Children's Remedies

http://www.millstherapeutics.com/childrensremedies.html
You may note that this section of the site (along with future pages that will be
devoted to remedies for pregnancy and your child's first year, pain and trauma
remedies, etc.) has no link from the home page. The reason for this is that
specific medical information about remedies is relatively useless and misleading
if one does not have a basic understanding of how homeopathic remedies are
made, how they are selected for a particular patient, and how they work.
Congratulations diligent reader Your arrival at this point suggests that you have
found the material presented elsewhere in the site worthy of your interest (at
least that is my hope).
!o why a section specifically devoted to children's remedies" #f one were to
choose a topic, say, rheumatoid arthritis$ there are hundreds of homeopathic
remedies that are appropriate for helping and curing this condition, depending
on the constitutional characteristics of any specific patient. % homeopath does
not prescribe on the name of a disease. &emedy selection depends on how
rheumatoid arthritis manifests in that patient, and that patient alone. &outine
prescribing by disease name seldom results in a cure, and improvements in a
patient's condition tend to be short'lived.
!o again the (uestion) *hy children's remedies" # will (uote +aul ,erscu from
his book The Homeopathic
Treatment of Children)
-# decided to focus on eight remedies '' Calcarea carbonica, Lycopodium,
Medorrhinum, Natrum muriaticum, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla,
Sulphur, and Tuberculinum '' rather than a more e.tensive or e.haustive
selection on the basis of a simple discovery) these eight remedies make up the
constitutional similimum for nearly eighty percent of an aerage pediatric
practice /italics mine0... There are at least another thirty remedies that are also
deep'acting constitutional remedies in pediatric populations, but all are much
less commonly employed that the ones listed here.-
#n other words, children, especially younger children, are like a newly minted
coin. 1ife has not had the time to tarnish them and, conse(uently, their
symptom pictures tend to be clearer '' more pure.
% few words about what we mean by a -constitutional type- are in order here.
-#n homeopathy the e.pression 'constitutional remedy,' signifies the medicinal
substance which encompasses the sum total of the individual's physical,
emotional, and mental picture... +hysical illnesses (apart from accidents and
in2uries) have a mental aspect, while mental illnesses have a physical aspect,
and the prescription of medicines must be based upon a consideration of both
categories of symptoms. % patient is said to be a Phosphorus, a Silica,
a Pulsatilla, or some other type, according to the constitutional remedy which
most closely appro.imates his total picture. To find this constitutional remedy
the physician not only records painful sensations, symptoms, pathology, and the
like, but also how the patient looks and behaves when in health, how he
responds, his temperment and disposition, strengths and weaknesses. %fter
collecting, arranging, and evaluating these characteristics, he matches them to
the remedy which most e.presses this 'wholeness' of the patient... The
homeopathic physicial does not seek to change a patient's character with his
remedies but rather, by modifying its tone, to enhance it. The notes remain the
same, but the piece is now played well instead of badly- (Catherine
Coulter, Portraits of Homeopathic Medicines).
The vast ma2ority of the following information is (uoted or paraphrased from
two sources)
Coulter, Catherine &., Portraits of Homeopathic Medicines, Psychophysical
!nalysis of Selected Constitutional Types (3ols. 4 and 5). !t. 1ouis) 6uality
7edical +ublishing, 4889.
,erscu, +aul, The Homeopathic Treatment of Children, Pediatric
Constitutional Types" :erkely) ;orth %tlantic :ooks, 4884.
<ther sources will be cited within the te.t.
Children's Remedies
1. Calcarea carbonica (Carbonate of Lime)
2. Lycopodium (Club Moss)
3. Natrum muriaticum (Common salt)
. !hosphorus
1. Calcarea carbonica (Carbonate of Lime)
reak in pieces a clean, somewhat thick oyster shell, take one grain of the
softer, snow'white calcareous substance found
between the outer and the inner shell. This is prepared in all the degrees of
potencies... in the manner directed as to the preparation of dry medicinal
substances for homeopathic use- (=r. !amuel ,ahnemann, Chronic #iseases).
Physical Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) ,ead)
#n the infant, we find a large, round head due to the late closure of the
fontanelles.
The infant may be born with a presistent cradle cap that is moist, tending to
crust over. % history commonly told by a parent is that the child now being
treated for asthma or chronic sinusitis had this type of eruption as an infant and
that the respiratory symptoms came only after the rash was treated and
disappeared. #t is also common to give the remedy and then to find that the
child develops skin disorders as the respiratory symptoms disappear. This
response to the remedy should be viewed as positive and should not be
interfered with.
The head perspires upon the least e.ertion and during sleep.
(b) >ars)
The ears are a constant source of illness for the Calcarea carbonica child.
The mother commonly reports how an earache began following a bout of
bronchitis, tonsillitis, or even a cold, and how (uickly the infection found its way
to the ears. The discharge tends to be thick, yellow, and very smelly. >ar
problems are aggravated by cold ind. These children like to keep their hats
on. The history of fluid in the ears may lead to a chronic hearing loss. !luid
buildup in the eustachian tube in often noted in allergic children who breathe
through their mouths and develop one respiratory infection after another.
(c) ;ose)
>ven in good health these children often have runny noses.
(d) ?ace)
Typically, the Calcarea carbonica baby has a round face. The skin has the
appearance of a great deal of underlying fat.
(e) 7outh$
The oral mucosa is very sensitive to damage in Calcarea carbonica. The child
develops can"er sores and aphthous ulcers readily with any small puncture
of the inner lip or mild trauma to the area.
=entition tends to be late.
(f) Throat and ;eck)
Calcarea carbonica children develop sore throats easily. *ith these sore
throats one is always able to palpate many sollen glands.
(g) Chest$
The chest takes the brunt of the allergies and respiratory infections by
producing coughs which have the peculiarity of being dry at night but loose
with easy e.pectoration in the morning.
(h) ?ood Cravings and %versions)
Calcarea carbonica youngsters love all the carbohydrates) sweets, ice
cream, pasta, bread, and potatoes. They also crave salt and fish. #ggs are the
big favorite and serve as a very strong keynote for this remedy. They tend
to crave cool or cold ater and foods.
They disli"e meat in general and fat in particular. They dislike slimy
foods. $any do not li"e or tolerate mild at all.
(i) !tomach$
Children tend to have slo digestion.
:abies tend toward chronic vomiting. Clinically, Calcarea carbonica is to be
thought of for babies who nurse and then within five minutes of unsuccessful
burping, regurgitate the undigested milk.
*hile some children may be picky eaters, most a"e up hungry and demand
to be nursed or to have breakfast.
(2) %bdomen)
These children often have large abdomens that pouch out, a distinctive big
belly. The abdomen is soft and has poor tone, thereby leading to the easy
development of umbilical hernias.
(k) &ectum)
Constipation is the chief complaint for many of these children, and the stool
tends to be large and bulky.
%iarrhea is common with celiac disease or lactose intolerance, and
also accompanies many acute ailments such as otitis media, bronchitis,
and difficult dentition.
(l) @rogenital)
:oys tend to develop hydroceles. Rashes and eruptions around the genitals
caused by the action of strong urine may also occur.
Recurrent vaginitis caused by yeast occurs mostly in obese infant girls. The
vaginal discharge is thick and milky yellow, resembling thick breast milk.
(m) :ack$
Calcarea carbonica is one of the main remedies for bone problems such as
rickets. %lthough rickets is no longer seen very much in more affluent parts of
the world, what is prevalent is a calcium imbalance that shows up as
a ea"ness of the bac" and&or scoliosis or a more serious spinal
anomaly, spina bifida.
(n) >.tremities)
!ome babies are slo learning to al" and have ea" an"les that turn
easily. This weakness also affects the long bones and nails$ they may grow
slowly or break easily.
%nother common keynote is the ease with which the hands and feet
perspire, even when cold.
(o) !kin)
This remedy type has a propensity for ec'ema. 7any infants are born with it or
a heavy cradle cap.
They often develop Candida rashes that are bright red and have a sharp line
of demarcation. &ashes may return to the allergic or asthmatic child a few
months after the remedy is initially prescribed. The respiratory symptoms
disappear but the parents may insist on treatment for the nasty diaper rash the
child now has. =o not be coerced The rash is the body's way of overcoming an
imbalance. The eruptive state should absolutely not be interfered with, as the
rash will disappear but the respiratory symptoms will surely return. 7any a
successful case has been destroyed by trying to get rid of a rash.
The other main skin symptom found in some Calcarea carbonica children
is arts, usually on the hands.
!omething uni(ue to be observed in infants and toddlers is that they
often scratch their faces, especially when they eat something to which they
are allergic or when they are tired.
(leep (,erscu))
Calcarea carbonica babies li"e to be roc"ed. This is, also, by far, the most
common remedy for night terrors.
The children occasionally become overheated in bed. They perspire )uite
profusely, especially the infants. +erspiration is greatest during dentition and
other acute conditions.
% good point in differentiating Calcarea carbonica from some other remedies is
that the child a"es up refreshed and in a good mood and is usually the first
one up.
*mportant +eneral Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) Calcarea carbonica is by far the most common remedy for epilepsy,
especially if it occurs during dentition.
(b) Calcarea carbonica children show poor assimilation of calcium as well
as malfunctions of the thyroid gland, which lead to slow mental and physical
development. #llness for these children may begin when either system is
stressed, as may be the case during dentition, growth spurts, learning to walk,
and bone in2uries.
(c) $any symptoms may develop hen metabolism changes, such as
dentition or learning to walk. The hair, nails, and bones often grow poorly and
the glands enlarge and harden easily. Children may become anemic and chilly as
they age, and characteristically perspire even though they are cool.
(d) #n general, they are aggravated by dentition, e.ertion, cold and et
eather, a change of eather from warm to cold, and the beverage mil".
They are helped by warm, dry air, and love the summertime.
$ental&#motional Characteristics (,erscu))
<ne finds in Calcarea carbonica cases a child who is delayed in developing
mental as ell as physical s"ills. This is a deliberate, even illful,
sloing of development on the part of the child in order to assimilate and
understand new information more carefully. There are often problems ith
memory.
%cademically, two types of children need this remedy. =ue to mental strain,
the first type does not try hard enough in school. The second type of Calcarea
carbonica child isbrilliant. These children work hard, plod along, and often
receive the best grades. !uch children need structure and as a result
may appear slo. Their learning ability is such that they need to learn step by
step. 7aterial is therefore learned solidly and will not soon be
forgotten. (loness of comprehension may be observed, and instructions
may have to be repeated two or three times. +arents will report that their child
is very bright but has his or her own speed of assimilating new information.
These reports are e.actly the case. The child may be the most intelligent in the
class, but information must come in slowly and systematically.
Calcarea carbonica children discover early in life that they are slower than
others their age. To avoid ridicule they may become (uiet and withdrawn,
children who tend to play by themselves. This can lead to a sense of self'reliance
that is illustrated by the child who can be left for an hour to play alone while his
mother cleans the house. =uring illnesses these children become (uiet and
withdrawn.
The child is cautious and refuses anything ne for a length of time until
he can assimilate the new information and then structure and categoriAe it in his
mind.
>.tra time is also needed to finish tas"s the child has begun. *henever the
mother of four'year'old %lan came along and asked him to do something, he
would say yes, but continue to plod along, working on his current pro2ect. %lan's
mother was angered, thinking that he was deliberately disobeying her. #n
actuality, he simply needed to finish his task before moving on to
another. (tructure and scheduling are very important for these children.
%n inability to change their minds )uic"ly is characteristic of Calcarea
carbonica toddlers. They are self,illed and desire to do things at their own
pace. *hen a parent or sibling interferes with the choice made, tantrum'like
behaviour can be the child's response, and she can remain steadfast in her
outrage and frustration unless distracted with another offering as a substitute
for, say, a desired ob2ect. <ften the child will become engrossed in e.amining
the new ob2ect and is satisfied.
-bstinacy is a ma2or clue to the remedy. ?or many children needing Calcarea
carbonica, it seems easier to use all their energy to obstinately get what they
want and be done with it than to have -unfinished business- weighing on their
mind. <bstinacy is one of the main personality characteristics of the child. #t is
unfortunate that most parents are unaware of this kind of mental structuring
and persist forcefully with their own agendas and schedules for the child.
&esponses of irritability, crying fits, and tantrums seem disproportionate to the
magnitude of the re(uest asked of the child, and come as a complete surprise to
the parents.
The nature of the tantrum is also telling. <ften these children are unable or
refuse to stop their tantrums. 1ong after other remedy types realiAe that they
will not get what they want and surender, the Calcarea carbonica child is still
kicking and pounding the floor with his fists.
%t times obstinacy may be observed in other ways. ?ifteen'month'old :arry
seemed unable to walk, not from physical inability but simply because he did
not wish to. ?our days after the remedy was given, :arry coincidentally began to
walk with ease and was no longer so stubborn. This delay in al"ing is classic
behaviour for the Calcarea carbonicachild. *hat parents say about these
children is that they do not try new things easily, but when they do make such
an attempt they often show perfect mastery.
<bstinacy is a sign of the basically strong character of the child. The children
look directly at the doctor with a strong, serious stare. They
are independent by nature.
#n an unfamiliar environment, a doctor's office for instance, these children may
give in to their natural curiosity and begin to investigate and categori'e
things. They go about the office touching everything, pulling books off the
shelves, and trying to open doors.
The Calcarea carbonica child is independent, has a mind of her
on and .stic"s up. for herself. This individuality combined with slowness
often leads to an ability fordeep and lengthy concentration, even in the
very young.
/he fears are many in this child. 7ost have fears of the dar" and
of shados. These children often want to sleep with a light on because they are
susceptible tonightmares in the dark. They fear spiders and insects. They
also have a fear of being alone in the dar". They may not wish to go to bed
alone, as their fear of ghosts andmonsters mandate that a parent tuck them
in. ?ears are generated by frightening e.periences, bad news, scary stories,
masks, etc. They are overly sensitive and vulnerable to these e.periences. 7any
chronic fearful behaviours may have their etiology traced to specific frights.
Calcarea carbonica children are apprehensive when they do not know the
plans, or if plans are changed une.pectedly. :ecause of their apprehension
about the future and the need to finish tasks, they do not like breaks or
changes in routines. They also ant to "no everything that might happen
in a new situation. They virtually interrogate their parents with (uestions, trying
to flesh out their understanding of unfamiliar places, activities, or guests. #n a
new classroom or in any ne group, the child appearsnervous, often to a
degree inappropriate to his tender years.
7any Calcarea carbonica children become clingy during illnesses.
The hereafter is a ma2or topic of interest to these children. They ask many
(uestions about Bod, about heaven and hell, about death and ghosts) about all
things that are un"noable. <ne child asked a series of (uestions when his
aunt died that are typical of the Calcarea carbonica mind. ,e wanted to know
where his aunt had gone after she died. *hat did it mean to die" *hy did she
die" ,ow did it happen" *hy were all the people crying over her" %nd why was
@ncle not crying" The reason these children seem to get stuck on such weighty
(uestions is that they must categori'e this information mentally '' as they
must categoriAe everything '' yet these issues are not readily sorted out or
labeled, so they struggle with them.
/he Child (Coulter))
Calcarea carbonica is the child's constitutional remedy par e$cellence. 7any
children start out life as Calcarea before they are transformed into other
constitutional types by their circumstances and e.periences$ and most children
call for it at some point during their early years.
The child looks fit, with golden curls which later straighten out and become
darker, a chubby face, and bright pink cheeks. Yet he lacks energy. The head is
large and moist, the torso pear'shaped or pot'bellied. There is a tendency to
swollen tonsils and enlarged cervical, mesenteric, a.illary and sub'mandibular
glands. =uring winter months these children have an unending series of colds,
earaches, and attacks of bronchitis. Their bone development may be poor,
irregular formation of the long bones, or poorly developed teeth, and the typical
high narrow dental arch indicating a need for future orthodontic work.
%ltogether, the picture is one of imperfect calcium metabolism. The potentiAed
lime encourages the healthy growth of bones, teeth, and nerves by promoting
the proper assimilation and utiliAation of calcium and other nutrients.
The infant is fre(uently a -floppy baby)- soft, fat, lymphatic and muscularly
weak, in whom everything operates in low gear. This can be seen physically in
delayed fontanelle closure and late or difficult dentition, in slowness to lose his
cradle cap, to develop motor skills (especially to walk), and to ac(uire bladder
and bowel control.
Calcarea%s slowness in talking may be self'imposed. The knowledge is there, but
he simply does not want to be hurried into talking. !ometimes the hitherto
inarticulate youngster will start to speak in complete phrases, showing that the
words were only waiting to be brought out.
#n school the child might be -slow,- sometimes in all sub2ects, sometimes in only
one$ for instance, he likes math (there is something secure in the predictability
of numbers) but is poor in reading. #f he does succeed, it is by spending a
disproportionate amount of time on his word '' far more than other children. <r
he may give up easily$ he has too little energy for the effort of concentrating or
lacks the drive to complete a distastful task.
This is one of the first medicines to be considered for children who are bright
and intelligent but who do not perform up to capacity. >ither they dislike the
teacher or the mental effort, or they balk at the confinement of rules and
regulations.
Calcarea can be recogniAed in the child who is remarkably self'sufficient. #n the
physician's office the infant will look around fearlessly, or stare fi.edly at some
one ob2ect or person. #f laid down, he will play contentedly with his fingers or
toes. The toddler goes his own way, climbing imperturbably over furniture and
the knees of adults, e.ploring the different rooms, placidly but not
unimaginatively entertaining himself while his parents talk with the doctor. The
older child is capable of occupying himself (uietly for hours at a time but tends
to keep his enthusiasms to himself. ,e disappears into his room to work on
some pro2ect about which others will hear when he has finished it. :ut if he
loses momentum, he may have trouble getting started again.
,e is an autonomous little entity who can grow into an original and
independent adult. :oth at home and in school, he observed clearly and
responds sensitively and appropriately when encouraged to develop at his own
placid and deliberate pace '' but within a structured environment. Calcarea, in
his own circuitous way, will often come up with a novel contribution, an original
twist, revealing that he has understood what is going on, even if taking time to
digest it. ,e is the proverbial tortoise, the plodder who may beat the sprinting
hare to the finish line.
The -shadow- side of Calcarea, surprisingly enough, is the terribly difficult and
badly behaved child. *hat is the vulnerable child's principal defence against the
adults who surround and govern him" ,e is slower than they are, less articulate,
physically weaker, more dependent '' what can he do to get his own way" <ne
techni(ue is to throw tantrums.
%n even'tempered child can also resort to that other techni(ue for getting his
way '' obstinacy. Calcarea mulishly insists or he digs in his heels. ,e will not
eat his dinner or get dressed and is impervious to coa.ing. #f pressured at
school, he puts up a (uiet but stubborn resistance.
The Calcarea child's sensitivity is e.pressed in his various fears) of being alone,
of the dark, of going to bed. ,e is sub2ect to -night terrors,- waking up
screaming.
#n these children the effects of frightening e.periences can be felt for a long
time. <ne was thrown into convulsions by having a mouse 2ump out of a drawer
at her and was sub2ect to them for years afterwards. %nother's four'year history
of petit'mal seiAures began with the sight of a snake swallowing a frog. :oth
cases were cured by repeated doses of Calcarea in high potency. <ften the child
cannot sleep from the lingering impression of some frightening event seen on
television, read in a book, or simply overheard in conversation.
Calcarea also cannot handle violence at one remove$ even the sight of maimed
persons in cartoons, or a book that describes harsh and violent treatment will
upset him.
The child is oversensitive to small upsetting incidents of everyday life that
offend his sense of 2ustice and propriety. *ith his solid principles and sound
heart, he cannot understand what motivates others to behave irrationally or
gratuitously mean. These are the Charlie :rowns (hero of the Peanuts cartoon
strip) of the world) lovable but slow, unworldly, and hence a bit victimiAed.
!ensitivity to criticism is another aspect of this child's vulnerability. To the
teacher or parent he might seem to take it very well, but at a deeper level he has
been affected. ,e is not immediately devastated and does not burst into fits of
indignation or self'2ustification. ,e is a slow reactor. :ut the adult's lack of
initiative and fear of failure are later seen to stem directly from such early
childhood criticism. The child's manner is not to cry, cling, or seek sympathy
but rather to withdraw, bruised and silent, and refuse to try again in the future.
This remedy, however, can strengthen the child's ability to function in a
stressful or inimical environment. #t inculcates in the indolent one the ability to
persevere, in the insecure one a sense of accomplishment, in a fearful one a
readiness to venture and to dare. #t also helps a child to take criticism without
being hurt, ridicule without being devastated, and enables the e.cessively
vulnerable one better to accept the in2ustices of life. ?or some children, then, the
remedy acts as a shield against the harshness of the world, while for others it
provides an irritant to nudge them out of their fears or sensitivities and
encourage them to confront challenges, the better to prepare them for
adulthood.
0. Lycopodium (Club $oss)
his yellowish powder, smooth to the touch and resembling dust, is
obtained toward the end of the summer in the
forests of &ussia and ?inland from the spikes of the club'moss (Lycopodium
claatum), which are dried and then beaten.
-#t has been used hitherto to make artificial lightning, by blowing it through the
flame of a candle, also to sprinkle over pellets which else easily stick together,
and also to sprinkle it on e.coriated folds in the human body to protect them
against painful friction. #t floats on li(uids without being dissolved, is without
taste and smell, and in its ordinary crude state almost without any medicinal
effect on the human body.
-:ut when the pollen of the club'moss is tested in the mode by which the
homeopathic art unveils the crude substances of nature, there arises a
wonderfully effective medicine in its thirty different degrees of dynamiAation-
(!amuel ,ahnemann, Chronic #iseases).
Physical Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) ,ead)
The scalp develops ec'ema (uite easily, Lycopodium being the main remedy
for eruptions appearing on or behind the ears.
(b) ,eadaches)
,eadaches are common to adolescents ho crave sugar. #f they miss a
meal or are late for one, they develop a headache that subsides as soon as they
eat.
(c) >ars)
The ears are fre)uently affected. The child often develops painful crac"s
behind the ears, as if the ears were trying to detach themselves from the
scalp.
The Lycopodium child may also develop middle ear infections. The otitis
media tends to be on the right side and often causes the tympanic membrane
to rupture and the ear to discharge thick yellow pus that has a strong odor. The
common combination of right'sided otitis media with cracks behind the ears
will almost always be cured by the remedyLycopodium.
(d) ;ose)
The nose is affected in almost all Lycopodium children. #nfants, toddlers,
and young adults almost all have obstructed nasal passages. The babies will
not be able to nurse properly because they cannot breathe through the nose.
#nfants must pull off the breast, breathe through the mouth, cry, and then try to
nurse again. The mother of such an infant may show the doctor the bulb syringe
that she carries around in the diaper bag with which she suctions out the baby's
nostrils.
