Amazing Facts

It is nearly impossible to lick your elbow.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears
never stop growing.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

  A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
 
Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.

The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

In Cleveland, Ohio, it's illegal to catch mice without a hunting license.

A roach will live nine days without its head.

The only reason it doesn't live longer is it's unable to eat.

Rats can't vomit - that's why rat poison works.

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world,

with a population of 1000 and a size 108.7 acres.

More than 50% of the people in the world
have never made or received a telephone call.

Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months,
two rats could have over a million descendants.

Most lipstick contains fish scales.

Like fingerprints,
everyone's tongue print is different.

Over 75% of people who read this
will try to lick their elbow.

FOOD POISONING

Introduction:

Food poisoning is an acute gastroenteritis caused by the consumption of a food material or a drink which contains the pathogenic micro organism or their toxins or poisonous chemicals.Food poisoning is common in hostels,hotels,communal feedings, and festivel seasons.

A group of persons will be affected with same type of symptoms ,and they give a history of consumption of a common food before few hours.

Types of food poisoning

1) Bacterial food poisoning:

Here the micro organisms called bacteria are responsible.The food material may contain the pathogenic bacteriae or their toxin and will be ingested along with the food.

2) Non bacterial food poisoning:

Due to the presence of toxic chemicals like fertilizers,insectisides,heavy metals and ect.

Since bacterial food poisoning is common it is discussed here.

Bacterial food poisoning:

All bacteria are not harmful.There are some pathogenic bacteria which secrete toxins and cause clinical manifestations.These organisms enter the human body through food articles or drinks.

How food poisoning occures:

1) Presence of bacteria in the water.

2) The raw materials for the food may contain toxins.

3) Premises where the food is prepared may contain micro organisms or toxins.

4) Food handlers may have some infectious diseases.

5) Some animals like dogs,rats may contaminate the food.

6) If prepared food is kept in the room temperature for a long time and heated again can make a chance for food poisoning.

7) Purposely some body mixing toxins in the food.


Some common bacterial food poisonings.

1) Salmonella food poisoning:

There are three different varieties of salmonella bacteria.(salmonella typhimurium,salmonella cholera suis,salmonella enteritidis) These bacteria are present in milk, milk products and eggs.  Symptoms of this food poisoning include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.  Fever is also common.

2) Botulism:

This is the dangerous type of food poisoning caused by clostridium botulinum.   The spores of these organisms are seen in the soil and enters the human body through pickles and canned fish ect.Compared to other food poisonings here vomiting and diarrhoea are rare Mainly the nervous system is affected.The symptoms starts with double vision,numbness with weakness.Later there will be paralysis with cardiac and respiratory failure ending in death.

3) Staphylococcal food poisoning:

It is caused by staphylo coccus aureus. These organisms usually cause skin troubles like boils and eruptions.It causes mastitis in cow.Through the milk and milk products it enders and causes gastroenteritis.There will be vomiting,abdominal cramps with diarrhoea.

4) Closteridium food poisoning:

This is caused by closteridium perfringens.They are present in stool,soil and water. They enter the body through,meat,meat dishes and egg ect.If food articles are cooked and kept in room temperature for a long time and heated again before eating can result this food poisoning.Symptoms include vomiting ,diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

5) Bacillus cereus:

The spores of these organisms can survive cooking and causes enteritis.  Diarrhoea and vomiting is common in this infection.


How to investigate food poisoning?

1) Examine each and every person affected.

2) Water sample should be tested.

3) Kitchen, store room and food samples should be examined.

4) The cook and food handlers should be questioned and examined.

5) Samples of vomitus and stool of all victims should be tested to identify the bacteria.


How to prevent food poisoning:-

1) Only purified water should be used.

2) Hygiene should be maintained by all persons keeping contact with food.

3) Workers should use masks, cap and gloves during cooking and serving.

4) Sick individuals should not come in contact with food materials.

5) Kitchen and premises should be neat and clean.

5) Vessels should be washed with soap and hot water.

6) Should not keep the prepared food for a long time in room temperature.

7) All food materials should be kept in closed containers.

8) Animals like dog, cat, rat ect should not come in contact with food materials.

9) Vegetables should be washed before cooking.

10) Meat should be fresh and should be purchased from recognised slaughter house.

HERNIA

Introduction

Hernia is an abnormal protrusion of internal organs through an abnormal opening in the wall of the cavity.A combination of increased pressure inside the body with weakness in the wall is responsible for this condition.In this condition internal organs or parts of organs are protruded out forming a swelling which will increase the size with coughing and lifting weight,and while passing stool and urine.In lying down position the swelling goes inside except in strangulated and irreducible hernia.

Causes:-

1, Weakness in the body wall:--

a) Congenital weakness.

b) Acquired weakness due to injuries,wasting of muscles,suppurative lesions in the wall and presence of weak natural openings,obesity,lack of exercise,repeated pregnancy.

c) Surgical operation with improper suturing or sepsis of operated site.


2) Increased pressure inside the body.
  
a) Chronic constipation.

b) Recurrent cough.

c) Weight lifting.

d) Stricture of urethra.

