The palpitations remind her of that time, because she had the same symptoms then. She describes it as a "hyper-feeling", as if she were detached from herself or standing beside herself.
She has a work-intensive job; she and her partner run their own company in the wood industry (development and export of wood products).
General:
Cravings: cheese, French cheese, garlic cheese, red wine, bread, chocolate
Aversion to: meat, coffee
Thirst: very thirsty
Menstruation: irregular cycles; sometimes periods come every two weeks and sometimes they are absent for six months. When she has a period it lasts 2 to 7 days, sometimes with heavy bleeding, sometimes with very little blood. She often has hot flushes with palpitations, sweating and pressure at the back of the head; then she strongly desires herbal tea, especially lemon verbena or peppermint tea.
Personality:
She is very creative; she paints in oils, makes pottery and produces her own paints from various pigments. She is very sensitive to other people's moods and senses what is wrong with them. She learned this as the daughter of a deaf mother. She likes to touch people when she talks to them. She is a happy, cheerful person who dislikes conflict and prefers to live in harmony. She enjoys travelling very much.
Life history:
She is the only child of a mother who suffered a war trauma. After 11 September the mother packed her things and disappeared for weeks until she was eventually found. She does not want contact with other people, not even with her own daughter. So the patient always had to wait until her mother took the initiative.
Observations:
She is very lively, open, communicative and cheerful and laughs a lot. She often wears black clothing. I notice that she spreads an almost euphoric mood; I sometimes unintentionally burst out laughing.
Analysis:
This is a case of Lycopus virginicus (bugleweed) from the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae or the mint family). A striking feature of Lycopus is hyperthyroidism with palpitations. According to Jan Scholten, Lamiales patients remind us of Phosphorus: they are very sensitive and communicative. They often show a certain cheerfulness, sometimes also sensuality. The plants themselves stimulate the senses, especially by their smell and taste: thyme, lavender, peppermint, basil, oregano, lemon verbena, sage, etc. Sometimes they are a "feast for the eyes", think of the lavender fields of Provence. Notable here is the craving for or improvement from peppermint or lemon verbena tea, both of which belong to the Lamiales family.
When I told her which plant I had prescribed, she enthusiastically said that her whole balcony was full of pots with basil, vervain, verbena and mint. Her whole life is surrounded by the atmosphere and scent of the Lamiaceae. The euphoric mood during the consultation—both hers and mine—confirmed my choice of remedy.
After administering the remedy her palpitations disappeared completely. She had not felt so well for years since dealing with hyperthyroidism. She has now been well for five years. |
