Layers of Suppression & Reversal of Disease

The case I am presenting demonstrates two vital factors in homeopathy

1) The role of mind and body in causing and reversing disease

2) Layers of Suppression

Through this post, I will demonstrate both these factors in a case of Eczematous Psoriasis and Hypothyroidism. The Case of Mrs Sushma Karnik Shown below

This patient was 53 years old when she came to consult with me. She had multiple symptoms, most notably severe eczema and arthritic pain. The eczema showed up around 30 years ago while her arthritic pains and hypothyroidism showed up in 1992.

Over the years, Mrs Karnik had taken been treated by various doctors and had taken allopathic drugs including steroids, homeopathy and ayurvedic medicines. But she only got worse.

Past History

Bronchial Asthma

Hysterectomy - fibroid 1994

Appetite: Less

Thirst: Less

Sleep: Sleeplessness

Bowels: Constipation

Mind

Mrs Karnik’s symptoms began soon after her marriage, which was a traumatic event for the young bride. She gave up her job as a college lecturer to move from Mumbai to a small town, and her husband and in-laws were very conservative. Mrs Karnik was a mild-mannered person and instead of rebelling, internalised her trauma, which then manifested itself in various physical symptoms.

In her own words: “I had to give up my job and adjust with those people (husband and in-laws), who are orthodox and uneducated. I never complained to anyone as I am very accommodating and know how to adjust. In the initial years after marriage, I was not even allowed to work but when there was a financial crisis, my husband agreed and I became a teacher in a local school.”

Four years before she came to meet me, Mrs Karnik’s son went through a divorce just 6 months after his marriage. This was a huge blow to her as she was worried about the social stigma
she would face.

Moreover, as her eczema began to show, she grew even more embarrassed about the “dreaded disease” and gradually began to withdraw. As the disease process ravaged her body, her arthritic pains worsened till she finally confined herself largely to her home. “I am completely bed-ridden due to these problems and cannot work or sleep due to the pain. It is too much to bear,” she told me.

Understanding the Case

This is a classic example of allopathic suppression, where the disease process has travelled from one organ to another (See Chart of Suppression below}. Mrs Karnik went from the Psoric Misam to a Syphilitic picture at the mental and physical levels.

In any given case, Dr Hahnemann’s Aphorism No 3 says, ”If the physician clearly perceives what is to be cured in diseases, that is to say, in every individual case of disease” (knowledge of disease)…”

Aphorism 71 says, ”How is the physician to ascertain what is necessary to be known in order to cure the disease?”

In any given case, it is of utmost important to ask the following questions: What exactly is wrong that needs to be treated? Why has the constitution fallen sick? What are the causes or his / her nature that has taken a toll on her health and disturbed her biochemistry and compromised her immune system to make her sick?

In Mrs Karnik’s case, the patient had suppressed her emotions – she could was unable to express her feelings and do the things what enjoyed and loved most. She had also been unable to say, “no” to the marriage proposal that had led her to this predicament in the first place.

Her defence system had completely vanished. Here we are reminded of Charles Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection, that which we do not use falls into disuse till it disappears from the gene pool of the species. Likewise, Mrs Karnik was not able to defend herself to fight for her rights. How then could she defend herself physically from disease?

When she began losing interest in life, she entered the Syphilitic state and nothing, not even allopathic drugs, seemed to help her.

Analysis of the Case

Dr James Tyler Kent always advised homeopaths to assess the will, morals and intellect of the patient. In this case, we had a constitution which was conscientious, mild, embarrassed, affectionate, does not want sympathy or pity, chilly and thirst less.

Journey of the Disease

According to Dr Prafull Vijaykar’s Chart of Suppression, Mrs Karnik’s skin eruptions (Ectodermal layer #1) to bronchial asthma (Endodermal Layer #) coupled with allopathic suppression led her to develop joint pains (a connective tissue disorder – Mesoderm Layer #3). Later, she developed hypertension (layer #4), and with further suppressive drugs, the disease process led to hypothyroidism (Layer #5). Gradually, Mrs Karnik went into depression (Neural Plate Layer #6).

Effectively, Mrs Karnik experienced Six Layers of Dr Vijayakar’s Seven Layers of Suppression and she was getting worse.

