CASES

 Rhus toxicodendron

CASE 1 V2

WOMAN, 55 YEARS OLD

A: You have a very strong cough. And it started suddenly ?

P: But not so strong as it is now. It started on Thursday. But then you're never here. I thought, "I will wait until Friday and go then."

A: But you say that it started suddenly.

P: Yes. I got it all of a sudden. I started coughing, eh, eh ..., (she is coughing) but less than now. And so this cough aggravated. And sneezing. I need tissues the whole day. (She's coughing again) But at the moment it is very bad. It is bronchitis. What do you think about Belga ?

A: But you always smoke Belga cigarettes and you do not always cough ?

P: My husband is also coughing at this moment. (She's coughing again) Now it is all right, but in the mornings ...

A: In the mornings it is worse ?

P: I have to close the door, or the neighbour will hear it. I'm sure that the neighbours will hear me coughing, because it is so bad.

A: A bad cough.

P: Yes, my father also had a bad cough. When he started coughing you could hear him a long distance away.

A: Was it so bad ?

P: Oh yes, you could hear him from very far.

A: Where do you have complaints ?

P: I don't have them, and it doesn't wheeze either. I think it is mucus.

A: It was a very sore cough, wasn't it ?

P: Yes, it had to come out. It seemed as if everything was obstructed. I don't know.

A: What about at night ?

P: Also coughing.

A: Also coughing.

P: With quite a lot of noise.

A: But you say that it started suddenly, without any cause.

P: I had a little cold, not as bad as at the moment. If I would have taken care of that cold from the beginning, I wouldn't have got a cold. I stood somewhere outside and the next day I felt I had a cold.

Now, I know how it started: with a sore throat and a little pain in my ear.

A: Your right ear.

P: Again the same ear. That's how it started.

A: Did you have eruptions on your mouth ?

P: No. When I swallow I have a sore throat, and I also have a little pain in my ear. But it started with the sore throat.

A: Do you remember standing in a draft of air ?

P: Yes.

A: When was it ?

P: Last week, just opposite to our home we talked a little to a friend with his bicycle (she curls up her body). You know, I thought, I must go inside, because ...

A: And did you perspire a little ?

P: No, I was only standing in the draft of air.

A: Draft of air.

P: We stood at the corner of our house, and I started to curl up my shoulders.

A: You stood in the draft of air !

P: I thought, I must go inside, but we were still talking and talking. And we often had a barbecue, here and there. You sit there together in the evening, I quite enjoy it, but in the evening it is too cold. I'm like a hot house plant. When you are sitting together at a barbecue there is some draft of air. I'm wearing a jacket, but no coat. Well, I don't take my coat with me. And feet cold as ice. In the wet grass.

A: Then you had quite a lot of parties lately ?

P: Nearly nothing else.

A: Do you sleep well at night with your cold ? Or do you also cough at night ?

P: I have never slept well, I mean, the whole night through.

A: Turn around a little ?

P: No, not tossing.

A: Neither the previous night ?

P: I go sleeping, (she's coughing) and cough very much. I put the tissues behind my head and tear off little pieces and throw them on the floor. Sneezing, coughing and spitting, everything.

A: When you get up in the morning your cough is better. You said it was worse this morning.

P: Then I start coughing very strongly. (She's coughing) and it goes on this way the whole time. Terrible. My husband says then "Belga". I think he's right.

A: All right. Do you have other complaints ?

P: No.

A: Muscle pain or so ?

P: No, I don't have influenza. How do I look ?

A: You look well.

P: Am I not becoming fat again ?

A: It is good when you are putting on weight. Because previously you said that you were anxious to become thin.

P: I think I get a thick head again.

A: Well yes, you have been eating very well lately. That's because of all those parties. All right. You take three times a spoon.

P: Look, I have something peculiar here. My mother also had it. She got a bad leg of that.

A: Yes, it is nothing at all. Don't you worry. It is a little pimple.

P: And it stitches as if you put needles in it. Do you think I will become fat again ?

A: I don't know.

P: And now I'm wet all over because of the perspiration. Do you think there is something wrong with my lungs ?

FEEDBACK (May 18, 1988)

A: On May 9, 1988 you got a little pill. Tell me, how did it go ?

P: Well, previously, I had been coughing very strongly for eight days long, so that the neighbour could hear it. Coughing, spitting, sneezing, everything.

A: And then ?

P: Then I got that little pill and dissolved it in a little water, I didn't take a large glass. About six spoons. I took three spoons, but not with the spoon. I valued it myself ...

A: With small swallows.

P: Yes, so that I think it is about a spoon. So, I took three spoons. The next morning I got up as usual, prepared breakfast and walked around a little. I thought, "Don't I have to cough anymore ?" I waited a little while: no coughing. I waited for another time. And then I tried whether I had to cough; but when you don't have a cough, you can't cough. And I waited again: nothing. But then I saw those other three spoons and thought,

"That is too good to throw away. I can't do that." I took one spoon, two spoons. Then there was still a small swallow and I took it also. I didn't cough anymore.

A: Didn't cough anymore.

P: But I didn't after the first three spoons. And I was still waiting. Then I tried to cough. But I couldn't. I didn't cough anymore. And previously ! It was not a small cough. I had such a strong cough, so that I was shy for the neighbour.

A: All right.

P: It is peculiar. And then I waited again a little while. Then I thought, "Don't I have to cough ?" Nothing. That is strange. I can't nearly believe it. But I didn't dare to throw away the rest of the little pill. That was too good. I thought, "I will take the rest also." It is unbelievable.

A: That was one day later.

P: At the beginning I thought it was because of the cigarettes, but I also smoked a cigarette at that time and didn't cough. I was still waiting. I waited in the forenoon, and thought, "I don't understand, how is it possible ? I haven't coughed up to now ?" But you are waiting for the cough. And still waiting. Nothing. I couldn't believe it myself.

P: All right.

P: But I didn't throw away the rest. That was too expensive. But I don't take it with a spoon. I take a little bit. It is about the same.

A: All right.

CASE2 v3

Rhus toxicodendron

MAN, 40 YEARS OLD

A: You come from Canada and you are visiting your uncle and your nephew. You drive to Italy and come back within 4 weeks. Do you always have those swellings around your eyes ?

P: Normally, I don't.

Is it normal to have swellings around the eyes ? It is normal when you do not sleep enough. Many people have that when they do not sleep enough, other do not have that. People who need a certain remedy have those swellings around the eyes when they do not sleep enough. When you see this you have to think about a certain remedy. In the Repertory we can look under "face, swelling around the eyes" and "swelling under the eyes".

FACE,SWELLING,EYES,around :All-c., Apis., ars., chin., colch., cupr., elaps., ferr., Kali-c., merc., nit-ac., phos., Rhus-t., sang., stram.

A: What is your main problem ?

P: Pain in the shoulder (points to his left shoulder), extending to my hand.

A: Since when do you have this ?

P: Since 4 weeks.

A: Did you have this previously ?

P: Not in this shoulder.

A: At other places ?

P: Yes, in my right leg, because of pain in my back.

A: Did you lift something ?

P: Yes, that's the reason of the pain in my back and the pain is extending towards my leg. That was 5 years ago.

A: Ischias.

P: Yes, that's how they called it.

He says he has pain in the left shoulder, but before he had pain in the right leg. So it means if he needed the same remedy as he does now it has to be found in the rubric "side, crosswise, left upper and right lower" under "generalities" (p. 1400).

GENERALITIES, SIDES, crosswise, left upper and right lower : Agar., alum., anac., arn., ars., bar-c., bell., brom., camph., caps., carb-an., cham., chel., chin., coff., con., cycl., euphr., fl-ac., hep., hyper., kali-c., kali-n., lach., laur., Led., mag-m., meny., merc., mill., mur-ac., nat-m., nit-ac., nux-m., nux-v., olnd., op., par., ph-ac., puls., ran-s., rhod., Rhus-t., sabad., sabin., samb., sars., sec., seneg., spong., squil., stann., staph., stram., sulph., Tarax., teucr., thuj., valer., verat., verb., viol-t.

If this remedy is his constitutional remedy it has to be in this rubric. Which are the capital remedies here ? Agaricus, Ledum, Rhus toxicodendron, Taraxacum. There is another remedy: Kali carbonicum; and how is the swelling of Kali carbonicum ? Here ... (shows where). In Kali carbonicum you do not see those eye lashes and the eyelids are like sacks hanging over them. He also has a swelling all around his eyes.

A: Do you often strain yourself in lifting ?

P: No, only 5 years ago.

A: Otherwise no pain in the back ?

P: Yes, but not extending towards my leg, that was only 5 years ago.

A: Also in your right leg ?

P: I can't remember that.

A: I see you are moving your thumbs. Are you restless ?

The patient sat there and he was constantly moving his thumbs. Which is the most important remedy in restlessness of the hands ? Kali bromatum, there is also Tarentula and some other remedies. But he was sitting there like that the whole time, so that I thought he must be very restless.

P: No.

A: Are you a quiet person ?

P: Yes, I am a very quiet person.

A: Tell me about your pain. Is it still there ?

P: Yes, only when I take a hot shower the pain will be gone for a few hours.

A: Warm applications are good.

P: Yes.

The warmth ameliorates. Where can we find this ? "Pain in the extremities, warmth amel." (p. 1046).

GENERALITIES, WARMTH, amel. : Aesc., agar., am-c., ant-c., arg-m., Ars., bry., cact., caust., cham., chin., colch., coloc., graph., Kali-bi., kali-c., Kali-p., kalm., lyc., Mag-p., merc., nux-v., ph-ac., pyrog., Rhus-t., Sil., sulph.

There is also Kali carbonicum, Kali phosphoricum and Kali bichromicum. And in which shoulder did he have the pain ? In the left. Look in the Repertory under "pain in the left shoulder" (p. 1052).

EXTREMETIES, PAIN, SHOULDER, left : Agar., alumn., ammc., arg-m., cinnb., guai., Ind., iod., kalm., Led., mang-m., merc-c., nat-m., ph-ac., rhus-t., Sulph.

There is Ledum, Sulphur, Kalmia, Agaricus - Kalmia also has this pain and the pain extending even to the finger. In what kind of diseases do you need Kalmia ? For instance in cardiac diseases together with rheumatic complaints.

A: How is the pain at night ?

P: Very bad. I have to get up and take a hot shower.

He has to get up at night because of the pain, so "restlessness driving him out of bed".

A: Does the pain improve when you are busy during the day ?

P: Yes, it is tolerable. Sometimes I don't feel anything at all.

That is very important. The pain ameliorates by motion - "motion amel." and "continued motion amel." (p. 1045): Agaricus, Chamomilla, Rhus toxicodendron and Radium bromatum. Radium bromatum has the same modalities in pain as Rhus toxicodendron.

EXTREMETIES, PAIN, MOTION, continued, amel. : Agar., Cham., Rhus-t.

You see the swelling around the eyes, the pain left upper and right lower, pain left shoulder, pain ameliorates by warmth, aggravated in the morning by beginning motion, ameliorated by continued motion, worse at night, restlessness driving out of bed - a clear picture.

A: The pain is better when you are busy, in motion.

P: Yes, that's right.

Occupation in general improves. Under "mind" you see "occupation amel."

MIND,OCCUPATION, amel. : Agar., alum., aur., bar-c., calc., chin., con., croc., cupr., ferr., hell., helon., ign., iod., kali-br., lil-t., lyc., merc-i-f., mez., nat-c., nux-v., pip-m., Sep., sil., stram., thuj., verat.

and in the "generalities" you see "exertion amel." (p. 1358).

GENERALITIES,EXERTION,amel. : Canth., ign., nat-m., plb.,Rhus-t., Sep., sil., stann., tril.

Look at those two rubrics.

This man has to be busy, he can not do nothing. The remedy he needs is not in the rubric "mind, exertion amel.", it is an addition, but I think it is in the rubric "exertion amel.". Rhus toxicodendron and Sepia are capital remedies.

Rhus toxicodendron is not in the rubric "occupation amel.", because Rhus toxicodendron needs physical exertion, watching TV is no occupation according to them.

You also see Sepia in the rubric. Sepia is feeling better when they are running or dancing, this kind of very strenuous physical dancing. Nowadays, when you watch young people dancing, you see about 1,000 people dancing, but none of them touches each other. That is very strange, it seems to be an evolution of our time. If Sepia has diarrhoea for instance, disease of M. Crohn or something like that, he/she does not have diarrhoea when he/she is running. It is the same with asthma: the more he runs, the less he has asthma. Generally, physical exertion ameliorates for this person. Even when he is working during the daytime, he often feels nothing.

A: But in bed you have to turn around constantly, this means that you are very restless in bed, aren't you ?

P: Yes, my wife is complaining about that.

A: Do you think that the pain is influenced by the weather ?

P: I got the pain because of my job, out of Toronto, where I have to fly for 2 weeks and then go back. I have constantly worked, 90 hours a week. As relaxation I watched TV at home and leaned on my arm. I don't know if that is the cause of the pain, but the next morning I got the pain. At the beginning it was less, but it gradually got worse.

A: Could the pain be caused by overworking, because you worked for 90 hours a week ?

P: Could be. There wasn't anything else to do...

A: Was it a wet place ?

P: In fact, it is a dry country, but it was winter and we had been working outside.

A: Are you sensitive to dampness ?

P: Yes, I often feel that it will rain.

"I can feel if it's going to rain" - those people do not need a barometer, they are barometers. They feel when it is going to rain; "soreness, pain, before the rain comes."

A: You are a barometer.

P: Yes. I get headache before it starts raining.

"Headache from change of weather" (p. 151), one capital remedy: Rhus toxicodendron.

Head,pain,weather, from changes of : Ars., bry., calc-p., calc., carb-v., lach., mez., nux-m., ph-ac., phos., psor., ran-b., rhod., Rhus-t., sil., verb., vip.

A: That is a second point. You get headache from change of weather.

P: I often have. It begins before the rain and it stops after the rain.

A: You say, you are a quiet person. I think you are someone who is very busy.

P: Yes, I'm always occupied with my work.

A: Are you someone who can sit still for a long time and do nothing ?

P: No. I must always have something to do. I mean, I'm not "hyper".

A: You are not sensitive in the sense of hot-tempered, easily offended.

P: Oh yes, I'm easily offended. I keep it to myself, but if someone ...

A: But you are not easily excited ? Has your wife complained for a long time that you are so restless in bed ?

P: Usually, she's complaining about the snoring, but now, she's very much complaining because of this problem.

Look in the Repertory, "snoring respiration" (p. 776), there is the remedy, this means that he will not be snoring anymore after the remedy.

RESPIRATION,SNORING : Acon., aeth., amyg., arn., ars., bapt., bell., benz-ac., brom., calc., camph., carl., cham., chin., cic., con., cund., cupr., cycl., dros., dulc., fl-ac., glon., hep.,hydr-ac., hyos., ign., kali-bi., kali-chl., Lac-c., lach., laur., lyc., mag-m., mez., mur-ac., nat-m., nit-ac., nux-m., nux-v., Op., petr., rat., rheum., rhus-t., sabad., samb., sep., sil., stann., stram., stry., sulph., teucr.

A: Can you keep your feet quiet in bed ?

P: Yes, I think so.

A: Also while sitting ?

P: Well yes, I have to move them a little.

A: I noticed that you are always moving your legs.

P: Because of the pain.

A: This means that you move your legs because of the pain.

A: Tell me, what do you like to eat ?

P: I almost eat everything. Seldom, I don't like something.

A: What do you like to drink ?

P: I don't drink much, but I like a glass of wine.

A: You come from Italy. Do you like milk ?

P: Not really, but I drink milk.

A: In your coffee ?

P: Yes, in my coffee, but also from the bottle.

A: Do you prefer cold or warm milk ?

P: Normally cold.

You do not agree that he has a desire for cold milk ?

He drinks milk from the bottle, that is all I wanted to know. We can discuss about it, but it is not important to me. I only wanted to know whether he is constitutionally Rhus toxicodendron, then he must like cold milk. It is difficult to know whether you have to deal with a constitutional Rhus toxicodendron or it is a layer above the Calcarea. Previously, he had pain on the right side, this might be constitutional Rhus toxicodendron, and when he has a desire for cold milk, you can be sure that Rhus toxicodendron is his constitutional remedy. So he can take 10 or 20 tablets Rhus toxicodendron to Canada and the next 5 years he does not have to pay a doctor, because he can treat himself, unless he cuts his finger or things like that.

stomach,desire,milk: Anac., apis., ars., aur., bapt., bor., bov., bry., calc., chel., elaps., kali-i., lac-c., mag-c., mang., merc., nat-m., nux-v., ph-ac., phel., Rhus-t., sabad.,sabin., sil., staph., stront., sulph.

I think when people say that they do not like milk, they will never drink milk; they eat pudding or take milk in their coffee, but they will never drink milk from the bottle.

At least you can say that he has no strong aversion to milk, and when he drinks milk, he drinks it cold.

But do not forget that Rhus toxicodendron desires cold milk.

A: That is all I have to know. I give you a remedy and 2 tablets in a tube as a reserve. I'm sure that the pain will disappear in a few days. You drive to Italy now, there it is warm. When you come back I would like you to come for a feedback.

P: Promised.

A: And I promise you, that the pain will disappear. Did you have fever eruptions ?

P: No, never.

How long did the anamnesis last ? 15 minutes. Many people say that an anamnesis has to last for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It depends from case to case. If I know the remedy after 10 minutes why should I not give it ? What else could I ask him ?

FEEDBACK

A: You were here on August 7, 1986. You got 3 tablets.

P: I took a tablet and the pain disappeared slowly.

A: Without headache or something else ? Without an aggravation ?

P: No.

Do you notice that his nose is clear ? Before he had a cold. You can say that it disappeared by itself, but if you have a cold together with pain in the arm, this means that the same remedy will solve both problems. The eyes are more open and less swollen.

P: After a fortnight I took another tablet.

A: Why ?

P: I drank coffee and I thought that it was bad.

A: Had the pain completely disappeared at that time ?

P: No, I still had a little pain.

A: Then you took the second tablet, because you drank coffee.

P: Yes, afterwards the pain disappeared.

He took Rhus toxicodendron M. The pain improved, maybe he still had a little pain. Then he took the second tablet - he thought he should take it, because he drank coffee, and the pain disappeared completely. What about the theory ? I gave him the remedy, the pain improved and during the improvement he took again one tablet, because he thought that the coffee had antidoted the remedy. There was no aggravation, on the contrary, the pain that was still there disappeared completely after the remedy was repeated.

I want to tell you that you can repeat the remedy when it is the correct remedy without doing any harm.

A: You didn't have to take the other remedy ?

P: No.

A: How do you feel now ?

P: Good. I must say that I'm recovered for 99,9 %. Sometimes I still feel a little.

A: You also had headache with the change of the weather. Did you ever have this again ?

P: No.

A: You don't have any other complaints ?

P: No.

A: You give the impression as if you didn't have slept enough.

P: Yes, I have been driving for 2, 3 days. We arrived yesterday night. Now, I'm flying back to Canada.

A: I will give you a few tablets, in case you might have problems. They preserve for years. Do you sleep well at the moment ?

P: Yes.

That is very easy, isn't it ? And yet, you often do not see the Rhus toxicodendron picture in coughs.

Question: "Did you ever have an aggravation, because you repeated the remedy too early ?"

A: I had an aggravation, but because I gave a patient a remedy which she did not need at that time. I will tell you.

