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Carcinosin 200C as constitutional remedy

Hi All.

I am seeing a naturopath who also includes homeopathic treatment in her practice.

I first sought her guidance for
a pressurized feeling I was experiencing around my sternum area (upper stomach). It was accompanied by a 'stuck' feeling under my left rib. Accompanying these physical symptoms were the emotional symptoms of anxiety and indecisiveness.

After taking a history/profile last August she decided to perscribe me carcinosin 200C. I took it once a week for three weeks. I soon experienced a three day 'healing crisis' where several of my old physical issues came to the surface in a milder form. All of these issues subsided in a few days, and my stomach pressure issue went away. She told me to stop taking it when I reported that an ache in my knee/hip was not going away.
The 'healing crisis' symptoms all went away and I did not experience the stomach pressure issue again until mid-November.
When I reported the return of the old stomach issues to my homeopath she told me to take another dose of the carcinosin 200C. I did so. Again, I experienced the slight healing crisis symptoms (return of old phsyical issues) and then the stomach issue went away.

In early January I had another 'follow-up' apt. with the homepath. I was not experiencing any of the stomach issues. She asked me how I was doing emotionally- if I had any breakthroughs or was feeling more at peace with myself. I wasn't quite sure what to tell her. I wasn't extremeley bothered by emotional state, I felt okay with myself, but I couldn't tell her I had any kind of 'breakthrough'. I was kind of confused exactly what she meant by 'breakthrough'. At any rate she told me to take another carcinosin 200C. I did this on January 7th. From January 7th-January 11th I had NO reaction. Then on January 11th I had bloodwork drawn, and my period started, and I threw up. After this I started experiencing strange symptoms. The most bothersome of which has been a swelling and reddening (eczema-like, but not quite eczema) of the tips of my fingers from the middle joint to the top. They are itchy, and the rest of my body is itchy all over at times too. The symptoms have gotten progressively worse since January 11th- January 25th. I have had very few minor episodes of eczema in my life, and never on my fingers. This is something completely new for me and has me very worried. The naturopath looked at them and suggested castor oil applied at night. I tried this and it didn't help. In addition I have very low stamina (I feel very tired by 6PM) and my old stomach pressure symptoms are back. I have a salty/metallic tatse in my mouth. I am also incredibly anxious because I don't understand what is happening to me.


From the literature I read, I thought maybe I was 'proving' carcinosin because maybe I didn't need the January 7th dose and so it caused me to exhibit the symptoms that carcinosin would normally fix.
My concern is that I've read about nosodes being dangerous remedies to mess with. I've heard varrying opinons. Some say that nosodes are NOT to be used as a 'constitutional' remedy, rather only to 'clear' a case. I've heard that improper use of nosodes can damage your vital force permanently. My father died of pancreatic cancer, which I understand is part of why I've been perscribed this remedy, however I don't really want to mess around with damaging my vital force...

I told my homeopath this and she said that yes, varrying opinions on how to practice homeopathy exist.
She asserts that carcinosin is the right 'constitutional' remedy for me. She belives that I am reacting deeply to the carcinosin. She says that if it weren't the right constitutional remedy that I wouldn't react at all. She wants me to disolve a carcinosin 200C in a glass of water, dump it out and repeat this 10 times, then drink a sip of the 10th glass of water. She says this will take the edge off of the reaction. I will do that tomorrow and see what happens.

My questions include-

1.) Why the reaction to the Jan. 7th dose of carcinosin created NO aggrevations or healing crisis symptoms from Jan.7th- Jan. 11th, but then all of the above symptoms have been unfolding since January 11th. I thought a healing crisis was immediate and short lived.

2.) Why this reaction is so different from reactions I've had to carcinosin in the past?

3.) If this is causing irreparable damage to my health/immune system

4.) Why there seems to be such differing opinions about nosodes, particularly carcinosin. Should I get a second opinion from another homeopath or trust this one despite differing opinions?
 
  carrie009 on 2011-01-25
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
1. Actually the process begun by a deep acting homoeopathically prescribed medicine can last months. This process should be a curative one however, with each event leaving the person in a better state than before.

Some of those events require a change of medicine. It is not usually the case that a person needs 1 remedy all the time (although it can happen). Each medicine creates a change, and that change may mean that the same medicine no longer is effective. This is a normal process of cure.

It is important when, after a dose of a remedy, the picture changes, to adapt to that picture, by taking the case again and either represcribing or cofirming that the patient is still in the same state (and therefore needs the same remedy). The state can be the same even though the locations of the body being affected are different.

