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FINGERNAIL AND TOENAIL DIAGNOSTIC INDICATIONS
for the Classical Homeopathic Practice
(Excerpts from the article is given below)
COMMON CAUSES of
nail abnormalities
Trauma
·
Crush injury to base of the
nail or the nail bed may produce a permanent deformity
·
Nail biting can be a sign of anxiety, chronic tension or
uncontrollable compulsion
·
Chronic picking or rubbing of the skin behind the visible portion
of the nail can produce a washboard nail
·
Chronic exposure to moisture or to nail polish can produce brittle
nails with peeling the edge of the nail
CHECKLIST OF Nail Assessment
The medical history obtained, and a physical
examination performed should cover the following.
Character
·
What
is the abnormality?
Discoloration
·
Are
the nails an abnormal color?
·
Are there spots or lineations of color?
·
Are there red lines running the length of the nail (splinter
hemorrhage)?
·
What is the pattern of lunulae shape, color, and size?
MIASMATIC
Indications.
By
Indications
-thickened AND mottled/pockmarked/pinholed= SYCO-SYPHILITIC
-glossy and or spotted =TUBERCULAR
By Miasm
PSORA- dryness of nails
-Dry, harsh nails are Psoric. They look rough. They are not “eaten up”
in appearance. They are not glossy. They are dry. Psora has dryness.
SYCOSIS –ridged nails, convex
-The Tips of the fingers are square as a result of Sycotic
preponderance.
-Squaring of the nail to a certain extent is Sycotic.
SOME CLINICAL indications of Abnormal Nails
-Beading-the
development of bumps on the surface of the nail is a sign of
rheumatoid arthritis
-Beau's lines are linear depressions that occur "crosswise" (transverse)
in the fingernail.
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We Do Need to
Change, Is it not so, Dear?
Dr. Deepu Keshavan. MD (hom)
“Belief is not the beginning but the end of all knowledge”.
As science is a journey from the unknown to the known, there will arise
questions from inquisitive minds. They provide light and reason in the quest for
understanding Nature. This is the story of science. And science is the
intelligence of Nature, shared not only by humans but also by each and every
organism.
This phenomenon of ‘Life’ is
still an incomprehensible marvel. The basic sciences like Chemistry, Physics and
Mathematics can be explained on true premise. The more complicated science of
Biology can also be explained on the basis of physics and chemistry but that
still remains an unachieved possibility.
Contemporary Physics and
Chemistry have got very little explanation on the phenomenon of ‘Life’, though
‘Life’ definitely is having it’s own Physics and Chemistry. The phenomena
related to ‘Life’ such as health and disease, when explained on purely specific
premises of Physics, Chemistry or Biology may naturally retain uncertainties and
errors. This error was committed by many greats in the history of Medicine,
including Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.
Evolution is a process of
courteous natural selection where the defective and backward genes are
courteously omitted through generations thereby improving the genetic set up
making the subsequent generations more competent for survival. Medicine is a
direct intrusion into this natural selection upsetting is still keeping a bold
eye towards this fact. This is a reason behind many of the complex illnesses
existing today.
Any phenomenon, when explained
on erroneous reasoning can result in wrong conclusions. Often many of these
wrong conclusions will exist in the society, unquestioned, unchallenged until
they are successfully challenged and overthrown by pure reason. These
unquestioned, unchallenged assumptions are called dogmas. Dogmas do exist every
where. Dogmas do exist in Modern Medicine. Dogmas exist in Homoeopathy as well.
Dr. Hahnemann’s life was full
of challenges, fights, inquiries and experimentations. He retained a puristic
mind. He lived in a time of philosophical queries, introspective speculations
and wide spread confusions. It is an irony that an inquisitive mind as that of
Samuel Hahnemann’s, who daringly challenged the misconceptions of medicine, had
to cling on to some unexplainable specifics to vindicate his medical philosophy.
Homoeopathy is more a medical
philosophy than a medical science. In an era of medical confusion he has so
authentically systemized the general concepts, approaches and applications. His
theory of suppression can easily be understood when it is read, keeping in mind
the upset forced onto the rhythm of evolution by the medical science. And look
at the concept of miasms. Simply, miasms are “cause”. See how beautifully he has
generalised the three miasmatic effects as sensitization, proliferation and
degeneration. And that too when the Medical Man
was swimming aimlessly in the deep waters of confusion.
Every existence has got the
phases of “Srushti”, “Stithy”, and “Laya”. And every illness has got potentials
of sensitization, proliferation and degeneration.
This concept of miasmatic
effects can be applied in modern medical knowledge with the least effort. “Yes”,
then what is wrong”, one may ask. Please wait friend.