I had a patient with an ovarian cyst and she was cured with Sepia, there was no cyst with the gynecological examination. Then she went to Italy on holiday and got a car accident. Since then she complains about a kind of a lump in her ear, and I gave her Sepia, because I thought that Sepia was right, because it was her constitutional remedy. After the remedy she got all the complaints she had before again - headache, pain in the abdomen, menstrual problems, irritability - everything came back and disappeared after 2 weeks again. She has been really ill for 2 weeks long. Then all the complaints disappeared again, but she still had a lot of problems with the lump in her ear. When she called me I asked her on which ear she had the phone and said, "On the ear where I feel the lump." She heard better with the ear where she felt the lump - and then which remedy did I gave her ?

She got a car accident and on page 323 in the Repertory you see "impaired hearing after mortification".

Hearing,impaired,mortification, after : Ign.

After the accident she was fighting and discussing with the policeman - the policemen in Italy are very slow, they are only quick when you give them money. And then she was very angry. It was very strange, she could not hear very well, but she took the telephone on this ear, you see "impaired hearing of the human voice, except for" (p. 323), she could hear it very well. Before she had a mortification, I gave her Ignatia and she was cured. First, I gave her Sepia, but Sepia was no longer indicated. And I told you the story of the Phosphorus child, where Phosphorus worked, but according to me not quickly enough. Then I gave Phosphorus 10 M and he reacted very quickly, very well..

I see that when you give the right remedy when it is still indicated you will not have an aggravation;but when you repeat the remedy you gave before and the patient has developed to another remedy you will get a strong aggravation of the previous complaints, which will disappear again and the complaints for which he comes are still there and then you must give the right remedy.

If someone can prove the opposite, all right. But in this case you see that there is no aggravation, although he repeated Rhus toxicodendron too early.

CASE3 v3

Arthritis, left shoulder

Rhus toxicodendron

WOMAN, 45 YEARS OLD

P: It started here (points to the left shoulder).

A: Do you have pain there ?

P: Yes. Now, the pain has extended to my back and down the arm to the elbow. And the pain radiates slowly towards my fingers.

A: Is your whole arm hurting ?

P: Yes, my whole arm.

A: Your arm lies in a towel.

P: Yes, otherwise I have a lot of pain.

A: Does movements hurt ?

P: Yes, very much. I absolutely can't lift it. I had to ask someone to comb my hair.

A: How did it happen ?

P: I don't know, I can't say. Three weeks ago I had a strange feeling in my shoulder joint. I thought I made a wrong movement. I put ointment on it. You should get a warm feeling of that, but I got a cold feeling and then I stopped it.

A: How does the pain feel ?

P: A gnawing pain, and in my arm a pressing pain.

A: Is that a constant pain ?

P: Yes.

A: Does it disappear ?

P: No, but now and then I get a stitching pain.

A: Are those stitches sharp ?

P: Yes, sharp stitches, as if someone puts needles into it.

A: It stitches and does it stop then ?

P: Yes.

She has a stitching pain, that disappears again, and I thought, "A pain appearing suddenly, and a pain disappearing suddenly." That was my way of thinking. And now, look at the examination.

A: (Pushes against the elbow) Does it hurt ?

P: Yes, it hurts here. (Points to the left shoulder)

Why do I do this ? To exclude which remedy ? I push against her elbow to see if she is sensitive to jarring. I am thinking about a certain remedy, because it is a very acute pain, she is suffering very much, because she says it is a stitching pain appearing suddenly and disappearing suddenly, and it is very painful.

A:(Pushes against the pointed place of the shoulder)

P: ow.

A: (Pushes against the right shoulder) Does it hurt ?

P: No.

(Also by pushing against the left scapula she feels pain in front of her shoulder)

A: How is it in the car ?

P: I have to hold my arm.

Which remedy has an aggravation by jarring most ? Belladonna. Look in the Repertory, "jar agg." (p. 1369). The most important modalities are that it was very painful and that every motion hurts.

EXTREMETIES, JAR, stepping, agg. : Acon., alum., am-c., ambr., anac., ant-c., arg-m., arg-n., Arn., ars., asar., bar-c., Bell., bor., Bry., cact., calad., calc., camph., canth., carb-s., caust., cham., chel., chin., Cic., cocc., coff., Con., dros., dulc., euphr., ferr-ar., ferr., glon., graph., ham., hell., hep., ign., kali-c., kali-i., kali-n., Lach., led., lil-t., lyc., mag-c., mag-m., meny., merc., nat-a., nat-c., nat-m., nat-p., Nit-ac., nux-m., nux-v., onos., par., petr., ph-ac., phos., plat., plb., puls., rhod., Rhus-t., ruta., sabad., sabin., sanic., seneg., sep., Sil., spig., spong., stann., staph., sulph., Ther., thuj., verb., viol-t.

P: At the moment I'm perspiring, because of the pain; for 3 days long already; even while walking. When I came here on Saturday I didn't have that.

A: You have been seen by a colleague. You have pain in the left shoulder, extending to the fingers and the slightest motion causes pain, there is also an aggravation by motion and coldness.

She has been seen by a colleague and has given her Nux vomica, because of aggravation by motion, amelioration by warmth and so on - but nothing changed.

Do you know why I thought about Nux vomica with this woman ? She has the appearance of a Sepia woman and therefore my colleague thought she might need Nux vomica, because Nux vomica is complementary to Sepia.

But this remedy was wrong ! Constitutionally, she is not Sepia, you will see !

A: He gave you Nux vomica, probably also, because you reacted well to Sepia previously.

P: Yes.

A: But it didn't do anything, on the contrary.

P: I got more pain. I was here on Sunday. With my son, because I can't drive, and it was all right. But now, I have to hold my hand the whole time and have to move constantly.

A: Do you have the tendency to keep your hand warm ?

P: Yes, I do it constantly. For 3 days I have wrapped it in a woollen scarf.

She puts her hand constantly on her shoulder. You see "hand, laying on, part amel." (p. 1365):

GENERALITIES,HAND, laying, on part amel.: Bell., calc., canth., croc., dros., mang., meny., mur-ac., nat-c., olnd., par., phos., rhus-t., sabad., sep., spig., sulph., thuj.

Belladonna, but there is also another remedy. There is Sepia and also Rhus toxicodendron.

... (not understandable) ameliorates, there is Belladonna and Rhus toxicodendron; and we know of Rhus toxicodendron that the pain can be very strong, so that they can not move, for instance in lumbago the pain can be very strong, so that they can not move and have to lie on their back, "lying on a hard surface amel.".

P: Now, I took off the scarf, because I thought, that it has caused a problem, because it was stitching. That was good. Now, I'm not wearing the scarf anymore, but I have the tendency to hold my arm.

A: Because it has to be warm ?

P: Yes.

A: That is beautiful.

A: Are you thirsty ?

P: Yes, I drink very much.

A: What ?

P: Water with mulcosan or grape-fruit juice.

She likes lemons and you can say that it is a kind of lemonade.

P: Also to keep my figure. I want to lose a little weight.

A: Do you drink grape-fruit juice because you like it very much ?

P: Yes, I like every juice.

A: Sour juices ?

P: Not particularly the sour juices, but all kind of juices.

A: But mulcosan is sour, as well as grape-fruit juice.

P: But not so sour.

A: Do you also drink lemonade ?

P: No, never, no sweet things.

That is no indication for the remedy, but it is an indication for her constitutional remedy.

A: Are you more thirsty now than usually ?

P: Yes, I think so.

A: Do you take long draughts ?

P: No.

A: Cold drinks ?

P: No, not icy-cold, rather at room temperature.

A: Anyway, more thirsty.

P: Yes, more thirsty.

A: Did you sleep well ?

P: Less. I wake up every 2 hours.

A: Have you sat down ?

P: No, only put my arm right. I have been lying on my right side, because I can't lie on my back. But then I got pain in my right arm.

A: Did you have saliva last night ?

P: No.

A: Did you perspire last night ?

P: Yes.

A: Show me your tongue. It is not coated. Did you dream last night ?

P: Not that I know.

A: No anxious dreams ?

P: No.

A: If you put your pain to 100 % today, they have to be reduced by 50 % tomorrow.

P: Yes ?

A: I will give you a remedy that you have to let it melt under your tongue. I will give you the same remedy to take home. If the pain does not ameliorate, you dissolve it in water and take a spoonful every 1/2 hour, until 10.00 o'clock. If the pain has improved, you don't take anything, otherwise a few spoonfuls. Anyway, I have to see you tomorrow. If the pain is so bad, you have to be better very quickly, because the pain has appeared quickly and you are suffering very much.

P: Yes.

Two days before I gave her a remedy in M potency and it did nothing. Which remedy did I give her ? Belladonna, but it was the wrong remedy.

At the beginning of the video she said, "From time to time I have to put my arm in a different position." And I did not notice it. She could not let her arm hang down, she had to put it like this, but from time to time she had to put the arm in another position. I did not remark it and I gave her Belladonna 10 M - without any result.

Later we will see the story of the goat. It was a left sided swelling of the mammae, that is why I did not trust the right side of Belladonna anymore. With this story in my head I thought that it might be an acute inflammation in this case and the woman needs Belladonna.

FEEDBACK (August 12, 1987)

A: You were here the day before yesterday. Yesterday you came back and I gave you a remedy in 10 M potency, but it didn't work. You weren't better yesterday.

P: No, the little pill I got on Monday didn't work.

A: Then I went on with the anamnesis and you told me, "I have to keep it quiet, but I can't keep it quiet." You didn't say that previously. I thought that the slightest motion was painful, that you had to keep your arm still to get rid of the pain.

P: But it wasn't possible.

A: Yes, and I didn't notice it in the first consultation and it became remarkable in the second consultation. You said, "I have to keep it still, but I can't keep it still. I have to ... "

P: ... put it in another position.

A: "Then it is better for a while and then I have to put the arm in another position again."

P: Yes, this went on the whole day. Today it is a little better.

A: Then I asked a few other questions and you said, that it might be caused by draft of air.

P: Yes, I think so.

A: Because of draft of air in the car.

She says that it might be caused by draft of air - and draft of air is one of the most important reasons for a Rhus toxicodendron disease.

If this happens you can look in the Repertory "pain, sore, heated walk and rapid cooling, after" (p. 1385): Rhus toxicodendron and Bryonia.

GENERALITIS,PAIN,SORE,BRUISED,heated walk and rapid cooling, after: Bry., Rhus-t.

Do not forget this rubric, you will often need it.

Rhus toxicodendron people are often very busy, very industrious; also Bryonia is very busy,they can never sit still - Rhus toxicodendron and Bryonia, those two remedies.

When they are perspiring while working, and come into the cold air afterwards, they get those Rhus toxicodendron complaints.

In the veterinary you often see this with dogs and horses. They are running and running, and afterwards they have to stand still and they get this pain in the hip, pain in the knee, so that they can not walk properly anymore - that is Rhus toxicodendron, capital.

Do not forget this rubric. Draft of air is a well-known cause for Rhus toxicodendron complaints.

P: Yes, according to me, because 3 months ago I had a crick in my neck at the same side. I don't have another explanation.

A: All right. Then I gave you another remedy in 10 M potency yesterday and let you take it in solution.

P: I took 3 spoonfuls yesterday and today also 3 spoonfuls.

A: You couldn't sleep at night. How did you sleep last night ?

P: Last night I slept very well. It took a while before I found the correct position. But I slept the whole night through until 8.00 o'clock, without waking up.

A: What about the intensity of your pain ?

P: The worst pain has disappeared. Now, it seems as if there is a weight upon my shoulder when I lift my arm.

A: Does it push on your shoulder ?

P: Yes, I can't do all the movements yet.

A: Is it a kind of a lame feeling ?

P: Yes.

Look in the Repertory "lameness, left arm" (p. 1031). Underneath you see "cold weather agg." and "rheumatic lameness": Rhus toxicodendron and Calcarea phosphorica. Rhus toxicodendron has often a lameness in the arm on the left side.

Remark: " ..." (not understandable)

A: Yes, right, she was perspiring during the pain - "perspiration from pains" (p. 1299).

PERSPIRATION, PAINS, from : Acon., ant-t., bell., bry., calc., caust., cham., chel., chin., coloc., dulc., form., hep., hyos., Lach., lyc., Merc., Nat-c., podo., rhus-t., sel., Sep., spig., still., stram., sulph., sumb., tab., thuj., til., verat.

A: You also said, we didn't notice it before, that you had a lame feeling in your arm.

P: Yes, my arm feels very tired.I can't move it yet without help. I don't feel the pain while supporting it, but it seems a weight that is pushing here above on my shoulder.

A: I gave you M potency, not 10 M.

P: Sometimes I get a stitch at the back of my shoulder, otherwise I don't have that pain anymore.

A: Previously, you had to take sleeping tablets.

P: Yes, the night before last night 1/2 TEMESTA of 1 mg.

A: Did you have to take a sleeping tablet last night ?

P: No, I could sleep without. I don't like to take tablets either.

A: All right, then I give you Foliata squalosa and I want to see you on Friday again.

P: Do the muscles remain so stiff when my arm is cured ?

A: No, everything will be all right, if you get the right remedy. Massage isn't necessary anymore.

P: I don't like that either.

A: Maybe you have to get your constitutional remedy afterwards, if other complaints appear. But we don't know it yet. How is it this evening compared to this morning ?

P: Much better.

A: There has been an amelioration during the day.

P: Yes, it improves slowly. The pain is less. The pressing, knocking, stitching feeling becomes less the whole time.

A: Then I see you on Friday again.

P: All right.

FEEDBACK (August 14, 1987)

A: The day before yesterday you were here. How were you doing ?

P: It is much better. I only have that tired feeling. But it is also better, there is no longer that heavy tiredness in my arm. And I can move it a lot better.

A: If you move your arm...

P: ... I feel something in my upper-arm. Not in my shoulder anymore.

A: Not so much pain.

P: No.

A: You also had a heavy feeling.

P: Yes, there is still the weight on my shoulder when I lift my arm.

A: How do you sleep at night ?

P: Very well.

A: No restlessness at night anymore ?

P: Now and then I have to put my arm in another position.

A: Do you still keep it warm ?

P: Yes, I even put THERMOGEL on it, with a bandage.

A: Can you say you still have pain ?

P: No, I only have an ill feeling in my arm, that my arm is so tired. And I can't make movements with my arm.

A: If you hold your arm and lift it ...

P: ... it hurts at a certain point of height.

A: Passive movement causes pain, only when you exert the muscles actively. Let me feel your hand.

P: I'm perspiring very much. I also feel very weak. Yesterday I sat with my girl-friend on a terrace for 2 hours and drank something. Afterwards she took me home and we talked a little at home. And then I said that I had to lie down for a while, because I felt so empty. I also lost a lot of weight.

A: Since you have this pain. Since when is this ?

P: Since Friday evening. I felt it a little and thought, it will go over and then I called you on Saturday.

A: Now we have to wait. It should be better every day. Keep quiet and keep your arm warm. I think massage has no sense.

P: I don't like that.

A: You don't do anything that is painful. I would like to see you again next week on Friday for a check up. You don't get any tablets now.

P: And when it starts again ?

A: Then you call me. I give you a tablet in reserve home.

"Weakness from pain" (p. 1418). You see, there is also Rhus toxicodendron. Usually, Rhus toxicodendron is left sided, but not always. But in Homoeopathy nothing is "always". Therefore we have to be flexible.

CASE4 v2

Arthritis, right shoulder

Rhus toxicodendron

WOMAN, 55 YEARS OLD

A: Yesterday you came with a lot of pain in your right shoulder. Do you know how it happened ?

P: I think it is because of the coldness and the wet weather and maybe- I thought about it afterwards - we have visited our mother on Sunday and on the way back home it was as hot as in a oven in the car, very warm. Our daughter opened the window.

She said that she came back from the hospital where she visited her mother. In the car it was as hot as in a conservatory house, her daughter opened the window and there was a draft of air. That was the cause of her complaints.

Always ask for the cause, nothing comes itself.

P: And so we drove on. Then I asked her to close the window, because I couldn't tolerate it. Too much working might also be one of the causes. I think a little of everything.

A: Was the pain on the right side ?

P: Here, in the joint.

A: Was the pain strong ?

P: Yes, very strong.

A: You couldn't ... - even when you moved - you couldn't move ?

P: No, I couldn't.

A: Did you have to get out of bed when you had been lying for a while ?

P: Yes, and they had to help me, because I couldn't get up alone.

A: During the day you had to keep your arm still. You had to support it, but you couldn't keep your arm that way for a long time, then you had to lie it in another position.

P: Yes.

A: Warmth does good.

P: Yes, very good.

A: Further, there are no special symptoms. You couldn't move your arm, because it was painful, but when you kept it still, you had to lie it in another position after a while. The warmth did good, caused by draft of air, by cooling. Are you very busy ?

P: Yes, and hyper-sensitive to change of weather, to wet weather. I can feel it immediately.

A: Then I gave you the tablet yesterday. How were you doing ?

P: I took 3 times a spoonful and went to sleep. The first time I woke up at 1.00 o'clock. I got up for a little while, but then I didn't notice anything. Then I slept very well. I got up with great difficulties. It was a little difficult, but I felt that my arm was better. My arm is better, but I can't do everything with it.

A: Yes, yes, that would be too quickly. Did you sleep the night before the last ?

P: No, because of the pain.

A: And now you slept very quietly, and the pain has decreased.

P: Yes, absolutely. When I touch it, I don't feel anything there, but this part isn't all right yet - at least with some movements.

A: Do you have the impression that your arm is too heavy ?

P: I did yesterday, not today.

A: You had a heavy feeling yesterday.

P: Yes, heavy as lead.

A: Yesterday it was strong. Has it disappeared yet ?

P: It has disappeared.

Sometimes I do not have time to put the patient on video the first time. But I recorded this woman afterwards to show you that you can have Rhus toxicodendron symptoms on the right side, not only on the left side.

CASE5 v2

Pain left shoulder

Rhus toxicodendron

WOMAN, 55 YEARS OLD

A: What is your problem ?

P: Last year I got pain in my shoulder joint. I had radiographs made. Should I have brought them with me ?

A: That is not necessary.

P: I always got pain. My doctor said, "You have arthrosis, the head is injured, that will remain a problem." A month ago I got very strong pain, so I thought, there must be something happening. The doctor wanted to give me an injection. I got 5 injections. I asked him if there was CORTISONE in it, because I am against side-effects. He assured me there was not CORTISONE in it. Then I thought, I have to do something, because I might get it again.

10 days after the last injection, on Saturday, I got a strong pain. Somebody told me he got rid of the pain in his shoulder with your treatment, that's the reason why I'm here.

A: That's of no importance. When is the pain strongest in your shoulder ?

P: Always.

A: When most ?

P: When I have worked, in the evening, and then at night. During the day it stitches and is painful, but I don't notice it very much, but it is worst in the evening and at night. At the moment it is better, but I got another injection on Saturday.

A: Do you know what it was ?

P: There was CORTISONE in it. The doctor said that locally there is no problem.

A: Did the pain disappear completely after the injection ?

P: No. On Monday I worked very much and on Tuesday I got a very strong pain.

A: When did you get the injection ?

P: On Saturday.

A: How is the pain in the morning when you get up ?

P: The arm feels stiff. Then I have to move it a little.

A: The first movement hurts and when you moved it a little it is better and after much movement it aggravates.

P: Yes.

A: Do you have a lame feeling in your arm ?

P: Yes. At the moment I can only lift it with support, otherwise I can't.

"Lameness, upper limbs, left" (p. 1031) - it is as if the arm was lame. A little lower you see "cold weather agg." and then "rheumatic": Rhus toxicodendron.

A: I see something on your lips. You had a herpetic eruption. Do you have this often ?

