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Read this essay on Disorders of the Nervous System. After reading this essay you will learn about: 1. Headache 2. Trigeminal Neuralgia 3. Nystagmus 4. Migraine 5. Motion Sickness 6. Meniere’s Syndrome or Otosclerosis 7. Coma 8. Epileptic Seizure 9. Febrile Convulsions 10. Meningitic Syndrome 11. Disc Disease or Sciatica and Others.
Contents:
- Essay on Headache
- Essay on Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Essay on Nystagmus
- Essay on Migraine
- Essay on Motion Sickness
- Essay on Meniere’s Syndrome or Otosclerosis
- Essay on Coma
- Essay on Epileptic Seizure
- Essay on Febrile Convulsions
- Essay on Meningitic Syndrome
- Essay on Disc Disease or Sciatica
- Essay on Stroke
- Essay on Bell’s Palsy
- Essay on Cervical Spondylosis
- Essay on Myesthenia Gravis
- Essay on Acute Poliomyelitis
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Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 1. Headache:
Patient reports with a feeling of discomfort in the head and not necessarily the pain, can he termed as HEADACHE. It is believed that the stimuli causing headaches arise in the walls of the blood vessels. Vasodilatation of Dural arteries, displacement or traction on sensitive basal blood vessels or Dural sinuses evoke pain.
The cause of most headaches can be best elucidated by full and accurate history and by routine general examination of the patient.
History should bring out the probable cause — the factors that precipitate the attack or those factors that aggravate and ameliorate the attack. Total duration of the attack and whether there are any accompaniments such as vomiting and visual or sensory disturbances.
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Are there any symptoms between the attacks? Any head injury, sinusitis, surgical manipulations, and loss of weight etc.?
In order to select a correct remedy it is necessary to obtain a correct totality of the headache through its location, sensation, modalities and concomitants. If we scan through the repertory we can get all those modifying factors.
We shall study the most frequently indicated remedies for headaches:
Belladonna:
Has a vascular headache, throbbing and hammering, worse from motion and better letting the hair down. The fullness and pain is mostly felt in the forehead, which is worse from noise, light, lying down and jar, and mostly in the afternoon. It is better by sitting in semi-erect position and pressure. Staring brilliant eyes, with wide dilated pupils. The headache is worse on the right side.
Argentum metallicum:
The headache and dyspepsia is induced by mental agitation, nursing the sick, and mental exertion such as students developing headaches during their examinations. There is dull paroxysmal neuralgia over the left side gradually increasing and suddenly ceasing. Head feels empty and hollow.
Bryonia alba:
Has bursting, splitting headache, worse by motion, stooping and opening the eyes, and when constipated. Headaches settle at occiput, and frontal ache is when frontal sinuses are involved. Scalp is very sensitive. Patient is irritable, and the aggravation is from motion and movement of any kind.
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Gelsemium:
Sensation of band around the occiput, with a dull and heavy ache, heavy eyelids. Pain in the temples extending into the ears, associated with the muscular soreness of the shoulder and neck. They are preceded by blindness, better by profuse urination. Must want to keep his head raised over the pillow. In the congestive stage of meningitis there is pain in the back of the head with dilated pupils.
Glonoine:
Has cerebral congestion that causes throbbing and bursting headache. Headache that increases and decreases with the sun, giving waves of terrible pounding headache. Headache either before, during, after, or in place of menses. But the headache is better after sleep.
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Kali bichromicum:
Has headaches in small spots, and often these headaches come on due to suppressed catarrh, over the eyebrows, preceded by blurred vision. The headache is worse from cold, that is better by pressing at the root of the nose and by drinking warm soup. The bones of the head feel sore with sharp stitches in bones, headache often associated with the sinusitis, that is having thick ropy sticky greenish yellow discharge.
Lachesis:
Has headache mostly at the time of menopause, heavy bursting down the nose, sensation as if the right side is cut off. The migraine pain extends to the neck and shoulder with pressure or burning of the vertex. Worse after moving. Sun aggravates this headache causing glimmering in vision, with flickering, dim vision, and pale face.
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Head is so sensitive that slight touch to the hair is unbearable. Modalities are very important, better by cold drinks, worse from alcohol, hot drinks, worse from sleep, after sleep, menopause, suppressed discharges, and better after appearance of discharges.
Natrum muriaticum:
Has migraine headaches, maddening, blinding, aches as if thousand little hammers were knocking on the brain, worse from awakening in the morning, at sunrise to sunset, during, before, or after menses, headache of school girls due to anaemia, slightest motion of eyes, while reading, frowning of fore-head can bring on headache. Frontal sinusitis can give this type of headache.
Pulsatilla:
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Has headache from overwork. Suppressed sexual desire, indigestion, ice-cream. Better on walking in the open air. Pulsatilla is moody, with ever-changing symptoms, locations etc. If you see the remedies detailed above for the headaches, you will note that all of them are polychrest remedies, that means one will have to consider their constitutional characters when selecting the remedy.
Their usefulness will increase both in acute and chronic situations. Repertory will provide one with more remedies mentioned under different locations, sensations and modalities.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 2. Trigeminal Neuralgia:
An elderly person complains of severe paroxysms of knife-like or electric shock like pain, lasting seconds, pain commencing in the mandibular division that spreads to the maxillary division of the fifth nerve and, at times to the ophthalmic division. These paroxysms are brought on by specific stimulation as trivial as washing, shaving, cold wind, or eating. This is neuralgia of fifth cranial nerve — TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA.
