(LONG) SYMPOSIUM TEAM CASE ANOTHER ANGLE

[andyh]

HOMEOPATHIC SYMPOSIUM.COM--LOOKS TO BE PROMISING, AND LITTLE RISK TO
SIGN UP FOR AT A SALE PRICE UNTIL JUNE 8

Greetings for those who worked on the team case and those who did not,
I do not work for the symposium, this is a private plug given my hopes
that it will get off to a good start. For those who have not yet
checked out the HomeopathicSymposium.com website, or have checked it out
but encountered technical hurdles, it is likely going to be a good
educational tool and community-builder, and they are having a sale on
monthly subscriptions to their website until the end of Tuesday June 8.
For example a monthly diet of 1 cured case tutorial (takes a few hours
to work out the case interactively by video and tools offered on the
website); OR 2 other types of tutorials; is priced at $32 billed
monthly, and if I am not mistaken also includes an initial free team
case (ie many minds brought to bear on an uncured and difficult
case). The current interactive tutorial topics will include new
materia medica; and (for example): Will Taylor on Plant Families. New
cases and tutorials are added every month, and the archives are thus
continually growing.

It will hopefully become a cutting edge educational tool, especially for
those homeopaths who have burned out on seminar attendance and travel.

The team case solving function many have been participating in for the
past couple of weeks is a state-of-the-art way to mix solving of
difficult cases with an educational experience for participants. I am
personally a fan of new tools like the objective confirmatory technology
Biolumanetics-- which make homeopathy more efficient and reliable. Both
the group effort, and educational experience aspects of the team
approach help make homeopathy more reliable in another way--by group
cooperation. This type of internet-powered case-solving system has never
been attempted before on this scale, although we do it to some extent on
discussion boards as well.

Technical Hurdles
I had a difficulty with the Symposium site because I have a dial-up
connection as many of us do. Unfortunately the high-speed is necessary
to allow the video, and apparently also in order to maintain privacy of
the clients who consented to allow their videos to be included. It
turns out that dial-up connections are probably going to become less and
less usable in the not-so-distant future anyway, and high speed
connections are becoming close to the price of dial-up now. So this
should not be a barrier for those really interested, although one should
check availability and price in one's area. One can sign up at the
site without needing a high speed connection (to get the sale price);
after verifying that cable, DSL, or satellite connection is available in
one's area.

Website Complexity
The symposium website is laid out for particular purposes, and is not
perfect, and thus takes some getting used to. This is also a hurdle
that should be reasonably easy to surmount, and those really interested
should be able to figure it out with the offered technical assistance.

Nothing lost/Total freedom in participation
One good thing about the HomeopathicSymposium is that the monthly
payment (eg $32 one-case-a-month sale price compared with $40 later)
accumulates in a "point" system, so that one does not lose out by not
visiting the site for any period of time. When one's time becomes
available (or high speed connection gets installed)--then one can take
advantage of what one has previously paid for. So, for example even
though I don't have a high-speed connection yet, I've seen enough of
what this site offers to sign up for 1 case a month and if I can't use
it until I can get a higher speed connection, then I can use up my
points on educational cases and tutorials later without having lost
anything.

And, in the end, if one doesn't find this idea as promising for as one
would like, one can cancel.

So, that is my plug for the idea of this new tool (and I don't work for
the symposium, only have high hopes for its success). If we don't use
it, then the single practitioner behind setting it up may not be able to
finance the maintenance of the infrastructure to arrange all of the
educational material, team cases, and pay off the website itself. I am
saying all this now because if you want to get a more affordable price
for it, there is an opportunity to do that now since there is a special
price offer until the end of June 8.

=======================================================================
CASE ANALYSIS OF THE TEAM CASE

Ok, back to the team case we all just discussed by phone teleconference.

For those who particpated, here is another angle on the case that came
out of listening to the teleconference overview by Jeremy Sherr and
others:

--Opium followed by a Mercurius rx

and also a previous analysis for Kali bromatum that may not have been
posted on the symposium site.

==================

Symposium Team Case #1: 39 yr. old woman reporting Suicidal Depression,
Insomnia, Migraine, Constipation, Loss of sexual desire; with a history
of abuse/tragedy and domination by others
Based on sx that came up during the call and Jeremy Sherr's compilative
analysis, here are two ideas that came up for now or in the future for
this challenging and obstinate case for which a plan “B” (in addition to
all the ideas already presented) is never unwelcome.

In short, it is an angle on the case which considers Opium followed by
Mercury, or either of these rx alone at some point in treatment.