P: No.

"Herpetic eruptions around the lips." Where can we find this, when someone says that he gets herpetic eruptions on the lips every time when he gets fever. "Herpetic eruptions in fever" (p. 1313), there are three remedies: Carbo vegetabilis, Natrum muriaticum capital and Rhus toxicodendron. When you look at the local rubric under "face", "eruptions, herpes around the lips" (p. 369) there are 3 capital remedies: Natrum muriaticum, Sepia and Rhus toxicodendron.

A: Did you have fever ?

P: I don't think so.

A: Did it come all of sudden ?

P: Yes.

A: What kind of influence does the weather have on the pain ?

P: I can't answer that.

A: You don't know.

P: But I must say we have laid stones on the entrance at our house. I helped from my chair. The first days I sat on my knees. My legs were swollen and torn open. After that heavy work I got the pain in my shoulder. Those stones weighed 2.5 kg a piece.

A: All right, that is very clear. Do you lie still in bed at night ?

P: Yes, I'm not tossing and turning.

A: Also when you have pain ?

P: Yes, even then.

A: Can you stay in bed when you have this pain ?

P: Yes, I can.

A: Did you get up ?

P: Yes, only to get to the toilet.

A: You can stay in bed. Which night did you have pain ?

P: From Saturday to Sunday and from Tuesday to Wednesday.

A: How often did you get up ?

P: On Saturday night once, and on Tuesday night two times.

A: To urinate.

P: Yes, it is bothering me.

A: Do you often have to urinate ?

P: Yes.

Look at "frequent urination at night" (laughter, mumbling) - which of you gets up 2 times to urinate at night ? Nobody. Yes, maybe one time, but it is not normal to get up at night to urinate.

A: What does local coldness or warmth on your shoulder do ?

P: Warmth does good.

A: All right. Do you drink something when you get up at night ?

P: No.

A: Do you drink much ?

P: No, not especially.

A: What do you prefer to drink ?

P: Water, from the watertap.

A: What do you drink less ?

P: Coffee.

A: Something else ?

P: No.

A: Do you drink milk in your coffee ?

P: Yes.

A: Do you like that ?

P: Yes.

A: Do you like milk ?

P: Yes, I don't like black coffee.

A: You like milk in your coffee, but do you like milk from the bottle ?

P: Yes, I like that.

A: Do you like to drink warm or cold milk ?

P: It is all the same. But I prefer it a little warm, lukewarm.

A: Do you have other complaints, besides your shoulder ?

P: I have the tendency to pull my hair when I am nervous. What do you think about that ?

A: You have the tendency to pull your hair.

P: Yes, then I pull it. I want to be rid of that. I am glad I told you this. I don't know if you can do something about it.

A: Other complaints ?

P: No, I can't think about something immediately.

A: No other complaints ?

P: No.

A: What do you do when you watch TV in the evening ?

P: I don't watch much TV, sometimes a documentary or a talk show. Then I can concentrate on it.

A: Do you knit then ?

P: No.

A: Crochet(a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a patterned fabric by looping yarn with a hooked needle.) ?

P: No. When I want to watch TV I don't do anything.

A: Then you can sit quietly.

P: Yes, I can.

A: Can you keep your feet still while sitting ?

P: What do you mean ? Yes, in fact I can.

A: Can you do nothing ?

P: No, I prefer to have an occupation.

"Occupation amel.", under "mind". One remedy has to be added there: Helonias. You know that Helonias has the same symptoms of the uterus and the back as Sepia. Helonias feels the uterus the whole time, is conscious of the uterus. The differential diagnosis between Sepia and Helonias is very difficult.

I know the mental picture of Rhus toxicodendron very well and I had a patient who was very depressive and sad, so that you could think of Sepia or Aurum, but this patient has been cured with Rhus toxicodendron. Rhus toxicodendron can be very sad, can have suicidal thoughts - it is also in the Repertory.

And you will see that the mind of this patient changes. But she doubts that Rhus toxicodendron has done it - maybe it was the last injection her doctor gave her.

A: All right. Do you like to drink coffee ?

P: Yes, now and then a cup, but not one after the other.

A: Do you like beer ?

P: No, not much. You know, sometimes with this pain I drank a schnapps in the evening to fall asleep easier.

A: What kind of schnapps was it ?

P: Sherry, just a little, in case of need. Sometimes I didn't.

A: To drink the pain away.

P: Yes, I could also take a DISPRIL.

A: All right. At the beginning there might be an aggravation after the remedy for a few days. I give you a higher potency. The more diluted, the stronger the remedy. But then I'm sure that it works completely. I think that you will get rid of your pain within one week. In fact, the pain was caused after an excessive burden on your shoulders. Which arm did you burden ?

P: Both.

A: You have the the rheumatic complaints especially on the left side. That will always be so.

P: Yes.

A: But now it has been caused by an excessive burden. You know that you are sensitive to it and you have to take care of that, and work a little less.

P: Yes.

FEEDBACK (November 23, 1987)

Now, you will see how she has changed. For this woman Rhus toxicodendron is a deep constitutional remedy.

A: I saw you on October 1. Now it is November 23, so 6 weeks later. How did you react to the the remedy ?

P: I think well. I feel well.

A: And at the the beginning after the remedy ?

P: I expected to get strong pain, but I didn't.

A: No aggravation ?

P: No. I got another injection from the doctor.

A: Why ?

P: I asked you if I could see my doctor again and you told me to go on as usually. I went there. I really needed it. The day I called you, I was really under pressure. Then I went to see my doctor.

A: Did the pain improve immediately after the remedy ?

P: Yes. You see, I had to see Dr. X. I went there and he gave me another injection.

A: Did you have pain at that time ?

P: Yes, I had.

A: Just as strong ?

P: No, less. But I did get an injection.

A: Well yes, all right. My question is only related to the reaction of the remedy. Was the pain less after the remedy ?

They bought a hard mattress and now she sleeps beautifully on it - "pain back, while lying on something hard, amel." (p. 896): Rhus toxicodendron. A hard bed is only good for Natrum muriaticum, Sepia, Pulsatilla, Rhus toxicodendron and some other remedies, but not for Arnica, Baptisia, Silicea and so on.

Now she sleeps very well, because she got Rhus toxicodendron, but maybe also because she sleeps on a hard mattress. You see how Rhus toxicodendron can really change the mind. This woman feels better, she is more quiet, not so nervous anymore and she does not have any pain.

P: Yes, before I came here the pain was already better.

A: But has it improved further after the remedy ?

P: Yes, absolutely. I don't know what I shall add to it, but I feel much better.

A: For how long were you in treatment with Dr. X ?

P: I have the pain since the end of August.

A: So, you have been in treatment for months ?

P: Maybe one month.

A: You have had your complaints for 2 months. Now, you took a remedy and it has improved immediately.

P: Yes.

A: All right.

P: But after the remedy I got another injection, but I shouldn't say that.

A: All right. But generally, you feel better, which you didn't after the injection.

P: Yes, that's right. I only thought, it is better to mention that I got another injection afterwards.

A: Now, do you still have pain ?

P: I still feel it a little, but well, I have it for a long time. It seems that I have arthrosis, but I feel better than previously.

A: Better than previously !

P: Yes. I wanted to say this. There are other things that have improved. I was depressive.

A: And has it disappeared now ?

P: Yes.

A: That might have disappeared after the injection. It is strange.

P: I think so. Now I have something to which I can hold myself.

A: Now, I know how it works. For you it is difficult to follow. When you feel better in general, so that even the depressiveness disappears after one tablet, then it is logic that the remedy has worked; because the depressiveness didn't disappear after the injection.

P: Yes.

A: We have to think logically. Besides, I will prove it to you. You will get it again, because you can't do nothing. You will get those complaints again.

P: Which complaints ?

A: The pain in your arm. But I will give you a tablet to take home. When the pain appears again you take the tablet. And then I guarantee you that the pain will disappear. Now, you don't need a doctor anymore.

P: Fine.

A: Did other complaints improve ?

P: Yes, I told you, with my hair, I was so nervous. It has disappeared. I was always pulling my hair. I don't do it anymore.

A: You look differently.

P: Oh yes, do I ?

A: You can't look very well from a CORTISONE injection, on the contrary.

P: I say, I feel very well.

A: All right.

P: I'm very satisfied.

In Clarke you can read that Rhus toxicodendron can be very depressive, with a lot of anxieties. Anxieties about their children, anxieties about their wife, but you always see that those people work very hard. They work day and night and are always very restless. That is something you can hold on to. But they can have very deep depressions with suicidal tendencies.

A: I will give you a tablet in a tube to take home. You don't have to come anymore. When you have problems, you only call me. Now, we have a medical card of you. And don't drink coffee.

P: They asked me how it is possible. I said, you will not persuade me. I don't drink it.

A: You have suffered enough.

P: Yes. But now and then I drink black tea. May I drink that ?

A: Now and then. That is no problem.

P: I drink very much lime-tree blossom tea. And decaffeinated coffee ?

A: There is also caffeine in.

P: I thought, I asked him.

A: You are a person who has to be busy the whole time. If you drink coffee it will activate you more. You can't sit still, although you are more quiet now.

P: Yes. In the meantime we have bought a hard mattress. We slept so badly. We had to do something. Now, we sleep much better. All together played a role. Previously, I had cramps in my legs, but it has disappeared since then.

A: Since the injection !

P: No, not after the injection, you shouldn't say that.

A: I think it is very strange. When you give people a remedy and they feel better, psychically, in general, they come back and say it is because they don't drink coffee anymore or take vitamins. That is always difficult for us, when they reacted beautifully to a remedy they will always think it is due to something else. Do you understand ?

P: Yes.

A: But it is not bad. I tell you again. I will convince you of the working of the remedy. In fact, you are at the moment.

P: Yes, absolutely.

A: So, when you become nervous, or depressed again you take one tablet. That is for you the cheapest treatment you ever had.

P: May I ask you something ? I have circulatory difficulties. I have taken medicines for several years.

A: You can stop it. If you have problems you can call me. If you get clearly swollen arms and legs you may take one medicine, otherwise not. You didn't tell me the last time.

P: No.

A: You came with your arm. But the rest of your body is also important for us.

P: Well yes. That's why I say it now.

CASE6 v2

Herpes labialis and arthrotic pain

Rhus toxicodendron

WOMAN, 60 YEARS OLD

A: You got fever blisters suddenly. Do you have this often ?

As I already told you the observation is very important. The first thing I saw when she came in, was those herpetic eruptions. And everyone knows that the symptom "herpes in the face, around the lips" is very important. "Face, eruptions, herpes, about the lips" (p. 369).

HERPES,ERUPTION,lips, about: Agar., anac., ars., asc-t., bor., brom., calc-f., canth., carb-v., caust., chel., crot-t., dulc., graph., hep., ip., kali-p., lac-c., lach., med., nat-a., nat-c., Nat-m., nicc., par., ph-ac., Rhus-t., sars., Sep., sil., spong., sulph., tub., urt-u.

There is not only Calcarea, but also Calcarea fluorata, Graphites, Dulcamara, Hepar, Medorrhinum. The herpes of Medorrhinum is very small, very small vesicles. Rhus toxicodendron, Sepia and Natrum muriaticum can have big eruptions. Do not forget Tuberculinum. We often change Rhus toxicodendron and Tuberculinum, but Tuberculinum often follows Rhus toxicodendron. Both have the same modalities.

In Homoeopathy it is often strange. You give a remedy and the patient feels well for a short time, but then he has a relapse and he needs a remedy that follows, but with the same modalities.You see for instance that Calcarea follows Rhus toxicodendron.Calcarea has nearly the same modalities as Rhus toxicodendron in pain, namely, amelioration by motion. Or Tuberculinum; Rhus toxicodendron - Tuberculinum. Tuberculinum has the same modalities as Rhus toxicodendron. There is another important thing. When you look at "pain, sore" - "extremities, pain sore, during chill" (p. 1126) - this is the beginning of an influenza. They have sore pain in the extremities during chill. There you see Arnica, Baptisia, Nux vomica, Rhus toxicodendron and Tuberculinum. A little lower you see "extremities, pain sore, during heat": again Tuberculinum. Do not forget it in a seemingly influenza, developing to a cough and later to a real pulmonary inflammation. It starts with this sore pain all over the body and motion ameliorates. Then they start coughing and go towards a serious pulmonary inflammation. That is Tuberculinum. Here we often make mistakes. We think it is an influenza with cough and give Bryonia, but Bryonia does not do anything. Be careful.

We had a case where a colleague gave a wrong remedy. I was not there, but maybe I would not have found the remedy either. The patient gets in the hospital. And a year later the same thing happened again. He came to me, I saw him and I thought, "That's Tuberculinum." He got Tuberculinum and was cured. Tuberculinum has that also, and also the herpes. Do not forget, Tuberculinum is a very important remedy.

P: When I have a cold, I get it. When my nose is watering, it grows thicker and afterwards it is torn open.

A: But I see there are eruptions.

P: Yes, there is moisture coming out.

A: It doesn't come from the nose.

P: No, but it comes from there.

A: But not everything what comes out of the nose makes it red. There appears some eruptions and then there is moisture coming out from there.

P: Yes.

Every time when those people have coryza they have herpetic eruptions as well. You see, "herpetic eruptions during fever" (p. 1313): Carbo vegetabilis, Natrum muriaticum and Rhus toxicodendron.

A: Do you have other complaints ?

P: At the inside of my left knee.

A: Tell me, what is it ?

P: Yes, at the inside there is a tightness and when I stand erect it is like a gnawing. And when I want to sit down it doesn't want to bend. Then I have to keep it stiff and it cracks.

A: Further ?

P: I can't stand still while washing up or ironing. When I move it is better. And I can't bend my knee anymore.

It is impossible to stand while washing up, she has to move. That is very important. "Standing agg." - which remedy has this ? Sulphur.

A: It is strange that it is the left knee.

P: Yes, but it also starts in my other knee. I burden it too much. It goes out of place easily.

A: This means that your knee easily dislocates. Do you have this at other places ?

P: No.

A: Does it feel as if dislocated ?

P: Yes, normally it hurts. And when I have it in my right leg, then the knee remains crooked. Then I move a little and it is put right again.

A: How is it in the mornings ?

P: Then it is rather good. Something else: when I lie in bed and I lie on my side, then my knee lies on the other knee, but I can't tolerate it long. I have to put something in between. I can't tolerate the left knee on the right knee.

When someone has rheumatism and can not tolerate the finger touch each other and have to spread them - that is Lac caninum.

Mercurius has this symptom especially at night: "Extremities, pain at night, driving out of bed" (p. 1044): 3 remedies: Mercurius, Chamomilla and Ferrum. But in this case I want to know whether it is really the touch or something else.

A: It is not typical for this remedy, but for another. Do you have pain when one knee touches the other knee ?

P: Yes, but not at the beginning. First, I can lie on my right side well.

A: Is it because one knee lies on the other ?

P: No, because one knee sags.

A: Not because one knee touches the other knee ?

P: No, no. I think that the knee-cap goes up and that's the reason why I get this pain.

That is very important with the differential diagnosis to Mercurius. We have to differentiate if slight touch of both knees to each other, this means slight touch at night aggravates, and this would be Mercurius. But in this case she says it is not because of a touch of the knee, but because of the sagging of the joints, therefore it is painful, and not because of the touch of the knees. Mercurius has the aggravation by slight touch, but especially at night. That was the differential diagnosis and you have to be very sensitive to both symptoms, especially with pain in the knee. Pain in the knee at night: Mercurius. But here it is not Mecurius.

A: Do you also have salivation ?

P: No, I don't.

A: How is it with your knee at night ?

P: Then I put something underneath.

A: Can you lie still in bed ?

P: Yes, very well.

Concerning the tongue the differential diagnosis between Rhus toxicodendron and Mercurius is often difficult: "indented tongue" (p. 406), 4 capital remedies: Arsenicum, Chelidonium, Mercurius and Rhus toxicodendron.

Rhus toxicodendron has also a coated tongue at the base. What is the typical tongue of Rhus toxicodendron ?A red triangle at the tip (p. 402).

Do not forget that Rhus toxicodendron also has an indented tongue ! And look in the Repertory "salivation night" (p. 418), Rhus toxicodendron is second degree and in "salivation during sleep" Rhus toxicodendron is one degree, together with Mercurius. The differential diagnosis is not so easy. Besides, she perspires very much during the pain.

A: Does she lie still ? Does she wake you up ?

HP: She can sleep very well.

A: Do you have complaints when you have sat for a while and get up ?

P: Yes, and when I start walking.

A: And when you start walking it is better.

P: Yes, but not completely.

A: What does warmth do to your knee ?

P: It improves. In the evening I put a bandage around it, it does good.

A: Do you have other complaints ?

P: Yes, my fracture. Previously, I have had an operation for a lump in my navel and now there is a scar. Will it go away without doing something ?

A: I don't know, but I think so.

P: Well, it was 13 years ago.

Hernia umbilicalis. Let us see if the remedy is there. The remedy is not there. What do you expect ? An evolution to Calcarea carbonica.

A: It might be, even a strangulated hernia disappears with this remedy. The previous time you had acute pain in the abdomen that disappeared with Bryonia.

She called me for acute pain in the abdomen with vomiting. This was the beginning of an incarcerated hernia. I gave her Bryonia and the next day she was cured. Bryonia is complementary to Rhus toxicodendron and it is the first remedy we have to think of with problems with the peritoneum and pleura. The first remedy in pleurisy is Bryonia, besides Phosphorus, Kali carbonicum, Sulphur and Tuberculinum: Bryonia is also the most important remedy in appendicitis. Do you know where it is in the Repertory ? "Abdomen, inflammation, appendicitis" (p. 552). Bryonia is capital. It has the typical rebound tenderness.You push and it does not hurt, but when you loose it, it is painful, that is Bryonia. Bryonia ameliorates by pressure. Usually, 80 % of all the acute appendicitis are Bryonia. They are very pale and they are vomiting at the least motion, they even vomit drinks. You know, vomiting after small quantities of drinking; Phosphorus, Arsenicum, Bryonia and Cadmium sulphuratum- "stomach, vomiting, after drinking, smallest quantity" (p. 532). There is also Bismuthum. How do you recognize Bismuthum ? Pain in the stomach. The pain of Bismuthum is usually on small spots.But what do patients do ? They faint. The pain is so strong that they faint. Calcarea sulphurica is a cancer remedy, for cancer of the stomach. Their vomiting is like coffee.

You see "stomach pain with fainting" (p. 513): Bismuthum is capital. Do you know what kind of examination you have to do to make sure you are dealing with Bismuthum ? The pain disappears when you rub the back hard. And how is the position of their sleep ? They have to lie backward, because of the pain. Which other remedy indicates that ? Dioscorea.

For which disease do you need Apocynum cannabinum ? For Crohn disease, that has developed very slowly. You often see cases with edemas of the stomach, the legs and the hands - "dropsy of the abdomen" (p. 546). It is a very interesting remedy in very serious cases.

Question: "Would you send a patient with appendicitis to the surgery ?"

A: No. We give him Bryonia 10 M or 50 M and then he has to stay in the centre for 3 hours. If he is better, he can go home, if he is not, he has to go to the hospital, because there might be a perforation already. You can even cure a perforation, but do not take risks in Homoeopathy. It is not a risk for us. If you are sure, it is not a risk at all.

Question: "Did you say that the pain in the stomach is better by rubbing in Bismuthum ?"

A: Yes, not above, but below, you have to rub in the lumbar region, not at another place.

You see in appendicitis there is also Phosphorus, Mercurius andin a Mercurius appendicitis the pain usually appears at night.

