Hahnemann’s idiosyncrasy in a way in modern terms is called as allergy. The word allergy was coined by the Viennese Paediatrician Clemens von Pirquet in 1906. Pirquet noted that some of his patients were hypersensitive to normally innocuous entities¹, which Hahnemann recorded in 117^th aphorism of Organon a century earlier. Hahnemann not only observed and recorded, he also had a solution for this through homeopathy. Aphorism 117 of 6^th edition of Organon of Medicine says “…these (allergic) agents  …… when employed as remedies, they render effectual homeopathic services to all sick persons for morbid symptoms similar to those they seem to be only capable of producing in so-called idiosyncratic individual”. ²

 

When these idiosyncratic manifestations are limited only with nasal mucosa, corneal mucosa and rarely with upper and lower respiratory tract, the condition is called as hay fever or allergic rhinitis. It occurs frequently connected to other allergic manifestations like bronchial asthma, pharyngites, trachitis and sinusitis. It is seen that in some peculiar corporeal constitutions, where vital force allows an excessive activation of mast cells and basophils by complex IgE mechanism, due to substances such as dust, pollen and certain foods. As a result, such individuals get nasal pruritis, congestion, rhinorrhoea, and paroxysms of sneezing, with or without lower respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, wheezing, chest tightness and dyspnoea. ^3,4,5

 

As a homeopath, he has to find out what is the exciting cause that which allergic substances induce patient’s acute symptoms. Patient to be advised to avoid such exciting causes. In order to find out the fundamental cause of chronic manifestations, one has to investigate the physical constitution of the patient by considering age, moral, intellectual character, occupation, mode of living and habits, social and domestic relations, sexual functions, etc. ² In homeopathy, the allersode group of drugs is made from the allergic substances itself. While homeopaths generally manage acute cases with allersodes, they manage chronic cases with constitutional remedies.

 

Generally homeopathic drug acts in acute phase, in modern and scientific terms, in two great mechanisms of disease: the allergic and the inflammatory. In acute conditions it removes inflammatory manifestations and in chronic condition it removes the allergic tendency. Lower potencies like 3x, 6x, 6CH, 12CH and 30CH are being used in acute phase. The deep action is in the complex constitutional levels, where higher potencies are being used. ⁶

 

Frequently used remedies in acute phase of allergic rhinitis are Allium cepa, specific allersodes, Ambrosia artemisiaefolia, Aralia racemosa, Euphrasia officinalis, Galphimiaglauca, Heparsulphur, Histaminum, Kaliumiodatum, Natrum arsenicosum, Nux vomica, Rosa damascena, Sabadilla and Solanum lycopersicum. While looking for deep acting remedy one can consider any of the following: Lycopodium, Natrium muriaticum, Natrium sulphuricum, Nux vomica, Phosphorus, Silicea, Sulphur and Tuberculinum.

 

It is remembered a case of hay fever with the constitution of Lycopodium was benefited with homeopathy. Allium cepa and Euphrasia were the medicines prescribed to control acute exacerbation. Some physicians prefer Lycopodium and others as inter-currently once in 30-40 days in the absence of acute phase. Patient improves gradually. He gets relieved over 90% of his troubles after a period. In most cases no episode occur after next six months.

Therapeutics of frequently used and rare remedies^{7, 8, 9}

Allium cepais a well-known remedy for acute allergic coryza. Acrid nasal discharge and bland lachrymation are the key symptoms. There is a feeling of a lump at root of nose. Ambrosia Artimisiaefolia is a rare remedy used in hay fever. While Allium cepacovers bland lachrymation, this remedy is for lachrymation with itching of eyelids. During initial stages symptoms could be of watery coryza, sneezing and stuffed up feeling of nose, latter becomes irritating cough and asthmatic attacks. Aralia racemosais a frequently used remedy in allergic asthmatic condition. Frequent sneezing caused by least current of air, with copious watery and excoriating discharge, and dry cough worse by lying down are the main indications. There may be a gastric disturbance associated with these indications.

 

Euphrasia officinalis is another frequently used remedy for hay fever. It is always compared with Allium cepa, because symptoms of both remedies manifest in both nose and eyes. While Allium cepais for acrid coryza and bland lachrymation, in contrast, Euphrasia for fluent bland coryza with acrid lachrymation. There is thick and excoriating discharge from the eyes. Galphimiaglauca is a remedy homeopathically proven few decades ago and clinical experimentation done by a group of German doctors from 1964 to 1966 in whole variety for allergic infections. It has been claimed and successfully used homeopathically often for hypersensitivity to weather changes. It produces increased secretion from the nasal and ocular mucous membranes with excessive sneezing. Eyelids are oedematous. Histaminum is a remedy established in 1950s. it covers pruritis of nose with sneezing, dryness and blockage of nostrils. Feeling of heat and pruritis of edge of the eyelids, which is better by cold.

 

Rosa damascena is often used in the beginning of allergic rhinitis. Sneezing and watering with pain in the ear are the peculiar symptoms to call for this remedy. Acute partial deafness may be associated with main symptoms. Sabadilla is a frequently used remedy for coryza with severe lachrymation and pain in the frontal head. Spasmodic sneezing with copious, watery discharge from the nose.Solanum lycopersicum is a rare remedy, but many homeopaths frequently think this remedy when they come across hay fever. It is indicated for fluent watery nasal discharge with severe body ache. Allergy from house dust, with itching of the nose. Patient always prefers to be in indoors, due to fear of dust.

 

References:

1. http://www.hon.ch/Library/Theme/Allergy/Glossary/allergy.html
2. Organon of Medicine, 6^th edition
3. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment
4. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy
6. “Homeopathy in allergic rhinitis – considerations after 43 years of homeopathic practice (Professor Vervloet – Alfred Eugenio)”, published in LigaMedicorumHomeopathica Internationalis in 1988
7. Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica, William Boericke
8. A compendium of Rare & Clinically Established Mother Tinctures, Dr. P. N Varma et al. published by Schwabe India
9. Materia Medica of New Homeopathic Remedies, Julian. O. A.