APPROACH TO ANOREXIA NERVOSA – A TEENAGE DISORDER

APPROACH TO ANOREXIA NERVOSA – A TEENAGE DISORDER

                                                                                      Dr. S. R. Ameerkhan Babu., M.D. (Hom)

A large number of teens and adults these days undertake anxiety about their appearance and opt for choices that steer them towards unhealthy eating disorders, affecting both physical and emotional wellbeing. Being heavy in earlier years and the influence of media, friends, even family at times can be accountable in promoting Anorexia as opposed to a healthy and balanced diet. Anorexia Nervosa requires immediate medical and psychological help, as it can become a life threatening condition.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by excessive food restriction and fear, irrational fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body self-perception. It typically involves excessive weight loss. Anorexia nervosa usually develops during adolescence and early adulthood. Due to the fear of gaining weight, people with this disorder restrict the amount of food they consume. This restriction of food intake causes metabolic and hormonal disorders. Outside of medical literature, the terms anorexia nervosa and anorexia are often used interchangeably; however, anorexia is simply a medical term for lack of appetite. However, people with anorexia nervosa do not lose their appetites.  Anorexia nervosa has many complicated implications and may be thought of as a lifelong illness that may never be truly cured, but only managed over time. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by low body weight, inappropriate eating habits and obsession with having a thin figure. Individuals suffering from it may also practice repeated weighing, measuring, and mirror gazing, alongside other obsessive actions, to make sure they are still thin, a common practice known as "body checking"

Causes of Anorexia Nervosa:

·         Unknown.

·         People with diverse cultural upbringing can develop Anorexia Nervosa if they hesitate adapting a new culture.

·         Being under continuous pressure of having an ideal figure, due to a Mom or sister with a perfect body.

·         Low self-esteem.

·         Traumatic events like rape, death of a loved one, etc.

·         Stress.

·         Hormonal changes.

·         Substance abuse.

Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa:

Anorexia sufferer’s typically exhibit a range of physical and behavioural symptoms, with physical sign that can include:

·         A substantial drop in body weight

·         Distended stomach

·         Fatigue

·         An erratic heart beat

·         Low blood pressure

·         Osteoporosis or poor bone density

·         Thinning hair; and

·         Dry skin

·         Hypokalaemia, a drop in the level of potassium in the blood, is a symptom of Anorexia nervosa. A significant drop in potassium can cause abnormal heart rhythms, constipation, fatigue, muscle damage and paralysis.

Psychological and behavioural symptoms are also common, and can include any of the following:

·         Obsessive exercising

·         Depression

·         Distorted self image

·         A fixation with food

·         A refusal to acknowledge they have a problem; and

·         Rejection of food and eating

·         50-75% of individuals with an eating disorder experience depression. In addition, 1 in 4 individuals who are diagnosed with anorexia nervosa also exhibit obsessive compulsive disorder

Self-care measures:

·         Identify the influences in your life that upholds your eating disorder.

·         Communicate with a family member or a close friend about your eating issues or over exercising.

·         Parents – do not make your child feel guilty about their eating problem.

·         Assist your child formulate a healthy relationship with food.

·         Commend your child for what they do and not what they look like.

·         Reinforce behaviors that promote healthy eating, healthy weight, body image and self-esteem.

·         Develop a resilient sense of identity based on your inner qualities rather than on appearance.

·         Appreciate the genetic diversity of body shapes and sizes.

·         Create a physically active lifestyle and take pleasure in eating well for health, energy and hunger satisfaction.

Homeopathic approach to Anorexia Nervosa:

Homoeopathy is a remarkable resource for those dealing with eating disorders. Homeopathic constitutional treatment based on the individual case is the most suitable and would aim to heal the underlying physical or emotional crisis causing eating disorders. The unique physical, emotional and mental expression of illness is characteristic and is used to channel the course of Homoeopathic treatment. The remedies work by stimulating body’s natural ability to heal itself, acting as a catalyst for healing. Homoeopathy can be of assistance in retrieving normal weight and treating any psychological issues related to Anorexia Nervosa. It will also prevent relapse of Anorexia Nervosa. Homeopathic remedies can help rebuild mind, body and spirit as well as personal relationships for a balanced lifestyle. Homeopathy will reinforce and tone the body’s systems. Homeopathic remedies can help deal with anxiety, depression, and stress along with stimulating appetite. It will attend to nutritional problems and help the patient develop a healthier body image.

