Common old age problems
and homoeopathic management
Ageing is not always
a happy experience for many. It comes along with certain psychological issues
like insecurity, stress and anxiety, dependency, etc. and with some physical ailments.
None can stop ageing; but we can take away the feeling of ageing with providing
good quality of life, engaging in different activities and positive thinking. As
an Irish novelist and poet C.S. Lewis once wrote “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”.
One can make this statement possible with proper diet, possible physical exercises,
and better awareness about the diseases
that affect the old age.
As the nature
takes its course, certain basic knowledge about the signs and symptoms of such
affections can enable elders to tackle them and age gracefully. The common problems during the later
stage of life include cataract, dementia, diabetes, senile
gait syndrome, easy exhaustion, hypertension and other cardiac problems,
knee and other joint ailments, loss of hearing, palpitation, poor immune
response, reduced physical activity, vertigo, vision impairment, low immune
response, and many others. Many elders manage these problems with a
homoeopathic kit containing 15-20 drugs. Homoeopathy eases their routine life
and offers peace and solace. The purpose of this article is to list the common
signs and symptoms of elderly with their probable causes/conditions and common homoeopathic
remedies.
What is ageing and active ageing?
Ageing is
defined in different ways by many authors, books and dictionaries. It is the irreversible
biological changes in a person over time. Though it renders human beings
progressively towards death, our objective is to provide better quality of life
and to minimize their sufferings, which is called “active ageing”. WHO (World Health Organisation) defines
“active ageing” as the process of optimizing opportunities for health,
participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age.
It applies to both individuals and population groups. Active ageing allows
people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well-being
throughout the life course and to participate in society, while providing them
with adequate protection, security and care when they need.
Why is old age vulnerable to health issues?
In a young
person, the body’s defence system functions actively and effectively. After
certain age, this system gradually weakens attracting the diseases. The immune response
to diseases becomes low. It allows many diseases to affect easily and the
deteriorated cells put more fuel on it.
Yellow line between self medication and physician’s
consultation
Usually multiple
conditions affect elderly people. Self medication for managing the problems
should be limited to minor problems and if the symptoms are not relieved one
has to consult a physician. Sometimes people keep on self medicating without
knowing the disease’s progression which may be harmful.
Diet in geriatrics
Since the body’s
ability to digest the food may reduce at this stage, fibre-rich food can help
in digesting easily. Since the absorption is normally lower in elderly,
supplements like vitamins and minerals may be taken if need arises. People
affected by diabetics, hypertension and other illnesses need to take specific
diet suggested for such illnesses.
Common signs and
symptoms, their indications and commonly used homoeopathic drugs
Common sign/symptom
|
What is it indicated
for
|
Homoeopathic
management
|
Constipation
|
It
is a common problem affecting elderly due to ageing process of alimentary
canal. It affects the intestinal motility and the ability to digest the food.
|
Ambra
grisea (frequent, ineffectual desire, which makes anxious), Antimonium crudum
(alternating with diarrhoea), Arnica (rectum loaded but faeces will not come
away), Baryta carbonica (hard knotty stool), Conium (frequent burning but
hard and tenesmus), Phosphorus (white hard stool)
|
Cloudy vision
|
Cataract
– over 50% of human population above the age of 60 years have cataract.
Corneal
opacity – opacity in the cornea affects the vision
|
Calcarea
fluorica 3x/6x (cataract and keratitis), Calcarea iodata 3x (opacity of
cornea), Phosphorus (retinal troubles with lights and hallucination of vision),
Silicea (cataract in office workers, after effects of keratitis, use 30th
potency for months), CMS eye drops (cataract and corneal opacities 1-2 drops
to be instilled 2-3 times a day)
|
Delirium
|
Research
suggests delirium affects up to 56% of older people admitted to hospital. The
syndrome has not been well studied in residential care, but what data is
available suggests a rate at least as high as that found in acute settings.
It may be due to various causes like fever/inflammation, infection, neurological
disorders, pain, dehydration, urinary retention, sensory impairment, drug
effects, etc.
|
Aconitum
napellus (nocturnal furious delirium), Agaricus muscarius (characterized by
singing, shouting, and muttering; rhymes and prophesies), Arsenicum album
(worse after mid-night), Belladonna (with restless sleep, frightful images
and due to pain), Bryonia (talks about business matters), Cannabis indica
(delirium tremens), Hyoscyamus (with attempt to run away), Lachesis (stupor
or muttering delirium), Lycopodium (delirium even in low forms of fever),
Opium (delirium with frightful visions, of mice, scorpions), Stramonium (delirium,
with desire to escape), Veratrum album (attacks of pain, with delirium
driving to madness)
|
Forgetfulness
|
Due
to ageing, there is a progressive decline of intellectual function, which
leads to forgetfulness. Insufficient blood circulation to the brain also
causes senile dementia.
|
Acidum
phosphoricum (cannot remember what he has read, and forgets names), Alumina
(has to make notes to not forget), Ambra grisea (dull and mental slowness,
unable to count), Anacardium (sudden loss of memory), Baryta carbonica (loss
of memory from mental weakness), Bacopa monnieri Ø/1x (recent researches
suggest it helps improved mental function like better acquisition of
knowledge, improved retention and delayed extinction), Conium (excessive
difficulty in recollecting), Crotallus horidus (clouded perception and memory),
Ginseng Ø/1x (weak memory with difficult thinking process), Ginkgo biloba
Ø/1x (improves the cerebral blood flow, helps to treat and prevent problems
with memory, senility and mental dullness), Lycopodium (weak memory with
confused thoughts)
|
Giddiness/ vertigo
|
It
indicates normal ageing process of eyes, equilibrium organ in the inner ear
and sensors in the muscles and joints for the sense of position, which are
important organs to maintain equilibrium.
