European Linden in a Herniated Disc
Tilia europea - homeopathic mallow
Case history
The patient, born in 1968, asked me for advice in September 2004 after being referred to a neurosurgeon for a herniated disc. The symptoms had first appeared four months earlier and six weeks later his wife contacted me by e-mail. I had known the family for many years; the patient's wife and daughter had been treated by me. His wife described the symptoms in detail and I repertorised the case. The patient was bedridden because of his complaints. The rubrics Extremities – Pain – Legs – Sciatic nerve/night agg. (worse)/lying amel. (better)/mocking were particularly important. I prescribed Guajacum MK. to the patient.
(The theme of Guajacum revolves around the desire for freedom and a worsening when one is forced to do something against one’s will. See also the case history below.)
The pain improved and the patient became more mobile. However, he still could not leave his bed for long periods. On his birthday in the first week of September he had a small celebration with family and friends 
and suffered a severe setback.
His neurologist advised him to see a neurosurgeon because the symptoms had been acute for far too long and the herniated disc was not improving. The operation was scheduled to take place in four weeks. Only at that point did the man come to my practice in person. The anamnesis interview had to be carried out with the patient lying down because he could not sit without pain.
He is a strongly built man with a friendly, gentle face. By profession he is a special-education teacher. I know him as a very helpful and resilient person with a good and stable bond to his wife and daughter. He is a true family man.
Personal history
According to the MRI, the herniated disc is at L4/L5. The complaints are mainly on the left side. Over the past three years the patient had occasionally experienced a stiff back after tennis matches. He has played football since he was six, but in recent years mainly tennis and volleyball. He has long been a member of the sports club and is absolutely enthusiastic about sport; he also enjoys cycling. He always has a lot to do. He is the third of four brothers and had a happy childhood.
“I truly flourish in a social environment where I feel welcome. My family was a safe place.
At school or in the club I sometimes felt insecure because I was teased about my clothes. I always had to wear my brothers’ old clothes. I felt like an outsider back then and thought, ‘I’ll show them.’ Sometimes I felt insecure in relationships because I didn’t know if they would last. I am very gullible and have often been disappointed in the past.
My aim is to have security and to be valued as a person and within my family. I want to develop within my family and circle of friends. My family is the most important thing to me and I try to find a balance between my family life and my wide circle of friends.”
He chose his profession for “reasons of convenience” because he could study near his home. He now feels settled in his job. There were times when conflicts arose between his work and family life. He also prefers to spend his holidays at home. “I’m happy to spend my holiday here. I don’t need to travel far.”
“I need direction in my life, I want to know what to expect and I want to please my family and circle of friends. I hold them together.”
Recently his father died after a long illness. “It hit me hard to watch him get worse and worse. I couldn’t help him. I worried about my mother and wondered what would become of her. But as a family we said goodbye to him together. We got through it together.
I work in a very dynamic team and am part of the management. Our director has authority, but when he is absent the dynamics change. It was important to me to show that I belong and to demonstrate my abilities. That does not always succeed. I avoid confrontations because I don’t want to lose my colleagues’ solidarity. I don’t want the team to fall apart. But I also see that the solidarity is not always genuine.
I like our dog. She is very friendly and loyal. Loyalty is important to me, but I hate aggressive dogs.”
Food and drink? He likes everything. He enjoys cooking and often invites guests for meals.
He also likes going to the pub with his friends. “I am rarely dismissive of others. I tend to rationalise my feelings and often subordinate myself. It is pointless to try to force something and I often just accept things as they are. In recent weeks I have been very frustrated because I cannot help my wife and daughter. I want to be there for them and it makes me sad that I cannot. I simply have to accept it.”
Now, in this situation, “there are people who think I shouldn’t just lie around in bed. I feel misunderstood.”
The pain radiates from the left leg to the ankle and under the sole of the foot. It comes in spasms and is unpredictable. “Before I took Guajacum I couldn’t lie on my left side or turn over in bed. That has got better.”
Analysis
The remarkable thing about his history is that the patient has had the need to live in relationships since childhood. He is very sensitive and the fear of separation made me think of the MALVALES, as described in Rajan Sankaran’s book Insights into the Plant Kingdom.
Because of his fear of losing his own stability and the tendency to take responsibility for family and friends, I looked for a tree remedy.
The fact that the patient did not want to be “uprooted” even on holiday and preferred to stay at home confirmed my suspicion (I often observe this tendency in tree “patients”). Tilia europea belongs to the sycotic miasm and, according to Jan Scholten, is placed in column 10.
We all know the theme from Apple: lovesickness, thoughts revolve around the ideal woman, fear of society, desire for attention.
Frans Vermeulen writes that a linden (Tilia europea) was usually planted as a sheltering tree in the centre of new settlements. Young couples met under the linden and the village community celebrated its festivities there. My patient also felt most comfortable in these situations.
Remedy: I prescribed TILIA EUROPEA 200K to the patient.
Follow-up
The patient dissolved Tilia europea in water and took it as required. At first a sip several times a day, then gradually less often. Within a few days he felt more stable. He improved and had no relapses. His physiotherapist was surprised that he made such great progress within five days. The operation was cancelled and after four weeks he was able to return to full-time work.
I wrote this report in April 2005. The patient is still well; he can now set boundaries better and assert his own opinion more forcefully. He has lost his fears of losing relationships. Now, in 2007, everything is still fine.
Category: Remedy
Keywords: Guajacum, Tilia europea, holding together, being connected, fear of separation
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Source: http://www.interhomeopathy.org/tilia_europaea_in_hnp
Photo: 1115980532 by nnattalli, 565829881 by metamorworks
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