When going through his
literature, we may have a feeling that only humans are having a special vital
force. Each and every existence, living and non-living has got a vital force,
preserving or trying to preserve its integrity. There’s a whole solar system
inside an atom. There’s movement everywhere. Leibnitz's concept of monads (which
are actually different levels of existences) will help to get a better
understanding of the situation. Unfortunately Dr. Hahnemann considered human
beings as very special existences. And he, very unfortunately explained his
concepts on the basis of some specific illnesses. Though his medical philosophy
was against such nominal classification of diseases, he just committed that
mistake. He simply went after some scabies, syphilis and gonorrhoea. This has
left some unnecessary dogmas in the homoeopathic medical philosophy, besides
making it a laughing -stock in front of the ever developing science and
technology.
There are disease processes
shared by humans and other animals, the causative factors are the same, the
immunologic mechanisms are the same, the vital responses like signs and symptoms
are almost the same and even the pathological process, including histological
studies are the same. The genetic sets are very similar. The very thought to the
influence of syphilis or gonorrhoea in these animals may shatter the mind of
even the noblest veterinary physicians. But we are proudly talking about the
inheritance of venereal diseases whenever we go into the deeper aspects of human
illnesses. What a pity!
“What?” one may say “Syphilis
is a stigma, not that disease” Well, my friend. be it a stigma or whatever it is
from the times of fracastorius onwards, the word “syphilis” has got one and only
one meaning, we would better not disturb it’s meaning. Why can’t we simply leave
these words away from homoeopathic philosophy? Or do you insist that some of
your ancestors were pretty hot and naughty?
If Dr. Hahnemann had used the
terms ‘Sensitization’ ‘proliferation’ and ‘Degeneration’ alone to these
miasmatic effects a lot of confusion could have been avoided. If we still
adamantly persist on the usage to the terminologies ‘psora’. ‘syphilis’ and
‘sycosis’ then we can analyse the condition ‘syphilis’ and say that ‘syphilis’
has got threee miasms viz. psora, syphilis and sycosis. Just imagine the picture
of a snake, hastily eating its own tail!!!
This continuous, unhindered
transmission of dogmas is to be corrected. The obesity of homoeopathic
philosophy is to be reduced and should be incorporated successfully into the
general philosophy and Medical Science. Unreasonable attributes from special
medical science can do only harm to the homoeopathic philosophy and eventually
it may lose its face. We have to perceive and explain things in easily
comprehensible ways. I do hope that this article will invite criticism
objections and positive discussions. Let us keep ourselves awake.
Belief can be the beginning
but can also be the end of all knowledge, is it not so dear?
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A brief
note on Ultrasonography and its application in OBG.
Dr. Abdul Gafar.
Medical Officer, Govt. Homoeo Dispensary,
Chungathara.
Contact:
chief@homeoweb.com web:
www.homeoweb.com ph: 9446469659
Key Words.
Amplitude, Acoustic impedance, Echo, Frequency, Image, Piezo-electric crystal,
Probe, Reflection, Resolution, Scanning, Sonography, Sonologist, Sonographer,
Sound waves, Transducer, Ultrasound, USG,.
Introduction
Ultrasonography or USG is one of today’s common diagnostic tools. It is fast,
non-invasive and much reliable. It also delivers a live picture.
Ultrasound is actually a physics utility. The term
"ultrasound" applies to all acoustic energy with a frequency above human hearing
(20,000 hertz or 20 kilohertz, the audible sound comes in between 20 to 20000
Hz). Sound travels in the form of waves from the point of production to 360° all
around in the air. Like all waves it has a trough and crest form. ‘How many such
waves are there per second’ is called the frequency that is usually
expressed in hertz (Hz). The distance from the lowest end of one trough to the
tip of the next crest (i.e. the height of one wave) is called the amplitude.
Note that higher the frequency the lower will be the amplitude and vice versa
for the waves. Also high frequency low amplitude waves have less energy and
travel less distance (less deep in to the tissues) were as the high amplitude
low frequency waves have more energy and so will travel longer distance
For practical purpose the ultrasound is produced by Piezo-electric
crystals. They are certain crystals which when pressed will produce electricity.
If one press them and release them in a rapid sequence one can get a pulse of
electricity coming out of them. Using the reverse of this when a rapid pulse of
electricity is passed in to them they vibrate. This vibration produces sound
waves; just like that from a tunic fork. By increasing the frequency of the
vibration ultrasound waves are produced.
The application of ultrasound lies in the fact that these
waves when hit a target comes back reflected where they can be captured and
electronically analysed to produce an image of the surface from which they are
reflected. In simple terms if these are reflected back from a smooth surface the
waves that are coming back will also be smooth where as if the surface
reflecting them are rough the waves that come back will also be rough. So by
looking at the smoothness of the waves we can say at least whether the surface
which reflected the waves is smooth or not, even if one cannot see the actual
surface. Now if one applies this in a larger scale with more sophisticated
instruments which are capable of analysing the quality and quantity of the waves
coming back, one can re-construct a good enough image of the surface as if in a
photograph.
