HOMŒOPATHIC THERAPEUTICS OF TRAUMA

K.S.SRINIVASAN

        Is this so important?  Doesn’t even a tyro in Homœopathy know the ABCs  of   this  - Arnica, Bellis perennis, Calendula and so on?  Is there need to treat every trauma – a Concussion, a Shock, a Cut, a Fall, etc.?  Wounds and Injuries generally heal by themselves; where then is a medical help called for?  Will a Shock or Concussion have long-term effect?  Could many chronic pains and infirmities be the result of untreated, ill-treated traumas?

        Listen to our master Samuel HAHNEMANN (1755-1843):  “…. the specific curative power of this plant or to find out the real remedy for the often dangerous general derangement of their health which is caused by a severe Fall, by Blows, Knocks, Contusions, Sprains, or by Overstretching or Laceration of the solid parts of the body”. [1]

        It is evident that uncured (homœopathically) traumas may cause “dangerous general derangement of health”.  Many of the chronic pains could be due to an earlier trauma which the patient may not remember.  Repertory gives Hypericum as remedy for “Cancer from injury” in chest [2].  Also “cancerous affections after contusions, in chest” [3].  Con., Arn., Bell-p., Calen.,  “with gangrene: Carb-an.” “Phthisis after injury to chest: Mill., Ruta, [4]”   Now we realise the seriousness of an injury.  We should therefore inquire carefully for any trauma, in every case.

        If  anyone  has   any  doubt  of  the  speedy,  gentle,  and   sure  curative action  of   the homœopathic medicine, he/she should witness the action of homœopathic medicine, or still better him/her-self suffer a severe injury and personally experience the action of the homœopathic remedy.  It would also convince once and for all such canards that the relief a patient reports is due to ‘placebo’ or ‘suggestion’ effect.  The only test of value to the ‘sick’ is the test at the ‘bed-side’ and not ‘double blind’ or researches in the laboratories under artifically created environment on hapless animals. Cure of an ailment must be felt by the patient. What does it avail if we prove in the laboratory in controlled conditions, if there is no relief of a person’s ailment?

        The pioneer, worldwide ‘torch-bearer’ of Homœopathy, Constantine HERING (1800-1880), suffered in 1821 an injury in the right hand index finger while dissecting an exhumed body. As a result he suffered badly – there was a severe inflammation, high fever and it became so bad that an amputation was planned.  HERING’s friend, E.KUMMER advised him to take Arsenicum album 30.  “With scepticism I took the drops in the evening, and next day was much better, a week later restored.  And no more doubt ever” [5]. ‘Know thyself’ which HAHNEMANN insisted upon while writing about the physician employing a proving upon himself, so that “he knows with the greatest certainty that which he has perceived in himself”, is quite relevant to the person experiencing similarly a cure upon himself and therefore “no more doubt ever” [6].

        A ‘trauma’ is, in the first instance, an emergency and one must therefore have at one’s fingertips the emergency remedies.  Violent sufferings and haemorrhages have to be helped “instantaneously”, “blood must be stopped.” [7]

        To the best of my knowledge, in the last few decades no homœopathic hospital (attached to Homœopathic Medical Colleges) seems to have handled cases of severe Injuries, ‘Emergencies’.  How then will a student gain first-hand experience?  However, those of us who have, in the course of long practice of Homœopathy, practical experience, can aver to the very rapid healing effect of the potentised homœopathic remedy and there is no need for allopathic anti-tetanus or anti-septic measures.  The appropriate homœopathicremedy is haemostatic, aseptic, antiseptic and curative – all in one.  This we aver from personal experience over several years.   In fact there is a very strong case for a Homœopathic First Aid and Ambulance Service for road accident cases.  It is needless to say that surgical interventions where necessary have to be undertaken, as recommended by HAHNEMANN. [8]

        The only situations where “antipathic and palliative treatment are admissible” are “in most urgent cases, in sudden accidents … of asphyxiation, apparent death by lightning, suffocation, freezing, drowning, etc. at least for the time being, to rouse the irritability and sensibility (the physical life) again by means of a palliative …” [9].

        There is another Foot Note to this Foot Note which is more relevant.  “And yet, the new hybrid sect invoke this footnote (in vain) to encounter everywhere exceptions to the rule in diseases and to smuggle in their allopathic …. rubbish.  They do this simply to spare themselves the effort of reaching out the apt homœopathic remedy in such case of disease, thus conveniently appearing to be homœopathic physicians without being such. But their deeds are in accordance with the system they pursue; they are pernicious.” [10]

        I would urge that we all read of the experience of Dr.Petrie HOYLE  in the World War I.  He was a Surgeon and used Homœopathy extensively. [11]  If homœopathic treatment could render much help in War Front where ‘facilities’ are practically nil, how much more we, living with all facilities, could obtain.  Nearly a century has gone by since the experience of Dr.Petrie HOYLE and we have more remedies, lot of clinical experience and data.  Why then is our role of trauma treatment so low?

        We should remember that every surgical case is, nolens volens, a medical case at the same time.

        Now some important points on the Therapeutics of Trauma:

        If the symptoms of the injury do not compare well with the characteristic symptoms of the remedy considered specific for the type of injury (e.g., Ledum for punctured wound) the ‘characteristic’ symptoms [12]  presented must be taken into consideration.

        Wherever auxiliary measures are called for, they must be undertaken. [13]

        In case of mechanical injuries, clinical consideration is more relevant.

