Answer to Case # 2 of case solving contest: ‘The ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ Sign Makes Me Feel Trapped’

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ANSWER

This is a Rhus tox case. While taking the case, of course I kept thinking of Rhus tox because of all the typical modalities of the joint pain. However, I usually think of Rhus tox as an acute remedy, not as a chronic remedy that can cover the totality of the client’s case including mental-emotional symptoms. When she got to the part about believing her ex-boyfriend wanted to kill her, that confirmed Rhus tox on all levels – it is the classic Rhus tox delusion about being murdered. It was clearly a delusion on her part, as it was influencing her behavior even years later, to the extent that she still had an unlisted phone number. The client did very well on Rhus tox, which cleared up all her joint pains. She referred her husband for homeopathy a

Characteristic symptoms:

bursitis, joint pain

in lower extremities
< wet weather
< first thing in the morning
< 2-3 pm
> moving around
< sitting still
< exertion (luggage)
> hot bath
> stretching but < too much exercise

controlling, perfectionist

gets angry when things don’t go as expected

other symptoms

easy weeping premenstrually
worries excessively, work-related (an argument could be made that this is a common symptom and therefore not characteristic to her)
canker sores
jaw cracks
believes ex-boyfriend wants to kill her even though he did not say so

Other possible themes: restlessness, overgrowth/excess

Rubrics could include (there are many variations)

K1047, Extremities, pain, joints
morning
damp cold weather
exertion, after
K1048, Extremities, pain, joints
warmth amel.
K1063, Extremities, pain, lower extremities
morning on rising
move, beginning to
K1066 Extremities, pain, lower extremities
sitting, while
weather, wet
K1191, Extremities, stiffness
morning, bed, in
rising, after
afternoon
rising, on
K1192, Extremities, stiffness, joints
morning
on rising
sitting, while
K1193, Extremities, stiffness, lower limbs
morning

These subrubrics are small and so could be combined

K45, Mind, fear, happen, something will
(or better yet in Synthesis, Mind, fear, control, of losing)
K16, Mind, conscientious about trifles (= perfectionist)
K29 Mind, delusions, murdered, he will be
K94 Mind, weeping, menses, before
K397, Mouth, aphthae (= canker sores)
K357 Face, cracking in jaw, when chewing (she didn’t actually say when chewing, but that’s the only repertory option for jaw cracking)

Rhus tox not only covers the joint pains and the delusion, it also covers the cracking in the jaw. The only other remedy we might think of for her is Phosphorus, which covers her outgoing nature and her love of dancing and travel. She may have a Phosphorus consitution underlying the Rhus tox layer caused by meeting the ex-boyfriend, however Phosphorus does not cover the joint pains which are so characteristic of Rhus tox.