Anorexia Rubrics

•   anorexia, nervosa - arg-n., ARS., calc., carc., caust., CHIN., hyos., ign., kali-p., lach., levo., merc., nat-m., perh., ph-ac., phos., puls., rhus-t., sac-alb., sep., staph., SULPH., syc., tarent., tetox., thuj., vanad., verat.

•    refuses, to eat - ars., bell., caust., cocc., croc., grat., HYOS., ign., KALI-CHL., kali-p., lach., op., PH-AC., phyt., plat., puls., sep., TARENT., VERAT., VIOL-O.

•   obsessive, compulsive disorder - anac., arg-n., ARS., aur., calc., CARC., HYOS.,ign., iod., MED., merc., nat-m., nat-s., NUX-V., plat., psor., PULS., sil., staph., stram., sulph., syph., thuj., verat.     

·         Arsenicum alb. - Extreme fastidiousness especially about germs and dirt. Anorexia coupled with fear of being poisoned. Fear of getting certain diseases so they starve.

·         Carcinosin - Obsessive compulsive disorder. Perfectionism, fear of becoming fat, fear of rejection. Etiology: abuse, grief or fears, often related to weight. Chronic insomnia, workaholics.

·          Hyosyamus - Anorexia plus mania, insanity, fear of being poisoned. Could have pathological jealousy, over concern about weight and getting fat.

·         Ignatia - Perfectionism, fear of becoming fat, fear of rejection. Hysteria - loss of control of emotions, fainting. Etiology: grief or big disappointment, often related to weight.

·         Natrum mur. - Most often indicated remedy in anorexia, a lot of guilt. Fear of being rejected, hurt easily, very self conscious. Dry lips, emaciate, dry skin, constipated, loose appetite. Behind this is perfectionism and fear of becoming fat. Nat mur have more confidence.

·         Phosphoric acid - Etiology: grief with loss of appetite with emaciation, pining away from loss of love, second stage they get indifferent to all emotions and food. Deadness inside (Sepia, Aurum met). Grief - anorexia than some chronic disease.

·         Platina met. - Obsessed with their appearance, fear of becoming fat. Very obsessive and impulsive personality, egocentric and arrogant, all tied up with their sexuality, religious mania.

·         Pulsatilla - Feeling of worthlessness, unloved, loneliness, fixed ideas about. Food especially certain foods are bad, than amount of foods that are bad grows, fear of gaining weight, pulsatilla's gain weight easily, they can eat a pastry and swear they gained weight. Ignatia, Puls. and Nat. mur. are constantly weighing themselves. Scanty menses.

·         Sepia - Anorexia plus hormonal problems, nausea, sensitivity to smell. Disgust for food, worse since childbirth, hormones causes lack of appetite.

·         Stapysagria - Acute of Carcinosin, more visible, visibly upset. Carcinosin can control it more, Staph. may it more. Deep sense of worthlessness and depression, even suicidal. Humiliation, mortified, put down, criticized, zero confidence.

·          Tarentula - Mania could be religious mania. Underneath you have a fear of being poisoned. Obsessiveness about weight, very restless and hyper energy people, they do everything fast - talk, move.

·         Thuja occid. - Fear of being impure, dirty blood, anxiety about health, obsessed with idea of have to clean themselves out.

·         Veratrum alb. - Religious mania, loquacious, end of world is coming. Punish themselves, fast to appease god. Behind this you see guilt.

References

1. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/anorexianervosa
3. Homeopathic Materia Medica by Boericke
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001510/#adam_000479.disease.symptom
5. American Psychiatric Association Guidelines
6. Lilienthal S., Homoeopathic Therapeutics
7. Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide to Recovery by Lindsey Hall & Monika Ostroff 
8. http://health.hpathy.com/murphy-eating-disorders.asp
9. www.homeopathic-cure.com/ANOREXIA_NERVOSA_AND_HOMEOPATHY
10. Dewey W. A., Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics
11. http://www.homeopathiccentre.com.au/a_anorexia_nervosa.htm
12. http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/Homeopathy_for_Anorexia_Nervosa
13. Principles of Prescribing, Dr. K.N.Mathur.

Dr. S. R. AMEERKHAN BABU., M.D. (Hom) (Prac. of Med),MBA

Reader, Dept. of Practice of Medicine

Vinayaka Mission’s Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital,

Salem, Tamilnadu.