Healing with Homeopathy

by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, MSW, and Robert Ullman, ND

Homeopathy for ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura)

What Is ITP and How Do I Know If I Have It?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) is a blood disorder associated with unusually low levels of platelets, the cells that help blood to clot. In adults, the disorder often becomes chronic. Although there may be no symptoms at all, the two patients we have treated have presented with:

• excessive bruising (purpura)

• superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as pinpoint-sized reddish purple spots (petechiae), generally on the lower legs

• spontaneous nosebleeds

• purplish spots inside the mouth

• fatigue

The condition is called “idiopathic” because the exact cause is unknown. This is perfect for homeopathic treatment, since we treat the underlying imbalance and return equilibrium to the vital force, of which the immune system is a part. Common medical wisdom explains that in ITP the immune system malfunctions and begins attacking the platelets as if they were a foreign substance. The spleen, which helps your body fight infection, then removes the platelets from your system. Your normal platelet count is over 150,000 compared with those with ITP, in whom the count can fall to 20,000 or, more dangerously, 10,000. At this point, you would be at risk of internal bleeding, especially to the brain, which could be fatal. The first line of treatment with conventional medicine is corticosteroids, which can cause long-term side effects of bone loss, cataracts, and elevated blood sugar. In some cases, when the steroids are not effective, the spleen is removed, making the person more vulnerable to infection.

Carlos’s case, presented below, is only the second ITP instance we have seen in our practice. In both cases, the patients responded extremely well to the same homeopathic medicine. So, although our experience with ITP is limited, the case seems worthwhile to share.

Carlos: Life-Threatening ITP

Carlos, 44 years old, was from the Southwest:

They say this is about my platelets, but I have come to realize that I have felt under siege my whole life. Hypervigilant. I am a wilderness guide. I have intense tracking capacity. A month ago I was headed out to meet with a shamanic teacher. I found purplish, black hematomas inside my mouth. They lasted a day, cleared up, then they returned. Soon after I found a big clot two-thirds up my lower leg. Then I began seeing small bruises on my arms and legs. An MD sent me to the ER, and I was diagnosed with ITP. They prescribed prednisone. My platelets were around 3000. My symptoms worsened to the point that even sleeping with my legs together would cause them to turn purple. Especially my calves. A transfusion bumped the platelets to 23,000, but they had plummeted to 9,000 by the next day. I called the after-hours oncologist, and he told me to “wait until I stroked out” to go back to the ER.I trusted my instincts and went back anyway. My platelets had fallen again to 3,000. They changed the prednisone to dexamethasone. A bone marrow biopsy led them to hospitalize me and treat me IV. That boosted the platelets to 70,000, but I developed migraines, massive vomiting, massive pressure in my brain, inflammation in my heart, and two days of hallucinations. A very severe response. I could feel the vascular activity.

I received an urgent mail that night informing me that the platelets had again fallen below 3000 and were still at critical levels. The doctors became quite nervous. It looked like I had a life-threatening or life-chronic form of ITP.

At the time of Carlos’s first homeopathic appointment, he was on prednisone 70 mg/day and Amicar 500 mg 4 times a day. The doctors were seriously considering prescribing Rituxan (rituxamab) to suppress his B cells.

A Tracker of Death

As a practitioner of shamanism, Carlos had considerable insight into his state, his tendencies, health, and healing.

I know I have boundary issues. This even has been as much of a mystical as a physical experience. I have had terrifying visions of my own apocalypse. The horizon literally flipped upside down. The natural world is one of revelation, understanding, exquisite experiences, and unfolding. Animals frequently appear to me. I was fearless even as a small child. No matter what jobs I’ve done, I’ve always had a reputation for pushing myself to the highest standards under incredible duress. I’m drawn by darkness, the underbelly of society, the mystery. The unknown, risk. There is always an element of danger.

I’m kind of a tracker of death. I can sense, even smell, when something or someone wants to die. It is like an animal instinct. That is why I can guide people into the underworld … I can even track animals when there are no prints.

It was clear that Carlos needed a homeopathic medicine from the animal kingdom because his issues were survival, vigilance, territoriality, strength and weakness, dominator and dominated, and instinct.

Which Animal Medicine?

We asked Carlos to tell us more about animals. To summarize: “Cougar, coyote, deer, and owl are allies. Snakes have shown up in altered states and I have become them. Tics, alligators, rattlesnakes … a constant state of fight or flight. Spiritual pursuit. The world is a dangerous place.

