Dr Amala A
ABSTRACT: This article discusses a Case of septic Gangrene of the foot in an elderly man whose prognosis was poor given that amputation of the leg below the knee was advised. Patient was completely cured with the help of remedy Gun Powder and Insulinum without amputation.
A Male patient of 53 years belonging to Ilkal , Karnataka has presented with the complaint of pain and numbness in lower extremities on 18-4-2020. Patient cannot walk without support of walker. All the complaints started 4 months back. Patient is Diabetic since 12yrs and is on Allopathic Rx. Based on the presenting complaint of the patient , the Homoeopathic medicine Gun powder and Insulinum were prescribed, which proved to be effective in treating the Diabetic Wet Gangrene without foot Amputation. In this case a patient of Diabetic Wet Gangrene was completely cured with Homoeopathic medicines, Gun Powder and Insulinum without the foot amputation.
KEY WORDS: Homoeopathy, DIABETIC WET GANGRENE, Gun powder, Insulinum, NECROSIS.
INTRODUCTION: Diabetes occurs due to impairment in either pancreatic production of insulin or utilization of the produced insulin. It is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. It is associated with various complications and reduced quality of life . Among these, foot complications remain an important concern. The major foot complications include foot ulceration, cellulitis, abscess, wet gangrene, dry gangrene, and necrotizing fasciitis, with different pathophysiological concepts behind each of them. As per the World Health Organization, there are always higher chances of limb amputation among diabetic patients as compared to non-diabetics1.
CASE REPORT: Initially patient experienced numbness in the bilateral limbs for a month. Later there was pain and blackish discolouration of bilateral legs and feet. Later after a month eruptions started on bilateral legs with oozing of foul smelling discharge. Then the eruptions turned into necrosis with the exposure of underlying femur. Patient was advised for bilateral feet amputation.
FAMILY HISTORY: No Family History of any major illness.
PERSONAL HSITORY: Diet- mixed, appetite: 3meals /day, increased since 1 month, sleep: refreshing, bowels: regular, micturition: increased frequency.
General physical examination: patient is well oriented will time, place and person.
Weight: 67 kg
On Examination: offensive discharge from the necrosed bilateral legs and feet.
TOTALITY:
- Numbness with tingling sensation in bilateral legs and toes.
- Pain and blackish discolouration of bilateral legs and feet.
- Eruptions on bilateral legs with oozing of foul smelling discharge.
- Necrosis with the exposure of underlying femur.
- Foul smelling discharge from the necrosed lower limbs.
- Irritability, restlessness, depressed that he cannot walk, fear of losing lower limbs.
- Diet: mixed, Appetite: increased since a month, Sleep: slightly disturbed, Bowels: regular, Micturition: frequency increased.
DISCUSSION:
GUNPOWDER4:
CLINICALS: Abscesses. Acne. Bites. Blood-poisoning. Boils. Carbuncles. Cuts, poisoned. Ivy (Hedera) poisoning. Osteo-myelitis. Tonsillitis, septic. Vaccinosis. Worms. Black Gunpowder is a mixture and not a chemical compound. But for all that, it is a unit, and can be used as such in medicine. As it contains three potent remedies, two of them polycrests, there is little wonder at its medicinal powers. “Blood-poisoning.” Gunp. corresponds to suppuration in a great number of forms, many of them septic.
Gun powder was first published in Homoeopathic world, London 1914 by Clarke, Av combination remedy of carbon, sulphur, and potassium nitrate. Useful for all kinds of blood poisoning, for septic wounds and ptomaine poisoning. Strong history of use in war time , particularly world war 1 and 2. Gunshot wounds, surgical septicaemia, boils, Methane poisoning. Wartime ailments.4
Blood disorders, blood poisoning from pyorrhoea alveolaris. Septic suppurations. Infected wounds. Wounds that refuse to heal , abscessed bites, infections and wounds , antiseptic. Swollen and abscessed glands.
Poisoning from bad food or water. Poisoning from meats that have been unsuccessfully tinned. Acute infections, boils, abscesses, carbuncles, and bites.
Antidoting the ill effects of vaccinations . Preventive for various kinds of inoculations. Gonorrhoea and syphilis. Shingles of face and eyes.
Dr. Clarke referred to the old fashioned gun powder that was in use before the era of high explosives and smokeless powder . black gunpowder is a mixture and not a chemical compound . it contains three remedies , two of the polycrests Nitre with Sulphur and charcoal forms gunpowder. In lower triturations , gunpowder has cured ascarides in adults .
The London police Force also knew it as boil remedy.
