Hello,
Could you please send me some materia medica on Lac felinum? I know that Dr Divya Chhabra from India has conducted a proving on it.
Thanks in advance,
Feras Hakkak
---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lac felinum
Re: Lac felinum
Vermeulen Synoptic 2\Lac felinumLac FELINUM
Lac-f.
Cat's Milk.
The cat, the trusted house companion in so many families all over the world, is said to have first been domesticated by the Egyptians. Although all kinds of smaller feline species have been tamed since prehistoric times, the current short-haired house-cat [which carries the scientific name Felix domestica] probably stems from the Nubian cat of Africa, possibly crossed with the European wild cat [F. silvestris]. Domestic cats in India may have developed entirely independently of those in Europe and may stem from the steppe cat.
Unlike the wild cat, the domestic cat keeps its tail horizontal when walking, except when welcoming human housemates, when the tail stands almost vertical.
The flag is also raised when the cat anticipates food. Butting its head and rubbing against the legs of the person preparing the food are a clear indication of the cat's satisfaction with the filling of its plate. Whether it loves its owner as much with a full stomach depends entirely on its mood, because it remains a somewhat self-willed creature. When you sit and wait for the cat to snuggle in your lap, it is nowhere to be seen, yet you can't get rid of it at the very moment it doesn't suit.
A cat hunts at night by sight and sound, where its whiskers are very useful.
Both its hearing and its sight are very developed. Its hearing is also very sensitive for sounds in the higher frequencies outside the capacity of the human ear. This enables it to hear the sounds made by mice which cannot be heard by the human ear. The cat's eyes are perfectly suited to their task.
During the day, they're protected by an iris that shuts out the rays of daylight. The pupils then become smaller, until they are just narrow slits.
At night and in twilight, the eyes open fully, the iris opens fully, and the round pupil absorbs any light present. As with most nocturnal animals, the cat's eyes glaze over in the dark and in weak light. This is caused by a layer of cells behind the retina which reflect the light, so that the retina is stimulated twice.
The domestic cat is less removed from its wild ancestors than, for example, the domestic dog, and has remained more independent than the latter from human beings. Their hunting method is also different. Dogs generally follow their prey by smell and chase after it, while cats mainly use hearing and sight and, with infinite patience, stalk their prey until the right moment arrives to strike. Cats also become wild faster than dogs. Cats that have run wild tend to grow larger than normal, probably because there is an abundance of natural food and because they lead a more healthy life. Moreover, it has been found that feral cats are not only larger and fiercer than domestic cats, but that their descendants return to the form of the tabby, the colour of their ancestors.
"Sexual maturity in female cats mat occur as early as 5 months; typically it occurs at 7-10 months. Tomcats mature at about 8-12 months, although rarely at 6-7 months. Typical mating seasons are February-March and August-September, with some extension in a few individuals. Queens do not ovulate until mating occurs, thus the tendency to go into and out of heat.
This may last for weeks until the season passes if mating doesn't occur.
Females will often come into heat while nursing, only 2-3 weeks after parturition. The actual mating in the cat appears to be a mix of pleasure and pain; the tom grasps the queen by the back of the neck and holds her securely while mounting her. The penis of the tom has spines which stimulate the vagina, leading to ovulation. While the queen does allow the mating to occur, she usually screams during the process; it doesn't sound particularly like a pleasurable scream. Thus one can see the mix of sexual desire, even need [intercourse is required to stop heat cycles] with the feeling of rape and of prostitution. I would suspect Lac-f. to be a possibility for addition to the rubric sexual desire increased while nursing a child. Also such rubrics as coition, painful." [Don Hamilton, DVM]
In ancient Egypt cats were treated as sacred in honour of Bast. "This cat-headed goddess was regarded as a kindly goddess representing the beneficent powers of the sun protecting the Two Lands, and was sometimes said to personify the moon. Bast also acquired some of the characteristics of Hathor, being known as the goddess of joy, music and dancing. Her cult was celebrated in lighthearted barge processions and in orgiastic ceremonies." [Ions]
Since the times of ancient Egypt, there have been all kinds of superstitions and strange stories about cats. In parts of Asia, it was assumed that people changed into cats after they died. The Chinese believed that as soon as cats reached a certain age, they could change into other creatures. Also in China, as in Japan, people believed that cats could speak once they reached the age of ten. In medieval Europe, black cats were persecuted and cruelly mistreated because of their so-called relationship with witches. The devil was often portrayed as a black cat. A black cat that crosses your path is said to signify bad luck, although it is equally popular as a sign of good luck! The saying that a cat has nine lives also probably dates from the time magical powers were ascribed to the cat. "I believe this derives as much from the powerful healing capability of the cat. Most likely our ancestors saw cats return from the jaws of death enough to wonder if indeed they had been resurrected. A veterinary orthopedic surgeon intimated the cat's bone healing capacity with the statement that 'if the bones are in the same room they will heal'." [Don Hamilton]
Proved by Swan in 1882. Proved also by Divya Chhabra; 10 provers, one dose of 30C [Homoeopathic Links, 1/95].
Spigelia. Sulphur. Lycopodium. Rhus toxicodendron. Belladonna. Bryonia.
Sepia. Asarum. Marble.
Nerves. Female organs. Head. Eyes. * Left side.
MMorbid conscientiousness; every little fault appeared a crime.
[clinically verified by Swan]
MFear of falling downstairs, but without vertigo.
MFear of pointed things.
"Mental illusion that corners of furniture, or any pointed object near her, were about to run into eyes; the symptom is purely mental; the objects do not appear to her sight to be too close." [Clarke]
"They cannot tolerate anything pointed anywhere near the eyes, nor even the thought of being given an injection or a lumbar puncture or having to have an operation, esp. in the region of the head. A fear of pharmaceutical drugs has also been observed." [Mller]
M"Proud behaviour of the cat; sensuality; intolerance of hunger [found in many animal remedies as control over instinctual urge is absent]." [Chhabra]
MDreams of sexual intercourse; many dreams of being pursued for rape, even by relatives.
"I have since then found it to be one of the remedies indicated in patients with a history of incest." [Chhabra]
M"This was an animal remedy with a dirty feeling about oneself, a feeling of not being respected, of being treated contemptuously. The conflict of submitting oneself, of degrading oneself to save relationship or for money. The theme of the prostitute who submits her body, her respect for money ... To get his food, the wild cat became the domestic cat of today.
'The trick had been to control their fear of humans, to learn to tolerate handling and even enjoy it, as the necessary price that had to be paid for an easy life. In a way they had to prostitute themselves, but once they had mastered the art, the rewards were impressive. They allowed the domestic cat to live longer and more healthily than its wild ancestors.' They made a choice, gave up their independence, their wildness, their freedom, their respect - for food, for survival." [Chhabra]
MConflict between dependency and independency.
Desire to be pampered as opposed to desire to be independent.
Intolerance of obligation and pressure. [Alize Timmerman]
Fear of being let down due to past experience of neglect.
They absolutely hate dishonesty.
"A basic pattern I discerned is that many women felt abused and neglected, reacting with rebellion and independent behaviour. They have a 'I
don't need anybody' attitude." [Wirtz]
"Later on, in Lac felinum people, a behaviour pattern may develop of not wanting any further relationship with human beings, in order to preserve one's own independence intact. Within a relationship, a clinging or grasping partner evokes a sensation of claustrophobia or constriction. 'Women stick to you like a limpet' was how one male patient expressed it. There is a great fear of attachment and an aversion to persons who 'hang on to your apron strings'. On the physical level a Lac felinum person is intolerant of constriction, especially around the neck. A relationship becomes a risky gamble rather than an involvement of oneself. 'Relationships have a fatal outcome', as one female Lac felinum patient put it. Thus there is a fear of the opposite sex, and not only in females." [Karl-Josef Mller]
MVery sensual behaviour; passionate, expressive [eyes!].
Colourful, tasteful clothing and jewellery and/or other ornaments.
[Wirtz]
MCritical as to own appearance.
Fussy about food.
Desire for cleanness, orderliness, only fastidious when decompensated.
[Wirtz]
"Lac felinum patients not only have a feeling of being stupid, but are quite convinced that this is the case. They perceive themselves as being of insufficient or only average intelligence; they have a desire to know more and be capable of more. They received the message from their parents that they were 'only a silly little kid'. Hence the feeling of being 'incapable, thick and stupid', good for nothing. Secondly, we also find feelings of worthlessness or inferiority, [as in Lac equinum]. Thirdly we find feelings of ugliness with a revulsion for oneself [as in Lac caninum]. Inferiority feelings such as these seem to be a common characteristic of Lacs, at least those of all domesticated animals. On looking in the mirror, a feeling that she looks horrible." [Mller]
MRushes through the house from room to room screaming [from agonising headache]. [Clinically verified by Swan]
M"Dreamed of earthquakes." [Allen]
GConstant nervous trembling, esp. of hands, as in drunkards.
+ Dryness of mouth.
+ Sensation as if tongue were scalded.
Gagg Left side.
[head; eye; stomach; ovary; wrist; foot]
Gagg Lying on left side.
G"Cold and heat alternately, each continuing but a short time." [Allen]
Chilly, yet intolerant of warm rooms [Mller]
GNo appetite.
Distension of abdomen after eating ever so little.
GCraving for paper.
"The desire for paper is a curious one in that many cats indeed have a fascination with paper: they will play with paper, especially if wadded into a ball; they may even chew on paper. They love to hide in paper bags. Part of this is a desire to hide, normal part of the stalking behaviour. I would not be surprised to find Lac-f. in the rubric hide, desire to as well. Extreme fearfulness with hiding is common in cats. Arsenicum album often helps. One can easily imagine the ever washing cat as an arsenicum! I wonder even about Lac-f. belonging in the rubrics mind: washing, always washing her hands, mania for bathing, etc." [Don Hamilton]
GCraving for or aversion to milk.
Aversion to fats.
Desire for healthy clean food. [Anne Wirtz, Hom. Links, 3/96]
Desire for salty things and for fish. [Mller]
Vegetarians out of sympathy for animals. [Mller]
GNumbness.
"Lac felinum patients have a sensation as if various parts of the body are packed in cotton wool. One patient with chronic sinusitis had a sensation as if his head were packed in cotton wool. Another had a sensation as if anaesthetized. One patient had a dream that her hands were packed in cotton wool, reminiscent of velvety paws." [Mller]
Gagg Night.
GSharp lancinating pains [head; eyes].
PHeadache; agg left side [temple and over left eye].
agg Reading.
+ Asthenopia.
+ Salivation.
+ Weight on vertex; or crawling on top of brain.
+ Sensation of constriction along bridge of nose.
PEye affections.
+ Shooting pain from eyes backwards.
agg Lying on left side. [Berridge]
Styes.
Sensation as if eyes were drawn backward.
Sharp lancinating pain through centre of left eyeball, leaving it very sore internally, and causing profuse lachrymation. [clinically verified by Swan]
"Back in the original proving, the eyes were one of the main centres of Lac felinum pathology. Neuralgic, cutting pains, or radiating pains 'as if scratched to pieces' are prominent. The eye pains may alternate from side to side [as in Lac caninum], and occur particularly before the menses [as in Folliculinum]. Lac felinum has removed the sensation of a veil in front of the eyes. Sensation of a foreign body in the eye, inflammation of the eye on alternate sides. Swelling of the inner canthi, of the eyebrows, and in front of both ears, always occurring pre-menstrually, have been cured by Lac felinum." [Mller]
PParts of mouth seem to stick together, requiring air or saliva to separate them.
PGreat weight and bearing down in pelvis, like falling of the womb, as if she could not walk.
agg Standing.
Mind: Aversion to men [1]; to women [1].* Conscientious about trifles [1]. Contempt of self [1]*. Delusion parts of body are packed in cotton-wool [1/1]*; she looks wretched on looking in mirror [1/1]*. Fear of pointed, sharp things, pins [1]; of blind people [1/1]*; of being detained [1]*; of falling while descending stairs [1/1]*; of being laughed at [1]*; of suffocation [1]*; of thieves [1]*. Feeling of helplessness [1]*. Desire for independence [1]*. Desire to torture those who torture animals [1/1]*. Desire to travel [1]*. Travelling amel. [1]*. Cannot weep, although sad [1]*.
Head: Formication at vertex [1]. Heat before headache [1]. Sensation of looseness of brain [1]. Pain above left eye [1]; stitching pain over left eye [2].
Eye: Lachrymation from pain in eye [1]. Pain in right eye when lying on left side [1/1]; amel lying on left side [1; Nat-ar.]; neuralgic, ciliary [1]; pain in eyeballs [1]; constant, stinging pain over left eye [3/1]; stitching pain on looking fixedly [1; Arund.]; stitching pain while reading [1]; stitching pain extending backward [1; Spig.]; stitching pain extending backward + sensation as if eyes extended back [1/1]. Photophobia [1]. Sunken sensation [1].
Nose: Icy coldness before headache [1].
Mouth: Salivation during sleep [1]*. Scalded sensation of tongue [1].
Throat: Sensation of lump [1]*.
Abdomen: Sensation as of a cold band around lower part of abdomen [1/1].
Female: Voluptuous itching [1]. Menses copious [1]*; too frequent [1]*; painful [1]; suppressed + frontal headache[1/1]. Bearing down pain in uterus agg standing [1].
Chest: Induration mammae before menses [1]. Milk, disappearing [1].
Nodules in mammae before menses [3]. Pain in mammae before menses [3].**
EXTREMITIES: Coldness of foot, one cold the other hot [1]. Sensitive feet [1]. Touching feet agg [1/1].
GENERALITIES: Food and drinks, desires paper [1/1].
* Additions from Karl-Josef Mller + Gerhard Ruster - Lac felinum - A
synthetic Remedy Picture from Clinical Observation, private publication, 1997.
** "The rubrics in this section probably apply to all homeopathic milk remedies." [Mller]
Food
Aversion: Milk [2]; clams [1]; fat [1]; salt [1].
Desire: Salt [2]; fish [1]; healthy clean food [1]; milk [1]; paper [1].
Worse: Milk [2].
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lac-f.
Cat's Milk.
The cat, the trusted house companion in so many families all over the world, is said to have first been domesticated by the Egyptians. Although all kinds of smaller feline species have been tamed since prehistoric times, the current short-haired house-cat [which carries the scientific name Felix domestica] probably stems from the Nubian cat of Africa, possibly crossed with the European wild cat [F. silvestris]. Domestic cats in India may have developed entirely independently of those in Europe and may stem from the steppe cat.
Unlike the wild cat, the domestic cat keeps its tail horizontal when walking, except when welcoming human housemates, when the tail stands almost vertical.
The flag is also raised when the cat anticipates food. Butting its head and rubbing against the legs of the person preparing the food are a clear indication of the cat's satisfaction with the filling of its plate. Whether it loves its owner as much with a full stomach depends entirely on its mood, because it remains a somewhat self-willed creature. When you sit and wait for the cat to snuggle in your lap, it is nowhere to be seen, yet you can't get rid of it at the very moment it doesn't suit.
A cat hunts at night by sight and sound, where its whiskers are very useful.
Both its hearing and its sight are very developed. Its hearing is also very sensitive for sounds in the higher frequencies outside the capacity of the human ear. This enables it to hear the sounds made by mice which cannot be heard by the human ear. The cat's eyes are perfectly suited to their task.
During the day, they're protected by an iris that shuts out the rays of daylight. The pupils then become smaller, until they are just narrow slits.
At night and in twilight, the eyes open fully, the iris opens fully, and the round pupil absorbs any light present. As with most nocturnal animals, the cat's eyes glaze over in the dark and in weak light. This is caused by a layer of cells behind the retina which reflect the light, so that the retina is stimulated twice.
