The ABC Homeopathy Forum
For David: What is this person's simillimum?
Hi, I've been away for quite a while from this forum. I am interested in knowing this case's (my son) simillimum. I'll explain why I am looking for this later.Age: 4 yrs
Gender: Male
Physical: Thin body, fine hair, fine eyelashes. Very good looking. Fair skin.
Personality/Mentals (I am sorting this in order of what is most prominent). And with the disclaimer that its hard to nail down the primary personality of a 4 year old. This is an age where they are influenced very easily (in general) and tend to keep changing
a) Loves to adhere to a process - wants to do things in sequence (I'll do this, then that, then x)
b) He did not speak till he was 3 and a half (though his teachers insisted it was because he did not want to). However, now, at 4, he speaks, reads as well as writes. Compared to his classmates, he is ahead. Very good hold and understanding of phonics
c) His teachers say he is very observant, obedient and a role model in school
d) He is very emotional - cries easily when reprimanded
e) Mercurial - loses his cool and then calms down in just a few minutes too and tries to patch up (though I believe in school he is not temperamental at all)
f) Very transparent - i.e. it is never hard to guess what he really wants - does not hide under layers
g) Very friendly - loves spending time with adults. Also loves spending time with kids of his age, but mostly 1-1. If you take him to a large party with lots of unknown kids, he does not like mixing (but if he does, he has fun).
h) Very very picky when it comes to food. He has food allergies, so maybe this is something he picked up from early days in daycare. His food choices has recently started expanding (i.e. open to eating more things), but in general, he loves chicken fingers, ground lamb rice (if he had his way, he'd eat ground lamb rice every day), white bread and a few others. Does not like the 'texture' of food like sausages or meat balls, or even, big pieces of chicken.
i) Sleep habits - sleeps well, no complaints there
j) Very scared of animals - especially dogs and cats. Does not want to go close to them
General health:
a) As a child, he had what is called 'moderate eczema' in the US. Lots of scratching and raw bleeding till the age of 3. Mostly around the back of his knees, hands (folds) and arms. Fortunately, his eczema is now mostly gone. No crazy scratching. Still has dry skin, but no more blisters etc.
b) He's always had, if I can call it that, a 'mucous issue'. In other words, he catches a cold easily, and the first thing that happens is mucous settles in his chest and does not easily get out. Even if he does not have a cold, the first symptom to hit him is mucous gets lodged in his chest. If it is not treated early (typically with Albuterol), when he contracts a cough, it usually leads to some amount wheezing (according to the doctor, the mucous gets stuck and then infected)
c) He has had food allergies in the past, which is much better now. In the early days, he'd break into rashes with contact with any sort of milk protein or egg yolk. These days, he does not react to egg and eats baked products with milk protein with no issues. He's even had butter on toast once in a while (only once he said 'my tongue feels funny' but did not break into rashes). So his food allergy has certainly improved significantly. We haven't tried cow's milk yet (after knowing he is allergic) - he would probably react
d) Recently, he had a bout of burping for many weeks (almost once very second). We did an endoscopy and found an extremely small amount of allergic reaction (after looking through a microscope - not evidently visible) - which may have been kicked up due to some food allergy. Doctor's suspected it was general gastritis and a prevacid variant worked well (forgot the name), But the good thing of doing the endoscopy was the doctors confirmed there was nothing that was 'out of order' in his internals (we also did an upper GI). Further, the doctors suggested that Soy may have caused this (he has been drinking Soy milk for 3 years). Just to be safe, we have stopped Soy for the near term and like I said, his burping is gone (this is very recent, so not sure if it will resurface)
So that is what I can recall. I am very keen to find his simillimum because I feel all of the above is rooted in a common cause.
It is important to note that he is not a 'sickly' child. But yes, not of robust constitution as well.
When I read (based on Herscu's child psychology, Nash 'leaders ....', and a book or two), I zeroed in first on Sulphur (many matches) and Nux (mainly due to process orientation, intelligence). At one point, I also felt Phos was a great match.
Now here is the truth: I've seen maximum benefit from Phos. When he has a cold, for example, giving him 3 doses of phos 30c seems to increase his appetite and reduce his mucousy cough. But never enough to solve it. Now I can increase potency and experiement, but I don' know enough to know what is or is not the right medicine.
Hence your advice would be appreciated.
[message edited by aske123 on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:12:50 BST]
aske123 on 2011-07-05
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
I will post my intake form to catch any information you might have left out.
GUIDELINES FOR GIVING HOMOEOPATHIC CASE INFORMATION
It is important to describe all his problems in as much detail as you are able. One word answers and short sentences are not particularly helpful. Discuss each problem one at a time, providing (as a minimum level of detail) the following information. Note that some complaints may not lend themselves easily to answer each of these questions.
1. What exactly happens?
2. Describe all sensations and pains. Each pain or sensation should be described in such a way that allows us to imagine having the same pain.
3. What causes the problem to get worse after it has started occurring?
4. What creates some relief for the problem?
5. What triggers the problem into occuring?
6. What time of the day or night does the problem occur?
7. When did the problem start? What was happening in his life at that time? Did some specific event or treatment take place just before the problem started?
Move from one problem to the next, doing the same thing. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF his HEALTH BY PROVIDING ALL PROBLEMS YOU HAVE, EVEN IF NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ONE, AND EVEN IF YOU CONSIDER IT OF LESS IMPORTANCE. You should address each problem separately using the above 7 questions as a guide.
As well as this, please describe any traumatic incidents that have taken place in his life. Discuss anything that has had a lasting impact on him mentally, emotionally or physically.
Discuss the way that he manages or deals with his problems, or any problems that occur in his life.