% case of snuffles in infants or children is cured most fre(uently by the
remedy Lycopodium. The nasal obstruction is much worse at night when the
child lies down and is aggravated in the morning due to mucus accumulating
overnight. The nose may be completely dry and the snuffles described only as
-sniffing,- but which drive the parents to distraction. They ask the child to blow
the nose but no mucus comes out. This chronic, dry snuffling is even more
infuriating for parents who compare this child to another of theirs who needs
the remedy Calcarea carbonica. This other child -sniffs and blows and mucus
pours effortlessly out the nose,- so they cannot understand why
the Lycopodiumchild sniffs and sniffs and rubs the nose, but reports that -there
is nothing there.-
(e) ?ace)
The face may be (uite distinctive, especially in children with malabsorptive
syndromes. Those with such conditions tend to lose weight from the head area
and upper torso, so that the skin hangs a little more loosely there and begins
to rin"le. *hat is often seen in the infant who sits on the mother's lap
looking right at the prescriber with an an1ious loo" on the face, eyes full of
apprehension and the forehead lined with wrinkles proportionate to the an.iety
felt.
:abies may be 2aundiced at birth and may never lose a yellowish tinge
around the nose and cheeks.
(f) 7outh)
% condition found here is the speedy yelloing of teeth, even in children who
brush their teeth regularly.
(g) Throat and ;eck)
Recurrent sore throats and tonsillitis plague this group. +erhaps eighty
percent of those who complain of sore throats that begin on the right side and
that are ameliorated by warm drinks, benefit from a dose of Lycopodium. This
is especially true if one confirms the time modality that the child worsens upon
awakening and during the late afternoon. #t is very unusual for a child to desire
arm drin"s in general, but Lycopodium leads the list in that respect, as it
ameliorates the pain in the throat.
(ollen, tender cervical glands develop that coincide with the above
modalities of right'sidedness and aggravation in the morning and around four
o'clock in the afternoon.
(h) 7ononucleosis)
Lycopodium should be one of the first remedies considered for the treatment of
mononucleosis. The right side of the throat will be the most affected, and the
glands will be more swollen on the right. <ffensive'smelling pus produced from
the throat and obstructed nasal passages is also present. The child becomes very
chilly, weak, and tired. +ains develop in the abdomen and nausea and vomiting
follow.
The abdominal pain is ameliorated by bending over and by eating. %s the
infection progresses, the child begins to lose weight. The skin begins to look
translucent with a greenish hue and the face becomes ashen with dark circles
under the eyes. <ne should also think of Lycopodium if the child has a history of
fre(uent upper respiratory tract infections, an obstructed nose, and
stomachaches ever since an episode of mononucleosis.
(i) 1ower &espiratory !ystem)
The Lycopodium child is susceptible to colds and flu that descent easily into the
bronchi, leading to bronchitis or pneumonia.
(2) ?ood Cravings and %versions)
:y far the most en2oyable foods for Lycopodium children to ear are seets.
This overwhelming desire in a child is a forecast of blood sugar problems in the
future. Tendencies toward hypoglycemia or diabetes are also heralded by
intense hunger and irritability upon awakening and by headaches that come on
after missing a meal and are dissipated by eating.
!ome of the following foods they simply dislike$ other wreck havoc on their
digestive systems, causing gas and colic) beans, onions, fat, oysters,
and cabbage.
(k) !tomach)
The stomach and abdomen are the most symptomatically rich
areas of the Lycopodium body. The children are often described by the parents
as having a sensitive stomach. The Lycopodium child develops stomachaches
during all illnesses, from colds to flu to asthma. Children
needing Lycopodium feel an.iety in the stomach more than any other remedy
type discussed in this book. The stomach becomes affected by fre(uent
stomachaches, nausea, and vomiting with the slightest degree of stress. These
children say that they develop such symptoms before any test or performance.
(l) %ppetite)
The infant has a huge appetite and screams when it is hungry. The baby may
wake up during the night to nurse with a big appetite every hour or
two. Lycopodium babies may be voracious nursers and often hiccough after
nursing. #n the child or teenager, the appetite verges on the voracious.
(m) &ectum)
The child tends to be constipated.
(n) @rogenital !ystem$
There is a great propensity toward birth anomalies involving the urogenital
tract. These anomalies include structural problems of the kidneys or ureter,
hypospadias or epistadias (where the urethral meatus is not in the proper
location), and urethral stricture.
:oys are commonly bed,etters andCor have to urinate more fre)uently
in the evening. Lycopodium is the most fre(uently prescribed remedy for
infant boys born with undescended testicles. :oys also develop right,sided
inguinal hernias.
Premenstrually, the adolescent e.periences an increase in her appetite,
especially for sweets, as well as an increase in constipation and irritability. The
menstrual flow is accompanied by pains that begin in the right lower abdomen
and e.tend to the inner thigh.
(o) >.tremities)
% Lycopodium prescription should be considered for rheumatic pains and
arthritis in the childhood years when it is worse on the right side. The pains
are ameliorated by motion and heat and are aggravated by rest.
% common observation made about Lycopodium children is the restless
motion of the legs. #n the interview one notices that the legs are in constant
motion, going in circles from the knees down.
The keynote of dry, crac"ed s"in covering the heels is observed in
teenaged girls.
(p) !kin)
The child is often plagued by ec'ema from birth. The feet, fingers, and scalp
(especially behind the ears) are the most affected areas.
$oles and frec"les easily appear on these children.
Lycopodium is often the remedy for the child who develops neurodermatitis.
The itching forms vesicles, which may cover a small or large portion of the body.
These same children may develop a tendency for hives that is aggravated by
an.iety and by eating foods to which they are sensitive.
(leep (,erscu))
They fre(uently need the lights on and may need to sleep ith others in
the room. The children sleep on their right side or on their abdomens.
They remain covered, well cocooned under their blankets, even in the
summertime.
They aa"e unrefreshed in an irritable mood and do not bounce out of bed.
%s well as being ill'tempered, the characteristic strong hunger directly after
rising makesLycopodium the first child to arrive in the kitchen.
*mportant +eneral Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) Complaints are right,sided or begin on the right side and spread to the left.
(b) 3ggravation in the morning and from four to eight o'cloc" in the
evening, especially when both time modalities are present, constitute guiding
symptoms noted in any disease state as well as in times of a general drop in
energy.
(c) They are often chilly and like to wear hats, and may sleep with their socks
on and the windows closed. This is unusual as most children are warm'blooded.
$ental&#motional Characteristics (,erscu))
/o distinct types of behaviour can be observed in Lycopodium children. #n
one type, fear and apprehension affect every aspect of the child's life. #n the
other, the child isbossy to the point of being dictatorial and strives to control
those close by, be they parents, siblings, or friends. *hile these two types may
be found in different individuals, they also represent a continuum that may be
e.pressed in one person '' fear and a lack of self confidence followed by the
emergence of a desire for power.
!ear is an essential factor in the development of the Lycopodium psyche.
>ven the babies are apprehensive. #nfants need to be near the mother or on
a parent's lap, as they become especially afraid when alone and when around
strangers. ?ear is immediately observable in the facial e.pression, set off by the
distrustful look in the eyes and often a mild fron.
*hereas most children go through a .stranger an1iety. phase at some time
within the first couple of years, Lycopodium babies develop this from birth and
e.perience it throughout most of their childhood. !uch a strong fear of strangers
may often be con2oined with a fear of being alone. The child keeps track of
the parents' whereabouts throughout the day. ?ear of being alone is
greatly accentuated in the dar".
The child may also develop a fear or aversion to new things, not due to
stubbornness, as found in Calcarea carbonica, but because he fears the new
thing itself. The parent states that in new places and situations and in crowds,
the child will be fearful and timid at first. <nce the situation is better
understood by the child, he becomes more comfortable. TheCalcarea
carbonica child is obstinate and unyielding, while the Lycopodium child is
fearful and an.ious. >ven though similar behaviour is noted in their dislike of
new things, the root causes are radically different for each of these remedy
types.
The fear of new situations in Lycopodium is intimately bound to a prominent
fear of failure. This pattern grows more and more pronounced as such children
mature into adulthood.
?or the most part, the fear of failure is felt only before an upcoming event, not
during it. They anticipate that something will go wrong, something bad will
happen, or that they will be ridiculed in some way. ,owever, once they begin
the activity, the fear diminishes and they accomplish the task with ease. #t
should be noted that this fear is not merely a fear of failure$ rather, it is a fear of
failing in public. !he does not mind trying new things if she is alone, but does
not wish to do them in front of others, especially her peers.
This sensitivity to ridicule has a specific flavour. ?or e.ample, a Natrum
muriaticum child can be destroyed emotionally by ridicule. :ut each
constitutional remedy type is affected by the same stresses in different ways.
The Lycopodium child will not be so easily crushed emotionally. ,owever, he
is sensitive to social ran"ing and will not wish to lose status. ,e fears that
he will get up in front of the class, make an error, and look foolish.
%s a corollary to this concern about what others think, one finds that
the Lycopodium child may compromise easily, dress neatly, and maintain a
tidy appearance in general. They are preoccupied ith their loo"s. These
children may be sloppy in their rooms and messy in the bathroom but they
groom themselves well.
%pprehension and an.iety are often felt by Lycopodium children in
the stomach and abdomen. They develop fre(uent stomachaches, nausea,
vomiting, and loose stools or diarrhea. # remember a teenager who, along with
all the Lycopodium modalities of sore throats, food desires, and skin problems,
also described herself as having had a -weak stomach- her entire life. !he was a
very good student who maintained a high grade average. ,er scholastic abilities,
however, did not lessen the an.iety she e.perienced before every test. *henever
she studied for any test she would develop stomachaches so intense she would
eventually vomit.
+arents describe their Lycopodium child as a -considerate little girl,- or say that
she is -nice.- <thers volunteer that the child does all the right things, and yet it
is as if the child has little charisma$ as if she lacked personality. #n trying to
maintain her social rank, she has adbicated anything that sets her apart
from others.
% hallmark of the combined lack of self'confidence and insecurity is seen in the
child's indecisiveness. #n the office, the child often answers in a timid
voice that lacks any e.pression of self'assurance.
To restate the characteristics of the Lycopodium psychology mentioned thus far,
we may safely say that the children fear being alone and being around new
people and situations. They rarely develop a strong sense of self and remain
plagued by a feeling of powerlessness. !ince they feel that the parents will take
care of them in difficult situations, Lycopodium children try to stay very near
them.
!ince one never knows how a stranger will react, they are to be avoided. ,e
wants to only be around family members, the ones who can be controlled and
will not put up a fuss. % more conscious decision is then made to have only
people around ho they can control, since this is the first real feeling of
power that they have felt.
:ecause the feeling of power allays insecurities, it
becomes addictive to Lycopodium children. #n one case, the child whined
constantly and ordered his mother around. -Bet me this book.- -Turn on the
television.- -Bive me that toy.- The homeopathic prescription was confirmed by
the fact that the same child was also fearful and would not play by himself,
always following the mother about the house instead. #t is a peculiar
combination) a domineering yet needy, fearful person. *hen these
characteristics are found together, it will most often point to Lycopodium.
Lycopodium children grow irritable if not obeyed or if not obeyed (uickly
enough. The child becomes critical and faultfinding, chastising siblings, and
even parents, for doing this or that wrong. *hat the demanding child says is
only part of it. #t is the tone in which these commands are spoken and the
attitude that it reveals that promp one to first think of Lycopodium. The child
speaks irritably to the parent. The child, not the adult, controls the relationship.
*hile eliciting a case history from seven'year'old Danice, the ease with which
the girl corrected her mother's responses (in a tone of voice somewhere between
good'natured and condescending) helped to confirm the Lycopodium diagnosis.
The -love of power- syndrom will also manifest in the manner in which the child
plays. % Lycopodium child with this trait often prefers to play ith younger
children so that he will be dominant. *hen the child is forced to play with
older children, he tends to be a follower, (uieter and more compliant to what
others wish. This again shows a painful awareness of social standing and the
fear of making mistakes.
#n later stages of Lycopodium psychopathology, this love of power leads to a
strong intolerance of contradiction. The child is not able to handle the
slightest degree of criticism or correction from others, yet with ease he picks on
and finds fault with other children and family members, especially those
deemed weaker. 7any teenagedLycopodium girls become
hypercritical and faultfinding.
%ysle1ia (,erscu))
#n Lycopodium there can be problems in integrating the left and right sides of
the brain. #nfants commonly have difficulty mastering the sucking refle.. They
likewise have difficulty developing a coordinated pattern of
craling (-cross'crawling-) and learn to walk later than their siblings. They are
prone to dysle.ia, both as children and as adults. #ndeed, dysle.ia often first
indicates a need for this medicine. They make mista"es in reading and
riting, inverting or leaving letters out or using the wrong words$ and in
arithmetic, adding up columns of numbers incorrectly.
?rustration with these disabilities naturally causes apprehension, either at
school or when doing homework. #n order to avoid being laughed at by their
peers or receiving a poor grade from the teacher, the child
needing Lycopodium procrastinates instead of doing assignments. This is not
laAiness. The e.tent to which such children are -laAy- reflects the degree to
which they fear failure and lack self'confidence.
% peculiar behaviour pattern may develop in these children) they hurriedly write
their work but cannot bear to read hat they have 2ust ritten. This is
seen particularly in those who have a history of making many mistakes.
&eviewing the work means having to come to terms with the mistakes made, a
task that is anathema to the Lycopodiumpsyche as it deflates the ego as well as
makes the child fear a loss of status.
There are some hyperactive children who respond beautifully to the
remedy Lycopodium and who e.hibit many of the traits discussed here.
4. 5atrum muriaticum (Common salt)
alf an ounce of ordinary kitchen salt is dissolved in an ounce and a
half of boiling distilled water, in order to
free it from its associated salts, it is filtered through printing paper, and
left to crystalliAe by evaporation at a temperature of 455E ?ahrenheit.
The crystals, which are allowed to dry off on blotting paper, are of
cubical shape with pyramidal indentation on every side. <ne grain of
these crystals is triturated to the one millionth attenuation, and then
brought to the decillionth attenuation- (!amuel ,ahnemann, Chronic
#iseases).
Physical Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) ,ead)
("in eruptions often develop around the margins of the hairline and
behind the ears, which ooAe a thin watery fluid that coagulates to a
slightly yellow'tinged scab.
<ften Natrum muriaticum children will not ear hats, e.cept when
they are out in the full sun. *ithout a hat in this case, the child is
destined for a headache, heat prostration, or sunstroke.
(b) ,eadaches)
,eadaches are a fre)uent complaint of the Natrum
muriaticum child. The headaches may begin, as do migraines, with a
visual loss on the contralateral side. They may occur from reading too
much or any kind of eye strain, from e.posure to the sun and before
the menses.
The Natrum muriaticum headache is aggravated by e1ertion, sharp
noise, and bright light. They are often accompanied by a thirst for
cold drinks and a desire for coldcompresses to be applied to the
head. The child becomes nauseated and loses any appetite for
food. The face becomes pale and the afflicted person desires to
be aloneand to lie don flat ith cold and pressure against the
head.
(c) >yes)
<ne can see great sensitivity in the eyes of Natrum
muriaticum children. The child may develop dark circles under the
eyes, as well as =enny's lines) the creases under the loer
eyelids that typify allergies.
They can be (uite photophobic and need to wear sunglasses. The
photophobia is of graded severity$ some have e.treme sensitivity to
light, while others develop headaches when in the sun. <thers 2ust
prefer the shade, but all s(uint in bright light.
The Natrum muriaticum type tends to develop myopia at an early
age.
(d) ;ose)
The nose is fre)uently troubled. Natrum muriaticum children
often have many allergies, developing hay fever'like symptoms
from dust, molds, and pollen. There may also be allergic
reactions to foods. The allergies may lead to sinus infections and
sinus headaches, especially during a change in weather.
(e) ?ace)
%dolescent girls can develop a distinctive rash along the 2a
line that becomes worse before the menses. 3cne and rashes on the
face tend to be centered on theforehead. 6ives may also be a chief
complaint. They may develop from each and every e.posure to the sun
or may occur only during the first three or four weeks of summer
sunshine. The lips are often dry or cracked and fre(uently develop a
fissure in the centre. *ith colds and fevers, blisters or
herpatic sores develop that recur around the lips.
(f) 7outh)
The mouth may feel dry and sore and the tongue may be
geographically mapped. *ith the dry mouth there is thirst for ice'
cold drinks, which are consumed by the glassful.
(g) %sthma)
3sthma begins with a dry, hollow cough that is described as sounding
like a dog's bark. This is accompanied by shortness of breath that is
aggravated by e.ertion, allergies, evening time, and summer and fall
weather in general.
%sthma in this remedy type is often triggered by emotional causes.
#t is uncanny how often a Natrum muriaticum picture develops in
cases where the child must suppress sadness. #n one case, a girl would
have an asthma attack whenever her divorced mother would come to
pick her up for the weekend. The asthma first began when the parents
first filed for divorce.
The child may develop allergic coughs that do not progress all the
way to asthma. >ight'year'old ?rank coughed daily for two years. ;o
reason could be found for the cough by his pediatrician. #t was a little
cough caused by a tickle in the throat, according to ?rank. #t was found
upon (uestioning that the cough had started soon after the boy's best
friend had moved away. This was a terrible blow for him, although he
told no one how he felt. The remedy Natrum muriaticum stopped the
cough for good.
(h) ?ood Cravings and %versions)
Natrum muriaticum children have strong desires for salt and
seets. They may intensely dislike mil", fat and slimy foods. They
dislike dishes that are prepared from many food elements, such as
casseroles. <ne patient called them with disgust, -mi1ed,up foods.-
7any Natrum muriaticum children are lactose intolerant,
evidenced by indigestion or a respiratory allergy to milk.
They have a strong thirst for cold drinks and may often be found
drinking copious amounts with meals.
(i) !tomach)
% large number of children complain of recurrent stomachaches
or abdominal cramps.
% fre(uent complaint is motion sic"ness, especially during any long
drive. These are the children who cannot be spun around in games due
to nausea, and who find no pleasure in riding fast or whirling rides at
carnivals.
(2) %bdomen)
Clinically, one finds that the abdominal area cramps easily in
the Natrum muriaticum child. The symptoms fit an irritable boel
syndrome very well. The abdomen becomes hard to the touch,
cramps up, and is accompanied by severe pain as if the colon were
being grasped and s(ueeAed by a tight fist. Those afflicted are
compelled to double up with this acute attack.
(k) &ectum)
There is a tendency toward constipation. The stools are dry and the
child strains and may cramp before passing a hard stool. This makes
the child not want to go to the bathroom, and so habitual constipation
develops. *ith such a history, these children develop many tiny anal
fissures as well.
Young children can suffer from chronic diarrhea. The diarrhea
occurs first thing in the morning, is odorless, and may be pro2ectile. #t
is aggravated by the ingestion of milk or wheat and is accompanied by
much flatus and cutting pains in the lower abdomen.
(l) @rogenital !ystem)
:oys) The shy child, especially the adolescent boy, ill find it
difficult to urinate in a public rest room. 7ed,etting is also
often reported.
Birls) ;ondescript vaginitis in a young girl is not uncommon.
The premenstrual syndrom plays a big role for Natrum
muriaticum adolescents. :efore the menses, sadness and irritability
prevail. The actual menses may be painful, with backaches that get
better while lying flat on the back on a hard surface. %bdominal pains
that come with the menses e.tend down the thighs to the knees.
1ocaliAed uterine pain is aggravated by the slightest 2arring motion and
is lessened with heat, as with the application of a heating pad directly
to the lower abdomen.
(m) >.tremities)
The toddler may be small and may be slow to walk and talk, learning to
walk at seventeen months or later. *hen they finally do walk, they may
turn an ankle fre(uently.
Clinically, a syndrome that should often bring the remedy Natrum
muriaticium to mind is fre(uent or easily induced tendinitis. The
most commonly affected tendons are those of the left shoulder, the
knees, the ankles (especially the %chilles tendon, from the heel to the
calf), and the fingers. The pains that accompany these inflammations
are often sharp and will be amelioriated by cold and pressure.
Rheumatoid arthritis has also been successfully amelioriated by the
administration of Natrum muriaticum. The onset may follow grief and
may progress through all the 2oints very (uickly. :esides the
frighteningly rapid spread of the arthritis, there is usually an
abundance of sharp, stitching pains in all the affected 2oints.
7any Natrum muriaticum children develop very stiff nec" muscles.
They fre(uently bite their nails.
(n) !kin)
The skin is often dry, crac"ed, and predisposed to the
development of ec'ematous rashes. +eople who have ecAema on
their hands, elbows, ankles, hairline, or behind the ears$ and which is
red, raw, cracked and weepy, fre(uently benefit from a dose of Natrum
muriaticum. The ecAema itches intensely, especially when the child
eats a food that she is allergic to or when she becomes hot.
There often may be a problem with hair loss. #n alopecia /loss of
hair in patches0 cases, the scalp around the hairless patch is dry and
flaky and itches a great deal. %lopecia ormorphea /-a skin desease
marked by the presence of indurated patches of a whitish or yellowish
white color surrounded by a pinkish or purplish border,- &asgur%s
Homeopathic #ictionary0 following an emotionally stressful situation
may be aided by this remedy.
Natrum muriaticum children often have arts. 6ives aggravated
by e1posure to the sun is another complaint found within this
remedy type.
>.cept during sleep, when sweating can be profuse, the Natrum
muriaticum child tends to show scanty or uneven perspiration. #t
is common for the child to become (uite hot while running or playing,
yet perspire only lightly, even in the summertime.
(o) +soriasis)
Psoriasis develops readily on the Natrum muriaticum body. <ften
there is a specific emotional etiology such as grief that brings on the
lesions. !cenarios commonly observed by the doctor include e.amples
such as a girl of ten developing psoriasis after her parents sought a
divorce, and a boy of the same age developing this condition after
moving away from his friends to a new city.
The psoriasis may be unusual in several respects. #t may be
e.tremely painful, burning with each new outbreak, or it may be the
rarer form of pustular psoriasis. #n general, e.acerbation from new
grief or emotional trauma is the rule. Pustular psoriasis may have a
very rapid spread accompanied by strong chills and headaches. 1astly,
the lesion, while it remains curable, may behave parado.ically to all
other types of psoriasis lesions. #t is characteristic for this disease that
the ultraviolet light of the sun ameliorates the rash. #n Natrum
muriaticum, however, the opposite may be found) the rash
becomes aggravated by the sun's rays and the lesions grow on skin
surfaces that have been e.posed to the sun.
%fter the child has had the disease for several years, especially if strong
medications have been used, this last modality is lost and the rash then
becomes ameliorated by e.posure to sunlight. This should make the
prescriber view the case more cautiously, as the lesion is now less likely
to be cured completely. *ith this change, one understands that the
homeostatic mechanism of the individual is no longer concerned with
the rash. #n a few words, the body is in the process of giving up on the
rash and learning to live with it rather than to fight and attempt to
van(uish it.
(leep (,erscu))
The sleep of Natrum muriaticum children is often troubled. 7any
find it hard to fall asleep in the first place and sometimes lie awake in
their beds for several hours before succumbing. !ome stay aa"e to
recapitulate the social and emotional encounters of the day. #t is as if
the emotions that were repressed during the actual e.changes can
finally be e.perienced in their full magnitude.
They usually sleep on the left side or on the bac". They can tal" and
al" in their sleep.
#nuresis in little boys who are shy and fine skinned and who dislike
being looked at will often respond to the remedy Natrum muriaticum.
