Homeopathy's Holistic approach to lifestyle disorders
Mrs A.l (Patient identification number: 50410), aged 36, consulted at our Santa Cruz branch regarding multiple concerns significantly impacting her daily activities and professional responsibilities.
The patient had been dealing with PCOS for 5-6 years and was not on any specific medication or hormonal treatment. After diagnosis, she attempted to maintain and control the condition through various lifestyle changes.
She had started taking Ayurveda medications. Her major complaints were delayed menses with dysmenorrhea (unmanageable pain during the cycle) and amenorrhea (no menses) for 3 months. Despite being on a diet and exercising, she had also gained about 3-4 kg.
In addition, she had been experiencing sinusitis for 15 years, with recent exacerbation of symptoms. She presented with a blocked nose, difficulty breathing, pain in the root of the nose, and heaviness in her forehead, necessitating keeping her mouth open, particularly at night, for breathing. The patient complained of tiredness and throat irritation.
Personal history:
In terms of personal history, the patient did not have a proper scheduled diet or exercise routine. She maintained a mixed type of diet with an average appetite, enjoyed consuming sweets, and had difficulty eating vegetables. The patient typically drank about 2 litres of water per day, had a tendency to feel thermally hot, reported satisfactory stools, and had no complaints related to the urinary system.
Mental history:
In terms of mental history, the patient had to cope with a significant amount of stress in day-to-day life due to the workload and nature of the workplace. She had a happy childhood. The patient remained busy at work and had to travel frequently, which left her with limited time for exercise or maintaining a proper diet. Her schedule was irregular and unpredictable. She also mentioned her habit of smoking 1-2 cigarettes daily.
Family History:
The patient mentioned that her sister had PCOS and underwent surgery one year ago.
Prescription:
After a comprehensive analysis of the case regarding the clinical condition and current mental state, and taking into account the patient’s lifestyle, Dr. Shah provided an individualized prescription. The patient was advised on the dosage, and a diet chart was also explained.
Follow-ups:
1st Follow-up: The patient visited after 2 months for the 1st follow-up. She reported feeling 50% better in sinusitis complaints, experiencing no episodes, and was only affected by viral fever due to a change in weather. Her menstrual cycle had become regular after the first month, with normal bleeding and a proper 5-day cycle.
Based on these observations and the clinical condition, a second prescription was done.
2nd Follow-up: The patient returned after 1 and a half months since the last follow-up. She reported a 70% improvement in her sinusitis complaints and continued to have normal, regular menstrual cycles.
The patient expressed a desire to commence treatment for GERD. She had been experiencing GERD symptoms for 3-4 months, including cough, acid reflux, heartburn, heaviness in the head, and anxiety. She relied on pantoprazole and other antacids after meals, typically twice a day for 3 months. The patient described feeling the need to burp but sensing trapped gas in the throat. Additionally, she experienced a sensation of trapped gas in the abdomen during flatulence passage. These complaints were attributed to her lifestyle, work, and stress levels.
Medications were prescribed to address the patient's PCOS, GERD, and sinusitis complaints.
A few days later, the patient presented with complaints related to bronchitis persisting for 20 days. She experienced continuous dry cough for 15 days, which coincided with her house renovation and exposure to paint fumes. Additionally, her symptoms were exacerbated by traveling, leading to continuous fluctuations in temperature around her. The patient underwent allopathic treatment for 10 days, which included Tab Bilacard,Tab.Montek, Capsule Benz pearls, Capsule Nexpro, Syp Reswas L, and inhaler Fortecort(200). After documenting her complaints, further medications for Allergic Bronchitis were prescribed and sent to the patient via courier.
In the subsequent follow-up in July, the patient expressed satisfaction with the treatment outcomes. She experienced a 40-50% relief in GERD symptoms, with a significant reduction in episodes and dependency on antacids. Sinusitis complaints improved by 70-80%, with no complaints related to PCOS and regular menstrual cycles with normal blood flow. Regarding allergic bronchitis, there was a 20% improvement in complaints, with reduced intensity and frequency of coughing. The patient discontinued all medications related to bronchitis.
In a recent follow-up in October, the patient reported an 80% relief in GERD complaints, a 70% improvement in sinusitis with no episodes, and a 90% improvement in PCOS complaints, experiencing regular cycles without weight gain and minimal to no pain during the cycle. Additionally, there was a 30-40% improvement in allergic bronchitis, marked by reduced dependency on medication and decreased intensity of coughing.
Conclusion:
1) Open honesty from patients regarding their lifestyle and habits facilitates the identification of underlying reasons or ailments contributing to their health issues. This transparency aids the prescriber in selecting individual-specific remedies tailored to the patient's needs.
2) While in certain cases, the maintaining cause or lifestyle factors may remain unchanged, appropriate remedy selection can still offer effective relief and support to patients in managing their conditions.