CORN

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.

·        Wear properly fitted and comfortable shoes, with extra padding if needed.

·        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.