Aloe
Anhang
[Steph Nile]
Aloe Socotrina
Rubric study: He hates noise. There is monomania with an aversion to
change. Aloes patients enjoy routine.
Irritability. Loquacity.
Capricious. Complaining.
Monomania. Fastidious. Anxiety,
trifles.
Frightened easily. Starting,
anxious. Starting, noise, from.
The acute mental state is impatient, angry and quarrelsome
Ailments from emotions; anger;
anticipation. Anguish. Offended easily.
Contemptuous. Contradiction, is
intolerant of, has to restrain himself.
Company, aversion. Fear, people,
of. Hatred repels everyone. Cursing.
At times they can be quite lively. When life is going their way
everything is fine, but once upset the Aloe patient can be a real loner. They
are introspective and depressed.
There is a deep level of despair in the remedy ...
Reserved. Want of self
confidence. Fear in a crowd.
Disgust. Delusions, burdened by
life. Laughing, never.
Introspection. Discouraged. Sad.
Anger with himself. Cursing.
Despair. Fear of death. Death,
presentiment, predicts the time.
Dreams - wild, danger, confused,
disgusting, visionary.
There can be exhaustion and laziness # sudden activity.
Vivacious. Affectionate.
Laughing. Jesting. Activity, mental, alternating with exhaustion.
Thoughts, wandering. Thoughts,
intrude, sexual.
Could the depth of miasm be Typhoid (do or die)? Trying to stay in
control of his social-life it would indicate Cancer.
Dreams of danger and excrement indicate the Syphilitic miasm.
Physical indications ...
Menses, protracted. >
Heaviness, uterus. > Leucorrhoea, white.
Pain inguinal; > ... pressing,
liver. Discolouration, tongue, yellow, white.
Prostate: enlargement; >
Urethra: Discharge, gonorrhoeal
Urine: Bloody. Cloudy. Yellow.
Ammoniacal. Sediment granular.
Therapeutics: Burning and Bleeding Piles, “Like a bunch of grapes”.
Watery diarrhea. Dullness (forehead).
Miasm: Cancer (Its beyond my limits).
DD.: kali-bi. mur-ac. Phos. sul-ac.
Compare: Ferrum Series: Zinc-met.
Gold Series: Merc.
Lanthanide: Holmium.
Nux-v./Ars.: Fastidious, with disgust and contempt, lack of confidence,
and sexual thoughts
Cross kingdom comparison
a. How they cope with the situation
Compare: Stage 8. Heavy. Domineering. On the way up. Struggling and
building. Always has to be right... resistance is futile!
Compare: Stage 12. The rubric "starting" usually suggests a
lack confidence but Stage 12. is really under attack. Under attack you may well
start from every noise.
Compare: Stage 13 can become withdrawn and like the snake remedies, will
attack if pushed.
b: The expression and its modalities
Monomania is a signifier of Stage 17. Iodatum
is agitated and has angry impulses.
c. The mineral-salt combination
The feeling of
Holmium-i. could be expressed as, "I have to endure this alone, keep out
of my way."
Ayurveda: balances Kapha dosha (water) and Pitta dosha (fire). Live by
will power alone (Rubric: Hurry, work in) until they break down (Nux-v).
Kapha dosha, which promotes the soft, slow and emotional qualiites, can
be damaged by excess fire. It needs to be replenished in Aloe cases.
When Kapha is damaged in this way and Pitta dominates the person becomes
very difficult to live with, (Contradiction, is intolerant of.)
The state of collapse can be deep. Becomes exhausted and weary, averse
to mental or physical labor. Everything takes great effort. Sitting deliberates
about standing up.
Lassitude # mental activity, depending on his digestive fire (Pitta).
The state is changable, hypochondriacal, alternating from contentment to
discontent, with a repulsive, anthrophobic mood. The misery is out of
proportion to the complaint! Kent: Hates
people, repels everyone. > Restrains himself from violence
Impatience. Hurry, work in.
Monomania.
Kent: Life is a burden. >
Death, thoughts of. > Death, presentiment, predicts the time.
Hatred, revenge, and. >
Contemptuous. > Contradiction, is intolerant of. > Cursing, swearing.
Timidity, bashful. > Fear,
people, of.
Thoughts, intrude, sexual. >
Jesting > Lascivious, (lustful).
She can become self-absorbed when she feels insecure, and fearful of
failure.
Sensation: Heaviness (Digestion, Colon).
Theme: Security and Belonging.
Miasm: Leprosy
DD.: Hateful: Nit-ac. Mur-ac Sul-ac.
Aloe vs. Am-m : Both suffer irritability and a sense of heaviness and
flatulence - < sitting around!
[Dr. André Saine]
At the annual meeting of the International Hahnemannian Association in
1888, William P. Wesselhœft presented a paper entitled Aloe Socotrina, an
Anti-psoric Remedy. This paper (recommended) can be found in the Homœopathic
Physician section of ReferenceWorks and starts with the following sentence from
Hering:
"Aloe has many symptoms like Sulphur and is equally important in
chronic diseases with abdominal plethora." In it Wesselhœft reports the
cure of a number of patients with chronic diseases following the administration
of Aloe, which was selected on account of the chronic intestinal or
hemorrhoidal complaints. The interesting aspect of these cases is the reappearance
of a previously suppressed skin eruption.
Despite of being relatively well proven, Wesselhœft noticed that Aloe
will "clear away a number of other psoric symptoms not yet contained in
its pathogenesis."
Two years later there appeared another most interesting paper on Aloe by
Dr. Jekyll entitled Aloes. To quote:
For a long time I have considered that Aloe was the most valuable remedy
in the whole Materia Medica with which to commence the treatment of most of the
chronic diseases that come into our hands, and
especially those that came from the hands of the "regulars,"
where a wholesale drugging had taken place and the symptoms were so obscured
that it was impossible to separate the disease symptoms from
those of the drugs that had been already administered; or in those
cases, where the disease had been suppressed by improper doses, or by the
profuse use of external applications.
Some thirty years since in a conversation with several physicians, whose
names I cannot now recall (and perhaps it would be improper to give them if
I could), I made the above remarks, and I well remember that my
assertions were well poohed at by them and that I held my peace for the time
being;
but I still continued to watch the action of the drug, and let me here
say that it has seldom disappointed me when administered in any of such of the
above cases.
If you will carefully go over the symptoms of Aloe you will find that it
has a vast number of symptoms in common with almost every drug in the Materia
Medica; besides many that it has cured that are not
recorded in any Materia Medica that I have seen, and I have examined
everyone that has been published in the English language; or at least have
tried to do so.
Where or when this idea fastened itself upon me is more than I can now
tell, and it has been acted upon accordingly, to the best of my ability.
In the examination of cases where eruptions have been suppressed or
driven from the surface by improper dosing or the use of external applications,
you will find many Aloes symptoms are produced, and if Aloes be
administered, it will cause to assume, more or less, its original form and can
then be treated as the original; or it will so far clear up the case
and symptoms, so that the proper simillimum may be selected for the complete
cure. In other words it will relieve the oppressed vital organs, so that they
can rally and throw off, to a certain extent, the
oppression, which had taken possession of the vitality of the patient,
together with the drug symptoms, and clear up the case, so that the proper
simillimum may be selected for the complete cure of the case,
which would have been impossible to have done in the first place, on
account of the then muddled up condition of the drug and disease symptoms which
could have been elicited from the patient.
Perhaps I could not better illustrate the matter than to give a few of
the cases that have come into my hands for treatment.
Jekyll goes on to describe three instances where Aloe cleared up the
case for another remedy. To quote one of his cases:
Some ten years ago, Mr. ___ came to me; he was about twenty years of
age, rather tall and slim, light complexion, light brown hair; had an old look;
poor and scrawny; was cross and snappish; complained
of great lassitude, hard work to move; ill humored, dissatisfied with
himself and everything around him; vertigo, especially when looking up, as if
everything was in a whirl; dull, heavy, stupid headache,
more in the forehead and over the eyes; dimness and flittering before
the eyes, very sensitive to any noise, the hearing of music, the play of
children, the talking of persons would almost set him wild;
very gloomy and despondent, thought that life was hardly worth living;
metallic, sticky taste in the mouth; yellowish ulcers on the tongue and in
bucal cavity; no appetite except for fruits or knick-knacks,
which caused an oppression of the stomach, with acrid, bitter belching
of gas from the stomach, loose acrid stool with the passage of large quantity
of gas soon after eating, with urging; restless sleep with
vivid, frightful dreams; offensive sweat under the arms, in the groins
and about the genitals; a hoarse, husky voice; chilly feeling in the open air;
cutting pains in the upper portion of the right lung and in
the lower portion of the left, with a gripping sensation in the region
of the spleen; enlargement of the joints, very painful at the change of the
weather, especially if damp, which made him very despondent
and gloomy; said that he felt that he was certain to hear some bad news;
scary and fearful, did not like to be left alone for fear that something
dreadful would happen to him; skin was dry and harsh; a slight
bruise or scratch would take a long time to heal, and if of any size was
sure to ulcerate, with fearful itching and burning; lips, face and hands chap
and the skin cracks as soon as cold weather sets in, with
fearful smarting and burning - a sensation which covered all of the
exposed parts of the body.
I soon elicited that when about six years old, he had a very bad case of
itch, which was treated with large doses of sulphur; sulphur and molasses
internally, a teaspoonful 2x daily, and sulphur and lard as
an ointment, which was applied every other day, or rather at night; this
was kept up until some time after the eruption had all disappeared.
He said that he had never been well since he had the itch, that he had
been in the hands of a great many physicians and none of them had done him the
least good; in fact, his mother said that he was
getting worse every day, could anyone wonder at it?
I gave him 7 doses of Aloes 1 M, to be taken one dose just before
bedtime, and to report as soon as the powders were all used. He returned in a
week. There was but very little change except that his mother
said that she believed that he had a little better appetite. He got
seven doses of Sacch-l. and to report when used up.
At the 3rd call there were symptoms of the eruption making
its appearance.
Another 7 powders of Sacch-l. was given, and upon the fourth call he had
as nice a case of itch as you would wish to see; he said that he itched from head
to foot; that he could not keep still one moment,
and the more he scratched the worse he was. Otherwise his health was
better; had a very good appetite; did not feel so gloomy; felt more like living
if he could get rid of that infernal itching.
He now got one dose of Sulphur 1 M, and Sacch-l. to last him for one
month. Before that time the eruption had all disappeared. He then got one dose of
Sulphur 10 M and Sacch-l. for another month.
This was all the medicine he got, and in about one year he had entirely
recovered his health, and has remained well from that time to this.
Dr. Jekyll proceeds with two similar cases and ends his articles by
saying, "I think that these cases are sufficient to establish the values
of Aloes; if not, I can give any number of a like character." The main
difference between the cases of Drs. Wesselhœft and Jekyll is that
Jekyll completed the cure of his patients by prescribing another remedy after
the appearance of the skin eruptions. It was Sulphur in the
first case and Puls. and Nit-ac. for his 2nd and 3rd
cases, respectively. On the other hand, Wesselhœft often noticed that no other
remedy than Aloe was necessary to complete the cure even after the appearance
of the previously suppressed skin eruptions. A case by Dr. L. Whiting
illustrates Wesselhœft’s point, that when Aloe is indicated in an acute or
subacute complaint, which often happens to be diarrhea, it
will often also be the chronic remedy: "Mrs. ____, age forty.
Morning diarrhea for many years past, comes on every morning after arising and
continuing till 10 h. Stools yellowish, thin, fecal, + by much flatus,
and an immediate irrepressible desire for stool; can not delay one
minute. Aloe C 30 was prescribed for the case, a powder dry on tongue night and
morning. Having taken only four doses of the Aloe,
the stool became of normal consistency, and the case became one of
scabies over the entire body. Upon enquiry it was ascertained that she had the
itch when about ten years of age, and that it was treated
by a rub of sulphur and lard, and she was of the opinion that the
diarrhea had been her constant companion since about that time, a period of
thirty years. She received no further medicine and in three days
time the power of the drug that had produced the scabies had also
effected a cure of the same, with no return of diarrhea."
However no routine assumption should replace careful observation and
strict individualization. Whether the case should be cured with Aloe alone or
with the help of a complementary remedy, as illustrated
in the following case of Wesselhœft presented two years after his
original paper, cannot be a routine decision:
H.B.A., aged 27. Blonde, thin, active. For a year troubled with
diarrhea. Always has a loose, watery stool at 7 h. A second stool may follow
any time during the day - early evening, forenoon, or afternoon.
Stools are very urgent, often nothing but a little sputter with much
flatus; is obliged to run to the closet as soon as he feels the desire, as he
has but little power to retain stool.
Much rumbling of wind in abdomen after going to bed. Usually awakens an
hour after this with palpitation of heart; after passing flatus goes to sleep
and rests easily the remainder of the night. At night he
can pass flatus with confidence, which he could not do during the day.
All the flatus he passes is hot.
Free discharge of prostatic fluid after stool. Constant sensation of
soreness in lower abdomen, over os pubis, not sensitive to pressure. Tongue
clean, appetite very good. He affirms that he has been well all
his life up to a year ago. When a boy he had tinea ciliaris.