A: Tell me, what about your food ?

P: I eat very well, but at the moment I eat more vegetables and fruit.

A: And milk ?

P: I don't drink it much.

A: You don't like it very much, do you ?

P: Yes, but what about it, isn't it possible that it contains too much calcium ?

A: No, I don't think so. You work too much, don't you ?

P: Yes, but I can't very well.

A: Can you easily sit still ?

HP: Yes, and with her liking of being busy ...

P: Nurse with the red cross, sewing ...

A: Do you like hand work ?

P: Yes, I do.

A: Can you watch TV without hand work ?

P: Yes, then I have my handwork and put my legs upwards.

A: This means that you always have to be busy.

P: Yes, always be busy, but I can't do the heavy housework.

These people usually have to do something - not always, nothing is "always" in Homoeopathy. When she is watching TV, they are usually knitting or sewing. They can not sit there and do nothing, they always have to be busy.

A: So, you can't do nothing ?

P: No ...

A: And do you like milk ?

P: Yes, but I don't drink it much.

A: But at the time you didn't think you had too much calcium did you drink milk regularly ?

Rhus toxicodendron has a superstitious fear. Look in the Repertory "fear, superstitious" (p. 47). There is another important remedy that has this superstitious fear. When they pass the church they have to make the sign of a cross. There is one remedy that has burning pain after stool for a very long time: Ratanhia. Ratanhia has this very strong superstitious fear and this compulsiveness. They have to do this or that, they feel for instance they have to clean everything at 5.00 o'clock in the morning.

P: Yes, then I drank a glass of milk every day, instead of a slice of bread. Previously, they said that milk contained everything. But I thought, it was not good.

A: Yes, that's all right. Did you drink milk from the refrigerator.

P: No, it shouldn't be too cold.

A: Did you have to warm the milk ?

P: No, it shouldn't be warm either. No, it was normal on the cupboard in the kitchen.

A: Do you tolerate draft of air ?

P: No, I feel it immediately.

These people are very sensitive to draft of air. Many remedies are sensitive, but they feel really if this door is closed or open, they are so sensitive to draft of air.Which other remedy is so sensitive to draft of air ? Calcarea phosphorica and Cimicifuga. When someone has a crick in his neck from draft of air -"Back, cervical region, draft of air" (p. 947).

BACK,STIFFNESS,CERVICAL REGION,air, draft of : Calc-p., cimic., Rhus-t.

There are 3 remedies: Calcarea phosphorica, Cimicifuga and Rhus toxicodendron.

Cimicifuga has the same quality as Lachesis. In which kind ? Concerning the speech, loquaciousness, going from one subject to another.They are very difficult patients in simultaneous translations, they talk too fast and too much.

A: Do you have a barometer at home ?

P: Yes, outside; although I am the barometer. When the central heating starts, first there is a cold draft and I feel that.

A: Are you the barometer ? Do you feel when the weather is changing ?

P: Yes, I feel that.

When the rain is coming they have very strong pain and therefore I asked if they have a barometer at home.

A: Then we will take care that it will change.

P: Yes, yes, I had it in my knees sometimes and it has become very well.

A: It is important that there is a relation between the eruptions around the lips, pain in the knee and pain in the umbilical hernia. These three things are the same.

P: Oh yes ? Do you think that I don't have to be operated ?

A: No, let the tablet melt under your tongue and you will see, that it will be all right very quickly. Do you weep easily ?

P: No, not so easily.

HP: Only when she is ill.

P: Yes, I think I haven't worked, I can't do it anymore.

HP: If she is ill, she is really ill.

A: Then you weep, because you can't work anymore.

P: Yes, the idea.

A: Then you are helpless, desperate, therefore ...

P: Yes, I can't get away.

Do not forget that not only Pulsatilla weeps. You see "weeping, involuntary" (p. 93).

MIND,WEEPING,involuntary: Alum., aur., bell., cann-i., caust., cina., coff., cupr., Ign., lach., merc., mosch., Nat-m., phos., Plat., plb., Puls., Rhus-t., Sep., stann., stram., verat., viol-o.

There are a lot of weeping remedies. There is also Rhus toxicodendron, Ignatia, also Natrum muriaticum and Sepia. In "causeless weeping" Sulphur is capital, this means there is no reason, he does not know why.

And you know, Sulphur weeps when he wants to weep. When Sulphur is weeping, he is playing theatre. He starts weeping and when you give him a handkerchief to dash away the tears and start talking about a new subject, they talk immediately with you and they forget everything. It is very important to remark from how deep the weeping comes, the way of weeping. The weeping of Ignatia is a hysterical weeping, the weeping of Medorrhinum is completely different. They can say nothing, they have to weep constantly and they can not say a word. The remedy that weeps most during the consultation is Medorrhinum, they can not stop anymore.

FEEDBACK

A: Tell me what happened after the tablet ?

P: I got more pain in my legs, especially while standing, while ironing and so on. When I was in motion, it was better, but not always.

She has more pain now. I gave her 10 M.

A: Did you feel something immediately after the remedy ?

P: No, nothing else.

A: Further ?

P: I have had more pain for one week, then the pain disappeared and I could sleep better and so.

A: And how is the pain in your left knee at the moment ?

P: It is tolerable. But when I stand still, it comes back. But not so strong as at the beginning.

A: But is the pain less while standing still ?

P: Compared to previously, yes. Because when I sat down at that time, there was a drilling in my knee. I don't have it anymore now.I have pain only for a short time, when I am very tired and sit down, but then it disappears immediately.

A: So, first an aggravation and then better while standing. At the moment it is too early to judge, but do you feel that there is an amelioration ?

P: Yes, because in the morning it is all right, when I get up.

A: And the eruption has disappeared.

P: Completely disappeared.

A: Do you feel well ?

P: Yes.

A: Did you drink coffee ?

P: No, I don't drink it.

A: You got a 10 M, that is a rather high potency.

P: Yes, I thought, the tablet is working, it will go over.

Those patients who have come to the centre for a long time know that there is an aggravation, because of the "pilleken". They have very much confidence, I mean, they do not worry about it.

A: It is a little too strong, therefore you got some more complaints at the beginning.

P: Yes, it might be.

A: But be careful, you feel yourself that it is improving.

P: Absolutely.

A: All right. That was everything I wanted to know.

This was a case to indicate this herpes, so that you are sensitive to this symptom.

CASE7

Dysplasia ( DISLOCATION ) left hip

Rhus toxicodendron

WOMAN, 20 YEARS

A: When I saw you the first time the diagnosis was a dysplasia in the left hip and then you had pain in the left inguinal area. And there was a second complaint: cracks of the joints.

MP: Yes, she could let her joints crack.

A: All your joints ?

MP: No, in her hip.

A: Was the pain much stronger while standing.

P: Yes, and also when I had been seated down for a long time and had to get up again. And at night I woke up because of the pain.

A: When did you also have pain ?

P: While doing gymnastics.

A: During gymnastics ?

P: Yes usually, but normally afterwards.

A: Did you also have to get out of bed, because of the pain ?

P: Yes.

A: You also said that you couldn't sit still, because of the pain ?

P: Yes.

A: The complaints were strongest in the morning.

P: Yes, and when I got up my leg often sagged.

A: Did you have this as a child ?

MP: She has had it for 3, 4 years.

A: Did you take medicines ?

MP: Yes, and massage and laser-treatment.

A: On your hip ?

MP: Yes.

P: Yes, the doctors advised it. I tried everything, but I still had pain.

MP: She's complaining constantly.

A: Did it disappear with tablets ?

MP: No, but she didn't trust them.

A: Did she tolerate them ?

MP: No.

A: Did she have freckles ?

MP: No.

A: Here it says, she has fear for lightning, great spiders.

MP: Yes.

A: Is she superstitious ?

MP: Sometimes.

A: How do you mean ?

MP: During exams. She thinks it will bring her luck when she takes something.

A: And when she sees a black cat before the examinations ?

Fear, when she sees a black cat. Why did I ask it ? For which anxiety ? Because of "superstitious fear" (p. 74), one remedy: Rhus toxicodendron.

On this fear Vithoulkas prescribed a remedy in London. But unfortunately, she did not have this fear.

MP: Not really.

A: It doesn't make her anxious, but you have to have something with you, a kind of talisman. Is there something else ?

MP: No, only that, before the examinations.

A: You said that she is a rather closed person.

MP: Yes.

A: Does she tolerate the sun ?

MP: No.

A: Is she easily warm ?

MP: Yes, we were in Spain, but ...

A: Does the weather play a role for your hip ?

P: No, not that I know.

MP: No, but she was always complaining.

A: Do you get headache in the sun ?

MP: Yes, headache in the sun.

A: She perspires easily, but no eruptions of the sun.

MP: But now she has eruptions.

A: You are easily too warm.

P: Yes, that's right.

A: Can you tolerate the draft of air ?

P: No problem.

A: Here it says, that you like leek, also spicy food and fat. What do you like to drink ?

P: In fact, I drink everything.

A: Is there something else what you don't like ?

P: No.

A: Do you like milk ?

P: Yes.

MP: She likes chocolate milk, but normal milk not so much.

A: Cold or warm ?

MP: That's the same.

FEEDBACK

A: I gave you on May 5, 1986 a remedy in M potency. Then I saw you again in June 1986. It was much better then. You had three times complaints while swimming, but not in the mornings when you got up, you didn't have to get up at night either. How did it go afterwards ?

MP: Very well.

P: Very well.

MP: She nearly doesn't have any pain now. Only when she has eaten something wrong, when she did a wrong movement, then she says she has complaints, but otherwise she doesn't have anything.

A: I gave you a remedy in a tube, so that I don't chase money out of your pocket. When was the last time you took it ?

MP: It is about 2, 3 months ago, last year.

A: But now it is May.

FP: 1 or 2 months ago she did a march of 20 km with her school. No problem.

A: That's great.

MP: Yes, because in fact she should take a cure.

A: Why should she ?

MP: We don't know either. They didn't tell us. She should go there, but then we came to you.

A: Then you took your cure here, didn't you ?

MP: Yes, yes she has no complaints anymore.

CASE8 v3

Angina pectoris

Rhus toxicodendron

MAN, 65 YEARS OLD

This is a case of angina pectoris with pain in the heart, a serious case. What do we see ?

A swelling around the eyes.

Face,swelling,eyes,around: All-c., Apis., ars., chin., colch., cupr., elaps., ferr., Kali-c., merc., nit-ac., phos., Rhus-t., sang., stram.

A: Two months ago you came with a very great problem. What happened then ?

P: We were in Spain.

WP: Yes, we sat in a cafe and he started to tremble and it was so strange. He said, that he had pain in his left arm, also a sore throat. The doctor thought it wasn't normal and when he didn't feel better the next morning, he had a cardiogram made.

A: What did you feel exactly ?

P: It was as if the arm was paralysed. I couldn't move it.

A: Did you have pain somewhere else ?

P: Yes, in my neck and heart.

A: Show me. Did the pain extend to somewhere ?

P: It was at the same time.

A: Was there a numb feeling in your arm ?

P: Yes.

His arm was numb - where can you find this rubric ? "Numbness in left arm in heart disease" (p. 1036).

EXTREMITIES,NUMBNESS,UPPER LIMB,LEFT,in heart disease: Acon., Cact., cimic., dig., glon., kalm., lach., lat-m., naja., phos., Rhus-t., spig., sumb.

Do you see the remedies ? The first remedy is Aconitum, do not forget Aconitum.And how can you differentiate Aconitum from Rhus toxicodendron ? The anxieties of Aconitum. Aconitum thinks he will die, but he will not tell you, you see the fear in his eyes. I had a patient, a man, it was about 11.00 o'clock in the evening and we had a meeting, drank beer and suddenly a man who was sitting in front of me, took his heart. The others started to laugh and said, "Well, he has something on his heart." He was a great plethoric man, but I had just finished my work and thought, "My God, I have to work again within a few minutes." And it was so. He went outside and two minutes later they called me that I should go to him, because he had problems. I saw that he tried to put his arm in the sleeve of his coat, but he couldn't, because his arm was asleep. It was 500 m from our centre and I went with him there and talked to him about everything else, because I was afraid and thought, that he would die with a homoeopath next to him; that is not good for the papers: "Sudden heart-attack while walking with a homoeopath !"

I was praying to God to reach the centre, so that I could give him a remedy. We arrived there and I called immediately an ambulance, so that they could bring him into the hospital. In the meantime he sat there and said, that the pain radiated here (shows it). I ran to get Naja, gave it to him - nothing. No, before I gave him Cactus - nothing either, and then Naja. He was sitting there and breathing very heavily. I gave him oxygen and 5 minutes later his wife came in. He said to her, "Do you know where the money is ? It is there, and the key there." When I heard that, I gave him immediately Aconitum. A little while later the ambulance came to take him to the hospital. He was still alive and I thank God for that.

The next day they called me from the hospital and said there was nothing with his heart. He only had a slight bronchitis, but he smokes very much, there were no other symptoms. So I made the wrong diagnosis - or I gave him the right remedy.

That is Aconitum. When you notice they have fear to die - they will not say it, but you see the anxiety in their eyes - that is Aconitum.

Naja has this extension to the neck. There is also Cactus. Cactus has a contraction feeling as if an iron string. The differential diagnosis between Aconitum and Cactus is difficult, because Cactus has also the feeling, as if there is a congestion in the head and is also anxious.

So, extending pain to the left arm: Lachesis, Latrodectus mactans - heart region with extension to the left arm, without anxiety, and then there is also Sumbulus. Sumbulus is a very important remedy in arteriosclerosis, in heart diseases and has numbness while lying on the side; and Magnolia has to be added in this rubric. Magnolia has heart diseases alternatively with pain in the spleen, together with wandering pain. It is a very important remedy for this kind of diseases. You find this in Boericke. And then the feeling as if the heart ceases to beat. In the Repertory you find this under "chest, sensation as if the heart had ceased" (p. 824). Magnolia is not there, it has to be added, Convallaria also.

Magnolia is a very interesting remedy, and the change of the heart- and pain in the spleen is strange in Magnolia, that is a key-note for Magnolia.

Convallaria is also an important heart remedy, in venous stasis and so on. It is a remedy for the tobacco heart, for people who have smoked too much "tobacco". Because of the tobacco heart they have an extremely fast and irregular pulse. Think of this remedy for old people who have smoked too much.

A: Did you have tablets from the doctor ?

WP: Yes, but he didn't take them immediately. He still got pain, but later, in the evening he has taken them and then it was better.

P: Then I had to run to the toilet ... (not understandable).

WP: The next day it was better, then we wanted to go home and now we are here.

A: You have an EKG made and there you see that there is ischemia. A problem of shortage of oxygen, so that the blood vessels at the heart are a little hardened.

When you work in a centre it is good when one of the doctors does the technical examinations. This doctor made the EKG. An EKG is very objective and the last EKG has been taken a week ago. He writes, "There is a big amelioration of the oxygenation of the heart."

A: Do you cough much ?

WP: Especially at night.

A: Not during the day ?

P: Not so much.

WP: No, but when he smokes a cigarette. Especially at night. I already slept on the sofa, because it was so bad.

A: Did you have pain in the heart region after eating ?

P: Yes, then I got it.

A: Did you have pain in the evening ?

P: Yes, also.

A: It was strange, that you didn't feel anything when you were working in the garden.

P: No, when I was busy, I felt nothing.

WP: The whole day nothing. And he did quite a lot of heavy work. I said, "Have you gone crazy, to do such things !" He fetched wood out of the forest and came home with it. And then he fetched 2 sacks of coal at the coal establishment.

When you tell this a cardiologist he will not believe you. Normally, in 80 % of the cases we can not cure angina pectoris, only when there are peculiarities, and here there is something peculiar: when he is busy he does not feel anything; very strange. He works in the garden, he does everything and feels nothing. That is strange, so it has to be curable. But normally you can forget it when someone has pain in the heart after the slightest exertion; let those patients be operated on, it is nothing for Homoeopathy.

This is very strange, this is against the normal heart diseases, so it must be curable. He also says that it aggravates after eating. We do not know this symptom for Rhus toxicodendron. It is not in the rubric "heart pain, after eating", but in the general rubric "agg. after eating". Second, he coughs only at night. During the day when he is busy he does not cough, that is strange.

P: When I am busy, I feel nothing.

A: Second: why did you take TEGRETOL ?

WP: Because he fainted now and then. He was really unconscious for 5 minutes and then he trembled.

A: Did he have a kind of epilepsy ?

WP: Yes, they told us. He has been taking these tablets for about one year.

A: I told you that I did not like TEGRETOL and we talked already about that. I said that probably my remedy wouldn't work well when you took these medicines and you stopped them.

P: Yes.

A: What was the result ?

WP: Much better. With TEGRETOL he was always gulping and it was as if he wasn't conscious. Now, it isn't anymore. And previously, when I asked him something, he looked astonished at me.

A: Did he still have attacks ?

P: No.

"Convulsions after injury" (p. 1354): there is not only Hypericum.

GENERALITIES, CONVOLUSION, injuries, from: Arn., art-v., cic., Hyper., nat-s., oena., op., rhus-t., sulph., valer.

You see, it is not dangerous to stop TEGRETOL, because the convulsions have been cured by the same remedy. If you can change it by something else, you do not have to be afraid to stop TEGRETOL. Rhus toxicodendron will also cure the convulsions which have been caused by the coal-mine - and this means that probably this person is constitutionally Rhus toxicodendron. But it is dangerous to speak about "constitutional remedy", I do not like it.

A: He had another complaint, he often had a crick in the neck when he has been sitting backwards for a long time ?

P: Yes, when I have been watching TV or so. When I sat on the chair, I got a crick in the neck and I became dizzy.

A: Then I gave you a tablet and the result was that the pain in your arm and the numbness of your arm have disappeared.

WP: Yes.

A: The pain in the heart after eating is less.

WP: He says nothing about it anymore.

A: In general better, no negative reactions after you stopped TEGRETOL, no blackouts anymore. Often a crick in the neck when he has been sitting backwards for a long time.

WP: He doesn't have it either.

A: And now you have complaints with your heart ?

WP: A little oppressions.

A: Then you take the tablets from Spain, a nitro-preparation, then it disappears immediately.

WP: Yes, it stops immediately.

P: Immediately.

He took this medicine, I think it was a nitro-preparation and I have let him take it. Do not be fanatic ! His cough is better, his cervical stiffness is better and the attacks have disappeared. He has arteriosclerosis as before and why should I not let him take this medicine ? And now he says that he has forgotten to take it. That was 1986 and now it is 1988. Maybe I saw him 2 weeks ago and he is very, very well. The EKG shows that the ischemia has decreased and in the meantime he even forgot to take this medicine.

I have never changed the remedy, he only got Rhus toxicodendron and when he starts coughing I give him Rhus toxicodendron 10 M or 50 M. I repeat it when there are symptoms, and when there are no symptoms I do nothing. And he never had an aggravation, he was immediately better - very strange.

A: So, he takes a nitro-preparation. Does the pain still radiate to the arm ?

P: No, it has disappeared. I feel when it comes, but I don't wait until it is bad, I take a tablet immediately and then it is all right. With the heart-attack ...

A: You still smoke much.

WP: No, not much. About 10 to 12.

A: You have to stop definitely in the future; from time to time you have to smoke less, do not stop at once. When you feel better, it is easier to stop; but it is necessary, because the nicotine hardens the blood vessels at the heart. You don't have to argue about it.

WP: We won't, we are too old for it.

A: Didn't you have the impression that previously he had swellings above and under his eyes ? He still has it a little.

WP: He always had.

