AURUM/NAT MUR (LONG)

[Karen Evans]

Hello

This discussion reminded me of a book which I read at college which
revealed some very interesting information on the lesser known Aurums, I
have cut a pasted a review here for anyone who may be interested. I
would highly recommend the book for its insights, in particular when
faced with a choice between Aurum and Aurum Mur Nat

Karen

Three Pieces of Gold
by Terje Wulfsberg
Reviewed by Rakhel Shabi

In his introduction, the author, Norwegian homoeopath Terje Wulfsberg
points out that we live in a syphilitic era, and should therefore expand
our array of anti-syphilitic remedies. Incorporating many reliable
sources and using his rich clinical experience which brings him to the
conclusion that not only Aurum metallicum but 'also some of the Aurum
salts are frequently indicated' (p. 17), he undertakes to facilitate the
use of three of them. He does so by sharing his insights into what he
considers as underestimated, underrepresented and underused polychrests,
namely Aurum muriaticum natronatum and Aurum sulphuratum (which is
identical, in his view, to Aurum sulphuricum). Aurum arsenicum, the
third remedy considered, is given a much smaller platform.

Another purpose of putting his notions on paper is to confirm his
'claims about their usefulness' in order that they eventually become
'valued as gold' (p. 18). It is unclear to me whether it is the
potentised gold he refers to, but unattenuated or not, I'm sure many
readers will agree once they will have read his book.

We have numerous sources on Aurum metallicum: everything seems to have
been said on that polychrest, and since Terje largely focuses on the
emotional aspect of these 'neglected' Aurum salts, a short statistic in
that respect might be illuminating: Aurum metallicum is mentioned 716
times in the Mind section of the Complete Repertory, whereas Aurum
sulphuratum appears in 74 rubrics and Aurum muriaticum natronatum only
in ten. The knowledge we have on these combination remedies seems to be
specific and focused on very definite, somewhat limited spheres of
action. The author aims at shifting those centres of gravity and thus
enable three remedies which have hitherto been overshadowed (or rather,
outshined) by their successful 'parents' (Aurum, Natrum muriaticum,
Sulphur and Arsenicum album) to play a more active role in our practice.

Terje considers his work as an expansion of a knowledge already
prevailing, merely 'filling in gaps', as he puts it (p.9). By no means
does he aim at the reader who first comes across these remedies.
Thorough, well structured and following a coherent inner logic, the book
allocates as little as possible to the physical aspects of the remedies,
apparently mentioning only the clinically verified symptoms. True, there
is no point in slavishly repeating Materia Medica that can be read
elsewhere, and of course every homoeopath must bear in mind aphorism
#211. Nevertheless, when reading this book, remember it emphasizes the
mental aspect (p.81), and before you have it for your main course, be
sure to have an appetizer first. In other words, be sure to take along a
good map of the entire terrain when climbing that mountain.

The table of contents reveals both the scope and the depth of the work
the author wishes to cover, and also serves as a synopsis for the entire
book. Proceeding from generals to particulars, he first speaks about
gold as an element, compares it to people who need Aurum salts, and then
refers to stages in the pathological development of these syphilitic
remedies.

When examining the first two remedies, he follows a sensible
configuration: first giving a main theme, he then describes the pattern
- namely the personality types, the causation for their state, the
strategy they adopt, the compensation, and characterising traits. All
this is later further illustrated in relation to children, which
undoubtedly makes this book an invaluable source of information.

Throughout his study, Terje is continuously backed up by well-acclaimed
authors and various clinical examples. The differential diagnosis with
several polychrests these remedies might be mistaken for puts the
description in a more practical frame of reference, as do the
suggestions to repertory additions. Several case examples later given
are extremely important in fixing the picture in our mind. They are
followed by a repertorisation, analysis using the Vithoulkas Expert
System, and a long-term follow up, indicating a lasting improvement,
often a cure. Terje doesn't hesitate to share his doubts and initial
failures, he even uses them to emphasize the fine differences between
the Aurum salts and polychrests indicated otherwise.

I found all these additions extremely valuable in avoiding future
mistakes - so far the remedies have been missed for lack of knowledge or
because they did not come through in repertorisation.

My fascination with this book goes beyond its being a comprehensive,
'total package' guide to unknown aspects of these remedies.
Typographically, it has an elegant layout, useful subtitles and
highlighted key sentences, which make it both aesthetic and convenient.
I nevertheless think the inclusion of a word index would have made the
book even more practical and userfriendly. It would facilitate its use
as a reference for readers, who thoroughly read the book once and wish
to access it later when making a differential diagnosis - the one
available definitely captures the core, but the fine details are
naturally scattered throughout.

Future editions of this book, I hope, will also see the spelling
mistakes left out - trifling as it may sound and insignificant on the
whole, it doesn't go hand in hand with the high, Aurum-y standards the
author set for this book.

Another thing I would have liked to see is the expansion of the
discussion on Aurum arsenicum. The author thinks it is 'a small remedy
and therefore more rarely needed', smaller than Aurum muriaticum
natronatum (p.21 2), which is, in his view, 'a neglected polychrest'
(p.29). Yet the discussion of the latter takes up two thirds of the
book, whereas Aurum arsenicum is again underrepresented with less than
5% allocated to it.

Terje Wulfsberg is not the first homoeopath to dedicate a whole work to
a limited number of infrequently used remedies. Those reluctant to buy
this kind of book might want to think how irreplaceable it can be when a
seemingly well-indicated polychrest fails to cure, when gold veins are
unmistakably traced in the case, and yet Aurum doesn't bring the
recovery expected, or when an amalgamation of several elements is
certainly recognized in a given case.

Terje's ability to observe the fine nuances and at the same time
perceive and maintain the whole pattern, his extensive knowledge and his
clear, methodical and flowing presentation make this a brilliant and
promising book. I can easily predict the Golden Age of these Aurum
salts.

The Homoeopath - Number 71
Autumn 1998

-
Actually I've seen aur and nat-m mixed (given when the other was
needed) at least several times. Also in my own past I have a couple of
periods (years apart) where I was told confidently that aurum was not
"my remedy", but the nat-m given instead did not act, but aurum acted
very decisively. So I'm not so sure you'll necessarily "know"...
(Whether I myself was heavy or intense in those periods I don't know...
But I'm guessing not, and perhaps that was why I was judged to be
"not-Aurum"?)

I've also given aur where nat-m was needed, and also vice versa (in
spite of doing the best dd I could on the two!)

Shannon
-

[Karen Evans]

Oops, sorry I meant to say between Aurum and Nat Mur!

Karen

-
Subject: [Minutus] AURUM/NAT MUR (LONG)
Hello

This discussion reminded me of a book which I read at college which
revealed some very interesting information on the lesser known Aurums, I
have cut a pasted a review here for anyone who may be interested. I
would highly recommend the book for its insights, in particular when
faced with a choice between Aurum and Aurum Mur Nat

Karen

Three Pieces of Gold
by Terje Wulfsberg
Reviewed by Rakhel Shabi

[Simon King LCPH MARH]

interesting post thanks!


Simon

[Shannon Nelson]

Simon, Joy, Karen, and all--
Just quickly--thanks SO much for all of these insights into these
remedies!!! I'm popping off and on today too briefly to read and
digest and reply today, but an so appreciating and enjoying it! And
will no doubt be back with further thoughts and queries about it!

Shannon