Now, what bothered this young man more than anything was the discharge
of prostatic fluid after the stool, and that is what he came to be
"doctored for." We all know that such a solitary symptom will
give us no indication for a remedy, and if I had known as much as I do
now about this symptom 30 years ago it would have saved me much trouble and
often anxiety. In every instance I should have made
this symptom a secondary and not a primary indication, no matter what
the wishes of my patients might have been. Instead of trying all the remedies
enumerated under the head of discharge of prostatic
fluid during stool, I should have worked at other more important
features of the case. But how often is the young physician misled by the
patient’s mind, and especially if he comes with a diagnosis already
concocted by some celebrity which aids and abets the fears of the
patient?
The diarrhea with the characteristic weakness of the sphincter, which
would not allow him at any time, except in the night, to pass flatus, the
flatus always being hot when passed; the clean tongue and good appetite led me
to give him a dose of Aloe CM.
In a fortnight he came back with the following story:
One formed stool a day for the last ten days. No urgency. Passes flatus
with confidence and is not hot. Has slept well every night, no palpitation.
Very little prostatic fluid has passed.
Sick headaches reappear, of which he had two violent ones during the
fortnight. These have been absent for over a year and treated by
Bromo-caffeine.
Now consider for a moment my astonishment when my patient told me that
he has always suffered from sick headaches up to the time his other troubles
commenced!
I gave Sacch-l.
A fortnight later came the following report:
Stools have remained perfectly normal. No discharge of prostatic fluid
for two weeks. Soreness in lower abdomen over region of bladder entirely gone.
During the fortnight has had four severe headaches with nausea but no vomiting.
Gets very faint at stomach every morning about 10 h. - another old symptom
which accompanied his former sick headaches. Just forty days after the dose of
Aloes he received a dose of Sulphur CM.
Three weeks later he reports:
No headache to speak of. One or two attempts at one, but not severe
enough to keep him from work. His stools remain normal. He is troubled a little
with flatulence that has easy and confident egress. Has gained four pounds
during the last three weeks. His discharged cured.
An Autistic Child with Recurrent Diarrhea
I will present this case in full detail and with most of the follow-up
visits, as the evolution of its cure is a very interesting one. This is the
case of M.D., a mentally retarded 9½-year-old boy, whom I first saw on May 14,
1997. The chief complaint was chronic diarrhea. M.D. was born with complete
agenesis of the corpus callosum, one of only two cases ever diagnosed in
Canada. There was no given prognosis. He also had severe dysmorphic myopia
(-21 diopters), strabismus, hyperflexibility of his ligaments,
cryptorchidism and cardiac malformation with aortic regurgitation (Marfan’s
syndrome which is also very rare as he was one of two cases with this type of
cardiac anomalies to be diagnosed in Canada). He was completely limp at birth.
M.D. had been completely absorbed within himself. He never answered any
questions. It was impossible to know anything such as emotions, feelings or
what he experienced except for the basic needs of life. He showed almost
complete lack of reaction to his surroundings, including situations that would
cause pain. He had cried fewer than 20x in his life and only in situations
where there was an incredible amount of pain. He blocked his ears and closed
his eyes when spoken to. He always spoke with a very low voice, almost like
whispering. He was totally obstinate. He would do nothing unless it was what he
wanted to do. He was mentally retarded except for auditory and visual memory
for which he was two years ahead of his age group. He learned how to read and
calculate in a few days when he was 9 years old.
He stopped growing on three different occasions. He had not grown in 1½
years when I saw him and was three years behind on the growth chart.
He had been having 6 - 8 episodes of diarrhea per day. The diarrhea
started 10 months after the parents separated two years ago. It was more severe
at first, with 12-14 episodes per day. He tested negative for celiac disease
and for the presence of blood. Psychiatrists treated him to no avail. Dietary
changes helped at first, but benefits lasted only 3 - 4 weeks. He often became
dehydrated. The diarrhea was only by day, < 11 h. to 15 h. (< 12:30 -
13.45h. It was always the same: a watery, yellow brown, offensive diarrhea
followed by albuminous mucous (like the white of an egg). It was so explosive
that it hit the walls and the ceiling of the bathroom. It sputtered out by
little shots of gas. Just prior to an episode he became totally distended
"like a child with marasmus" with a round hard abdomen and gurgling.
He had to be in diapers as
he had involuntary stools on a daily basis. It was a very offensive
diarrhea. There seemed to be no other circumstances that would trigger the
diarrhea except stress.
His parents separated in July of 1994 due to the father’s having an
affair. M.D. didn’t show any reaction to the separation. From December of 1994
until March of 1995 the father threatened the family and pursued them
"like in the movies," which ended with the intervention of police who
arrested him in March of 1995. The entire family lived in fear for their lives;
policemen would accompany them on outings. M.D. developed diarrhea in April of
1995
< on school days and << hot weather. He had had diarrhea during
hot weather since birth. The diarrhea < after corn (3)/wheat (2)/broccoli
(1). It was unknown whether the diarrhea was painful.
M.D. had no physical or mental endurance. He became tired very easily
from slight physical exertion such as walking. He was often found resting,
lying on his abdomen with his two hands between his thighs and in the last 6
months, he preferred to lie on his back with his hands under his head and knees
bent. He was restless while sitting. He preferred to raise his legs if sitting
or even kneel on the chair if he could, which calmed him down. When tired,
he became pale and rubbed his forehead. He also became very tired with
any mental effort.
M.D. had many peculiar idiosyncrasies. He always wanted to be first: to
enter the car, to climb the stairs, to enter school. He had an aversion to
having
his head washed. In fact, he would not let his head be washed. He also
had a great fear of having his hair cut. Eventually, when his hair really
needed to be cut, he would develop diarrhea.
For the past two years, he couldn’t have his penis touched, even by
himself. He didn’t laugh until he was about 6 years old. From infancy, the
palms of his hands would peel for a period of two weeks, then there would be a
pause of one or two weeks, then it would start again. He had an aversion to
round food: grapes, round candies, etc.
He rolled paper a lot. He had been falling asleep with the blanket over
his head for the last year. He loved animals. He startled easily (2), and
sensitive
to sharp and low noise. If angry, which happened 3 - 4x in his life, he
would grind his teeth and pinch, but could not express a word. He rarely
experienced pain. He very much needed routine (3): i.e., if a toy was used it
needed to go back to where it belonged, or if a little box was used to put
horses in, it could not be used for other animals. For general orderliness he
was, however, normal. On the other hand, he was very meticulous in many other
things: i.e.,
he had difficulty writing anything and then erased it 10 - 20x; if one
of his socks fell down, he had to lift it to where it belonged; he had to wear
a T-shirt under his shirt. He had a history of having nightmares that were
always related to the ocean and waves. He had never had a cold, flu or any
other common infection except for one episode of otitis media two years ago.
When pregnant with him, his mother was sure that something was not normal in
his head.
The family’s life was completely compromised. Because of M.D.’s diarrhea
the family could not leave the house for common outings.
Generalities:
Temperature: If he overdressed in the morning and the day became warm,
he would not remove his clothes. He couldn’t breath in cold air (2) or if there
was wind (3), even in summer. He got frostbite easily. He did not react to hot
and cold water when being washed. He had an aversion to the sun (2),
which tired him. He always sought the shade. He had an aversion to the
heat of the summer, spending his time in the basement. His neck and head
perspired during the entire night, but he never perspired while awake, even if
it was very hot. Only his ears became red.
Energy: He was more tired after lunch, around 13 - 14 h. (2).
Sleep: Went to bed at 19.30 h. and slept until 5.45 h. Vas very restless
in his sleep, and would grind his teeth almost every night for the last 4 or 5
years.
He never uncovered himself in sleep.
Appetite: poor, only a few foods that he would eat: pasta, chocolate, sweets,
ice cream and cheese. Other foods he liked a lot were eggs, cucumber and soups.
Thirst: he used to be a big drinker before the diarrhea. He preferred his
drinks at room temperature.
Personality: He feared wolves and heights (3), after going up three
steps he would panic. He feared going downhill (2). He was claustrophobic (2).
He had an aversion to being touched (1), to being caressed (1), to being
massaged (1), to being buckled in the car (1) and of crowds. He was very
sensitive to admonition. If scolded, he would punish his mother by saying
"no." If he was sad he would not accept consolation. He was mildly
jealous. Never been violent or destructive. He was sympathetic (2): he seemed
to suffer more than the ones that were hurt. He was very sensitive to the
emotions of others (2).
Objective symptoms: M.D. was completely different from any child I had
ever seen. He walked, moved and acted as if from another world. He wore thick
glasses. He acted as if I was not present. He repeated many times during the
interview "go." His mother would say, "When the doctor is
finished asking questions we will go home." He would again say,
"go." He was lean and had a very enlarged, round and hard abdomen
like a balloon (3). He couldn't protrude his tongue and couldn't lick. Every
4-6 months, plugs of wax had to be removed from his ears.
Ht.: 130.5 cm (51.5 "). Wt.:
26.25 kg (57.75 lb.). He was
very hairy (back). On auscultation of his heart, we could hear a distinct
double S2 every 4th beat.
Current medication: M.D. had been slightly better since taking China 30
CH once a day for the last month, which another practitioner had prescribed.
Case analysis: We had a 9½-old boy born with many congenital anomalies
and a type of autism with many idiosyncrasies. What was most characteristic was
the recurrent diarrhea that he had since birth and which was much worse during
hot weather. Other characteristic symptoms were the perspiration of the
cervical area and head all night, every night of his life, and his difficulty
breathing in the wind—which I somewhat downplayed as it could have been related
to his physical anomalies. Other peculiar symptoms that he had were the
grinding teeth in sleep, amelioration from raising his legs, his weak and
cautious nature, fear in high places, emaciation with an enlarged abdomen, his
stubbornness and his food desires for ice cream and cheese. All these add up to
a very good indication for Calc. better than any other remedy as the
simillimum.
Plan: As the child had been under the care of another practitioner prior
to our visit and had been taking until then China C 30 1x daily, I decided to
stop
the China and wait until there was no further change. The mother would
then give him one dose of Calc. 10 M (Hahnemann Pharmacy).
June 2, 1997: He took the remedy at 8 h. on May 24. By 14 h. he had an
aggravation of the diarrhea. He was passing transparent gelatinous stool with
much white froth (ROS: Stands for the return of old symptom(s).) for the first
3 days, followed by his typical diarrhea. The following 4 days he woke at 5.15
h. with abdominal pain, urging for stool and passing only gas. On the 3rd
day after the remedy he became more affectionate; he started inquiring about
the well-being of others for the first time in his life. The day before, he developed
a coryza for the first time of his life. A colleague at the office saw him and
on examination found bilateral otitis media. He had the exact same
manifestation of otitis media two years ago. During the exam of his ears he
said "Ouch!" (Such reaction to this level of pain was new). He also
cooperated during the exam, which was new. He had a 99.6° F temperature. His
forehead was warm with cold hands and feet. His face was red and congested. His
eyes were half closed and injected. He was very quiet.
Assessment: The initial reaction to the remedy seemed favorable as there
was an aggravation of the diarrhea, a return of old symptoms, an improvement
in his general disposition and the appearance of a first coryza. The
picture of the acute condition was clearly indicating Belladonna with the
characteristic symptoms of a congested face, hot head and cold extremities,
quiet disposition with the eyes half open and injected.
Plan: My colleague prescribed Bell. 200 D (Dunham) two doses: one now
and one at bedtime.
June 4, 1997:
By the next morning he was mostly recovered. His ears, appetite, energy
and color were back to normal.
Assessment: Favorable reaction to Belladonna.
Plan: Wait.
July 2, 1997:
On June 5 the coryza returned without any fever and lasted for 4-5 days.
The diarrhea and bloating disappeared completely from June 7 - 17 and then
relapsed exactly like before. He had changed overall. After Calc., he improved
mentally until about two weeks ago. He was now stable.
Now he was calmer and happier, "quite remarkably." He inquired
about death every day in the last week for the first time in his life. He
developed growing pains in the last week (his sister was also subject to
growing pains). For the last three weeks, he complained of headaches for the
first time in his life, as the temperature had been warmer—in the mid 80’s. The
most we could get from him was that he felt them in his forehead and they were
worse from light. Since Calc. he had started to bend double during stools with
both hands on the floor, moaning. The incontinence of stool happened about
three times a day. Since one week he had been hiding from strangers. Since
Calc. his nose was itchy up to 25 - 30x daily and he was sneezing for the first
time in his life, around 3.30 - 4 h. everyday. He insisted that all windows and
doors be closed, and panicked with open windows in the car. He wanted to hide
more.
He covered his head more, i.e., if he went to the pool he put a towel
over his head. He let other people touch him (new). The peeling of his hands,
perspiration at night, stubbornness, low voice, being startled at noise, teeth
grinding in sleep, and perfectionism were unchanged. A few days before he got
his hand caught in a door and didn’t complain of any pain, although he should
have. He grew 5/8 of an inch since the first visit, which was the first sign of
growth in over 1½ years.
