Healing runs deep: a case of Bombus sylvestris

Healing runs deep: a case of Bombus sylvestris

The accident happened suddenly and unexpectedly. Our car crashed into a barrier that had been installed in the wrong place. I remember my left fist striking my face with full force. I also recall being very confused and disoriented and at first not understanding what was happening. After the accident the doctors were unsure what to diagnose and finally agreed on a diffuse nerve injury with abrasion of the third cranial nerve.

A head injury is not trivial. You have to work hard on your own recovery. By nature I am very lively and active and rarely sad or anxious. I see life's uncertainties as challenges to grow and develop from. After the accident it was different: I became exhausted and anxious. I could not understand what had changed in my brain and thus in my thought patterns. I never thought to connect my confusion and mental sluggishness with the accident. I had no idea why I felt so drained and powerless. I was merciless with myself, as if I had to compensate for something I had caused myself. I did not realise that my vision had been affected by the accident.

I was treated by a homeopath who was able to relieve some of my symptoms with Lecithin C30, and later I took it once more in a 1M potency. Later I was given Apis in various potencies and took the remedy over a period of two years.

Before the accident the following symptoms were part of my medical history:

Ovarian cysts (mainly on the right side)

Irregular menstrual cycle

Heavy menstrual bleeding with clots

Very painful period (on the first day)

Burning pains in various places

Oedema

Lack of thirst

Kidney stones

Haste, rushing

Coordination disturbances

Between taking Lecithin and the remedy Apis two years passed, during which I was treated with various remedies that did not bring real healing. Almost all of these remedies worsened the symptoms of my head injury including dizziness, light-headedness and light sensitivity to LED lamps, halogen lights and fluorescent tubes. Especially the flicker of a fluorescent tube aggravated my symptoms up to fainting.

I reacted very sensitively to environmental influences such as electromagnetic pollution (dizziness), particularly at airports or in offices with many electrical devices.

My eyes could no longer focus properly: driving became difficult, especially in rain and with oncoming traffic. Watching television was initially impossible; the flickering images were a strain. After the accident I also had palpitations and diabetes mellitus, though there is a family predisposition here. I had impulsive thoughts but NO impulsive actions. Impulsivity is a very common symptom in head injuries.

My treatment plan included: neuro-optometric rehabilitation and inner-ear therapy at a specialist clinic, as well as chiropractic treatment including craniosacral therapy.

When I began my homeopathic training I learned a lot about remedy families and how different remedies within a family can be very similar in their effects but usually differ in particular aspects. With this knowledge I searched for a remedy related to Apis. I had already experimented unsuccessfully with Vespa and was still looking for a remedy that fit better. Eventually I studied the bumblebee more closely (which was not so easy), found some information about Bombus sylvestris and simply tried the remedy.

On the evening I took the remedy I had a strong burst of energy but also felt a little irritable. Because I felt so energised I had trouble sleeping. When I woke the next morning I felt like a new person. It felt as if I had stepped off a boat and the world finally stopped spinning. Seven years had passed since the accident and every single day I had felt dizzy and light-headed. The sensation was similar to that after getting off a carousel. I had learned to live with that feeling, but it was always there. Now, for the first time—finally—the world stood still again! A little later that day I noticed the real, even greater change…

I had long suffered from severe photophobia. Even during my homeopathic training the classroom had to have dimmed lights and even then I wore sunglasses and a hat. My neurologist said my photophobia was incurable and that I would have to avoid bright light for the rest of my life. When I went to school that day I was pleasantly surprised because the unbelievable had happened: I could sit in the classroom under the lamp! It was not 100%, but I could participate in lessons without having to protect myself from the light. No one had to switch the lights off because of me! I could work in an office again. And all with a single dose of Bombus C30!

What was the difference to Apis? Why did it work so much better where Apis had already done some groundwork? I think this can be traced back to the significant differences between the honeybee and the bumblebee that you can also observe in nature. We come to a better understanding of these two remedies by examining these differences more closely.

Apis is very busy but often not very efficient. They are busy for the sake of being busy. They have a pronounced sense of community, but it is more globally oriented.

Bombus is similar, but the busyness of Bombus is more purpose-driven. These people can work a lot and hard, but they are very focused while doing so. I am convinced they are like this because they want to finish their work as quickly as possible so they have time to play. They REALLY want to have fun and relax with friends and family. So they do what they must in great haste in order to be able to do what they enjoy as soon as possible.

In nature bumblebees fly already in spring at relatively low temperatures; even light rain will not stop them from their task. They also fly into the evening hours. Honeybees often visit flowers that have already been emptied by other insects, while the idea of that would never occur to a bumblebee. They work more efficiently.

