Homoeopathic prescriptions based on tongue

Dr. Dinesh Kumar M.D. (Hom.) Sch.

Abstract: The tongue is a very important organ of the body is represents the different types of digestive systems and physiological activities of the of various organs. The location front of the tongue is related to upper GI tract, lungs, and heart; The Middle part of the tongue is connected with liver, spleen, and stomach; The back is associated with the large intestine and kidneys; The very tip is the location of thyroid and vertical line in the middle of the tongue represents the spine.

Keywords: ALS, OPDs, GIT, Hyperacidity, Paralysis, Leucoplakia.

INTRODUCTION: Tongue is the mirror of the stomach. It reflects the digestive disorders. Indigestion giving rise to bilious headache. Derangement of digestive system affects other systems of the body. Flatulence giving rise to palpitation and chest pain. It also gave us to useful information about the primary affection of some other systems with or without involvement of digestive system. A cyanosed tongue points to impure oxygenation resulting from cardio-pulmonary affections.

Tongue helps in homoeopathic Case taking and prescribing

Mind rules the body and Emotions affect the process of digestion. Hyperacidity is a common accompaniment of stress. Desires and aversions as regarding food are considered to be “Physical General Symptom” Tongue reflects the patient as a whole, findings of the tongue should be important in prescribing. Helps in selecting medicines where in tongue symptoms are characteristic. In crowded OPDs such findings will help the physician to attend to his patients fast. Tongue represents the location of various organs. The front of the tongue is related to upper GI tract, lungs, and heart; The Middle part of the tongue is connected with liver, spleen, and stomach; The back is associated with large intestine and kidneys; The very tip is the location of thyroid and vertical line in the middle of the tongue represents the spine.

The general plan of clinical examination & assessment

Size and shape, Condition- congenital/acquired, Pale/pink, Dry/moist- and salivation, Papillae, Indentation, Discolouration, Pigmentation, Temporary like cyanosis, Coating, Suppuration, Gangrene, Eruption, Growths- including warts, cancer and ranula, Varicosity of veins, Movement- including paralysis, Inflammation, excoriation, and exfoliation etc.

REPERTORIES HAVING CHAPTER AS TONGUE

WILLIAM BOERICKE REPERTORY

MURPHY REPERTORY

CLARKE REPERTORY

PATHAK REPERTORY

OTHER REPERTORIES

Dr. J.T. KENT’S “REPERTORY OF THE HOMEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA” describe tongue under the chapter on “MOUTH”.

C.M. BOGER “BOENNINGHAUSEN’S CHARACTERISTIC AND REPERTORY” gives a sub chapter on “TONGUE” under chapter “MOUTH AND THROAT”

CALVIN B. KNERR “A REPERTORY OF HERING’S GUIDING SYMPTOMS” gives a special chapter on “TASTE AND TONGUE”

COMPLETE REPERTORY chapter “MOUTH” sub rubric “TONGUE”

BTPB describes tongue under chapter “MOUTH AND THROAT”

LIPPE REPERTORY gives chapter on “CAVITY OF MOUTH PALATE AND TONGUE”

Number of rubrics on tongue in different repertories:

COMPLETE REPERTORY: 1888, GENTRY’S REPERTORY: 2584, MURPHY REPERTORY: 1001, ALLEN: 1254, KNERR: 2148, LIPPE: 482, KENT: 469, BTBP: 291, BOERICKE: 87, BBCR: 113, CLARKE: 47, PATHAK: 233.

RUBRICS RELATED TO THE TONGUE FROM ALLEN’S KEYNOTE REPERTORY:

• BLEEDING, tongue – Arum t, Borx
• CATCHES, on the teeth tongue- Ign
• CLEAN, tongue- cina (in worm), dig (in heart disease), Ipcac, Pyro.
• COLDNESS, sensation of tongue- Camph, Carbo v.
• CRACKED, tongue fissured- Arum t, Hyos, Nit acid, Phos, Rhus t
• CRACKED, tongue centre- Bapt.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated blue- Arum t, Dig.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated brown- Bapt.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated dirty- Nat s
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated greenish- Nat s
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated greenish-gray- Nat s
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red- Merc, Rhus t
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red, fiery-red- Apis, Pyrogen
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red, glistening- Kali bi.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red, red and white alternate- Ferr.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red, brown, down centre- Bapt.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red, strips down centre- Caust, Verat v.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red, edges- Chel, Sulph.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red, tip- Rhus t.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated red, trangular- Rhus t.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated white- Ant c, Merc, Tarax.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated white milky- Ant c
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated white red and white alternate- Ferr.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated yellow- Chel
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated yellow base- Merc I f, Nat p.
• DISCOLOURATION, tongue, coated yellow, golden yellow –Nat p
• DRYNESS, tongue- Bry, Hyos, Lach, Mur ac, Nux m, Puls, Rhus t, Ter
• DRYNESS, tongue, night- Nux m
• DRYNESS, tongue, thrist, without- Puls
• FLABBY, tongue- Camph, Merc.
• GLOSSY, tongue- Tereb
• HAIR, on tongue- Sil.
• INDENTED, tongue- Chel, Merc, Rhus t.
• LARGE, tongue- Merc, Pyrogen.
• LEATHER, like tongue- Mur ac.
• MAPPED, tongue- Tarax.
• NUMBNESS, of tongue- Nat m.
• PAIN, tongue, burning- Ars, Arum t, Bell, Iris, Mez.
• PAIN, tongue, burnt, tongue- Vert v etc.

CASE NO.-Name- Ms Abc, Age-8yrs/F Complaints from the class-teacher that her attention is always fleeting. She cannot sit in one place for more than two minutes. As such she knows film-songs by heart but when it comes to studies it is always difficult for her to grasp and remember. She failed twice in her terminal examination”. I had to make an off-hand prescription without writing the history in details. I called her and looked at her tongue. It was posteriorly coated white. As I was working on my paper on “Audio-visual image of a Nux v patient” that time, so the tongue made me think of Nux -v. A few questions confirmed some more symptoms of Nux v like irritability of mind, bilious headache and vomiting and constipation with ineffectual urge for stool. It was difficult to get history from such a child. I prescribed Nux v 30 H.S. for a few days. I was myself surprised as normally a Homeopathic physician thinks of remedies like Arg-n, Gels, Aeth, etc. for “examination funk” and associated nervousness. I opened my Kent’s repertory to find out how Nux v had helped this child. Under “Concentration difficult” besides other remedies Nux v gets Grade I. Under “Concentration difficult studying, reading etc. while” Hell. and Nux -v. are the only two remedies getting Grade I.

Conclusion: Tongue fasciculations are visible, spontaneous and intermittent contractures of muscle fibers, that are often a neurological and Pathophysiological finding of concern, reportedly related to different type of disorders, most often ALS. However, the degree of skeletal pathophysiological involvement is broad, with tongue fasciculations found in movement disorders, electrolyte disorders, and even stress and fatigue, eruptions(growth). Physicians should suspect deficiency as well in patients with tongue fasciculations in the absence of other neurologic findings. Tongue reflects the patient as a whole, findings of the tongue should be important in prescribing. Helps in selecting medicines where in tongue symptoms are characteristic. In crowded OPDs such findings will help the physician to attend to his patients fast. Tongue represents the location of various organs. The front of the tongue is related to upper GI tract, lungs, and heart; The Middle part of the tongue is connected with liver, spleen, and stomach; The back is associated with large intestine and kidneys; The very tip is the location of thyroid and vertical line in the middle of the tongue represents the spine.

About the author: Dr. Dinesh Kumar M.D. (Hom.) Sch., Department of Case taking and Repertory, Bakson Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Gr. Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar Uttar Pradesh.

References:

1. Sambulingum, Human Physiology.
2. Ganong Human Physiology.
3. Prakash Vakil, The tongue that does not Lie.
4. Banerjea Dr. Subrata Kumar, Miasmatic Prescribing, Second Extended edition, B.jain Publication.
5. Sirker Captan K.K., A Repertory based on Allen’s keynotes and Nash’s Leaders including Relationship of Remedies.
6. Berickes W. Materia medica and Repertory.
7. Allen’s H.C. Allen’s keynote and Rearranged characteristics Materia medical.

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