Common sites for hernia:--

Hernia can occure anywhere in the body.However there are some common sites for hernia.Due to the presence of hard bony covering chest wall is normally not affected.Hernia in the lower back is also rare due to spine and back muscles and tough ligaments and sheeths.The common site for hernia is abdominal wall.Compared to other parts the abdominal wall is weak due to the presence of some natural orifices.There are some areas wherein the abdominal muscles are weaker and thin and all these factors make a chance for herniation.The common sites for hernia are following.

a) Inguinal hernia:

Here the abdominal contents protrude through the inguinal canal (passage in the lower abdominal wall just above the inguinal ligament.It is seen on either side).This type is common in males.Initially the swelling comes only while straining and goes back while lying down. Later the large portion of intestine may come out which may not go back easily.
   
b) Femoral hernia:

This type of hernia is more in females.Here the abdominal contents pass through the femoral canal which is seen just below the junction between the thigh and lower abdominal wall(Inside the femoral triangle).The contents pass downwards and comes out through saphenous opening in the thigh and forms a swelling under the skin.

c) Umbilical hernia:

This is common in children.The umbilicus is the weaker part of the abdomen.The contents of the abdomen may protrude as a bulb like swelling while crying and defecating.

d) Incisional hernia:

These hernias are seen in operated sites. Due to improper suturing or sepsis the operated site becomes weak resulting in hernia.
   
e) Epigastric hernia:

Here the hearniation occures in the epigastrium. It is a rare type.

f) Lumbar hernia:

Here the hernia appear in the lumbar area on either side of the lumbar spine(in the lumbar triangle).This is also a rare type.

g) Obturator hernia:

This is a rare type of hernia. Here the contents pass through obturator foramen in the pelvic bone.


Complications of hernia:--

1) Strangulation:

If the hernial orifice is narrow the abdominal contents may not go back easily, and later the blood flow to the herniated tissues may be blocked due to constricition.This can cause death of protruded intestine.

2) Intestinal obstruction:

This occures when the whole portion of the intestine is protruded in to the hernial sac. The narrow hernial orifice will block the passage of bowels.

3) Infection and peritonitis:

If there is strangulation with death of a portion of intestine there will be spread of infection to the abdomen resulting in peritonitis.

Treatment of hernia:--

Initial treatment: In the initial stages of hernia the following steps may be useful

1) Use of hernia belt:

Special types of hernia belts are available for each type of heania.This will prevent the protrusion and will reduce pain.

2) Constipation,recurrent cough,urinary obstruction ect should be treated.

3) Fat reduction will increase the strength of abdominal wall.

4) Abdominal exercises to increase the muscle tone.

5) Take plenty of leafy vegetables, fruits and fibrous diet for easy bowel movements.

6) Try other systems like Homoeopathy,Herbal medicine and ect

If no relief by the above steps consult a general surgeon for surgical management.

Surgical treatment.

The following operations are done depending up on the type and nature of hernia.

1) Hertniotomy : In this operation the contents of hernial sac is pushed in to the abdomen and neck of the sac is ligated with transfixion ligature and the sac is cut off.

2) Herniorrhaphy: Here along with herniotomy the posterior wall is repaired.

3) Hernioplasty: This operation is done if herniotomy is not possible due to wide neck of the sac.Here the repair is done with the healp of non absorbable materials like tantalum gauze,polypropylene mesh or stainless steel mesh.

PILES

BRIEF IDEA ABOUT PILES (Hemorrhoids)

What is piles ?
 
Dilatation of radicles of rectal veins within the anal canal is called piles.The medical term for piles is hemorrhoids.Compared to arteries veins are weak due to thin walls and hence any backpressure in the veins can make them tortuous.There are three rectal veins namely superior, middle and inferior rectal veins.Any obstructions or increase of pressure in these veins can predispose piles.

Depending upon the situation there are two types of piles.

1) External piles.         2) Internal piles.

1) External piles:-

This type of piles is seen outside the anal opening and is covered by skin.It is black or brown in colour.This type of piles is very painful due to rich nerve supply in this area.

2) Internal piles:-

It is inside the anal canal and internal to the anal orifice.It is covered by mucous membrane and is red or purple in colour.These piles are painless.

Some times internal and external piles occure in same individual.

Factors responsible for piles:--

1) This is a familial disease.

2) Piles is seen only in animals maintain an erect posture. This is due to congestion in the rectal veins due to the effect of gravity.

3) It is common in individuals having chronic constipation.Those who have a habit of visiting the toilet due to frequent urge for stool may develop piles in future.

4) Piles is common in those who take excess of chicken, prawns, spicy food ect.Those who take vegetables and fibrous food are rarely affected.

5) Some ladies get piles during pregnancy due to compression of rectal veins by the uterus.

6) Cancerous lesions in the rectum can obstruct blood flow and result in piles.

Signs and symptoms of piles:--

1) Pain:-

Pain is common in external piles which will be worse while straining at stool.

2) Bleeding:-

Bleeding comes in splashes while pressing for stool.Bleeding may be profuse in some cases.

3) Protruding mass:-

In external piles the swelling can be felt around the anal orifice.In case of internal piles initially it can not be felt.When the disease progresses the piles protrude during stool and will go inside automatically.When the condition becomes worse the protruded piles will not go back in to the anus.

4) In some cases there will be discharge of mucus with itching around the anal orifice.

Complications of piles:--

1,Infection: The infection can spread to deep veins resulting in septicaemia.
2,Fibrosis: Here the piles become fibrosed with hardening of anal orifice.
3,Thrombosis: Here the blood inside the piles will form clots and can obstruct blood flow.
4,Gangrene: Here the tissues in the piles and nearby skin die due to lack of blood supply.
5,Suppuration: When the piles suppurate it can produce abscess with discharge of pus.

Treatment of piles:--

Initially it is treated on the basis of symptoms.Constipation should be treated.If there is anaemia iron should be give.Homoeopathic medicines can give good results. If medicinal treatment is not giving any result the following can be tried.