Discuss any patterns you have noticed in his behavior especially concerning his disease.
Discuss any part of his life where he seems stuck or unable to change and grow, especially where this occurred around the beginning of his disease, or as the disease evolved.
Describe his childhood and the kind of environment he grew up in, with reference to his relationships with his family, his school experiences, and any serious childhood diseases.
If the earlier discussions have not mentioned these already, please describe:
1. The specific foods that he craves (not just like) or hates
2. The specific drinks that he craves or hates
3. What his sleep is like
4. How the weather and the temperature affects him
5. What kinds of things in the environment he is particularly sensitive to
6. What is his general level of energy is like
9. Also give these details
a) Body type and build
b) Skin colour and texture
c) Areas of the body tends to perspire on
d) Odour of sweat, body, stool, flatus, urine
e) Colour of stool, urine, sweat
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs.
11. Please describe the pregnancy in great detail, noting any problems or symptoms you had. Most important are any strange or unusual symptoms that vanished after your child's birth, or any symptoms that you experienced which your child now shows.
GUIDELINES FOR GIVING HOMOEOPATHIC CASE INFORMATION
It is important to describe all his problems in as much detail as you are able. One word answers and short sentences are not particularly helpful. Discuss each problem one at a time, providing (as a minimum level of detail) the following information. Note that some complaints may not lend themselves easily to answer each of these questions.
1. What exactly happens?
2. Describe all sensations and pains. Each pain or sensation should be described in such a way that allows us to imagine having the same pain.
3. What causes the problem to get worse after it has started occurring?
4. What creates some relief for the problem?
5. What triggers the problem into occuring?
6. What time of the day or night does the problem occur?
7. When did the problem start? What was happening in his life at that time? Did some specific event or treatment take place just before the problem started?
Move from one problem to the next, doing the same thing. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF his HEALTH BY PROVIDING ALL PROBLEMS YOU HAVE, EVEN IF NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ONE, AND EVEN IF YOU CONSIDER IT OF LESS IMPORTANCE. You should address each problem separately using the above 7 questions as a guide.
As well as this, please describe any traumatic incidents that have taken place in his life. Discuss anything that has had a lasting impact on him mentally, emotionally or physically.
Discuss the way that he manages or deals with his problems, or any problems that occur in his life.
Discuss any patterns you have noticed in his behavior especially concerning his disease.
Discuss any part of his life where he seems stuck or unable to change and grow, especially where this occurred around the beginning of his disease, or as the disease evolved.
Describe his childhood and the kind of environment he grew up in, with reference to his relationships with his family, his school experiences, and any serious childhood diseases.
If the earlier discussions have not mentioned these already, please describe:
1. The specific foods that he craves (not just like) or hates
2. The specific drinks that he craves or hates
3. What his sleep is like
4. How the weather and the temperature affects him
5. What kinds of things in the environment he is particularly sensitive to
6. What is his general level of energy is like
9. Also give these details
a) Body type and build
b) Skin colour and texture
c) Areas of the body tends to perspire on
d) Odour of sweat, body, stool, flatus, urine
e) Colour of stool, urine, sweat
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs.
11. Please describe the pregnancy in great detail, noting any problems or symptoms you had. Most important are any strange or unusual symptoms that vanished after your child's birth, or any symptoms that you experienced which your child now shows.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
David, I am answering them, but the questions (at least the first set) seems to be tuned to asking about a particular ailment - in my case, I am not sure what is the real ailment (the immunity, the coughing with wheezing or the food allergies, which have vastly improved since he was a chld)
1. What exactly happens?
Answer> Well, I am looking really to find his simillimum. I guess this question is more suited for someone trying to solve a problem, which I guess in my specific case would be
'I am trying to find out what is the ideal medicine that helps him with building his immunity and getting rid of his 'mucous' getting lodged in his chest issue often' - that of course is linked to all the above issues.
Let me re-phrase:
a) He has food allergies. He may also have some environmental allergies
b) He seems to have low immunity (a because of b, b because of a, don't know)
c) Thusly, he often succumbs to phlegm getting lodged in his chest which doesn't get out if something bothers him (what - depends - sometimes, he gets it from weather change, sometimes during pollen season) and this in turn causes wheezing unless treated
2. Describe all sensations and pains. Each pain or sensation should be described in such a way that allows us to imagine having the same pain.
Answer> This is extremely hard to answer. He is a 4 year old. When his mucous gets stuck, I hear rattling, and as I described earlier, it may lead to mild wheezing if not treated early with albuterol.
If I ask him if it pains, he says 'yes, in my stomach' but thats all
3. What causes the problem to get worse after it has started occurring?
Answer> Any change in weather, primarily. I suspect is also is due to the fact that he probably has environmental allergies (I have a lot - pollen) and they act up and result in this.
What makes it worse? Well, not treating it (I am not trying to be corny here - its the truth - besides not treating it early, I can't see what makes it worse as over a few days it does get worse on its own)
4. What creates some relief for the problem?
Answer> Frankly allopathic medicine - albuterol helps him.
5. What triggers the problem into occuring?
Answer> see response to 3
6. What time of the day or night does the problem occur?
Answer> When the cough happens, its all day
7. When did the problem start? What was happening in his life at that time? Did some specific event or treatment take place just before the problem started?
Answer> As a child he had eczema and milk protein allergies. It wasn't there in birth. Probably after 4-5 months, after his first few set of vaccinations.
Till the age of 3 he had eczema - lots of scratching and bleeding - due to environment mostly. Lots in summer, less in winter.
Then towards turning 4, the eczema is almost gone. His food allergies are also much reduced - he can eat lots of things and does not react to baked milk products, nor butter (which is great). Haven't dared milk.
