The power of the
heart muscles becomes like an ineffective flutter after which the heart starts
to fail. In fact, the slowing of the heart is a temporary effect. It does not
increase the strength of the muscles of the heart. It only restricts the
heartbeat to a certain limit. The result is that these muscles, gradually, fail
completely. Fluid starts accumulating in the lungs due to the backlog of blood
that cannot be satisfactorily pumped through the valves of the heart. The
obvious result is that the person cannot breathe (cardiac dyspnoea). The homoeopathic
use of Digitalis, however, is without these dangers. In fact, it is a very
useful and good cardiac tonic. The
homoeopathic form of Digitalis works in every heart patient in whom the liver
function has also been deranged and the pulse has become light and weak. It
also has a beneficial effect on the function of the liver, spleen, as well as
the lungs. Homoeopathic use of Digitalis should not be abandoned for the reason
that its allopathic use is not completely successful. It must always be
remembered in the treatment
of heart diseases.
According to Dr. Kent, who has been practising
allopathy for a long time, the misuse of Digitalis has resulted in more deaths
than saving lives. Its action is very shortlived. It deteriorates the heart muscles and knocks out the conducting system
of the heart. This comment of his does not apply to the homoeopathic use of
Digitalis but unfortunately, some homoeopathic doctors are still very fearful
of using it. One thing to remember is that in Digitalis, the patient does
not have a fever, except occasionally. The pulse is slow; the liver is
enlarged and tender to touch. Once the liver dysfunction has set in, the
stools become either light-coloured or clay-coloured. The patient
may have jaundice. There is a feeling of emptiness and a sinking sensation over
the stomach. This particular symptom is noted only in a few remedies. The
patient of Sulphur also feels weakness however, he will find relief on taking
food. But in Digitalis, food does not relieve the symptoms. This particular
sensation is not due to a stomach upset, but it is due to the weakness of the
heart (sinking of the heart). It is an established fact that sometimes the pain
due to the heart is perceived over the stomach or in the left, upper part of
the abdomen, so much so that even the expert cardiologist may not be able to
diagnose it in time. Similarly, some stomach problems may be referred to the
heart and will not respond to treatment with cardiac medication. If the food increases rather than decreases
the discomfort at the stomach and the blood pressure rises, this is a symptom
of a heart problem and of Digitalis.
In Digitalis, the patient is very restless during his sleep.
He experiences nightmares in which he observes many frightful scenes, a sensation
of falling down and a desire to run. He dreams of falling from heights. In
fact, it is the sinking of the heart that results in the dreams of falling
down. During his sleep, the patient
may feel jolted due to the weakness of his heart and nervous system.
As soon as he goes to sleep, sudden jolting wakes him up (similar to
Grindelia). In Digitalis, there is
bluish discoloration on the face due to the disturbance of the blood
circulation. The hands and feet also become cyanotic, while in Grindelia, there
is no such symptom. However, blue coloration is found in Cuprum also, which is
due to the other ailments rather than due to the weakness of the heart. In Digitalis, the pulse is slow at the onset
of disease, but later on becomes fast. If the basic symptoms of Digitalis are
present it will be the most appropriate medication, even if the pulse is very
rapid to start with. Its use should not be discarded due to the rapidity of the
pulse. In general, the pulse is weak in
Digitalis, yet it may be fast at times.
In Arsenic, the pulse is rapid but thready and tense. Digitalis is also useful in the treatment of
heart problems arising out of grief. The heart flutters or may even be felt to
be stopping altogether. There is intense restlessness. The feeling that the heart is going to stop is
typical of Digitalis. Digitalis would cure the cough due to heart failure
(cardiac dyspnoea). It does not work on the cough arising primarily from lung
diseases. Sometimes, the patient wakes up from sleep due to the feeling of
suffocation even without any obvious jerking. This means that the sensation of
the breathing being about to stop was due to the disturbance of the automatic
system of breathing (Herring Breaur reflex). When the respiration rate starts
decreasing progressively, the patient must be awakened periodically or he may die
in the state of sleep. A progressive slowing down of the breathing is also a
sign of the gastric patient. This is due to the build-up of pressure in the
stomach, pressing on the diaphragm. The difference is that in a heart patient
this condition is constant, while in a gastric patient the condition is
occasional and noticed during gastric upset. A feeling of suffocation or
choking is also seen in Lachesis, Phosphorus and Carbo Vegetabilis.
Unfortunately, the use of Digitalis has been attached to
heart disease only, so most physicians do not consider using it for any other
kind of ailment. Yet, it is a strong and effective treatment for an enlarged prostate in older
age. The enlargement of the prostate at any age has been found to respond well
to Sabal Serrulata and Chimaphila in Mother Tincture form. However, this form
of treatment should be continued for a long period. Also, Belladonna, Arsenic
and Thuja in high potency have also proved to be useful. However, if the
prostatic problem is associated with a heart ailment then Digitalis should be
the first choice. It makes the prostate gland gradually shrink back to normal
size. In fact, very few medicines have the capability of reducing the size of
enlarged glands. So, Digitalis should be used in low potency of 30 over a long
period. Such conditions that establish and progress gradually will not respond
to the high potency but will respond well to lower potency used over a longer
period. The potency may, however, be increased later on. In my practice, I have
used Digitalis in potency 30. I have not found it necessary to use a higher potency.
But, if the original relief offered by Digitalis 30 has stopped, it should be
tried in higher potency.
Loss of appetite and intense thirst are peculiar to Digitalis.
Sometimes, as in Colchicum, even the smell of food may
suppress the appetite altogether, yet in Digitalis, unlike Colchicum,
there is no vomiting or tendency to become unconscious. The thirst
flares up while the appetite gradually disappears. This symptom is
common in the liver diseases and jaundice. If the constitutional
symptoms of Digitalis are found in the patient, Digitalis alone may be
curative. The restlessness of Digitalis
is even worse than that of Arsenic. The restlessness of Arsenic intensifies on
lying down or remaining still in one position, while the restlessness of
Digitalis is constant. It does not decrease by taking rest or by physical
movement. If restlessness is due to the progressive weakness of the heart
muscles, Digitalis alone should be administered. I am of the opinion that the
deleterious effects on the heart resulting from excessive prolonged allopathic
use of Digitalis may be treatable with high potency like Digitalis CM, although
I have not experimented this in my practice. I suggest that if at all a
homoeopathic doctor wants to try this, he may do so only on a patient in
moribund state with no apparent hope of survival, and that too, after getting
permission from the patient and his relatives.
Itching is also found in Digitalis. Red spots appear on the back.
Symptoms are made worse on sitting tiptoes after food or listening
to
music, whereas the open air and empty stomach ameliorate the symptoms.
Camphor relieves the ill effects of Digitalis. China is not compatible with
Digitalis. So China and Digitalis should only be used one after the other with
utmost care. Crataegus happens to be an important adjuvant medicine.