Opium is missing some aspects of the case, notably the sexual/filth
connection, but the fact that carefully selected rx have not worked
indicates that it should be strongly considered as a “layer” or case
“can-opener” if Agnus or another of the ideas proffered during the team
analysis does not do it, or in general. Possible support of this idea
empirically is that Stram, like Op a “shell-shocked” remedy, is the only
remedy so far that has had some effect on her. Merc or a merc variant
does have the sexual/filth aspect, and has the peculiar childhood sx
Suicidal by starvation. The case is also heavily syphilitic or
syphilitic/sycotic, which Mercury is well suited for, although Merc is
not the rx now (no confirmatories in worse hot and cold,
perspiration/salivation, or other keynotes).

Synopsis of Case for Opium
Opium-the “orator” aspect that was mentioned by Malcolm, (possibly even
to the point of over-embellishment of the truth), combined with the
constipation coming on during pregnancy, possibly triggered by
medicaments could lead to the idea of opium in a case which has had many
shocks. The constipation in the case, it turns out, is without urging,
and Opium has a great emphasis in that area. The medicament that may
have brought the constipation on during delivery was pain killers—(an
interesting metaphor that pain killers could agg. a case that could need
opium). I dont think this rx has already been given. Opium’s focus on
constipation (one of the big elements physically in the case); its
aspect in cases in which reaction has not been elicited; its aspect of
combination of fear (ghosts, dark, death, etc) and fearlessness (gold
dredging in milieu of robbers in Peru); its aspect in cases of terror
(long history of abuse), especially on witnessing of an accident (e.g.
accidental death of her own child); nymphomania; kleptomania;
liar-eloquently speaks not knowing that she is putting on a bit of an
act, whether it is a lie or not; and hardheartedness.
Some Contraindications:
--The first thought here is that Opium tends to be sleepy, and chronic
insomnia is her situation. But as an illustration of remedy complexity
and polarities, Opium is also bold type for sleeplessness and has
insomnia in many forms and rubrics. So that is not a contraindication.
--Opium is not listed in religious affections.
--Opium can also frequently be warm-blooded when indicated as an overall
rx but the case is chilly. It is however listed for chilliness, albeit
in plain type: GENERALITIES; HEAT; vital, lack of (K1366, SRII-307,
G1127) (233) :

Confirmatories
The confirmatories for Op may or may not be present in a case like this
and be so mixed with the miasmatic aspects of the case as to be
difficult to pull out as a totality.

Miasm
Here is the miasmatic disposition of Op according to SK Banerjea
OP—Psora-3 Sycosis-2 Syphilis-2 Tuberc-1

Fears
MIND; DREAMS; devils (K1238, SRIII-279, G1022) (12) *
MIND; FEAR; general; dark (K43, SRI-487, G35) (64) *
MIND; FEAR; general; death, of (SRI-492) (180) **
MIND; FEAR; general; ghosts, of (K45, SRI-502, G36) (42) *

And

Fearlessness
MIND; FEARLESSNESS (23) * (toting guns amongst infidels in Peru)
MIND; PLANS; gigantic (K69, SRI-796, G55) (1) * (her scheme (which may
have been her fathers) of dredging for gold (a large technical feat
involving heavy equipment in a foreign land; and smuggling gold out of
Peru was not only dangerous, but a huge and very problematic idea).
Physical
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general; drugs, purgatives, laxantia, after abuse
of (K607, G520) (13)
- Severe constipation or diarrhea from fright or joy. (Morrison)
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general; urging; absent (17) **
STOOL; DRY (K637, G544) (136) ***
STOOL; HARD (K638, G545) (254) ***
STOOL; LARGE (K638, G546) (101) *

FEMALE; DELIVERY, parturition; during (SRIII-598) (90) **

Etiology, contributory
MIND; AILMENTS from; fright or fear; accident, from sight of an (SRI-19)
(3) **** (death of her own child plus all the shocks in her life
history)

Lack of Reaction (one of the geniuses of Opium overall as an rx)
MEDICINES: WANTING. 0>1>3 ( a quaint way of putting it (Boenninghausen)

“Orator” aspect mentioned by Malcolm and others
MIND; ELOQUENT (SRI-438) (3) *
MIND; LIAR; never speaks the truth, does not know what she is saying
(K62, SRI-707, G49) (6) ***
MIND; TALK, talking, talks; general; convincing (SRI-936) (1) *

Lack of Feeling
MIND; UNFEELING, hard-hearted (K91, SRI-1053, G73) (30) *
MIND; INDIFFERENCE, apathy; pleasure, to (K55, SRI-620, G44, G44) (49)
*** (e.g loss of sexual desire and pleasure)

Hatred
MIND; HATRED (K51, SRI-570, G40) (59) : acon., adam., agar., aloe,
am-c., am-m., Anac., androc., ang., aur., bar-c., cadm-i., calc.,
calc-s., cand-a., cham., CIC., cupr., falco-p., fl-ac., germ., hep.,
hydr., ign., kali-c., kali-i., kola., lac-c., lach., lap-gr-m., led.,
lyc., lyss., mang., med., medus., merc., mygal., NAT-M., neon, nit-ac.,
Nux-v., op., ph-ac., phos., pitu-a., plat., pseuts-m., puls., querc-r.,
raph., rhus-t., sep., stann., staph., stram., sulph., tarent., vip.

