Diphtheria

IBIS:

Definition:
Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes this contagious disease which is characterized by the formation of a fibrous pseudomembrane in the respiratory airway. Heart and neural tissue damage may occur as a result of exotoxins.

Etiology:
Corynebacterium diphtheriae is spread via secretions of infected people or contaminated objects. Cutaneous diphtheria occurs when a wound is colonized by the bacteria. As in any infection, prevention is diminished by poor personal hygiene as in indigent adults. The respiratory airway pseudomembrane which often accompanies this disease is a result of destruction of the superficial layer of epithelium with fibrin, leukocytes, and debris.

Nutrition:
eating principles: • eat as little as possible • increase foods rich in Vitamins C and A • increase fluids • short fast (see Fasting in materia medica)

fresh juices: • carrot juice • carrot and spinach juice (Walker, p. 134) • carrot, celery, and parsley juice (Walker, p. 134) • carrot, dandelion, and spinach juice (Walker, p. 134) • carrot, celery, spinach, and parsley (Walker, p. 134) • carrot, beet, and cucumber juice (Walker, p. 134) • lemon juice in water (Shefi)

avoid: • heavy protein foods, fats, meats, vinegars, shellfish, sugars

Botanicals
• Apis mellifera (toxic): edema of throat and nasal passages (Ellingwood, p. 450) • Atropa belladonna (toxic): to prevent development of; for nephritis as a result of (Ellingwood, pp. 181, 182) • Echinacea angustifolia (root): locally and internally (Ellingwood, p. 361) • Gelsemium sempervirens (toxic): with Phytolacca decandra (toxic): see under formulas below (Mitchell) • Leptotania dissectum (wild parsnip, root): extracted resin (Mitchell) • Lobelia inflata (toxic): removes membranes, destroys bacteria (Ellingwood, p. 238) • Oleum terebinthinae (turpentine): with occlusion of larynx, throat, nasal passages from membrane. Inhale vapor off hot water a few minutes every 2-3 hours. May use with Eucalyptus spp. (oil) (Ellingwood, p. 254) • Phytolacca decandra (toxic): in conjunction with other indicated remedies; apply locally and internally if local glands of neck are involved (Ellingwood, p. 374)

consider: (listed by Ellingwood): • Aconitum napellus (toxic) • Avena sativa • Baptisia tinctoria • Capsicum frutescens • Carica papaya • Ceanothus americanus • Eucalyptus spp. • Gaultheria procumbens • Hamamelis virginiana • Hydrastis canadensis • Pilocarpus jaborandi (toxic)

Chinese Formulae
"I do not suggest the average American practitioner of Chinese medicine attempt treating Diphtheria solely by traditional means." (Flaws, 1985, p. 154)

• Diphtheria Formula: Yin Xu (Deficiency); Fire Toxin (Flaws, 1985, p. 154) • Zi Xue Dan (patent): Fire Toxin; Liver Wind Stirring: high fever; restlessness; impaired consciousness; spasms or convulsions (Bensky and Barolet, p. 419, Zhu, p. 127) • Hui Chun Dan (patent): Lung Obstructed by Phlegm-Heat; Orifices Obstructed by Phlegm-Heat: fever; convulsions; sounds of mucus in throat (Bensky and Barolet, p. 420, Zhu, p. 195) • Scute and Cimicifuga C. (Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin): Fire Toxin (Hsu, 1980, p. 189; Yeung, p. 49; Bensky and Barolet, p. 80) • Ma Huang and Apricot Seed C. (Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang): Lung Invaded by Wind-Heat: fever; thirst; wheezing; coughing (Hsu, 1980, p. 68; Yeung, p. 157; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 126; Bensky and Barolet, p. 88) • Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang (available as patent): Lung Yin Xu (Deficiency); Fire Toxin: dry cough in final stages (Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang: Yeung, p. 270; Bensky and Barolet, p. 164; patent: Zhu, p. 84)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Yin Xu (Deficiency); Fire Toxin; Liver Wind Stirring; Lung Obstructed by Phlegm-Heat; Orifices Obstructed by Phlegm-Heat; Lung Invaded by Wind-Heat; Lung Yin Xu (Deficiency)

» therapeutic note: "I do not suggest the average American practitioner of Chinese medicine attempt treating Diphtheria solely by traditional means." (Flaws)

