Mrs. Suman, 32 years, average height and thin built, wheatish complexioned, consulted on 7-6-04 for the following complaints:
Pterygium b/l < left since many years. Pricking pains on and off.Recurrent tendency for hard stool with pain and bleeding since many years.Recurrent URTI since 3-4 years.Since 2-3 years menses 5-7/ 15-20 days (earlier the cycle was 3-4/ 25-28 days). They have also been painful- pain starts in back and abdomen before the menses and continue the first 3-4 days. She feels better with hot fomentation.She had been married for about 16 years and has had 3 home deliveries and 2 MTPs.She had suffered from jaundice 5-6 years back.No other major illness in past.She had a marked Craving for Tea (she has about 6-8 times every day). She preferred spicy food.Rx
Thea 30 3 doses
S/L 30 bd
Placebo 30 bd
(She was prescribed Thea on the basis of excessive tea drinking – that being the only available definite point in the available history)
She was repeated Thea 2 more times over next three months with no relief in any of the complaints. Her pterygium was also troubling her a lot.
On 10-9-04 she came in great agony as she had terrible bleeding with hard
stool. She had splinter like pain during and after stool.
Rx
Ratanhia 30, 4 pills 2 hourly.
13-9-04
Much better >>>
Rx
Placebo 30, 3 hourly
18-9-04
Bowels are much better. Normal soft stool without pain or bleeding. She also felt less pain in her pterygium and was wondering if I had given her something for that also.
Rx
SL 30, tid
Placebo 30, tid
28-9-04
>>> Periods started today. Did not have much pain during menses this time.
Rx
SL 30, tid
Placebo 30, tid
12-10-04
Last period lasted for about 5 days. Flow and pain were less. Pterygium has shrunken to a great extent. Bowels ok. No attack of URI in between.
Rx
SL 30, tid
Placebo 30, tid
20-10-04
>>>
Rx
SL 30, tid
Placebo 30, tid
29-10-04
Menses started on 25-10. Flow and pain were less like last time. Feels better in every way.
Rx
SL 30, tid
Placebo 30, tid
She continued to be well and had normal menses on 21-11-04, 18-12-04. On 12-1-05 she came again with pain in back and abdomen and she felt menses were due. She did not have any other complaint. As her menses were due she was just prescribed Zentine 30 3 hourly and advised hot fomentation.
Her menses started on 15-1-05 and again were very painful and heavy lasting full 7 days.
25-1-05
Rx
Ratanhia 30 bd x 7 days
Placebo 200 bd
Her menses on 11-2-05 were again better, lasting for 5 days without much discomfort.
She continued to improve till June 05 when she was again prescribed Ratanhia 30 bd for 7 days post menstrually.
Her last follow up was on 29-9-05. She has not had any trouble with bowels ever since. Her eyes are much better. Menses have also not been giving any trouble.
Rx
SL 1000, tid
Placebo 1000, tid
In this case I could never have imagined giving Ratanhia for the totality. It was only chance prescribing and something called a lucky hit.
I read later that Ratanhia is one of the few remedies (others being Apis, Lach and Sulph) having both fissure and pterygium in its sphere of action. But this peculiar combination is most marked in Ratanhia.
Clarke also writes in Ratanhia, under Female Sexual Organs: Catamenia too early and of too long duration, and too copious, with pain in abdomen and loins. (He gives eight other symptoms under it)
The other important concomitants reminding us of this lesser known remedy are tendency for pinworms and violent hiccoughs.