Scope of Homoeopathy in Treating Geriatric Ailments

William Shakespeare, has penned down old age as 'second childishness'. Old age, comes with it a lot of ailments, which almost always goes unnoticed or unheard of. Remember, when your grandma has complained non-stop about an aching back or an unsteady hand. You may reply with saying"Bear with it, because you're old" . Most of their troubles are simply pushed off as something that comes with the age, which according to most commoners, are "simply can't be reversed." But Homoeopathy offers a vast range of remedies such as Argentum nitricum, Baryta carbonica, Antimonium crudum, Causticum, Lachesis, Aurum metallicum... These medicines alleviate and lessen their ailments in an effective way.

Geriatric ailments

Old people commonly complain of pains of joints (especially knee joint), a dimness of vision, difficulty in hearing,memory loss, loss of steadiness of hands and feet and loss of control over bladder and bowels. Here, we mention a few common homeopathic remedies and their actions. Always remember to consult a physician, as these are merely a source of info rather than a guide to self-prescription!

Action of Remedies

In Argentum nitricum, neurotic effects are very marked. It is highly indicated for brain and spinal cord affections, with symptoms of in-coordination, loss of control and want of balance everywhere, mentally and physically. There is weakness of memory, with errors in perceptions. The most remarkable feature of this remedy includes impulsiveness and wanting to do things in a hurry. It is most effective for unconscious voiding of urine both during day and night.

Mood swings and physical alterations are at times beyond tolerable level for women going through their climacteric. Lachesis is perfectly suited to a loquacious lady with climacteric problems like palpitations, flashes of heat, mood swings, restlessness, etc. Lachesis is prepared from the poison of bushmaster (a snake) which has a hemorrhagic tendency. So, the remedy is suited to people with marked bleeding tendency (Implication of Doctrine of Signature).

Specifically indicated in infancy and old age, Baryta carbonica is indicated to diseases of old men, when degenerative changes in cardiac, vascular and cerebra aspects who have a hypertrophied prostate, with sensitiveness to cold. There is senile dementia with loss of self confidence, and hemorrhoids of old age.

Hypertrophied prostate

Due to certain accelerated growth in the prostatic tissue, there can be increase in size of the existing cells, without any multiplication of cells. This increasing size can cause compression of male urethra and cause painful, difficulty in urination, with incomplete voiding of urine.

Causticum manifests its action mainly in long term rheumatic, arthritic and paralytic affection of joints. There is tearing pain with noticeable joint deformities and progressive loss of muscular strength. Much effective for most geriatric ailments like cataract, nocturnal enuresis, nocturnal sleeplessness. Another remedy with marked action on joint affection is Rhus toxicodendron.

Post menopausal syndrome

The hormones which play a key role in maintaining femininity of a woman are estrogen and progesterone. Once a women passes her 40's or 50's, the secretion of estrogen permanently stops, when all of the follicles in her ovaries becomes used up. This is called menopause. Normally, women experience an array of changes, both mentally and physically but these are transient and disappear within a month or two. But some women may need support, as they experience severe depression anger, hot flushes, irritability, with easily fracturing bones. In allopathic treatment, the procedure adopted is estrogen therapy, but this can put the patient at risk for several carcinomas. Here, Lachesis is very much effective.

Parkinson's disease

Normally basal ganglia of brain produce an inhibitory neurotransmitter called dopamine, which controls the rigidity of muscles. In old age people, there can be a deficiency of this substance, which lead to constant contraction of muscles of the body. The person may experience difficulty in walking, trembling of arms, rigidity in joint movements.

Plumbum metallicum is a specific remedy for Parkinson's disease. There is single muscle paralysis, cramps in calf-muscles, numbness, pain and tremor. It is also much effective against hypertension, arteriosclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy with excessive and rapid emaciation. There is constipation from rectal paralysis.

The above mentioned are few of the many remedies in the Materia Medica.  As I have mentioned in my first article, you can't get a remedy by naming a disease; prescriptions are made only after considering other factors that are specific for an individual. Old people need much love and comfort from their family, besides treatment.

Always remember to listen to your grandparents word; spend some time with them as they need care and support. Just like an infant. Then only one can notice what troubles them the most.