Minutus

Dear All,

Here is Tanya's update on her case. Responses would be welcome.

Best wishes, Joy Lucas
I have an update on this case. I have spoken with M twice this past
Joy
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I agree with Joy that this case doesn't have the essence of Arsenicum,
although many of the symptoms have an arsenicum quality. However, I've
never seen an arsenicum patient who was not fastidious to a fault over the
smallest details, with concomitant extreme anxiety about everything s/he
does not control -- it's what strikes one immediately and overwhelmingly
about the person. Arsenicum patients are also driven to extreme anxiety
about being abandoned -- all the time. If their significant others don't
reassure them constantly how important, wonderful, loved they are, they
think immediately that no one loves them. Their main cravings are alcohol,
LEMONS, sour, coffee. These are the things that seem to leap out and scream
"arsenicum." They don't really seem to be leaping out from this patient.
So although the repertory gives a high score to arsenicum, I'd actually be
inclined to look elsewhere for the simillimum.

What leaps out at me are definitely *animal* characteristics: extreme
restlessness shown in the involuntary motions of limbs (peculiar) and the
desire to travel, along with desire to dance and also restless sleep. Also
there's an extreme of irritability -- tiredness with lassitude and
weariness, anger that mounts to the level of shrieking (relatively unusual
across the general adult population), tendancy toward addictive behavior.
And a good deal of narcissism -- sexuality in dreams, love of tight clothing
but only if she feels body is desirable. There's a lot of animal emotions
around themes like competition, sexuality, possessiveness. The lump in her
throat, the involuntary leg motions, desire to travel, restlessness,
irritability and anger all do make one think of a snake remedy -- possibly
either crot-cascavella or elaps. Tarentula Hispanica falls into this same
remedy group. The simillimum has got to be an animal that's restless, with
rapid reflexes and reactions, an ability to be aggressive, and fairly rapid
cycling between exploding animal energy and complete lassitude. Some snakes
(e.g., Crot-cascavella) can resemble tarentula. However, I'd be inclined
here to look at other spiders, because there are no hemorrhagic
manifestations apparent in this case, and snake venoms more often than
spiders present with some blood-related disorders (not always). Also,
spider dreams generally indicated being pursued in a dangerous situation by
some kind of animalistic pursuer. The "animals" here were human males, but
clearly their animal nature is foremost, not their human spiritual
component. I think the remedy I'd examine most closely in this category is
lactrodectus mactans.
Here is a genereal description of this remedy from F. Masters, Sr., "The Web
Spinners":

"The action of the venom is mainly neurotropic and is characterised by
- Generalised muscular cramps, spasms and rigidity.
- Sensation of constriction - 'Spider fetters its prey'.
- Haemorrhage of black blood.
- Slow vascular spasm at the extremities.
- Shivers, profuse cold sweat and pain which is very similar to angina
pectoris.
- General pruritus.
- Desquamation of hands and feet.
- Sleeplessness. Restlessness.
- Mentally upset with a fear of going insane if a firm control is not
exercised.
- Difficulty in breathing and talking.
- Slow action of the heart. "

And some more specific symptoms:

"Severe prostration but the patient cannot remain still due to great
restlessness.
Extreme restlessness which does not allow the patient to sleep.
Pains - severe, constriction, cramping.
- come and go in waves, like labor pains.
Soreness of muscles especially to touch.
Extreme state of nervous irritation
Restlessness. Constant tossing about. Ultimately mental prostration sets in,
brainfag.
Shrieks, screams, moans, whines and shouts with pain.

Head
Occipital headache.
Constrictive, congestive pain.
agg. 2.50 - 3.00 P.M.

Stomach and abdomen
sensation of pain or sinking at the epigastrium.

Throat - dry and congested
- Pain on swallowing.

Violent constrictive precordial pain extending to axilla and down the left
arm, forearm to the tips of the fingers; with numbness and paresis of the
affected limb

Extremities
Spastic paresis with increased reflexes.
Praresthesia of lower limb with difficulty in raising lower limbs because
of spasm of hip extensor muscles.
Tenderness of calf muscles on palpation.
Burning and stinging of soles of feet, as if they were on fire.
Tingling numbness of hands and feet.
Cramps from the nape to the loins.
Cramps, weakness.
Clonic spasms and trembling of whole body.
Sleep
Anxious, disturbed
Insomnia.
Dreams
Dreams of flying.

Modalities
agg. change of weather
agg. Damp
agg. Before thunderstorm.
agg. Night
agg. Alcohol
agg. Exercise
agg. Slightest movement, exertion.
amel. Hot bath
amel. Sitting quietly"

The chorea (involuntary movements), cramps, swelling, pains, aches in
extremities point toward this or a similar Rx, I think. It's hard to find a
Materia Medica description of this rx, which is why I copied some aspects of
it here.

I'll follow the discussion of these themes and the type of remedy indicated
with great interest.

Sincerely, Rosemary C. Hyde

Dear Joy and Rosemary,

To answer Joy's questions first. I chose Arsenicum for several reasons. The restlessnes of the energy was one component. There is intense insecurity and feeling of not being safe. abandonment which i understand to be a core etiology for ars. fastidiousness and control of environment is strong with her, along with a very high anxiety for health. she has had dreams of robbers in the past and despite her current alleged desire to be alone, she is always out and about with many friends and loves attention, sympathy and company. i have seen her go from a state of poor disposition with irritability to a more positive state within a short amount of time during our conversations on several occasions. the RA, amel for warmth, except with HA when cold amel and a few other modalities.

as to the LM potency: after her reaction to the 200c, i thought the LM would be a more gentle and controllable potency choice. this has been my understanding of the LM usage.

