May 2018

What are sinuses?
Sinuses are four pairs of air-filled cavities/spaces located in the skull in the region around the nose and the eyes.  Purpose of sinuses is to provide mucus to upper airways which provides lubrication to upper respiratory tract and also provides as a vehicle for  trapping viruses, bacteria, foreign material for removal, it give characteristics to  voice ,lessens the weight of the skull and is involved with smell recognition.

What is sinusitis?
Inflammation in the inner layer of these cavities in known as sinusitis.  When this happens, the sinuses get swollen and mucus secretion gets blocked inside the sinuses. The sinusitis can be infectious as well as non infectious. This can be nagging discomfort all the time or can have severe attacks which is varied for different patients.

What causes sinusitis can be?

• Obstruction of the various ostia
•  Allergic reaction to pollens, animal fur ,certain foods and beverages
• Deviated nasal septum ,nasal polyp
• Impairment in ciliary function( there are small hair like parts in our nose which prevent travelling of infectious agents or harmful substances to sinuses)
• Impaired immunity
• Bacterial infection or fungi (in rare cases like immunocomprised cases).

An interesting fact is that many people have sinusitis in spite of not having any of the above causes and even after removal of the cause, which shows that sinusitis is beyond these causes and is more likely like a tendency to sinusitis. Here homeopathy has a wonderful role can a correct homeopathic remedy given on basis of constitutional line of treatment can reduce and remove the tendency to sinusitis and you can live a life free from this nagging disease. Want to take the right remedy you can contact us.

Symptoms of sinusitis
Different people come down with different symptoms when it comes to sinusitis, you can have any of the following group of symptoms if you have sinusitis.

• Runny nose – the discharge being thick and yellowish or greenish
• Nasal obstruction, blocked nose, obstructed sensation in the nose
• Soreness in throat
• Sensation of pressure in the face and head/ Headache
• Passage of mucus from the back of the nose into the throat (called post nasal drip or discharge) which causes tendency to hawk or clear the throat often
• Bad breath and bad taste in the mouth
• Anosmia or reduced sense of smell
• Cough with mucus production (more at night when lying down)
• Blocked sensation in one or both ears

People with Chronic sinusitis will have following symptoms:

• Nasal discharge and irritation
• Hawking of mucous or clearing throat often.
• Dull Headache especially in frontal region.
• Facial pain or pressure
• Fever and halitosis
• Cough (worse when lying down)

Diagnosis : can be confirmed clinically as well as getting a paranasal sinuses x ray done. CT might be needed in certain cases.

Complications:
The blocked secretions can become infected due to growth of bacteria, fungi, etc. Infection of surrounding structures are uncommon complications of sinusitis. These structures include eye, the brain, the bone , overlying skin and nearby blood vessels.

Treatment
General management: Sinusitis can be well managed by medical treatment and self care. The conventional line of medicines offers decongestants, anti allergics and sometimes antibiotics as line of treatment.

Home treatment and self management include:

• Flush your nasal passages, clear your nose in morning
• Steam – you can add few drops of eucalyptus oil which can be beneficial
• Take a hot shower
• Take increased quantity of liquids which should be more of water and fresh juices ,avoid tea and caffeine
• Remove material from your house which can have allergy triggers , this sometimes helps as there might be triggring factors, like carpets, mould on walls, some plants
• Avoid humid areas
• Try jal neti- a yoga activity but should be learnt and done under supervision only (not during acute sinusitis )

Homeopathic treatment for permanent cure

Homeopathy has answer to this problem for it can resolve the acute sinusitis as well as drastically reduce the tendency to get sinusitis. For acute attacks are various remedies which can be prescribed based on symptoms of the case. Some examples are given below, but we recommend to consult a registered homeopathic practitioner. Also, for complete treatment of chronic or recurrent sinusitis one must see a homeopathic practitioner. A homeopath in such a case will prescribe a holistic remedy covering the physical symptoms and emotional attributes of patient so as find the remedy based on totality which will boost immunity and reduce or annihilate the tendency to sinusitis. At Dr Geeta’s clinic we have many cases of sinusitis treated successfully.

Few homeopathic remedies for acute sinusitis are:

Bryonia alba:  Nose catarrh extends to frontal sinuses .Frontal headache, frontal sinuses involved.

Kali bichromicum : Pressing in frontal sinuses ,catarrh in frontal sinuses. Pain at the root of nose,as if in the bones. Chronic inflammation of frontal sinuses with stopped up sensation.

