The moment we hear ‘Chronic diseases’, the deep irreversible pathologies of cancer, renal failure, AIDS, liver failure, renal failure, dementia etc instantly flash before our minds, reminding us of the challenge they pose even to the most experienced amid us. And, among the chronic diseases, Cancer and AIDS like diseases prove to be a bigger obstacle still, a bane for the physicians and patients alike.
As I introspected over these loopholes I realized that cancer and AIDS like diseases are different from other irreversible diseases, not just because of the sheer emotions they evoke, the very nature of the aetiopathology of these diseases separates them from the others – in other chronic diseases it is the degeneration of tissues which brings forth the effects; whereas in these diseases it is the overgrowth or multiplication of and within the normal human body components, which give rise to the specific symptomatology. In cancers, it is the uncontrolled overgrowth of the respective tissues, while in AIDS it is the multiplication of the retro-virus in the immune system which ultimately ends in multi- system disorders.
Homoeopathic understanding of ‘disease’ has always been that ‘crystallization of the holistic altered pattern is disease’.
Now the same phenomenon is apparent at the local level - The altered cells though arising from the normal tissues represent an altered pattern at the local level too, so to speak. Also the pace of the growth of these mutant cells is extremely rapid – a tumour can grow and spread within a matter of months, and the virus once it has entered the body continues to replicate at a phenomenal rate! WON’T THIS MASS OF ALIEN TISSUE, GROWING AT SUCH AN ALARMING SPEED CARRY A DISTINCT ENERGY WITHIN ITSELF? IN FACT, AS THE MAGNITUDE OF THESE RAPIDLY GROWING ALTERED CELLS INCREASES, THEIR UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC ENERGY CREATES A SUPERIMPOSED STATE ON THE INDIVIDUAL. SO THE PATIENT’S CENTRAL DISTURBANCE LEADS UPTO THIS DISEASE, BUT THE DISEASE ITSELF PRODUCES A CORRESPONDING AND DEFINITIVE DISTURBANCE ON THE PATIENT, WHICH CAN BE TERMED AS THE PRESENT PREDOMINANT PATHOLOGICAL STATE.
So when this individual comes to me for treatment, I am seeing him through a smokescreen of this peripheral state, that is the Present Predominating Pathological state, which can be sometimes far removed from his innate state, i.e. the Predominant Persistent picture – like in this patient, who was just operated for Ca Breast and was about to begin chemotherapy. I gave her the requisite time and space to express herself in Passive CWP, I explored other aspects of her life right from her childhood nature, fears, and dreams to her life-space before being diagnosed with the malignancy. The persistent picture which came up in all areas was the Kali brom state.
Later I also asked her about the chief complaint area, that is the Present Predominant Pathological State. And surprisingly, the whole experience which surfaced there was of ‘constriction, suffocation as if the heart is being gripped and then relaxed…’ which is the Cactus state!
So now we have a patient with two completely unconnected co-existing states and a dilemma of ‘what next?’! In front of us is this patient who has his original state mixing with the powerful superimposed situational state!
Stepping back and looking at these questions from a basic perspective, I realized that the best way forward here would be to start with the usual Case Witnessing Process. We start with the Passive CWP which gives us a fair idea of where the patient is moving –
We start with the Passive Case Witnessing Process, and there can be 2 possibilities:-
- Either the patient is stuck with the local complaint and putting all his energy there, or
- The patient is traversing across different areas of his life at different times.
- One, we find that the patient is speaking on a general level, about everything which he is sensitive to; additionally he is going to vital areas like dreams, fears etc. So then we proceed normally to Active CWP with the focus, followed by Active- Active CWP towards the source; which describes the Predominant Persistent Picture.
In this case, I will ask about the CHANGES in the area of the disease only at the end of the case when I am sure about his inherent altered pattern. Once on this path, I will gather all individualistic expressions in the pathology area including Mental and Emotional changes, changes in his Physical Generals and Physical Particulars etc. since the time when he was not even aware of his illness, and thus recognize the Present Pathological State.