He always had a low immunity, and this cough with potential for wheezing when mucous gets stuck has been there since 2.
Move from one problem to the next, doing the same thing. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF his HEALTH BY PROVIDING ALL PROBLEMS YOU HAVE, EVEN IF NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ONE, AND EVEN IF YOU CONSIDER IT OF LESS IMPORTANCE. You should address each problem separately using the above 7 questions as a guide.
Answer> See they are all related. If I were to mention all his problems they would be:
1. low immunity
2. milk protein allergy
3. coughing with wheezing when mucous gets stuck in his chest
Now 3) is the visible problem at hand, while 1 and 2 are more 'meta-problems' I guess (visible, but macro reasons I guess). I am struggling to position his case in this question set, so your guidance would be useful here.
As well as this, please describe any traumatic incidents that have taken place in his life. Discuss anything that has had a lasting impact on him mentally, emotionally or physically.
Answer> When he was 2-3 months ago, a dog charged at him while he was in the lap of his mother. His mother also is very scared of animals, and she freaked out too and ran into a cupboard and cried.
It must have made an impression on him as I wrote in my first post, he too is scared of dogs
Discuss the way that he manages or deals with his problems, or any problems that occur in his life.
Answer> He is mercurial. Just like me (his dad). He shouts, cries and tries to get his way, but it is also easy to convince him to stop if you speak logically to him.
Discuss any patterns you have noticed in his behavior especially concerning his disease.
Answer> The only thing I've noticed is he gets tired (because of coughing) - not really a pattern
Discuss any part of his life where he seems stuck or unable to change and grow, especially where this occurred around the beginning of his disease, or as the disease evolved.
Answer> Again, I am not really sure what is the disease here of the 3 issues (eczema, immunity, cough).
Describe his childhood and the kind of environment he grew up in, with reference to his relationships with his family, his school experiences, and any serious childhood diseases.
Answer> He is 4 now. Loving environment - close relationship with him father and mother. No school yet. No serious childhood diseases.
If the earlier discussions have not mentioned these already, please describe:
1. The specific foods that he craves (not just like) or hates
Answer> Loves ground lamb and chicken fingers. Does not like texture of sausage meats. Does not like peas.
2. The specific drinks that he craves or hates
Answer> None really. He is a very choosy eater/drinker
3. What his sleep is like
Answer> Normal. Dreams at night, mostly of occurences during the day. Wakes up once at around 12am or 3am and easily goes back to sleep
4. How the weather and the temperature affects him
Answer> Affected by cold weather - gets a cough easily. Even if the AC is on too cold, for example
5. What kinds of things in the environment he is particularly sensitive to
Answer>My guess is he has pollen allergies (sneezing. coughing). I do too.
6. What is his general level of energy is like
Answer> He loves to run around and play. Though I've observed that he starts coughing if he jumps around too much
9. Also give these details
a) Body type and build
Answer> thin.10 percentile in growth chart.
b) Skin colour and texture
Answer> light brown skin. Texture is dry
c) Areas of the body tends to perspire on
Answer> I've only seem him sweat at the back of his head.
d) Odour of sweat, body, stool, flatus, urine
Answer> Don't know
e) Colour of stool, urine, sweat
Answer> Stool - brown (normal), urine- yellow (normal)
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs.
Answer> He used to react (rashes) to cherry flavored drugs but no more.
11. Please describe the pregnancy in great detail, noting any problems or symptoms you had. Most important are any strange or unusual symptoms that vanished after your child's birth, or any symptoms that you experienced which your child now shows.
Answer> He was born in a C-Section. 2 days after due date. The doctor said he was 'lazy' and not coming out, so he had to be operated. When he was born, his wrists had black/blue patches - the doctors said this was because of dry skin due to delayed arrival and they would go away. They did (in a month or so)
1. What exactly happens?
Answer> Well, I am looking really to find his simillimum. I guess this question is more suited for someone trying to solve a problem, which I guess in my specific case would be
'I am trying to find out what is the ideal medicine that helps him with building his immunity and getting rid of his 'mucous' getting lodged in his chest issue often' - that of course is linked to all the above issues.
Let me re-phrase:
a) He has food allergies. He may also have some environmental allergies
b) He seems to have low immunity (a because of b, b because of a, don't know)
c) Thusly, he often succumbs to phlegm getting lodged in his chest which doesn't get out if something bothers him (what - depends - sometimes, he gets it from weather change, sometimes during pollen season) and this in turn causes wheezing unless treated
2. Describe all sensations and pains. Each pain or sensation should be described in such a way that allows us to imagine having the same pain.
Answer> This is extremely hard to answer. He is a 4 year old. When his mucous gets stuck, I hear rattling, and as I described earlier, it may lead to mild wheezing if not treated early with albuterol.
If I ask him if it pains, he says 'yes, in my stomach' but thats all
3. What causes the problem to get worse after it has started occurring?
Answer> Any change in weather, primarily. I suspect is also is due to the fact that he probably has environmental allergies (I have a lot - pollen) and they act up and result in this.
What makes it worse? Well, not treating it (I am not trying to be corny here - its the truth - besides not treating it early, I can't see what makes it worse as over a few days it does get worse on its own)
4. What creates some relief for the problem?
Answer> Frankly allopathic medicine - albuterol helps him.
5. What triggers the problem into occuring?
Answer> see response to 3
6. What time of the day or night does the problem occur?
Answer> When the cough happens, its all day
7. When did the problem start? What was happening in his life at that time? Did some specific event or treatment take place just before the problem started?
