In Graphites the menses are scanty. The bleeding lasts for two or three
days and the quantity of the blood loss is also much less. This is probably the
reason for their tendency towards being obese. Perhaps Graphites is linked to
the treatment of being overweight on this basis. Once the menstrual cycle becomes normal, one can hope to lose weight.
The discharges of Graphites patient are usually very sticky.
Eczema of
Graphites is recognized on the same basis. This eczema is usually found behind
the ears, over different areas of the head and over the joints of the elbows
and hands. There is always some sticky secretion coming out which subsequently
changes into a hard scab. In Mezereum too, the discharge is sticky which then
turns into a hard scab, making a sort of cover over the head. Some young
children develop a severe type of eczema, which bleeds on scratching. The condition
becomes really troublesome. The overall symptoms of their eczema resemble
Psorinum as well as Graphites. This is due to the latent presence of some
sinister substance of a deep-seated illness in their body. Whenever I gave
Silicea to the children who, based on their symptoms require to be treated with
it, without any exception the foul matter bursts open. This effect of Silicea
is well established.
However, if with the treatment of Silicea the foul
substances only surface to the body but are not eliminated, then we must
look for another suitable, similar related medicine. Next in order to
Silicea are Psorinum and Graphites. Psorinum often dries up the eczema,
yet sometimes it does not offer complete cure. The dry skin
keeps on itching, although there is definitely some relief of
symptoms, so much so that the child can sleep peacefully at night. However,
the eczematous skin starts discharging again after some time. In this condition,
Graphites should also be used as an adjuvant. It helps to a certain extent.
Therefore, it is better that the resistant type of illnesses like eczema should
be treated with a number of similarly acting remedies, complimentary to each
other. If the itching amounts to restlessness, Arsenic 1000 will also be very
useful. It is especially very effective against dry eczema. Even if all the symptoms are not present,
the element of restlessness is such that Arsenic will benefit to some extent
although the relief may only be temporary. No doubt, the proper use of Arsenic
would be of avail where the patient exhibits most of the signs and symptoms of
Arseni
.
It must be well remembered that the treatment is proper
only when the nature of the medicine, as well as the constitution of the
patient, are properly evaluated and matched. The assumption that a medicine
that is effective against a particular disease will cure all the patients of
that disease is only wishful thinking. At the same time it is not necessary that
an effective cure for each disease has been discovered, or any doctor has full
knowledge about the treatment of every sickness. Therefore it is not right to prolong the illness of a patient unnecessarily
while the patient is not getting better under the treatment of one doctor. One
should honestly admit that some other doctor may be able to offer a better
treatment. There is no harm in accepting defeat. The patient should be referred
to somebody more qualified.
Graphites is a very useful drug for its own specific kind
of eczema. f the
patient has other symptoms of Graphites, then this drug alone will suffice.
Otherwise, in cases of various types of eczemas (with superadded infections)
Graphites is only used as an adjuvant remedy. If the skin becomes raw and red,
as is the case with early symptoms of Psoriasis, then Graphites should be
prescribed. This symptom of the skin is also associated with Silicea. However,
the indication of Graphites is the sticky exudate oozing from the skin.
Graphites is also very useful for the treatment of cancer. The tendency towards the formation of a cancer is in the nature
of every carbon compound. Having healed, some wounds burst open again
and again and ultimately become cancerous. Even after surgical
removal, they tend to recur after some time. In such cases, one
should always remember Graphites. Graphites should be given in potencies
200 or 1000. The treatment must be repeated until the positive
effects of treatment become apparent.
Graphites also has an effect on the muscular system in the
body. Particularly, it has significant
effect on the back of the thighs (hamstring muscles). The patients who feel
difficulty in standing or sitting are of two kinds. In one group, the movement
becomes difficult due to backache and paralytic symptoms. Graphites has no effect
on this group. In the other group, the muscles
have become tense and contracted, as if they have become shrunk and
are neither stretchable not contractable without discomfort. There is severe tightness
on the back of the thighs. This group is amenable to treatment with Graphites.
Graphites must definitely be tried in this group even if other particular
symptoms of Graphites are absent. Such kind of partial treatment becomes
necessary on and off. Graphites is
associated with severe constipation.
