KNOW
Homoeopathy Journal Vol–3 & Issue-1, 15 March 2023, Published at https://www.knowhomoeopathyjournal.com/2023/03/volume-3-issue-1.html,
Pages: 56 to 61 , Title: A Case study on Alopecia areata treated with
individualised homoeopathic remedy, Authored By: Dr. Devika Chaturvedi &
Co-Authored By: Dr. Ram Prasad Yadav, Dr. Zubair Ali khan (PGT, State National
Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.)
CASE REPORT
Title: A Case study on Alopecia areata treated with individualised
homoeopathic remedy
Authored By: Dr.
Devika Chaturvedi[1] & Co-Authored By: Dr.
Ram Prasad Yadav[2], Dr. Zubair Ali khan[3]
[1][2][3]PGT, State
National Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,
India.
Received: 19/10/2022 Accepted: 09/12/2022 Published: 15/03/2023
© 2023 KNOW Homoeopathy Journal https://www.knowhomoeopathyjournal.com/p/copyright-policy.html
How to cite this article:
ABSTRACT-
This is a case
report of a male patient with Alopecia areata. The patient presented in the OPD
of State National Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow. When
patient came for consultation he was having single coin shaped bald spot on the
scalp. After thorough case taking totality of symptoms were erected and the
case was repertorized using synthesis repertory. Prescription was made finally
on the basis of physical and mental generals keeping in the mind materia medica
and homoeopathic principles. The case showed improvement within 3 months of
treatment.
Keywords: Alopecia
areata, Alopecia totalis, Alopecia universalis,
Anagen, Baldness, Homoeopathy, Synthesis
repertory, Telogen
INTRODUCTION-
Alopecia areata (AA) is an
inflammatory condition of the scalp characterized by non-scarring type of coin
shaped bald spots on the head. Clinically, it can present with small
circumscribed patches of baldness to a complete absence of hairs of body or
scalp.[1] Following are the
causes:
1.
Autoimmune involvement [2]
2.
Environmental factors like Injury sites and viral infections
of the scalp.
3.
Genetic predisposition.
4.
Stress
5.
Nutritional
deficiency- iron and zinc deficiency can trigger the disease.[3]
The key clinical features are-
1.
“Exclamation point hairs”- Hairs are narrow
at the base, looking like an "exclamation point" mark.
2.
Coin shaped bald spot- Round patches of hair
loss, smooth in appearance and sharply demarcated.
3.
Nail abnormalities found in 7% to 66% of patients. [4]
Figure 1 - Exclamation Mark Hairs[5]
Figure 2 - Nail Appearance in Alopecia
Areata[6]
The diagnosis is typically
clinical-
1.
Trichoscopy or positive hair pull test - Yellow dots, black
dots are seen.
2.
Vellus hair in lesions indicates inactive disease.
3.
Biopsy - rarely needed for diagnosis. [7]
Among treatment options, in modern medicine injection of
corticosteroids are administered at the bald area.
The case mentioned below showed improvement within 3 months of homoeopathic treatment. There are previous studies also in which homoeopathy showed marvellous results in alopecia patients; one with Lycopodium[8] and one with Mercurius.[9]
CASE REPORT
PRESENT COMPLAINT
Male patient of 24 yrs
presented with the complaint of alopecia areata since 3 months; a single bald
patch on scalp. There were no other major complaints but the patient being a
youngster was very much stressed about the prognosis of this condition.
PAST HISTORY
9-10 months earlier he had
some mental trouble (symptoms were insomnia and indifference to his work) for
which he took allopathy treatment for 1 month.
FAMILY HISTORY
Father- Diabetes mellitus
Grand mother-
Osteoarthritis
Mother – nothing specific
Sister - nothing specific
Brother - nothing specific
PHYSICAL GENERAL SYMPTOMS
Appetite – reduced
Thirst – approx 3 liters
per day
Desire – salty food+
Aversion – nothing
specific
Stool – normal, early in
the morning
Urine – normal, 4-5
times/day
Perspiration – face, palms
and soles
Thermal - Hot
Tongue - clean
Sleep – normal, position
on back
Dreams – nothing specific
MENTAL GENERAL SYMPTOMS
1. Strong Company desire
2. Consolation
amelioration
3. Sympathetic towards
suffering of others.
4. History of fright one
year ago in the dream (saw someone killed him).
5. After this fright in
the dream, mental disturbance started.
6. Fear of dark.
ANALYSIS OF SYMPTOMS
Common symptoms-
1.
Falling of hairs of scalp.
2.
