A CASE OF CHRONIC INSOMNIA CURED BY HOMOEOPATHY

Gyandas G Wadhwani MD (Hom)

Chief Medical Officer (H), Directorate of Ayush (Homoeopathic Wing), Govt of National
Capital Territory of Delhi, India. Email: drgyanwadhwani@yahoo.co.in

Summary
A 62 years old lady consulted for chronic insomnia of 10-12 years duration, which
had deeply impaired her day-to-day functioning. Homoeopathic remedy Gelsemium
sempervirens, in LM potencies, provided relief in a short span of 7 days. The
remedy was continued for another 3 months after which she did not feel the need
for further medication. Homoeopathic treatment not only relieved her long-standing
complaint but also improved the quality of her life.
Keywords
Insomnia, Homoeopathy, Gelsemium sempervirens
Introduction
Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint affecting nearly 30-35 percent of
adults. Insomnia may include:
Difficulty falling asleep
Waking up often during the night and having trouble falling asleep
Waking up too early in the morning
Feeling tired upon waking
It is classified as short-term and chronic or primary and secondary.
Short-term insomnia lasts for up to three months. It occurs in 15 to 20
percent of people.
Insomnia is called chronic when a person has insomnia at least three nights a
week for three months or longer.
Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not
directly associated with any other health condition or problem.
Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because
of something else, such as a health condition (like asthma, depression,
arthritis, cancer, GERD etc), pain, drugs, alcohol etc.
It is more common in groups such as older adults, women, people under stress and
people with certain medical and mental health problems such as depression. Other
major causes include:
Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce,
shifting etc)
Illness
Emotional or physical discomfort
Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold)

that interfere with sleep

Some medications may interfere with sleep
Interferences in normal sleep schedule (jet lag, shift duties etc.)
Pain or discomfort
Depression and/ or anxiety
Etc.

Though acute cases may resolve on their own, treatment of chronic cases can be a
tricky terrain. Techniques such as sleep hygiene, relaxation exercises, sleep
restriction therapy and reconditioning may prove to be useful. It is strongly
recommended to avoid using over-the-counter sleeping pills because they tend to
lose their effectiveness over time besides causing undesired side-effects.
Homoeopathy can prove to be a boon to the insomniacs. There is no such thing as a
sleeping tablet in homoeopathy, and the classical homoeopathic approach (case
perceiving as per guidelines of Organon and homoeopathic philosophy), considering
the sleep disturbance as part of the overall clinical picture helps in identifying the
suitable remedy. The determined remedy, which resonates the pattern of the sleep
disturbance, solves the problem, as we experienced in the following case.
Case study
A lady of 62 years first consulted us on 12/08/2014 for insomnia. She was of an
average built and height, having coloured hair, puffiness under the eyes and dry
lips.
Her sleep had been disturbed off and on since past 10 to 12 years. She
generally went to bed by 9:30 - 10:00 PM and left it by 6:30 AM. On (few)
good days she was able to sleep in half hour and on other days she lay
awake till about 1:00 AM. She usually woke up 2-3 times at night, thinking
something, and had an urge to pass urine. The frequency was more if she
was disturbed by some recent happenings or news (viz. death). She could
however, fall asleep again.
The complaints had started after her husband had been transferred to Middle
East. She had to leave her sons behind and she worried constantly how they
would manage. Also the apartment where she stayed was on the top floor
and in spite of constant air-conditioning, extremely hot. Another factor was
her husbands official visits to desert areas for couple of days frequently,
when he would be out of communication. This added to her anxieties and she
would pass sleepless nights imagining what if something happened to her?
Any news of death in family, hearing or reading of someones death would
make her conditions worse.
Preferred sleeping on sides; liked a dark room but able to sleep in slight light
also; no salivation during sleep.
Since the same time, she also felt a poor stamina for work; mornings were
usually dull and she needed time till afternoon to settle
She would lose her appetite and feel nauseous, especially when sleep was
disturbed.

Since one and a half years, felt slight pain in the proximal inter-phalangeal
joints of hands during winter, which improved by rubbing and massage.

TREATMENT TAKEN
Alprazolam 0.25mg for the nearly10 years, however sleep continued to
be disturbed; discontinued 2 years back
Homoeopathic treatment for last two years without relief.
PAST ILLNESSES
Superficial occipital head injury in 1980 due to a road accident.
Severe right hip pain on rising fromfloor for a few months in 2007;improved
with exercises and physiotherapy
FAMILY ILLNESSES
Mother: HT
Brothers: HT and DM
Sister: HT
PERSONAL HISTORY
Diet: Eggetarian
Education- Graduate
Married since 1973;she is a homemaker
Menopause 10-12- years earlier
G2P2A0
GENERALS
Appetite:generally poor; lesser when sleep is disturbed; can fast comfortably
Thirst- 7 to 8 glasses per day; doesnt like very cold water
Desires- Salty, cottage cheese, curd, banana (especially while she was
staying in Middle East)
Aversion- milk
Urine- D7-8 N2-3
Perspiration- poor
Thermal reaction- feels very cold in winters (chilly)
MIND & DISPOSITION
Domineering by nature
Anxious and apprehensive
Found it difficult to forget her previous happenings
GPE
Weight -51.6 kg,
B.P.- 140/80 mmHg,
CASE ANALYSIS
The most characteristic aspect of the case appeared to be the circumstances of
onset and her reaction to it. Her apprehensions during her stay (how would her