In fact bats, sharks and some other animals already use
this for guidance and capturing prey. They can exactly point out the obstacles
in their path or their prey by observing the echo pattern.
Uses of Ultrasound
Ultrasound is used for different purposes including industry, war, marine
engineering, medical diagnosis & treatment etc. Here we are interested only in
medical ultrasonography (USG). So here in after when we refer to the sonography
or USG it is about medical ultrasonography only.
Ultrasound apparatus
The machine consists of one CPU, monitor and a probe (is also called a
transducer) attached to the CPU by a length of flexible cable. The
probe/transducer has the crystals at its face and will produce ultrasound. It
also captures the reflected back waves and transmits the data to the CPU. After
analysing the data the CPU converts it into an image which is displayed on the
monitor.
The working method of USG
Typical diagnostic ultrasound scanners operate in the frequency range of 2
to 15 megahertz. The choice of frequency depends between spatial resolution of
the image and imaging depth, as mentioned before. That is, lower frequencies
produce less resolution but can image parts deeper into the body and vice versa.
Remember about the frequency-amplitude paradox. Superficial structures such as
muscles, tendons, testes, breast and the neonatal brain are imaged at a higher
frequency (7-15 MHz), which provides better resolution. Deeper structures such
as liver and kidney are imaged at a lower frequency (1-6 MHz) with lower
resolution but greater penetration.
The ultrasound image is produced by a series of pixels (dots) of varying
intensity on the screen, film or print. It is usually in greyscale so there will
be a mass of black, white (and the shades of black in between) dots making up
the image. Just like the B&W photographs in a news paper which one will
understand better if examined with the help of a magnifying glass. Read on below
to find out how these images are made by the ultrasound machine.
Read the full
article in our Vol-15, No- 3 issue or contact the
author
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Two Gems of A Woman’s Life:
Pregnancy and Breast Feeding
Pregnancy is one of the foremost ambition of each and every
woman. This divine gift is relished by women right from the time they know they
are pregnant This diagnosis however is ascertained by many only at the outset of
the morning sickness, following which the expectant mother traditionally gets
all help and support from her friends and family. Myths and misconceptions
regarding pregnancy are very much in vogue even today. These fallacies can
severely affect both the mother and the foetus.
The ovulatory cycle heralds the beginning of life. The destined ovum so produced
has to be catered to from the time of production itself. A thorough knowledge
about the physiological changes that occur in the fertile female is essential
for a healthy offspring. Every married woman should be educated as early as
possible as she prepares for motherhood. This preparedness should commence right
from the first day of ovulatory cycle. The care and precaution comprising
emotional, mental and physical harmony should commence from the beginning
itself. Such a healthy environment plays a decisive role in the quality of the
ovum produced. It is therefore necessary for women to be mentally and physically
prepared at the outset of ovulation itself. A perfect ovum alone can fertilize
into a healthy embryo.
The development of central
nervous system commences by the beginning of 3rd week of intra
uterine life. Folic acid supplements along with proteins is very much essential
for the growth and development of nervous system of the foetus. However the lack
of knowledge of being pregnant before contemporary signs and symptoms are
portrayed leads to severe impoverishment of the developing foetus. A well
balanced diet which is rich in all vitamins, especially folic acid, and proteins
is to be adopted as a norm.
Fertilization remains unknown to
the woman. A delay in menstruation is often the first comprehensible sign of
pregnancy. However by this time the embryo reaches third or in some cases fourth
week of intra uterine development, the stage at which the foundation of nervous
system (neurulation) is laid out. Expectant mothers have to be well aware of
this and improvise both on their diet and regimen as well as mental, physical
and social environment.
The first trimester must therefore be dealt with utmost caution. Over indulgence
in carbonated drinks, junk foods, fish known for high levels of mercury
(mackerel), exposure to passive smoking and mental trauma is detrimental to the
unborn child. Warm water bathing is also injurious to the embryo. Exposure to
radiation, heat and infections cause risk to mother and child.
The expectant mother should
therefore be counseled as regards the following guidelines –
¨
Morning sickness can be minimized by small regular meals and
avoiding oily and spicy food. A snack at the time of waking up may be advised.
¨
Blissful sleep adopting a sideways posture is optimal, the upper
knee supported by a pillow.
¨
Food should be a diet rich in fibres, comprising of minimal salt
and spices
¨
Moderate exercise is of paramount importance in keeping the foetus
healthy. It strengthens the quadriceps (to diminish aching in limbs) and pelvic
muscles (to avoid stress incontinence and to aid normal delivery). Cramps in
legs can be relieved by stretching the limb with dorsiflexed foot. These
exercises also maintain the form and feminity.
