An individualized homoeopathic approach to adhesive capsulitis: A case study in light of one sided disease (aph. 172 - 184)

Abstract

Adhesive Capsulitis (AC) is an insidious and painful stiffening of the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint, resulting in compromised functional ability and quality of life (QoL). Adhesive Capsulitis is a painful condition, often prolonged and disabling that shows little result with standard treatment. It can also interfere with domestic and social activities and affect the ability to work. Patients usually recover, but they may never regain their full range of movement with allopathic mode of treatment. Although for most people Adhesive Capsulitis is a self-limiting condition of approximately 1-3 years duration; people with the condition may struggle with basic daily activities and be worn down by sleep disturbance as a result of the pain. Adhesive capsulitis presents clinically with pain, stiffness, and marked restriction of movement in the shoulder joint often without clear systemic symptoms. From the Hahnemannian perspective, such a presentation aligns with the concept of a one-sided disease as outlined in Aphorisms 173-184 of the Organon of Medicine. Master Hahnemann emphasized that in the absence of a complete symptom picture, the homoeopath must carefully individualize treatment, often by observing and integrating the mental and emotional state, general modalities, and subtle changes in health. Frozen shoulder, when appearing without prominent constitutional symptoms, challenges the prescriber to identify the remedy based on the most striking, singular, and peculiar features of the case.