Homoeopathic treatment of psoriasis: a case report

Dr Shubhaprada

ABSTRACT
Psoriasis is chronic skin disease that presents as well-defined erythematous plaques covered with silvery scales commonly over the scalp, and extensors of extremity, particularly over knees, elbows, and lumbosacral region. It poses a cosmetic concern to the patient and affects the personality of the person. Thus treating psoriasis in a gentle manner is the need of the hour.

We hereby report a case of Psoriasis treated with individualized Homoeopathic remedy.A 36 yr old female presented to the OPD with complaints of psoriatic plaques and Lachesis was prescribed based on totality of symptoms. The patient was relieved of her symptoms gradually suggesting the effectiveness of Individualised Homoeopathic remedy in the treatment of psoriasis.

Keywords: Psoriasis, Homoeopathy, Lachesis

Homoeopathy and Psoriasis

Psoriasis can be treated with the Homeopathic remedies using a very gentle approach. The similimum selected on the basis of totality of the case is very effective and treats the underlying root cause of the disease and relieves the patient of his suffering.

Case report:

PRELIMINARY DATA:

• Name – Mrs Xyz
• Age: 36 yrs Sex: female
• Address: Kamakshipalya, Bangalore
• Occupation: Daily wages worker in Garment factory
• Nationality: Indian
• Religion: Hindu
• H/O PRESENTING COMPLAINTS:
• Location – of Left elbow, B/L knees, Right ankle and dorsum of foot and left 2^nd toe
• Sensation – Itching present,
• Modalities- < winter,

> coconut oil, moisturizers for dryness

• Concomitants- N.S

PAST HISTORY:

• Medical- No H/O any infectious diseases or no other significant medical history noted
• Treatment – Taken Allopathic Treatment for presenting complaint with no significant improvement
• Vaccination – No adverse effects noted
• Surgical – Tubectomy 6yrs back
• Allergic history – N.S

FAMILY HISTORY:

• Mother- Alive – Migraine,DM
• Father Dead- Liver disorder
• Siblings – Brother – Alive Apparently Healthy
• Children 2 – 1 son Alive -6yrs old

1 daughter – Alive – 15 yrs old

• Husband dead – 5 yrs back – Liver disorder?

PERSONAL HISTORY:

• Diet: Mixed
• Habits: N.S
• Hunger/Appetite: Can tolerate, Appetite – Good
• Thirst: Thirsty, 2-3lts per day
• Desires/Aversions: S
• Urine- No odor, No urgency
• Bowel habits- Satisfactory, once per day
• Perspiration: On exertion, over face
• Sleep – Disturbed due to financial issues, worrying about children
• Dreams- No repetitive dreams
• Thermals: Towards Hot

Fanning – Required

Season – Prefers winter

Food – Normal

Bathing – Requires warm water

Covering – Not required

• Sensitivity- Sun – Headache on exposure to sun
• Smell- Not sensitive
• Noise- Not sensitive
• Motion Sickness – N.S

LIFE SPACE INVESTIGATIONS:

• At home – patient,children (son and daughter)
• Patient comes from a lower socioeconomic status family. Has two children one son and a daughter, daughter is 10th std and son is 6yrs old. Husband was a drunkard died 5 yrs back, He used not go to work, so he has not made any savings for children and their future. I am worried about their future as to how I will fund their education. I didn’t know he was a drunkard before marriage. He used to not do any work. And then he died 5 yrs ago due to liver issues. I feel a lot of anger on him , that he did not make any savings for us and I have to work hard and suffer for children’s future , I sometimes feel why did I marry him , I have anger on him , and this will always be there . When I get stressed , I just go to temples and sit there for a while, do pooja , that makes me feel more calm
• Children – don’t listen to me specially my son and I get angered easily for silly matters, and it has become more these days,
• Mother stays with brother. Brother takes care of mother and his family.
• Whenever its required he helps me.
• We both work in a garments factory on daily wages, the work isn’t permanent, sometimes I have to do other jobs to meet my financial needs, (specially the school fees). If I don’t find any job then I get worried- as to how to manage the financial matters.
• At work – Sometimes there will be issues with the manager regarding the wages , but I manage the work. (As I don’t want to lose work)
• Childhood- Studied till SSLC, couldn’t continue studies due to financial issues,Childhood was uneventful
• I married at the age of 18, didn’t know Husband was drunkard, I just don’t like him , I have anger on him ,
• Sensitive – N.S
• Fear – N.S only worried for childrens future