Answer> As a child he had eczema and milk protein allergies. It wasn't there in birth. Probably after 4-5 months, after his first few set of vaccinations.
Till the age of 3 he had eczema - lots of scratching and bleeding - due to environment mostly. Lots in summer, less in winter.
Then towards turning 4, the eczema is almost gone. His food allergies are also much reduced - he can eat lots of things and does not react to baked milk products, nor butter (which is great). Haven't dared milk.
He always had a low immunity, and this cough with potential for wheezing when mucous gets stuck has been there since 2.
Move from one problem to the next, doing the same thing. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF his HEALTH BY PROVIDING ALL PROBLEMS YOU HAVE, EVEN IF NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ONE, AND EVEN IF YOU CONSIDER IT OF LESS IMPORTANCE. You should address each problem separately using the above 7 questions as a guide.
Answer> See they are all related. If I were to mention all his problems they would be:
1. low immunity
2. milk protein allergy
3. coughing with wheezing when mucous gets stuck in his chest
Now 3) is the visible problem at hand, while 1 and 2 are more 'meta-problems' I guess (visible, but macro reasons I guess). I am struggling to position his case in this question set, so your guidance would be useful here.
As well as this, please describe any traumatic incidents that have taken place in his life. Discuss anything that has had a lasting impact on him mentally, emotionally or physically.
Answer> When he was 2-3 months ago, a dog charged at him while he was in the lap of his mother. His mother also is very scared of animals, and she freaked out too and ran into a cupboard and cried.
It must have made an impression on him as I wrote in my first post, he too is scared of dogs
Discuss the way that he manages or deals with his problems, or any problems that occur in his life.
Answer> He is mercurial. Just like me (his dad). He shouts, cries and tries to get his way, but it is also easy to convince him to stop if you speak logically to him.
Discuss any patterns you have noticed in his behavior especially concerning his disease.
Answer> The only thing I've noticed is he gets tired (because of coughing) - not really a pattern
Discuss any part of his life where he seems stuck or unable to change and grow, especially where this occurred around the beginning of his disease, or as the disease evolved.
Answer> Again, I am not really sure what is the disease here of the 3 issues (eczema, immunity, cough).
Describe his childhood and the kind of environment he grew up in, with reference to his relationships with his family, his school experiences, and any serious childhood diseases.
Answer> He is 4 now. Loving environment - close relationship with him father and mother. No school yet. No serious childhood diseases.
If the earlier discussions have not mentioned these already, please describe:
1. The specific foods that he craves (not just like) or hates
Answer> Loves ground lamb and chicken fingers. Does not like texture of sausage meats. Does not like peas.
2. The specific drinks that he craves or hates
Answer> None really. He is a very choosy eater/drinker
3. What his sleep is like
Answer> Normal. Dreams at night, mostly of occurences during the day. Wakes up once at around 12am or 3am and easily goes back to sleep
4. How the weather and the temperature affects him
Answer> Affected by cold weather - gets a cough easily. Even if the AC is on too cold, for example
5. What kinds of things in the environment he is particularly sensitive to
Answer>My guess is he has pollen allergies (sneezing. coughing). I do too.
6. What is his general level of energy is like
Answer> He loves to run around and play. Though I've observed that he starts coughing if he jumps around too much
9. Also give these details
a) Body type and build
Answer> thin.10 percentile in growth chart.
b) Skin colour and texture
Answer> light brown skin. Texture is dry
c) Areas of the body tends to perspire on
Answer> I've only seem him sweat at the back of his head.
d) Odour of sweat, body, stool, flatus, urine
Answer> Don't know
e) Colour of stool, urine, sweat
Answer> Stool - brown (normal), urine- yellow (normal)
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs.
Answer> He used to react (rashes) to cherry flavored drugs but no more.
11. Please describe the pregnancy in great detail, noting any problems or symptoms you had. Most important are any strange or unusual symptoms that vanished after your child's birth, or any symptoms that you experienced which your child now shows.
Answer> He was born in a C-Section. 2 days after due date. The doctor said he was 'lazy' and not coming out, so he had to be operated. When he was born, his wrists had black/blue patches - the doctors said this was because of dry skin due to delayed arrival and they would go away. They did (in a month or so)
aske123 last decade
There must be a problem to aim the remedy at. The simillimum is not one thing, it might not even be one remedy for a patient for long. Once it is found the whole case can change, and a new simillimum may be needed.
Forgive me if I launch into a bit of a lecture - if I am giving too much information just skim to the end lol.
The Simillimum is the perfect remedy for the disease state - there is also the concept of the Constitutional which is often mixed up with this idea. The Constitutional is a remedy for the chronic state of the patient, the 'soil' in which their diseases grow so to speak. In reality genuine homoeopathic prescribing would attempt both of these things at once unless the case is a true acute one.
However all focus for prescriptions should be through the main complaint, which should also reflect the disturbance in the vital force where all disease eminates.
So the main complaint is his tendency to catch cold. It appears to descend to his chest. This would be the first part of a consultation, looking at every aspect of this (how it starts, what happens, how it progresses, all the various symptoms would be explored) plus the history of the problem. Even in chronic cases the remedy is reflected in the main complaint.
Most likely this is related to his miasmatic state - the chronic underlying weakness/pattern that will constantly recreate new chronic diseases even when other diseases are apparently 'cured'.
The complaints follow the Tubercular pattern, and Phosphorous is a Tubercular remedy so that is in line with your experience with a beneficial remedy.
There are different approaches to treating miasm - typically I add it into the 'meta' analysis and prescribe a medicine that both suits the presenting symptoms and the miasmatic background. However other homoeopaths may use a strong anti-miamatic remedy (Thuja for Sycotic, Sulphur for Psoric, Mercurius for Syphilitic etc), or the nosode made from the disease itself (Psorinum, Tuberculinum, Carcinosinin, Syphilinum etc). Any of these approaches can work for different people or at different times.
