Cases from our Rich Heritage
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 May / Jun VOL VII NO 4.
Compiled by
T K Kasiviswanathan
'Arg-met / Aurum-met / Palladium / Plat / Plat
Case 1
Argentum-met
A 65-year-old woman came with the complaint of arthritis. She was dignified, quiet, slightly tense and a little arrogant. Arthritis afflicted her shoulders, thumbs and knees. Her shoulders are often painful and stiff on trying to lift them. Pain in the front of her [L] shoulder, radiating to [L] arm and wrist < when breathing out. Both the thumbs are painful at the wrist joint. Knees painful after cycling. The pains are worse in the heat, summer and damp weather and in the morning. Her bowels are slow and she has frequent colds from being in a draught. She had had two eye operations and also for painful and bleeding piles, when she was 44.
She likes summer but sometimes it gives her headache. The complaints are aggravated from warmth and damp. Desires sweets3 salt2 pineapple and applesauce. Stopped menstruating when she was 55. She has difficulty in falling asleep and uses a sleeping tablet. Sleeps on her [R] side.
Mentals
She is impatient, wants to do everything in a hurry, easy-going, too soft rather than too hard. Others however think that she is a bit pushy, not easily shaken. She does not get angry and is very restrained except when people say something, which is not true. She likes to behave in a civilized manner and she wont boast about her beautiful house for which she had saved for many years. She likes soft music. Religion is important to her as it gives her strength and security. She suffers from fear of heights on swings, high towers and in the mountains. She is happily married and feels that her husband has not given her the attention she would have liked.
Treatment:
One dose of Arg-met cleared up all her problems and she feels much better, mentally and energetically.
(Dr Jan Scholten)
Some pointers:
Dr Scholten says "The Arg-met patient is slightly arrogant and at the same time of anxious and trembling appearance. This is a sort of reserved arrogance to compensate for their feeling of inferiority and in the process of such compensation they develop a refined and civilized personality. They like soft music. Inner refinement is important to them and they can shine in a soft and gentle cultural environment. They however know what they want and go exactly the way they want to go (dictatorial). They are reserved and do not like talking about themselves. They dont have many friends and even find it difficult to talk to their partner because of their fear of intimacy. Their fear of appearing in public is because they feel that they do not have anything worth presenting.. The anxiety can be noticed in their voice too; it is slow, soft and with a slight tremor and sometimes even hoarseness."
Case 2
A 62 year old salesman with a history of Osteomyelitis, since the age of 49 consulted Dr Henk for wandering pains in all the large joints since the last 4 years and recently permanent swelling of the joints in the hand. The joint pains started after a throat infection but ASLO titer was never elevated and the throat smears showed no evidence of hemolytic streptococcus. He had no fever. Clinically it was diagnosed as onset of rheumatic arthritis. The allopathic treatment did not have any effect.
The patient for the past two months was greatly hindered by joint pains, which are worse at night. Had stitching pains in the region of the heart. He worried a lot and could not sleep well. He had moderate fear of heights, prefers to be alone and looks at the dark side of everything. He could not tolerate alcohol. Since the information was not sufficient to clinch the remedy, the doctor probed into the patient's life situation.
He was born in a family of self-made men. His parents had a bakery and he had to work very hard helping his father and in the distribution of the bread, even as a child. His youth comprised only of working because of the economic needs and it became his motto. He had a great disappointment when his parents did not like his getting married to a poor girl as she could not bring any money for augmenting their business and his mother gave the bakery to his brother and did not allow him to work in the bakery either. She also did not give any money for the hard work he put in for the bakery. From that moment he had only hard and ill feeling for his mother and refused to visit her when she was old and did not also attend her funeral.
As he had to fend for himself and support his wife, he started as a salesman and worked very hard. He was eventually promoted as the sales manager of the company and made responsible for big clients. He left the company when he reached the peak. He wanted to be an autocrat and wanted to decide everything on his own. Because of that he could not be given the top job and he left. He said "I prefer a job where you can prove your capacities by working" He injured his leg in an accident just when he was to be promoted to the top post of the firm which he joined after leaving the earlier firm. As a consequence, he developed grudge against the firm and did not even accept a farewell function when he retired at the age of 57. His whole life was one of desperate struggle for value and self-esteem that he tried to find in money and position. As a result he felt his life was empty after his retirement. "Life is worth living only when you are working. Or, if you are achieving something or earning money. Love does not exist in life". Very literally this theme has permeated his life. His mother turned against him because his wife did not bring money and he was also denied his legitimate dues. For her money was more important than love for her son. His disease manifested as a result of these thoughts and idleness and a guilty feeling that he has neglected his duty.
The rubrics are
| KR 53 | Industrious |
| KR69 | Occupation ameliorates |
| KR 31 | Delusion he has neglected his duty and deserves reproach |
| KR31 | Delusion he does nothing right |
| KR 25 | Delusion everything will fail |
| KR 63 | Ailments from disappointed life |
| KR 49 | Forsaken feeling |
| KR 29 | Delusion, fancies herself lost |
| KR 36 | Dictatorial |
| KR 16 | Intolerant of contradiction |
All these themes find a reflection in gold, king among metals and a symbol of nobleness and of eternal love. He was prescribed Aurum 200 one dose. After the first dose the swelling and the pain in the joints of the hand disappeared, slept better and less negative feelings. The pain in the other joints were no better despite repeating the remedy in the same potency twice and only after the first dose of 10M potency he was much better and stayed well for eight months. When his joint pains returned along with disturbed sleep he was again given Aurum 10 M. from that date his improvement was remarkable and all other painkillers were discontinued. He could walk very long distances. At infrequent intervals the same remedy was repeated in the same potency depending on the return of the symptoms and depression. He became less irritable, his rheumatic complaints if they returned were much milder, and he was able to lead a normal life.
(Dr Van Hootegem Henk)