1) The thrombosed external pile is excised under local anaesthesia.

2) Sclerosant injection therapy can reduce the size of piles.

3) Rubber band ligation around the neck of piles is useful in some cases.

4) Cryosurgery is very effective.

5) Anal dilatation can reduce constipation and pain.

6) Haemorrhoidectomy is the surgical removal of piles.


How to prevent piles?

1) Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

2) Take fibrous food.

3) Avoid excess intake of meat,prawns,crabs ect.

4) Keep a regular timing for food.

6) Drink sufficient quantity of water.

7) Keep a regularity in bowel habits.

8) Take treatment for constipation.

COMBING HAIR

Precautions to be taken while combing hair

Hair combing is a routine activity of almost all people.Some people keep a particular hair style throughout their life and some especially younger generation adopt new styles according to new trends and fashion.Hair styles has got close relation with the personality of a person.The hair of an unhygeinic person is usually tangled and dirty because of lack of washing and combing.To have a healthy scalp hair proper nutrition is needed.General health has got direct relation with the quality and quantity of hair.Regular washing,use of hair oil,proper combing ect are also needed to make the hair beautiful.General hints for combing is discussed here.

1) Different varieties of combs are available in the market.The best comb is selected by considering the nature of hair(hard or soft,long or short) ,style and convenience.
 
2) Combing should be done with utmost care and concentration.Some people especially gents think about some other matters and comb without any care which may be harmful to the hairs.

3) Combing should be gentle .A vigorous combing can increase hairfalling.

4) Do not comb if the hair is wet.  First dry it with a towel and then put some oil and gently massage it.Now the combing will be easy and harmless.

5) Should not be combed in the opposite direction of hairs.This can increase hair falling.

6) Vigorous combing in backward direction can produce traction baldness.

7) Frequent combing can damage the scalp and the hair follicles.Those who carry pocket comb use it frequently and make it a habit.Combing two or three times in a day is sufficient.

8) The tooth of the comb should not be sharp and it should not be pressed too tightly on the scalp.

9) Always clean the comb before and after use because hair and dirt deposited in the gap will make combing diffucult and painful.

10) Others comb should not be used.This helps to prevent fungal and bacterial infections.Head lice can also spread from one person to other by sharing the combs.

11) Combing the tangled hair is difficult and painful.Hence use some shampoo for cleaning and after drying  put oil and make the hairs free for an easy combing.

BAD BREATH Part3

Homoeopathy  for bad breath

Offenssive smell from the mouth is a common complaint in the day to day medical practice.It mainly affects those who mingle with others very closely. Bad breath is noticed mainly by the friends & family members or some times person himself feel it and come to the doctor.Many badbreathers develop depression which forces them to be away from the society which in turn hampers their activities.
                               
The protein in the food debris are degraded by the anaerobic bacteria present in the mouth.Offenssive odor is produced due to release of  some gases like hydrogen sulphide,skatol ect due to bacterial activity.Formation of a thin sticky membrane on the tongue favoures bacterial growth.Bactrera are also seen in the crypts of tonsils ,dental caries,dental pockets ect.Bad breath is associated with oral hygiene,caries,gingivitis,tonsillitis,tonsillar plaques,food habits,water intake ,tobacco chewing,stomach and liver diseases and ect.

Homoeopathy is a system of medicine introduced by a german physician Dr Samuel Hahnemann.Homoeopathy treats the diseased individual as a whole rather than treating diseased parts or organs.The physical,mental,emotional,social spheres of a person is considered for a permanent cure.This system believes that the diseases are caused due to the derangement of vital force which is an invisible power in every individual.In a healthy state the vital force maintains the equilibrium of mind body and soul .During this man will have normal sensations and functions.When the vital force gets affected there will be external manifestations in the form of signs and symptoms.The imbalance in the body functions makes a shelter for forign organisms(bacteria,viruses,fungi,protozoa ect) and allow them to proliferate &produce so called diseases.Homoeopathy believes thet the real desease comes before the bacteria & viruses,hence the root cause of the disease has to be treated for a permenent cure.The antibacterial and antiviral agents only remove the secondary causes mentioned above.

Diseases are produced by noxious morbific agents called Miasms which are dynamic influences which affect the vital force.There are mainly three miasms PSORA ,SYPHILIS&SYCOSIS. These three causes are accepted by other schools of medicine but called by different names. Psora causes functional disturbances, syphilis cause structural changes in the form of destructions and sycosis causes changes in the form of overgrowth.These three miasms can act individually or in combined form producing different disease conditions.

To treat bad breath with homoeopathic medicine is easy if correct remedy in suitable dose is given. In the homoeopathic medical repertory by Dr Robin Murphy there are 140 homoeopathic drugs mentioned for bad breath.So just giving one drug for bad breath may not give good result.To come to a correct remedial diagnosis we should have the symptomatology of the person .It is the total symptoms of a person which includes mental generals,physical generals,particular symptoms ect.Bad breath is considered as a physical general symptom .Eventhough it comes only from a part of the body it affects the whole individual.

Symptoms related with appetite,thirst,bowels ect are included in physical generals.
All signs and symptoms (mental&physical)of the person is taken in detail.Knowledge about past illneses,family history of diseases,food & bowel habits,relation to climatic changes and constitution ect are noted down in a systematic order.

Mental symptoms:

example: fear,anxiety,depression,anger,jealousy and ect....