My thinking on going deeper had to do with the intensity of the dreaming and the emotions that were coming to the fore, something she could not previously do.

I understand the points that both of you are making and am thinking seriously on them. My question with tarentula is that i am not seeing the sneaky and striking side. Are you suggesting that it is so well defended against that it doesnt show? Do you see it in the case? I do see that she has been able to do things to get attention in her life, like somatizing her feelings as a child for sympathy. But i am not seeing the striking back kind of behavior.

Altho she has learned (been taught and given permission) to scream, shout and cry in private, it still seems that the core feelings are suppressed. During my last conversation with her, M spoke of her new found ability to change her feelings without alcohol: she was talking about suppressing her anxiety and fears. I was surprised at her comment since this suppression is so central to her pathology.

As for lactodectrus, i am not seeing it well. I see some aspects of the case in the notes provided, but the restlessness seems very extreme in this rx and there are no skin sx. aso no heart type sx appear either. what i recall about this rx is strong visual sx, aloneness, night issues. the chorea is there and thats interesting.

My leaning towards staph is based on the fear of loss of control, sexual shame and guilt, sweetness of affect and the constant need for support (all her healing modalities give her support from others), the <<

Hi, Tanya.

These very complicated cases are always difficult to untangle. I find often
that when the initial remedy or two that seem obvious (e.g., ars and staph
in this case) don't produce really strong positive results in a clear way
(they often do produce partial improvements, of course), that I then have to
get away from repertorizing to find the remedy. Often I've been able to
take two of the most striking and peculiar symptoms that would have
relatively small rubrics (in this case, perhaps the uncontrollable leg
movement with the head pain at 3-5 pm, or with shrieking with anger) and
cross-reference them, then take from the very few remedies that contain them
both the ones that seem most likely (especially, often these are remedies
that never come up high in repertorization and therefore are less widely
known and used.) It's not uncommon for the Materia Medica description of
one of these remedies to be a very nice fit, and to prove out as the
simillimum. This method has worked for me quite a number of times in
difficult cases. I pass it along for what it's worth.

I'll look forward to learning what you decide and how it works. Rosemary C.
Hyde

Dear Tanya, thank you for your update on the case. It is difficult I know
discussing a case the rest of us haven't seen in situ so to speak, so there
are always going to be errors. But many years ago during my training
supervision of cases was a very important aspect and we only ever had the
case notes and not the client - so it is possible to venture forth from a
distance. But what we say are just ideas, ultimately you are the homeopath
who will make the decisions.

If I have read this case correctly I see a lot of energy that is not
channelled properly and I am not sure this would be the case with
Staphysagria. The 'sneaky' aspect I drew from the 'acting out mean and
nasty' and 'striking in private' and knowingly getting attention from
various sources and quite enjoying it. The way that Staphysagria hide behind
'sweetness and light' is also sneaky. Choices have to be made.

The idea of her not feeling safe is also spider like - nearly all spiders
are extremely timid - even the ones that jump out at you comes from being
scared.

Also I am getting the impression that she is someone who might well be
sensitive to many remedies regardless of potency - these are always
difficult clients to 'manage'. Do you tell her what the remedy is? You might
have to employ some tactics to soften her reaction. However I feel that if
she receives her simillimum the healing precess will begin - if she receives
the wrong remedy nothing much will happen at all. I am really looking
forward to the next stage. Good luck and let us know please. Best wishes,
Joy
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Dear Joy,

You certainly make a strong argument for tarentula. I have been looking at the MM on the spider remedies. My problem is that the centers of activity are more on the heart, spine & blood with skin itching. I dont get much of the aching, throbbing and knifelike sensations that this woman reports. The cramping & rheumatic sx dont seem that important in the MM descriptions.

My thought is that she may be expressing a Staph layer now, and that the spider energy may be revealed afterward.
Does this make sense to you?

I am leaving town for 4 days so wont be able to get your response till Monday.

thanks

tanya

Dear Wendy,

Thank you for you detailed response. I see what you mean--at least
generally. I will spend some time while flying this weekend (am traveling
cross country) digesting this info.

If I am understanding correctly, you might ask some questions like 'what
part of you is that drunken man that wont leave you alone?' or 'what is
part of you does that man in the lake represent and what is your resistence
to following him?'

There is a woman in Conn who does dream work that sounds similar to the
approach you describe. Maybe it is time i take one of her training
seminars.

tanya

dear tanya, i have been doing dream work with a brilliant friend for over 15
years, we do it once a week. a la fritz perls, because i had the dream i am
everything and everyone in the dream - inanimate objects and people, real or
imagined or fictional- everything in the dream. that makes it a whole new
way of interpretation. if it is a person, i think of the two or three
words/adjectives that i think of about that person - the negative aspects.
and that is the part of me that is is the dream. i hope this helps. i have
found this work over the last many years to be invaluable in my inner
journey. as far as masculine and feminine, as a feminist i
believe/observe/experience that all behaviors and attitudes are learned and
there is no masculine and feminine, except the ones the dominant culture
says are "masculine" or "feminine", thus keeping us all in our places. just
for a quick example, i would not call margaret thatcher a soft, nurturing
woman - to use one of the stereotypes so often applied to woman. and men do
not have to be aggressive, i do not blame it on their testosterone, but on
the way they are taught. how convenient to blame it on our genes and
hormones, then we never have to change ourselves our society. best , sheila
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