Managing Psoriasis Alongside HIV Diabetes and Hypertension with Homeopathy

Mr. C.J., a sixty-one-year-old businessman (Patient ID: 47649), approached the Life Force Homeopathy Chembur clinic in March 2022 for homeopathic treatment of his chronic psoriasis. He had been suffering from psoriasis for eight years, which initially started on his scalp and gradually spread to various parts of his body, including bilateral ears, right arm, umbilicus, scrotum, and back. The condition had been slowly progressing over the past year, with thick, scaly lesions particularly prominent on the scalp. The severe itching and scaling of lesions had been his major concern. He had previously used steroid applications for one and a half months, which he discontinued six months before seeking homeopathic treatment. He had been taking homeopathic remedies for the past five years before consulting at Life Force.

Mr. C.J. presented with several associated health conditions, including HIV infection for twelve years (asymptomatic, on ART treatment), diabetes for twenty-one years (on anti-diabetic medications), hypertension for twelve years (controlled with anti-hypertensive medicine), and male pattern baldness for twenty-two years. All these conditions were stable and well controlled with conventional treatments.

Regarding his general characteristics, Mr. C. J. followed a mixed diet with an average appetite. He had no specific food cravings or aversions. He had stopped tobacco use one year ago but consumed alcohol every ten days. His thermal state showed sensitivity to cold weather, with psoriasis symptoms worsening during winter. He experienced average perspiration with more sweating on the scalp. His bowel movements were satisfactory, and micturition was asymptomatic. He reported sound sleep without significant disturbances.

Mr. C. J. was married and worked in the masala business, having previously owned a hotel. His spouse also worked in the masala business, and they had one son and two daughters. His son worked at TCS while his daughters were married. His family setup appeared stable with good marital harmony. Throughout different life phases, he reported being generally happy and well-supported, with some stress and insecurity during his youth years, but overall maintained satisfaction in his relationships and family life.

His family history revealed that his mother had diabetes mellitus, and his brother suffered from HIV, blood cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, and hypertension. His father had ascites. There was no family history of psoriasis, making his case non-hereditary.

In his past medical history, Mr. C. J. had chikungunya in 2005 and underwent piles surgery in 1993.

Mentally, Mr. C. J. presented as a mild, gentle, and shy person with good intellectual capabilities, including memory, logic, intelligence, and perception. He showed some nervousness and fear but maintained a good emotional balance. He demonstrated disappointment regarding his health condition but remained cooperative throughout the treatment process.

Dr. Rajesh Shah studied the case in detail, considering the chronic nature of psoriasis, the patient''s immunocompromised state, associated comorbidities, and his constitutional symptoms. After careful analysis, homeopathic medicine was prescribed, targeting both the local skin manifestations and the underlying constitutional imbalance.

Follow-ups:

For the first follow-up on May 2, 2022, the patient showed marked improvement with a reduction in lesion size, decreased itching, and reduced scaling. He reported that itching was more prominent on the scalp. Overall improvement was noted.

From July to November, continued improvement was observed with almost seventy percent overall betterment. The patient reported no itching or reduced scaling, and importantly, no new spread of lesions was noted.

Follow-up in January 2023: the patient maintained his improvement with no new eruptions appearing. However, there was a slight increase in itching attributed to the winter season, which is a known aggravating factor for psoriasis.

From March to October 2023, the overall condition remained better with a seventy percent improvement in itching, though some itching persisted at the site of lesions.

During the follow-up in November 2023, there was improvement in lesions throughout the body, but the patient remained concerned about persistent itching and scaling in the scalp area.

Follow-up on January 10, 2024: there was excellent improvement observed all over the body, with scalp lesions showing better healing, though some itching and scaling persisted on the scalp.

For the follow-up in March 2024, there was remarkable progress noted with lesions present only on the scalp, while other areas showed complete healing. The scalp lesions were also improving with reduced itching.

Follow-up on July 16, 2024: outstanding improvement was documented with ninety percent overall betterment. Roughness, scaling, and itching in lesions on the scalp were much better controlled.

From August 2024 to January 2025, the patient maintained a ninety percent overall improvement with better control of roughness, scaling, and itching. Only mild itching persisted occasionally but was well-tolerated by the patient. 

The most recent follow-up on April 1, 2025, showed sustained improvement with thick, rough skin behind the ears accompanied by slight itching, representing minimal residual symptoms, but the patient remained comfortable.

Conclusion:

This case demonstrates the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment in managing chronic psoriasis, even in immunocompromised patients. The systematic and sustained improvement over nearly three years of treatment shows the deep-acting nature of homeopathic remedies in addressing both local symptoms and constitutional factors. The patient''s compliance with treatment and the comprehensive case management approach contributed significantly to the successful outcome.

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