#t is interesting that the enuresis of this remedy type is marked by the
fact that the child, though ostensibly asleep, finds some kind of
receptacle in which to urinate. !ome children walk up to a plant in the
room and urinate into the pot, while other find a sink or wastebasket.
7any Natrum muriaticum children e.perience an1iety,fraught
dreams. They dream of being chased, of disasters, of robbers, that the
school has moved and they cannot find it, that they have been
abandoned, etc.
Their sleep, even when thus disturbed, is mostly refreshing.
*mportant +eneral Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) 8arm,blooded for the most part, Natrum muriaticum children
dislike heat and stuffy rooms.
(b) They prefer the shade and dislike and are aggravated by direct
sunshine.
(c) 7any children are thin, pale, weak, and anemic.
(d) There is a general aggravation time from three to si. o'clock in the
afternoon.
$ental&#motional Characteristics (,erscu))
-Youth is wasted on the young- is a saying that adults, observing young
ones at play, often repeat. ,ow sad, then, to find a child who has the
seriousness and the heavy burden of the aged upon his young
shoulders. %nd yet this is e.actly what one finds in a Natrum
muriaticum child.
%s a group, Natrum muriaticum children are very ell behaved and
obedient. =uring the interview they are reserved and shy. The
doctor may find several different behaviours. <ne child sits up straight
with her legs crossed, her hands folded, and all her muscles tensed.
%nother child, perhaps an adolescent, e.hibits how physical distancing
can be manifested by slouching with his legs up on the seat, putting
those legs and his entire body between the doctor's intrusive (uestions
and himself. Yet another child sprawls on the floor behind the parent's
chair, apparently rela.ed while reading a book. *hile this may seem to
show a nonchalant attitude, the Natrum muriaticum child acts this
way toavoid emotional communication ith the doctor.
Teenagers may respond grudgingly with monosyllabic yes or no
answers, a thin veneer that does not hide the facial e.pression that
conveys another message) -# do not want to be here. # was brought here
against my will by my parents. # was brought in for my headaches$ why
am # being grilled about my friends, my fears, my schoolwork"-
<ccasionally it is felt by all in the room that a child is baring his or her
soul to the interviewer. !uddenly the mood in the room changes and a
very intimate bond begins to form$ all 2oking disappears and the child
begins to reveal what becomes the central focus of the case '' the
true sensitive, grieved, emotional state.
The first thing that strikes one about a Natrum muriaticum child is
how ell,groomed he or she is. %t an early age, clean clothes,
coordinated outfits, and mediculously combed hair are the rule.
%lmost all Natrum muriaticum children tend toward perfectionism,
which may manifest at a very tender age. They li"e their rooms
neat, their beds made, and their books and toys put away.
They may seem possessive by not letting their friends or siblings
touch their special ob2ects, but this is not out of true possessiveness$
rather, it is out of the desire to keep their things clean, in order, and
unbroken. These children never lose any items of personal value and
will categori'e, organi'e, and clean them with en2oyment and
great care.
They become depressed or hysterical if they do not receive good grades
on e.ams or report cards. They cry or tear up the offending page if they
make a mistake while writing or coloring. They often work on
homework assignments until they are absolutely sure there are no
mistakes. #f they do make a mistake, say on a math problem, they often
do not ask for help because they thin" that they are .bad. people
for having made the mista"e.
They are very concerned ith others' opinions about them.
They feel strong emotions and are offended easily, so if they are
laughed at or ridiculed in any way, it reinforces the negative self,
image that dwells inside.
This degraded self'image mingled with social insecurities is the basis
for many obsessive, perfectionistic behaviours. <ne way to
escape the ridicules of childhood is to appear invulnerable or perfect.
This -siege mentality- creates great an.iety in the child as he strives to
achieve the unachievable '' perfection.
Natrum muriaticum youngsters are very sensitive. They become
embarrassed easily. 7any do not try anything new if they fear they
might fail. This resistance may range from that of a child who refuses
to play due to poor physical coordination to the shyness of a child who
will not try to make new friends.
#t is this tendency toward self,recrimination that pushes these
children to perfect any endeavors they take on. Theirs is an inner drive
to achieve, the likes of which few other remedy types possess. They
may choose music, the visual arts, or sports '' it does not really matter
what the vehicle of creative e.pression is. *hat is consistent is that
theye1cel at hatever they choose.
This drive to succeed is born out of the child's dissatisfaction ith
her on performance or creation. The dissatisfaction leads her to
push her abilities even further toward perfection, always criticiAing any
finished piece or performance, never hearing the compliments or
applause. They become very sensitive to the slightest criticism.
The overly conscientious nature of Natrum muriaticum may
cause an1iety attac"s in the youth. <ne adolescent, +eter, had severe
stomachaches and headaches whenever he became an.ious about his
mathematics class. ,e had panic attacks before e.ams from the fear
that he would not receive good grades. ,is fears were not based on
reality, as he was an e.cellent student and his parents had never
pushed him to perform.
Natrum muriaticum children e.perience emotions very profoundly,
and are especially predisposed to sadness. % death in the family,
separation or divorce, or siblings and friends moving away can all
trigger this disposition. *henever a child develops disease after a
severe depression or hen depression accompanies an
illness,Natrum muriaticum should be considered.
%bove all else, Natrum muriaticum at any age is a loner. *hen
relating to others, they like to interact on a one'to'one basis, hating
and fearing larger groups. :ecause they push others away in fear and
hypersensitivity, others begin to think of them as aloof and seemingly
too serious for such young people.
Their emotionally sensitive and reactive nature combined with great
shyness makes the youngster seem closed and emotionless$ this could
not be further from the truth.*ntense and deeply felt
emotions pour out onto the pages of diaries, in songs, and the
canvases of paintings. Children of this type are shy with people and
often have a natural love for and become very close to animals.
They seek any activity that allows them a refuge from ridicule and an
opportunity to vent their emotions. The fantasy world waiting for them
in books is one reason why they are often voracious readers.
#n the alcololic family they often cast themselves as the heroic savior)
-#t is my responsibility, my fault alone.- #t is incredible and sometimes
tragic that one finds such guilt and remorse in a child of perhaps
seven years.
+rudges against and hatred of certain family members may
develop, especially after being ridiculed. *hen hurt, they ree.perience
indignities, in2ustices and humiliation over and over again, burning
with each fresh revelation and fuming as every nuance of the conflict
slaps them in the face.
#f they are scolded or if the parents are harsh with them, it may bring
on torrents of tears. They are so sensitive to reprimand that they
may weep if merely loo"ed at the .rong ay.. The child weeps
easily and e.hibits an aversion to being held, having a desire to be
alone rather than consoled. !ometimes, when hearing something sad
and moreover when having to tell someone else disheartening news,
a smile inappropriately and helplessly comes to the lips. This is
very characteristic of this remedy type.
These children have a negative reaction to consolation. They may
actually desire consolation from their parents, but they never ask for it.
-;o one must know that # am needy, that # feel insecure.- %ttempts to
console them precipitate an even greater sadness, making a bad
situation worse. *ith acute disease this close,mouthedness may be
absolutely maddening to the attending adults. The child may moan,
cry, and groan but not say what is disturbing him.
The picture is sul"y. Natrum muriaticum children tend to cling to a
certain belief about themselves, such as that every negative event or
conse(uence must be their fault.
3 fear of evil or that something awful will happen is common.
%n.iety about parents who do not arrive home on time is symptomatic
of this type. Typically, there is a partial compensation for this fear in
the form of an attempt to control events.
?ears may haunt them) fear of the dar", of being alone, of
thunderstorms, of sna"es, spiders, insects ith large
mandibles9 fear that the cat ill die9 or fear that there is
something around the corner. They have a great fear of robbers,
of being "idnaped. <ther fears may include fear of spea"ing in
public, of heights, and of closed in spaces.
Childhood and !amily Relations (Coulter))
Natrum muriaticum%s grievances often stem from family relations.
7ore often and more graphically than any other type, he e.hibits the
conse(uences of a poor relationship with one or both parents which
breeds resentment andCor guilt. % classic situation is the child whose
emotional problems started when the mother took a 2ob outside the
home. :ut when she is home, he is neither affectionate nor outwardly
happy, and, in general, is not easy to have around. The other children
in the family are not affected in the same way, accepting the situation
and en2oying their mother when she is home. <nly Natrum
muriaticum so deeply resents her betrayal, and is so sensitive to her
re2ection or neglect, that he cannot demonstrate the need for her
affection. Thus, although these grievances against the parent are
sometimes legitimate, he can also be accused of making e.cessive
demands.
The polar opposite, however, is also true. Natrum muriaticum often
has a superabundance of sympathy and devotion to his parents and an
e.tra'close relationship with them.
!ome of these children feel ill at ease when touched. They do not reach
out for physical closeness and have trouble e.pressing affection. This
-don't touch me- syndrome contributes to the young Natrum
muriaticum%s difficult relationship with his parents. The testily
independent child pushes not only any show of affection but also
guidance. ,e re2ects it when it is proffered and is angry when consoled.
Thus the lessening of emotional rapport between parent and child that
fre(uently occurs in adolescence with reduced physical contact may
commence earlier in Natrum muriaticum. ,e pro2ects a -leave me
alone- attitude, and the parents leave him alone.
Yet, it is part of the nature's comple.ity and perversity to suffer
inordinately from deprival of parental affection even when re2ecting it.
,e thereby creates a -no win- situation for his parents and himself.
The -difficult- Natrum muriaticum child may originally have been
well'behaved and affectionate but has turned moody and unhappy
because of real or imagined parental inattention to his needs. The
physician can often recogniAe him by his determined avoidance of eye
contact, reluctance to answer (uestions, and resentful e.pression as he
looks down at the floor. % prescription of the medicine in high potency,
however, can cause e.traordinary changes) the child is now willing to
look the physician in the eye, has an open instead of a forced smile, and
is described by the parents as having a -lighter- nature generally.
%t times Natrum muriaticum%s pathology stems from early sibling
rivalry. The previously bright and happy child starts behaving badly or
slackens in speech and intellectual development when he senses that
his younger siblings are receiving parental preference. #n fact, slow
learning to talk is a strong indication for this remedy and a concrete
reflection of the type's general inability to e.press emotion easily.
<ther constitutional types in similar circumstances may feel e(ually
2ealous and resentful. They will fight for attention, argue, or intrigue$
or they will learn to share or to yield$ but ultimately they succeed in
dealing with the situation. ;o so Natrum muriaticum. ,e may
confront it by being ultracooperative, obedient and responsible. The
child is so sensitive to disapproval, so longing for approbation, so
fearful of parental re2ection if he does not please, that he will not even
tell his parents that he is afraid of the dark and would like a night light,
or that he wet his pants in school and would like to change them$ and a
mere glance from an adult will elicit the desired behaviour. #ndeed,
when a parent or teacher describes a child as overconscientious,
e.tremely an.ious to avoid giving trouble, and -e.tra- or -unnaturally-
good, the first remedy to consider is the potentiAed salt.
,e is deeply affected by (uarrels and subliminal hostility and can
become actively ill as a result. ?or this reason, Natrum muriaticum is
the remedy most fre(uently administered to children and adolescents
who have undergone the trauma of parental divorce.
% final observation is that a child will be passionately attached to his
pet, lavishing on it all the affection he cannot give to humans.
The remedy can disperse the patient's tormenting id'es fi$es and soften
his unbending pillar'or'salt personality, permitting greater subtlety of
understanding and opinion$ it helps him be less vulnerable, less
defensive, and less inclined to self'condemnation.
>very homeopathic constitutional remedy performs psychotherapy
while working on the physical level, but in the introverted, repressed,
morbidly sensitive or traumatiAedNatrum muriaticum this unblocking
of emotions to allow the -vital force- to flow freely in the body is
especially striking. %fter one dose, or several, of homeopathic sodium
chloride, individuals suffering from long'standing de2ection or severe
mood swings, or who are weighted down with cares, find themselves
lighter, more accepting, less 2udgmental of others '' more hopeful and
open to the 2oyful aspects of life. This remedy can cut through the
tangle of depression, insecurity, feelings of unworthiness and e.cessive
self'absorption, making the patient master of himself.
:. Phosphorus
he homeopathic remedy is made from the luminescent element
phosphorus, the only non'radioactive
substance capable of producing its own light. The name originates from
the Breek word phos, meaning -light,- and a form of phoro, meaning
-to bring- or -to bear- '' hence -bringer or bearer of light.- :oth the
etymology and the associations evoked by the element provide fitting
keys to the Phosphorus personality- (Coulter).
Physical Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) ,ead)
The heads of Phosphorus children share three similarities with
those of Calcarea carbonica) the head may often be covered with fine,
silky, shiny hair$ baldness occurs in certain areas when the child is
e.periencing serious illness such as pneumonia or bronchitis$ and
finally, the child may perspire profusely from the scalp
(b) ,eadaches)
These children tend to develop headaches, even to the point
of migrains. They may be heralded by many visual changes such as
photophobia, flickers, or floating spots.
The headaches are commonly preceded or accompanied by hunger$
the child describes an empty feeling in the chest or stomach area. #f the
child, especially a teenager, misses a meal or eats too much sugar, he
will probably develop a headache.
The other common type of Phosphorus headache occurs due to
a sensitivity to the environment. This headache may be set off by
strong odors such as perfumes, car e.hausts, and tobacco smoke.
3melioration of a headache by cold compresses applied to the head
is a big clue to this remedy. =uring severe headaches of all kinds there
may characteristically be nausea and vomiting.
(c) >yes)
The eyes of infants and children are bright and ide open, shining
with a glimmer and brilliance all their own. Phosphorus types
have long eyelashes, even from birth. %nother feature that may be
observed is blue,tinged rings of discoloration around the eyes of a
pale'faced child.
*hile !rnica should be the first remedy considered
for subcon2unctival hemorrhages in infants and
children, Phosphorus should be especially considered if the bleeding
recurs often, whenever the children strain during coughing or blowing
the nose.
Paralysis of the optic nerve causing gradual blindness is also a
complaint that should make one think of Phosphorus. The paralysis
may be due to an une.plained degeneration of the nerve or may occur
after a brain tumor causes papilledema with loss of visual fields. The
child may have in this case many visual distortions such as
-floaters.-
?inally, the child may complain of ecAema or seborrheic dermatitis
on the eyebros, both of which are e.foliative.
(d) >ars)
The ears are not often affected in these children. Phosphorus should
come to mind for both infants and children who have had an ear
infection with a bloody discharge.
(e) ;ose)
The nose is fre)uently problematic in Phosphorus children and
adolescents. 7any of these children have a history of nosebleeds. The
blood is bright red and profuse
#t is common to elicit the fact that the child develops many colds each
winter that begin in the nose.
(f) ?ace)
The Phosphorus face of both infants and older children is often
particularly beautiful, with fine features and fine s"in. The skin
may be almost transparent and pallid at rest, but will flush full of color
with embarrassment or e.citement.
Children with allergies develop allergic -shiners-) dark, often puffy,
circles under the eyes.
The lips tend to become red, dry, and crac"ed, especially in
wintertime.
(g) 7outh$
The mouth favors the development of fre(uent can"er sores.
The tongue is long and thin. The shape of the teeth is similar to the
shape of the typical Phosphorus body) long and thin.
The gums may show a tendency to bleed easily.
(h) Throat and ;eck)
*hen Phosphorus children develop sore throats (which they do
often), they are inevitably accompanied by hoarseness. The throat
feels raw, dry, and burning, and the child will especially favor cold
drinks for relief. Children tend to develop laryngitis with these
infections.
(i) 1ower &espiratory !ystem)
/he chest is one of the most affected parts of the body in this
remedy type. #t is noted that, from an early age, any cold )uic"ly
drops into the chest to cause a cough, bronchitis, or pneumonia,
even in infants.
!ince the cough can be )uite painful, one may observe the child
trying to hold her breath because every time she inhales, she coughs.
!ufferers often hold their chests when they cough because coughing
causes pain to the rib cage.
(2) +neumonia)
Phosphorus is one of the main remedies to be considered for
pneumonia in infants. %n F'ray often confirms that the pneumonia is
mostly in the loer lungs.
=uring these attacks there is also a burning sensation located
anywhere in the chest. % strong concomitant feature that will help find
the correct remedy is the great craving for ice,cold drin"s during
these attacks predominant among Phosphorus individuals, young and
old alike.
(k) %sthma)
#n Phosphorus, asthma is often related to allergies that are prone to
be worse in the spring and fall. <ther asthma attacks are set off
by upper respiratory tract infectionsthat drop into the chest,
leading to the spasms. The chest tightens, feeling as if a weight were
placed on the sternum. Curiously, with allergic asthmas the sternum
may itch as well as feel tight.
(l) ?ood Cravings and %versions)
Phosphorus children crave ice,cold foods such as ice cream, cold
milk, and often 2ust plain ice cubes. They desire chocolate,
and refreshing snac"s such as cucumbers. They also love sour
foods such as pickles and lemons. 7any of these children also
love bubble gum.
They disli"e eggs and bread.
This is one of the most thirst,prone remedy types in the entire
materia medica, drinking many glasses of li(uid a day and even waking
up at night to drink. 7ost of the drinks will be cold to ice'cold.
(m) !tomach)
#n general, the child has a good appetite. :eing acutely sensitive to
the blood sugar level, any time the child abstains from eating he or she
will develop hypoglycemic symptoms) diAAiness may ensue, a
headache may develop, or mild irritability may be noted.
The stomach is one of the ea"est areas of
the Phosphorus constitution. *ith any acute infection such as
influenAa the child develops nausea and&or vomiting, retching at
the slightest provocation. !uch digestive tract problems may also occur
from an.iety or stress. The keynote Phosphorus symptom
of vomiting is further confirmed if it is aggravated by anything warm
and ameliorated by anything cold$ in fact, the colder the better.
The afflicted youngster will drink ice'cold drinks or eat ice cream for
relief, but as soon as the drink warms up in the stomach (in about
fifteen minutes) the nausea returns.
(n) ,ypoglycemia)
Children who miss meals or fast for holidays may become not only
nauseous but also weak, trembly, and susceptible to headaches.
:ecause of a rapid metabolism, thePhosphorus child seems
hypoglycemic and needs to eat often. 7any of these children will not be
able to fall asleep because of hunger, while others will wake up in the
middle of the night for want of food. They will be the first one to the
breakfast table and will relish the morning meal after having -starved-
the night through.
(o) %bdomen$
7any pains are e.perienced in the loer abdominal area. These
pains aften coincide with stress, fear, an.iety, or even 2ust e.citement.
%s with nausea, such problems will be ameliorated by any ice,cold
drin".
(p) &ectum)
The Phosphorus child tends to develop diarrhea (uite easily.
#n infants, watch for recurring diarrhea that may accompany any
illness and may last for a long time after the illness is resolved.
(() @rogenital !ystem)
!ometimes the child may lose bladder control hen e1cited while
awake during the day as well as when asleep at night in bed.
6uite often in teenaged girls the menstrual flow will be very heavy and
consist of a bright red flow throughout the entire period. The flow may
be so heavy that the adolescent becomes anemic, pale, and, (uite
commonly, diAAy while menstruating.
(r) >.tremities)
The remedy Phosphorus has cured types of arthritis that are
aggravated by first motion and by cold, and are ameliorated by
continued motion.
The child tends to ac(uire plantar arts on either foot. The hands
and feet perspire profusely any time the child is an.ious or
e.cited.
(s) !kin)
*hile the skin is not often affected, Phosphorus types sometimes
produce the driest s"in and fla"iest eruptions of all the ma2or
remedies. This can range from simple dandruff to e.tensive
ichthyosis, in which the whole skin flakes off constantly and resembles
fish scales.
The child will perspire profusely.
(leep (,erscu))
The children do not li"e to go to sleep alone. #n the dark they fear
that the room or the closet has monsters or ghosts, and every changing
light and shadow pattern gives them a start. They have strong
imaginations. ?or this reason they often report that they sleep ith a
light on"
Phosphorus is one of the most common remedies given to the child
who, even though eight or ten years old, still sneaks into bed with his or
her parents. #t is not uncommon to have a thirteen'year'
old Phosphorus girl still wanting to be tucked in at night.
The sleep position is often characteristic in Phosphorus children ''
either on the right side or on the abdomen.
They tend to talk in their sleep, and many will sleepal". !leep may
be restless, as they have many nightmares.
Phosphorus infants and children usually a"e up refreshed, though
perhaps hungry.
;ertigo (,erscu))
Tall, thin children fre(uently complain of orthostatic
hypotension '' low blood pressure '' when they rise (uickly from a
reclining position. They feel light'headed and diAAy, as if their feet do
not touch the ground.
<lder girls may also feel this way when they menstruate heavily.
*mportant +eneral Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) Phosphorus children are generally tall, thin, and beautiful. They
usually have fine'te.tured skin and refined features.
(b) The Phosphorus remedy type is vulnerable to bleeding
problems and hemorrhages of any sort.
(c) :oth the mental and physical conditions of Phosphorus children
tend to be aggravated by lying on the left side, and
at dus" and tilight. %melioration is from lying on the right
side, drin"ing cold ater or eating cold food, by consolation,
being rubbed, and sleep.
$ental&#motional Characteristics (,erscu))
%s a group, Phosphorus children are the most en2oyable to treat. They
tend to be very communicative, e1citable, and e1pressive. They
are generally good,natured and happy from birth. They
are armhearted and like to be picked up and hugged. The children
have good manners, so their parents do not hesitate to bring them to
public places.
#t is the nature of the Phosphorus child to be e.troverted. The child is
very impressionable as well as warm, outgoing and affectionate$
(ualities that attract others like iron filings to a magnet.
The Phosphorus child appears bright, answering (uestions (uickly and
asking many (uestions of her own. !he e1tempori'es on anything,
often straying from the topic at hand. #t is common for the child to
simultaneously answer a (uestion and begin a new statement on a
separate, though perhaps related, topic.
%s a doctor, one can e.perience the child's openness and observe the
ease with which she floats through the world, able to establish
rapport easily with 2ust about anyone. The child is very accepting and
does not hold grudges. 8hen ill, if not seriously so, the child tends
to remain outgoing physically as well as verbally.
#t is remarkable how specifically the child will e.press a desire to be
rubbed, tucked in, or sung to. Young !am, pointing to his forehead,
approached me and said, -+aul it hurts here- in a most pathetic tone,
reminiscent of high drama. *ith Phosphorus, health problems are
clearly e1pressed, and thus the parents can greatly empathiAe with
their child.
These bright children are often group leaders when playing games.
The affection that the child emits toward others unconsciously draws
them closer.
Phosphorus children love being the centre of attention. #n one
e.ample, all the other children were riding bicycles and having fun.
1eon was too young to know how to ride but began to cry foul play,
protesting that he was not getting his fair share of the riding. ,e
mounted a bicycle and began to ride and fall, ride and fall, over and
over again until he could indeed ride the bicycle This particular event
illustrates another aspect of the Phosphorus personality)
they strongly prefer not to be considered .2ust average..
*hen praise is earned in situations like these, the
recipient relishes the achievements and the glory, en2oying it for all
it is worth.
