CORN
- A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO A COMMON SOLE
DISORDER
It
is a localised hyperkeratosis of the skin, It usually occurs at the sites of
pressure e.g. on the soles and toes. There is usually a horny induration of the
cuticle with a hard centre. Corn may be painful particularly when it is rubbed.
Corn has a tendency to recur after excision. A corn has a deep central core
which reaches the deeper layers of dermis.
Causes:
·
Corn occurs as a natural
defense mechanism that strengthens the skin in areas of friction or excessive
pressure.
·
Abnormal anatomy of the
feet, such as hammertoe or other toe deformities, can lead to corn or callus formation
as can bony prominences in the feet.
·
Footwear that is too
short or too tight or that exerts friction at specific points can also cause
skin thickening that leads to corns and calluses.
·
Abnormalities in gait
or movement that result in increased pressure to specific areas can also be the
cause.
·
It can be hard to know
why finger corns develop since they often don't appear at sites of obvious
pressure.
·
Finger corn may develop
in response to using tools, playing musical instruments such as the guitar, or
using work equipment that exerts pressure at specific sites.
Risk factors for corns:
As
mentioned above, any condition or activity that results in increased friction
over the fingers or toes can lead to the development of corns or calluses.
People of all ages can be affected but they are particularly common in people
over 65 years of age. Corns and calluses have been shown to affect 20% - 65% of
people in this age range. Some of these risk factors are
·
Abnormalities in
anatomy of the feet or toes
·
Abnormalities in gait
·
Bunions
·
Poorly fitting footwear
·
Using equipment, tools,
or instruments that exert pressure on specific locations on the fingers
·
Certain occupations,
such as farmers or garden workers.
Symptoms and Signs of corns:
·
Hardened, thick areas
of skin.
·
Rounded or conical and
may appear as a bump on the skin.
·
Dry, scaly, or flaky
·
Painful if they
interfere with walking or other activity.
Prevention of corns:
·
To avoid corns on the
feet, always have both feet professionally measured when buying shoes, and only
wear properly fitting shoes.
·
Make sure that both
shoe width and length are correct for each foot since your feet may be slightly
different sizes. Allow up to 1.3cm (half an inch) between your longest toe and
the front of the shoe. If you can't wiggle your toes in your shoes, they are
too tight.
·
Avoid shoes with
sharply pointed toes and high heels. Women who prefer such shoes, or who are
expected to wear them at work, can take some of the pressure off their feet by
walking to their destination in well fitted flat shoes, and then changing them.
Try to decrease heel height as much as possible.
·
Have your shoes repaired
regularly or replace them. Worn soles give little protection from the shock of
walking on hard surfaces, and worn linings can chafe your skin and harbour
bacteria.
·
Worn heels increase any
uneven pressure on your heel bone. If the soles or heels of your shoes tend to
wear unevenly, talk to you doctor about corrective shoes or insoles.
·
If you have hammertoes
toes that are buckled under make sure that the shape of your shoes offers
plenty of room to accommodate the buckled toes.
Tips:
·
Soak in an Epsom salt
bath to get relief from the sharp pain of a corn.
·
Place protective
covering or pads over the corn to decrease friction and pressure on the skin.
·
Apply moisturizing
agents like coconut oil, olive oil or cocoa butter to dry corns to soften
them.
·
Avoid going barefoot
and wearing flip-flop sandals.
·
Keep your toenails
trimmed to prevent pressure on your toes.
·
Make it a point to wash
your feet and hands with soap and water every evening.
·
Do not cut or shave
corns as it can increase the risk of infection.
Ø These
tips will help treat corns on feet easily at home. However, if you are diabetic
or your corn is painful, it is best to consult a doctor first.
Treatment:-
i.
Some preventive
measures may be taken such as using soft shoes or soft pads at the pressure
points of the sole.
ii.
Salicylic acid in
collodion on successive nights may be applied.
iii.
Central local
applications have been effective such as Cornac or carnation cap.
iv.
If these measures fail
and the corn is painful, it should be excised with particular care to take off
the deep root of the central core. This often prevents recurrence.
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT:
Homoeopathy
treats the person as a whole. It means that homoeopathic treatment focuses on
the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The
homoeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination
and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical
and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency
(predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the
treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic
affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this
condition. The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly
related to this disease because in homoeopathy general symptoms and
constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy.
None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.
Some common medicines used for corn are Antimonium crudum, Arnica, Camphor, Ferrum picricum,
Graphitis, Lyco, Nat.mur, Phytolacca, Ran. Scleratus, Ruta, Silicea, Sulphur, Thuja.
ANTIM. CRUD.
Corns inflamed, large horny placed on soles
of feet close to the toes; thickened skin of soles & feet. Corn on soles
& toes. Inflamed corn with great sensitiveness of soles on walking. Aching,
stitching pains in corns.
For children and young people inclined to
grow fat; for the extremes of life. Old people with morning diarrhea, suddenly
become constipated, or alternate diarrhea and constipation; pulse hard and
rapid. Sensitive to the cold < after taking cold.