Carlos commented that he couldn’t handle tight clothing. It felt like a restriction. And that he had experienced situations of betrayal in his life. These symptoms are typical of snakes in homeopathy. Homeopathic snake medicines are also commonly know to treat hemorrhagic (blood) disorders.

We asked if Carlos had any issues with snakes. “I have a fascination with them. They way they move. The way they shed their skin. They have an incredible sensing body. No wasted energy. Close to the ground. Belly to the earth. … They know when it is time to sit in the sun, to rest, to nourish. Their entire bodies are in conversation with the environment. I long for that.”

Suspecting that Carlos needed a homeopathic snake medicine, we inquired about any previous problems with bleeding. “I’ve had so many different lacerations with bleeding. But my blood tends to be a little thick and pools. It just doesn’t run … I’ve had several injuries where I almost bled to death. Once a severed vein in my arm.”

A Clear Homeopathic Prescription

We knew that Carlos needed a homeopathic medicine from the animal kingdom and, more specifically, a snake. We had prescribed Crotalus horridus (North American rattlesnake) for our previous ITP patient, with rapid success. The homeopathic literature for Crotalus horridus says: “Sudden onset, especially of septic states. Blood poisoning with hemorrhages. Bleeding from all orifices in the body. Blood is fluid or partly clotted …

Prostration with general collapse. Ulceration and bleeding in the mouth.”

The characteristics of those needing homeopathic medicines prepared from snake venoms are:

• intensity

• clairvoyance

• fascination with the supernatural, the mystical worlds, and the underworld

• vivid descriptions

• charisma

• issues of suddenness, attack, disguise, concealment, ambush, ability

The rattlesnake medicines are Crotalus cascavella (Brazilian rattlesnake) and Crotalus horridus. There are very similar, and it can often be difficult to differentiate which one is better for the patient. In Carlos’s case, he mentioned his thick blood, which is a keynote for Crotalus horridus (literally thick, stringy, clotted blood). In addition, Crotalus horridus is more prominently indicated for hemorrhagic conditions. There are a number of other subtle distinctions between the two medicines that are beyond the scope of this column. We felt quite confident in the prescription of Crotalus horridus 30C liquid daily. It would have been fine to start with a dose of 200C or 1M first, especially considering Carlos’s intense nature, but we did not do that. We requested a report in one week.

Carlos’s Response

Carlos is quite an intense fellow and has a mind of his own. He did not respond in a week. In fact, he next contacted us 4 months later. This was his report:

My platelets have been within the normal range for the past two months. In addition to taking the remedy, I rested and underwent an inner transformation. My platelets started going up almost the day I started the remedy. First to 19,000, then 60,000, 111,000, then up to 160,000. My doctors were quite curious to see this. I had quit all of the other conventional treatments except for the steroids. They were initially quite worried because my levels were 2000 to 3000. I could feel the changed vascularity of my system. The doctors just figured that the steroids, for some inexplicable reason, suddenly kicked in. I had a rough patch for about 6 weeks coming off the steroids from 70 mg.

I’m still taking the remedy. I’m a spiritual journeyer. I have a particular scent for death. I have had a vision of my own death. A transformation. A shift to another state of consciousness. An annihilation of the ego.

We continued to give Carlos rattlesnake with good response. His ITP did not resurface. One year, 8 months after we first saw him, he reported that his platelet count was 215,000. We last saw him 6 months ago and hope that he continues with homeopathy. Not only did homeopathy help Carlos dramatically, but he is the one of our most fascinating patients ever!

Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman are licensed naturopathic physicians, board certified in homeopathy in practice for over 30 years. They are authors of the best-selling Ritalin-Free Kids and Homeopathic Self-Care, as well as The Savvy Traveler’s Guide to Homeopathy and Natural Medicine, The Homeopathic Treatment of Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar Disorder, Whole Woman Homeopathy, Rage-Free Kids, A Drug-Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism, The Patient’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicine, and Mystics, Masters, Saints and Sages: Stories of Enlightenment. They have been pioneers in their field for over 30 years. Visit our information-packed, user-friendly website www.healthyhomeopathy.com, with lots of free articles, minibooks, and information about our books and our practice. Please follow and friend our Facebook page Healthy Homeopathy. They live on Whidbey Island, Washington, and in Pucón, Chile, and practice at the Northwest Center for Homeopathic Medicine in Edmonds, Washington. They treat patients in person and by phone or videoconference. Contact them at 425-774-5599, drreichenberg@gmail.com, or drbobullman@gmail.com.