A: And the bags under the eyes are a little wrinkled.

You see, the swelling is around the eyes, not only under the eyes. You can not see his eye lashes. And also these wrinkles, he has wrinkles under his eyes; Rhus toxicodendron has those wrinkles under the eyes, like Lycopodium - he has wrinkles on his forehead with complaints of the breast.

A: All right, then we will go a little higher. You may only take that nitro-preparation at the moment you have complaints.

P: Yes, I do.

A: Does he still get up at night ?

WP: No.

A: And what about sitting still ? He is a man who can not sit still.

WP: I often say, "Sit down for half an hour", but he likes to work outside. Sometimes he can sit for half an hour. When he is inside, he smokes too much. When he is outside, he doesn't smoke.

A: He smokes a cigarette, because he is bored.

WP: That's right.

A: Does he take other tablets ?

WP: He has taken tablets for the circulation for a long time, but then ... we stopped it, already long before we stopped with TEGRETOL. I was anxious when we stopped it, but nothing has happened for two months. And now he is much better, because otherwise he was always gulping, he wasn't conscious at all. Many people said, "Well, Michel is going downhill", when he wanted to play billiard - with that cough. But now he doesn't cough anymore.

A: If you can stop smoking, you would be a completely new person. But, don't argue about it with him.

WP: But he should try (discussion about smoking).

Do not tell your patient, "You must do this or that." You have to give them the right remedy, then you will be able to do for the patient what is necessary. If you tell me I have to lift 300 kg, and I can not, then I can not do it. If I tell the patient he should stop smoking and he can not do it, then he can not, then he lacks the energy to do so. We can not force the patient to do something like that. We can give him advice when they ask for it and if we are sure that we have to give this advice. I asked him to stop smoking, but I can not command him.

A: Is he anxious about anything ?

WP: No, I am more anxious than he is. When he stays too long away with his bicycle, I'm anxious that something might have happened (discussion about her anxiety at great length). But his eyes look like before. They were so pitiful and now it is gone. But I think he walks better. He didn't walk properly anymore, but now it has also disappeared.

A: Then we know what we have to do.

WP: An EKG and prescribe me the tablets again.

FEEDBACK

A: You are feeling well for quite a long time.

P: Yes, very well.

A: But you told me something, therefore I want to put you on video. Namely, there are some moments that you have pain. When especially ?

P: In the evening when I watched TV, when I was leaning with my head backwards, and then when I got up then, I felt it.

A: The weather seems to play a role.

P: It makes a great difference. It is worse, when the weather is wet.

A: Then you have more complaints with pain ?

P: In fact, I don't have so much pain, but ... (not understandable).

A: But you take often that nitro-preparation and when it is wetter, you have to take it more often ?

P: Yes, more often.

A: And does it have to be cold ?

P: No, when it is wet.

WP: And also with mist.

A: But otherwise you feel well ?

WP: Yes, he works the whole day outside ... (describes his occupations precisely).

P: From time to time I have to rest, when I have dug a ditch, I have to sit down on a chair and rest.

WP: And then he still smokes his cigarette at ease.

A: Still a cigarette ?

WP: He can't stop, one day he will die. If he really felt bad, he would stop it.

A: And your sleep ?

WP: He sleeps very well.

A: And your cough ?

WP: He doesn't cough anymore. Before he was coughing when he got up until breakfast, until he went to the toilet.

At the beginning of the motion it is worse. From the moment he gets up until he starts eating he is coughing, this means there is an aggravation at the beginning of the motion in the morning and there is an amelioration with continuous motion, also the cough.

A: Do you have other particular complaints ?

WP: No.

A: Your left arm for instance ?

WP: He didn't say anything about it. He can work very well with it, so he won't have much problems with it. He has become a new person, I don't recognize him anymore. He is very well.

A: How much does he smoke a day ?

WP: He only gets 12 cigarettes. If he is alone at home I hide the cigarettes, but he will find them.

P: So 15 cigarettes a day.

A: You smoke them especially outside ?

P: Yes.

WP: When he is digging he sits down and smokes a cigarette. In the evening he doesn't need so many.

P: In the evening I don't smoke any.

WP: But when he goes playing billiard or so. Then they sit there and the cigarettes have to be there as well.

A: What does he drink at breakfast ?

WP: Soluble cereals coffee. When we have visitors he drinks a cup of normal coffee now and then. Is that allowed ?

A: That is no problem. And milk ?

WP: In his coffee, otherwise not.

A: Not milk from the bottle.

WP: No.

P: When I get up at night, I take the bottle sometimes.

A: Where is the bottle ?

P: In the refrigerator. I do it at night, when I have to urinate.

WP: But you are not a real milk-drinker.

P: No, not with litres.

A: But you like it, a little cold milk. Does the milk have to be cold ?

P: That makes no difference.

A: But you drink it from the refrigerator ?

P: Yes, when I have to get up at night to urinate, I drink some, I like that.

A: What else does he like ?

WP: He likes to have a small bottle, he takes a drop now and then. Not much, in the morning only a sip.

P: No, I don't.

WP: But the bottle is empty from time to time.

A: Do you also like beer ?

P: Yes, I do, but I don't drink it much anymore.

WP: He doesn't make a habit of it nowadays, but he did previously.

A: A good worker has to drink well.

WP: Yes, the dust has to be rinsed away.

P: But the more I drink the more I have to go to the toilet.

A: Do you have to urinate frequently ?

P: 5 to 6 times.

WP: That's not right, Michel. 1 to 2 times ... (discussion).

A: And during the day ?

P: Yes, also often. And previously, I had to get up, I could not stay in bed. Now, I can even stay in bed.

A: And during the day ?

P: No, that is the same.

A: Did you have some problems with the skin in the meantime ? Itching or eruptions ?

P: No.

A: All right.

CASE9 v2

Herpes zoster

Rhus toxicodendron

MAN, 66 YEARS OLD

You see a swelling, the eye is closed and in this case you will see a homoeopathic law: if the disease can be pushed outward, to the surface, then it is all right.You will see a herpetic eruption, but it is not there yet, it is still internally. We have to try to push the disease outward, so that there appears a real big skin eruption.

That is the reason why it is so senseless to give vaccinations against measles. That is the worst thing you can do, because the measles present an episode in our life where we can push the heredity outward. This is again a theory, but it comes from Voegeli. He had this idea and I agree with him, because you often see that the diseases children had before, coughing and everything else, disappear after the measles. That is the reason why we let children have measles.

I saw two children of the same family, the eldest one was vaccinated against measles and the second one not, and both got measles. The measles in the child who has been vaccinated were bloody, necrotic and it has lasted for 2 weeks, and the measles in the other child disappeared after 1 week. You see you can do bad things by vaccinating. It is different in poor countries where they have nothing to eat, maybe it is better to vaccinate or they will die. 20 % of the people in Zaire and in poor countries die because of the measles, but here we have enough food and normally all the children who have not been treated with cortisone or antibiotics can be cured very fast with homoeopathic remedies. Measles are never a problem, never !

Do you know where you can find this rubric ? "Skin, eruptions, measles" (p. 1314). There are all the remedies you need and there is one remedy you need mostly in necrotic, black, bloody measles - Crotalus horridus. Crotalus horridus is the most important remedy, when you are dealing with necrotic, bloody, black measles. Be careful ! With Crotalus horridus it concerns measles with complications.

In the rubric there are also Apis and Belladonna. Apis for meningitis and encephalitis from measles. Euphrasia is peripheral, Ipecacuanha for the cough with measles. The remedies we need mostly with measles are Kali bichromicum, Phosphorus, Phytolacca, Pulsatilla and Sulphur. Tuberculinum has to be added here.

Anyhow, in general, measles are a benign disease, but when they become malignant you have to think of Crotalus horridus. You know that Lachesis has the sensitivity of the skin on the left side, and Crotalus horridus has it on the right side. Crotalus horridus has the sensitiveness and all other complaints mainly on the right side. Crotalus horridus is a remedy we need for leukemia, because of the leukocytosis and the purpura hemorrhages, and the bleedings from the nose. The bleeding of Crotalus horridus has a special appearance. It is black and the blood does not coagulate. We give this remedy in hemophilia. Usually, we give Phosphorus, but when Phosphorus does not work or Phosphorus works and there is a relapse or the bleedings aggravate after Phosphorus, then you have to think of Crotalus horridus.

In this case it concerns a zoster ophthalmia and we will try to find the right remedy and to cure the man.

A: What's the matter ?

P: I have herpes zoster and that's the reason why my eye is closed.This morning I went to the oculist, but there is nothing inside my eye. My eye is closed. And as soon as it becomes red or strongly hurts, with stitches and so on, I have to go back, that's what he said; because I can't take any risk.

A: So, it is herpes zoster. Where did it start ? On your head ?

P: Here. First, I thought it was because of the sun. Last Saturday I went to the motocross. I stood in the sun and thought that I might got it there. On Sunday, it started to stitch. Also on Monday, but I didn't see anything. When I touched it slightly, I felt something, little vesicles, swellings.

He says, slight touch aggravates (p. 1407): there you see remedies like Arsenicum, Belladonna, China, Cochicum; in rheumatism Ignatia, Lachesis, Magnesia muriatica ...; Mezereum.

Mezereum is one of the most important remedies in herpes and it has especially this aggravation by slight touch. Mezereum has a peculiar symptom in his stomach: "Apprehension in stomach" (p. 480).

P: But it was stitching. And it really started after my work on Tuesday, and on Wednesday I couldn't tolerate it anymore. On Thursday my eye was closed. Now, it starts wandering upwards. Now, I feel it here, it is already that high.

A: A stitching pain.

P: Terrible. As if my head lies on a glowing stove.

A: It burns.

P: Yes. Burning.

A: How is it when you touch it ?

P: It hurts, when I touch it.

A: By pushing or by the slightest touch ?

P: By the slightest touch. I can't wash myself - and not sleep. You can't imagine ! I haven't slept for 2 nights.

Did you hear, he has not slept for 2 nights ? For me, the name of the disease is not important, but what I see. He has a strong swelling around the left eye, and we have to take the symptoms we see and not the name of the disease. The name is not important, only the symptoms. The name is made by people.

We see a swelling around the eyes. Look at "face, swelling around the eyes" (p. 393). Apis, Kali carbonicum and Rhus toxicodendron are there, also Phosphorus, but Apis, Kali carbonicum and Rhus toxicodendron are the three important remedies.If it would be Apis, on which side would it probably be ? On the right side. Apis is mainly on the right side and with Apis you almost never see vesicular appearances.

We need one remedy that has this swelling and vesicles.

And the second important symptom is that he has not slept for 2 nights. He is so restless at night, that he can not sleep and he is suffering, because he can not sleep because of the pain.

What do we expect as a first amelioration after giving the remedy ?That he sleeps better. The sleep is an important symptom, as well as the stool. When you give a remedy and the constipation ameliorates, then the remedy has worked deeply. When the patient sleeps well after a remedy, sleeps in peace, it is a good reaction.

A: Do you have pain at night ?

P: I don't know how I should lie; then so, then so. I don't know what to do, because of the pain.

Look at "restlessness, driving out of bed" (p. 73).

MIND,RESTLESSNESS,bed, driving out of: Ars-i., Ars., bell., Bism., bry., carb-an., carb-v., caust., cham., chin-a., chin-s., chin., con., ferr-ar., ferr-p., Ferr., graph., hep., hyos., lyc., mag-c., mag-m., merc., nat-c., nat-m., nicc., nit-ac., nux-v., puls., Rhus-t., sep., sil., ther.

Those people get up, go downstairs, lie down in another bed, go from this bed to another place where they can lie down. "Restlessness, tossing about in": Arsenicum is capital again, but in this patient do you have the feeling he is anxious ? No.

P: They also told me that herpes zoster on the head, in the face, around the eyes is the worst thing you can get, it causes the most pain.

A: Are you chilly ?

P: No, not chilly. Certainly not at the moment.

A: But now you are warm. And when you lie in bed at night ?

P: Neither.

Arsenicum is very chilly, but he is not so chilly.

A: It burns, you say.

P: Yes, burning.

A: When you put warm or cold compressions upon it, what does it do ?

P: I haven't tried it yet. My son said ...

A: Is it better when you put something warm on it ?

P: No, that doesn't make any difference.

A: Can you lie still in bed ?

P: No, I can't.

A: Always getting out of bed ?

P: I got up very early this morning and I can't sleep during the day. I just can't sleep.

A: You can't sleep. You are constantly tossing about in bed ?

P: Then I have pain, as if beaten.

A: Can you easily sit still ?

P: I go from one chair to the other.

A: Are you thirsty ?

P: I always drink much.

A: What do you drink ?

P: Water. At least 1 1/2 litre a day. I always did, not only now.

A: Only water ?

P: Yes, and coffee, that particular coffee, because I don't drink real coffee. You have forbidden it. I drink homoeopathic coffee or so.

A: Yes, homoeopathic coffee. Were you standing in the sun or in a draught at the motocross ?

P: It was a plain and the sun shone right in my face.

A: And was there also wind ?

P: There was wind, but not so much.

When there is something wrong you have to ask for the causation. There have to be a causation in acute diseases, without a causation there is no acute disease.

He was standing in the sun, watched the motocross and then there was a cold wind. I can imagine that he was perspiring a little and then there was wind.That is the causation, I am sure; and the causation indicates the same remedy as the symptoms: draft of air after standing in the sun, that is the causation of Rhus toxicodendron. Then it is left sided, he has swellings around the eyes, restlessness driving out of bed. All these symptoms indicate Rhus toxicodendron.

A: I want to see you every morning. You come every day, until it is completely cured.

Now, he has enormous pain, but he has not the energy to push it outward. We will see what happens after the remedy.

Do not let your patients go. See them every day until they are cured. If someone else visits him, he might say that he also had that disease and sends him to this or that specialist and you will loose your case. That is the reason why we have observation rooms in our centre. If we have very serious cases we keep our patients 4, 5 hours in those observation rooms, until the evening, and then send them home. The next day they can come back, if it is necessary. If someone comes with an appendicitis, he gets a remedy and stays a few hours in the centre. After one hour he is examined again and when he is better, he can go home and you are quiet yourself - or you can say, it has not changed enough and you send him to the hospital for an operation. Usually, it is too late with an appendicitis, when there is a perforation. But even then you can cure it - but please do not do it, send him to the hospital.

In acute cases keep your patients in the centre, do not let them go and do not let them pay. He only paid this time and afterwards he does not have to pay anymore. You will see that Homoeopathy is the cheapest treatment.

A: What kind of injection does the doctor give you ?

P: These are vitamins.

A: You still get them ?

P: Yes, I already got three and I have to get ten. They come from America.

A: Did those injections work ?

P: No, but I have to finish the cure.

A: The pain is not better yet ?

P: At the present, not.

A: At the moment, you have to stop those injections a few days.

P: Could I ?

A: When you come here to get rid of your herpes in the face, then I decide about the treatment. When I can give you a remedy, by which you feel better tomorrow, would you do what I say ?

P: Yes.

A: When do you get this injection ?

P: Tomorrow morning.

A: Ask if you could omit one time. Afterwards, he can give you the rest of the injections, but now you have to omit one day and you come back tomorrow.

I do not tolerate that they come to my practice, I give them a remedy and afterwards they say, that they have been cured by the injections of someone else. It is not because of me, but because of Homoeopathy.

Question: "Are these painkillers ?"

A: No, these are vitamins. Usually, they do not give painkillers in zona, but vitamin B1, B2 and B12, sometimes together with anti-viral medicines - I do not know exactly what it is, it is something expensive from America. At the end we will make a count, how much he payed for the injections, which did not work at all and how much he payed to get cured with Homoeopathy. You will see the difference.

FEEDBACK

You see that his whole face is more swollen and there is an aggravation of the eruptions. But we do not know yet, if he is better. We only know that by asking him about the pain, if he is still suffering and how he slept.

Because he has more energy now, he can push this herpes outwards. Yesterday, he only had one swelling, today there are more. This kind of eruption of Rhus toxicodendron is bluish, such as Lachesis, bluish black. You always see this colour with Rhus toxicodendron herpes.

A: Yesterday you couldn't sit still. You were miserable, because of the pain. You went from one chair to the other. The previous night you didn't sleep.

P: 2 nights. And now I slept from 9.00 p.m. until 3.00 a.m. Yesterday evening I took 3 spoonfuls.

A: What did you feel immediately afterwards ? Because you had a lot of pain ?

P: Yes, I was exhausted. I went upstairs and fell asleep.

A: Today you were awake at 3.00 a.m. What did you do then ?

P: Then I walked about.

A: You couldn't sleep anymore ?

P: No, it was over.

A: Not this morning ?

P: Nothing. I was still lying in bed, but I couldn't sleep anymore.

A: What about the intensity of the pain ?

P: It is decreasing. And here there are some crusts.

A: That's fast. What do you think about the swelling around the eyes compared to yesterday ?

P: I don't know. I think, it has become worse. I don't see quite right with my right eye.

Do you see how difficult the differential diagnosis with Apis is ? Put in your mind: the swellings around the eyes: Apis, Rhus toxicodendron and Lycopodium have the same kind of swelling.

Later, when we are dealing with Lycopodium you will see.

I did not recognize Lycopodium in a patient, I gave him Apis and later I saw that it was Lycopodium. It is the same kind of swelling.

A: How is the pain now ?

P: It is tolerable. I have a severe headache.

A: Where ?

P: Every where.

Maybe these are proving symptoms. You can not say it exactly, but maybe he has some, because of the high potency.

Anyhow, he slept better and the pain is better. Previously, only the left side was swollen, now the right side as well. Look at the Repertory "side, left, then right" (p. 1401).

GENERALITIES,SIDE,LEFT,then right: Acon., aloe., calc-p., colch., dulc., elaps., kali-c., kreos., Lach., naja., nit-m-ac., phyt., rhus-t.

Lachesis is capital, but there is also Rhus toxicodendron, and another very important remedy: Phytolacca. Who knows the target organ of Phytolacca ? It is a remedy for breast inflammation, for the ear- and throat glands and for which kind of ischemia ? Where is the pain of the ischemia in Phytolacca ?On the outside and the pain of Phytolacca appears and disappears suddenly- as well as in which remedy ? Belladonna, Nitricum acidum, Kali bichromicum, Phytolacca and some other remedies.

A: When did you get headache ?

P: This morning, when I got up.

A: Are you more quiet ?

P: I slept well.

A: When did you go to bed ?

P: From 9.00 p.m. until 3.00 a.m. , then everything was over.

A: Are you always awake so early ?

P: Yes, I'm always awake so early.

A: What did your wife say ? That you turned around quite a lot in bed ?

P: I don't sleep with my wife. She has fear she might get it as well. That is infectious.

Which remedy does she need ? Fear of infection ? Calcarea. It is not certain, but it is a strong symptom for Calcarea.

A: No, it isn't.

P: But it is. She can get chicken pox or so.

A: No, that's not right. But anyway. What percentage has the pain improved ?

P: Well, it is difficult to say. I have pain everywhere. I feel miserable, tired.

A: Do you still have this miserable, tired feeling ?

P: I feel miserable, really miserable.

A: But you have less pain ?

P: I have less pain, but I feel miserable, as if I have been beaten.

"I had pain as if someone had beaten me", this means, that he has pain everywhere, as if a sore pain.

"Pain, sore, bruised, after heated walk and rapid cooling" (p. 1385). This cause with this kind of pain, what else do we need ?

A: Everywhere ?

P: Everywhere. My neck, here, everywhere.

A: Are you also stiff ?

P: I have difficulties in getting up after I have sat.

A: Stiff in the back ?

