A CASE OF ALOPECIA AREATA TREATED WITH HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE

1. PRESENTATION BY: DR. BIPIN JETHANI
Reader, Department of Organon of Medicine,
Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital,
New Delhi.
drbipin.jethani@gmail.com
#9810146343, 9868396623
E-JOURNAL OF
DEPT. OF AYUSH
‘HOMOEOPATHIC PULSE’
UPDATE ON REPERTORY

2. Repertorial understanding of
mercurius solubilis hahnemanni:
MY EXPERIENCE IN a CASE OF
alopecia areata

3. INTRODUCTION: ALOPECIA AREATA
Alopecia areata is a recurrent non-
scarring type of hair loss that can
affect any hair-bearing area and can
manifest in many different patterns.
Although it is a benign condition and
most patients are asymptomatic, it can
cause emotional and psychosocial
distress.

4. AUTOIMMUNE ETIO-PATHOGENESIS OF ALOPECIA
AREATA
• Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune
disease, in which the immune system,
mistakenly attacks the hair follicles and this can
lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere.
• In most cases, hair falls out in small, round
patches about the size of a quarter. In many
cases, the disease does not extend beyond a few
bare patches. However, in some people, hair
loss is more extensive.

5. A CASE OF ALOPECIA AREATA:
CASE STUDY
16 year old female presented with c/o patch
of alopecia areata on scalp. Her other
complaints were painful delayed menses
since menarche.
Recurrent tendency to pain in throat
followed by rattling cough from least
exposure to cold air.

6. KNOWN CASE OF ALOPECIA
AREATA
It began as a small
patch of alopecia on
scalp, approximately
1 year back and had
spread to become of
big patch of alopecia.
Occasional c/o itching.

7. EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY
INTRA-UTERINE LIFE
h/o Hyperemesis till 7th
month <: night.
Had fever/ malaise off
and on but mother
did not take any
medication
SIGNIFICANT
LANDMARKS
 Patient had severe itching
in scalp since 2 yrs age.
Applied medicated
shampoos.
 Tendency to cough with
each phase of dentition.
 Tendency to pain throat
from least exposure to cold
air – recurrent antibiotic
intake. Now pain in throat
is followed by rattling
cough.

8. MENSTRUAL HISTORY
Menarche = 11 yrs
(EARLY MENARCHE)
Even thelarche occurred
at age of 8 years.
• Tendency to delayed
cycle (40-45 days) with
severe pain before and
during flow.
• Flow dark with
occasional clots

9. FAMILIAL BACKGROUND
Paternal GrandMother – HTN, NIDDM, CAD
Paternal Grandfather – Parkinsonism
Maternal Grandmother – Generalised Anxiety
Disorder
Maternal Grandfather – Asthma, Psoriasis
Mother – S.L.E.
Father – Recurrent cough in change of weather

10. LIFE SPACE
• Was the only daughter and had a happy
childhood.
• Intelligent child with sharp memory.
• Had been Active restless child.
• Has always behaved maturely and with
responsibility for her age.
• Her mother says that ‘she used to behave
as an adult’ since very young age’.

11. PHYSICAL GENERALS
 CHILLY patient
 Thirst normal, likes cold water but avoids
 Diet: Non-Vegetarian
 Desire: sweets(+); chocolates
 Sleep: sound
 Perspiration: increased, offensive.
 Tongue: small fissures seen in the center

12. CASE ANALYSIS:progression of pathology to deeper
level
• The progression of the case from complaint of
simple itching to the stage of autoimmunity in
form of Alopecia aerata on scalp shows that the
patient’s pathology had moved from superficial
pathology to deep seated pathology.
• Similarly the complain of pain in throat had over
the period of time progressed to c/o cough ------
this signifies downward movement of pathology
to more vital organ.

13. CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOM(§ 153)
PRECOCITY
• PRECOCIOUS THELARCHE &
MENARCHE
• PRECOCIOUS BEHAVIOUR
(she used to talk as an adult
since very young age)
OTHER SIGNIFICANT SYMPTOMS
• CHILLY PATIENT
• PERSPIRATION
INCREASED, OFFENSIVE
• DENTITIONAL COUGH

14. REPERTORIAL STUDY OF SYMPTOMS
KENT’S REPERTORY
MIND SECTION
In the rubric
‘PRECOCITY’; the
only remedy
mentioned is MERC.
Boger-Boenninghausen’s
Characteristics & Repertory
Under the chapter on AGGRAVATION
AND AMELIORATION IN GENERAL,
we find:
• Dentition, during (in children)
agg. : ACO., am-c., ars., bell., BOR.,
bry., CALC-C., calc-p., CHAM., Cic.,
cina., Cof.., colch., Cup., Hep.,
Hyo., Ign., Ip., KRE., mag-c., Merc.,
Merc-c., nit-ac., Nux-m., nux-v.,
op., POD., pul., rhe., Rhus-t., Sec-
c., sil., stan., stra., sul., zin.

15. basis of PRESCRIPTION:
repertorial study
The repertorial analysis in the form of Kent’s
General rubric of PRECOCITY and Boger-
Boenninghausen’s aggravation in General
during dentition led to the remedy Merc. sol.
The other significant aspects of the case (Chilly
patient and profuse, offensive sweating)
confirmed the selection of similimum –
Mercurius solubilis Hahnemanni.

16. Prescription
The patient was prescribed
Merc. sol. 30/ unit dose
followed by placebo

17. FOLLOW-UP
AT THE TIME OF PRESENTATION FOLLOW-UP AFTER 4 MONTHS

18. FOLLOW UP
AT THE TIME OF PRESENTATION FOLLOW UP AFTER 6 MONTHS

19. FOLLOW UP
Besides the improvement in patch of
alopecia; the following significant points
were also noted during follow up:
The patient’s sensitivity to cold air has
markedly decreased.
The menses have also become regular with
occasional c/o dysmenorrhoea.

20. CASE DISCUSSION & conclusion
The diligent use of Repertories often
help in better understanding of the
characteristics of our homoeopathic
medicines. The repertories also give
us the vital clues for the selection of
similimum as can be deciphered from
the foregoing case study.