bjbanerjee

HERPES ZOSTER

First of all I would bow down to our revered master Samuel Christian Friedrich Hahnemann before comencing to read my paper.
Respected president, learned teachers, my seniors and colleagues. It is my great pleasure to present this paper on 'Herpes oster'. Some of my seniors might have expressed their opinions on this before me. Herpes means to creep, it is derived from the Greek word 'Herpein' and 'Zoster' means it is an ancient greek waist belt for man. In the first place Herpes is a deases caused by one of the filter passing viruses. There are two types of Herpes -
1) Herpes Zoster which is also known as Zona or Shingles,
2) Herpes Simplex.
In Herpes Zoster the vesicles follow the distribution of sensory nerves whereas in Herpes simples this does not happen. In the case of Herpes Zoster immunity is obtained after an attack, but in Herpes Zoster immunity is not obtained. Both the Herpes are caused by different viruses. Acoording to Dr. Glenn A. Gentry or the university of Mississippi, U.S.A., the two Herpes viruses known as HSV1 (cold sores) and HSV2 (venereal disease), began to diverge from each other about nine million years ago, at about the time of the evolutionery seperation of early ancestors of Homo sapiens from the great apes. In his opinion about nine million years agoa single Herpes virus infected the Old World monkeys both in the mouths and genitals. He also assumed that as is common among all primate species except Homo sapiens and the Orangotan, the great apes took the fron to back posture at copulation. Coupled with the common practice of fallatio (which is still common among primate species), the ancestral Herpes virus would have begun only with the begining of face to race copulation, a consequense of the errect posture of the Homonids from which Homo sapiens is derived.
Herpes Zoster is an inflamatory condition of the route ganglia or the 'Gasserian-ganglion', generally known as Shingles. It is the sensory analogue of poliomylitis, type of lesions in the nervous-system and the condition of the cerebrospinal fluid is the same in both the diseases. Usually only one ganglion is involved most of ten in the dorsal region. The eruption isalways unilateral, running in a zone (i.e. Zoster) as far as the middle line and is preceded by neuralgic pain which may be very persistent and severe in old people. The vesicles begin as papules, and may leave some scarring. The lesions in the ganglia are similar to those in the anterior horn in poliomylitis, i.e. congestion, hemorrnage, perivascular collection of lymphocytes, and degeneration of ganglion cells with neuronophagia. There is Wallarian degeneration of the nerve fibres in the posterior routs, in the peripheral neves, and in the posterior coloumns.
In brief we may say that Herpes Zoster or Zona or Shingles is characterised by its peculiar way of spreading along with the course of certain cutaneous neves. When it appears on thorax, the cluster of vesicles occupy the space in which one of the spinal nerves takes its course, commencing near oneof the vertebrae and running around one side of the trunk towards the sternum, thus forming a kind of belt around one half of the thorax. When it appears on the neck, it forms not only a ring around one side of the neck, but it appears likewise upon the trunk and the upper arm, corresponding to the course of the cervical nerves and the brachial flexus. In cases where it appears and stands from the lowest lumbar vertebra, it spreads in a similar manner upon the thing and hip. Quite seldom is Zoster found in the face, and then it occupies one half of the face in the shape of a belt. Zoster is almost always preceded by rheumatic pains in the affected parts, with fever and debility. There is burning sensation in the affected parts, then follows redness, upon which gradually clusters of vesicles appear. In the course of four to six days they form into crusts. It terminates the attack, unless fresh vesicles break forth. The burning pain usually commences to leave when the eruption is fully out, and disappears entirely with the falling off of crusts, not frequently however, which is quite a peculiar feature of Zoster when an intercostal neuralgia occurs, having very painful and often quite obstinate. Sometimes the vesicles are converted into deep seated pustules, leaving scars behind them, or they beome unfiltered with blood serum. The duration of Zoster is fom 12/14 to 30 days, according to the degree of the inflammation and the general condition and the suseptibility of the patient.
I would like to draw your kind attention towards a few cases of Herpes Zoster which I have treated in my dispensary by 50 millesimal potency :
CASE NO. 1 : A CASE OF HERPES ZOSTER OF HIP REGION
Name : Raju Age : 12 years Sex : Male
6th Aug. '87 : A boy named Raju having the clusters of vesicles on his left hip and back region (as shown in slide No. 1 & 2 ) with a complaint or great burning and reeling of band like sensation around his hip bone. He also reported that burning increased as soon as he used to bathe. He was suffering with this for the past two days.
