GERIATRICS AND HOMEOPATHY

GERIATRICS AND HOMEOPATHY

by  Deepa Raje Nimbalka 

GERIATRICS is a sub-speciality of medicine that focuses on health care of elderly.A distinct entity in the same way that neonatology is separated from pediatrics.Homeopathy had wide scope in this field.let us discuss some rubric.

Repertory is an indispensable tool in homoeopathic practice.

Use of repertory in elderly patients with specific rubrics may

point towards some very important remedies which we might

overlook in usual materia medica study.

Synthesis repertory 9.1 contains many such rubrics with

corresponding remedies. These rubrics have come from many author sources and

clinical experiences.

Here, I am also giving specific rubrics along with remedies

because many readers don’t have latest version of synthesis.

                                       

These rubrics and remedies are added from various author

references which can be viewed in computerized or printed version e.g. Rubric

Absentminded, old people in- has addition Am-c from Kent personal addition,

Ambr and Bar-c from Vithoulkas, Con and Lyc from Stauffer Karl.

One should bear in mind these rubrics and remedies are

mostly clinical experiences and should not be used as eliminating

rubrics. General or larger rubrics must be utilized for

repertorisation.

You can have many more general rubrics e.g. at old age

common problems of mind include weakness of memory, forsaken feeling,

helplessness feeling of, anger, irritability, audacity, Ailments from- abused

being, anger, cares, worries, celibacy, grief, indignation, honor wounded,

mortification, neglected being, scorned being, unhappiness etc. Some specific

rubrics are as below.

MIND - ABSENTMINDED - old age; in

am-c. Ambr. Bar-c. Con. Lyc.

MIND - CHILDISH behavior - old people; in

BAR-C.

MIND - CONFUSION of mind - old age, in

arg-met. Arg-n. Bar-c. Con.

MIND - DELIRIUM TREMENS - old emaciated persons, in

OP.

MIND - DULLNESS - old people, of

abel. Abies-n. AMBR. Arg-met. Arg-n. BAR-C. Con. Lyc. PLB.

MIND - FEAR - impotence; of

am-f. cob. cob-m. cob-p. fl-ac. lith-f. nat-m. onos. phos.

pitu. rhod. stry. tritic-vg.

MIND - FORGETFUL - old people, of

am-c. Ambr. anac. Bar-c. coff. Con. Crot-h. lach. Lyc.

Ph-ac. rhus-t. sulph.

MIND - FORSAKEN feeling - old people; in

aur. psor.

MIND - HIDING - himself - old people, in

op.

MIND - INSANITY - old people; in

bell. ign. nat-m. nux-v. sep. sulph.

MIND - LEWDNESS - old men; in

dig.

MIND - LOATHING - general loathing - old age, in

aur. calc.

MIND - MEMORY - weakness of memory - facts, for - past

facts; for - old people, in

coff.

MIND - MEMORY - weakness of memory - facts, for - recent

facts, for - old people, in

lach. sulph.

MIND - DEMENTIA - senilis

agn. alum. Ambr. anac. ant-c. arg-met. aur. Aur-i. aza.

bapt. bar-act. Bar-c. bell. bry. bufo calc-p. carc. Con. Crot-h.

Cupr. gaert. ign. lach. lil-t. Lyc. med. nat-i. nat-m.

nux-v. op. phos. plb. puls. sec. sep. sulph. thiosin.

MIND - MISTAKES; making - speaking, in - old people; in

am-c.

MIND - MISTAKES; making - writing, in - old people; in

am-c. Crot-h.

MIND - MOANING - old age, in

Bar-c.

MIND - MUTTERING - old people; in

Bar-c.

MIND - PROSTRATION of mind - old age, in

BAR-C. sel.

MIND - REFLECTING - inability to reflect - old people; in

Ambr.

MIND - SADNESS - old age; in

Aur. esp-g.

MIND - SIGHING - old people

ign.

MIND - SLOWNESS - old people, of

cact. calc. CON. Hell. Phos. zinc.

MIND - STUPOR - old age, in

Bar-c.

