| We are going to treat here self-immune disease
in children. It is very important to have a good
understanding of the allopathic approach, especially where immunology is concerned.
Referring to Pr Madeleine Bastide , immunology is one of
the medical specialities where the holistic approach is most easy and logical to apply.
The immunity system is still a mystery for conventional and
non conventional medecine.
This is due to its complexity and its originality.
Indeed, its distribution all over the body through the
lymphatic system and the ganglions and its presence materialised by various organs the
functions of which are different in appearance (marrow, thymus, spleen , liver...) and
especially its role, connected above all with the phenomena of cell communication, make it
an ideal subject to illustrate the concept of global awareness. This is why the following
teaching case is interesting as it permits and leads to a link between allopathy and
homeopathy thus opening a way to global awareness.
This chapter is specifically pediatric: idiopatic
thrombopenic purpura in children (PTI).
I will first explain the allopathic view of idiopatic
purpura the way it is taught by the conventional medical faculty in France. Then I will
present one of my personal cases and its homeopathic approach.
In conclusion I will give basies that this case has
permitted to underline, concerning the problem of vaccinations and the immunological
approach.
IDIOPATIC PURPURA AND
CONVENTIONAL APPROACH
The idiopatic purpura is a most frequent immunologic
disease in childhood.
It is an hemorragic disorder, where the number of platelets
or thrombocytes is badly diminished, and the megacaryocytes of the bone marrow raised. The
spleen is normal and there no other morbid signs.
They are two possibilities of evolution, acute and chronic.
Acute Purpura
It is the most frequent, 80% of the cases and it concerns
boys and girls equally before the age of ten.
The case history, is usually tonsillites at the beginning , two weeks before the purpura
appears. It is often after a cold or a throat infection .
The begining is sudden, the bleeding symptomatology other then the purpura is found in a
third of the cases.
The hemorragies that threaten life are rare (1% of meningitic hemorragie).
Spontaneous healing occurs in less then a month ,in half of the cases.In 10% of the case
it becomes chronic.
Chronic Purpura
It should be mentionned that purpura is considered as
chronic after 6 months.
The beginning is usually slower. The chronic disease is more often seen in girls after the
age of ten.In the chronic form the pathogenesis of the disease is related in acute forms
to immunological comlexes that are found in the blood after an immunological response to a
viral infection. These complexes, are absorbed at the surface of the platelets and weaker
them.
In the chronic disease, it is the synthesis of antibodies against the platelet that is
responsible of the symptoms. The platelets are sensitive to those antibodies and there
fore are destroyed by the reticulo-endothelium system.
These explanations are hypothetical. We are only capable of mesuring the quantity of
antibodies on the platelets.
We must add that the spleen has an important function, in the majority of those purpuras.
It could be the principle actor in destroying the platelets. Also the bone marrow , could
interfere in the production of these antibodies.
Allopathic treatment
In the bleeding situations , first it is advised to rest .
Intramuscular injections are forbidd en and disprine also.
In case of acute hemorragia, cortisone can be prescribed. Cortisone can shorten the acute
forms but does not prevent chronicity.
Spontaneous healing is rare between 6 and 12 months. Splenectomy is proposed after 6
months , with a success rate of 70%.
This operation has a high risk rate and is not possible before the age of five.
It requires anti-pneumococcic vaccination and antibiotics for 18 months...
If splenectomy is a failure, immunosupressors or gammaglobulin at high dose can be
proposed.
In the very hemorragic situations, transfusions can be undertaken which help to solve
acute hemostatic situations. But they are not very usefull as the platelets are instantly
destroyed.
After healing, normal life is possible. Platelets must be checked every 3 months for one
year , and once a year for 5 years.
It is recommended to avoid vaccinating for 18 months after the healing.
A CASE OF IDIOPATIC PURPURA AND
ITS HOMEOPATHIC HEALING
The clinical case presented here, gave me the opportunity
to discuss with a well known children cancer - professor in the Timone (University
Hospital in Marseille).
I was enquiring about another patient in his ward and was
abble to start a discussion with him about the treatment given to Laura ( clinical case
presented here). I will never forget his very panic- reaction:
" What? You prescribe snake venom?"
Once he recovered from his initial shock we had an open
discussion about all the alternative possibilities that could be used for sick children in
hematologic and cancerological wards. The optic beeing an effort to help confort and
relief for patients suffering from serious and painfull diseases.
The clinical case , Laura, presented here is one of
idiopatic purpura, diagnosed in the hematologic ward and cured homeopathically.
It will be followed by a study of the remedy and its spirit
then its summary.
Clinical case
Laura , 4 years old, was brought to me by her mother in
march 1998. She has been suffering for 8 months from purpura, treated by several blood
transfusions in the University Hospital of Marseille.