¨
Dental and personal hygiene should not be overlooked.
¨
Pregnancy also calls for meticulous care of the breasts – hygienic
standards along with massage and proper support for the enlarging breasts is to
be looked into.
Breast feeding
also plays an important role in the development of the child at both mental and
physical levels. It is at this period that the development of brain is at its
peak. Studies have shown that increase in white matter and formation of neuronal
synaptic junctions occur during this phase. The mother’s milk is utmost
essential to the baby. The first six weeks of nursing are the most crucial.
Mothers however seem to lack knowledge in this department. The process of breast
feeding is not just to satiate the appetite of the child. On the other hand it
is this process that nourishes and nurtures other faculties as well. The
intimacy and security involved boost the morale and confidence of the child in
addition to the growth of other attributes.
Proper breast feeding
techniques are therefore elaborated.
§Eat and drink : You will need
even more calories when you are breast feeding than while pregnant – 300 more
per day than in the last trimester. Breast milk is 87.5% water, so drink up a
minimum of 8 to 10 ounce glasses a day.
§Schedule : Baby must be nursed
8 to 12 times every 24 hours.
§Proper latch : Most breast
feeding problems can be prevented with a proper latch. This is how you do it
–
Before putting the baby on your breast, position her on her side so she
is facing you, with her belly touching yours.
– Prop
up the baby with a pillow, if necessary, and hold her up to your breast;
don’t lean over towards her.
–
Tickle your baby’s lips with your nipple until her mouth opens wide, like
a yawn.
–
When your baby opens her mouth wide, quickly draw her to your breast.
– Make
sure baby takes the entire nipple and at least 1 ½ to 2 inches of the areola in
her mouth.
– Never
feed the baby while in the lying position. It causes frequent URTI, OTITIS or
even ANXOEA.
§Find
a mentor :
Breast feeding might seem like a solitary activity, but it’s best not to go it
alone. Woman learned proper techniques from their mothers, grandmothers, sisters
and neighbours.
§Catch
problems early : If you do have problems, it’s important to correct them
early on. Sore, cracked or bleeding nipples needs special care. Mild
tenderness is normal in the beginning. But severe pain or rawness usually
indicates an improper latch.
o Nurse
on your least-sore breast first.
o To
remove your baby from your breast, break the suction by placing your finger in
the corner of her mouth before moving her.
o Breast
milk itself is soothing and moisturizing : Massage a small amount on to your
nipple after each feeding and allow to air dry. Don’t wash your breasts with
soap; water is sufficient. Engorgement :swelling of the breasts between
the third and fifth day postpartum is normal. It’s a sign that your body is
producing milk. As uncomfortable as it may be, any engorgement should subside in
a day or two with frequent nursing. In the mean time:
o Apply
a warm compress to the breast before nursing to stimulate milk flow.
o If
the breast is extremely swollen, pump or hand express a bit of milk until the
breast softens; otherwise, your baby may not be able to latch on.
o As
you nurse, massage the breast towards the nipple.
o If
pain or swelling is particularly bad, apply cold packs (try a cloth-covered bag
of frozen peas) after feeding. Leaking breasts -This is a normal effect
of your body adapting to nursing. Slow letdown- For some women, it takes
a few minutes for the milk to start flowing after baby latches on. Fast
letdown- If forceful jets of milk overwhelm your baby, take her off your
breast to let her catch her breath until the spraying subsides.
§ To
keep your body producing the proper amount of milk, it’s important that you pump
at about the time your baby would have nursed, rather than simply skipping a
feeding.
§ Once
in a while, babies can appear to be sensitive to a food in their mom’s diets,
but in 9 out of 10 babies, that’s not the case. In general, if food allergies
run in your family, you should be watchful; common trouble makers are dairy
products, eggs, wheat and nuts.
§ Environmental
concerns: Leave
the windows open as much as possible. The No.1 enemy of a good milk supply is
fatigue. Lie down when the baby rests. A good rule of thumb is ‘eat to hunger,
drink to thirst’,
Maternity care remains a mixture of both art and science, with advantages in
medical technology now allowing us to focus more on the specific requirements of
the mother and foetus, with an increasing drive towards the re appraisal of
current practices.
Above all, relax and savor
your new life together. “Just enjoy this time and know you’re doing a great
thing for your baby that will have a lifetime payoff”
Dr.(Mrs).
K.T.Subhadra
Tutor, Dept.of Materia Medica, D.P.M.H. College, Chottanikkara. E-mail :
drsubhadrapai@yahoo.com. Mob : 9447356378.
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