A case of plaque psoriasis treated with fagopyrum esculentum

Dr Avinash Kumar

ABSTRACT :
Psoriasis is a long-standing auto-immune –disease characterised by patches of abnormal skin .This disease has much cosmetic as well as psychosocial impact. The success rate in treating this condition in conventional medicine is limited & sometimes treatment follows with side-effects . Though a few case records are documented in the past about the success of various homoeopathic medicine ,yet they lack proper quantitative assessment . This is a case seen in out –patient department of The Clinical Research Unit for Homoeoapthy,Ranchi. This case was treated with Fagpyrum Esculentum over a period of 6 months with steady improvement which is evident from the photographs and improvement in the baseline scores of presentation of the case.

Key words : plaque psoriasis ,homoeopathy, Fagopyrum esculentum

INTRODUCTION :
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that appears to have an auto-immune basis. It has a prevalence of 0.44 to 2.8 percent in India . Persons of all age may develop the disease.   Psoriasis results from interaction of genetic as well as environmental factors. As in the case of many auto-immune diseases it is linked to genes within the HLA locus. The principal mechanism  of tissue injury is inflammation which is destructive plaque in the skin.

Psoriasis has much cosmetic & psychosocial impact many studies have shown that it also effects the quality of life of patients suffering from disease.

Various systems of medicine have claimed to have good results but not without side effects like erythema, pruritus and certain long term complication. 

Few case records have been documented in the past showing the effectiveness of homoeopathy in the treatment of psoriasis. But no where a quantitative assessment of the patches on the basis of  some score or scale has been attempted .  This is one of the case of plaque psoriasis which documented the effect of homoeopathic medicine through quantitative evaluation.

DATA-COLLECTION : 

The case was selected from the MCH OPD of THE CLINICAL RESEARCH UNIT FOR HOMOEOPATHY, RANCHI.

CASE –SUMMARY : 

The patient a male child of age 8 yrs, presented with destructive plaque patches in the skin particularly on flexor surface of elbow, knee joint and behind neck . The eruption was  bilateral symmetrical . The eruption occurred 6 months ago . Lesions started first behind neck ( nape of neck), then spread to face, elbow and knees. There was intense itching in the eruption which ameliorated from cold water and aggravated from sun. Appetite & thirst were normal. There was family history of skin disease in father . His childhood history had no significant events. On examination it was found that he had no significant problem. Wheatish complexion .Height : 126 cm, weight : 30 kg.

SYSTEMIC-EXAMINATION :

1. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM :  NORMAL

2. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM : NORMAL

3.CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM : NORMAL

4.GASTRO- INTESTINAL SYSTEM : TENDERNESS OVER RT. HYPOCHONDRIAC REGION.

5.GENITO-URINARY SYSTEM : NORMAL

6. MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM : NORMAL

7. SPECIAL ORGAN EYE, NOSE, EARS : NORMAL.

LAB-INVESTIGATION :

Lab investigations reports are attached in table 1 & 2 . Table 1 contains reports before treatment and table 2 contains after treatment.

MEDICINE SELECTION : 

Synthesis repertory ( radar 10.5 version ),was referred for repertorisation of the case. The following symptoms were considered for repertorisation .The repertorisation chart is attached ( table 3). The first prescription was Fagopyrum Esculentum 30, which on reportorial analysis scored highest marks.

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DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: 

Fagopyrum Esculentum was selected after considering the peculiar modalities, physical generals as well as sphere of action of the medicine. On reportorial analysis Fagopyrum Esculentum has scored highest marks (6) covering most of the rubrics (4 out of 5). Fagopyrum esculentum has had extensive proving,and though there is little clinical experience with the drug on record, some features are sufficiently well marked to justify their being classed as characteristics. DR. Dexter Hitchcock , was the first prover of this drug in 1873. Clarke has mentioned its characteristics which include various skin symptoms. Hale   has found it useful in various skin diseases. Hence Fagopyrum Esculentum 30 was prescribed ,4 globules b.d for 7 days. followed by placebo. The second dose of Fagopyrum 30 was prescribed 1 month later when the improvement became standstill. The improvement of the patient reaffirms the principles of single medicine, minimum dose as advocated by DR.Hahnemann. This is case, which speaks about the success of homoeopathy in the management of psoriasis.     

DATE : 31/05/2019.      BEFORE TREATMENT

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 DATE :  11/06/2019.         DURING TREATMENT

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DATE : 18/07/2019.       DURING TREATMENT                            pastedGraphic_6.png             pastedGraphic_7.png         pastedGraphic_8.png

 DATE : 11/10/2019                    AFTER TREATMENT 

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