In my view the biggest difference, however, lies in the area of introspection. Apis is not particularly introspective, whereas Bombus people perceive themselves very precisely; sometimes they can be overly introspective. They tend to get stuck in their introspection. I believe both remedies have the best of intentions. Doing good is important for both, but for Bombus people it is the engine that drives them. It is not that they fear some divine punishment, rather they want to do good because it is their nature. If they feel they have failed in this area, they can become very closed-off and make great self-reproaches. They find it hard to forgive themselves when they do make a mistake. Here we can recognise the theme from the animal kingdom, in this case: "me against myself".

Interestingly, despite their generosity and morality, Bombus people are very competitive. The competitive mindset extends to almost all areas of their lives. They race themselves to get things done quickly. If they have to carry out monotonous tasks, they race themselves to become faster and better. Unfortunately this attitude can lead to inner conflict, because on the one hand they want to do good, but on the other want to be better than the competition, which then gets left behind.

Regarding family connections and genetic predisposition, I am convinced my father would also have benefited from this remedy because I am very similar to him.

He often used the expression: "I'm just going to potter about a bit." He loved to stroll along the shopping streets of Portland. He was very sociable and loved travelling. He loved music and could feel it deeply inside. He would immerse himself in the music. In this respect the remedy is very reminiscent of the spider remedies.

Temperamentally we are also very similar. My father rarely became angry, but when he did his anger was short and intense. I am the same. It takes a lot to get me riled. Then I like to 'needle' people, even if I don't always say what I think. I can well imagine that this remedy in an uncompensated state (anger) corresponds to a very frustrated, nagging person. These people feel frustration rather than outright rage or anger. They are not vindictive and forgive quickly. THEY DO NOT LIKE TO DWELL on their negative feelings and work hard on themselves to overcome them. In my experience these people are generally happy and content.

Children can be quite nervous and almost hyperactive. They are cheeky and very talkative from an early age. If they are extremely anxious as children, as adults they will work hard to overcome these fears and live the opposite (which fits their desire not to dwell on negative feelings). I believe one of their fears is also the fear of losing their mind, and they carry this fear into adulthood.

They can be extraordinarily empathetic and have fine antennae for other people's fears. Picture a bee with a strong Phosphorus element and you have the remedy picture of Bombus in front of you. They cannot set good boundaries and play until they become ill because they do not know when to stop. Apis is hot, Bombus on the contrary is cold, although both dislike excessive heat. Apis injuries are improved by cold applications, Bombus by heat.

I have found that the dreams of Bombus people are very interesting: dreams of house-hunting, of falling (not flying), of storms (especially tornadoes) and of adventures. They seldom have nightmares. This is interesting because Bombus sylvestris is a nest parasite—it occupies nests built by other bumblebees (house-hunting).

There are three different Bombus remedies. In practice they differ by a certain shift of the emphases. In my experience Bombus pratorum is much more sorrowful and depressive and tends more towards impulsivity. I remember taking the remedy and being seized by a buying frenzy in the next 24 hours. I almost obsessively wanted to buy things I had no use for. When I paused and looked in my shopping basket I immediately knew where my buying frenzy came from. I of course put the items back right away, but the episode left a lasting impression on me. While taking the remedy I felt sad and depressed. Otherwise the two remedies do not differ significantly.

I also tried Bombus melanopygus to find out if the bumblebees from our region would have a different effect than their relatives. I found that the dizziness worsened markedly with this remedy. I knew this dizziness, but while taking the remedy it was constant. The dizziness eventually resolved by itself but returned every time I took the remedy. Possibly we have in B. melanopygus a good remedy for Meniere's disease. Otherwise it was like the other two remedies. Bombus pratorum and Bombus melanopygus belong to the true bumblebees and may therefore differ from Bombus sylvestris.

So what are the similarities between Apis and Bombus? Both love to travel and have similar physical complaints. Both can be very passionate. Both are irritable and jealous by nature. With both we see frustration rather than anger. Both lack thirst.

How did my own Bombus story develop? I gradually increased the potency of the remedy and slowly the consequences of the severe accident improved until they eventually disappeared altogether. My uterus had been removed because of my ovarian cysts (unfortunately I did not know about homeopathy at the time), so I could not draw conclusions in that area. But my oedema improved significantly and I began to take in more fluids. The kidney stones are better. My energy balance is back to normal and the light-headedness is gone. The impulsive thoughts are almost gone and when they do appear they no longer cause panic. I could finally accept that an impulsive thought does not automatically lead to impulsive actions and was able to let the issue go.

Seven years have now passed since my first dose of Bombus and I feel very well. Occasionally I have problems with my eyes and balance, but I can manage my everyday life without worry. I have regained my energy and—more importantly—my perspective. That is the most wonderful gift of all to me.

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Photos: Shutterstock
Brokenwindshield; OcskayBence
Dizziness; Dirima
Bumblebee; Sergey Lavrentev

Category: Cases

Keywords: head injury, dizziness, light-headedness, light sensitivity, sensitive to electromagnetic pollution, impulsivity, type 2 diabetes

Remedy: Bombus

Original article: Interhomeopathy.org