As usual, history taking is important. One has to determine whether the malady is of recent origin or a long standing, inherited or acquired. In elderly, as in the above case, degenerative changes must have already set in. But cases of neuralgia in persons who are still young will need antipsorics and acute remedies.
Aconite:
Is quite an invaluable remedy in very recent cases especially when caused by exposure to dry cold wind, the neuralgia is especially on the left side with restlessness, tingling and numbness. There is emotional and mental tension as shown in fright or fear and consequently anxiety and fear of death.
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Belladonna:
Face becomes red and pale alternately, hot swollen and shiny, with twitching of muscles. Spasmodic distortion of face. Sensitive to light noise or to motion or to touch.
Colocynth:
Has long lasting action on trifacial nerves. The pains are accompanied by nausea, and patient vomits because of the intensity of the pain. These neuralgic pains are cutting, pinching, clamping, gnawing, followed by numbness, better by pressure. Specially suited to persons who are ill-humored and who get easily angered.
Spigelia:
Neuralgia of the fifth nerve is a common occurrence. Very sensitive to touch. Worse from touch and stooping. The pain can suddenly disappear and reappear again.
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Sanguinaria:
Will have periodic sick headache pains beginning in the occiput, spreads upwards or ascending over to the right eye. Fasting aggravates this headache. It is better by passing copious urine. And these headaches often return at menopause. The veins of the temple get distended; this headache also gets aggravated one to rising of the sun.
China:
Bursting and throbbing pain with throbbing of carotids. Sensation of bruised pain in the head. This headache is relieved with pressure and warm room but are worse in open air, in the sun, by contact, current of air, stepping. The scalp is sensitive to touch and combing.
Gelsemium:
There is feeling of band around the occiput better by compression and keeping the head high. The pain in the temples extends into the ears, preceded by blindness; muscular soreness of the neck and shoulders. The headache is relieved by profuse urination.
Iris Vesicular:
Headache that begins with the blurring of vision and by relaxing after strenuous work; with diarrhoea. It is better by gentle motion.
Melilotus:
Blood rushes to the head. The headache is violent, throbbing and congestive, and periodical. Headaches are better by nose bleed, or menstrual flow. The neuralgia is over the right side of the neck and head, and often alternates with backache; very trivial things often provoke the headache.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 3. Nystagmus:
A young patient reports with involuntary movement of both the eyes and no other symptoms. The condition is NYSTAGMUS. Nystagmus is the rhythmic oscillation of the eyes. It is the sign of the disease of either the ocular or the vestibular system and its connections. It is described as either pendular or jerk. These movements must be sustained and demonstrable within binocular gaze.
The pendular movements are to and fro, similar both in the velocity and amplitude. It is always binocular, horizontal, and present in all directions of gaze. It is the disease of the vestibulocochlear nerve (Eighth Cranial nerve.)
Involuntary eye movements from side to side like a pendulum:
Agaricus:
Accompanying body symptoms are vertigo, marked and persistent with constant impulse to fall backward, twitching about eyes and face, redness without heat, puffy and distorted. Reading is difficult, as the types seem to swim, often a double vision, dim and flickering. Spasms of accommodation, twitching of eyelids, and eyeballs. Narrowing of space between the eyelids.
Carboneum hydrogenisatum:
Steady and extreme oscillation of the eyeball, eyes are distorted, lids are half closed, dark bodies move in front of the eyes. Pupils are insensible to light, vertigo is worse on going to open air.
Cuprum met:
It affects the nerves of the cerebrospinal axis and muscles causing spasmodic effects — convulsions and cramps of violent form. Aching over the eyes, fixed staring, sunken glistening, turned upwards. The eyeballs rotate quickly behind the closed lids or roll from side to side. Bruised pain in the orbits, worse on moving the eyes.
Cicuta ver:
Patient persistently stare at the objects, strabismus, spasmodic movements after a fall or blow, letters go up and down or disappear when reading. Effects of exposure to snow. Eyes roll, jerk and stare. Eyelids twitch.
Zinc met:
Ptosis and rolling of eyes. Blurring of one half ,of the vision, worse by stimulants. Squinting, Itching and soreness of lids and inner angles. Restless feet and continuous motion, cannot keep them still.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 4. Migraine:
A young adult with a family history of recurrent paroxysms of unilateral spreading head pains, photophobia and biliousness preceded by transitory visual aura, the condition is probably MIGRAINE. Migraine or Sick Headache or Bilious Attack are paroxysmal and recurrent attacks of headaches. These attacks last from four to forty-eight hours or longer.
In a typical migraine attack two phases are distinguished — the aura and the headache. The aura lasts for about 15/20 minutes. The commonest aura is the visual aura consisting of glittering zigzag lines curved or straight usually in one half of the field.
The headaches succeed or is along with the aura but it never precedes. The headache starts in one of the frontal regions spreading to the opposite side of the head. But often it remains confined to one half of the head. It is accompanied by photophobia, flushing, pallor, vomiting or faint feelings.
The pain lasts as said earlier for about 48 hours and leaves the person exhausted. Treatment of Migraine will be considered in two phases—Acute Migraine attack and Chronic migraine attack.
For treating the acute attack it will be necessary to have the acute totality of the attack which will comprise of:
(i) Cause or aibnents from,
(ii) Sensations and any apparent pathology present,
( iii) Modalities including periodicity and other conditions of aggravation and amelioration, and
(iv) Any strong concomitant.