Physical symptoms:

example: Body makeup,appetite,thirst,desires,aversions,bowels,urination,sleep,taste, nature of smell,discharges any abnormal sensations like pain, burning ,climatic changes,thermal relations, and ect....

Peculiar uncommon symptoms:

This is the speciality of homoeopathic system of medicine.For the selection of a suitable remedy these symptoms are very important.common symptoms which are seen almost in all patients are least important.

particular/local signs&symptoms:

This include signs &symptoms related to body parts &organs.

example: Coating on the tongue,nature of mucus membrane of  oral cavity, tonsils, gums, teeth, ulcers, discolourations ect are considered here.

Systemic & general physical examination:-

Bad breath can be due to various systemic and disorders.Hence all systems ( respiratory system ,digestive system,nervous system, cardio vascular system and ect )and parts from head to foot should be examined.

provisional disease diagnosis;  Here probable diseases are diagnosed. In homoeopathy disease diagnosis is not that much important for the selection of a  remedy,but needed for general management and to know the prognosis.

Investigations:

This includes lab investigations and other methods to find  out any other major illnesses.
                                                                                                                         
Final disease diagnosis:

After doing all investigations the disease is diagnosed.

Remedial diagnosis:

This is the most importnant part as far as homoeopathy is concerned. For this the selected symptoms are arranged in a systematic order on the basis of importance.                            
symptoms are analysed to find out the importance of each symptom for the selection of a remedy.Remedies are selected on the basis of similarity.[the basic principle of homoeopathy is 'similia similibus curenter' means like cures like.A medicine which can produce some symptoms in a healthy man can be used as a remedy to trea the similar symptoms in a diseased person.Each homoeopathic drug is proved on healthy human beings and the symptoms collected by this process(drug proving) is written in meteria medica.]

Suitable remedies are diagnosed by a process called repertorisation. Here books called repertories are used. Repertory is the index of symptoms of materia medica(books which  contain the symptoms of drugs).Nowadays computer softwares are used for repertorisalion.By this process we will get the remedies covering  maximum important symptom of the patient.

Amoung this group of remedies  the most suitable remedy is selected by referring various books and history of the patient..The selected medicine is given in suitable potency & dose.

ANTI MIASMATIC TREATMENT:

The root cause of disease is miasms which should be eradicated using suitable anti miasmatic drugs.Every drug can eradicate the miasm if there is symptom similarity.there are anti psoric drugs,anti syphilitic drugs and anti sycotic drugs.After diagnosing the miasm suitable anti miasmatic drug has to be given to complete the cure.

[In homoeopathy medicines are prepared from different sources like minerals, plants, animals, toxins, diseased parts ect. Medicines are prepared from these substances by a special process called potentisation.Here the soluble  substances are potentised by diluting with spirit and insoluble substances by grinding with sugar of milk.The crude drug substance is first mixed with a calculated quantity of spirit and water and kept for few days .From this mixture extract is taken and is called mother tincture(denoted as Q).From this mother tincture dilutions are prepared by potentisation.Potentisation is a mathematical process by which the quantity of original drug substance reduces but medicinal power increases. Depending upon the ratio of quantity of drug substance and vehicle(spirit or sugar of milk)there are different scales for this process.Each scale has got different potencies which indicate power of medicine.Example in decimal scale 3x,6x.12x ect.in centisimal scale there is 30c,200c ect,in LM poteny there are 0/1,0/2,0/3 ect.potency is written after the name of every medicine]

Same medicine is available in different potencies. Suitable potency is selected according to so many facters like sevearity,depth of disease,condition of the patient ,nature of disease ,type of symptoms,age of patient and ect.

Some useful homoeo drugs for bad breath.

Arnica montana, Antim crude, Ars alb, Asafoetida, Aurum met, Baptisia,    Bryonia,Borax,Calc carb, Carbo veg, Cinchona, Chelidonium, Graphites,  Kali bich ,Kreosotum, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Merc sol, Natrum mur,  Nitricum acidum, Nux vomica, Plantago, Pulsatilla, Phos, Pyrogen, Sulphur etc.

1) Arnica montana:

This medicine is useful for fetid breath.Mouth is very dry with thirst for water.Bad breath associated with fever.There is bleeding from the gum,may be after tooth extraction or after injury.Offenssive gas pass upwards and downwards from stomach.Petient is very sensitive to touch with sore and bruised feeling allover the body.

2) Antim crude:

Useful for bad breath with gastric complaints and coated tongue.This medicine act mainly on filthy persons with aversion to bathing.Tongue is coated white like fur.Nostrils and lips are cracked .Eructations are putrid.Very useful for badbreath in children


3) Ars alb:

All discharges are having cadeveric smell.Saliva is bloody with bad odor.Thirst for  warm water is well marked. This medicine act well in debilitated and emaciated persons.Bad  breath associated with gastric disorders.Vomiting from slightest food or drink and intolerance of  vegetables and watery fruits.Mentally these patients are fastidious with an insecurity  feeling.They are having fear of death or serious disease with restlessness and anxiety.

4) Asafoetida:

Useful for bad breath associated with eructations.Great distension of abdomen with sensation of a ball rising in throat.All discharges are offenssive.Reverse peristalsis with loud eructations.This medicine act well on hysterical persons.

5) Aurum met:

Useful for bad breath in girls at puberty. There is ulceration in gums with putrid or bitter taste. Destruction in body tissues like bone is noticed in these patients.This medicine act well on persons who are tired of life with suicidal thoughts.They also have a feeling that they have done an unpardonable crime.