The domestic cat is less removed from its wild ancestors than, for example, the domestic dog, and has remained more independent than the latter from human beings. Their hunting method is also different. Dogs generally follow their prey by smell and chase after it, while cats mainly use hearing and sight and, with infinite patience, stalk their prey until the right moment arrives to strike. Cats also become wild faster than dogs. Cats that have run wild tend to grow larger than normal, probably because there is an abundance of natural food and because they lead a more healthy life. Moreover, it has been found that feral cats are not only larger and fiercer than domestic cats, but that their descendants return to the form of the tabby, the colour of their ancestors.
"Sexual maturity in female cats mat occur as early as 5 months; typically it occurs at 7-10 months. Tomcats mature at about 8-12 months, although rarely at 6-7 months. Typical mating seasons are February-March and August-September, with some extension in a few individuals. Queens do not ovulate until mating occurs, thus the tendency to go into and out of heat.
This may last for weeks until the season passes if mating doesn't occur.
Females will often come into heat while nursing, only 2-3 weeks after parturition. The actual mating in the cat appears to be a mix of pleasure and pain; the tom grasps the queen by the back of the neck and holds her securely while mounting her. The penis of the tom has spines which stimulate the vagina, leading to ovulation. While the queen does allow the mating to occur, she usually screams during the process; it doesn't sound particularly like a pleasurable scream. Thus one can see the mix of sexual desire, even need [intercourse is required to stop heat cycles] with the feeling of rape and of prostitution. I would suspect Lac-f. to be a possibility for addition to the rubric sexual desire increased while nursing a child. Also such rubrics as coition, painful." [Don Hamilton, DVM]
In ancient Egypt cats were treated as sacred in honour of Bast. "This cat-headed goddess was regarded as a kindly goddess representing the beneficent powers of the sun protecting the Two Lands, and was sometimes said to personify the moon. Bast also acquired some of the characteristics of Hathor, being known as the goddess of joy, music and dancing. Her cult was celebrated in lighthearted barge processions and in orgiastic ceremonies." [Ions]
Since the times of ancient Egypt, there have been all kinds of superstitions and strange stories about cats. In parts of Asia, it was assumed that people changed into cats after they died. The Chinese believed that as soon as cats reached a certain age, they could change into other creatures. Also in China, as in Japan, people believed that cats could speak once they reached the age of ten. In medieval Europe, black cats were persecuted and cruelly mistreated because of their so-called relationship with witches. The devil was often portrayed as a black cat. A black cat that crosses your path is said to signify bad luck, although it is equally popular as a sign of good luck! The saying that a cat has nine lives also probably dates from the time magical powers were ascribed to the cat. "I believe this derives as much from the powerful healing capability of the cat. Most likely our ancestors saw cats return from the jaws of death enough to wonder if indeed they had been resurrected. A veterinary orthopedic surgeon intimated the cat's bone healing capacity with the statement that 'if the bones are in the same room they will heal'." [Don Hamilton]
Proved by Swan in 1882. Proved also by Divya Chhabra; 10 provers, one dose of 30C [Homoeopathic Links, 1/95].
Spigelia. Sulphur. Lycopodium. Rhus toxicodendron. Belladonna. Bryonia.
Sepia. Asarum. Marble.
Nerves. Female organs. Head. Eyes. * Left side.
MMorbid conscientiousness; every little fault appeared a crime.
[clinically verified by Swan]
MFear of falling downstairs, but without vertigo.
MFear of pointed things.
"Mental illusion that corners of furniture, or any pointed object near her, were about to run into eyes; the symptom is purely mental; the objects do not appear to her sight to be too close." [Clarke]
"They cannot tolerate anything pointed anywhere near the eyes, nor even the thought of being given an injection or a lumbar puncture or having to have an operation, esp. in the region of the head. A fear of pharmaceutical drugs has also been observed." [Mller]
M"Proud behaviour of the cat; sensuality; intolerance of hunger [found in many animal remedies as control over instinctual urge is absent]." [Chhabra]
MDreams of sexual intercourse; many dreams of being pursued for rape, even by relatives.
"I have since then found it to be one of the remedies indicated in patients with a history of incest." [Chhabra]
M"This was an animal remedy with a dirty feeling about oneself, a feeling of not being respected, of being treated contemptuously. The conflict of submitting oneself, of degrading oneself to save relationship or for money. The theme of the prostitute who submits her body, her respect for money ... To get his food, the wild cat became the domestic cat of today.
'The trick had been to control their fear of humans, to learn to tolerate handling and even enjoy it, as the necessary price that had to be paid for an easy life. In a way they had to prostitute themselves, but once they had mastered the art, the rewards were impressive. They allowed the domestic cat to live longer and more healthily than its wild ancestors.' They made a choice, gave up their independence, their wildness, their freedom, their respect - for food, for survival." [Chhabra]
MConflict between dependency and independency.
Desire to be pampered as opposed to desire to be independent.
Intolerance of obligation and pressure. [Alize Timmerman]
Fear of being let down due to past experience of neglect.
They absolutely hate dishonesty.
"A basic pattern I discerned is that many women felt abused and neglected, reacting with rebellion and independent behaviour. They have a 'I
don't need anybody' attitude." [Wirtz]
"Later on, in Lac felinum people, a behaviour pattern may develop of not wanting any further relationship with human beings, in order to preserve one's own independence intact. Within a relationship, a clinging or grasping partner evokes a sensation of claustrophobia or constriction. 'Women stick to you like a limpet' was how one male patient expressed it. There is a great fear of attachment and an aversion to persons who 'hang on to your apron strings'. On the physical level a Lac felinum person is intolerant of constriction, especially around the neck. A relationship becomes a risky gamble rather than an involvement of oneself. 'Relationships have a fatal outcome', as one female Lac felinum patient put it. Thus there is a fear of the opposite sex, and not only in females." [Karl-Josef Mller]
MVery sensual behaviour; passionate, expressive [eyes!].
Colourful, tasteful clothing and jewellery and/or other ornaments.
[Wirtz]
MCritical as to own appearance.
Fussy about food.
Desire for cleanness, orderliness, only fastidious when decompensated.
[Wirtz]
"Lac felinum patients not only have a feeling of being stupid, but are quite convinced that this is the case. They perceive themselves as being of insufficient or only average intelligence; they have a desire to know more and be capable of more. They received the message from their parents that they were 'only a silly little kid'. Hence the feeling of being 'incapable, thick and stupid', good for nothing. Secondly, we also find feelings of worthlessness or inferiority, [as in Lac equinum]. Thirdly we find feelings of ugliness with a revulsion for oneself [as in Lac caninum]. Inferiority feelings such as these seem to be a common characteristic of Lacs, at least those of all domesticated animals. On looking in the mirror, a feeling that she looks horrible." [Mller]
MRushes through the house from room to room screaming [from agonising headache]. [Clinically verified by Swan]
M"Dreamed of earthquakes." [Allen]
GConstant nervous trembling, esp. of hands, as in drunkards.
+ Dryness of mouth.
+ Sensation as if tongue were scalded.
Gagg Left side.
[head; eye; stomach; ovary; wrist; foot]
Gagg Lying on left side.
G"Cold and heat alternately, each continuing but a short time." [Allen]
Chilly, yet intolerant of warm rooms [Mller]
GNo appetite.
Distension of abdomen after eating ever so little.
GCraving for paper.
"The desire for paper is a curious one in that many cats indeed have a fascination with paper: they will play with paper, especially if wadded into a ball; they may even chew on paper. They love to hide in paper bags. Part of this is a desire to hide, normal part of the stalking behaviour. I would not be surprised to find Lac-f. in the rubric hide, desire to as well. Extreme fearfulness with hiding is common in cats. Arsenicum album often helps. One can easily imagine the ever washing cat as an arsenicum! I wonder even about Lac-f. belonging in the rubrics mind: washing, always washing her hands, mania for bathing, etc." [Don Hamilton]
GCraving for or aversion to milk.
Aversion to fats.
Desire for healthy clean food. [Anne Wirtz, Hom. Links, 3/96]
Desire for salty things and for fish. [Mller]
Vegetarians out of sympathy for animals. [Mller]
GNumbness.
"Lac felinum patients have a sensation as if various parts of the body are packed in cotton wool. One patient with chronic sinusitis had a sensation as if his head were packed in cotton wool. Another had a sensation as if anaesthetized. One patient had a dream that her hands were packed in cotton wool, reminiscent of velvety paws." [Mller]
Gagg Night.
GSharp lancinating pains [head; eyes].
PHeadache; agg left side [temple and over left eye].
agg Reading.
+ Asthenopia.
+ Salivation.
+ Weight on vertex; or crawling on top of brain.
+ Sensation of constriction along bridge of nose.
PEye affections.
+ Shooting pain from eyes backwards.
agg Lying on left side. [Berridge]
Styes.
Sensation as if eyes were drawn backward.
Sharp lancinating pain through centre of left eyeball, leaving it very sore internally, and causing profuse lachrymation. [clinically verified by Swan]
"Back in the original proving, the eyes were one of the main centres of Lac felinum pathology. Neuralgic, cutting pains, or radiating pains 'as if scratched to pieces' are prominent. The eye pains may alternate from side to side [as in Lac caninum], and occur particularly before the menses [as in Folliculinum]. Lac felinum has removed the sensation of a veil in front of the eyes. Sensation of a foreign body in the eye, inflammation of the eye on alternate sides. Swelling of the inner canthi, of the eyebrows, and in front of both ears, always occurring pre-menstrually, have been cured by Lac felinum." [Mller]
PParts of mouth seem to stick together, requiring air or saliva to separate them.
PGreat weight and bearing down in pelvis, like falling of the womb, as if she could not walk.
agg Standing.
Mind: Aversion to men [1]; to women [1].* Conscientious about trifles [1]. Contempt of self [1]*. Delusion parts of body are packed in cotton-wool [1/1]*; she looks wretched on looking in mirror [1/1]*. Fear of pointed, sharp things, pins [1]; of blind people [1/1]*; of being detained [1]*; of falling while descending stairs [1/1]*; of being laughed at [1]*; of suffocation [1]*; of thieves [1]*. Feeling of helplessness [1]*. Desire for independence [1]*. Desire to torture those who torture animals [1/1]*. Desire to travel [1]*. Travelling amel. [1]*. Cannot weep, although sad [1]*.
Head: Formication at vertex [1]. Heat before headache [1]. Sensation of looseness of brain [1]. Pain above left eye [1]; stitching pain over left eye [2].
Eye: Lachrymation from pain in eye [1]. Pain in right eye when lying on left side [1/1]; amel lying on left side [1; Nat-ar.]; neuralgic, ciliary [1]; pain in eyeballs [1]; constant, stinging pain over left eye [3/1]; stitching pain on looking fixedly [1; Arund.]; stitching pain while reading [1]; stitching pain extending backward [1; Spig.]; stitching pain extending backward + sensation as if eyes extended back [1/1]. Photophobia [1]. Sunken sensation [1].
Nose: Icy coldness before headache [1].
Mouth: Salivation during sleep [1]*. Scalded sensation of tongue [1].
Throat: Sensation of lump [1]*.
Abdomen: Sensation as of a cold band around lower part of abdomen [1/1].
Female: Voluptuous itching [1]. Menses copious [1]*; too frequent [1]*; painful [1]; suppressed + frontal headache[1/1]. Bearing down pain in uterus agg standing [1].
Chest: Induration mammae before menses [1]. Milk, disappearing [1].
Nodules in mammae before menses [3]. Pain in mammae before menses [3].**
EXTREMITIES: Coldness of foot, one cold the other hot [1]. Sensitive feet [1]. Touching feet agg [1/1].
GENERALITIES: Food and drinks, desires paper [1/1].
* Additions from Karl-Josef Mller + Gerhard Ruster - Lac felinum - A
synthetic Remedy Picture from Clinical Observation, private publication, 1997.
** "The rubrics in this section probably apply to all homeopathic milk remedies." [Mller]
Food
Aversion: Milk [2]; clams [1]; fat [1]; salt [1].
Desire: Salt [2]; fish [1]; healthy clean food [1]; milk [1]; paper [1].
Worse: Milk [2].
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Lac felinum
Feras Hakkak wrote:
Divya Chhabra, (Links 95)
The Story of The Cat:
Lac Felinum Proving
Divya Chhabra, 8-C, Lohtse Co-op. Hsg. Society, Near Chandan Cinema, Ruia Park, Juhu, Bombay - 400 049.
-
Editorial Comments:
The need for more provings is brought out very well in this proving. I hope it will encourage us to prove more and more substances that are around us; so many mammals, fishes, birds, insects and reptiles, plants, minerals and synthetic substances.
The proving is complete when we are able to visualise the inner problem of the substance. Each substance represents the solution of the problem.
It is heartening to note that more and more substances are being proved in this way. What is probably lacking is coordination among the proving groups.
I urge readers to send their provings to Links so that Links can act as the co-ordinating office for provings. Thus all the information can be brought together and used by all.
As I look back upon the steps I have taken on the path of homœopathy, two landmarks stand out clearly. The first was the beginning of drug provings. Magnesium Sulph was the first drug proved, bringing with it an answer to all the uneasy questions that kept entering my mind. Can a single dose really change anything in the patient? Are all these symptoms in the Repertory and Materia Medica really correct? After experiencing the complete change of state that followed just one dose of a 30C of Mag Sulph, there was no room for doubt. How different the world looked through the Mag
Sulph spectacles! Provings followed provings; until the next landmark, the proving of Lac felinum, Cat's milk.
Our group of ten provers took Lac felinum 30C, one dose. None, except me as the observer, knew what was being proved. Two weeks later we met for our first meeting, which began dramatically. The first to speak, prover A, had the following dreams:
1. I have many pet camels and one of them is specially close to me. He says to me "give me food, I am hungry". He pesters me for food. I give him a very small quantity of food as if to tease him. He gets very angry with me and starts running after me.
2. I have a pet hen which I am carrying in my bag while travelling in a bus. It is screaming with hunger as we get down and go to the college canteen and sit down to eat something. I take out my lunch box and share the food with the hen. My friend tells me "What are you doing? How can you eat from the same plate as the hen?" I answer, "So what?"
3. A bull is running after me. No fear.
4. I am sleeping and wake up because I hear a noise. I realise it is a rat and take a stick to drive it out. It is a rat with a white tail (laughing while narrating this). I am about to hit it with a stick when the rat speaks to me and says "I am pregnant. Please, let me stay." I am shocked that she is talking to me and I can understand what she says. I allowed her to stay there.
Right from the start we had plunged into the world of animals. The prover talking to animals, eating from the same plate, as if they were of the same species. Patients that need animal remedies have a relationship with animals that is not mere love or rapport. It is not a human to animal relationship but rather like that of best friends or siblings. They feel no difference between themselves and animals, as these dreams clearly reveal. Then, of course, the rat in the dream that the prover wanted to chase out indicated clearly what animal we are dealing with. The theme of
sympathy to the pregnant rat got our attention. Later, while analysing the proving, we read about cats and their lives. We learned that the cats are not really social animals. They don't bother much about each other. But if a cat is pregnant, all the other cats rally around for support, share food and help the pregnant cat.
The same prover A also had other dreams.
5. I am working in the hospital as a Resident Medical Officer and have to collect a blood sample. As I approach the patient I see that her body has no surface markings. No bones, just a flat surface. No contours, no bony marks. How can any human be like this?
6. I am in the hospital and trying to find the radial pulse of the patient. I am not able to do so and the doctor - in-charge looks at me with contempt and says "you can't even find the pulse of the patient?" I feel I don't know anything.
A feeling of being looked at with contempt and a feeling of lack of self confidence was very strong in the proving.
Prover B in the proving recalled an accident where she had seen a crow flying. She started imagining how it would be if she were a bird and could fly, or if all humans were birds and could fly. "I wanted to fly, to be free, no hassles, no hang-ups. I found the crow very cute. It was completely black and pure."
She found herself much more irritable than usual. "Harmless words would affect me. I had gone to a friend's house to help him with some of his work and he said something about the way I was doing the work. I was very angry. It was a matter of my respect, of not being given my due respect. My dignity was hurt, I felt indignant. How dare he talk like this to me. I was not able to relax during the proving. I felt very nervous and worked up."
