Learn A Remedy Through Cases: Thuja : The Excess
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2001 May / Jun VOL III NO 3.
Compiled by
T K Kasiviswanathan
'Thuj

Elizabeth Wright Hubbard: Thuja is characterized by excess, a surplus of life, badly organized. Too much matter and too little form. The patient will be all curves. Gross fat calls for its use, pendulous abdomen, heavy breasts, triple chins, piano legs, low thyroid, lymphatic constitutions, troubles in hair, nails, glands, ovaries, prostate, testicles, spleen, etc. It holds sway over tumors, polyps, papillomata, spongy growths, fig warts.

The key-word of Thuja is EXCESS
Scanning earlier literature, the personality of Thuja does not emerge from the published cases, probably because the selection was based on physical generals and PQRS.

Dr Hubbard says that Thuja is a difficult remedy for the beginner to understand. (Ed: I agree. Even I myself have started its regular use only quite recently). Its symptoms are mixed and scattered. A Thuja personality emerges only after long delving and clinical experience. Of course, as one of the main sycotic remedies, Thuja has been extensively used inter-current / anti-miasmatic remedy and for ill effects of vaccination, especially small pox.

Now recent literature has begun to yield anamnesis of cases based of mental symptoms and pen portraits. Coulter, Rajan Sankaran, Jeremy Sherr, Vithoulkas, Ananda Zaren and others have worked on the mental make-up. Let us see this understanding reflected in some cases.

Case 1: The Bewildered Lady- Dr Misha Norland.
The patient- medium height and built, brown hair and eyes. She presents a forceful and lively personality. She said, "I have come to see you because I had two operations up under my nose and on my salivary glands for a benign tumor. It is not healing as fast as it should. Last summer I strained my elbow and it is still not better. I have lost my sense of taste and I have aversion to sugar".

Talking about her childhood: "I was quite delicate. I had a horrible birth: had to be induced as my mother had high blood pressure. I had my adenoids out at 4, then my appendix out and a benign tumour on my knee when I was 7. I have bad reaction to drugs. I was born with a headache. Even in school, I was often absent for mysterious fevers." (I am delicate and brittle).

She was always scared of the dark and had lots of nightmares. "Up to age 4, I could fly out of my body and then it stopped (delusion, soul is separated from the body). I would dream that someone was out to get me. (Delusion, pursued by enemies). And hence hide under my blankets. I had dreams of falling and wake up having fallen. I wake up around 5AM. Sleep on right side with right leg up and left leg and arm extended. Left handed, which I was not allowed to be in the beginning; later on permitted but criticized for poor handwriting. I still get bewildered by criticism. Most of us go through life in a state of bewilderment." (Confusion of mind)

"People would be amazed if they heard me say this because women say to me "you are so confident". But I think we are bewildered inside and I think that it is part of the human condition" (Mask of confidence to outside world while actually bewildered inside) (Delusion, divided in two parts and could not tell which part he has possession on waking)

She added that she could read and write before starting school as her sister taught her when very young. Did not want to attend school, for which she was taken to task: this was her first bewilderment. She said that she had a good childhood.(Ed: I cannot see evidence of it.)

Desire to die: when only 4, she took an overdose of Hypericum! Thinks of miseries of war where people die unnecessarily. Her mother nearly miscarried (her birth was induced). When she sees illness and visits hospital, she feels it normal not wanting to live. Sometimes feels not worth living. (Death desires; conviction of; delusion, time has come to die, loathing of life, weary of life)

"I always think that everything is my fault;(guilt) that I should somehow be better; if only I was this perfect person, the world would be sorted out. I took personal responsibility for the Gulf War" She said this because she was in the peace movement for a long time and in Nuclear Freeze Organization but was criticized from outside the movement; "I feel a failure as I had to neglect my family and at the same time not able to prevent war".

Case Analysis: (I have given the reportorial rubrics in brackets-KV)

1. There was a dominant image of death. She was conceived when her just elder sister choked to death on her bottle. The patient also made suicide attempts later on- and worked for peace movement and nuclear freeze.
2. Childhood was happy- was treated well. Experienced out of body experiences (Del soul, body was too small for soul or separated from body)
3. She looked and felt delicate, considering the illnesses and operations she had undergone; at age four (her adenoids removed, benign tumour in the knee and she was crushed at her school (Delusion body brittle is; is delicate; delusion, glass, she is made of) and bewildered by her teacher's constant criticism of her left handedness (Discontented, displeased and dissatisfied)
4. She blames herself for everything and feels she has done wrong. Acute sense of responsibility (Delusion, wrong she has done; Reproaches himself)
   Thuja fits her case perfectly, based on repertorisation of the above rubrics and it cured her. (The doctor does not give full details about potency and follow-up)

Understanding Thuja
Dr Ananda Zaren analyses all her cases in terms of "the wound", "the walls" and "the mask." The basic delusion or feeling is the wound . The walls are protective barriers to prevent further wounds and mask is the exterior personality they present to the world. It may be the compensated form. The wounds occur in early childhood as a result of abandonment, rejection, neglect and emotional or physical abuse. For many, childhood is characterized by unhappiness and tremendous loneliness. The focus of parents was turned away from them for whatever reason; possibly:

1. An insecure father, always away from home, yet child tries to please him only to get harshness in return.
2. An insecure mother, going through the 40's crisis, losing her beauty and self-confidence; and wants to realize her ambitions, or live her life through her child. She wants daughter to be a beauty queen, perfect at school and popular amongst friends.

