This article is Published in The Hahnemannian Sandesh, April 2023 Issue .
ABSTRACT:
The following article is to get the self-awareness and tackle the Pandemic with sound mental health as well as to trace at what level this pandemic has affected an individual’s mind. Also, the case discussed explains the role of homoeopathy in dealing with cases of mental health affected due to COVID-19.
KEYWORDS: Homoeopathy, COVID-19, mental health.
INTRODUCTION
Mental health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being, its healthy balanced development of the individual’s own personality as well as emotional attitudes in different situations of his day-to-day life, which helps him to live harmoniously with his fellow-men surrounding him is Mental Health1.
Same definition holds good when it comes during the pandemic which has affected the whole world. It’s easy to say we need to be calm, should not panic and situation will be under control, etc. but same time its not so difficult to manage the situation also, as our master Dr Samuel Hahnemann said “the more tangible the truth, the more time will it spend to conquer the space it belongs to. Obstacles present themselves due to the fact that this truth generates true hate – because it announces a revolution, a disturbance in the existing interests and conquered places’’2.
Mental illness itself occurs from the interaction of multiple genes and other factors such as Stress, Abuse, Traumatic event, which can influence, or trigger, an illness in a person who has an inherited susceptibility to it. According to Homoeopathy, something known as mental state of an individual ,the mental state of individual is the reaction of an individual to a particular situation which he comes across, similarly, the reaction of each one of was to the pandemic which affected the whole world was different and that’s what we say in Homoeopathy that every individual if different from each other and his reactions also different and every individuals problem has a solution in Homoeopathic Materia medica and it is always depended on the Physician to perceive the case clearly and find the true similimum to help the person suffering from the Pandemic so that he becomes mentally strong to fight back the problems he is suffering from, as healthy mind also improves the immunity and quality of life of an individuals as there is always an Important Link between the Brain and Immune System3.
The Qualities a healthy person should have which will help the person to battle COVID 19 include:
- Self-Consciousness – Knowing both Positives & Negatives of self
- Self-Awareness – Knowing strength, Interest, as well as Limitations
Self-consciousness is undue awareness of oneself, one’s appearance, or one’s actions and Self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of one’s own character and feelings. When person came across huge stress because of the pandemic these two main qualities above mentioned were totally shattered & Person without self-awareness Will be guided by external environment so intensively that he gets carried away and takes wrong decisions further it will end up with Very Poor judgment, Always Dis-satisfaction, Unhappiness every time & in everything. So, these are the main indicators for all of us to stop and rethink what is our major purpose of existence and work accordingly and battle with this so-called monster Corona and win it with our self-consciousness and confidence4.
If an individual is mentally sound and health, the end product will be the ability of an individual to meet the demands of his life and his family and will never become the slave of his emotions such as Fear, Anger Anxiety during hie battle with the COVID 19. Not just during this pandemic but also for our whole lifetime, we should know our capacity-what we can do, we should know what our limitations. We should know what we can try to do, should think how to help others who are in need, should be able to adjust with others Should respect others feelings.
Role of mental health in homoeopathy:
The sole aim to be mentally healthy is by having positive thoughts and good control over one’s emotions. All this is possible when the individual’s vital force is at ease. Thus, one will be able to find the CONSTITUTION of an individual and it’s very easy to find, of those with good mental health. The following case study explains the utility of homoeopathy in cases of mental and physical health affected by COVID 19.
Case study:
Mr. “xyz”, a 32-year-old male, presented with anxiety with extreme sadness, along with greenish-brown soft stool for a few days with offensive smell as if of a medicine. He also complained of nausea while eating food due to its odour and gets amelioration an hour after eating.
History of presenting complaints
The patient was apparently well when he was tested positive for COVID-19 a few days back, from then onwards, he developed anxiety about his health with general weakness. He had anxiety about how did he suffered from COVID-19. He also had a fear of getting lung infection. From then, if he used to get headache, he felt anxiety that it is due to migraine. He also complained of shortness of breath, palpitation at least once in a day. He had headache around 6 pm in the evening, especially in the occipital region, ameliorated after sleeping.