Prover C had a dream: While travelling in a train, a lady gives me the gift of a red satin handkerchief. She puts it across my face and the breeze is blowing. When the feeling was further described, and during the 'free association' discussion that followed the proving, the word that emerged was 'sensuous'.
The second dream that she had was "My mother has stitched a blouse for me. The back is very low cut and I feel how did she stitch something like this for me. In another dream my friend was dressing up and used very heavy eye make-up. I felt, "How can you use such heavy make-up?"
She had a tremendous hunger and could not tolerate it, especially at 11.30 - 12 noon. Felt she must get out of class and eat something. She felt very bad and disgusted with life. "I am not moving ahead, I am stagnating". She was in the hospital, when she had the sudden impulse to call someone she knew "a bastard". He had not said anything to her and she was not angry - it was an impulse.
So far, the proving had progressed well. We could see immediately the proud behaviour of the cat, the sensuality, an intolerance of hunger (found in many animal remedies as control over instinctual urge is absent). But suddenly we were floundering in deep waters. What did 'bastard' have to do with this? There was a deluge of dreams to do with sexuality. Dreams of sexual intercourse, and many dreams of being pursued for rape, even by relatives. (I have since then found it to be one of the remedies indicated in patients with a history of incest).
Prover C had another amazing dream, "My friends and I have gone for an outing. We are alone in the room when 3 eunuchs enter the room. They start making very obscene gestures and start exposing themselves. We are very scared. They are telling us "come out with us, we won't hurt you, otherwise you will suffer." What should we do? A terribly dirty feeling of being touched and assaulted by a eunuch.
In the free association discussion that follows our provings, the feelings associated with eunuchs were probed into. They were mainly fear and revulsion. The eunuchs in India often beg, even demand money. If you do not give it to them, they threaten to expose themselves, to touch the woman or abuse people. Although people do not want to give money, they do so under this pressure. There is prevalent a dirty, disgusted feeling, if a eunuch touches people and this is used by eunuchs to extort money.
Shocked, she asked her friend what was going on. Her friend nonchalantly said "Oh! this happens here all the time." The prover woke up from the dream. Her feeling was "This is my friend and her home was like a brothel. How could this be?"
And then the crucial dream of the proving followed, and the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. Prover D dreamt that she went with her mother to a family friend's home. On the way it began to rain and as she was drenched the lady of the house offered her a change of clothes. "I was changing in the bathroom when I realised that there was no window and instead there was a gap in the wall from where I could see the adjoining room. The hostess' grown-up son was looking at me changing. I hid myself and shouted to him to go away. But he tried to put his hand through the
opening in the wall. I shouted and said that If he did not leave I would call out to his mother. He only smiled and said. "Go ahead, call out". I had a conflict. Should I call out and spoil the relations with the family? The next night I had another dream: I am sleeping on my bed and three short men dressed in black enter and tell me "come on, he is calling you." He was my mother's friend's son. I felt terrible. Had I screamed the first time, this would not have happened. I felt I almost submitted myself. I felt terrible that I could do such a thing. For the sake of the relations
with the family, how could I submit myself". The same prover developed a complete aversion to touch by any male, even by her boyfriend who accidentally touched her elbow as they were sitting for a lecture together. The feeling was hate and a dirty feeling "Don't touch me".
The mist was clearing. This was an animal remedy with a dirty feeling about oneself, a feeling of not being respected, of being treated contemptuously. The feeling arising from a conflict and a choice. The conflict of submitting oneself, of degrading oneself to save relationship or for money. The theme of the prostitute who submits her body, her respect for money. The theme of the eunuch who behaves in an obscene manner, creating disgust and revulsion to get money. How bad they must feel about themselves to behave in this manner.
But what does this feeling have to do with the cat? With thoughts and questions buzzing in our heads, my colleague Chetan and I began idly turning the pages of a book "The Curious Cat" and I read a fascinating paragraph. It said that research had revealed that the cat was perhaps the only animal that had domesticated itself, unlike dogs and cattle that had been domesticated by man for his needs. The domestic cat of today has probably evolved from the species Felix libyca and domesticated themselves first in Egypt. In the struggle for survival, food for the wild cat grew
scare in the wild and was abundant around human habitations. But to get this food, the wild cat had to be accepted by the humans. So in the process of evolution, the wild cat became the domestic cat of today. To quote "The trick had been to control their fear of humans, to learn to tolerate handling and even to enjoy it, as the necessary price that had to be paid for an easy life. In a way they had to prostitute themselves, but once they had mastered the art, the rewards were impressive. They allowed the domestic cat to live longer and more healthily than its wild ancestors".
As the last wisp of the fog fluttered away I felt quietly grateful for the part of the universe that had opened before me, that I had touched and experienced. I looked at the cat with new eyes. I understood their delicate fastidiousness, their moodiness, their clinging to their independence, their allowing themselves to be stroked when they like, their sudden bursts of ill temper and unsheathing their claws for no apparent reason, even if someone was just stroking them. Their mewing for food, following you if you have a vessel in your hand and yet clinging desperately to
their dignity. They made a choice, gave up their independence, their wildness, their freedom, their respect - for food, for survival. Was it worth it? The unresolved conflict remains in the universe around. We carry it with us and its remedy is Lac Felinum. To sum it, it is a remedy for a person who feels terrible, dirty; who feels I have chosen to prostitute myself, degraded myself - Is it worth it? The word prostitution must be used in a broader sense. It is the feeling of cheapening oneself. For e.g. people working abroad, getting more money but in a job of less status or less
than their qualification deserves.
The depth of this proving both shook me and steadied me. I knew this was now a complete proving. It comes down to the complete centre of the remedy symptoms and the substance proved, until there is no difference in the two anymore.
I realised that the proving speaks the unspoken feeling of the substances in our universe to us, of both animate and inanimate substances. Their secrets, their spirit, their unresolved conflicts are revealed to us in the proving. Is this the root of all disease? Is what we have around us unresolved conflicts of the process of evolution? Every thing gained, every change has a price that must be paid. Does every substance that evolves one step leave a conflict which crystallises as disease? Is that what we must resolve to move ahead?
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Links 96
I would like to share with you my experience with the remedy lac felinum , a remedy that, over the years, proved to be quite important in my practice.
The idea of this remedy came to my mind, while the Gilde of Homœopaths, a group of colleagues, did a proving on lac caprinum. We where studying the different lac remedies and considering the fact that lac caninum fits people that feel treated as a dog, I was wondering what kind of people would need cats milk. So I started with writing down the characteristics of a cat.
Some striking points that I perceived were:
• attacking
• independent
• aversion being forced
• aversion "inappropriate" touch
• desire to being caressed in a "appropriate" way
• prudent
• suspicious
• curious
• enthusiastic
• passionate
• air of indifference
• indirect way of asking attention
• expressive
• alert
• intuitive
• gracefully
• vehement
• withdrawal
Case 1
A Reiki therapist consulted me for a health advice. I knew her professionally but I did not know anything about her medical history nor her life experience. I had came to know her as an enthusiastic woman, with a loud voice, pushing her ideas in the meetings, where we met. Obviously disappointed and a little offended when others rejected her ideas. Then she would withdraw. Some people regarded her enthusiasm as aggression. She had lively brown eyes and a movable, flexible body which supported her argumentation.
Without actually taking her case, I recognised her main features as "cat like" and asked her if she was willing to take part in an experiment and take the remedy. So she agreed and took the remedy in a 200K potency.
After one week she narrated a perfect homœopathic reaction according to Hering's Law.
Some hours after taking the remedy she felt unreal with a sensation as if walking on clouds. She walked straight through a (familiar) glass door, after which she came back to reality. She felt very alone and forsaken during one evening. Feeling vehement. Physically, cramping back pains only relieved by bending double and slowly straightening up. Then this was followed by an elimination of the sinuses with copious nasal discharge accompanied by fever. All of these symptoms she had had in the past. After five days she felt reborn. Since that time (December1993) she has been
feeling well.
Literature
On searching for the remedy in the Materia Medica I only found it in Clarke. The main interesting symptoms mentioned there are:
• morbid conscientious
• every little fault appears a crime
• cross to everyone
• fear/delusion of pins, sharp things*
• fear of falling, without vertigo / downstairs
• great desire to eat paper
• I heard from some patients that they instinctively pulled back, when a finger or another pointed object was pointed at them. Or when a hand, unexpectedly, came close to there face, out of fear there eyes where going to be hurt.
Proving
In June 1994 we did a dream proving with 9 participants of the Gilde of Homœopaths. We only used the themes that came up in the dreams if a majority of the provers had them. The main themes where:
• Organising, cleaning, efficiency, orderliness
• Caring for a child, protecting a child
• Impulsive
• Indignation
• Misleading
• Persistence
• Dullness
• Tomorrow is early enough
• Irritability, flying out
• Making love on her own conditions, cuddling
• Desire for freedom
• Don't ask for help
• Cunning
• Aversion being forced
• Impatience, restlessness
• Floating sensation
• Opportunism
• Dreams of dogs and fishes, of coats and furs
• Abuse and sexual abuse
• Full of activity
• Desire to be alone
Since 1993 I have treated 15 cases with lac felinum only. Out of these patients there was only one male patient, a five year old boy.
Case 2
An 38 year old woman consulted me for complaints of dullness, floating sensation, sleeplessness and tiredness. She also had pain in her muscles and bones. These complaints use to appear in stress situations. She is the mother of two children. Her husband is self employed and has an irregular income. She is a dancing teacher and has the feeling that she ought not to be that, because of the financial situation. Her mother had a muscular disease which started when the patient was only two years old. Her father was an alcoholic and she was expected from a young age onward to
help at home. She has two younger twin brothers. When she rebelled they called her an egoist. She used to swallow her emotions and left home to go abroad at the age of eighteen. She is now happily married.
When she becomes nervous she still holds back her irritations and occasionally explodes. She always reacts late, as if it does not penetrate.
She wants things to be organised but has the feeling that she has to do everything alone. She feels a kind of silent resistance, like in her youth, which she knows is visible to others. The way of expressing herself, even at a young age, was through music and dance. She yearns for deep emotional experiences. Deeply touched by the injustice of the world she tries to find her way to do something about it.
She used to be afraid of people and it takes time before she can trust someone. "I was seen as strong and independent". Likes to be in groups with good friends. Fear of failure in other groups, as teacher or participant alike because of high expectations. "Like at school. My parents where very critical. I just had to know things, I couldn't take my time".
What about hobbies?
She likes to read psychological books, mythical stories, astrology and about her profession. She likes cooking and doing creative things. "I want to enjoy things, also physical contact like cuddling, playing and sexuality is important. At the moment I just want to be caressed. All depends on the person of course, it has to mean something".
What about menses?
Before menses, about three days, she retains fluids. Her mammae gets swollen and she has abdominal pain. Everything looks grey, as out of contact with the world. Sometimes very emotional, for example, if she hears "news" about war or the suffering of children. When the menses appear everything ameliorates. After the birth of her second child she had back problems for a long time, better with osteopathy.
How do you feel about animals?
"I like them a lot, but don't take care of them enough. Just like my mother. I feel guilty about it. I always have the feeling that I am a bad person".
Desires: pungent food, sweets, coffee with a lot of milk. Not thirsty.
Feels the cold and has a liking for warm and sunny weather. Does not like to just lie in the sun. During her holidays she likes to cycle or walk.
Desire for travelling and to see different cultures, "at my own pace".
What about dreams?
"With a lot of children during the dancing lessons. They stick to their games while the grown-ups are around. I then have to change the lesson".
What kind of feeling do you get from this dream? "At first embarrassment, later it feels all right".
Reaction to the remedy:
"The same evening a clear view of my life. How I used to handle things. A nice experience. Up till now everything just happened to me. The next day; heavy hea daches with vomiting and feeling very tired. I went to sleep in the afternoon.
After one week; much more aware of my body. A feeling of vulnerability, that I have to protect myself against injuries. I also feel my limitations, a very organic feeling. Miraculous! I am more grounded. My sleep is good, I have more energy. The muscle pain is still there. Something is changing in my body, it feels unpleasant sometimes. Like a battle of the muscles, do I have to give them place or not? For example my lungs, there is more awareness of them with a desire for sighing. "
Since then (one year) she did not need another dose.
Case 3
A 48 year old woman came to me with complaints of exhaustion and hot flushes since she was treated with chemotherapy for cancer of the left breast. As a young woman she used to have cysts in her breast. In February 1994 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and within 2 weeks they took her left breast away and she got radiotherapy, followed by chemotherapy, one year ago by now.
"I am disappointed in my body. I always ate healthy food, took care of my body by swimming and doing yoga. "
She is a hard worker. Together with her second husband she runs a leather shop. They have four children, each two children from their former marriages. In 1982 both had at the same time a difficult divorce. She was married to his cousin. Their relationship was disapproved of by the whole family. A very stressful time. She worked at a library and did not want her work to be affected by it.
"It is terrible to have to miss a breast. I will never be the same person again. I can feel the spot but do not make contact with it. It feels like a mourning process. They just cut out a part of you. "
She has fear of death from metastasis. "As a child I was very lively, always the cock of the walk. A father's child. He died when I was 20 years old, he drank too much. He owned a pub. When my mother remarried, my home was gone. I just married the boy friend I had at the time out of security reasons. I kept my own work and money so I could be independent. I cannot stand if managers are insufficient. I cannot work with "bad" workers, than I prefer to go. It has to make sense. "
She is fond of reading, undertaking things, organising. No chains! Not at costs of her own life. She has two children.
What are your ambitions?
Meaningful and nice work. Earning a nice living. "I read everything.
Novels, study books, about culture, health, gardening. " Other hobbies are: painting, drawing, gardening, walking, biking, going to the theatre, travelling, aqua-jogging. With the children there is never a real problem.
I have a strong relationship with them. I am not over caring, they have to survive when I am not there anymore. My ideal is, when they have found their way, to move to the countryside to live on a farm. I wanted to divorce because there was no real intimate contact. I took care of everything. My husband worked on me like a brake. I swallowed my anger. I have a fear of anger. Because of the anger, my father could explode over nothing, because of the alcohol. I always felt the threat that my parents could divorce and the fear to be left alone. With my ex husband I always felt
an iron-like band around my head, tightening all the time, before he came home. I tried to escape. "
How are the menses?
"Always irregular, once every three months. They where never normal until I met my second husband. I wanted to have children and counted the day we had to have sex. Now I know that I missed the physical warmth and a good sexual relationship. The family has always been important. "
How where things at school?
"If somebody got ragged I came in to help. I am always self confident. "
How about food?
"I prefer fish to meat. Don't like milk. "
How about climate?
"I have a desire and need for the sun. It should not be too hot or too cold. "
How about animals?
"I have had dogs and cats and felt very sorry when they became ill. I'd like stroking them. I used to talk to them. I have a fear of miceand snakes. "
There are dreams of nature and daily things.
About the flushes; many times during the day and several times during the night, with a lot of perspiration. "It makes me more emotional and weaker. "
How about your nature?
"People used to call me a social kind of person, honest, hardworking and independent. Naive when I was younger. "
How about criticism?
"Difficult to accept, it hurts. I will go back. "
Appearance?
"Important to take care of!"
Follow up after six weeks
After taking LM1, 3 drops daily, it went very well. The last week a little aggravation again to six flushes a day, but almost without perspiration. At night no problems at all. She had a flu with high fever, which only lasted three days. She has more energy, took up a study in French language and got involved with other hobbies. She is more cheerful. The amputated area still feels as if it not a part of my body.