INVESTIGATIONS

• Clinical diagnosis
• Can be suggested for Biopsy –

GENERAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

• Moderately Built and Nourished
• Height – 5’2
• Weight- 58kg
• BMI- 24.1
• No signs of Pallor, Icterus, Cyanosis, Clubbing, Lymphadenopathy and oedema
• Scalp- Healthy, No hair discolouration
• Eyes- Sclera- No icterus; Conjunctiva – Pink
• Ears – No discharge
• Nose- No DNS/ Nasal polyp/ Turbinate Hypertrophy/ Discharge
• Teeth – No Caries, Gums – Healthy, Tongue – Clean
• Neck – No lymphadenopathy
• Extremities- Upper extremities- No deformities
• Lower extremities – No deformities

SYSTEMIC EXAMINATION

• RESPIRATORY SYSTEM –

Inspection – No abnormality

Palpation – Trachea centrally placed

Percussion – Bilateral symmetrical resonant note

Auscultation -Bilateral NVBS Heard, No added sounds

• CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM – S1, S2 Heard, No murmurs heard
• GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM – Per abdomen – Inspection – No abnormality

Palpation – No mass / tenderness noted

Percussion – Tympanic note

Auscultation – Bowel sounds present and Normoactive

• GENITOURINARY TRACT – No abnormality
• CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM – Well oriented to time, place and person

Sensory, Motor, Cranial nerve examination – No abnormality detected

SKIN and INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM-

• Well demarcated, Erythematous, scaly lesions

1 over – left elbow

B/L knees- 1 lesion

Right ankle and dorsum of foot and left 2^nd toe – 1 lesion

• Lesions differ in shape
• Auspitz sign – positive
• No nail and Joint deformities noted

ANALYSIS OF SYMPTOMS:

COMMON	UNCOMMON
•        Papular eruptions with scaling over bend of elbows, knees, ankles and dorsum of foot,with itching – bleeds on scratching	•        Anxiety- future, children about •        Anger, Hatred towards husband •        Remorse feeling •        Anger- at small things •        Going to religious places – feels calm •        Sleep – Disturbed •        Thermals – Towards Hot •        Sun exposure Headache –

EVALUATION OF SYMPTOMS:

•        Mental Generals	•        Physical Generals	Particulars
•        Anxiety- future, children about •        Anger, Hatred towards husband •        Anger, at small things •        Remorse feeling •        Going to religious places – feels calm	•        Sleep – Disturbed •        Thermals-Towards Hot •        Sun exposure Headache –	Eruptions – papular scaly

TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS:

• Anger, Hatred towards husband
• Remorse feeling
• Going to religious places – feels calm
• Anger, trifles at
• Eruptions – papular scaly
• Thermals –Towards Hot
• Sun exposure Headache –
• MIASMATIC ANALYSIS: Sycosyphilitic
• SELECTION OF REPERTORY: Synthesis

REPERTORIAL TOTALITY AND RESULT:

• MIND – ANGER – Trifles at
• Mind Hatred
• Mind – Religious affections- too much occupied with religion
• Mind – Remorse
• Head – Sun – exposure to the sun – agg
• Skin – eruptions – desquamating

Sepia – 12/6

Nat c- 7/6

Sulph – 12/5

Lach – 11/5

Ars -10/5

SELECTION OF REMEDY

• Lachesis 200 OD x 3 days

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
The above case signifies the effectiveness of Homoeopathy in the treatment of psoriasis. With Homoeopathic similimum the patient was better within a short period of time. Thus it widens the scope of Homeopathy and the law of similia and treats the patient as a whole.

Dr Shubhaprada
GHMC Bangalore
Email : shubhagothe97@gmail.com

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