Phosphorus children are very enthusiastic about ne
environments, people, or activities. They love going to shopping
malls, game arcades, and playgrounds. %t times the e.citement makes
them almost uncontrollable. They love to play with all the toys, video
machines, and games.
Phosphorus children may be (uite restless from sheer e.citement.
+arents tell the doctor that their child -can't keep still for one minute-
and cannot focus on a task long enough to finish it. %lthough the child
is delightful, he or she fidgets all the time.
The children try to bargain ith their parents. !tatements such as,
-# ate all my food, give me a toy,- or -# did good in school, let's go to the
arcade,- if offered in a pleasant manner, are typical pleas of
the Phosphorus child.
The child may get up many times during the night to ask for water
or go to the bathroom, or anything else that gains an audience with the
parents.
The child usually spends all his alloance as soon as he gets it. The
parents tell the doctor that the child buys as if there is a fire in his
pants pocket$ he must spend every penny. #f he uses his money on a toy
and has a (uarter left over, he will buy candy with the remainder.
>.citability is also heightened by upcoming events. :efore a team
game, a recital, or other event the Phosphorus child becomes an.ious
and may even become physically ill from anticipation.
The children may, in e.citement andCor in sympathy, give away
favorite toys and other possessions. This generous giving aay of
personal possessions is a reflection of the sensitive and giving
nature of Phosphorus. The child is deeply caring, taking responsibility
for siblings or animals that are in need.
!ome Phosphorus children develop the lac" of mental focus for
which this remedy type is well known. This may be observed in the
short attention span and easy distractibility of the child.
%nother ma2or aspect of the Phosphorus child is shyness, particularly
during the initial interview, blushing easily, looking down at the floor,
answering in a timid whisper, and looking to the parents before every
response. %s the interview continues, one notes that the shyness
)uic"ly fades and e.citement builds within the child. <nce # was
treating a family over lunch. <ne of the three children of the group was
nine'year'old 1iA. %t the beginning of the interview she was very shy,
whispering and looking to her father for answers and not ever looking
at her (uestioner. :y the second half of the interview she was
answering (uestions herself and beginning to pick at my food. %s #
watched this girl unfold and finally win my affection as well as my
french fries, all # or anyone else present wished to do was hug her.
This instant feeling of affection (uite often helps me identify and
prescribe Phosphorus.
Phosphorus children change moods and cry easily. They need
affection and consolation and can cry easily and openly in front of
others. They recover more )uic"ly than some other remedy types.
The Phosphorus child becomes terribly fearful ith the slightest
provocation. %s a parent gives an account of the child's fears, one
often sees the actual terror consume the child. The eyes open wide
while the mother sketches the child's reaction to a thunderstorm, as if
the hapless child is reliving the e.perience.
The strongest and most common fears are of the dar", being alone,
ghosts, and thunderstorms. These are similar to the fears of
the Natrum muriaticum child. The ma2or difference regarding the
shared fears between these two remedy types is that
the Phosphorus cannot help but talk about the fears with dramatic
e.pressions that pull the listener right into the e.perience, whereas
the Natrum muriaticum child will largely keep his fears to himself. The
former is open, the later closed.
7any of the Phosphorus fears can be distilled down to the single fear
that something .bad. ill happen. This is e.perienced as a general
foreboding that encompasses many facets of the child's life. The
poor Phosphorus child is often left with an overactive imagination with
which to fantasiAe what this threat might be.
#f pushed further, this ild imagination makes the child fear
the future. *hen asked what he was afraid of, twelve'year'old +aul
said he feared %#=!. ,aving heard that it killed people and not
knowing how one contracted the disease, he became an.ious over the
prospect of dying from it. :esides the irrationality of assuming he
would contract such a disease, the fear of death in one so young is (uite
unusual and peculiar to this remedy type.
?ears may affect the stomach. ;ausea, stomachaches, vomiting, ulcers,
or diarrhea may develop with these fears as they
become somatici'ed.
/he #ternal Child (Coulter))
*hether actively seeking it or inadvertently attracting
it, Phosphorus from an early age manages to capture notice. ,e is
appealing in both looks and manner, and even passers'by e.claim,
-*hat an attractive child- -Dust look at those eyes- The cry is
instinctive, as they gaAe with open admiration at a child whose
alertness, grace, charm, and bubbling good spirits compel attention.
Phosphorus can be impatient, desiring gratification at the very moment
and, if thwarted, throwing impressive tantrums. :ut he is easily
appeased and snaps out of his anger whenever he pleases. ,e does not
allow sadness to last and does not bear resentment. 1ike a 2ack'in'the'
bo. he pops up smiling even after being reprimanded. The sensitive
nature feels the disgrace but covers it up, all the sooner to reenter
others' good graces.
%s concerns his studies the young Phosphorus loves anything that
captures his imagination, such as having stories told or read to him,
but dislikes anything re(uiring sustained application, anything that is
not -fun.- %t the same time he wants to be the best in everything
without really working for it. *hatever he is trying to accomplish, he
must -get it- the first time. #f unsuccessful or thwarted in his attempt,
he may react hysterically, stamping, shouting, or throwing down his
tools in frustration. :ecause he is (uick and absorbs things easily, he
often does manage to be a good, but not an e.cellent, student without
studying too hard.
Phosphorus children are seldom mean and do not bully others. They
are not necessarily angels, but they gain the upper hand in a diverting,
not a disagreeable, way. *hen they must weasel out of a tricky
situation, they look you directly in the eye while fabricating a complete
untruth. *ith their ready imagination, they are adept at twisting the
facts or concocting spur'of'the'moment e.planations why they didn't
do their homework or their chores. #n contrast with the Natrum
muriaticum child who looks guilty even when he is not, and who
always gets caught in the slightest fib, you feel that
the Phosphorus child must be telling the truth with those wide eyes
gaAing straight at you. :ut by no means The more
innocent Phosphorus looks, the guiltier he usually is.
Their mischievousness comes out in teasing, playing 2okes on others, or
tricking their elders. Children less than a year old and still unable to
walk, may crawl away to hide in a closet$ while others are searching
and shouting their names in concern, they sit concealed, gurgling with
pleasure at their own cleverness.
They are popular without necessarilly being leaders$ they are 2ust
friendly, vital, and enthusiastic. ?riends and strangers alike respond to
his e.pansive charm, and many a dreary life has been brightened by the
antics of a lively Phosphorus.
%ll this e.citement and stimulation may undermine his health,
however, and the adolescent begins to suffer from headaches,
insomnia, and nervousness$ or more subtly, he loses his emotional
stability and mental cohesion. The younger child may even fall ill from
anticipation or e.citement) of such happy events as Christmas,
participating in a school play, or a birthday party. <r he remains
sleepless and overwrought long after an event.
The constitutional type is recogniAed in the patient who is likable and
attractive and displays the warm and e.troverted manner of one who
wants to be liked and can make himself liked$ who has developed and
put to good use his wonderfully positive approach to people and life.
,e may possess a brighter luminescence but will always evince that
special Phosphorus sympathy and responsiveness that ranks
compassion before 2ustice and generosity before truth.
Yet he may also suffer from a tendency to emotional e.cess, lack of
restraint, confusion of fantasy with reality, and uncertainty about his
own identity. ,is imagination outweighs his understanding, his
unstability overrules his 2udgment$ he believes only what he wants to
believe, is governed by caprice and cannot see beyond himself. !o that
for all his promise and fine talents his life falls short of its potential.
<. Pulsatilla (8ind !loer)

he remedy Pulsatilla is made from the meadow anemone, a plant which
grows in the plains and pasturelands of Central and
;orthern >urope and is commonly known at the 'wind flower.' #t is small and
delicate, with a fle.ible stem which bends one way or another according to the
direction of the prevailing wind- (Coulter).
Physical Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) ,ead)
Birls may develop schooltime headaches accompanied by digestive upsets,
aggravated by eating too much ice cream, meat or fats$ by watching television,
reading, or becoming overheated in a arm room.
/eenaged girls may complain of headaches associated ith the menses.
The pain will be felt on one side or temple and be congestive in nature$ the
adolescent feels a constant throbbing. The hot head is relieved by cold packs,
pressure, and sitting up. %ggravation is from (uick motion and stooping. The
face becomes red during the congestive headache and the eyes feel engorged, as
if there is pressure pushing them outward.
Pulsatilla children sometimes have headaches that are associated with upper
respiratory tract infections such as sinusitis. The headache may
be aggravated by lying don and ameliorated by outdoor activity.
+arents state that the child always ta"es the hat off, even in the coldest
eather.
(b) >yes)
The eyes are fre)uently affected by various problems in
the Pulsatilla child. %uring any disease, especially of the upper respiratory
tract, the child may develop eithercon2unctivitis,
dacryocystitis /-inflammation of the lacrimal sac of the eye,- &asgur%s
Homeopathic #ictionary0, or marginal belpharitis /-inflammation of the
hair follicles and sebaceous glands along the margins of the eyelids,- &asgur0.
The eyes become inflamed, even in the neborn. Children rub their eyes
continuously, which they say burn and itch, especially at night, with the
sensation that there is sand in the eyes.
Colds can settle in the eyes and produce a thick, purulent, yellow'green,
bland discharge. %gglutination of the eyelids during the night is common.
*hen the child awakens in the morning, the lids must be moistened with water
to loosen the dry, crusty mucus away.
!ome children develop styes that recur over and over again. %ll Pulsatilla eye
symptoms are aggravated in a warm room or by arm bathing, and are
tremendously amiliorated by cold air, bathing the eye in cold water, or
applying cold compresses. >ven small babies will push away a warm cloth if it
approaches the troubled eye. The temperature modality is very important to ask
about because the answer will help to differentiate Pulsatilla from other
homeopathic medicines that alleviate eye problems.
(c) >ars)
Pulsatilla cures many ear symptoms as ell. #t is one of the prime
remedies for otitis media. The e.ternal ear may be red, hot, and swollen.
!evere throbbing pains in the ears become worse at night and with the warmth
of bed, and feel better outdoors and with cool applications.
(d) ;ose)
The nose is involved in almost every upper respiratory tract
infection. Pulsatilla children develop repeated colds accompanied by much
sneeAing and which areaggravated at night. !i.'year'old !ally was typical in
her infection, which began with fre(uent sneeAing. ,er con2unctiva became red
and her eyes began to itch. ,er lips dried out (uickly and began to crack and
bleed over the ne.t few days. !he then started to have sharp, pressing pains in
the ears accompanied by a high fever. =uring the inflammation she also
developed vaginitis and became lethargic, wanting to be held much of the time
by her mother. Pulsatilla prevented this girl from developing any further
infections and stopped her cycle of upper respiratory tract breakdowns.
(e) ,ay ?ever)
Pulsatilla is one of the most useful remedies for curing hay fever. #t begins
with itching of the upper palate, causing those afflicted to make clucking
sounds with their tongues while trying to scratch the upper palate. The eyes
then begin to itch and lacrimate greatly. The nose also itches, discharging a
clear, bland mucus. %ll hay fever symptoms are aggravated out of doors on hot
days, at night, and by the change of seasons. The attacks are ameliorated by cool
days and by splashing cold water on the face.
(f) ?ace)
*ith fevers the face becomes flushed. <ccasionally only one chee" becomes
flushed while the other becomes pale.
*hile (uite rare in these times of antibiotic use, one may find a patient
with mumps in which the face is very flushed and the inflammation
has metastasi'ed to the breasts or testes and is accompanied by much
swelling and pain.
(g) 7outh)
3 dry mouth yet lac" of thirst is a classic keynote for Pulsatilla.
The breath can be (uite foul when the children get up in the morning, even in
the very young. *hile e.amining Pulsatilla children, one can often see a thin,
white or lacy coating on the tongue 2ust as they open their mouths.
(h) 1ower &espiratory !ystem)
The chest is the site of many problems for the Pulsatilla child, both acute
and chronic. There may be a history of bronchitis or pneumonia.
7ronchitis or croup may begin with a dry, raw throat. This may develop after
or along with a rash that is suppressed by ointments and does not fully develop.
The cough is caused by a dry tickle in the throat, which is worse when the child
lies down at night or becomes warm or overheated. The cough usually subsides
when the child walks in the cool, open air$ or sits up.
% "eynote of Pulsatilla, as well as of Calcarea carbonica, is the common
complaint of a dry cough throughout the entire day and night and a loose, et
cough only upon aa"ening, accompanied by much e.pectoration at that
time.
The Pulsatilla child is often very allergic to the environment,
developing asthma from any bark dust or pollen in the air. %t first the child
only manifests hay fever. >ventually, the hay fever stops and the child
progresses to asthma.
(i) ?ood Cravings and %versions)
#t is interesting to note that many of the foods Pulsatilla children crave
aggravate problems of their digestive tracts. They desire cheese, ice
cream, eggs, butter, pastry and ca"es, peanut butter and seets. They
are aggravated by pastry, ice cream, lemons and very sour foods, fats,
and meat (especially por"). 7any of these foods cause vomiting, diarrhea,
and headaches. They are averse to eating mil", bread, fats, arm foods,
and fatty meats.
% commonly confirmed keynote is that the child is (uite thirstless, even
though he may have a fever or a very dry mouth.
(2) !tomach)
The stomach is troubled as often as the respiratory tract in
the Pulsatilla child. +astroenteritis is accompanied by severe abdominal
cramps.
The stomach of Pulsatilla digests both food and emotional interactions
sloly. %ny time there is a strong emotional stress, the child develops
stomachaches, nausea andCor vomiting, similar in this regard to Phosphorus.
The child may also develop ulcers in the stomach from strong emotions that
remain unresolved.
The stomach is easily upset by eating rich foods, and unfortunately, by
foods Pulsatilla children en2oy immensely, such as ice cream, cake, and cheese.
<ne parent described her daughter's sensitive stomach as -+ost',alloween'
:irthday'>aster'Christmas'!yndrome.-
<ne last distinctive digestive symptom, often observed in Pulsatilla infants, is
that most will hiccough after they eat.
(k) %bdomen)
*nfants ith colic often respond well to the remedy Pulsatilla. The abdomen
distends and there is audible rumbling and gurgling.
(l) &ectum)
The infant may develop diarrhea or the diarrhea may alternate ith
constipation, conforming to the adage -5o to stools ali"e.- *hile this is a
bit of an e.aggeration, what one does find is that there is no predictability as
to what type of stool will emerge ne.t.
3ery often a homeopath will observe symptoms and prescribe Pulsatilla only to
find that it does not work '' but that Calcarea carbonica will. 1ikewise, many
times Calcarea carbonica will not work and Pulsatilla will$ as usual, the general
symptoms lead and must prevail in the selection of the remedy, as the local
symptoms often overlap between remedies.
(m) @rogenital !ystem)
Pulsatilla is a key remedy to consider for children who develop increased
fre(uency of urination andCor bet,etting that is aggravated by lying
down, recurrent cystitis/inflammation of the bladder0, and for those who
may have a history of "idney infections.
1ittle 7ary developed a bladder infection two weeks after her sister !usan was
born. *hen it started, she became very droopy and weak and began to cry more
than usual. !he then developed a fever along with more regressive behaviour.
The ne.t day she had increased urinary fre(uency accompanied by blood in the
urine. The case was clearlyPulsatilla, as illustrated by the regression, the sibling
rivalry, and the clinginess. ,er mother reported that even when the child
urinated more fre(uentlly, her thirst decreased instead of increased. This
modality, contrary to what would seem to make sense physiologically, pointed
especially to Pulsatilla as an effective remedy, which it proved to be.
>ven at an early age, girls may develop a thick, creamy, offensive
smelling vaginal discharge. This is often associated with an upper respiratory
tract infection.
7any Pulsatilla conditions tend to develop more fully during puberty or
at the menarche. %long with the emotional changes that first emerge during this
time are some specific menstrual problems that are commonly seen.
The first year's menses can be irregular for girls of all types, with cycles
commencing from every twenty'odd days to every si. months as the hormonal
system -gets into gear.- ?or Pulsatilla, however, this irregularity is
particularly pronounced and may last for several years.
7efore the menses, girls become eepy and morose. >verything seems to
be fine when suddenly the thought arises in them that there is no purpose in
living.
The menses are accompanied by much pain, causing the girls to double over,
toss and turn in bed, or pace the floor. % special keynote is that the pain may be
aggravated by hot applications and ameliorated by cold ones$ an unusual
finding, as most girls report amelioration of menstrual pain by heat.
(n) >.tremities)
The most common Pulsatilla symptom in the e.tremities is the armth found
there. The children want to walk around barefoot even in the wintertime. They
often stick their feet out of the covers at night.
Pulsatilla may be used to treat 2uvenile rheumatoid arthritis with wandering
2oint pains that are aggravated in the morning, by warmth, and by lying in bed.
The pains are ameliorated by motion and by cool air. The 2oints are swollen, red,
and hot. ;odules develop during the early stages of the disease. <f course, the
mental picture must also be consistent with Pulsatilla before it is assumed to be
the correct remedy.
(o) !kin$
Pulsatilla babies have a characteristic feature of the skin) it takes on a purplish,
marbled, mottled appearance most of the time, especially in a cool room.
This remedy type also develops large hives, especially from strong emotional
stresses, but also from aggravating foods.
Pulsatilla is a valuable remedy in many childhood e1anthems such as measles,
chickenpo., and roseola. The rash will commonly be accompanied by otitis
media, con2unctivitis, or bronchitis. %ll skin problems are aggravated by warmth
(especially at night in bed) and by contact with wool. These problems are
ameliorated in cool, open air.
(leep (,erscu))
!leep offers many "eynotes to the remedy. <ne finds that Pulsatilla babies
need to be roc"ed and nursed in order to fall asleep. >very time the
infant awakens, it cries for the mother who must rock, caress, or nurse the child
back to sleep. ?inally the baby falls asleep, but as the mother puts the child
down again, the crying begins anew.
<lder children may have difficulty falling asleep. ?ourteen'year'old %nna
started to weep as she described her nights) she worried for hours if she had
studied enough for the ne.t day's test$ would she do well, and would her parents
think less of her if she did not" The thoughts keeping these children up are
rooted in the fear of losing the love of their parents.
*hen the child becomes old enough to walk, waking up and finding the ay
to the parents' bed will be common. 1ikewise, when a parent announces
bedtime and time to be tucked in, the child often resists because sleep
separates him or her from the parent. !uch children pretend that they need a
glass of water, need to urinate, need yet another bedtime story, or that they are
scared.
They generally fall asleep on their backs, possibly with their hands above
their heads, or on the abdomen. They disli"e covering up and will kick
off the covers.
6igh fevers may accompany any acute disease and, during sleep, the
children may become slightly delirious, dreaming and talking of blac" cats
or large dar" animals, or 2ust of ominous, amorphous dark shapes.
*mportant +eneral Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) Pulsatilla youngsters are arm,blooded children who dress lightly even in
the wintertime, and hate to wear hats.
(b) Pulsatilla weaknesses are aggravated by becoming overheated. +roblems
become more evident from the time of puberty.
(c) !ymptoms tend to change often$ they may be e.perienced only on one side of
the body, may wander from place to place or change in character from time to
time.
(d) +ains and illnesses are ameliorated by cool applications, being carried
or gently roc"ed, in the open air, and by eeping.
$ental&#motional Characteristics (,erscu))
%t a glance, one can see the Pulsatilla youngster's gentle, clingy,
fearful nature. The first characteristic noticed about these children is how close
they sit to their parents in the doctor's office. #n a waiting room full of toys and
other distractions, the Pulsatilla child chooses the chair closest to the parent
and then leans toward the mother or father. The sicker the child is, the closer
she leans '' until she finally sits on or lies across her parent's lap.
The child must remain close to the parent. #f a Pulsatilla toddler is on the
floor at the parent's feet and the parent stands up to get a glass of water, the
child begins to cry. +arental cuddling and rocking almost always manages to
staunch the flow of tears, which begins again as soon as the mother tries to put
the child down. The mother's story is that she goes through this sort of thing all
day long. !he is unable to shop, cook, or do housework because she has to
hold the child in order to prevent continuous crying.
=uring the interview, timidity and bashfulness are very evident. The child
may blush, appear an1ious before every anser, loo" at the mother or
father to see if they have answered correctly '' the -right- answer, or promptly
head for the parent's lap and not respond at all.
#n a new classroom or playground situation, Pulsatilla children will want to be
liked but often lac" the initiative to begin a dialogue or interaction
themselves. They tend to bashfully wait until a Phosphorus or Sulphur comes
along and scoops them up into the fun '' a folloer, not a leader. %ccording
to the parents, at home where the child is rela.ed, he -yaks away- with family
members all day long.
The only time Pulsatilla children are not talkative at home is when they have
taken offense at something and are upset. !imilarly, if a coach is unfair to a
child and will not let her play, she often mopes about pouting and cries. The
ability to challenge unfair practices does not belong to the Pulsatilla child.
The Pulsatilla child is affectionate, yielding, and submissive ''
producing hatever behaviour it ta"es to in the attention and
security so craved.
The child likes to be neat and tidy$ the hair is combed perfectly, as it is
in Natrum muriaticum. The mother reports that her Pulsatilla child is easy to
handle, mild, and )uic"ly persuaded to do his chores. ,e helps around
the house, makes his bed, and cleans his room. #n contrast, the Natrum
muriaticum child cannot help but clean his room$ the desire comes from within.
#n Pulsatilla children, it is an action for which they seek an emotional reward.
They want the parents to praise them again and again. -#s this how you want it"-
-*atch me dance.- -,ow do you like the triangle # drew"- They need constant
attention and affection, ithout hich they ilt into feelings of
orthlessness.
The fear of abandonment can become very strong as the children grow up. This
can take several forms, such as feigning illness to get attention. *hat # find
amaAing is the fact that if they feel that no one is paying attention to them, they
may actually produce a fever. %nother very common manifestation of this
insecurity is the refusal to go to bed alone. <ccasionally one finds
a Pulsatilla child of very strict parents sitting during the interview with hands
folded, perfectly dressed and not moving in the slightest. This unusual
behaviour in a child is indicative of the intense desire for acceptance by
the parents and the e(ually intense fear of alienating them.
<ne ma2or shock that fre(uently pushes this fear into an acute state is the
birth of a sibling. The child may become e.tremely 2ealous of the newborn.
>very time the parent wants to change the baby's diapers, the Pulsatilla as"s
for something from the parent) -Can you draw me a cat"- -# want a drink.-
They become selfish andpossessive about their parents' attention and their
toys and material possessions. The child becomes manipulative$ learning early
how to -turn on the tears- to satisfy aconstant desire for attention.
=ue to this 2ealousy, irritability and anger develop, which promote aggression
against the younger sibling. The child, however, maintains her
typical Pulsatilla sweetness with others.
<ther Pulsatilla children may become obstinate in order to secure the
desired attention. This is particularly true of hyperactive boys, a
phenomenon that onlyangers most parents further. The boy demands
attention so strongly and for so long that the parent finally become annoyed and
pushes him away, and may even hit the -pestering- child. This causes the child
to feel even more abandoned and misunderstood.
%nother peculiarity often noticed within the first two months of a sibling being
born, is that the child will develop -real- physical illnesses, usually of
the respiratory variety. %n older child or an adult Pulsatilla may present with
a health history revealing that the asthma from which they have suffered for so
many years began soon after the birth of a sibling.