A remedy can take a while to begin its action. Typically, in chronic cases, I dont expect to see an aggravation straight away but it can happen anytime within the first 3 days.

2. Every remedy makes permanent changes when they are prescribed correctly. Unlike orthodox drugs which are given to enforce specific effects on the body, mainly to suppress symptoms, homoeopathic medicines create changes, alterations to the patterns of health. This means that EVERY dose can produce different effects, as it continually hones the vital force into a more efficient form.

If a person continually gets the same reaction to a medicine, it would suggest that the medicine is not making curative changes. It would imply that the medicine is not the correct one.

3. Single doses of a homoeopathically prescribed medicine cannot cause irreparable harm to you. Homoeopathy is quite safe when used correctly. To harm you, the medicine would have to be given very frequently, when symptoms are aggravating or new ones are appearing. Repeated frequent dosing can be dangerous, although some patient in fact need such dosing to cure them. It is all about observing the individual reaction and adjusting dosage to fit it.

Nosodes are excellent constituational remedies when called for. They are also excellent when used to 'unblock' a case. They have multiple uses.

4. There are plenty of differing opinions about homoeopathy. Not all of them come from homoeopaths by the way. I would trust the opinion of someone who has proven they can help you over people you don't know, but always question and complain. Look for the explaination and see how it fits with what is happening.

David Kempson
Professional Homoeopath
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Welcome to the Homeopathy Forum!

Please fill out the homeopathic intake form for new patients. The more information you can give us, the more accurate our homeopathic recommendations can be. Hopefully someone here will help you begin real homeopathic treatment to resolve your issues.

http://abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/255920/
 
Homeopathy International 1 last decade
Thanks for your reply David.

You said that typically you don't expect to see a reaction right away in chronic cases, but that it often happens within the first three days.

During this last dose of carcinosin I did not exhibit any aggravation or healing crisis until 4 days after the dose. And for some reason it seems as though having the bloodwork and my period starting lowered my vital force enough for the carcinosin to kick in. That's why I'm wondering if my immune system couldn't quite tolerate it the way it has in the past. Then again, you mentioned that I was supposed to react differently if it was the right remedy.
So then it doesn't seem as though I'm 'proving' the remedy?

Also- here is the form that somebody asked for. I've filled it out according to right now in the present, including these red and swollen fingertip symptoms...


Gender: Female
Age: 30
Body Type: Small Boned
Height: 5' 7''
Weight: 115
General appearance: ?
Have you used homeopathic medicines before?
From about 2007-2009 I used AZO Yeast formula (OTC). It said it was a homeopathic formula. I remember it had 'Mistletoe' in it, along with some probiotics. I used it off and on from about a year and a half, and then almost daily during most of 2009.

Recently, I've been perscribed carcinosin 200C by a naturopath that I started seeing in August 2010.


Please answer the following questions in a descriptive manner after careful analysis and recollection of previous experiences and happenings.

1. Describe your main suffering?

Mainly that I don't feel sick enough to consider myself 'stay-in-bed' sick, but I don't feel well enough to call myself 'healthy'.

Red, swollen, itchy fingertips. Most people who look at them say it looks like an allergic reaction to something. An MD said it looks like eczema w/ edema. My naturopath thinks it doesn't look like eczema but a reaction to the carcinosin 200C. It feels like something wants to get out of my fingers and can't. I have the urge to pull on my fingers from the base to the tip as if to get something out of them.

In addition to that I have a 'stuck' feeling around my left ribs. Right around the part where your stomach go off to the left. Under my breast. It's definitely not a 'chest' issue, it's a stomach issue.

I also have anxiety surrounding why I have these symptoms. I don't like when things don't make sense to me or don't seem to have a cause.
If I know why it's happening or what I can do to help it, then I can handle it.

2. What other physical sufferings do you have in your body?
Since starting homeopathy, I feel more 'run-down' then usual. If it's been a really draining day, I'll feel 'flu-like' in the evening meaning joint aches, headache, feverish (although when I take my temp I don't have a fever).

At times I have a feeling of pressure in the center of my sternum area. Again this is not in my chest, but in my stomach. I thought it was ulcers, but I tested negative for H. Pylori. A doc will not give me an endoscope to check for hernia w/o first trying priolec and i don't want to take that stuff.
The carcinosin that I took made the sternum pressure go away, but now it's back four months later w/ the third carcinosin dose.

At times I'll get itchy all over my body.

Other things that bother me include a salt/metal taste in my mouth. This bothered me for about a month two years ago and went away on its own. Since the third dose of carcinosin it has come back.



