by Jan Scholten
The patient is a 55-year-old woman who suffers from chronic fatigue.
Jan Scholten (JS): Can you tell me about your problem?
Patient (P): I am afraid of cancer. Cancer is a big issue in my family: my father, my mother and my sister had cancer. I think I am a typical Carcinosinum type, I take on too much responsibility for others – for my husband, my son, but also for my patients. I find it hard to find my own way. I am a psychotherapist and sometimes I cannot set proper boundaries. I often have to think about my patients and feel responsible for them. I would like to feel lighter, light like a ballerina.
Analysis
The patient’s profession – psychotherapist – is already an indication of the lanthanides: she takes responsibility for others. The fact that the patient is well acquainted with homeopathic remedies also supports the lanthanides. She finds it hard to find her own path: the 'own way' is also an important aspect of the lanthanides, the word 'own' is very typical. The heaviness of responsibility is frequently found in the Gold series in general.
JS: Do you have any other problems?
P: I get tired quickly. If I sleep well at night it is better. But most of the time I feel very tired in the morning and the day lies before me like a huge mountain. I become depressed, laughter is difficult for me. Sometimes it even annoys me when other people laugh.
Analysis
Perceiving one’s own tasks as difficult to manage, as a mountain lying before one, is typical for stage 5. In this stage the goals are set too high, everything is far away and hard to cope with.
P: I repeatedly get bronchitis with a dry, barking cough. Then I feel very weak and ill. I can do nothing except lie there. The bronchitis has on several occasions turned into pneumonia.
JS: Can you tell me more about that?
P: It was always the same cough, with a feeling of heaviness on my chest. I felt very cold, I alternated between feeling hot and having chills. I had a high fever and sweated heavily.
Analysis
The patient describes typical flu symptoms that point to the Asteraceae.
JS: Any other complaints?
P: I have recurrent cystitis. I am in the menopause and suffer from severe hot flushes, especially at night. Then I sweat a lot, especially on my head.
I have Hashimoto’s disease with nodules in the thyroid and a hyperfunction. My hair is falling out and my heart races.
Sometimes I also have sciatica pain that radiates into the left leg.
Analysis
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease, which is also an indicator for the lanthanides.
Hot flushes fit with phase 5; the expansive characteristics are prominent.
JS: Do you react to the weather?
P: I like the sun. Lately I have been pleased by dusk, because when it gets dark I know I don’t have to do much more.
JS: What about foods? Do you have any preferences?
P: I like bread and sweets. I don’t like strongly spiced food. I cannot tolerate alcohol; it gives me the feeling of a blackout.
JS: How do you feel about plants and animals?
P: I like animals, especially my cat. And I love plants. I love nature, the woods, trees, meadows. My favourite flowers are meadow flowers and the Prachtkerze.
Analysis
Even the patient’s sensitivity and empathy give clues towards the plant kingdom, which is confirmed by her affinity for nature and enthusiasm for plants. Although she explicitly mentions Prachtkerze as her favourite plant, this cannot be considered as a remedy because it belongs to the Onagraceae family, which has no relation to the lanthanides.
JS: Can you tell me more about your family?
P: My mother was very strict. On the physical level she took very good care of us, but she could not give closeness, warmth. She is a very responsible woman and we have a good relationship. When I was a teenager we had many arguments and since then I have felt restricted by her.
Analysis
The feeling of being restricted is an expression of phase 5. The sense of duty and the strictness of the mother belong to phase 4.
JS: What about your father?
P: My father was always very relaxed, very loving, he enjoyed life. He was very easy-going and calm, everyone liked him.
Analysis
'Enjoying life' is an indication of phase 5.
JS: Do you have siblings?
P: I had a sister. She died of cancer a few years ago. I accompanied her in the hospice for 10 weeks. I have no problems with such things, it was not difficult for me to be in the hospice.
Analysis
The patient is at peace with the essential themes of life, she does not concern herself only with superficial things. This is another confirmation of the lanthanides.
JS: Can you tell me something about your marriage?
P: My husband is ambitious, he always does what he likes. He can also be very choleric; there were times in our marriage when that was too much for me and I considered a divorce. But by and large we have a good relationship. He does not restrict me. He supports me in everything I do, in my hobbies and my profession.
Analysis
The patient’s marriage is basically stable, which points to phase 4. However there are moments when doubts arise, corresponding to phase 3 or phase 5; it is a bit out of balance.
If we look at the whole case, we have the following: we are looking for a plant with lanthanide characteristics, which leads us to the class Asteranae. The lanthanide characteristics are very pronounced, which points to the subclass Campanulidae.
Within the Campanulidae, phase 4 corresponds to the Asteraceae; the flu symptoms have already given us a first clue.
There are many indications for phase 5. Within the Asteraceae, subphase 5 corresponds to the Calendulaceae.
Stage 5 within the Calendulaceae leads us to Gnaphalium polycephalum. In Gnaphalium polycephalum we also find sciatica symptoms and recurrent cystitis, so it all fits together.
Prescription: Gnaphalium polycephalum MK.
Follow-up
After taking Gnaphalium polycephalum MK the patient suffered a five-day initial aggravation; she felt depressed, empty and weak, and physically unwell. She did not want to take the remedy again, but a friend tested the remedy kinesiologically and confirmed that it was the right medicine for her. After six weeks the patient finally felt better; she felt more relaxed. She no longer saw that huge mountain in front of her. She gained energy and experienced more pleasure. She decided to engage more with spirituality.
The patient takes Gnaphalium polycephalum MK once a month. After 9 months she is really well. She is very grateful for the remedy, which she cherishes like a treasure. She also feels indebted to homeopathy. Almost none of her old complaints remain: hot flushes, sciatica, cough and cystitis have disappeared. She experiences life as a holiday and can cope with all tasks with ease. She can laugh again and this time with all her heart. She feels relaxed and free. Her quality of life has improved from 30% to 95%.
Analysis
The patient’s feeling that her life is one long holiday is wonderful. That is how life should be – that is health.
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Photo: shutterstock.com 124693918 © Mostovyi Sergii Igorevich
Category: Cases
Keywords: responsibility, lanthanides, fatigue, bronchitis, fever, cystitis, M. Hashimoto, sciatica
Remedy: Gnaphalium polycephalum