After grief:
Ignatia, Nat mur, Causticum
After Head Injury:
Natrum sulph Periodicity is another factor that is important modality.
Every-day:
Arsenic alb, Belladorma
Day earlier each day: Formalin
Everyday same hour: Cedron and Kali Bich
Every seven days: China, Iris, Lac def. Sanguinaria, Silicea Sul. Tuberculinum
Every eight days: Iris
Every fourteen days: Arsenic, Chelidonium, China Sulphur and Tuberculinum
Every fourteen days and lasting for two or three days: Ferrum
Every six weeks: Magnesium mur.
In fact, history-taking is very important and any factor that attracts you as an important and peculiar modality should be thoroughly examined. While treating chronic attacks of migraine, in addition to the above, one should get acquainted with the past history, the past attacks and various factors that have precipitated the same — constitutional characteristics and family idiosyncrasy.
Natrum Muriaticum shows a very close resemblance to the malady, the other remedies should be studied in order to prepare the chronic picture of the case.
While studying the Chronic picture close to the chronic malady are Argentum nitricum, Arsenic alb, Chamomilla, Causticum and China. While treating these cases attention should be paid to the psychological and environmental factors, otherwise the treatment may not be of good use.
Very often the cause of these attacks lie in teeth, sinuses, or in uncorrected errors of refraction. In older patients, cervical spondylitis may be one of the causes.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 5. Motion Sickness:
A patient complains of vertigo, faint feeling, apathy or depression and shows sweating, pallor, flushing of face, and tachycardia, vomiting occurring only at sea, in cars, trains, elevators, round-about, swings, or flying. The condition is MOTION SICKNESS.
The cause of this feeling is the effect of acceleration, linear, angular, vertical etc., on the labyrinths. This is common in subjects of frequent migraine attacks. These may persist for some time after the cause but may settle down. The adults adapt to air travel. Rest in bed is advised and very light food is given in little quantity.
Cocculus indicus:
Is the most useful remedy. Sick headache from carriage riding, with sense of emptiness in the head. Pain in the occiput is worse on lying on the head, and is better bending backwards. Aversion to food, but there is desire for cold drinks. Along with vertigo there is nausea and vomiting which is closely related to car or sea sickness.
Palpitation worse in the morning. It also helps the sensitive condition caused by loss of sleep, night watching.
Petroleum:
The vertigo and heaviness are often associated with nausea and bilious vomiting. This nausea with or without vomiting is one of the grand characteristics of this remedy and it is worse by motion in a carriage, car, or at sea. It is one of the first remedies to be thought of in train sickness or sea sickness.
Conium maculatum:
Is an old person’s remedy, worse from seeing moving objects and alcohol. Turning in bed causes vertigo. Vertigo on lying down and turning over in bed. Turning head sideways or turning eyes, worse on shaking head.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 6. Meniere’s Syndrome or Otosclerosis:
The patient complains of recurrent vertigo, associated with deafness, and tinnitus. It is either MENIERE’S SYNDROME or OTOSCLEROSIS. It occurs between the age of 30 and 60. The attacks of acute labyrinthine failure are paroxysmal with recurrent vertigo and vomiting and each attack leaves the patient with increasing deafness, and between the attacks there is tinnitus in the affected ear.
The disease is bilateral but one side may get affected first. In Otosclerosis there is gradually increasing deafness commencing at an early age. ‘Paracusis’ — an ability to hear in noisy surrounding — is more marked. Tinnitus is marked but giddiness is uncommon.
China sulph:
Acts on the nerves causing great sensitiveness to external influences. There is a periodical neuralgia, and tinnitus. Violent ringing, buzzing and roaring in the ears, with occasional deafness of the same side. Often this is associated with violent headache. The preparation of China salicylicum is the most injurious to the structure of internal ear and there Cozzolino, in all likelihood, is a very powerful homoeopathic cure.
In Phosphorus:
There is difficulty in hearing human voice. There are echoes and reverberations of sounds, especially music. There is a constant feeling that there is obstruction in front of ears, as if a foreign body.
Theridion:
Has a peculiar symptom, has an extreme hypersensitiveness of nerves and, therefore, very hypersensitive to noise, which penetrates the body.
Silicea:
There is perforated drum, deafness and also hears with a loud report, worse in full moon, roaring in the ears, hissing noises, feeling of stoppage in ear, better when swallowing or yawning.
Salicylic acid:
Has auditory nerve vertigo, with troublesome nausea accompanying head symptoms. Hearing is diminished. Deafness, with noises in the ear. Roaring and ringing in the ears, deafness with vertigo. Buzzing of flies or bees.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 7. Coma:
Person is attacked with deep, persistent and prolonged unconsciousness, front which he cannot he roused by shaking or calling. The case is of COMA. (A lesser degree of coma is stupor).
The coma is of sudden onset when there is head injury. Or due to haemorrhagic or embolic lesions within the brain substance.
It can also happen due to hypertensive attack, an occlusion of the cerebral vessel by thrombosis. It can also happen when a meningeal vessel bleeds or is in a hypoglycaemic condition.
If this coma persists after the night rest and sleep, the cause could be cerebral infarction or intoxication from hypnotics.
Assess the cause of the coma condition first by obtaining correct history from relatives, neighbours etc. Any preceding ill-health like Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, or, was the patient depressed or suicidal, (poisoning) or subject to headaches(cerebral neoplasm) Did this attack come suddenly (Cerebral haemorrhage)or gradually (hypoglycaemia).