P: Everywhere, in my legs, in my back.

A: Probably, this points to a slight aggravation, in the sense that the worse pain has disappeared immediately, but there is a slight aggravation of the rest of the body. You took 3 spoonfuls. I let you take a few spoons again and I would like to see you tomorrow.

It is difficult to know what to do - not which remedy, that is clear, but what will we do ? He said that he slept well until 3.00 a.m. , so 6 hours, but he had again strong pain in the morning and also the whole forenoon.

In acute cases you have to repeat the remedy. We have seen it clearly in pneumonia and other serious cases. Repeat the remedy until you see that it is gone. "Gone" means that they are really better. Then you can wait. And when they relapse you can repeat the remedy immediately ! The worse it is, the more often you have to repeat it.

A: But you see, you took the remedy, and while you couldn't sleep previously - you haven't slept the whole night - you were here, took 3 spoonfuls and went to bed.

P: Yes, I slept.

A: You couldn't previously. You were miserable and restless. Now you can sleep. That is very positive. But in some days your eye has to be cured. At the beginning there might be a slight aggravation, but it is very important that the pain is better now.

P: It is not only my eye, it is also until here.

A: Has the pain decreased ?

P: Yes, it has. Yesterday, the pain wasn't so strong anymore. And then it extended upwards. Then I had such vesicles in my hair. But not now anymore.

A: All right, today again 2 times a spoonful and then stop it.

Do you see, how the swelling has wandered to the right side and that there is an aggravation of the eruption ? The left eye is more open and there is much, much more eruption.

FEEDBACK

A: Your eye is completely open. What about the pain ?

P: Disappeared.

A: Completely disappeared ?

P: I can see again. I am like a person who has been risen from a severe disease.

You see that he has become much more vivid, that he has more energy.

A: Much more energy.

P: Yes.

A: What are those bags here ?

P: I don't know.

A: Is the pain better ?

P: Very tolerable, nearly gone.

Do you see those eyes ? He gets back energy in his eyes.

A: How did you sleep this night ?

P: Very well. I slept the whole afternoon. Yesterday from 9.00 p.m. until this morning 6.00 a.m.

And what did I do ? The first day I let him take 3 spoonfuls and the next day I repeated it. You see that I let him take the remedy further and from yesterday until today it is much better. What about the theory ? I am right, because the energy is the right energy and we can let him take it further. But when he is feeling well, why should we give him another remedy ? It is not necessary anymore.

P: I have pain at the side.

A: When did you wake up ?

P: At 3.00 o'clock and then I fell asleep again.

A: Are you more quiet ?

P: Yes.

A: Please, come back tomorrow. Your eyes are bright again.

Which are the diagnoses ? Varicella, herpes virus. The first remedy in varicella, in herpes is Rhus toxicodendron. You see clearly now what I mean with the swelling of Rhus toxicodendron. Video is the way to learn more deeply what Kent means with this or that symptom. You see clearly now, there is a bigger swelling under the eye than above the eye. That is why I said that you have to add Rhus toxicodendron at "swelling under the eye".

FEEDBACK

P: I feel like a new person who has been ill very much. Not yet completely cured, but ...

A: You see that the swelling has decreased.

P: Yes, my son and my wife also said.

A: What about the pain ?

P: Tolerable. Still a little pain.

A: And your sleep ?

P: Today I woke up at 3.00 o'clock , dozed a little and fell asleep again at 4.00 o'clock, until 7.00 o'clock.

A: You sleep much better than previously ?

P: Yes.

Do you see now why you never may suppress eruptions ? There is the law of Hering: "From inwards to outwards ..., this means when the eruptions appear, the patient feels well, if you suppress the eruption, you make the patient more ill."

A: And itching ? Isn't it itching yet ?

P: Slowly, it starts here, where the crusts are.

A: Your eyes are less swollen. That has improved. Do you have other complaints ?

P: No.

A: Do you feel well ?

P: You know, with pressing air I have troubles with my respiration. Therefore, I have to come back in September.

A: But your eyes have enormously improved. All right.

P: Yes, indeed.

A: Has the nurse been around ?

P: Yes, yesterday morning.

A: What did she say ?

P: Well, she also had something like that and she had been walking around with it for several weeks. She could not understand, that the pain was gone in so little time.

A: The pain had already disappeared the day after you were here the first time.

P: Yes, the next day the pain was better.

A: Great. Now we will omit another day. You don't take anything now.

FEEDBACK

A: You look well.

P: Absolutely.

A: The swelling has disappeared.

P: Only at the back of my hair. That's all.

A: The crusts ?

P: Oh yes, the crusts.

A: What does people say ?

P: It is a miracle, it is unbelievable. Well, 2 of my sisters came to visit me. My wife called them last week, and said that I had zona on my head. And the father of my brother in law also. He has had it for about 6 months. He had thick, purulent swellings. He lost his hair because of this disease. That's why they thought it would be very bad. And they didn't believe it.

A: What about the pain ?

P: Nothing. Only a little pulling at my eyes. Probably, the crusts.

A: It is pulling a little, but the pain has disappeared.

P: Yes, the pain has disappeared.

A: And your eyes look well, you know. They become younger by the time. Do you sleep well ?

P: Last night until 3.00 o'clock, then I got up, read a little, until my eyes hurt and then I dosed on my chair for half an hour.

A: You are someone, who does not ...

P: No, I have nearly never lain in my bed after 4.00 o'clock.

A: What kind of work did you do previously ?

P: I was at the military service.

A: I'm satisfied. The crusts also begin to come off.

P: Yes, they come off slowly.

A: I would like to see you again the day after tomorrow and then after one week - so that it can develop further.

P: Doctor, I must thank you very much. You helped me very much.

A: Not me, but the Homoeopathy.

P: But there must be a doctor as well, or it won't work.

A: We have to find the remedy. But it is the Homoeopathy which can solve the case. I can't. I can only find the right remedy.

P: That's right.

A: But you see, that Homoeopathy is not only talk.

P: Yes, I have known it already for a long time.

A: Until Friday.

FEEDBACK (August 28, 1987)

A: It is peeling off.

P: Yes.

A: Do you still have pain ?

P: It pulls a little, but it is because of the crusts, that's normal.

A: Do you sleep well ?

P: Yes, very well.

A: What about your respiration ?

P: This week I had quite a lot of problems with it in the evening.

A: And in the morning ?

P: All right. You know, I must still cough at night.

A: But in general, your respiration isn't worse ?

P: No, it's quite all right. I should ride on my bicycle again.

A: But be careful for the cold.

P: I don't ride on my bicycle.

A: You have to wait, until it is completely cured. When you get a cold, you might get complaints again.

P: Oh !

A: When you have to ride on your bicycle you have to make sure you are wearing something on your head. Do you always have something on your head ?

P: No, but I will wait until it has disappeared. Well, the school starts again and my grand-child has to go back to school. But this week I had them both at home. My wife is working and I did nothing. Only making noise and run around the whole day.

A: These are your grand-children ? Do you have to take care of them ?

P: I take care of them.

A: Has the doctor already been around ?

P: He will come today.

A: And what will you tell him ?

P: I will tell him the truth, what happened. He will not believe it himself.

A: Probably not. You can tell him the truth. And the injections ...

P: Not necessary anymore.

A: You can sell them.

P: Yes, they cost also 25 £. I already got a letter from the sick-fund that I will get them paid back. And eye-ointment for 15 £, also new.

A: Did you get the ointment ?

P: Yes.

A: And did you use it ?

P: I put it on my eyes a few times at the beginning.

A: That is 40 £.

P: That's quite a lot of money, isn't it ?

A: Do you know what the tablets I gave you cost ? 0.05 cent.

P: Unbelievable !

A: Say it to your doctor. Does he know that you are here in treatment for your lungs ?

P: No, he doesn't know it yet. I haven't told it him yet.

A: I see you within one week.

FEEDBACK (September 2, 1987)

A: There isn't much to see anymore.

P: Crusts at all sides.

A: Pain ?

P: It has disappeared. But itching, doctor, itching. You will not believe it. That is a sign it is curing, isn't it ? You may not scratch it, or you will get scars.

A: When does it itch ?

P: The whole day, always.

A: And at night ?

P: At night I don't sleep long, but I can sleep a little.

A: When did this itching start ?

P: On Saturday.

A: Only on your head ?

P: From my eye where the spot was, until the back of my head. Only there, nowhere else.

A: And when does it become worse ?

P: It remains so. Yesterday evening I put some wet clothes on my head.

A: Does it help ?

P: More or less, but it comes back.

A: Does it itch somewhere else ?

P: No.

A: What about your sleep ?

P: I sleep better. Today until 5.00 o'clock. It has never happened. And I went to bed about 22.30 o'clock. Usually, I got up about 4.00 o'clock or even earlier.

Now his problem is the itching. Now, we have to give him something to get rid of the itching, we have to give him a remedy. He has put water on it and it was better, warm water. Which remedy has an aggravation after bathing ? An aggravation of the itching ? Sulphur. But which remedy has an amelioration of warm and hot water ? Rhus venenata, Rhus toxicodendron and Arsenicum.

A: We will try something else. Do you lie still in bed ?

P: Usually I lie still.

A: What do you mean ?

P: I still sleep in another bed. I may not yet sleep with my wife, because she is afraid she might get it as well.

A: Does your wife have fear of height ?

P: My wife ? She has no fear at all !

A: Is the itching better when you are busy during the day ?

P: I have worked in the field and then it was a little better.

A: You have less pain when you are busy ?

P: The air outside was cooler today and it hurt more.

A: The cold air.

P: I still feel that the cold air is not good.

A: So the itching is better when you are busy and the pain tends to appear when you are standing in the draft of air. Do you have to get up to urinate at night ?

P: No.

In Rhus toxicodendron patients I am sure that they have to get up 2, 3, 4 times at night to urinate. You will see.

A: During the day you are inside, because it is too cold outside ?

P: Yes, I only read, nothing else. Reading, washing up, hoovering, busy the whole time.

A: For how many hours do you read ?

P: For three hours. Then I have to stop, because my eyes start hurting.

What kind of feeling do you have with this man ? Is he a hard man ? What could he be constitutionally ? Calcarea, a real Calcarea man.

A: Can you easily sit still ?

P: Yes, now I can, but not previously - I couldn't sit still, but now I can.

A: Do you often watch TV in the evening ?

P: Previously, I rode quite a lot on my bicycle. If I would have sat before the TV, I would have fallen asleep.

A: Show me your tongue.

What can you see in a Rhus toxicodendron tongue ? Look at "discoloration, tongue, red, tip, triangular" (p. 402). One remedy: Rhus toxicodendron.

P: I drink 1 1/2 l water a day. Not because I'm thirsty, but from a habit.

A: Now, we will give you something for the itching. Do you have other complaints ?

P: No.

A: Do you feel something in your legs ?

P: Pain while walking, you know that.

A: Always when you walk a long distance ?

P: Yes, when I walk a long distance.

"Pain in the calves while walking" (p. 1077) ... Calcarea. The second remedy we have a lot of success with is Nux vomica.

What would you propose ?

Proposal: "Ruta, Rhus toxicodendron, Croton tiglium ..."

A: Why Croton tiglium ?

Answer: "Because it was a very strong itching, it is an itching after herpes zoster."

A: No, you mean another rubric, you can not take this rubric here. Where is the itching of Croton tiglium most ? "Has elective affinity for skin of face and external genitals." (Boericke p. 242). And there is another target organ of Croton tiglium. Which ? I mean, in which other disease is Croton tiglium an important remedy ? In shoot-like, forcible diarrhoea.

And when they itch, they have to take something and scratch carefully, because real scratching is very painful.

Croton tiglium has also this itching in the face, at the genitals and then this diarrhoea. So, which remedy did I give him ?

Answer: "Calcarea."

A: No.

Answer: "Sac-lac."

A: No.

Answer: "Dolichos."

A: No, no. Dolichos has this itching with liver problems, with an obstruction of the bile or gall-stones, when there is an amelioration while rubbing with vinegar. It is a very intense itching in Dolichos, but not in this case.

Answer: "Rhus toxicodendron."

A: Yes, Rhus toxicodendron, because it is better when he has worked in the garden; he is still sensitive to draft of air, it was still painful. That is the reason why I repeated Rhus toxicodendron.

The whole treatment cost 0.13 cent, only the remedy. Homoeopathy is the cheapest medicine, it only depends on how much the doctor asks. Do you understand ?

A friend of mine is a mechanic and he told me the next story: one day some priests came along, very haughty men. The car of one of the priest was broken and he wanted to have it mended. The mechanic asked him how much they would pay for the repair - "How much do you ask ?" - "67O £." That is not much and a priest can afford it. All right, he mended the car and when the priest had to pay he said, "Well, you only worked a few minutes and I should pay you 670 £ ?" "Yes, it is not important how long you work, but to know where I have to knock to mend your car."

The knowledge which remedy you have to give has to be paid, and not the time you spend for the anamnesis. That is the reason why I do not agree to ask so much money when you need 4 or 5 hours to find the remedy. When we need 4 or 5 hours to find a remedy, it is our problem, and not the patient's.

So, I repeated Rhus toxicodendron and the itching became better. He was already better and I repeated Rhus toxicodendron.

A: But not when you go for a walk normally ?

P: I can' t go walking. I can't go walking for a long distance. Then my legs are hurting. Therefore, I have been in Leuven at the radiography of the vessels. First, they cut here and then they put something in it. They couldn't get through and they had to cut here and got through it.

A: Did you say that your blood-vessels are hardened ?

P: Yes. The doctor, who treated me, didn't want to stitch in my blood-vessels, because they were thick in one place and thin in the other place. Do you understand ? He prescribed SIBELIUM and CYCLOSPASMOL, and I took it the whole time, until it started with my lungs. You can't take 2 things together, that is too much; then I stopped taking those two medicines and took only a medicine for my lungs.

A: What did you take then ?

P : For my lungs THEODUR 300 and BRICANYL, and MEDROL, which you have forbidden and I stopped it.

A: Do you still take the other medicines ?

P: Yes. You told me I could take them. I still take them.

A: How are your lungs at the moment ?

P: One time good, the other time worse.

When you have a patient with asthma who has been taken cortisone for a long time, send him home, and do not start a treatment. You put too much energy in it. We have treated a lot of people who have been taken cortisone for a long time and we suffered very much. I warn you: if the patients have been taken cortisone for 10, 15 years long, they are incurable. Maybe you can cure them, but then you put 50 % of your complete energy in the patient, because you have to deal with the consequences of stopping the cortisone. The cortisol level in blood will go very low, because of the suppression of the adrenocorticoids. I had a patient whom I took blood after I stopped the cortisone. The cortisol level was very low and it increased again only after one year. We have seen this in 3 cases. In the meantime there were suddenly big hemorrhages and things like that, because I stopped the cortisone. If they will survive, but they can die, because the cortisone can injure the blood vessels, atrophy the muscles, everyone knows the side-effects of cortisone. If you stop the cortisone you might have all kinds of stories, for example, bleedings in the eyes. Once I had a patient who had a very big bleeding because of that. I gave him Carbo vegetabilis. He came for asthma, stones in the kidneys and so on. At the moment the cortisol level is normal again and he is doing very well.

To save yourself, it is difficult to do, but send those people away.

A: And lately ?

P: That's all right. But I feel it. I think that the little pill has to be renewed every 3 months. Don't you think so ?

A: I don't know. You should feel it.

P: I feel it is about time. On September 22, I have to come back.

A: But now the itching is the main problem ?

P: Yes, that's right.

A: As usually, you put the little pill under your tongue. And then it should be better every day. Do you have other complaints ?

P: Can you give me new lungs, Doctor ? But you can make them better.

A: Your colour is very good, much better as usually. Don't people say that ?

P: Everybody says I look well.

A: Your doctor has been around. What did he say about the zona ?

P: He was really astonished. That my eyes are open and that it cured beautifully. I told him, I went to see a homoeopath. Then he tossed his head, he can not believe it. "These are other results", I told him.

His doctor said that he should learn Homoeopathy as well, and then I told him that he should tell his doctor he could come to the centre anytime to learn Homoeopathy.

But before I came here, I took gasoline and the mechanic told me that this doctor also has zona. In the meantime he has had pain for about 3 weeks, but he refuses to come to the centre. I told the mechanic he should tell the doctor he does not have to come to the centre. He only needs to send me the symptoms and I will send him a remedy.

A: But the most spectacular thing was that your pain had disappeared.

P: Yes, indeed. I couldn't understand it myself. Even because they said it will last for 7 or 8 weeks. But the pain was much less after one day.

A: Even the same evening.

P: Yes, indeed. Slept well and the next day the pain was a little better. My eye was still closed. And since Saturday evening my eye would open slowly. It was still swollen here, but then it disappeared slowly.

A: And because of such a little pill. So let this tablet melt under your tongue and then the itching will become better slowly. Because the itching is too bad.

P: Sometimes, it is unbearable. I can't scratch. And yesterday I washed my head three times, so that the itching became better. Then it was better for a while, but then it came again.

A: Do you have to wash your hair with cold water ?

P: No, with warm water.

A: Should it be hot ?

P: No, no, lukewarm.

A: And for how long did it help ?

P: A few minutes.

A: Yes, yes, it still itches, because it is curing. All right. Keep it still warm. Draught is too dangerous.

P: Yes.

A: So the doctor is studying Homoeopathy ?

P: I think so, he says so.

A: Tell him he's always welcome at the centre. Every doctor is welcome.

... Here in the North, where it is often cold and raining, we often need Rhus toxicodendron, but we do not appreciate it very much. Rhus toxicodendron is also a very deep acting remedy in very serious diseases. Often, we immediately think of the so-called psoric great remedies, like Sulphur, Calcarea, Lycopodium and others, but also Rhus toxicodendron is a very deep acting remedy.

CASE10

Postherpetic neuralgia (Postherpetic neuralgia (post-hur-PET-ik noo-RAL-juh) is a complication of shingles, which is caused by the chickenpox (herpes zoster) virus.)

Rhus toxicodendron

MAN, 66 YEARS OLD

A: So, the herpes has been cured and the last time you were here on September 2. You had quite a lot of itching.

P: The itching has disappeared. At that time you gave me something for that.

A: I repeated the remedy and the itching has disappeared. Then everything was all right.

P: Until Saturday, the 5th. On Saturday I had a strong stitching in my head and during the night of Sunday to Monday I got this stitching again.I had to get out of bed. It was terrible ... (not understandable) didn't feel anything. And on Friday my eye started to pull. And then on Monday, I had to lie down again.

A: You couldn't anymore. Do you still have pain regularly ?

P: Yes.

A: And you told me that this pain often appears suddenly.

P: Yes, the stitching comes suddenly, here, and it extends towards my eye, and goes down my temples here.

A: Suddenly appearing pain. What do you have to do when you have this pain ?

P: To put a warm, wet cloth on it. Then the pain decreases.

A: What happens when you push on it ?

P: Sometimes I have to push there, then the pain disappears more or less.

A: The warmth does good. The pain appears suddenly and disappears suddenly.

P: Yes, it's almost the whole day through.

A: What does cold air do ?

P: It is bad, I can't tolerate it.

A: You can not tolerate draft of air ? And what happens when you touch it ?

P: That is a funny feeling.

A: Does it hurt ?

P: Yes, it hurts, when you touch it.

A: When you push hard ...

P: Yes, and also here. First, it was until here and now it has lowered until here and to my temples.

A: What about your sleep during the pain ?

P: Yes, I have to get out of bed. Then I have to take a bath, put warm applications on it and then the pain becomes better more or less.

A: A postherpetic neuralgia. Did you have stitches last night ?