CLINICAL FINDINGS : Lips dry and bright red having burning on the affected part which aggravated by bathing.
The patient was prescribed sulphur 0/3, one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water, having four doses to be taken one dose every morning for four days. The attendat of the patient was asked to report on the prescribed date.
11the Aug. '87 : The blisters of the patient were drying up with diminutive burning sensation but he reported a new complaint i.e. having pain on his hip region due to which he found it difficult to walk. He was prescribed again the same medicine in same potency i.e. Sulphur 0/3, to be taken as before and was asked to report after four days.
16th Aug '87 : He visited me and reported that the burning as well as the pain were subsiding but he complained that there was peculiar type of spots (scars) on the affected parts, having numbness and a peculiar type of sensation. He was prescribed Sac-Lac in the previous procedure, four doses to be taken one dose every morning and was asked to report again.
21st Aug '87 : The patient visited me cheerfully and reported that he was quite O.K.
CASE NO. 2 :
A CASE OF POST HERPES ZOSTER
Name : Rukhsana Age : 14 years Sex : female
1st Sep '87 : Patient visited me along with her mother who told me that she was suffering from blisters and burning on right side of the body mostly upper extremity on the axilary portion, neck and face. She also told me that the sufferings were for the past one month and she had been under a reputed physician with no result.
CLINICAL FINDINGS : (Slide No. 3 & 4) : Scars on the affected parts with burning that is on right axilary portion, neck and face having foul smell with dry scabs-bright red with throbbing pain. The patient also reported that the somplaint increased by taking bath. She was prescribed Sulphur 0/3, one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water divided into four doses to be taken one dose every morning for four days.
5th Sep '87 : She visited me on the prescribed date and reported that she was gradually improving but complained of severe itching. I prescribed again the same medicine in the very same potency but divided into eight doses, to be taken one dose every morning for eight days.
14th Sep'87 : Rukhsana visited and reported with a charming smile that she had recovered her health totally and had no complaint at all.
CASE NO. 1 :
A CASE OF HERPES-ZOSTER OF THE FACE
Name : Ramesh Age : 25 years Sex : Male
7th Sep '87 : Patient visited me with a complaint of left facial blisters mostly on Halal region with oedematous swelling, piercing and stinging pain around the left orbit, with left eye closed (Slide No. 1 & 2)
CLINICAL FINDINGS : Erysipelas on left facial region with senstiveness and swelling, rosy with burning, chilly patient. Face oedematously swollen. I prescribed him on the basis of totallity of symptoms Apis mel.0/3 one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water divided into eight doses and advised to take one dose every morning without any external application.
16th Sep '87 : Patient had recovered his health and the complaints of burning, stinging and piercing pain along with the oedimatous swelling had fully vanished (Slide No. 2). He reported that a few spots (Scars) had appeared on the affected part of the face and a peculiar type of sensation persisted there. I prescribed the same medicine in the same potency i.e. Apis mel. 0/3 one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water having eight doses to be taken for eight days every morning. I asked him to report after eight days.
25th Sep '87 : The patient visited me in a happy mood and told me that he had no complaints. I advised him not to take any more medicine because clinically he was quita fit. (Slide No. 22)
CASE NO. 4 : A CASE OF POST HERPES ZOSTER OF RIGHT THORACIC REGION
Name : Manrawati Devi Age : 55 years Sex : Female
14th Sep '87 : An old lady visited me with a complaint of burning in right thoracic region with trembling of right hand, severe pain and burning on palm and sole which aggravated at night.
CLINICAL FINDINGS : Clinically I found that there were scars on the right thoracic region (Slide No.9 & 10). Just after taking the past history she told me that she had been suffering from a peculiar type of blisters along with severe burning and pain. I prescribed her Sulphur 0/3 according to totallity of symptoms, one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water having eight doses to be taken for eight days every morning.
23rd Sep '87 : She visited me and reported that the burning of chest along with palm and sole had vanished. She added that still she had the complaint of trembling of right hand. I prescribed her the very same medicine in the same potency to be taken as before, with eight doses for eight days.
31st Sep '87 : The old lady visited me in a cheerful mood and she reported to me with blessings that she had recovered from her trembling of the hand, I advised her not to take any more medicine.