Assessment: The reaction to the remedy was good, not great. However,
there were enough good changes, especially on the mental/emotional level, but
also with the return of old conditions (the white frothy mucous and the ear
infection) and increased stature, to warrant another dose of the remedy. One
thing was clear: M.D. was sensitive to remedies. So far he had received three
different remedies (China, Calc. and Bell.) and had responded positively to all
three of them. This enhanced his prognosis but was also a signal that he would
likely respond to any remedy with a certain degree of similarity to his case.
Therefore, one had to pay great attention to the direction of cure to assure
that the remedy to which he was responding had a high degree of similarity.
Plan: Another dose of Calc. 10 M was prescribed.
August 5, 1997:
The diarrhea got worse after the remedy like after the first dose, but
it was a bit different: "It comes out in one shot: like a cork."
Since July 23 he asked for the first time to take a bath and let his hair be
washed. He stopped inquiring about death. For the first time in his life he was
willful. Since the very hot weather the diarrhea had been much worse. He still
had loud rumbling before stool. The sneezing, peeling of the hands and
perfectionism were gone. The grinding of the teeth was worse. The headaches,
perspiration at night, itching nose, startling easily were unchanged. He cried
loudly for the first time in his life.
Assessment: Calc. was not the best remedy in this case even though the
child made some progress on the mental level. The fact that the diarrhea in hot
weather not only did not improve, but got worse under Calc., was a sign that
its degree of similarity was not high enough. I started to look for a remedy
with a higher level of similarity and studied the case anew.
While taking the initial case I had considered Aloe as it covered so
well the picture of the diarrhea, but dropped it as it didn’t cover the rest of
the case -especially some of the very peculiar symptoms mentioned earlier which
indicated Calc. But, as the diarrhea was now clearly worse and aggravated in
hot weather and characterized by this loud rumbling prior to the stool I again
strongly considered Aloe. Moreover, after the first dose of Calc. there was a
return of the transparent gelatinous stool with much white froth which is very
similar to frog spawn found under Aloe. At that point two prior cases of Aloe
which I had successfully treated came to mind and I became convinced that Aloe
had to the simillimum of the case
To illustrate, I will temporarily interrupt M.D.’s case to present these
two other cases. The first one is not complete in all its detail, as his file
could not
be retrieved. It was the case of young man about 18 years old whom I saw
about ten years prior to M.D. He had a history of cryptorchidism and came to
me after having been treated about 18 months previously with surgery and
chemotherapy for testicular carcinoma. He had had diarrhea ever since
chemotherapy. He presented the typical diarrhea of Aloe, which resolved it
quickly. Following Aloe, I treated him successfully with Arg-n. for his chronic
state. But the most interesting aspect of this case, which I recalled when
considering a better remedy for M.D., was that this patient had a long history
of great need for routine with aversion to change as well as cycles of
fixations. For instance, when he was a child, he ate the same food 3x daily for
long periods of time and nothing else. Then, he would switch to another food
three times per day and leave aside completely the previous one.
When he had a project, he would focus obsessively on it to the exclusion
of almost everything else, until it would be replaced by another project.
He was also overly meticulous in every minute aspect of his projects.
The second case which came to mind when I was considering a better
remedy for M.D. follows in greater detail. In August of 1993, a homeopath
called me from a hospital where T.P., her 20-year-old son, was being treated
with chemotherapy for testicular carcinoma. Her son had been very sick since
receiving chemotherapy, and after trying different remedies she was seeking my
help. The history of T.P. was as follows: About five weeks earlier, T.P.
started experiencing pain in his left testicle and kidney area. In the second
week of July he noticed that his left testicle was enlarged and had hardened.
T.P. also had a history of cryptorchidism. On July 27 he was operated on and
was diagnosed with embryonic testicular carcinoma, which had already spread to
the abdominal lymph nodes and the lungs. He started to receive chemotherapy on
August 4.
He got progressively sicker after the first chemotherapy, experiencing nausea,
vomiting, weakness, diarrhea, faintness and abdominal cramping.
The presenting symptoms were burning and heat from the mouth to the
rectum. His mouth was completely covered with Candida albicans. He had a fever
of 101.7° F (38.7° C) and a pulse rate of 100. He experienced great weakness.
He was not thirsty (usually he was very thirsty). He had been having diarrhea
every ½-1 hour. His abdomen became hot and gurgled with cramps before each
stool, which was a watery, yellow brown, lienteric diarrhea with "a sweet
and sour smell (like a baby diarrhea)." The cramps, heat and gurgling in
the abdomen were relieved by stool or flatus. He passed a great quantity of
sputtering gas during each stool, and felt weak afterwards. Sometimes he did
not recognize that he was passing a stool. He constantly felt a small ball in
the rectum, and had a small hemorrhoid. He was chilly (1), his lips were
chapped (2) and his mouth was dry (2) with a bitter taste. His tongue had a
thick white coating. He had had no appetite for four days. His skin was sore
(2). He was cool to the touch with the fever (2), and his face was cold and
clammy (2). He was hypersensitive to jar (2) and to noise (2), which created
"an electric shock" throughout his body. In general, he felt better
in the morning and after 22.30 - 23 h. He felt worse from 16 - 23 h. (2). He
was intolerant of people especially if they made noise or jarred his bed. He
never wants any visitors (previously he was very gregarious). He turned his
head away when his girlfriend picked up his hand or if his mother wanted to
kiss him. His oncologist and gastroenterologist thought that he had developed
an intestinal infection, but all the cultures had been negative. T.P.’s mother
had typhoid fever when she was eight months pregnant and T.P. was treated for
active typhoid soon after birth with the antibiotic Chloromycetin. He had
developed mycotic infections everywhere on his skin, mouth and throat.
Case analysis: T.P. was presenting a perfect picture of Aloe with heat
and gurgling before stool, sputtering of the flatus, unconscious passing of
stool, ball in the rectum and especially his tendency to "repel
everyone."
Plan: Aloe 200 C one dose.
13 h. or two hours after the remedy:
T.P. felt better. He experienced a sense of well being very soon after
taking the remedy that descended from above down. Since the remedy, T.P. had
one small semi-solid stool and no diarrhea. The cramps were much less. He was
very hungry. He was irritable and had a headache from hunger, which was common
for him. His energy was better, 1-2 (0). He was not permitted to eat.
Assessment: He had a very good reaction to Aloe. The new symptoms of
irritability and headache with hunger are characteristic of Sulphur, the only
known complementary remedy of Aloe.
Plan: Sulphur 200 C.
August 12, 1993 at 16 h.:
His headache and the burning in the abdomen got worse immediately after
the remedy. Then he felt better. The headache disappeared. His energy was up to
5. He had not eaten yet. He had four small stools since the remedy. The
gurgling and the flatus were much less. The burning from the mouth to the
rectum was reduced by 20 %. The abdomen was not hot anymore. He had been very
thirsty since the Sulphur. The hemorrhoid was better.
Assessment: He had a favorable reaction to Sulphur, with an immediate
aggravation followed by a good improvement.
Plan: Wait.
August 12 at 19 h.:
He had four large, watery stools in 2 hours. He was weak again, down to
2. There was a lot of gas. The hunger disappeared. His palate and throat were dry
without thirst (2). The hemorrhoid began to bleed.
Assessment: Relapse of the original condition.
Plan: Aloe 200 C.
August 12 at 21 h.:
He fell asleep soon after taking the remedy and had no stool afterwards.
Assessment: Good reaction to the remedy.
Plan: Wait and repeat the remedy at the first sign of a relapse.
August 13 at 10:30 h.:
During the night he experienced diarrhea at 2.30 h. and three more times
after waking up at 7.30 h. He took one dose of the remedy after each diarrhea.
He had almost no pain or gurgling. He felt quite well.
August 13 at 16 h.:
He passed a small, formed stool at 12 noon. His energy was up to 7. He
had no headache. The temperature was normal. He had been eating well since that
morning. The gastroenterologist did not know what happened; he planned to do a
sigmoidoscopy but upon finding that his patient was so improved, he cancelled
it. T.P. told him that he had taken some homeopathic remedies. The
gastroenterologist wanted to know the name of the remedy, and was essentially
relieved to know that his patient was better. In the afternoon, the
chemotherapy was resumed.
August 14 at 22 h.:
The Candida albicans came back right away after the chemotherapy (part
of it was Bleomycin, which is a powerful antibiotic). He had a fever of 100.8°
F (38.2° C). His eyes burned (2) each time he experienced the fever. He had no
diarrhea but a formed stool about every 6 hours. He was very thirsty for cold
drinks. Before the fever he experienced chills going down his back. Energy was
good (6-7) but he became very weak within a minute after standing up (3).
Assessment: The burning eyes with the fever, weakness worse standing,
the return of the thirst and the descending chills indicated Sulphur.
Plan: Sulphur 200 C.
He responded well to Sulphur and continued to do so for several months
afterwards. The interesting aspect of these two Aloe cases is that both of them
had a history of cryptorchidism, testicular carcinoma and both had developed a
similar severe diarrheal reaction to chemotherapy, which clearly indicated
Aloe. Now, when looking at M.D.’s case and acknowledging that Calc. was not his
remedy, I wondered, could this be a case of Aloe? With the history of
cryptorchidism of M.D., the typical Aloe diarrhea and the need for routine, I
sensed that Aloe was not only the acute but also the chronic remedy for M.D. I
therefore prescribed Aloe 1 M (Borneman) to M.D. on August 5, 1997 and was
looking forward to his reaction to the remedy.
August 13, 1997:
After the remedy he was happier. This stool became dramatically better
the next day for three days. Then he developed a flu for the first time in his
life. He had a relapse of the diarrhea and another dose of the remedy was given
on August 9 which had no effect, except for a large evacuation of white froth.
Assessment: The fact that he relapsed so quickly and that there were no
changes with the second dose would typically not be seen as a favorable
response. However, remembering the cases of Jekyll where he repeated Aloe 1 M
several times before he open them, I still felt that Aloe was the most similar
remedy and I needed to persist.
Plan: Repeat Aloe 1 M up to three times within the next twenty-four
hours. If there is an obvious reaction to the first or second dose do not give
the subsequent dose(s).
August 26, 1997:
Three doses of the remedy were given. He became very tired for the first
6 days after the last dose. The mother said that she had forgotten to mention
that at least once a day the gurgling prior to stools was so intense that it
made a similar sound as the drain of a very noisy toilet bowl and since the
first dose of Aloe it had happened only three times. He was even happier than
before. His energy returned to his usual low normal. He stopped being startled
at noise. He felt pain and really cried on one occasion.
Assessment: A clear aggravation followed by an improvement on the
mental/emotional level was a good sign.
Plan: Wait.
September 16, 1997:
He did very well until 6 days ago when school started; he refused to go
and once he cried in his mother's arms. The diarrhea with the bloating,
involuntary stools and abdominal pain completely relapsed. He did not want to
get dressed anymore.
Assessment: Relapse with the stress of returning to school.
Plan: Repeat Aloe 1 M now and at the first sign of relapse.
September 24, 1997:
He was dramatically better. The diarrhea stopped right away. His energy
was much better after September 17. On September 18, he developed another cold
with much discharge and sneezing, day and night. The foam reappeared again for
one day. Personality-wise, he opened up. He began addressing others
spontaneously. He was less self-absorbed. He was more demanding about his
needs. He was more present. He stopped grinding his teeth and sweating at night
for the first time. The bloating was gone.
Assessment: Excellent reaction to the remedy.
Plan: Wait. Repeat Aloe 1 M as needed.
November 19, 1997:
On October 1, he had a relapse of the diarrhea, self-absorbed
personality, bloating, peeling of the hands, covering his head, grinding his
teeth, loud gurgling before stools, refusal to dress or go to school. He became
silent. He didn't want to talk or eat. The remedy was repeated on October 3.
The next day he developed a cold with much discharge and sneezing which lasted
only 24 hours. Again, he had the white frothy mucous in his stool on the first
day. Then he was much better. The stool became formed and only once a day. His
appetite returned. He was able to eat any food, even milk, without problems. He
was much more expressive and was 50 % less self-absorbed. He asked to go play
outside (never before) and laughed regularly with other kids (also never
before). His self-confidence was much better. He was crying 2 - 3x weekly. It
was only since the summer that he had really started to cry. He was fine in
crowds. The fear of going down hill was gone. His hair could be cut without any
fuss. He could be touched except in the genital area. He stopped being
willfull. He had no headaches. He had the coryza with sneezing at least once
per week. He wrote better, but reading was still difficult. He still had poor
stamina and resistance. He was stressed the week of November 8 at school and
relapsed. He started again to sleep on his abdomen with his hands between his
thighs.
Assessment: The fact that the response to the same potency is better
with each subsequent dose is a sign that the degree of similarity is high.
Plan: Aloe 1 M now and repeat after 3-4 days of relapse, or if he is
stable for 1-2 weeks.
