You've made a good case for causticum
and maybe also keep hypericum in mind? (Nerve damage; insult to coccyx) And from the
recent posting on Okoubaka, I would keep that as a possibility too, tho
causticum (and hypericum?) both seem more to-the-point for her present
symptoms.
Maybe at some point consider calendula in potency as well? I'm sending
a long post of Joy's, from some years back, on calendula:
--------------
From: Joy Lucas
Reply-To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
To: minutus group
Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 4:59 AM
Subject: [Minutus] Mary Gold is wounded
Dear All, for those who might be interested.....
CALENDULA OFFICINALIS - marigold
Positive qualities: Healing warmth and receptivity, especially in the
use of
the spoken word and in dialogue with others.
Patterns of imbalance: Using cutting or sharp words, argumentative,
lack of
receptivity in communication with others.
The Calendula flower imparts a warm, golden light of healing for those
souls
who must learn to use "the Word" as a truly creative spiritual force.
The
Word (or Logos) is the source of all creation, ever renewing itself
through
the womb of Nature. Thus Calendula is also known as "Mary's Gold;" for
the
golden sun-radiance of the Word must be birthed through the receptive
feminine matrix. In every human communication there is always this
masculine
and feminine polarity, of that which is spoken and that which is heard,
or
received. Calendula flower essence helps those whose innate creative
potential to use the spoken word often deteriorates into argument and
misunderstanding. It is especially indicated for personal relationship
work,
and for all healing and teaching work when the art of communication
must be
intensively developed as a soul force. Calendula gives great forces of
warmth and benign compassion to the human soul, especially helping to
balance the active and receptive modes of communication. Flower Essence
Repertory, Part III. Flower Essence Qualities and Portraits - Patricia
Kaminski and Richard Katz.
Such are the expressive qualities of one of our most well known
homeopathic
remedies, and maybe they are suggestive of how powerful and deep acting
this
remedy could be. There is creativity, birth, language, receptivity,
communication, spiritual forces and benign compassion - all contained
within
the healing properties of this remedy.
Calendula was first used as a deobstruent - to relieve the
obstruction, to
unblock, to let the free passage of expression flow forth - not just of
speech but for the birthing of all ideas. As Homeopaths we all know
what can
happen when these acts of creativity are suppressed or thwarted, when
our
natural inclinations are deviated into dis-ease. It becomes the first
instance of pathology.
My interest in Calendula is many fold - apart from the wide and varied
physical applications it is the lack of real depth in the mental and
emotional symptoms which are presented in the Materia Medicas; the link
this
remedy has with Cancer and the fact that it has only been partially
proved,
which really stir my imaginations.
There are many reasons why substances have been chosen for provings and
much
has to do with how that substance has been used historically. Plenty of
scope here for Calendula then.
The ancients considered Calendula to be a deobstruent remedy, exerting a
great influence on the circulation and strengthening the heart. It has
long
been used an an antiseptic, stimulant and diaphoretic. Dioscorides
recommended it for Cancer, and Fuchsius prescribed the juice for
toothache.
Gerarde described its virtues for inflammations of the eyes. According
to
Westring Calendula was formerly in much request as a medicine and was
used
more especially in carcinoma and scirrhus with great effect in the third
stage particularly in diminishing the pain and rendering the pus less
corroding. It was also used in chlorosis, hysteria, epilepsy, jaundice
and
some kinds of dropsy. Many found it of great efficacy as a lotion to
fresh
wounds, inducing union by the first intention. Zorn considered it of
great
service in throwing out the eruption of measles and small-pox, and as an
application to stop the bleeding of haemorrhoids. It was a favourite of
Boerhaave who employed it in uterine diseases and also diseases of the
kidney and liver. Also used for obstinate vomiting, cardialgia,
diseases of
the glands, compound fractures, amputations, suppurating abscesses, and
violent pains of the uterus.
