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Thyrotoxicosis was perhaps the first disorder in which anti-receptor antibodies were clearly recognized and is an excellent example of autoimmune disease.
Unfortunately, in the Homeopathic literature, we have come across very
little reference of clinical cases treated successfully by homeopathic
remedies.
In the Homeopathic
literature "Kent's Repertory" has listed remedies under Goitre,
Exopthalmic Goitre, Swelling Thyroid gland. In the "Special Pathology
and Diagnostics with Therapeutic Hints" by Dr. C.G. Raue a few remedies
are given under the chapter of Exopthalmic Goitre like Amyl nitr.,
Badiaga, Belladona, Calc. carb, Ferrum, Lycopus, Natrum. Mur, Secale,
Spongia. He has also emphasized a few remedies acting especially on the
heart and the Thyroid gland e.g. Baryta carb, Cact gran, Phosphorus,
Silicea and Sulphur. Dr. Samuel Lilienthal in his "Homeopathic
Therapeutics" has referred to about a dozen remedies, but unfortunately
therapeutic hints as given in such books are hardly able to guide us in
actual treatment of the cases.
Dr. Clarence Bartlett in
his "Clinical Medicine" mentioned that he had the greatest confidence in
Lycopus administered in mother tincture. Our experience for any
effective treatment in this disease has been based on patient's
individual picture of sickness and physio-psychic constitutional
reaction to this disturbance.
The orthodox medical
treatment lies in giving (potentially and toxic) antithyroid drugs,
administration of radioactive Iodine or Surgery. Unfortunately, all
these measures are unsatisfactory from the point of view of patient's
integrity and his total recovery. I am presenting a case record which
gave a very dramatic response to the remedy. In this narrative I have
highlighted the role of computerized reportorial analysis
in the selection of the remedy. In our earlier experiences in some
cases, we have used Lycopus virginicus, Iodum, Pulsatilla and Calcarea
iodatum reasonably successfully but never such a clear-cut response in
the case cited below:
Case Presentation
Mrs. G.M., aged 43 years came to our clinic for treatment of diagnosed case of Hyperthyroidism.
S -thyroid drug 'N he had suffering from this condition for the last
6-7 years. She had lost about 15 kg of weight since the ailment started
and has been on anti-thyroid drug 'Neomercazol' which she had been
advised recently to reduce from 3 tablets to 2 tablets daily. She had
also been kept on Ciplar 10mg tds. Recently thyroid test showed the
following values:
T3 : 49 (Normal 70-100).
T4 : 18.7 (Normal 5.50 -13.50)
ESR : 49 mm
Hb : 8.2 gm%
TSH : 0.10
The symptom picture presented by her was as follows:
- Palpitation tumultuous.
- Periodic sudden sinking feeling with weakness, coldness of hands and feet. Difficult to move due to weakness. Aggravated when thinking of complaints and under depression.
- Sudden pain in epigastrium. It appeared and disappeared suddenly. Better by pressure and also on bending forward.
- Sleeplessness. Difficult to go to sleep. Great restlessness and aching of legs at night in bed. Sleeps on the left side.
- Headache- periodical. Aggravated from straining eyes.
THE PATIENT
Appetite: Increased.
Desires: For sweets +++, meat+++ and icy cold drinks+++.
Thirst: For large quantities. Dryness of mouth with desire for ice cold water.
Sweat: profuse in general.
Stools: urge for motion immediately after eating.
Generalities: feels very hot. Takes frequent baths.
Mind:
Very sensitive in general. Sensitive to noise++. Suppresses emotions.
Does not give vent to emotions. When hurt does not say anything but
cries. During attack of weakness, sinking feeling wants to be left
alone, does not want company. Husband has been very dominating and she
is afraid of his anger.
Menses: suppression of menses 5 years ago when she started taking birth control pills.
PAST HISTORY
Cholecystectomy 12 years
ago followed by severe post-operative infection which continued for 5-6
months. Tendency for easy fractures.
FAMILY HISTORY
Nothing significant. Father had a long life of 90 years. Mother is 80 years old and healthy.
ON EXAMINATION
Abdomen: Spleen and liver not palpable.
Back: Cystic growtg lumbar spine for many years but painful since last 15 days.
The case was repertorised with the following symptoms:
- Stomach: Desires: meat.
- Stomach: Desires: sweets.
- Stomach: Desires: cold drinks.
- Mind: Company: aversion to.
- Mind: Sensitive
- Mind: Sensitive: noise to.
- Mind: Thinking: complaints of: agg.
- Head pain: General: periodic.
- Head pain: General: straining eyes from.
- Extremities: Restlessness: leg.
- Stomach: Appetite: increased.
- External throat: Goiter
- Sleep: Sleeplessness
The Results of analysis is given below:
Natrum mur : Covering all.
Phos : Not covering No. 1.
Lyco : Not covering No. 1 & 7
Natrum carb : Not covering No. 1 & 7.
Sulph : Not covering No. 6, 7 & 12.
Bell : Not covering No. 1, 2 & 7.
She was prescribed Natrum muriaticum 30 CH 3 times a day.
A month later her weight
increased from 40 to 43 kgs. Restlessness of the leg was gone. There was
no more depression or crying. Appetite became normal. No epigastric
pain. Face looked remarkably changed and she looked younger. She did not
feel any pain in the cystic growth on the spine. Appetite is normal. No
more urge for going stool after eating. Pulse rate which was higher is
normal now. She has been kept on this medicine and has reported to be
very much better.
DISCUSSION
Here was a patient
emotionally very sensitive, easily upset and lachrymose. There was
marked desire for sweets and not for salty things. There was thirst for
chilled drinks. The pain in epigastrium and abdomen was better by bending forward. Almost none of the physical generals seemed to point to Natrum mur as the remedy without the guidance from the repertory.
I would have thought for other remedies. Reportorial analysis and study
of her emotional reactions influenced our judgement in favor of Natrum mur and which delivered the goods.
Another short analysis with other repertories as given below again indicated Nat mur.
Repertories like
- Kent's : India's Reprint.
- CG Raue, Special Pathology.
- Lilienthale, Therapeutics.
- Mac Repertory
- Kishore cards
- Immunology, Ivan Roitt Grostoff Male