Usually Coma in childhood is due to Meningitis, Epilepsy or intracranial neoplasm or abscesses. In the middle age, suspect Cerebral haemorrhage.
Helleborus niger:
Develops coma and unconsciousness after a blow on the head resulting into concussion and when Arnica fails to relieve the situation. Rolls head from side to side with moaning if there is hydrocephalus. Bores the head into pillow for relief if he has meningeal fever; forehead wrinkled in folds in brain disorders: cold sweat. This comatose state can come on due to checked exanthemata, blows or disappointed love.
Hyoscyamus niger:
There is erotic mania, inclined to laugh at everything. Muttering delirium. Low speech with constant carphologia with deep stupor. Can barely be aroused. Twitching of facial muscles is a grand characteristics, with unconsciousness.
Moschus:
Has violent anger, talks excitedly, raves, scolds. Coldness of the body or single parts is a characteristic until mouth becomes dry, lips blue, eyes staring and then falls unconscious. The line of treatment will depend on the exact mode of its cause.
Coma can be either due to head injury, or due to embolic or haemorrhagic lesion within the brain substance. First two remedies those come to our mind are Arnica and Natrum sulph and/or Opium.
Arnica:
Cures hemorrhages of any kind. Strokes, dilatation of blood vessels or rupture of small vessels. In short, hemorrhage into tissues of internal organs or the skin. Coldness of the nose is an odd symptom of Arnica. Trauma and its effects, recent or remote, including mental shock. Characteristic is when spoken to answers correctly but relapses; there is muttering delirium.
Natrum sulph:
Has ill-effects of falls and injuries to the head, or the mental or physical troubles start later. Whenever he returns to senses complains of sensations as if the forehead would burst, as if a screw is being driven in, as if the brain is loose in side as bells are ringing in the ears.
Opium:
All complaints are characterized by stupor, although the complaints are painless. And are accompanied by heavy deep sleep, stertorous breathing, sweaty skin. Face turns dark mahogany brown venous passive congestion and effects of stroke. Pupils contract. Ill-effects of fear, fright, anger, shame, sudden joy, sun and drug overdose. Worse from stimulants.
Belladonna:
Is extremely hypersensitive to light, touch and noise; has widely dilated pupils, staring and brilliant eyes, complains of throbbing headache.
Gelsemium:
Centers in its action on the muscles and nerves in muscles it causes overpowering aching, tiredness, heaviness, weakness, and soreness. Dizziness, dullness and trembling. There is complete relaxation and dullness, prostration. Bad effects from fright, fear, exciting news, dread of falling, fear of doctors and dentists. Closes his eyes but is very conscious. Although he finds very difficult to keep his eyes open.
Zincum:
The word fatigue covers a large part of its action. Zinc is too weak to develop exanthema, or menstrual function, to expectorate, to urinate, or to understand to remember. There is rr Jessness in the limbs, and cannot keep them still.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 8. Epileptic Seizure:
Person experiences a sudden disturbance of consciousness with convulsion and falling. It is an EPILEPTIC SEIZURE. Epilepsy by definition is the continuing tendency to have such seizures, even if a long interval separates these attacks.
There are many anticonvulsive remedies of repute, but we will consider only those which are commonly indicated in clinical practice. The rest of them can be studied from the repertorial presentations.
Our available remedies are from vegetable kingdom:
The three umbelliferae: Oenantha crocata, Cicuta verosa, and Aethusa cynapium; and Belladonna of Solanaceae and Absinthinum from composite. From chemical kingdom we can mention Copper, Plumbum, and Arsenic.
Although these following drugs have not produced typical epileptiform seizures, they have shown their over-excitability of the nervous centers. Strychnine, Nux vom, Ignatia, Calcarea and Silicea. Hydrocyanic acid has proved to have a close resemblance to the epileptic seizure.
Oenantha crocata:
Has epileptic convulsions and worse during convulsions, and pregnancy. Convulsive twitching of the facial muscles, foaming at the mouth, falls backwards and utters a loud cry before falling. Coma follows the convulsion. Averse to be questioned.
Cicuta verosa:
Has chief influence on the brain, medulla oblongata, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, and the skin. Action induces spasmodic affections. C. verosa, corresponds to falls and effects of concussion-like convergent strabismus, sudden rigidity, then jerks and violent distortions followed by prostration.
Jerking of left arm all day. We find this in the very nervous, in children and elderly persons. Head is turned and twisted to one Side.
Aethusa cynapium:
Affects the brain and nervous system which is connected with the gastro-intestinal system. Anguish, cry, expression of uneasiness, and discontent, mostly during teething process in children and during summer. The thumbs are clenched, face becomes red, eyes turned downwards, pupils dilated, and staring; there is often foam at the mouth. Inability to digest milk.
Absinthinum:
The convulsions are preceded by trembling, makes grimaces, bites tongue and foam at the mouth. At times there is severe sudden giddiness, delirium with delusions and loss of consciousness and after an attack there is transient loss of memory. Often used in tincture and followed by 3c.
Cuprum met.:
It affects the nerves of the cerebrospinal axis and muscles, causing spasmodic effect, convulsions, and cramps of violent form. It has a great nausea; greater than any other remedy. Cramps begin in the fingers and toes, violent contractive and intermitting pain.
