HOMOEOPATHY FOR HALLUCINATIONS

Hallucinations are the perception of a nonexistent object or event and sensory experiences that are not caused by stimulation of the relevant sensory organs. Hallucination involve hearing, feeling, smelling or even tasting things that are not real. It is only sensory experiences created by the mind, but they are not real.  The word hallucination comes from Latin and means ‘to wander mentally’.

These symptoms may be caused by mental illness, the side effects of medications, or physical illness like epilepsy or alcohol use disorder.

Types of hallucinations

·         Visual hallucinations. In visual hallucination, a person sees something that does not exist or sees something that does not exist but sees it incorrectly. Several conditions can cause visual hallucinations including dementia, migraines and drug or alcohol addiction.

·         Olfactory hallucinations. Olfactory hallucinations involve smelling odors that do not exist. The odors are usually unpleasant, such as vomit, urine, feces, smoke or rotting flesh. This condition is also called phantosmia and can occur as a result of neurological damage in the olfactory system. The damage might be caused by a virus, trauma, a brain tumor or exposure to toxic substances or drugs. Phantosmia can also be caused by epilepsy.

·         Auditory hallucinations.  Auditory hallucinations are the most common tye of hallucination. The person might hear someone speaking to him or telling him to do certain things. The voice may be angry, neutral or warm. This type of hallucination is seen in schizophrenia. In schizophrenia , patients often hear voices talking to them but the hallucinations may also take the form of whistling or hissing, for example. The voices may be saying complementary, critical or neutral words to them. The voices may also form a running commentary on the person’s actions. Command hallucinations may also occur.

Auditory hallucination is also a well recognized feature of bipolar disorder and dementia, although they can also occur in the absence of mental health conditions. Auditory hallucinations can be extremely distressing, although some people can learn to live with the voices, particularly if the words they hear are neutral or complimentary rather than negative. Auditory hallucination can also occur as a result of bereavement, which can lead the person believing they can hear the voice of a loved one.

·         Tactile hallucinations. In tactile hallucination, a person senses that they are being touched when they are not. One of the most common complaints is the sensation of bugs crawling over the skin. This is associated with the abuse of substances such as cocaine or amphetamine.

·         Gustatory hallucinations. These are hallucinations that cause a person to taste something that is not present. These tastes are often strange or unpleasant. Gustatory hallucinations (often with a metallic taste) are a relatively common symptom of people with epilepsy.

·         General somatic hallucinations. This refers to when a person experiences a feeling of their body being seriously hurt through mutilation or disembowelment, for example. Patients have also reported experiencing animals trying to invade their bodies, such as snakes crawling into their stomach.

Causes

Common causes include:

Mental health conditions.  Mental illness are among the most common cause of hallucinations. Schizophrenia, dementia, and delirium are a few examples.

Substance use. Substance use is fairly common cause of hallucinations. Some people see or hear things that they are not there after drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs like cocaine. Hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and PCP can also cause hallucinations.

Lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep can also lead to hallucinations. It is also possible to experience hallucinations right before falling asleep, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, or right before waking up from sleep, known as hypnopompic hallucinations.

Medications. Certain medications taken for mental or physical health conditions can also cause hallucinations. Parkinson’s disease, depression, psychosis, and epilepsy medications may sometimes trigger hallucination symptoms.

Other conditions.

Other conditions can also cause hallucinations. These can include:

·         High fevers, especially in children and the elderly

·         Migraine

·         Social isolation, particularly in older adults

·         Seizures

·         Deafness, blindness, or vision problems

·         Epilepsy, in some cases the epileptic seizers can cause to see flashing shapes or bright spots

·         Terminal illness, such as stage 3 HIV(AIDS), brain cancer, or kidney and liver failure.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance  at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When hallucinations  is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.

ABSINTHIUM: Hallucinations with frightful visions. Sees al sorts of demons. Loss of memory of recent events.

ANACARDIUM ORIENTALIS:  Hallucinations , thinks he is possessed by two wills or persons. Hears voices far away or of the dead. The mind and body are separated. That he is double, that a demon and an angel sit on his shoulders telling him offensive or good things. That he sees others face in a mirror not his own. Impaired memory. Senile dementia.

ANHALONIUM: Audio-visual hallucinations with colored brilliant visions. Hallucinations with varied kaleidoscopic colors. Vision of monsters, of gruesome figures. Weak brain. Sensation of increased physical ability.

BELLADONNA: Hallucinations, sees hideous faces and monsters. Acuteness of all senses. Fear of imaginary things. Biting, striking, tearing mania.

CALCAREA CARBONICUM: Hallucinations. Sees and talks to persons who are not present. Imagines as if she is surrounded by dogs. Imagines someone in their room. Visions of fire, murder, rat and mice.

LAC CANNINUM:  Hallucination about snakes. Imagines he is surrounded by them. Afraid of closing the eyes for fear of being bitten by a snake. Awoke in the night with a sensation that she was lying on a large snake.

STRAMONIUM:  Fearful hallucinations which terrify the patient, sees ghosts, vividly brilliant or hideous phantoms, animals, jumping sideways out of ground or running to him.  Vision of animals and black dogs. Thinks himself double, tall and a part missing and objects near him small. Sees ghosts, hears voices, talks with spirits.

ZINCUM METALLICUM: Hallucination .  Voices from within him speaking in abusive and filthy language. Very sensitive to noise.