Hepar sulph: ailments after exposure to cold air,, sinusitis. Post nasal discharge with much hawking of mucous. A noisy cough aggravated by cold draft of air and better by warm drinks.

Sticta :  headache will dull pressure in forehead, at root of nose. Catarrhal headache before discharge appears.

Pulsatilla pratensis – Congestion of blood to head and engorgement of the sinuses. Coryza with loss of smell and taste; dry and fluent alternately, or stopped up in evening, with loss of smell and taste and appetite; obstruction of nose in evening; yellow or yellow-green in morning; nostrils sore; frontal headache.

References :

• Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, 21st  Edition
• Boericke W, Boericke O. E. New Manual of Homoeopathic MateriaMedica& Repertory [with relationship of remedies]. B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi –110055.
• Hering, C., The Guiding Symptoms of our MateriaMedica Vol. 1 to 10, Reprint Edition 1993, B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi –110055.
• Gupta ,R. Directory of disease and cure in homeopathy , B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi –110055.
• Satya, P. Analogy of Pain
•  http://www.webmd.com/allergies/sinusitis

Psoriasis is a non- infectious ,chronic inflammatory disease of the skin , characterized by well-defined erythematous plaques , with silvery scale , with a predilection for extensor surfaces and scalp. It has a chronic fluctuating course. Psoriasis may start at any age but is unusual before 5 years. The clinical course is very much variable. Homoeopathy has a firm answer to psoriasis. This can be removed from root and can be completely cured.

causes :

• GENETIC CAUSE: A large number of genes are thought to be important in its pathogenesis.
• FAMILIAL COMPONENT: It can be inherited in 20% cases if one parent is affected and in 50% cases if both parents have disease.
  PATHOGENESIS (What happens at cell level)
• There is keratinocytes hyperproliferation with increased mitotic index and an abnormal pattern of differentiation.
• It is a disorder of cell turnover.
• It is consequence of large inflammatory cell infiltrate.
• Also,there is association with HLA Cw6.

Symptoms :
There are different forms of psoriasis :

• STABLE PLAQUE PSORIASIS: This is the most common type with elbows,knee and lower back being involved . There is involvement of scalp , nails, flexures and palms.
• GUTTATE PSORIASIS: It is seen in children and adolescents. Lesions are droplet shaped and scaly.
• ERYTHRODERMIC PSORIASIS: Skin becomes red and scaly with danger of either hypothermia or hyperthermia.
• PUSTULAR PSORIASIS: In generalised pustular psoriasis onset is sudden with large numbers of small sterile pustules erupting on a red base whereas in localised pustular psoriasis involvement of palms and soles is common.
• PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY: Between 5-10 % individuals develop chronic seronegative inflammatory arthropathy.

INVESTIGATIONS

• GRATTAGE TEST: The appearance of punctate bleeding spots when psoriasis scales are scraped off is known as auspitz’s sign seen in psoriasis.
• SKIN BIOPSY: This is also done for diagnosis.
• RHEUMATOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT : To be done if joint involvement is there.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Maintainence of personal hygiene is very important .
• Traditionally topical agents , UV and PUVA therapy is the mainstay of conventional medicine.

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH
Psoriasis can be efficiently treated by homoeopathy with the help of constitutional remedy covering the totality of all signs and symptoms. The response in skin diseases is appreciable with homoeopathy. Remedy differs from case to case , so reaching right homoeopathic remedy under consultation of a registered homoeopathic practitioner is important. Its the constitutional remedy which can remove this tendency and patient can get rid of this life long condition otherwise.
Some of the homoeopathic therapeutics for psoriasis are as follows ; please note following medicines will give temporary relief. For complete removal of psoriasis a constitutional remedy ( which is a homoeopathic remedy selected on basis of patient’s physical and emotional makeup) is needed for complete removal of disease.

GRAPHITES: Suited for moist scabby eruptions on scalp , face , bends of joints, between fingers and behind the ears. Great itching always accompanies the eruptions. The hair is dry and falls out.

ARSENICUM: When sensations of itching, burning and swelling is there with papules and pimples.

SULPHUR: The skin is rough , coarse with soreness in the fold of the skin. Dryness and heat of scalp with intense itching especially at night and scratching causing soreness.

NATRUM MUR: It is dry scaly eruptions in bends of joints.

HYDROCOTYLE: Great dryness and desquamation of the epidermis.

