Sewa Mandir Foundation: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

HOW TO TAKE THE BEST RESULTS FOR HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE

When a physician has prescribed at his best, now it is patient’s turn to take medicines properly. Homoeopathic medicines are available mainly in two forms – Potentised medicine and mother tinctures. The potentised medicines are available in pill shape or in alcoholic liquid form sometimes (inappropriately) called as dilutions.

Dose of a medicine – 1.The number written following the name of a medicine indicates its potency. For example Bryonia 30 means 30^th potency of medicine Bryonia. The effect of medicine is counted due to its potency and not to the amount of medicine say number of pills or tablets or the number of drops of liquid potency. Taking two pills in one dose of a medicine of 30^th potency will have same effect as that of taking eight pills because potency 30 will act. To enhance the effect physician advises to repeat medicine at certain interval as thrice or twice or once in a day or week or fortnight etc..

2. The standard recommended dose of homoeopathic medicine is one poppy seed size pill as a one dose! Being in habit of taking large pellets, tablets and capsules and big injections people’s including homoeopaths’ psyche do not believe and accept this concept.

In Sewa Mandir we recommend doses as follow –

A) Pills – In case of potentised medicine two pills of size No.30 should be taken as one dose and let it be dissolved on tongue.

B) Bio-chemic tablet - Four tablets should be taken as one dose and let them be dissolved on tongue.

C) Liquid potencies – Take one drop either directly on tongue or in a tea spoon of water.

D) The mother tinctures should be taken with half cup of water 10, 15 or 20 drops as prescribed by the physician.

Repetition of Medicines – Generally repetition of a medicine depends on severity of complaint and effect of the potency of the medicine. Routinely -

- 3,6,12 and 30^th potency is to be repeated twice or thrice every day. In some conditions these are repeated more frequently which is always be decided by the treating physician.

- 200^th potency is generally repeated weekly or even later but sometimes one dose every day.

- 1M and above potencies are repeated once in a week or fortnightly or monthly or even late.

-Mother tinctures are repeated twice or thrice a day.

- Although generally said safe Homoeopathic medicines are potentially harmful in careless hands.

In some rare case only physician decides to repeat high potencies once or several times a day to palliate a sickness or symptom but it could be by physician.

Taking a Medicine – Being potentised Homoeopathic medicines are sensitive to touch, odors, heat and moisture. For this reason they should not be taken on palm or hand due to sweat and dirt etc.. They should be kept away from odorous things. Even at the time of taking the medicine mouth should be clean and free from any type of smell as of food, tooth paste etc. Therefore it is better to take homoeopathic medicine before meals and after thorough cleansing of mouth. Nothing should be taken except water within half an hour before and after taking any homoeopathic medicine.

Exposure to excessive heat and moisture affect homoeopathic preparations adversely.

Multiple Medicines – When you are prescribed more than one medicine –

- Keep at least 15 minutes gap between taking of two potentised medicines, do not take two medicines simultaneously. The same gap is applicable between bio-chemic and potentised medicines.

- Keep at least 30 minutes distance between taking of a potentised or a bio-chemic medicine and a mother tincture.

- Some of the mother tinctures can be mixed in the same cup of water if directed by the physician otherwise keep a gap of 15 minutes between two mother tinctures.

To get maximum Effect of medicine let the pills be dissolved in mouth and keep the liquid medicine potency or mother tincture in mouth for few seconds as homoeopathic medicine are absorbed through mucus membrane and act through nerves.

The most important thing to know is that disease is not an event but it is a progressive phenomenon. Therefore, whenever a correct homoeopathic medicine in correct potency is administered in a patient it reverts the phenomenon and patient notices some of the old sufferings (which were suppressed and said to be relieved) coming again. This is a curative process and patient should consult the homoeopath who will take the necessary action.

Yet often patient turns to a physician whose treatment had relieved those complaints and the process of cure was hampered. Then he comes back and says your medicine relieved my gastric ulcer but I got tonsillitis again when consulted to an ENT specialist the tonsils were relieved my gastritis had come again!