6) Baptisia:

Breath fetid with bitter taste.Gums sore and ulcerated.Yellowish brown coating on centre of tongue with glistening edges.Surface of the tongue is cracked.These patients feel difficult to swallow solid food.Tonsils are enlarged without pain.Useful for painless tonsillitis &   pharyngitis with putrid smell.All discharges are offenssive.This medicine act well on persons having besoted look.There is a tendency for stupor and delirium in these persons.
                                       
7) Borax:

Useful for bad  breath associated with apthous ulcer in the mouth.Also effective for fungal infection of the mouth.Mouth is very hot and tender.Ulcers bleed on touch.Very useful for  bad breath in children with ulcers in the mouth.Child is having fear of doward motion.

8) Bryonia:

Irritable persons who always talk about business.Lips parched dry and   cracked.Tongue coated dark brown with bitter taste in the mouth.Thirst for large quantity of  cold  water is well marked.Heaviness in abdomen after eating.Usually constipated with hard  dry  stools.


9) Calcarea fluor:

Plugs of mucus are continually forming in the crypts of the tonsils.Unnatural looseness of the teeth with or without pain.Prone to get caries with discolouration.Tonsils are    enlarged with recurrent infection.


10) Carbo veg:

These patients are weak and debilitated .All body discharges are profuse with   cadeveric smell.Gums are retracted and bleed easily.Frequent putrid eructations with distention   of  abdomen.Complaints ameliorted by passing flatus.Can't tolerate meat and fat.Involuntary    diarrhoea at night.Wants to be fanned from a close distance.


11) Chelidonium:

Tongue yellow with imprint of teeth.Bad odor with bitter taste in the  mouth.Useful for bad breath with liver complaints.Thirst for hot liquids.Patient feels better by eating.  Constipation with hard round stools.Constipation alternating with diarrhoea.

12) Graphites:

This medicine act well on obese patients with skin troubles.Breath smells like urine.Rotten odor with salivation and blisters in the mouth.Sour eructations with gastric complaints.Skin complaints with sticky discharges.Gastric pain ameliorated by eating .

13) kali bich:

Bad breath with gastric ulcer.There are round ulcers in the mouth.Saliva viscid.  Vomiting with bitter taste.Tongue is smooth .Craves bear.Gastric complaints alternating with rheumatism.

14) kreosotum:

Teeth dark and crumbly.Bitter taste in the mouth with putrid odour.Very rapid decay of teeth.All discharges are very offenssive.Gums spongy and bleed easily.Bad breath associated with caries and gastric complaints.

15) Lachesis:

This medicine act on dark restless patients with jelousy.Tongue is black  coloured.   Complaints are aggravated during sleep.Wants fanning from a long distance.Cannot tolerate tight cloathing around body.Complaints aggravated in hot climate.

16) Lycopodium:

Act well on intelligent people who are physically weak.They have lack of self confidence.Useful for badbreath associated with sour eructations with burning in throat.  Teeth excessively painful to touch.There are blisters on the tongue.Wants warm food and drinks.These   people are usually constipated .Craving for sweets well marked.

17) Merc sol:

Sweetish metallic taste in the mouth with bloody viscid saliva. Gum is spongy and  bleed easily.Mouth is moist with increased thirst.Teeth indented. Crown of the teeth decay.Fetid odor from the mouth can be felt all over the room.Ulcerations in the mouth with bleeding.All body discharges are offenssive.All complaints are aggravated at night.

18) Nux vomica:

This medicine act well on people who lead a sedentery life.They are very short tempered and become angry very easily.They are very busy in their occupation and enjoy modern civilised life with all types of food and drink.Bad breath is more after meals and in the morning. Posterior part of the tongue is coated and anterior part is clean.Sour taste in the mouth with nausea in the morning.They have got frequent urge for stool.Heavy feeling in abdomen after food is noticed.

19) Plantago:

Dental caries with severe toothache.Pain better by eating.Salivation is better by eating.  Toothache with swelling of gums.Gargling plantago Q is useful to get relief from   toothache due to caries.

20) Pulsatilla:

Act well on mild and gentle ladies with a yielding disposition.Patient is very timid with a weeping tendency.Bad breath is noticed mainly in the morning.Mouth is very dry but dosn't want to drink water.  Yellow or white tongue covered with a  tenacious mucus.Taste is altered.Taste of food remains in the mouth for a long  time.Patient wash the mouth frequently.

21) Psorinum:

Act well on unclean patients with bad odor.  Hawking up of cheesy, pea like balls of   disgusting smell and taste is the main cause for bad breath in these patients.Tonsils are swollen with profuse offenssive saliva.Quinsy with tough mucus in throat.All body secretions are filthy.Eructations taste like bad eggs.Very hungry and getup even at midnight for food.Swallowing is painful with pain in ears.

22) Pyrogen:

Bad breath of septic origin is cured with this medicine.Taste terribly fetid with horrible breath,tongue red ,dry ,smooth asif varnished.Bad breath associated with high fever and   coffeground vomiting. In general patients body is very sensitive to touch,can't rest on bed because of bruinsed pain.All discharges are offenssive.  

23) Sulphur:

This medicine act best on dirty & filthy people with offenssive odor and a tendecy for skin diseases.Lips dry bright red with burning sensation..Tongue white with red tip & borders.Bitter taste in the morning. Eructations are putrid.Burning in all parts of the body. Aversion to bathing  is well marked.Not bothered about hygiene ,still they believe that they are having superhuman powers.  These individuals are very selfish.

Some homoeo mother tinctures (Q) useful for bad breath.

