AUSTRALIAN
HOMOEOPATHIC
ASSOCIATION
(NSW Branch)

The 6th Australian Homoeopathic Medicine
Conference 2008

Kevin Ryan

N=1. The Case Study. How can we learn more from them?

Abstract
A case of successful treatment of a six year old with asthma induced by pertussis infection, is reviewed in the light of a follow up consultation 20 years later. The patient remained well and had no homoeopathic care during the intervening years. She re-presented with shortness of breath following two bronchial infections, three months apart in the previous winter and spring. A classical approach to the analysis of the new data with the benefit of exposure to the original presentation revealed that the same two medicines that were used 22 years earlier had a role to play in the patient’s recent care.

Similarities and differences are examined in this and the second presentation in 2008. Of note is the greatly reduced number of doses required in order to facilitate healing. It is suggested that a missing link in understanding the relationship of patient presentation and the materia medica data may be found in the individuality of symptoms expressed by provers.

Further discussion looks at evidence based medicine and the role that journal reports of case studies perform in other health care disciplines. A relationship is explored between the guidelines for the presentation of the case study and the prevailing philosophical paradigm. Through this window further insight is gained into the homoeopathic case studies and the suggestion is made that long duration follow up cases are a necessary link to understanding both the nature of disease and the nature of ‘cure’ as we understand it.

Biography
Kevin Ryan B.Sc.(Hons), N.D., D.O., Dip.Ac. is a graduate of the Southern School of Natural Therapies in Melbourne and an honours graduate of Deakin University, Geelong. He has been in private practice as a Natural Therapist and Osteopath in Geelong, Victoria since 1974. He specialises in the practice of homœopathic medicine and acupuncture. He has a particular interest in treatment regimes for children and the disabled. He has lectured in Homœopathy at the Southern School of Natural Therapies and in osteopathic technique at RMIT University. He has been a member of the Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee since 1999.

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