One important thing to know is that taking medicine is not same as taking treatment because treatment is a planned effort to resolve certain problem or disease.

Dr. M. K. Tyagi
D.H.M.S., Dip. N.I.H.Research Officer
Sewa Mandir
Mobile" 09829157926
Email: 1.sewamandir@usa.net, 2.manju_mkt2003@yahoo.co.in

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Herpes

Shingles

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.

Causes

After you get chickenpox, the virus remains inactive (becomes dormant) in certain nerves in the body. Shingles occurs after the virus becomes active again in these nerves years later.

Shingles may develop in any age group, but you are more likely to develop the condition if:

You are older than 60
You had chickenpox before age 1
Your immune system is weakened by medications or disease

If an adult or child has direct contact with the shingles rash on someone and has not had chickenpox as a child or a chickenpox vaccine, they can develop chickenpox, rather than shingles.

Symptoms

The first symptom is usually one-sided pain, tingling, or burning. The pain and burning may be severe and is usually present before any rash appears.

Red patches on the skin, followed by small blisters, form in most people.

The blisters break, forming small ulcers that begin to dry and form crusts. The crusts fall off in 2 to 3 weeks. Scarring is rare.
The rash usually involves a narrow area from the spine around to the front of the belly area or chest.
The rash may involve face, eyes, mouth, and ears.

Additional symptoms may include:

Abdominal pain
Chills
Difficulty moving some of the muscles in the face
Drooping eyelid (ptosis)
Fever and chills
General ill-feeling
Genital lesions
Headache
Hearing loss
Joint pain
Loss of eye motion
Swollen glands (lymph nodes)
Taste problems
Vision problems

Tests are rarely needed, but may include taking a skin sample to see if the skin is infected with the virus that causes shingles.

Blood tests may show an increase in white blood cells and antibodies to the chickenpox virus but cannot confirm that the rash is due to shingles.

Possible Complications

Sometimes, the pain in the area where the shingles occurred may last for months or years. This pain is called postherpetic neuralgia. It occurs when the nerves have been damaged after an outbreak of shingles. Pain ranges from mild to very severe pain. It is more likely to occur in people over 60 years.

Other complications may include:

Another attack of shingles
Blindness (if shingles occurs in the eye)
Deafness
Infection, including encephalitis or sepsis (blood infection) in persons with weakened immune systems
Bacterial skin infections
Ramsay Hunt syndrome if shingles affected the nerves in the face

CASE

This was the case of herpes zoster. Miss [P.S.] she had blisters on Lt Side of face with sever burning, tingling pain. Fever

On 27/05/11prescribed following medicines [ mezereum, sarrscenia purpurea, R-68,cantharis Q + apis mel Q + calendula Q] for two days.

She came on 30/05/11 no new eruptions appear but pain still there. Following medicines prescribed [cantharis, apis mel, variolinum one dose] for two days.

She came with improvement but pain still there. A single dose of morphinum Prescribed with above medicines for one week.

On 11/06/11 she came with slight pain, no blisters.

CURED

Dr. G. S. Bhatnagar

D.H.M.S. B.H.M.S.

Research officer

Sewa Mandir

Mobile: 9829978284

E-Mail: sewamandir@usa.net, drgsbhatnagar@gmail.com

Friday, June 10, 2011

ENLARGED PROSTATE

The prostate is a reproductive gland in male. It is situated just below the urinary bladder in front of rectum. Of very small size at the time of birth attains size of a walnut and weigh 20 gram by the age of 20 years and remains stable till age 40. The urethra that joins the urinary bladder to exterior helps discharging out urine passes through the prostate.

The prostate squeezes fluid into the urethra as sperms move through during sexual climax. This fluid in semen energizes the sperms and makes the vaginal canal less acidic.