Follow up after ten weeks
I gave her three times 200K to be taken once a week if necessary, which she took anyhow. When she phoned me to tell me that her flushes got worse, I told her to stop everything and to wait. She reports later that she feels fine. Energy is good. She can handle the stress in the shop better. Feels more in contact with the amputated area. She takes care of her mother in law after the recent death of her father in law. Eleven months free of complaints now.SYMPTOMS I HAVE SEEN IN ADULTS
Physical symptoms
• Headaches
• Sinus problems
• Floating sensation
• Inflammation eyes; iridocyclitis
• Nausea, eructations, acidity, anorexia
• Aversion milk, fat
• Desire milk, healthy clean food
• Abdominal cramps, flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation
• Amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, flushes, swelling mammae before menses
• Back pain, cramping
• Sleeplessness
• Allergy to cats
• Food allergy
Mind symptoms
• Dullness and chaotic feeling
• Desire for cleanness, orderliness, only fastidious when decompensated
• Aversion or desire touch depending on whom and when
• Curious, things have to be interesting, repetition can be boring
• Religious and/or interested in spirituality,
• Clairvoyant and sensitive to mesmerism (Reiki)
• Expressive, verbally and in mimic
• Desire to escape from reality
• Quality of life/living is important
• Colourful, tasteful clothing and jewellery or/and other ornaments
• Think in extremes, black and white, especially on the emotional level when "attacked"
• Social and helpful, interested in people, animals (cats) and nature
• Trusting people is important, prudent
• Sensitive to atmosphere, desire harmony
• History of abuse
• Fear of dogs and snakes
A basic pattern I discerned is that many woman felt abused and neglected, reacting by rebellion and independent behaviour. They have a "I don't need anybody" attitude.
Child case
A girl eighteen moths old.
She has a sleeping problem since birth. It causes difficulties in the family situation. The mother has been so overexerted that she had to stay at home from work for some time. From the start of her life she did not sleep during daytime and would wake up three times during the night. She has a quick digestion and can eat the whole day. She is a small, slender, blond little girl. She is very lively. Her development is rapid, cognitive as well as in motion. She is very curious, enjoys everything, the weirder the better. At the nursery she keeps to the rules. Theatrical,
obstinate, persevering, cannot stand closed doors. Manipulative, assertive, strong willed, opposite to her brother, who is three years older. Cross if she does not want something. She wants to get things her way, keeps on trying.
Mother must be very consequent with her. She is a fast eater. If she feels she had enough she stops. The family has to accommodate to her. She hates the safety harnass, keep on trying to take it off. She likes to cuddle but only when she wants it. She is very emotional. She studies herself mimicking in the mirror, so she can simulate a crying face. Very easy in making contact with people. Sweet to animals, cats, goats, horses. No fears, only for closed doors. So fearful that she vomits. When the door is closed, on waking, she starts to scream in panic. Sleeps often in knee
elbow position or with her arms stretched out above her head. When going into her room, when she is awake her parents will find her standing on her feet ready to throw herself out of bed, if she could. She palls the chestnuts out of the fire for her brother, not afraid to try anything. She falls a lot, which is not a problem to her. She has a lot of energy. She hates it to have a dirty napkin, likes to be clean and wants the napkin to be changed immediately after it gets dirty. She likes to eat almost everything. Desire for cheese and olives. Aversion to avocado and mushrooms.
She wants to eat the cat's food, since she has learned to feed the cats, she stays close to them while they are eating.
During pregnancy the mother vomited for four and a half months. It was a very busy time, while they were rebuilding the house. She had to take care of her son and had a part time job.
She was born five days to early. Very lively in uterus. "She couldn't wait,
I couldn't hold her. She came out very fast. " She was breast feeded for four and a half months, up till ten times daily. She drank a lot. In bed she is very restless, turning and tossing. Does not want to be in a sleeping bag. She likes her bath lukewarm. She is never ill. Likes to draw with big movements. She needs a lot of space.
Follow up
Immediately after the first and only dose no more sleeping problems and more easy to handle. One and a half year has gone by since than.
SYMPTOMS I HAVE SEEN IN CHILDREN
Physical symptoms
• Rapid motoric development
• Recurrent colds, cough and bronchitis
• Eczema, rashes
• Sleeplessness
Mind symptoms
• Agile, lively
• Persistent, obstinate, strong willed
• Curious, inquisitive
• Social
Differential Diagnosis
Causticum: More political idealism in a larger field.
Thuja: Has more lack of identity.
Muriaticums: Same kind of caring for their children and environment, but is less passionate.
Lac caninum: Stronger sense of worthlessness and more dependent.
Anne Wirtz
Sarphatipark 101
1073 CV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Homœopathic Links, Autumn 1996, Vol. 9 (3)
A caring capricious creature
Lac felinum
Anne Wirtz, The Netherlands
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The symbol in a remedy as a key factor
A case of Lac felinum
Alize Timmerman, The Netherlands
When taking a case the homœopath usually follows the procedure of taking the symptoms of the patient through the repertory in order to find the right simillimum.
Sometimes however, when we cannot find the remedy easily by this straightforward method, we have to find a way to redefine the case and find another approach to success.
So when in a case the remedy found does not fit the patient, a review of the communication between patient and therapist may lead to a different analysis of the case and therefore to a different remedy. When symbols are important in a case, understanding of the real value and meaning of the symbol as experienced by the patient can unfreeze the case and lead to a deeper understanding of the case.
Edward Whitmont, in the "Symbolic Quest", gives an excellent analysis of the value of symbols in the communication between people. Language as such gives only partially accurate information about the meaning of concepts.
Symbols, as complex metaphors, enlarge the expressiveness of speech and may therefore be a powerful tool in case taking.
Communication with the patient means for the therapist to follow the line of thought of the patient. When a patient uses a symbolic phrase or a metaphor, it is important to discover what the patient really means.
Most people, so most therapists as well, have preconceived ideas about the significance of symbols or metaphors. Those ideas, however, do not necessarily coincide when the symbolic pictures of two persons are analysed by a third party.
The chance of misunderstanding the patient, is even greater when using signature as a means for better understanding. In the doctrine of signatures, often a direct correlation is supposed to exist between form and function of plant or animal from which the remedy is taken and the whole set of symptoms displayed by the patient. Misinterpretation of symbols can wrongfoot the therapist and frustrate the case.
Taken into account my statements above about the different concepts that may be hidden behind the same metaphor, it might be extremely difficult to find the right remedy when the different sets of concepts are not properly recognised and the therapist draws conclusions on the basis of his or her own interpretation of a symbol.
Of course case taking always has to be done with due observance of the holistic principles of homœopathy. Case taking may never be narrowed down to using one or two symbols in order to find the simillimum!
In the case presented here love of cats is the focal point.
But cats as a symbol may have complete different meanings in different cases. We have to find the "real" symbol, the significant meaning for the patient and not rather automatically assume that the cat as a symbol is equal in all cases. Observing patients with affection for cats I encountered quite different situations.
A few examples:
Love for cats was expressed in a girl eight years old. I asked her why she loved cats so much?
She told me that they could scratch so very well when you touch them. She turned out to be a clear anacardium case.
A man 24 years old was allergic to cats, but also he loved them. He told me because they move so freely. Tuberculinum was his remedy.
A little girl loves cats because they are so beautiful and smooth and soft to touch. She got well on sulphur.
A 16 year old girl adored her cat. The reason why: The cat always stayed home with her when she was alone, and never left her. She was better on magnesia phosporica.
All the examples given of course had a lot more symptoms also matching the remedies chosen. So one may use signature, but certainly has to be aware of the correct interpretation of the symbol used in repertorising.
In the case presented here I tried to follow my patient into her fantasies about being a cat. Eventually I used this symbol as one of the means to understand her properly.
Case
Woman now 22 years old. First visit at the age of 19. Her story is as follows:
"All my life I have been dreaming to be a dancer, to act on a big stage with people looking at me, or dancing in a group on stage.
When I am aware of people watching me, on stage my energy is much better and I become more myself.
I don't mean ballet, but some kind of modern dancing like Alvin Aily (a famous choreographer in the USA) ."
She says this with a heavenly look in her eyes.
She stopped dancing during the period she had a boy friend. Her boyfriend called her "my cat".
"I identify myself with cats, because they like warm places, and I like it when they touch me and sit on my lap. They like to be alone. Just like me.
I adore cats, the way they move, smooth. I admire their independency. "
"I also like to be in high places with much air, so I can look down on life.
I also like to "leave" and I am in for changes, I cannot stay too long in the same place. Especially I like to go to unknown places. "
She went abroad to study ballet, and lived there together with her boyfriend. When she came home she developed an allergy for cats. Back home, she went to live with her parents again, after having her own place for sometime.
At her parent's home she had to do things her parents told her to do, nothing special, but being bossed about made her nervous.
After she left her parent's home for a second time to live on her own, she cleaned her apartment obsessively. But she did this from own choice.
"My relationship with my mother has changed. Now I am the parent and she behaves like a child and I have to take care of her. "
She sighs and explains that she is tired of playing the mother role.
Sometimes she likes to be a little girl again. But this is not possible because she has to be like a parent for her mother.
With her father she behaves differently. She can sit on his lap and behave like a girl of three years old. Her father is a quiet and easy going person.
She is proud that she can put the phone down when her mother calls her too often. Now she is able to shake the emotion off. (She says this with big sigh) .
She was never pressed to study at an university. From age two on she wanted to become a dancer. There where periods at high school, however, when she doubted she would be able to become a dancer.
Every time she had a boyfriend, she stopped intensive dancing.
When she tells her story she looks observant, but not attached to her surroundings.
As soon as she talks about cats her face shines and she looks pleased. The compliment "you are like a cat" makes her feel more herself, she loved the boyfriend for that.
She left this boyfriend because he was too jealous. It made her feel too dependent. She worked a while as an "au pair" but did not like it because also in this job she did not like being told what to do.
Physical complaints
Main complaint: allergic to cats.
Menses absent during the year when she was abroad.
Herpes vaginalis.
Pain in lower back, better massage, better resting, worse exertion (dancing) .
Discharge right ear: yellow, difficult to get it out.
Scraping throat, difficult to get mucous out.
After eating even a little a distended feeling, also a bloated feeling in the face.
A sensation of feeling fat when on stage and dancing.
Eruption on hands, worse cleaning material, worse during relation with boyfriend.
Observations during the interviews
A big girl, not an elegant posture. Practical, square face.
Thin hair. Big brown eyes with a kind of alert look.
She talks with a romantic voice, seems to attract the attention of the people around her. She nearly came to "sit on my lap" during the interview.
Analysis
The first interview was taken in a life session with other homœopaths present. In the discussion following the interview a number of possible remedies were surveyed.
Pulsatilla: Dependent, irresolute, distended abdomen.
Tuberculinum: Allergic to cats, desire. to travel, romantic.
Platinum: Loves to be "high", looking down, sense of egotism, loves attention.
Sulphur: Allergic to cats, want of independence, loves attention.
It turned out that in effect all these remedies had been given to her previously, with no improvement to her condition.
At that point I could not find the right simillimum myself and in the life session the case was abandoned without a definitive conclusion.
After some days, at my own practise, I discussed the case with a colleague.
My colleague's major observation was that the patient really behaved like a cat. The other focal point turned out to be the mother child relationship.
The girl had problems becoming an independent, grown up individual. On the one hand she wants to be on her own, on the other she shows dependent behaviour. This controversy expresses itself especially in the relationship with her parents.
I knew from other cases that all lac's have a problem with regard to the separation process with the mother. So one lead was to find the Lac with "dependent as a child in antagonism with a desire for independency".
The controversy also shows in the symptom "allergic to cats", while at the same time "adoring cats".
A distinct disharmony is expressed in this case.
The main feature of lac felinum is a wish for independency, but at the same time wanting to be hugged and a desire for warmth from the people around.
The two key factors parent child relationship and love for cats, in combination with the other symptoms of lac felinum made this the right remedy for the patient.
According to Clarke symptoms of lac felinum are among others:
• desire solitude
• desire for independence
• distension after eating
• mucous in throat difficult to get out
In this case the observation love for cats featured as a symbol, but only seen in the right context. Love for cats alone is not enough, we have to ask "WHY, HOW". The patient's love for cats had to do with gracious moving, with a want for independency, freedom and reaching high.
First prescription was lac felinum C200.
Follow up after three months
The patient felt very depressed and very lonely. She was crying during the interview.
She had strong changes in her moods. First depressed, than later very excited.
Her stomach felt still often swollen. She felt fat even after eating one apple.
Dreams: Finely she can speak about what she feels in her dreams. In her dreams she is always nice and talks friendly to other people. Dreams also give her answers: What she wants and what to do. She feels good in her dreams. During daytime she often cannot make up her mind. Than she also feels sad and powerless.
She feels easily influenced by other people, and she does not know herself what to do. She then wants to sit on the lap of her daddy again.
She feels forsaken, needs help in making decisions, but wants to be independent. She feels hurried and has no patience.
Strong desire for chocolate. This she had not told me before.
Allergy to cats and herpetic eruption in her vagina better.
Evaluation
The patient is mentally unstable. Both the love as well as the allergy for cats, and the dependent-independent conflicts are developing in a good direction. Often when a remedy touches on a deeper level and the patient is confronted with his or her basic problem, one may expect some kind of depression. This is especially true when the conflict has to do with the forming of the identity. In her dreams we see that the patient is making a considerable progress. But the remedy does not seem to be working deep and long enough.
Second prescription: lac felinum MK.
Follow up after four months
Strong inflammation of the throat, voice lost, could not speak, with nose bleeding. After one day much better.
Mentally she feels very well, she is working hard to become a dancer.
Now she does not feel so much pressure and hurry anymore, and she also tells that she does not eat so much chocolate anymore.
Her distention after eating a little bit is gone.
"I feel more independent , I am doing things the way I want to do them, I feel myself a winner now. Now I see that my luck was down the last tree years. " She is feeling a bit scared about being so excited, because the last tree years were so bad.
No depressions anymore, she got her feet on the ground now. And she now looks towards a good future. Eruptions and allergy are much better.
No remedy given, waiting for effects.
Follow up after ten months
Drop of energy. She complains that there are eruptions on her finger again, herpes vaginalis is worse again, she feels tension in the lower back again.
She feels very tired again as well.
She started singing, because she feels she can express herself better in singing. Mentally still much better than before.
Third prescription: lac felinum MK.
Present situation, three years after first interview
She lives on her own with a black cat, still studying to become a dancer.
She says: "when I dance I feel like coming inside myself".
Mentally she is much stronger now, she feels herself an independent woman.
The physical complaints have nearly disappeared, herpes is better and eruptions are gone.
Summary
When patients feel a strong relationship with a plant, animal or mineral and use this as a symbol to explain themselves, one has to be aware of possible pitfalls with regard to different meanings a symbol may have for different persons. So it is very important to question again and again what the real properties of the symbol are. One should truly delve into the semantic meaning of the symbols brought forward in the case taking.
When following this procedure one will discover that more often then not characteristic symbols are more related with the self of the patient than with the form or function of the particular plant or animal the remedy is taken from. Surely the signature of the plant, animal or mineral might be related to the complaints of the patient, but the only true homœopathic attitude is to look closely to the patient and analyse his or her symptoms in the context of the patient, not in the context of the animal or plant from which the remedy derived.
Therefore proving and clinical experience of remedies remains the basis for understanding the properties of homœopathic remedies.
Only if a proving and clinical experience shows related symbols with behaviour of animals or external features of plants or the chemical properties of elements, one may use signature as a tool in the prescription practise.
Alize Timmerman
Jan van Nassaustraat 26
2596 BT Den Haag
The Netherlands
============
Herbert Roberts
LAC FELINUM.
EYES.
Severe darting, cutting P thro centre of eyeball or in back of orbit to some point in H, leaving much soreness. Lachrymation. Eyes feel sunken. As if eyebrows were leaden. Wants to keep eyes closed < reading < writing < looking fixedly. Letters run together when reading, with dull or sharp P in or behind eyes. Photophobia Choroiditis. Corneal ulcers. Styes. Eye troubles coming on in the fall. Fears any pointed object she sees will stick into her eyes.
EARS.
No symptoms.
NOSE.
Cannot bear smell of clams, of which she is usually very fond.
FACE.
No symptoms.
MIND: EMOTIONS.
