The author of this case is Dr. S. K. MAMGAIN
AWARDS & HONORS: Doon Ratna; Garhwal Gaurav; Gold Medalist; Veteran Homoeopath and various others.
Introduction
In the following lines I am presenting a case in which the sole of the right big toe toward the tip was affected by gangrene like lesion. The affected portion of the toe was removed surgically but the wound was getting worse in place of healing and the foot was getting inflamed and the color of the skin of foot was changing to dark as after thrombosis. It was diagnosed as Buerger’s Disease on 30th April, 2016 through PERIPHERAL VASCULR DOPPLER EXAMINATION
Homoeopathic single medicine in very minute doses at long interval restored the patient completely in a span of one year.
According to the medical science the Buerger’s Disease is:
“As defined on Net Buerger’s disease – Also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is a rare disease of the arteries and veins in the arms and legs. In Buerger’s disease, the blood vessels become inflamed, swell and can become blocked with blood clots (thrombi). This eventually damages or destroys skin tissues and may lead to infection and gangrene.”
The signs and the symptoms of Buerger’s Disease are as follows:
“There is a recurrent acute and chronic inflammation and thrombosis of arteries and veins of the hands and feet. The main symptom is pain in the affected areas, at rest and while walking (claudication). The impaired circulation increases sensitivity to cold. Peripheral pulses are diminished or absent. There are color changes in the extremities. The color may range from cyanotic blue to reddish blue. Skin becomes thin and shiny. Hair growth is reduced. Ulcerations and gangrene in the extremities are common complications, often resulting in the need for amputation of the involved extremity.”
As far treatment is concerned in Allopathy is as follows:
“In acute cases, drugs and procedures which cause vasodilation are effective in reducing pain experienced by patient. For example, prostaglandins like Limaprost are vasodilators and give relief of pain, but do not help in changing the course of disease. Epidural anesthesia and hyperbaric oxygen therapy also have vasodilator effect.
In chronic cases, lumbar sympathectomy may be occasionally helpful. It reduces vasoconstriction and increases blood flow to limb. It aids in healing and giving relief from pain of ischemic ulcers. Bypass can sometimes be helpful in treating limbs with poor perfusion secondary to this disease. Use of vascular growth factor and stem cell injections has been showing promise in clinical studies. Debridement is done in necrotic ulcers. In gangrenous digits, amputation is frequently required. Above-knee and below-knee is rarely required.”
The cause of the Buerger’s Disease or thromboangiitis obliterans is attributed to excessive smoking or using Tobacco.
From homoeopathic point of view, any disease arises only from the disorder of vital force and can only be cured by re-establishing order in the vital force again. The irregularity in regimen proves an exciting cause only and proper regimen is always beneficial. The homoeopathic physicians following Hahnemannian laws are often meeting this fact. Following case is one of the examples.
Patient: A 42 years old gentleman.
First consultation: 27th June, 2016.
History of the case:
About four years ago he suffered from gangrene on the tip of the second toe of the left foot, which had decayed fallen and then the toe was healed.
Photo taken on 27th June, 2016
Now for about three months the sole of the right big toe had been affected by gangrene like eruption. The gangrenous portion was surgically removed by a surgeon. The condition of the toe, bottom and top view photos are given below as on 27th June, 2016.
Photo taken on 27th June, 2016 (Bottom view)
Photo taken on 27th June, 2016 (Top view)
The whole of the big toe has assumed dark color and is inflamed.
He feels light pain in the toe on walking. There is burning sensation in the toe which < from warmth, > from cold.
The gangrenous portion was scraped out by a surgeon which did not heal rather it has become ulcerous and decomposing. But the ulcer is absolutely dry.
On 30th April, 2016 PERIPHERAL VASCULR DOPPLER EXAMINATION was done which revealed –
CFA, SFA, POPLITEAL ARTERIES AND TIBIAL ARTERIES show reduced flow with loss of normal triphase flow. Their peak velocities are reduced.