January 19, 1998:
He received six more doses of Aloe 1 M. He developed a cold and passed
white foam for one day after each dose. Within 12 hours his stools became
normal, his energy picked up and he became more like a normal child, e.g.,
wanting to play outside. If stressed, he regressed and if the mother waited
before repeating the remedy, he continued to regress further. In general, he
was much happier. He slept well from 22.30 h. until 8.30 h. (19.30 h. - 5.45
h., before). He became more independent.
For the first time in his life, he used a public washroom by himself. He
had only one normally formed stool per day unless he had a relapse. He
accomplished all his chores perfectly. He never complained of headaches. He had
coryza even more often than before, which excoriated his lips. He touched his penis
after a bath the day after a dose on November 19. His mother still could not
touch him there. The peeling of his hands relapsed only with the diarrhea. The
white foam was present only if he took the remedy. He had no sweat at night. He
slept again on his back with his hands under his head, knees flexed. He wept
and laughed loudly quite often. Routine was less important. His lack of stamina
was gone and he had the energy of a normal child. He spoke in sentences. During
the year prior to the treatment, he would say "that" or
"milk," after the treatment he would say, "Can I have some milk,
please?" He was 70 % less self-absorbed. He was reading and writing
better. He did not grind his teeth anymore. He reacted normally to hot and
cold. Wt.: 61 (57.75) lb. Ht.: 52 3/4 (51.5) inches.
Assessment: Same.
Plan: Continue the same.
March 16, 1998:
On February 3 he had a relapse. He took the remedy. He had the coryza,
then recovered and was well for only five days. The mother gave him by mistake Calcarea
10 M. It was interesting to note that there was absolutely no reaction or
change following the Calc. with the exception of chewing in his sleep (new).
She waited one week, repeated Aloe 1 M and he was better again. His personality
and intellectual skills improved further. He did not cry much anymore but
became angry instead and expressed it spontaneously. Wt.: 63 lb. Ht.: 53 1/8.
Assessment: Chewing in sleep is a symptom of Calc.. Despite continued
improvement with Aloe 1 M, I wanted to see if he would make a quantum leap with
a higher potency.
Plan: Aloe 10 M (Boiron) as needed with the diarrhea.
May 11, 1998:
He received one dose of the remedy. He started kissing his mother
spontaneously. He was very polite and considerate of others. He played like a
normal child. He was less self-absorbed. Routine was not important anymore. He
chewed less in sleep. He was stronger physically. He appeared like a normal boy
of his age. He had more self-confidence. The perspiration on his head and
cervical region at night had returned in the last two weeks. He had a mild
relapse in the last three days. His hair became fuller - it used to be very
thin and fine. Wt: 62 lb. Ht.: 53 3/4.
Assessment: The fact that he reacted so well and so long to the higher
potency was another sign that Aloe had a high degree of similarity.
Plan: One dose of Aloe 10 M.
Summary of the Case from May 1998 until March 2000:
This summary was obtained by phone from the mother on March 28, 2000.
She reported that M.D. was given three more doses of Aloe 10 M, followed by
about 8 doses of Aloe 50 M potency (Homeoden) from the end of 1998 until
September 1999. At this time he changed schools and started to relapse.
He was given four doses of the CM potency (Homeoden), viz., in
September, October and December 1999 and the last dose on January 23, 2000.
The remedy was given at the first sign of relapse, which was the
reappearance of flatulence, abdominal pain and incontinence of mucus from the
rectum. He had been very good over this period. His mother noticed that with
the first sign of a relapse he asked for pasta, cereals, sweets, milk or
chocolate.
In 1998, he cried a lot but starting the summer of 1999 he was always
happy, rarely sad, played like other kids outside, was very stable emotionally,
expressed his needs appropriately, had no more fixations, ate everything,
laughed a lot and made others laugh, was more present with other people, e.g.,
inquiring about others. Overall, his mother said that he was developing
normally.
June 12, 2000:
I saw him in the office for the first time since May 1998. This time he
shook my hand when I greeted them in the waiting room. He walked into my office
asking me questions about myself.
I found out that with no apparent stress he had stool incontinence on
March 30. He received another dose of Aloe CM and recovered the next day.
On April 11, he was stressed. He became tired, developed a coryza and
redness around the lips. His mother gave him another dose of CM. He recovered
again within a day. On May 30 he was greatly stressed. He immediately developed
frothy stools, with much crying and coryza. He received another dose of CM. He
cried for three more days and his stools returned to normal within three days.
He was now back to normal according to his mother.
I reviewed the case with the mother. The ability to touch his penis was
mostly normal. The need for routine was gone, except for breakfast when he
wanted the TV on. He was more talkative. He slept from 19.30 h. until 5.30 -
6.00 h. She said that his energy was better but still not as much as his peers.
She put it at 6 on a scale of 0-10. The mother noticed that as soon as he
relapsed he would sleep on his abdomen with his hands between his thighs, or on
his back with his hands under or above his head, and with his head covered.
Before homeopathic treatment he was at about a 2. He still tended to be
lethargic, but had more stamina. He
could walk up to 10-15 minutes before needing to sit. His abdomen was not
enlarged unless he was stressed. He was doing very well in school.
He recently developed a new symptom. He had become a perfectionist in
making sure that chairs and other such pieces of furniture were in their place,
or that doors of closets, cabinets or rooms were closed.
Assessment: He was much better but his energy was still too low. He
would likely benefit from the DM potency. As we did not have it, I decided to
continue with the CM potency.
Plan: Aloe CM at the first signs of relapse such as fatigue with the
return of the above food cravings, or changes in sleep position.
August 2, 2000:
He took three more doses of Aloe CM, June 12, July 7 and 14. His stools
remained normal and never relapsed. He stayed up longer and slept more normal
hours, viz.,
820.45 h. until 6.45 h. For the first time, he had started to be jealous
and possessive. For instance, he refused to share his toys and would cry if
asked to. His energy was the same at 6 out of 10 but his stamina was better as
he could walk 25-30 minutes. He was still lethargic. He was less cooperative.
The perfectionism had become much worse. Instead of doing closing doors and
replacing chairs 25x daily it was up to 100x daily.
Assessment: He stopped progressing with the CM.
Plan: Aloe DM (Homeoden) now and no repetition.
August 30, 2000:
There were no apparent changes until August 7 through August 9. During
these three days he had an aversion to water. He craved milk "all
day" and drank up to two liters per day. On August 8, he had a sore
abdomen for 45 minutes followed by one bout of diarrhea. On August 9, he was
better in general but had one episode of involuntary urination. From then on he
started to improve. The perfectionism regarding chairs and doors was much
reduced, down to approximately 10 from a 100 times each day.
He had two nights (August 14 and 28) with no sleep (return of an old
symptom). The most dramatic improvement with this dose was the change in his
speech. He spoke much more. For the first time he called his mother
"Mama." His voice was warmer and more emotional, which was new. His
energy was much better. His lethargy was gone. His stools were normal with the
exception of that one occasion. His jealousy and possessiveness stopped about
two weeks after the remedy. He had had a bicycle for three years but never
wanted to ride it. For the first time, he spontaneously decided to ride it.
Also, two weeks after the remedy he became much more cooperative.
And for the first time he looked forward to going to school in
September. He had developed a new behavior by refusing to wear pyjamas to
sleep.
Assessment: Excellent reaction with an aggravation followed by great
improvement.
Plan: Wait and repeat only with a clear and prolonged relapse.
December 20, 2000:
He had not needed any more remedy. Around November 20 he had a bad cold
and a mini relapse of his symptoms but recovered quickly without a dose of the
remedy. He had no diarrhea despite a major stress during the previous two
weeks; his brother had been hospitalized which created a lot of change in the
family routine. He became much more social. He went to a winter camp, which
went very well. He made a friend for the first time and they played together on
a regular basis. He had a period in November where he was stammering but it had
disappeared. The perfectionism with furniture and doors was almost all gone. He
agreed to wear his pajamas to sleep. However, he had had five nights without
sleep since the last visit. He had not been lethargic.
He could walk for two hours. His bedtime hours remained normal. He
continued bicycling. For years he craved pasta. It was now gone for the first
time, for a month. His teachers were very positive about his progress in
school. They said that he had improved in mathematics. In October he developed
a new behavior; when disappointed, he pulled on others’ clothes. He had no skin
peeling of his extremities.
He was checked 3x that year for his cardiac anomaly (Marfan’s syndrome).
The cardiologists were surprised at how stable he was and how much slower the
progress of the heart deterioration was in his case. A psychiatrist who
specialized in autism evaluated him; M.D. was definitively diagnosed as being
autistic. The mother was told that M.D. had a phenomenal memory. He was slow in
certain faculties but faster in others. She was told that he was highly skilled
in drawing and painting in spite of his visual handicap. He was scheduled to
receive a more complete evaluation the next summer.
I reviewed with the mother some of the original symptoms. The shortness
of breath when walking in the wind had been gone for at least one year.
The nightmare with water and waves had not returned since the first year
of treatment; however, M.D. had a great fear of drowning (3) while taking
swimming lessons. The tendency towards frostbite had been gone for about two
years. The fear of heights had been gone for about nine months.
His aversion to being touched or massaged was less. His sensitivity to
the sun had been gone since at least last summer. He was still sensitive to the
heat of the summer, but much less so than before. He still had headaches on hot
summer days, but fewer and less troublesome than before. He would still rub his
forehead and become lethargic, and could not do much intellectual work with
these headaches. He had been accepting consolation for over one year, but
recently cried when consoled. He had had no problem using public washrooms for
at least one year. His sympathy for the suffering of others was unchanged. The
wax in his ears had been much less.
Objective symptoms: Ht: 58" (147½ cm) Weight 81¾ lbs. (37.15 kg).
During these 3½ years, he grew 6½ inches or 16 cm and gained 24 pounds (10.9
kg).
Assessment: He was still improving.
Plan: Wait and repeat only if there is a clear and prolonged relapse or
if he stops improving for two or three weeks in a row.
April 8, 2003:
Maxime spontaneously requested of his mother to see me, as he had not
been feeling well lately. The last dose of Aloe DM received by Maxime was in
June 2002 because he was reacting adversely to the hot weather. He had a good
summer and was well until last October when his older brother left home. He
started then to slowly relapse. He was saying that he worries a lot about his
brother. He started to be introverted, less affectionate, lethargic and having
abdominal pain. However, he recovers quickly with a bit of rest. Then in
December, he had a one-week examination by a team of specialists for a more
complete evaluation of his condition. The following week, the relapse became
more obvious. He started to isolate himself all day in his room. He didn’t want
to play or eat with others. His abdomen would swell up, full of air, with more
pain followed by normal stool or mild diarrhea. This was the first return of
the diarrhea in years. The borborygmi are minimal. He has also complained of
burning pain in the liver region. Ever since December, he has had a cold with
an obstructed nose, an acrid discharge, excoriated upper lip and cracked lips.
Since January, he has also been complaining of bladder cramps and burning
in the urethra during urination and burning in the rectum before, during and
after stool. He has had two conjunctivitis and blepharitis, one in January and
one a week ago, and both started on the right side. In the last two months, he
has complained of burning in his esophagus.
His obstinacy returned in October. Since October, he has had a very poor
appetite and has been fixated on eating pies, especially fruit pies but also
meat pies. He would eat pies three times a day and can finish one at one
sitting. He has also been craving chocolate milk since December. The desire for
pasta disappeared in October. The excess wax in his ears has relapsed. He has
had headaches on a weekly basis since October. His hands and feet have very
cold since December. In the last two months, he has been sweating every night
on his head and back. His head has had a bad smell since. His energy had been
very good until October. It was 9 out of 10 but has since dropped to a 5.
The aversion to being touched didn’t relapse. He likes to touch people,
even strangers. When upset, he cries, comes closer and wants to be hugged and
consoled. He is still overly sympathetic to the suffering of others and the
fear of drowning is still present. He can still walk against the wind without
any problem. The nightmares, the tendency for frostbites, the fear of heights,
the perfectionism and the desquamation never returned. The need for routine is
not very present anymore and he has had no obsessions, except that he still
doesn’t eat any round food. His heart continues to perform well. On the
positive side, he started to learn mathematics on his own when he realized the
value of money. Also, since having access to a library in his school last
September, he has been reading two books a day. His favorite subject is about
animals.
Objective symptoms: Unlike the last visit, he does not want to shake my
hand or talk to me. And as with the first visit, he asked a couple of times to
go home. He has grown a lot since I last saw him. He is now 65 inches (165 cm)
and weighs 107 pounds (48.5 kg), a growth of 7 inches (17.5 cm) and an
increased of 25¼ pounds (11.5 kg) since December 2000. He is now in the 20th
percentile in height for his age group.
Assessment: Maxime has been relapsing for a long time without receiving
any remedy as they had ran out of it. For some unexplained reason, no
appointment was sought until months later.
Plan: Aloe MM one dose.
April 16, 2003:
The following day he sneezed a lot. On the second day, he felt very
homesick at school and refused to go back the following day. On the second and
third day, he was completely absorbed within himself. He stayed alone in his
room without any expression and no appetite. The mother tells me that this is
commonly his response to a dose of the remedy. On April 12, the fourth day, he
started to be better, came out of his shell and has been very sociable, wants
to interact and cooperate. He started to be hungry again with a normal appetite
and resumed eating with others at the table for the first time since October.
