Lichen Planus: an opportunity to know thyself !!!

I would like to share here, a case which I happen to see of my very close relative. Who was in a bad state, he was suffering a lot, almost in a state of depression because of intense itching since last couple of months. Initially when I happen to see it was difficult to understand as what it was, as there was lot of red eruptions with intense itching, later all of these eruptions were turning into a blackish pigmentation with a slight. This was more of the concern as it was all spreading all over viz. on his legs, abdomen, on dorsum of his palms.

He was already on modern medicine, he was given corticosteroids and moisturizer for to apply because of dryness.

Until he was taking medicine he was fine, but with this his weight started to increase, he was feeling more lethargic, appetite increased. It was not at all a healthy state to be, he was getting more irritated and this was all affecting his working.

At this point after 6-7 month being with modern medicine he approached me. He was been diagnosed as Lichen planus chronicus.

So let me tell you about this condition as what it is. So

What is lichen planus?

Lichen planus is is a cell-mediated immune response of unknown origin. Exactly why the immune response occurs is not known. It may be found with other diseases of altered immunity, such as ulcerative colitis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, dermatomyositis, morphea, lichen sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis. (autoimmune disorders)

There may be several contributing factors, and each case is different. Potential causes include viral infections, an allergen, or even stress or genetics.

Lichen planus.

It is not contagious.

The cause of it is unclear, and it said to autoimmune process, where the body itself fails to identify the host cells and start a process of reaction against it.

Some of the most common symptoms of lichen planus include the following:

-      purplish-colored lesions, or bumps, with flat tops (mostly found on the wrist, inner forearm, or ankles, but can be anywhere)

-      lesions that develop and spread over the course of two weeks to a few months

-      itching at the site of the rash

-      lesions in the mouth, which may be painful or cause a burning sensation

-      blisters, which become scabby after bursting

-      thin white lines over the rash

In addition to the cutaneous eruption, lichen planus can involve the following structures: Mucous membranes, genitalia, nails, scalp

Diagnosis: mostly it is through, the presentation of the eruptions, Lesions (eruptions) usually develop on flexural surfaces of the limbs, such as the wrist. After a week or more, a generalized eruption develops with maximal spreading within 2-16 weeks. In normal course the lesions subside in 6 months, few of them go into chronic stage, like affection in oral, genital region, but other areas affected lesion can also prolong and needs intervention.

Direct immunofluorescence study reveals globular deposits of immunoglobulin M (IgM) which is one the way to diagnose lichen planus

Prognosis & Treatment available: Lichen planus (LP) is a self-limited disease that usually resolves within 8-12 months. Mild cases can be treated with fluorinated topical steroids. More severe cases, especially those with scalp, nail, and mucous membrane involvement, may need more intensive therapy

They will need corticosteroids to be applied locally and orally taken. Anti histamine for intense itching.

How homeopathy works?

Homoeopathy works on principle of holism and individualization.

Homoeopathy is a science which is based on concepts of holism and individualism, means it tries to understand a person as a whole, not it treats as a part. For e.g. if a person is an suffering from migraine, then in modern medicine ….

About the case

I know him, as he is my relative, it does help you to understand the patient however the more specific you understand you are able to help patient better.

He had eruption all over the body, with intense itching this was worse when he would be changing the clothes, and he would find some relieve in the itching by cold application. This he was now suffering from last 1 ½ yr, and now it was progressively spreading which was a great worry for him, the texture of the skin also was changing. He said he is very much depressed, and was in stress 2 yrs ago, during that time he had joined a new job. It was very new for him, the work, the requirement in the job. It was his new first job. He was given certain responsibility on him to carry out. To his best ability he was getting adjusted to the environment and fulfilling the responsibility.

He was learning and growing, but it was too much stress.

This is very important in homeopathy, as the most stressful situation in your life tells about yourself, you reaction and feeling in that situation is very individualistic, which is very unique, this helps to find a very specific remedy for a patient.

So he says, my boss was very arrogant, he didn’t understand at all as what was I going through, how much I was making an effort to understand, but he would any time come and start yelling and shouting at me in front of everyone, initially it was shock to me, as how is he behaving, he was so rude in this behavior. Once it happened I thought it was over, but this became a routine for him.

He would just insult me in front of all, I just wanted to shout him back, and inside I was very angry, I just felt to scream at him. But I didn’t, just managed to control my anger, as it was not right, I cannot go down as he can, I can’t be like him. The inner experience intense anger, with heat on the head, inner trembling, he wanted to throw whatever was in his hand, he couldn’t speak properly. He would also suffer from head pains later. This affected me very much.

This experience in the stress is now very specific to him, and defines his specific sensitivity and reaction, which helps us individualize and come to very specific remedy for him.

Major factor of most of chronic diseases, of autoimmune condition is stress, how we deal with it.

In this fast moving life, you see more cases of life style disorder, allergies, and autoimmune condition coming up, which in modern medicine has only a palliative* approach

Homoeopathy instead gives you more holistic and individualistic

After giving few doses of homeopathic medicine in a months time, he started to feel better, he was more relaxed, the same environment in which he would be feeling very much insulted, he started to see things in more objective way. His learning improved. In coming months, his itching decreased, and in 3-4 month the eruptions receded back.  

But the first sign that he was getting better was he started to feel calmness in him, he was less sensitive to things around him. His energy was better; he could perceive the different person him. The intense anger, and irritation receded like the eruptions.

So the cure comes from within, the environment is still the same, the change is from within, the same situation doesn’t bother him, but he has adapted much better, he sees the comments, and shouting as objective.

Later he quit the job and was very much open for possibilities beyond that restrictive environment, he was pretty confident that things will happen well.

 Homeopathy

Plan of action:

1.     Background

2.     About the condition

3.     Lichen planus information

4.     Treatment in modern medicine

5.     About homoeopathy

6.     Concept

7.     Case

8.     Conclusion