[NPInfo] Iron Deficiency Anemia

Wed Aug 20 15:32:46 PDT 2008

Eric,  I can honestly say, that was interesting.  I also can say, I didn't 100% understand all of it.  I will most definitely look more into the homeopath way of looking at things.  Thanks for the imput.   
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: ROBERT DOERFLER 
  To: 'NP Info' 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 5:35 PM
  Subject: RE: [NPInfo] Iron Deficiency Anemia

  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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