Generals
Patient, as a person, could not mingle with others easily, felt like crying when he was angry. He has also developed restlessness and palpitation.
His appetite was moderate, and used to drink large quantities of water per day. He had a desire for chicken, potato, sweets. Aversion to raw onions2+; Intolerance to ice-creams, cold drinks, fanning as it caused itching in nose, coryza, and sneezing. He had greenish-brown soft stools with offensive smell. He also had difficulty in falling asleep, used to get up 4-5 times during sleep. Could not sleep in the darkness, he wanted open air even when windows were open. Used to get up easily due to slight noise during sleep. Perspiration on palms and soles even in winters. He had a habit of drinking milk once in a day. The palms of both hands were cold and clammy.
CASE ANALYSIS
Analysis and Evaluation of symptoms Mental symptoms – Anxiety about her health, Thoughts about disease, Fear of getting infection, migraine.
Physical symptoms- Nausea because of offensive smell, and while eating, Ameliorated one hour after eating, Offensive stools, Perspiration of palms and soles, Sleep disturbed by slightest noise, Aversion to onions, Easily took cold
Particulars-Anxiety with palpitation
REPERTORISATION
REPERTORY USED: Synthesis treasure edition (SE92) [RADAR 10.0 Software] 5
Repertorial result: Sepia scored 14/24, Phosphorus 12/23, Sulphur 11/22, Arsenicum album11/21.
Prescription: Sepia 200/1 dose was prescribed as it covered nausea eating after amelioration (PQRS), nausea aggravation from odours, after consultation with materia medica and Organon of medicine.
Potency: Moderate potency (200) was used as the patient was moderately susceptible.
Prognosis: On clinical examination, there was no gross pathology and presence of characteristic symptoms, so prognosis was good.
Treatment plan: Based on Totality of symptoms and characteristic symptoms, medicine is prescribed and cure is expected.
Follow up of the case-
| DATE | COMPLAINTS | REMEDY |
| 15/5/2021 | Felt better. Offensiveness of the stool also decreased. Stool colour became red. | Saccharum lactis 30 thrice a day for 3 days |
| 18/5/2021 | Nausea relieved completely; offensiveness of stool decreased. Stool colour became greenish pale. In the last two days, thirst increased with dryness of tongue. Sleep improved without getting up in the middle of night. | Saccharum lactis 30 thrice a day for 10 days |
| 29/5/2021 | No further improvement of symptoms | Sepia 1M/1dose Saccharum lactis 30 thrice a day for 15 days |
| 14/6/2021 | Dryness of tongue decreased with increased thirst. | Saccharum lactis 30 thrice a day for 15 days |
| 29/6/2021 | Complete relief of all the symptoms | Saccharum lactis 30 thrice a day for 3 days |
CONCLUSION
Master Hahnemann has quoted, “Homeopathy lays only over my experience. Do imitate me, but do it well and you shall see at each step the confirmation of my statements.” We are going through the most devastating calamity of the last hundred years. It has wreaked havoc, the world over. Besides mortality, the world economy has seen the worst ever fallout since the great depression in 1930. The economic consequences are bound to have repercussion on health both physical and psychological. Going by the current trend, ‘COVID-19’ is going to stay with us at least for some time. We will have to learn how to live with it. We will have to live a life with a modified lifestyle, perhaps for years to come. And here homoeopathy proves its efficacy. The above case showed the efficacy of Homoeopathy in managing mental health due to COVID-19. However, more research papers and case studies can prove its efficacy all over the world.
REFERENCES
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154543
- Homiopathia.bvs.br/en/vhl/known. Cited on 12/9/20
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/important-link-between-the-brain-and-immune-system-found/ cited on 14/9/20
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886
- RADAR 10.0 Software
About the author
Dr Yashika Arora Malhotra
BHMS (NHMC, DU), MD (Hom), DNHE