Totes Meer (Yam-Ha-Melach )
Vergleich: Enthält: Approx. Mag-m. (53%) + Nat-m. (30%) + Calc-m. (14,4%) + Kali-m. (4,4%) + zahlreiche Spurenelemente + wenig Sulfat + relativ viel Bromide + natürliches Teer.;
Comparison of the Signs and Symptoms of Yam-Ha-Melach 30CH to the
existing Indications of Clinical therapeutic Use
Siehe: Salzseen + Aquae allgemein + Todesgruppe + Anhang (Müller)
Kind/Anhang;
http://openscholar.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/511
[Natasha Wallace]
Provings are important to expand known materia medica and advance
homeopathy. The Dead Sea was chosen as a substance because it has numerous
therapeutic properties
in its crude form, making Yam ha-Melach an invaluable homeopathic remedy as the
therapeutic properties of a substance is increased during the potentization process. Objective of the study was to
investigate the therapeutic potential of Yam-ha-Melach
30CH, on healthy provers
and to record the signs and symptoms produced, so that it may be prescribed
according to the Law of Similars, to those presenting
with similar symptoms and further to compare the materia
medica of Yam ha-Melach ’s
constituent minerals with symptoms obtained from the proving of Yam-ha-Melach 30CH.
Methodology This proving took the form of a randomised double-blind, placebo
controlled study. The potency used was the 30th centesimal potency or 30CH. The
proving population consisted of a combined project of twenty provers who met the inclusion criteria (Appendix A). Ten
percent of the test group (two subjects) received placebo and the rest received
Yam ha-Melach 30C (18 subjects). In order for the study to
have remained double blind, neither the researchers nor the provers
were aware of who received placebo and who received the remedy. Data collection
was in the form of a journal kept by each prover, in
which their symptoms were recorded daily for a total of five weeks, before,
during and after taking the powders. On completion of the proving, data
obtained from the journals were analyzed by the researcher for suitability of
symptoms for inclusion in the materia medica of Yam ha-Melach. These
symptoms were then translated into ii materia medica and repertory language, and a homeopathic picture of
the remedy formulated. Data obtained from the case histories and physical
examinations (Appendix E) and group discussions were also considered. A
comparison between the ‘minimum characteristic syndrome’ of Yam ha-Melach and the
symptoms on the mental, emotional and physical planes of each of Yam-ha-Melach ’s main constituent mineral remedies and their group
themes were made, whereby the essential similarities and differences between
them were elucidated. The main constituent minerals of the Dead Sea are
magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, bromide and sulphur.
The materia medica of
Yam-ha-Melach ’s main constituent minerals therefore
included the remedies: Magnesium muriaticum
, Kalium muriaticum , Natrum muriaticum , Bromium, Sulphur.
The proving symptoms were also compared to the materia
medica group themes of the Magnesiums, Kaliums, Bromatums,
Muriaticums and the Natriums in Scholten’s “Homeopathy and Minerals” (Scholten,
1993).
Rabinowitz (2008) conducted an analysis of the
proving symptoms, comparing the symptoms with existing indications of the Dead
Sea’s clinical therapeutic use, in a parallel study of similar methodology.
Symptoms were taken from the groups of both studies and included in the materia medica and repertory for
Yam ha-Melach.
Results:
The symptoms obtained from the proving had a very definite polarity. On
the one side there was depression and loneliness, whilst on the other side
there was happiness.
This was shown also on the mental sphere, which varied from confusion to
mental clarity. iii The main symptoms of this proving were the dreams (war;
violence; evil; religion; family and friends). Provers
experienced a wide range of symptoms on mental, emotional and physical levels
during the study. The main themes were feelings of loneliness
and isolation, depression and hopelessness, being emotionally
overwhelmed and crying, irritability and frustration, worrying about family and
friends, needing affection, paranoia, oversensitivity and mood swings; and the
feeling of being relaxed, calm and happy. The polarity continued on the
physical level with regards to sleep, energy and appetite. On the physical
level provers experienced dehydration resulting in
headaches, dry itchy skin, eyes and mouth with diarrhea
or constipation as well as nausea and vomiting. Some of the subjects had no
appetite while others had an increase in appetite. Provers
noted flu and hay fever like symptoms as well as joint and muscle stiffness
and pain. Numbness, pins and needles and increased sensitivity were
present in the extremities of most provers. Provers noticed pimples and dry patches on skin with severe
itchiness and burning all over. Sleep was affected with some provers having difficulty sleeping, waking up all the time
and others sleeping like a ‘rock.’ There was either a
lack of energy or an increase in energy levels. Some provers
had hot flushes and others felt cold and noticed fluctuations of body
temperature. There was a general increase in perspiration. Some provers displayed black rashes and black stools. Provers experienced a general aggravation from alcohol. The
main cravings were for salty food and coffee. The main aversion was for sweets.
There was a general increase in thirst among the prover
population. Conclusions The 30CH potency of Yam ha-Melach
produced clearly observable signs and
symptoms in healthy provers. Comparing the symptoms
elucidated from the proving iv of Yam ha-Melach to the materia medica of its mineral constituents attempted to expand and
clarify the therapeutic action of the remedy and allowed a better understanding
of the similarities and differences between Yam ha-Melach
and these remedies that exist in known materia medica. A complete and
thorough understanding of Yam ha-Melach and its relationship to these remedies was
achieved and contributed to a comprehensive remedy picture and aided in its
practical application. The comparison revealed that Yam ha-Melach
was most similar to Magnesium muriaticum on mental,
emotional and physical planes. Both remedies had similar feelings of
aggression, depression, being overwhelmed quickly, dreams of water, anxiety and
restlessness, lethargy and similar sensations and complaints on the physical
level. This is interesting as the Dead Sea consists of 53% magnesium chloride,
37% potassium chloride, 8% sodium chloride, low concentration of sulfate ions and a high bromide concentration. Magnesium
chloride is therefore the main mineral constituent of the Dead Sea.
2.2 THE PROVING SUBSTANCE Yam-ha-Melach
2.2.1 Choosing the Proving Substance
According to Herscu (2002) there are two ways
to go about choosing a proving substance. One is to chose a substance that the
researcher is excited about as the proving process is incredibly time consuming
and a large amount of dedication is necessary. The second falls into the
concept of evolution and redisposition.
There are three categories that subdivide this concept.
1. This includes substances that people have been interacting with for a
long time (food or medicine). These substances are not neutral to us and thus
produce and have produced some kind of reaction at a cellular level for
millennia and are thus an integrated part of our constitutions. Thus if one
were to pick a bird to prove, a turkey or chicken would be a better choice than
a vulture. We have lived with, grown and eaten chicken and turkey and thus have
a more integrated relationship to them than we would to a vulture (Herscu, 2002).
2. This group involves any substances that human beings are made of.
This does not only imply tissues but elements, minerals and salts. Especially
those that effect homoeostasis. This is why remedies such as Sulphur, Nat-m, Phos. and Calc. are so profound (Herscu,
2002).
3. This group includes substances that poison people. Poisonous
substances make for great provings as it is already
known to affect our constitution. We know we are sensitive
to it, we know we are predisposed to it and we have a good understanding
of the toxic effects it produces. This includes plants and animals that have
harmful effects.
2.2.2 History
The Dead Sea has been the focus of interest since ancient times.
Aristotle (304-322BC) was the first to tell the world of the qualities of the
Dead Sea, much later and historians such as, Flavius Josephus, Galen, and Pliny
the Elder, refer to the Dead Sea and its medicinal properties (Abels, Even-paz, Efron, 1996).
Flavius Josephus: “it is useful for the cure of men’s bodies;
accordingly it is mixed in a great many medicines.” (McNulty, 2002). Galen
(122-c100) stated that,
“the most beautiful asphalt is produced by this sea called „Dead’, the
potency of this medicine consists in its drying and next in its healing
capabilities; it is indeed appropriate that people use it for closing bleeding
wounds”. Largus mentions in his pharmacologic work
that is helpful in mending broken bones, Pelagonius
recommended Dead sea brine for “fresh, bloody swellings of the ankles” and in
the 3rd century Africanus said that the
waters of the Dead Sea healed all those who used them (Even-paz,
Shani, 1989).
In addition, references linking the Dead Sea and the Queen of Sheba,
King Solomon, Cleopatra, and King Herod are observed in historical chronicles.
The Talmud, a compilation of Jewish civil and ecclesiastic law (third to sixth
centuries), discusses bathing in the Dead Sea in several of its tractates (Abels, Even-paz, Efron, 1996) and
forbids bathing in the Dead Sea on the Sabbath as active therapy is
forbidden on the Sabbath unless directly related to saving a life, thus
implying its healing properties
(Even-paz, Shani,
1989).
