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Other characteristics of the physical structure of the tubercular constitution are: pallor of skin with bluish tint, due to slowing of circulation, venous stagnation and dilatation of blood vessels: lips may be thick and protruding; high cheek bones; irregular dental arch, malformations of teeth, serrated incisors.
In the tubercular constitution some functions of vyana are excessive, some are deficient and some are disproportionately diverted to certain areas, especially to the head. This is evidenced by the following: the head appears to be too large for the rest of the body; increased circulation to the brain resulting in severe congestion; in febrile conditions the heat is most prominent in the head with copious perspiration of the scalp. It is likewise in the tubercular constitution that we see the inability to develop eruptions in the exanthematous diseases such as measles. Because of too much vyana being diverted to the head, there is not enough vitality left to bring out the eruptions. As a result the disease process centers in the brain and may end fatally. Because vyana has disproportionately distributed the circulating blood to the brain, the rest of the body may have an abnormally low temperature, especially the extremities. Therefore, one of the main characteristics is cold and clammy hands and feet.
The organism tries to compensate for the disturbed functioning of the lymphatic system and its associated lymphadenitis and lymphadenopathy by suppurative processes. The characteristic tubercular discharges are cheesy and very offensive. Repeated attempts to suppress or inhibit these discharges have dire consequences for the entire organism. For example, one of the most common outlets the tubercular constitution utilizes to release this morbific process is through chronic suppurative otitis media. When these ear troubles are inhibited, the process typically is forced back into the nearest endodermal neighbor, the pharyngeal tonsils.
Whereas in sycosis recurrent upper respiratory infections are common, in the tubercular constitution we see deeper affections of the lower respiratory tract with infiltration of the lung parenchymatous tissue. The lungs are especially weak in the tubercular constitution so that severe dyspneic conditions, pneumonia, chronic lung affections and pulmonary tuberculosis are so common the lungs may be considered to be the focal point of the tubercular process. Many of the signs and symptoms of this miasmatic infection result from suppression or inhibition of this process. For example, when the tubercular process is suppressed in the lungs, the process may shift to the joints, resulting in a condition simulating rheumatoid arthritis.
One of the seemingly peculiar symptoms of the tubercular diathesis is nocturnal enuresis, profuse involuntary urination in children as soon as they fall asleep at night.
The mental state of the pseudo-psoric patient reflects the pranic disturbances and deficiencies. These patients tend to be melancholic, extremely nervous and irritable. Insanity may occur in the tertiary stage. In latency this is expressed as night terrors and disturbed sleep with extreme restlessness.
Dr. Barbara Bova, HOD, Department of Homeopathy