P: Yes.

A: Do you feel stitches regularly ?

P: Regularly stitches.

A: Then I give you a remedy of which you take 3 times a spoonful today. Today is Wednesday and I see you on Friday again, then the pain has to be disappeared completely by then.

FEEDBACK

A: What about the stitches ?

P: I don't have those stitches anymore. But here, there is something wrong in the corner of my eye. And my eye is pricking, it is burning.

A: No stitches anymore. You couldn't sleep because of that.

P: Today I slept for 5 hours. I had to get up 2 times, to put warm water on it for the itching.

A: Itching ?

P: I think it is curing.

A: So, the stitching pain has completely disappeared. But now, what do you feel exactly at your eye ?

P: My eye hurts here and it pulls inside and in the eyeball.

A: Your eyeball hurts. Does it hurt at the moment ?

P: Yes, it hurts the whole time and there is something wrong. There is something wrong with my bones.

A: Does your eye itch ?

P: No, it hurts.

A: How does the pain feel in your eye ?

P: A stitching pain. In my eye and on my eyelids. There are some swellings.

A: But did you sleep well ?

P: I slept rather well.

A: Do you feel the pain in your eye the whole time ?

P: ... (not understandable), because I went to see the oculist and there was nothing to see.

A: Has the stitching pain completely disappeared around the eye ?

P: The pain has gone. It only hurts in the corner. But the pain here, of course, when you touch it, it is still leathery, but the stitching pain has disappeared.

A: Does your left eye hurt the whole time ?

P: Always here, around the eyes.

A: Around the eye and in the eyeball.

P: From time to time I have a stitch in the eyeball.

Differential diagnosis: Spigelia.

A: Do you have stitches in the eyeball at the moment ?

P: No, only around, it is pricking.

A: How is that pricking feeling ?

P: A pricking feeling as if it is burned.

A: A kind of burning pain at your eyelids. Does it itch ?

P: My eye itches sometimes, then I have to rub it.

A: Is there pus coming out ?

P: No.

A: Do you think you are chilly as quickly lately or are you easily warm ?

P: No, normal. I can't tolerate when it is pulling. And this morning ... (not understandable) and that was in the sun and I had to go inside, because I got pain.

A: Because of the draft of air ?

P: I couldn't bear the little wind.

A: What else do you feel ?

P: It is in my body, the herpes ... You feel that you have had something, like a person who is recovering from a severe disease.

A: Do you still have problems with your eye at the moment ?

P: That is the greatest problem.

A: Do you easily perspire ?

P: No.

A: Are you easily chilly ?

P: Neither.

A: It is a kind of itching. What does warmth do ?

P: It disappears more or less when I put warm water on it. Also the itching. When it becomes very bad I take a bath and dab everything with warm water. It helps for a while.

A: When do you have this feeling around the eyes ?

P: The second time it started with a stitching pain around the eye. I sat with my neighbour and he said, "What's the matter ?" I said, "I think that my eyes become too cold." And so I got it again. That's how it started the second time.

A: It hasn't developed further yet. So, it has improved.

P: It has improved more or less.

A: Then we have to wait now.

"Skin, itching, burning" (p. 1327). Croton tiglium and Radium bromatum have to be added.

A: The stitching pain has disappeared. It is only a few days ago you got the tablet and it hasn't developed further yet. Now, we won't do anything and wait.

FEEDBACK (September 30, 1987)

A: Tell me, how is it ?

P: Good. Only a little itching. When I am busy, I don't think so much of it. But today there is much wind and I haven't been outside yet. At night I had to get up a few times, because of the itching. That's all. The pain has completely disappeared. Do those things on my head disappear completely ?

A: Those crusts ? Yes. Does your eye still hurt ?

P: Not my eye. It is only a little stiff. My forehead is also a little stiff. That's all. But it will disappear slowly.

A: No pain anymore, only itching ?

P: Only itching.

A: All right. I wouldn't do anything for the itching.

P: Does it have to disappear of itself ?

A: Yes. I think so, it isn't as bad, it has been worse.

P: Yes, it has been worse.

A: Now, it is much less, so I won't give you anything. What about your respiration ?

P: At night I have to cough from time to time. I will make an appointment for my lungs next month.

A: No other problems.

P: No.

CASE11

Herpes zoster

Rhus toxicodendron

WOMAN, 25 YEARS OLD

A few months ago she came with a very swollen vagina and painful leucorrhoea.

Which remedy cured her ? With swollen vagina ? Nitricum acidum.

For this video she came with pain in her right leg and the pain appeared and disappeared suddenly - but without eruptions. I could not know that it would develop in this direction. What could I do ? There were no peculiar symptoms indicating a certain remedy. That is the reason why I repeated Nitricum acidum - without result.

And now she comes with this pain and this kind of herpetic eruption.

Sometimes, I think it occurs often, patients come with an acute disease and I ask them to come back the next day, to see how the disease has developed. It is better to wait one day to be sure of your remedy, instead of giving a remedy without being sure. In this case I had to wait a few days, but who could know that such a pain could develop to a herpes ? Nobody could.

Now she comes back and the picture is clear.

A: Really bluish-violet vesicles. Only on the right thigh. Not below the knee ?

P: No. And here also.

A: Here, it isn't clear. May I see the outside of your leg ? Yes, bluish little vesicles. It started on June 28, with stitching pain. Today it is July 13. You were here on July 10, with pain that wasn't clearly yet.

P: A burning pain inside.

A: With stitching.

P: Yes.

A: But there was little to see.

P: Yes, only a few swellings.

A: Then the picture hasn't clearly developed. Then I gave you a remedy, but there wasn't an improvement. But then there appeared clearly vesicles.

P: Yes, in groups.

A: Groups of vesicles containing moisture. Does the moisture come out often ?

P: Yes, because my pants touched them, they opened and some watery liquid came out.

A: Was it still burning ?

P: Yes.

A: Burning pain. And the warmth ?

P: Aggravated the burning pain.

Which is the first remedy we think of when someone tells something about burning ? Arsenicum. Arsenicum for burning pain, but the modality of Arsenicum is an amelioration by warmth. When you see this very strong burning pain, whatever it may be, also in panaritium or another inflammation and it improves by warmth, for example, in necrosis after burn wounds, it is only one remedy: Arsenicum.

A: You could not tolerate your pants against it ?

P: No.

A: With the slightest touch ...

P: Of material or so.

A: Does it hurt ?

P: Yes.

A: An additional problem was the dizziness. How was it exactly ?

P: When I got up after lying or when I turned around while lying, I became dizzy.

The dizziness came together with these eruptions. That is very interesting.

Before the Nitricum acidum period she had a bad accident. And now, I do not know why exactly now, after Nitricum acidum has cured the inflammation of the vagina, the symptom she had as a consequence of the accident returns. Now she says that she gets dizzy when she rises from her bed - "vertigo from rising from bed" (p. 103).

VERTIGO,RISING,from bed, on: Agar., arn., bar-c., bell., bry., cact., caust., cham., Chel., chin-s., chin., cic., cimic., cinnb., Cocc., con., cupr., dulc., ferr-p., Ferr., fl-ac., glon., graph., Ind., iod., kali-bi., kali-s., lach., lyc., mag-m., mag-s., merc-c., Nat-m., nat-s., nicc., nit-ac., Nux-v., olnd., op., petr., ph-ac., Phos., Phyt., pic-ac., puls., rhus-t., ruta., sabin., sep., sil., stram., sul-ac., sulph., verat-v.

There is also Rhus toxicodendron.

She also says that she becomes dizzy when she turns around in bed - "vertigo on turning in bed" (p. 105), there is also Rhus toxicodendron. The dizziness was the consequence of an injury - "injury of the head" - there is not Rhus toxicodendron. I will give you the additions for this rubric: "Injury of head" (p. 128): Calendula, China, Cocculus, Helleborus, Kali phosphoricum, Cedron, Lobelia, Menyanthes, Rhus toxicodendron, Teucrium marum, Zincum, Carcinosinum.

I will tell you another Natrum muriaticum story (because it is also a remedy after injury of the head).

It is not allowed to go with a portable camera into the hospital. I had a Cicuta case on the video which I made in the hospital, but it is not easy to get a permission for it.

One of my female patients got an accident, a 12 year old girl. She was in coma.She had a car accident and was hospitalized. She was lying there for a few days, I think for 4 days already, and the second day her father called me and said that his daughter was in coma, if I could not give her anything. I gave him Arnica - no reaction.

The next day he called me again and said that nothing had changed and asked me to come in the hospital. I agreed, but asked him to ask the permission from the surgeons who were taking care of her. He asked them and they said it was all right, I should call before. So, I called the surgeon and asked if they agreed I should come. He asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I would probably give her a remedy of a certain material, but dissolved and very, very diluted. He started laughing and said, "Well, well, why not, you may come as you like."

I went with H. in the hospital. The patient was lying there, and she was connected with the monitor. When she moved, the pulse frequency increased very much, from 90 to 150and when she was lying still, it decreased again.That was the only symptom we had. Then we saw the very, very dry mouth. The lips were dry and a little chapped. I also looked in the Repertory under "pulse, accelerated, motion agg." (p. 1394).

GENERALITIES,PULS,FREQUENT,motion agg. : Ant-t., arn.,bry., dig., fl-ac., gels., graph., iod., lycps., Nat-m., nux-v., petr., phos., sep., staph., stram.

You see a capital remedy: Natrum muriaticum. And we know, that Natrum muriaticum is one of the most important remedies with coma and unconsciousness.You see it in "black fever", in malaria. The first remedy in malaria is ... - there are 2 remedies. You have not seen it, but I saw it in Zaire. This is typical for China and Natrum muriaticum, these are the two most appropriate remedies in malaria attacks, in malaria attacks with unconsciousness.

Natrum muriaticum cured this child in 24 hours. After 24 hours she came out of coma and 2 days later she was back home. This case was easy, because I made the anamnesis before and so I knew it was Natrum muriaticum.

You see, you have to get a certain constitution to get this or that consequence of an accident. If she did not have a Natrum muriaticum constitution, she would not go so easy in coma. Every one comes into an Arnica situation, but not everyone comes into a Natrum muriaticum situation. Therefore you have to produce easily Natrum muriaticum symptoms, easier than someone who has a Calcarea constitution.

In injuries of the head: Arnica, Natrum muriaticum, but also Rhus toxicodendron. And I told you yesterday, that Rhus toxicodendron has also convulsions after injuries. We do not only cure the herpes, but also the consequences of the accident.

A: Did you have this when you had your car accident ?

P: Yes.

A: Previously, you had a car accident and afterwards you also became dizzy. Then there appeared many vesicles and I made the diagnosis herpes zoster.There was nothing to see at the other leg, it was only on the right thigh, not at other places. Burning vesicles, sometimes with stitches, very sensitive to the slightest touch. Then you also became dizzy and very tired.

P: Also weak and forceless.

A: And restless.

P: Yes, I could not sit or stand in a certain position for a long time. Then I had to lie down, but also not for a long time.

A: And at night ?

P: I could not sleep well.

A: The last few nights you didn't sleep well. I gave you the remedy yesterday and the night before you didn't sleep well.

P: Very bad and I had quite a lot of pain.

As if she had been working the whole day, she felt so tired, that is the way Rhus toxicodendron describes it.

I would like to show you what she said, "Burning pain" - "internal burning stitching pain" (p. 1386): Arsenicum, Aurum, Mezereum, Oleum animale, Spigelia. You see, Rhus toxicodendron is not there. Also in the other case we saw the patient had burning stitching pain and it was Rhus toxicodendron even when Rhus toxicodendron was not in the rubric. There is Mezereum. But together with this restlessness, the sleeplessness, the bluish appearance of the eruptions, the vesicles, together with this dizziness there is no doubt at all. I gave her Rhus toxicodendron M.

A: Yesterday you took the remedy in solution. How did it develop further ?

P: Last night I still woke up, but I didn't have much pain anymore.

A: What about the dizziness ?

P: It is still there.

A: Is it still as strong or is it less ?

P: I don't have to lie down so often anymore. I feel it less while standing. I think it hasn't changed much.

A: Did you still become dizzy while standing up after lying down ?

P: Yes.

A: Did the pain improve in general ?

P: Yes.

A: Improved much ?

P: Yes, much.

A: Have you become more quiet ?

P: Yes, that's better.

A: Well, it seems to develop into the right direction. Now, you don't take anything, but I would like to see you again tomorrow. With herpes zoster we have to be careful. So, on Friday, if you can manage it with your work.

P: Yes, I called and told them I was ill, as you told me. Someone had to replace me. But now, there is nobody and I wanted to ask you, if it wouldn't be possible. Then I have to sit down very much ...

A: Until when do you work in the evening ?

P: Usually until 7.00 o'clock ...

FEEDBACK

P: It has improved. The vesicles are drying up. When I touch it I have the feeling as if there are bruises. When touching it still burns now and then, but less.

A: Does it do good when you touch it with something cold ?

P: I haven't tried. I haven't put anything on it yet.

A: All right, your pain has almost gone.

P: Yes.

A: What about the dizziness ?

P: It remained until Saturday, but then it has disappeared.

A: Is the dizziness you had since the accident better as well ?

P: Yes, it was the same feeling of dizziness after the accident. On Saturday it was as strong, but on Sunday it has disappeared.

A: You don't even have problems when you turn around in bed.

P: No.

A: Let's have a look at your leg. Has there something appeared at other places ?

P: No. It has become smaller and it is drying up. The vesicles have nearly disappeared.

A: They still look bluish. Now, you don't have to do anything else, it will cure of itself.

CASE12

Herpes zoster, right knee

Rhus toxicodendron

MAN, 67 YEARS OLD

A: You have pain at your right knee (points to the inside). For how long do you have this pain ?

P: For six weeks already. When I pushed it I had pain, otherwise it didn't trouble me.

A: You have it examined by the orthopedist. Your knee was normal.

P: Yes.

A: But now there is an eruption, here on the right side and on the knee also; only on the right side. It has a bluish colour. Not under the knee ?

P: No. A little upwards.

A: We are dealing with herpes zoster at the right leg.

P: At the moment I have to urinate more than usually.

A: What do you mean more ?

P: More often.

A: When ?

P: During the day, and at night I had to get up three times, one time too much. I couldn't sleep, I was thinking about it and I got up automatically.

A: Could you sleep last night ?

P: No.

A: Does it hurt while urinating ?

P: No, it is normal.

A: So, it does not hurt while urinating ?

P: No.

A: Did you sleep the whole night ?

P: I have been tossing about, laid my knee here and there. I woke up again. I got up a few times.

A: Got up, out of bed ?

P: Yes, walking about, then back to bed. Then at last, it was too warm. I woke up every hour. Then I got up and sat in the couch.

A: You couldn't sleep because of the pain.

P: No.

A: How does the pain feel ?

P: It strains, not too much pain. It is bearable. When I lower my knee, it lasts half a minute, and then it is there again.

A: How does the pain feel exactly ?

P: It strains as if it is bursting.

A: As if bursting ?

P: Yes, because of the tension.

A: Does it sting ?

P: Yes, it does.

A: Does it burn ?

P: No, but I'm too warm. When I put my cold hand on it, it is better. But also for half a minute. Then it is warm again.

A: You have a kind of a warm feeling in your leg ?

P: Yes.

A: Can you sit still during the day ?

P: Yes. I lied down on the couch, put my leg upward, so that it lay comfortable.

A: How long could you lie this way ?

P: One, two hours, then I had to get up again and run about a little. After lunch I slept very little.

A: Do you have other complaints ?

P: Not that I know.

A: How long did you sleep last night ?

P: Not at all.

A: Then we will take care that you will sleep this night.

P: A person tries everything.

A: Now, you don't take anything else. During the day you take 4 times a spoonful of the remedy I give. Tomorrow 3 times, unless the pain is much better, then you don't take anything. On Friday in the forenoon I will see you again. But don't take anything !

P: Of course not.

FEEDBACK (October 2, 1987)

A: You were here two days ago. How is the skin eruption at the moment ?

P: It has increased a little (shows the thigh). It becomes black here.

A: Yes, bluish black.

P: Does it burst ?

A: No, no.

P: You told me I could sleep and that was right.

A: The first night after you took the remedy - the night before you didn't sleep - did you sleep then ?

P: Yes, slept well.

A: What do you mean ?

P: I didn't wake up.

A: You didn't wake up.

P: Well yes, every two hours, to urinate. But then I could sleep again.

A: This means that you have less pain.

P: I didn't have pain.

A: But you had to get up every 2 hours to urinate.

P: Yes, every 2 hours. I took 4 spoonfuls.

A: The day before yesterday, on September 30, 1987 4 spoonfuls. And how much yesterday ?

P: Again 3. In the afternoon I thought the pain had disappeared but at night the pain returned.

A: All right, then I have to give it further. The first night you slept well and this night less.

P: You said that I could take it further when I have pain. I waited until yesterday 7.00 o'clock until I took something.

A: At what time did it start at night ?

P: I went to bed about 11.00, half past 11.00 and lay down on my bed, but I could hardly stay in bed. After a little while I slept. Then it pulled quite a lot. At half past two I was awake. Then I urinated and slept again until 6.00 o'clock, but with difficulties. At 7.00 o'clock I got up.

The night after the remedy he slept very well, the next day the pain was better and in the afternoon, about 7.00 p.m. he thought that the pain had disappeared, but the next night it started again. Do you see the relapse ? In acute cases I say that they do not have to take the remedy again, when you notice that it has become better. He did not take it anymore and in the afternoon it was better, but it returned the next night, so that you have to repeat the remedy.

Let the patients come often until you clearly see that your patients are really healthy. The night before and during the day he slept well. At night he slept until 3.00 o'clock, then he had to urinate again and has become restless. He stood there, wanted to urinate, but he could not. That is strange. Rhus toxicodendron people feel the pressure on their bladder when they lie in bed; then they become restless and they have to get up. I have seen this especially in old people with Rhus toxicodendron complaints. They often get up to urinate. When they got Rhus toxicodendron they could stay in bed for a longer time. Rhus toxicodendron has many "prostate" problems. Look at the Repertory under "prostate", there you see many pains, which have Rhus toxicodendron.

A: Then we give a higher potency. I think it was too low. The pain has to disappear. Probably, you will get a little more eruption and crusts will be formed. Today, you take 3 spoonfuls of this higher potency. Tomorrow according to your condition. When you don't have pain, you don't take anything. When the pain returns you take again one spoon. And that's the way you proceed during the weekend. I give you 2 tablets to take home. You dissolve one right now and the other on Sunday, if it is necessary. On Monday I see you again.

P: Yesterday afternoon I thought I got rid of it.

A: Yes. It is important that you keep it warm.

P: Oh yes. May I put a cushion on it ?

A: Yes. Keep it very warm.

P: Or go to Spain for the warmth. I can hardly stand while urinating. But also otherwise it is difficult to stand.

A: You have always to move.

P: Alternatively, I stand on my right and left leg until I'm finished with urinating. Yesterday afternoon, it was better.

A: Then you were more quiet. You have to move especially while standing.

P: Apparently.

CASE13

Eczema

Rhus toxicodendron

BOY, 4 YEARS OLD

This is the brother of the OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA child. I gave him his remedy and by the appearance you will recognize which remedy I gave him.

A: This child has (below the back and at his bottom) everywhere red stains. Are those vesicles ?

MP: Yes.

A: Take him on your lap again. He has also vesicles around his lips.

MP: Here he has fallen. But these are vesicles (shows his mouth).

A: Also in his hair ?

MP: He's scratching there now and then.