Before he would only eat in his playroom by himself. On the same day, his
coryza stopped and his nose cleared up. He has had no more abdominal pain since
the remedy. The cracked lips became worse after the remedy but the excoriation
of his upper lip is gone. He has been happy for the first time since October.
In the last two days, he has been very affectionate to all the children at the
daycare. His obstinacy is gone. He is now the opposite. He listens very well
and has been very helpful. The conjunctivitis and blepharitis disappeared
quickly after the remedy. The rectal and urethral burning are unchanged. The
desire for pies is gone but the desire for chocolate milk is unchanged. He has
had no night sweats since the third night after the remedy. His energy has been
better; it went from 5 to 7. His hands and feet are still cold.
Assessment: It is a very good sign that he had a three day aggravation
followed by a sharp and clear improvement.
Plan: Wait as he is still improving, as today has been his best day. If
he stops improving repeat the remedy.
May 2, 2003:
He stabilized until April 21 when he started to slowly relapse. On April
23, he was given another dose of Aloe MM. He improved only minimally.
On April 29, he was given a triple dose of the same remedy. By May 2, he
is much better. The pain in his right lower quadrant and in his left
hypochondria is gone. The pain in his right hypochondria is much less. His
abdomen is less enlarged, and the flatus and the borborygmi are considerably
less. His stools are less offensive and less sticky. His energy and mood are
better. He wants to play more. His sleep is better and longer without any
perspiration. His cracked lips are finally improving. His obstructed nose is
gone.
His appetite has picked up and is back to normal. His hands and feet are
again warm. The burning in the stomach is unchanged but the burning during
stool and urination is gone. The pain and cracking of the knees seems to be
gone. The mother recently discovered that Maxime was quite stressed from
pressure made by his teacher and helpers at school. This is likely the cause of
his more frequent relapses, the slow recovery and the need to repeat the remedy
more often.
Assessment: Maxime is getting back to normal with the more frequent
repetition and in spite of the ongoing stress.
Plan: The mother was instructed to wait as long as Maxime is improving
and to evaluate his progress every three days. When he stops improving or if he
starts relapsing, he must be given a triple dose within 24 hours.
Summary until October 8, 2003:
Maxime was given a triple dose of the remedy on May 4, 7 and May 11.
Each time it was related to the beginning of a relapse of the symptoms
following stressful situations. He improved with each series of doses. His
energy has been 9 out of 10. He has been in a very good mood, laughing again
heartily. He listens well. His appetite has been normal. He started to make his
bed in the morning. His digestion and stools have been normal without bloating,
flatus or borborygmi. All his pains are gone.
His lips are smooth for the first time in a long time. The nose
obstruction and the perspiration at night are gone. The mother says that he is
feeling very well and completely asymptomatic.
Each relapse was related to a stressful situation at school. I discussed
with his mother that school is too stressful, as his teachers want Maxime to
adapt to their program. I explained to the mother that Maxime will likely do
much better if the program was adapted for his special needs. She said that she
received the same opinion from the specialists who have recently conducted a
very thorough evaluation of Maxime. As Maxime’s major interest is animals we
discussed designing a program where he would have ample access to animal books
associated with regular visits to zoos and other animal refuges.
During the summer, he witnessed scenes of violence on three different
occasions, which were followed by relapses. Also when his grandfather died in
September he had another relapse. In each of these occasions, he becomes
lethargic and develops a deep crack in his lower lip, abdominal pain and
flatus, but no diarrhea or borborigmi.
He would then receive the remedy in the 200 C (Gudjons,) (as of
September 3), and be back to his old self within twelve hours, “in top shape.”
He laughs a lot and is very affectionate and nice with others, especially with
younger kids of his mother’s preschool program. The joint pain never returned.
He grew another two inches during the summer.
Overall assessment: We can appreciate that prior to homeopathy Maxime’s
health and normal development was stagnating. Soon after initiating homeopathic
treatment, Maxime’s life took a turn for the better. It is clear that without a
re-dosing of the remedy at the appropriate time, Maxime’s regresses. With the
use of the same remedy over a period of more than 6 years, this boy has
developed a new level of health and functioning in all respects.
This case confirms the deep "action" of Aloe as mentioned
earlier by Hering, Wesselhœft and Jekyll. Even though some cases of Aloe need
to be followed by a complementary remedy as in my previous cases or in the
cases of Dr. Jekyll, it is warranted to better understand the chronic and often
more obscure symptoms of Aloe to know when Aloe would indeed cover the entire
case. Regarding the acute bilateral ear infection he developed after the first
dose of Calc., in hindsight, it is very likely that it also would have been
cured by Aloe. In the provings, we find all the symptoms of acute otitis media.
I have since seen a few more cases where Aloe has demonstrated the same depth
of "action" and I will summarize two of these cases help solidify the
picture of Aloe in the mind of the reader.
Two More Cases of Aloe Characterized by Fixations
The first one is the case of S. P., a 22-year-old woman, suffering from
many complaints including severe allergies since the age of ten, and
depression. S. P. had also been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
and attention deficit disorder (ADD). I saw S. P. on July 4, 1998. She reacted
to many foods such as dairy, wheat, corn, rice, shellfish and eggs, and to
preservatives and dyes. Within 1/2 hour of eating an allergen she would become
physically tired, very lethargic, irritable, annoying and sleepy. She would
develop a headache and her nose became obstructed and would run. An allergic
reaction would last about 24 hours. Soon after eating the allergen she felt so
sleepy that she had to go to sleep. She then slept easily 12 hours straight,
woke up and felt tired for another 1/2 day. These allergic reactions were worse
in rainy weather (1) and much worse if exposed to molds (2) like during fall
and spring. Since 1993, she had hay fever with asthma < spring to fall. Her
nose was obstructed especially on waking (2), her nose would run, her eyes were
red and would lachrymate and she had swelling under her eyes. The allergies
were worse if she did not receive her desensitizing injections on a weekly to
every-other week basis.
She felt depleted of energy in the morning upon waking and then she had
low periods at 12 h. (1), 16 h. (3), and 19 h. (1). She got a "second
wind" between 22.30 h. and bedtime. When tired she had to take a two-hour
nap and would wake up still tired.
In 1995, she was doing poorly in college; a peer gave her some Ritalin
and she improved dramatically. She took Ritalin (20 mg per day) on school days
ever since. Without Ritalin she was more loquacious, more nervous, more
irritable, ("really impatient: I can't wait at a red light"), more
tired, more lethargic, with a poor attention span and more hyperactivity.
"I lose interest very easily because of my impatience. I have played piano
for 18 years but I can't sit down to practice more than 45 minutes. On the other
hand I tend to be very patient with people and children. I can also be very
intolerant of certain people." She did everything fast. "I walk fast.
I drive fast. I talk fast (2) < without Ritalin. I stutter when tired."
She had been very depressed for a long time, but it had been much worse
in the last two years. "I just sit by myself and I don't want to do
anything and see anyone. I am not thinking about anything. I just shut down as
if asleep but I am aware." The depression came periodically about every other
month and lasted about three weeks. Whether she took Ritalin or not made no
difference. She didn’t like changes. "I feel more comfortable when things
don't change. At 10 years old I didn't want to move. I was adamant about not
moving. For example, now I don't want to go home from college because I don't
want to deal with new things. I am scared of new things. I can obsess about
things. I can listen to the same movie (The Sound of Music) or read the same
book (Little Women) 15 to 30 times. I go through phases where I love to read
books. Then I will switch to watching movies all day."
For many years, she had the tendency to eat the same food 2-3 times a
day for 3 consecutive weeks, then would switch to another food and so on. For
instance, she would eat only Chinese food for 3 weeks, then she would only eat
chicken wings for three weeks, then switch to deli, then to hot dogs, etc.
"I do the same thing with my friends. I hang out with a certain
girl everyday for three weeks then I change to someone else. I also like to
wear the same clothes everyday for a long time. I have been wearing black
clothes all the time for the last 10 years. I can do research, or play on the
computer, or search the Internet for hours on end. I am very particular about
TV programs; I just like certain ones. I still suck my thumb. I don't like
reality very much. I don't like confrontation. I can't deal with it. I would
rather walk away than argue. I am very irresponsible about bills. I am too lazy
to balance my checkbook. I want instant gratification. I enjoy food, cars,
clothes and vacation. I am stressed all the time. I am very tense about being
clean, with my hands, with my apartment. I take a shower twice a day. I vacuum
my apartment once during the day and once at night at 3 A.M. before going to
bed. I can't stand looking at a mess. I can't study in a room that is not
perfectly clean. Inside the drawers it is a mess but I am too lazy to deal with
that. When the place is a mess it makes me feel not clean and the apartment not
clean. I always lived in very clean places. I tend to be very lazy. I tend to
procrastinate and lie about it. It is easier to say that I have already done it
and not do it. When I play tennis I don't run for the ball, I let the ball come
to me. I like to put things off till the last minute. I am always late. I work
better under the crunch. I can only do things under pressure. The only reason I
do things is because I am pushed to do things." Indolence (3).
She also complained about having a problem with money. "If I want
something I just buy it. I have no self control." In general, she enjoyed
her friends but when she experienced bad moods she preferred to avoid them.
"I don't want to interact with others. It is rude." She did not trust
people easily. "I was told that I was a snob." She liked to talk on
the phone. She liked gadgets, such as computers. "I like to know about
everything, for instance, what is a good play in New York City." She had a
very good memory. "I can remember in detail, like I can picture circumstances
that happened when I was five years old. I also remember a lot of stupid facts,
i.e., a movie. As a kid I used to memorize commercials on TV. I also remember
license plates without trying."
"I am a control freak. I don't go on roller coasters because I am
not in control. For the same reason I don't roller blade. I would never eat
anything from a street vendor."
She was afraid of the dark until she was 18 years old. "I must
sleep with the closets closed. I can't watch anything scary (2)." She was afraid
of germs (2). "I can't share an apartment because roommates are not
careful. When I leave home I always bring my own blankets. I hate sleeping in
hotels because of the dirtiness of the blankets. It used to be worse." She
had never slept outside in a tent. She had never had a baby doll. She liked to
take pictures. She liked to cook. She played with her hair or her mother's hair
since childhood. She tended to overpack when she left the house. "I bring
something for every type of weather, yet I wear the same thing when I go
away."
Generalities:
Temperature: She felt hot all the time. She was hot and sweaty when
nobody else felt so. She felt better in colder weather and worse in warm, wet
weather (2). When hot, her forehead and feet would sweat, but nothing in
between. She had more difficulty waking up in the morning if it was cloudy
outside. She loved the sun. If she was not too impatient she could sit in it
for a long time, even all day long, especially with music, but only if she was
on vacation.
Energy: 3-4. Her energy increased after 20.30 h.
Sleep: She could only sleep in a very cold room but with a lot of
blankets. She would sleep long: from 3 h. until 16 h. If she was a passenger in
a car she always slept from the moment she got in. She tended to talk and grind
her teeth in sleep (2). She would sweat on her neck and whole head every time
she took a nap. She slept with lots of covers. Her dreams continued from one
night to the next.
Appetite: She could eat constantly or not eat at all. It went in cycles.
The craving for food also came in cycles. When she craved a certain food she
would wake up in the morning wanting that food and she would eat it at every
meal for the next 2-3 weeks. The food cravings always changed. She was worse
from beer (2). She became full and bloated and had eructations from it. She was
usually constipated unless she took Ritalin. But if she ate dairy or fast foods
she developed a liquid diarrhea within 1½ hour. It first started as a pain in
the right side and was quickly followed by a watery, yellow brown diarrhea. At
home she got it about 1-2 times per week and in college about 4x per week.
Thirst: She was always thirsty. As a teenager she drank only Coke, then
for years she switched to Sprite. Now she only drank water. Each time she ate
she needed to drink. She drank 3-4 glasses of liquid with each meal or snack.
Menses: Menses were regular every five weeks, with cramps the first day
only. Described herself as being prudish in terms of sexual behaviour, compared
to her friends.
Sensitivities: She loved all types of music, from opera to rap. She said
she was not touchy in her feelings like her friends. She did not cry at movies
when others cried. She felt indifferent when someone suffered, except those
close to her. She hated horror movies.
Fears and anxieties: She said that she had a lot of fears and phobias.
She said that she was very attached to her parents. "I cry every time my
parents travel because I have fear of the plane. I always have the feeling I am
going to die in the plane. I have a lot of fears." She was afraid of
heights (2), even climbing a small ladder. After cutting herself at 11 years of
age, she had fear of knives for the following 6 years. She worried a lot about
the future (3). "I feel very insecure. I always worry about what people
think of me. I don't want to do things because I don't want to fail." Her
self-confidence went up and down. She had to sleep with the doors locked. She
feared that the stove was not off if she was the last one to leave the house.