2.2.3 Composition
The only tributary of the Dead Sea is the Jordan river. There is however
no exit for the water from the Dead Sea resulting in stagnation. The salts
accumulate and cause a natural buoyancy due to the increased density. It is the
deepest hyper saline lake in the world (Weintraub,
2001). The Jordan River as the Dead Sea’s only tributary comparison between the chemical composition
of the water of the Dead Sea and its tributaries and that of other lakes and
the ocean shows the average salinity of the Dead Sea water (33.50%) to be
exceptionally high (5920 mg/L), approximately eleven times more saline than the
Mediterranean, probably the highest on record for any surface water. The salts
originate from two main sources, about one third from the Jordan River and
about two thirds from highly saline springs discharging into the Dead Sea
(Bentor, Y. 1961). The composition of the salt
is approximately 53% magnesium chloride, 37% potassium chloride, 8% sodium
chloride, calcium chloride, sulphates and bromides. As apposed to the 80%
sodium chloride make up of ordinary sea salt (Weintraub,
2001).
2.2.4 Geographic Background
The Dead Sea is situated between Israel and Jordon(Illustration 2), over
the Great Rift Valley (Weintraub, 2001). The Great
Rift Valley was formed a million years ago during the earliest stages of the
evolution of continental break-up between Africa and Asia(Y. Mart, 1990). The Earth„s
crust is being pulled apart causing the Dead Sea to sink 33.3cm every year (Weintraub, 2001).
The most important factor to account for the uniqueness of the Dead Sea
area is its location at the deepest point on the Earth’s terrestrial surface,
approximately 400 m below sea level. Being the lowest point on Earth, unique
climatic features such as atmospheric, chemical, and solar properties occur
that are utilized in the treatment of certain diseases, in particular
dermatologic and rheumatic conditions (Abels, Even-paz, Efron, 1996).
2.2.5 Climate
The average maximum temperature is 22° - 29°C from November to April,
32° - 37° during September and October and 38° - 39°C in June and July. There
are more than 330 sunny days all year round.
Due to extremely high evaporation, which is about 2 billion m³ a year,
there is a heavy haze over the Dead Sea at all times. The haze and additional
400 meters of atmosphere help to filter out more UVB rays, and create the ideal
correlation of UVA and UVB rays, so the duration of exposure to sun can be
increased
(Sagi, 1987). Observation has shown
approximately 330 days per year of sunshine, with a large percentage of these
being cloudless, particularly in the summer. The annual rainfall is only around
50 mm per year. The moderate-to-high temperatures (32°- 39°C), low humidity, a
large number of sunny, cloudless days with a low annual rainfall all contribute
to allowing treatment to take place at the Dead Sea for at least 8 months of
the year (March to November); and in certain instances this period is even
longer, in addition, it should be mentioned that the extremely high barometric
pressure in the Dead Sea area produces an oxygen partial pressure that is 10%
greater than at sea level.
This may have implications in the treatment of burn patients,
respiratory ailments, cardiac conditions, and other medical problems (Abels, Even-paz, Efron, 1996).Due to the high temperatures and low rain fall
there is an extremely high level of evaporation resulting in an approximate
water level drop of almost 1m per year for the last 30 years.
The evaporation also results in a thick haze that filters UVB rays
making the area ideal for outdoor therapy (Sagi,
1987).
The Dead Sea
3.2.2.6 Existing Indications for Clinical Therapeutic Use
Magnesium: important for combating stress and fluid retention. It slows
skin aging and calms the nervous system.
Calcium: increases circulation, strengthens bones and nails and reduces
water retention.
Potassium: energizes the body and is crucial to replenish after
strenuous exercise as well as balancing skin moisture.
Bromides: ease muscle stiffness and Sodium maintains lymphatic fluid
balance (McNulty, 2002).The Dead Sea area has a very low allergen content and
has a reduced ultra violet component of solar radiation. The high atmospheric
pressure of the area is very beneficial to people suffering from reduced
respiratory function (Weintraub, 2001).A study was
conducted on 103 patients suffering with osteoarthritis and tendonitis.
Patients were treated with baths of 7,5% Dead Sea salt concentration.
Improvement was found after as little as one week.
By the end of the study, 80% of the patients reported less pain, 70%
reported improved mobility and 60% were able to decrease their use of
analgesics (Machtey, 1982).
The principal indication for treatments with Dead Sea brine include skin
conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis as well as rheumatic
conditions. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the use of Dead sea brine is
successful in treating these conditions
(Arndt, 1982). 70% of patients treated for these conditions at the Dead
Sea achieve complete or near complete clearing of their skin lesions (Even-paz, Koren, Shani,
Sharon, 1987). Atopic dermatitis is a chronic relapsing hypersensitivity
reaction. It involves the interplay of genetic susceptibility, immune dysregulation, barrier dysfunction and has a psychophysiological component (Harari,
Hristakieva, Seidle, Shani, 2000).
Psoriasis is a common non-infectious, inflammatory disease of the skin,
characterized by epidermal hyperplasia, parakeratosis,
a heightened mitotic activity and increased permeability to externally applied
substances (Even-paz, Koren,
Shani, Sharon, 1987).Results reported in a study
performed on psoriatic patients treated with Dead Sea brine at the XV
International Congress of Dermatology in Mexico City showed a 94,9% improvement
with 70-80% of those showing a complete improvement within 4 weeks.
A study conducted by Avrach on 1448 arthritic psoriatics showed a complete lack of joint pain after a 4
week treatment of daily bathing in Dead Sea brine in 70% of the patients (Harari, Shani, 1997) and 96% had
either complete or partial clearance of psoriatic lesions within the 4 week
treatment period (Harari, Hristakeiva,
Kushelevsky,
Shani, 1996). In 1995 a study was conducted by the Deutches Medizinisches Zentrum (DMZ) in which 688 European psoriatics
were assessed regarding their psoriatic condition. These patients were
subjected to daily Dead Sea bathing and sun exposure for a 28 day period. At
the end of the treatment period between 65,4% and 71,4% achieved total
clearance and up to 85% of those achieved partial clearance (Harari, Hristakeiva, Kushelevsky, Shani, 1996). In a
study conducted by the DMZ, 1718 atopic dermatitis patients were studied taking
intoaccount the extent of the body surface involved,
intensity of clinical signs, subjective symptoms of pruritis
and sleep loss.
The treatment protocol involved prolonged outdoor stays and gradual
exposure to Dead Sea brine. Only 28 of the patients required asthmatic
medication during the treatment and of these 24 improved dramatically and
either radically reduced medication or stopped it completely. No patients
required any steroid treatment emergency treatment of any kind during the Dead
Sea treatment period. Of the 1718 patients treated, 97,5% scored “1-4” at the
end of their stay. 1 -clear, 2 -almost
clear (5% skin involvement and no active inflammation), 3 -markedly improved
(5% skin involvement, but with some active inflammation marks or disappearance
of >50% of original marks), 4
–improved with a substantial reduction, but <50% of original marks (Harari, Hristakieva, Seidle, Shani, 2000). There is
evidence of increased epidermal hydrogen peroxide in patients
with vitiligo. The hydrogen peroxide can be
removed with a topical application of narrow band UVB activated pseudocatalase cream which yields an increase in
pigmentation.
A study was performed on 59 patients with vitiligo
by comparing pseudocatalase therapy alone with a
combination of Dead Sea therapy/ pseudocatalase
cream. The patients had vitiligo fro an average of 17
years. Initiation of repigmentation was observed on
between day 10 and day16 after the combination of Dead Sea therapy/pseudocatalase cream compared to conventional pseudocatalase monotherapy which
takes 8-14 weeks. This shows a considerably faster initiation of repigmentation with Dead Sea (Behrens-williams,
Harari, Moore, Panske, Schallreuter, 2002)
2.2.7 Reason for proving Dead Sea water
As stated above the Dead Sea has beena focal
point for the treatment of skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema as well
as many other conditions. Bathing in Dead Sea brine has provided significant
improvements in most cases. Potenzation of the crude
substance enhances the depth of its therapeutic potential and will thus an
invaluable homoeopathic remedy (Weintraub, 2001).
Skin disorders and rashes resembling the symptomatology
of psoriasis and eczema were expected to appear during the proving as well as
rheumatic joint symptoms. An effective treatment for the above conditions would
be a valuable addition to the homoeopathic Materia Medica and would further verify the Law of Similars.
2.3 CONCLUSION
The symptoms and remedy picture attained by conducting the proving of
Dead Sea water will be compared to the existing indications of therapeutic use
as outlined above.
A variety of symptoms closely resembling those of rheumatoid and
osteoarthritis as well as skin disorders such as psoriasis were experienced by
the provers. This confirms
the hypotheses as well as verifying the homoeopathic principle of the
Law of Similars.
3.1 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
The homoeopathic proving of Yam ha-Melach 30CHwas
conducted as a double blind placebo controlled study on a proving population of
20 healthy volunteers who met the inclusion criteria detailed in 3.5.2 of this chapter.A parallel proving of Yam ha-Melach
30CHwas conducted by Wallace (2008)
using the same methodology. All signs and symptoms elucidated by the prover populations of this study together with those of
Wallace (2008) were considered for inclusion into the Materia
Medica and repertory of this substance.