Stole a vehicle in college
MIND; KLEPTOMANIA (K61, SRI-687, G48) (35) *

High sexuality
MIND; LEWDNESS, obscene (K62, SRI-787, G49) (43) *
MIND; NYMPHOMANIA (K68, SRI-785, G55) (88) *

Complaints from Drugs
MIND; AILMENTS from; debauchery (SRI-16, G15) (25) : agar., anan.,
ant-c., arg-n., caj., calad., carb-v., chin., clem., conin., dig.,
fl-ac., kreos., lach., lact., lyc., Nux-v., op., ox-ac., pic-ac., sel.,
sep., spig., stram., sul-ac.
Hysteria
MIND; HYSTERIA (K52, SRI-588, G41) (236) *

Memory problems
MIND; MEMORY; weakness, loss of (K64, SRI-732, SRI-733, G51) (363) **
Possible connection of Op to weakness in respiratory area as a more
constitutional element
RESPIRATION; ASTHMATIC; children (K764, G650) (43) **

Other Opium rubrics she may or may not feel:
????MIND; AILMENTS from; shame (SRI-23) (7) ***
????MIND; AILMENTS from; reproaches (K71, SRI-22, G57) (27) ****
????MIND; DELUSIONS, imaginations; murderer, everybody around him is a
(K29, SRI-325, G24) (2) *

======================================

MERCURIUS OR ONE OF THE MERCURIES

======================================

Merc (worse hot and cold) is not probably the remedy for the case at
this time. But after a successful opener remedy(ies) (Agnus? Opium?
Ign? Plat? Etc as discussed by the contributors to the team case) it
may present itself based on the following:

Filth/Sex
Jeremy discussed the mixing of sex and feces as a theme in the case.
This analogically reminds one of the Mercury proving sx: delusion of
maggots crawling in vagina—and the Merc thematic connection with feces.
A loose connection, to be sure, but combined with the childhood impulse
for suicide by starvation it makes a case for Merc somewhere underneath
whatever can get a reaction out of her; and failing that effort, a
prescription as the “first remedy”.
ANALOGICAL SYMPTOMS (in syphilitic case with themes involving feces and
vagina)
MIND; DELUSIONS, imaginations; vagina, living things creep into, at
night (K34, SRI-372, G27) (1) *

MIND; FECES; licks up cow-dung, mud, saliva (K48, SRI-534, G38) (3) *
MIND; FECES; swallows his own (K48, SRI-535, G38) (3) *

Constipation
ACTUAL SX OF RECTUM
RECTUM; EXCORIATION; general; stool, from (K617, G527) (22) **
RECTUM; FISSURES; general (K617, G527) (71) **
RECTUM; FISTULA; general (K617, G527) (51) **

Suicidal
Suidicidal by starvation: Merc is the only rx mentioned thus far for
this symptom.

MIND; SUICIDAL disposition; starving, by (SRI-980) (1) *

Her lack of confidence, hatred, religious affections, history of abuse,
tendency to kleptomania, lying/embellishing, and comportment as a gold
smuggler (eg. Anarchist) could be part of the underlying totality of the
abusive childhood. Mercury would cover most of that, including
pneumonia in childhood; assuming also that the case is primarily
syphilitic.

DANCING; desire for : acon., aether, agar., agatha-a., aids., androc.,
apis, atra-a., bell., bros-g., camph., cann-i., cann-s., Carc., caust.,
chlol., cic., cocc., con., croc., crot-c., croto-t., dendr-pol.,
fl-ac., grat., ham., hyos., ign., irid-met., kola., lach., lat-h.,
medusa., merc., nat-m., nat-sil., nitro-o., nux-m., olib-sac., orig.,
ozone, ph-ac., pip-m., plat., positr., rob., sant., sacch., sal-fr.,
santin., sep., sil., stict., stram., tab., Tarent., tax., verat.

MIND; RELIGIOUS; affections, general (K71, SRI-827, G57) (75) : achy.,
agki-p., alum., alum-sil., am-c., anac., aq-mar., arg-n., ars.,
ars-s-f., aur., aur-ar., bac., bar-c., bell., calc., camph., carb-v.,
carbn-s., carc., caust., cere-b., cham., chel., cina, cinnb., coff.,
con., croc., cycl., dig., ferr., ferr-ar., graph., hura, hydrog., Hyos.,
hyper., ign., kali-br., kali-p., Lach., lepro., Lil-t., lyc., med.,
meli., merc., mez., nat-c., nat-m., nux-v., ph-ac., plat., plb., psor.,
puls., raja-s., rat., rhus-t., rob., ruta, sabad., sel., Sep., sil.,
stann., staph., STRAM., Sulph., tarax., thal., thuj., Verat., Zinc.
OTHER RUBRICS