When she comes to me she has 73000 platelets. She is
covered in bruises and her mouth is full of petechials eruptions. She is tired, goes in
and out hospital and the family of course is very anxious. A splenectomy has been
proposed, but the parents are very doubtfull about it.
Laura has had all the vaccinations one can propose,
including, hepatities B. Her BCG has always been negative. It is to be noted that in the
family the father is hyper-thyroidic and the grand mother suffers from insulino-dependant
diabetes.
This purpura appeared after a normal pharingites. The child
has a tendency to have tonsilitis on the right side.
Laura is alert, a nice child, very independant, obstinate with a strong personnality. She
is gentele and cries easily. She is also very tickly. She is extremely chatty and touches
everything. At school she doesn’t concentrate.
First a sulfuric sensation, but everything in her behaviour
encourages me to attach her to the animal reign.
Laura has this caracteristic of the animal: she uses seduction, and tryes to please you.
She is dressed for that first consultation in orange and red. Her movements are short and
pugnacious. She loves to play lying down on her stomach.
After considering all this, I refrain from prescribing
SULFUR. Taking into account her hemorragical state I start antidoting her BCG (VAB 50000K)
and give her PHOSPHORUS.
I see her a month later. The platelets are at 40000, and blood transfusions every 15 days.
I go on searching for her remedy, seeking to attach her to the animal reign.
The mother then tells me she talks so much she exhausts all those around her . She is
extremely jealous of her sister.
I use again the "Purpura" rubrica in Kent as a base of research and to remedies
seem obvious to me, LACHESIS an CROTALUS.
I ask if she tolerates clothes round her neck. She hates them, doesn’t like seafood
and spinach. She prefers sugar and sweets.
She is then given an antidote to PENTACOQ and prescribed LACHESIS(9,12,15,30CH).
In May 1998, she is better. She has only one transfusion every month and a half. But the
platelets stay down at 40000.
I then prescribe CROTALUS 9CH,12CH,24CH, 30CH), remembering the right laterality of her
tonsilities and give a antidote to ROR (Measles mumps and rubella vaccination), combined
to the antidote of Hepatite B.
She comes back in July and has not had a transfusion for 3 months. I then give CROTALUS
10000K.
I see her again in october 1998 for bronchitis that I treat with ANTIMONIUM TARTARICUM.
Her platelets are up at 150000.
She still has petechial eruption but less bruises. There has been no transfusion since
June 1998.
I see her again in december 1998. The purpura is healed.
Synthesis , the spirit of
the remedy
Snakes poisoning and its hiden
meaning
A study of the essence of snake venom appears to me to be
of particular interest because we often prescribe these remedies and they can be extremly
useful.
Why has venom from a snake cured a bood disease and a self immune disease?
After having cured little Laura I set out to answer that quqtion in an effort to achieve a
better understanding of the general action of snake remedies and their hiden meaning.
First of all I tried to approach the snake through its symbolic relevance.
Since the beginning of the history of humanity the snake is the symbol of evil and often
devil.
Take for instance the legend of Achilles:Thetys, the nymph, wanted her son Achilla to be
invulnerable so she dipped him in the waters of the Thyx. The only part of his body not to
be touched by the water was his heel, which she was holding on to.The resulting wound on
his foot kept him tied to earth. From this wound, all his war like energies were liable to
escape as he was trying to fight against himself.
At the siege of Troy, guided by Apollo, Paris strikes Achilla on the heel with his arrow.
The heel beeing the only part of his body that is not immortal.
He looses all his energy and dies.
Subsequently this Greek legend is taken over by judeo-christian religions.
Wounded on the heel, at the creation of all its energies, humanity is symbolised by Eve,
wife of Adam, and who will give birth to Yod, the Messia who is going to overcome the
devil.
" I will place inimity between you and Isha says God, between your semence and his.
This one will wound you at your head, and you will wound Isha at the heel,(Genesa 3,
15)";
The snake symbolising here the head as such , is the false husband to whom humanity has
given itself, along with the totality of her energy (symbol of the open sore and wounded
foot).
Where as the true divine husband nourishes humanity in order to enable it to rise to the
status of wife, the snake devours humanity constantly keeping the wound open to draw off
its entire energy.
These two well known , ancient texts are explainations in themselve as to the image we
have of the snake
A horrible creature which bites at the heel and empties the body of its divine energy
while causing it to bleed through a wound.
What we must understand from this is that the snake has inflicted an endering wound to
humanity. It is not for nothing that Christ washed the Apostle’s feet before inviting
them to partake of the last supper.
This act represents the healing of wounded humanity
The patient and his disease
It is important to point out the precise scientific and
pediatric aspects of idiopatic purpura. As we have seen , it is a frequent disease and
allopathic treatment is not easy as it is usually palliative (transfusions or
splenectomy).
