A 70-year-old farmer was resolved to undergo homeopathic treatment for a massive ‘cow horn-like growth’ on his front chest wall that had lasted over 8 years (see fig-1). Previously, he sought the advice of a surgeon who recommended surgery, but he lacked the courage to proceed with the operation. He was confused and unable to determine what to do with the large horn; at one point, the sharp pointed end of the horn almost pierced his abdomen, so he had to trim the pointed end using a hacksaw blade. During this time, a relative assisted him in visiting my clinic on June 22, 2008.
He experienced intense pain at the base of the horn, worsened by the sun’s heat and during hot weather. He found it nearly impossible to sleep due to the intense burning pain in his chest wall throughout the entire night. When he was idle and by himself, he experienced increased burning pain. He favoured salty food, cold food, and fish. He was salivating while sleeping at night.
He easily lost his temper, had a low tolerance for contradiction, was quite stubborn, and was also very emotional. He cried easily if any of his friends or family showed kindness. He dreamed of dead family members and felt anxious about his health.
Based on the symptoms mentioned above, I selected these rubrics for repertorisation:
- Intolerance of contradiction
- Anxiety regarding his health
- Craving for cold food
- Craving for salt
- Aggravation from sunset to sunrise
Considering these symptoms, I chose phosphorus and syphilinum as intercurrent medicines. However, upon observing the large ‘cow horn’ type growth, I felt compelled to prescribe Antim Crud due to the symptoms indicating “Growths Horny,” which has only 4 remedies listed, while “Warts Horny” includes 2 remedies in Phatak’s repertory. In contrast, Synthesis Repertorium Homeopathicum Syntheticum listed 6 remedies under the rubric “Skin Horny Excrescence,” with Antim Crud placed at 1st grade. I typically choose medication based on mental health, overall well-being, sleep issues, dreams, and aversions to desires, among other factors. However, in this instance, I prescribed medication for a specific pathological symptom, and it proved effective.
Medication profile:
June 22, 2008: Administer Antim crud 200/6 doses together with Nihilinum for 14 days.
July 13, 2008: The patient reported improvement, and his horn was decreasing daily, so I recommended Nihilinum for another 14 days.
August 2, 2008: The patient was showing improvement in all respects, with his horn reducing to nearly half its former size; however, the burning sensation persisted. Therefore, Syphilinum 200/6 doses were recommended due to his notable symptom of ‘sundown to sunrise’ aggravation, along with other indicators such as intolerance to contradiction and health-related anxiety, which further supported the choice of medicine.
August 21, 2008: The patient experienced improvement as his cutaneous horn decreased to one-fourth of its size; the photo is provided below (refer to fig-2). Nihilinum was ordered for an additional 14 days.
September 8, 2008: His skin horn turned brittle and was easily shattered. At the proximal end, it was irregular and deteriorated progressively (see fig-3). He experienced stabbing and burning discomfort in the front chest area. Acid nit 30/9 doses were administered along with a placebo for one month.
The patient stopped coming to see me following the most recent prescription. He remained quiet for roughly 10 months since he experienced no issues; his cutaneous horn vanished entirely. He once again experienced severe pain and infection on the front chest wall with pus buildup. The infection produced intense foul smells. Thus, he had no choice but to visit me.
June 7, 2009: Merc sol 30/6 doses were recommended since all the aforementioned symptoms suggested the use of Merc sol, and I requested the patient to undergo an FNAC test.
His FNAC on July 4, 2009, indicated a Benign Epidermal lesion with significant inflammation on the front chest wall.
July 11, 2009: Merc sol 200/6 doses were recommended alongside Nihilinum for 14 days.
The patient once again stopped coming to see me. He felt good for the remainder of his life, experiencing no pain or burning. He lived an ordinary life for three years and passed away in February 2012 from senility.
Discussion: In such complex cases, a single medication is insufficient to handle the situation, so additional medications may be beneficial when used with appropriate indications to completely aid the patient.
