Dysmenorrhoea and the plant kingdom-A sensitive relationship

Gaurav Nagar¹, Anju Bishnoi²

Abstract
Dysmenorrhoea is the painful menses or painful periodic menstrual cycle. We have n number of medicines in homoeopathy but Homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition i.e individualization. For individualization we use different methods and one among them is group study or the study of the species having similar characteristics. Nature offers the most exquisite system of natural classification thus showing a path for quick healing-the three kingdoms i.e the Mineral, Plant and Animal. 

Keywords: Dysmenorrhoea, homoeopathy, Plant kingdom, Sensitivity.

Introduction:
Dysmenorrhoea is defined as a cyclic, painful cramping sensation in the lower abdomen often accompanied by other biologic symptoms, including sweating, tachycardia, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and tremulousness, all occurring just before or during the menses.¹

According to Skinner Homoeopathy can cure the worst forms of dysmenorrhoea resulting from functional disturbance, stricture, retroversion or inflammation or ovarian irritation.²

Dr. H.C Malhotra explained that to remove the pain wherever it exists in the ailments of human beings is the noblest task of the physician.³

Classification of Dysmenorrhoea^1,4

1. Primary Dysmenorrhoea.
2. Secondary Dysmenorrhoea
3. Spasmodic Dysmenorrhoea
4. Congestive Dysmenorrhoea
5. Membranous Dysmenorrhoea.

Symptoms^4,5,6

• Cramp like or spasmodic pain over supra-pubic region which radiates to the back or anterior and/or medial thigh. 
• lumbo-sacral backache with extension down the anterior thigh usually.
• Systemic symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, fever, headache or and nervousness.
• Vasomotor symptoms like cold sweats, pallor, faintness and collapse may be associated. 
• A mild degree of shock may follow a very severe attack.

The plant kingdom is a fascinating group including more than 65% of homoeopathic drugs. The basic concept of plants is giving as they keep giving throughout their life whether it be fruits, flowers or even oxygen. As per Dr. Sankaran main theme of plants is sensitiveness. Their causative factor is often emotional or physical shock, strain or hurt.⁷

Dysmenorrhoea is all about sensitivity to pain i.e the pain threshold of the individual. Thus plant kingdom is quite relatable in the cases of dysmenorrhoea.

Treasures from the Greenary of Materia Medica –^8,9,10,11

Cactus grandiflorus – Dysmenorrhoea; pulsating pain in uterus and ovaries. Menses early, dark, pitch-like, ceases on lying down. Constriction of heart, uterus, vagina, bladder & rectum. Most terrible pains, causing her to cry out aloud & weep.

Cocculus indicus- Scanty menstruation precedes pain. (Dr.Jahr). Dysmenorrhoea associated with vertigo. Sensation of pain as if stones are rubbed together.

Coffea cruda- Dysmenorrhoea, large clots of black blood. Abdominal cramps during menstrual period, or at the beginning; twitching of limbs, bending the body double, crying, fear, cold perspiration, she throws herself upon the ground.

Cimicifuga racemosa- During menses, very severe bearing-down, forcing pains. Pains in uterine region shoot from side to side. Rheumatic dysmenorrhoea. “The more the flow, the greater the pain,” with sensitiveness of the uterus and pain in the ovarian region, which shoots upwards and down the anterior surface of thighs and goes across the pelvis with bearing down and tightness around the hips.

Erigeron canadense- Dysmenorrhoea, with menorrhagia. Spasmodic pains.

Gossypium Herbaceum- Menses scanty and painful or painless; last twenty-four hours and then become very sparse and painful; too watery; nineteen days late.

Hamamelis virginiana– Dysmenorrhoea, with severe pains through the lumbar and hypogastric region and down the legs,fullness of the brain and bowels, with severe pain through the whole head, causing stupor, deep sleep; varicose veins. Active uterine haemorrhage blood bright red. Metrorrhagia, passive flow, venous blood; anaemia.

Senecio Aureus- Dysmenorrhoea with urinary symptoms; cutting in sacral and hypogastric regions; flow scanty or profuse or irregular; pale, weak, anaemia.

Viburnum opulus- Menstrual pain, with feeling as if the breath would leave her body and heart would cease to beat. Crampy, colicky pains in both ovarian regions, extending down thighs. Membranous Dysmenorrhoea, excruciating colic through the uterus and lower part of the abdomen, just preceding menstruation. Cramps in the calves always between the menses, agg. just before the period, with scanty, delayed menstruation.

Xanthoxyllum fraxineum – Menses too early and painful. Ovarian neuralgia, with pain in loins and lower abdomen; worse, left side, extending down the thigh, along genito-crural nerves. Neuralgic dysmenorrhoea, with neuralgic headaches; pain in back and down legs. Dysmenorrhoea with agonising bearing down; abundant discharge; excruciating pain in loins and lower abdomen.

References

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2. Thomas S.K. Homoeopathy in disease of females. 1^st ed. New Delhi. B jain publishers (P) ltd. 2009.
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4. Padubidri V G, Shirish ND.Shaw’s Text Book Of Gynecology.16th ed. New Delhi: Elsevier India (P). Ltd;2014.
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1.Dr. GAURAV NAGAR
Professor, Dept. of MM
Dr. M.P.K Homeoepathic Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Homoeopathy University, Jaipur.

2.Dr. ANJU BISHNOI
MD Scholar (Part-2), Dept. of MM
Dr. M.P.K Homeoepathic Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Homoeopathy University, Jaipur.
Email- anjubishnoi129@gmail.com