Fifty-seven-year-old Chartered Accountant finds relief from lifelong frequent colds with homeopathy

Mr. K.B.M., a fifty-seven-year-old male patient (Patient ID: 34499), visited Life Force for the treatment of frequent colds. He was under treatment at Life Force since 2017 for 2 years and then restarted treatment again in 202. He had been suffering from frequent colds since birth, experiencing daily episodes except during the summer. The condition was severe and stable in its progression. His episodes were characterized by twenty to twenty-five bouts of sneezing at a time, a running nose, nasal blockage (right side more than left), minimal cough, sensation of something stuck in the throat, occasional fever, head heaviness, and drowsiness throughout the day. He had developed anosmia (loss of smell) for one year and sometimes experienced swelling below the eyes and face. His symptoms were significantly aggravated by cold air, air conditioning, cold drinks, and ice cream. He had a significant past medical history of meningitis at age three and nephritis at seventeen years of age. For his current condition, he was using steam inhalation with Easy Breath (an ayurvedic preparation containing nigiri) and Shudbindu oil nasal drops daily for one month before consultation.

The patient also presented with associated complaints, including Diabetes Mellitus for five to six years, which was controlled with conventional medicines.

Additionally, he suffered from constipation for ten to fifteen years with unsatisfactory stools occurring two to three times daily, though without hard stools or straining. He was taking Triphala tablets (two tablets daily) for ten to fifteen years.

Regarding his general characteristics, Mr. K.B.M. was a vegetarian with average appetite and strong cravings for spicy food and moderate cravings for sour items. He had no addictions and consumed approximately three liters of water daily. He experienced profuse perspiration, especially on his face and forehead, and had a hot thermal state. His bowel movements were not satisfactory, and micturition was asymptomatic. He had an average physical build.

Mr. K.B.M. worked as a Chartered Accountant with his own practice and lived with his wife (housewife), eighteen-year-old son, and thirteen-year-old daughter. His father was retired, and his mother was a housewife. He described his childhood, adolescence, and youth years as happy and well-supported with marital harmony. He reported work-related stress and described himself as short-tempered, shy, and unable to speak in public, becoming emotional and crying when attempting to do so. According to his wife, he was a perfectionist who wanted everything to be perfect and became lazy when returning home. He would get angry if work was not done properly by employees or if things were not in their proper place.

Family history revealed that his father and paternal grandmother both suffered from asthma, indicating a strong hereditary predisposition to respiratory ailments.

His past medical history was significant for meningitis at age three, nephritis at seventeen years of age, and an operation for varicose veins at thirty-four years of age.

From a mental and emotional perspective, the patient exhibited traits of perfectionism, work-related stress, short temper, and social anxiety. He was described as shy and emotional, particularly when required to speak publicly. His anger was triggered by imperfection in work or when things were not organised properly.

Dr. Rajesh Shah studied the case in detail and prescribed Tuberculinum 1M based on the totality of symptoms, considering his perfectionist nature, work stress, thermal state, digestive complaints, and respiratory symptoms with clear modalities.

Follow-ups:

Follow-up on 3rd June 2022: The patient showed marked improvement with an overall 50% betterment. Nasal discharge was reduced by 50%, there was no nasal block, and the frequency and intensity of symptoms were reduced by 40%. However, loss of smell remained unchanged.

Follow-up on 19th July 2022: Overall, 50% improvement continued. The running nose had stopped completely, with only occasional sneezing with coryza. He reported mucus in the deep throat, morning swelling under his eyes, and the sensation of something stuck deep in his nose. His sense of smell was still lost.

Follow-up on 29th November 2022: Further improvement of 20%. Due to sticky mucus from his throat, which was difficult to expectorate, he was using nasal ayurvedic capsules and Easy Breath capsules six to seven times per month.

Follow-up on 4th March 2024: There was a significant relapse with frequency and severity increasing tremendously over the past year. His main concern was nose blockage triggered by AC draft, cold drinks, ice cream, and cold weather.

Follow-up on 21st June 2024: Continued improvement with no major episodes and restored smell. However, he experienced swelling on his face in AC or cold weather with a headache, which had increased over the past three to four days. Post-nasal discharge was present.

Follow-up on 18th July 2024: Overall better condition with restored smell and reduced facial swelling. No episodes of cough and cold were reported, with only slight post-nasal discharge remaining.

Follow-up on 18th March 2025: Significant improvement with frequency reduced to one to two times per month, lasting only one to two days, with much better severity. Episodes consisted only of coryza without cough or fever. Left nostril blockage and morning sensation of a lump in the throat persisted.

Follow-up on 7th July 2025:Excellent improvement with only mild episodes occurring one to two times per month, lasting half to one day after consuming cold drinks or ice cream. The right nasal blockage occurred at night during episodes but improved within five minutes upon waking. Throat irritation with a sensation of phlegm persisted, but no cough occurred. He was completely off conventional treatment.

Conclusion:

This case demonstrates the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment in managing chronic colds. It shows significant improvement in frequency, duration, and severity of episodes.

• Case study written by Dr. Nafisa Dhorajiwala, Associate doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah, MD (Hom)