Chorea from fright. Aura begins in the knee, ascends to hypogastrium, then unconsciousness, foaming and falling. Convulsions are either tonic or clonic. In children during dentition, children lie on abdomen and jerk the buttocks up. Cramps in toes, fingers and calves.
Artemisia vulgaris:
Patient is excitable and irritable before an attack. The attack of epilepsy is brought on after a fright or grief, after a blow on the head, with menstrual disturbances during teething. The attack is accompanied by profuse offensive sweat or seminal ejaculation.
The sweat has a peculiar garlic odour. The attacks are usually repeated after long intervals of rest. Worms can also bring on these attacks. Excessive masturbatory activity also brings on these attacks. In the attack the mouth is drawn towards the left, chewing movements, grinding teeth, difficult to utter words.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 9. Febrile Convulsions:
A child with fever, develops sudden convulsions — a state of FEBRILE CONVULSIONS. Febrile convulsions in infancy has less serious significance than in adult life. The convulsion threshold appears to be lower in infancy and that increases with the maturation of the nervous system.
In infancy the febrile states such as teething, exanthemata, gastro-intestinal infections are frequent and common causes of convulsions. A single fit occurs, there is little cause for alarm but if there is repeated attacks in recurrent illness or if they appear without any adequate cause, then Epilepsy is the likely diagnosis.
Examine the child thoroughly and determine the cause of convulsion. The treatment shall be to control the convulsion and reduce the fever. Immerse the child in warm water bath for about 10 minutes, then place the child in a warm bed. Look for rash on the body, any source of sepsis (throat and ears) examine the chest. Look for any head retraction, squint or Kernig’s sign and lastly examine the stools and urine.
Belladonna:
There is sudden high fever with hot head, cold limbs and delirium. Perspiration is only on the head and there is no thirst with the fever. Pupils are dilated, eyes are staring, brilliant conjunctiva with a staring look. Jerks and spasm in the limbs. Perspiration on the head and there is no thirst with the fever. The skin is moist and dry alternately.
Artemisia vulgaris:
Is indicated in convulsions of nervous mothers or teething children. Cooling off while getting heated from dancing or exertion, from menstrual disturbances, and goes into deep sleep after the attack.
Bufo rana:
Has convulsive seizures, they occur mostly at night in sleep. This is often associated with disturbance of sexual sphere, seizures occur during menstrual flow, when the sexual desire is excited in young men, or during sex. These attacks are followed by headaches. Convulsions can come in children after nursing frightened mother or angry mother.
Causticum:
Has convulsions due to suppressed eruptions. Ailments from long lasting grief and develops mental fatigue. Laughs before or after the spasm.
Cicuta verosa:
Convulsions occur due to concussions, with sudden shocks through head; neck muscles get contracted. Foam in and around the mouth, grinding of teeth with lock-jaw. Twitching and spasmodic jerks are the keynote of cicuta. The patient is better by dark and quiet room.
Zinc metallicum:
Has trembling convulsive twitching and fidgety feet; worse at night, during sleep and from spinal injuries; there are automatic movements of mouth, arms and hands.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 10. Meningitic Syndrome:
A person complains of intense malaise, fever, rigors, severe headache, photophobia and vomiting. He is irritable and prefers to lie still and has neck stiffness and subsequently develops a positive Kemig’s sign. He is suffering from MENINGITIC SYNDROME.
In meningitis, the infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. In meningococcal infection there will be petechial rash; in Pneumococcal infection there is often a skull fracture, ear disease, or a congenital CNS lesion. Leptospirosis is responsible in cases who are working in drains, canals polluted rivers etc.
Acute bacterial meningitis is recognized by its sudden onset, rigors and high fever. A petechial rash may be present which is a strong evidence of the disease. Viral meningitis is benign self-limiting, lasting for about 4-10 days. Headache may follow but there are no sequelae.
Tubercular meningitis causes a chronic meningitis commencing with vague headache, lassitude, anorexia and vomiting. Meningitic signs may appear after few days or weeks. Meningitis is an emergency, and when untreated is lettial. CT scan and Lumbar puncture should be carried out to study CSF (Cerebro Spinal Fluid).
Apis mellifica:
Is the first rank remedy in this condition. The pathogenesis of Apis mostly corresponds to the meningeal condition. The patient is nervous, restless and oversensitive or hot or drowsy with or without thirst. Worse from pressure or touch to head, very sensitive to heat or heated warm rooms, and better by cold water, thirst during chill, burning heat but feels chilly when moved.
Stupor with sudden short cries. There is great fidgetiness. Stiffness being accompanied by feeling of constriction.
Helliborus niger:
Hahnemann’s observation is that it has kind of stupor dullness of sensorium, a condition that there is nothing wrong with eyes but that he cannot see anything and patient does of pay attention to anything. There is a sensorial depression and at times complete unconsciousness, involuntary sighing.
Picks up clothes and at lips. Rolling of the head constantly. Bores the head into the pillow for relief than headache. There is neck rigidity, stiffness and painful sensibility, swelling of the glands of the neck.
Gelsemium:
Has a very characteristic headache, beginning in the occiput and spreading over the whole head, sailing over the eyes. Dizziness and dim vision rising from the occiput over the head, depression from the heat of summer. Headache is with stiffness of the neck which is worse in the morning and is better by urinating.
Headache is preceded by blurring before the eyes, drowsiness with headache, difficulty in keeping the eyes open. There is chill running up and down the back, and similar condition present in Influenza, cerebrospinal fever.