PSORINUM: Skin is dirty , greasy, unwashed in appearance. Eruptions with much itching. Eruptions in bends of joints.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Davidson’s principles and practice of medicine, 21st edition
2. Boericke W. Boericke O.E. New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory(with relationship of remedies)
3. W.A. Dewey Practical Homoeopathic Therapeutics

Piles – A painful concern!!!
Piles or Haemorrhoids is be one of the common problems faced by the aged people especially those living with history of sedentary lifestyle. It refers to swelling of the veins located in the rectum and anal region.

Common causes of piles

• Lack of Fiber diet – Dietary fibres help in retaining water in the stools.Lack of fibre in diet may lead to less water retention causing the stools to become hard and dry.
• Constipation: Hard stools and long straining for stools can cause pressure over veins around and can cause them to enlarge.
• Ageing – Ageing increases the risk of piles as the muscle and their supporting tissue become weak.
• Pregnancy – As the growing foetus needs space and puts pressure on the abdominal and pelvic organs, piles can be seen as one of the common problems developing during pregnancy.

Grades of Piles
The severity of Internal piles can be accessed in the following grades according to the degree of their prolapse into the anal canal.

• Grade I – Grade I piles manifest as small swellings inside the anal canal and may bleed sometimes.
• Grade I may progress to Grade II piles which may protrude outside the anus during straining at stool but may return to its original position after the abdominal pressure becomes normal.
• Grade III piles may protrude outside the anus without any straining at stool and patient will have to manually push them back in place.
• Grade IV piles always remain protruded outside the anus.

Symptoms

• Bleeding with bowel passage is the most common symptom of piles. Bleeding may be little as seen on the toilet paper or as a blood streak on stool.
• Mucus discharge may be seen in some cases.
• The patient may be anaemic due to frequent blood loss.
• There may be feeling of fullness or incomplete passage of bowel movements.
• Pain, irritation and itching may be present in some cases
• The patient may feel the piles/haemorhoids hanging outside the anus.

Thumb rules for patient with Piles

• See a physician – Do not ignore!
• Treat constipation
  • Increase fibre intake in your diet. Few fibre rich foods are: Apple, Barley, Oats, Carrot, Brown rice. Take 2 helpings of salad every day
  • Eat two seasonal fruits every day, one can be a banana
  • Do not strain for long while passing stools

• Correct your diet
• Increase fibre intake in your diet s mentioned above.
  • Increase water intake to 3-4 litres per day

• Increase physical exercise
  • Walk as much as you can – increase your walk to double than your routine
  • If you are still doing exercise, increase the time/ number of steps each day.

• Do not sit for long hours in one place
  • Keep on the move
  • Get up every 45 minutes and take a walk

• Take home remedies
  • Radish is one of the beneficial home remedy.Take half cup radish juice twice a day.
  • Taking 2-3 bananas each day helps you in pain relief.
  • Figs soaked in water one day before and consumed in the morning with water it gives you positive result
  • Mango Seed is one of the best remedy solutions. Take powder twice a day to help swelling pain and sensitive itching.
  • Coconut oil for local application in affected area, but should be done after thoroughly cleaning the part with water

• Keep the area clean. Bath daily. Don’t use soap on the area as it may cause irritation.
• Use moist toilet paper to dab the area after a bowel movement to lessen friction from wiping.
• Try alternative medicine. Try homeopathy, Ayurveda or Unani but under proper guidance.

Homeopathy Treatment of Piles :
Grade 1 and Grade 2 piles can be treated very well by homeopathy, but Grade 3 need surgical intervention. I’m sharing few basic remedies which you can try, but if you aren’t better in one week you must consult a homeopathic physician to find the right remedy for you. Homeopathy is a very individualistic based treatment, each ailment can have many remedies and final selection depends on patients individualistic symptoms.

Some of the medicines useful in cases of piles are:

Aesculus hippocastinum
Is an excellent remedy for people suffering from piles attended with much soreness and pain. Also In conditions of soreness of rectum with fullness, burning and itching. For cases of constipation with hard, dry stool, which is difficult to pass and is accompanied with much dryness and heat of rectum. There is intense pain in anus for hours after passing stool. Very useful for cases of piles with severe backaches causing patient unfit to carry on the regular day to day activities.

Hamamelis
Is a very valuable remedy especially cases of piles bleeding profusely with much burning, soremess, fullness and heaviness and sensation as if the back will break. There is bruised soreness of the affected parts.

Acidum Muriaticum
It’s a valuable remedy in cases of most sensitive piles. The area is so sensitive that even the touch of toilet paper is painful.