ARNICA
Corns on heels and toes. Very sensitive. Very
painful, stinging, stitching, smarting pain. Nervous women, sanguine plethoric
persons, lively expression and very red face. For the bad effects resulting
from mechanical injuries; even if received years ago.
CAMPHOR
Corns with skin parchment like sore, painful
corns which are very sensitive; soreness especially in toe joints and corns.
Pain better while thinking of it. Persons physically and mentally weak and
irritable. Exceedingly sensitive to cold air. Bad effects of shock from injury;
surface of body cold, face pale, blue, lips livid; profound prostration.
Surface cold to touch, yet cannot bear to be
covered; throws off all coverings. Entire
body painfully sensitive to slightest touch. Tongue cold, flabby, trembling.
Sudden attacks of vomiting and diarrhea; nose cold and pointed; anxious and
restless; skin and breath cold. In first stages of cholera morbus and Asiatic
cholera; severe, longlasting chill.
FERR. PICRATE
Corns with yellow discolouration. Multiple
corns which are very painful.
GRAPH.
Rough, hard, dry and unhealthy skin. Thin
sticky, glutinous discharge. Soreness and aching in corns. Horny skin on toes.
Suited to – Excessive cautiousness; timid,
hesitates; unable to decide about anything.
RAN. SCLERATUS
Acute painful corns. Acrid exudation which
makes surrounding parts sore. Corns on ball of 1st and 2nd left toes, sensitive
to touch and pressure, smart and burn; very painful when letting leg hang down,
they also throb and especially painful by flexing toes. Better by extending
them, wearing thick soled boot at times. Numbness in corns, knocking toes
against anything so as to cause boot to grate against corns, causes great pain
and burning.
SILICEA
Inflamed corns with stitching, burning pains.
Soreness of soles. Stitches in the corns, jerking up the feet. Adapted to the
nervous, irritable, sanguine temperament; persons of a psoric diathesis.
Persons of light complexion; fine dry skin; pale face; weakly, with lax
muscles.
Constitutions which suffer from deficient
nutrition, not because food is lacking in quality
Rubrics in Murphy’s Repertory:
·
Feet - CORNS
Acet-ac. Agar.
Am-c. ANT-C. Arn. Bar-c. Borx. bov. Bry.
Calc. Calc-s. Carb-an. Caust. chin. coloc. Cur.
Graph. Hep. Ign. LYC. lyss. nat-c. Nat-m.
nit-ac. Nux-v. petr. PH-AC. PHOS. PSOR. ran-s.
rhod. Rhus-t. SEP. SIL. staph. Sulph. ter.
·
CORNS - aching
ant-c. lyc.
sep. sil. sul-ac. sulph.
·
CORNS - boring
borx. calc.
caust. nat-c. Nat-m. phos. Ran-s. Sep. Sil. thuj.
·
CORNS - horny
Ant-c. graph.
ran-b. sulph.
·
CORNS - painful
Agar. alum. ambr.
Ant-c. arn. aster. Bar-c. bov. bry. calad. calc. Calc-s.
caust. Hep. ign. Iod. kali-c. lach. lith-c. Lyc. meph.
nat-m. Nit-ac. nux-v. phos. puls. ran-s. rhus-t. sep. sil. spig. SULPH.
·
CORNS - painful - touched, when
bry. kali-c.
·
CORNS - pinching
bar-c.
·
CORNS - pressing
agar. Ant-c.
bov. Bry. calc. Calc-s. carb-v. Caust. graph. iod. LYC.
ph-ac. phos. Sep. sil. SULPH.
·
CORNS - pulsating
calc.
kali-c. Lyc. sep. sil. sulph.
·
CORNS - shooting
Bov. NAT-M.
·
CORNS - sore
aesc. Agar.
ambr. ant-c. Arn. Bar-c. Bry. Calc. Calc-s. Camph.
CARB-AN. fl-ac. Graph. Hep. IGN. lith-c. LYC.
med. nat-c. nat-p. Nux-v. petr. phos. Puls. Ran-b. ran-s. Rhus-t.
Sep. SIL. Spig. Sulph. thuj. verat.
·
CORNS - stinging
Agar. ALUM.
am-c. ant-c. ars. Bar-c. borx. Bov. BRY. calad. CALC.
CALC-S. carb-an. carb-v. caust. hep. ign. kali-c. Lyc. mag-m. NAT-C.
NAT-M. nat-p. Petr. ph-ac. Phos. ptel. Puls. Ran-s.
Rhod. RHUS-T. rumx. Sep. Sil. staph. sul-ac. SULPH.
Thuj. verat.
·
CORNS - tearing
am-c. arn. Bry.
calc. calc-s. cocc. kali-c. LYC. Sep. SIL. sul-ac. SULPH.
thuj.
·
CORNS - ulcerated, as if
am-c. borx.
·
CORNS - corns, heel
Phos.
·
CORNS - corns, soles, horny
ANT-C. Ars.
Calc. kali-ar. sil.
Homoeopathic External mother tincture:
v Hypericum Q Ext:
Painful corns. It should be applied 2 to 3 times per day. It can be
applied on painful acne also.
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