the sudden rupture of cerebral blood vessels. The resultant is paralysis and loss of consciousness. There is involuntary evacuation of bladder and bowels on the onset of apoplectic attack. Arnica is a known remedy to control hemorrhage and aiding the absorption of accumulated blood within the cranium. I have used this remedy with wonderful results in cases of head trauma, showing concessional injury to the brain tissue. It has also been effective in relieving the chronic headaches in cases of sub-dural hematomas of long standing origin. Thus it is a powerful drug with hemostatic as well as hemo-absorbant properties. Arnica is also useful in cases of meningitis after mechanical or traumatic injuries - such as from falls or brain concussions, etc.

Causticum:

Disturbed functional activity of the brain and spinal cord calls for this remedy. The causative factors are exhaustive diseases or severe mental shock, that result in paralysis.

Cicuta virosa:

Effective in cases with injurious chronic effects from brain and spinal cord injuries of concessional nature. Spasms and trismus. Tetanus from getting splinters into flesh [also seen in hypericum cases]. Masters have given its indication in the brain diseases due to suppressed eruptions.

Natrum sulf:

Indicated in cases of spinal meningitis with violent and crushing pains at the base of the brain. Gnawing pains in the cranium with head drawn back. Spasms with mental irritability and delirium. There is a violent congestion of blood to head along with the pain. Delirium and opisthotonus. One of the best known remedies for the ailments from or after the head injury. Ailments coming after head injury of remote origin. I have seen a case of chronic headache getting cured with few doses of natrum sulf, where the origin of the headache was traced back to the trauma received to the brain almost ten years back.

Picric acid:

Remedy for the brain fag or literary or corporate community. Headache brought about by the slightest of excitement, mental exertion or overwork, causing burning along the spine.

Tuberculinum:

Acute cerebral or basilar meningitis with threatened effusion. Hallucinations of all kinds. Wakes from sleep in a frightened state. Screams with fright.

Zincum met:

Defective vitality calls for this remedy. Wanting of brain or nerve power. Patient is too weak to develop exanthemata or menstrual functions.

Sir, Do You Prescribe Rare Remedies?

An inquisitive student was asking me this question, as a part of an interview she was conducting before joining my clinic as a learner. That’s a very common experience now days. I remember, not more than 10 years back when I had just passed out, me and my colleagues were interested in learning whatever the physician could teach us from his busy clinic hours, but today’s learners are quite selective, and they have to be! They are much more oriented and aware about homeopathic schools, methods and techniques than what we were even after couple of years of practice.

But what exactly are RARE remedies?

Dictionary gives the meaning of the word ‘Rare’ as – ‘Not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness’ or ‘recurring only at long intervals’. If I try to apply these definitions to homeopathic practice, I find each and every homeopath has got his own repertoire of medicines that he plays with. To give an example, it might be surprising for most of you but, I have yet not prescribed Thuja, Ambra Grisea, Palladium or Medorrhinum in last 10 years of practice as a constitutional remedy. For me these are rare remedies.

The point I want to put forth here is – do we talk about rare remedies for the faculty of homeopaths or for the individual ? I think what counts the most is the later. And I thoroughly would like to prescribe rare remedies, the remedies that have been prescribed rarely by me till now, due to my ignorance and lack of knowledge about them. It takes some hard case that makes me to solve it in the learnt protocols, to find some odd remedy emerging from the process, leading to a rare remedy prescription.

I have met my colleagues who have prescribed more ‘calcarea silcatas’ than ‘pulsatillas’. I have yet to unfold the mystery behind numerous remedial forces, by rising against my blocks. Yet to discover the scope of known remedies in its true sense.

Thus, my dear student (?), YES, I would like to prescribe rare remedies. Will you help me to reach them by questioning my prescriptions ? Would you like to be my teacher ?

Dealing With Cancer Through Homeopathy

INTRODUCTION:

Cancer has reached almost every household in today’s era of lack of exercise, healthy food habits, addictions, stress and moral famine. The overall treatment options available in the medical ‘market’ outside provide pain more than the relief. Various kinds of surgeries, radiations and newer chemotherapy drugs are posing threat to the ‘quality of life’ of an individual, in their own ways and methods. Apart from the treatment options, the patient is getting bogged down by the battery of investigations and imaging requisitions, often without assessing the case clinically. The pain of cancer has thus extended, from mere physical or emotional sphere, to moral and financial downfall. The patient is getting exhausted and emptied in all sense, and what s/he gets in return? Nothing but a different form of suffering. Is there anything that we as homeopaths can offer?