3.3.1 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
The homoeopathic proving of Yam ha-Melach 30CHwas
conducted as a double blind placebo controlled study on a proving population of
20 healthy volunteers who met the inclusion criteria detailed in 3.5.2 of this chapter.A parallel proving of Yam ha-Melach
30CHwas conducted by Wallace (2008)
using the same methodology. All signs and symptoms elucidated by the prover populations of this study together with those of
Wallace (2008) were considered for inclusion into the Materia
Medica and repertory of this substance.
The proving of Yam ha-Melach 30CHproduced
prominent mental and emotional themes.
Anxiety
Relaxed and Calm
Poor Concentration
Indifference
Empty
Neutral
Irritability and Frustration
Emotionally overwhelmed and crying
Depression and Hopelessness
Loneliness and Isolation
Needing Affection
Manic Happiness
Rebellion
Mood Swings
Escapism
Clear Mind
Self Actualization
Spaced out and Floating
Drugged
Detached
Intuition
Discrimination and Lack of Faith in
Humanity
Paranoia
Poor Memory
False Fronts
5.7 MIASMATIC INDICATION
This remedy falls into the malarial miasm.
There is a distinct feeling of being stuck in a situation that is hopeless.
They feel isolated as no one can understand the plight they
are in. The feeling of being stuck even surfaced in the dreams. There
were intermittent stages of depression and absolute frustration which
alternated with periods of mania
and a sense of being very important with great responsibility. There
were also intermittent attack of violent homicidal and suicidal thoughts. They
are lamenting and paranoid. Physical symptoms include rheumatisms, headaches,
skin complaints and complaints of the respiratory system.
5.8 CLINICAL INDICATIONS
Yam ha-Melach will be useful in treating depressive states
that feel a sense of isolation and hopelessness in their current situation. A
feeling of spiritual dampening and an anxiety of not knowing who they are or
who they want to be or where they want to go in life. A very strong symptom was
one of absolute frustration. Other common symptoms included lethargy,
indifference, uncontrollable crying for long periods of time and paranoia
regarding their health and safety as well as the health and safety of
their loved ones. Sleep was greatly affected leaving provers
feeling tired and unrefreshed, the remedy could thus
be helpful in treating insomnia and sleeplessness.
Symptoms of dehydration penetrated every system. There was drying out of
the skin and mucous membranes, dehydration headaches, constipation with dark
stools, strong smelling and coloured urine that appeared thick. Thirst was
drastically increased for water. The remedy could thus be used for a state of
dehydration.
The female reproductive system was greatly affected with provers experiencing hot flushes, hormonal headaches,
breast tenderness, lower back pain, lower abdominal pain,
a sensation of a live thing inside the abdomen, irregulations
of the menstrual cycle and dreams of babies, infertility and artificial
insemination. Skin symptoms were very marked, with rashes and patches
resembling eczema and psoriasis as well as acne, pustules on erythmatous bases. The skin was very dry in general and
flaking and peeling of the skin was marked. Yam ha-Melach
may be instrumental in the treatment of
these conditions. Arthritic joint and muscle pains were common. Joints were
swollen, inflamed, painful and stiff. This suggests that this remedy could be
used in the treatment of disorders such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis as
well as fibromyalgia as well as other joint and muscle disorders. Headaches
were very common amongst provers. The pain was dull,
diffuse, congested and foggy as well as throbbing and clamping. The temporal headaches were predominantly bitemporal radiating to the vertex and ears and
“centralizing between my eyes deep in my head.” Frontal headaches tended to
move across
the forehead and temples and were usually one sided. The remedy could be
utilized in the treatment of such headaches. Influenza like symptoms were also
experienced and
the remedy’s suggested application here should be considered.
5.8. COMPARISON TO MAIN CONSTITUENT MINERAL REMEDIES5.
8.1. Yam ha-Melach and Magnesium muriaticum
The essence of Magnesium muriaticum is a sense
that aggression will lead to loss of care from the mother or that aggression is
needed to forcefully ask for care. This
aggression can be held in check leading
to pacifism or it can be expressed and cause severe irritation. The cause of Magnesium muriaticum
’s aggression difficulties is because of the fear of loss of a sense of
security due to this aggression. It is a
fear of losing a sense of being safe and cared for (Scholten,
1993:57). In Yam ha-Melach
there was also a lot of aggression but
no fears associated or causing the aggression, the aggression was mostly due to
a feeling of impatience and irritation at trifles. Provers expressed
their irritation by snapping or shouting at people and swearing. Magnesium muriaticum
is also characterized by marked depression described as a dark gloom that has
settled, temporarily interrupted by explosive violence (Vermeulen,
2002: 874). They feel abandoned by
everyone including family and friends.
They withdraw and become silent.
It feels like there is a dark cloud hanging over them and it is
difficult to make contact with them (Scholten,
1993:60). In Yam ha-Melach there was also a depressive tendency but not
associated with violent outbursts. It
was due to a sense of loneliness and isolation, with provers
feeling hopeless, overwhelmed and crying uncontrollably. The depression was similarly described as a
dark blanket that had settled upon the prover.
According to Scholten (1993), Magnesium muriaticum feels the
world is divided; everything and everyone is divided by violence. They have strong feelings that make them feel
overwhelmed and make them dream of water that may drown them. In Yam ha-Melach provers also felt
overwhelmed quickly by their sense of loneliness and hopelessness but this made
them cry uncontrollably. There were also
dreamsof water, but not of drowning; provers dreamt of the beach or the ocean, swimming and
floating in the sea and the movement of the water. Magnesium muriaticum
experiences anxiety, feeling hurried
with accompanying anguish, apprehensiveness and restlessness. Yam ha-Melach also
produced anxiety in provers but it was described as
an uneasy energy or nervousness starting in the epigastium
and moving to the jaw, especially at trifles. In Magnesium muriaticum
there is tiredness on waking also
experienced by provers during the proving of Yam ha-Melach , but in Magnesium muriaticum
it is due to fear aggravated from closing the eyes and beginning of sleep and
in Yam ha-Melach it was due to interruption of sleep from
physical symptoms or anxiety and waking up throughout the night or early
morning. On the physical plane Magnesium muriaticum has symptoms
of vertigo in the morning on rising, also found in Yam ha-Melach. There is
also a squeezing, compression sensation in the temples similar to the clamp
like compression pain in the temples felt in Yam ha-Melach. Other common symptoms include photophobia, coryza, loss of taste and dryness of the mouth, raw pain in
the throat, rotten egg like eructations, cramps in
the stomach, frequent urination and increased thirst. Magnesium muriaticum has a
sour, bitter taste in the mouth, while Yam ha-Melach had
a salty taste in the mouth. Magnesium muriaticum has a dry
cough due to tickling in the throat with associated burning of the chest, but
the cough is described as spasmodic, not harsh and barking as in Yam ha-Melach. Both Magnesium muriaticum
and Yam ha-Melach
has pain, stiffness and numbness of the
extremities, muscles and joints. In
Magnesium muriaticum there is a desire for sweets (Vermeulen, 2000:1004 –1007), whereas in Yam ha-Melach there is an
aversion to sweet things. Magnesium muriaticum has an aversion to salt, whereas in Yam ha-Melach there was a craving for salt.
Magnesium muriaticum is mainly a liver remedy with marked
constipation, mainly at sea. Stool is
knotty, like sheep dung, crumbling at the verge of the anus, dry and grey
or white. Yam ha-Melach also produced symptoms of constipation typically
with solid, hard and knotty, dark or black stool. Provers also
experienced diarrhea, also seen in Magnesium muriaticum .
Magnesium muriaticum also greatly affects the female system
producing symptoms of ovarian (bearing down pain) and uterine pain, profuse,
early and prolonged menses described as dark and lumpy and irregular menses. In
Yam ha-Melach provers had breast tenderness, right ovarian pain described
as being clamped, headaches, with a scanty bright red menstrual bleed.
5.8.2. Yam ha-Melach and Kali muriaticum
According to Scholten (1993:61), the theme of
Kali muriaticum is the duty to be a good mother and
to take care of the family or if they do their duty they will be taken
care of. Another variation of the
theme is having a duty conscious mother, doing everything herself while letting
her children play outside or giving them all a task to do. They give their children the best care
showing great perseverance, enforcing strict rules. Due to their strong sense of duty, they might
make too many rules in order to control everything, but this causes loss of
real contact and warmth between her and her children, because they might feel
that she is distant and reserved. Scholten (1993:64) suggests that the opposite scenario may
be possible, in which a woman who were forced to do housework since an early
age, feeling this was unfair, will not let her children do any work and
therefore have to work extra hard herself.
None of these themes are seen in the remedy picture of Yam ha-Melach. According to
Vermeulen (2002:762), Kali muriaticum
is quarrelsome with members of the family with rage and fury at the slightest
provocation. This was also seen in Yam
ha-Melach but to a lesser degree. Provers noticed
snapping
263and shouting at family members over trifles, but this was more due to
a general feeling of impatience. Kali muriaticum also represents with a desire to be in lonely
places with an aversion to noise, study, to talk, company, friends and to be
disturbed. In Yam ha-Melach
some provers wanted to be alone while others felt
that they needed to be around people.