CASE NO. 5 : A CASE OF HERPES ZOSTER OF RIGHT AXILARY & THORACIC REGION.
Name : Sukhdeo Age : 38 years Sex : Male
26th Sep '87 : A man with robust personality visited with the complaint of severe tearing pain on his right shoulder with lrysepalas vesicles and vesicular suppuration from the affected part and the patient was in so much trouble that he was unable to move his right arm. He also added that the complaint had started suddenly and increased after drenching by rain a few days ago. (Slide No. 11 & 12)
CLINICAL FINDINGS : Erysipilas on right axilary region along with vesicular suppuration with burning sensation and tearing pain aggravated in wet rainy weather after drenching in rain. I prescribed Rhus Tox 0/3, one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water having eight doses to be taken twice daily for four days.
31st Sep '87 : Patient visited and reported to me that the tearing pain had decreased along with the vesicular suppuration (Slide No. 13). I prescribed him the very same medicine in the same potency with eight doses but to be taken daily in the morning only for eight days.
9th Oct '87 : Patient visited me with a cheerful mood and reported that he had nearly recovered because the pain along with the suppuration had totaly vanished but he complained that there were a few spots left on the affected parts. (Slide No. 14). I prescribed him Rhus Tox 0/4, one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water having eight doses to be taken one dose every morning for eight days. I also advised him not to take any more medicine after eight days.
CASE NO. 6
A CASE OF HERPES ZOSTER OF LEFT HIP REGION.
Name : Chameli Devi Age : 40 Years Sex : Female
Ist Oct '87 : An old lady with the complaint of burning along with blisters on her left hip region aggravated during washing and bathing. (Slide No. 16).
CLINICAL FINDINGS : The lips of the patient were bright red and dry with the tongue white, with red tip and border. Burning in the affected part and also complained that everything aggravated by washing and taking bath. I prescribed her on the basis of totality of symptoms Sulphur 0/3, one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water having eight doses to be taken one dose every morning and asked her to report on the prescribed date.
9th Oct '87 : She visited and told me that blisters had already dried up but the burning still persisted. I prescribed her the same medicine in the same potency i.e. Sulphur 0/3, to be taken as before with eight doses, one dose every morning for eight days.
17th Oct '87 : The old lady visited me in a cheerful mood and reported that she had recovered from her complaint totally along with with burning but yet had a peculiar type of sensation. I prescribed her Sulphur 0/4, one pill dissolved in one ounce of distilled water having eight doses, one dose to be taken every morning for eight days.
26th Oct '87 : Patient visited me and reported that she was quite O.K.. I advised her not to take any more medicine.
I hope these medical cases will interest some, if not all, of my brothers-in-trade and benefit them to some extent.
I have given the references of the books I have consulted for the compilation of my paper which can be refered to by my colleagues who are interested in it.
In the end I thank you all for the patience with which you have listened to my and end it here.
I thankyou, once again,
R E F E R E N C E S
1. Chambers Disctionary.
2. A Text book of Pathology by William Boy.
3. Special Pathology and Diagnostics with Theurapeutiec Hints by C.C. Raue.
4. A Clinical Repertory to the Dictionary of Materia Medica -
by John Henery Clarke.
5. 'Times of India' Dated 20th Nov. 1988.
6. Materia Medica Pura by Samuel Hahnemann M.D.
7. 40 Years of Homoeopathic Practice by Dr. Sir John Weir, B.H.J. - April 1953.
8. British Homoeopathic Journal, April 1951.
9. Hahnemann's 50 Milliesimel Potency, Dr. S.M. Bhatacharya Hahnemann's Cleaning
10. 'A Note on Hahnemann's 50000 dilutions' by Evera , Dudley British -
Homoeopathic Journal, 1957.
11. Experiences with Hahnemann's 50,000th Dilutions, Dr. Charles Pahud
The British Homoeopathic Journal April 1950.
12. Some Recent Research and Advances in Homoeopathy. Dr P. Sankaran.
13. Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics by Dr E.B. Nash, M.d.
14. Boericke's Materia Medica.
15. Kent's Materia Medica.
16. The art of Case Taking & Practical Repertorisation in Homoeopathy,
Dr R.P. Patel
17. Experiments with 50 Millesimal Potency-by Dr R.P. Patel.