Faeces pile up in the distal part of the intestines (rectum) as large hard
masses packed in layers. When there is generalised inflammation of the
intestines, often, such a patient may get temporary relief from Bryonia. The difference
between Bryonia and Graphites is that in Bryonia, the faeces are generally hard
in the beginning and then become somewhat softer. In the case of Graphites, the
faeces are and remain hard and very dry. The patient remains constipated for
several days. If diarrhoea starts, the stools become very watery, black and
happen to contain undigested food.
Herpes is
a disease in which blisters form along the course of the nerves. The skin
becomes raw. The patient feels severe burning sensation, discomfort and pain.
Herpes is of two types. Herpes Zoster or “shingles” appears due to the
affliction of nerves with the virus. The blisters burst open and promote further spread of
blister formation. The other type of herpes is genital herpes, which
results from improper sexual behaviour. It tends to recur frequently
and is related to external genitals. It is a very painful disease.
Once established, the disease lasts forever. Graphites has a
special merit for the treatment of this type of herpes. However, Graphites
alone is not enough. Some other medicine also needs to be used along with Graphites. I have devised a standard formula for the treatment of all kinds of
herpes. This includes Arnica, Ledum and Arsenic. This formula also offers cure for snakebite. The prescription
is very useful when the pain has started in the previously afflicted snakebite
wounds, associated with burning, sensation of heat and the involvement of nervous
system. With these medicines, herpes gets cured fast. The genital herpes being
very obstinate with the probability of recurrence, the treatment must be
continued for about six months with intervals of seven to ten days in between.
The patient of Graphites is of cool temperament like that
of Psorinum and Silicea. When the medicines of similar temperament and efficacy
are used one after the other, they do not lower the efficacy of one another.
The drugs help each other in curing the disease. The patient of Graphites does not like the open air, yet leaves
the windows open. Despite the body being cold, the draft of cold air does not
bother him, while in most patients; the draft of air is also unbearable. The
Graphites patient dislikes cold. He feels comforted with heat, but the internal
body heat resulting from exercise, jogging or walking intensifies his symptoms.
The symptoms of paralysis are also found in Graphites.
Like Causticum, the paralysis of Graphites affects only certain organs, especially
the lower part of the body. Graphites is very effective in the treatment of the
paralysis of legs.
It is also of great use in the treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsy develops as a
result of some serious deep-seated illness of the body. Naturally, its
treatment also requires to be conducted with an appropriate remedy of matching
nature and profound effectiveness. Graphites is certainly one of those drugs.
Graphites being pure carbon, resembles Carbo Veg. Each
carbon compound may exhibit symptoms of spasms/convulsions. Carbo
Veg is the best treatment for the painful muscle cramps of the legs. Once these cramps lead to the development of epilepsy, and the
other specific symptoms of Graphites being present, Graphites
would certainly work. The distinctive beauty of Graphites is that
if it is effective against a disease, it will produce excellent
results. The disease may either completely disappear or rendered so mild
that the epileptic attacks may never recur. Graphites is an excellent
treatment for depression.
But this symptom alone cannot be enough to arrive at proper diagnosis, because depression is so common that
everybody seems to have suffered from it at one time or another. A
Graphites
patient is always anxious, sad and dejected. His mind gets
confused.He loses the ability to think, understand and make decisions. On getting up in the morning,
the patient becomes dizzy. The mind is dulled and the light becomes unbearable.
The eyes burn and become red
with watery secretions. The sense of smell becomes very sharp. The patient cannot tolerate the smell of the
flowers. The nose is painful and dry. The nasal secretions dry up in the form
of scales.
The patient feels as if his face is covered with cobwebs.
Itchy kind of blisters form on the skin. A wet type of eczema develops
around the mouth and on the
chin. The mouth smells foul. Blisters with
burning sensation
appear on the tongue.
A patient of Graphites usually dislikes meat. Sweets provoke
nausea.The patient tends to nauseate
and vomit after every food. Women feel nausea in the morning, during menstruation. There is a feeling of pressure and burning sensation over the stomach, increasing the appetite. In
Graphites, there is severe pain over the neck, shoulders,back and
upper arms. The backache causes severe weakness. The left hand becomes numb and the left arm too. The fingernails
become thick, black and
ugly. Over the toes, there is a feeling of stiffness and pinching.
The nails become thick, deformed and are very
painful.
The Graphites ailments become more intense with heat, at
night, as well as during and after the menstruation. Darkness and covering with
a piece of cloth relieve the symptoms.