Aloe socotrina
A very good medicine for protruding piles, with constant bearing down sensation. Piles protrude like grapes and are very sore and tender to touch, better by cold water application. Stool passes with a lot of mucus with pain in rectum after stool

References
Allen H. C. Keynotes and characteristics with comparisons of some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica
Boericke W., (1999) Homoeopthic materia Medica
Clarke J H, (2000) A Dictionary of practical Materia Medica

About The Authors
Dr Geeta Rani Arora is a homeopathic consultant at Kalkaji ,New Delhi. She has been practicing classical homeopathy for more than 15 Years. She has treated many cases of varied diseases like eczema,, psoriasis, GERD, other gastric disorders, despression, anxiety, recurrent respiratory infections , autoimmune disorders like RA, and also takes cancer cases for palliation and delaying recurrence of cancers.
She has presented many national and international papers on homeopathy.
Dr Geeta Rani Arora, MD (Hom), BHMS
Homeopathic Consultant
9718063158
healer.g@gmail.com

Dr Guneet Walia BHMS
Homoeopathic Consultant
drguneetw@yahoo.co.in
9775158967

Polycystic ovary is a multisystem endocrinopathy with features of  oligomenorrhoea, non-ovulation, obesity and hirsutism. 20-25 per cent of Indian women of childbearing age are suffering from PCOS
Causes:

1. Environmental factors
2.  Change in lifestyle
3.  Diet
4. Stress
5. Hyperandrogenism
6. Insulin resistance
7. Obesity

The purpose of treatment is:

1. to cure a woman with menstrual disorders
2. to treat hirsutism
3. to treat infertility
4. to prevent long-term effects of  X syndrome in later life

Homeopathic treatment takes time and response is variable in terms of how early it will respond but offers good response in terms of regularising the menstrual cycle, stop the progression of disease and clinical removing /reducing symptoms.Treatment plan includes :

1. Homeopathic totality based medicine
2. Weight loss
3. Diet and exercise are an important part ,esp. in cases where lipid profile is disturbed

Homeopathic medicine selection is based on :

1. Pathology
2. Physical generals
3. Emotional state
4. Also important is familial history of diseases

You can see a registered homeopathic practitioner to find out if your case can be treated by Homeopathy. Consider yoga, exercise and diet along with constitutional homeopathic remedy for treatment of PCOS.

Headaches are of different types, not all are same. Migraine is recurrent attacks of headache of varying intensity, frequency and duration often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine is usually present before the age of 40 with 20 % of females and 6 % of males being affected.

Clinical features

Migraine presents with symptom triad of:
AURA (neurological symptoms) precedes the attack and consists of homonymous visual disturbnces (like shimmering,silvery zig zag lines,star shaped figures) and hemisensory symptoms (like tingling, numbness).

• Some patients have migraine with aura (CLASSICAL MIGRAINE).
• Some have migraine without aura (HEMICRANIA SIMPLEX/COMMON MIGRAINE).
• Limb weakness can also occur in migraine (HEMIPLEGIC MIGRAINE).

Diagnosis: It is based on signs and symptoms. Neuroimaging tests are used sometimes to rule out other causes of headache.
Complications

Prevention It includes nutritional supplements and lifestyle alterations.
Alternate therapies like physiotherapy, massage and relaxation are effective.

Treatment Any trigger factors like stress, habits and food items to be avoided. The conventional mode of treatment is with pain medications.

Homoeopathic Treatment Migrane is one condition which can be completely cured with homeopathic medicines. Simple medicines can help relieve the pain acutely and bring quick relief of the symptoms. This then has to be followed up with Constitutional remedy which can completely remove tendency to migraine, though this doesn’t happen as soon as one takes medicines and gradually one can see the difference that when constitutional remedy is given the trig erring factors no more initiate the headache. One can see either reduction of intensity or frequency. Regular medicine needs to be taken for few months which completely remove the tendency to migraine.
you can contact us at healer.g@gmail.com or call us at 91-9818090953 for appointment for treatment of migrane.
You can contact us for same and we are more than happy to help you with migranes.

Belladona: violent shooting and throbbing pains in the head are characteristic. Patient cannot bear light, draft of air ,noise or jarring.

Cimicifuga: Remedy for neuralgic form of headache. Pain extending from occiput to the frontal region.

Iris versicolor: Headache commences with partial blindness, or blurring of vision. In sick headache with continous nausea it is very useful.

Gelsemium : Headache commences with blindness, headache due to eye strain. Headache starts in the occiput or nape of neck , comes up over the head and settles in the eyes .