The auto-immune disease is self -destructive. The image of the snake biting its tail is
very expressive.
As it can not rise to reach paradise , this horrible animal has only one solution to
survive : self-destruction , by biting its own tail.But what pushes any living creature to
self destruction and why ?
It is certain is that over- vaccinating children who are
oversensitive opens the way to disease. If we doctors vaccinate without carefull
consideration we are acting like Paris. We cause further damage to the weak point in the
vital energy of our own patients.
It is therefore obvious that before multiplying
vaccinations on a child , we should undertake an indepths study of the patients
antecedents: for example the insulino-dependent diabetes of a grandmother and the
self-immune thyroiditis of the father were good reasons for giving little Laura the strict
minimum of vaccinations.
The meaning of this self-immune
disease:
Why did Laura then have elective blood symptoms?
Taking into account the symbolic meaning of the snake we can say that the wound has been
open for her by vaccinations.
This wound at the heel is materialised first by tonsilities. It has opened the door to a
loss of vital energy.
She was self destroying her platelets then the bleeding symptoms appeared putting her life
in danger.
Laura corresponds to Crotalus in many ways. Her animal attitude and her snake context g
made highly possible for her to develop blood self -immune disease.
Vaccinations + Tonsillities+ Snake poison.
Only a homeopathic approach could disconnect all those wounds , heal her, and let us be
preventive.
Having therefore understood the incorporal meaning of her disease, we are now sure that
vaccinations must be suspended for her and when ever her vital force goes down, we can use
CROTALUS to cure her.
In conclusion to the story, it is clear that allopathy had no solution to this case. The
homeopathic approach led to an understanding of the deep mechanism of this disease in that
child.
It is this deep understanding of disease that leads to real healing.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THIS
SPECIFIC CASE
First practical aspect of this case is the good knowledge
of the allopathic and the homeopathic approach. It is of great importance in the practice
of daily medecine and especially pediatrics.
A second aspect to consider is the chapter on immunological disease and its homeopathic
approach. It is particularly vital to understand the latest considerations of the holistic
potential of immunity in the coming years.
1°) The problem of vaccinations and
new vaccine preparations:
A lot can been said about vaccinations especially Hepatites
B and new vaccine preparations.
Our previous case is a clear case of oversensitivity to vaccination.
We must try to understand why this child was oversensitive, and then expose the practical
attitude to take in our everyday practice.
*First of all one may wonder whether the adverse effects
obtained with certain vaccinations (especially Hepatites B) are due to certain
relationships between viral antigens and self antigens. This means that in certain cases
there is a close relationship between the genetical particularities of the virus in the
vaccinations and the antigens of the patients body.
*Another suggestion is that the special method of preparing
the vaccinating antigene (producer cells) may be responsible for the wrong response of the
body to the vaccination.
Producer cells are the basis for the fabrication of the latest vaccinations. In the case
of hepatites B Vaccination, the vaccine is cultivitated on cancerous, undifferential cells
so called producer cells....
*A last suggestion is that the organism is not capable of
analysing the" strangeness" of those new vaccinations.This is when a self-immune
response appears.
After having explained a few ideas (proposed by Madeleine
Bastide, professor in immunology in Montpellier) about the questions of immunity linked to
vaccinations, we must now try and come back to the origins of the vaccinations and
Pasteur’s initial approach.
What is sure is that Pasteur attitude to vaccination has
now been totally bypassed and eaven swept away!
Pasteur’s worked on a real identity: the vaccine itself was the pathogenetic agent,
and it was diluted or killed and simply attenuated. This is no more the case of the new
vaccinations appearing on the market. They are genetically engineered, and cultivated on
producer cells and the pathogenic agent is not found anymore in the vaccination.
Pasteur principle of identity has been betrayed , and therefore the immunity system has to
adapt to a certain extent and sometimes perhaps it can only respond in a perverse way.
This explains the greater number of accidents linked to vaccination especially in
connection with self-immune diseases.
This means there is a real problem with the new vaccinations. The medical corporation must
be told about this and must fully understand the implications.
The present tendancy is to elaborate sophisticated vaccinations , obtained by genetic
engineering. The new vaccination against hepatites A, Hooping cough, tends to improve with
each vaccination, but the immunity system can only try to adapt as much as it can take,
and adverse effects may multiply.
Whatever the case, a vaccination should only be done when there is a complete agreement
between the physician and the patient. This explains why the character of legal obligation
is not really acceptable from point of view of the patients freedom. We live in
democracies, and each family should be able to evaluate the advantage/risk ratio, as in
other pathologies , decide on the vaccination or not.
Tuberculosis vaccination is compulsary in France only (last country where BCG is
compulsary in Europe).It is an interesting example because the incidence of this pathology
in France is the same as in countries where the vaccination is not compulsary.
We homeopaths must be able to understand all this, and keep our holistical approach.
