Psychosomatic Disorder

A psychosomatic disorder is a disease which involves both mind and body. Some physical diseases are thought to be particularly prone to be made worse by mental factors such as stress and anxiety.

Here we are discussing few of them, namely GERD, MIGRAINE, IBS, ULCERATIVE COLITIS AND THYROIDITIS etc.

GERD :

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more serious form of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which is common. GER occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens spontaneously, for varying periods of time, or does not close properly and stomach contents rise up into the esophagus. GER is also called acid reflux or acid regurgitation, because digestive juices—called acids—rise up with the food. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The LES is a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that acts like a valve between the esophagus and stomach. When acid reflux occurs, food or fluid can be tasted in the back of the mouth. When refluxed stomach acid touches the lining of the esophagus it may cause a burning sensation in the chest or throat called heartburn or acid indigestion. Occasional GER is common and does not necessarily mean one has GERD. Persistent reflux that occurs more than twice a week is considered GERD

Role of Homeopathy Homeopathy has achieved very good results in GERD. If given as per the symptoms totality it can cure the GERD condition totally.

MIGRAINE :

Migraine headache can be named as vascular headache where the blood vessels dilate due to so many factors and the widening of blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around it and causes the nerve fibres to release some chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.

Their causative factors are still unknown but still some factors could be the cause of migraine headache. Among them high stress, hyper acidity, exposure to sun heat, sleep disturbances, cigarette smoke, chocolate, hormone, alcohol, caffeine are some major factors.
The sign and symptoms are varying from person to person. Some people feel headache on one side and some all over the head. Nausea and vomiting are often associated with migraine headache. The person likes to stay in dark place. The light or sun heat increases the pain and that’s why the person desires to stay in a dark place. The pain is throbbing type of pain and some people have experiences of dimness of vision during head ache.

Homeopathy in migraine headache

Homeopathy treats the migraine very successfully. Homeopathy treatment is based upon the symptoms. Taking the totality of symptoms if treated with constitutional way of homeopathy treatment then migraine will be cured completely and permanently. Once cured it is not going to reappear. But still it is required to improve your life style. The homeopathic treatment is very safe and free from drug side effects and holistic in nature. It not only cures the migraine headache but also improves the other health conditions to make the person healthy as a whole. There are many homeopathy medicines which are generally used for migraine headache. But it is not advisable to take any homeopathy medicines without the supervision of any qualified homeopath.

IBS:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has a cure in homeopathic treatment
• It controls the pain and flatulency in a short duration of treatment
• The sudden urging for bowel motion is controlled completely after a week of treatment
• The frequency of bowel motion gradually reduces to one or two times during the course of treatment.
• Homeopathic treatment gives a long standing cure to the IBS
• It is most safe and no drug side effects

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the word itself signifies irritable bowel. So the groups of symptoms arise due to irritable bowel is called irritable bowel syndrome. Here the question arises why the bowel becomes irritable? The walls of the bowel i.e the intestinal tract are lined by layers of muscles that contracts and expands in a coordinated rhythmical manner to move the foods from the stomach to the rectum. If you have Irritable bowel syndrome it contracts more strongly and lasts longer than normal so the person will have a sudden urging for stool. Due to stronger and longer contraction the foods is forced through the intestinal tract quickly that causes gas formation, bloating and loose motion. Sometimes the exact opposite condition occurs like longer period of relaxation no contraction in intestines so the digested food stuffs are not moved forward that result constipation problem. So the person suffering from IBS experience either sudden urging for stool or constipation problem or loose motion alternately with constipation. In some cases it is found that developing of IBS takes place after an intestinal infection. It is called post infectious IBS. There are many trigger factors of IBS which affect the nerves that control sensation or muscle contraction.

Triggers for IBS

Foods – The sign and symptoms of IBS are seen worsening after taking some sort of foods. It is not occurred with every person suffering with IBS but in quite a few cases. So it is advised to avoid those foods. The foods that triggers the IBS are refined breads, refined foods such as chips, cookies, all sort of junk foods, caffeine, carbonated drinks, alcohol, high protein diets, sometimes milk and dairy products. But some researchers believe that rather than food being a trigger, the actual process of eating may be the trigger because chewing stimulates the colon.

Stress – Stress, anxiety, problems at work, problems at home, and financial problems can have a direct effect on IBS. The sign and symptoms of IBS can be aggravated by constant staying in a stressful situation. But while stress may aggravate symptoms, it doesn’t cause them.

Drugs – Some drugs may trigger the symptoms of IBS. Prolonged use of antibiotic, anti depressant drugs, cough syrups containing sorbitols may also become causes.

