[NPInfo] Iron Deficiency Anemia

Wed Aug 20 14:35:35 PDT 2008

Ok, I'll give this a go...
I am a homeopath, and we look at disease not as "How do lump this patient
into a diagnostic category?" rather as "What is unique about this patient?"
We see symptoms--even specific diseases--not as just categorical problems,
but as maifestations of the essential "imbalance" of a system that keeps
everything working together.

When taking a case, we work with symptom rubrics, under which are listed
various homeopathic remedies associated with that symptom. The symptom
GENERALS - ANEMIA, lists 183 remedies known to be associated with anemic
patients. The symptom GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - ice - desire, lists 16
remedies. I noticed from Kimberly's references that not all anemic patients
crave ice, thus we'll consider the intersection of those 2 sets, which
includes only 9 remedies. (Many anemic patients DON'T crave ice, etc.)

Calcarea carbonica: deficient in the metabolism of structure, they often
crave foods or ingestants with "structure" such as starches, indigestible
mineral substances (as in ordinary pica), cheese/dairy, etc. Calc carb
patients often suffer from hemorrhagic problems, and uterine fibroids in
women are an especially common complaint that might prompt a selection of
this remedy.

Phosphorus: imbalances related to fluid dynamics, these patients are often
"open"--having boundary issues--and are often anxious. Fluid discharges
(such as loose stools, nosebleeds, metrorrhagia, etc.) are a key feature of
Phos pts.

Veratrum album (white hellebore): again, fluid dynamics, but with a mental
picture that is more hyperactive than anxious. These people often "go from
both ends" in gastroenteritis, and hellebore poisoning is associated with a
dysenteric type of diarrhea with nausea/vomiting (much of what informs
homeopathy is based on toxicology, since the treatment principle is "like
cures like"). 

Mercurius corrosivus (mercuric chloride): mucus membranes that "burn like
fire", it is a remedy that is often helpful in ulcerative colitis, Crohn's
disease, and other ulcerative conditions. 

These are just a sample of 4 remedies, but one can see how this view of
disease and the symptoms (such as chewing ice) they manifest may make more
sense. So is there a physiological cause across the board? Maybe. Maybe not.
Maybe the cause arises from a behavioral drive (as in Calc carb), an
amelioration of a pain (ice soothing "hot" membranes--as in the glossitis
example in one of Kimberly's references), cooling/fluid replacement (as in
Phos. Or Veratrum), and so on--or maybe we don't know in certain specific
cases. But it provides a fascinating alternate way to view patient
complaints.

Eric

R. Eric Doerfler, CRNP, PhD(c), CCH
Instructor Of Nursing
RN-BS Program Coordinator
Penn State University, Capital Campus
777 W. Middletown Pike, Middletown PA 17057
717-948-6513 red1012 at psu.edu

Certified in Adult Primary Care & Classical Homeopathy
1521 Cedar Cliff Drive, Suite 203
Camp Hill PA 17011
717-761-6902
http://www.altmedresearch.us

-----Original Message-----
From: npinfo-bounces at nurse.net [mailto:npinfo-bounces at nurse.net] On Behalf
Of Kimberly Coleman
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 4:52 PM
To: NP Info
Subject: Re: [NPInfo] Iron Deficiency Anemia

Thanks Priscilla.  I had also googled it and really couldn't come up with a
conclusive "why".  I appreciate the links.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Priscilla Merrill
  To: 'NP Info' 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 5:28 AM
  Subject: RE: [NPInfo] Iron Deficiency Anemia

  You got my curiosity up so I googled it and here are some links.  
  Made me wonder if Vanilla Ice was anemic since he's so darn pale!
  Bottom line, no one knows, just theories.  I thoguth it might be the iron
in
  the pipes but then water shoud also be a craving.  The best answer I saw
was
  that it has oxygen in it from the freezing process.  Here are some ideas.

  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chewing-ice/AN01278

  http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2004/11/i-eat-lot-of-ice.html

  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060616173903AAE8Jhc

  Priscilla Merrill FNP

  -----Original Message-----
  From: npinfo-bounces at nurse.net [mailto:npinfo-bounces at nurse.net] On Behalf
  Of Kimberly Coleman
  Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:56 PM
  To: NP Info
  Subject: [NPInfo] Iron Deficiency Anemia

  I was curious if anyone could tell me WHY? patients with iron deficiency
  anemia crave ice.  I know it's a form of PICA and can only find general
  information.  A pt. with low H&H (10, 30), low B12 (207), low ferritin
(7),
  norm. TSH.  The MD didn't want to do a TIBC (it wasn't needed right now).
  There is no hx. of abn. bleeding, had TAH >10yrs. C/O "eating a lot of
ice",
  extreme fatigue/weakness and "a lot of joint pain and feels like muscles
are
  drawing and stumbling".  Going to be scheduling upper/lower scopes.  Any
  suggestions on the joint pain and stumbling, and what does ice have to do
  with it?  As I said, I have heard of it, know it exists, but don't know
  exactly why.  Thanks.  KC
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