We must discuss a vaccination program with the parents when it concerns their children and
help them to take all aspects in consideration. A vaccination program should be set up for
their child as it is very important for their health, and each child is different and
needs a different approach.
When we have to cure cases (and this is very frequent!) of oversensitive reaction to
vaccinations we can give antidotes to vaccination.
In a certain way we do in reverse what Pasteur would have
done 100 years ago on the perverse effects of the vaccination in order to have an adequate
response to vaccination.
We realise in pediatrics that most of our patients with immunological disorders or
allergic states, need antidotes to their vaccinations to allow the action of the
similimum.
If the bloquage state caused by vaccination on a sensitive organism is not taken away by
antidote, the result of a well prescribed remedy will have no effect.
As a conclusion to these frequent problems, it seems
important to remember here that vaccinations initially have brought progress and relief
for severe diseases (Polio, Tetanos for example).
But vaccination can not solve all our health problems, and multiplying sophisticated
vaccinations is leading to saturation of our immunities.
It is also important to consider that more and more, cancers, self immune diseases, aids,
are deeply linked to saturation of immunity.
Immunology as a speciality must be considered the most holistically as possible. Its
comprehension and function should lead to a very different way of healing and open way to
giving alternative medecines their proper place in this field.
2°)Immunology and homeopathy:
I will refer again to Pr Madeleine Bastide and her very
interesting holistic approach to immunology presented in Monaco in november 1999.
I will come back to the notion of global awareness and its application in immunology.
This term can not be expressed by an amount of interactions such as they are described in
the classical notion of immunity response. Its definition does not call forth an
anatomical or localisation activity. Global awareness can not be reduced to the biological
components of the body.
We all know that the immune system has a function of
defense.
But it is one of the systems that is the less systemisable as its anatomical and
functionnal process is present in all the body (Thymus, marrow, ganglions).
This explains why several unconventional therapies, far from a mechanical allopathic
therapy, seem especially well adapted to correcting the impairments of the immunity
system.
There are three fundamental points that can help us to
understand how this is true.
* The immunity system of mamals is totally adapted to
defending its own biological system.
It is known that organisms have made this system evolve, making the immune system more
efficient, recognisable, and giving it the facility to memorise its own defense tools..
The immunity system is a hybrid system , half mechanical, half informational. It can
produce double -faced molecules; they serve as mediators between mechanics and
information. They even have cells that have a function of representing the outside world
to the body.
The basis of immunity response is very sophisticated, as an application of molecular
identity.
* The immunity system that works on the model of the identy
law ( which means pain curing pain), and that adapts to the defense processes of the virus
or the bacteria that is different from it , can then develop wrong responses when
vaccinations are made with cells identified to the agressor (virus or bacteria)
But if the law of similarity seeks to recognise strangers, maybe the components of the
vaccinations do not represent sufficently the agressor . Therefore the immune system can
reply in a perverse way ( self immune or allergy). We have here an explanation of
Laura’s self - immune disease...
* Self- immunity can have a mechanic explanation by the
presence of true cross reactions against bacteria which , by provoking antibodies
responses would give way to self- immune disorders through antigenic patterns..
In a different approach, to global awareness , it can be a deeper disease in the organism,
with a true loss of identity of the patient, who’s immunity system in its function of
protection of the living can no longer differentiate , the self from the extraneous
agressors.
The elimination process would therefore be this error in identification on what an
agressor can be.(Dr P Servais)
CONCLUSION
Studying idiopatic purpura, self -immune disease in
children is of great interest.
It a good demonstration on how allopathic medecine can lead
to homeopathic and holistic approach.
To understand such complicated diseases we must definitly
be very good doctors. And this is a compulsary requisite to beeing very good homeopaths!
It is also interesting to point out that immunity
considered as a systemic speciality of conventional medecine can lead the allopathic
system to holistic considerations.
I presented this subject in a teachers forum in Naples last
februaray , and it lead me to this very constructive conclusion quoting our famous French
author Montaigne:
"To teach consist less in filling a jar then
nourrishing a fire"
We must try and go ahead in our thinking and learning of
homeopathy and realise how to feed the fire (sulfur fire of course): this will then leed
us to entire satisfaction.
BIBLIOGRAPHIE
- BASTIDE M . Pr: "Les entretiens de Monaco" 1999
- CHEVALIER J: Dictionnaire des symboles. 1999
- SHAISON G Dr : Simep .Pédiatrie 1986
- SERVAIS Ph. Dr: "Autoimmune illness in homeopathy: is
identity in peril?" Nov 1999
Docteur Patricia le Roux, Pediatrician
16 Bd Augustin Cieussa
13007 Marseille
FRANCE
Tel: 04.91.59.48.18
Fax:04.91.31.96.21
EMail: pricardleroux@francemultimedia.fr |