Or he/she is the child of an alcoholic who is always beaten. (These children can turn Anacardium also) The Thuja children treat this lack of interest from their parents as evidence of their own defectiveness or unworthiness. Thuja individuals feel abandoned and report experiences of being made to feel that they are unworthy of shelter of their homes; constant fear of being cast out of their homes (Bill Gray).

Alone in life, these children internalize these feelings of rejection and begin to believe that something is terribly wrong with them. Forsaken and dismissed, they search for their identity inwards but find only despair and emptiness. They desperately try to recreate their own identity, to hide their perceived and repugnant defects and become acceptable to other people. This requires separating from and rejecting their own (misinterpreted perception) true selves. They pay a heavy price: self-hatred and self-reproach becomes their way of life.

Another wound : their mistaken notion of being delicate; delusions he is brittle and made of glass. They do not want others to see their inner emptiness or internal vulnerability (mask). This fragility can occur in mental, emotional and physical planes and they are often unaware of it. Case 1 brings out this aspect well; though the patient says she had a good childhood, but at school she was criticized or not appreciated.

The Walls and the Masks
Feels he is not good enough; develops low self-esteem and feels worthless and unloved. Makes extra efforts to be liked. To protect themselves they erect walls of security. Become introverted (Mind-Talk, indisposed to, desires to be silent; taciturn KR86). They can be moody and indifferent as well. Reserved and private. They avoid company (Mind-company aversion to, avoid the sight of people -KR12). Consequently social life is a burden but the mask is for the consumption of the world- a manufactured image they present to the world. They observe successful people and imitate their walk, dress, what they do etc. They cultivate this image by systematically copying and imitating. These are the masks.

"Thuja is the only remedy with sensations of: Delusion, animal is alive in the abdomen; Delusion hears voices in his abdomen. There is also a sensation of false pregnancy complete with movements of the foetus. Hairy in unusual places. Symptoms of super abundance of vegetative / animal life as are the fleshy warts for which Thuja is famous. (Misha Norland) Hence it is tree of life. He also draws attention to the opposite modality- delusion the body is brittle; is delicate and made of glass. The delusions that he is under superhuman control makes the patient weary of life. Tendency for abortion in 3rd month of pregnancy; at the stage where the distinction between human and animal form emerges.

How to recognize a Thuja patient (Homoeopathic Links 3 & 4 '94)

1. Something too perfect about the patient.
2. Keynotes.
3. Several well-indicated remedies do not act.
4. Everything you hear about them doesn’t ring true; they are chameleons.
5. Their goal is to fit in, to conform to what is happening.
6. They fit perfectly, perhaps too perfectly with the image they like to portray.

On this understanding, let us view the following Cases:

Case 1: Dr Jayesh Shah
A 2 1/2 y-old child came for recurrent eye inflammation, respiratory infections and fever. His mental framework: From a rich family and pampered: extreme obstinacy, very demanding and wanted his own way- tantrums. Very stubborn about trifles. Did not like to get his hands dirty while eating and constantly wiped them with a clean towel. Fastidious and meticulous. He would cling to his mother for hours, would scream with eyes closed and nothing would detract his attention until his mother lifted and carried him. Afraid of animals approaching him. The idea of visiting a doctor would throw him in a state of extreme terror. (fear of physician, will not see her, he seems to terrify her KR 49) He had to be dragged to the examination room for physical examination.

From Nov 1992 to June 1994, no remedy gave relief. On June 24, 1995, the boy had high fever. Ascertaining mother's state during pregnancy: she was confined to bed because of H/o miscarriage. Family members were very religious and Jain priests daily visited the house for prayers; a special prayer was organized to ward off miscarriage. Thus, the mother was influenced by the extreme religious atmosphere in the house. Taking note of the utmost rigidity in the boy's behaviour and the fear of being touched or approached, Jayesh Shah prescribed Thuja 1M to the child The fever subsided and there was a remarkable change in the child's behaviour thereafter.

Case 2: Long Standing Psoriasis. Dr Subrata Kumar Banerjee
Mr A L, 52 y, consulted in April 1987 for psoriasis since 1970- scaly eruptions all over; skin dries and peels off. No discharge, no blood, fluid or pus. No relief from various treatment. Started as a small spot near the wrist, which he tried to conceal ; then spread to trunk, chest, back and to almost all parts, except face.