3. What mental sufferings / feelings do you have associated with your physical sufferings?

anger (because I don't understand what's going on) slight indecisiveness about what to do. Need to gather as much info as I can. Trust issues surrounding 'who to trust' for the health advice,


4. What exactly do you feel when you are at your worst? Describe the sensation in your own words.

recently- 'flu-like' with headache, feverish (but no fever), stuck feeling in left side around ribs, like I have ruined my health

in the past I've felt my worst whenever I feel stuck in a situation that I feel I should be able to have control over. If it's something I can't control (natural disaster, someone dying etc.) then I'm fine with it. But if I feel as though a decision that I have to make can affect either a positive or negative consequence for myself and or others close to me I start putting a lot of pressure on myself to make the 'right choice'.

5. When did it all start? Can you connect it to any past event or disease?

The mental attitude described above started when I was a senior in high school. At that time I started solidifying a sense of who I wanted to be and where I wanted to end up in the world. At the same time I felt like it was up to me and me alone to make it happen and I really wanted to make everything work out.

The past series of events (red swollen fingers, angry at my health, etc.) started with the third dose of carcinosin 200C.

6. Which time of the day you are worst?
Evening. Always the evening. By the time I go to bed I'm often mess. I always feel better in the morning after my body has had a chance to rest and process both the physical and emotional issues of the day.

7. What are the things which aggravate your suffering and which are those which ameliorate the same?

Things that aggrevate my suffering are the pressure to make decisions. Also overeating, as my digestive system isn't very efficient at processing a lot at once. Things that ameliorate it are sleep, the outdoors, running, dancing, stretching, warm beverages, soothing foods with fats that my system can tolerate (avacados, dark chocolate. Moderation and balance in general have always ameleorated my conditions.

8. Do your think your sufferings have relation to any external stimuli (like, change of place) or any internal biological changes in the body, like, menses (in females)?

Not necessarily.


9. When do you feel better, during hot weather or cold weather, humid or dry weather?

I don't really like cold dry weather. I can't tolerate the cold like some people can. I like warm weather, and can tolerate hot weather better than most people I know. I like some moisture in the air and have a higher tolerance for humidity than most people, but dislike extremely humid days.


10. Describe your general mental set up?
I am curious, sympathetic, empathetic, passionate, sensitive. I like to find the humor in things and have a positive outlook, however I can be very serious and sensitive about the things that are 'close to my heat' and really matter to me (the things I'm passionate about)


- How do you feel before or during a thunderstorm?
I like the rain part. The thunderpart I'm ambivilous to. I don't like the lightning part. I'm likely to go to the basement so that lightning doesn't strike me. But I find the sound of the hard rain soothing and refreshing- almost cathartic.

- Do you like being consoled during your tough times?
I like when people will listen during tough times and build me up by saying things like 'I know you'll be okay', or help me brainstorm 'what will you do next'. I like hugs too.

- Are you sensitive to external stimuli like smell, noise, light etc?
Yes, but not to an extreme degree.

- Do you have any typical habit or gesture like nail biting, causeless
Weeping, talking to one self etc?
I've always pressed the hard edge of my cuticle into my other fingers. I've done this ever since childhood. It's a very discrete habit, most people don't notice I do it. It's not constant, but it's kind of a tension reliever.

- How do you feel about your friends, family, your children and especially your husband / wife?

I love my husband dearly. He's very supportive. He has a very 'fun' attitude which I find refreshing. I feel as though we're on different pages sometimes though- he makes decisions based on logic alone and has a hard time identifying his own 'values', although he deeply respects my values in life. I make my decisions based on my values, however, I deeply respect and am able to see his rational point of view. Sometimes I feel as though I have a sense of where I want life to go and he really doesn't.

My friends- I feel as though they all fulfill different functions in my life. Some are close friends for true emotional support. Some are friends for 'fun times', some are friends for 'identificaiton and association'. I'm okay with that variety. I do wish I could get to know more people like me though. In the area I live in most people tend to be consumerisitc and materialistic and bond w/ one another over spending money and having a 'good time' at expesive restaurants/bars/clothing stores. I have a hard time being that way so I tend to bond with the majority of people.