There was irritation at people talking and an aversion to studying
similar to Kali muriaticum , but the problem with
studying was due to a feeling of indifference and poor concentration. According to Vermeulen
(2000:879), Kali muriaticum has sadness #
cheerfulness. In Yam ha-Melach provers suffered severe
mood swings, feeling depressed and sad one minute and then happy and manic the
next. On the physical plane, Kali muriaticum < 3 h., waking up at this time, which is also
a symptom found in Yam ha-Melach , with most provers waking up at 3am with physical complaints or with a
start, for no reason. In Kali muriaticum there is
a prominent symptom of breasts feeling painful and swollen before menses (Scholten, 1993:64).
In Yam ha-Melach provers
experienced breast tenderness and sensitivity with breasts feeling full and
heavy. Kali muriaticum
has an increase thirst, dryness of the mouth and throat, salty taste in the
mouth and coryza also found in Yam ha-Melach , but the coryza produces
sticky, thick, slimy secretions different from Yam ha-Melach’s
secretions that were clear, watery, salty or like salt water.
Provers also experienced difficulty
swallowing but not to the same degree as found in Kali muriaticum
(Vermeulen (2002:763). Kali muriaticum has
scabby, yellow crusts
of pus on the edges of the eyelids.
In Yam ha-Melach there was also an affinity
for the eyelids producing dry, red eczema on the corners of the eyelids that
burned and
itched; provers also felt like they were
developing a sty on the eyelid due to a throbbing pain on the lower lids. There is snapping and noises in the ears of
Kali muriaticum , whereas in Yam ha-Melach there was tinnitus an ringing in the ears. Kali muriaticum is
known for producing swelling of glands, especially cervical glands also found
in Yam ha-Melach.
Other similar physical symptoms include ravenous hunger followed by
total anorexia, flatulence, empty feeling in the stomach. Kali muriaticum has
nausea and vomiting with accompanying shivers, whereas Yam ha-Melach presented with nausea accompanied by tiredness and
dizziness and a tender epigastrium. Kali muriaticum has constipation, stools described as light colored, so dry it crumbles and diarrhea,
stools described as clay-colored, white, slimy. In Yam ha-Melach the
stool was compact, solid, hard, knotty and dark when constipated and watery,
yellow, yellowbrown resembling peanut butter during diarrhea. Kali muriaticum presents with a cough described as spasmodic
with thick white sputum, white as milk or yellow green. In Yam ha-Melach the
cough was described as harsh and barking, with white sputum with white or
yellow pieces resembling salt, tasting salty.
Kali muriaticum and Yam ha-Melach
also shared an affinity for the musculo skeletal
system, both producing pain and stiffness of joints and muscles. Kali muriaticum also
produces acne and eczema but the eczema is described as green, brown, yellow
crusts whereas in Yam ha-Melach it is described as
dry, itchy red or black patches with crust resembling salt produced on
scratching.
5.8.3. Yam ha-Melach and Natrum
muriaticum
Scholten (1993:65), describes the essence of
Natrum muriaticum to be an idea that there is no mother and no
care therefore the delusion in Natrum muriaticum that the mother is dead. Another side to this is that it is forbidden
to nurture and to care to much, resulting in a mother that is strict and cold,
leaving her children to cry on their own causing
a Natrum muriaticum state
in them as well. He describes how he has
used Natrum muriaticum with
success in a situation of a child in an incubator. According to him the incubator creates a Natrum muriaticum situation, the mother is absent and there is physical care
present but without warmth and love, leaving the child alone. He has also given Natrum
muriaticum to someone with dreams of a concentration
camp, which is also a situation of being left to one’s own fate with little
nurturing emotionally and physically. He explains that bereavement is the
standard situation in this remedy, a theme of being all alone in the world,
feeling insecure and not nurtured. In Yam ha-melacha
similar situation was found with provers feeling
depressed and all alone in the world, like there is no light left in the world,
this all due to hopelessness and an inability to fix the current situation,
feeling like no one understands. Provers had dreams of family members dying and one prover had a dream involving concentration camp
victims. According to Scholten (1993:66), another variation on the theme is the
feeling that the Natrum muriaticum
person cannot be a mother, leading to infertility. Interestingly provers
of Yam ha-Melachhad dreams of fertility including
artificial insemination. Vermeulen (2002:964),
describes Natrum muriaticum
as being hypersensitive, closed and desires solitude; aggravated from
consolation, want to grieve silently.
This can also be seen in Yam ha-Melach, where
some provers wanted to be left alone but others
wanted company. Provers
were also sensitive and edgy during the proving. On the physical level there
are many similarities between Yam ha-Melachand Natrum muriaticum , like the
craving for salt and coffee and a great thirst, numbness of the fingers, bright
red, thin watery hemorrhages, dry eczema and
eruptions on the hairline and in flexures of joints, profuse offensive
perspiration, sleepiness during the day and waking up unrefreshed,
waking often from physical complaints and from fear. Natrum
muriaticum is also well known for its affinity for
the head producing severe headaches described as hammering, bursting, maddening,
on waking, over the eyes with associated numbness or disturbed vision. In Yam ha-Melachthere
were prominent headaches as well, described as dull, aching, pulsating,
clamping or compressing due to dehydration or sinusitis, most commonly
occurring in the temporal region, but also frontally and orbitally,
occipital, internal or difficult to locate. There is dehydration and dryness in
Natrum muriaticum,
but mostly affecting mucous membranes and in a lesser degree than in Yam
ha-Melach where provers
experienced dryness of the skin, mucous membranes, eyes, stool etc. Natrum muriaticum and Yam ha-Melach have
sensitivity of the scalp with dandruff and both have oiliness of the face. Both
remedies have burning of the eyes but the sensations experienced by Natrum muriaticum are described
as of sand in the eyes, as if eyes were filled with sharp salt, sticking in the
eye, while the sensations in Yam ha-Melach were hot
like fire, scratchy, itchy and burning.
In Natrum muriaticum
there is photophobia also found in Yam ha-Melach but
just from looking at bright light; in
Yam ha-Melach it was sensitivity to light,
computer screens and television. Natrum muriaticum has sty’s on
the right side, in the corner of the eye while in Yam ha-Melach
provers did not actually develop a sty, but felt like
they were going to get one on the left lower lid. Yam ha-Melach had
symptoms of swollen, heavy and droopy eyelids also found in Natrum
muriaticum but in Natrum muriaticum heaviness only occurs before menses. In Natrum muriaticum there is blurry vision or dim vision as if
looking through a veil. In Yam ha-Melach the vision was also blurry and weak but it was more
distorted, unable to get a clear view with an inability to focus, like the
vision and mind were unattached. There
is roaring, humming and buzzing in the ears of Natrum
muriaticum as well as itchiness behind the ears
different from Yam ha-Melachin that provers had ringing in the ears and the itchiness was experiencedto be inside the ear and severe. There is coryza in Natrum muriaticum with discharge
of thin, watery or like raw white of egg, with associated sneezing in the
morning, similar to Yam ha-Melach.In Yam ha-Melachthere was a tingling sensation of the lip,as if a sore had come into contact with salt is burning
it which is also present in Natrum muriaticum . Both
remedies have a sore or blister on the lip resembling a fever blister, in Yam ha-Melach this sore was described as a swollen lip full of
pus, with a yellow head and a swollen red lip and a stinging sensation that healed
very quickly. In Natrum
muriaticum there is also burning and swelling of the
lower lip, followed by a vesicle, a scab and then desquamation. Eruptions are described as vesicles like
pearls on the lips.
5.8.4. Yam ha-Melach and Bromium
Scholten (1993:195) suggests that there is a
theme in Bromium of feeling totally guilty or not
guilty at all. They feel so guilty that
they have delusions that people are behind them or are looking over their
shoulder or they have a feeling that ghosts are chasing them. The guilt is either general, just there or
they might feel guilty about something specific. This guilt makes them feel afraid and
unprotected leading to an inclination to want to run away or escape. They therefore experience restlessness and a
desire to travel. They are ameliorated
near or on the sea where there is no authority to catch them. Another reaction to this guilt might be to
become aggressive and angry at interference.
They desire company. In Yam ha-Melacha prover who normally thrives on guilt, felt no feelings of
guilt during the proving. Provers also felt like they needed freedom and needed to
get away but it was due to feeling trapped not because of guilt. There is also aggressiveness and anger in Yam
ha-Melach but mostly due to impatience and at
trifles, not due to guilt or interference as seen in Bromium. Provers also
experienced a desire for company and needing to be around people.Vermeulen
(2002:266) mentions that Bromium has a delusion that
there is another person in the room, among the other delusions mentioned
above. In Yam ha-Melachprovers
couldn’t sleep because they kept hearing voices and felt paranoid, or walked
around the house because they were paranoid that someone was inside. Both Bromiumand Yam
ha-Melachis sad, discouraged and depressed but in Bromiumthey have no idea why and sit alone in a room
looking constantly in one direction, not saying or doing anything which is not
the case in Yam ha-Melach with provers
who cried uncontrollably due to feeling hopeless and all alone in the world. Bromium generally has acrid watery discharges whereas
Yam ha-Melach has watery, salty discharges. Bromium causes hard painful or painless glandular swellings
also found in Yam ha-Melach, but in Bromium most often affecting the parotid and thyroid glands
and glands being stony hard, whereas in Yam ha-Melach
the cervical were affected, just swollen not hard. Bromiumis easily
overheated with heat feeling internal and burning, as if between the skin and
flesh and produces profuse sweating and then sensitivity to drafts boring into
the bone. In Yam ha-Melach
provers felt an increase in temperature and also
profuse sweating but no sensitivity to drafts.
