Safiya Parker, Year 4Nov 2009

Remedy Relationships Project

Introduction

Remedy relationships can be considered in several ways. Scholten classifies minerals from the perspective of their position in the periodic table, the flow of progress through the whole periodic table and relates them via concepts for each stage and series.

Sankaran looks at plants using their family groupings and classifies them according to their common sensation. With minerals the understanding of the stages and series is in common with Scholten’s. His grouping of remedies into Miasms is another way of looking at remedy relationships. Scholten also indicates miasms on the periodic table.

There are therapeutic relationships, where remedies have affinities e.g. or similar organs, diseases, sides. It is also valuable to study the source of the remedy, particularly where and how plants grow. This can give us another view on relationships between remedies.

Remedy Relationships are commonly referred to as remedies that have been shown to elicit a favourable or unfavourablereaction in the patients when used sequentially. These range from complementary actions to antidotal actions and aggravations. They can be remedies from within a kingdom or across kingdoms.

Elements, and therefore the mineral kingdom underpin the other kingdoms and therefore all remedy relationships. They are the basic building blocks for compounds e.g. common salt, Natrum muriaticum, for all plants and animals. So, it is not surprising that remedies from one kingdom can look like remedies from another and therefore be very useful to understand and aid prescribing. The principal effects of some of the grasses are the result of the large quantity of Silica they contain e.g. Bambusa

All types of remedy relationships give us schemas to look at different groupings of remedies and help us compare them to aid in remedy selection.

To compare remedies within each kingdom and across kingdoms, I have chosen remedy pairs that are not in comparative Materia Medica books or other sources comparing the 2 remedies directly. I have combined information from several sources, including Sankaran’s and Scholten’s perspectives, as well as personal notes from seminars. In each case, I have focussed on the key aspects that I found most useful in the comparison and differentiation.

1a)Relationships within a Kingdom - Minerals

Characteristics that would typically point us in the direction of the mineral kingdom are the patient telling their story in a logical, ordered manner. Structure and organisation are important. They see themselves as having something missing within them. The problem is inside them, not in others or the outside world.

I have chosen to compare Fluorine and Chlorine. These remedies can be used as Fluoratum Acidum (Hydrofluoric Acid) and Chlorum (Chlorine in water) and are also often combined with metals to form salts e.g. Natrum muriaticum. They are in the same stage of the periodic table and therefore can be mistaken for each other in cases, but they are in different series,which is important to recognise for differentiation.

Fluorine and Chlorine are both halogens. The main feeling in halogens is ‘I don’t need you so much; I am nearly complete in myself’. This can be interpreted as not wanting to be tied down or bound for too long, (Sankaran, Structure). This feeling is related to Scholten’s stage 17 concepts of holding on and letting go.

Chemically they are both very reactive elements. They have 7 electrons in their outer shell, therefore they need to acquire 1 more electron to make them complete. They combine with other elements to form a stable ionic compound, where the individual structures of the 2 atoms are retained, attached by an ionic bond, (as opposed to forming a diatomic molecule).

I see a link between the preservation of the need to form a union but retaining the individual structures with the theme of holding on/letting go and feeling of being tied down and wanting to break away.

Both Fluorine and Chlorine are in stage 17 of the periodic table. Scholten describes the journey of stages 1-18 as the rise, success and fall of any undertaking or project, stage 17 is ‘The End’, almost down to the start again. There is nothing more to do. They want and let go, or they hold on because they can’t let go.

Stage 17Key words(Scholten)Stage 17 Key words (Sankaran)

Letting goCrumbling

Holding on Betrayed,Let down, Disappointed

EndTrapped, bound, Caged, Confined, Starved

Need TakingFree, Break free, Escape

Demanding, UncontrolledJump, Impulse

ClimaxStabbed in the back

Condemned

Renounced

Fleeing

Scholten describes stage 17 as letting go of memories, loosening bonds. A feeling of being expelled, letting go of everything. The climax is the end. When having to let go, they might grab at things uncontrollably. Feeling of being an outsider, exiled and condemned, as they have been abandoned from the group. Having to grab what they can and flee.