Evaluation of the Case

Let’s analyse the patient’s defence or Miasm. Mrs Karnik experienced despair with pains and embarrassment, a syphilitic aspect. Along with these 2 rubrics and looking for a remedy that is “conscientious” and “sympathy aggravation,” we get Ignatia.

Rubrics

Ailments from anger to silent grief

Grief, undemonstrative.

Mildness, bears suffering without complaining

Secretive

Yielding disposition

Concern for social position

Sympathy aggravation

The Remedy given was Ignatia 1m I dose. During the course of a year, it was repeated twice.

Follow-Up

It was observed that after the right constitutional remedy, the disease process began to reverse. The Syphilitic aspect of Mrs Karnik’s mental state improved and during the course of treatment, not only did her physical diseases get cured but she began to change mentally too – she became less timid and began to voice her opinion.

According to Dr Rajan Sankaran, Ignatia is from the loganiaceous family –disappointment, silent grief, and patients cannot weep even when shattered. Ignatia is also from cancer, which means patients are totally controlled, they stretch themselves beyond their capacity.

Mrs Karnik was largely free of her symptoms in 11 months. She was also happier and brighter. The disease process was well on the way to being totally reserved.

More on the ‘mind’ in mind-body medicine.

Re-awaken the healer in you...

- Dr Anita Salunkhe

Tags: allopathy, body, homeopathy, layers, medicine, mind, of, suppression

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Comment by Dr Muhammed Rafeeque on November 8, 2010 at 7:33am: Hi Dr,

Thanks for sharing your case with the HWC members. You have presented the case very nicely and systematically. The result of the treatment is also clear from the words of the patient. I hope you will post such cases periodically to enlighten us.

I request you to spend a few minutes to clear my doubt.
I have a doubt on the layers of suppression. In this case, the patient had a sickness in the lowest layer and the suppressions took the disease to the higher levels. Now the suitable homeopathic treatment could reverse the disease. But, we hardly get such patients coming with sickness involving only one layer!
With the help of a hypothetical case, let me clarify my doubt. (Even though this case is hypothetical, I am sure that majority of our cases come under this category)

Here is the hypothetical case of a male patient aged 50. Nowadays, we get such cases even among children!

Mr. K. Aged 50

He has got the following problems:

1. Allergic conjunctivitis ---- 1st layer
2. Allergic rhinitis--------------2nd layer
3. Joint pains---------------------3rd layer
4. High BP------------------------4th layer
5. Diabetes -------------------------5th layer
6. Vertigo with numbness of hands—6th layer
7. Cancer of the prostate-------------7th layer

In this person, all seven layers are involved. All problems are strong with clear modalities. No clear history of suppressions that can be evaluated layer by layer.

How to handle such cases as per the predictive approach? I have attended only a few one-day seminars by predictive school, hence, I request you to guide me.

Comment by Dr. Rajeev Jain on November 8, 2010 at 10:03am: Hello Dr. Muhammed

Dr. Vijayakar's 7 layers of suppression is meant according to the Hering's law & science of Embryology. It doesn't meant for prescription but it is just to understand the journey of the disease.
Moreover nothing is important then the MIASM (-the real fundamental cause in the chronic disease).
So what so ever is the disease & what so ever is the layer treat the MIASM not the LAYER.
As per concern of your hypothetical case it should be treated according to MIASM only i.e. if an syphilitic joint pain is there with sycotic cancer of the prostate then initially joint pain get relieved from syphilitic to sycosis, then it cure cancer of prostate first then others according to MIASM & LAYER

I think I clarify my view rightly, if not hope to corrected by respected Dr. Anita Salunkhe
With regard-Dr. Jain

Comment by Kuldip Singh on November 8, 2010 at 12:32pm: From Dr.Jain’s solution above, one may logically conclude that in any similar multilayered case of suppression it sounds much easier to go in for trimiasmatic treatment rather than entangling into 7 layers. Where a practitioner has to meticulously understand all 7 layers of suppression which has exclusively been propagated by Dr. Vijaykar and none else. I mean miasmatic approach appears much simpler as compared to 7 layered complicated looking approach.