In its more 'modern' usage it has been efficient in gangrene, fractures,
sprains, herpetic eruptions, eczema, nasal catarrh, blisters on tongue,
syphilitic ozaena, gonorrhea, non-specific urethritis, uterine
subinvolution, engorgement of uterine walls, uterine hypertrophy,
suppressed
menses, menorrhagia, chronic cervicitis, warts on the cervix, swelling
of
the breasts without pain, gout of the spine, spina bifida, one sided
paralysis, coma, concussion, swollen glands, toothache, haemorrhages,
septicemia, injuries to the eyes, diplopia, insect stings (antidote to
Apis), open wounds, burns and life threatening injuries involving the
skin,
tendons, cellular tissues and muscles - healing without leaving any
scars.
"Calendula is the greatest non-poisonous germicide, antiseptic,
reliever of
pain and healer of wounds that has ever been brought into use". Dr. W.
M.
Gregory in Eclectic Medical Journal.
There are also some rather more unusual symptoms worth noting -
deafness,
where one can hear better on a train, or hear distant sounds better,
cannot
hear 2 people talking together - the pains are excessive and out of
proportion to the injury suffered - bulimia (and maybe other eating
disorders) - and stabbing pains from within to without, like being
stabbed
in the back!
The modalities are subtle but to the point:- >> perspiration
(unblocking and
free discharges), >> sleep, >> walking about, >> lying very still, >>
9-3pm
(when the flowers are open), >> for the radiance of the
sun.
The hearing is very acute and sensitive so even the slightest noise can
startle them - they hear and sense everything acutely.
This extract is interesting....
Article by the Editor of the Hom. World, in the Homoeopathic Recorder,
May,
1891, Vol. VI, No. 3,
"The other day I was told by a friend that he had, last autumn, chewed a
Calendula leaf for a few minutes; the effect was most marked and very
striking. It entirely removed for some days the difficulty in making
water,
with which he had long been troubled, and which is so common in elderly
people. I have a suspicion myself that Calendula affects the spinal
chord,
from certain unpleasant feelings which I have when making it from the
fresh
plant." - C.W. To the foregoing the Editor of Hom. World appends the
following note: In response to our request for a fuller description of
these
feelings our contributor replies that the symptom was very difficult to
describe. "There was such a feeling as if some overwhelming calamity was
hovering over me as to be almost unbearable. Three years ago, just after
making the tincture, my old enemy, the gout, nipped me in the middle of
the
spine, and in three days spoiled all my powers of walking; and then the
dreadful feeling became very much exaggerated."
As Homeopaths we really need to prescribe this remedy to see for
ourselves
how broad is its application. Then we can wonder at the results. The
trouble
is - Calendula has only been partially proved.
From Kent Lectures.....
"The proving of Calendula is so nearly worthless that we cannot expect
at
present to use it as a guide to the internal administration of the
remedy.
There are only a few things that I have ever been able to get out of
it. In
injuries Calendula cannot be ignored, in cuts with laceration, surface
or
open injuries. Dilute Calendula used locally will keep the wound
odorless,
will reduce the amount of pus, and favor granulation in the very best
possible manner, and thus it assists the surgeon in healing up surface
wounds. Calendula is all the dressing you will need for open wounds and
severe lacerations. It takes away the local pain and suffering. You may
easily see we are not now dealing with a condition that exists because
of a
state within the economy, but because of something that is without.
There is
nothing that will cause these external injuries to heal so beautifully
as
the Marigold. Some will say it is not homeopathic, but these are the
individuals who "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." If there are
constitutional symptoms suspend all medicated dressing entirely and pay
your
whole attention to the constitutional symptoms. Sometimes there are no
constitutional symptoms to prescribe on, but when they are present
resort
locally to cleanliness and nothing else. Do not suppress symptoms that
you
will need to guide you to a remedy."
One might argue that we do have enough of a full symptom picture for
Calendula but I would like to encourage a new proving, to absolutely
confirm
the symptom picture of Calendula and give it its proper hierarchy in the
Repertories and Materia Medicas - even if it is just for wounded
parents who
have lost a child.
Thanks for reading. Joy Lucas RSHom