Brachyglottis repens

A 76-year-old woman comes for consultation because of cystitis. I treated her twenty years ago for two years. At that time she had sinusitis, trigeminal and brachial neuralgia and bowel problems and also suffered from nervous restlessness. She takes medication for her bowels; otherwise she gets diarrhoea. She has poor hearing. Her bladder problems began when she was fourteen and have troubled her ever since. Two years ago she had seven consecutive episodes of cystitis treated with antibiotics. After referral to a urologist and a gynaecologist she received hormone therapy which helped her for ten months.

The bladder complaints were accompanied by menstrual-like pains in the groin. A spot was found on one kidney on X-ray. Once she had an awful pain with blood in the urine; no bacteria were found. Last month the bladder pain returned and antibiotics did not help. "It is a stabbing pain, as if a knife were stuck in it. I have to grit my teeth when I pass water. The pain gets worse towards the end of urination. In the first days I always have a slight fever and an enormous urge to pass water."

She is friendly and talkative; talking brings up old memories and she includes me like an "old friend". She tells me, as if it were news, that her husband died 14 years ago. There had been difficulties between them; she had discovered things that created a rift between them that could not be bridged. She does not want to talk about it; she feels hurt, cheated and disgusted.

For a year she has had a new partner. She is doing well, totally in love and happy in her body. She says enthusiastically: "It is such fun, we have so much pleasure together, we have a great time, and we both love good food." It is clear that in this moment joy is at the centre of her life. Yet the bladder complaints remain the same.

She takes a sleeping tablet (zopiclone). After a fall three years ago a certain anxiety remained. At times she scarcely dared to go out in the street and now she has trouble sleeping. "I have a strange feeling, I keep thinking: 'What if I don't wake up?'" "And then I lie awake for hours, turning and tossing about."

Dreams?

"I always have beautiful dreams, something from 'above' comes through in my dreams, I am spiritually connected. Last year I did not dream at all, the angels were on holiday! I have a good connection with 'above'!"

When she lived alone she went on a pilgrimage because she felt so depressed. Her favourite saint was a fighter, very direct, without hesitation. A dream was the reason for that pilgrimage. While praying on her knees she heard a voice say to her: "You will make the journey of your dreams!" She felt at that time in a hopeless situation and it gave her a lot of strength.

Another dream: "I am in a town of tenement houses and everything is flooded by water. The flats collapse, but I am still there."

The bladder problems began shortly after the war, when she was 14. The relationship with her mother was awful: "Really bad", she says, and kicks the chair. "We received no warmth. She was jealous of me. During the war we moved. From Limburg, where it was nice and cosy, to a very Calvinist place because my father was a preacher. We moved from cheerfulness to strictness. My father had to go to prison for a few years, but he influenced and educated us during that time despite his absence. At the same time I lost contact with my mother. I had to fight; I have always been a fighter, I go my own way, I take care of everything myself. The others thought that was fine. At home it was not nice at all, so I sought consolation elsewhere. At school I was naughty. I allowed myself things that no-one else dared to do."

She is a large, strong, vital woman, spontaneous, friendly, cheerful and lively. She comes across like a prima donna, radiant with joy when she talks about all the lovely things she does and about her new partner. She radiates an aura of cheerfulness, is very expressive and wants people to listen to her. When she speaks of her father she becomes calmer, more grounded. She is clearly someone who enjoys life, and she has an eye for detail. She has high expectations of homeopathy and is pleased that I remember her. In the consultation she takes the initiative but is also willing to be directed. She is controlled, stable, tenacious, anxious and pleasure-seeking at the same time. A clairvoyant recommended she see a homeopath.

She says that she has always had to do a lot on her own, which could be an indication for the lanthanides. For her, however, it is more a question of seeking her own solutions or ways to enjoy life, to escape the strict, impoverished family atmosphere, go with the flow and take pleasure in life (DD: Fabaceae, nitrogen series. The experience of threat from beings and a particular atmosphere: Cactaceae, Funghi).

Lanthanides are more indicated when someone feels they "have to do everything alone" in matters of independence and responsibility, and not when someone likes to "go with the flow".