Sankaran describes the feeling of being tied down, trapped, wanting to break free an escape from the confines of the structure. They are alone, no one to depend on, with their ‘structure’ disintegrating. Feelings of betrayal, disappointment and being let down. Erosion of their trust in others.

There is ‘termination’ happening to them,being left alone, abandoned, and their own need to end things and flee from the confines of feeling tied down. Polarities of the same issue. Both can result in an empty, worthless feeling.

Physically halogens have a hardness of glands which represents a hard defensive posture (possibly priming the immune system). There is also a marked activity, restlessness with active metabolism. This could be the mobilisation of internal resources, ready to fight back at even slight provocation. (Ref: Sankaran, Structure). All the halogens act on the larynx, bronchial tubes and mucous membranes in general.

Fluorine – Letting go of personality and values

Row 2, Carbon Series: Fluorine is at the end of the series, before the pause at stage 18, which links to the start of the Ferrum series. This is the end of the birth process, when the baby is born and becomes separate from the mother. It is the period of the child. Becoming a separate person, developing ego and personality as an individual and trusting oneself.

Issues around separation: Empty person. Banned because of their ego, sex or just being themselves. There can be issues with the father, rejected or abandoned by the father. I think that it can also be the child rebelling against the father keeping the ‘reins’ close and not letting the child have the freedom they want and need to develop their own way. Rejecting the father’s or family values/rules.

Themes:

Letting go is related to morals and breaking taboos e.g. over indulgence in alcohol, drugs, sex. Sex can also be viewed as holding onto physical closeness which maintains their self-worth. Abusers or victims of abuse (raped, stalked).

Holding on to self-worth, glamour, possessions. Shiny ‘look at me’ appearance. X Factor contestants who just want to be famous. Living life to the full, experiencing everything they can. Lots of friends but a glossy superficial aspect. You can also see the polarity of giving away possessions and loyalty to close friends.

They can be the victim or perpetrator of abuse. Grief is more deeply buried than in chlorine.

(Ref: Scholten, Elements; Sankaran, Structure; NWCH & Lanthanide Course Lectures)

Chlorine - Letting go of relationships, splitting up

Row 3, Silica series: Also at the end of the series, before the pause at stage 18, that links to the start of the Ferrum series. In this series it about the teenager, puberty. Issues of identity and nourishment. Learning about their place in the family.

Issues around the mother and family: Empty - no relationship. Banned, because of failed relationships or family feuds. Letting go of relationships.

Main feeling –More than just ‘I am separate to you’, as in fluorine, it is ‘I am the opposite of you’. Betrayal of trust. Being pushed away, rejected or rejecting.

Themes:

Many issues around letting go or holding onto relationships with the mother/child, other family members or partner. Even if there is an abusive relationship they may find it extremely difficult to let go.

Holding onto communication – demanding attention, keeping communication going, self-pity

Letting go of relationships and family can give the feeling of them being alone in the world, sometimes leading to being antisocial.

They can be vulnerable to emotional or sexual abuse. Can have a history of grief or emotional abuse. Greatsensitivity to hurt.

(Ref: Scholten, Elements; Sankaran, Structure; Own and course notes from NWCH & Lanthanide course)

It may seem from the above that it should be easy to differentiate between these 2 remedies. However, in patients, it is not uncommon to see people with lots of material possessions, outgoing, ‘shiny’ vibrant people who love drinking socialising and drinking with friends, and also have family issues, with childhood rejection, feuds, and estrangements. A mixture of themes and issues from both Fluorine and Chlorine. It is important not to make assumptions about which aspects are the most important to the patient. When the picture covers aspects of both, we need to elicit from the patient what is really important and core to them,in order to differentiate.

