Homeopathic Healthcare: More Homeopathic Articles
George Guess, MD
A Case of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
I thought I would diverge from the usual format of this column such that I might provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the process and potential of chronic homeopathic prescribing. While homeopathic medicine can provide quite gratifying results for such acute disorders as those covered in earlier articles, only a familiarity with the effects of homeopathy on chronic disease can provide a thorough appreciation of the truly impressive possibilities of this marvelous healing system. To that end I would like to provide a case history from my files, that of a 9 year-old girl seen 2 years ago.
Jenny had been diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis four months previously. She was taking ibuprofen daily, which aggravated her stomach; at one point her disease required the use of prednisone, an oral steroid, for a period of time. While a number of joints were affected, it was mainly her ankles and hands that bothered her the most. The pain and swelling was made worse by exposure to cold and rainy weather, and was relieved somewhat by walking about. She also was troubled by recurring ear infections and strep throats, and recurrent mouth ulcers.
It was the description of Jenny herself, however, that pointed to the correct homeopathic prescription for her. An anxious and insecure child, Jenny suffered a number of fears — a fear of the dark that drove her to her parents’ bed every night, a fear of being alone, and a fear of thunderstorms. She was quite anxious about the future and always planned ahead in an attempt to control the unruly unfolding of events. She was a tenderhearted, sympathetic child, and very affectionate. She was also, though, jealous and vied for attention whenever her parents conversed with one another or showed each other affection. With her young friends she was liable to be bossy and stingy. Being a strong-willed child, she was assertive, opinionated and outspoken. She was a conscientious and anxious student, and performed well. She also displayed a marked concern about germs and dirt, often washing her hands when they were the slightest bit dirty and changing her clothes the moment they were the slightest bit soiled. Her insecurity was further reflected in her anxiety about her parents’ welfare when they were away from her. She was a busy girl, always keeping herself occupied with one activity or another.
Jenny was a restless sleeper; she walked and talked and ground her teeth in her sleep. She also had restless hands and fingers. She ate sparingly, preferring french fries, candy and sodas, sweets, butter, and ice cream. She was warm-blooded, intolerant of a warm room. And, lastly, she had recently begun to experience stomach pain which would often awaken her in the wee hours of the night, about one to two a.m.
She was prescribed one dose of the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum album 200C. The result was profound. Immediately her stomach pain subsided. Subsequently, over the course of the next month her joint inflammation and pains disappeared completely. In addition, and indicative that the remedy was generating a deeply curative effect, Jenny’s anxiety and insecurity diminished; she displayed no more jealousy. Her fears of the dark, of being alone, and thunderstorms improved. She grew more independent, less clinging to her parents. Even her fastidiousness evaporated. After six months her symptoms began to relapse after drinking a Mountain Dew (occasionally strong doses of caffeine can disrupt a homeopathic remedy’s action), but after another dose of Arsenicum album 200C her improvement resumed. To date she has remained well and in need of no further medicine, homeopathic or conventional.
On analysis of Jenny’s case, Arsenicum album (arsenic oxide) was an almost perfect choice. The remedy is well known for its anxiety and dependency on others; its fearfulness and fastidiousness blend perfectly with Jenny’s own symptomatology. Additionally, night-time stomach pains and joint inflammation are both characteristics of this remedy, as are restless sleep and restlessness of the hands and fingers.
Such are the results homeopathic physicians pursue — a curative response of the whole organism. Ideally, when the highest goal of homeopathic medicine is realized, not only are symptoms and diseases per se overcome, but a transformation in overall functioning and health occurs. Mental and emotional limitations are eased, sometimes profoundly so. Vitality is boosted. And all of these changes are effected by solely one homeopathic remedy (unless, as in some cases, a series of prescriptions is required over time). Of course, sometimes we can only achieve relief of the presenting complaint(s), which of itself is also a laudable goal, given that same can often be attained without recourse to potentially toxic drugs and dangerous side-effects.
Dr. Guess, a family physician, has practiced classical homeopathic medicine for 25 years. He is the editor of the American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine. He practices in Charlottesville. 434-295-0362. Web page: www.doctorguess.com
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Dr. George Guess
2776 Hydraulic Rd, Suite 101
Charlottesville, VA 22901
office: 434-295-0362
fax: 434-295-0798
email: gguessmd@earthlink.net
website: http://www.doctorguess.com/
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