When she left the house she would unplug every apparatus, check that all doors
and windows were closed, that the stove was off and that the garage door was
locked. She feared that the house would burn when she left. At 3 h. she would
get up and check again that everything was locked. "I check that the car
is locked. It is always locked. I have to check otherwise I can't sleep. I need
to be in control." She would not swim in the ocean, as she feared the fish
in it. "I think it is dirty." She feared loosing her parents.
"They have cared for me."
Trauma: The most traumatic event in her life was moving at 10 years of
age. "Ever since I have done poorly. I was used to certain things and
everything changed."
Stress: As college was about to finish and she had only one semester to
complete, she needed to find a job and an apartment, but felt too lazy to do
it.
Medications: She took Claritin for her allergies, Ritalin while in
school, Motrin for menstrual cramps and weekly desensitizing injections.
Objective symptoms: Her skin was slightly oily. She had acne along the
jaw line, which was worse before her menses and after eating sweets. Her hands
were hot to the touch. She said that they were swollen in the morning. Her eyes
were injected.
Her parents described her as introverted. She avoided emotional
communication even with her mother. She tended to be addicted to a certain
stereotypic repetition of activity. They said that S. was a very bright person
and used to have high grades in school until the age of 10, when she began
receiving low grades in school. She was a very happy child until she was 10
years old, when her mother started to work at her father's office. She was
transferred to a private school, which was full of mold.
That was when she developed the allergies and her many other symptoms
started. Her sleep had always been very light. Before falling asleep she would
twirl her hair before she would twirl
her mother's hair. She still sucked her thumb in sleep. She often complained of
headaches, which grew worse from strong odors and tobacco.
She was indecisive: she wanted others to make decisions for her. All her
fears were minimized when her parents were nearby. Insect bites produced great
swelling and inflammation for many days. Since infancy she would fall asleep
while riding in a car. She had frequent nosebleeds. She had diarrhea when she
started eating solid food
at 7 months old.
Assessment: This case was not difficult to diagnose with the great
number of characteristic symptoms pointing to Aloe. We had a hot patient who
was aggravated from heat and preferred cold weather with great laziness
alternating with activity, aversion to change, fixations in cycles, watery,
yellow-brownish diarrhea, great thirst during meals and worse from beer and
cloudy weather.
Plan: Aloe 200 C (Borneman).
She took 7 doses of Aloe 200 C (Borneman), 6 doses of 10 M, 1 dose of 50
M and 2 doses of CM over a period of about 1½ years. She would first experience
an aggravation of most of her symptoms after a dose, especially at first, which
was followed by an improvement. Her energy became normal at a steady 9 all day.
The anxiety, depression and ADD disappeared very quickly, as did the food
cravings, asthma, epitaxis, headaches, warm hands, feeling too hot,
procrastination and fixations. The difficulty waking on cloudy days
disappeared. The bowel movements became normal. Only the allergies did not
resolve but the patient stopped her homeopathic treatment with me after
postponing her scheduled appointment on three different occasions. She said
that she was doing well and would eventually do an appointment. Her father was
an allergist who was practicing homeopathy. She would also consult him. What is
important to note in this case is that the rare. peculiar and unusual symptoms
of the aversion to change with cycles of fixations, the great laziness
alternating with activity and the heat are again being confirmed under Aloe.
Now let’s look at the case of B.M., a seven year old boy with Duchenne
muscular dystrophy whom I saw on May 3, 2000. B. M.’s most peculiar symptom was
a great aversion to change and the desire for routine. Things had to be done
always in the same order. For instance, activity during the day had to follow
the same order. If he undressed, clothes always had to be removed in the same
order. Foods always had to be presented in the same way, i.e., if the cheese
was not cut in a certain way he would have a fit. Other characteristic symptoms
were perfectionism, i.e., he explained everything in the most minute detail,
great tiredness and lethargy from waking until 11 A.M. but increased energy in
the evening, sighing all the time as if everything was an effort, great
irresolution about trifles, great heat and aversion to and aggravation from
heat, aversion to bathing, great desire for fruits and apple juice, daily loose
diarrhea, stubbornness, offended easily, overly sensitive to pain, tendency to
be too affectionate, sensitivity to admonition and the desire for being fanned.
In a period of 10 months B.M. received three doses of Aloe 200 C (Borneman),
four doses of Aloe 1 M (Standard) and seven doses of Aloe 10 M (Standard). The
aversion to change, perfectionism, lethargy, fatigue in the morning, diarrhea,
sighing, aversion to bathing, irresolution, heat, being too affectionate and desire
for fruits all disappeared. He eventually stopped falling when previously he
would fall 2-3 times per week. He walked and ran better and longer, and climbed
stairs better. The aversion to change, lethargy and heat were again
confirmations for and characteristic indications of Aloe.
The Materia Medica of Aloe
Aloe socotrina grows naturally on the shores of the Island of Socotra
located in the Indian Ocean south of the Arabian Peninsula. It was known in
ancient times as a holy medicament against melancholy. Alexander the Great sent
colonists to the Island of Socotra just to cultivate the plant. It was a so
rare and precious plant that it was given as a present from sultans to kings.
The part used as a medicine is the resin that freely flows out of its leaf when
cut. It is recognized not only by its color but also by its sweet smell and
very bitter taste. Hering
.x
Aloe was first proven by German homeopaths in the early 1820’s and 1830’s
and one of them was under the guidance of H.. Hering and other American
physicians completed its proving in the 1840’s and 1850’s. Hering first
published the materia medica of Aloe in 1857 in the Amerikanische
Arzneiprufungen (American Provings) which was translated by T. F. Allen and
published in the American Homœopathic Review in 1863 and reprinted in
ReferenceWorks.
There is an interesting anecdote from Edmund Carleton recalling his
first meeting with Hering who prescribed him Aloe: "I remember, as if it
were but yesterday, the first time we met. It was in his office as physician
and patient. He stood and looked at me calmly, while I related my symptoms.
Then, silently turning to his desk, he prepared three powders and handed them
to me, with directions. I left him in wonder, for my case had troubled the
physician who had sent me, and I had expected a long search.
The remedy produced a violent aggravation, and I recollect that wonder
temporarily gave place to a state of mind akin to resentment. Recovery
followed, and so did my promised report to the doctor. The recital of the
success of his prescription caused his face to smile all over, which ended with
a hearty, genial laugh, and he said, ‘that was A-lo-es; it was low; it was the
five hundredth.’ Then seating himself and motioning me to a chair, he went on
to relate how he had suffered similarly when proving the drug, and made me
promise to write out and give to him a history of the case, which I afterwards
did, and informed me that the medicine had been potentized for him by Doctor
Fincke, from a choice bit of crude material furnished by himself."
The main known effect of Aloe is on the intestines and rectum and
characterized by its profuse, watery, gushing diarrhea. Diarrhea will often be
the chief presenting complaint of the patient and its characteristic symptoms
will lead the conscientious prescriber to study Aloe.
Now, let’s first describe the characteristic symptoms of the diarrhea of
Aloe:
A profuse, yellow brownish, watery diarrhea containing lumps; it can be
lumps with mucus or lumps of mucus jelly. It can look like frog spawn, or it
can be mixed with blood and typically associated with great rumbling, gurgling
and passing of a large quantity of loud sputtering gas.
The diarrhea can be felt coming minutes or even hours before. There is a
great rumbling before. At times patients can feel the bolus traveling in the
guts and then eventually filling the rectum. The rectum seems full of liquid,
which feels as if it would fall out. That is when they develop their most
peculiar symptom, which consists of insecurity of the rectum; they don’t feel
that they will be able to contain the diarrhea. The rectum seems full of
liquid, which feels heavy, as if it would fall out. In old books, we can find
the expression, "Want of confidence in sphincter ani." P.P. Wells
wrote about this symptom that "it is oftener then otherwise described, by
those who suffer it, as a feeling of ‘uncertainty’ -meaning that they are not
sure they shall not be attacked by diarrhea any minute- and that they feel just
as though they would be." They cannot pass gas or urinate without stool
escaping. The stool can also be passed unnoticed.
At times they can also have a great urge for stool but only flatus is
emitted. As Dunham well said, Aloe "strikes the patient equally between
wind and water." The flatus tends to be hot, offensive and with heat and
burning of the rectum. At first they will have to hurry to the toilet
especially immediately on eating or drinking, but eventually they will lose
control. The stool will pass when walking or standing, especially after eating.
Involuntary stool can go unnoticed, or there can be an involuntary stool at
night in bed in a constipated person; even in children you will find a large
solid stool. A hard stool can drop out without causing the least sensation.
Other characteristics are that before the stool there is a great amount
of distention, gurgling and heat in the abdomen. The heat is both subjective
and objective and feels like the pelvis is filled with hot water. It can also
be accompanied by pain before and during stool. The pain is a pinching,
cutting, twisting and gripping type of pain, forcing the patient to sit bent,
which relieves. It is worse from jarring when sitting in a chair or lying in
bed, and is relieved by stool.
During the stool the patient feels a violent tenesmus and there is much
flatulency which is offensive smelling, and burning with heat of the rectum and
anus especially if there is a hemorrhoid. The abdomen is relieved but the
patient feels an extreme weakness, prostration and faintness with clamminess or
even profuse perspiration.
Let’s look at its most characteristic modalities of the diarrhea, which
could help to confirm Aloe:
The diarrhea <: Morning: driving out of bed in the early morning, 5 -
10 h./evening/as soon as he eats or drinks anything (he must hurry to the
bathroom)/rising from lying/standing/motion/walking/becoming overheated/hot
weather/damp weather: both hot humid and cold damp (also mentally worse in cloudy
weather)/acidic foods/fruit/Milk/after chagrin (anger)/from suppressed skin
eruptions/from chemotherapy;
As the diarrhea becomes more chronic the patient will develop
hemorrhoids which will protrude like a bundle of grapes after the stool. These
hemorrhoids will create a constant bearing down in the rectum. They tend to
bleed and be sore and are characteristically better with cold water and very
sore upon wiping after stool. There is a tendency for the rectum to constantly
secrete mucus, which escapes from the anus. There may be a peculiar sensation
in the pelvis, a feeling as if a plug was wedged between the symphysis pubis
and coccyx, which becomes worse with urging for stool. This sensation could be
related to an affection of the prostate gland.
Let’s now go over some of the other symptoms of Aloe. Most important is
its mental picture. In the acute state, the patient tends to be very sick and
what is most remarkable is that it is not pleasant to be in his presence.
Chamomilla - ähnlich/hard to please/angry at nothing/throws things when
contradicted. He has "disgust with everything, dissatisfied and angry with
himself, capricious, discouraged about his success. He is impatient and
irritable. He curses, quarrels with everyone who contradicts him. He has aversion
to company, cannot endure the visit of people. They are repugnant to him to the
point of repelling everyone." You will find this symptom under
"hatred, repels everyone," like one of the above-mentioned patients
who turned his head away when his girlfriend picked up his hand or when his
mother wanted to kiss him. Fear of men, anthropophobia.
Another very characteristic mental symptom of Aloe is its great
laziness: "Disinclination to move. Disinclination to go into the open air,
though there is relief from it. Indolence; at noon. Disinclination to mental
labor. Speedy fatigue from mental labor. Incapacity for labor, with peevish
restlessness, disinclination to mental labor."
He sits still, silent. A characteristic of this laziness is the possible
alternation with great activity, as in one of the above patients. In the
proving it is found under "Exhaustion # activity." Or it could be the
opposite, such as excitement or the tendency to overwork. These are found in
the proving under "Inclination to labor.
Much inclination for continued labor. Especially inclined to mechanical
labor. At an early hour, quick, complete awakening, with inclination for mental
labor, good appetite. In the forenoon, he is much excited, works hastily and
yet well. In the afternoon he works with a will, without a midday nap. Excited
at night. Great restlessness and excitement. Inner restlessness and excitement.
Excitement of mind and body." The Aloe patient tends to get exhausted
easily. He tires quickly. The mental symptoms are clearly worse during cloudy
weather. Another characteristic mental symptom is the aversion to change and
the tendency for fixation and obsession as seen in three of the above cases.
There is a monomania, which can last for some time and be replaced by another one.
Cycles of fixations.
In terms of sensitivity he is very sensitive to jar especially with
colic as seen in T.P.’s case. There is also a special sensitivity to noise or
music. He can hate music and noise, which can set him off in a tremor, or he
can feel it travelling his body like a shock wave (trembling from musical sound
and noise) as seen in T.P.’s case. There can be great liking for music as in S.
P.’s case. M.D. was startled at noise.
Another important characteristic symptom of Aloe is the heavy, confused
dullness felt in the forehead associated with difficulty in thinking. It is
worth reciting Dunham’s experience with Aloe. He reported that:
Among the remedies of which provings have been published within the last
five years, none has seemed to me more deserving of attention than Aloes.
Among the symptoms of the head I am inclined to regard as characteristic
of Aloes those which describe a heavy, confused dullness in the front part of
the head ext.
root of the nose, with inability to think; a pain in the forehead which
compels the patient to close the eyes, or, if he wishes to look at anything, to
constringe the eyes, making the aperture of the lids very small. It must be
admitted, however, that symptoms so similar to these are found under other
remedies, that these symptoms alone could not be regarded as a sure indication
for Aloes.