Provers experienced hot # cold sweats. Bromium has a
craving for chocolate whereas in Yam ha-Melach provers had an aversion to chocolate. Bromiumis well
known for its use in acne, described as feeling like a cobweb, stinky green
pussy secretions. Yam ha-Melach also produced acne in provers,
with a pussy yellow head on a red base, principally affecting the T-zone of the
face, scalp, upper chest and back and lower back. Bromium has a
sensation of something alive in the skin, especially the arms and legs with
tickling, itching, prickling and stitches in the skin. In Yam ha-Melach provers also had sensations of itching, and prickling of
the skin, described as feeling like little prickly pear needles caught on the
trousers and burned or a sensation of bugs and ants crawling all over the skin,
tickling and itching. Bromium has starting in the sleep and waking up unrefreshed, also seen in Yam ha-Melach. Bromium has an
affinity for the respiratory system producing a dry cough and hoarseness with
associated burning behind the sternum, symptoms also present in the materia medica of Yam ha-Melach, but in Bromium the cough
is described as a persistent whooping cough brought on by dust with no
expectoration. In Yam ha-Melach the cough was described as harsh and barking,
uncontrollable and intense producing white sputum with yellow or white broken
pieces resembling salt, or salty balls of sticky phlegm with a sulphuric odor. Both Bromium and Yam ha-Melach have black stools.
Bromium has a decreased thirst and appetite
whereas Yam ha-Melach had an increased thirst and
increased or decreased appetite. Both
remedies have a sensitive scalp but in Bromium this
is accompanied by a dirty looking eruption and an offensive smelling discharge,
whereas in Yam ha-Melach provers
had pimples and dandruff (white or yellow oily flakes) on the scalp. Bromium has ringing
in the ears sounding like a distant rushing or roaring whereas Yam ha-Melach has ringing in the ears of a high pitched sound.
5.8.5. Yam ha-Melach and Sulphur
Scholten (1993:69) suggests the theme of
Sulphur to be that they cannot integrate love and harmony in their lives. There is the idea of everything or nothing,
which clarifies the fact that there are two types of Sulphur. The one is
untidy, dirty and disorderly while the other is too tidy, clean and polished or
these can be found in one person –tidy and orderly at work and messy at home or
mess a lot and then suddenly clean everything perfectly. There is no balance. There is also a theme of grace and beauty
represented in rubrics like „delusion he is disgraced’, delusion old rags are
beautiful’, „disgust’ and „aversion to bathing’. The theme of Sulphur can also be expressed in
their love life, where their relationships are not well integrated into their
life. Sulphurs are often loners or get
absorbed in their work and don’t understand that their wife needs
attention. Sulphur has the delusion that
he has fallen from grace. Scholten (1993:69),
describes the situation of Sulphur to be that of a young man who is
still single and feels unappreciated and unloved, out of grace with women of
his age. He becomes depressed and will
either start to neglect himself or pretend he doesn’t care and keep on boasting
and bragging. Vermeulen (2002:1305), describes
Sulphur as philosophical, a hopeful dreamer with many ideas and great ideas but
no focus and no real depth,
with no time or too much trouble to realize these ideas. In Yam ha-Melach provers had a lot of thoughts going through their heads
especially about the future, finances
and relationships. Two provers felt like re-evaluating their lives and wrote a
whole paragraph on who they are and what they want for themselves in their
lives.
Sulphur is imaginative and this leads to anxiety about health (Vermeulen, 2002). In
Yam ha-Melach this is also seen in provers that were worried that they had serious health
problems due to the physical symptoms they presented with, and thought they had
a terminal illness. Sulphur is very
forgetful and has a poor memory, also seen in Yam ha-Melach
where provers experienced short term memory
loss. Sulphur is well known for its
selfishness and disregard for others, not seen in Yam ha-Melach,
where provers were overconcerned
and worried about the welfare of others, especially family and friends. Sulphur also has impatience about trifles,
irritability and depression seen in Yam ha-Melachas
well as misplacing words when talking.
Sulphur weeps without cause while in Yam ha-Melach
provers were crying uncontrollably but due to
feelings of isolation, hopelessness and being overwhelmed.
Both Sulphur and Yam ha-Melach has wringing of
hands probably due to restlessness found in both remedies. Generally Sulphur is
slow, lazy, hungry and always tired (Vermeulen,
2002). Yam ha-Melach
provers were lazy and relaxed with lack of motivation
and indifference, causing procrastination.
The majority of provers experienced lethargy
during the proving and what they described as ravenous hunger. Sulphur has a craving for spicy food also seen
in Yam ha-Melach, but Yam ha-Melachhad
an aversion to sweets whereas Sulphur desires sweets. Sulphur craves alcoholic drinks and has an
aggravation from and sensitivity to alcohol
also seen in Yam ha-Melach. Sulphur is well known for its heat and burning
especially the head, face, palms of hands and soles of feet, with burning pains
and sensations in general (Vermeulen,
2002:1307). This was also prominent in
Yam ha-Melach with provers
that felt hot and had hot flushes, one prover
describing it as heat radiating from inside the torso and face and another prover felt like his head was heating up. Provers also
experienced burning sensations of the eyes, throat, chest, muscles, skin and
nose. Sulphur has a general aggravation
at night, especially 4-5 h. and 11 h. in the morning. Yam ha-Melach <
early morning from 3 h. onwards. Both remedies wake up at 3,4 and 5 h. and can’t
fall back to sleep. Sulphur is known for the offensiveness of its
secretions. In Yam ha-Melach provers experienced offensiveness
of perspiration, described as smelling bad and flatus smelling like rotten
eggs. Sulphurhas severe inflammation, redness and
swelling of joints also seen in Yam ha-Melach. Sulphur
has an empty sensation in the head, when talking. In Yam ha-Melach, provers had a feeling of emptiness and neutrality with one prover feeling like there is nothing going on in his head,
not related to talking as in Sulphur.Sulphurhas an
affinity for the skin, producing heat, burning, itching and dryness. This is also seen in Yam ha-Melach, the burning described specifically as if dunked in
salt water or stinging, the itching as if bugs and ants were crawling over the
skin, wandering, little prickly pear needles that prickles and burns. In Sulphur the skin is described as dry,
scaly and unhealthy; every little injury suppurates (Vermeulen,
2000:1504) also seen in Yam ha-Melach. Eruptions in
Yam ha-Melach resembled pimples, eczema and a rash as
if there were bumps at the follicles.
Sulphur also has pimple like pustules and a nettle like rash or fine papular eruption similar to that found in Yam ha-Melach. Sulphur has
inflamed and suppurating pimples on the scalp, seen in Yam ha-Melach. Sulphur affects
the eyes causing dryness, watering and redness of the eyes, eczematous eruption,
swelling, and styes of the lids, similar than in Yam
ha-Melach. In Sulphur
all eye symptoms < washing the eyes, not found in Yam ha-Melach.
Other corresponding symptoms include wringing of the hands, numbness of
the fingertips, pain and stiffness of joints and muscles. Sulphur has dreams of
clothes,
possessing fine clothes. In Yam
ha-Melach provers had
dreams of clothes, but of wearing formal clothes.
http://openscholar.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/511
[Tamara Rabinowitz]
Mental and emotional themes.
Anxiety
Mostly causeless,
“Feeling really excited and anxious, not sure why“. When a cause was identified
it was menial. The feeling was intense and physical manifestation
prominent, “Feel very nervous not only mentally but physically“. Anxiety
felt as “Butterflies in my stomach”. “an uneasy feeling in my stomach” and “a
knot in my
stomach“.
A strong sensation of “Too much unstable energy building up in my solar
plexus then moves up and culminates in my cheek bones which makes me feel like
I want
to cry and in my TMJ like I am blushing uncontrollably. It is almost
unbearable and I have to look away“.
Relaxed and Calm
This was followed by a period of mental calmness. Provers
felt “very relaxed and at peace all day”. There were, “Strange feelings of calm
resolution“. Provers tended to take
everything in their stride during this period. “Happy to just go with
the flow“. “My mind is so calm and peaceful, really enjoying just being.
Nothing seems worry me“.
Poor Concentration
Featured very
prominently and was experienced by 61% of the provers.
The lack of concentration < a tendency for daydreaming and “losing my train
of thought”.