&egression is particularly acute in Pulsatilla children when they e.perience
a ma2or stress, such as the birth of a sibling. There is a resistance to
groth and the attainment of maturity) they will wet the bed after being -dry-
for years. %nother child will begin to suck a thumb or e.hibit basic babylike
behaviours.
The reaction to intense grief in the Pulsatilla adolescent may render
them inarticulate. They 2ust sit in their rooms or mope around the house.
They respond monosyllabically) -#s something wrong"- the parents ask. -;o.-
-*hat happened"- -;othing.- !elf'pity engulfs them. This very deep, morose
state can be especially dangerous for aPulsatilla teenager. <ne must be
careful here that the child does not entertain thoughts of suicide.
!chool is a big cause of stress for Pulsatilla children. They become sad and
forlorn hen an older sibling goes aay to school. >ven so, when it
comes time for them to go to school, they are afraid. *hen left off at school in
the morning by a parent, the children cry nonstop for the first few days. This is
followed by a period of shyness after which the teacher receives near
complete compliance. #f, however, a parent is late to pick her up after school,
she fears that she has been forgotten and begins to cry.
%lthough she may not be the most popular child in the class,
the Pulsatilla%s friends ill be close to her. #f favorites change, the child
feels emotionally destroyed. #f for some reason she believes a friend has
slighted her, she will arrive home with a tearstained face and near hysterics.
#motions flo freely in the Pulsatilla child, especially in the form of sadness
and tears, which are e.pressed openly and with ease. >(ually striking is the ease
with which these children, boys and girls ali"e, talk about their weeping. -#
cry because my feelings are hurt,- said %lan without hesitation or inhibition, as
though weeping were a natural language with which he communicated. #t is
interesting to find eeping in older boys, given that our society has such
strong mores prohibiting it.
The tears that so easily flow help the child both physically and emotionally. The
sympathy and consolation that he receives from displaying sadness re'
establishes the bonds of love so critical to his emotional survival.
These children are very sensitive to pain, and cry continuously when hurt
until an adult picks them up. >ight'year'old :etty was seen for recurrent
earaches and sinus infections. *hen ill she would cry dramatically, running to
her father to be picked up. *hile the otitis media symptoms did not give any
special clues to the remedy, the intense sensitivity to pain '' e.pressed in the
form of needing consolation '' pointed to Pulsatilla. %fter the remedy was
given, :etty's ne.t earache was her last.
!i.'year'old Tommy had gastroenteritis accompanied by vomiting, stomach
cramps, and diarrhea. The symptoms of the case weighed e(ually
between Sulphur and Pulsatilla. The symptom that sent the verdict
to Pulsatilla was that Tommy was ultrasensitive to the pain. ,e had to be held
and rocked to ameliorate the hurt. #f his mother left the room while his stomach
was hurting, he would yell for her until she returned.
#t seems that the emotions rule this child. 8hen upset, she becomes
irresolute and unable to ma"e any decision, trivial or important. *hen she
goes to a restaurant, she cannot decide what she wants to eat, and the parents
must make the choice for her. !he cannot make up her mind what to wear, may
change her clothing several times or ask the mother to pick something out for
her.
This irresoluteness, when pronounced in a boy, may make him seem
effeminate and softer than his peers. ,e gives in on most issues if there are
differing or louder opinions. The other boys at school may pick on him. *hen
teased at school he, more often than not, will burst into tears, which only eggs
on the taunting children more.
Ten'year'old ;athan was seen for recurrent diarrhea. *hen probed about his
feelings, his mother volunteered that he wept easily. %sked if this was true,
;athan burst into tears, becoming uncontrollable with loud, racking sobs. #t was
easy to see that he had been told he was too old for this type of behaviour,
because he tried to cover his mouth so that no one would see him crying
hysterically. -#t is because my sister hurts my feelings on purpose, calling me a
sissy,- he finally managed to say.
*hat a dilemma in which the Pulsatilla boy finds himself, placed in our society
and having to stifle these natural inclinations in order to conform to a
se1 role. The basic psychology is that the children act as they do from an
insecure nature, the fear of abandonment, indecisiveness, and easy, strong
emotionality.
Pulsatilla (Coulter))
%lmost all Pulsatilla children have a sweet manner, observable in their facial
features, smiles and gestures, of soft and pleasing voice. #n many cases there is a
corresponding sweetness of heart. =elicacy of feeling, consideration of others,
and a gentleness that restrains her from making any comment likely to wound
another's sensibilities all reflectPulsatilla%s essential sweetness.
The type is encountered in the -good,- obliging child who seeks approval and
affection. !he is not prone to argue, nor does she anger easily, being basically
unaggressive. !he helps out in the home and is eager to be -mother's little
helper- in return for love and caresses.
The child also knows how to demonstrate affection. !he comes up with hugs
and kisses, climbs in your lap, cuddles there and sits (uitely without wriggling
and s(uirming. #n her need to be physically close to those she loved, she
instinctively assumes a sweet, acceptible manner.
!he also possesses strong peacemaking instincts. :oth child and adult are
inherently conciliatory and will avoid a (uarrel whenever possible. #f a rupture
does occur, Pulsatilla will bend over backward to restore harmony and even
shoulder the blame, since she relies on others' moods to be happy. ,er
apologies are sincere and she yearns to be forgiven so as not to suffer withdrawl
of the affection she craves.
%nother prominent Pulsatilla characteristic is dependence. #n the young this
dependence is manifested in actual clinging) the child hangs on to her mother's
skirt in public. >ven at home she may not venture two steps away from the
mother. %nd she cries when her mother has to leave her. Carried to the e.treme
(when ill) she may be virtually glued to her mother.
Pulsatilla boys may appear girlish in their behaviour) fearful of the dark or of
being left alone, whining and crying easily. %lthough they usually outgrow this
stage, they may retain a certain softness throughout life. These attributes, of
course, are not always clearcut.
% five'year'old boy came to the physician for chronic earaches. ,e was a
rambunctious, husky little fellow with nothing of Pulsatilla in his looks or
outward manner '' these boys being usually fair, slender and gentle. !o we are
surprised to hear from the mother that he defended the very young children at
the playground, being known as their -guardian angel- and performing these
duties between turns at bat or during pauses in games of kick'ball. #f any
youngster was teased or mistreated, tears would well up in the boy's eyes and,
though he would not fight (Pulsatilla children avoid physical skirmishes), he
would hover protectively over the offended party, guarding him from future
harm. This symptom suggested Pulsatilla which successfully cleared up his ear
condition.
This boy was in no way soft or girlish. ,e 2ust had the Pulsatilla desire to care
for smaller, weaker creatures. *hile this trait is, understandably, found more
fre(uently in girls, many a boy doubtless suppresses this aspect of his nature for
fear of being considered a sissy.
Pulsatilla%s dependence does at times, prevent her from maturing. !he may
retain the characteristics of a child of rather infantile character.
%n important symptom is) -first serious impairment of health begins at puberty-
which is not surprising in view of the nature's dependence. +uberty is the first
stage of true psychological emancipation from the family, which Pulsatilla does
not seek. !he does not fight against her parents to assert her independence.
#n her resistence to maturation, she ac(uires a host of une.plained little aches
and pains) last week in the knee, yesterday in the head, tomorrow in the
abdomen. #n this way she remains reliant on her parent's support.
%nother Pulsatilla characteristic is indecisieness and irresoluteness. 1ike the
meadow anemone which is swayed by every passing breeAe, the individual is
blown one way and another, revealing a habitual inability to make up her mind
on matters both large and small. #n choosing which flavor of ice cream, which
7atchbo. car, or which doll to buy, the child goes through agonies of indecision.
Pulsatilla%s irresoluteness is also seen in the child who cannot get down to the
ne.t day's homework, less from laAiness than from e.treme hesitancy) which
sub2ect should be done first '' math or history, >nglish or ?rench" !he sees
reasons for and against each one and ends up studying none of them unless
firmly directed, -:egin with the math.- Then she starts work obediently, almost
gratefully.
Pulsatilla%s emotionalism can be manifested in a tendency to self pity. The self'
pitying note can even be detected in the tone of a baby's cry. #t is distinctly
plaintive and differs from the yell of a Sulphur or Calcarea baby. The snarling
cry of a Chamomilla baby makes one want to spank the child, while the pitiful
cry of Pulsatilla makes one want to comfort and caress it.
1ater the child may become a crybaby who whimpers and whines a lot, or wails
piteously from the smallest scratch '' not so much from pain as from a desire to
be bandaged, kissed, and fussed over. The slightly older child is easily
discouraged, feels insufficiently liked, is woulded by teasing, and resorts to
gentle tears whenever crossed or reprimanded. The self pity is seen in the
touchiness of adolescents who are offended in a situation where another would
laugh.
%ltogether, Pulsatilla has a prepossessing and pleasing nature, and when its
softness and malleability are combined with stronger (ualities, they fulfill a nice
balancing function. %lthough mild and unaggressive, Pulsatilla is by no means
weak. There is strength in a sociable and civiliAed disposition, a sympathetic and
sensitive attitude, and even in a yielding and adaptable nature. %fter all, the
massive oak was laid low by the ;orth *ind, not the delicate but resilient *ind
?lower.
=. (ulphur
or homeopathic use the roll sulphur of commerce is redistilled at a gentle
heat, forming flowers of sulphur, and then washed by
shaking with alcohol to remove any acid that may
adhere to it- (!amuel ,ahnemann, Chronic #iseases).
Physical Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) ,ead)
The head is often the site of skin eruptions such as cradle cap or ecAema. The
rash turns an angry red any time the child is washed, and the child screams
from the irritation of the water.
There are definite stages to such eruptions. !oon after it commences, the
eruption begins to discharge a yellow, watery pus that later crusts over. The skin
easily becomes infected, causing pimples with the above'mentioned symptoms.
The head is (uite arm and the child often refuses to wear a hat.
7any Sulphur children perspire profusely from the head.
% chief presenting complaint is often that of fre(uent headaches. 7igraines
are preceded by visual disturbances such as flickering lights and halos
around ob2ects. % common cause of headaches is mental e1ertion. !ome
children say that they get headaches from school. The headache tends to throb
and lying down in a darkened room with the head slightly elevated on a pillow
will offer some relief.
(b) >yes)
Sulphur influences the eyes, causing dacryocystitis /-inflammation of the
lacrimal sac of the eye,- &asgur0 and con2unctivitis /-inflammation of the
mucous membrane covering the anterion surface of the eyeball and lining the
eyelids,- &asgur0. =ried, thick, yellow pus coagulates and prevents the eyes
from opening in the morning, much like that found with Calcarea carbonica.
There are, however, a few differences. The inflammatory process in Sulphur is
very destructive to the mucous membranes of the eye, whereas that of Calcarea
carbonica tends to be more benign. #n Sulphur the eyelids become red,
especially at the edge.
The eyes may feel or actually be e.tremely hot, and during infections are almost
always dry and itchy. #f the child is old enough, he may report that it feels as if
someone had thrown sand in his eyes. *ith all this sticky mucus and irritated,
dry, hot eyes, one would naturally assume that the child would wish to cover the
eyes with a damp cloth. ;ot so. The Sulphur youngster screams and kicks as a
warm or cool wash cloth nears the eyes. #nstead of soothing the itch, water
irritates every little cut$ instead of helping the burning and stinging, the water
brings as much relief as applying tiny daggers might, causing much additional
pain.
% common time to observe this symptom comple. is during summer hay
fever season. Pulsatilla types may also be similarly affected, but the eyes will
not be as irritated as they are in Sulphur individuals, and the Pulsatilla eye
complaints will be categorically ameliorated by cold water applications.
(c) >ars)
<ne usually notices the redness of the ears within the first few seconds of
observation.
<ccasionally one prescribes Sulphur during acute otitis media. The following
case describes the classic Sulphur otitis. &icky, a Lycopodium child under
chronic treatment, developed an otitis with a thick, yellow, offensive'smelling
discharge that was streaked with blood. %fter trying Lycopodium to no effect,
the intense redness of the ear was noticed and the remedy Sulphur was
prescribed, successfully ridding &icky of the problem.
?inally, the ears are often plagued by ec'ema, either on them or behind them.
(d) ;ose)
The nose may be affected in a similar manner to the eyes, with discharges
that e1coriate and redden the tip.
There is one very unusual thing about Sulphur that should be mentioned here.
<ccasionally # meet a child who cannot blo his or her nose, even at eight
or nine years old. This is not because the nose is blocked, but because of a lack
of the coordination needed to blow the nose$ the hapless youngster huffs and
puffs and tightens the chest, but can only manage to pass a little air through the
nose. This is a very strange clue to Sulphur children to tuck away in the back of
your mind.
(e) ?ace)
There are so many clues to the remedy written on the face of a Sulphur that it
is often tempting not to elicit a full case history at all and 2ust give the obvious
remedy.
The first and most striking feature of the face is the redness of the eyes,
ears, and lips. %t times the face may be pale, but as soon as the child begins to
laugh, cry, or become e.cited, the red, ruddy glow suddenly radiates.
The optimistic, happy nature of the child can often be read on the face.
The ne.t trait one notices is the s"in eruptions, such as acne, blackheads, or
ecAema, that crop up easily in Sulphur patients, especially during adolescence.
The acne becomes bright red or purplish when the teenager e.ercises or after
taking a hot shower. These are not little eruptions, but resemble angry red boils.
(f) 7outh)
:abies may be prone to aphthae /canker sores0 that become bright red, the
color spreading much further than the actual ulcer. #n reaction to what is
happening inside the mouth, the lips become red, chapped, and cracked, and
may feel as if they are on fire. The mouth is e.tremely sore, making the child cry
out in pain.
Sulphur children, along with Pulsatilla, make cluc"ing sounds when trying to
scratch an itchy upper palate with the tongue, especially during bouts of hay
fever.
The tongue may guide us to the remedy as well, having a bright red tip in some,
while in others, red edges 2oin the red tip.
(g) Throat and ;eck)
#t is not uncommon to have to decide beteen Sulphur and Calcarea
carbonica with regard to the throat. The child may have chronic tonsillitis,
with huge tonsils, swollen glands, much post'nasal catarrh, and stuffy sinuses.
!ince both remedies share all these symptoms, a mistake may easily be made
here. The easiest way to tell a Sulphuris by ho bad the breath smells.
There is a decaying, rotting odor inside the Sulphur throat. The throat and
tonsils have a dar", reddish color.
(h) %sthma)
The bronchi and lungs are often involved$ many parents of Sulphur offspring
bring their children for the treatment of asthma. *hen these children are
having breathing problems, there is a great deal of perspiration on the face and
e.treme fatigue. The asthma may alternate with or follow a skin eruption, or
follow a cold that has dropped into the chest. The asthma may also be triggered
by household allergies, especially e.posure to mold or cats.
(i) +neumonia)
Sulphur is one of the most fre(uently prescribed remedies for pneumonia,
either current or residual. The child becomes hot, uncovering the legs or the
whole body, panting, and needing ventilation from an open window to ease his
or her breathing. The fever attending the infection rises as the day goes on. The
child seems to cough incessantly, bringing up green mucus as if there is no end
to the supply. % common story is that the Sulphur child had pneumonia of the
left lung and then recovered slowly, but never totally lost the cough.
(2) :ronchitis)
There is a hard, dry, racking cough, which finally yields a white or yellowish
e.pectoration. The cough is aggravated by lying on the back, being in a arm
room, or getting warm at night. #t is ameliorated in the open air.
(k) ?ood Cravings and %versions)
Sulphur children desire seets, spicy foods like piAAa, and meat.
They often disli"e mil", having the same sorts of reactions to it that Natrum
muriaticum does. The reaction can be anything from gas, bloating, and
regurgitation to vomiting or diarrhea after drinking the slightest amount of it.
They disli"e sour foods, and they strongly dislike eggs. This helps to
differentiate them from children re(uiring Calcarea carbonica, who love eggs.
Sulphur children tend to be very thirsty, drinking large (uantities
of cold water or soda pop. #n fact, the Sulphur child with any health complaint
will remain thirsty, especially for ice'cold drinks. 1ack of appetite combined
with much thirst is a symptom fre(uently observed in many of the child's acute
illnesses and should be remembered as a Sulphurkeynote.
(l) !tomach)
!tomach symptoms found in practice belong to to general groups of
children. The first group consists of those who are thin and hungry all the
time. *hile they may not like to eat breakfast, they eat voraciously the rest of
the day. :ecause they often skip their morning meal, they are particularly
hungry from eleven o'clock until noon. #f the child is in school, by ten or eleven
o'clock she is feeling faint and finding it hard to concentrate. !he
becomes hypoglycemic and hyperactive and, therefore, more difficult to
control.
The second group does not ish to eat much at all. These children eat
little snacks throughout the day and then merely pick at supper.
(m) &ectum)
The rectum is the most ill,affected portion of the digestive tract. The
healthy Sulphur child has very regular bowel movements, sometimes having two
or three (or more) movements a day. The parents state that when the child
becomes ill, even with a respiratory tract infection, diarrhea ensues. =iarrhea
also develops (uite easily every time the child is on antibiotics.
The diarrhea is usually painless in itself e.cept for the e.coriated anus it
produces. #t is so acrid as to redden the anus and make the skin raw. The
parents of some children report that the child's buttocks are sore and red to
the point that sleeping, walking, and sitting are e.tremely uncomfortable. This
rawness can make the child very irritable and peevish. The child is very cross
and cries, and does not wish to be talked to, touched or held.
<ne may find constipation rather than diarrhea. The hard stools that are
passed with difficulty cause burning, stinging, and itching of the anus.
#n Calcarea carbonica children the constipation may be painless, whereas
in Sulphur it tends to be so painful that the child refuses to move his bowels for
fear of the pain it will bring.
% final observation is that the entire area around the anus, as well as the
underwear, can be messy and soiled, even in older children. +ersonal hygiene
is not high on the list ofSulphur priorities.
(n) @rogenital !ystem)
:oys) The history elicited may contain many bouts of inflammation of the
penis. The genitals, like the anus, may smell bad on e.amination due to poor
personal hygiene. The mother states that the child tends to
develop rashes all over the area.
Birls, likewise, tend to develop rashes and mild infections of the vaginal
area. #mproper wiping after stool is the most common causative factor. They
must always be reminded to wipe front to back, not back to front, which so
easily spreads bacteria to the vaginal area.
(o) >.tremities)
The e.tremities are (uite arm. The children walk about barefoot even in the
winter and stick their feet out of the covers at night. +arents often complain
of offensive foot seats in their little ones.
% main Sulphur complaint is ec'ema of the hands, palms, soles, elbos,
and "nees that is red and itchy.
Sulphur may also be thought of as one of the four main remedies for ea"ness
of the an"les. This weakness causes turning of the ankles or -pigeon'toed-
walking.
(p) !kin)
The skin is perhaps the most affected body part in Sulphur. The eruption
can be of any type from scales, hives, boils and pustules to vesicles
and scabs. The eruption is almost always wet. #f the child gets a scratch or cut,
or is bitten by an insect, the skin locally turns purple and aften develops
an infection. There is a poor recuperative and regenerative ability of the skin
that makes both eruptions and surface in2uries slow to heal, and leads the child
from one skin infection to another.
%ll these eruptions have some common characteristics. They all itch intensely,
especially when the child becomes heated. :urning is also common, especially
after scratching or bathing. $ost eruptions do not do ell after bathing.
Sulphur is the main remedy to think of for suppressed eruptions. ?or
e.ample, if the child had an acute or chronic rash to which a salve or drug was
applied, and the eruption disappeared shortly before the onset of asthma,
bronchitis, diarrhea, or mood changes, a suppression of the disease has
probably been accomplished. This is such a common occurrence that many
parents will not remember it without persistent (uestioning. Treating diaper
rash, ecAema, and psoriasis with strong topical medications is the norm these
days, so such histories must be carefully elicited.
?inally, the remedy Sulphur should be considered for neonatal 2aundice.
The Sulphur neonate will have the typical diarrhea described above as well as
skin that itches intensely. %s they cannot yet scratch themselves, they love to
have a parent run a hand up and down the body.
(leep (,erscu))
They may have a great amounts of energy at night and do not wish to sleep at
all. They will be up running around, 2umping and doing acrobatics to burn off
the last stores of that day's energy.
!leeping positions on the left side or abdomen are usually preferred. They
sleep restlessly, tossing and turning, and may awaken every hour or so after
one or two o'clock in the morning.
7ost of the children will be the -early birds- in the family, waking up at dawn
to read or watch television. Sulphurs feel sleepy after eating lunch.
*mportant +eneral Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) The child is e.tremely arm,blooded. They like to play outside and dislike
remaining in a warm house all day.
(b) The ne.t strong Sulphur sign is the body type. *hile some resemble
the Calcarea carbonica type, being round and plump, they will be much more
robust and ruddy than the typical Calcarea carbonica. 7ost of the children,
however, become taller and thinner than the rest of their age group, stretching
out from the chubby toddler they once were.
(c) These children hate to get into the bath, screaming and kicking all the way to
the bathroom.
(d) %nother situation where the remedy Sulphur can be invaluable is after
vaccinations. There are some patients who improve (uite nicely with a remedy
until vaccinated. Then the case begins to unravel. #f one elicits keynotes
of Sulphur in such cases, if will often as not put things back in order.
(e) !kin eruptions accompanied by intense itching and burning pains, as well as
offensive'smelling discharges from practically anywhere on the body are typical.
$ental&#motional Characteristics (,erscu))
#n the waiting room the Sulphur child is typically all over the office e.ploring
everything, touching the pictures, pulling toys off the shelves, and generally
making a mess of the reception area. #f the child has any fear, it is easily
overwhelmed by this intense curiosity. @pon entering the reception area, the
doctor may find the child speaking to the secretary, asking about the telephone
or the computer, wanting to know how it works and what all the wires are for.
#f the Sulphur child is on the floor playing with other children, it can be
observed that he is in charge of the play. #t is also evident from the
interaction with these new children that the Sulphur child has no fear, but is
rather good at clear, easy communication.
1ooking at the child, one can see that he is not accustomed to being personally
neat, as his clothes are messy, his shirttails are hanging out, and his hair is
flying in all directions.
%lready the doctor has formed certain conclusions about this child and, by
e.trapolation, Sulphur children in general. They are curious and without fear of
strangers. They can make contact with others (uickly and gain their trust. They
are messy$ but what is more, they do not care a bit about their appearance.
%long similar lines, they do not care about the doctor's property. The child may
have to be forced by a parent to put all the toys away. *hen the child finally
does comply, he simply picks up a pile of toys and dumps them in a heap in the
closest repository.
Sulphur children tend to fall into one of four categories of temperaments)
happy'go'lucky, irritable, hyperactive, or cerebral.
7ost common is the happy,go,luc"y, smiling type. # remember eight'year'
old 7elinda slouching in her chair, chewing gum and swinging her legs back
and forth vigorously, as her legs were not long enough to touch the ground. !he
seemed very rela.ed even though it was her first visit to my office. *hen # asked
who the patient was, the girl volunteered, -7eeeeee # am the patient,- before
her mother could answer. 7elinda's mother stated that the child was happy and
easygoing.