MIND - TALKING - sleep, in - old men; in

bar-c.

MIND - UNCONSCIOUSNESS - old age, in

Bar-c.

MIND - WEARY OF LIFE - old age, in

Ars. aur. calc.

MIND - WEEPING - causeless - old people; in

caust.

A very common complaint at old age is vertigo. Inquire about

its occurrence time, effect of posture and modalities and don’t forget to check

blood pressure.

VERTIGO - OLD PEOPLE; in

alum. Ambr. arn. Ars-i. aur. Bar-c. bar-m. bell. bell-p.

bry. calc-p. con. Cupr. dig. fl-ac. galph. glon. gran. Iod. op.

phos. RHUS-T. sec. Sin-n. stroph-h. sulph.

HEAD - BRAIN; complaints of - degenerative - old people; in

- men; old

bar-c.

HEAD - HEAVINESS - old people; in

bar-m.

HEAD - PAIN - chronic - old people, of

bar-c. calc-p. iod. phos.

HEAD - PAIN - old people, of

am-c. ambr. bar-m. cypr. gels. iod. lach. nat-c. sep. sulph.

EYE - AMBLYOPIA - old people; in

bar-c.

EYE - CATARACT - old people; in

calc-p. Carb-an. caust. chol. Cine. con. graph. kali-c. lyc.

mag-c. merc. napht. nat-m. phos. puls. Sec. sil. sulph.

EYE - INFLAMMATION - old people; in

alum.

VISION - DIM - old people

Ambr. Bar-c.

HEARING - IMPAIRED - old people

bar-c. Cic. kali-chl. kali-m. mag-c. merc-d. Petr. phos.

NOSE - CATARRH - old people; in

Alum. am-c. bar-c. eup-per. ictod. kali-s. Kreos. merc-i-f.

NOSE - CORYZA - old people

am-c. anac. ant-c. camph.

NOSE - EPISTAXIS - old people

Agar. aur. bar-c. bov. Carb-v. chin. con. ferr-p. ham. phos.

SEC. sil. sul-ac. verat.

FACE - ERUPTIONS - crusty, scabby - old people; in

cory.

MOUTH - CLEAN Tongue - accompanied by - bitter taste -

women; in old

Carb-v.

THROAT - SPASMS - Esophagus - old people can only swallow

liquids

Bar-c.

STOMACH - INDIGESTION - old people

Abies-n. ant-c. ars. Bar-c. caps. carb-v. chin. Chinin-s.

Cic. fl-ac. Hydr. juni-c. kali-c. nux-m. nux-v. pop.

STOMACH - NAUSEA - old people; in

Fl-ac.

ABDOMEN - ENLARGED - women; in matrons and old

Bell. calc. chin. coloc. nux-v. Plat. SEP.

ABDOMEN - FLATULENCE - old people

Carb-ac. Phos.

ABDOMEN - HERNIA; ABDOMINAL - Inguinal - old people

nux-v. sul-ac.

RECTUM - CHOLERA - old people

aeth.

RECTUM - CONSTIPATION - chronic - old people; in

phyt.

RECTUM - CONSTIPATION - old people

aloe alum. alumn. ambr. Ant-c. arn. Bar-c. Bry. Calc-p. Con.

hydr. hyos. Lach. lyc. Nux-v. Op. Phos. Phyt. rhus-t. ruta Sel.

Sulph.

RECTUM - DIARRHEA - accompanied by - heat; lack of vital -

old people; in

bov.

RECTUM - DIARRHEA - alternating with - constipation - old

people; in

alum. ANT-C. bry. cycl. nux-v. op. Phos.

RECTUM - DIARRHEA - old people

ANT-C. ant-t. ARS. ars-i. bapt. bar-c. bov. Bry. Carb-v.

Chin. coff. con. Fl-ac. GAMB. iod. kreos. lach. nat-m. nat-s.

NIT-AC. nux-v. op. phos. rhus-t. ruta sec. sul-i. sulph.

We should also differentiate between remedies like in Ant-c

Old people with morning diarrhoea, suddenly become constipated, or alternate

diarrhoea and constipation; pulse hard and rapid.