Stramonium:
Develops headache with incoherent talk. Raises head frequently from the pillow and drops it again in unconscious and delirious state. Pain in forehead and over the eyebrows beginning at 9 am in the morning which is worse till the afternoon. This is common in meningitis from suppressed ear discharge.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 11. Disc Disease or Sciatica:
Usually a middle-aged person between the age of 20-40 years suddenly gets pain in the back which occurs after strenuous activity, typically with back in the forward flexion. The pain is aggravated by movement and by certain activity. The condition is Intervertebral DISC DISEASE or SCIATICA.
This term disc disease describes an acute syndrome where there is a disc prolapse causing a condition which is usually known as lumbago or sciatica, depending on the presence of involvement of sciatic nerve. It is also known as the chronic degenerative change, and then the condition is called spondylosis.
Most commonly the three lowest dies are involved — L5/S1, L4/L5, and L4/L3 discs. In mild cases there is no sign but the characteristic findings include compensatory scoliosis, and limitation of movements in all direction.
More than medicinal treatment is required rest for few days on a firm bed. Lumbar belt or corset should be used in the recovery stage. Physiotherapy to relieve pain should be suggested. However, certain homoeopathic remedies can be of some use.
Colocynth:
Has a long lasting action on the large nerves especially Trifacial, sciatica, and spinal. There is heavy weight in lumbar and dorsal regions which is better on lying on the left side. The pain may extend into the right scapula, better by pressure.
Cramp-like pain in the hip, better lying on the affected side. The neck becomes stiff which is worse on moving the head. In the hip there is cramp-like pain, with contraction of the muscles. The sciatic pain is worse on the left side better by pressure heat.
Gnaphalium:
There is an intense pain along the sciatic nerve and this pain alternates with numbness, worse on lying down, motion and stepping, better by flexing the legs on abdomen. Or by sitting in the chair. Frequent pains in the calves and feet. Feeling of weakness, incapable of lifting the slightest weight.
Kali lodatum:
The pains are worse on lying on the affected side; pain is more marked in the small of the back and coccyx. Pain in the hips forcing limping, better by walking and flexing legs, formication of the lower limbs when sitting, better by lying down. The sciatica is worse at night, and worse lying on the painful side.
Nux vomica:
Pain in the back causes him to drag the feet. Unsteady gait, with feeling of stiffness, with the sensation of sudden loss of power in the legs, with cramps in the calves and soles.
Tellurium metallicum:
There is weak feeling in the back. Pain in the last cervical to fifth dorsal vertebra. Sensitive spinal column to touch, straining, and at night. Lumbar pain in the right thigh, better by walking.
Rhus toxicodendron:
Stiff-neck with painful tension, when moving, pain and stiffness in the small of the back, better by motion and on lying on hard support, worse while sitting. Coccyx aches into the thighs.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 12. Stroke:
There is more or less sudden paralysis affecting one side of the body, motor sensory, visual or speech functions are affected. The condition is STROKE. It is a cerebral vascular attack usually due to disease of the intracranial vessels, although the cause is extra-cranial, such as embolism, carotid or vertebral occlusion, essential or renal hypertension, haemorrhagic diseases or pyemia.
Hemiplegia is the commonest manifestation of stroke.
Arnica:
Is disposed to cerebral congestion. Strokes with red face, and great prostration with tired feeling in sanguine plethoric persons. Hot head with cold body, confusion and sensitiveness in brain with sharp pinching pains. Arnica is suited to all kinds of strokes, dilatation and rupture of small blood vessels causing extravasation of blood in the tissues. An odd sensation is coldness of the nose.
Glonoin:
Here the cerebral congestion is due to elevated blood pressure, which often sends the patient in convulsion. The face is bright red and puffed, the pulse is full and hard, and the urine is albuminous. There is often sudden fainting, with black spots in front of the eyes and sudden onset of unconsciousness.
Both Glonoin and Belladonna have congestion and inflammation of the brain. Head symptoms are worse by bending the head backwards, worse in winter, and from application of cold water. Belladonna has relief from bending backward and sitting up with head quiet.
Hyoscyamus:
The symptoms point to weakness and nervous agitation, with coma vigil. Tremulous weakness and twitching of tendons. Spasmodic affections generally with delirium. Makes gestures, carphology, picks bed clothes with fingers. Convulsions, trembling, jerking, twitching and cramps are marked features. There is active mania with alternation that ends in deep sopor.
Also useful in eclampsia, chorea, local twitching of solitary muscle. Muttering delirium. There is involuntary urination because of bladder paralysis.
Belladonna:
Has vascular headache, throbbing, hammering headache, worse in the temples and worse by movements, better by bending head backwards. Pain worse by noise, light, better by pressure. It acts on the nerve center producing twitching, convulsions and pain. It produces active congestion, furious excitement, congestion that follows vascular exacerbation in the brain due to haemorrhage.
Hemiplegia is the commonest manifestation of a “stroke” with paralysis affecting the face. If the responsible cerebral lesion is acute the paralysis at first is flaccid. But in complete hemiplegia the arm is affected more than the legs and the distal movements are affected more than the proximal ones. In the phase of recovery — residual hemiplegia — spasticity of the affected limb is of clasp knife variety.