Most of the patients we meet at our clinics are already in an advanced stage of cancer, or have already undergone a couple of cycles of chemotherapy for the respective malignancy. They pose three significant questions to a homeopath:

1. Do you offer anything for cancer, and if yes, what is its scope?

2. Is it safe to take homeopathy simultaneously with chemotherapy? Won’t that affect the efficacy of either of them?

3. Can you prescribe anything on the preventive basis for the patient to avoid the recurrence or to the rest of the family?

We will try to discuss all such issues…

I have heard a lot of claims by the eminent homeopaths of my city to CURE the cancer, but I think let’s not cheat patients and homeopathy. I do not doubt the efficacy of homeopathy, but if we make such claims without statistically and objectively proving it, the medical faculty will obviously accuse us for mis-guiding the patients, in turn diluting the faith of the public towards our system.

Apart from its effect against the malignant growth, I have seen homeopathy doing wonders by -

1. Dealing with the mental trauma that the cancer diagnosis causes, with further depression and hopeless mental state.

2. Reducing the side-effects of chemotherapy, especially in cases of CINV (chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting).

3. Relieving the pains in the terminal cancer cases.

The shock and the aftermath:

It is very common to have a patient in a mental state of shock and its aftereffects after being diagnosed of a cancer. There is a strong sense of approaching death leading to a mixed feeling state of fear, despair, hopelessness and sadness. Within no time, you suddenly shift to a permanently unhealthy state never to return back to your original health. The strong feeling of ‘why me?’ haunts the patient day and night, leading to a sense of guilt within.

ARNICA is the best remedy for such a mental shock, and I have used it often to relieve the state of sudden blow, when the patient least expected the diagnosis. There is a strong sense of being good for nothing in such patient, with a morose and hopeless feeling along with great apathy.

An ARSENIC ALB patient will be in a state of anguish with marked restlessness with fear of approaching death. The restlessness gets aggravated at night keeping the patient awake. Oversensitive mind with great melancholy and despair of recovery. Gets irritated at trifles, especially over untidiness around.

A patient needing ACID PHOS would be sitting quiet, with unwillingness to talk or discuss his health status. There is a strong apathy and indifference with strong reluctance to answer the questions. Hopeless state with a dread of anticipated crisis or death. There is a weeping mood at least stimuli.

ACONITE will be called in if the patient is in agonizing frightful anxious state with strong sense of death. He screams with fear and is afraid to get out of the house. It is a situation of emergency due to the state of panic and terror. There is a strong nervous state with typical prediction of death.

I have also seen remedies like SEPIA and AURUM MET working excellent to lift the mood of the patient from the sad and indifferent state. I also use certain Bach flower remedies like Aspen, Rock Rose, Wild Rose, Gorse, White Chestnut, or Rescue Remedy to relieve the acute panic and hopelessness.

CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED NAUSEA AND VOMITING:

Chemotherapy-induced nausea vomiting can negatively affect the quality of life, making it hard for the patient to function in a normal manner on daily chores, often making him to consider stopping the chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment cycles. Almost 50-60% of the patient experience severe nausea and vomiting and rank it as the most disturbing side effect of the cancer therapy.

Along with remedial measures, the patient should follow a pattern of small and frequent meals. A dry toast or crackers can relieve the nausea. One should drink plenty of fluids throughout the day and avoid eating spicy and oily stuff.

Among the top-rated remedies for CINV, I have used – IPECAC, ARSENIC ALB, VERATRUM ALBUM, RADIUM BROM and COLCHICUM.

In case of colchicum, I have often found patient craving for aerated drinks [pepsi or coke] and alcohol [which obviously should not be provided]. There is a strong nauseating feeling on slightest smell of food. Patient craves a specific food but when offered, the smell gives rise to nausea, preventing him to enjoy or relish that.

The RADIUM BROM patient shows a strong feeling of nausea that is better by eating, just like in case of SEPIA; while the patient who needs VERAT ALB would complain of a strong nauseating feeling that is triggered by starting to eat, along with marked prostration.

THE PAIN RELIEF:

I often get patients that are in advanced or terminal stages, referred for the pain relief, especially due to the bone metastases. There is a severe bone pain that is relieved by nothing in particular. No specific position can relieve the pain and it gives rise to intense physical restlessness.

I had used various remedies for this bone pain – including ARNICA, RUTA, EUPATORIUM and RHUS TOX; but the most significant relief has been achieved with the administration of SYMPHYTUM in a mother tincture form.

Conclusion:

Homeopathy has much to offer in cases of cancer, apart from treating the malignant growth. A patient or his family would often enquire about the role we as homeopaths can play in the overall treatment process; and we need to be clear within ourselves about our scope.