Depression and homoeopathy- a case report

Dr Veer Davinder Singh

ABSTRACT
This case report explores the successful treatment of depression in a 25-year-old male through homeopathy, guided by the principle of similia similibus curentur (“like cures like”). The patient presented with symptoms of persistent sadness, lack of interest in daily activities, insomnia, and low self-esteem, which were unresponsive to conventional treatments. A detailed case history and individualized approach were used to select the most appropriate homeopathic remedy, addressing the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional state holistically. Over the course of treatment, significant improvements were observed in mood, energy levels, and overall well-being. This case highlights the efficacy of homeopathy in treating complex conditions like depression by stimulating the body’s innate healing mechanisms. It emphasizes the importance of individualized medicine in achieving long-term recovery without adverse effects. The study advocates further research to validate homeopathy as a viable complementary approach to mental health care.

INTRODUCTION
Depression is a complex mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed. It is more than just occasional low mood or sadness; it affects how a person thinks, feels, and functions in daily life. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and physical symptoms like aches or pains. Depression can impair relationships, work performance, and overall well-being, sometimes leading to thoughts of self-harm or suicide. There are multiple causes of depression like genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Stressful life events, trauma, chronic illness, and imbalances in brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine are common contributors. In conventional system of medicine treatment includes such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), medications like antidepressants, anti-psychotic etc.

Case report
NAME- ABC

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS
The patient, a 25-year-old male, has been experiencing symptoms of depression for the past four years, triggered by the sudden demise of his father. Since then, he has shown a persistent sense of deep sadness, hopelessness, and emotional numbness. He often feels overwhelmed by responsibilities. Sleep is disturbed, characterized by difficulty falling asleep and frequent waking, leaving him fatigued and lethargic. He has lost interest in activities he once enjoyed, displays poor concentration, and is easily irritated. Physical symptoms include headaches and frequent digestive disturbances. The family initially sought Ayurvedic and allopathic treatments, including antidepressants and counselling, but observed no significant improvement

TREATMENT HISTORY- Both ayurvedic and allopathic treatment

FAMILY HISTORY : Mother- hypothyroidism, early stage of diabetes

Father- when live was suffering from hypertension

PHYSICAL GENERALS

• Appetite- appetite decreased
• Thirst- normal
• Craving- sweet, chocolate
• Urine-N/S
• Stool- normal
• Sleep- abdomen
• Sweat- N/S
• Dreams- dreams of father after his death
• Thermal – hot

MENTAL GENERALS

• He become overly responsible after death of his father
• Anxiety about money
• Anxiety about family members
• Very much kind hearted and sympathetic to every one
• He always thinks about his family and always consider him secondary
• When I was listening to him, he was talking very maturely

TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS

• Ailments death of loved ones
• Responsibility too much
• depression
• Selflessness
• Precocity
• Sweet desire
• Chocolate desire
• Sleep abdomen

Rubrics
Death Ailments from
Responsibility strong
Depression
Selflessness General
Precocity
Sweet desire
Chocolate desire
Sleep position abdomen

Results
Calc 21/8
Carcin 18/8
Lyc 18/7

PRESCRIPTION- CARCINOSINUM 1M ONE, PLACEBO TDS FOR 15 DAYS

FOLLOW UP

DATE   15 FEB	SYMPTOMS fatigue, difficulty concentrating, difficulty in sleep, appetite is decreased, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and physical symptoms like aches or pains. Impaired work and performance	PRESCRIPTION   CARCINOSINUM 1 M, PLACEBO FOR 15 DAYS	RESULTS
3 MARCH	Little Improvement in every aspect sleep was better, appetite was better, mind got relax, no sensation of heaviness around head as earlier,	PLO FOR 1 MONTH	improvement

 

10 April, 2023	Patient was overall better, appetite was better, mood was better, now he has a keen interest in his work, he started giving importance to himself, now he do work which he feel he can do	PLO FOR 1 MONTH	improvement
15 MAY 16 JUNE, 2023	He was overall betterbetter	PLO FOR 1 MONTH PLO 1 month	improvement improvement

Still the patient is under treatment

CONCLUSION
This case highlights the effectiveness of homoeopathic medicine in treating psychiatric disorders like DEPRESSION. By doing proper case taking and accurate repertorization, it is possible to treat any type of mental disorders. Integrating homoeopathic approaches with conventional medical treatments could offer a holistic and patient centered strategy to treat psychiatric cases

COMMON REMEDIES FOR DEPRESSION

1. AURUM METALLICUM- This is one of the top medicine for depression. These people are very duty conscious and do every work with full responsibility when they are not able to perform their duty in proper manner they go into intense hopeless depression and commit suicide. Feeling of self-condemnation and worthlessness is well marked in this remedy.
2. NATRUM MURIATICUM- depression due to death of loved one, family member. They are very reserved and do not express their emotions. Consolation aggravates. Brooding continuous over past disagreeable occurrences. Indifference, laconic speech, moroseness, and unfitness for labour. Brain-fag, with sleeplessness, gloomy forebodings.
3. PHOSPHORIC ACID- This remedy is indicated when there is lot of weakness mentally and physically with indifference state to everything. Ailments comes after disappointment in love, sad news. These people become so weak that they do not have the capacity to carry out regular routine activities.
4. IGNITIA AMARA- the use of this remedy comes after any grief, fright, shock, loose, any person object which was near to them. very moody in behaviour, weeps or laugh when she ought to be serious. Intolerant of contradiction and reprimands. Thinks she has neglected her duty. Desire to be alone. Consolation aggravates.
5. CARCINOSIN- this remedy is used when there is the history of domination, depression in the family. These people are very responsible and very calm, composed people try to adapt themselves according to the requirement of the situation. Due to overresponsibilty after death of main member of the family they go into the depression. They work hard more than their limits which puts them into the state of cancer and depression

REFERENCES

1. What is depression? [Internet]. Psychiatry.org. [cited 2024 Nov 22]. Available from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
2. Depressive disorder (depression) [Internet]. Who.int. [cited 2024 Nov 22]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
3. Depression (major depressive disorder) [Internet]. Mayo Clinic. [cited 2024 Nov 22]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007
4. Depression [Internet]. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). [cited 2024 Nov 22]. Available from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
5. Goldman L. Depression: What it is, symptoms, causes, treatment, and more [Internet]. Medicalnewstoday.com. 2019 [cited 2024 Nov 22]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8933
6. http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/
7. Main page – A DICTIONARY OF PRACTICAL MATERIA MEDICA by John Henry CLARKE, M.d. presented by m�di-T � [Internet]. Homeoint.org. [cited 2024 Nov 22]. Available from: http://www.homeoint.org/clarke

Dr Veer Davinder Singh BHMS
Singhveerdavinder1996@gmail.com