Great depression of spirits. Very cross to everyone.
Morbid conscientiousness, every little fault appears a crime. Fear of falling downstairs, without vertigo.
MIND.
Mental illusion that corners of furniture, or any pointed object near her, were about to run into eyes, even when she sees they are not too close.
VERTIGO, etc.
Heaviness in head, but no vertigo.
HEAD.
HEAD: P l. side of head, cords of neck rigid. Terrible HA l. eyeball to center of brain. Burning in l. temple near eye, in keratitis. Dull, heavy, pressing P may occur in any part, < over eyes. Intense P confined to l. side. Agonizing HA begins in front of vertex with flush of heat in same place; heat & P spread down l. face to l. ear as a veil; closes eye, presses chin to chest, holds head tight in hands, rushes about screaming. Or P as above may begin with chilly sens. at root of nose or cold P passing up median line to vertex and ear. Lancinating P zigzag from vertex to
l. ear. P from head along lower jaw: mouth to fill with saliva.
MOUTH.
P in all teeth as hot P from H touched them. Redness of whole buccal cavity. Soreness, small ulcers or sens. of, on tongue, whole buccal cavity. Sens. as if tongue were scalded by hot drink. Parts of mouth stick together. Taste brassy; lost. Salivation tongue enlarged, serrated by teeth. Palate elongated.
THROAT.
Tough mucus in pharynx; stringy, difficult to raise; when raised, yellow. Mucus has sickish sweet taste. Posterior wall of pharynx inflamed, sens. of soreness.
APPETITE, STOMACH.
No appetite. Desire to eat paper. After eating feels swollen; must loosen clothes. Stomach sore all around just below belt < l. side. Great soreness and sensitiveness of epigastric region. Heat in epigastrium. Slight nausea.
ABDOMEN.
P in A and back, as if menses were commencing. P in bowels. At midnight sens. as if cold bandage were over lower part of A. P in pelvis thro hips on pressure, as when placing arms akimbo.
STOOL, ANUS.
Stool long, tenacious, slips back when ceasing to strain; very slow in passing; seeming inability to expel.
URINARY ORGANS.
Frequent desire to urinate, urine pale. Obstruction in urinating, has to wait.
MALE ORGANS.
No symptoms.
FEMALE ORGANS.
Great weight & bearing down in pelvis, like falling of the womb, as if she could not walk; < standing. Leucorrhoea yellow. Furious itching of vulva, inside and out.
RESPIRATORY ORGANS, COUGH.
Dryness of rim of glottis. Much oppressed for breath; difficulty in drawing long inspiration; sens. as if breathing were done only by upper part of lungs.
CHEST, LUNGS.
See above.
HEART, CIRCULATION.
No symptoms.
NECK, BACK.
No symptoms.
UPPER LIMBS.
P in l. wrist when using index finger.
LOWER LIMBS.
L. foot feels cold when touched by r. foot. Legs ache.
SKIN.
No symptoms.
SLEEP.
Dullness, sleepiness, gaping. Heavy, profound sleep, not easily awakened. Dreamed of earthquake.
FEVER.
Cold and heat alternately, each continuing but a short time.
GENERALS.
Entire r. side from crown to sole feels terribly weak, heavy & distressed, so that it is difficult to walk. Constant nervous trembling of hands, as in drunkards.
CLINICAL FIELDS.
Photophobia, esp. from artificial light. HA with lancinating P, or very painful eye affections with knifelike P running into H. Corneal ulcers. Keratitis. Choroiditis. Ciliary neuralgia. Asthenopia. Styes. Pruritis vulvae. Neuralgic toothache.
CHARACTERISTICS.
Morbid conscientiousness. Weakness, heaviness & distress of r. side only.
Marked aversion to smell of clams, of which she is usually fond. Knifelike P involve head and eyes.
====
Lilienthal
[IRIS, AFFECTIONS OF, Iritis, Neuralgia Ciliaris.] Shooting from inflamed eye to temple and eyebrow, agg. at early morn; hazy sight; dull iris.
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[OPHTHALMIA.] Ciliary neuralgia, agg. by lying on left side; pains in eyes back into head, extremely sharp, with sensation as if eyes extended back; great photophobia to natural and artificial light, agg. by reading or writing; general lassitude; loss of appetite; constipation.
-
[CHARACTERISTICS - HEADACHE] - Excruciating headache so that she runs from room to room.
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[HEADACHE, Cephalalgia.] - Acute pain from vertex down left eye and temple, with so much agony that she has to hold her head firmly with her hands and rush through the house from room to room screaming; intense pain from head down to face, causing the mouth to fill with saliva; pulsations in head with sensation of heat in forehead and constriction across bridge of nose.
=======
Mangialavori additions
MIND, BLOOD or a knife, cannot look at
MIND, FEAR, pins, pointed, sharp things, of
GENERALITIES, FOOD and drinks, fish, desires
GENERALITIES, FOOD and drinks, milk, desires
GENERALITIES, PAIN, General, alternating side
========
Vermeulen Synoptic II
REGION
Nerves. Female organs. Head. Eyes. * Left side.
-
LEADING SYMPTOMS
M Morbid conscientiousness; every little fault appeared a crime. [clinically verified by Swan]
M Fear of falling downstairs, but without vertigo.
M Fear of pointed things.
"Mental illusion that corners of furniture, or any pointed object near her, were about to run into eyes; the symptom is purely mental; the objects do not appear to her sight to be too close." [Clarke]
"They cannot tolerate anything pointed anywhere near the eyes, nor even the thought of being given an injection or a lumbar puncture or having to have an operation, esp. in the region of the head. A fear of pharmaceutical drugs has also been observed." [Müller]
M "Proud behaviour of the cat; sensuality; intolerance of hunger [found in many animal remedies as control over instinctual urge is absent]." [Chhabra]
M Dreams of sexual intercourse; many dreams of being pursued for rape, even by relatives.
"I have since then found it to be one of the remedies indicated in patients with a history of incest." [Chhabra]
M "This was an animal remedy with a dirty feeling about oneself, a feeling of not being respected, of being treated contemptuously. The conflict of submitting oneself, of degrading oneself to save relationship or for money. The theme of the prostitute who submits her body, her respect for money … To get his food, the wild cat became the domestic cat of today. 'The trick had been to control their fear of humans, to learn to tolerate handling and even enjoy it, as the necessary price that had to be paid for an easy life. In a way they had to prostitute themselves, but once
they had mastered the art, the rewards were impressive. They allowed the domestic cat to live longer and more healthily than its wild ancestors.' They made a choice, gave up their independence, their wildness, their freedom, their respect - for food, for survival." [Chhabra]
M Conflict between dependency and independency.
Desire to be pampered as opposed to desire to be independent.
Intolerance of obligation and pressure. [Alize Timmerman]
Fear of being let down due to past experience of neglect.
They absolutely hate dishonesty.
"A basic pattern I discerned is that many women felt abused and neglected, reacting with rebellion and independent behaviour. They have a 'I don't need anybody' attitude." [Wirtz]
"Later on, in Lac felinum people, a behaviour pattern may develop of not wanting any further relationship with human beings, in order to preserve one's own independence intact. Within a relationship, a clinging or grasping partner evokes a sensation of claustrophobia or constriction. 'Women stick to you like a limpet' was how one male patient expressed it. There is a great fear of attachment and an aversion to persons who 'hang on to your apron strings'. On the physical level a Lac felinum person is intolerant of constriction, especially around the neck. A relationship
becomes a risky gamble rather than an involvement of oneself. 'Relationships have a fatal outcome', as one female Lac felinum patient put it. Thus there is a fear of the opposite sex, and not only in females." [Karl-Josef Müller]
M Very sensual behaviour; passionate, expressive [eyes!].
Colourful, tasteful clothing and jewellery and/or other ornaments. [Wirtz]
M Critical as to own appearance.
Fussy about food.
Desire for cleanness, orderliness, only fastidious when decompensated. [Wirtz]
"Lac felinum patients not only have a feeling of being stupid, but are quite convinced that this is the case. They perceive themselves as being of insufficient or only average intelligence; they have a desire to know more and be capable of more. They received the message from their parents that they were 'only a silly little kid'. Hence the feeling of being 'incapable, thick and stupid', good for nothing. Secondly, we also find feelings of worthlessness or inferiority, [as in Lac equinum]. Thirdly we find feelings of ugliness with a revulsion for oneself [as in Lac
caninum]. Inferiority feelings such as these seem to be a common characteristic of Lacs, at least those of all domesticated animals. On looking in the mirror, a feeling that she looks horrible." [Müller]
M Rushes through the house from room to room screaming [from agonising headache]. [Clinically verified by Swan]
M "Dreamed of earthquakes." [Allen]
G Constant nervous trembling, esp. of hands, as in drunkards.
& Dryness of mouth.
& Sensation as if tongue were scalded.
G < Left side.
[head; eye; stomach; ovary; wrist; foot]
G Worse Lying on left side.
G "Cold and heat alternately, each continuing but a short time." [Allen]
Chilly, yet intolerant of warm rooms [Müller]
G No appetite.
Distension of abdomen after eating ever so little.
G Craving for paper.
"The desire for paper is a curious one in that many cats indeed have a fascination with paper: they will play with paper, especially if wadded into a ball; they may even chew on paper. They love to hide in paper bags. Part of this is a desire to hide, normal part of the stalking behaviour. I would not be surprised to find Lac-f. in the rubric hide, desire to as well. Extreme fearfulness with hiding is common in cats. Arsenicum album often helps. One can easily imagine the ever washing cat as an arsenicum! I wonder even about Lac-f. belonging in the rubrics mind:
washing, always washing her hands, mania for bathing, etc." [Don Hamilton]
G Craving for or aversion to milk.
Aversion to fats.
Desire for healthy clean food. [Anne Wirtz, Hom. Links, 3/96]
Desire for salty things and for fish. [Müller]
Vegetarians out of sympathy for animals. [Müller]
G Numbness.
"Lac felinum patients have a sensation as if various parts of the body are packed in cotton wool. One patient with chronic sinusitis had a sensation as if his head were packed in cotton wool. Another had a sensation as if anaesthetized. One patient had a dream that her hands were packed in cotton wool, reminiscent of velvety paws." [Müller]
G < Night.
G Sharp lancinating pains [head; eyes].
P Headache; worse left side [temple and over left eye].
Worse Reading.
& Asthenopia.
& Salivation.
& Weight on vertex; or crawling on top of brain.
& Sensation of constriction along bridge of nose.
P Eye affections.
& Shooting pain from eyes backwards.
Worse Lying on left side. [Berridge]
Styes.
Sensation as if eyes were drawn backward.
Sharp lancinating pain through centre of left eyeball, leaving it very sore internally, and causing profuse lachrymation. [clinically verified by Swan]
"Back in the original proving, the eyes were one of the main centres of Lac felinum pathology. Neuralgic, cutting pains, or radiating pains 'as if scratched to pieces' are prominent. The eye pains may alternate from side to side [as in Lac caninum], and occur particularly before the menses [as in Folliculinum]. Lac felinum has removed the sensation of a veil in front of the eyes. Sensation of a foreign body in the eye, inflammation of the eye on alternate sides. Swelling of the inner canthi, of the eyebrows, and in front of both ears, always occurring pre-menstrually, have
been cured by Lac felinum." [Müller]
P Parts of mouth seem to stick together, requiring air or saliva to separate them.
P Great weight and bearing down in pelvis, like falling of the womb, as if she could not walk.
Worse Standing.
-
RUBRICS
MIND: Aversion to men [1]; to women [1].* Conscientious about trifles [1]. Contempt of self [1]*. Delusion parts of body are packed in cotton-wool [1/1]*; she looks wretched on looking in mirror [1/1]*. Fear of pointed, sharp things, pins [1]; of blind people [1/1]*; of being detained [1]*; of falling while descending stairs [1/1]*; of being laughed at [1]*; of suffocation [1]*; of thieves [1]*. Feeling of helplessness [1]*. Desire for independence [1]*. Desire to torture those who torture animals [1/1]*. Desire to travel [1]*. Travelling amel. [1]*. Cannot weep, although
sad [1]*.
HEAD: Formication at vertex [1]. Heat before headache [1]. Sensation of looseness of brain [1]. Pain above left eye [1]; stitching pain over left eye [2].
EYE: Lachrymation from pain in eye [1]. Pain in right eye when lying on left side [1/1]; better lying on left side [1; Nat-ar.]; neuralgic, ciliary [1]; pain in eyeballs [1]; constant, stinging pain over left eye [3/1]; stitching pain on looking fixedly [1; Arund.]; stitching pain while reading [1]; stitching pain extending backward [1; Spig.]; stitching pain extending backward & sensation as if eyes extended back [1/1]. Photophobia [1]. Sunken sensation [1].
NOSE: Icy coldness before headache [1].
MOUTH: Salivation during sleep [1]*. Scalded sensation of tongue [1].
THROAT: Sensation of lump [1]*.
ABDOMEN: Sensation as of a cold band around lower part of abdomen [1/1].
FEMALE: Voluptuous itching [1]. Menses copious [1]*; too frequent [1]*; painful [1]; suppressed & frontal headache[1/1]. Bearing down pain in uterus worse standing [1].
CHEST: Induration mammae before menses [1]. Milk, disappearing [1]. Nodules in mammae before menses [3]. Pain in mammae before menses [3].**
EXTREMITIES: Coldness of foot, one cold the other hot [1]. Sensitive feet [1]. Touching feet < [1/1].
GENERALITIES: Food and drinks, desires paper [1/1].
* Additions from Karl-Josef Müller & Gerhard Ruster - Lac felinum - A synthetic Remedy Picture from Clinical Observation, private publication, 1997.
** "The rubrics in this section probably apply to all homeopathic milk remedies." [Müller]
-
FOOD
Aversion: Milk [2]; clams [1]; fat [1]; salt [1].
Desire: Salt [2]; fish [1]; healthy clean food [1]; milk [1]; paper [1].
Worse: Milk [2].
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Divya Chhabra, (Links 95)
The Story of The Cat:
Lac Felinum Proving
Divya Chhabra, 8-C, Lohtse Co-op. Hsg. Society, Near Chandan Cinema, Ruia Park, Juhu, Bombay - 400 049.
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Editorial Comments:
The need for more provings is brought out very well in this proving. I hope it will encourage us to prove more and more substances that are around us; so many mammals, fishes, birds, insects and reptiles, plants, minerals and synthetic substances.
The proving is complete when we are able to visualise the inner problem of the substance. Each substance represents the solution of the problem.
It is heartening to note that more and more substances are being proved in this way. What is probably lacking is coordination among the proving groups.
I urge readers to send their provings to Links so that Links can act as the co-ordinating office for provings. Thus all the information can be brought together and used by all.
As I look back upon the steps I have taken on the path of homœopathy, two landmarks stand out clearly. The first was the beginning of drug provings. Magnesium Sulph was the first drug proved, bringing with it an answer to all the uneasy questions that kept entering my mind. Can a single dose really change anything in the patient? Are all these symptoms in the Repertory and Materia Medica really correct? After experiencing the complete change of state that followed just one dose of a 30C of Mag Sulph, there was no room for doubt. How different the world looked through the Mag
Sulph spectacles! Provings followed provings; until the next landmark, the proving of Lac felinum, Cat's milk.
Our group of ten provers took Lac felinum 30C, one dose. None, except me as the observer, knew what was being proved. Two weeks later we met for our first meeting, which began dramatically. The first to speak, prover A, had the following dreams:
1. I have many pet camels and one of them is specially close to me. He says to me "give me food, I am hungry". He pesters me for food. I give him a very small quantity of food as if to tease him. He gets very angry with me and starts running after me.
2. I have a pet hen which I am carrying in my bag while travelling in a bus. It is screaming with hunger as we get down and go to the college canteen and sit down to eat something. I take out my lunch box and share the food with the hen. My friend tells me "What are you doing? How can you eat from the same plate as the hen?" I answer, "So what?"