So, in the long winded way that I go about things, my advice would be to persist with the Phosphorous but give a higher potency - one dose of 200c - and see what happens.
For me I would try to define the presenting complaint better - colour, odour, taste and consistency of mucous; sound and nature of the cough; the kind of breathing; symptoms that cluster around the chest complaints. Anything that characterizes it can help.
Forgive me if I launch into a bit of a lecture - if I am giving too much information just skim to the end lol.
The Simillimum is the perfect remedy for the disease state - there is also the concept of the Constitutional which is often mixed up with this idea. The Constitutional is a remedy for the chronic state of the patient, the 'soil' in which their diseases grow so to speak. In reality genuine homoeopathic prescribing would attempt both of these things at once unless the case is a true acute one.
However all focus for prescriptions should be through the main complaint, which should also reflect the disturbance in the vital force where all disease eminates.
So the main complaint is his tendency to catch cold. It appears to descend to his chest. This would be the first part of a consultation, looking at every aspect of this (how it starts, what happens, how it progresses, all the various symptoms would be explored) plus the history of the problem. Even in chronic cases the remedy is reflected in the main complaint.
Most likely this is related to his miasmatic state - the chronic underlying weakness/pattern that will constantly recreate new chronic diseases even when other diseases are apparently 'cured'.
The complaints follow the Tubercular pattern, and Phosphorous is a Tubercular remedy so that is in line with your experience with a beneficial remedy.
There are different approaches to treating miasm - typically I add it into the 'meta' analysis and prescribe a medicine that both suits the presenting symptoms and the miasmatic background. However other homoeopaths may use a strong anti-miamatic remedy (Thuja for Sycotic, Sulphur for Psoric, Mercurius for Syphilitic etc), or the nosode made from the disease itself (Psorinum, Tuberculinum, Carcinosinin, Syphilinum etc). Any of these approaches can work for different people or at different times.
So, in the long winded way that I go about things, my advice would be to persist with the Phosphorous but give a higher potency - one dose of 200c - and see what happens.
For me I would try to define the presenting complaint better - colour, odour, taste and consistency of mucous; sound and nature of the cough; the kind of breathing; symptoms that cluster around the chest complaints. Anything that characterizes it can help.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
David, thank you. Yes, I do believe I was referring to his constitution (not the simillimum)
The reason I chose to lay out a larger picture for you is that I really don't know what is the 'disease' and which is the 'symptom'. Is cough the disease or the allergies that cause the cough? Is immunity (lack of) the disease and allergy the symptom?
Hence my confusion. My instinct says if I kick the problem at the nuts, I'll have a better chance of solving all 3 (disease or symptom).
I'll go with your advice on tackling the problem at hand - the visible symptom of which is his cough (the invisible symptom I guess would be low immunity)
So here is the cough characterization:
a) When he coughs, it comes as bouts - 7 or 8 together in a sort of spasmodic way (full of phlegm inside - you can hear it)
b) He does take out phlegm when he coughs - but its much less compared to what is inside
c) The phlegm is generally either transparent or white and stringy
d) Besides albuterol and other allopathic meds I really don't see anything that makes it better
e) In terms of when it happens, pretty much round the clock when it hits him
f) His face turns red when he coughs in spasms (Expected, as it must be straining him)
What else would you like me to bring out?
On phos: It helps, but doesn't seem to cure. So I don't know if its the right med. I will try the 200c as you suggested. Only once I assume?
(On dosage, I'd like to also take a philosophical diversion if you'd allow. I've observed you are not a homeopathic fundamentalist, so here goes: Every book I've read, including the Organon suggests never to keep repeating the same dosage. The logic is if one or two doses is not powerful enough to cure, 20 will not. Then they bring forward analogies which are rather metaphorical to prove it. My issue wth this is I have personally seen repeated same potency doses to help. And my analogy would be if you hit a peice of ice with just force enough to make a small crack, but not enough to break it, but you keep hitting at it with the same force, the ice will break as it gets weakened by the repeated same amount of force. And I homeopaths who have cured with repeated dosage. So I have both a metaphorical analogy and people I know who haved cured. Why is this still taboo? because the person who discovered homeopathy said so in a book? Why can't a founder not be wrong about something? Why do people here have a fundamentalistic attitude towards these concepts?)
y
The reason I chose to lay out a larger picture for you is that I really don't know what is the 'disease' and which is the 'symptom'. Is cough the disease or the allergies that cause the cough? Is immunity (lack of) the disease and allergy the symptom?
Hence my confusion. My instinct says if I kick the problem at the nuts, I'll have a better chance of solving all 3 (disease or symptom).
I'll go with your advice on tackling the problem at hand - the visible symptom of which is his cough (the invisible symptom I guess would be low immunity)
So here is the cough characterization:
a) When he coughs, it comes as bouts - 7 or 8 together in a sort of spasmodic way (full of phlegm inside - you can hear it)
b) He does take out phlegm when he coughs - but its much less compared to what is inside
c) The phlegm is generally either transparent or white and stringy
d) Besides albuterol and other allopathic meds I really don't see anything that makes it better
e) In terms of when it happens, pretty much round the clock when it hits him
f) His face turns red when he coughs in spasms (Expected, as it must be straining him)
What else would you like me to bring out?
On phos: It helps, but doesn't seem to cure. So I don't know if its the right med. I will try the 200c as you suggested. Only once I assume?