MIND; AILMENTS from; pregnancy, in (17) *
MIND; AILMENTS from; sexual; excesses (K79, SRI-23, G63) (62) **
MIND; AILMENTS from; shock (SRI-23) (32) **
MIND; AMOROUS; disposition (SRI-25) (74) **
MIND; ANARCHIST; revolutionary (SRI-26) (4) ***
MIND; ANXIETY; salvation, about (K8, SRI-90, G6) (38) *
MIND; ANXIETY; salvation, about; faith, about loss of his (SRI-91) (5) *

MIND; ANXIETY; suicidal disposition, with (K8, SRI-96, SRI-976, G7, G68)
(14) **
MIND; ANXIETY; conscience, of (K6, SRI-69, G5) (99) **
MIND; ANXIETY; conscience, of; no rest night or day, prevents lying down
(SRI-70) (2) *
MIND; ANXIETY; indefinable (4) *
MIND; ANXIETY; oppressive (SRI-86, G6) (36) **
MIND; AVERSION; family members, to (K9, SRI-104, G8) (25) **
MIND; AVERSION; persons, to; certain (K9, SRI-105, G8) (24) **
MIND; COMPULSIVE disorders (26) *
MIND; CONFIDENCE; want of self (K13, SRI-159, G11) (120) *
MIND; DESPAIR; recovery, of (K36, SRI-394, G28) (70) **
MIND; FEAR; general; panic attacks, overpowering (SRI-516) (44) *
MIND; FEAR; general; death, of; impending, of (28) ***
MIND; FEAR; general; faith, to lose his religious (5) *
MIND; FEAR; general; happen; something will (K45, SRI-503, G36) (113) *
MIND; FEAR; general; robbers, of (K47, SRI-520, G37) (30) **
MIND; LASCIVIOUSNESS, lustfulness (K61, SRI-692, G49) (97) *
MIND; LEWDNESS, obscene (K62, SRI-787, G49) (43) *
MIND; LIAR (K91, SRI-706, G73) (27) *
MIND; LIBERTINISM (K62, SRI-707, G49) (31) *
MIND; LOATHING; life, of (K62, SRI-710, G50) (94) ***
MIND; MISANTHROPY (K66, SRI-744, G52) (48) *
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general; pregnancy, during (K608, G520) (63) *
FEMALE; DELIVERY, parturition; after, puerperal, complaints during
childbed (Kent first edition, SRII-63, SRIII-459, G1132) (123) *
FEMALE; SEXUAL; desire; increased (K716, SRIII-602, G611) (155) **
FEMALE; SEXUAL; desire; increased; pregnancy, during (K717, SRIII-606,
G611) (9) *
FEMALE; SEXUAL; desire; violent (K717, SRIII-608, G611) (67) *
SPEECH & VOICE; VOICE; hoarseness; chronic (30) *
CHEST; INFLAMMATION; lungs, pneumonia; children, in (11) *
BACK; BOENNINGHAUSEN; agg.; walking; while (45) *
SLEEP; SLEEPLESSNESS; general (K1251, SRIII-129, G1032) (589) ***
GENERALITIES; FISTULAE (SRII-214) (87) *
GENERALITIES; FISTULAE; chest symptoms, and (3) ?
GENERALITIES; PARASITES, ailments from (1) ?
GENERALITIES; REACTION; lack of (K1397, SRII-556, G1152) (126) **
GENERALITIES; SEXUAL; complaints in general (18) ?