3. A bull is running after me. No fear.
4. I am sleeping and wake up because I hear a noise. I realise it is a rat and take a stick to drive it out. It is a rat with a white tail (laughing while narrating this). I am about to hit it with a stick when the rat speaks to me and says "I am pregnant. Please, let me stay." I am shocked that she is talking to me and I can understand what she says. I allowed her to stay there.
Right from the start we had plunged into the world of animals. The prover talking to animals, eating from the same plate, as if they were of the same species. Patients that need animal remedies have a relationship with animals that is not mere love or rapport. It is not a human to animal relationship but rather like that of best friends or siblings. They feel no difference between themselves and animals, as these dreams clearly reveal. Then, of course, the rat in the dream that the prover wanted to chase out indicated clearly what animal we are dealing with. The theme of
sympathy to the pregnant rat got our attention. Later, while analysing the proving, we read about cats and their lives. We learned that the cats are not really social animals. They don't bother much about each other. But if a cat is pregnant, all the other cats rally around for support, share food and help the pregnant cat.
The same prover A also had other dreams.
5. I am working in the hospital as a Resident Medical Officer and have to collect a blood sample. As I approach the patient I see that her body has no surface markings. No bones, just a flat surface. No contours, no bony marks. How can any human be like this?
6. I am in the hospital and trying to find the radial pulse of the patient. I am not able to do so and the doctor - in-charge looks at me with contempt and says "you can't even find the pulse of the patient?" I feel I don't know anything.
A feeling of being looked at with contempt and a feeling of lack of self confidence was very strong in the proving.
Prover B in the proving recalled an accident where she had seen a crow flying. She started imagining how it would be if she were a bird and could fly, or if all humans were birds and could fly. "I wanted to fly, to be free, no hassles, no hang-ups. I found the crow very cute. It was completely black and pure."
She found herself much more irritable than usual. "Harmless words would affect me. I had gone to a friend's house to help him with some of his work and he said something about the way I was doing the work. I was very angry. It was a matter of my respect, of not being given my due respect. My dignity was hurt, I felt indignant. How dare he talk like this to me. I was not able to relax during the proving. I felt very nervous and worked up."
Prover C had a dream: While travelling in a train, a lady gives me the gift of a red satin handkerchief. She puts it across my face and the breeze is blowing. When the feeling was further described, and during the 'free association' discussion that followed the proving, the word that emerged was 'sensuous'.
The second dream that she had was "My mother has stitched a blouse for me. The back is very low cut and I feel how did she stitch something like this for me. In another dream my friend was dressing up and used very heavy eye make-up. I felt, "How can you use such heavy make-up?"
She had a tremendous hunger and could not tolerate it, especially at 11.30 - 12 noon. Felt she must get out of class and eat something. She felt very bad and disgusted with life. "I am not moving ahead, I am stagnating". She was in the hospital, when she had the sudden impulse to call someone she knew "a bastard". He had not said anything to her and she was not angry - it was an impulse.
So far, the proving had progressed well. We could see immediately the proud behaviour of the cat, the sensuality, an intolerance of hunger (found in many animal remedies as control over instinctual urge is absent). But suddenly we were floundering in deep waters. What did 'bastard' have to do with this? There was a deluge of dreams to do with sexuality. Dreams of sexual intercourse, and many dreams of being pursued for rape, even by relatives. (I have since then found it to be one of the remedies indicated in patients with a history of incest).
Prover C had another amazing dream, "My friends and I have gone for an outing. We are alone in the room when 3 eunuchs enter the room. They start making very obscene gestures and start exposing themselves. We are very scared. They are telling us "come out with us, we won't hurt you, otherwise you will suffer." What should we do? A terribly dirty feeling of being touched and assaulted by a eunuch.
In the free association discussion that follows our provings, the feelings associated with eunuchs were probed into. They were mainly fear and revulsion. The eunuchs in India often beg, even demand money. If you do not give it to them, they threaten to expose themselves, to touch the woman or abuse people. Although people do not want to give money, they do so under this pressure. There is prevalent a dirty, disgusted feeling, if a eunuch touches people and this is used by eunuchs to extort money.
Shocked, she asked her friend what was going on. Her friend nonchalantly said "Oh! this happens here all the time." The prover woke up from the dream. Her feeling was "This is my friend and her home was like a brothel. How could this be?"
And then the crucial dream of the proving followed, and the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. Prover D dreamt that she went with her mother to a family friend's home. On the way it began to rain and as she was drenched the lady of the house offered her a change of clothes. "I was changing in the bathroom when I realised that there was no window and instead there was a gap in the wall from where I could see the adjoining room. The hostess' grown-up son was looking at me changing. I hid myself and shouted to him to go away. But he tried to put his hand through the
opening in the wall. I shouted and said that If he did not leave I would call out to his mother. He only smiled and said. "Go ahead, call out". I had a conflict. Should I call out and spoil the relations with the family? The next night I had another dream: I am sleeping on my bed and three short men dressed in black enter and tell me "come on, he is calling you." He was my mother's friend's son. I felt terrible. Had I screamed the first time, this would not have happened. I felt I almost submitted myself. I felt terrible that I could do such a thing. For the sake of the relations
with the family, how could I submit myself". The same prover developed a complete aversion to touch by any male, even by her boyfriend who accidentally touched her elbow as they were sitting for a lecture together. The feeling was hate and a dirty feeling "Don't touch me".
The mist was clearing. This was an animal remedy with a dirty feeling about oneself, a feeling of not being respected, of being treated contemptuously. The feeling arising from a conflict and a choice. The conflict of submitting oneself, of degrading oneself to save relationship or for money. The theme of the prostitute who submits her body, her respect for money. The theme of the eunuch who behaves in an obscene manner, creating disgust and revulsion to get money. How bad they must feel about themselves to behave in this manner.
But what does this feeling have to do with the cat? With thoughts and questions buzzing in our heads, my colleague Chetan and I began idly turning the pages of a book "The Curious Cat" and I read a fascinating paragraph. It said that research had revealed that the cat was perhaps the only animal that had domesticated itself, unlike dogs and cattle that had been domesticated by man for his needs. The domestic cat of today has probably evolved from the species Felix libyca and domesticated themselves first in Egypt. In the struggle for survival, food for the wild cat grew
scare in the wild and was abundant around human habitations. But to get this food, the wild cat had to be accepted by the humans. So in the process of evolution, the wild cat became the domestic cat of today. To quote "The trick had been to control their fear of humans, to learn to tolerate handling and even to enjoy it, as the necessary price that had to be paid for an easy life. In a way they had to prostitute themselves, but once they had mastered the art, the rewards were impressive. They allowed the domestic cat to live longer and more healthily than its wild ancestors".
As the last wisp of the fog fluttered away I felt quietly grateful for the part of the universe that had opened before me, that I had touched and experienced. I looked at the cat with new eyes. I understood their delicate fastidiousness, their moodiness, their clinging to their independence, their allowing themselves to be stroked when they like, their sudden bursts of ill temper and unsheathing their claws for no apparent reason, even if someone was just stroking them. Their mewing for food, following you if you have a vessel in your hand and yet clinging desperately to
their dignity. They made a choice, gave up their independence, their wildness, their freedom, their respect - for food, for survival. Was it worth it? The unresolved conflict remains in the universe around. We carry it with us and its remedy is Lac Felinum. To sum it, it is a remedy for a person who feels terrible, dirty; who feels I have chosen to prostitute myself, degraded myself - Is it worth it? The word prostitution must be used in a broader sense. It is the feeling of cheapening oneself. For e.g. people working abroad, getting more money but in a job of less status or less
than their qualification deserves.
The depth of this proving both shook me and steadied me. I knew this was now a complete proving. It comes down to the complete centre of the remedy symptoms and the substance proved, until there is no difference in the two anymore.
I realised that the proving speaks the unspoken feeling of the substances in our universe to us, of both animate and inanimate substances. Their secrets, their spirit, their unresolved conflicts are revealed to us in the proving. Is this the root of all disease? Is what we have around us unresolved conflicts of the process of evolution? Every thing gained, every change has a price that must be paid. Does every substance that evolves one step leave a conflict which crystallises as disease? Is that what we must resolve to move ahead?
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Links 96
I would like to share with you my experience with the remedy lac felinum , a remedy that, over the years, proved to be quite important in my practice.
The idea of this remedy came to my mind, while the Gilde of Homœopaths, a group of colleagues, did a proving on lac caprinum. We where studying the different lac remedies and considering the fact that lac caninum fits people that feel treated as a dog, I was wondering what kind of people would need cats milk. So I started with writing down the characteristics of a cat.
Some striking points that I perceived were:
• attacking
• independent
• aversion being forced
• aversion "inappropriate" touch
• desire to being caressed in a "appropriate" way
• prudent
• suspicious
• curious
• enthusiastic
• passionate
• air of indifference
• indirect way of asking attention
• expressive
• alert
• intuitive
• gracefully
• vehement
• withdrawal
Case 1
A Reiki therapist consulted me for a health advice. I knew her professionally but I did not know anything about her medical history nor her life experience. I had came to know her as an enthusiastic woman, with a loud voice, pushing her ideas in the meetings, where we met. Obviously disappointed and a little offended when others rejected her ideas. Then she would withdraw. Some people regarded her enthusiasm as aggression. She had lively brown eyes and a movable, flexible body which supported her argumentation.
Without actually taking her case, I recognised her main features as "cat like" and asked her if she was willing to take part in an experiment and take the remedy. So she agreed and took the remedy in a 200K potency.
After one week she narrated a perfect homœopathic reaction according to Hering's Law.
Some hours after taking the remedy she felt unreal with a sensation as if walking on clouds. She walked straight through a (familiar) glass door, after which she came back to reality. She felt very alone and forsaken during one evening. Feeling vehement. Physically, cramping back pains only relieved by bending double and slowly straightening up. Then this was followed by an elimination of the sinuses with copious nasal discharge accompanied by fever. All of these symptoms she had had in the past. After five days she felt reborn. Since that time (December1993) she has been
feeling well.
Literature
On searching for the remedy in the Materia Medica I only found it in Clarke. The main interesting symptoms mentioned there are:
• morbid conscientious
• every little fault appears a crime
• cross to everyone
• fear/delusion of pins, sharp things*
• fear of falling, without vertigo / downstairs
• great desire to eat paper
• I heard from some patients that they instinctively pulled back, when a finger or another pointed object was pointed at them. Or when a hand, unexpectedly, came close to there face, out of fear there eyes where going to be hurt.
Proving
In June 1994 we did a dream proving with 9 participants of the Gilde of Homœopaths. We only used the themes that came up in the dreams if a majority of the provers had them. The main themes where:
• Organising, cleaning, efficiency, orderliness
• Caring for a child, protecting a child
• Impulsive
• Indignation
• Misleading
• Persistence
• Dullness
• Tomorrow is early enough
• Irritability, flying out
• Making love on her own conditions, cuddling
• Desire for freedom
• Don't ask for help
• Cunning
• Aversion being forced
• Impatience, restlessness
• Floating sensation
• Opportunism
• Dreams of dogs and fishes, of coats and furs
• Abuse and sexual abuse
• Full of activity
• Desire to be alone
Since 1993 I have treated 15 cases with lac felinum only. Out of these patients there was only one male patient, a five year old boy.
Case 2
An 38 year old woman consulted me for complaints of dullness, floating sensation, sleeplessness and tiredness. She also had pain in her muscles and bones. These complaints use to appear in stress situations. She is the mother of two children. Her husband is self employed and has an irregular income. She is a dancing teacher and has the feeling that she ought not to be that, because of the financial situation. Her mother had a muscular disease which started when the patient was only two years old. Her father was an alcoholic and she was expected from a young age onward to
help at home. She has two younger twin brothers. When she rebelled they called her an egoist. She used to swallow her emotions and left home to go abroad at the age of eighteen. She is now happily married.
When she becomes nervous she still holds back her irritations and occasionally explodes. She always reacts late, as if it does not penetrate.
She wants things to be organised but has the feeling that she has to do everything alone. She feels a kind of silent resistance, like in her youth, which she knows is visible to others. The way of expressing herself, even at a young age, was through music and dance. She yearns for deep emotional experiences. Deeply touched by the injustice of the world she tries to find her way to do something about it.
She used to be afraid of people and it takes time before she can trust someone. "I was seen as strong and independent". Likes to be in groups with good friends. Fear of failure in other groups, as teacher or participant alike because of high expectations. "Like at school. My parents where very critical. I just had to know things, I couldn't take my time".
What about hobbies?
She likes to read psychological books, mythical stories, astrology and about her profession. She likes cooking and doing creative things. "I want to enjoy things, also physical contact like cuddling, playing and sexuality is important. At the moment I just want to be caressed. All depends on the person of course, it has to mean something".
What about menses?
Before menses, about three days, she retains fluids. Her mammae gets swollen and she has abdominal pain. Everything looks grey, as out of contact with the world. Sometimes very emotional, for example, if she hears "news" about war or the suffering of children. When the menses appear everything ameliorates. After the birth of her second child she had back problems for a long time, better with osteopathy.
How do you feel about animals?
"I like them a lot, but don't take care of them enough. Just like my mother. I feel guilty about it. I always have the feeling that I am a bad person".
Desires: pungent food, sweets, coffee with a lot of milk. Not thirsty.
Feels the cold and has a liking for warm and sunny weather. Does not like to just lie in the sun. During her holidays she likes to cycle or walk.
Desire for travelling and to see different cultures, "at my own pace".
What about dreams?
"With a lot of children during the dancing lessons. They stick to their games while the grown-ups are around. I then have to change the lesson".
What kind of feeling do you get from this dream? "At first embarrassment, later it feels all right".
Reaction to the remedy:
"The same evening a clear view of my life. How I used to handle things. A nice experience. Up till now everything just happened to me. The next day; heavy hea daches with vomiting and feeling very tired. I went to sleep in the afternoon.
After one week; much more aware of my body. A feeling of vulnerability, that I have to protect myself against injuries. I also feel my limitations, a very organic feeling. Miraculous! I am more grounded. My sleep is good, I have more energy. The muscle pain is still there. Something is changing in my body, it feels unpleasant sometimes. Like a battle of the muscles, do I have to give them place or not? For example my lungs, there is more awareness of them with a desire for sighing. "
Since then (one year) she did not need another dose.
Case 3
A 48 year old woman came to me with complaints of exhaustion and hot flushes since she was treated with chemotherapy for cancer of the left breast. As a young woman she used to have cysts in her breast. In February 1994 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and within 2 weeks they took her left breast away and she got radiotherapy, followed by chemotherapy, one year ago by now.
"I am disappointed in my body. I always ate healthy food, took care of my body by swimming and doing yoga. "
She is a hard worker. Together with her second husband she runs a leather shop. They have four children, each two children from their former marriages. In 1982 both had at the same time a difficult divorce. She was married to his cousin. Their relationship was disapproved of by the whole family. A very stressful time. She worked at a library and did not want her work to be affected by it.
"It is terrible to have to miss a breast. I will never be the same person again. I can feel the spot but do not make contact with it. It feels like a mourning process. They just cut out a part of you. "
She has fear of death from metastasis. "As a child I was very lively, always the cock of the walk. A father's child. He died when I was 20 years old, he drank too much. He owned a pub. When my mother remarried, my home was gone. I just married the boy friend I had at the time out of security reasons. I kept my own work and money so I could be independent. I cannot stand if managers are insufficient. I cannot work with "bad" workers, than I prefer to go. It has to make sense. "
She is fond of reading, undertaking things, organising. No chains! Not at costs of her own life. She has two children.
What are your ambitions?
Meaningful and nice work. Earning a nice living. "I read everything.
Novels, study books, about culture, health, gardening. " Other hobbies are: painting, drawing, gardening, walking, biking, going to the theatre, travelling, aqua-jogging. With the children there is never a real problem.