Dorsalis pedis artery little flow seen.
Impression: Dampened flow with loss of triphasic flow in above said arteries S/O ? BUERGER’S DISEASE.
(The query mark indicates the diagnosis is doubtful).
See copy of the Doppler Examination Below.
In this case Secale cornutum seemed to be the indicated Homoeopathic medicine so it was given in minute dose once at an interval of two days.
The effect of the medicine was prompt. Burning pain in the toe started reducing and the wound started healing. On 25th July 2016 the hue of the toe which was previously blackish started improving towards normal too.
The condition of the toe as on 25th July, 2016
Now the ulcer which was dry has become moist and discharging slight pus.
Gradual healing of the toe continued.
On 24th October, 2016 show further improvement in the toe.
The condition of the toe as on 24th October, 2016 (Botom view)
The condition of the toe as on 24th October, 2016 (Top view)
Gradual healing of the toe continued. By 28th January, 2017 the color of the skin of toe became almost normal.
The condition of the toe as on 28thJanuary, 2017
Condition of the toe as on 27th March, 2017 (Bottom view)
Condition of the toe as on 27th March, 2017 (Top view)
By 10th June, 2017 the toe has healed completely.
The condition of the toe as on 10th June, 2017 (Bottom view).
The condition of the toe as on 10th June, 2017 (Top view).
Note the color of the skin, it has resumed the natural hue, which shows that the flow in arteries and veins regained its natural free flow. No any external manipulation or the methods suggested under allopathic treatment were used. The patient did take regimen as suggested and continued his normal daily routine during the course of whole treatment. Dr. J. T. Kent has very rightly stated under Baryta carb. In his Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica:
“The doctor who prescribes correctly turns the vital state into order. He cures the patient, and the patient, being in a state of order, commences to repair his body, and the tissues go through a general house cleaning, and such things as are not needed are dispensed with; and the physician is considered a wonderful man.”
A few facts about Secale cornutum by some Masters:
Dr. W. H Burt says in his Philosophical Materia Medica – Secale cornutum – Skin (gangrenous ergotism)] – “The contraction of the small vessels, especially of the arteries, by Ergot, particularly when the vis a tergo, i.e. , the cardiac contraction, is a remarkable degree simultaneously affected by this poison, may lead to a complete emptying of blood, not only in the separate smaller vessels, but also in the larger vascular trunks; and it is conceivable, that, by the failure of blood-supply, the arteries themselves (e.g. , in the intima) may become diseased, so that thrombi readily form in them, and so the whole process may be characterized as thrombotic.”-Ziemssen.
Dr. J. H. Clarke says in his Dictionary of Our Materia Medica – [Secale cornutum] – Spasmodic retching, the stomach is violently contracted.
Through the like action on the vaso-motor nerves there is first contraction and then dilatation of blood-vessels; the fingers turn bluish black. This stagnation leads to dry gangrene of the parts.
Cold gangrene of the limbs; the dead part separates at the joints and drops off.
Complete mortification of some parts by sphacelus.
Dr. J. T. Kent says in his Lectures on Materia Medica under- Secale cornutum – The toes become black, gangrenous.
A senile withering, such as is found in feeble old people; the blood-vessels close up; no blood goes to the toes and they become numb and black, devoid of sensation.
Hence, Secale improves the circulation of the aged and postpones senile gangrene.
Old ulcers take on a strange, withered appearance; dryness with no granulations; a shiny, blackish aspect and all at once blackish granulations shoot out, indolent, and finally forming a black sphacelus which slowly separates; the part is dry; there is no discharge except now and then a little bleeding of black blood.
“Concordance Repertory” a Repertory on new format by Dr. S. K. Mamgain is available for free use on web.: www.homoeopathy-milddose.co. Numerous case reports are available on the same site under Case history/Articles with Documentary videos under My Youtube Channel.