For four days Bastien has had pain in his right testicle.
He is ten years old and has been my patient since he was a little boy. A nice boy with a strong character.
His father is a talented chef in a well-known local restaurant overlooking the small harbour near my practice. At the moment the father is struggling with major problems. He has worked hard to build an international reputation, but his restaurant is threatened with closure. The city wants to demolish the building and replace it with a seafront promenade. For six months the father has been fighting the city's decision stubbornly because he does not want to lose his business.
Obviously this strain is also showing at home and Bastien is suffering. He also wants to become a chef and follow in his father's footsteps, but the uncertainty is affecting him too.
I give him a single dose of Bombyx for the testicle. The family seeks a second opinion. My colleague calls me to say that transillumination revealed no abnormalities and the testicle looks normal.
Bastien dislikes damp cold weather; it makes him restless and nervous. He likes being outdoors, enjoys the sea and the mountains. He sweats heavily, even with little exertion.
He loves books and reads all day. He even dreams about books at night.
He likes meat and spices but has an aversion to fish. He usually sleeps on his right side.
After a week he returns and I give him Iridium; his father also receives a dose.
Repertory rubrics:
Mind; Dreams, books of {0> 1> 0} [222]
Mind; Irritability; wind, cold agg. {0> 1> 0} [222]
Male genitalia; Pain; Testicle; right {2> 7> 0} [222]
Sweat; exertion agg.; slightest exertion {43> 59> 0} [222]
Follow up
The remedy administration worsened his testicular pain and led to marked swelling. The swelling then subsided and a few weeks later everything was back to normal for Bastien. His father was able to avert the threatened closure of his restaurant. The family is no longer under stress and the young Bastien can now look forward to a culinary future.
Comment
Testicular inflammation is an indication for the Gold or Silver series. The context of the conflict is a clue to stage 9, especially since he is not personally responsible for the situation and it is not within his power to solve the problem.
Obviously the father's problems had affected the son. The father had reached the top in his profession and had virtually mastered his art, but then had to overcome one final hurdle to move on. This is typical of stage 9 – Iridium.
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Source: http://www.interhomeopathy.org/iridium_metals_in_pediatry
Photo: Shutterstock_111985352, Copyright: Melissa Hanes