The second phase of growth of prostate usually begins around the age of 45 and often results in benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH) in later age. It is not cancer, and it does not increase risk for prostate cancer. It is common to almost all men as they get older. The growth occurs in the central part of the gland pressing on the urethra resulting in urinary trouble but there is no definite relation between the extent of enlargement and severity of symptoms.

Causes

The actual cause of prostate enlargement is not known. There are different theories and explanations. Aging and the testicles may be affecting the growth of the gland. It has been observed men who have had their testicles removed at a young age (for example, as a result of testicular cancer) do not develop BPH. Also, if the testicles are removed after a man develops BPH, the prostate begins to shrink in size.

Men produce testosterone a male hormone and small amounts of estrogen, a female hormone. With age the amount and active testosterone in the blood decreases, leaving a relative higher proportion of estrogen. Studies suggest that BPH may occur because the higher amount of estrogen within the gland increases the cell growth.

The dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derived from testosterone in the prostate gland gets accumulated in it and stimulates its growth. The men who do not produce DHT do not develop BPH.

Symptoms

BPH by itself is not a serious condition unless symptoms interfere with daily activities. Less than 50% of all men with BPH have symptoms of the disease, which include:

Dribbling at the end and after urinating,

Hesitancy, has to wait to start to urinate and stream becomes feeble,

Incomplete emptying of bladder so one needs to strain to urinate and gets frequent urge,

Incontinence – inability to control urine, strong and sudden urge for urine,

The patient wakes two or more times for urination every night,

Painful and bloody urine indicate infection

The size of the prostate does not always determine the severity of the obstruction or the symptoms. Some men with great enlargement of the gland have little obstruction and few symptoms while others with lesser enlargement have more blockage and greater problems.

Sometimes a man remains trouble free until he suddenly finds himself unable to urinate at all. This acute urinary retention may be triggered by taking some cold or allergy medicines as due to their side effect the bladder failed to contract from relaxing and empty urine. In case of partial obstruction urinary retention also can be brought on by alcohol, cold temperatures, or a long period of immobility.

Doctor must be told about the above said urinary problems so that he can rule out other conditions, including prostate cancer.

If remains untreated certain complications as urine retention and strain on the bladder can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence—the inability to control urine. If the bladder is permanently damaged, treatment for BPH may be ineffective. When BPH is found in its earlier stages, there is a lower risk of developing such complications.

Diagnosis

The symptoms generally indicate Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy but following tests confirm the diagnosis:

Per rectum examination, ultra sonography to confirm size and weight of the prostate gland, Post-void residual urine test to see how much urine is left in the bladder after urination which harbor infection and causes early filling of bladder hence frequency of urine. Urine flow rate and pressure flow studies to measure the pressure in the bladder during passing of urine, routine urinalysis and culture to check blood and infection in urine. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) in blood is tested to screen for prostate cancer. Cystoscopy reveals pathology in urinary bladder.

Treatment

Treatment options include "watchful waiting," lifestyle changes, medication or surgery. Unless there are severe symptoms it is better to wait and watch. Patient should have regular checkups to watch if condition is not getting worse. Other diseased condition should also be ruled out.

Self care is necessary for mild symptoms but also physician should be consulted:

1. Don’t postpone the urge to urinate. Keep bladder empty to reduce chances of infection.

2. Drink plenty of fluid but spread it throughout the day. Avoid drinking fluid within 2 hours of bed time.

3. Don’t take alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner.

4. Exercise regularly and keep warm. Lack of physical activity and cold weather increases symptoms of BPH. Perform pelvic strengthening exercises.

5. Reduce stress. Frequency of urination increases with tension, apprehension and nervousness.

If self-care for 2 months does not give relief consult the physician for further treatment.

Homoeopathic Medicines –

Some of the commonly indicated homoeopathic medicines for BPH are –

Aloe s., Baryta carb., Benzoic ac., Conium, Digitalis, Ferrum pic., Iodinum, Nux vom., Prostate gland, Sabal ser., Selenium, Staphysagria, Sulphur, Thuja.

Also Chimaphila um., Oxydendron., Populus tr., Senecio, Solidago etc.