Comment by Gina Tyler DHOM on November 8, 2010 at 3:35pm: Wonderfull case presentation thanks for Sharing

Comment by sajjadakram on November 8, 2010 at 10:28pm: kuldip singh,
you are very true.7 layer theory is another complication in practice of homeopathy.Let us make homeopathy easy.
sajjad.

Comment by Dr Muhammed Rafeeque on November 8, 2010 at 11:29pm: Thanks for the comments. Dr Vijaykar's concept has helped us to know the relation between embryology and the development of disease. His works can explain several unclear areas in homeopathy, that too in terms of modern man. But, i cant fully agree with Dr Rajeev's coments, "It doesn't meant for prescription, but it is just to understand the journey of the disease". After going through the works of Dr Vijaykar and his team, I felt that their priscription is mainly based up on the layers. Ofcourse, the medicine is selected on the basis of miasm, but the concept of 7 layer is mentioned in each and every stage of treatment. Hence, it is not only for a therotical explanation, but there is a practical utility. What I need to clarify is the 7 layer concept for the management of hypothetical case posted by me.

Comment by Dr. Rajeev Jain on November 9, 2010 at 12:57am: @ Kuldip Singh
Sorry to say but I am not agree with your views as 7 layer of suppression doesn't create complication anywhere but its sound knowledge gave us direction not only in the journey of disease but in the follow up also.
So that we can judge ourselves that in the followup either our patient is going in the process of suppression or towards cure even with the sense of well being.
As you see in the Allopathy there is also sense of well being during the course of treatment then what is the difference between Allopathy & Homoeopathy, it is only the difference bet. CURE & SUPPRESSION.
Lack of knowledge for the MIASM leads us in dilemma.
"Eyes can't see what mind doesn't perceive"-Dr. Vijayakar
With all due respect-Dr. Jain

Comment by Dr Muhammed Rafeeque on November 11, 2010 at 1:00am: Thanks for sharing his words. I have many friends doing Dr Vijaykar's method. As per the reports, they are getting good result.

I request Dr Anita Salunkhe to clear my doubt.

Comment by Ranga Sai on November 11, 2010 at 1:20pm: Dear All

I really don't see any sense in the embryological theory.

Skin and the whole nervous system develop from the same ectodermal layer.

Which means that Depression and Skin symptoms are essentially from the same layer !!!

So according to this theory - if a patient having Hepatic Cirrhosis at a later stage develops an encephalopathy, we should be happy , as the disease progressed from the Endoderm ( Liver )to ectoderm ( brain ).

? ? ?
Aude sapere.

Comment by Dr. Rajeev Jain on November 12, 2010 at 1:06am: Dear Drs. all yours doubts gets clear if you read "THEORY OF SUPPRESSION" By Dr. Prafull Vijayakar.

Yes, Skin(ectoderm) & Nervous system(neuro-ectoderm) both are originated from the Ectoderm.

As you see in the Herpes the lesion are on the skin at the nerve endings. And if these lesions are suppressed then it immediately affect nervous system and may cause diseases at the nervous system level.

Also we must remember 3 vitals in cure by Hering's law
1.Center to Periphery
2. More important part to less important part
3. In the reverse order of the appearance of the disease.

Pl. don't misunderstood the 7 layers of suppression, it is only for our convenience to know both Journey of disease & Follow-up.

e.g. One of my patient suffering from severe back pain all along in spine from cervical region to lumbar region from last so many years. When constitutional similimum was given she develop Herpes on the face with undoubtedly severe pain in the lesion but surprisingly she get fully free from the neural pain of the spine. Now she can sit for much time then before, can do her domestic duty normally. For the pain she was advise to take pain killers S.O.S. & vegetable oil for external application. With in a few days she get fully recovered from all her suffering. So that was an e.g. of disease descend from Neuroectoderm to Ectoderm - More important to less important.
In the history we never found the suppression of herpes but in the follow-up we get it.
So now the question is where was the Hering's law? i.e. in reverse order of disease appearance.
Ans.: It is not necessary that we find all the laws together in the followup but one thing is bit sure CENTER TO PERIPHERY.

Moral: After giving similimum, disease find its nearest possible way to came out from the body.
"DARE TO BE WISE"