The following case will show how I have prescribed Aloes, and will
suggest some reflections upon the mode of selecting remedies in practice.
During the winter season a gentleman, about seventy years of age,
applied for relief from a dull, heavy frontal headache, which incapacitated him
from mental labor.
He could give me no more definite or characteristic description of his
ailment. It was felt as soon as he waked, and lasted all day. From such a
description as the above,
it would be impossible to prescribe with any certainty of selecting the
right remedy. I set myself therefore to investigate the patient's previous history,
in the hope of getting some help from the Anamnesis, to which Hahnemann and
Boenninghausen attach so much importance. I learned that this headache was no
new affliction. It had for years annoyed this gentleman, rather more during the
winter season, whereas during the summer he was comparatively free from it. No
peculiarity of diet or regimen could explain this fact.
On the other hand, I learned that during the summer season my patient
was very frequently attacked with diarrhea, the disease coming on suddenly,
waking him at 2 h.,
with a pinching flatulent colic, and so urgent a call to evacuate the
bowels that he would be compelled to seek the water-closet instantly,
experiencing meanwhile the greatest difficulty in retaining the feces. From
this time till 10 h. he would have four or five stools, pappy, copious, light
yellow, great difficulty in retaining the feces
for even a moment after the desire for stool was first experienced.
Desire for stool provoked by eating, so that he was compelled to leave the
breakfast table.
Involuntary stool when straining to pass water. When comparatively free
from headache, he was inclined to diarrhea, and vice versa.
I have long been persuaded that a most important condition of success in
the treatment of chronic diseases consists in the practitioner taking such a
view of the case as
shall combine the various ailments of which a chronic patient may
complain at different periods of time and in different organs, even though
these periods and organs
be remote from each other and apparently disconnected. In no other way,
it has sometimes seemed to me, could the characteristic indications of the
remedy for such a
case be found.
Acting upon this persuasion in the case in question, I regarded the
headaches which predominated in winter and the diarrheas which predominated in
summer as, in some sort, complementary series of symptoms, and as making up,
both together, the "totality of symptoms" for which I was to seek, in
the Materia Medica, the simillimum.
The symptoms of the headache -indeed of the entire winter affection-
presented nothing that was characteristic of any one remedy to the exclusion of
all others.
Carb-v., Sabad., Sulph., Aloes, Nux-v. and several others might be
regarded as about equally well indicated.
When, however, to the head symptoms of the winter, I came to add the
diarrhea symptoms of the summer, regarding the sum total as one disease, it was
then impossible
to avoid perceiving that the diarrhea symptoms were strikingly
characteristic of Aloes, and could not indicate any other remedy. This
furnished the clue to the prescription. On studying the head symptoms of Aloes,
it was seen that they corresponded to the head symptoms of my patient quite as
well as the symptoms of any other drug. Aloes 200 was given and it afforded a
relief, which my patient had sought in vain from other remedies taken on the
strength of the head symptoms alone. The headache returned a few times
afterward with very much diminished severity, but yielded at once to Aloes.
Lately my patient has been entirely free from it, nor did the diarrhea return
as it used formerly to do whenever the headache ceased to prevail.
About the heavy confused dullness, P.P. Wells wrote:
This drug has been found effectual repeatedly in removing a peculiar
heavy, dull, pressing pain in the forehead, of no great severity, but which
indisposes to, or even incapacitates for all exertion, especially for
intellectual labor. This state of the head has appeared in the person of the
writer, every year for the last ten or twelve, on the blossoming of the
Ailanthus. He found no remedy for it, till he received the proving of Aloes, in
Hering’s Amerikanische Arzneiprufungen.
Other characteristic symptoms are dry mouth and dry, red lips usually
without thirst, the desire for fruits especially apples or apple juice, juice
or juicy foods, refreshing foods, beer, farinaceous foods, milk, stimulants,
bitter, and salt.
Aloe will be indicated in uterine hemorrhage with a feeling of great
heaviness in the pelvis (like the plug we referred to); the uterus always feels
too heavy and engorged
as if a hemorrhage would take place at any time. This feeling of
heaviness of the pelvis can also be an indication for Aloe in a constipated
subject. The same state occurs with the sphincter of the bladder as with the
sphincter ani: on rising he is obliged to run quickly to urinate and can hardly
retain the urine.
Some important generalities are: the sensation of heat < from
warmth/in warm wet weather, > cool or cold weather/cold application (head
and anus)/open air, ailments from suppression and effects of drugs (it is
interesting to note that Wells mentioned that Aloe is indicated in
"hospital diarrhea"), < morning and > in the evening (energy
and moods). It is interesting to read the abstract of the mental symptoms
written by Hering in 1857 and realize how reliable the original provers of Aloe
were: "Anguish and ebullition of the blood, vertigo, startings up,
restlessness, fear, misanthropic, ill-humor, morose in cloudy weather, peevish
toward himself, < pains/suppression of the stool - > open air.
Disinclined to labor, lassitude # activity; good natured, self-contented;
prattling and laughing children."
In Hering’s American Provings, Aloe contains over 1640 symptoms which
the conscientious prescriber will profit from reviewing when the consideration
of Aloe comes up in a case, as many characteristic symptoms not present in the
above cases will be found there (see ReferenceWorks under American Homœopathic
Review). Aloe calls to be rediscovered but also uncovered by continued clinical
use. Many of the above cases have confirmed Hering’s, Wesselhœft’s and Jekyll’s
observations, who have said, respectively, that "Aloes has many symptoms
like Sulphur and is equally important in chronic diseases...," Aloe will
"clear away a number of other psoric symptoms not yet contained in its
pathogenesis," and "Aloes has cured many symptoms that are not
recorded in any Materia Medica that I have seen." Many other characteristic
aspects of Aloe have been discovered clinically like the retention of the stool
as in the following case of Butler:
In January 1885, Mrs. G. ___ a brunette 26 years of age, of plump
figure, firm muscular fiber and nervo-bilious temperament, consulted me for
constipation of many years standing. She received Sulphur without benefit.
February 1, I gave her Bryonia, also without benefit. Dissatisfied with
not having been helped she discontinued treatment, saying that she never had
received more than temporary relief from my medicine and was disgusted with
drugs and with doctors. In October, however, she came to me again, as the
constipated condition was worse than ever and "something must be
done". At this time she presented the following condition.
Her general health was excellent. Careful enquiry failed to find any
aches, pains, or abnormalities, except those about to be recorded. Her bowels
moved once in four or five days, usually without cathartics or enemata; if,
however, there was no disposition for stool after this length of time she would
take licorice powder, but this was seldom resorted to. For two or three days
preceding the movement of the bowels she had a feeling of heaviness through the
entire pelvic region "as if the lower part of the abdomen were made of
lead" which sensation was relieved by an evacuation of the bowels just in
proportion to its completeness. The stool itself was natural in color, large,
hard and dry. On account of its size it was voided only by great exertion and
even the most persistent straining was not always effectual until after
repeated attempts. There was no actual pain with the stool, but after it she
had a sense of great soreness about the anus, well up within the rectum, and
especially, in the perineum; so severe was it that the ordinary means of
cleansing were too painful and she was obliged to use a soft sponge and water
for this purpose. This soreness continued for several hours after an
evacuation.
The heaviness in the pelvic region and the great soreness after stool
called my attention to Aloe and although this drug produces looseness of the
bowels as its most usual effect, and in the few cases of retarded action of the
bowels recorded under it in Allen’s Cyclopedia, the character of the fecal
accumulation is not given, it more nearly covered the totality of the symptoms
than any remedy that I knew. I gave it in a Fincke potency (the 45m graft) a
dose in water, each night until the bowel moved- then to report for further
advice.
On the second morning (i.e. after the second dose) she reported that the
bowels had moved and more freely and naturally than for months; that meantime
the heaviness in the abdomen, and the soreness after stool were very much
better although not well. The medicine was now discontinued and she was
directed to report again when her constipation returned. Up to this time, now
more than six months, she has required no more medicine for this condition, her
bowels continuing to move naturally and regularly." (12)
In the proving, we find that the "secondary effect" of Aloe is
stool retention. This retention of stool in children for fear of pain is not
that uncommon and had been confirmed by Nash some years earlier.
Here is his most interesting case: "Master P. ___ aged three years,
light hair, complexion and eyes, had been troubled with constipation since
birth. At times he was worse than at others, and it was often almost impossible
to get an evacuation even with repeated injections of water. The feces were in
lumps, very large and light colored; there was so much pain attending efforts
at stool that he screamed and was covered with sweat, and the mother was often
obliged to pick away the hard lumps. He seemed afraid, and avoided letting his
parents know, of a desire for stool, as long as possible. After treating him
during several of these attacks with Bryonia, Sulphur, Nux vomica, Veratrum
album, Calc., and Sepia, with indifferent success I found that he oftentimes
passed large, hard lumps of fecal matter involuntary and apparently
unconsciously. Aloes 200th cured and there has been no return of the trouble
for two years. (13)
This symptom had also been reported by Guernsey in the following case:
"A little girl was first taken with a bad, nervous, shattering cough; then
fever; pain in her stomach; loss of appetite; constipation; could not sit up,
or hold up her head even, so completely had she lost the muscular power of her
neck and spine. She had a great variety of symptoms, but it was quite
impossible to name her disease. Most of her symptoms seemed to belong to a
great variety of medicines; only one seemed peculiar, and to belong especially
to Aloes. The symptom in her case that characterized it from all other symptoms
was an involuntary, unnoticed hard stool. The little girl knew nothing of it.
Now, it was found on careful comparison, that Aloes had all her symptoms, and
the golden rule is, give the smallest dose that will cure. My choice was Aloes
50 M, one single dose only. In three days she made rapid recovery." (14)
That would also apply to the symptom observed in many individuals by C.
Carleton Smith who reported during one of the Lippe Society meetings that
during "the epidemic of cholera that occurred in Chicago while he was
practicing there. Patients would come into his office holding the hands upon
the abdomen and fearing they would have an attack of diarrhea immediately. They
could not trust their bowels. Aloes would relieve all such cases, and they
escaped the cholera afterward." (15)
Or, in the following case of appendicitis:
April 24, 1903, I was called to see a little schoolgirl, aged about
twelve years. She complained of pain in the right side, in a central spot. She
had slight fever, some thirst, and was restless and nervous. I could not get
much in the way of symptoms from the child, but as she lived with her aunt and
did as she pleased. I came to the conclusion that her trouble resulted from
getting her feet wet on her way from school the day before, though I could get
no positive proof going to confirm my suspicions. However, I prescribed Rhus
200.
Called the 25th and found a slight improvement, when I told the aunt
what my suspicious were in regard to the case. The child’s father was sent for,
and, like many anxious fathers, felt that he must do all that could be done under
the mistaken notion that good would result from doing everything that can be
done, whether it has any particular reference to the good of the patient or
not, and as the child had not eaten anything for forty-eight hours he gave her
a pint of strong beef broth, with some bread in it. Of course, he soon heard
from it, and I did also.
I found her with a temperature of 103, trying to vomit, bowels bloated
and so tender that she could not bear the slightest touch. Her pulse was 130,
weak and thread-like, and the pain in the abdomen caused the child to scream
whenever she was touched or moved in the bed. She was called to the chamber as
often as every half-hour to pass a clear, thick jelly-like substance, which was
preceded by pain and relieved by the discharge. No pain during nor after the
discharge. She got Aloes 200. I repeated the dose three times during the next
ten days; always after I noticed the symptoms did not improve during the
preceding twenty-four hours. (16)
Review of the Characteristic Symptoms of Aloe Needing to be Added or
Upgraded in the Repertory
As many characteristic symptoms of Aloe are being clinically cured but
often not found or fully developed in its proving, Wesselhœft legitimately
asked the question, "Are we authorized to add to the pathogenesis of Aloe
those symptoms which were cured in this case? . . . I think we are fully
authorized to do so and in this way enrich still further this splendid
proving." We must be careful not to add just any symptom to the materia
medica of a remedy because it has disappeared under treatment. However,
symptoms, which have clearly and repeatedly disappeared following the
administration of a remedy should be included.
A *(star) following a symptom indicates that it needs to be added to or
upgraded in the repertory.
If in italic it should be in italics in the repertory.
If in bold it should be bold in the repertory.
The letter "p" after a symptom means that the symptom is found
in the proving.
The letter "v" means that it has been verified clinically.
The letter "c" means that the symptom was cured under Aloe,
but not found in the proving.
The letters "p + v" means the symptoms was proved and verified
clinically.
When there is no letters it means that the origin of the symptom,
whether from a proving or clinical, is not known.
Absorbed. (p + v) *
Reserved. (p + v)*
Obstinate. (p + v)*
A certain anxiety after one
scruple. (p + v)*
Fastidious. (p + v)*
Obsessions and cycles of
fixations. (c)
Needs routine or aversion to
change. (c)*
Anguish in the abdomen. (p + v)
Great anxiety, timorousness,
restlessness, dread of death, great anguish so that she cannot stay anywhere.