My family- I don't have much close family. I have my mom. I'm an only child. My mom had three miscarrages before me and was 42 when she had me, so she' always seen me as a very special 'gift' to her. My dad died when I was 10 years old of pancreatic cancer. My mom is a very emotional person w/ low self-esteem who isn't independently minded. After my dad died her father died. She went through menopause and started falling apart phsycially and emotionally. She continued working to support her and I but she hated her job, her life everything...except me. She definitely gave me the message growing up that she was 'living for me'. She didn't think very highly of herself and thought the world of me, however at the same time when I would do anything wrong she would not give me 'logical consequences'. Instead, she would say things like 'I have enough wrong in my life, I don't need this too.' She used guilt mainly as a punishment. Not on purpose, but she was very emotive and I was the sponge that absorbed her emotions. She never learned how to drive and we lived in the suburbs so she relied on her friends (she has many close friends) or me (once i learned how to drive) to take her places. Even when I was living in college, I would come home to take her to the grocery store and church on the weekends. When I moved out of state it was devistating to her because she didn't know 'what she would do without me'. Throughout my years of living out of state I've had to come home almost every year to care for her after some major operation that she'd have. She and I have grown a lot over the years from a co-dependent relationship. Even now- I still feel immensely responsible for her well-being. My husband and I have bought a house and she's coming to live with us this summer. It's a process cleaning her out of her own house since she holds onto 'things' as consolation for her grief after my father's death.

11. What are your fears and do you dream of any situation repeatedly?
My dream is to live a very simple life. I want to be close to my source of sustanence. I want to grow a lot of my own food. But I also don't want to be isolated. I want to live in community with others. Almost like how the Amish live. I want to have children and have my mom and my husband with me, but have them be happy too. =) I want to be a teacher of my own children and others too (but on a manageble level- I'm a classroom teacher now, and it's kind of unmanageble)

Biggest fear is that I will ruin my own health, or that I don't know how to take care of myself. Also, that I'll act on that dream above by moving to a semi-rural community and somehow end up ruining my own life and the life of my mom and husband.


12. What do you crave for in food items and what are your aversions?

Crave- Dark Chocolate (in moderation), Avacados, warm drinks like decaf tea or decaf coffee w/ milk, warm soups, apples, celery, cereal, bread, fish oil, olive oil, nuts,

Aversions-large amounts of cheese and cream (I can't digest these things and when I do I end up feeling like I'm on drugs or throwing up)
I also don't like red meat. It doesn't make me sick, but I just don't like it. The only meat I really like is fish and chicken

13. How is your thirst: Less, Normal or Excessive?
I tend to drink a lot of water. I wouldn't say excessive though.

14. How is your hunger: Less, Normal or Excessive?
I wouldn't say my hunger is excessive, but I'd call it scattered. Because of my schedule (I'm an elementary school teacher), I don't have much time to cook, so I tend to snack all day on the items mentioned on my 'craves' list.


15. Is there any kind of food which your body can’t stand?
Any kind of cream or heavy cheese like pizza. It's not that I don't like the taste, but it just sits in my stomach and I can't digest it.


16. Is your sweat normal or less or more? Where does it sweat more: Head, Trunk or Limbs?

I'd say I sweat normal. Definitely not excessive. My head doesn't really sweat. In fact, in the winter, I wear a hat indoors, almost constantly (sometimes even at night).
Normally when I sweat it doesn't smell, but sometimes it does- like when my body is itchy all over- it almost seems to be tied to a yeast thing...

17. How is your bowel movement and stool type?
I suffered from extreme constipation in college. Now I'm fine. I started probiotics about four months ago which have caused my stool to go from floating to sinking.


18. How well do you sleep? Do you have a particular posture of sleeping?
I sleep pretty well. When the stomach pressure bothers me I tend to 'dread' sleeping more, but I still fall asleep. I love sleeping on my side in the fetal position, but it bothers my shoulders. So I usually sleep on my back with my ankles crossed and my hands over my chest. Either that or on my back holding my husband's hand.

19. Do you think you are able to satisfy your sexual desires in general?
Yes. I can think about sex and satisfy my desires. My husband and I make love about once a week. Sometimes I wish it were a bit more passionate, he tends to be very methodical, but we talk openly about our desires. We communicate very well with one another about everything.

20. Do you have any strange, peculiar or unusual symptom or feelings? How are you different from others?
I'm different from others in that most of them tend to be focused on materialism and consumerism and not really think about where their food comes from. They are content to go to work at a job just to get money to buy stuff. I really want to respect the earth and be close to her and the plants and animals that give me food. I want to know where my water comes from and know that it's clean. I don't want to talk about people behind their backs but directly communicate with them to make our relationship better.

21. What medications have been taken earlier by you to treat the diseases and do you have any particular symptom surfacing after the medication?

Ever since an episode with religious fasting in college I take thyroid medication. I was told the fasting caused my thyroid to bottom out and that I might not have to take the medication permanently. However, 11 years later I am still on it. (they do bloodtests every 6 months to check my levels). I used to take synthroid .75 mg, but after recent bloodwork showing a high TSH I've been swithced to Armour Thyroid 90mg.