*ith a smile and a winsome personality, and (uestions that are thought'
provoking even for adults, the child leaves a strong, positive impression.
The Sulphur energy, on the verge of e.uberance, always shines out.
#t is this e1uberance coupled ith a strong sense of self,
centeredness that allows a Sulphur to both wish to and truly be able to
impress others. This is observed in many ways, from informing the receptionist
all about a new toy she 2ust got, to telling the doctor she won an award at school,
to directing the attention of other waiting patients to the blocks she 2ust stacked.
The Sulphur child en2oys being the center of attention. >ven is he is not
the actual patient but rather the sibling of one, he may come up and pull at the
sleeve of the doctor and say, -You know what"- ,e 2ust does not ish to be
left out.
The second type of Sulphur children, the irritable type, have a negative
attitude toward practically everything. They complain about household chores,
that nobody appreciates them$ they seem dissatisfied with everything. Toddlers
can become peevish and irritable, screaming so long and loudly that it is
difficult to (uiet them down.
Children may become (uite aggressive and may slap, hit, bite or pull the hair
of the mother, or abuse animals when upset. #t should be stressed that this
irritable type is therarest form of Sulphur.
The hyperactive child is commonly cured with a prescription of Sulphur. The
child has a great amount of energy, unstoppable by parents and teachers alike.
,e brea"s all the rules of home and school, becoming more unruly and
disobedient before lunch hen the blood sugar level drops.
They nag to be let out to play, crying louder and louder, their faces (uickly
becoming crimson, pestering the mother nonstop until she hits them or until
they win the struggle. #t is amaAing how (uickly the crying stops as soon as he
has what he wanted. ,e immediately becomes his lovable self again and does
not hold any resentment. The fact that the parent is now in a rage or
distraught is meaningless$ he has his candy or toy, which is all that counts.
The cerebral Sulphur child can be (uite different from other Sulphur children,
resembling Natrum muriaticum. !uch children are very articulate, answering
(uestions with well'thought'out, direct responses.
These more intellectually oriented youngsters tend to have few close
friends, unlike the gregariousness of other Sulphur types. They may love to read
about faraway places, indulge in endless science fiction books and movies, or
even pore over technical manuals on computers, farm e(uipment, or airplane
mechanics. :oys commonly spend time making airplane models and
meticulously arranging baseball card collections.
*hen they become upset they may wish to be alone and not be consoled. %ll
of these traits often mislead one to think of Natrum muriaticum, especially
since most of the physical general symptoms are the same for both remedies.
,owever, as the patient talks, the doctor may notice a slouched posture.
Then the doctor elicits the information that the child is messy instead of neat.
%s one delves deeper into the case, another differentiating point to look for is
that these children are not overly sensitive to any grief in their lives and that
they do not hold grudges at all, forgiving and forgetting easily. The
cerebral Sulphur is also more haughty and condescending than one would find
in aNatrum muriaticum, and is able to loo" directly at the doctor for longer
periods of time.
Sulphur children are usually born with a great natural intelligence) an
ability to (uickly and integrate new information. *ith this innate intelligence
comes the openness and desire to e1plore new situations. %s a result, the
child appears very bright in comparison to other children who, due to shyness,
reservation, or the fear of new situations, are slower to e.periment and ac(uire
knowledge.
This intelligent youth often assumes the leadership position in a group. *hile
other children may wish to be leaders, it is Sulphur children who glide
effortlessly into such roles. They love the position and feel secure in it.
There is a strong degree of self,determination in these children. They are
strongly opinionated and have the audacity to tell any adult what their wishes
are in no uncertain terms.
Sulphur children then, are fiercely independent. <ne finds four'year'olds
who demand to wash and dress themselves. They like to do everything by
following their own schedules and on their own terms. % three'year'old girl was
the only child who talked back to her parents out of a family of four children.
The child touches everything. #t is this in)uisitiveness that is partially
responsible for the -messiness- of the child, who (uickly figures out the
workings of a toy, ob2ect, or game and them goes on to the ne.t one. There is a
degree of 2oyful abandon in this disorder as opposed to other remedy types
who can be wantonly destructive. <ne feels almost guilty for stopping
this amiable child's e.ploration of the office. This little demolition e.pert
makes the doctor feel like a -stick in the mud- for curtailing the happy child's
fun.
Sulphur children, however, do tend to have a dirty and messy appearance. Their
clothes, hair, and their rooms are typically dirty, unkempt, and disordered, and
they do not mind. #t is as if the grooming impulse and personal hygiene gene
is missing from these children.
#f one looks past the cuteness, past the curiosity, one can discern a self,
centered child who does not care about others' feelings or
possessions. The messiness in these children is 2ust one facet of the
personality that reflects an attitude that others do not really count '' that other's
opinions about their habits do not count. The child tracks mud into the house,
puts dirty shoes on the furniture, and seems immune to repeated reprimands.
They devour the last piece of cake, drain the orange 2uice pitcher, or snitch the
last candy bar from the cupboard. They do not do this out of meanness but
rather out of only thinking of their own needs.
Thus far we have seen the sharpness of the mental processes. !ome children
who need the remedy Sulphur can also enter into the opposite state
of dullness, lethargy, and lac" of concentration. #t appears to be a sort
of facultative brea"don that often first begins 2ust before lunchtime and
then gradually generaliAes to the entire day. The teacher tells the parents that at
eleven o'clock in the morning the child begins to prop her head up in her hands
with the elbows on the desk, gaAing out blankly with almost crossed eyes due to
weakness and lack of concentration.
They then begin to daydream fre(uently and stop doing well in school. They
come home from school and lie around, listen to music or watch television.
#nstead of their previous top grades, they now seem not to care. !ince they have
an innate mental agility, they easily take tests without studying and receive
ade(uate marks. %s they enter the higher grades, the information becomes too
comple. to pass tests without studying. They no longer do their homework, and
instead will try to -cram- for the test the night before or tocheat outright.
%nything goes for these once precocious children as long as they do not have to
strain their mental faculties.
+arents report that their children have poor concentration, lack ambition, and
never finish chores. The children may try to bluff their way through life with a
keen sense of humor. They no longer care about e.ternal demands on their
mentality, since it has become more difficult to concentrate. #nstead, more time
is spent on social activity. #t is important to think of this laAiness not as a
conscious choice to slack off, but as an actual dulling of the mind. % prescription
of the remedy Sulphur can do wonderful work here.
The most common fear is of heights. These children may also have the well'
known an.iety about family members. #f a parent does not come home on
time, they begin to imagine the worst and will fret and worry.
(ulphur (Coulter))
!ometimes the Sulphur child's aggressive unwillingness to cooperate, attributed
to selfishness, is actually generated more by an e.treme independence and
resentment of outside interference. -# want to do it my own way- he insists. -:y
myself, by myself- he cries angrily, pushing away help as he struggles to tie his
shoe laces or attempts some other difficult task.
Sulphur can also be materialistic. -*hat's mine is mine, and what's yours is
negotiable.- %t an early age the child can be (uite ferocious in snatching away
toys from others while protecting his own tenaciously. -#t's mine... =on't
touch- The remedy was once successfully prescribed for this reason to an
eighteen'month'old boy with a complicated respiratory tract infection) while
sitting in his mother's lap he tugged at her earrings and shouted -7ine... mine-
with an angry and determined e.pression on his face.
%t times, however, the reverse is encountered. #nstead of grabbing, babies will
insistently thrust a toy or rattle into another's hand. %n older child will
approach whomever he had taken a fancy to and generously hand over his book
or stuffed animal in the same assertive manner. Thus, the e.tremes of
selfishness and generosity are strangely encountered in this remedy.
%s Sulphur grows older, he or she begins to collect things) rocks, shells, stamps,
matchbo.es, baseball cards, dolls, or tiny china animals. They are by instinct
pack rats.
The child is e.tremely pleased with his possessions. ,e is proud of them, talks
of them, displays them. ,owever cluttered and messy his room, he knows
e.actly where everything is and cannot bear having anything moved. The
pockets of a younger Sulphur boy will be stuffed with his favorite ob2ects.
% vivid illustration was the ecAematous three'year'old who walked into the
physician's office with five '' not one, but five '' pacifiers in his possession) one
in his mouth, one tightly clenched in each fist, and the remaining two dangling
from each arm where he could see them. #f any of the five disappeared, he would
fly into a passion. This situation called for Sulphur. !oon after receiving a course
of the remedy his ecAema started to resolve and he decided to give -all- the
pacifiers away to !anta Claus. -*ill he come /it was Duly0 to get them"-
,owever, being Sulphur, he wanted an electric train in e.change.
=uring his boyhood stage Sulphur loves swapping his goods and seldom
emerges the loser in these transactions. The child may have an astonishing
money sense, having a sharp eye for bargains and insisting that his parents shop
accordingly. ,ere again, however, the reverse is encountered in the child who
will happily trade a camera or a new :: gun for an irresistible sack of worthless
old toys and feel proud about it.
The child hates to part with any ob2ect, even the most useless because, -*ho
knows" '' some day it might come in handy.- ,e resents lending even the most
easily replacable things. This need for tactile contact with his possessions,
keeping them on his person or within reaching distance, is a
particular Sulphur characteristic.
The -heated- or eruptive nature of Sulphur can be seen clearly in both the
physical and mental spheres. The infant is active, restless, and colicky. ,e is
always hungry and continually on the go, fussing against whatever holds him
back or holds him still. ,e may lie awake crying at night, wanting to be fed and
amused, then sleep most of the day. <ne of these night'time babies, a five'
month'old boy, was brought to the homeopath for a severe case of diaper rash.
The skin on his buttocks and groin was not only raw, raised, bright red and
shiny'tight, but also cracked and so inflamed that the heat could be felt a foot
away. ,ow the baby could stand this was a mystery, but he was a tough little
fellow (as Sulphur often is) with a demanding but basically sanguine
disposition. ,e received three doses of the remedy at twelve'hour intervals. ;ot
only did the rash begin to subside immediately, disappearing completely in a
few days, but his inner clock was also changed. Thereafter, he began to sleep at
night and do his playing and nursing during the day.
Sulphur hates being washed, dressed, put to bed, or seated at the table. They
may not be able to sit through a meal. 1ater in school they cannot sit (uietly at
their desks. !itting still, and especially standing still, are intolerable.
%s the boy grows older, noise'making and movement continue to be intrinsic to
his nature) slamming doors, tumbling downstairs, loud shouting, fidgeting
about, and making noise for its own sake. %dults are constantly telling him,
-Geep (uiet :e still !it down- or -!top it- :ut Sulphur needs to be active. ,e
loves to be outside playing ball, riding his bicycle, and engaging in various
strenuous activities.
!ome boys must always be talking. <ften they are only (uiet when listening to
music. >ven here, however, the music must be stimulating and loud. ,e also
likes his books, movies, and television programs to be full of e.citement, fast
action, and lively stimulation.
The disposition can be fiery and pugnacious. They are not necessarily obno.ious
'' 2ust obstreperous and constantly asserting themselves. #n fact, they may be
remarkably uncomplaining, possessing the positive, buoyant outlook of those
two charming Sulphur immortals, Tom !awyer and =ennis the 7enace. They
emanate heat, but, like fire, also radiate cheerfulness.
The maturing lively boy may turn his creative energies to troublemaking, with a
most disruptive influence on the class. #n contrast, the boy who is the social core
of the class is also fre(uently a Sulphur. ,e is still making waves, but in a
constructive way, by manifesting his leadership (ualities.
Biven the heat'emitting and commotion'causing (ualities of this remedy, it is
hardly surprising that Sulphur is the -ace of spades- of homeopathic adolescent
remedies.
>. $edorrhinum (5osode of +onnorhea)
edorrhinum is the steriliAed and potentiAed product of one of those deadly
acute diseases which ,ahnemann recogniAed as basic to
chronic disease. ,e put
forward two remedies, Thu(a and Nitric !cid, as producing symptoms -like-
those of the acute gonorrheal manifestations, and therefore potently curative$
given, one or other, as most indicated.
-!ince his early work, we have advanced yet further$ proving and employing,
with tremendous effect, the disease'product itself$ but tamed, after the methods
of preparation and administration he laid down, and so rendered absolutely
harmless even to the new'born babe.
-,omeopathy has, for the last 4HH years /This was written in 48I50 employed
the deadliest poisons with not only perfect safety, but with a ma.imum of
success, with the absolute foreknowledge of where and how they may be relied
upon merely to stimulate vitality to curative reaction and do no harm.
-:ut, first, let us say emphatically, '' no one must think that
because Medorrhinum is the remedy called for by the symptoms of any case,
that therefore the patient must have had the disease. :y far more commonly the
taint may have filtered down through several generations$ and it may be
impossible to obtain really satisfactory healthward progress without a few
intercurrent doses of Medorrhinum- (7argaret Tyler, Homeopathic #rug
Pictures).
Physical Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) ,ead)
The scalp lacks oils in an inverse proportion to that which the face produces,
resulting in dry hair and a dandruffy, flaking scalp.
(b) >yes)
#nfants may develop con2unctivitis /-inflammation of the mucous membrane
covering the anterior surface of the eyeball and lining the eyelids,- &asgur0
or blepharitis/inflammation of the eyelids0 with much swelling and redness.
The pus that is e.uded is thick, greeen, and e.coriates the entire area of the eye.
<lder children may report these eye inflammations as something that occurred
in the past, or complain of low'level chronic blepharitis as the chief
complaint. The sensations that they mention '' eyelashes falling out and a
sensation of sand in the eyes '' are similar to Sulphur.
(c) >ars)
!ome Medorrhinum children have fre)uent colds. #f these colds are
repeatedly treated with antibiotics, se(uelae develop in the ears. The most
common se(uela is a great amount of fluid in the middle ear that causes
impaired hearing. #f the eardrum ruptures, one finds that the fluid pours out of
the ear for a long time, not soon resolving as it does in children of other types.
(d) ;ose)
!ince the immune system in Medorrhinum children is damaged from birth,
problems such as ec'ema, asthma, and hay fever abound. The infant or
child will catch coldsvery easily and it may seem as if he always has mucus
either running from or stuffing up the nose. The parents remember that from
the first few months of life the child sneeAed often and developed crusts
surrounding the outside of the nostrils and was plagued by thick, yellow'green
mucus that had to be suctioned out of the nose. This condition may be (uite
intractable and obstinate, not yielding to orthodo. treatment or the more
common homeopathic remedies. The state of the nose should be considered a
ma2or confirmatory clue in the diagnosis of Medorrhinum.
(e) 7outh)
<ccasionally a child complains of tiny blisters in the mouth that recur, especially
after drinking citrus 2uice.
(f) ?ace)
The faces of these children are often graced with very distinctive features.
The skin may be pale or gray toned. Medorrhinum is especially indicated if
the child has agreenish, shiny look to the skin. The skin looks as if it were
polished with wa.. This is due to the e1cess oil produced by overAealous
sebaceous glands.
The amount of facial hair is minimal. This may be noted as a thinness of the
beard of teenaged boys. *hat may be observed in many Medorrhinum children
is pencil'thin, narrow eyebrows.
<ccasionally, the face bears a keynote of this remedy and of this
inherited Medorrhinum tendency in general) spider hemangiomas. The
reddish'blue, spidery'looking spots made up of dilated capillaries under the
surface of the skin can be seen in infants as well as children and adults.
Younger children develop fever blisters easily, especially on and around the
lips.
(g) Throat and ;eck)
The child tends to get colds that lead to a postnasal drip with copious, thick
mucus. The child hawks or coughs up phlem, almost choking on it at times.
<ften there is a raw pain in the throat and the tonsils are painfully swollen.
(h) 1ower &espiratory !ystem)
The Medorrhinum child is susceptible to chest colds and&or asthma from
birth.
The asthma, described as -tightness,- may be felt high up in the chest as
opposed to lower in the chest, where most other asthmatics describe the
location of this sensation. The cough that accompanies the asthma as well as
shortness of breath are both ameliorated by lying don, especially on the
abdomen. !ome children e.hibit the keynote that when they begin to cough,
they throw themselves onto the bed and bury their heads in the pillows. They
either lie in the knee'to'chest position, on their knees at the side of the bed with
the abdomen and head pressed on the bed, or on the abdomen. The
remedy Medorrhinum may at times be prescribed on these signs alone.
Chronic chest colds also plague the Medorrhinum child. There is a deep,
rattling cough. ;o matter how hard they try, they cannot dislodge the mucus.
The constant cough is severe and seems to tear the throat apart. #t may be
ameliorated by lying on the abdomen.
% one'year'old girl was brought in for chronic upper respiratory infections. The
worst complaint for the mother was the child's incessant wet cough. !he carried
the sleeping child into the office and put her down on the floor and the child
promptly rolled up into the knee'to'chest position, burying her face in the
carpet and thrusting her seat up into the air. This was the first clue to the
remedy which was given to the great benefit of the tiny patient.
(i) ?ood Cravings and %versions)
The food cravings are (uite uni)ue. The strongest cravings are for salt, fat,
seets, and unripe fruit, especially the sour, tart, or green varieties. 7any
times the favorite is citrus) oranges, grapefruit, and even lemons. :abies often
like 2uice in general and orange 2uice in particular. They can eat many pieces of
citrus fruit at one sitting) -%s many as there are in the house,- tells one mother.
These children strongly dislike any foods that tend to be slimy, as well
as onions, beans, and peas.
They have a great thirst for cold drin"s and especially love to chew on ice.
(2) !tomach)
Medorrhinum is one of the main remedies for the infantile condition commonly
known as failure to thrive. %lthough the child has a large appetite, due to the
vomiting and diarrhea that constantly arise he will be slow to develop. 7others
notice that after the baby nurses he vomits not only milk but also yellow mucus
along with the milk.
#n older children, they eat but do not gain weight as they should. %fter the
remedy is given the children usually begin to (uickly put on weight and height.
7any Medorrhinumteenagers complain of bloated, distended abdomens
after eating.
(k) &ectum)
The infants usually have a characteristic fiery red rash around the genitals
and anus. This is such an intense and persistent eruption that it is
remembered by the parent and reported even when the child is seen much later
in life after the rash has disappeared. The parents report that they went from
one doctor to another, yet no matter what treatment was tried, the rash would
not go away.
The child may have diarrhea from birth along with the other symptoms of
failure to thrive previously described. This diarrhea in infants is yellow'green,
e.coriates the anus and surrounding area, and has an offensive odor.
7any children have chronic constipation from birth. The child strains and
strains, only to pass very hard, round pellets.
(l) @rogenital !ystem)
Medorrhinum children are plagued by bed etting. The urine is acid with a
very strong odor, and may cause or e.acerbate the fiery red rash 2ust described.
7oys may develop an acute phimosis (inflammation of the foreskin of the
penis). They may also have rashes and arts on the penis. #n an infant or
young child such a history reveals that a parent or grandparent at one time had
contracted gonorrhea. 7any boys awaken with erections and, if in the same
bed, like to rub against the parents or siblings.
+irls may develop a variety of vaginal infections very early. >ven infant girls
may develop a vaginal discharge. <lder girls may likewise develop vaginitis and,
what is more unusual in se.ually inactive girls, pelvic inflammatory
disease.
The menstrual flo in adolescents is also often affected. The cycle tends to be
irregular. The blood may be dark and clotted, and gives off an offensive odor.
The flow may arrive with ovarian pains so intense that the girl doubles over with
them. %n acccurate keynote, if one can ask and confirm it, is that the adolescent
feels chilly before the flow, especially in the breast area. %lso before the flow,
girls may become sad, weepy, and occasionally suicidal.
:oth se.es engage in early se1ual e1perimentation, and both tend to
masturbate as children.
(m) >.tremities)
Two clues to the prescription of Medorrhinum are persistent, nervous up and
don movements of the child's feet, and uncommon armth of the feet.
The child wants her shoes and socks off and often walks barefoot through the
house, even in the wintertime or on cold cement. #n the evening these two
characteristics combine and fidgety, hot feet can be seen protruding from the
covers during sleep.
<lder children may complain of pain and selling of the soles and
an"les. Medorrhinum should be the first remedy considered for painful soles,
making the child favor the sides or edges of the feet as a walking surface.
Teens may complain of a painful stiffness in the 2oints, an arthritis that
often begins in the ankles or knees. %rthritis is aggravated at night, in damp
weather, and ameliorated by motion. *hat stands out most
in Medorrhinum cases is the degree of selling of the 2oints, most especially
of the an"les. This swelling is a good guiding symptom for the remedy.
!ome children describe a feeling as if their 2oints are tightening up and that they
must .pop. them to loosen them up and get relief.
%nother common keynote of Medorrhinum is that children bite their nails to
the (uick.
(n) !kin)
The skin of Medorrhinum children is susceptible to groths such as moles
and arts.
The infants often have very bad rashes in the genital
area. Medorrhinum should be one of the first remedies considered for infants
who have ecAema from birth, especially if the ecAema alternates with bouts of
asthma. The alternation of ec'ema and asthma or ec'ema and
allergies is very consistent with this remedy type. %lso consistent is the ease
with which the ecAema is suppressed by strong medications and thereafter the
child develops respiratory problems or bone disease in response.
The child may develop neurodermatitis and hives from drin"ing citrus
2uice or eating straberries.
Medorrhinum should be among the first remedies contemplated for lipomas
or fat cysts.
6uite a few Medorrhinum children have vitiligo, consisting of large, circular
patches of pale discoloration on the face and abdomen. %fter the remedy is
given, one may find the patches becoming pigmented and fading away.
The skin may appear oily all over the body, especially on the face.
#t is peculiar, but these children also tend to get many insect bites and allergic
reactions to these bites.
(leep (,erscu))
The Medorrhinum child tends to be a .night person,. finding it difficult to fall
asleep until late at night. Their sleep is restless, with much tossing and turning.
7ost especially commented upon is the thrashing of the legs throughout the
night.
The child is very hot and will often sleep naked and uncovered, especially the
feet.
>ven though their sleep is restless, they favor sleeping on the abdomen or in
the "nee,to,chest position with the buttocks in the air.
7any Medorrhinum children have nightmares. :eing chased, bitten by
animals, etc., are common themes.
The child may either wake up with much frantic energy, or wake up tired
and unrefreshed.
*mportant +eneral Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) The remedy Medorrhinum is fre(uently prescribed after the case has been
treated first with another remedy. % common scenario follows) %fter prescribing
the first correct and well)chosen non'Medorrhinum remedy, the child does very
well. Yet after a time the case stalls. !imultaneously, a
few Medorrhinum keynotes arise. Medorrhinum is prescribed and the child
progresses nicely again. The original prescription may have matched the case
perfectly. #t is as if there were a genetic flaw that undermined the child's vital
defenses and made them too weak to react properly to the well'chosen remedy
in order to reestablish homeostasis.
(b) Medorrhinum should be considered for children who appear stunted in
physical, emotional, or mental development.
(c) % detailed family history is of the utmost importance.
The Medorrhinum child's family history may contain diseases common to this
remedy type) gonorrhea, asthma, arthritis, angina, and heart disease. The family
tree may begin with diseases of the skin, which progress from there to the
respiratory tract, then to the bones and 2oints, and then to the heart, either in
one person or across a family lineage.