[mother tincture should not be taken directly because it can produce burning sensation,hence 10 drops should be mixed in half glass of water and taken internally or used for gargling]


1) Cinnamon  Q : This mother tincture can be used for gragling after diluting with  water.Also useful for bleeding from gums.

2) Eucalyptus  Q : This tincture can be used as a mouth wash after mixing with water.Internal use of this medicine can remove mucus from the respiratory tract.Also useful for cold and coryza.
 
3) Zingiber  Q : Useful for bad breath associated with gastric complaints.  This medicine can improve digestion.Also used for gargling.

4) Rhus glabra Q : Gargling of this tincture is very useful for ulcerative lesions in the mouth like aphthous ulcer.Internal use of this tincture can reduce the bad smell of stool & flatus.

5) Oleum caryophyllum Q : Gargling of this tincture can reduce toothache.Due to it's fregrant quality very useful to reduce bad breath.

6) Balsamum peru Q : This medicine can remove the mucus from respiratory tract hence very useful in chronic bronchitis and lung abscess.Can heal the ulcers in the mouth by gargling  this tincture,it can also produce pleasent smell from the mouth.

7) Menthol Q  : This is a main ingradient in tonics and syrups.Gargling of this tincture reduces  bad breath.
 
               

BAD BREATH Part 3

Homoeopathy  for bad breath

Offenssive smell from the mouth is a common complaint in the day to day medical practice.It mainly affects those who mingle with others very closely. Bad breath is noticed mainly by the friends & family members or some times person himself feel it and come to the doctor.Many badbreathers develop depression which forces them to be away from the society which in turn hampers their activities.
                               
The protein in the food debris are degraded by the anaerobic bacteria present in the mouth.Offenssive odor is produced due to release of  some gases like hydrogen sulphide,skatol ect due to bacterial activity.Formation of a thin sticky membrane on the tongue favoures bacterial growth.Bactrera are also seen in the crypts of tonsils ,dental caries,dental pockets ect.Bad breath is associated with oral hygiene,caries,gingivitis,tonsillitis,tonsillar plaques,food habits,water intake ,tobacco chewing,stomach and liver diseases and ect.

Homoeopathy is a system of medicine introduced by a german physician Dr Samuel Hahnemann.Homoeopathy treats the diseased individual as a whole rather than treating diseased parts or organs.The physical,mental,emotional,social spheres of a person is considered for a permanent cure.This system believes that the diseases are caused due to the derangement of vital force which is an invisible power in every individual.In a healthy state the vital force maintains the equilibrium of mind body and soul .During this man will have normal sensations and functions.When the vital force gets affected there will be external manifestations in the form of signs and symptoms.The imbalance in the body functions makes a shelter for forign organisms(bacteria,viruses,fungi,protozoa ect) and allow them to proliferate &produce so called diseases.Homoeopathy believes thet the real desease comes before the bacteria & viruses,hence the root cause of the disease has to be treated for a permenent cure.The antibacterial and antiviral agents only remove the secondary causes mentioned above.

Diseases are produced by noxious morbific agents called Miasms which are dynamic influences which affect the vital force.There are mainly three miasms PSORA ,SYPHILIS&SYCOSIS. These three causes are accepted by other schools of medicine but called by different names. Psora causes functional disturbances, syphilis cause structural changes in the form of destructions and sycosis causes changes in the form of overgrowth.These three miasms can act individually or in combined form producing different disease conditions.

To treat bad breath with homoeopathic medicine is easy if correct remedy in suitable dose is given. In the homoeopathic medical repertory by Dr Robin Murphy there are 140 homoeopathic drugs mentioned for bad breath.So just giving one drug for bad breath may not give good result.To come to a correct remedial diagnosis we should have the symptomatology of the person .It is the total symptoms of a person which includes mental generals,physical generals,particular symptoms ect.Bad breath is considered as a physical general symptom .Eventhough it comes only from a part of the body it affects the whole individual.

Symptoms related with appetite,thirst,bowels ect are included in physical generals.
All signs and symptoms (mental&physical)of the person is taken in detail.Knowledge about past illneses,family history of diseases,food & bowel habits,relation to climatic changes and constitution ect are noted down in a systematic order.

Mental symptoms:

example: fear,anxiety,depression,anger,jealousy and ect....

Physical symptoms:

example: Body makeup,appetite,thirst,desires,aversions,bowels,urination,sleep,taste, nature of smell,discharges any abnormal sensations like pain, burning ,climatic changes,thermal relations, and ect....

Peculiar uncommon symptoms:

This is the speciality of homoeopathic system of medicine.For the selection of a suitable remedy these symptoms are very important.common symptoms which are seen almost in all patients are least important.

particular/local signs&symptoms:

This include signs &symptoms related to body parts &organs.

example: Coating on the tongue,nature of mucus membrane of  oral cavity, tonsils, gums, teeth, ulcers, discolourations ect are considered here.

Systemic & general physical examination:-

Bad breath can be due to various systemic and disorders.Hence all systems ( respiratory system ,digestive system,nervous system, cardio vascular system and ect )and parts from head to foot should be examined.

provisional disease diagnosis;  Here probable diseases are diagnosed. In homoeopathy disease diagnosis is not that much important for the selection of a  remedy,but needed for general management and to know the prognosis.

Investigations:

This includes lab investigations and other methods to find  out any other major illnesses.
                                                                                                                         
Final disease diagnosis:

After doing all investigations the disease is diagnosed.

