EVIDENCE BASED HOMOEOPATHY IN TREATING LONG STANDING & RECURRING VENOUS ULCER- A PROSPECTIVE AND INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

EVIDENCE BASED HOMOEOPATHY IN TREATING LONG STANDING & RECURRING VENOUS ULCER- A PROSPECTIVE AND INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

Chandranath Das

Metropolitan Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Sodepur, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT:The common cause of leg ulceration in Western countries is venous disease of the lower limb.Venous insufficiency causes appreciable disability. Venous ulcer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the western countries and India, which can hamper personal and professional life of individual. After various methods of modern medicinal treatment and management  there is a chance recurrence .This case study  is a prospective and intervention to combat long standing & recurring venous ulcer  aided by Homoeopathy.

Venous ulcer, Homoeopathy, Prospective, Interventional study

INTRODUCTION:The incidence of venous ulcer in the lower limb due to venous disease is about 60% to 70% of all ulcer of lower limb. Characteristically, the venous ulcer develops in the gaiter area of the lower leg, medially from the instep to above the ankle. Malignant change may complicate a long-standing venous ulcer ¹. Venous ulcers are accompanied by lipodermatosclerosis and haemosiderosis ^{1, 2, 3}.

By the modern medicinal treatment different bandaging regimens, compression stocking, different surgical method have been used ^{1, 2}. Different antibiotics do not hasten ulcer healing in absence of cellulitis and other specific ulcer healing medicines are of suspicious validity.  After various methods of modern medicinal treatment there is a 20-30 per cent incidence of reulceration by five years ¹.

By the alternative way of treatment introducing of low cost medicine may eradicated the venous ulcer.

Material and Method:  Taking of the case, find out totality of symptoms. Selected the similimum on basis of individualize of the patient and miasmatic consideration. A 30 years old male presented with venous ulcer at Homoeo specialty clinic, Uluberia Subdivisional Hospital, Uluberia, Howrah, Govt. of West Bengal on 09/06/2011. Patient written consent was taken for study.

Taking the case:

Chief complaint with duration : An ulcer on right leg, near medial malleolus (Fig. 1) and having varicosity of lower limbs and thin discharges was came from it, for 8 years.

On examination: An ulcer measure 3.5cm X 2.5cm with stepping margins. Floor- yellowish pink, Edge-irregular but well defined, thin discharges were coming from it, dark pigment around it.

H/o Present complaint:  Two times treated with surgery   but ulcer was recurring again.

Past History: Leg injury at childhood, carbuncle at 20 years age.  

Family History: Rheumatism.   Occupation: Barber

Physical General:

Appetite: less, Desire: salt. Intolerance: meat, egg. Thirst: Moderate, Stool: constipation. Urine: 4 – 6 times /day, can hold it. Sleep: regular, Sweat: on face and palm. Thermal reaction: hot patient.

Mental General: easily anger.

Totality of Characteristics Symptoms:

1)      Ulcer on right leg, near medial malleolus and having varicosity of lower limbs and thin discharges from it,

2)      H/o Leg injury at childhood & carbuncle,

3)      Desire for salt,

4)      Intolerance to meat, egg,

5)      Sweat on face and palm,

6)      Hot patient,

7)      Easily anger.

Treatment and followup: Natrum mur 200 was prescribed orally along with Calendula Q for dressing the ulcer which improved the discharge from the ulcer but there was no sign of healing. Arnica 200 was prescribed after 5 days based on strong history of injury. The ulcer started healing but a burning sensation appeared at the ulcer side.

Arsenicum album 30 was prescribed after 2 months. In the next visit after 6 days, the burning disappeared but the patient developed a cough which was unrelated to the disease. On the basis of present symptoms Ipecac 30 was prescribed. Patient visited the OPD after 1 month and the ulcer heal by 75% (Fig. 2).

Re-case record:

Chief complaint with duration:  ulcer on right leg, near medial malleolus and having varicosity of lower limbs.

Physical general:

Appetite: Cannot tolerate hunger, Desire: salt, sweet. Intolerance:  egg. Thirst: moderate, Stool: regular. Urine: 5 – 6 times /day, can hold it. Sleep: regular, Sweat: on face and palm. Thermal reaction: hot patient.

Mental General: easily anger.

Totality of Characteristics Symptoms:

1)      Ulcer on right leg, near medial malleolus and having varicosity of lower limb

2)      Desire for salt and sweet

3)      Intolerance to egg,

4)      Sweat on face and palm,

5)      Hot patient.

6)      Easily anger.