(d) These are hot,blooded children who like the cool, open air and dislike
heat.
(e) %ll their discharges are offensive smelling, acrid, and profuse.
(f) ,ealth complaints are ameliorated by lying on the abdomen, especially
respiratory symptoms.
$ental&#motional Characteristics (,erscu))
Medorrhinum children are among those who are fre(uently ill from birth,
carrying as they do a genetically determined constitutional weakness. There
is a general unability to shake acute illnesses (uickly or totally.
The Medorrhinum child has a number of distinctive characteristics in the
psychological and mental spheres. #1treme e1troversion or e1treme
introversion may be reported, although the former is much more
common. 7ost children of this type are very e1troverted and vital.
?or some, this vitality is amplified to the point of irritating those around them.
They usually play hard and enthusiastically. This -open- type
of Medorrhinum can easily approach total strangers and begin a conversation
on almost any sub2ect. They en2oy socialiAing and usually have many friends.
% directness, at times e.treme, may first offer a clue to the probability of
a Medorrhinum layer e.isting in the child. %n older patient in a wheelchair and
wearing an eye patch was waiting in the reception area. % Medorrhinum child,
,oward, burst into the office, and before his huffing mother could catch up, he
lunged at the patient and yelled, -,ey, what do you have under that thing"- and
tore the patch off the astonished man's face
This overly'e.uberant nature often leads to early e1perimentation with
drugs and other e.perience'altering substances such as model airplane glue
fumes, cough medicine, pain killers, and even car e.haust.
There is a great deal of se1ual acting out at an early age as well. *ith some
embarrassment, parents report of their young children such behaviours as
erections, kissing and playing erotically with both adults and other children,
masturbating, and repeatedly being found naked with young neighbor children.
# once treated a si.'year'old girl who showed violent tendencies in general and
who liked to -pick- at her vagina all the time. The child would coerce her mother
to dress her in the tightest possible clothes and underwear.
>vidence of greater than normal vitality may be observed in their hurried
behaviour. The parents confirm that the child does everything (uickly, always
seeming to be in a big rush. 1ike many symptoms of this remedy, the e.act
opposite may be true) there may be periodic sings toward
total, incapacitating inertia.
!uch energy may over time lead to a true hyperactive state. %t school they may
become restless to the point of ildness.
,yperactive Medorrhinum children cannot concentrate very well, especially
when tired. They are messy by nature and may be confused with
hyperactive Sulphur children because of this.
%nother negative attribute commonly found in these children is meanness and
cruelty$ coupled with high energy, it can lead to fre(uent (uarrels, screaming
matches, and out'and'out fighting, especially when the child is contradicted or
reprimanded. *hen this happens, the child wants his own way even more and
seems to develop superhuman strength. #n this state, he can fight everyone
around him, even parents and bigger, stronger siblings with great tenacity. The
child becomes implacable, throwing things andstri"ing their parents,
siblings, and friends without remorse.
+arents state that during these -mean- times, the child can become totally out of
control, where meaningful discipline or punishments are impossible. The
situation can (uickly degenerate into a struggle for control in which the parents
have to physically overpower the child in order to stop a tantrum or other
violent behaviour. The child may even wait for his chance and
take reprisals against the parents. This meanness can help to
differentiate Medorrhinum from other remedies sharing similar physical
symptoms, and a prescription has, time and time again, ameliorated fits of
anger, brought more emotional balance, and helped whatever physical
complaint brought the child to the homeopath in the first place.
%n episodic cruelty or rudeness, the fitful, changeable nature of the child,
when times of great aggressiveness alternate with times of introversion and
playful coyness, most often indicates a need for this remedy. The parents
report e1treme polarity of behaviour, swinging from very sweet and
charming to very nasty and destructive, without apparent cause. (elf,
destructive tendencies born of hot tempers and mindless fitfulness, and
without thought of the pain it might impose on the child himself, are
characteristics of this remedy. <ne troubled teenager, who suddenly became
angry, punched his fist into a door, breaking three bones in his hand.
These fitful children may become very obstinate and bossy. +arents bemoan
the constant struggle to determine who is in control, even in the case of a three'
year'old. The child yells, -# want this- while tugging at the doctor's stethoscope
and screams and carries on until the ob2ect is handed over. The parents assert
that it is no use to try and reason with the child once his mind is made up. They
have found that attempts to discipline the child in this state only have a
deleterious or negligible effect.
%nother was to guage the depth of the obstinacy is to see how long children
hold grudges. The length of time can be amaAing, even in small children. They
blurt out angrily, -#'m gonna get him back.- These little ones remember
everyone else's perceived transgressions and desire to mete out appropriate
retribution while forgetting their own substantial meanness and trespasses
against others.
Medorrhinum children e.hibit temper tantrums that are often rooted in a
great intolerance of contradiction. >.plosive violence and other
generally antisocial behaviour is reported upon the slightest contradiction.
The child may nag and confront a parent until getting an emotional rise out of
him or her. #t is as if she wants, needs, and almost longs for a reprimand and
punishment. # remember nine'year'old !ally, who would provoke a fight
whenever possible. #f her mother told her not to make noise at the theater, it
was guaranteed that she would yell so her mother would be moved to swat her.
#t was as if the contact that she made with her parent in that fashion was
desirable. %s soon as a parent became angry with her, she would become
cooperative and sweet. 1oving attention by a parent may go unheeded or even
be re2ected by such a child.
#n addition to behaving violently themselves, these children li"e to observe
violence as well. They love to watch scary or violent movies with lots of blood
and gore.
Medorrhinum children are often caught lying. 1ying often begins with the
relatively innocuous and common e.cuse, .*t's not my fault..
#n the office a careful listener will fre(uently hear this type of lying) the parents
describe a negative trait, like temper tantrums or cursing, and the child will
e.claim over and over with the utmost conviction, -;o # don't ;o # don't- in
response to every point. #f the doctor finally turns to the child and asks, -*hat
didn't happen"- the child will say -That didn't happen lately- or -That didn't
happen on Thursday like 7om said.- This lying by omission in children can
evolve into an adult behaviour.
%nother form of lying by omission is noted in children who do not ish to
have anything .bad. said about them. ;o one does, but their reactions
speak loudly of the remedy itself. They scream, -;o ;o !top- at the parents as
they describe ordinary symptoms to the doctor. <thers hide behind the parent's
chair or behind a plant and yell, -#'m not telling- in answer to any (uestion
asked of them.
!ome lying is evoked by 2ealousy of siblings. !ince some children appear not
to comprehend parental love, they may measure love by getting e(ual shares of
ob2ects, toys, and food. # know a boy who wanted a duplicate of everything that
his brother had. ,e would steal and hide his brother's toy because he did not
one also. ,e would even hide his own toys and blame his brother for stealing
them 2ust to get him into trouble. ,e seemed not to know of affection at all,
desiring only the outer manifestations, the physical trappings of love.
There is a thoughtless selfishness. :ehaviour can reflect a complete
disregard for the wishes of others. This is also manifested
as manipulativeness. The child may tattle on other siblings so that he will
receive more attention, even lying to get a sibling into trouble.
The child needing Medorrhinum may have one of two main problems in the
ability to think clearly. The first problem is an inborn mental and physical
darfing, as though from a minor chromosomal defect. The second is only
a functional problem ith the ability to concentrate.
The former difficulties include a memory ea" from babyhood on,
especially for conceptual thought. They are usually poor spellers and forget the
meaning of words. The child is easily confused by more abstract information.
They can have difficulty e.pressing themselves clearly.
3nomalies in gross or fine motor s"ills abound. % child may not be able to
use scissors or demonstrate good penmanship. ,e may also walk with a 2erky
gait.
?or the second type of child, the short attention span often leads doctors to
diagnose an attention deficit disorder. +arents are often told that the child
re(uires &italin. This type of child begins to lose the thread of
conversations. #n teenagers, confusion is seen most commonly in school'
related learning. Their fragile concentration is easily broken by any
noise. %ysle1ia, mistakes in speech, and poor recall are not due to mental
dullness so much as to confusion. %s memory declines over time, abstract
theoretical knowledge is easily lost. *hile the child may forget what was heard
or read, she can still remember concepts that have visual, e.periential clues.
There can be a chronic mental disconnectedness symptomatic of both the
remedy and the inherited susceptibility, the slow dissipation of attention that
takes place over a period of years and is replaced by growing confusion.
7any children who re(uire the
remedy Medorrhinum are pseudoambide1trous. #t is not that they are
e(ually able to use either hand as a true ambide.trous person can, but rather
that they do not have a dominant hand. :ecause of this, they may switch hands
during activities and never (uite master a skill with either one.
*nitially, the Medorrhinum child who is a slow learner is perfectionistic,
spending a long time trying to fashion letters correctly. %s the confused state
worsens over months and years, the child begins to procrastinate and to
hate being pushed to read, write, or do homework.
There is a subgroup of Medorrhinum children that is shy and timid. %n
inferiority comple. is observed in their demeanor during the interview. They
can become mentally dull and develop increased an1iety about upcoming
events, especially those revolving around school pro2ects. This is due
to decreased confidence in his on mental capabilities. #n general, they
are either intermittently or consistently bashful and introverted. The boys of
this subgroup are softhearted and sensitive to an e.treme degree.
The mother may state that the child has been psychologically tested and found
to have very low self'esteem. These unfortunates have no confidence or
pride in themselves.
%s these children grow up they become increasingly more introverted. 7any
become depressed. #n their depression they begin to act out, 2ust as more
e.trovertedMedorrhinum children do. They start to take drugs and smoke
cigarettes. This ta"ing of drugs is not done with the relish and en2oyment
found in their outgoing counterparts, but instead with a sense of despondency.
They become gloomy, feeling that all around them is blackness and depression.
#n such a severe emotional condition, some girls may develop anore1ic or
bulimic behaviour. There is one ma2or clue that will make one
consider Medorrhinum over other remedies for ane.oria) the adolescent may
not eat for days, starving herself so that she emaciates, but hen she finally
forces herself to eat, she ill eat mainly fruit. This is a ma2or indication
for the remedy.
!he blames herself for anything that goes wrong in her life as a way of 2ustifying
her self'destructive behaviour. This self,blame can lead to more e.treme self'
destructive behaviour. !ome girls even begin to physically punish themselves,
cutting their arms with raAors. The two most common stressors that make the
girl more vulnerable to suicidal impulses are drug use and premenstrual
tension.
<ne final comment on eating disorders) while homeopathic remedies can be
very effective in helping to rebuild the body as well as the mind, they should
never be the sole treatment. % homeopath's success rate with these disorders
will rise dramatically if treatment is combined with family'centered counseling
and skill'oriented therapies that work on developing new methods of relating to
food.
% common fear of Medorrhinum children is the fear of being alone,
especially in the dar". The reason behind this fear is really a deeper fear of
an unseen .presence,.something eerie in the house lurking in the dark. ?ear
of large bodies of ater is the other well'known fear of this remedy type.
This fear is related to the fear of eerie, unseen things$ something under the
water may come up and snatch them. <n the other hand, a love of bathing in the
ocean is also sometimes characteristic of this remedy.
%nother fear that about one in five Medorrhinum children has is the fear
of closed,in places. %ny time the child wrestles and becomes pinned down, he
aggressively punches his way out, completely losing all reason in doing so.
<ne final note on the mind) if the doctor is very attentive to his or her own
feelings about and reactions to the patient, this alone may provide a strong clue
as to whether or not this remedy is needed. !ome of these children elicit a
feeling of disgust in others. #t is not that they do or say anything that could
be considered repulsive$ it is 2ust a general feeling in the observer of something
repellent that seems to e.ude from the child.
$edorrhinum (Coulter))
>ven if Medorrhinum starts out to behave moderately and methodically,
somehow his actions take on a non'systematic, e.uberant coloration. ,e takes
the second step before the first, hurling himself into any chosen endeavor)
-*hen my mind is on a particular point, # act as if it were the only thing in the
world, sometimes to my own detriment,- an adult patient admits.
>.uberance, enthusiasm, even e.cess, can be positive traits, encouraging high
productivity and nourishing talent. :ut when unmanageable or misdirected, as
seen most clearly in hyperactive children with uncontrolled e.uberance, they
become serious handicaps. Medorrhinum is one of the most effective remedies
for the unruly or undisciplined youngster who is constantly touching things,
breaking them, tripping over himself, and rashly lurching to do everything
hastily '' as likely to hurt himself as others.
!uch behaviour actually reflects a deeper stratum of the Medorrhinum makeup
'' the general way in which he processes knowledge and e.perience. ,e must act
out a situation before it is credible, or even comprehensible, to him$ knowledge
is born of action, or must first be e.perienced in action. The child does not learn
from being told that the stove is hot but must burn himself more than once
before anticipating the conse(uences of his actions.
%nother idiosyncratic Medorrhinum symptom is a deranged sense of time.
Time seems to move too slowly. This contributes to his impatience. ,e is always
in a great hurry. Yet, while rushing to accomplish everything that is on his
agenda, he is a procrastinator. % methodical approach tries his patience (at best,
never a distinguishing feature). ,e puts everything off until the last moment
and must then operate in haste and under pressure.
The hurried (uality is often e.hibited in Medorrhinum%s very speech. ,e talks
hastily, eruptively, in a compulsive rush of words, at times in garbled phrases,
beginning in midthought, repeating himself fre(uently as if fearful of being
misunderstood. Thus even in speech habits, this nosode's overall pattern is
encountered '' an internal welling up that finds urgent release in an eruptie
and e$uberant form.
Medorrhinum may perform in spurts of haste because he fears that otherwise
he will not only lose his thread of thought but also his rush of inspiration. #n
fact, when the energy'generating pressure, or the focus supplying intensity are
missing, the individual might be unable to collect his thoughts, have difficulty
concentrating his mind on abstract sub2ects, and may be even hard put to
e.press himself, at a loss for words or breaking off in the midst of a sentence.
%s mentioned previously, Medorrhinum is usually prescribed as an intercurrent
remedy when well'selected remedies, that match the case very well, fail to act.
The following cases will help to illustrate this.
The case of a brain'damaged boy of si. is an e.ample. The condition had
commenced at the age of eight months when he suddenly stopped breathing and
had to be rushed to the emergency room. ,is life was saved, but the brain had
been impaired, and soon afterwards the parents noticed signs of inade(uate
mental development. *hen first seen by the homeopath he was mentally
retarded, living isolated in his own autistic world, emitting peculiar noises,
talking disconnectedly and off topic, and with a two'year old's sense of
responsibility for his behaviour and actions. ,e attended a special school where
he learned little and could not relate to his peers.
,e was primarily Sulphur, which he received regularly during years of
homeopathic treatment. ,is progress in developing mental strength was
heartening, and, at length, although still in school for the learning disabled, he
was able to take his place as a well'functioning member of his class and family.
Certain intellectual disabilities remained, especially in mathematics, and his
reading skills were below age level. #n many other developmental areas,
however, he was well within the normal range of normality. %lthough he still
went off on a tangent occasionally, he could carry on thoughtful conversations
most of the time and displayed a well'developed moral sense. ,e was as
controlled and responsible as any other teenager.
:ut his progress was not uniform. >specially in the early stages of treatment he
occasionally relapsed and seemed to lose ground. %s is typical of such cases, his
behaviour degenerated, he would make loud noises, and retreated into his
autistic world. *hen Sulphur, and Calcarea carbonica, Lycopodium, Natrum
muriaticum, or *aryta carbonica, which are generally the most useful remedies
for treating mental retardation (also the less severe dysle.ias, etc.), failed to act,
he was given a dose of Medorrhinum 4H7 or JH7, and the case once again
2umped forward$ furthermore, he now responded to the indicated remedy. This
illustrates what might be called the nosode's -tugboat role- of assisting other
remedies to do their work.
%nother case was a ten'year'old boy with nocturnal enuresis /bed
wetting0. Sulphur, Calcarea carbonica, Natrum muriaticum, and Pulsatilla had
helped only marginally, so the physician resolved to address a probable
underlying level. %lthough Tuberculinum is the classic nosode for this
condition, the boy's study habits provided the guiding symptoms to the
curative Medorrhinum. ,e was a notorious procrastinator, putting off all the
weekend homework until !unday night, then working in haste until very late.
,e generally succeeded in completing the assignments on time and, despite the
unnecessary pressure, or possibly due to it, got good grades.
% final case was a twelve'year'old girl suffering from asthma. *hile Natrum
sulphuricum, a prime remedy for children's asthma, had helped in the past, its
effect did not hold$ the same was true for Sulphur, Psorinum, and !rsenicum.
There were several suggestive symptoms, but above all, in severe asthma attacks
she breathed better from lying draped over a chair with her head down '' an
interesting variant of Medorrhinum's time'honored symptom) better in the
knee)chest position. #n fact, a patient's preferred lying or sleeping position can
be crucial for choosing a remedy.
Medorhinum 5HHF was prescribed every week for a month, then less fre(uently
in ascending potencies. <ver the course of a year it was the girl's principal
asthma remedy and proved wonderfully curative.
The obvious (uestion is whether the nosodes should not have been
administered at the start. =id it break through some impediment to cure and
help resolve the case because its way had been paved by the earlier remedies or
was it the simillimum from the start" !ince every case is uni(ue, one can only
speculate. :ut Medorrhinum, like any nosode, often acts especially well when
held in reserve, and is then brought out with a dramatic flourish.
?. /uberculinum (/uberculin 5osode)
here have been many preparations from different manifestations
of tubercule, and they all act. #t is a 'nosode' which in one form or
another, one would be sorry to be without. #n potency,
killed and sterile and triturated and, in the KHth potency, merely one
part in a decillion, in alcoholic tincture$ and of that, only sufficient used
to medicate a few tinest pellets of milk sugar. :y the methods of
,ahnemann, the most terrible poisons and disease products can be so
tamed and roped'in as to affect curatively the strong man, who needs
them and is therefore hypersensitive to their action, and yet perfectly
innocuous to a healthy infant a day old. ;either is the delicate
preparation per se a power, nor is the sick man sensitive all round$ but
it is only 'like to like' that makes contact, and then things happen.
-%nd as to any ob2ections to its use, founded on its unpleasant origin,
:urnett says, '#f phthisis /tuberculosis0 can be cured by bread and
butter or attar of roses, well and good$ but if not, then let us have
something that will cure it'- (Tyler).
Physical Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) ,ead)
The head provides a number of clues to this prescription. The first clue
is that these children are often born ith a large amount of long
hair on the scalp and on the bac". 7ost parents remember this
hair, as it is not very common for babies to be so hirsute, especially
down the centre of the back.
These children develop ringorm of the scalp very easily. The
eruption causes circular patches of hair to fall out.
The third clue is that these children often stri"e their heads. !ome
strike their heads against a wall or the floor when they are mad. <thers
do it during a headache. The most common time, however, is during
attempts to sleep, when they burrow their heads into the pillow or hit
their heads against the pillow or mattress as a way to rela..
(b) ,eadaches)
,eadaches can be caused by studying or by reading or watching
television for too long. The headache may begin with visual
disturbances like those found in Natrum muriaticum, Sulphur,
and Phosphorus) flickering, AigAags, and lights. <ccasionally, the child
notices that everything he looks at 2ust before a headache strikes has
a blue tinge to it. This is very confirmatory of Tuberculinum. %lso, as
in Phosphorus and Lycopodium, the headache may be preceded by a
feeling of severe emptiness of the stomach and anintense hunger.
The headaches are severe, with so much pain that it typically leaves
the little patient ravaged for days afterward.
%n interesting, though rare, observation is that these children
sometimes seat profusely, especially from the scalp and forehead,
during a headache. This is only peculiar to a few remedy types and so
may be used to confirm the remedy.
(c) >yes)
Dust as these children are often born with long hair on the head, they
are also born with long, full, beautiful eyelashes. The child has
a tin"le or brightness in the eyes like that found in Phosphorus.
The sclera /the white of the eye0 may have a blue hue. These children
are often born with strabismus, astigmatism, or ea" eye
muscles that give rise to weakness of accommodation such as myopia,
all of which cause the child to develop headaches from reading.
#c'ema may occur on the eyelids. The children who develop upper
respiratory infections also develop blue allergic .shiners. around the
eyes.
(d) >ars)
The adenoids enlarge easily, causing Tuberculinum children to
develop chronic fluid in the ears. These children develop recurrent
ear infections in which the ear becomes red and painful, making the
victims cry before the eardrum finally and inevitably ruptures. The ear
then discharges thick, yellow pus. !ometimes this discharge develops
into a chronic condition with a thin, white discharge that lasts for
months.
(e) ;ose)
The nose is affected in two ways. 5osebleeds occur from overheating,
e.ertion, fevers, sleep, or from the slightest blow to the nose. The other
problem is the ease with whichTuberculinum children contract colds.
These fre(uent colds begin when cold, wet weather passes through the
area. <thers develop chronic corysas after they drink milk products.
The child who has allergies wakes up with a stuffy nose that stays stuffy
until he goes outside to play. Then the nose begins to run with a clear
mucus, 2ust as it does in Calcarea carbonica. %uthentic corysas begin
with the production of thick, yellow mucus that e.tends to the ears,
sinuses, and lungs.
(f) ?ace)
The face is often pale, or pale with patches of ruddiness, especially
on the cheeks.
The face may have terrible acne in the teenager, almost to the point of
boils. The central line of the face (the nose, chin, and central forehead)
is most affected.
?inally, Tuberculinum perspires (uite easily on the face, noted most
during e.ertion or sleep.
(g) 7outh$
The child may be born with anomalies, such as cleft palate or a small
dental arch. The teeth are greatly affected. ?irst is the curious fact
that the child may be born withtoo many sets of teeth. #n most, the
teeth are too croded and will not align properly along the dental
line, so that some of the teeth will lay in front of or behind the others.
Commonly seen are teeth that are severely serrated.
These children grind their teeth in their sleep$ if a child is old
enough to have worked at it for awhile, the teeth may be ground down
and perfectly flat
(h) Throat and ;eck)
The throat may show large tonsils from repeated or
chronic tonsillitis. *ith tonsillitis or any respiratory infection (even if
the child does not currently have an infection but tends to contract
them), one will be able to palpate all the cervical lymph nodes, as they
will be large and indurated. The nodes of the neck will feel like a chain
of marbles.
(i) Chest)
The chest is greatly affected in these children, 2ust as might be
e.pected from the remedy's namesake. %fflictions vary from physical
deformities to acute or chronic infections. The chest may be narrow
and long or take the form of a pigeon chest or a funnel chest.
The shape of the chest and rapid growth during adolescence often lead
to chest pains, felt as stitches whenever there is e.ertion.
(2) *eak 1ungs)
1ung problems may begin from the first day of life. !ome of these
children are born with fluid in the lungs. 7ost catch colds fre(uently
that drop into the lungs and settle into a persistent cough. The
health history commonly reveals repeated and fre)uent bouts of
bronchitis, croup, hooping cough, pleurisy, or
bronchopneumonia. % child seems to recover from one attack,
retaining perhaps only a lingering cough, only to suddenly develop a
new infection.
