Materia Medica

The Iron Lady

iron lady
Written by Apeksha Bhandary

Dr. Apeksha Bhandary presents a remedy picture of the female Ferrum Metallicum patient.

Perceiving the Ferrum Metallicum Female personality

Iron is a metal known to mankind since ancient times. Cosmologically, iron is said to have its origin from the explosion of a supernova, a giant star which ejected most of its mass. It is believed that Mars, the god of war had imbued the metal with his strength. Iron is one of the strongest metals we know of the Ferrum met personality displays this strength. The Ferrum met female is a constitutional type we see in a fast paced modern industrialised society. She is a reflection of strength, ambition, earnestness and zeal.

IRON WILL: She possesses an iron will, has the courage to believe that she can succeed and leaves no stone unturned to make it a reality. She tries hard to turn all her mental blocks into building blocks that will lead her to success.She is in-charge of how she feels, and she chooses to be positive. All you get when you are around a Ferrum met lady is positive vibes.

THE ACHIEVER: A Ferrum met lady is duty bound. She need not necessarily be a business woman or the one holding a high profile job. She could be a housewife, a teacher, student or a politician. She could be anybody, but whatever she is, her duty is done with utmost sincerity and zeal, a passion to accomplish. Nothing is impossible as sky is the limit for her success. She is unshakable and unstoppable.

THE UNYIELDING: Just like it’s difficult to bend iron, it is near impossible to change the ideas of a ferrum met lady. She is unyielding and stubborn, believes in ideas which she does not change, no matter what.

SELF MADE: A ferrum lady projects her self-identity. As an example, a ferrum met lady after marriage may not change her surname to her husband’s surname (which is an age old Indian custom). She prefers to have her own identity. But this does not mean she doesn’t value relationship. She does, but not at the cost of her self-respect and self-identity.

LEADER, NOT FOLLOWER: She does not follow the masses as she is not afraid to be different. She has deep convictions and is confident they will guide her and keep her on track. It is not that a ferrum met lady cannot cry, but she does not choose to.

What is the negative aspect to such a dynamic personality? – It is her hypersensitivity to least the contradiction. Ferrum met’s intolerance to contradiction makes her aggressive to an extent that she becomes quarrelsome.

 

PHYSICAL APPEARENCE:  She may be weak and anaemic. Though anaemic, she does not appear to be, because of pseudo-plethora, flushing of face.

The Ferrum met personality reminds me of Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi, who exhibited a sense of dignity and who were unshakeable.

 

Comparing Ferrum Metallicum with other well-known remedies

Ferrum Metallicum Aurum Metallicum
Industrious and conscientious with strong will power and self-confidence, duty bound and accomplishes the task with sincerity and confidence, contented with her work. Aurum met is duty bound and industrious, but there is a baseless feeling that he has lost or failed in his duty. Feeling of guilt which is marked, utter lack of confidence.
Ferrum Metallicum Silicia
Has strong self-image; does not lose self-identity and performs well. Silica projects self-identity and performs well, but will be a little hesitant and slow to start
Ferrum Metallicum Lycopodium
Serious, dominating with leadership qualities. Obstinate and ambitious. Difficult to shake her confidence, criticizes only when her image is at stake. Ferrum is realistic. Dominating and obstinate, but out of proportion; offers criticism to everybody. Theoretician, fanciful and speculative.
Ferrum Metallicum Pulsatila
Difficult to bend like iron, projects self-identity, anaemic and weak Bends easily like a branch in wind. Lacks self-identity, anaemic and weak.
Ferrum Metallicum Platina
Haughty, but sober and firm. Criticizes only as an act of defence. Heightened ego, unmasked and uncovered, becomes malicious.
Ferrum Metallicum Natrum Muriaticum
Quarrelsome without being hateful; fights back and shows great obstinacy about her viewpoint, does not suppress. Revengeful, suppresses emotions and becomes hateful, which is not expressed. Avoids argument to prevent disputes.

REFERENCES:

  1. Kent, James Tyler; Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica; B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.
  2. Tyler, Margaret Lucy; Homoeopathic Drug Picture; B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd 2007.
  3. Vithoulkas, George; The Essence of Materia Medica; B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd 2002.
  4. Sankaran, Rajan; The substance of Homoeopathy; Published by Homoeopathic Medical Publishers 1999.
  5. Dr Shah, Rajesh; My Experiences with Ferrum Metallicum; Shree Publishers 1992.
  6. Boerick, William; Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory 2011; B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.
  7. Dr Shah, Rajesh; My Experiences with Ferrum Metallicum; Shree Publishers 1992.

About the author

Apeksha Bhandary

Dr Apeksha Bhandary - Assistant Professor Department of Homoeopathic Materia Medica, Yenepoya Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital,
Mangalore.

2 Comments

  • DEAR DR,
    IRON LADY[FMET] COMPARED WITH LADIES HAVING DIFFERENT NATURE CONTAINED IN DIFFERENT REMEDIES HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED WITH GREAT SKILL. IF AUTHORS OF HOMEOPATHY COULD GIVE DIS SIMILARITY IN SIMILARITY OF REMEDIES, THE SELECTION OF CORRECT REMEDY WOULD BE EASIER AND LESS TIME CONSUMING.
    REGARDS

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