Treatment and follow up: After re-case taking Nat sulph 200 was prescribed. Patient return after 8 days as the discharge started from the ulcer. Re-case taking was done.

Chief complaint: ulcer on right leg, near medial malleolus and having varicosity of lower limbs and thin watery discharge emited from it.

Physical general:

Appetite: Cannot tolerate hunger, Desire: warmth things, salt, sweet. Intolerance:  cabbage causes dyspepsia. Thirst: moderate, Stool: regular. Urine: 5 – 6 times /day, can hold it. Sleep: disturbed at night but feels drowsy at day time. Sweat: on face and palm. Thermal reaction: hot patient.

Mental General: sadness, loss of confidence.

Totality of Characteristics Symptoms:

1)      Ulcer on right leg, near medial malleolus and having varicosity of lower limb and thin discharge was came from it.

2)      Desire for warmth things, salt and sweet

3)      Intolerance to cabbage causes dyspepsia,

4)      Feels drowsy at day time.

5)      sweat on face and palm,

6)      Hot patient.

7)      Sadness of mind, loss of confidence.

Treatment and follow up: Lycopodium 1M was the simillimum. After 11 days, no such result occurs except the changes in discharge that was thick and yellow matter. According to the character of pus, Calc sulphur 30 was prescribed. No discharge with healthy granulation tissue at ulcer site, but still few cracked area remain and slight pain appeared. Silicea 200 was prescribed which completed the case (Fig. 3).

RESULT: Ulcer on right leg near medial malleolus (fig. 1) has been disappeared after completion of treatment (fig. 3).

TABLE 1: PROTOCOL OF TREATMENT              

FIG. 1: VENOUS ULCER BEFORE TREATMENT

FIG. 2: VENOUS ULCER DURING TREATMENT

FIG. 3: VENOUS ULCER AFTER TREATMENT

DISCUSSION: After going through the case, I diagnosed the venous ulcer as a professional hazard but the person must continue his profession.

However, disease must be brought out in symptoms, with the end of its becoming a likeness of some remedy of the Materia Medica. All the diseases known to man have their likeness in the Materia Medica and the physician must become so conversant with this art that he may perceive this likeness. All the senses must be on the alert in order to perceive that which similar, and most similar ⁵. After taking of the case, find out totality of symptoms and I selected the similimum and before prescribing I had verified every time with Materia Medica. For rapid and gentle cure, I had find out the uncommon, peculiar, rare symptoms of the case. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of classical Homoeopathy in venous ulcer and larger trials in future may suggest.

Calendula officinalis is one of the most remarkable healing agent ⁵. These medicines, I have used locally to cure the ulcer. By alternative way of treatment oral introducing of small doses of less expensive medicine and regularly dressing with calendula Q the venous ulcer was disappeared as well as varicosity of leg may disappeared permanently. Discharges from the ulcer also disappeared. Venous ulcer is not appeared again after completed the treatment.

CONCLUSION: By means of nano pharmacology like Homoeopathy including oral and local application of medicine ameliorates venous ulcer and varicosities of leg within very short span of time.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: With a profound sense of gratitude, I express my sincere respect to the Director of Homoeopathy, Govt. of west Bengal and Superintended, Uluberia Sub Divisional Hospital, Howrah, Govt. of West Bengal for allow me to conduct the work.

REFERENCES:

1. Norman S. Williams, Christopher J.K. Bulstrode, P. Ronan Oconnell: Bailey & Loves, Short Practice of Surgery. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Edition 26, 2013:237-250
2. Courtney M. Townsend, Jr., R. Daniel Beauchamp, B. Mark Evers, Kenneth L. Mattox: Sabiston Text Book of Surgery, The Biological Basis Of Modern Surgical Practice. Elsevier, a division of Reed Elsevier India Private Limited, New Delhi, Edition 19, Vol.II, 2012:1805-1812
3. Schwartz, Shires, Spencer: Principles of Surgery. Mc Graw-Hill, United State of America, Edition 6, Vol. I, 1969:1003-1005
4. James Tyler Kent: Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy. Modern Homoeo Publication, Kolkata, Edition 2, 1990:182-183.
5. Boericke William: Homoeopathic Materia Medica Comprising, The Characteristic And Guiding Symptoms Of All Remedies (Clinical And Pathogenetic). Modern Homoeo Publication, Kolkata, Edition 9, 2011: 156.
   

   ---

How to cite this article:

Das C: Evidence based Homoeopathy in treating long standing & recurring venous ulcer- A prospective and interventional study. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2013: 4(8); 3266-3269. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR. 0975-8232.4(8).3266-69

All © 2013 are reserved by International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. This Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.