There are a few symptoms common to all these respiratory
infections. The child has a high fever in the evening that is
accompanied by a red face, profuse perspiration, and very swollen,
hard cervical glands.
Tuberculinum children develop chronic coughs due to a
little tic"le in the back of the throat. *eakness of the lungs precludes
the ability to recuperate completely, and so the children maintain this
cough. +arents might add that it is always there but that sometimes it
gets worse. !uch a cough becomes more noticeable after playing
outside in cold air. <nce an acute cough is fully developed, however, it
is aggravated in a warm room and eased somewhat in the fresh, open
air.
(k) +neumonia)
Tuberculinum is one of the best remedies to give
during pneumonia with chills, nausea, vomiting, and high fevers that
recur in the afternoon, and where there is a distinctly red face. The
coughing fits that accompany the pneumonia typically begin in the
afternoon and consist of dry, painful coughs that make the child cry.
,eadaches also prevail at these times.
The lungs of the pneumonia patient are full of mucus that makes
breathing difficult, causing shortness of breath and wheeAing. This is
especially the case when lying down at night. *hile much mucus can
be heard in the rattling breathing, the child may not be able to bring it
up. !ufferers cough and cough, moaning with the pain of each spasm.
They perspire profusely all over with this illness, most especially on the
face. They constantly grind their teeth. They desire cold water during
coughing fits. =iarrhea develops, as well as bone aches throughout the
body.
The remedy Tuberculinum is also helpful for children who have had
pneumonia that never fully resolved and left them with the type of
ongoing cough described here and a tendency for recurring bouts of
bronchitis.
(l) %sthma)
These children may also develop asthma (uite easily. #t may be the
allergic variety, set off by animal fur or by pollen and grasses. #t may
follow an acute infection such as pneumonia or come on during a
simple cold.
(m) ?ood Cravings and %versions)
They strongly crave cold mil" and spicy meats such as ham, bacon,
sausages, and salami, especially if these are smo"ed. 7any have a
strong desire for seets, salt, spices, eggs, butter, peanut
butter, yogurt, and macaroni and cheese.
%bout a third to a half of Tuberculinum children are averse to eating
meat as ell as vegetables.
#n Tuberculinum cases the main clue is the strong desire for cold
mil", some children drinking gallons a day. They also have a high
thirst for cold water, even if they themselves are chilly.
(n) !tomach)
Children tend toward poor nutrient absorption or a fast
metabolic rate. This can be recogniAed by the fact that they can eat as
much as an adult but not gain any weight.
1ike Phosphorus and Lycopodium children, Tuberculinum youngsters
may have an increased appetite before or during a headache,
feeling an emptiness in the stomach that must be filled with food.
(o) &ectum)
#f present, constipation is usually (uite severe, with the stools
becoming very hard and consisting of little balls. #t is accompanied by
colic.
The more common complaint, though, is diarrhea. The
thin Tuberculinum child may suffer from lactase deficiency, causing
profuse diarrhea every time milk is taken. #n other children, there may
appear to be no reason for the diarrhea. The common history elicited
from the parents is that the child has recurrent bouts of diarrhea that
last for one, two, or even three months$ for some children this type of
stool gets to be the norm. =iarrhea may accompany any illness, but
especially respiratory disease and fevers. The loose stools often persist
long after the illness has ended.
The specific symptoms of the diarrhea may remind one of Sulphur. #t
occurs mainly in the morning when the child wakes up, forcing the
child to run to the bathroom. The stool is painlessly and e.plosively
e.pelled without effort. This is common with Sulphur and may lead the
doctor to mistakenly prescribe it. %fter the remedy does not work and
the case is reanalyAed, it will be realiAed that the stools do not have the
characteristically strong Sulphur odor, nor do they e.coriate the anus
as one would e.pect to find with that remedy.
(p) @rogenital !ystem)
#nuresis@ The remedy Turberculinum is the best friend that the
parents of a bed wetter can have. This remedy has cured more children
of the embarrassing, socially'stigmatiAing disorder than any other
remedy in the materia medica. The problem may be lifelong or have
only begun after an acute illness.
?or most children the cause of the problem is that they cannot rouse
themselves from a deep sleep to get up and go to the bathroom. #t
is commonly found that after the remedy has acted the sleep is not as
profound and the child will awaken if needed.
7oys tend to masturbate from the early age of four or five years.
>mbarrassed parents mention that the child either masturbates or is
always touching his genitals and can maintain an erection.
+irls@ >ven from menarche the girls develop dysmenorrhea before
the period, complaining of severe cramps, backaches, and swelling of
the breasts. #t is interesting to note that the pains increase with the
flow. This is unusual as most women e.perience relief as the flow
becomes heavier.
!ome thin, emaciated,loo"ing girls do not begin to menstruate
at the normal age. They can get to be fourteen or fifteen years and
still not show any sign of approaching menarche. These girls begin to
lose weight in their teens, have slow comprehension, and develop one
respiratory disease after another. The problem is not so much the
menstrual cycle or the lack of it, but rather a deep constitutional
disorder that may first make itself known at the e.pected time of
menarche.
(() :ack$
%long with pigeon or funnel chest, there may also be scoliosis.
Teenagers may complain that their backs hurt whenever they stand for
too long and feel better if they walk about or play.
(r) >.tremities$
<ne may observe out of the corner of an eye that the feet and legs are
restless during the interview. The child "ic"s the legs vigorously from
the knees down.
The child may have deformities of the limbs. The children may be
bowlegged or have weak ankles that fre(uently turn. 1ooking at the
fingers and toes, one may notice that they are deformed and crooked,
turned medially or laterally. #t is incredible to watch these crippled
digits straighten out over a period of months with the prescription
ofTuberculinum.
There may be abnormally slo bone groth. There may be no
apparent problem during the first few years. ,owever, as the child
continues to grow older, F'ray e.amination will reveal that the child is
falling behind in bone development.
%lternately, the child may undergo rapid bone groth accompanied
by many problems in overall health. *ith every growth spurt, the tall,
thin person grows weaker and more lethargic, with problems such as a
runny nose, swollen glands, tonsillitis, and aching 2oints. The child 2ust
lies around watching television until the growth reaches a plateau.
!ingernails and toenails may split or peel easily, be plagued by
hangnails, or become ingrown.
The child perspires from the feet, especially at night.
(s) %rthritis)
Tuberculinum is one of the common remedies for 2uvenile arthritis.
The pains and stiffness are aggravated by damp weather, a change of
weather, sitting or standing for too long, rest, and first motion after
rest. They are ameliorated by continued motion and heat. Children
with arthritis wake up stiff and feeling crippled until they move about.
The pains wander and are accompanied by swelling, heat and redness.
%fter the inflammation stops, the 2oint remains large and becomes
e.ternally pale looking. This apparent cessation of the arthritic process
only seems to prompt another 2oint to go through the same se(uence of
events.
(t) !kin)
%s mentioned before, the health history may contain the fact that the
child was born hirsute. This is a big keynote for the remedy.
1ooking at the child's skin, one finds it is pale, thin, delicate, and has
a translucent (uality.
This type of skin is very susceptible to ringorm,
making Tuberculinum the main remedy for this condition.
The overall allergic predisposition of the child may show itself on
the skin as well as in the respiratory system. The child may
develop hives.
#c'ema also readily develops. !ome Turberculinum children have
ecAema from birth. The ecAema and hives have common modalities) the
itching is intense at night, as it is in cold air or during cold, wet
weather, and is especially intense when the child is undressing for the
night. The most beneficial palliative is dry heat.
#n general, the Tuberculinum child perspires easily.
(u) ?evers)
These children develop fevers very easily. Tuberculinum is the
main remedy to consider for a fever of un"non origin. The fevers
usually begin to rise at three or four o'cloc" in the afternoon and
continue into the night, dropping in the morning and rising once again
in the afternoon. Perspiration is evident all over the body, but
especially on the head. The face becomes very red. % great thirst for
cold ater is not uncommon.
(leep (,erscu))
>ven though the child is tired he may find it hard to fall asleep both
from physical restlessness and an inability to calm the mind. ,e may
need to rock to sleep or bang his head rhythmically on the pillow until
he fades away.
<nce Tuberculinum children do fall asleep, they usually sleep (uite
deeply '' so deeply, in fact, that they often lose the inhibition
against etting the bed and urinate. This is a common symptom
for Tuberculinum. The sleep may be so deep that the child does not
wake up when a parent carries him to the bathroom or even while
urinating there.
%lmost all of these youngsters grind their teeth during sleep. 7any
also e.perience severe night seats.
Tuberculinum children often a"e up sloly and unrefreshed,
but eventually they feel okay. ,owever, of one wakes them up or if they
are pushed in the slightest in the morning, one will find their tempers
very difficult to handle. #f the child is allowed to approach the parent,
then everything is fine.
*mportant +eneral Characteristics (,erscu))
(a) Tuberculinum may be called for in the case of a child e.hibiting
only a few keynote symptoms of the remedy, plus a family history of
tuberculosis. This remedy may also be considered for cases in which a
disease recurs over and over again. There is a weakness that not only
prevents acute conditions from ending (uickly but also brings out
constitutional symptoms with every acute attack. #t is this underlying
weakness that forms the basis for understanding this remedy type,
similar to that discussed in the chapter on Medorrhinum.
(b) The child is negatively affected by changes in weather such as those
coming before a storm, at the onset of cold, wet weather, and in fog and
drafts. #ronically, the child tends to be chilly yet prefers the cool, fresh
air even though it may aggravate the physical complaints. Their ideal,
preferred environment is cool, dry, mountain air.
(c) Complaints often change location from one body system to
another, and are never completely eradicated from the body.
(d) Tuberculinum should also come to mind for the congenital
anomalies and illnesses that seem to be plaguing humanity ever more
fre(uently.
(e) <ne commonly finds retarded Tuberculinum children with large
heads, swollen glands, and bone anomalies who have constant upper
respiratory problems. %fter taking the remedy, they seem to brighten
up and become healthier.
3n *llustrative Case (>ugene ;ash, Leaders in Homeopathic
Therapeutics ))
*hile on a visit to my daughter in %thens, +a., # called upon one of the
homeopathic physicians of the place, whom # had never met before. ,e
had read -1eaders,- and after we had talked books for a while he asked
me if # would not like to see a curious case, and there was no money in
it, but it had come into his hands from the allopaths who had given it
up to die. <f course, there being no money in it, # readily consented to
go. ?ound a child of seven months, with -head on him- larger than a
man's head, with eyes pushed out and turned upwards, only movable a
little from side to side. #t looked idiotic. The fontanelles could not be
felt, because of the hydrocephali condition which filled the whole scalp,
distending it as above described.
# could not see that the child recogniAed anything, e.cept that its
whining and moaning (almost constant) seemed to increase if it was
spoken to or moved.
#n(uiring into its family history discovered that several of the mother's
sisters had died with tuberculosis. !he was the only one left of the
family, # think. # gave, with the doctor's consent, a powder
of Tuberculinum 47 and advised to let it act. This was on the 7onday
following >aster !unday.
7ay 5Ith, 48HH, # received the following letter)
-=r. >. :. ;ash,
Cortland, ;.Y.
-=ear =octor) '' You will doubtless remember the case of
hydrocephalus you saw with me while in %thens, and for which you
prescribed Tuberculinum. *ell, from that day, the head ceased to
increase in siAe and (though it has taken no medicine at all, since
taking that) has begun to gradually decrease. They measure it in the
same place every !unday, and last !unday it was half an inch smaller
than a week before. *ill you kindly send me a graft at once
of Tuberculinum high, that # may continue the remedy at intervals,
etc., etc.-
# received one letter since, reporting further improvement. # can hardly
e.pect a cure in such a case, but the effects of the remedy, so far, seem
to be (uite remarkable.
$ental&#motional Characteristics (,erscu))
$ental and emotional states are often the leading )ualities that
lead to a prescription of the remedy Tuberculinum. %s with all remedy
types, the state of the mental faculties will often be the first clue that
the child needs this particular remedy, although this may not be the
reason that the parents bring the child in for a consultation.
% proportion of these children may be born with mental
handicaps ranging from mild learning difficulties to severe mental
retardation. 7ental or emotional retardation is often accompanied
by many other disorders or physical deformities.
*ithin the ide range of mental difficulties, on the less affected
side of the spectrum we find children who merely find it e1hausting
to apply themselves to a lesson or pro2ect. Though the mental
aptitude to work at a certain level may be there, the child has a weak
ability to concentrate on the task at hand. The strain of focusing on the
task, of sitting and doing the work, is too great.
!ome develop headaches from studying or concentrating for too
long. :ecause study can easily lead to physical aggravation, the child
becomes averse to taking on mental activities. ,omework is an
agoniAing topic for many Tuberculinum children. The parents may
state that the child absolutely cannot, or will not, sit still long enough
to do an assignment.
%nother common scenario of of the Tuberculinum child who e.cels in
school until befallen with a severe illness. Then the spark with which
she studied and concentrated flickers out. The parental description is
that -ever since she had pneumonia, she 2ust cannot study, concentrate
or comprehend the way she used to.-
The memory becomes affected, forcing them to read a chapter or
learn numbers or letters over and over again. %fter taking the proper
remedy, the child will be able to concentrate and learn much more
easily. The degree and depth of amelioration varies greatly, so
parental optimism needs to be tempered with actual class reports from
teachers who, unaware of the homeopathic treatment, have noticed
significant academic improvements.
Restlessness is an important feature of the Tuberculinum child's
behaviour. There is an odd dissatisfaction ith hatever he is
currently doing, which manifests in adesire to move, to change
positions, to ramble from room to room and from toy to toy. #n church,
the parents must struggle to keep the child well behaved.
These hyperactive children are noisy, screaming when upset or when
they want someone's immediate attention. They are also loud in
general, repeating things over and over.
Tuberculinum constitutes the main group of hyperactive children that
responds to changes in the diet. 1ike Lycopodium and Sulphur types,
they react intensely to sugar. :ut for Tuberculinum children, it
is especially dairy products that trigger impulsive, restless, and
malicious behaviour. %fter eating cheese or drinking milk they often
end up breaking things and hitting others.
7any parents can tell the moment their Tuberculinum offspring is at
all under the weather because the amount and intensity of basic energy
e.pended is greatly reduced. =uring a respiratory illness she will
become lethargic and weak. !he will need to sleep long hours or lie in
bed all day '' almost the opposite energy e.pression of her usual self.
These restless 2uveniles, like Tuberculinum adults, may love to
travel. The parents of such a child state that he likes to go to new
places all the time. The most common way to elicit this is by asking
about car rides. % usually nasty, irritable Tuberculinum child may
become (uite agreeable, attentive, and playful during a ride in the car.
The ride fulfills an inner desire for change.
7any Tuberculinum babies seem to be born irritable and angry,
crying and being very fussy, especially on first awakening. The children
e.hibit irritability, contrariness, or destructive tendencies
early and to an e1treme degree. These strong negative tendencies
may remain hidden until the child has an acute illness. The child with a
high fever may become totally uncontrollable in the office) kicking,
screaming, hitting, and pushing the mother or father away. -This is
unusual,- apologiAes the parent for a usually well'behaved child.
They have fits of irritability that lead to temper tantrums. =uring
these tantrums it is common for the child to pound his fists and feet on
the floor or strike his head on the floor or wall. This .head
thumping. is very characteristic of this remedy, as is the strong
aversion the child has to being touched when having one of these
attacks.
Contrariness is also noted with great regularity$ the child
is negative. -1et's have supper.- -;o- -1et's go shopping.- -;o-
There is an intolerance to contradiction that makes the child
violently angry. The contrariness and (uarrelsome nature, for which
this remedy is well known, leads to the aggressive fighting behaviour
often seen in these children. *hen corrected, the Tuberculinum child
may tighten his lips, clench his fists, and then e.plode. This type of
child opposes another's every decision. This is the child who disobeys
for no apparent reason, deliberately doing what is not allowed.
+arents may complain that it is a constant power struggle over every
issue at home. -#t does no good to punish him. #f is spank him, he slaps
me back.- <r, -#f # punish him, he seems to be unaware of it and
continues to act the same way. ,e is so obstinate.-
7ood and behaviour can change (uickly. % parent often describes the
child as unpredictable, e.pressing a wide range of responses, even is
very similar situations. <ne time the child will comply with a re(uest.
The same re(uest on another day may trigger a temper tantrum. This
unpredictability can drive parents to distraction. The child suffers
internally, not really "noing hat she ants. Yet she knows that
she needs something, something other than what she has.
%istructiveness and violence should always make one think
of Tuberculinum. <ne finds both self'distructive behaviour and
disructiveness toward others.
This violence may begin after a bout with an acute illness. -;ow,-
one mother reported, -my son ;ate is whiny and nothing seems to
please him. ,e has become strong willed, wanting everyting his way. #f
he does not get it, he (uickly becomes angry, making fists and hitting
people for little reason.- !uch dramatic changes in the ability to deal
with authority, especially after an illness, should always make one
consider the remedy Tuberculinum.
1odged deeply within the psyche of these children is an eye for an
eye mentality. #f they are hit, they hit back as a matter of course. #f
thwarted, they lash out at the offending person directly or indirectly.
?or e.ample, the child may wait on purpose, dillydally, and waste time
dressing 2ust to perturb the parents by ruining their plans. %nother
method of irritating offending persons is by intentionally ruining their
belongings. They destroy books, presents, favorite plants '' in short,
anything that is cherished by the other.
These children brea" things easily, repeatedly, and with en2oyment.
:reaking things is one way to release tension. Younger children love to
sit and destroy a magaAine or newspaper in the middle of the floor of
the waiting room. #f a sibling builds a model, the Tuberculinum child
will break it. #t is as if they are relieved of some mental anguish when
they demolish something.
The family pet commonly takes the brunt of a Tuberculinum child's
temperament. #t is very common to hear that the child en2oys choking
the animal, pulling the tail, pulling the hair a little too roughly while
petting, dragging the pet on the ground, etc. There is a malicious
character to this remedy type. The parents often fear for their child's
future. -*hat will he be like when he is si.teen"- is a fre(uent an.ious
comment.
The children may also en2oy teasing others in a mischievous way.
Their pranks can be playful or have an edge of destructiveness. ?or
e.ample, the child may hide toys of books that a sibling wants. ,e then
watches with pleasure as the sibling frantically searches for the ob2ect.
Tuberculinum children who are not aggressive or mentally slow, tend
to be leaders. This type of child is e1troverted and easily
communicative. !he looks all around the office, like Sulphur. The child
is an -up- person '' active, wriggling about in her chair, asking, -*hat's
an 7=" *hat's an ;=" *hat's this thing for"- !he shares with others
and has many friends. *ith her individualistic manner she usually gets
what she wants. !he tends to be (uite competitive, never giving up or
(uitting when she plays.
The strongest fear of Tuberculinum is a fear of animals, especially
cats and dogs and all their ild derivatives such as lions, tigers,
wolves, and bears. @nlike other remedy types who have a fear of
animals, the Tuberculinum child may try to bluff by ascribing negative
attributes to these animals. They state that they are gross, ugly, and
disgusting. # recall the case of Dohn, a child who had always loved
animals. =uring an acute episode of pneumonia, he developed a strong
fear that his own pet dog would bite him.
!ear of being alone is often found in developmentally
delayed Tuberculinum children. They feel that something bad will
happen to them if a parent is not around, similar to that
of Lycopodium.
5otes on Tuberculinum (Coulter))
Children who have been repeatedly given antibiotics for respiratory
tract infections, who can't get rid of one cold before another comes, will
benefit especially from a dose of this medicine in high potency at the
beginning of the school year. #f fact, its value as a preventive as well as
its efficacy in chronic ear infections, enlarged glands, tonsils, and
adenoids, epista.is /nose bleeds0, enuresis /bed wetting0, ecAemas,
ringworm and other skin conditions, its service in young persons who
grow too tall too fast without corresponding muscular development,
cause Tuberculinum to be prescribed for children and adolescents
more fre(uently than any other nosode.
The mental instability of Tuberculinum is not the suddenly
contradictory mood of some other remedy types, but a chronic,
inherent tendency) accommodating behaviour alternates with
disruptiveness, tenderness with violence, restlessness with passivity,
anger with indifference, reliability with capriciousnes, cheerfulness
with negativity, febrile activity with lethargy, need for security and
support with the desire for independence, a desire for seclusion with
eagerness for intense e.perience '' making the individual a constant
fountain of emotional upheavals.
The alternating moods can be observed from an early age. The
normally attractive and affectionate child periodically becomes ornery
and disobedient, e.hibiting violent fits of temper that upset the whole
family dynamic. ,e constantly wants attention but at the same time
desires to be let alone. ,e is (uick to strike out at others, will bite at a
restraining hand, or hurls ob2ects with a desire to break things and to
in2ure. The child hurls not only ob2ects but also words, the most
offensive, preferably scatological, ones he can muster, and certainly the
fre(uent tantrums of the -terrible twos- '' the violent outbursts of
peevishness and fury from little apparent cause '' yield
to Tuberculinum as to no other remedy.
7isbehaviour may take other forms than destructive behaviour) this
remedy ranks high for e.cessive stubbornness and wilfulness in a child.
The principal distinction is that many other remedy types are content
when the ob2ect has been gained, while Tuberculinum soon desires
something else.
This type can also be mischievous. #n fact, a mischievous streak in
children often signifies an underlying Tuberculinum susceptibility. <ne
three'year'old with chronically runny ears was not disagreeable. ,e
was, however, unmanageable in an impish way. ?or instance,
discovering the potential of a really sharp pair of scissors, he began to
cut tiny, almost unnoticeable, holes in the backs of upholstered living'
room furniture. Confronted with these misdeeds and reprimanded, he
stoutly denied his guilt and blamed the family dog, +atches. ,e realiAed
that no one believed him but was sufficiently shrewd to sense that,
unless caught in the act, he could not be proven guilty. ;o threats or
punishment could induce him to change his story. %nd, to make it
more credible, in the presence of other family members he solemnly
delivered upbraiding homilies to poor dumb +atches.
% pleasing attribute of this type is a lively sense of humor. % ten'year'
old girl cured of enuresis by periodic doses of Tuberculinum 47 used to
warn her father that smoking, coffee, and alcohol would hasten his
aging. <ne day he parried, -#'m not aging any faster than you, young
lady. You are growing older every day yourself- -;ot so,- was the
ready reply. -<nce you're over the hill you start picking up speed-
#ncidently, this child who so fearlessly confronted adults '' parents,
teachers, and anyone else with whom she could match wits '' was
e.tremely fearful of dogs and when younger became (uite hysterical if
approached by one. This fear is a key to the remedy. *hen the
drowning physician finds himself in a sea of non'specific symptoms, it
may prove a sturdy plank.
The Tuberculinum dilemma consists in the need to fulfill both the
civiliAed and primitive sides of one's nature. The conflict occurs largely
at the subconscious level and, when thwarted, is e.pressed in tantrums
on the slightest provocation, melancholy, restlessness, and alternating
moods and modes of conduct.
:ut the homeopathic remedies are directed precisely at the
unconscious level. %nd the potentiAed tuberculin virus, like the other
deep'acting nosodes, achieves its profound cures by addressing our
archetypal conflicts and helping to resolve them.
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