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Hyperhydrosis
Abraham C. Kuruvilla, MD
Jay Caliendo, BS
ABSTRACT
Hyperhydrosis is a distressing problem for patients due to the social and psychological issues in addition to the actual illness. Available allopathic treatments are either inadequate or invasive. The following 2 case reports offer another approach using integrated complementary alternative medicine (CAM), modalities that are effective and non-invasive.
Energy diagnosis was made by medical intuition in these 2 cases. Therapeutic interventions utilized principles of acupuncture and homeopathy. After 8 weeks of therapy, patients were free of symptoms.
KEY WORDS
Hyperhydrosis, CAM, Medical Intuition, Acupuncture, Homeopathy
INTRODUCTION
Hyperhydrosis is overproduction of sweat by the exocrine sweat glands, localized and generalized. If a primary disease such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes is not the etiology, treatment is symptomatic. Available treatments are antiperspirants, tap water iontophoresis, botulinum injection, anticholinergic medications, surgical extirpation, and thoracic sympathectomy.1 Integrated energy medicine applications of medical intuition, homeopathy, and acupuncture are not reported for the treatment of hyperhidrosis.2
The purpose of these case reports is to describe the successful management of 2 cases of severe hyperhidrosis, using medical intuition for the diagnosis of energy malfunction in hyperhidrosis. This enables the healer to use the appropriate energy modalities, which in these cases were acupuncture and homeopathy.
CASE REPORTS
Case Report 1
A 24-year old woman presented with hyperhidrosis following knee surgery 6 years prior to medical intuitive evaluation. The patient reported the necessity to change clothes 2-3 times during the workday because of excessive, generalized sweating. She complained of excessive salivation, especially at night. Both heat and cold made her worse. Allopathic medical evaluation did not lead to any primary diagnosis. Symptomatic treatment was recommended.
Methods
Medical Intuitive Diagnosis
Medical intuitive diagnosis showed lack of pancreatic energy causing overheating. Homeopathic repertorisation identified Mercurius Solubilis because of excessive perspiration and salivation, worse in heat and cold.3,4
Treatment
Acupuncture analysis suggested moving energy through Spleen/ Pancreas and draining heat points.5,6 Acupuncture treatment began with needling SP 6 and 9, LU 7, LI 4, and ST 36 to move energy through Tai Yin-Yang Ming meredian.5 The heat draining points of LR 2 and 3, CV 17, and cooling points of KI 3 and 7 were needled.6 Treatment continued weekly for 8 weeks.
The homeopathic remedy, Mercurius Solubilis, began 3 weeks into treatment at 30 C, 3 pellets sublingually every 12 hours, continuing for 2 more months (after acupuncture).
RESULTS
Sweating resolved completely by 8 weeks of weekly acupuncture. The patient remains free from excessive sweating 12 months from the cessation of treatments.
Case Report 2
A 22-year old woman presented with similar symptoms of hyperhydrosis, including the need for multiple clothing changes during the school day. Her past medical history revealed fainting and falling spells from 0 to 18 years with a predominance of the left side of the body.
Methods
Medical Intuitive Diagnosis
Medical intuitive diagnosis revealed immune-related energy block causing overheating of body energy. Energy reading identified thymus-related dysfunction. Homeopathic repertorisation led to the remedy, Phosphorus.3,4
Treatment
Acupuncture analysis led to the Spleen as the main organ with the need for immune system energy enhancing. SP 6 and 9, LU 7, LI 4, and ST 36 were needled. CV 17, and LR 2 and 3 were needled for heat relieving. KI 3 and 7 were needled for cooling effect. Treatment continued weekly for 8 weeks.
For immune system enhancement, LI 11 and GV 14 were needled. Three weeks later, Phosphorus 30C was started sublingually, 3 pellets at a time every 12 hours, which led to drying and peeling of the skin in place of excess sweating.
RESULTS
Sweating resolved completely by 8 weeks of weekly acupuncture. Phosphorus was continued for 2 more months (after acupuncture). The patient remains free of hyperhydrosis 10 months from cessation of treatments.
DISCUSSION
Hyperhydrosis, which affects a significant number of patients, is treated symptomatically in allopathic medicine, requiring invasive modalities of therapy.1 However, complementary alternative therapies manage hyperhydrosis cases not symptomatically, but seeks the energy malfunction and resultant treatment. The 2 patients described here had identical symptoms, but 2 different intuitive diagnoses. The homeopathic repertorisation of case #1 recognized excessive salivation and heavy perspiration, worse with heat and cold. This led to the selection of Mercurius Solubilis as the remedy of choice.
Though case #2 had identical physical symptoms, repertorisation recognized the history of fainting and falling and the left-sided symptomatic dominance of sweating. This led to the choice of Phosphorus as the remedy. Therefore, the treatments were different, homeopathically.
Acupuncture treatment was similar in the 2 cases, but case #2 received specific immune points of LI 11 and GV 14.
CONCLUSION
These 2 cases demonstrate the importance of integrating the modalities of medical intuition, acupuncture, and homeopathy in managing patients with hyperhidrosis. Among these modalities, acupuncture is accepted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a therapeutic modality in several medical conditions.7 CAM interventions may be helpful in managing severe cases of hyperhydrosis. Clearly, larger numbers of patients and an appropriately designed clinical investigation are needed to research this clinical challenge.
REFERENCES
- Togel B, Greve B. Current therapeutic strategies for hyperhydrosis. Eur J Dermatol. 2002;12(3):219-223.
- Kuruvilla AC, Caliendo J. Altern Complementary Ther. 2000;6(6):331-336.
- Boericke W. Homeopathic Materia Medica. 9th ed. Columbia, MO: South Asia Books; 2003.
- Mondal TC. Textbook of Homeopathic Materia Medica Volume 1. Books and Allied Ltd.; 2000.
- Helms JM. Acupuncture Energetics: A Clinical Approach for Physicians. Berkeley, CA: Acupuncture Publishers; 1995.
- Arnold M. AAMA Workshop in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2001.
- NIH Consensus Development Panel on Acupuncture. JAMA. 1998;280: 1518-1524.
AUTHORS' INFORMATION
Dr Abraham C. Kuruvilla is a Family Practice Physician in Guadalupe, Arizona. Dr Kuruvilla is Board-certified in Family practice, Pediatrics, and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.
Abraham C. Kuruvilla, MD, MD(H)*
5825 E. Calle Guadalupe
Guadalupe, AZ 85283
Phone: 480-344-6000
Fax: 480-344-6001
E-mail: Abraham.Kuruvilla@hcs.maricopa.gov
Jay Caliendo, BS, is in private practice specializing in Medical Intuitive in Phoenix, Arizona.
Jay Caliendo, BS
www.medicalintuitive.com
*Correspondence and reprint requests
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