Onosmodium: It has dull aching pain extending down back of neck or over on one side, generally the left with strained stiff sensation in the eyes.

Bibliography:

• Davidson’s principles and practice of medicine, 21st edition
• Api textbook of medicine
• Boericke W. Boericke O.E. New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory(with relationship of remedies)
• W.A. Dewey Practical Homoeopathic Therapeutics

Don’t walk alone, seek help 
Radha sriniwasan was 49 when she first noticed symptoms of the menopause, in 2002. But a bout of hot flushes passed quickly and Radha, a librarian for the University, soon presumed the worst was over. In 2004, though, the flushes returned with a reprisal; this time she suffered a month long , along with lack of energy, poor concentration and mood swings. “I’d be at the counter handling readers when suddenly I’d become totally infused with intense heat,” Radha recalls. “No sooner had I got over one flush than the next would come. I always felt hazy and losing control over myself.”
The average age at onset of menopause is 51, and its seen that  that about 50 per cent of menopausal women are sufficiently troubled by symptoms – hot flushes are among the most common – and need  some form of treatment; the most common treatment prescribed is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
However, there are many women who either do not find HRT giving results and there are few who do not want to go for it. There are many alternative therapies available which show promising results for treating the symptoms of menopause.
The reason why some female do not want to go for HRT or why some doctors do not recommend HRT for a long time is because studies show that long term HRT causes more health problems that it treats. This especially applies to the treatment plan which combines oestrogen with a progestogen. Studies show that HRT might reduce the risk of bowel cancer and osteoporosis, but it increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer.
Usually women take hormones for one or two years during the menopause. Oestrogen alone is usual for women who do not have a uterus, but combination therapy is usual for others.
Hormones can help relieve the hot flashes and sweats that commonly happen as the body adjusts to the changes of the menopause. People who do not want to go for hormone replacement therapy or its not recommended for them, can go for one of the many alternative therapies which have promising results.
Homeopathy is one such treatment which has shown wonderful results for menopause related symptoms. But here there is no fixed line of treatment but each and every patient is given an individualized plan of treatment which involves the constitutional remedy which heals the patient .The advantage of homeopathic treatment is that is not just treats the menopause but also improves the overall immunity of the patient and makes them more fitter to face the challenges which come with this change of life. Homeopathy has promising results if the correct remedy is given as per the principles of homeopathy. Seek help of your homeopathic consultant if you or any of your loved one is suffering from this problem at this age.
Menopause is one stage which if troublesome for a lady, treatment must be sought for. It’s not something to be neglected thinking that it’s just a phase of life and a female should bear it. Women at this age especially in India are hesitant to report such problems but they also have the equal right to live with peace and in health. It’s important to take advise and treatment so the symptoms do not add to the agony of the lady going through this change. Help is needed so she is able to assume a daily routine and enjoy this change rather than feeling troubled and miserable with menopause symptoms .A moral support from the spouse and children and keeping yourself involved in various activities is also a great help for a lady going through these changes.

Heartburn ,discomfort in upper abdomen are very common presentation of Acid Reflux Disease or GERD (Gastro Oesophagal Reflux Disorder ) and many times neglected by patients thinking it’s a part of their lifestyle or accept that they have to live on antacids for lifetime.  30 % of the population is affected by this disorder.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach acid flows back into your food oesophagus. The backflow of acid irritates the lining of oesophagus. There can be various reasons for same including dietary factors, improper oesophageal clearance, abnormal lower oesophageal sphinter, reduced tone ,inappropriate relaxation, hiatus hernia , delayed gastric emptying, increase intra abdominal pressure etc.
In normal condition, the muscular sphincter at the junction of lower end of oesophagus and stomach remains close. It only allows food to go into the stomach. In GERD the sphincter gets relaxed or weak allowing the contents of stomach- food and acid to flow back into the oesophagus. This backflow of acid into oesophagus can lead to inflammation of lining causing oesphagitis and may also lead to complications like bleeding, ulceration.

Factors that can contribute to GERD :

• obesity
• pregnancy
• certain medications
• smoking
• spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine drinks, chocolates
• ageing
• food allergies
• hiatus hernia
• lying down immediately after eating
• stress

as one sees that stress can be one important triggering factory for acidity, many times you will see that patient doesn’t  have above factors as in his body or life and still suffers from symptoms of acidity and GERD. Homeopathy therefore also plays an important role as it removes the person’s tendency to GERD and helps not just in relieving symptoms of GERD but also helps in annihilating the tendency to GERD and even gastritis.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Heartburn
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dry cough
• Hoarseness or sore throat
• Regurgitation

Lifestyle changes may help reduce the frequency of heartburn:

• Maintaining a nearly optimum weight as per your height and age
• Avoid foods and drinks that trigger heartburn
•  Avoid heavy and large meals at one go
• Don’t lie down after a meal at least for 3 hours
• Avoid smoking
• Reducing intake of tea and coffee or drinks that contain nicotine/ caffeine

Few food items which work like a natural antacid in most of the cases are :
Cold milk, Ice cream.