|
Ambra
grisea (intense vertigo in open air), Arsenicum iodatum (with tremulous
feeling), Baryta carbonica (when standing in the Sun), Conium maculatum (when
lying down, and when turning over in bed, when turning head sidewise, or
turning eyes), Cuprum metallicum (with internal tremor, better by stool),
Gelsemium (spreading from occiput with dim vision), Ginseng Ø/1x (with gray spots before eyes,
objects appear double), Phosphorus (with coldness of occiput, worse after
raising)
|
Another
reason could be insufficient blood circulation to the brain.
|
Ginkgo
biloba Ø/1x (due to insufficient cerebral circulation)
|
|
Hearing impairment
|
Most
commonly, it is caused by changes in the inner ear that occur as people grow
older. However, genetics and history of exposure to loud noises play a lead
role.
|
Baryta
carbonica (hardness of hearing), Cicuta virosa (Difficult hearing and sudden
detonations especially on swallowing), Kalium muriaticum (due to chronic,
catarrhal conditions of the middle ear with snapping and noises in the ear),
Petroleum (dry catarrh, with deafness and noises), Phosphorus (difficult
hearing especially after typhoid)
|
Incontinence
|
Common
reason being prostatic hypertrophy in male and menopause in female, it could
also be due to other causes like inflamed bladder, nerve control weakness,
conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease,
etc.
|
Acidum
benzoicum (Enuresis with dribbling and offensive urine in men), Argentum
nitricum (Urine passes unconsciously, day and night), Arsenicum album
(involuntary urination with burning and scanty urine), Aurum muriaticum (incontinence
worse at night after dropsy), Baryta carbonica (urging to urinate with
burning in urethra on urinating, mainly due to prostatic enlargement),
Causticum (while coughing, sneezing; with very slow expulsion; with retention
especially after surgical operations; during first sleep at night; from slightest
excitement; with loss of sensibility on passing urine), Cicuta virosa (enuresis
may be associated with frequent urination), Conium maculatum (common in men
having difficulty in voiding), Iodium (in people losing flesh with great
appetite), Secale cornutum (suitable in old people with shriveled skin-thin,
scrawny old women), Thuja (with sudden desire, but cannot be controlled)
|
Pruritus (generalised
itching, dryness of skin and related problems
|
Like
cataract, reports suggest more than half of all people aged over 60 years is
affected by pruritus. More common in diabetics.
|
Azadiracta
indica Ø/1x (strong clinical observations for skin diseases, boils, ulcers,
eczema & scabies from impurities of blood), Cardiospermum Ø (externally
used; its antipruritic action is proven not only in practice, but also in a
number of different clinical studies), Echinacea angustifolia Ø/1x (known for
symptoms of skin symptoms related to blood poisoning), Mezerium (intolerable itching; chilliness
with pruritus; worse in bed), Psorinum (itching disturbs sleep), Sulphur (suitable
for psoriatic patients, itching worse scratching and washing)
|
Sadness and grief
|
Depression
in the elderly is a widespread problem, but it is not a normal part of aging.
It is often not recognized or treated.
|
Arsenicum
iodatum (sadness and discontent set in after prolonged illness), Aurum
metallicum (profound despondency, with increased blood pressure, with
thorough disgust of life, and thoughts of suicide; talks of committing
suicide), Ginkgo biloba Ø/1x (studies reveal that it helps in major
depression), Ginseng Ø/1x (possess adaptogenic action i.e. it helps the body
to adapt to stress), Iodium (anxiety from present situation leading to
depression and suicidal thoughts), Stannum metallicum (sad and discouraged
with dread of seeing people), Zincum metallicum (depression with aversion to
do anything, lethargic and stupidness)
|
Senile heart
|
Cardiac weakness is
increasingly common in elderly people. Ageing process in the heart leads to inability of the heart to maintain an output
adequate to meet the metabolic demands of the body. Clinically, it is
manifested as organ hypo-perfusion and inadequate tissue oxygen delivery.
|
Arnica Montana
1x/2x (cardiac dropsy with dyspnoea), Crataegus oxyacantha
Ø/1x (cardiac weakness. Extreme dyspnoea and exhaustion), Convallaria majalis
Ø/1x (increases the heart’s action and renders it more regular), Coffea cruda
1x (acts on violent irregular palpitations especially after sudden stress), Prunus spinosa
1x (indicated for tachycardia which is exacerbated with the slightest motion)
|
Trembling
|
A
common symptom in elderly, it general occurs due to ageing process in the
whole body. It is important to differentiate the severity to find out if
there is a major illness behind it and treat them properly.
|
Alumina
(tendency to paretic muscular states, with lack of vital heat, or prematurely
old, with debility), Ambra grisea (extreme nervous hypersensitiveness),
Conium maculatum (trembling with numbness), Ginkgo biloba Ø/1x (increases the
blood circulation to the periphery), Kalium carbonicum (with tearing pains),
Mercurius (tremors all over the body from weakness with ebullitions; trembling
from least exertion), Opium (twitching of limbs; numbness and jerks as if
flexors were overacting), Phosphorus (suitable from tall slender persons),
Plumbum metallicum (paralysis of single muscle with difficulty to lift
anything), Zincum metallicum (lameness, weakness, trembling and twitching of
various muscles)
|
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