This lead to an inability to study as well as a difficulty in focusing
and taking in information. Provers couldn’t “get into
the right frame of mind to do constructive
Work and the attention span was so shortened that they “Can’t sit for
more than 30 min. before having to get up and move around” and “Can’t kick my
head into
gear”. This lead to study time being inefficient, “Very aware of the
fact I have limited time but am working very slowly”. Accompanying this was
mental exhaustion
Indifference
Acted as fuel for a
complete lack of motivation for academic work. “Couldn’t make myself do any
work today”, “Really need someone to slap me and tell me
to wake up to the fact
that I have an enormous amount of work and pressure at the moment but I’m just
messing around”. A tendency towards procrastination and
watching television instead of working, despite approaching deadlines
This theme was further emphasized in a lack of motivation to do
anything, “Don’t feel like eating breakfast; just don’t have the motivation to
even make oats“.
“Don’t feel like doing anything today”. “Just want to sit around and do
nothing, no thinking involved, everything and I mean everything is becoming an
intense effort“.
Despite the lack of
concentration and motivation, provers were notably
unconcerned about approaching deadlines or tests, “should be learning but just
don’t care”.
“I have a lot of work but don’t want to do it. Watch movie instead, not
stressed about not working“. This indifference was more pronounced in some,
“I don’t care about anything, can’t even make up my mind about what I
want to eat, I just don’t care”.
Irritability and Frustration
Very prominent theme
affecting 78% of the provers with very high intensity
in most provers. “Very irritated with everyone, to
the point of wanting to scream”.
“My blood is boiling and I just cannot shake it!!!!”, “Oooooooooooooh am very irate, feels like the walls are
closing in on me. My ears are ringing, my face hurts,
my chest hurts“. This level of
frustration was accompanied by violent thoughts and impulses, “Getting highly
irritated again, feel like smashing someone’s head in”
“Irritable with lady in front of me at the movies. Wanted to rip her
head off. Then the girl next to me for slurping, then the guy who pushed in
front of us“.
“Extreme irritability. Wanna KILL”, as well as
cursing, “I am getting super duper, ultra god damn, fucking pathetically
irritated and frustrated with this situation.
I feel like smashing everyone’s head in including my own. Just not able
to manage thing at the moment, don’t even have the strength for a wank to possibly calm me
down. Even feel like ripping this book apart.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHH”. Most of the irritability and frustration was
felt towards other
people with a portion being attributed to menial things such as, “The
slightest breeze irritates me”, “Waiting is irritating me”, “Had breakfast with
my granny and
found myself getting really irritated by little things like leaving the
fridge open for too long”, “Feeling annoyed at writing in the journal, feel
like I have a lot of
other things to do that is more important than doing this as a favour to
a friend“. Most of the frustration was felt in the mornings, and weaned off as
the day
progressed,
A thread that runs through the remedy includes symptoms revolving around
the female reproductive system and can be seen here as, “I have been very
snappy,
It is like I have PMS”. An interesting symptom that came up was, “The
language and culture barrier was really driving me mad”. This is very pertinent
to the
geographical location of the Dead Sea, being located between Israel and
Jordan. There is a vast amount of political and racial intolerance in this
area.
Emotionally overwhelmed and crying
Provers
felt completely overwhelmed emotionally, leaving the prover
in tears at the slightest provocation. “Feeling really emotional, crying for
all sorts of things
that usually wouldn’t
effect me”, “Very teary today, I have cried 3x for things I wouldn’t usually
get upset about. Cried after getting a test back and after watching
Oprah, episode about
starving kids”, “Just walked into spar and started crying. Crying for little
things”, “By 13:30 h. I was crying uncontrollably. A small incident
made me feel
overwhelmed and I felt like I couldn’t cope. I became dizzy and lost control of
my emotions“. There was also a marked desire to cry accompanied by
an aversion to company,
“Felt really emotional, went and had some wine and cried for 6 hours, just
wanted to be alone“. “Feel completely emotionally drained,
couldn’t wait for the
day to end. Built up throughout the day and eventually just felt like I needed
to sit down and have a good cry and be alone”.
Depression and Hopelessness versus Mania
This, together with
frustration and irritability, was notably the most pertinent mental theme. The
depression was felt as a deep sense of hopelessness that no one
could understand,
“Feeling frustrated and alone. Just want to cry, I’m crying pulling at my hair
and rocking back and forth. I just feel like I’m in a hopeless situation
and I just can’t fix
it. No one understands“. “Hopeless feeling. I don’t feel I can cure the
situation. Whatever it is”. This was accompanied by a great sense of self
pity,
There were thoughts of
“ending it all. Just plotting the ways”, “perhaps death would have been easier
than dealing with this shit life”.
The depression was also described as, “a dark blanket has settled upon
me. I feel hopeless like there is no light left in the world“. “black clouds”,
“feeling blue”
“I have no interest in this day. Feel like I am spiraling
fast into a deep sea of depression“.
Depression was a central theme in the remedy and was felt
deeply/described as being engulfed by darkness as if there was “no light left
in the world” and they were
“spiralling into a deep sea of depression”. There was a sense of
hopelessness and loneliness in a situation that they had to “cure” + a strong
sense of self
pity. During this phase provers withdrew and
wanted to be alone as they felt alone in a world where no one understands their
plight.
This loneliness was described as “pangs that came over me like waves”.
There was a sense of being emotionally overwhelmed which left the provers in tears at the
slightest provocation. These crying spells lasted between 40 min and 6
hours at a time. There was a sensation of being trapped accompanied by a need
to escape to a
place of freedom.
The depth of the depression was such that suicide was contemplated # a
manic phase in which provers experienced an
exaggerated sense of self belief and
confidence, feeling “superhuman”. Provers felt
suddenly euphoric, bubbly, carefree and silly. There was a tendency to put on
some kind of performance, such as
singing, dancing, jumping up and down, laughing, shouting and “running
around like a crazy person”, for an audience after which there was a feeling of
fullfillment.
This phase induced high energy levels and a happy and joyful
disposition. Inspiration and love of everything was a strong result. This phase
was accompanied by a
rebellious spontaneity during which one prover
stood in front of a mirror and pierced her own tongue. Within a day of handing
in her diary she promptly removed it
and has as yet not thought about it again.
These states alternated in quick succession.
Loneliness and Isolation
There was a pull in two
directions in this theme. A strong aversion to company when depressed and sad,
yet there was a need for someone to understand what they
were going through. “I
just wanted to be alone“. “I feel very quiet and withdrawn, just want to be
alone”, “Hiding in my room, “go away and LEAVE ME ALONE”,
“Don’t want to speak to anyone, feeling sad and lonely and tired”.
Contradicted by, “Felt pangs of loneliness that came over me like waves even
though I wasn’t
alone“. “feeling a sense of loneliness – poor me. Nobody understands“. I
feel isolated with where I am in my stage of life“.
Needing Affection
In contradiction to the
aversion to company when depressed or crying, there was a need for affection;
“Feel an intense need to receive affection – became needy
and clingy“. “Feeling
good, a bit clingy – just want to hold my partner“.
Manic
The deep depression was
antithesised by a manic phase. These two phases
tended to occur in quick succession of one another and gave a bipolar
impression.
There was a definite rise in self belief and confidence, together with a
feeling that “, I can attack anything that today brings” During this phase provers developed a
sense of having, “some sort of superhuman power“. as well as “ Feeling
strangely empowered and good about myself“. This was often accompanied by a
tendency or
desire to put on a performance of some kind such as, “Jumped up and down
my room doing ballet”, “Feeling very bubbly and happy with life, pulled pants
up to
under breasts and ran around like a crazy person laughing and shouting“.
“So energized, so happy from teaching. It’s like giving a performance. I feel
so fulfilled
afterwards”
Happiness
On a lighter scale of
intensity was the theme of happiness. This involved “Feeling unusually chirpy”,
“in such an awesome mood. Happy and carefree”.
There was a recognition of positive energy. Eg.
“Have a sensation that I am surrounded by a positive energy”, “Feel so happy
with my little niece and nephew their
energies make me feel so rejuvenated, such innocence is a true breath of
fresh air”, “I feel very energized and positive“. Provers
were generally in a good mood,
happy, bright and inspired during this phase.
Rebellion
This may be attributed
to the manic phase of feeling superhuman and above the laws of normality.
“Really want to get a tattoo. The thought has briefly crossed my
mind before, but now I
really want it. Going to hold off till after proving. I think it’s the remedy”,
“I had a sudden urge to pierce my tongue. So I stood in front of the
mirror and did it
myself“. Interesting the day this prover handed in
her diary she stood in front of the mirror and removed the piercing. A general
feeling of being
“very spontaneous”.
Mood Swings
Manic, happy and depression
phases alternated within each prover with quick
succession. This was also noted by various provers in
their journals, “Euphoria ,
now exhaustion, when will the rollercoaster end?” “Felt a bit down, but
in the afternoon had a sudden flip in mood where I felt silly and happy“. “Mood
swings up
and down, very erratic”. The state can be summarized as, “My mind seems
to be getting back on track. The problem is my ability to trust this state of
stability.