Homeopathy for GERD
Homeopathy has a real answer to cases of GERD even in cases who don’t show improvement even after lifestyle modifications.  Homeopathic medicine when given on constitutional basis removes the person’s tendency to acidity. For this one needs to see a homeopathic doctor and give the entire case history needed for a homeopathic prescription. The changes or betterment is reported within three to four weeks of starting the treatment and gradually all your symptoms will go away. The triggers which increase your acidity will no longer bother you. And one can lead a acidity free life in real sense. You might have to take the medicine for a longer time that is few months to a year but totally depends from patient to patient and for how long the illness has been there; many times the treatment is over within few months. The benefit achived with homeopathy is that person’s tendency to get the attacks of acidity go away and that’s the biggest benefit.
Indications for few common medicines for acidity are given below: There are some acute remedies which help in acute attack of acidity and give relief from symptoms on immediate basis, but there are many remedies for acidity in homeopathy and you need to ask your doctor for which will suit you best. However, we share some indications of remedies for your reference. Following remedies will give relief from the acute attack of acidity ,gastritis but for people who have a chronic problem and have recurrent acute attacks would need a more deeper remedy covering the constitutional totality of the patient.

Arsenic Album:
Arsenic album is a good drug for burning pain in the stomach which is relieved by drinking sweet milk. The patient craves for cold water and drinks small quantities at a time. Intense nausea and retching and regurgitation.  Soreness and tenderness in the epigastrium. Complaints are associated with intense weakness and debility, restlessness and lot of anxiety. 

Carbo Vegetabilis: Burning in epigastrium with eructation. Pain in upper abdomen and discomfort. Sensation of fullness and burning in upper abdomen. Pain and heaviness in chest and upper abdomen ,which is relived by erucatations.

Phosphorus : Eructations of food, empty; vomiting of food or blood; vomiting temporarily amel. ice-cold drinks, vomiting as soon as the food becomes warm in stomach. Extreme faintness and goneness in the region of the stomach.

Capsicum
Burning pains after eating, heartburn, ulcers, nausea after coffee. Great thirst before during chill, after stool and diarrhoea. Flatulent colic.burning.colitis.

Colocynth
Nausea and vomiting when pain gets intense. Violent pain especially at pit of stomach, ameliorated pressure, bending double, from vexation, indignation. Colic ameliorated coffee.

Nux Vomica:
Most common and an effective drug for digestive complaints.
Sour eructations, sour water-brash, intense nausea wherein the patient feels relieved only after vomiting. Pain from epigastrium goes to the chest and is better after vomiting. Individual often eats and drinks alcohol in excess.

Robinia:
This is an exclusive remedy for acid reflux in children and adults who are sour smelling. It works well in cases of pronounced acidity where starch digestion is perverted in children. The acidity is accompanied with frontal headache, burning pain in stomach, acrid eructations, sour smelling stools, acrid and greenish vomiting. Their symptoms are worse at night on lying down preventing them from sleeping

Skin is the outer covering of the body. It has multiple layers and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs. Skin plays a key role in protecting the body and it also plays an important role in our day to day life, especially exposed areas, as it gives the appearance of the person. Common symptoms of skin like itching, redness, burning etc, we all have experienced these once in a while. But for few persons it turns out to be an unpleasant condition called ECZEMA.

What is Eczema?
Eczema is inflammation of the skin. It is characterized by itchy, erythematous, vesicular, weeping, and crusting patches. The term eczema is also commonly used to describe atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema
It covers almost 10 to 20% of world’s population. This condition is a result of the skin’s inflammatory response to physical or environmental irritants. Normally, skin acts as a barrier to protect individuals against disease and infection. This protection is compromised when oversensitivity to external irritants, known as triggers, cause a negative immune response, resulting in an eczema reaction. Eczema is caused by triggers to environmental and physical irritants. Patches of skin get flaky, itchy, and red. Sometimes, these patches ooze liquid. When the skin heals, it thickens and can radiate a leathery appearance at spots where the reaction occurs.