More on physicals and generals on Flur-ac and Chlorum can be found in Materia Medica. These are some differences:

Fluorine Chlorine

Right-sidedLeft sided

Warm-bloodedChilly

< 9pm< 11pm

Desire alcohol, spices, sourDesire salt, fish, starch, Aversion meat

Mood – happy, excited, hurried, restlessMood – sensitive, emotional, demanding, complaining

Or the opposite.< before, during or after menses

Feet burn and are put out of bed< > sea

Sensation of burning and burning pains in part (Kent)> open air

1b)Relationships within a Kingdom –Plants

Sensitivity is usually the key word to describe patients requiring a plant remedy. Reactivitymay be a more appropriate term. They are easily affected (sensitive) and can overreact, reacting to rapid onset of complaints. They are very sensitive to the environment and therefore very responsive and adaptiveto their environment. They are affected by what happens from the outside. The patient may tell their story in rambling way. Clothes can be chaotice.g. flower and stripes. They can have a poor sense of time –e.g. late timekeeping

They description their sensations with phrases like “I can’t bear it”, “this hurts me” and ailments from emotional and physical hurt are common.

I have chosen to compare 2 remedies from the Graminaceae (Poaceae) family, Anantherum Muricatum and Arundo Mauritanica. Most of the information is from my own lecture notes, (taken at Massimo Mangialavori’s Allergy seminar, London 2008), my interpretations and information from Massimo’s cases,and rubric analysis using RADAR, confirmed with Materia Medica listed in the Bibliography. Sankaran does not cover this family in any of his plant books

The Graminaceae (Lightshades) are grasses e.g. Rice, Wheat, Maize, Oats, Bamboo, Sugarcane, Meadow-grass. There are ~9000 species, 657 genera and grow in every continent, different latitudes, altitudes and very different climates. Often used to treat different types of infertility. They are very invasive and ‘suffocate’ other plants (Sycotic).

They are good allergy remedies, but most of the symptoms are common. Therefore other symptoms are key to finding the similimum, thus following the classical approach of constitutional prescribing.

Common Themes:

Leader & Competition

They behave and are recognised as a leader. This is extremely common in Arundo, and recognised from childhood. The act of competing to achieve a leadership position is very pleasurable and important, more so than the actual goal. Their sense of territory is very important. If they feel invaded, this can lead to feelings of jealousy (extreme in Anan). The world is full of competitors. (DD Nux v), like the plants themselves.

There is Egotism & high self-esteem. They have to be the strongest. They help others, as they are stronger but don’t compromise their own energy.

They react strongly and their relationship with the doctor or homeopath is like a fight. They like to show that their disease is stronger than the medicine. Children have a strong possessiveness with their belongings and toys.

Competition with same sex parent & siblings

In a way they have a desire to replace the same sex parent. They have a very strong relationship with the opposite sex parent. Siblings are perceived as competitors, invading their space and taking their things. They need to be number 1 in the family. Jealousy is a key symptom. They compete with one parent to get the attention of the other. Their competition is reflected in the invasiveness of the plants. Children want to grow up sooner.

Difficult relationships – emotions/sex

They are busy over-performing, leaving only a little space for relationships. There is precocity and strong sex drive. Sex is a kind of performance. There can also be an avoidance attitude. Interestingly, the functional reproduction of the plants themselves is very successful, but they have virtually no pretty and scented flowers to facilitate pollination.

Loquacity, intelligent and communicative

They can have a cheerful, lively disposition, laughing easily. They want to be in charge of their life and in control. The homeopath may have to make suggestions to the patient, and allow them to decide.

Children have a very good ability to play creatively.

Hyperactivity

They are extremely restless and hyperactive in an efficient way. Not fruitless, like Apis or Spiders. They may describe their body as an efficient tool. However, when they get older, they can compensate, not be in touch with their own body. Detachment and withdrawing from their own pain.

Common physical complaints

Many allergies –Yeast, aspirin, hayfever. Intolerant to food which is consumed precociously e.g. adult food in babies (fish, eggs, meat, cereals – not in baby food).

Mucous membranes and skin complaints. Itching, pricking, burning. Scratching gives a masochistic pleasure. Also nail problems.

Metabolic problems. There is a link between hyperthyroidism and intolerance to wheat protein.