Why do I not relish in the state of normality. Have I just become to
used to the manic swings of moods my mind is currently going through?” “I have
contradicting
feelings today: feel confident and good about myself yet I feel like the
most terrible person to have ever walked the planet. Not sure what to make of
it. So I go back
to cruise-and-don’t think about it mode“.
Escapism
There was a sense of being “trapped and NEED to get away” within this
remedy. “Feeling like I have to break out of this house aaarrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhh”.
Also “a strange feeling of needing freedom”
Empty and Neutral
When the emotions were
not flying from one extreme to another there was a period of neutrality and an
“Even and mild mood, no specific feelings, a bit numb“.
Emptiness was also experienced > by company.
Clear Mind
Self Actualization
Strongly in two provers. Both had a “Sudden feeling that I really need to
re-evaluate my life. I need to take a step back and sort out my true desires
and needs,
my true dreams, my true talents and how I can use them to my best ability
to benefit both me and those around me. It feels like I have a lot on my mind,
and I am
taking time out to think about it”. Both provers
woke up between 3 h. and 4 h. on the same morning, and wrote an essay on where
they are in their lives at this
present moment, where they want to be in the future and a plan on how
they were going to get there. Both included self growth and self evaluation as
well as a higher
connection to humanity and life. In one of the essays the prover wants to “start a meditation circle for peace in the
middle east”. Another prover felt that his mind
was, Open and a lot of thoughts and ideas going through my head,
including relationship, future plans and finances. In accordance with this
theme provers felt a
clarity of mind. The mind felt “Open and fresh” and “very clear”
Spaced out and Floating
Feeling of being spaced
out and floating was prominent. This theme was also expressed as, “Time has
slowed down, in a haze”, “Feel like I’m gliding when
walking”, “A sense of
being out of it, mind is fuzzy” and “Drowsy, phased out feeling“.
Drugged
Feeling of being
drugged was experienced in several ways. Visual disturbances such as, “Eyes are
not coordinated with my mind. I see objects but it takes time to
register what it is“.
“Eyes are flitting between scenes, like either my mind or my eyes are too slow
to co-ordinate. Like I’m on a hallucinogen”, “Vision and mind are
unattached. Takes a
long time to focus on an object”, I had a weird experience with my rear view
mirror. When I got into the car I didn’t have a clear view it was as
if someone had moved it
but it hadn’t moved. No matter how I adjusted it I couldn’t get I clear view.
My reflection was distorted if I touched my nose in the mirror it
looked like I was
touching my chin. It was very confusing“. “Feel like I’m coming off an acid
trip. Seeing flashes of everything. Can’t keep my eyes steady on one
thing. Notice every
time
I move my eyes. Focus focus focus!!!” There was also a feeling of being “tripped out”,
and “Spaced out feeling very intense, feel like I’m on really strong pain
killers.
All drugged up“. An unusual reaction to alcohol was noted, “Felt
drugged, couldn’t remember much, eyes were dilated. I was very aggressive”,
“Instead of feeling
energized before sleepy, I went straight to sleepy“. Alcohol tolerance was decreased, “My alcohol
tolerance is so low, I feel tipsy after just one sip and my cheeks
flush“.
Detached
Detachment
ran through the whole remedy and will be discussed as a theme later on. In the
mind it was depicted as “Feel strangely detached from a decision
I made – like it was a head decision more than a heart decision. Then
why don’t I feel right about it? Don’t think, just cruise. Giving myself an
emotional holiday.
Keeping up pretences and smiling for the outsiders“, “Feel detached as
if not part of anything at all”, “Not concerned about anything at all, feel
like I am watching myself,
but not quite”.
The experience was so profound in some that he “Woke up with no idea
where I was, who I was and what I was doing. It was like I had been somewhere
completely
different… astral travelling?” and it “feels like someone has put a hook
into my scalp and is pulling me out of my world”. The last symptom was profound
when
related to the substance. As if she was a fish that had been hooked and
pulled out of the sea, her “world”.
Intuition
Intuition was notably
more developed during the proving, “Intuition has been unbelievable. I can
predict statements and events with phenomenal accuracy”
Premonitions were also noted, “I pictured myself in a silver/grey car,
love that colour. Just then my mom phoned me to tell me I can have her silver corsa”.
Discrimination and Lack of Faith in Humanity
This theme is
controversial and I apologize, but I feel it imperative to include it due to
its relevance to the substance. There was a sense of anti Semitism noted in
the remedy. The reasoning was that
Jewish men, in particular were weak. This is a very unusual reasoning. This
information was only elicited in the interviews as
provers
were afraid of being controversial. When questioned further it was revealed
that there was a sense of injustice befalling the Jewish people and that they
were
doing very little to
defend their honour and respect. “they need to stand up to America” Along with
this came a lack of “faith in humanity, they are stupid and cruel”.
as well as “questioning
people’s deeds and motives and general attitude“.
Discrimination and Violence
This theme is controversial but pertinent to the substance. There was
anti-Semitism noted during the proving. The reasoning was that the Jewish men
were weak
because Jews are being targeted and aren’t defending themselves
adequately. There was also a heightened sensitivity to language and culture
barriers. It became
evident in the dreams where provers dreamt of
the three major religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism in which Judaism was
patronized and the prover rose to its
defence.
There were dreams of war in arid areas as well as of the Taliban. A
theme in the dreams was of territorial destruction and land reclaims. Being
attacked by wild
animals and people was common.
Paranoia
1. fear
for personal safety. “Tried to get to sleep but I kept hearing noises and I was
paranoid“. “I walked around my house because I got paranoid that someone was
inside“.
2. fear for the safety
of loved ones, family and friends. “Worried about friends, family, patients –
very acutely – was in tears about one of my friends problems“.
3. Most profound was the
fear of symptoms indicating a terminal disease“. I am scared that I have a
terminal illness. Feels like the oxygen is just not getting into my blood
or is not being carried due to a blockage. I
would imagine chemotherapy or radiation therapy feeling like this I don’t know
why. I just want to lie down and close my eyes but I’m scared that if I do I
won’t wake up“.
“Got scared after a coughing fit that left a great pain in my heart that
I was having a heart attack“. “Still dark stools, worried it might be something
terminal, going to see dr. again”,
“My chest hurts, can’t get comfortable, quite a worrying pain”, “My ears
are ringing quite badly, should I be worried?”
Poor Memory
Ties in with the lack of
concentration. Short term memory was compromised, “Short term memory loss,
quite marked”. In one case memory and concentration was
greatly improved. “My
memory is much better than normal, I’m just flying through mental activities,
everything is just flowing”.
False Fronts
There was a tendency to put on a false front of happiness and to hide
their true feelings. “Keeping up pretences and smiling for the outsiders“.
“Cruising, getting very
good at faking the fact that I’m actually crying inside. But at least
everybody around me is content and not noticing anything“. “It feels like I am
putting on a mosaic
front for everyone. This irritated me more“.
Isolation versus needing affection
There was a feeling of absolute loneliness whether it was in the “stage
of life” they were in or that the world doesn’t understand their plight. This
was dealt with in 2
ways. There was a tendency to isolate themselves, hiding in their rooms,
withdrawing and not wanting to talk to anyone; and a yearning for attention and
affection.
Spaced out/poor
concentration versus clarity of mind and self actualisation
The mind was clouded
leaving the provers with an inability to think or
concentrate to any degree. There was a difficulty focusing the mind as it would
wander as
well as a complete lack
of motivation to do anything, “don’t have the motivation to even make oats”. Provers felt spaced out as if they were just floating above
reality. Some even felt
as if they were drugged, like they were on a hallucinogen. This was experienced
visually with flashing lights and a sensation that the eyes
were not coordinated
with the mind as well as through a sympathetic response with dilated pupils and
increased skin sensitivity. The mind was detached from
decisions and events.
One prover had the sensation as if “someone has put a
hook into my scalp and is pulling me out of my world”.
Followed by a period of mental clarity where the mind felt open and
fresh. This theme was felt strongly in two sensitive provers
to encompass a morning of self
actualization.
Both provers woke up on the same morning
between 3 – 4 h. and wrote an essay on where they are currently in their lives,
where they would like to be and how they
where going to get there. This included the physical, mental, emotional
and spiritual planes. Both included a plan for self growth and self evaluation
as well as a
higher connection to humanity. One prover
included the ambition of starting a meditation circle for peace in the Middle
East”. Intuition was more developed during
the proving.
An interesting dream that correlates with this theme was experienced.
The prover felt tremendous spiritual anguish and
pain. Walked into a small sea and swam
across it. When they emerged they felt spiritually awoken and at peace.
Pace versus anxiety and paranoia
There was a distinct
paranoia during the proving. The most profound paranoia was of having a
terminal disease, but was also felt for the health and safety of the self
and loved ones. A
causeless anxiety was strong and was characterized by a build up of energy in
the solar plexus that moved upwards and culminated in the jaw
leading to clenching of
the jaws. This uneasy energy was also felt in the solar plexus. This was
counteracted by a feeling of peace and relaxation. During the phase
nothing worried the provers and stress was completely absent.
