Dr Karthik K S
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis is a chronic parasitic disease caused by filarial nematodes, primarily Wuchereria bancrofti, and less commonly Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. The infection is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, predominantly of the genera Culex, Anopheles, and Aedes. Adult worms reside in the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes, where they induce inflammatory reactions, lymphatic obstruction, and progressive impairment of lymphatic drainage.
The clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis range from asymptomatic microfilaremia to acute adenolymphangitis and chronic sequelae such as lymphedema, hydrocele, and elephantiasis involving the limbs, genitalia, or breasts. Chronic disease is marked by irreversible lymphatic damage, fibrosis, skin thickening, and recurrent secondary bacterial infections, leading to substantial physical disability, psychological distress, and social stigma.
Lymphatic filariasis remains a major public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in South-East Asia, including India. It is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the leading causes of permanent disability worldwide. Despite ongoing global elimination programs, advanced and chronic cases continue to pose therapeutic challenges, emphasizing the need for effective long-term morbidity management strategies.
This case report describes a 70-year-old female presenting with chronic swelling and pain of the right lower limb. Individualized homoeopathic management was initiated, with Hydrocotyle asiatica prescribed based on pathological indications, followed by Arsenicum album according to the totality of symptoms. The patient demonstrated significant reduction in pain, itching, and skin thickening, suggesting a potential role for homoeopathy in the supportive management of advanced lymphatic disorders.
Key words: Elephantiasis, homoeopathy, hydrocotyle, case report, arsenicum album
CASE DETAILS
Patient named Mrs.Z, aged 70 years, presented to the OPD of Government Homoeopathic Medical College and hospital, Bangalore on 24 June 2025, with the complaints of pain, itching and swelling in the right lower limb for 13 years, with acute aggravation over the last 15 days.
History of Present Illness: Symptoms began 13 years ago after the patient was drenched in rain while traveling. Previous allopathic treatments (including Ivermectin) provided temporary relief but the condition recurred.
Comorbidities: History of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and acute decompensated heart failure.
Life Space Investigation:
The patient is from Sira, Tumkur, and comes from a middle-class family. Family is very important to her, especially her children. She is very attached to her son and depends a lot on him emotionally. Her happiness and peace of mind are closely linked to his well-being, particularly his future and marriage.
She is emotionally sensitive and gets upset easily. When she experiences pain, sadness, or emotional stress, she starts crying, and after crying she feels some relief. She often worries about her health and keeps thinking that her illness may get worse.
She frequently thinks about past sad events, especially the death of her husband. When she remembers him, she starts crying and then becomes quiet and withdrawn. She also has a strong fear of dead people and death. Overall, she feels anxious about the future, remains fearful and insecure, and depends a lot on her loved ones for emotional support and reassurance.
Interpretation:
A Modified Naranjo (MONARCH) score of 8 suggests a probable causal relationship between the homoeopathic medicine Arsenicum album and the clinical improvement observed in this case of elephantiasis.
Discussion: Lymphatic filariasis in its chronic stage presents with irreversible pathological changes such as lymphatic obstruction, fibrosis, hyperkeratosis, and recurrent inflammatory episodes. In such advanced cases, the scope of conventional treatment is largely palliative, focusing on infection control and symptom suppression. Homoeopathy, through individualized remedy selection based on totality, offers a holistic approach addressing both local pathology and the patient’s constitutional state.
In the present case, the initial prescription of Hydrocotyle asiatica was based on its strong clinical and pathological indications. Hydrocotyle has a well-documented affinity for chronic lymphatic inflammation, thickening of the epidermoid layer, induration, and elephantiasis-like conditions. The patient’s marked skin hypertrophy, non-pitting edema, fissuring, and “tree-trunk” appearance of the limb strongly corresponded to the pathological sphere of this remedy. Administration of Hydrocotyle asiatica 200 resulted in rapid improvement in local symptoms such as pain, itching, and skin texture, indicating correct remedy selection at the pathological level.
However, after significant local improvement, the case evolved, revealing a clearer constitutional picture. Repertorisation at this stage emphasized prominent mental generals such as marked anxiety about the future, fear of dead persons, restlessness, and a weeping disposition, along with physical generals including chilly constitution, thirst, aggravation at night, and burning-pricking pains. These symptoms strongly pointed toward Arsenicum album as the constitutional remedy.
Arsenicum album is a deep-acting antipsoric remedy with a known action on chronic inflammatory states, induration, ulcerative tendencies, and systemic debility. Its sphere of action includes anxiety-driven mental states, fearfulness, and restlessness, particularly in elderly patients with long-standing disease. The administration of Arsenicum album 1M, after careful repertorisation, helped in stabilizing the improvement achieved by Hydrocotyle asiatica and contributed to overall well-being, improved sleep, and absence of new complaints.
This case clearly demonstrates the importance of stage-wise prescribing in homoeopathy—where an organ-specific or pathological remedy may be required initially to reduce gross pathological changes, followed by a constitutional remedy to address the deeper miasmatic and psychosomatic layers of disease. The sequence of remedies was not complementary in the classical sense but was clinically justified based on evolving symptomatology and therapeutic response.
The miasmatic background of the case appeared to be predominantly syco-syphilitic, evidenced by chronic lymphatic obstruction, tissue hypertrophy, induration, and skin changes, with an underlying psoric component expressed through anxiety and hypersensitivity. The combined approach helped in achieving sustained improvement in a condition otherwise considered irreversible.
Conclusion:
This case report demonstrates the potential role of individualized homoeopathic intervention in the management of chronic lymphatic filariasis. Initial prescription of Hydrocotyle asiatica, based on pathological indications, resulted in significant improvement in local symptoms such as pain, itching, skin thickening, and induration. Subsequent constitutional treatment with Arsenicum album, selected after repertorisation, helped sustain clinical improvement and enhanced the patient’s overall well-being.
Limitation: As this is a single case report, the findings cannot be generalized. Objective lymphatic imaging and long-term follow-up were limited.
In accordance with CARE guidelines, this report highlights a patient-centered, stage-wise homoeopathic approach and suggests the need for larger, systematic clinical studies to further evaluate the role of homoeopathy in chronic lymphatic filariasis.
Financial support and sponsorship: None
Conflicts of interest: None declared.
References:
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Dr. Karthik K S
PG Scholar
Department of Homoeopathic Materia Medica Government Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Bengaluru – 560079
Under the Guidance of Dr. Renuka S Patil
Head of the Department and PG Guide
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