In her youth she dealt alternately with themes of "group contact" (Labiaceae), "new culture" (Magnolias), "familial bonds falling away" (Malvaceae), but these do not seem to be the most important or enduring themes in her life. Striking is the feeling that she was not supported and that she missed a loving atmosphere. The absence of the father and, emotionally, also of her mother could point to a Muriaticum (care, protection) or a rose remedy (Rosaceae/love). The father, however, still played an important role for her, even from a distance, at a time when she was not yet independent of family ties (Compositae, carbon series).

In adolescence and later in her marriage there was a lot of trouble which she tried to face rationally. This combination could point to a remedy from the Malpighiales family; in such cases the nervous system has a lot to do with processing and suppressing anger. Her radiant cheerfulness and her aura, however, give the impression that she does not suppress her feelings. Spirituality as a counterbalance could indicate a Liliales plant, in which the pelvic area is also central to the problems. The themes of "being hurt" and "post-traumatic stress" could lead us to an Aspergales remedy; these themes do play a role in her life but are neither central nor do they have the necessary counterbalance. It is also unclear whether she developed psychological or physical complaints at that time; in any case the situation emphasises her sensitivity.

Her visions have a positive effect on her and she receives a lot of support from her father, who plays a heroic role in her life. She has been receiving Reiki treatments for many years, from which she also gets a lot of support.

Themes: Susceptibility to infection, search for support and recognition: Asteraceae (Composites).

In the above presentation the complaints themselves are secondary to the analysis as a whole. Using the themes, the causa and the stages the analysis can lead to prescriptions with impressive results.
In this case the rubrics "pain, bladder" and "inflammation, bladder" were used to find a remedy that fits the whole picture. Asteraceae in these rubrics are: Eupatorium purpureum, Brachyglottis, Solidago and Senecio (groundsel). The rubric "pain, bladder" includes Brachyglottis, which also belongs to the Eupatoriaceae.

Confirmations:
- Recurrent febrile infections: (Asteraceae, Scholten)
- Father plays a significant role: (Eupatorium-like, Scholten)
- Life artist, enjoying life, desire for pleasure (Brachyglottis, van der Meer).
- Eu-pater means "good father", and the Eupatoriaceae fit this picture. The person or symbol of the good father is an important theme, someone experienced as an important, protective, formative person. The father can also have symbolic meaning regarding the theme of birth with its norms and values. In her case the loss of the cosy atmosphere, kindness and sense of belonging at the time her bladder complaints began was crucial. As an individual she was not autonomous enough to develop in a balanced way without that comfort around her.

In her life she has had to accept many "blows", which fits the theme of the Asteraceae. After a traumatic downturn she stagnated for three years in a completely frightened state, which is quite striking. A sensitive reaction to a trauma is a theme of the Asteraceae.

We have observed in other Brachyglottis cases that it fits people who are epicureans, who take great pleasure in life and do not stick too rigidly to rules. They love being in cheerful company and have a lot of presence. Urinary infections and bowel complaints as well as allergies occur frequently.
Holding on to visions, dependence on support from the supernatural and Reiki therapy fit the feeling of not being independent of the higher world: Asteraceae.

Prescription: Brachyglottis repens MK(1), single dose.

Follow-up after one month:
On the first day she had an awful itch at the anus and rectum. Afterwards she had diarrhoea that lasted three weeks. Since then her bowels have been "fantastic". Passing urine is no longer a problem; she feels well again.
Her mood improved from the first day; she no longer feels that something is wrong with her. Behind her cheerfulness something was hidden that she had never mentioned in earlier consultations: a feeling of restlessness and panic, which have now gone.
On the first day after taking the remedy she was terribly tired; something inside her had been "turned upside down". Her anxiety gradually subsided. She has thought a lot, especially about the war: "I am processing it; it seems to be going by itself."

She tells more about her father, about the labour camp where he had been a prisoner of war and about her memories, without being too emotionally involved. "I have become calmer inside, it is a wonderful feeling. So much has happened, I can hardly remember how I used to be." (The change is so great that she now has difficulty imagining the former situation and the feelings that went with it.) At night she still wakes with anxiety and a tightness in the chest, but without thoughts or images, as if startled. This happens regularly. If she forgets her sleeping tablets she lies awake for a long time. In recent years she often hears something like an alarm clock or a telephone ringing, which she calls "beings" or "travellers"; in her youth she experienced this as angelic appearances. Since she has been with the new partner she has had no more apparitions.

