PALLIATION OR CURE: WHAT IS THE
NEED OF THE HOUR?
Prof.
Dr. G.R. Mohan
M.D (Hom) P G Dip (Env Stud) .
Principal,
Dev’s
Homoeopathic Medical College
Hyderabad.
drmohangr@gmail.com
Editor,
Medicina Futura Homoeopathica
“Medicine cures sometimes, palliates often
but comforts always”. This is the saying. It is not just a saying but a fact
too. Behind this there is also another important factor that always operates
and which really influences the whole process of treatment i.e. confidence of
the healer in his ability and faith that is imposed by the patient.
As Homoeopaths we always aim to cure. The
definition which as homoeopaths we give for cure is also different when
compared to the other branches of therapeutics. We consider total restoration
of health is only the criterion for health or cure. We have got different types
of practitioners even though the principles of homoeopathy do not differ, the
law of cure does not change. It is something like diversity in unity. By and
large, two homoeopaths do not agree on one point so far as therapeutics is
concerned. That is our speciality. I say it is our speciality because at the
end of the day both prove to be correct. That is the beauty of Homoeopathy.
Let us analyse our day to day practice. How
many patients under our care are really getting cured? How many are getting
palliated? How many are just comfortable under your care? (May be due to
various reasons). We, as homoeopaths consider hypocrisy as one of the
qualifications for practicing homoeopathy,
we do not want the categorization as cure,
palliation etc. because we have only “cures”. (There are some exceptions). Many
of us feel disturbed when a patient says that he is not better. Our ego does
not admit such statements from the patients. But it stimulates your thinking
process and you are forced to review the case again. Then as Physicians we feel
atleast we should give him some relief so that you need not hear that statement
again.
Apart from the above condition there are
several patients in whom we can only give
palliation rather than cure for more than one
reason. Many homoeopaths especially in bigger towns and cities see around fifty
patients a day. The usual ritual that is to be followed for a cure i.e. case
taking, analysis, evaluation and repertorizatin etc. will take nothing short of
a few hours. Even then there is no guarantee that we can select a simillimum.
As such many practitioners adopt a specific approach in the treatment of
patients which is almost a routine method and which helps a practitioner to
dispose of
patients fast. But the results are not bad.
There will be a definite palliation and some sporadic cures as well. (hypocrisy
sacrificed). Even then we are doing a lot of good to the patient.
A patient suffering from Psoriasis had
consulted a Dermatologist and took treatment for a couple of years. Still there
are symptoms and occasional suffering. The patient asked the Doctor how long I
have to continue the treatment? The Doctor said that can a patient suffering
with Diabetes or Hypertension or
Thyroid ask this question? No. Because it is
a disease where a life long treatment is required. Even this (Psoriasis) is
like this. The patient stopped medication and consulted a Homoeopath. The
homoeopath also explained the problem and told him that it is a chronic case
and there are spontaneous remissions and relapses even in Homoeopathy. Further
the homoeopath assured him that certain amount of relief is sure to be there
and definitely there will be no side effects. The patient is convinced because
during his two
years of allopathic treatment he had no
substantial relief of his skin condition besides that he also developed some
symptoms like anorexia, joint pains, unexplainable weakness etc. which the
patient never had before have been attributed as the side effects of allopathic
treatment.
There are several patients or several types
of diseases in which palliation itself is a great boon to the patient; not that
a cure is not possible, but it cure it may take a long time. We have to hold
the patient and it is better to work or review the case again and again and
find a final cure. For example take the same
Psoriasis patient, treatment with Sulphur, Sarsaparilla, Sepia, Thyroidinum, Kali
sulph, Calc sulph etc. in low
potencies and the patient will definitely feel better and does not have any
side effects. May be finally a
dose of Tuberculinum 10m gave him a permanent relief. Several examples could be given.
In a case of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) we know how much the patient
suffers and many a time a patient goes into depression. (Basically a
psychosomatic problem). A few doses of Aloes, Nux vomica, Sulphur, Merc sol, Pulsatilla, Kurchi etc. will give tremendous relief. The other
day a patient who is a senior executive
in a MNC was telling that before starting
homoeopathic treatment he was always apprehensive about bowel movement because
he does not know when he will get an urge for stool and where he would be at
that point of time (being a senior executive
he has to attend number of meetings in Indian and abroad also) and ever since
he started homoeopathy he has developed more confidence and that fear to go out
has gone.
What a wonderful compliment to homoeopathy.
Arthritis is one disease for which usually
patients consult a homoeopath very often ofcourse not before trying allopathy.
After a period of Allopathic treatment there is always a threat of renal
parenchymal disease or in many patients after steroids some very deleterious
side effects will develop and come to homoeopathy with a lot of hope. We need
not worry about the pathology. The more you are concerned with pathology the
more you are apprehensive about the treatment. Go ahead. You are the master.
Simple Rhus tox in six centesimal gives instantaneous relief.
Many remedies like Bryonia, Colchicum, Actea spicata, Phytolacca, Calc flour,
mother tinctures like Guiacum, Gnaphalium etc. will generally help a patient to
carry on without much discomfort. May be at a later stage a few doses of
Sulphur, Calcarea carb,
Lycopodium etc. may perhaps give a total
relief to the patient. A patient suffering from very severe Rheumatoid
arthritis was 90% relieved with a few doses of Kali mur 30 and Hydrastis mother
tinctures.
We can go on narrating several diseases and
we can palliate or cure depending upon the stage of the disease.
What I am trying to emphasize is that as a
Physician you have a responsibility to give comfort to the patient. You are not
breaking the rule but you are only bending the rule (Dr.Siva Shankar often
quotes this phrase) but your patient is happy. He does not apply leave to his
office very often; does not have any side effects; life goes on. What else does
he want? Not that we do not cure, but first we palliate. I am not against the
conventional method. I am not against curing in tune with the Organon of
Medicine. But what I am trying to put before you is the need of the hour. Let
us treat as many patients as possible. Let us go into the public and cover as
many families as possible and ensure that homoeopathy reaches the masses.
I am openly telling what I am doing and what is
required to be done. I know many homoeopaths are doing this. But when it comes
to open discussion everything will be different. I have participated in State
level,
National level and several International
level conferences. But I hardly came across homoeopaths who openly confessed
about their failures. Sometimes we feel disgusted at the hypocrisy that is
manifested.
So let us cure – palliate – but definitely we
should give necessary comfort to the patient.
*** published in Medicina Future , vol 1, issue no 5 May 2013
