A 6-month-old female baby was brought to use a Hemangioma on the scalp located at the vertex. A gradually increasing, benign tumurous growth of the blood vessels was noticed when the child was 12 days old, although the delivery had been normal.

There were no other noticeable symptoms.
In Dearborn’s book on skin diseases, Fluoric acid, Lycopodium, Calcarea flour, cundurango, Belladonna, aconite are mentioned as having pronounced capillary and vascular action. Lachesis has not been mentioned anywhere. In this case, Lachesis was chosen on the basis of its strong affinity for the capillaries and the bluish – red appearance of the growth.

Homoeopathic Prescription
Lachesis 10 N was prescribed as 3 unit doses at every 10 minutes interval. A fortnight later, it was seen that the reddish blue colour was fading and the growth was paler now. The baby was kept on placebo for 2 months during which the size of the tumor reduced considerably. In between the baby developed itchy vesicular eruptions on the scalp for which sulphur 200 was given once with much relief. Lachesis 50 M followed it as the hemangioma was much smaller and paler by then. The tumurous growth disappeared in about 6 months.

RECURRENT BREAST ABSCESS

Presenting complaints:
Mrs. P. D., around 50 years of age , consulted us for recurrent bilateral breast abscesses. The first abscess had appeared on the right breast 20 years back, following a nursing injury while feeding her baby. She took some allopathic treatment with temporary relief but the abscess formation became recurrent involving even the left breast. Abscesses were full of blood and pus
accompanied by an offensive discharge as well. Her skin in general was unhealthy & would generally take a long time to heal. Her breast was painful on pressure and was also worse from tight fitting clothes. The right nipple had retracted with nodule formation in both breast but she had not gone in for a mammogram which was advised. Due to the recurrent infection, she felt feverish & listless. On examination, there was a visible, mobile swelling on the right side of the suprasternal notch.

Constitutionally, she also had a tendency to catch cold easily, especially on exposure to draft of air or on getting wet in the rain, which led to watery coryza also with sneezing. She had resorted to some home homoeopathic treatment earlier for her rhinitis which had helped her.

The patient
There was a history of serious mental trauma when her house was robbed on two occasions in the past. One attack was about 25 years ago and the was about 8 years back which had a major lasting impression on her & consequently she became very quiet over the years. She admitted that although she would often brood over her troubles, she felt better she spoke out about her worries & also preferred being in company.

Homoeopathic prescription
Based on her chilly nature and the offensive the offensive discharge’ she was initially given Graphite’s 30 TDS for 3 weeks.

On her next visit, the pain in the breasts nodules was slightly less. She had developed slight fry couth especially worse in the morning and at night since last few days with heaviness in head. all the sinuses were tender especially more so over the right maxillary and frontal ones. Investigation showed a rise in ESR up to 81 mm 1st hr. based on the recurrent abscess & delayed healing, sinus inflammation & sensitivity for cold, she was given silicea 30 qid on a regular basis and was advised a breast mammogram.

After 15 days, she came back with her mammogram report which was normal. On examination, her sinuses were still tender and because of her tendency to catch cold easily, this time she was given calcarea carb 30 for a week following by silicea 30 tds.
She came back after a period of 3 months and was quite happy to report that this winter she did not have any any abscess formation and pain in breast nodules was also better.
Although the pain in nodules kept recurring, with a reduced intensity but thankfully she never had abscess formation again. Calcarea carb 30 tds was repeated for a month and Belladonna 30 was given as an acute remedy for pain. It is interesting to note that Belladonna is also the acute of Calcarea carb.