Most cases of acute hemiplegia is due to cerebrovascular accidents. Causticum, Rhustox, Lachesis, and Phosphoric acid are mostly indicated. The description of these remedies in paralysis may be rad elsewhere in the book.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 13. Bell’s Palsy:
Patient complains of pain behind the ears, and in front of the mastoid, lymphatic gland is palpable behind the angle of the jaw and the onset of paralysis is very rapid. Stiffness of the affected side, and cannot close the eyes properly and tears flow from the flaccid lower lid. The condition is BELL’S PALSY.
Causticum:
Is primary remedy to think of in such case? The facial paralysis is caused because of the cold drought, neuralgia of the right cheek bones, to mastoid process, worse at night. Jaw joints are affected with rheumatism. Sickly, shallow, low-spirited expression. Patient is better in damp cold weather but aggravated in fine but cold weather. Causticum has paralysis of the single parts.
Agaricus:
There is facial twitching; muscles feel stiff, face itches and burns. Lancinating and tearing pains in the cheek as of splinters. Neuralgia as if of cold needles, running through nerves or sharp ice touched them. Grimaces, idiotic expression, face is blue and puffed.
Belladonna:
Face becomes pale and red alternately, hot, swollen, and shining, swelling of the upper lip, facial neuralgia with twitching muscles and flushed face. There is spasmodic distortion of the mouth. Convulsive motions of the muscles of the face, lower jaw is as drawn backwards.
Gelsemium:
Centers its action upon muscles and motor nerves. In muscles, it causes overpowering, aching, tiredness, heaviness, weakness and soreness. It causes various degrees of motor paralysis, cold and dampness brings on many complaints. In the face hot, heavy, flushed, besotted-looking expression. Facial muscles are contracted, especially around the mouth. Lower jaw wags sideways.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 14. Cervical Spondylosis:
Patient complains of bilateral or unilateral root pains and paraesthesiae extending from neck, down the arms, to the fingers involving more than one cervical root, sometimes wasting, of the intrinsic muscles of the hands and reduced tendon reflexes. There is often a chronic neck stiffness, with characteristic degenerative changes in X-rays of the cervical spine. The condition is probably CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS.
This is also known as cervical osteoarthritis. Onset mostly after the age of fifty but earner not ruled out. This is due to degenerative condition affecting the middle- and lower cervical vertebrae. There is painful stiffness of the neck with painful creaking and grating on movements. The area of pain differs on the basis of the nerve roots that are affected. There are periods of remissions and recurrences are common.
Medicinal treatment is not of much value, it may reduce the pain but not fully cure. The only useful treatment for these patients is exercise under supervision of a qualified physiotherapist and short wave diathermy. Pain-killers may not help but may reduce the suffering.
Paris quadrifolia:
Develops a weight and weariness in the nape of the neck and across shoulders. Neuralgia begins in the left intercostal region extending into the left arm. Joints feel broken swollen or dislocated at every motion. Numbness of the upper limb and fingers.
Ranunculus bulbosus:
Chest is the seat of these pains. Muscular pains on the origins of the scapula, in women of sedentary habits.
Pains are often burning in spots. Particularly from needlework, type-writing and piano playing. The pains are more marked while writing, in writer’s cramp and professional neurosis. Patient is better by standing, sitting bent forwards, worse from open air, damp cold rainy and stormy weather, change of position and motion of arms.
Rhus Toxicodendron:
It affects the fibrous tissue, markedly joints. Tendon sheaths producing pains and stiffness. Usually after overstraining, lifting, and wet weather while perspiring. The pains are shooting, tearing and stitching, worse at night and cannot rest in any position.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 15. Myesthenia Gravis:
Middle-aged woman complains of fatigability, particularly in the proximal limb muscles and the muscles of mastication. It is mostly a case of MYESTHENIA GRAVIS. This is an acquired condition characterized by weakness and fatigability of the proximal limb, ocular and bulbar muscles.
The heart is not affected. Complex extra-ocular palsies, ptosis and typical fluctuating proximal weakness are found. The cause is unknown. The IgG antibodies to acetylcholine receptors are found. The prognosis is not favourable.
Alumina:
This is a remedy for elderly and feeble patients, especially in senile dementia. There is great general fatigue even after a short walk but chiefly after speaking. Frequent stretching while sitting and drags the leg, especially the left one. Sluggishness of action is the characteristic of this remedy. Staggers on walking, the legs feel numb. Heels feel numb when stepping. Spinal degeneration and paralysis of the lower limbs.
Conium:
Has difficult gait, trembling and sudden loss of strength while walking with painful stiffness of the legs etc. It affects the nerves and muscles causing incoordination, and paralysis, uncertain gait and difficult speech. Great progressive debility in the morning in bed, and has a general feeling of bruised as if beaten.
Paralysis of ocular muscles, heavy droop, worse outside, excessive lachrymation without inflammation. Myopia is not uncommon. Muscular weakness, especially of the lower limbs, walks very comfortably with eyes closed but staggers, becomes giddy and nauseated when walking with open eyes. Shortness of breath on least exertion.
Gelsemium:
It centers its action on the muscles and the motor nerves. In the muscles it causes overpowering aching, tiredness, heaviness, weakness and soreness. Fatigue after slight exercise, professional neurosis, writer’s cramp, heavy lower limbs, knees weak and worse descending, tottering gait. Muscles of the mouth seem contracted.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 16. Multiple Sclerosis:
An young adult complains of sudden drag in the feet, and the arm has become suddenly useless, and that there is a double vision. The condition is probably MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (or disseminated sclerosis). It is due to scattered areas of demyelination in the spinal cord, brain stem, optic nerve and cerebellum appearing at intervals, over many years, commencing between the age of 20-45 years.