A: Previously, he was constitutionally Calcarea. How is it now ? Was it itching because of the remedy ?

MP: Yes.

A: When ?

MP: Always, also at night.

A: He's always scratching.

MP: Yes.

A: Can he easily sit still ?

MP: Not at the moment.

A: At the moment can he sit still less than before ?

MP: I don't know.

A: Was he more quiet previously ?

MP: He can play and so on.

A: But now, is he very restless ?

MP: (Shrugs her shoulders)

A: What about at night ?

MP: I have to get up every hour.

A: Why ?

MP : Because it itches. He can not sleep.

A: Did he have chicken pox already ?

MP: Yes, not long ago.

A: When you have to get up at night - then he calls and wakes up - are his blankets all muddled up ?

FP: He lies bare.

A: Well ! Is he thirsty ?

MP: No. During the day he drinks a lot.

A: What ?

MP: Lemonade.

A: Also milk ?

MP : In the morning and in the evening.

A: Warm ?

MP: Yes.

A: Only warm ?

MP: Also cold milk with his slice of bread.

A: Does he like it ?

MP: Yes.

A: He likes also cold milk. All right. The last few nights you had to get up for him regularly. You give him today and tomorrow 3 spoonfuls of the dissolved remedy. On Friday I would like to see you again.

Skin eruption with vesicles, eczema, vesicular eczema. Then we think about psoric remedies.We only think about Psorinum, Sulphur, Sepia, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla and all these other remedies, but we always forget this remedy here with eczema and psoriasis. Look in the Repertory under "eruptions, psoriasis" (p. 1316).

SKIN,ERUPTION,psoriasis: Alum., am-c., ambr., Ars-i., ars., aur., bor., bry., bufo., calc-s., calc., canth., carb-ac., chin., clem., cor-r., cupr., dulc., iod., iris., kali-ar., kali-br., kali-c., kali-p., kali-s., led., lob., Lyc., mag-c., mang., merc-c., merc-i-r., merc., mez., nit-ac., nuph., petr., ph-ac., phos., Phyt., psor., puls., ran-b., rhus-t., sarr., sars., Sep., sil., sulph., tell., teucr., thuj.

Until now I did not cure a patient with Arsenicum iodatum. Until today we did not have such a case.

In Rhus toxicodendron we have to think especially about vesicular eczema, also about neurodermatitis. This pain together with the eruptions of vesicles is a strong symptom for Rhus toxicodendron.

In the rubric "psoriasis" the following remedies have to be added: Radium bromatum, X-ray, Staphisagria (capital), Natrum muriaticum and also Cicuta virosa.

FEEDBACK (3 DAYS LATER)

A: Steven was here on December 1, for skin eruption and vesicles, very restless at night, with itching day and night.Drinks a lot of lemonade, cold and warm milk. I gave him a remedy. How was the reaction ?

MP: Last night he slept the night through, the itching is over.

... Sulphur also itches at night, Psorinum itches at night, many remedies are there, but the restlessness is so strong for Rhus toxicodendron. The vesicles, drinking cold milk and the relation to Calcarea.

A: Much better. In 3 days. How long does he have this already ?

MP: For a few weeks.

A: No complaints anymore ? Have the vesicles disappeared ?

MP: No, they are still there.

A: Let's have a look. Have they become less ?

MP: No.

A: They have dried up.

MP: But they haven't increased.

A: So, not increased, the itching is less and the vesicles are drying up.

MP: Yes.

A: All right.

We can say that this is a kind of herpes. But where is the limit between herpes and herpetic eczema ? It is difficult. Therefore it is important what we see, and not how we call it. In the Repertory there are medical names and of course we have to know these names. We have to know the anatomy, the medical names, to be good homoeopaths, because there are many symptoms which have a medical name. When you see dark, black toes I do not know if you would find the right rubric, if you are not a doctor. When the toes are black in an old man without injury we have to look for which rubric ? Gangrene.

So you have to know that it is gangrene, and when you know this you can find the remedy in the right rubric. There is Secale, Carbo vegetabilis, Arsenicum and so on. We have to be a doctor. Real Homoeopathy means it is important what we see, not the name of the disease.

CASE14

Rhus toxicodendron

MAN, 69 YEARS OLD

This man is at home and his wife is calling that I should come, because her husband has very high fever. She is weeping the whole time. We will see what this man needs.

A: Tell me, since when are you ill ?

P: Since last night, since yesterday evening.

A: What did you do yesterday ?

P: Planted leek.

A: What did you feel yesterday evening ?

P: I was cold, as if I was drunk. While walking in the room I swayed to and fro.

A: Dizzy ?

P: Yes.

A: Did you perspire while working yesterday ?

P: No, I don't think so.

A: Not cold either ?

P: No.

A: And yesterday evening you became dizzy suddenly. Did you have fever yesterday ?

P: Yes. At the moment I am warm.

A: How much fever do you have at the moment ?

P: I don't know.

A: Then take your fever.

WP: It goes quickly, because it is an electronic thermometer.

A: At the moment you are warm.

P: Yes, everywhere, and my head is hurting, here in the front. I have also pain in the stomach.

A: What do you mean ?

P: It is as if I'm hungry. I haven't eaten anything yet.

A: Are you thirsty ?

P: No, but I drank a little a few times.

A: Can you bear stretching your arms out of the blankets ?

P: Not always.

A: What do you feel then ?

P: Then I am too cold.

A: Then you have to put your arms ...

P: ... under the blankets.

A: You are too warm, but you want to stay under the blankets.

Which is the remedy ? Hepar sulphuris.

He is chilly, cold when he puts his arms out of the blankets - "uncovering single parts agg." (p. 1410): Bryonia, Hepar sulphuris, Sulphur, Natrum muriaticum, Rhus toxicodendron, Silicea, Thuja.

Then there is another rubric "chill, shaking on putting hand out of bed" (p. 1271).

Who knows other appropriate rubrics ?

"Chill, putting hand out of bed" (p. 1263).

And there is another rubric "cold, becoming, after, agg. hand out of bed" (p. 1349).

Every time nearly the same remedies.

What do you notice at the face of the patient ?

It is very red - "face, discoloration, red, during fever" (p. 362). There is the remedy in a one only.

Hepar sulphuris was a good proposal, but here we are dealing with an influenza, and in Hepar sulphuris it is which acute disease in 90 % ? A purulent tonsilitis. And then you see them sitting close to the heat and with the slightest draft of air the pain becomes worse. They perspire the whole night, like which other remedy ? Look at "perspiration night, lasting all night without relief" (p. 1294), there are 2 capital remedies: Hepar sulphuris and Mercurius.Hepar sulphuris perspires as much as Mercurius, but the big difference is that Hepar sulphuris is covering himself up to the tip of the nose. He just can't put one little finger out of the blankets, he just can not bear it.

But here we are dealing with an influenza. Besides he has vertigo

and says, "When I came out of bed, I needed the whole room." He had a vertigo on rising from bed. You see "vertigo from rising bed" (p. 103). There has to be Rhus toxicodendron in the rubric "rising from lying" as well in "rising from a seat".

In this influenza he had a lot of vertigo. The day before he worked in the garden, but he says, that he has not perspired. I do not know exactly, but surely, he has worked until late in the afternoon, so that he got this influenza.

P: Yes.

A: Did you sleep well last night ?

P: No, bad.

A: How do you mean ?

P: I have been up for 10 times, always slept a little and then got up again.

Restlessness driving him out of bed; last night he had to get up about 10 times. That is very important - "restlessness driving out of bed" (p. 73); there are 4 capital remedies: Arsenicum, Bismuthum, Ferrum and Rhus toxicodendron; usually Ferrum because of pain in the back, ischias; Bismuthum because of pain in the stomach; Arsenicum because of fear and Rhus toxicodendron because of internal restlessness. Every remedy has its own reason for the restlessness.

P: I had to get up to urinate.

A: To urinate ?

P: Yes. And then, there isn't much urine.

You often see there is an urgency to urinate. In the Repertory you also find Rhus toxicodendron, also in symptoms of inflammation of the bladder and in frequent urinating, day and night.

A: Tell me how high is the fever.

WP: 37,5 ° C. That is not much.

In such cases I do not need a Repertory anymore. I go there, look what is the matter and give the remedy then, it only lasts a few minutes. But nevertheless you have to be careful; a year later he got influenza again, but then it was Baptisia, because he had a totally different appearance of this face than this time. And after the Baptisia influenza he was totally weak and which remedy did I have to give him ? An old man, who has become completely weak after high fever ? "Weakness following prolonged fever" (p. 1417): Selenium. I gave him Selenium, because he did not recover quickly enough. Selenium is a remedy for which part of the body ?

Answer: "The upper part."

Question: "Where at the upper part ?"

Answer: "In the middle of the upper part." (Laughing)

A: I did not think about that. Yes, you are right with this indication, but it does not occur so much. There is another indication. Look at "head, hair, painful when touched" (p. 120) ...

FEEDBACK

A: Now, it is a day later. Yesterday I came to you at half past two and I gave you a remedy in solution.

P: Yesterday, I took 4 times a spoonful. The last time it was about 9.00 o'clock p.m.

A: The night before you didn't sleep ?

P: Very little. Last night I slept rather well. Not so well as I do usually, but still better.

A: You also have complaints about urinating so often. What about it now ?

P: Not so often anymore. Since I got up I didn't have to go yet. I got up about half past nine.

A: You also had pain while urinating ?

P: A little. It's not unbearable. Today I still feel it a little, but less.

A: Where was the pain ?

P: At the tip.

A: At the tip of the penis ?

P: Yes.

A: When was the pain worst ?

P: Before I have to urinate.

A: Yesterday, you were also very dizzy.

P: Yes.

A: What about today ?

P: Today, it is much better. Now, I can walk properly. Yesterday, I was swaying from here to there.

A: What other complaints did you have yesterday ? Well yes, you had pain everywhere.

P: Yes, everywhere. It hasn't disappeared completely yet, but it is much better.

A: Everything was hurting ?

P: Yes, but it was bearable.

That is very important. "It is hurting": you have to take the description as given by the patient, and look in the Repertory. When they say, "It is hurting", you have to look at "sore" or you will never find the right remedy. He also says, "I can tolerate the pain", this means, it is no real pain, but something between pain and no real pain, sore. Look at those rubrics. It is important, that you know these rubrics. "Extremities, pain sore" (p. 1126) and further below "during chill", and he has exactly this sore pain during chill. There is Rhus toxicodendron. Do not forget that Rhus toxicodendron has an intensive, burning heat internally. If you look at "fever" - a very, very strong internal heat. And you feel the heat in the blood vessels. You can repertorize all this: "Fever, burning, internal mostly, blood seems to burn in the veins" (p. 1282). Rhus toxicodendron is capital. Or "internal heat, burning, in the blood vessels" (p. 1288).

So, do not forget Rhus toxicodendron with influenza. Another remedy in influenza is Bryonia and Eupatorium perfoliatum. Eupatorium perfoliatum with which symptom ? With the feeling as if the bones are broken.

And then there is another very important remedy in influenza, we all forget and that is Baptisia. Gelsemium also, but Baptisia is more important, it saves our practice. Maybe you think that Homoeopathy can cure everything - yes, Homoeopathy can, but maybe we can not, we can not find the right remedy. Baptisia has a mixing of the symptoms of Rhus toxicodendron and Bryonia; it has the restlessness at night of Rhus toxicodendron, the busy dreams of Bryonia, the thirst of Bryonia - "dryness mouth with thirst" - and it has the bad taste and a bad odour from mouth of Mercurius.If you have difficulties to find a remedy - as many people say - that lies between Rhus toxicodendron, Bryonia and Mercurius, you think about Baptisia. Often it is said, "It has to be a remedy between Sulphur and Lycopodium." Then, it is neither Sulphur nor Lycopodium, but a complete different remedy. You often see that.

A: But you always had to turn around. Are you more quiet at the moment ?

P: Yes, now I can lie quietly in bed.

A: Thirsty ?

P: Not very much.

A: Did you eat yet ?

P: No, not yet. Not yesterday either. I tried, but it didn't taste.

A: What would you like to eat at the moment ?

P: Something hearty.

A: And milk ?

P: Yes, maybe chocolate milk, if it is ready. But I also drink white milk.

A: Do you drink much milk ?

P: No.

A: Normally, you don't like milk ?

P: But yes, I do.

A: Does the milk has to be cold or warm ?

P: I prefer warm milk, but I also drink cold milk.

A: From the refrigerator ?

P: Yes, from the bottle.

WP: He means chocolate milk. He never drinks white milk, he doesn't like it.

P: But yes, I do. I don't drink it, but I like it.

WP: May he drink milk when he gets a tablet ?

A: That is no problem. I let you take one spoonful. Stay inside for a while and be careful with the draft of air.

P: Yes. My head is not so obstructed anymore. The cold is loosening.

CASE15

Dd calc., hyper., rhus-t.

MAN, 60 YEARS OLD

A: I see that your head has been stitched. You have been hospitalized, haven't you ?

P: And subjected to an EEG.

A: I received a report of it. It was a concussion of the brain. I gave your wife Arnica and you took it.

P: Yes.

A: Since when are you home ?

P: Since yesterday.

A: And now you called me urgently. Tell me what's wrong.

P: I was eating and suddenly my arm dropped and it was tingling all over. And when I do like that ... it tingles. It extends towards my ear.

A: Do you feel anything at the back of your neck ?

P: I don't feel it there, but I can still feel the shock.

A: Is the back of your neck troubling you ? Does it hurt ?

P: I think it is a muscular pain. When I move, it hurts.

A: Don't do anything (examination of the patient). What does it do ?

P: That is good.

A: Do you feel anything when I push in your hand ?

P: No.

A: Does the tingle extend upwards when I touch it here ?

P: Also here, I feel it everywhere. And a kind of heaviness.

A: Does it still tingle when you touch your hand ?

P: No.

A: Has it completely disappeared ?

P: No, I feel where it has been.

A: And you were sitting at the table ?

P: Yes, eating at the table.

A: Does the neck still hurt much ?

P: While moving. I think it is a muscular pain because of the blow.

A: You were run into, oh, you don't know what happened, do you ?

P: It is very peculiar, there are some things that I remember. I was driving the car. I was quiet, I had plenty of time. And suddenly, I saw the truck in front of me.

A: Were you a little absent ? You run into the truck, didn't you ?

P: I braked and run into the trailer and got a blow.

A: And your neck is troubling you ?

P: Yes.

A: They call it a whiplash. I give you a remedy now. We already made an appointment that you should come at seven o'clock in the evening. Now, it is one o'clock p.m. Have this little pill melt in your mouth. I see you at seven o'clock p.m. again.

FEEDBACK

P: I took the remedy and have rested for a little while and then it had improved. Then while I was eating I got it back for a little while, and I continued my meal. But my neck has really improved compared to this morning. Then, I couldn't bend it.

A: First, your neck was stiffer.

P: Yes, I don't know whether this has something to do with it ?

A: Yes, of course.

P: Yes, I can still feel it, but I can bend it much more easily. It isn't normal yet, but it is much, much better.

A: Have you felt anything in your hand afterwards ?

P: At noon once, before I came here. Then I felt just the same while I was eating. I was eating in this position and then it came back.

A: And it disappeared quickly, didn't it ?

P: Oh yes, very quickly.

A: And the neck is much looser ?

P: Oh yes, wonderfully looser.

A: We will let it work, and see how it will develop and which complaint comes forward strongest to give the next remedy.

P: Besides, may I drive the car ?

A: It depends on how you are feeling.

P: I just wanted to ask you.

A: You had Arnica and now this remedy. I don't think there will be much problems. Do you have black outs ?

P: No.

A: Dizziness ?

P: Yes, a while ago I had a dizzy feeling. Would that be a black out ?

A: It might be, but it might be as well that you weren't attentive.

P: Yes, but I can't remember quite a lot of things.

A: It often happens with a concussion of the brain, that you don't remember that part of the accident. I don't believe it was a real black out. You felt nothing special.

P: That safety belt I have to wear in the car ...

A: Is oppressing you ?

P: In the summertime it is a little better, but in the winter, when I am very thickly dressed ...

A: Fill in the paper and send it to Brussels as a proof that you don't have to wear it.

EXTRA

then she got Rhus toxicodendron pain, with weeping and then she had to get out of the bed and clean the house.

Rhus toxicodendron is very, very restless, they have to be busy constantly, but they are not impatient.

P: I have difficulties with my arm, before it lies well. I can lie only for a while on the left side, but then I have to turn around and I have to lay that arm in a position so that it can rest.

A: Your husband does not say, "Lie still !"

P: No.

Why those questions ? For Rhus toxicodendron, but the symptoms for Rhus toxicodendron are not strong enough. You see that I am differentiating between Hypericum and Rhus toxicodendron. Hypericum is sensitive to coldness and dampness, Rhus toxicodendron also,, but she is not restless at night. On the other hand, she says that she has a numbness in her hand in the mornings. Rhus toxicodendron is left-sided, we know, but it is better when she is working. That is very strong for Rhus toxicodendron, but on the other hand the restlessness fails. That is a negative symptom, but it is very typical for Rhus toxicodendron and it fails here.

P: And I wake up every three hours, because of the pain.

A: When you are in movement you have less pain ?

P: Yes.

A: What does the cold do ?

P: Nothing. Warm or cold, it doesn't matter. I have been lying on our sunbench, because I thought it might do good, but is isn't better at all.

A: How is the intensity of pain now compared to the aggravation. You had headache and pain in the neck and in the arm. Has the intensity of pain decreased ?

P: No, it has increased.

A: Did you have very much pain at a certain moment ?

P: Yes, the first two days, then I was really ill.

A: When you toss your head, does this do something to the pain ?

P: Yes, it aggravates.

A: But the tingling, the sleepy feeling has disappeared ?

P: Yes, it has disappeared completely.

A: Now there is a pain that is still aggravating.

P: When I have to sit still for two hours, I can't carry on, because of the pain (starts to cry).

A: Is there still a glowing feeling of the left side ?

P: No.

A: Then we have to give another remedy and then the pain has to ... The last time you told me that the pain does not improve by movement.

P: Yes, and now it is the opposite.

A: You see, something has changed.

P: Yes. I have to move if I want to get rid of the pain. It doesn't disappear completely, but it is tolerable.

A: I give you a remedy now, and you dissolve it. You take it immediately when you get home, then every two hours. Do you want to call me at five o'clock to say how the pain is ?

P: Every two hours a spoonful ?

A: Yes, every two hours a spoonful. It is a very interesting reaction. Do you see how it changes ?

P: I hope I can sleep better tonight. When do I have to come back ?

A: Next week.

Feedback

I was glad I could go to bed. But I slept very well until seven o'clock this morning. Otherwise, I had to get up at night and walk about, taking of dust, cleaning the house, because the pain decreased by movement.

Another case

- And which other remedy?

- Answer : "Rhus toxicodendron."

- A : Yes, Rhus toxicodendron, who wakes up at night, because they can't sleep anymore, get up, go to the refrigerator and drink cold milk.

- From our experience Rhus toxicodendron and Tuberculinum are two remedies which are used most in influenza.

- The homeopathic remedy gives him energy, but if someone has a headache from walking in the rain you give him Rhus toxicodendron and you send him back into the rain, how can he get cured?

- Rhus toxicodendron has oedema, swelling around the eyes, stitching pains."

- A: Yes, Rhus toxicodendron has all these symptoms, but the most important thing in Rhus toxicodendron is the restlessness, the pain, that drives him to motion.

- Apparently, he is a very quiet man, he can sit quietly, I don't see any restlessness and I cant give Rhus toxicodendron without restlessness.

CASES