Supportive Search
Anorexia/starvation [rem] (delusion [sen] die/death)/suicide/suicidal
[rem] constipation: acon.8, adam.222, aesc.54, aeth.10, agar.54, am-c.5,
am-caust.209, ambr.187, anac.36, anan.36, ant-c.187, ant-t.5, apis187,
arb-m.255, arg.5, arg-n.91, arn.5, ars.5, asar.149, asc-t.8, aur.8,
bac.85, bar-c.187, bell.5, berb.155, bor.10, 2brom.8, bry.8, bufo8,
but-ac., cact.155, calc.187, calc-sil., camph.22, cann-i.5, canth.5,
caps.10, carb-ac.54, carb-v.5, carbn-o.36, carbn-s.25, carc.187,
cartil-s.232, caul.8, caust.187, cean., cere-b., cham.10, chel.155,
chin.5, chin-ar., choc., cimic.155, clem.8, coca36, cocain.38, cocc.155,
coff.8, colch.8, coloc.8, con.5, croc.137, crot-c.85, cupr.8,
cupr-acet.85, cur.36, dig.8, digin.85, dpt, dros.36, dys-co.223,
elaps36, euphr.36, falco-p., ferr.8, fl-ac.5, fumar-ac.232, gamb.10,
germ., grat.187, haliae-lc., hell.8, helod-c.205, hep.8, 2hir.149,
hydr-ac.8, hydrog., hyos.155, hyper.8, ign.155, interf.241, iod.8,
iris54, kali-ar.85, kali-bi.8, kali-br.25, kali-c.8, kali-chl.85,
kali-cy.85, kali-i.8, kali-m.85, kali-n.22, kali-p., kola.1184,
kreos.187, lac-c.155, lac-f., lac-h.214, lach.5, lact.85, lap-mar-c.,
lat-m., led.36, 2levodo., lil-t.54, lith-c.36, lsd, 3Lumb-t., lyc.8,
lyss.8, mag-c.187, mag-m.8, mag-s.149, mand.149, mang.10, med.187,
meli.8,
mez.8, morph.36, mur-ac.5, myric.25, naja1202, nat-ar.8, nat-c.8,
nat-m.187, nat-p.8, nat-s.155, nicc.8, nit-ac.188, nux-m.187, nux-v.8,
olnd.5, op.8, orig.188, ox-ac.22, paull.36, ped.85, petr.8, ph-ac.155,
phos.8, pic-ac.8, plat.5, plb.114, podo.187, pseuts-m.255, psor.155,
puls.8, ran-b.8, raph.8, 2rauw.223, 2reser.149, rhus-t.8, rumx.22,
ruta187, sabad.5, sac-alb.85, sarr.36, sec.8, sel.149, senec.8, sep.91,
sil.187, spig.187, spong.8, stann.8, staph.160, stram.8, sul-ac.5,
sulph.8, syph.187, tab.8, tarent.187, tarent-c., tell.149, ter.8,
2thea.85, thlaspi, thuj.5, tub.187, tung.252, v-a-b., valer., verat.155,
vinc., visc.85, x-ray149, xan.8, zinc.155, zinc-m.85, 3Zinc-n.209
==================

A previous submitted analysis for KALI-BROM for Team Case #1

==================
TEAM CASE OF 39 YR OLD WOMAN—Kali bromatum
Additional Analysis and Ideas for Discussion
Andy Hendrickson (California)

Kali bromatum is suggested as another alternative to Agnus. It suits
someone who was “on watch” while her child died by accident; with a
religious personality who was abused in youth and is malleable to family
desires; someone who feels dirty (a clinical fact of this rx that is not
in the repertories); and has ailments from sexual excesses. One of her
chronic complaints is laryngitis ( a target of Kali-brom); Kali-brom
has chronic constipation and is bold type for hard stool; has persistent
insomnia; has panic attacks and “manic” states, weak memory, etc.

A confirmatory would be hand-wringing, if present.

There is no skin involvement in the case, and it may in fact be a
situation in which the circumstances match, but the remedy does not
match the person. The principle miasm of Kali-br is sycotic, and this
alone tells us that it may not be a match. But it is definitely worth
consideration.

KALI BROMATUM
—mainly on ailments from the death of a child; and given the religious
orientation of the client--feelings that she may be in line for “divine
vengeance” (the key element of Kali-bromatum). In short, she feels
guilty for the child’s death.

Key issue which relates the case to Kali-brom:
“Delusion brother fell overboard in her sight.”
This means she was watching and she let it happen! She feels how
would she have been so irresponsible or so negligent in her duty?
(Sankaran)

Mode in which she could have sustained so much familial abuse:
"Impression of danger from his family" He constantly feels that the very
family whose support he needs (Kali) can harm him (Brom).
The person becomes very supportive of his family, extremely duty
conscious, goes out of his way to conform to the family ethics and
norms. They are very helpful to everyone, highly industrious - always
keeping themselves busy. (Sankaran)

General MM--Morrison
Feels singled-out for divine wrath or forsaken by God.
Excessive religiosity.
Paranoia. Catatonia. Delirium tremons. Autism. Retardation.
Despair of salvation. Feels guilty as of a crime. Suicidal.
Tremendous anxiety states; frantic with anxiety.
Fears: Being poisoned. Injury. To be alone. Insanity.
Anger and rage. Mania.
Somnambulism and night-terrors.
Memory weak. Amnesia.
Sleeplessness. Insomnia from grief

Loci of action of Remedy
--MIND. NERVES [brain; spine; genitals]. Larynx. Skin.

Sexual
--Sexual excesses; ailments from (loss of sexual power)
--MIND; NYMPHOMANIA (K68, SRI-785, G55) (88) **
--main theme of Kali-brom is a conflict between morality and immorality.