I have a strong relationship with them. I am not over caring, they have to survive when I am not there anymore. My ideal is, when they have found their way, to move to the countryside to live on a farm. I wanted to divorce because there was no real intimate contact. I took care of everything. My husband worked on me like a brake. I swallowed my anger. I have a fear of anger. Because of the anger, my father could explode over nothing, because of the alcohol. I always felt the threat that my parents could divorce and the fear to be left alone. With my ex husband I always felt
an iron-like band around my head, tightening all the time, before he came home. I tried to escape. "
How are the menses?
"Always irregular, once every three months. They where never normal until I met my second husband. I wanted to have children and counted the day we had to have sex. Now I know that I missed the physical warmth and a good sexual relationship. The family has always been important. "
How where things at school?
"If somebody got ragged I came in to help. I am always self confident. "
How about food?
"I prefer fish to meat. Don't like milk. "
How about climate?
"I have a desire and need for the sun. It should not be too hot or too cold. "
How about animals?
"I have had dogs and cats and felt very sorry when they became ill. I'd like stroking them. I used to talk to them. I have a fear of miceand snakes. "
There are dreams of nature and daily things.
About the flushes; many times during the day and several times during the night, with a lot of perspiration. "It makes me more emotional and weaker. "
How about your nature?
"People used to call me a social kind of person, honest, hardworking and independent. Naive when I was younger. "
How about criticism?
"Difficult to accept, it hurts. I will go back. "
Appearance?
"Important to take care of!"
Follow up after six weeks
After taking LM1, 3 drops daily, it went very well. The last week a little aggravation again to six flushes a day, but almost without perspiration. At night no problems at all. She had a flu with high fever, which only lasted three days. She has more energy, took up a study in French language and got involved with other hobbies. She is more cheerful. The amputated area still feels as if it not a part of my body.
Follow up after ten weeks
I gave her three times 200K to be taken once a week if necessary, which she took anyhow. When she phoned me to tell me that her flushes got worse, I told her to stop everything and to wait. She reports later that she feels fine. Energy is good. She can handle the stress in the shop better. Feels more in contact with the amputated area. She takes care of her mother in law after the recent death of her father in law. Eleven months free of complaints now.SYMPTOMS I HAVE SEEN IN ADULTS
Physical symptoms
• Headaches
• Sinus problems
• Floating sensation
• Inflammation eyes; iridocyclitis
• Nausea, eructations, acidity, anorexia
• Aversion milk, fat
• Desire milk, healthy clean food
• Abdominal cramps, flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation
• Amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, flushes, swelling mammae before menses
• Back pain, cramping
• Sleeplessness
• Allergy to cats
• Food allergy
Mind symptoms
• Dullness and chaotic feeling
• Desire for cleanness, orderliness, only fastidious when decompensated
• Aversion or desire touch depending on whom and when
• Curious, things have to be interesting, repetition can be boring
• Religious and/or interested in spirituality,
• Clairvoyant and sensitive to mesmerism (Reiki)
• Expressive, verbally and in mimic
• Desire to escape from reality
• Quality of life/living is important
• Colourful, tasteful clothing and jewellery or/and other ornaments
• Think in extremes, black and white, especially on the emotional level when "attacked"
• Social and helpful, interested in people, animals (cats) and nature
• Trusting people is important, prudent
• Sensitive to atmosphere, desire harmony
• History of abuse
• Fear of dogs and snakes
A basic pattern I discerned is that many woman felt abused and neglected, reacting by rebellion and independent behaviour. They have a "I don't need anybody" attitude.
Child case
A girl eighteen moths old.
She has a sleeping problem since birth. It causes difficulties in the family situation. The mother has been so overexerted that she had to stay at home from work for some time. From the start of her life she did not sleep during daytime and would wake up three times during the night. She has a quick digestion and can eat the whole day. She is a small, slender, blond little girl. She is very lively. Her development is rapid, cognitive as well as in motion. She is very curious, enjoys everything, the weirder the better. At the nursery she keeps to the rules. Theatrical,
obstinate, persevering, cannot stand closed doors. Manipulative, assertive, strong willed, opposite to her brother, who is three years older. Cross if she does not want something. She wants to get things her way, keeps on trying.
Mother must be very consequent with her. She is a fast eater. If she feels she had enough she stops. The family has to accommodate to her. She hates the safety harnass, keep on trying to take it off. She likes to cuddle but only when she wants it. She is very emotional. She studies herself mimicking in the mirror, so she can simulate a crying face. Very easy in making contact with people. Sweet to animals, cats, goats, horses. No fears, only for closed doors. So fearful that she vomits. When the door is closed, on waking, she starts to scream in panic. Sleeps often in knee
elbow position or with her arms stretched out above her head. When going into her room, when she is awake her parents will find her standing on her feet ready to throw herself out of bed, if she could. She palls the chestnuts out of the fire for her brother, not afraid to try anything. She falls a lot, which is not a problem to her. She has a lot of energy. She hates it to have a dirty napkin, likes to be clean and wants the napkin to be changed immediately after it gets dirty. She likes to eat almost everything. Desire for cheese and olives. Aversion to avocado and mushrooms.
She wants to eat the cat's food, since she has learned to feed the cats, she stays close to them while they are eating.
During pregnancy the mother vomited for four and a half months. It was a very busy time, while they were rebuilding the house. She had to take care of her son and had a part time job.
She was born five days to early. Very lively in uterus. "She couldn't wait,
I couldn't hold her. She came out very fast. " She was breast feeded for four and a half months, up till ten times daily. She drank a lot. In bed she is very restless, turning and tossing. Does not want to be in a sleeping bag. She likes her bath lukewarm. She is never ill. Likes to draw with big movements. She needs a lot of space.
Follow up
Immediately after the first and only dose no more sleeping problems and more easy to handle. One and a half year has gone by since than.
SYMPTOMS I HAVE SEEN IN CHILDREN
Physical symptoms
• Rapid motoric development
• Recurrent colds, cough and bronchitis
• Eczema, rashes
• Sleeplessness
Mind symptoms
• Agile, lively
• Persistent, obstinate, strong willed
• Curious, inquisitive
• Social
Differential Diagnosis
Causticum: More political idealism in a larger field.
Thuja: Has more lack of identity.
Muriaticums: Same kind of caring for their children and environment, but is less passionate.
Lac caninum: Stronger sense of worthlessness and more dependent.
Anne Wirtz
Sarphatipark 101
1073 CV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Homœopathic Links, Autumn 1996, Vol. 9 (3)
A caring capricious creature
Lac felinum
Anne Wirtz, The Netherlands
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The symbol in a remedy as a key factor
A case of Lac felinum
Alize Timmerman, The Netherlands
When taking a case the homœopath usually follows the procedure of taking the symptoms of the patient through the repertory in order to find the right simillimum.
Sometimes however, when we cannot find the remedy easily by this straightforward method, we have to find a way to redefine the case and find another approach to success.
So when in a case the remedy found does not fit the patient, a review of the communication between patient and therapist may lead to a different analysis of the case and therefore to a different remedy. When symbols are important in a case, understanding of the real value and meaning of the symbol as experienced by the patient can unfreeze the case and lead to a deeper understanding of the case.
Edward Whitmont, in the "Symbolic Quest", gives an excellent analysis of the value of symbols in the communication between people. Language as such gives only partially accurate information about the meaning of concepts.
Symbols, as complex metaphors, enlarge the expressiveness of speech and may therefore be a powerful tool in case taking.
Communication with the patient means for the therapist to follow the line of thought of the patient. When a patient uses a symbolic phrase or a metaphor, it is important to discover what the patient really means.
Most people, so most therapists as well, have preconceived ideas about the significance of symbols or metaphors. Those ideas, however, do not necessarily coincide when the symbolic pictures of two persons are analysed by a third party.
The chance of misunderstanding the patient, is even greater when using signature as a means for better understanding. In the doctrine of signatures, often a direct correlation is supposed to exist between form and function of plant or animal from which the remedy is taken and the whole set of symptoms displayed by the patient. Misinterpretation of symbols can wrongfoot the therapist and frustrate the case.
Taken into account my statements above about the different concepts that may be hidden behind the same metaphor, it might be extremely difficult to find the right remedy when the different sets of concepts are not properly recognised and the therapist draws conclusions on the basis of his or her own interpretation of a symbol.
Of course case taking always has to be done with due observance of the holistic principles of homœopathy. Case taking may never be narrowed down to using one or two symbols in order to find the simillimum!
In the case presented here love of cats is the focal point.
But cats as a symbol may have complete different meanings in different cases. We have to find the "real" symbol, the significant meaning for the patient and not rather automatically assume that the cat as a symbol is equal in all cases. Observing patients with affection for cats I encountered quite different situations.
A few examples:
Love for cats was expressed in a girl eight years old. I asked her why she loved cats so much?
She told me that they could scratch so very well when you touch them. She turned out to be a clear anacardium case.
A man 24 years old was allergic to cats, but also he loved them. He told me because they move so freely. Tuberculinum was his remedy.
A little girl loves cats because they are so beautiful and smooth and soft to touch. She got well on sulphur.
A 16 year old girl adored her cat. The reason why: The cat always stayed home with her when she was alone, and never left her. She was better on magnesia phosporica.
All the examples given of course had a lot more symptoms also matching the remedies chosen. So one may use signature, but certainly has to be aware of the correct interpretation of the symbol used in repertorising.
In the case presented here I tried to follow my patient into her fantasies about being a cat. Eventually I used this symbol as one of the means to understand her properly.
Case
Woman now 22 years old. First visit at the age of 19. Her story is as follows:
"All my life I have been dreaming to be a dancer, to act on a big stage with people looking at me, or dancing in a group on stage.
When I am aware of people watching me, on stage my energy is much better and I become more myself.
I don't mean ballet, but some kind of modern dancing like Alvin Aily (a famous choreographer in the USA) ."
She says this with a heavenly look in her eyes.
She stopped dancing during the period she had a boy friend. Her boyfriend called her "my cat".
"I identify myself with cats, because they like warm places, and I like it when they touch me and sit on my lap. They like to be alone. Just like me.
I adore cats, the way they move, smooth. I admire their independency. "
"I also like to be in high places with much air, so I can look down on life.
I also like to "leave" and I am in for changes, I cannot stay too long in the same place. Especially I like to go to unknown places. "
She went abroad to study ballet, and lived there together with her boyfriend. When she came home she developed an allergy for cats. Back home, she went to live with her parents again, after having her own place for sometime.
At her parent's home she had to do things her parents told her to do, nothing special, but being bossed about made her nervous.
After she left her parent's home for a second time to live on her own, she cleaned her apartment obsessively. But she did this from own choice.
"My relationship with my mother has changed. Now I am the parent and she behaves like a child and I have to take care of her. "
She sighs and explains that she is tired of playing the mother role.
Sometimes she likes to be a little girl again. But this is not possible because she has to be like a parent for her mother.
With her father she behaves differently. She can sit on his lap and behave like a girl of three years old. Her father is a quiet and easy going person.
She is proud that she can put the phone down when her mother calls her too often. Now she is able to shake the emotion off. (She says this with big sigh) .
She was never pressed to study at an university. From age two on she wanted to become a dancer. There where periods at high school, however, when she doubted she would be able to become a dancer.
Every time she had a boyfriend, she stopped intensive dancing.
When she tells her story she looks observant, but not attached to her surroundings.
As soon as she talks about cats her face shines and she looks pleased. The compliment "you are like a cat" makes her feel more herself, she loved the boyfriend for that.
She left this boyfriend because he was too jealous. It made her feel too dependent. She worked a while as an "au pair" but did not like it because also in this job she did not like being told what to do.
Physical complaints
Main complaint: allergic to cats.
Menses absent during the year when she was abroad.
Herpes vaginalis.
Pain in lower back, better massage, better resting, worse exertion (dancing) .
Discharge right ear: yellow, difficult to get it out.
Scraping throat, difficult to get mucous out.
After eating even a little a distended feeling, also a bloated feeling in the face.
A sensation of feeling fat when on stage and dancing.
Eruption on hands, worse cleaning material, worse during relation with boyfriend.
Observations during the interviews
A big girl, not an elegant posture. Practical, square face.
Thin hair. Big brown eyes with a kind of alert look.
She talks with a romantic voice, seems to attract the attention of the people around her. She nearly came to "sit on my lap" during the interview.
Analysis
The first interview was taken in a life session with other homœopaths present. In the discussion following the interview a number of possible remedies were surveyed.
Pulsatilla: Dependent, irresolute, distended abdomen.
Tuberculinum: Allergic to cats, desire. to travel, romantic.
Platinum: Loves to be "high", looking down, sense of egotism, loves attention.
Sulphur: Allergic to cats, want of independence, loves attention.
It turned out that in effect all these remedies had been given to her previously, with no improvement to her condition.
At that point I could not find the right simillimum myself and in the life session the case was abandoned without a definitive conclusion.
After some days, at my own practise, I discussed the case with a colleague.
My colleague's major observation was that the patient really behaved like a cat. The other focal point turned out to be the mother child relationship.
The girl had problems becoming an independent, grown up individual. On the one hand she wants to be on her own, on the other she shows dependent behaviour. This controversy expresses itself especially in the relationship with her parents.
I knew from other cases that all lac's have a problem with regard to the separation process with the mother. So one lead was to find the Lac with "dependent as a child in antagonism with a desire for independency".
The controversy also shows in the symptom "allergic to cats", while at the same time "adoring cats".
A distinct disharmony is expressed in this case.
The main feature of lac felinum is a wish for independency, but at the same time wanting to be hugged and a desire for warmth from the people around.
The two key factors parent child relationship and love for cats, in combination with the other symptoms of lac felinum made this the right remedy for the patient.
According to Clarke symptoms of lac felinum are among others:
• desire solitude
• desire for independence
• distension after eating
• mucous in throat difficult to get out
In this case the observation love for cats featured as a symbol, but only seen in the right context. Love for cats alone is not enough, we have to ask "WHY, HOW". The patient's love for cats had to do with gracious moving, with a want for independency, freedom and reaching high.
First prescription was lac felinum C200.
Follow up after three months
The patient felt very depressed and very lonely. She was crying during the interview.
She had strong changes in her moods. First depressed, than later very excited.
Her stomach felt still often swollen. She felt fat even after eating one apple.
Dreams: Finely she can speak about what she feels in her dreams. In her dreams she is always nice and talks friendly to other people. Dreams also give her answers: What she wants and what to do. She feels good in her dreams. During daytime she often cannot make up her mind. Than she also feels sad and powerless.
She feels easily influenced by other people, and she does not know herself what to do. She then wants to sit on the lap of her daddy again.
She feels forsaken, needs help in making decisions, but wants to be independent. She feels hurried and has no patience.
Strong desire for chocolate. This she had not told me before.
Allergy to cats and herpetic eruption in her vagina better.
Evaluation
The patient is mentally unstable. Both the love as well as the allergy for cats, and the dependent-independent conflicts are developing in a good direction. Often when a remedy touches on a deeper level and the patient is confronted with his or her basic problem, one may expect some kind of depression. This is especially true when the conflict has to do with the forming of the identity. In her dreams we see that the patient is making a considerable progress. But the remedy does not seem to be working deep and long enough.
Second prescription: lac felinum MK.
Follow up after four months
Strong inflammation of the throat, voice lost, could not speak, with nose bleeding. After one day much better.
Mentally she feels very well, she is working hard to become a dancer.
Now she does not feel so much pressure and hurry anymore, and she also tells that she does not eat so much chocolate anymore.
Her distention after eating a little bit is gone.
"I feel more independent , I am doing things the way I want to do them, I feel myself a winner now. Now I see that my luck was down the last tree years. " She is feeling a bit scared about being so excited, because the last tree years were so bad.
No depressions anymore, she got her feet on the ground now. And she now looks towards a good future. Eruptions and allergy are much better.
No remedy given, waiting for effects.
Follow up after ten months
Drop of energy. She complains that there are eruptions on her finger again, herpes vaginalis is worse again, she feels tension in the lower back again.
She feels very tired again as well.