Ars A In asthma of old people, who have occasional attacks

of morning diarrhoea, rheumatism, scanty secretion of urine, and too violent

impulse of heart sound.

Ars-I - The diarrhoea comes in the morning and after eating;

in old people, excoriating stool.

In Bapt. Dysentery of old people; diarrhoea of children,

especially when very offensive (Allen)

Bov- Chronic diarrhoea of old people agg. night, early

morning. (Phatak)

Bry is indicated in constipation after vexation; in old

people; during pregnancy; with retention after delivery; before

menses; from sedentary habits, after abuse of drugs;

alternating with diarrhea (Vithoulkas)

Carb-v - Painful diarrhoea of old people. (Phatak)

Con Chronic diarrhoea of old people, with tremulous

weakness; discharges sometimes involuntary; specially indicated by the

symptoms that the flow of urine is intermittent.

Coff. has Obstinate diarrhoea of old people occurring after

an attack of cholera.

In Fl-Ac warm drinks brings on diarrhoea, it has also

morning diarrhoea (Kent)

Gambog. is particularly indicated in diarrhoea of old

people; the urging is excessive and the stools are expelled all at once

with considerable force followed by a feeling of general

relief.

One other feature of IODUM quite frequently met with in

rheumatic cases, is a history of an acute diarrhoeic attack

immediately preceding the rheumatic attack. (Borland)

Kreosote is indicated in diarrhoea of old women.

Nat S has diarrhoea in the morning and cheerful or amel

after stool.

Nit-ac Excessive prostration, with diarrhoea, especially in

old people and those who sleep badly.

Nux v has frequent ineffectual urging and straining even in

diarrhoea and they feel still there is more stool

Phos Diarrhoea as soon as anything enters the rectum;

profuse pouring away as from a hydrant; watery with sago-like

particles; with sensation as if the anus stood open;

involuntary; during cholera-time; painless; morning of old people;

bloody stool; blood-streaked stool; stool like shreddy

membranes.

Sulph has well known early morning diarrhoea which is sudden

and drives him out of bed

RECTUM - DYSENTERY - old people; in

bapt.

RECTUM - HEMORRHAGE from anus - old people; in - women; old

psor.

When bladder condition is assessed one should always note

prostate condition as prolonged prostate trouble cause pressure

over detruser muscles and sphincter which may result in

weakness and incontinence results. Also check for any adhesion,

phimosis or any stricture in urethra.

BLADDER - ATONY of - old age

ars. stram.

BLADDER - CATARRH, mucopus - old people; in

Alumn. Carb-v. kali-p. pop. sulph. Ter.

BLADDER - PARALYSIS - old people; in

ARS. bell. camph. Cann-s. canth. Caust. Cic. con. Equis-h.

Gels. kali-p. lach. lyc. mur-ac. nat-m. nux-v. op. phos. Sec. sil.

Sulph. thuj.

BLADDER - RETENTION of urine - old people; in - men; old

Caust. Con. lyc. op. pareir. plb. Puls. sars. sep. sil.

Solid. staph. sulph. Ter. Zinc.

BLADDER - URINATION - dribbling - old persons; in

all-c. bar-c. cic. con. equis-h. nux-v.

BLADDER - URINATION - dysuria - morning - old men, in

Benz-ac. Corn.

BLADDER - URINATION - frequent - old people

Bar-c.

BLADDER - URINATION - involuntary - night - old people

apoc. benz-ac. kali-p. sec.

BLADDER - URINATION - involuntary - old people; in

All-c. aloe am-be. apis arg-n. Ars. Aur-m. bar-c. Benz-ac.

bry. cann-s. canth. carb-ac. chlorpr. Cic. con. dam. equis-h.

gels. Iod. kali-p. nit-ac. phos. psor. Rhus-a. Sec. seneg.

Thuj.

BLADDER - URINATION - involuntary - old people; in - men

with enlarged prostate

All-s. Aloe apoc. Cic. dig. Iod. kali-p. nux-v. Pareir. Sec.