Remedial diagnosis:

This is the most importnant part as far as homoeopathy is concerned. For this the selected symptoms are arranged in a systematic order on the basis of importance.                            
symptoms are analysed to find out the importance of each symptom for the selection of a remedy.Remedies are selected on the basis of similarity.[the basic principle of homoeopathy is 'similia similibus curenter' means like cures like.A medicine which can produce some symptoms in a healthy man can be used as a remedy to trea the similar symptoms in a diseased person.Each homoeopathic drug is proved on healthy human beings and the symptoms collected by this process(drug proving) is written in meteria medica.]

Suitable remedies are diagnosed by a process called repertorisation. Here books called repertories are used. Repertory is the index of symptoms of materia medica(books which  contain the symptoms of drugs).Nowadays computer softwares are used for repertorisalion.By this process we will get the remedies covering  maximum important symptom of the patient.

Amoung this group of remedies  the most suitable remedy is selected by referring various books and history of the patient..The selected medicine is given in suitable potency & dose.

ANTI MIASMATIC TREATMENT:

The root cause of disease is miasms which should be eradicated using suitable anti miasmatic drugs.Every drug can eradicate the miasm if there is symptom similarity.there are anti psoric drugs,anti syphilitic drugs and anti sycotic drugs.After diagnosing the miasm suitable anti miasmatic drug has to be given to complete the cure.

[In homoeopathy medicines are prepared from different sources like minerals, plants, animals, toxins, diseased parts ect. Medicines are prepared from these substances by a special process called potentisation.Here the soluble  substances are potentised by diluting with spirit and insoluble substances by grinding with sugar of milk.The crude drug substance is first mixed with a calculated quantity of spirit and water and kept for few days .From this mixture extract is taken and is called mother tincture(denoted as Q).From this mother tincture dilutions are prepared by potentisation.Potentisation is a mathematical process by which the quantity of original drug substance reduces but medicinal power increases. Depending upon the ratio of quantity of drug substance and vehicle(spirit or sugar of milk)there are different scales for this process.Each scale has got different potencies which indicate power of medicine.Example in decimal scale 3x,6x.12x ect.in centisimal scale there is 30c,200c ect,in LM poteny there are 0/1,0/2,0/3 ect.potency is written after the name of every medicine]

Same medicine is available in different potencies. Suitable potency is selected according to so many facters like sevearity,depth of disease,condition of the patient ,nature of disease ,type of symptoms,age of patient and ect.

Some useful homoeo drugs for bad breath.

Arnica montana, Antim crude, Ars alb, Asafoetida, Aurum met, Baptisia,    Bryonia,Borax,Calc carb, Carbo veg, Cinchona, Chelidonium, Graphites,  Kali bich ,Kreosotum, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Merc sol, Natrum mur,  Nitricum acidum, Nux vomica, Plantago, Pulsatilla, Phos, Pyrogen, Sulphur etc.

1) Arnica montana:

This medicine is useful for fetid breath.Mouth is very dry with thirst for water.Bad breath associated with fever.There is bleeding from the gum,may be after tooth extraction or after injury.Offenssive gas pass upwards and downwards from stomach.Petient is very sensitive to touch with sore and bruised feeling allover the body.

2) Antim crude:

Useful for bad breath with gastric complaints and coated tongue.This medicine act mainly on filthy persons with aversion to bathing.Tongue is coated white like fur.Nostrils and lips are cracked .Eructations are putrid.Very useful for badbreath in children


3) Ars alb:

All discharges are having cadeveric smell.Saliva is bloody with bad odor.Thirst for  warm water is well marked. This medicine act well in debilitated and emaciated persons.Bad  breath associated with gastric disorders.Vomiting from slightest food or drink and intolerance of  vegetables and watery fruits.Mentally these patients are fastidious with an insecurity  feeling.They are having fear of death or serious disease with restlessness and anxiety.

4) Asafoetida:

Useful for bad breath associated with eructations.Great distension of abdomen with sensation of a ball rising in throat.All discharges are offenssive.Reverse peristalsis with loud eructations.This medicine act well on hysterical persons.

5) Aurum met:

Useful for bad breath in girls at puberty. There is ulceration in gums with putrid or bitter taste. Destruction in body tissues like bone is noticed in these patients.This medicine act well on persons who are tired of life with suicidal thoughts.They also have a feeling that they have done an unpardonable crime.


6) Baptisia:

Breath fetid with bitter taste.Gums sore and ulcerated.Yellowish brown coating on centre of tongue with glistening edges.Surface of the tongue is cracked.These patients feel difficult to swallow solid food.Tonsils are enlarged without pain.Useful for painless tonsillitis &   pharyngitis with putrid smell.All discharges are offenssive.This medicine act well on persons having besoted look.There is a tendency for stupor and delirium in these persons.
                                       
7) Borax:

Useful for bad  breath associated with apthous ulcer in the mouth.Also effective for fungal infection of the mouth.Mouth is very hot and tender.Ulcers bleed on touch.Very useful for  bad breath in children with ulcers in the mouth.Child is having fear of doward motion.

8) Bryonia:

Irritable persons who always talk about business.Lips parched dry and   cracked.Tongue coated dark brown with bitter taste in the mouth.Thirst for large quantity of  cold  water is well marked.Heaviness in abdomen after eating.Usually constipated with hard  dry  stools.


9) Calcarea fluor:

Plugs of mucus are continually forming in the crypts of the tonsils.Unnatural looseness of the teeth with or without pain.Prone to get caries with discolouration.Tonsils are    enlarged with recurrent infection.