She started singing, because she feels she can express herself better in singing. Mentally still much better than before.
Third prescription: lac felinum MK.
Present situation, three years after first interview
She lives on her own with a black cat, still studying to become a dancer.
She says: "when I dance I feel like coming inside myself".
Mentally she is much stronger now, she feels herself an independent woman.
The physical complaints have nearly disappeared, herpes is better and eruptions are gone.
Summary
When patients feel a strong relationship with a plant, animal or mineral and use this as a symbol to explain themselves, one has to be aware of possible pitfalls with regard to different meanings a symbol may have for different persons. So it is very important to question again and again what the real properties of the symbol are. One should truly delve into the semantic meaning of the symbols brought forward in the case taking.
When following this procedure one will discover that more often then not characteristic symbols are more related with the self of the patient than with the form or function of the particular plant or animal the remedy is taken from. Surely the signature of the plant, animal or mineral might be related to the complaints of the patient, but the only true homœopathic attitude is to look closely to the patient and analyse his or her symptoms in the context of the patient, not in the context of the animal or plant from which the remedy derived.
Therefore proving and clinical experience of remedies remains the basis for understanding the properties of homœopathic remedies.
Only if a proving and clinical experience shows related symbols with behaviour of animals or external features of plants or the chemical properties of elements, one may use signature as a tool in the prescription practise.
Alize Timmerman
Jan van Nassaustraat 26
2596 BT Den Haag
The Netherlands
============
Herbert Roberts
LAC FELINUM.
EYES.
Severe darting, cutting P thro centre of eyeball or in back of orbit to some point in H, leaving much soreness. Lachrymation. Eyes feel sunken. As if eyebrows were leaden. Wants to keep eyes closed < reading < writing < looking fixedly. Letters run together when reading, with dull or sharp P in or behind eyes. Photophobia Choroiditis. Corneal ulcers. Styes. Eye troubles coming on in the fall. Fears any pointed object she sees will stick into her eyes.
EARS.
No symptoms.
NOSE.
Cannot bear smell of clams, of which she is usually very fond.
FACE.
No symptoms.
MIND: EMOTIONS.
Great depression of spirits. Very cross to everyone.
Morbid conscientiousness, every little fault appears a crime. Fear of falling downstairs, without vertigo.
MIND.
Mental illusion that corners of furniture, or any pointed object near her, were about to run into eyes, even when she sees they are not too close.
VERTIGO, etc.
Heaviness in head, but no vertigo.
HEAD.
HEAD: P l. side of head, cords of neck rigid. Terrible HA l. eyeball to center of brain. Burning in l. temple near eye, in keratitis. Dull, heavy, pressing P may occur in any part, < over eyes. Intense P confined to l. side. Agonizing HA begins in front of vertex with flush of heat in same place; heat & P spread down l. face to l. ear as a veil; closes eye, presses chin to chest, holds head tight in hands, rushes about screaming. Or P as above may begin with chilly sens. at root of nose or cold P passing up median line to vertex and ear. Lancinating P zigzag from vertex to
l. ear. P from head along lower jaw: mouth to fill with saliva.
MOUTH.
P in all teeth as hot P from H touched them. Redness of whole buccal cavity. Soreness, small ulcers or sens. of, on tongue, whole buccal cavity. Sens. as if tongue were scalded by hot drink. Parts of mouth stick together. Taste brassy; lost. Salivation tongue enlarged, serrated by teeth. Palate elongated.
THROAT.
Tough mucus in pharynx; stringy, difficult to raise; when raised, yellow. Mucus has sickish sweet taste. Posterior wall of pharynx inflamed, sens. of soreness.
APPETITE, STOMACH.
No appetite. Desire to eat paper. After eating feels swollen; must loosen clothes. Stomach sore all around just below belt < l. side. Great soreness and sensitiveness of epigastric region. Heat in epigastrium. Slight nausea.
ABDOMEN.
P in A and back, as if menses were commencing. P in bowels. At midnight sens. as if cold bandage were over lower part of A. P in pelvis thro hips on pressure, as when placing arms akimbo.
STOOL, ANUS.
Stool long, tenacious, slips back when ceasing to strain; very slow in passing; seeming inability to expel.
URINARY ORGANS.
Frequent desire to urinate, urine pale. Obstruction in urinating, has to wait.
MALE ORGANS.
No symptoms.
FEMALE ORGANS.
Great weight & bearing down in pelvis, like falling of the womb, as if she could not walk; < standing. Leucorrhoea yellow. Furious itching of vulva, inside and out.
RESPIRATORY ORGANS, COUGH.
Dryness of rim of glottis. Much oppressed for breath; difficulty in drawing long inspiration; sens. as if breathing were done only by upper part of lungs.
CHEST, LUNGS.
See above.
HEART, CIRCULATION.
No symptoms.
NECK, BACK.
No symptoms.
UPPER LIMBS.
P in l. wrist when using index finger.
LOWER LIMBS.
L. foot feels cold when touched by r. foot. Legs ache.
SKIN.
No symptoms.
SLEEP.
Dullness, sleepiness, gaping. Heavy, profound sleep, not easily awakened. Dreamed of earthquake.
FEVER.
Cold and heat alternately, each continuing but a short time.
GENERALS.
Entire r. side from crown to sole feels terribly weak, heavy & distressed, so that it is difficult to walk. Constant nervous trembling of hands, as in drunkards.
CLINICAL FIELDS.
Photophobia, esp. from artificial light. HA with lancinating P, or very painful eye affections with knifelike P running into H. Corneal ulcers. Keratitis. Choroiditis. Ciliary neuralgia. Asthenopia. Styes. Pruritis vulvae. Neuralgic toothache.
CHARACTERISTICS.
Morbid conscientiousness. Weakness, heaviness & distress of r. side only.
Marked aversion to smell of clams, of which she is usually fond. Knifelike P involve head and eyes.
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Lilienthal
[IRIS, AFFECTIONS OF, Iritis, Neuralgia Ciliaris.] Shooting from inflamed eye to temple and eyebrow, agg. at early morn; hazy sight; dull iris.
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[OPHTHALMIA.] Ciliary neuralgia, agg. by lying on left side; pains in eyes back into head, extremely sharp, with sensation as if eyes extended back; great photophobia to natural and artificial light, agg. by reading or writing; general lassitude; loss of appetite; constipation.
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[CHARACTERISTICS - HEADACHE] - Excruciating headache so that she runs from room to room.
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[HEADACHE, Cephalalgia.] - Acute pain from vertex down left eye and temple, with so much agony that she has to hold her head firmly with her hands and rush through the house from room to room screaming; intense pain from head down to face, causing the mouth to fill with saliva; pulsations in head with sensation of heat in forehead and constriction across bridge of nose.
=======
Mangialavori additions
MIND, BLOOD or a knife, cannot look at
MIND, FEAR, pins, pointed, sharp things, of
GENERALITIES, FOOD and drinks, fish, desires
GENERALITIES, FOOD and drinks, milk, desires
GENERALITIES, PAIN, General, alternating side
========
Vermeulen Synoptic II
REGION
Nerves. Female organs. Head. Eyes. * Left side.
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LEADING SYMPTOMS
M Morbid conscientiousness; every little fault appeared a crime. [clinically verified by Swan]
M Fear of falling downstairs, but without vertigo.
M Fear of pointed things.
"Mental illusion that corners of furniture, or any pointed object near her, were about to run into eyes; the symptom is purely mental; the objects do not appear to her sight to be too close." [Clarke]
"They cannot tolerate anything pointed anywhere near the eyes, nor even the thought of being given an injection or a lumbar puncture or having to have an operation, esp. in the region of the head. A fear of pharmaceutical drugs has also been observed." [Müller]
M "Proud behaviour of the cat; sensuality; intolerance of hunger [found in many animal remedies as control over instinctual urge is absent]." [Chhabra]
M Dreams of sexual intercourse; many dreams of being pursued for rape, even by relatives.
"I have since then found it to be one of the remedies indicated in patients with a history of incest." [Chhabra]
M "This was an animal remedy with a dirty feeling about oneself, a feeling of not being respected, of being treated contemptuously. The conflict of submitting oneself, of degrading oneself to save relationship or for money. The theme of the prostitute who submits her body, her respect for money … To get his food, the wild cat became the domestic cat of today. 'The trick had been to control their fear of humans, to learn to tolerate handling and even enjoy it, as the necessary price that had to be paid for an easy life. In a way they had to prostitute themselves, but once
they had mastered the art, the rewards were impressive. They allowed the domestic cat to live longer and more healthily than its wild ancestors.' They made a choice, gave up their independence, their wildness, their freedom, their respect - for food, for survival." [Chhabra]
M Conflict between dependency and independency.
Desire to be pampered as opposed to desire to be independent.
Intolerance of obligation and pressure. [Alize Timmerman]
Fear of being let down due to past experience of neglect.
They absolutely hate dishonesty.
"A basic pattern I discerned is that many women felt abused and neglected, reacting with rebellion and independent behaviour. They have a 'I don't need anybody' attitude." [Wirtz]
"Later on, in Lac felinum people, a behaviour pattern may develop of not wanting any further relationship with human beings, in order to preserve one's own independence intact. Within a relationship, a clinging or grasping partner evokes a sensation of claustrophobia or constriction. 'Women stick to you like a limpet' was how one male patient expressed it. There is a great fear of attachment and an aversion to persons who 'hang on to your apron strings'. On the physical level a Lac felinum person is intolerant of constriction, especially around the neck. A relationship
becomes a risky gamble rather than an involvement of oneself. 'Relationships have a fatal outcome', as one female Lac felinum patient put it. Thus there is a fear of the opposite sex, and not only in females." [Karl-Josef Müller]
M Very sensual behaviour; passionate, expressive [eyes!].
Colourful, tasteful clothing and jewellery and/or other ornaments. [Wirtz]
M Critical as to own appearance.
Fussy about food.
Desire for cleanness, orderliness, only fastidious when decompensated. [Wirtz]
"Lac felinum patients not only have a feeling of being stupid, but are quite convinced that this is the case. They perceive themselves as being of insufficient or only average intelligence; they have a desire to know more and be capable of more. They received the message from their parents that they were 'only a silly little kid'. Hence the feeling of being 'incapable, thick and stupid', good for nothing. Secondly, we also find feelings of worthlessness or inferiority, [as in Lac equinum]. Thirdly we find feelings of ugliness with a revulsion for oneself [as in Lac
caninum]. Inferiority feelings such as these seem to be a common characteristic of Lacs, at least those of all domesticated animals. On looking in the mirror, a feeling that she looks horrible." [Müller]
M Rushes through the house from room to room screaming [from agonising headache]. [Clinically verified by Swan]
M "Dreamed of earthquakes." [Allen]
G Constant nervous trembling, esp. of hands, as in drunkards.
& Dryness of mouth.
& Sensation as if tongue were scalded.
G < Left side.
[head; eye; stomach; ovary; wrist; foot]
G Worse Lying on left side.
G "Cold and heat alternately, each continuing but a short time." [Allen]
Chilly, yet intolerant of warm rooms [Müller]
G No appetite.
Distension of abdomen after eating ever so little.
G Craving for paper.
"The desire for paper is a curious one in that many cats indeed have a fascination with paper: they will play with paper, especially if wadded into a ball; they may even chew on paper. They love to hide in paper bags. Part of this is a desire to hide, normal part of the stalking behaviour. I would not be surprised to find Lac-f. in the rubric hide, desire to as well. Extreme fearfulness with hiding is common in cats. Arsenicum album often helps. One can easily imagine the ever washing cat as an arsenicum! I wonder even about Lac-f. belonging in the rubrics mind:
washing, always washing her hands, mania for bathing, etc." [Don Hamilton]
G Craving for or aversion to milk.
Aversion to fats.
Desire for healthy clean food. [Anne Wirtz, Hom. Links, 3/96]
Desire for salty things and for fish. [Müller]
Vegetarians out of sympathy for animals. [Müller]
G Numbness.
"Lac felinum patients have a sensation as if various parts of the body are packed in cotton wool. One patient with chronic sinusitis had a sensation as if his head were packed in cotton wool. Another had a sensation as if anaesthetized. One patient had a dream that her hands were packed in cotton wool, reminiscent of velvety paws." [Müller]
G < Night.
G Sharp lancinating pains [head; eyes].
P Headache; worse left side [temple and over left eye].
Worse Reading.
& Asthenopia.
& Salivation.
& Weight on vertex; or crawling on top of brain.
& Sensation of constriction along bridge of nose.
P Eye affections.
& Shooting pain from eyes backwards.
Worse Lying on left side. [Berridge]
Styes.
Sensation as if eyes were drawn backward.
Sharp lancinating pain through centre of left eyeball, leaving it very sore internally, and causing profuse lachrymation. [clinically verified by Swan]
"Back in the original proving, the eyes were one of the main centres of Lac felinum pathology. Neuralgic, cutting pains, or radiating pains 'as if scratched to pieces' are prominent. The eye pains may alternate from side to side [as in Lac caninum], and occur particularly before the menses [as in Folliculinum]. Lac felinum has removed the sensation of a veil in front of the eyes. Sensation of a foreign body in the eye, inflammation of the eye on alternate sides. Swelling of the inner canthi, of the eyebrows, and in front of both ears, always occurring pre-menstrually, have
been cured by Lac felinum." [Müller]
P Parts of mouth seem to stick together, requiring air or saliva to separate them.
P Great weight and bearing down in pelvis, like falling of the womb, as if she could not walk.
Worse Standing.
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RUBRICS
MIND: Aversion to men [1]; to women [1].* Conscientious about trifles [1]. Contempt of self [1]*. Delusion parts of body are packed in cotton-wool [1/1]*; she looks wretched on looking in mirror [1/1]*. Fear of pointed, sharp things, pins [1]; of blind people [1/1]*; of being detained [1]*; of falling while descending stairs [1/1]*; of being laughed at [1]*; of suffocation [1]*; of thieves [1]*. Feeling of helplessness [1]*. Desire for independence [1]*. Desire to torture those who torture animals [1/1]*. Desire to travel [1]*. Travelling amel. [1]*. Cannot weep, although
sad [1]*.
HEAD: Formication at vertex [1]. Heat before headache [1]. Sensation of looseness of brain [1]. Pain above left eye [1]; stitching pain over left eye [2].
EYE: Lachrymation from pain in eye [1]. Pain in right eye when lying on left side [1/1]; better lying on left side [1; Nat-ar.]; neuralgic, ciliary [1]; pain in eyeballs [1]; constant, stinging pain over left eye [3/1]; stitching pain on looking fixedly [1; Arund.]; stitching pain while reading [1]; stitching pain extending backward [1; Spig.]; stitching pain extending backward & sensation as if eyes extended back [1/1]. Photophobia [1]. Sunken sensation [1].
NOSE: Icy coldness before headache [1].
MOUTH: Salivation during sleep [1]*. Scalded sensation of tongue [1].
THROAT: Sensation of lump [1]*.
ABDOMEN: Sensation as of a cold band around lower part of abdomen [1/1].
FEMALE: Voluptuous itching [1]. Menses copious [1]*; too frequent [1]*; painful [1]; suppressed & frontal headache[1/1]. Bearing down pain in uterus worse standing [1].
CHEST: Induration mammae before menses [1]. Milk, disappearing [1]. Nodules in mammae before menses [3]. Pain in mammae before menses [3].**
EXTREMITIES: Coldness of foot, one cold the other hot [1]. Sensitive feet [1]. Touching feet < [1/1].
GENERALITIES: Food and drinks, desires paper [1/1].
* Additions from Karl-Josef Müller & Gerhard Ruster - Lac felinum - A synthetic Remedy Picture from Clinical Observation, private publication, 1997.
** "The rubrics in this section probably apply to all homeopathic milk remedies." [Müller]
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FOOD
Aversion: Milk [2]; clams [1]; fat [1]; salt [1].
Desire: Salt [2]; fish [1]; healthy clean food [1]; milk [1]; paper [1].
Worse: Milk [2].
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