(On dosage, I'd like to also take a philosophical diversion if you'd allow. I've observed you are not a homeopathic fundamentalist, so here goes: Every book I've read, including the Organon suggests never to keep repeating the same dosage. The logic is if one or two doses is not powerful enough to cure, 20 will not. Then they bring forward analogies which are rather metaphorical to prove it. My issue wth this is I have personally seen repeated same potency doses to help. And my analogy would be if you hit a peice of ice with just force enough to make a small crack, but not enough to break it, but you keep hitting at it with the same force, the ice will break as it gets weakened by the repeated same amount of force. And I homeopaths who have cured with repeated dosage. So I have both a metaphorical analogy and people I know who haved cured. Why is this still taboo? because the person who discovered homeopathy said so in a book? Why can't a founder not be wrong about something? Why do people here have a fundamentalistic attitude towards these concepts?)
y
aske123 last decade
Hahnemann changed his ideas about that. In the 5th and 6th editions of the Organon he stated that the remedy can be given as often as is needed, as long as the potency is changed between each dose, and the case is reassessed regularly for a change of state.
The LM potency scale is typically given until the patient aggravates, and then it is stopped, and the next potency step is given to the patient until they aggravate again. The patient, under this treatment method, might be on a remedy daily for months.
It is people who learned out of the old editions of the Organon (the 4th edition prescribers like Kent was) who still insist on one dose and wait for long periods. Hahnemann continued to evolve his ideas about homoeopathy right up until his death. There is no reason to think that more evolution should not happen - and in fact it probably would have if Hahnemann continued his work.
The LM potency scale is typically given until the patient aggravates, and then it is stopped, and the next potency step is given to the patient until they aggravate again. The patient, under this treatment method, might be on a remedy daily for months.
It is people who learned out of the old editions of the Organon (the 4th edition prescribers like Kent was) who still insist on one dose and wait for long periods. Hahnemann continued to evolve his ideas about homoeopathy right up until his death. There is no reason to think that more evolution should not happen - and in fact it probably would have if Hahnemann continued his work.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Thanks. Would you recommend I still go ahead with Phos 200c based on all I have written above? Based on the traits I posted does it seem to be the right choice?
(On the philosophy track, I actually questioned the rule that says no to same potency repeated many times - hence my analogy of striking ice with the same force)
(On the philosophy track, I actually questioned the rule that says no to same potency repeated many times - hence my analogy of striking ice with the same force)
aske123 last decade
I cannot see any peculiarity in the case that points to Phosphorous - which only means I don't see it not that it doesn't exist. The miasmatic indication does seem tubercular, and he responds positively to the remedy, so that is probably enough reason to try a single dose.
I have not had enough time to analyze yet though so I can't offer a suggestion yet.
In terms of the philosophy question, I can verify that if the potency is not altered between each dose, it becomes less and less effective, till eventually it stops working.
What a remedy does is replace your disease with an artificial version, a similar one. It must be stronger than your natural disease, in order to create a 'push back' in the opposite direction by your Vital Force. The problem for chronically sick patients is that their VF is not pushing back hard enough (opposite direction results in cure). So they remain stuck (sick).
If the first dose does not cure (stimulate this pressure) then the next dose must be stronger, to push harder. When the right amount of pressure is built up, the VF will push so hard back, that the it cancels out the disease. If it is not stronger, the VF will not push hard enough, and you will remain stuck.
Acute diseases respond to single doses more easily. Chronic illness is where changing the potency is most necessary. This is where you will strike the problem most often.
It is possible to cure those patients who don't need many doses with unaltered doses. This is often the case with acutes, but few chronics. Those people with high vitality respond best to few doses.
I can only offer my experience. Until I regularly altered the potency between each dose, I cured less patients, and I was unable to manage many of them long term.
I have not had enough time to analyze yet though so I can't offer a suggestion yet.
In terms of the philosophy question, I can verify that if the potency is not altered between each dose, it becomes less and less effective, till eventually it stops working.
What a remedy does is replace your disease with an artificial version, a similar one. It must be stronger than your natural disease, in order to create a 'push back' in the opposite direction by your Vital Force. The problem for chronically sick patients is that their VF is not pushing back hard enough (opposite direction results in cure). So they remain stuck (sick).
If the first dose does not cure (stimulate this pressure) then the next dose must be stronger, to push harder. When the right amount of pressure is built up, the VF will push so hard back, that the it cancels out the disease. If it is not stronger, the VF will not push hard enough, and you will remain stuck.
Acute diseases respond to single doses more easily. Chronic illness is where changing the potency is most necessary. This is where you will strike the problem most often.
It is possible to cure those patients who don't need many doses with unaltered doses. This is often the case with acutes, but few chronics. Those people with high vitality respond best to few doses.
I can only offer my experience. Until I regularly altered the potency between each dose, I cured less patients, and I was unable to manage many of them long term.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
David, thanks. Very nice response (and balanced).
On the Phos analysis: May I request you to assess the case and let me know your thoughts when time permits?
On the Phos analysis: May I request you to assess the case and let me know your thoughts when time permits?
aske123 last decade
David, they come in quick bursts. Spasmodic. He will cough with force, face turns red, you can see his neck veins and each cough almost overlaps with the Previous one. Kind of like a rapid gunfire in frequency. It's almost like he can throw up but does not. I almost wish like I could take a long spoon and scoop out the phlegm. The cough is wet with rattling. I know homeopathy uses the termbarking cough often. But for the life of me, I dont know what it sounds like - if it is meant to sound like a dog barking then no. Same holds true for 'whooping' or 'hacking' etc. Not sure what they really sound like and I don't think his cough represents what I assume they sound like. So the best I can really think of is it sounds like a wet, intense, rattling cough in quick succession
[message edited by aske123 on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:57:25 BST]
[message edited by aske123 on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:57:25 BST]
aske123 last decade
Ok that makes it quite easy.
