Dermatology Cases

1. Dermatology Cases Treated with homoeopathy

2. Principles • A system of medicine based on the principle of “like cures like” -similia similibus curentur • Uses the smallest dose possible to produce a response

3. Health = ease Illness = disease • Homoeopathy works with the body’s response to illness • Disease due to bacterial, viral invasion, inflammation, autoimmune, degeneration • Symptoms – body’s attempt to attack the disease process • Homoeo – detailed history to match with appropriate remedy

4. Isopathy • Allergens – House dust, house dust mite, grass, pollen, oil seed rape • Cats, dogs, cattle, guinea pigs • Nosodes • Staphylococcin, Streptococcin

5. 8 year old boy • Eczema for many years • Allergies - guinea pig, dog, dust, straw • eczema worse on uncovered areas, • < knees to ankles - has to wear short trousers • scratches  bleeding, > cool • pain in head when running • Strong FH of Atopy – uncle, grandmother, father

6. Conventional treatment • Referred to dermatology clinic in 1997 • Mild to moderate eczema, patches on wrists, flexures, neck – trunk clear but dry skin • Fucibet, Trimovate, Dermol, • Acute admssion for asthma in 1995 and 1997 • Dermatology referral again in 2003 • RAST – animal fur, strawberry, hay/straw, wool, high IgE to house dust mite

7. Conventional medication at first homoeopathic consultation • Diprobase • Oilatum • Fucibet • Elocon • Pulmicort • Bricanyl

8. V. itchy at night sticks feet out of bed anxious about school, noisy if angry likes affection sociable, lots of friends Fears - sharks, snakes likes performing prefers routine desires - salt, spicy, sweet Homoeopathic history

9. Prescription • Sulphur 30C one day per month • House dust/ house dust mite 30C - one day per month • Graphites cream – often relieves itching and has healing properties. Enables reduction in use of steroid creams

10. Untidy Very hungry partic at 11 a.m. Eat anything, craves fat Dislike heat, washing, put feet out of bed Red orifices Dirty-looking Active but dislike standing Skin dry, burning eruptions > scratching Offensive eruptions, pimples, boils Fear - snakes Sulphur

11. Next visit • possibly more good days than bad with skin • pain in head ++ • gave Manganum 6C t.I.d., Graphites cream, continue with HD/HDM • Manganum – eruptions around joints, itching > scratching, chronic eczema • Bryonia for headaches

12. Next visit • Seen 6 months later as cancelled previous appt • skin much better, arms clear, some slight patches behind knees • stopped Manganum but takes when skin flares up and > • headaches much better • dog hair, guinea pig, mixed grass/pollen

13. Eczema since birth Breast-fed Tried avoiding dairy products – no effect < summer, swimming FH of atopy – sister,father, aunt Hayfever < horses 2 cats at home – make her sneeze Diprobase Occasional Betnovate 11 year old girl

14. Homoeopathic history • Scratches → bleeding • Itching < heat • Stormy relationships with friends but has lots • Loves performing – sings in public • Fears spiders, dark, alone • Creative, sporty,

15. Homoeopathic treatment • Phosphorus 1M – 1 day per month • Graphites 6C tablets, 1 tab t.i.d. and Graphites cream • Chlorum 30C, 1 tab before and after swimming

16. Next appointment • Skin much better – no patches of eczema and itching disappeared • Advised to reduce Graphites • Mentioned that she is reacting to horses and hayfever has started • Given Horse tabs 30C to take before and after contact • And Mixed grass/pollen/oilseed rape tabs 30C 1Tab t.i.d. on 1 day per week

17. 4 months later • Improvement continued • No hayfever symptoms • Occasional flare-ups of eczema but less than previously

18. Attractive children and personalities Maintain eye contact Anxious to please Dramatic, love performing Fear - dark, thunder, alone Burning in skin, cracks at joints Chilly Burning pains Pale complexion Red hair Phosphorus

19. 79 year old man • Eczematous rash on both hands • Discoid eczema on arms and lower legs • Started 3 years before, after going on to Ramipril • Allergies – nickel, alcohol based solutions • Hands – v. itchy, sore, cracked, weeping

20. Previous treatment • Seen by dermatologist • Patch testing – NAD • Given Fucibet, Elconton, Dermocream and dermal soap • No improvement

21. Homoeopathic history • Fairly easy-going, generous – wants to make people happy • Was a perfectionist at work • Dislikes heat • Weepy at happy and sad events, anxious about his family • Desires sweet foods

22. Homoeopathic prescription • Lycopodium 1M - 1 tab t.i.d. on 1 day per month • Graphites tabs 6C – 1 tab t.I.d. until improvement • Graphites cream.

23. 4 months later • Improvement ++ • Patches on limbs much less but not completely disappeared • Hands – itching > cracks and weeping > • Cream very soothing • Itching not completely disappeared so Graphites stopped and Sulphur given instead.

24. Another 4 months • Did not feel that Sulphur v. effective so has gone back to Graphites • Itching much > • Skin of hands, legs and abdomen virtually clear • Advised to reduce Graphites tabs with a view to stopping it completely

25. affects ears, skin and nails Itchy eruptions with oozing Eczema on head, crusts matting the hair Eczema in flexures, groins, neck, behind ears Thick, dry skin Nails – thick, deformed, brittle Tendency to constipation, obesity, indecision Children – impudent, laugh at reprimands Graphites

26. Benefits of homoeopathic treatment • Safe to take for any age group • Cost effective • Looking at the patient as a whole • Patient satisfaction • Practitioner fullfilment

27. Closing thought • Useful option to consider in the treatment of any patient for any symptom picture