
ABSTRACT:
One of the most prevalent diseases that people suffer from is skin illness. Most of the skin diseases are treated with topical steroid or ointment in conventional medicine, which suppresses the condition and invites other troublesome diseases. The following article explains a case of psoriasis that was treated with constitutional medicine in this article. Homoeopathy, with its holistic approach to treatment, plays a key role in such circumstances. This article explains a brief introduction of psoriasis and how homoeopathic medicine, Sepia officinalis can aid in the complete cure of psoriasis.
KEYWORDS: psoriasis, homoeopathic medicine, Sepia officinalis
Abbreviations: HLA (human leucocyte antigen), BD – twice a day
INTRODUCTION:
Psoriasis is a non-infectious, chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, characterised by well-defined erythematous plaques with silvery scale which have a predilection for the extensor surfaces and scalp and by a chronic fluctuating course. (1) It is an chronic autoimmune skin disease that changes the life cycle of skin. Exact cause is unknown, but HLA (human leucocyte antigen) marker carries very high risk for the development of psoriasis. HLA-B27 is seen up to 70% cases of psoriasis. It can start any age, but there are two peaks in age. Early onset occur 16-22 years, where positive family history present and Late onset 55-60 years, where family history is not present.(2)
Development of symptoms:
Initially, psoriasis lesion starts with red spot, then it spread other part of the body. The lesion covered with silvery scales after scraping shiny bleeding spot found (Auspitz sign). Lesion always develop on line of scratch (Koebner phenomena). Usually itching is absent. Then it effects the nail and causes brittle, thickened, pitted nails. In the later stage, it affects Interphalangeal joint and forms psoriatic arthopathy.(1)(2)
Case study
Chief complaints:
A 36-year women came with the complaint of dry, scaly eruption of back for last 5 years. There is severe itching with burning sensation, first started in right elbow then spread both the forearm. Complaints worsened in winters, itching after bathing and blood comes out after scratching.
History of present complaints:
Dry, scaly eruption with slight oozing started 5 years ago, intensity of itching is tremendously increase from 2 months weeks. She took conventional medicine for one year, but got relief only for some time and again symptoms reappeared when discontinued the medicine.
Past history:
She suffers from viral hepatitis at the age of 21 years, treated with homoeopathy. But after taking conventional medicine for present condition, she had knee pain for last 2 years.
Family history:
Father suffered from eczema for last 7 years and was under conventional medicine. Mother suffered from osteoarthritis for last 2 years and was taking homoeopathic medicine.
Personal history:
She wanted to be alone. Her diet was irregular. She had no addictions. She was married and had 2 children.
Mental general and physical generals:
Bilateral symmetrical (i.e., both sides looked same). She had extreme anger, was violent, aggressive, had desire to be alone, fear of dogs. She did not want to do anything, or care for her family. She wanted to leave her family.
While enquiring her physical general aspects, it was found that she had good appetite but still was losing her weight. She had desire for sweets and aversion of meat. Tongue was flabby and cracked in the middle. She easily caught cold and could not tolerate it. Her stools were satisfactory, no complaints in urine. All complaints were relieved by motion and open air. Menstruation was irregular.
Diagnosis:
Psoriatic plaque typically a dry, thin, silvery white scales and tends to be symmetrical distribution. Diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms, physical examination of the patient.(1)
Analysis and evaluation of symptoms:
Sl. No. | Symptom type | Symptom | Intensity | Miasmatic analysis(3) | Totality of symptoms |
1. | Mental general | She always had desire to be alone | +++ | Psora, syphilis | a) She always desire to be alone |
2. | Mental general | She had fear of dog | +++ | Psora, syphilis | b) She had fear of dog |
3. | Mental general | Indifferent, did not care of her family | ++ | Psora | c) Indifferent, does care to his family |
4. | Physical general | Aversion to milk | +++ | Tubercular | d) Aversion to milk |
5. | Physical general | Complaints worse in winter | +++ | Sycosis | e) Complaints worse in winter |
6. | Physical general | Desire for sweet | +++ | Tubercular | f) Desire for sweet |
8. | Particular symptom | Dry, scaly, severe itching in erupted area and blood comes after scratching | +++ | Psora, syphilis | g) Dry, scaly skin eruption with bloody discharge after scratching |
8. | Common symptom | Skin eruption | ++ |
Repertorial totality(4):
Symptoms | Rubric |
She always had desire to be alone | .MIND-COMPANY, alone, amel. |
Indifferent, does care to his family | MIND-INDIFFERENCE, family to his |
Desire for sweet | STOMACH-DESIRE, sweet |
Aversion to milk | STOMACH-AVERSION, milk |
Complaints worse in winter | GENERALITIES-SEASONS, Winter, agg |
Dry, scaly Skin eruption | SKIN-ERUPTION, dry |
Bleeding after scratching | SKIN-ERUPTION, dry, bleeding after scratching |
Repertorisation(4) :
See reportorial result
Prescription:
After repertorisation, Sepia officinalis possessed highest grade and highest matching of the symptoms. Here, Sepia officinalis was selected on the basis of mental as well as physical symptoms of the patient. The patient was changeable in nature, indifferent in character and complaints worsened especially in winters, as per consultation with materia medica(5)(6). Also after repertorisation, Sepia officinalis was the indicated remedy. So, it was selected for this case.