Triggers for eczema

• Environmental allergens: House dust, sand, smoke, animal dander, pollen, molds, etc.
• Dietary allergens: Milk & milk products, soy, fish, eggs, peanuts, etc.
• Contact with irritant substances such as soaps, detergents, cleaning products, cosmetics, perfumes, etc. Even contact with certain forms of clothing, rubber, watches, jewelry, some metals such as nickel, etc, can trigger it off.
• Changes in temperature and humidity
• Dry climate and excessively cold temperature
• Psychological stress – This has been advocated as a cause in a large number of cases.
• Impaired blood circulation
• Genetic factor: patients with eczema are seen have family history of allergies, asthma, hay fever or other forms of allergic diseases.

This skin condition can be seen in infants, children, and adults, on any part of the body. Infants manifest this condition on their foreheads, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. In children and adults, the itchy red patches can appear on the face, neck, inside of the elbows, knees, and the ankles. Eczema can appear in infancy and end between the ages of 5 to 15, but it can also be a life-long condition, recurring on and off at intervals for the rest of a person’s life. Though it’s not a life-threatening condition but it can have a great psychological impact on person, the discomfort and anxiety with disease all these should be taken care by treating doctor. The diseases have its own phases where the symptoms get worse and get better giving relife to person.
Skin diseases are being treated externally by applying steroid ointments, antibiotics which gives temporary relief but later on the problem flares up again and again and with more intensity. Skin diseases are external manifestation of internal diseases. Hence, it has to be cured from within.

Homeopathy has great affinity for skin disease and there are various type of approaches through which an indicative homeopathic medicine can be prescribed. Constitutional prescribing is most successful in such cases where a detailed history of physical symptoms and emotional state of the patient is taken by the physician and a remedy is prescribed on basis of the picture formed from this history. Constitutional prescribing is the best way to get rid of chronic eczema and tendency to eczema or tendency to skin allergies. People who take homeopathic treatment get markedly reduced tendency to eczema.
A detailed case-taking is required by the treating physician to know –

• the underlying cause
• associated or alternating diseases
• craving, aversions
• thermals
• emotional and mental state
• Affected area – symptoms, its intensity etc

In small children’s where it’s not possible to go in details for constitutional medicine, Therapeutic prescription can be made by getting details from parents.
Few homeopathic remedies which can be of help for mild reactions or initial stage of eczema/dermatitis /skin allergies. Please remember it’s advisable to take remedies under guidance of a registered homeopathic practitioner.

Homeopathic Remedies

Antimonium Crudum
Eczema with gastric derangements Pimples, vesicles, and pustules. Sensitive to cold bathing. Thick, hard, honey-colored scabs Urticaria; measle-like eruption. Itching when warm in bed. Dry skin. Scaly, pustular eruption with burning and itching, worse at night.

Arsenicum
Top remedy for skin ailments-psoriasis, flaky scalp, dry eczema. Symptoms that burn yet improved by heat application. Feels better in the Summer. Children who have skin that is dry and rough. Symptoms are often worse on the right side, with cold applications, and after eating offending foods or drinking alcohol. Itching, burning, swelling, skin eruptions. Dry, scaly skin

Bovista
Acne, skin allergies from use of cosmetics. Aggravated bathing.

Calcarea suphurica
Tendeny to boils, abscesses ,furuncles, ulcers with copius purulent discharge. Burning itching of skin.

Graphites
Eruption on the skin, oozing out a thick, honey-like fluid. Eczematous eruption appears about the eyes, on the cheeks, on and behind the ears, on the top of the head and down the occiput.
“Excessive cautiousness; timid, hesitates; unable to decide about anything. Fidgety while sitting at work. Sad, despondent; music makes her weep; thinks of nothing but death. Eczema of lids; eruption moist and fissured; lids red and margins covered with scales or crusts.

Petroleum
Usually dry eruptions. Skins dry cracked and leathery. Deep cracks, bloody painful .aggravated winters.

Note: above remedies are few of the many remedies which can be useful for eczema, skin allergies. A homeopathic physician considers many other aspects when prescribing a homeopathic remdy, so please seek help and take the appropriate remedy.

