Lachesis and hamamelis – homeopathic alternatives to surgical treatment

Introduction:

Treatment of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) is a challenge for providers of homeopathy. The incomplete, altered or even lacking sensation of SCI patients below the lesion often makes homeopathic case taking extremely difficult. In addition, the differentiation between symptoms that are pathognomonic for SCI and those who are specific for the acute medical problem requires thorough medical knowledge. For example, wounds or abscesses may be asymptomatic in SCI patients, and wound healing frequently is impaired due to an affected immune response.

Methods and Results:

We report 2 cases to illustrate these problems. In case one, a tetraplegic patient suffered from a primarily unnoticed third-degree burn at the middle finger by a heating pad. After surgical treatment, she developed a severe wound healing disorder and a chronic inflammation. After lachesis as a constitutional remedy, the wound completely healed up, and an already scheduled amputation of the finger could be avoided.

In case two, a tetraplegic patient developed an epididymitis on the left side due to a urinary tract infection. Despite antibiotic treatment, he developed an epididymal abscess, thus an orchiectomy was planned. The patient refused the surgery and underwent homeopathic treatment with hamamelis, leading to subsequent healing of the abscess and the epididymitis.

Conclusion:

Due to an impaired immune system and impaired sensation, SCI patients are at a high risk for complicated infections and impaired wound healing. Homeopathic treatment can effectively treat severe infections even in this group of patients and thus can prevent surgical organ ablation.