-- “ Kali-br. has a very profound action on the generative organs and
the mental side of the generative sphere: sensual, lascivious fancies,
satyriasis and nymphomania and finally impotence and wasting of the
sexual organs…. The power of Kali-br. over the sexual sphere is very
great.” (excerpted from Murphy MM)

Religious affections
--MIND; RELIGIOUS; affections, general; sadness (SRI-829) (24) **

Death of a child
--Delusion thinks she is about to murder her husband and child
--MIND; DELUSIONS, imaginations; brother fell overboard in her sight
(K22, SRI-250, G18) (1) *
--MIND; DELUSIONS, imaginations; dead; child is (K23, SRI-262, G19) (2)
*
-- MIND; AILMENTS from; death; child, of a (SRI-16) (12) **
-- MIND; REMORSE; general (K71, SRI-830, G57) (79) *

identity problems
--MIND; CONFUSION of mind; identity, as to his (K15, SRI-169, G12) (59)
*

Kleptomania
MIND; KLEPTOMANIA (K61, SRI-687, G48) (35) * (she stole a vehicle
temporarily in college)

Suicidal
--MIND; SUICIDAL disposition (K85, SRI-974, G68) (150) **
--suicidal mania, with tremulousness.

“manic” tendency
MIND; MANIA, madness (K63, SRI-722, G50) (181) ***
MIND; MANIA, madness; brain; irritation and congestion of, with (1) **
MIND; MANIA, madness; despondency, with, in anemia (1) **
MIND; MANIA, madness; mental exertion, after (K64, SRI-725, G51) (4) **
MIND; MANIA, madness; wild (SRI-727) (3) *
MIND; MANIA, madness (K63, SRI-722, G50) (181) ***
MIND; MANIA, madness; brain; irritation and congestion of, with (1) **
MIND; MANIA, madness; despondency, with, in anemia (1) **
MIND; MANIA, madness; mental exertion, after (K64, SRI-725, G51) (4) **
MIND; MANIA, madness; wild (SRI-727) (3) *

MIND, FEAR, panic attacks, overpowering (Mangialavori)

Asthma
RESPIRATION, ASTHMATIC, nervous
constipation
STOOL; HARD (K638, G545) (254) ***
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general (K606, G519) (515) **
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general; chronic (21) *
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general; obstinate (14) *
RECTUM; INACTIVITY of rectum (K621, G531) (151) **
RECTUM; STRICTURE (K632, G540) (41) *
STOOL; DRY (K637, G544) (136) *
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general (K606, G519) (515) **
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general; chronic (21) *
RECTUM; CONSTIPATION; general; obstinate (14) *
RECTUM; INACTIVITY of rectum (K621, G531) (151) **
RECTUM; STRICTURE (K632, G540) (41) *
STOOL; DRY (K637, G544) (136) *