Author : Dr Geeta Rani Arora
Dr Geeta Rani Arora, BHMS,MD (Homeo)is a classical homeopathic practitioner with a clinical experience of more than 10 years. She is Editor of journal “The Homeopathic Heritage” one of the oldest monthly homeopathic journal. Has done a certificate course from NIH,USA on Complementary Medicine. She loves her time of clinical practice for which she is very passionate about. She has treated many cases of Asthma ,Allergic disorders ,Psoriasis ,Eczema ,GERD ,Depression and Anxiety disorders ,Learning disability etc. She has presented papers on National and International Level like 66th LIGA congress in December 2011, Research conference in Malaysia ,International conference in Pune ,KML in Delhi 2012. She can be contacted at healer.g@gmail.com for any health query or 91-9818090953 for appointments.

Case 1) Before treatment	After treatment
Allergic reaction	After treatment next day
Case 2) eczema/ allergic dermatitis/ atopic dermatitis
Eczema before treatment	Eczema after treatment
Case 3) Eczema /atopic dermatitis
before treatment	After treatment
At start of treatment novemner 2012	In march 2013
During treatment
In january 2013

Diarrhoea is a common health problem in india which can orccure during change of season and also due to outside food. In temperate climates, bacterial diarrhoea occur more frequently during the warm season, whereas viral diarrhoea, particularly diarrhoea caused by rotavirus peak during the winter. In tropical area, rotavirus diarrhoea occurs throughout the year, increasing in frequency during the drier, cool months, whereas bacterial diarrhoeas peak during the warmer, rainy season. The incidence of persistent diarrhoea follows the same seasonal patterns as that of acute watery diarrhoea. 3
Symptoms:

• Frequent and Loose watery stools 
• In some instances, mucosal adherence is associated with loose stools which indicates more towards dysentery.
• Watery stools: this happens due to toxin secretion by some bacteria. Recovery occurs when the affected cells are replaced by healthy ones after 2-4 days. 3
• Blood in stools due to mocusal invasion : E. coli and Salmonella can cause bloody diarrhoea by invading and destroying mucosal epithelial cells.

Following aspects need to be looked into to assure recovery:

• to detect dehydration, if present,
• determine its degree of severity
• to diagnose dysentery, if present;
• to diagnose persistent diarrhoea, if present,
•  to evaluate feeding practices and determine the child’s nutritional status, especially to detect severe malnutrition;
• to diagnose any concurrent illness; to determine the cause

Treatment and Management:

• Watery diarrhoea requires replacement of fluids and electrolytes- irrespective of its cause. Options for replacement of fluids are :

• ORS
• Elecotoral
• A solution of water with salt and sugar can also be given.
• Feeding should be continued during all types of diarrhoea to the greatest extent possible, and should be increased during convalescence so as to avoid any adverse effect on nutritional status.3 s
• Antimicrobials and antiparasitic agents should not be used routinely; most episodes, including severe diarrhoea and diarrhoea with fever, do not benefit from such treatment. The exceptions are: -dysentery, which should be treated with an antimicrobial or suitable homeopathic drugs can be given .3
• Diarrhoeal diseases can be treated effectively by homeopathic remedies. The treatment can be based on symptoms and presentation of case.  Few recommendations are given below with symtoms, however its best to take in consultation with your registered homeopathic practitioner.

Aloes Socotrina : one of the best remedies to start with for loose motions due to bad food. The diarrhoea of Aloes is always associated with flatulence, and the patients have incontinence of the bowel when passing flatus or passing urine."Diarrhoea, pain, and soreness, and burning in the rectum; stools copious and watery, with much flatus; great exhaustion and faintness after stool; every morning is driven out of bed for stool."

Arsenic album : – It is indicated in acute gastritis when there are pains, thirst, restlessness, and diarrhoea. Diarrhoea with extreme weakness. Very offensive stools , with persistent coldness; dysenteric; white, involuntary; burning; chronic, watery and painful.

Nux Vomica : The diarrhoea consists of frequent small stools, with backache and a feeling as if more were to be evacuated. Ineffectual urge for stools and vomiting “constant urging." Accompanied by nausea.

Colocynth : a good remedy for colitis accompanied by severe colic and diarrhoea.1
Before stools – Difficulty of retaining the stool Cutting colic Great urging.2
Diarrhoea with severe colic .Violent pains in bowels, extending down thighs .Much flatus. 2Weakness, paleness and great prostration 2

Veratrum album: Nausea, with violent and profuse vomiting, usually associated with diarrhoea. Vomiting of food, of green mucus, with cold sweat.

References:

• Blackwood A, The food Tract: and its ailments and disease of peritoneum. RADAR Homeopathic Software
• Borland D, Homeopathy in Practice, RADAR Homeopathic Software
• WHO Readings on diarrhoea, Student Manual,1992

Dr Geeta Rani Arora