Symptoms of IBS

• Abdominal pain and cramping – the abdominal pain and discomfort occur few days in a month and the pain is relieved after the bowel clearance.
• A bloated feeling – feeling of heaviness in abdomen
• Gas ( flatulence) – there is more gas formation and flatulency
• Diarrhea and constipation – sometimes loose motion and sometimes constipation tendency. There is also bout of diarrhea and constipation alternate
• Sudden urging for stool – there is sudden urging for stool no control over it. Sometimes stools are mucoid like
• Fatigue and weakness

Role of homeopathy in IBS

Constitutional homeopathy treatment is based on totality of symptoms of the patients. Totality of symptoms means the symptoms which are not only collected from the disease aspect but from other aspect like mental symptoms, physical symptoms, desires, aversion all the symptoms from which a homeopath can study the patient as a whole. The medicine selected on totality of symptoms is the constitutional remedy for that patient. That will help to cure the disease for a longer period of time and will make the person healthy as a whole. This type of homeopathy treatment is called the classical or constitutional treatment. In all chronic health disorders including IBS the classical homeopathy treatment help to cure the condition at the root level.

ULCERATIVE COLITIS:

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum.

The disease usually begins in the rectal area and may eventually extend through the entire large intestine. Repeated swelling (inflammation) leads to thickening of the wall of the intestine and rectum with scar tissue. Death of colon tissue or sepsis (severe infection) may occur with severe disease.

The symptoms vary in severity and may start slowly or suddenly. Many factors can lead to attacks, including respiratory infections or physical stress.

Role of Homeopathy in Ulcerative Colitis –Homeopathy treats Ulcerative Colitis very successfully. Homeopathy treatments based upon the symptoms. Taking the totality of symptoms if treated with constitutional way of homeopathy treatment then Ulcerative Colitis will be cured completely and permanently. Once cured it is not going to be reappear. But still it is required to improve your life style. The homeopathic treatment is very safe and drug side effects free and holistic in nature.

THYROIDITIS: Majorly there are two ways the manifestation presents either Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism: Excessive secretion of thyroid hormones in the body is called as hyperthyroidism (hyper=more).
Thyroid is small gland situated in the midline and base of the neck. The gland produces thyroid hormones T4 (Tetraiodothyronine/Thyroxine) and T3 (Triiodothyronine) that are absolutely essential for maintaining harmony of various body functions. Thyroid hormones govern the speed of body’s chemical reaction and have positive influence on growth of an individual (mental and physical). Because thyroid hormones affect growth, development and many cellular processes, excess of thyroid hormones has widespread consequences on the body.

Causes : There are many causes that can cause over activity of the thyroid gland and in most cases the entire gland is producing more hormones, this is seen in Grave’s disease. Grave’s disease is actually an auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly starts attacking its own cells (in this case the thyroid gland) resulting in inflammation and enlargement of the gland (Goiter) and production of excess hormones. In some cases, there is a particular solitary nodule in the gland (called ‘Hot’ nodule) that is producing more hormones; there may also be multiple such nodules in the gland Inflammation of the thyroid gland (Thyroiditis) due to any other cause can also result in hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms : Increased secretion of thyroid hormones can produce myriad of symptoms that vary from person to person and with the age of patient. The common symptoms include:

• Weight loss despite normal or increased appetite
• Palpitations
• Heat intolerance
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Difficulty in breathing
• Increased bowel movements
• Light or absent menstrual periods
• Fatigue
• Tremors of hands and fingers
• Irritability
• Excessive perspiration

Signs commonly seen in patients with Hyperthyroidism :

• Fast heart rate
• Muscle weakness
• Trembling hands
• Weight loss
• Hair loss
• Staring gaze
• Warm moist skin
• Lump in the neck (Goiter)

Remarks

Hyperthyroidism being a constitutional disorder calls for an in-depth constitutional approach for its management. The science of homeopathy is based on the concept that disease is total affliction of body and may find its local expression at the level of certain organs. Hence homeopathy prescription take into account presenting complaints along with physical, emotional and genetic make up of a person that individualizes him/her. The remedy prescribed based on this entire totality treats the disorder at its root cause and thus restores the normal functioning of the body.

Suggestion about homeopathic treatment:

Homeopathy is suggested for cases of hyperthyroidism. Homeopathy helps in alleviating the symptoms associated with the condition. Moreover, homeopathy works at a deeper level to bring deviations of immunity back to normalcy and to restore the harmony of the body. Homeopathy works better in the early and mild cases of Hyperthyroidism. Extreme cases where the hyper activity of thyroid gland has affected other vital organs, homeopathy has limited role.