Follow-up after three months:
She is very satisfied; no more bladder or bowel complaints. She had an allergic attack, as before. She has had the allergy for 25 years: dairy products, sugar, heavy food (too much or protein- or fat-rich food). Red wine also causes problems. The whole left side of the body was red, swollen and burning: first her shoulder felt very tense, then her arm and her ankle, then it began to tingle, she became warm and her lips stiffened.

After this episode her condition improved and she stopped her allergy diet. The only remaining complaint is a sore tongue: the tongue is thick and sensitive. Bowel movements are good, she needs no more medication. Twice she has noticed sediment in the urine.
By day she no longer has anxieties, but at night she still lies awake with anxiety in her chest.
After six months the allergic symptoms on the tongue had also completely disappeared.

Reflection:
Given that the bladder complaints, the allergies, the free-floating anxiety, the panic and the restlessness have disappeared and that she has succeeded in processing her past so effortlessly and quickly, it seems that Brachyglottis has led to an enormous improvement in her physical, emotional and mental health. Considering the insights and examples from Jan Scholten's work on plant families, the dramatic response described is certainly not an exception.

Knowledge of group characteristics and thinking in "themes"; being able to define the stages of the periodic table – all this together offers great possibilities. Soon much of what today seems to limit us in documented cases and in our knowledge will no longer be a restriction for prescribing. Insights into medicine and its applications have increased.

Experience teaches us that for some complaints or blockages several remedies may be used to elicit a reaction or an improvement. The analysis is decisive for the range of remedial action and for the final choice of the prescribing physician. Depending on the response to the remedy one determines whether the remedy has acted satisfactorily or whether a better remedy should be sought. In my personal opinion we should base our knowledge of homeopathy and its possibilities on the "extraordinarily good" responses like the above and on experiences with such cases.

More about the plant kingdom systematics in homeopathy:
- Plant seminars on the Greek island of Allonnissos (sold out)
- Alex Leupen: seminar recordings
- Wondrous Plants, Jan Scholten (not yet published)
- Articles Dynamis, seminar recordings Allonissos, www.homeopathiemvdmeer.nl

Plant systems:
Characteristic, remarkable and frequently occurring qualities of various remedies belonging to a botanical family are presented as representatives (markers) for the whole group, to show the themes and, as far as possible, also the application. Known or characteristic symptoms can be transferred to the group as a whole. Initially this is done on the basis of the known materia medica. The cases themselves give a good impression of the applicability of the knowledge and bring the remedy picture to life.

Asteraceae (Composites)

Characteristics according to Jan Scholten:

• Insecurity, lack of self-confidence and autonomy
• Threat from the outside world, needs protection, childhood
• Integration of parts of the personality
• Limits of integrity; protects its boundaries, interventions by doctors/other people, lack of immunity, desire for immunity/resilience
• Personality, self-esteem, desire for a strong personality, individuation
• Ambition, related to self-esteem
• Shyness, anxiety
• Aggression, anger, both manifestations of personality
• Fears, struggles

Family Eupatoriaceae:

• Eupatorium aromaticum: Main area of use is the nervous system; restlessness, exhaustion, hysteria, sensory overload, herpes, bronchi, lungs
• Eupatorium perfoliatum: Nervous system, metabolism, stagnant lungs, mucous membranes, immune system
• Eupatorium purpureum: Metabolism, urogenital tract, complication: fluid retention (adrenals). Possibly stage 13
• Eupatorium cannabinum: Diuretic, tonic (strengthening remedy), tumours, digestive tract, arthritis (stage 12)
• Eupatorium fortunei: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): stomach, spleen

Brachyglottis repens:
Allergies, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract (stage 5, compare Rhus radicans stage 15), Puka-Puka, New Zealand, traditionally: external use for wounds

Toxicology: Loss of energy in the legs and lower back, weight loss, urine (?)

Father theme: close connection with the father, father function, symbolically: norms and values. What is good? Protective function and morality, goals and values. (DD Liliaceae, spiders, gold series). Pleasure, profit (DD Fabaceae, Allium sativum, Quercus and probably other Fagaceae)

Mental and emotional symptoms: Materia Medica (Allen): irritability, restlessness at night, talks in sleep.