Thuj.

BLADDER - URINATION - involuntary - old people; in - women

Caust.

BLADDER - WEAKNESS - old people; in

Ars. Gels.

BLADDER - WEAKNESS - old people; in - men; old

alum. Benz-ac. carb-ac. clem. con. Pop. sel. Staph.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - ERECTIONS - continued - old people; in

- men; old

arn.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - ERECTIONS - frequent - old people; in -

men; old

caust.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - ERECTIONS - violent - old people; in -

men; old

Fl-ac.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - ERECTIONS - wanting - old people; in

LYC.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - INDURATION - Penis - old people; in -

men; old

Berb.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - INDURATION - Testes - old people; in

bar-c.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - POLLUTIONS - frequent - old people; in

- men; old

bar-c. caust. nat-c. sulph.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - SEXUAL DESIRE - increased - old people;

in - men; old

arn. Fl-ac. lyc. mosch. sel. staph. sulph.

MALE GENITALIA/SEX - SEXUAL DESIRE - increased - old people;

in - men; old - impotent; but

lyc. sel.

FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX - EXCORIATION - old people; in - women;

old

merc.

FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX - LEUKORRHEA - bloody - old women, in

arist-cl. Phos.

FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX - LEUKORRHEA - old people; in - women;

old

ars. Gels. Helon. nit-ac. Phos. sec.

FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX - MENSES - copious - old people; in -

women; old

crot-h. lach. mag-m. Plat. Sars.

FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX - MENSES - return - ceased; after the

regular menstrual cycle has - old women, in

Calc. lach. mag-c. mag-m. PHOS. Plat. sep. staph.

FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX - METRORRHAGIA - women - old; in

Calc. cham. hydr. Ign. lach. Mag-m. Mang. Merc. phos. sep.

FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX - SEXUAL DESIRE - increased - old

women, in

apis Mosch.

FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX - ULCERS - Uterus - Cervix - old

people; in - women; old

sul-ac.

LARYNX AND TRACHEA - CATARRH - old people; in

Ammc. Ant-t. Ars. BAR-C. Carb-v. CHIN. Hydr. Lyc. SENEG.

LARYNX AND TRACHEA - VOICE - old people; complaints of

bar-c.

RESPIRATION - ASTHMATIC - old people; in

am-c. Ambr. ant-c. ARS. aur. Bar-c. bar-m. camph. Carb-v.

Coca Con. phel. Seneg. sulph.

RESPIRATION - ASTHMATIC - old people; in - athletes

coca

RESPIRATION - DIFFICULT - old people

ammc. Bac. Bar-c. carb-v. Chin. coca seneg.

RESPIRATION - RATTLING - old people

Ammc. Bar-c. HIPPOZ. KALI-BI. LYC. Seneg.

RESPIRATION - SUPERFICIAL - old people; in

Bac.

COUGH - OLD people

alum. alumn. Am-c. Ambr. Ammc. ant-c. ant-i. Ant-t. Bar-c.

bar-m. camph. Carb-v. con. DULC. hydr. hyos. ichth. ip. kreos.

myrt-c. Psor. rhus-t. sal-ac. Seneg. sil. stict.

COUGH - RATTLING - old people

Ammc. bar-c. Hippoz. Kali-bi. Seneg.

EXPECTORATION - COPIOUS - old people

alum. Ammc. Ant-t. Ars. BAR-C. caust. Kreos. senec.

EXPECTORATION - DIFFICULT - old people

Ammc. diphtox. Seneg.

CHEST - ARTERIOSCLEROSIS of coronaries - old people; in -

men; old

bar-c.

CHEST - BRONCHIECTASIS - old people

eucal.

CHEST - CATARRH - old people

Ammc. Ant-t. Bac. BAR-C. Chin. hydr. Nat-s. phel. SENEG.

Tub.

CHEST - EMPHYSEMA - old people; in

lob.

CHEST - HEART; complaints of the - old people; in

ars-i. bar-i. crat.