Canon Roland Upcher noted that Norfolk shepherds rubbed gunpowder on to sheep’s wounds made during sheep-shearing , and took it to cure or prevent ill effects from handling sheep who suffered from ‘foot-rot’.
Upcher published cases of skin eruptions caused by handling ivy, cured with Gunpowder3x.
Clarke experimented with Gun powder 2x and developed severe Herpes facialis involving the right eyebrow and right side of the nose.
Clarke confirmed the proving by curing Shingles. He heard of a case of lumbrici cured with an infusion of Gun powder by the patient.
A woman who had very sensitive skin was bitten by a gnat on the foot, resulting in swelling inflammation and suppuration .There was a ring of inflammation around the bite, constantly spreading and detaching the epidermis as it spread , after the failure of several medicines Gun powder 3x rapidly cured.
A man had a bad cut with a knife on the left index finger . The wound refused to heal . An inflammatory ring striped off the epidermis and spread more and more . lachesis and other remedies failed to make any impression , Gun powder rapidly cured.
Another women was very severely poisoned by sewer gas . There followed swelling of the right arm and axillary glands of the right side .3 months after the accident the right arm was almost fixed at the elbow above and below. The axillary glands were as large as hens egg. Gun powder 3x gradually resolved the trouble and motility of arm was fully restored4.
INSULINUM5:
An active principle from the pancreas which affects sugar metabolism.
Besides the use of Insulin in the treatment of diabetes, restoring the lost ability to oxidize carbohydrate and again storing glycogen in the liver, some use of it homoeopathically has been made by Dr. Wm. F. Baker, showing its applicability in acne, carbuncles, erythema with itching eczema. In the gouty, transitory glycosuria when skin manifestations are persistent give three times daily after eating. Given a persistent case of skin irritation, boils or varicose ulceration with polyuria, it is indicated.
CLINICALS:
Abscesses, acidosis, Acne, bed sores, boils, cancer, dermatitis, diabetes, diarrhoea, carbuncles, gout, glycosuria, hepatitis, enlarged liver, varicose ulcers, marasmus, otitis, pneumonia, polyuria.
The pancreatic hormone plays an important part in the process of sugar metabolism in the body . its capacity to burn the sugar into carbon di oxide and water , thereby helping the body with combustion. If insulin is administered at suitable intervals , the blood sugar is maintained at normal level and the urine remains free of sugar . restores the ability to restore carbohydrates, and to store glycogen in the liver.
It was proved by Dr. William F Baker, and Dr. S. K . Josh of Calcutta . some sue of Insulin homoeopathically has been made by Baker, showing its applicability in acne, carbuncles, erythema, with itching eczema.
Insulin is indicated for persistent cases of skin irritation, boils, varicose ulcers with polyuria,
For gouty patients with glycosuria when skin manifestations are persistent it is indicated.
Dr. Ghose used it in potency for overdoses of insulin, followed by weakness, fatigue and tremulousness with profuse sweating . patient is debilitated , Asthenia, Emaciation with loose bowels, craving for sweets.
Abdomen:– duodenal ulcers, chronic intestinal troubles with diarrhoea and enlarged liver.
Blood: hypoglycaemia, septicaemia.
Food: desires sugar and sweets, but aggravated by them.
Liver: hepatitis, chronic functional derangement of Liver
Skin: acute dermatitis with chronic diarrhoea and liver trouble eczema, acne, erythema ,Suppurative ailments with enlarged liver5.
CONCLUSION:
Patient has completely recovered by Homoeopathic treatment within a span of 3months without the lower limb amputation. This proves that Homoeopathic medicines can do wonders in such complicated cases. As the patient belonged to the low- socio economic status and was the only bread winner of the family, he was quite depressed of his condition. In such cases Homoeopathic treatment helps in providing a better quality of life to the patients.
REFERENCES:
- Alzahrani H, Bedir Y, Al-Hayani A. Efficacy of shellac, a natural product, for the prevention of wet gangrene. Journal of international medical research, 2013 June 4th.
- Haimovici H, Gangrene of the extremities of venous origin: review of the literature with case reports. Circulation, 1950 Feb 1st.
- Rosyid FN, Etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of diabetics foot ulcer. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2017 Oct 5th .
- Clarke, A practical dictionary of Materia Medica, B Jain publishers
- Robin Murphy, Lotus Materia Medica, B Jain Publishers.
Dr Amala.A
Department Of Paediatrics
Father Muller Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital,Deralakatte, Mangaluru- 575018
Under The Guidance Of: Dr. Jyoshna Shivaprasad, Professor And HOD, Paediatrics
Kindly include the potency and repetityof insulinum and gunpowder, thank you.