According to homoeopathy philosophy organic disease is an ultimate, the result of preceding changes in the vitality of the patient which are manifested by functional changes and subjective symptoms. It is generally accepted that organic disease may be foreshadowed by functional changes and subjective symptoms. It is generally accepted that organic disease may be foreshadowed by functional changes (1) It is these symptoms of disordered vitality which have to be matched in selecting a constitutional remedy with the object of correcting the underlying disharmony.
 |
| Cancercell |
This is perhaps a tendency to regard nosodes representing the ultimates in disease as being comparatively superficial in their action yet the well proved nosodes such as Tuberculinum and Medorrhinum are undoubtedly among the most deeply acting and valuable medicines in the materia medica. It may be that nosodes carry in them in their potentized state something of the nature of the preceding deranged vitality. After six years study of Carcinosin that is my impression, and its profound action may possibly be explained in this way. Kent believed cancer to be the result of suppressed psora and it is of interest to note that in some cases responding to Carcinosin, indications for Psorinum and other antipsorics and previously evident came to light. In a few cases the symptom of Psorinum “feels specially well before an attack” was uncovered only after previous benefit from Carcinosin.
My interest in Carcinosin was aroused by a chance experience that having in the out-patient department simultaneously two children born of mothers who were during the pregnancy, suffering from cancer of the breast (2). These children presented a remarkably similar appearance, having blue sclerotics a cafe au lait complexion and numerous moles. Both children suffered from insomnia. I had previously been given a therapeutic hint that where there was a family history of cancer, Carcinosin sometimes cured insomnia, and had used it occasionally in insomnia with success.
I wondered if one could regard these having been nourished by cancerous blood as exhibiting these characteristics on account of the mother’s condition in other words a sort of proving of Carcinosin or was it a coincidence.
It would take considerable time to collect a number of such cases,and the immediate course open was to study the antecedents of children with that appearance to find out whether this appearance was associated with a strong family history of cancer or not. In the out-patient department we began by checking the family history and giving Carcinosin to children with that appearance. During the first few years detailed notes were taken by one of my clinical assistants of 200 cases in which we had tested the remedy with or without success. Gradually the picture of Carcinosin emerged. It did receive a small proving (3) and I proved it myself in the 200th potency.
It is generally accepted that we can utilize the symptoms derived from clinical experience of the therapeutic effects of a remedy and that the drug picture which is the real basis of prescribing is built up from proving plus clinical experience.
It has been noted only a small proportion of provers are sufficiently sensitive to any substance to bring out anything like its full effects, those presumably having an idiosyncrasy to the drug being tested (4) In studying the therapeutic effects of a homoeopathic remedy one cannot escape the conclusion that anyone benefiting from a drug in high potency must also have been sensitive to it. A more careful study of therapeutic effects would in my view enrich the materia medica. Disease in fact tends to increase sensitivity to the appropriate remedy even in the physiological use of drugs (5)
It soon became apparent that children of what we came to regard as the “Carcinosin appearance” did not show the kind of family history we had almost but in others there was a strong family history of tuberculosis, of diabetes and pernicious anaemia, or a combination of all these more strongly represented than in the average family only occasionally there was no such history. It would of course require a great deal of research to prove this.
Gradually we gained the impression that in addition to the “Carcinosin appearance” and a tendency to insomnia even in young children there was a tendency to have an inflammatory illness whooping cough or pneumonia very early in life, and therefore almost always severely. For instance, whooping cough at five months fits into the Carcinosin picture. If, for the sake of argument, we accept McDonagh’s concept that there are two basic diseases, inflammation and tumour formation, also the teaching of Rudolf steiner, then it might not be too far fetched to regard this tendency to inflammation as a reaction against inherited tendencies. A child who had the longest list of severe inflammatory diseases I have ever seen had indications for Carcinosin, and its administration was followed by a remarkable improvement. We gained the impression that after administration of Carcinosin there was considerable likelihood of an inflammatory reaction very difficult to prove also without considerable research. In the children’s ward Sister Sayer observed that children receiving Carcinosin often had a rise of temperature on the tenth day, and this has been often confirmed.
Alimentary upsets of one kind or another, say a tendency to diarrhoea or constipation or acidosis in childhood seemed to come into the picture, but this is not certain; it is so common in childhood. In the provings Dr. Templeton noted the constancy with which Carcinosin produced constipation. (6)
In the children’s ward we observe the position in which a child sleeps, and in the out-patient department I have for years asked all mothers about this symptom, as it is an unequivocal one. There is a tendency for many infants to sleep in the knee- elbow position up to the last quarter of the first year, then it often disappears. The knee elbow position is noted in Kent’s Repertory only under Medorrhinum, but out enquiry has revealed that a number of drugs have it. Carcinosin has this symptom (also a tendency to sleep on the back hands above head). Other drugs having the knee-elbow position which is obviously more valuable as a symptom in older children, are Tuberculinum, phosphorus, Sepia Lycopodium and Calc phos.
More work is required to elucidate the full picture of mentals and generals of Carcinosin, but clinical studies gradually revealed that Carcinosin is related to some of the most commonly indicated and deeply acting medicines in the materia medica, and the action of Carcinosin is deep and long lasting.
The majority of the children in out-patients had been receiving treatment, and it became of apparent that many children who were candidates for Carcinosin in other respects had already been helped by one or more of a group of remedies, the most constant of which are Tuberculinum, Medorrhinum, Nat. mur. and Sepia others were Alumina Ars. alb., Ars iod., Pulsatilla, Staphisagria, phos., Calc phos., Lueticum, Lycopodium, Sulphur, Psorinum, Dysentery co. and Opium. others may be added as experience grows.
In any patient not responding to one of these remedies, though accurately chosen it is worth while to see whether to see whether Carcinosin may fit the case. Also when two or more of the related remedies are partially indicated but no one adequately covers the case Carcinosin should be considered. These indications for Carcinosin have been abundantly confirmed.
Say you have a child with the obstinacy and love of travel of Tub. bov. combined with amelioration by the sea and other symptoms of Medorrhinum, a fairly common combination in my experience, carcinosin will often cover the case. I have not hesitated to prescribe Carcinosin at the beginning of treatment, if clearly indicated, with excellent results.