A 75 year old male has skin tested positive for TB. It is currently unknown if this is active or latent TB as a chest x-ray was questionable. It's possible he has this for many years. He has none of the typical noticeable symptoms of active TB, does have Parkinson's for 10 years and is a Holocaust survivor. Per USA CDC guidelines, latent TB is not considered contagious but can become active and should be treated with one drug. Active TB requires multiple drugs and is considered intense treatment.

OK, how would this be treated homeopathically? Do I give Tub whether latent or active? If so, what potency?

Can Tub be given prophalactically? His wife has been with him many years.

Seperately, I had been taking Tub 30C alternating with my "constitutional". I've been instructed to take it ''as often as needed", though haven't taken it for a few months as I don't notice anything happening after I take it as I do with the main remedy. Should I start taking it again as I have spent a-lot of time over the years in this man's presence?

Thanks for any info.

Susan

Hi Susan,

The skin test- I wouldn't give it any value. The X ray, yes. There is an interesting thing. The tubercle might have been ossified and the individual might still test positive. Look at some pathology books and this is clearly explained.

The prscriptions are to be strictly symptom based. Not as per any diagnosis. The presenting picture is the SOLE BASIS for the treatment. Tuberculinum will not help unless it is a similimum or unless it covers at least a good 80% of cases. Here too I have reservations. A nosode can act as a pacemaker but not produce a cure.

The presenting symptoms group shows another advanced pathology- parkinson's. Praful Vijaykar will tell you that the disease has progressed into the neural plate - the highest level of suppression. That is why the tuberculosis has become silent now. The treatment, even if palliative, should be for the presenting neural symptom only.

I presume you are aware of all the injunctions in Hom and to judge what is curable in any case and you would have known that when you see it as incurable (or cure may kill in cases of low vitality)what potencies must be employed. Tread carefully.

Best
Venkat

Agree absolutely with Venkat here .

Always read Prof Kent's Lecture on Tuberculinum before taking the remedy itself.

Venkat,

Thanks for all the info. I should add that this person spent 3 months in hospitals and a nursing home rehab from October through January 2005, so it is possible this is a recent infection that tested positive at the beginning of an active TB infection and then became latent as the immune system fought it off.

Is there no use for Tub prophalactically if this is a recent infection?

Regards,

Susan

Susan,

I agree with Venkat on all except that Hahnemannian/Boenninghausen semiology is the sole basis for treatment.

These symptoms ARE the cardinal indicators for perceiving a totality or totalities in a case, and in a case which has TB itself as chief complaint, we rely on this type of sx for the most part. But we also have other forms of semiology to lead us to a remedy depending on the case and method used for example:

--Regarding dx--we do at times use dx or dx indicators as a leg of a stool in a case, as remedies have clinical indications in their materia medica, especially in case of small specialty rx, which may be what helps lead us to them.

--with sankaran system we also use vital sensation; miasm; kingdom/taxon/element group (series and stage) often in triangulation

--with scholten system we also use Kentian/vithoulkian/Scholten life theme/essence picture to identify cation and anion or plant group; andkingdom/taxon/element group (series and stage)

--those using Sehgal system often use a form of analogical relation of a client symptom to relate it to a standard homeopathic symptom

In this case Venkat himself has used dx parkinsons and the Vijayakar system to point out that this is a severely suppressed case. What came to mind on this useful and interesting comment is the caveat on using silica in such cases (mentioned here in passing, as have no idea if this rx would even come up in case)--

"...Silica can stimulate the organism to re-absorb fibrotic conditions and scar-tissue. In phthisis must be used with care, for here it may cause the absorption of scar-tissue, liberate the disease, walled in, to new activities. (J. Weir.) ..." (Boericke MM)

--if one wants to avoid possible reopening of a cocooned TB tubercle in an elderly person who might not weather that eventuality (beyond other items in Pandora's box that could be opened by incorrect posology or mode of prescrip in a suppressed case of elderly or low VF). The same caveat would apply to Thiosinaminum, (if in fact this man is dealing with walled-off infection, which is not confirmed of course).

Prophylaxis: Andre Saine suggests Bacillinum might be best, but did not at all rule out other tub preps --if you are concerned.

Best,A