The remedy is Corallium rubrum (red coral)
Get hold of 200c.
Cor-r Materia Medica:
Dry, spasmodic, suffocative; very rapid cough, short, barking; [11] with bleeding from mouth and nose. With great sensitiveness of air-passages; feel cold on deep inspiration. Continuous, hysterical; [2] or cough when the patient gives an isolated cough at regular intervals throughout the whole day. Feels suffocated and greatly exhausted after whooping cough. [2] Almost continuous paroxysms of violent spasmodic cough; which begins with gasping for breath, with purple face, and followed by vomiting of stringy mucus and by exhaustion; [11] cough worse latter part of night and mornings. Reverberating minute-gun cough. [11] Nervous. Every atmos-pheric change causes coughing. Whooping cough or any other kind of cough, when attacks comes on with a very rapid cough, and attacks follow so closely as to almost run into each other; cough until patient falls back as limber as a rag.
The remedy is Corallium rubrum (red coral)
Get hold of 200c.
Cor-r Materia Medica:
Dry, spasmodic, suffocative; very rapid cough, short, barking; [11] with bleeding from mouth and nose. With great sensitiveness of air-passages; feel cold on deep inspiration. Continuous, hysterical; [2] or cough when the patient gives an isolated cough at regular intervals throughout the whole day. Feels suffocated and greatly exhausted after whooping cough. [2] Almost continuous paroxysms of violent spasmodic cough; which begins with gasping for breath, with purple face, and followed by vomiting of stringy mucus and by exhaustion; [11] cough worse latter part of night and mornings. Reverberating minute-gun cough. [11] Nervous. Every atmos-pheric change causes coughing. Whooping cough or any other kind of cough, when attacks comes on with a very rapid cough, and attacks follow so closely as to almost run into each other; cough until patient falls back as limber as a rag.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
David, thanks. I've ordered Cor-r.
Looking at the key traits of Cor-r, one primary thing I noticed is it specifically calls out dry cough, not wet. Here its a wet cough. Just thought I'd mention that. There are other matches to the key attributes for this remedy.
Now here is the status: I gave him a does of Phos 200c (I was giving 30c before) 2 days ago. I noticed that he is now not coughing in spasms, but single coughs. Again, this may well be because he is getting over the bout, I don't know.
So my question is, do you think Cor-r is a remedy that is deep enough, or do you think it will mostly work as a acute cure to the cough when a coughing bout starts?
Looking at the key traits of Cor-r, one primary thing I noticed is it specifically calls out dry cough, not wet. Here its a wet cough. Just thought I'd mention that. There are other matches to the key attributes for this remedy.
Now here is the status: I gave him a does of Phos 200c (I was giving 30c before) 2 days ago. I noticed that he is now not coughing in spasms, but single coughs. Again, this may well be because he is getting over the bout, I don't know.
So my question is, do you think Cor-r is a remedy that is deep enough, or do you think it will mostly work as a acute cure to the cough when a coughing bout starts?
aske123 last decade
The cough can be dry or wet, that isn't really the important aspect of Cor-r.
If he is improving on Phos then don't give him any new remedies until either it stops working or the state changes.
If he is improving on Phos then don't give him any new remedies until either it stops working or the state changes.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Oh as another indication for a coral remedy, they are touchy, reactionary, exictable. Emotions are very easily stimulated. They are impulsive.
This can bring it very close to Phosphorous too.
This can bring it very close to Phosphorous too.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Thanks. The problem is I can't say for sure if he is improving. His 'chest cold' keeps coming and going. Now it seems to be in the 'going away' phase, but 3 days from now, it can be back too. An additional symptom these days is his nose gets blocked with mucous. He usually wakes up at 3am at night due to it. Keeps trying to 'sniff in' the mucous during the day. Hence, I am hoping I can point to a remedy that tackles the issue properly.
aske123 last decade
David, an update.
So that past episode is now gone (as usual he recovered in 3 days). Starting yesterday, he has been coughing with the tell-tale wheezing sound in his chest and has been throwing out thick, brownish mucous after coughing. I have cor-r 200c with me now. However, the 'cough overlapping with another' is not a current symption. He coughs hard and wet and says it hurts his stomach.
Any recommendations?
[message edited by aske123 on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:21:05 BST]
So that past episode is now gone (as usual he recovered in 3 days). Starting yesterday, he has been coughing with the tell-tale wheezing sound in his chest and has been throwing out thick, brownish mucous after coughing. I have cor-r 200c with me now. However, the 'cough overlapping with another' is not a current symption. He coughs hard and wet and says it hurts his stomach.
Any recommendations?
[message edited by aske123 on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:21:05 BST]
aske123 last decade
Well you have the Cor-r now so give that anyway.
Dros is a good choice for coughs, and I have seen some prescribers get good results with Kali-c for bronchitis on this forum
Dros is a good choice for coughs, and I have seen some prescribers get good results with Kali-c for bronchitis on this forum
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
In the repertory, Cor-r is not listed for Dry Cough at all. The qualities of the cough are:
Asthmatic
Constant
Barking
Convulsive
Croupy
Exhausting
Hacking
Like minute guns
Nervous
Paroxysmal
Reverberating
Tormenting
Violent
Asthmatic
Constant
Barking
Convulsive
Croupy
Exhausting
Hacking
Like minute guns
Nervous
Paroxysmal
Reverberating
Tormenting
Violent
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
David> In the repertory, Cor-r is not listed for Dry Cough at all.