sons manage or what if something happened to her etc.) and the overpowering
heat of her residence brought to mind the remedy Gelsemium sempervirens.
Further reference to the materia medica confirmed the choice of the remedy.
As the case demanded frequent repetition of the remedy hence LM potency scale
was chosen, as per the directions of Hahnemann in 6th edition of Organon.
PRESCRIPTION AND FOLLOW UP
DATE
GPE
12/08/14
02/09/14

BP-100/70mmHg
Wt- 51.5 kg

20/09/14

BP-110/70mmHg
Wt- 52.6 kg

14/10/14

BP-100/70mmHg
Wt- 52.3 kg

STATUS

Sleep: 1st seven days

sleep
was
same,
though
appetite
improved. Thereafter
sleeping daily from
10:00 PM to 6:00
AM
Occasionally urinary
urge
incontinence
(also
happened
earlier)
Feels more active
and alert
Flatulence
present
on most of last few
days;
Appetite improved;
Sleep: 10 PM to 6
AM; not continuous;
breaks early if sleeps
early or may wake
up 2-3 times.
Feels
generally
active
Appetite good;
Sleep better than
before 10 PM to 6
AM;
Bowels:
regular;
disturbed
when
travelled to Jaipur
Urinary incontinence

Rx
Gelsemium
0/1 OD
Gelsemium
0/2 OD

semp
semp

Gelsemium
0/3 OD

semp

Gelsemium
0/4 OD

semp

13/11/14

BP-100/70mmHg
Wt- 51.7 kg

on bumpy roads
Manages
daily
chores even during
morning hours as
she feels active and
energetic
Sleeping
daily
around 10:00 PM,
wakes
up
in
between,
however
can fall asleep again
after 10 to 20 min.
Urine control is good

Gelsemium
0/5 OD

semp

She did not report for follow up thereafter. However, her son who consults regularly
said that she sleeps very well and does not feel any need to visit the dispensary
again. Her overall activity levels are good.
Discussion and conclusion
We have read in materia medica that Gelsemium sempervirens personality suffers
severely from anticipation of any ordeal or happening. Cyrus Maxwell Boger writes
this as Dread of an ordeal. As Henry Newell Guernsey has explained, This
Gelsemium fright is an awe-stricken feeling, a deep-seated fright or fear, that has
made a deep impression. And thus we found in the above mentioned case.
Another interesting point of discussion is that Gelsemium sempervirens is usually
identified as one of the drowsy and sleepy remedies of our homoeopathic materia
medica. However, Constantine Hering in his Guiding Symptoms mentions nearly 21
symptoms under the section on sleep, out of which 9 symptoms refer to
sleeplessness, and that too in highest grade!
The symptoms are reproduced for reference:
Cannot get to sleep on going to bed at night, on account of thinking,
which she cannot control.
Sleeplessness from nervous irritation.
Sleeplessness ; a wide awake feeling.
Wakeful or lies in a half awake state ; incoherent talk.
Languid, drowsy, but cannot compose mind for sleep.
Sleeplessness during dentition.
Sleeplessness in delirium tremens.
Sleepless from violent itching of face, head and shoulders ; also from
exhaustion.
Very restless during night, especially towards morning ; unpleasant
dreams after midnight.

This case highlights the multi-dimensional applicability of the homoeopathic

remedies. The same drug that proves to be helpful in those patients who are
drowsy and sleepy may also prove to be of value in those who are unable to sleep,
if symptoms agree!
The effects of insomnia can impact nearly every aspect of your life. Studies show
that insomnia negatively affects work performance, impairs decision-making and
can damage relationships. In most cases, people with insomnia report a worse
overall quality of life.
3 months of homeopathic treatment in the said case restored the quality of her
life back to optimum, lost due to 10-12 years of chronic insomnia. As Hahnemann
has pointed out in in the 2nd aphorism of Organon, the above mentioned case study
highlights restoration of health in shortest possible duration!
Bibliography
1. http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/insomnia-symptoms-andcauses as accessed on 24-1-16
2. http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/insomnia as accessed on
24-1-16
3. http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/bha-charity/how-we-can-help/conditionsa-z/insomnia/ as accessed on 24-1-16
4. Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine. 5th and 6th ed. India: B Jain Publishers
(P) Ltd.; 2009.
5. Boger CM. A Synoptic Key to the Materia Medica. India: B Jain Publishers (P)
Ltd.; 1999.
6. Guernsey HN. Key-notes to the Materia Medica. India: B Jain Publishers (P)
Ltd.; 1999.
7. Hering C. The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica. India: B Jain
Publishers (P) Ltd.; 1997.