Sleeplessness
SLEEP; SLEEPLESSNESS; general; persistent (6) *
Kali bromatum case (Moskowitz)
With a history of multiple personality and other dissociative phenomena,
a 42-year-old college student and mother of four came in mainly for
headaches. While she described them as "shooting" or "fleeting" at
times, and often traveling backward along the path of the right optic
radiation, they were always present at background level, worsening
whenever she dissociated or "went away" from not knowing what was right
or expected of her, or feeling that anyone was angry with her. Enrolled
in the pre-med program at her local state college, at times she would
even go "blank" or "fuzzy" in the halls.
Married for 20 years before "finding the courage" to leave, she now
lived in a free-and-easy ménage with her three teen-age kids, their
various lovers, and her 12-year-old son. Always feeling "dirty" and
unheard as a child, she resisted her parents' divorce, but both her
stepfather and her father, with whom she stayed on weekends, were
serious alcoholics and took her to bars when they got drunk, the latter
also molesting and sleeping with her until he died when she was ten.
After experimenting with her mother's prescription medicines, she
graduated to pot and street drugs in high school, and ran away to live
on the street at 16, yet even then tried to keep the family together, as
if taking to heart her sister's old taunt that "our parents were happy
until you came along!"
A devoted sun-worshipper, she hated the cold, felt chilly quite
often, and actually unsafe in snow and wind, often waking up scared or
anxious in the morning. For a week after Causticum 200 she felt "really,
really good," with fewer headaches and dissociative spells after the
second dose too, but there were very low periods as well, dominated by
suicidal thoughts, which she had vowed to herself to keep under control
at least until her son was out on his own. In spite of one "guardian
angel" experience, she felt confused and trapped in a whirl of "changes,
rules, self-abuse, and self-imposed structure."
Five months after Kali brom. 200, she reported having done and felt
"really well" for quite a long stretch, even in her school work, despite
flunking a chemistry exam recently and developing serious hip pain and
then her typical headaches beginning the very next day. Repeating Kali
brom. 200, she again did very well on it. Three months later, her
headaches were much milder, and she felt less afraid of and less prone
to dissociating, and had continued to do better academically. That was
two years ago. She has not needed to come back since then, and, though
equipped with Kali brom. 12C for acute symptoms, so far has not touched
that either.
Case of A Grieving Mother with Obsessive Compulsive Tendencies
(Reichenberg and Ullman)
Barbara, a 35-year-old interior decorator from Boston, had been
taking Zoloft for two years. Four years before we met her, Barbara's
2-year-old daughter, Chelsea, fell into their swimming pool and drowned.
Without the help of Zoloft, she felt very afraid that her 6-year-old
son, Ben, or another child in her care, might be hurt (3). Before her
son died, Barbara loved to entertain and was a marvelous cook. After
Chelsea's tragic death, Barbara began to worry if her food was unsafe
and, as a precaution, threw out any leftovers. Her concern became so
exaggerated that she needed to go shopping for groceries daily. She
found it simpler for her family to eat most of their dinners at
restaurants. Barbara was afraid to let Ben go to friends' houses to play
because something terrible might happen to him.
Life was no longer worth living for Barbara (3). Despite being a
devout Episcopalian, she wished her life would end. The pain of losing
Chelsea felt unbearable. Even greater than her sorrow was overwhelming
guilt.There was a gate around the pool but the padlock had been left
unlocked the day of the accident. Barbara was haunted by self-blame for
her precious daughter's death (3). She was convinced that if she were a
good parent she could have done something to prevent the accident from
happening. She felt as if she, too, died the moment her daughter fell
into the pool. Even though everyone else knew that she was a loving,
caring, and responsible parent and no one placed any blame on her
concerning the drowning, Barbara's guilt was unabated. Prozac had
reduced her despair and suicidal feelings but she discontinued the
medication because it made her anxious.
This was the second time Barbara had felt a tremendous burden of
guilt. The first was after an abortion in her late teens. There was no
one she could tell, not her parents, not her boyfriend. She felt she had
made the decision against her own beliefs and that she would have to
answer for it later. She was convinced that her life would never be the
same again. The secret of having chosen to have an abortion had
continued to torment her for years.
When asked if there were any other time earlier in her life that
she had felt guilt or shame, Barbara recounted that at the age of six an
uncle molested her twice and swore her to secrecy. This led to a
recurrent series of bladder infections and, since it happened while she
was in bed, to insomnia. Even as an adult, Barbara still worried about
someone coming into her room at night.
"There's nothing worse than losing a child," Barbara lamented.
"Especially a little girl who was so wanted and was the light of our
lives. To live with the guilt of being parents and not keeping your
child safe... it's hard to face people." Around the anniversary of
Chelsea's death, Barbara felt as if she were "sinking lower and lower".
"I give things away to make up for my mistake. I've gotten our family
into a lot of debt."
Barbara shared more about her obsessive tendencies. "I was washing
my hands excessively because I felt terrified of germs and AIDS. I just
couldn't get my hands clean enough. I've been this way since I was six."
We remembered that this was around the same time the sexual abuse
occurred and asked Barbara how she felt about that experience. "I felt
dirty. Like slime. I didn't understand why it happened to me." My report
cards always mentioned that I had a constant obsession about going to
the bathroom, even three times during an hour. I'm still like that." Two
years of psychotherapy had been supportive but had not fundamentally
shifted Barbara's state of mind for the better.
"Our son, Ben, also felt guilty about his sister's death. He was
two at the time. My husband and I felt so unworthy about living after
the accident, yet we knew that we had to provide a stable atmosphere for
Ben even though our whole world had blown apart. That first year after
it happened I felt like I was in a fog. I didn't feel like I was here at
all. I was terrified that we would be found negligent and that someone
would take away Ben.
During that time I was terrified of AIDS. Any sneeze or cough
scared me to death. None of our friends understood what we went through.
I didn't feel that I could trust them. But my husband always came
through for me. After Chelsea died, he told me I was a wonderful mom and
that he wouldn't have wanted anyone else to be the mother of our kids."
Barbara was afraid of being alone and of something happening to her
husband (3). She dreamt of being attacked (3). Her dreams had become
more vivid and strange while she was taking Prozac. Zoloft caused her to
have disturbing dreams about unhappy relationships and breakups. Without
the Zoloft, Barbara could not fall asleep until 2 A.M.
Acne rosacea (2) and hair loss (2) were Barbara's physical
complaints. She loved starchy food (3) and had a compulsive addiction to
caramels (3). She disliked seafood.
We prescribed Kali bromatum (Potassium bromate). This is an important
homeopathic medicine for family-oriented people who generally have a
strict upbringing in which morals are strongly emphasized. Guilt and
shame, often about some terrible wrong they believe they have done,
torment them. They often feel so badly about their actions that they
believe they will receive punishment from God. They can carry this
tremendous burden throughout their lives.
The main rubrics in the repertory which convey this feeling are
"delusions, brother fell overboard in her sight"; "delusions; vengeance,
thinks he is singled out for divine";
"brooding; constantly over losss of a child"; delusions; he had
committeda crime", "delusions, that he is a devil"; and "delusions;
being doomed". It is a remedy for terrible anxiety and for overpowering
panic attacks. It is also of interest that Barbara had a handwashing
obsession because those needing this remedy are known to have restless,
nervous, or fidgety hands. Kali bromatum is also one of the most
prominent homeopathic remedies for acne, including roseacea. People
needing remedies in the Kali family are known to have sleep problems,
particularly between 1:00 A.M. and 5:00 A.M.
Three weeks later Barbara felt so good that, with the consent of
her psychiatrist, she stopped taking her Zoloft. "We just went through a
very hard anniversary. My depression and suicidal tendencies have been
very much in check. I feel really encouraged. The obsessive compulsive
disorder is pretty much under control. I'm doing surprisingly well with
the guilt. I'm not feeling burdened by it anymore. I miss Chelsea
dreadfully, but I don't feel dragged down. I can finally talk about the
accident. I haven't had those feelings of not wanting to be here."
We received a phone call from Barbara ten days later telling us how
much easier it was to express her emotions. She was crying more and
feeling very good about it. Her friends were beginning to tell her how
worried they were about her because she seemed to keep her pain deep
inside.
Barbara has needed four high doses of the Potassium bromate over
the year and a half we have treated her in addition to taking lower
doses when she felt it was necessary. She has benefitted tremendously
from homeopathy, as has her son, Ben, and she has not needed to resume
taking Zoloft.
Many people find themselves in tragic accidents or other situations
where a close friend or loved one is injured or dies. A perfect example
is the recent fatal skiing accident of Michael Kennedy. The friend who
tossed him the football just before he slammed into the tree blamed
himself terribly for the accident even though the risky game was a
Kennedy family tradition for many years. It is very likely that this
young man could also benefit from Kali bromatum as well as many other
people finding themselves in similar unfortunate situations.
Reprinted from The Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, 1998.