- But the greatest concern for us, and unfortunately the matter with most Cancer/ AIDS patients, is when they, in the PCWP, remain with only the disease energy and its impact on them. I go with the patient’s flow – if they want to speak about their disease I just let them go ahead with it. As a matter of fact since they are in touch with that sphere presently, I explore it completely with regards to all CHANGES physical, mental, emotional and holistic which they have observed in themselves, as these reflect the pattern of the disease energy. This will give us a complete picture of the Present Predominating Pathological state.
- Another technique I use to comprehend the Present Predominant Pathological State is the Internal Witnessing Process (IWP) where we can bypass the mind and straightaway get to the bottom of things by understanding the physical sensation in this intense situation.
(for details refer to the upcoming book on internal witnessing process)
Once the patient has expressed himself fully with regards to his pathology, the individual is now ready to embark on a more holistic journey, ready to emerge from the shadows of his disease, ready to move from the Present Predominant Pathological state to the Persistent Predominant Picture. At this instant I ask the patient about other areas like her childhood nature, her dreams and fears etc before the illness to find the common strand running through other aspects of his being. As the patients speak about their dreams, fears, childhood nature, their work, their stress etc a focus emerges from which we can proceed towards the altered state of the patient through Active and Active-Active Case Witnessing Processes.
Either the same state comes up, holistically and in the disease area, whereby the complete picture becomes clearer or two completely different states come up in these two areas, sometimes throwing us off track!
Same state or two different states
I have observed that in majority of the patients, the same state comes up in both the areas at the end of the Case-Witnessing Process. In terms of the remedy selection, the road is easier with the patient who is expressing the same state. In the first instance, naturally, we give that remedy which best matches with the essence of the patient.
However in the second case, I give two remedies – one according to the Present Predominating Pathological state and the second appropriate to the holistic Predominant Persistent Picture.
Confused?! Let me clarify! An analogy which is coming in my mind right now, to explain this technique is that of acute conditions caused by external factors.
An external factor like an intense situation or a virulent organism will affect each one of us. Now, the manner in which it will affect varies from person to person. As explained in my ‘Acute Case-Witnessing Process’ book, acute conditions, are of two types –
- One, where the Persistent state of the patient gets aggravated, that is the Internal Pattern itself surfaces or causes the acute; or
- The second type where the external situation is very intense like an epidemic or a natural disaster or a 9/11 type of crisis, which imposes its own distinct energy on the individual. A dominant situation or a highly virulent fever creates a powerful impression on the patient, a superimposed acute state, or an External pattern with marked changes in all his mental, physical and emotional aspects. Yet, these changes are always individualistic and holistic corresponding to a specific remedy.
Similarly the deep- seated active pathologies of malignancies and AIDS like diseases enforce their potent energies on the patient, bringing out an intense Predominating State. We have earlier termed this as the Present, Predominant Pathological state. Only a specific remedy congruent to this individualistic state will bring about results. In Acute conditions, where an External Pattern has come up, we give the remedy which is best suited to this acute state.
Conversely, in cases of cancers and AIDS like diseases, our deeper, vital, holistic being bears a continuous onslaught of the illness. Here, the whole organism is under severe strain, so alongwith the Present Predominating changes, the innate holistic state of the individual is also aggravated. Hence giving only the remedy based on the Present Predominant Pathological State will not help fully, a holistic approach is needed simultaneously. This is where I suggest that we can even give two remedies together too. No, don’t be so shocked! We are not digressing from the fundamental principles of Homeopathy.
We are still following the basic principle that – ‘The part cannot be well unless the whole is well’. Since the part and the whole are speaking two different languages, here, giving two remedies will ensure faster and lasting healing in these cases.
For further details refer to upcoming book of scientifically intuitive case witnessing process – Part II in difficult cases and conditions.