10) Carbo veg:

These patients are weak and debilitated .All body discharges are profuse with   cadeveric smell.Gums are retracted and bleed easily.Frequent putrid eructations with distention   of  abdomen.Complaints ameliorted by passing flatus.Can't tolerate meat and fat.Involuntary    diarrhoea at night.Wants to be fanned from a close distance.


11) Chelidonium:

Tongue yellow with imprint of teeth.Bad odor with bitter taste in the  mouth.Useful for bad breath with liver complaints.Thirst for hot liquids.Patient feels better by eating.  Constipation with hard round stools.Constipation alternating with diarrhoea.

12) Graphites:

This medicine act well on obese patients with skin troubles.Breath smells like urine.Rotten odor with salivation and blisters in the mouth.Sour eructations with gastric complaints.Skin complaints with sticky discharges.Gastric pain ameliorated by eating .

13) kali bich:

Bad breath with gastric ulcer.There are round ulcers in the mouth.Saliva viscid.  Vomiting with bitter taste.Tongue is smooth .Craves bear.Gastric complaints alternating with rheumatism.

14) kreosotum:

Teeth dark and crumbly.Bitter taste in the mouth with putrid odour.Very rapid decay of teeth.All discharges are very offenssive.Gums spongy and bleed easily.Bad breath associated with caries and gastric complaints.

15) Lachesis:

This medicine act on dark restless patients with jelousy.Tongue is black  coloured.   Complaints are aggravated during sleep.Wants fanning from a long distance.Cannot tolerate tight cloathing around body.Complaints aggravated in hot climate.

16) Lycopodium:

Act well on intelligent people who are physically weak.They have lack of self confidence.Useful for badbreath associated with sour eructations with burning in throat.  Teeth excessively painful to touch.There are blisters on the tongue.Wants warm food and drinks.These   people are usually constipated .Craving for sweets well marked.

17) Merc sol:

Sweetish metallic taste in the mouth with bloody viscid saliva. Gum is spongy and  bleed easily.Mouth is moist with increased thirst.Teeth indented. Crown of the teeth decay.Fetid odor from the mouth can be felt all over the room.Ulcerations in the mouth with bleeding.All body discharges are offenssive.All complaints are aggravated at night.

18) Nux vomica:

This medicine act well on people who lead a sedentery life.They are very short tempered and become angry very easily.They are very busy in their occupation and enjoy modern civilised life with all types of food and drink.Bad breath is more after meals and in the morning. Posterior part of the tongue is coated and anterior part is clean.Sour taste in the mouth with nausea in the morning.They have got frequent urge for stool.Heavy feeling in abdomen after food is noticed.

19) Plantago:

Dental caries with severe toothache.Pain better by eating.Salivation is better by eating.  Toothache with swelling of gums.Gargling plantago Q is useful to get relief from   toothache due to caries.

20) Pulsatilla:

Act well on mild and gentle ladies with a yielding disposition.Patient is very timid with a weeping tendency.Bad breath is noticed mainly in the morning.Mouth is very dry but dosn't want to drink water.  Yellow or white tongue covered with a  tenacious mucus.Taste is altered.Taste of food remains in the mouth for a long  time.Patient wash the mouth frequently.

21) Psorinum:

Act well on unclean patients with bad odor.  Hawking up of cheesy, pea like balls of   disgusting smell and taste is the main cause for bad breath in these patients.Tonsils are swollen with profuse offenssive saliva.Quinsy with tough mucus in throat.All body secretions are filthy.Eructations taste like bad eggs.Very hungry and getup even at midnight for food.Swallowing is painful with pain in ears.

22) Pyrogen:

Bad breath of septic origin is cured with this medicine.Taste terribly fetid with horrible breath,tongue red ,dry ,smooth asif varnished.Bad breath associated with high fever and   coffeground vomiting. In general patients body is very sensitive to touch,can't rest on bed because of bruinsed pain.All discharges are offenssive.  

23) Sulphur:

This medicine act best on dirty & filthy people with offenssive odor and a tendecy for skin diseases.Lips dry bright red with burning sensation..Tongue white with red tip & borders.Bitter taste in the morning. Eructations are putrid.Burning in all parts of the body. Aversion to bathing  is well marked.Not bothered about hygiene ,still they believe that they are having superhuman powers.  These individuals are very selfish.

Some homoeo mother tinctures (Q) useful for bad breath.

[mother tincture should not be taken directly because it can produce burning sensation,hence 10 drops should be mixed in half glass of water and taken internally or used for gargling]


1) Cinnamon  Q : This mother tincture can be used for gragling after diluting with  water.Also useful for bleeding from gums.

2) Eucalyptus  Q : This tincture can be used as a mouth wash after mixing with water.Internal use of this medicine can remove mucus from the respiratory tract.Also useful for cold and coryza.
 
3) Zingiber  Q : Useful for bad breath associated with gastric complaints.  This medicine can improve digestion.Also used for gargling.

4) Rhus glabra Q : Gargling of this tincture is very useful for ulcerative lesions in the mouth like aphthous ulcer.Internal use of this tincture can reduce the bad smell of stool & flatus.

5) Oleum caryophyllum Q : Gargling of this tincture can reduce toothache.Due to it's fregrant quality very useful to reduce bad breath.

6) Balsamum peru Q : This medicine can remove the mucus from respiratory tract hence very useful in chronic bronchitis and lung abscess.Can heal the ulcers in the mouth by gargling  this tincture,it can also produce pleasent smell from the mouth.

7) Menthol Q  : This is a main ingradient in tonics and syrups.Gargling of this tincture reduces  bad breath.