[Joy Lucas]

I too would like to say that what is on offer with the Hom Symposium would
be of great value to many. My only reservation is that for some of us who
don't feel we really need that extra input of learning (and I mean that
gracefully) then I think they should be making the team effort cases free. I
would love to continue contributing to these cases but won't be doing so if
I have to buy a 'package' to do so.

So please take note Malcolm

Also, to Andy, I am not sure we should be discussing the case on Minutus -
confidentiality and all that, but if you have had the OK to do that will you
let us know.

Best wishes, Joy

www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
on 7/6/04 12:06 AM, andyh@mcn.org at andyh@mcn.org wrote:

HOMEOPATHIC SYMPOSIUM.COM--LOOKS TO BE PROMISING, AND LITTLE RISK TO
SIGN UP FOR AT A SALE PRICE UNTIL JUNE 8

Greetings for those who worked on the team case and those who did not,
I do not work for the symposium, this is a private plug given my hopes
that it will get off to a good start. For those who have not yet
checked out the HomeopathicSymposium.com website, or have checked it out
but encountered technical hurdles, it is likely going to be a good
educational tool and community-builder, and they are having a sale on
monthly subscriptions to their website until the end of Tuesday June 8.
For example a monthly diet of 1 cured case tutorial (takes a few hours
to work out the case interactively by video and tools offered on the
website); OR 2 other types of tutorials; is priced at $32 billed
monthly, and if I am not mistaken also includes an initial free team
case (ie many minds brought to bear on an uncured and difficult
case). The current interactive tutorial topics will include new
materia medica; and (for example): Will Taylor on Plant Families. New
cases and tutorials are added every month, and the archives are thus
continually growing.

edited
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[andyh]

Joy Lucas wrote:
888 I agree, Joy--very good point. Paying to put input into a team effort case is not appropriate, and will probably not be a successful arrangement, and will certainly not get the best effort from people who want to contribute as we do here on this list--merely out of interest and desire to help. So I too, hope that the team effort cases are a free outreach service of the Symposium in order to solve really hard cases and promote education of everyone, not just paying subscribers.
888 Another good point, Joy, you are undoubtedly correct... Thanks.
Andy

[Rochelle]

Thank you Andy for posting this as I am someone who had a go at listening to the case on "dial up" and it really was difficult as it was bitty and slow so basically I gave up in the end. I do remember enough of it to wish to read through the analysis. Is the analysis from your notes or is it on the site for those who registered?

I understand ,Joy what you are saying about confidentiality but also wonder that because no names are mentioned and there is no way anyone will recognise this person from the case analysis if it is then OK?

All the best
Rochelle
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[andyh]

rochelle wrote:
999 From my notes, notes of others, and part of the transcript which is not easy to find on the site.
999 The confidentiality Joy refers to is the rather contradictory rules set up for online and phone discussion of the case. There really is no way to keep it confidential with any certainty. This website is just starting out. They will define things better as time goes on, is probably what will happen.
Best,
Andy