» illustrative combinations: • first: LI-4, TW-3, Lu-5 and point one cun "below Lu-5 in the middle of two muscles"; second: Lu-11 and TW-1 (apply a triangular needle with strong stimulus and then bleed a few drops from each point); third: GV-14, GV-16, St-6 and CV-22; and, fourth: jin jin and yu yeh (bleed a few drops from each with a triangular needle, using instrument to hold tongue if patient unconscious) for diphtheria (So, 1987, p. 172) • UB-17, Lu-2, SI-17, St-12, UB-11, Lu-2, Lu-5, LI-2, St-45, Kd-1 and Kd-2 for throat blockage with Cold and Hot Obstruction (Shanghai, p. 691); note: this combination is listed as a related prescription under "tonsillitis"

Homeopathy
• Apis mellifica: edema of throat with stinging pains, blisters on border of the tongue; drowsiness and dullness; puffy, glossy, bright red parts • Arum triphyllum: burning, smarting, rawness of throat and mouth with acrid discharges which excoriate nostrils and upper lip • Belladonna: intense throbbing with headache and convulsions • Carbolicum acidum: high fever, great burning but no pain in fauces which look fiery red • Crotalus horridus: persistent epistaxis and bleeding of mucous membranes in mouth • Diphtherinum: as intercurrent, 200C; bleeding from nose with extreme weakness; collapse almost at beginning; pulse weak, rapid; swallows without pain but fluids then vomited; offensive discharges • Gelsemium: paralysis of pharynx • Kali bichromicum: pains are sticking, intermittent, shifting and confined to small spots in each place; tongue coated thickly like yellowish brown fur, sensation of plug in throat • Lac caninum: soreness and swelling changes sides; membrane is greyish, yellow, curdy; paralysis of throat so fluids return by the nose when drinking • Lachesis: acrid discharge from nose; throat dark red, grey deep with bluish tinge; < on left; swelling of glands, drowsiness, feeble pulse; cold extremities, < after sleep, painful swallowing • Lycopodium: contraction in throat, nothing goes down; food and drink regurgitate through nose • Mercurius cyanatus: sudden attack, extreme prostration, collapse; green membrane • Muriaticum acidum: deep redness of throat, tonsils swollen, unable to swallow; dark blood from nose, great prostration • Naja: sensation of choking, patient grasps at throat, fetid breath, short hoarse cough with raw feeling at larynx • Nitricum acidum: exudate covering uvula; impossible to eat or drink; salivation; fever, prostration; strong-smelling urine like a horse • Phytolacca: pain shoots to ears on swallowing; great burning, constant desire to swallow with trembling of hands; dark red, blue membrane

Mind/Body
• Childhood diseases can be perceived as facilitating ego incarnation. Fever is seen as a process of the warmth organism and "with heightened warmth activity in a fever, there is intensified involvement of the ego in the organism". Thus fever promotes the dissolution of the protein structure, as the carrier of the individual ego, appropriate to a now obsolete stage of ego development; i.e., "each fever is both a kind of rejuvenation and a new connection of ego and body." Prior to the childhood illness and its attendant fever the child often is "whiny and utterly disagreeable", giving the "impression of being uncomfortable 'in their own skin'." Then through the process of the disease they often literally "break out" through a rash and desquamation which involves a change in the constituent proteins of the skin. "Every febrile illness brings about a radical change in the constitution of the organism. The fundamental polarity of inflammation (fever) and sclerosis (diseases of abnormal deposits such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, or carcinoma) is influenced by every process in the warmth organism. This means that any suppression of a fever or inflammation pushes the balance in favor of a disease lying on the sclerotic side. It has been found, for example, that people who have not gone through any childhood diseases have a greater inclination to cancer." (Husemann and Wolff, pp. 40 - 43)
 * Anthroposophic medicine:**

• Lung ~ Fei governs the Qi; regulates the rhythm of respiration, the pulse, and all bodily processes; is the home of the Po (Corporeal Soul); and relates to strength and sustainability. » Healthy expressions are righteousness and courage. » Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with excessive grief, sadness, worry, and depression. Worry depletes the Lung Qi. » Lung Xu (Deficiency) signs include cold shoulder and back; changing complexion; inability to sleep (Seem, p. 28); shortness of breath; changes in urine color; rumbling in the bowels with loose bowel movements; pallor; malar flush; chills; sniffles; sneezing; light cough; and sensitivity to cold. » Lung Shi (Excess) signs include panting; yawning; sneezing (Seem, p. 28); pain in the upper back, shoulder, and chest; colds with stuffed nose; hoarseness; wheezing respiration; frequent urination with small amounts; heavy chest; reduced lung capacity; coughing; and nasal discharge. While children are prone to Full Shi (Excess) conditions, in an adult the acute condition would likely be an Empty Excess condition atop a chronic Yin Xu (Deficiency).
 * Chinese psychophysiology:**