(p + v)
Anticipation, anxiety about the
future. (v)*
Fear of heights and going
downhill. (c)*
When sick the patient is not
pleasant to be with. He is hard to please. He has disgust with everything.
Dissatisfied and angry with himself. (p + v)
Irritable, he cannot endure the
visit of many people, they are repugnant to him. (p + v)
Unfriendly and unfeeling. (c)*
Hates people; repels every one.
(p + v)*
Aversion to being spoken to. (c)*
Ill humor, peevishness and
anthropophobia, with cuttings in the abdomen. (p)
Weeps easily.* Weeps with
consolation.* Dissatisfied and angry with himself. Revengeful. (p)
Impatient and in a hurry. (p +
v)*
Indisposed to go outdoors, but
the pain in the abdomen is thereby relieved. (p)
Irritable, quarrelsome with every
one who contradicts him; it seems he would rather be torn to pieces, sooner
than give up his will. (p)
Throws things when contradicted.
(c)*
The weather is cloudy, cold,
rainy (in December), and his humor morose, thoughtful, discontented. (P + v)
Ill humor; peevish about himself,
so that he insults* and blasphemes; worse afternoon.
Peevish towards himself without
reason. (p)
Little inclination for labor,
discouraged, apprehensive about his success. (p + v)
Indolence; if he sits he
deliberates about standing up. Can be associated with great fatigue, confusion,
desultory thinking which can all alternate with activity. (p + v)
Mental condition improves by
exercise in the open air. (p + v)*
Much inclination to continued
labor. (p)
Especially inclined to mechanical
labor. (p)
In the forenoon, he is much
excited, works hastily and yet well. (p + v)
Excited at night* with warmth and
redness of the face. (p + v)
Lassitude alternating with great
mental activity. (p + v)*
After a meal no sleepiness but a
forbidding and unconcerned humor; about half past three he is better and is
much inclined to joke, continually mocking the remarks of others; in the
evening he is inclined to work. (p + v)*
Immediately after a meal a
sluggish sleepy mood, he sat down by himself without speaking, without any
desire for mental or physical exertion, meditating, wrapped up in himself, as
after a sickness, or a fit of anger, which still gnaws internally, which one
cannot express. Nothing can engage his attention; he is averse to and disgusted
with everything. From one till after four, in the evening, already an opposite
condition sets in; he is not at all angered about an accident which otherwise
probably would have angered him. (p + v)
Sits still, silent. (p + v)*
Very discouraged and unhappy mood,
since the forenoon, with confused head and lack of inclination to labor; better
in the evening. (p)
Contented, happy humor in the
evening* as well as all the following day. (p)
Contented with his station in
life; it involuntary occurs to him that he is really much better off than many
other people. (p)
Towards evening uncommonly
aroused by spirited joyful news. (p)
Merry, self-contented,
fraternized to the whole world. (p + c)*
Sympathetic. (c)*
Too affectionate. (c)*
At evening, in a happy mood, he
feels completely happy and contented. (p)
Great serenity and good humor; in
a patient. (p)
The child is very much enlivened
and vivacious, it plays and prattles uncommonly with much mischievousness and
laughter; from sucking Aloes. (p)
Lack of self-confidence. (c)*
Doubtful. (c)*
Will not use a public washroom.
(c)*
Sensitive to admonition. (c)*
Aversion to consolation. (p + v)*
Sensitive to noise. (p + v)*
Startling easily, at noise.*
Easily frightened at slight noise. (p + v)
Painlessness. (c)*
Lack of irritability. (c)*
Never cries. (c)*
Never laughs. (c)*
Slow learning to talk. (c)*
Low, whispering voice. (c)*
Aversion to being touched, being
massaged. (p + v)*
Grinds his teeth with anger. (c)*
Heaviness in the forehead with
confusion and aversion to mental labor. (p)
Headaches worse in the summer and
from light. Compelled to make the eyes small. (v)*
Rubs his forehead. (c)*
Heat of face with excitement,
headaches. (v)
Headaches better cold and passing
flatus.*
Headaches worse rising,*
Congestion of the head in
lunatics. (p)*
Hair falling in lumps, leaves
bare patches. (c) **
Noise in ear when moving the jaw.
(p)*
Deafness, left then right side.
(p)*
Ear pain, left then the right
side. (p)
Earwax increased. (c)*
Cracking of the jaw. (p + v)
The nose is very red, without
redness of the face, in cold open air. (p)*
Epitaxis on the right side,* in
the morning in bed shortly after waking. (p)
Sneezing and with watery fluent
coryza. (p)*
Husky voice during coryza. (p)*
Black comedone on edge of the
upper lip. (p)*
Red and dry lips. (p + v)*
Dry mouth without thirst. (p +
v)*
Dry mouth with thirst. (p)*
Salivation with hunger. (p)*
Cold sensation of the left side
of the tongue. (p)*
Stitches under the tongue. (p)*
Pappy taste. (p)*
Grinding teeth when angry. (c)*
Grinding teeth in sleep. (c)*
Sore throat after stool. (c)*
Constriction of the throat. (p)*
Raw throat worse in the cold open
air. (p)*
Sore throat worse at night,
yawning, on opening the mouth, in the evening, on waking at night or in the morning,
and better on swallowing food. (p)*
Thirstlessness during diarrhea.
(c)*
Thirsty during meals. (v)*
Desire for fruits, especially
apples and apple juice, and juicy food, refreshing foods, beer, salt,
stimulants, farinaceous foods, bread, meat, milk, bitter and cold sour drinks.
(p + v)*
Aversion to fruits and meat.
Worse from alcohol, beer, fruits,
milk and vinegar.
Better from beer, cold drinks and
tea.
Increased appetite. (p)*
Hunger with diarrhea, hunger
after morning stool or any stool. (v)*
Nausea and vomiting better
sitting still. (p)*
Appendicitis with acute pain in
the right lower quadrant worse from movement and touch. (c)*
Stitches in the umbilical region
on sneezing. (p)*
Enlarged abdomen especially in
children. (c)*
Pain in the abdomen better lying
bent and pressure. (p)*
Diarrhea:
Profuse, watery, yellow brown
diarrhea, containing lumps with mucus. It can be lumps of jelly mucus, like
jellyfish. It can look like frog spawn, green or white. It can be mixed with
blood. (v)
Heaviness, pressure downwards.
Feeling as if a plug were wedged in between the symphysis pubis and the os
coccygis. (p)
Very active bowels before stools:
noisy (as if fluid was swashing), hot, distended, painful (cutting, gripping),
sensitive. They can feel the diarrhea coming minutes or even hours before. At
times they can feel the bolus travelling in the guts and then eventually
filling the rectum. The rectum seems full of fluid as if it would fall out.
(That is when they have the above feeling of a plug ) (v)
It comes out with force with lots
of gas, loud sputtering. Forcible, can come out like a cork. The evacuation
takes place without any exertion on the part of the patient; it seems, as it
were, to fall out of the rectum. (v)
Lack of confidence in the
sphincter ani. Involuntary stools when passing flatus, when urinating, when
standing, when rising.* Fear to urinate less stool should escape. (p + v)
Holds the hands on the abdomen
and fearing he would have an attack of diarrhea. (c)*
Diarrhea worse from anxiety,
excitement. (c)*
Continual urging for stool. (p)*
Stool comes out unnoticed,
"the stool falls out." (p + v)*
Albuminous white or clear frothy
mucus, mucus in globs like jelly-fish. (v)*
Painful or painless.
Worse being overheated, hot
weather, must hurry to the closet immediately while or right after eating or
drinking, after breakfast, 2 A.M. to 9-10 A.M., worse around 5 A.M., rushing
out of bed, worse moving around, rising from lying, standing, excitement,
anticipation, fruits, milk. (v)*
Diarrhea from suppressed skin
eruptions. (c)*
Passage of much flatus after each
meal; offensive, hot, and burning with relief. (p)
The rectum constantly secretes
mucus, which escapes from anus, even with attempts at defecation.
Great weakness and faintness
after stools. (v)*
Cold clammy to profuse
perspiration after stool. (c)*
Hemorrhoids, protrude like a
bunch of grapes, better cold water, worse on wiping after stool.
Anal pain better from beer. (p)*
Urine is saffron, offensive with
sediments.
Urine frothy. (c)*
Similar frequency and urgency of
the desire to pass urine, with a certain uncertainty in the tenure of that
excretion. (p + v)
Enuresis. (c)
Involuntary urination in old men
with enlarged prostate. (v)
Affection of the prostate gland.
Cannot hold the urine when the
urging comes. (c)
On rising he was obliged to run
quickly to urinate. (p + v)*
At stool urination; when
urinating desire for stool.
Increased sexual desire after
eating, after stool, in the evening. (p)*
High sexual desire especially in
children. (c)*
Free discharge of prostatic fluid
after stool. (c)*
Quick ejaculation, emission
during siesta.*
Testicles cold; right feels cool
at night; penis small; scrotum relaxed. (p)
Epididymis sensitive to touch and
while walking. (p)*
Offensive perspiration of
genitals.
Fullness and heaviness in the
region of the uterus. Pressing down in the rectum during menses. Uterine
hemorrhage with great heaviness. The uterus always feels too heavy and
engorged, as if the
hemorrhage would take place at
any time. This heaviness can be seen in a constipated person. Menses early and
profuse. Pains worse when standing. (p)
Shortness of breath in cold air
or when walking against the wind. (c)*
Dorsal pain as from prolonged
stooping. (p)*
Low back pain worse lying on the
back, better after rising. (p)*
Stiffness in the sacral area
after sitting, worse rising. (p)*
Pain in the coccyx as if he had
fallen on it. (p)*
Pain in extremities as if
sprained. (p)
Pain in the right upper arm worse
motion. (p)*
Pain in left thumb, as if
sprained. (p)*
Chilblains. (c)*
Desquamation of palms of hands.
(c)*
Numbness of the extremities while
lying after eating.
Sleep:
Lays on the abdomen especially
children. (v)*
Lies on the abdomen with hands
between the thighs. (c)*
Lies on back with knees bent and
hands above or under the head. (c)*
Sleeps with the head covered.
(c)*
Cold hands and feet in bed. (p)
Enuresis. (c)
Moans in sleep. (v)
Perspiration profuse in sleep.
Head and neck. (c)*
Dreams: animals of all sorts,
danger, monsters, cannot cry out, of being crazy and being watched, having a
stool, waves and water.* (p)
Chills extending down the back.
(p)*
< spicy foods. (p)*
All the symptoms are better with
exercise in the open air. (p)*
Generalities:
Poor stamina and low resistance
to effort. Indolence.
< mental and physical
exertion. (p + v)
Polarity: overly
sensitive/insensitive to pain, cries easily/never cries, sympathetic/unfeeling,
friendly/unfriendly, hatred/affectionate, sluggish/vivacious, great thirst
during a meal/thirstless during diarrhea,
desire for meat/great aversion to
meat. (v)
Alternating states :
Indolence/great activity. Alternating moods. Low back pains # with headaches.
Cold hands # with cold feet. Constipation # diarrhea. Diarrhea # headaches. (p
+ c)
Warm-blooded but chilly during
acute state. (v)*
Worse warmth. (v)*
Aversion to the sun. (c)*
Weakness from the heat of the summer.
(v)
Worse hot damp weather, worse
being in the Sun.* (v)
Worse cloudy weather (moods: sad
and morose). (v)*
Better in the evening: energy,
inclination to work, moods, chilliness, increased sexual desire. (v)*
Better cold (headaches, haemorrhoids,
general). (v)
All symptoms better exercise in
the open air. (p)*
Worse jarring when sitting in a
chair or lying in bed. (v)*
Aversion to bathing. (c)*
Aversion to having his hair being
cut. (c)*
Better kneeling. (c)*
Sensitive to music: he hates
musical sound and noise. It sets him all in a tremor, or he fees it travelling
his body like a shock wave. Trembling from music or noise. (v)*
Development arrested. (c)*
Ailments from suppression or the
effects of drugs ("hospital diarrhea"). (c)
Great impatience and hurriedness.
Indolence, which can alternate
with activity.
Low stamina.
Hates people; repels every one.
Aversion to change. Tendency for
fixation and obsession.
Startles easily.
Worse cloudy weather.
Worse hot weather.
Worse heat, better cold.
Better open air, better exercise
in the open air.
Worse in the morning, better in
the evening: energy, moods, indolence, control of sphincter ani. Tired in the
morning and the rest of the day but the fatigue vanishes in the evening; a
crowd of thoughts busy him, cannot get to sleep for a long time.
Better passing stool or flatus:
abdominal or rectal pain, heaviness, palpitation, and headaches.
Chronic or recurrent diarrhea.
Involuntary stools. Stool
unnoticed.
Ailments from suppressed skin
eruptions, headaches, and diarrhea, and ailments from drugs.
Conclusion:
I hope this presentation will help my colleagues to better grasp the
broad indications of Aloe, stimulate a more detailed study of its materia
medica and encourage them to report their cured cases to further complete the
picture of Aloe, thereby continuing the great work begun by Hahnemann.
References
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum