Fungal infections and homoeopathic management

Dr Mohd. Salauddin¹  Dr Truptida Sahu²               

ABSTRACT
A healthy skin is a reflection of overall wellness. In skin, fungal infections are the most common skin disorders. These infections are common among any age group. There are many types of fungal infections. They can be permanently cure by taking proper medication and by management.

The aim of this article is to describe briefly about fungal infections and its homoeopathic management.

KEYWORDS – Skin, fungus, Homoeopathy

INTRODUCTION
‘Beautifully charming skin is perceptible to senses and is be seen by everybody who is not even a physician. But what a physician can see that others may not’.

FUNGAL DISEASES OF THE SKIN
Mycology is the branch of biology that deals with the study of fungi. Most of the fungal diseases are not fatal, but once contracted; they may forever be a source of constant irritation and can lead to permanent scarring, which is why they are not such a pretty sight to view.

Fungi are the heterotrophs. So, they derive their nutrition from other complexes organic substances^[1]. 

TYPES OF FUNGAL INFECTION

NAME OF THE TYPE	LOCATION	CONTAGIOUS/NON CONTAGIOUS
TINEA CORPORIS	Skin, hair, nails & can appear anywhere on the body.	Highly contagious even by touch
TINEA CRURIS (Jock itch)	Buttocks & thigh	Mildly contagious, spread through direct contact with the affected person
TINEA VERSICOLOR	Back, neck, chest & upper arm	Not contagious
TINEA UNGIUM/ ONYCHOMYCOSIS	Nails or toe nails	Contagious
TINEA FACIE	Face	Highly contagious on sharing towels
TINEA CAPITIS	Scalp	Highly contagious on sharing, hat, cap or comb
TINEA PEDIS (Athlete’s foot)	Feet	Easily contagious by sharing shoes & shocks with the affected person

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO AVOID FUNGAL INFECTION

1. Practice good hygiene habits.
2. Discard old shoes. Do not share footwear or clothes with others.
3. Wash your hands, especially after contact with any animal.
4. Use clean and dry clothes.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
Homoeopathy, the system of medicine which is based on the axiom “similia similibus curenter” can show its best result on effect on skin affections. In cases of skin diseases no other pathy can work as good as Homoeopathy works. So, in cases of tinea Homoeopathy has shown its marvelous result. 

Homoeopathic medicines can be prescribed constitutionally as well as therapeutically depending on severity and age of the infection.

There are some Homoeopathic medicines which works best in tinea are tabulated below with their symptoms.

Table No. 1

NAME OF MEDICINE	LOCATION	SENSATION	MODALITY	CONCOMITANT
NATRUM MURIATICUM	Margin of hairy scalp & bends of the joints	Itching & burning	WORSE – itching after exertion	Craving for salt
SEPIA OFFICINALIS	whole body	itching	WORSE – laundry work, after perspiration  BETTER – warmth of bed and cold bathing	Indifferent to those loved best
TELLURIUM	Whole body, single parts, lower limb, scrotum & perineum	Intense itching & stinging in the skin	WORSE – at night & cold weather	Craving for apples
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS	Covered parts all over except head	Itching with bleeding	WORSE – night at 3AM & 3PM, vaccination	Fixed ideas
GRAPHITES	Whole body	Itching with a sticky discharge	WORSE – warmth & night	–
SULPHUR	Whole body	Itching with burning heat	WORSE – washing, spring time BETTER – dry weather	Thinks rags beautiful things[2]

CONCLUSION
At the end of the discussion it is concluded that fungal infection can appear at any part of the body and they spread through direct or indirect contact with the infected person. Homoeopathic medicines shows the significant result in treating fungal infections with cost effective and no side effects.

REFERENCES

1. Sharma N. Role of homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of superficial fungal infections [Doctor of medicine in Homoeopathy]. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur; 2010. 
2. Boericke W. Pocket manual of homoeopathic materia medica. 9^th ed. New Delhi: Indian Books & Periodical Publishers.

Dr. Mohd. Salauddin¹  Dr. Truptida Sahu^{2       
 1}HOD, Professor, M.D (Hom).
Dr. M.P.K. Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital and Research center.
²Department of Paediatrics (MD Part 1)
Dr. M.P.K. Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital and Research center.