Portraits of Four Homoeopathic Remedies

Ammonium Carbonium

The Ammonium carb patient is one who cannot tolerate cold weather, especially if it is wet and stormy. Anything wet upon their body makes them feel uncomfortable. As a result of this aggravation, they develop an aversion to taking a normal bath and eventually develop unclean habits.

They seem unconcerned about their physical uncleanliness, but their sullied condition is rather extenuated by the degree of aggravation they suffer from contact with cold water. We know all discharges are acrid in this remedy, be it saliva, stool, leucorrhoea, menstrual discharge, etc.

The acrid nature of discharges hints at the psychology of this remedy. First let’s consider patients’ s psyche in its physical context: This individual suffers from many colds with difficult respiration and also his heart feels weak.

He becomes obstinate and very reluctant to obey orders; indifference prevails. He becomes irritable, unfriendly and many times abusive. He has a bad humour, a sour disposition, is sulky and silent and refuses to answer. He feels worse when hearing others talking.

Very sensitive to criticism, not only of himself but also for others. He is a person who doesn’t share easily and avoids crowds. Psychologically he remains occupied with the day’s unfinished business. These people do not have excessive sexual appetites.

Most older Ammonium-carb men are disinterested in sex on account of unclean habits, not sharing emotions and inclination to live alone without responsibilities as well as bad health. Women display hysterical reactions to sexual stimulation, the result of an oversensitive clitoris.

When physical ailments become really annoying, they completely lose their interest in sexual intercourse. Strong tendency to fainting. They are liable to believe that they are unlucky and misfortune will befall on them.

They develop a peculiar anxiety and fear that makes them feel like crying, more marked in morning on rising.  It improves by evening. Walking aggravates, causing return of sad memories, things that have displeased them in the past and they become depressed and discouraged.

Hyoscyamus

A Hyoscyamus child is overly dependent on the mother.The birth of a sibling creates jealousy in this child who thinks that his mom is not true and faithful in her love for him. This jealousy leads to rage and desire to kill his competitor.

He develops a sense that everyone is out to deceive, cheat and trick him. His biggest fear is of being alone. In adulthood Hyoscyamus reacts to rejection like a drug user going through withdrawal. For days and weeks, after the breakup, he can only think of his lover and he stalks his ex-partner.

He is willing to do just anything to make his pain go away, killing included! He believes himself to be disrespected and disliked. He refuses to acknowledge that the relationship is over. He continues to pine for his love with little hope of relief. They become rebellious (violent anger with red face), abusive (children insulting parents), depressed (sadness from disappointed love), and have the delusion, they are forsaken.

Sexual misconduct is an extreme compensation for him: lies naked in bed and prattles, sings obscene songs, immodesty, nymphomania and erotomania. Foolish behaviour (dancing like a clown, foolish laughter, makes ridiculous gestures). A very good medicine for manic depression after grief.

Ignatia

A romantic, sentimental, finely sensitive, mild and quiet disposition. She puts so much of her emotional baggage into a relationship that an insignificant remark by the object of her desire, such as “you’re looking nice today” is enough to construct a powerful and objective proof of his love.

She believes she is married already. She cannot live without that person, and great anxiety occurs when this relationship is threatened. Her love is blind; falls in love with bus conductor, or with the boss at workplace, who is already married (ailments from deceived friendship).

When told by the partner that they cannot marry ever, she doesn’t move on, never blames the partner but rather self-blaming. She bears suffering without outrage or complaint; thinking of the loved one ameliorates. Broods in solitude over this long-concentrated grief (unrequited love), withdraws from society, will never cry in front of others.

While speaking will never reveal problems. Mental shock translates into hysterical reactions; increased or no appetite, globus hystericus, involuntary sighing, haemorrhoids, insomnia, spasms, and even convulsions can occur.

Phosphoric Acid

He can become sick through prolonged grief. With phos-acid it has to do with disillusionment in love and friendship, other’s rudeness, recurrent emotional shocks and loss of communication that can occur with friends, lovers and family.

There is also grief about an abortion, miscarriage, unexpected death of a loved one or after a long-time illness, such as chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Disappointment in love abolishes all feelings and emotions. They become like a stone.

Ailments from homesickness as pursuing a study course far away from family and close friends resulting in sleeplessness, suicidal impulses and a severe form of depression. Withdrawal from conversations. All a result of brain fag (visual and auditory hallucinations).

Here too the sadness increases when walking in open air like Am-c. Hence has inclination to sit still. Phos-ac understands what is happening to her (brooding over one’s condition), but her emotional weakness leaves her with little desire to react, unlike Ignatia who is more hysterical and does not understand what is happening.

In phos-ac there is total loss of appetite from grief. There is a feeling of drowsiness and inclination to lie down. Even pinching is not noticed. Everything is as in a dream and melancholic insanity. Hair turns grey after grief.

References:

1) Boger’s synoptic key

2) Master Key of Homoeopathic Materia Medica

3) William Boericke’s Materia Medica

4) Homoeopathic drug portraits by Luc de schepper

5) H.C Allen’s keynotes of Materia Medica