Using the periodic table to come to an unsual remedy

Female patient presents with exhausting dreams.

They hinder a good sleep. Very involved dreams – everyday things, everyday activities. They are often of travelling (a favourite), occasionally of arguments. There may be 5-6 separate dreams per night. My mind is so active during sleep. It makes me feel tired on waking, as if I haven’t slept enough.

What else happens around sleep?

I go to bed around 930-1030pm, get up to go to toilet once, may wake from slight noise, sleep curled up on the abdomen. I am restless, talk occasionally in my sleep, and used to sleep walk when younger.

Any other symptoms?

Pain in right ovary, a dull pain < sitting, stress at work and not > by painkillers. I had ovarian cysts 4 years ago, one of which burst.
Menses are very easy although irregular.
Some irritability before a period.

I have migraines which are < before menses and may continue through.
They are > closing the eyes, darkness < light especially artificial. Photophobia during. The pain is < on the left, behind the eye. The top of the head is tender to touch, and it feels like the eyes are strained. Painkillers do not help.
Before the migraine I get sparkling shimmering lights, like a curtain I can’t see through, although this is not all the time.

Very tight pain in shoulders, which extends to the neck. It is there all the time and is < sleeping in the wrong position. The pain extends up the right side of the neck, and down into the lumbar or even sacral region. It makes me very restless at work.

I had a history of ear infections, tonsillitis, swollen adenoids, and rubella.

(General symptom questions)

Craves potatoes+++, hot chips+++, fish fried in butter++, coffee, cheese, pepper++
Aversion to anchovies, olives, offal, salt++
Aggravated by onions (flatulence)
< Humid weather, cold weather.
Cold feet < in winter – must wear socks or use a hot water bottle.
< 10-12am > 5-7pm
< Messiness or untidiness
< Driving – get annoyed.
< Impoliteness
Tell me a bit about your life.

My father was a drug addict, not stable. He was arrested quite a few times. We were very close though. He always explained things to me, answered my questions. He tried to teach me right and wrong, hugged me. My parents separated when I was 7 years old.
My mother remarried when I was 8 years old. She brought me back from living with my father. I didn’t like my stepfather or new siblings, so I refused to eat. I didn’t want to be there. I fought it but didn’t win. Fought with mum a lot. I was introverted, unhappy, and serious. A very serious person.

Tell me about yourself.

I am pleasant, even tempered. I am organised – things have their place, neat and tidy, my clothes are well ordered.
I hate wasting time. I am efficient in doing a task.
I am very emotional, but my strong emotions are not always displayed. It isn’t appropriate – I don’t show hurt to people. I like to show strength. I decide what I show – I don’t want to show vulnerability.

What about your mother?

She was not emotional. Anything you showed her gave her ammunition to hurt you. She would ridicule emotions and vulnerability. She never mentioned my artwork.

Why do you say that?

I felt she wanted another girl as her daughter, a girl whose artwork was better. She was always cold, not into hugs. She was critical of my schoolwork, told me to work harder. I was very proud of my art, and she never even noticed it. I felt I was not good enough.

What sort of fears do you have?

Falling down stairs+++ - very careful.
Having my heart broken.



Analysis of Case

My first prescription was Nat-mur, using very traditional ideas of this remedy. It did not work. I also gave Lyc and Bryonia (dreams of being busy). Bryonia gave some relief to the neck pain, but not enough.

Using the Periodic table next, I thought first she must be in the Iron series – she is organised, ordered, and efficient.

Next I considered her to be in Stage 2 – Hiding her feelings, sensitive to criticism, comparing herself to this other girl. This brought me to Calcarea.

Lastly, her main issues are with her mother who did not give her any attention or affection. This leads us to Muriaticum.

So at first I gave Calc-mur 200, I dose.

This mildly aggravated her symptoms, but brought no relief.

So I looked at this again – the muriaticum was right, I was sure. She was holding on to the past, holding on to the relationship with her mother which was a bad one. Her headaches were left sided, she craved fish, and she was
The stage I also considered to be right. This left only the series as wrong.

What was the issue she felt criticised in by her mother? It was about her artwork. She was also studying journalism, and loved writing. These are features of the Silver series.

Stage 2 Silver, is Strontium.

The prescription then was Strontium-mur 200, 10 drops twice.

Her reaction was she felt happier, her mood lifted, her dreams changed and became less active and more like dreams, she no longer was waking exhausted, she could sleep in comfortably, her neck/shoulder pain was almost gone, her ovarian pain was almost gone, and she had no headaches at all. Patient has remained free from these symptoms for 7 years.