Prescribed on 04/01/2021,
Sepia officinalis 200/ 1 dose, early morning mixing with ½ cup of water for 2 days along with placebo every day, two times after eating for 7 days
Selection of dose and potency:
As per Organon of Medicine aphorism 247 5th edition(7) and according to the susceptibility of the patient, the potency was selected. Here the patient was highly susceptible and intensity of the symptoms was also increased and she suffered from long time due to that affection, so the case was staretd with higher potency
Justification of repetition of remedy:
Every well-chosen medicine should be repeated at suitable interval aphorism 246 5th edition(7) of Organon of Medicine. After initial improvement, if same symptoms is reappear, then repeat the same medicine.(8)
Follow up:
Date of visit | Response | Medicine prescribed |
11/01/2021 | No changes took place. Itching and burning sensation present | Rubrum-200/ 1 drop BD x 15 days |
28/01/2021 | She had slight improvement, itching reduced but burning sensation still was present | Rubrum -200/ 1 drop BD x 15 days |
18/02/2021 | No itching, no burning sensation, she felt better | Rubrum -200/ 1 drop BD x 15 days |
24/02/2021 | Itching and burning sensation reappeared. It was more than previously So, same medicine with same potency was prescribed again | Sepia officinalis-200/ 1 dose |
18/03/2021 | Patients felt better itching reduced, bleeding after scratching reduced | Rubrum -200/ 1 drop BD x 15 days |
05/04/2021 | Eruption covered with white scales reduced | Rubrum -30/ 1 drop BD x 15 days |
28/04/2021 | Eruption healed | Rubrum -200/ 1 drop BD x 15 days |
10/05/2021 | Scales were no longer seen | Rubrum-30/ 1 drop BD x 7 days |
03/06/2021 | Normal skin appeared again | Rubrum -200/ 1 drop BD x 15 days |
Picture of the patient:

CONCLUSION:
It can be demonstrated that psoriasis sufferers can be treated effectively with homoeopathic therapy. Psoriasis can have a significant impact on people’s life. It not only causes physical discomfort to the patient, but it also undermines his or her self-esteem. Patients are frequently socially shunned. In homoeopathy, proper medicine selection not only improves health care, but also aids the patient’s social integration into society.
REFERENCES:
- Davidson, Principle and practice of Medicine, 19th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2002
- Das PC, Das PK, Textbook of Medicine, 5th ed. Kolkata: Central book International; 2009
- Babu NG, Comprehensive study of Organon, 1st ed. New Delhi: B. Jain publishers (P) Ltd.; 2009
- Kent JT, Repertory of Homoeopathic Materia-Medica, 3rd ed. Kolkata: Rup publication; 2016
- Allen HC, Allen’s Keynote Rearranged and classified, 10th ed. New Delhi: B.Jain publishers (P) Ltd.; 2013
- Boericke W. Boericke’s New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory, LPE ed. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.; 2014
- Hahnemann S, Organon Of Medicine, 5th and 6th ed. New Delhi: B. Jain publishers (P) Ltd.; 2016
- Kent JT, Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy, LPE ed. New Delhi: B.Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.; 2015
About Author:
Dr Ravi Prakash
Associate Professor, Department of Materia-Medica
R.B.T.S Government Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Bihar