Stressed about personal appearance.
Uncommon symptoms-
1.
Ailments from fright.
2.
Desire for company.
3.
Sympathetic.
4.
Fear of dark.
5.
Consolation amelioration.
6. Desire for salty food.
TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS
1.
Ailments from fright.
2.
Desire for company.
3.
Sympathetic.
4.
Fear of dark.
5.
Consolation amelioration.
6.
Desire for salty food.
RUBRICS TAKEN [8]
1. Mind - ailments from - fright
2. Mind - company- desire for
3. Mind - sympathetic
4. Mind – consolation – amel.
5. Mind – fear - dark;of
6. Generals - food and drink - salt desire
7. Head – hair - baldness
REPERTORIAL ANALYSIS
Synthesis repertory was
used to repertorize the
case [10]
“Repertorium Homoeopathicum Syntheticum” and RADAR software was used.
PRESCRIPTION
1. Phosphorous 200/ 3
DOSES; OD for 3 days
2. Sac Lac 30 TDS for 15
days
FOLLOW-UP
|
S.NO. |
DATE |
SYMPTOM |
PRESCRIPTION |
|
1. |
21/02/2022 |
·
Coin shaped baldness at a single
spot ·
Patient was stressed about personal
look |
Phosphorous
200/3doses |
|
2. |
07/03/2022 |
·
Slight growth of hairs at bald spot |
Sac
lac 30/tds |
|
3. |
22/03/2022 |
·
Size of the patch reduced ·
Hairfall reduced ·
Hair growth started at bald spot |
Sac
lac 30/tds |
|
4. |
13/04/2022 |
·
Size of the patch reduced ·
Hairfall reduced |
Sac
lac 30/tds |
|
5. |
09/05/2022 |
·
No complaint ·
Patient came to take medicine to
prevent reoccurrence of disease. |
Phosphorous
200/1 dose |
|
6. |
30/05/2022 |
·
No complaint |
Sac
lac 30/tds |
Table-2 Followups
DISCUSSION
Holistic approach is the
key to cure any mental or physical ailment in homoeopathy. The patient had no
family history of AA, a detailed case taking helped us to find out the
individualized homoeopathic medicine
which resulted in marked improvement. This case shows effectiveness of
homoeopathy in treating auto-immune conditions; which find no effective
treatment in conventional medicines. Thus, a homoeopathic remedy selected after
proper case taking on the basis of totality will always prove fruitful whatever
be the pathology.
CONCLUSION
Homoeopathy is effective
in management of Alopecia areata as this case has shown marvellous improvement
under individualized homoeopathic remedy selected on the basis of totality,
without any recurrence. However, this is a single case study and further case
reports and scientific researches should be done in future for validation of
results.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful
to the whole fraternity of State National Homoeopathic Medical College and
Hospital, Lucknow for their proper guidance and a special thanks to the patient
for giving his consent to publish this study.
SPONSORSHIP- Nil
CONFLICT OF INTEREST- None declared
REFERENCES
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2. Islam
N, Leung PS, Huntley AC, Gershwin ME. The autoimmune basis of alopecia areata:
a comprehensive review. Autoimmun Rev. 2015 Feb;14(2):81-9.
doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2014.10.014. Epub 2014 Oct 12. PMID: 25315746.
3. Seetharam
KA. Alopecia areata: An update.Indian J Dermatol Venerol Leprol 2013;79:563-575
4. Darwin E, Hirt PA,
Fertig R, Doliner B, Delcanto G, Jimenez JJ. Alopecia areata: Review of
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Trichol 2018;10:51-60
5. Exclamation mark hairs are short hairs that are
commonly seen in early alopecia areata. They can also be seen in
trichotillomania as shown here. #trichotillomania #hairloss #hair [Internet].
Flickr. Available from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/130953263@N02/30270073794
6. Altmeyer DMP. Brachyonychia - Altmeyers
Encyclopedia - Department Dermatology [Internet]. Altmeyers.org. Altmeyers
Encyclopedia; 2020. Available from: https://www.altmeyers.org/en/dermatology/brachyonychia-118840.amp
7. Mubki
T, Rudnicka L, Olszewska M, Shapiro J. Evaluation and diagnosis of the hair
loss patient: Part II. Trichoscopic and laboratory evaluations. J Am Acad
Dermatol 2014;71:431.e1-431.e11.
8.
Shivadikar
AP. Evidence- based homoeopathy: Case report of alopecia areata in an 11 year
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9.
Itamura R. Effect of homeopathic treatment of 60 Japanese
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