The presenting symptom is sudden loss of power in arm or leg but other initial complaints are also common, like double vision, or sudden unilateral blindness, numbness and tingling etc. Their essential characters are that the lesions develop acute symptoms at irregular interval and have scattered distribution.
There is no curative treatment of this potentially disabling disease. Once diagnosed the patient should be informed about the disease. And long term planning for employment, home and plans for the future should be considered.
Causticum:
Acts upon the nerves, motor and sensory, and on the voluntary and involuntary muscles of bladder, larynx and limbs. There is increasing loss of muscular strength, causing uncertainty of the control over the muscles and finally ending in the paralysis of a single organ or the parts. Manifests its action mainly in chronic rheumatism, arthritic and paralytic disorders. Burning, rawness and soreness are the characteristics.
Paralysis of ocular muscles after exposure to cold, paralysis of one eyelid, weakness of recti muscles, diplopia, better looking at the right, vision obscured as if from gauze, sparks and dark spots before the eyes. Twisting and jerking in limbs. Burning in joints, unsteady walking and easily falling, weak ankles, and restless legs at night.
Gelsemium:
It centers is action on the motor nerves and the muscles. In muscles it causes overpowering aching, tiredness, weakness and soreness — mostly in the limbs. There is complete relaxation and prostration. It acts on the nervous system, causes various degrees of motor paralysis, cold and dampness brings on many complaints.
Lack of muscular coordination, and children have the fear of falling and they grab the crib or the nurse. Heavy drooping eyelids. Ptosis and hardly opens the eyes. Blurring and discomfort in eyes even after accurately adjusted glasses. Vision is blurred and smoky. There is loss of power in the limbs, and lack of muscle control, excessive trembling and weakness of all the limbs. Descending tottering gait and cannot direct his legs.
Burning, rawness and soreness are the characteristics. Paralysis of ocular muscles after exposure to cold paralysis of one eyelid, weakness of recti muscles, diplopia, better looking at the right, vision obscured as if from gauze, sparks and dark spots before the eyes. Twisting and jerking in limbs. Burning in joints, unsteady walking and easily falling, weak ankles, and restless legs at night.
Lathyrus sativus:
It affects the anterior and lateral columns of the cord, producing many paralytic conditions. Excessive rigidity of legs. And develops spastic gait. Heels do not touch the ground while walking. Muscles of the lower extremity and the gluteal muscles are emaciated. Cannot extend or cross legs when sitting. The legs are cold during the day and burning hot during night.
Essay on Nervous System Disorder # 17. Acute Poliomyelitis:
A patient reports with pyrexia, followed by flaccid paralysis of one or more limbs. He does not have any sensory changes. The condition may be ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS. Although no age is exempt major incidence is in children between two and ten years.
It is a viral infection having an incubation period of three days to five weeks. This virus has a selective affinity for the ventral horn cells of spinal cord, their motor homologues in the bulb and the reticular substance of the pons. This results in loss of power and flaccid paralysis, more or less widespread, recovery may occur in partially damaged cells.
In about 40% of cases there is minor illness with fever and sore throat, headache or nasal catarrh. The disease can be aborted at this stage. In other cases this may be followed by major illness — pre-paralytic or paralytic stages. The pre-paralytic stage closely resembles Influenza.
With severe headache, backache, pains in the chest, abdomen and thighs, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhoea and there may be joint pains. It is quite remarkable that the consciousness is fully preserved whist the neurological symptoms are developing.
This comes in epidemic form and hospitalization is advised to avoid any serious complication. The patient needs absolute physiological, emotional and physical rest. Aconite, Arnica, Rhustox, and Gelsemium are often indicated in the early phase of pre-paralytic stage. Introduction of these remedies at appropriate time often help to abort the disease.
Gelsemium:
Has an action on the muscles and the motor nerves and causes overpowering muscle ache, tiredness, heaviness, weakness and soreness especially felt in the limbs. The typical drowsiness, heavy stupid sleep, and yawning are common.
There is loss of power of muscular control, trembling, weakness of all the limbs. Feeling of partial luxation of patella, when walking and fatigue after slight exertion. Fever with a stupor, dizziness, faintness, thirstless and prostrated. During 1955-56, in epidemic of Influenza which spread countywide, Gelsemium and Eupatorium were the mainstay in the absence of any remedy with modern medicine.
Lathyrus:
Affects the anterior and the lateral columns of the cord causing many paralytic disorders of the lower limbs. Gluteal muscles and the muscles of the lower extremities are emaciated. There is stiffness and lameness of the ankles and knees. Feet are dragged and or put down forcibly while walking. While lying down the limbs can be moved from side to side but cannot be lifted. The condition is worse in cold damp weather.
Plumbum met.:
It is a great remedy for sclerotic condition affecting the muscles, nerves, spinal cord, abdomen. Plumbum has progressive muscular atrophy with excessive and rapid emaciation. The paralysis of single parts, wrist drop, flaccid with hyperesthesia, worse from touch. There is pain in the atrophied limbs, alternating with colic. Arms shake when attempting to use them.
A very optimistic programme of prevention of Polio has been taken up by WHO, there is strong belief that world can get rid off this infection in a very near future. Already the incidence of polio worldwide has come down drastically except in economically and socially poor countries.