CHEST - INFLAMMATION - Bronchial tubes - old people

all-c. Am-c. Ammc. ant-c. ANT-T. ars. Camph. Carb-v.

diphtox. Dros. HIPPOZ. Hydr. kreos. led. Lyc. Nux-v. prot. Seneg. squil. verat.

CHEST - INFLAMMATION - Lungs - old people

ACON. ant-ar. Ant-t. ars. Bell. Bry. cham. Dig. Ferr.

FERR-P. gels. Hyos. ip. MERC. Nat-s. Nit-ac. Nux-v. Op. Seneg. verat.

CHEST - INFLAMMATION - Pleura - old people

Nit-ac.

CHEST - PARALYSIS - Lung - old people

Ant-t. Ars. aur. BAR-C. Carb-v. CHIN. con. LACH. lyc. Op.

phos. verat.

CHEST - PHTHISIS pulmonalis - old people

Nat-s. seneg.

EXTREMITIES - GANGRENE - Toes - old people; in

Carb-an. Carb-v. cupr. Ph-ac. SEC.

EXTREMITIES - PARALYSIS - old people; in

Bar-c. Con. Kali-c. op.

SLEEP - SLEEPINESS - old people

ant-c.

SLEEP - SLEEPLESSNESS - old people; in

Acon. ars. Bar-c. carc. op. passi. phos. sulph. SYPH.

SLEEP - SLEEPLESSNESS - restlessness, from - old people; in

bar-c.

FEVER - INTERMITTENT - old people, with coma

alum. nux-m. Op.

SKIN - DISCOLORATION - spots - dark spots - old people; in

ars. aur. bar-c. Carb-an. Con. Lach. Lyc. op. Sec.

SKIN - ERYSIPELAS - old people; in

am-c. carb-an. Lach.

SKIN - GANGRENE - old people; in

all-c. am-c. ars. Carb-v. euph. euph-re. ph-ac. sars. SEC.

sul-ac.

SKIN - ITCHING - old people; in

alum. arg-n. ars. bar-act. bar-c. con. dol. dulc. fago.

fl-ac. kreos. mag-p. merc. Mez. nat-sil. olnd. op. sul-ac. sulph.

urt-u.

SKIN - ULCERS - old people; in

tarent-c.

GENERALS - BLACKNESS of external parts - old people; in

adren. all-c. am-c. Ars. Carb-v. chin. con. crot-h. cupr.

echi. ergot. euph. Kreos. LACH. Ph-ac. Plb. SEC. vip.

GENERALS - CHOREA - old people; in

aeth. aven.

GENERALS - EMACIATION - old people; in

Ambr. anac. BAR-C. carb-v. chin. chinin-s. Fl-ac. IOD. LYC.

nit-ac. op. rhus-t. Sec. Sel. Sil.

GENERALS - HEAT - lack of vital heat - old people; in

alum. ambr.

GENERALS - OBESITY - old people; in

am-c. AUR. bar-c. fl-ac. KALI-C. op. sec.

GENERALS - OLD AGE - premature

Agn. alco. alum. Ambr. ant-c. anthraci. arg-met. arg-n. ars.

Aur. Bar-c. berb. bufo carb-ac. carb-v. carc. chinin-s. coca

Con. cortico. Cupr. des-ac. esp-g. Fl-ac. gins. hydr.

hydrog. Kali-c. kres. LACH. lyc. mag-f. nit-ac. nux-v. op. phos. prot.

psor. reser. sars. sec. SEL. sep. staph. stram. sulph. sumb.

verat. Vip.

GENERALS - TREMBLING - Externally - old people; in

alum. ambr. aur. aven. bar-c. calc. cann-i. cocain. con.

kali-c. merc. op. phos. plb. plb-act. sil. stront-c. sulph. zinc.

GENERALS - WEAKNESS - old people; in

alum. Ambr. ant-t. aur. BAR-C. carb-v. carc. caust. Con.

Cur. eup-per. glyc. hydr. nit-ac. Nux-m. op. Phos. sec. Sel. Sul-ac.

You must also note down relation with heat and cold, food

desire, aversion or aggravation, reaction with season or weather