LEPROSY a homeopathic perspective By Dr.Neena Mehan, Assistant Professor,Dr. B.R.Sur.Homeopathic Medical College

2. Leprosy is a disease of global concern not only because of its potential
to affect large number of people and its continued transmission but
also because of the occurrence of deformities in a great proportion of
patients. It is also a fact that multi-drug regimen has been effective in
killing Mycobacterium leprae resulting in control of infection in
leprosy patients ,but it has no impact on associated disability due to
nerve function impairment and trophic ulcer in leprosy though the
patients are declared cured on the basis of absence of pathogens in the
host and absence of granuloma in tissue.
Homoeopathy creates a niche here to explore the other means of
treatment to save the leprosy patient from disability, provided we
learn to translate effectively the Hahnemannian Miasmatic approach
to the patient in suppressed susceptibility who presents with paucity
of symptoms and poor reactivity to homoeopathic medication.
Keywords:leprosy,MDT,lepra reactions,MDR cases,neuropathic
ulcer,homeopathic intervention

3. INTRODUCTION
Leprosy is a disease of global concern not only because of its
potential to affect large number of people and its continued
transmission but also because of the occurrence of
deformities in a great proportion of patients. It is also a fact
that multi-drug regimen has been effective in killing
Mycobacterium leprae resulting in control of infection in
leprosy patients ,but it has no impact on associated disability
due to nerve function impairment and trophic ulcer in
leprosy. Among all disabilities, leprosy contributes 15 –20%
disables. Thus, leprosy is a disease not only of public health
importance but has got tremendous socio-economic
implication.

4. In WHO recommended Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) regime,
patients are treated on detection of leprosy.
The aim of this treatment, however, confines to kill the
pathogens and to check the infection.
The patients are declared cured on the basis of absence of
pathogens in the host and absence of granuloma in tissue.
However, even after released from treatment (RFT), the patients
suffer from neuropathy, loss of pigmentation, ulcer and other
secondary complications for rest of their life.
In many cases after completion of MDT, the patients become
AFB negative, but the bacteria remain in dormant stage in skin,
nerve and in certain other locations like dartos muscle which can
cause relapse of the disease.

5. Bacterial resistance with consequent clinical inefficacy, clinical
improvement with no corresponding bacterial improvement,
precipitation of Lepra reactions of severe type drug toxicity and
sensitization reactions of varying severity are the problems with
MDT ,Lepra reactions pose a serious problem; some patient
need hospitalization for effective management. Recurrences are
frequent, making patient-acceptance low.
Newer, more potent medications pose the problem of costs:
Clofazoimine is 30 times while Rifampicine is 90 times more
costly than Dapsone. Greater potency against Lepra germs also
parallels greater toxicity for vital organs like the Liver, Kidney,
Bone-marrow Brain and Nerves. These reactions render the drug
unsuitable for many patients.

6. Then again, these drugs, in no way improves the ability of the
patient to fight the germs of Leprosy. That is a general drawback
of all Chemotherapy and Antibiotic Therapy.All this indicates the
need for an effective alternative to the problem of the
Management of Leprosy.
Needless to say that it is both an opportunity as well as an
obligation on part of the homeopaths to offer their gentler
branch of medicine of proven safety and effectiveness as an
additional means of managing the leprosy cases especially the
Multi Drug Resistant(MDR) cases,which may be apart of
bioterrorism attack. It may be pertinent to point out that the
natural evolution or weaponization of the biological pathogens
often involves alteration of their microbial genome to enhance
their virulence to render conventional medicines ineffective in
many cases.

7. As selection of homeopathic medicines is based on total
symptom picture, it is imperative to acquaint the patients and
public at large with preventive and curative aspects of
homeopathic system of medicine.
Homoeopathy creates a niche here to explore the other means
of treatment to save the leprosy patient from disability,
provided we learn to translate effectively, the Hahnemannian
Miasmatic Approach to the patient in suppressed susceptibility,
who presents with paucity of symptoms and poor reactivity to
homoeopathic medication. Clinical improvement is seen with
restoration of susceptibility through combining with the anti-miasmatic
remedy based on the presenting totality, the inter-current
remedy in frequent doses .
We are able to do it. Hahnemann stands vindicated!

8. THERAPEUTIC AIM
• To treat symptomatically
• To retard disease progress
• To reduce the lepra reactions
• To attain maximum functional power

9. MEDICAL TREATMENT
• INTERCURRENT
– Sulphur
– Thuja
– Tuberculinum
• SYMPTOMATIC
– Calotropis
– Chaulmoogra oil
– Elaeis
– Hura
– Hydrocotyle
– Piper methysticum

10. • CONTRACTURES/PARALYSIS
– Causticum
– Curare
– Plumbum metallicum
– Thallium
• TROPHIC ULCERS
– Anacardium occidentale
– Kalium bichromicum
– Thallium
• LEPRA REACTIONS
– Apis
– Arsenicum album
– Belladonna
– Mercurius solubilis
– Rhus toxicodendron

11. COMPILED BY:
Dr. Neena Mehan (Reader NFSG
Sur Homoepathic Medical College
and Hospital, IP University)