· With constipation – Arnica, Silicea.

· With involuntary urination – Iodium, Pareira br.

· With retention of urine – Apis, Belladona, Benz. ac., Cactus g., Chimaphila um., China, Conium, Digitalis, Ferrum met., Hyoscymus, Kali iod., Merc. dul., Morphinum, Pareir, Pulsatilla, Sabal ser., Sepia, Staphysagria, Stramonium, Triticum v., Zincum met.

· Dribbling urine after stool or urination – Selenium.

· After sexual excess – Thymol.

Few conditions and related medicines are indicated but some other medicine may be prescribed by the physician as indicated by patient’s condition.

Surgery

With homoeopathic treatment BPH rarely require surgery. Surgery is generally indicated in case of retention of urine or incontinence. Both the situations can be treated with indwelling catheter for a short time and homoeopathic treatment to reduce infection, inflammation and enlargement of the prostate. A case may need surgical intervention only if does not respond to medicines.

Prostate, now is operated through urethra. Operation by opening abdomen is done in case it is not possible through urethra. In less invasive methods different types of heat is used to destroy prostate tissues.

Radiofrequency energy - transurethral needle ablation (TUNA),

Microwave energy - transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT),

Electrical current - transurethral electro-vaporization of prostate (TUVP),

Hot water - water-induced thermotherapy (WIT) and Laser -interstitial laser coagulation (ILC) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) are some methods under trial.

They are useful in elderly patient, cases with diabetes mellitus, serious heart, kidney, lung or liver disease or patient taking blood thinning drugs.

Even after surgical treatment BPH may recur over a period of time. Therefore homoeopathic medical management is preferable.

Case –

Mr. R. S. 60 yrs. male married Hindu vegetarian (now).

Diagnosis – Prostatic Enlargement (weight 82 gms), Prostatic Specific Antigen – 11.52 µg/dl. Diabetes mellitus. Urinary tract infection. Hypertension. Fungus between toes.

Since last 5-6 yrs. often burning at urethral opening after urination. Urinary frequency at night if sleepless for some reason or at change of weather otherwise wakes twice every night for urine.

Sensation of swaying sometimes while sitting or walking since 2001. Taking Aspirin 75mg., parastat 50 once a day.

Known diabetic since 8 years. Controlled with Metformin 100 mg. H/o loss of weight so diagnosed diabetes. Present weight – 80 kg.

Outer side of left hip and thigh is sensitive to touch and rub. Diagnosed lumber spondylitis.

Wetness and itching with peeling of skin in webs of toes.

Sleepless until 1 a. m.. Dreams strange – unrelated to daily life, frightful – shrieks during sleep, unremembered. Talks aloud during sleep. Snoring.

Likes buttered milk, sweets (after diabetes), Alcohol stopped after joining a religious group. Averse milk. Was normal but chilly since one year.

The patient presents himself polite but is proud, egoistic – imposes views. Worried but said that he did not care.

Obese, dark rough skin. Weight 80 kg. Blood pressure 130/80 mm Hg.

19/08/10 Rx 1. Pulsatilla 200 two doses at 10 minutes interval every week

2. S. L. 0/3 10 drops twice a day in a table spoon of water.

3. Advised to test blood glucose fasting and Post prandial.

04/09/10 No episode of burning urethra. Lower lip tingling, biting and sensation of swelling. Papular eruption on right cheek.

Rx 1. Mercurius sol. 200 two doses at 10 minutes interval every fortnight.

2. S. L. 0/3 10 drops twice a day in a table spoon of water.

02/10/10 Urinary frequency and burning off and on. Stream feeble.

Rx 1. Merc.sol 1M two doses at 10 minutes interval every fortnight

2. S. L. 0/3 10 drops twice a day in a table spoon of water.

16/10/10 Cold and cough – dry then white expectoration. Papulo-pustular eruption on scrotum, itching aggravated by scratching.

Rx 1. Platina 1 M two doses at 10 minutes interval fortnightly.