Burning sensations in most parts of the body, especially the urogenital area

Enuresis – 2 aspects: 1) disgust 2) strong sense of pleasure with the urination

Also dental caries, kidney problems, kidney & gallstones, neonatal jaundice, lot of nausea, offensive foot perspiration, desires sour drinks, citrus foods & drinks.

Key differences between Anan and Arundo:

Anantherum Muricatum – Anan (Cuscus Grass)

  • Region: Glands. Skin. Mind
  • Common nasal and eye allergy symptoms
  • Poor recognition and control of instincts and emotions, which leads to anger, alternating with quick repentance.
  • Quarrelsome, mood changes, striking from anger, delirium
  • Mind – hurry, - excitement, and also Mind – dullness, drunken, as if and Mind – delirium
  • Monomania
  • Foolishness
  • They are aware of and talk about their issue with siblings
  • Suspiciousness, mistrustful, more selfish than the other grasses
  • Anxiety for others and about the future
  • Fears of death, suffocation and brilliant objects (or cannot endure them)
  • Strong sense of disgust for what doesn’t belong to him E.g. child who won’t drink from a bottle if anyone else has drunk from it.
  • Insanity from sexual excesses
  • Ardent desire to travel
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Sleep problems
  • Use sleep problems to get attention
  • Nightmares & behave as if don’t recognise parents
  • Maliciousness
  • Commonly, more regressive Sxs in terms of behaviours
  • Want to go back and sleep with parents, nocturnal enuresis
  • Has a lot of skin problems which can become serious. Skin is v important, even for sense of pleasure. Urticaria. Boils & abscesses. Formication.
  • Caries, chronic mouth ulcers
  • Lot of food aggravations & desires incl. agg vegetables
  • Desires cold water. (Case, boy age 5, always kept an ice cube in his mouth).

Arundo (Reed)

  • Region: Mucous membranes
  • Big allergy remedy but nothing particularly characteristic about the allergy Sxs. Hayfever and other nasal allergy Sxs. KN itching in nostrils. Coryza accompanied by salivation.
  • Attitude about:
  • Appearance – can’t give a bad image of themselves (v common)
  • Taking care of someone else
  • Social injustice
  • Can help/save others – omnipotence
  • Attracted by outcasts – try to rehabilitate them
  • Very strong desire to be in contact with and possessing other people. Can be very extrovert.
  • Anxiety, ameliorated in open air. Anxiety from cough, from accumulation of mucus in bronchi
  • Disgust in aspects of self – have to be seductive
  • Less critical than Anan or Avena S
  • Thyroid issues – mainly hyperthyroid
  • Tiredness – related to over consuming energy
  • Female – early, profuse, long-lasting menses, dark, clotted blood. Vulval & vaginal itching & burning.
  • Good remedy for infertility problems with a very strong sex drive
  • Hair loss
  • Lot of food allergies
  • Aversion to, as well as the general Graminacea desire for sour foods.
  • Aversion salt, gherkins, pickles.

1c)Relationships within a Kingdom - Animals

Animals have to fight for limited resources; there is competition and conflict for survival. Characteristics that would typically point us in the direction of the animal kingdom are themes of victors and aggressors. Kill or be killed. Sexuality & needing to be attractive to get a mate. Dominance and hierarchy used in their language. Me and others. Me in relation to others. A strong sense of place e.g. migratory birds. Active interaction - I’m acting or the other person/thing is acting on me. Function – describing a process.

DD Fluoratum, Nitricum, Neodymium and Silver & Gold series

The 2 main groups of spiders are Mygaloporphae and Araneomorphae. 3 levels of taxonomy below this is where I have chosen to compare 2 different “Web Spinner” spiders (Araneoidea). Arania Diadema, an “Orb Web” spider (Araneida) and Latrodectus mactans, a “Tangle Web” spider (Theridiidae). Information is from Massimo Mangialavori, Bitten in the Soul; Peter Fraser, Spiders - Suspended Between Earth and Sky; Farokh Master, The Web Spinners; Own notes from NWCH lecture and Sankaran Seminar Oct 2008.