Reponse> What that a comment for me? My son's cough is not dry, it is wet. If I said dry anywhere above, it was a mistake.
Now here is an update: My son started coughing 2 days ago (Wed) around evening. It was quite bad on Thursday (as usual). However, by Thursday night it was mostly gone. Today, he is perfectly fine (some small remnants of occasional wet cough).
What is different about this bout: Frequent cough up and throw out of brown/thick mucous. In the past episodes, he would cough up mucous, but they were never 'thick and brown'. They were usually white and ropy. In this episode, when I looked at the mucous he was throwing out, I had a feeling he would cure faster, as this brown thick mucous looked like the stuff that would lodge itself in his lungs/or bronchal pipes and cause issues. So I assumed that as he throws it out more, he would get better as its getting out of his system.
What did I give him as treatment: As always, these days, I immediately give him albuterol as well as cough syrup. If I don't I know it will get worse. However, this time, I also gave him a liquid dose of Cor-r 200c on Wed night (even before you told me to on Thu).
I don't know if Cor-r helped, or did the albuterol (I just cannot risk not giving albuterol, as otherwise it will take him a week and it gets to him physically). But I do know, his mucous throw out was different this time.
I also read up on Dros and Kali-c as pointed to by Sameer. Kali-c has a lot of mental matches for his nature, but I don't know what is important and what is not (there are enough non-matches) too. Dros also matches. So does, of course, Cor-r :-))
Now, I am really keen on administering him a relevant homeopathic medicine that helps him avoid these recurring coughing bouts. Since each bout is of short duration (3 days with alopathic medicine), my larger focus is to see how to help him not have these bouts. Hence my original question on how we can go about fixing the fact that he contracts this often.
Reponse> What that a comment for me? My son's cough is not dry, it is wet. If I said dry anywhere above, it was a mistake.
Now here is an update: My son started coughing 2 days ago (Wed) around evening. It was quite bad on Thursday (as usual). However, by Thursday night it was mostly gone. Today, he is perfectly fine (some small remnants of occasional wet cough).
What is different about this bout: Frequent cough up and throw out of brown/thick mucous. In the past episodes, he would cough up mucous, but they were never 'thick and brown'. They were usually white and ropy. In this episode, when I looked at the mucous he was throwing out, I had a feeling he would cure faster, as this brown thick mucous looked like the stuff that would lodge itself in his lungs/or bronchal pipes and cause issues. So I assumed that as he throws it out more, he would get better as its getting out of his system.
What did I give him as treatment: As always, these days, I immediately give him albuterol as well as cough syrup. If I don't I know it will get worse. However, this time, I also gave him a liquid dose of Cor-r 200c on Wed night (even before you told me to on Thu).
I don't know if Cor-r helped, or did the albuterol (I just cannot risk not giving albuterol, as otherwise it will take him a week and it gets to him physically). But I do know, his mucous throw out was different this time.
I also read up on Dros and Kali-c as pointed to by Sameer. Kali-c has a lot of mental matches for his nature, but I don't know what is important and what is not (there are enough non-matches) too. Dros also matches. So does, of course, Cor-r :-))
Now, I am really keen on administering him a relevant homeopathic medicine that helps him avoid these recurring coughing bouts. Since each bout is of short duration (3 days with alopathic medicine), my larger focus is to see how to help him not have these bouts. Hence my original question on how we can go about fixing the fact that he contracts this often.
aske123 last decade
I am sorry I wasn't very clear in my last post. What I was trying to say is that Cor-r';s cough isn't acutally characterized by being dry, so the fact that your son's cough isn't dry doesn't matter.
Now that you have given him a dose of Cor-r, we will need to see what his reaction is. The case can be retaken if it does not help. One dose may also not be enough, but there should be some kind of reaction regardless, and the dosage may need to be adjusted too.
Now that you have given him a dose of Cor-r, we will need to see what his reaction is. The case can be retaken if it does not help. One dose may also not be enough, but there should be some kind of reaction regardless, and the dosage may need to be adjusted too.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
David,
I've been observing that he now seems to frequently have a blocked nose - lots of mucous inside that he can't seem to get out (he doesn't know how to blow out yet). It mostly bothers him at night (say around midnight or 3AM) when he's constantly trying to sniff it out and turn sides. Any remedy I can administer?
I've been observing that he now seems to frequently have a blocked nose - lots of mucous inside that he can't seem to get out (he doesn't know how to blow out yet). It mostly bothers him at night (say around midnight or 3AM) when he's constantly trying to sniff it out and turn sides. Any remedy I can administer?
aske123 last decade
3 am aggravation ---> another thing to indicate Kali-c.
sameervermani last decade
Is that the only reaction to the dose of Cor-r - his nose is more often blocked? Has the mucous in the chest changed at all? The cough? His mood changes? His fears?
Normally at this stage, assuming there were no other changes, I would get you to repeat the remedy while adjusting the dosage, to ensure the remedy is definitely not going to help.
You can take Sameer on as the practitioner if you like. I am not interested in any struggle over who is making prescriptions. It will only create confusion in the long run.
My approach is always to persist with a remedy until it is clear it isn't working, so that the right remedy is not missed. At the same time I have no desire to keep him on the wrong remedy just because I chose it.
Normally at this stage, assuming there were no other changes, I would get you to repeat the remedy while adjusting the dosage, to ensure the remedy is definitely not going to help.
You can take Sameer on as the practitioner if you like. I am not interested in any struggle over who is making prescriptions. It will only create confusion in the long run.
My approach is always to persist with a remedy until it is clear it isn't working, so that the right remedy is not missed. At the same time I have no desire to keep him on the wrong remedy just because I chose it.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
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