LEARNING FROM THE SEMINAR ON HOMOEOPATHY AND MENTAL HEALTH
Dr. Jayant Rughani
Dr. Dharmesh Bhadja
Dr. Nishant Pandya, Rajkot, Gujarat
To celebrate the 264th Birth Anniversary of Dr Samuel Hahnemann, L. R. Shah Homoeopathy College, Rajkot arranged a one-day seminar on Homoeopathy & Mental Health at the Gardi Vidyapith Campus, Rajkot, on 7th April, 2019. Dr Manoj Patel (Professor and HOD, Psychiatry Department, Dr M. L. Dhawale Memorial Homoeopathic Institute, Palghar) was invited to be the keynote speaker for the seminar.
The event was sponsored by the Smt. T.V. Mehta Charitable Foundation, & graced by Hon. Dr Nitin Pethani (Vice-Chancellor, Saurashtra University), Hon. Dr Vijay Deshani (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Saurashtra University), Hon. Dr Mehul Rupani (Syndicate Member, Saurashtra University), and Mr Kirit Adroja (Managing Director, Angel Pumps). Along with all the dignitaries, Mr D. V. Mehta (Chairman), Mr Kiran Shah (Trustee), and Mr Jay Mehta (Managing Director) from the college were also present to host the entire event. The whole programme was marshalled by the Principal Dr Arvind Bhatt, co-ordinated by Dr Nishant Pandya (Academic In-charge), and supported by the teaching faculty and students of the college.
More than 400 delegates from all over Gujarat registered for and attended the seminar. The participants comprised Homoeopathic doctors, students from first to final year BHMS, interns from all the Homoeopathic colleges of Rajkot and a few from other parts of Gujarat. The event was of special interest for local ICR and MLDMHI alumni. Many of them came to participate & meet Dr. Manoj and other colleagues, making the atmosphere warm and congenial.
After giving a brief introduction on the various aspects of the mind & its importance in Homoeopathic practice, Dr Manoj presented an interesting case of a lady suffering from fibromyalgia and primary infertility. The session was conducted through AV presentation and the audience was quite happy with active interaction between speaker and participants. The case was successfully treated with Cimicifuga.
The second case of Opium, though short, taught about the scope of Homoeopathy in a seemingly hopeless case of alcohol-induced coma (coma vigil) in a tribal area with meagre resources. It revealed the intense commitment and selfless community service offered by our institute.
The third case (Mag Mur) was from the IPD of the Rural Homoeopathic Hospital (RHH), Palghar. It emphasised how the knowledge of Organon pertaining to mental diseases, coupled with that of Psychiatry, helps solve such cases. The journey of the distraught lady from disease to health was witnessed and appreciated by all.
Lastly, Dr. Vivek Vasoya, PG student from Palghar, presented a case of Kali Brom. He shared how RHH, Palghar, offered opportunities to witness, treat, and share such cases.
The most important learning was how integration of various principles (explained in the Aphorisms) of the Organon of Medicine with sound clinical knowledge permits successful management of seemingly difficult cases. The group also learned how to approach Psychiatric cases in an IPD. Moreover, a few Homoeopathic Materia Medica drugs were compared & contrasted to make homoeopathic practice Easy, Effective, and Efficient. Finally, the take-home learning was how to manage patients with mental health issues, and treat them step by step as each layer of illness unfolds during treatment.
At the end, a vote of thanks was given by Dr. Arvind Bhatt, College Principal, to the speaker and participants for responding so well.
Some of the group’s comments and feelings: –
- It was obviously amazing. The students could not ask for anything better.
- We got glimpses about how and what Homoeopathy can do.
- Our confidence in Homoeopathy was reinforced through the case presentations.
- The speaker was very dynamic and displayed In-depth knowledge and command over the subject. It was a lively interactive seminar with active involvement of the audience.
- The seminar succeeded in bringing diverse groups under one roof
Personally, we consider this event as a kick-start towards further alumni activities of the ICR & the MLDMHI at Rajkot. We are also looking forward to starting the internee orientation programme with the help of HECT, Vadodara.