I used to take diflucan when I got a yeast infection (the itchiness all over). But that was about two-three years ago when I was in a brutal cycle of sinus infection-antibiotics-yeast infection-difulcan). Since using a neti-pot I broke the sinus infection cycle and no longer get infections. =)


The only other 'medication' I've taken is the carcinosin. I started that in August 2009.
Yes, the new symptoms of that are this crazy finger redness and swelling, as well as the 'flu-like' low stamina.

22. What major diseases are running in your family?
My mom's side is all degenerative diseases- arthritis, lympedema, high-blood pressure, neuralgia (and general never disorders), diabeties.

My dad's side is all cancer- 4 out of 6 of the siblings died of cancer, although all of the ones who died from cancer smoked (including my father who died from pancreatic cancer). One brother, was an alcoholic and died of liver cancer. The other two- lung cancer.

23. Describe, how do you look like? Describe your overall appearance.

I take after my father. I'm lanky. My limbs are straggly. I'm small boned. All my life people have told me I'm too thin. They told him that all his life too. It makes me sad when people tell me that becasue guess what, it's genetic!!! I try to eat healthy, but I'm not gonna go inhale 20 boxes of doughnuts like they all want me to because then my stomach will hurt and I'll get diabeties. My father suffered from people telling him that and he didn't eat very healthy and died of cancer. Although I was thin all my life, when I was little I was also short. I didn't grow until 10th grade. Now I'm 5' 7''. Not incredibly tall, but taller than average female. My dad was 6'.

My complexion is pale, but I tan in the summer. I don't really burn, except my nose, caps of shoulders, and chest.
I don't have many moles.

I have straight brown hair. I have a lot of body hair, like my dad.

My hands and feet are my moms. Despite being on the tall side I have really small hands and Size 6 feet. My feet are 'boxy' with short stubby little toes, just like hers.

I have grey eyes. Thick eyebrows and long eyelashes.

24. If your menstrual cycles are not normal, please describe the irregularities, like pains, moods, flow type, clots etc.

My menstrual cycles are pretty normal. They tend to be on the long side (36-40 days apart). They last about 5 days. I used to get really bad cramps on the first day, but since starting magnesium supplements the cramps have lessened some.
I get typical PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, but nothing over the top crazy.

25. What major diseases have you had in your life and when. Please write them in a chronological manner.

I wouldn't say I've had any major 'diseases'. I've suffered from chronic ear infections since infancy, then sinus infections. In college I did the 40 days no meat no dairy no sugar lenten fast (without thinking about proper nutrition) and lost a bunch of weight I couldn't afford to loose which shook up my system a bit. I recovered and regained the weight + some, which made me even healthier, but ever since then my digestion hasn't been great- they diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome in college. Also, the hypothyroidism came out of that. Every now and again if something doesn't agree with my I'll throw up, but it isn't frequent. When I took antibiotics I suffered frequent yeast infections, but since stopping the antibiotics I haven't had a yeast infection.
 
carrie009 last decade
I would also add my intake form in case it asks you to give information a little differently to the previous one.

GUIDELINES FOR GIVING HOMOEOPATHIC CASE INFORMATION

It is important to describe all your problems in as much detail as you are able. One word answers and short sentences are not particularly helpful. Discuss each problem one at a time, providing (as a minimum level of detail) the following information.

1. What exactly happens?
2. Describe all sensations and pains. Each pain or sensation should be described in such a way that allows us to imagine having the same pain.
3. What causes the problem to get worse after it has started occurring?
4. What creates some relief for the problem?
5. What triggers the problem into occuring?
6. What time of the day or night does the problem occur?
7. When did the problem start? What was happening in your life at that time? Did some specific event or treatment take place just before the problem started?

Move from one problem to the next, doing the same thing.

As well as this, please describe any traumatic indicidents that have taken place in your life. Discuss anything that has had a lasting impact on you mentally, emotionally or physically.

Discuss the way that you manage or deal with your problems, or any problems that occur in your life.

Discuss any patterns you have noticed in your behavior.

Discuss any part of your life where you feel stuck or unable to change and grow.

Describe your childhood and the kind of environment you grew up in, with reference to your relationships with your family, your school experiences, and any serious childhood diseases.

If your earlier discussions have not mentioned these already, please describe:

1. The specific foods that you crave (not just like) or hate
2. The specific drinks that you crave or hate
3. What your sleep is like
4. How the weather and the temperature affects you
5. What kinds of things in the environment you are particularly sensitive to
6. What your general level of energy is like
7. What your level of sexual energy or desire is like
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade

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