Auxiliary Measures in Homeopathy

It's strange that when the aim of medical profession is to Restore the Sick to Health, why we so often fight over the "pathy" chosen and efficacy of one over the other. Shouldn't we just unite together and bring health to all which is more important.

In fighting among ourselves or rather in discussions we are ignoring the oath which binds us to the profession. Had we worked more and together the situation would have been really different. Don't we sometimes feel that if not for these petty issues then we would have understood our limitations better and took help readily from others?

Today we cross-interrogate whether to advice Iron tablets in Severe Anemia or Physiotherapy in Muscular Disuse when we know it for sure that it would benefit the patient. It is just because of the mighty question, "Are we not crossing the Boundary of Homeopathy?"

If you have felt this or have been accused of doing so, remember that Dr. Hahnemann has advised Auxiliary Modes of Treatment while taking Homeopathic Remedies. Auxiliary Modes of Treatment or Ancillary Modes or sometimes known as Adjuvant therapy are those practices or methods which do not involve medicine intake but support or aid the treatment in some way. It consists of Physiotherapy, mental relaxation techniques, exercises, dietary discretions etc. The point here is UNMEDICINAL SUBSTANCES; since these practices do not have any kind of medicines they do not hamper the effect of homoeopathic medicines.

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann explains in § 261 ofhis Organon of Medicine that, "The most appropriate regimen during the employment of medicine in chronic diseases consists in the removal of such obstacles to recovery, and in supplying where necessary the reverse: innocent moral and intellectual recreation, active exercise in the open air in almost all kinds of weather (daily walks, slight manual labor), suitable, nutritious, unmedicinal food and drink, etc."

Thus we see Dr. Hahnemann laid down special instructions for appropriate usage of Auxiliary methods while giving Homeopathic medicines. Sometimes they help in early recovery and sometimes help in removing the exciting and maintaining cause of disease. For e.g an overweight, sedentary man taking medicine for constipation does not improve because his lifestyle prevents his recovery. So you advise him Daily walk and Advice to eat high fiber diet whole grains, bran, oat, green leafy vegetables, peas, beans, potatoes, raw vegetables, salads, dried fruits and fresh fruits along with medicine and whoosh he improves.

Then we have the Pseudo Chronic Diseases or Diseases inappropriately named Chronic; Dr. Hahnemann explained them in § 77 ofhis Organon of Medicine that, "Those diseases are inappropriately named chronic, which persons incur who expose themselves continually to avoidable noxious influences, who are in the habit of indulging in injurious liquors or aliments, are addicted to dissipation of many kinds which undermine the health, who undergo prolonged abstinence from things that are necessary for the support of life, who reside in unhealthy localities, especially marshy districts, who are housed in cellars or other confined dwellings, who are deprived of exercise or of open air, who ruin their health by overexertion of body or mind, who live in a constant state of worry, etc. These states of ill-health, which persons bring upon themselves, disappear spontaneously, provided no chronic miasm lurks in the body, under an improved mode of living, and they cannot be called chronic diseases ."

So moving on the teachings of Dr. Hahnemann if in these Pseudo-Chronic Diseases we advice an improved mode of living in the form of Exercise, Rehabilitation and improved diet we can definitely remove the maintaining cause of the disease and bring about cure.

Most of you must have seen such novel cures in your clinics; so instead of waiting why don't we advice the patient these ancillary methods the first time he turns up at your clinic. In any case they prompt a healthy life style and would surely help the patient; if not in disease then in keeping him healthy.

As Dr. Stuart Close aptly puts it "Disease is only cured by the internally administered similar medicine, with due regard to the proper auxiliary psychical, hygienic and mechanical treatment." One cannot ignore the beneficial effects of these auxiliary measures alongwith Homeopathic medicines. To name a few:

• Bronchial Asthma and Breathing exercises: Breathing exercise will help better utilization of available lung space.
• Paralysis and Physiotherapy: Other than medicinal benefit, daily exercises help to improve the muscular tone and power.
• Chronic Backache and Yoga: The science of Yoga is very helpful in the process of restoring & maintaining health. It is an excellent supplementary therapy.

So we bring to you dear friends an exclusive issue to discuss different Auxiliary Measures and their role. We have in this issue an article on Diet and Nutrition Therapy by Dr. Suvarna; on Techniques of Relaxation by Dr. Nahida Mulla along with a write-up on Psychotherapy and Counseling- its method by Dr. Suvarna. Other than these we have some informative works on Tautopathy by Dr. Anoup Kr. Srivastava and on Bach Flower Remedies by Dr. Puneet; then there is a Critical Review on Doctrine of Signature by Dr. Mohammad Rafeeque which I am sure you all will enjoy.

It is just a glimpse, there is so much more that you will know and enjoy. So with great pleasure I present to you the March Issue of Homeopathic Horizon on "HOMOEOPATHY VISTAS"