Mild and silent, occasionally depressed and weepy. Chilly, hated rainy and damp weather; affected easily by weather changes. Likes spicy food, salt++; cold food ++. Only other significant symptoms were typhoid in 1974 and asthma in 1985. Father died from asthma at age 45. Dr Banerjee analyses his cases against the underlying miasms. In this case both psora and sycosis are involved, with preponderant sycosis.

He selected Thuja on the following symptoms:

1. Eruptions only on covered areas.
2. Oily and shiny appearance of face.
3. Change of weather affects the patient.
4. Chilly patient but desires cold food.
5. Averse to rainy and damp weather (hydrogenoid).
6. Asthma complaint - psora-sycotic

11-4-87 Thuja 30, one dose followed by Thuja LM3- 10 doses prescribed. When patient reported severe aggravation in May, Thuja LM5 -15 doses on alternate days given. In one month the psoriasis in the sole of the feet was better. Potency increased to LM 7.

In July patient had night fever, night sweats and hot flushes but the psoriasis remained the same. Ars-iod 30, 2 doses relieved.

On 31st July: dyspnoea (an old complaint) at midnight. Ars-alb 30, the acute, relieved. Then put on Thuja in increasing LM potency under which the skin condition began to improve, appetite increased and depression was less. In March 1988 the doctor changed the potency to 10 M as the patient reported good progress and later to 50M and CM in July and September 1988. By November the patient had nothing to complain about; the treatment was rounded off with a dose of Bacillinum 200, which has the capacity to throw out suppressed eruptions. The patient remained well thereafter. -Homoeopathic Links 1/94.

Here the sycotic base is evident; conceal, tried to; eruptions appeared on covered areas (Thuja sweats on covered parts only) It is the characteristic of Thuja: the stem of the tree, is completely covered by its branches.

The first three cases clearly bring out the cures affected mainly on the basis of mental symptoms, the delusions and mother's state during pregnancy. The fourth case is based on clear miasmatic analysis and its correspondence to Thuja.

These patients are hurried and worried like Arg-nit or Med. He desires to be alone and averse to being touched or approached; slow in speech and confused in mind later relieved by sitting up; thoughtfulness about trifles; extreme talkativeness, shifting from one to another like Lach; oversensitive, not to pain; weeps from music like Natrum- mur. Scrupulous about trifles but oblivious to larger things; discontented, dissatisfied; quarrelsome, sulky and very jealous; angry at jests. (Dr Hubbard)

Thuja has many keynotes on the basis of which several cures have been achieved. Many cases based on this.

Keynotes

1. Warts seen in 40-50% cases.
2. < cool wet weather; agg onions-about 15% cases
3. Headache left temple as if driven with a nail.
4. History of venereal diseases in about 10% of cases.
5. After-effects of vaccination
6. Sense of floating or levitation
7. Apprehensive of future;
8. Dreams of dead bodies/dead/ flying/ falling
9. There is excess of hair on the face and the body. Thuj is best for removing excess of hair where it should not be.
10. Waxy, greasy, shiny face, a spotted dirty appearance
11. Never well since vaccinated - loses consciousness temporarily on sitting up
12. Chilly not cold. AF after injuries. Tendency to neuralgias, wandering pains, pains radiate upward and backward, frequent urination during pain, tend to scars, livid red spots, lipomas and tumours which bleed when touched, discharges are green, but thinner than Puls; discharges have odour like fish-brine/ garlic/ honey.
13. Modalities: < 3 am or 3 pm, early morning, night overheating, sun, light. 11.Another COMMON indication for Thuja is high BP, sometimes with a family history of cardio-vascular disease and sudden death. Often found in stout Thuja type because it so closely resembles the pituitary type of obesity seen in Cushing syndrome.

Case 3
Male pt, gout, high BP. Peculiarity: better by exercise. .Warm blooded, given to theorizing; gives long stories with no straight answers. Religious disposition- always praying. He was given Sulphur without any effect. Warts on face; gout better by cold applications; never answers directly; has a greasy, oily face [KR375] Loquacious but difficult to grasp what he says; gives the impression of being sure of himself. Dreams of falling; worse if he eats late [KR 1238] Thuja 10 M cured the patient.

Case 4: Face, oily and shiny. Dr Stewart
A shop assistant's erythoma nodosum was better with Puls and Sulph. She was very stout. She now complained of rheumatic pains < wet weather. Her face was shiny- as if oil on it. Kent's repertory lists Nat-mur, Plumb and Thuja for the rubric. Additional symptoms of Thuja -talking in sleep, dreams of murder, excessive axilla perspiration and trembling of hands. Thuja cured.

Case 5: Heat in thigh with cold hands and feet. Dr Stewart
A lady 75 y, complained of heat in left thigh yet coldness in her hands and feet; she was in terrific hurry about everything, eating, mental work, movements, work, walking, speech and was impatient. Kent lists only Thuja for this symptom; (Thigh, heat, cold hands and feet with, KR p1012). Thuja helped.

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