The ABC Homeopathy Forum
theoretical question
Let's say you have come upon a remedy for your patient...for example let's say Tarentula. Now, the patient has severe arachnophobia and it is so severe that they won't even touch the remedy tube or cannot bear to consume the remedy because of their excessive fear (even after explaining that there is basically nothing from source present). First of all, would it be likely that the remedy would aggravate such a condition (specifically the arachnophobia..in which case the patient would rather suffer with their ailment) and secondly what would a practitioner do? How would you treat this patient who couldn't bear to take the prescribed remedy?BTW, this question is purely theoretical and the remedy could be changed to anything that would fall into a similar category..say lachesis and other similar remedies.
ummnur on 2011-11-29
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
It is quite possible that a person can have such a strong aversion to the substance this can happen. I have seen it a few times, although fortunately rarely.
I try to assess during case-taking any such phobia. If I realize they have one, I will not tell them what I am giving them. It is probably good practice to avoid telling patients the source of their remedy in the initial stages anyway, for a variety of reasons.
So in such a situation I would do one of the following things:
1. If you really believe the remedy is correct, give it to them anyway under another name. The truth is there is no spider in it, so they are only getting water.
2. Explain to the patient that if they will not take your remedies, you will be unable to continue treatment. Either they trust you and homoeopathy or they don't - their choice.
Lachesis will not cure a Tarentula patient. One remedy doesn't stand in for another. If only that were true we would all be curing patients with 100% success.
I try to assess during case-taking any such phobia. If I realize they have one, I will not tell them what I am giving them. It is probably good practice to avoid telling patients the source of their remedy in the initial stages anyway, for a variety of reasons.
So in such a situation I would do one of the following things:
1. If you really believe the remedy is correct, give it to them anyway under another name. The truth is there is no spider in it, so they are only getting water.
2. Explain to the patient that if they will not take your remedies, you will be unable to continue treatment. Either they trust you and homoeopathy or they don't - their choice.
Lachesis will not cure a Tarentula patient. One remedy doesn't stand in for another. If only that were true we would all be curing patients with 100% success.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
What I meant was that my question was not about Tarentula, or any particular remedy. I was asking about phobias and their impact on copmliance, so for illustrative purposes you could use anything that might cause a phobia...lachesis, or apis if someone was afraid of bees, and so on.
I don't think that non-compliance in a case like this is always a matter of trust (your #2 point). Sometimes the patient may want relief desperately, but is too paralyzed by their own fears to go along. Is it fair, as a practitioner, to deceive the patient? If they later find out that you have mislead them about the remedy name, wouldn't it erode the patient's trust? Furthermore, if the patient for some reason must switch practitioner, they will have misinformation which could impact their later treatment.
I suppose part of my question is..Is there a way to treat around such a situation that might give the patient relief so that they could eventually take the applicable rememdy?
I don't think that non-compliance in a case like this is always a matter of trust (your #2 point). Sometimes the patient may want relief desperately, but is too paralyzed by their own fears to go along. Is it fair, as a practitioner, to deceive the patient? If they later find out that you have mislead them about the remedy name, wouldn't it erode the patient's trust? Furthermore, if the patient for some reason must switch practitioner, they will have misinformation which could impact their later treatment.
I suppose part of my question is..Is there a way to treat around such a situation that might give the patient relief so that they could eventually take the applicable rememdy?
ummnur last decade
I don't think that phobias are generally cured by the remedy made from the substance itself. Phobias aren't like colds, they are usually connected in a fairly complex way to the mental state of the patient.
Perhaps if a bite from the animal caused it that could be isopathically considered. As with all prescriptions, it must suit the whole case to help them - lachesis won't cure the fear unless lachesis fits the case, and if tarentuala fits the case instead you can't replace it with lachesis.
You are not deceiving the patient. Their fear, and what is in the medicine, are not related. There is nothing in the medicine for them to fear, you know this is true. You don't need to pander to their fear. There is no spider in it, what is in it is a vibration carried by the water which is non-physical. No spider residue, no material from a spider, it is clean and safe. That is the truth.
If they are cured, they will not concern themselves with what you said to them. No-one ever does, they are happy.
The real problem you are presenting is if they won't take it, how else will you cure their phobia. That is not an easy question - what is cure but the correct remedy being given.
You are looking to palliate the fear - that is tough with mentals. What is the main remedy for fear of insects - Abelmoschus. That remedy is followed closely by China and Goss. In my experience Calc is useful as well. Would this work? Who knows - for any prescription to work it has to suit the case in more ways than one but I suppose it could be worth a try.
Perhaps if a bite from the animal caused it that could be isopathically considered. As with all prescriptions, it must suit the whole case to help them - lachesis won't cure the fear unless lachesis fits the case, and if tarentuala fits the case instead you can't replace it with lachesis.
You are not deceiving the patient. Their fear, and what is in the medicine, are not related. There is nothing in the medicine for them to fear, you know this is true. You don't need to pander to their fear. There is no spider in it, what is in it is a vibration carried by the water which is non-physical. No spider residue, no material from a spider, it is clean and safe. That is the truth.
If they are cured, they will not concern themselves with what you said to them. No-one ever does, they are happy.
The real problem you are presenting is if they won't take it, how else will you cure their phobia. That is not an easy question - what is cure but the correct remedy being given.
You are looking to palliate the fear - that is tough with mentals. What is the main remedy for fear of insects - Abelmoschus. That remedy is followed closely by China and Goss. In my experience Calc is useful as well. Would this work? Who knows - for any prescription to work it has to suit the case in more ways than one but I suppose it could be worth a try.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
So, I was listening to an interview with Luc de Schepper recently. In it, he and the interviewer were discussing palliation vs. cure. A case was mentioned (it was said that it was presented at a conference) that a patient was cured from all his symptoms with the exception of a profound fear of c ancer. They went on to say that, sure enough,within 2-3 years, this patient died of c ancer. I understood from this that a total cure would have resulted in this fear being removed. Is a fear of disease different than a phobia? It seems to me that they are both mentals.
ummnur last decade
Yes I would agree such a patient was not cured, clearly. Cured means cured, all symptoms, not 'all but one', and certainly not one so high up in the hierarchy.
Phobia is just a more intense form of Fear, often including a variety of associated behaviours around that fear.
Phobia is just a more intense form of Fear, often including a variety of associated behaviours around that fear.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
If you have a fear of c_ancer you can get c_ancer and die from it?? Maybe the likelyhood of attracting c_ancer in your life since that is what you think about often is higher or what? Am I at risk now too?
starface last decade
NO that is not what that means at all. In that case it happened, it will not happen in all. People may develop some other kind of disease, even a mental one. That is not the purpose of that story. When a symptom is left behind, it means the disease is left behind, and it WILL become something more serious if not cured. That is the moral of that story.
♡ brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Ah that makes sense. Good to hear. Phew. The reaction was less and no heaviness btw so you dont think I am worse. I kind of knew you will say No that this isnt the case but a bit of uncertainty was here I guess
starface last decade
It is so good that you are on here on this forum. I would have so many unanswered questions and worries. Trying to research them for hours on the internet in stress. But here I just get a quick reply of not having skin disease, of not getting c_ancer and all is goood than. THANKS
starface last decade
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