        Remedies with specific organ affinities must be kept in view, like for example Bryonia for serous membranes, Ruta for bone.

        Also, before prescribing we must keep in mind the pathological state, i.e. whether the bleeding is venous or arterial, how the circulatory system is, whether one is dealing with a sprain or a fracture; a careful examination is therefore a must.

        The exact kind of pain, the sensation, location, must be identified; the modalities (movement, heat/cold, pressure, rubbing, touch etc.), the colour of the affected part, swelling etc. must be noted.  BOENNINGHAUSEN’s advice to give high value to symptom not directly connected “with the leading disease” which includes the mental symptoms, to differentiate between similar remedies, must be remembered. [14]  There  is no routinism in Homœopathy.  Check whether the injured part is swollen, tender, cold, warm to touch, blue, black, etc.  Is the bleeding red, dark; is the injured part better for movement, from draft; etc.?

        Regarding the potency and repetition, it depends upon factors like the intensity of suffering, the sensitivity of the patient, whether the injury is superficial or deep, etc.  If repetition is necessary, a 30, 200 may be dissolved in a glass of water and from this a spoonful may be taken and everytime the solution has to be stirred before taking. HAHNEMANN’s warning not to repeat the same potency may be borne in mind. [15]

        Pierre SCHMIDT (1894-1987) the doyen of homœopaths of the 20^th century, favoured repetition of high potencies. [16]  Since Q potencies (also known as LM/50 millesimal) will bear repetition without adverse reaction, it may be more suitable.

        Most important, while the help that the homœopath renders must be without delay and right, he/she should not, at the same time, panic and rush.  One must however, be well-read and know to compare the remedies quickly.

      We may broadly classify the Homœopathic Trauma Therapy as:

To recall to our mind again, every surgical case is also at the same time a medical  case.

        Almost all Wounds, Falls, Blows, Stab or Knife injuries, Scald and Burns, Fractures, etc. (and we may include surgeries, mental shocks) are ‘acute’ in the sense that they occur suddenly, unexpectedly.  Correct prescription will hasten healing smoothly and prevent chronicity.

        The role of Aconitum napellus  in the suddenness and the resultant shock of an injury and the intensity of the pain must be borne in mind.  CLARKE says  “suddenness” is a feature of Arnica pain and action. [17]

      The traumas can be found in page 1368 of the Repertory [18] as ‘injuries’.  And here, one has to search for injuries to the bones, periosteum, the soft parts, the tendons, nerves, glands.  If there is or isn’t an extravasation of blood.  All this is found under injuries.

      Do not forget in page 1399, the post-traumatic shock.  You have more than 20 remedies and you will be surprised to find there, very important remedies, which one tends to neglect and which we must judiciously use.

      Then in the last page of the Repertory are the Wounds - this rubric is very precious and contains bites, - snakebites and other animal venoms, and stings - for insect stings page 1331.

      You have under Wounds, cuts or stab wounds, the anatomical cuts without specific locations are under dissections, the penetrating wounds under penetrating and wounds from splinters under splinter.  A cut made by a knife should not be confused with a stabwhich is a wound by a dagger.

      Do not forget the locations at the outset under head, page 128, with the specific remedies. Injuries to the cranium has particular remedies, and injury to the spine, others.

      Cerebral concussions is found under - ‘commotion-concussion’ page109

      The troubles of the head following Concussion, page 138, after a fall, page 140, and after mechanical injuries, page 141.

      In eyes, p. 244, under ‘injuries’ you have the famous ‘black eye’ for which we do not give Arnica but Symphytum.  Of course Arnica will do good, but is only similar, whereas Symphytum will be a simillimum.  If there is a general syndrome of trauma I will give Symphytum at first to all cases, and then stop it and if it is necessary, Arnica some days later if the patient is not improving sufficiently and if he has other symptoms of Arnica.

      Post-traumatic loss of vision p. 282.  Here we can find indications which will help us a lot.  There is also Cataract after Contusion or after surgery p. 236, Chemosis after surgery for Cataract p. 236; ocular pain after surgery p.253; inflammation of the eye after trauma p. 242. 

      Under ears we find in p.322 hearing diminished following traumas (Concussion).

      In Nose, after a punch on the nose- ‘epistaxis from a blow’ p. 337.

      Bladder, after-effect of Lithotomy p.646 where Staphysagria is the specific remedy and post- traumatic Cystitis in the same page under ‘inflammation’.

      Kidneys, p. 666, Anuria following trauma of the vertebral coloumn, suppression of urine from Concussion.

      In abortions, remember that there is in p.715 ‘abortions following injuries’.

      Tumors of the breast following traumas, induration after Contusion p. 835.

      Then all traumas to the limbs, in extremities, injuries, p.1019.

      Make use of this occasion to similarly search for the traumas to the various locations:

      Shoulders, hands, fingers, hips, ankle, sprains, pain in the stumps, dissection wound, wounds from glass pieces, cat scratches.

      Under traumatic fever in the Repertory p.1292 add the following drugs which Kent has not included: Aconite, Arnica, Calendula, Coffea, Lyssin, Iodum, Apis. [19]

      Now we undertake the study under following heads:

      Before    we   go   further,   it  must  be recalled that remedies  are  considered as ‘trauma remedies’ only on the basis of clinical experience of applying the remedies ‘homœopathic’ (symptoms similarity) to the suffering of the injured patient.  We should also not overlook the fundamental principle that it is the rare, peculiar, uncommon symptoms that would lead to the curative remedy.