Physicals:
There were polarities
regarding the modalities with provers being >/<
stooping/standing erect/warmth. There was either diarrhea
or constipation. Pains moved from
r. to l.
Dehydration experienced in every system. Headaches described as
“dehydration” headaches. The skin and mucous membranes were incredibly dry, so
much so that
skin flaked and peeled off, eyes burned and the tongue stuck to the roof
of the mouth. Constipation was common with dry, small black stool. Patients
craved
water/thirst for water was greatly increased. Urine was darker with a
more pungent odour indicating that it was more concentrated and one prover’s urine was
actually thick.
Fertility
Interesting theme if one takes into account that the Dead Sea can
sustain no life. There were dreams of babies and children in danger or had to
be saved.
One prover dreamed of nursing someone else’s
child and woke up with a sore nipple. There were also dreams of artificial
insemination. Provers generally slept in a
foetal position. Symptoms of the female system included ovarian pain and
abdominal pain. There was a common sensation of something alive being inside
the
abdomen “like I honestly have a baby kicking inside of me“, “Like
something growing inside me”, “someone is poking me from the inside”, “moving
around in
my gut like a little creature”. Premenstrual symptoms were experienced
without being followed by a menstrual period. There were hot flushes and tender
breasts as
well as headaches that described as premenstrual and lower back pain.
Only two women menstruated during the proving, but both noticed a significant
change.
A brown bleed was bright red and a red bleed became brown.
Provers were notably more amorous and
libido was significantly raised in both male and female provers
resulting in one prover stating that she had better
stay
indoors.
Language used was very interesting. Words such as flow and floating were
common as were descriptions of ailments coming on in waves. The depression was
described as “spiralling into a deep sea of depression”. There was a
feeling of being in a haze, which is interesting as there is a thick haze that
hangs over the Dead Sea.
Provers felt like they were “gliding when
walking”. Hearing was altered in regard to sound “As if muffled through water”.
Stinging pains were described “
like I had scratched myself and the salt was burning it”.
Provers described nocturnal perspiration as
if they were waking up in a “sea of sweat”. Flaking of the skin was described
as resembling dry salt, white lumps in the
sputum were described as pieces of course salt and nasal discharge was
described as salty.
Another theme was one of violence and emerged not only during
frustration, where provers wanted to “smash someone’s
head”, “to rip her head off”, “wanna kill”,
but in other areas as well. When unmotivated provers
wanted to “kick my head into gear” and wanted to “attack anything that today
brings” and “take on the day
with full fury“. referring to seizing opportunities. In traffic one prover “overtook them like a savage“. A headache felt as if
it would explode if the head was moved.
Due to the nature of a homoeopathic drug proving, only a mild form of the
disease will be experienced by the prover. The
initial phases or mild forms of the diseases treated
by Dead Sea products will be discussed. The diseases being treated at
the Dead Sea include
Rheumatic disease
Osteoarthritis
Psoriasis
Vitiligo
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders
Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Articular Symptoms
Joint pain, swelling, inflammation and progressive immobility govern the
symptomatology. Joint pain < morning and recurring
towards the evening. Pain is characterized
by remissions and exacerbations. Associated symptoms include redness,
warmth and tenderness. Precipitating factors include exercise and emotional
stress where as
hot or cold sensitivities and sunlight tend to alleviate symptoms. Pain
due to active inflammation < after rest and particularly painful in the
morning. often > by exercise.
This pain is often experienced due to structural abnormalities. Disease
of the cervical spine will refer pain to the shoulder, shoulder disease may
present as arm pain,
lumber lesions may cause hip or thigh pain and hip lesions may refer to
the knee. Patients often experience early morning stiffness and sporadic joint
swelling as
well as loss of function of the joint or decreased range of motion.
Location is generally limited to the fingers but joint involvement does
progress to include other
joints.
Temporomandibular joint disease causes pain on
chewing and particularly restricts opening of the mouth.
Comparison with proving symptomatology:
Articular Symptoms
Pain and stiffness was prevalent in all the joints and muscles of the
extremities Pain was dull and aching. “Slight joint pain, aching, hot”. Pain
was referred from the neck
to the muscles of the shoulder incl. the deltoids, trapezius,
rhomboids, levator scapulae and inferior and superior
to the clavicles. Hip pain radiated to the quadriceps
resulting in an aching sensation and weakness of the muscles. Weakness
was also felt in the arms “Have to rest every 5 words because my arm and hand
are tired”.
Swelling and inflammation of the joints was with accompanying hyperaemia
of the overlying skin which was warm to the touch. The finger joints were
mentioned in
particular to being stiff and painful causing spasmodic movements of the
thumbs.
There was a decreased range of motion in most joints due to pain and
stiffness (in the cervical region experienced by 45% of the provers).
Pain radiated to the muscles
of the neck causing stiffness and decreased range of motion.
Thoracic region similarly affected but not as prominent while the lumber
spine very much affected and daily activity limited as a result of the pain and
loss of range
of motion. The temporomandibular joint painful
and stiff. Tension in the jaw was increased with a mild pain in the masseter muscles resulting in pain on opening the
mouth and chewing.
Extra-articular Symptoms
Vasculitis in its mild form produces symptoms
such as numbness, tingling and burning. Symptoms are provoked by cold and small
changes in temperature.
Fingers most commonly affected. Pleurisy is common and is characterized
by sharp, knifelike pain and restricted rib movement as well as obliterative bronchiolitis
which is characterized by acute onsets of breathlessness. Symptoms <
breathing/coughing/movement; > by lying on the involved side.
Pericarditis characterized by sharp and
knifelike retrosternal pain (may radiate to the tip of the shoulder and
the neck) and < breathing/movement/coughing/lying
down/swallowing; > sitting forward.
Episcleritis is characterized by low grade
discomfort, vessels appear pink and may be nodular causing painful, red, gritty
eyes as well as disturbances in vision.
Peripheral nerve involvement is not uncommon and is characterized by hypersensitivy, hyposensitivity, numbness and tingling. It
initially affects the fingers and
toes and may progress to include the hands and feet. Hoarseness of the
voice occurs due to effusion into the cricoartenoid
joints.
Constitional symptoms such as fatigue, malaise
and muscle weakness are common.
Comparison with proving symptomatology:
Extra-articular Symptoms
Many of the eye symptoms were described as dry and burning “As if on
fire” Eyes were very scratchy.
These symptoms mirror those of the episcleritis
that is common with rheumatic disorders.
Vasculitis and peripheral neuropathy are both
characterized by numbness and tingling and peripheral neuropathy has the added
sensation of hyper- or
hyposensitivity.
Both primarily affect the fingers. The proving showed symptomatology of “supersensitive fingers” that
intermittently had pins and needles and tingling.
A burning retrosternal chest pain as well as
sharp, stabbing pain was reported. < any movement (coughing and deep
inspiration).
The chest pain > sleeping propped up on pillows. This pain
corresponds with the pain experienced with the pain felt with pleurisy and pericarditis.
Sleeps propped up on pillows is a sign of cardiac distress that may be
experienced with prolonged pericarditis. Effusion
into the cricoartenoid joints results in
hoarseness of the voice. Painless hoarse voice was reported during the
proving.
Constitutional symptoms that are experienced with rheumatoid arthritis
include malaise and weakness. This was a very strong theme in the proving of
Yam ha-Melach. Lethargy and extreme tiredness
was experienced by 72% of the provers. Provers felt lazy and mentally and physically exhausted
from doing
nothing
Osteoarthritis
Joint pain is the primary symptom. < towards the end of the day and
is < activity. Pain > by rest. Joint pain variable and intermittent and
most commonly occurs in
the hips, knees and hands, cervical and lumber spine. Small effusion of
the joints may be present (knees). On examination joint are red, warm and
tender.
Malfunction of the joints gives limitation of mobility, instability and
stiffness of the joints as well as muscle weakness and pain. Stiffness is
frequent, but brief in
the mornings and after inactivity with the development of limitations of
motion.
Comparison with proving symptomatology:
Joint pain and stiffness was a prominent symptom throughout the proving.
The pain was dull and aching. Hips; and knees were badly affected, “My hips and
knees
are so sore I can’t get up, aching like I have arthritis”. Wrists were
stiff and aching with a decreased of range of motion. A decrease in joint
stability with “knees feel wobbly” this lead to clumsiness and an increased
tendency to injury. Hip pain radiated to the quadriceps resulting in an
aching sensation and weakness of the muscles. Weakness was felt in the arms
“Have to rest
every 5 words because my arm and hand = tired”. Weight bearing joints
were affected. Pain and stiffness was < walking and movement as well as
early in the morning.
Pain and stiffness was also experienced in the back. In the cervical
region pain and stiffness was very evident. Neck pain was associated with a
burning pain in the muscles
The thoracic region was similarly affected but not as prominent while
the lumber spine was very much affected
The lower back had a sharp sensation over L4 and L5 which became more
diffuse radially. This is indicative of
osteoarthritis as the weight bearing, lumber spine
is often affected and the lower lumber vertebrae are first to show signs
of structural damage.
Psoriasis
The lesion is a sharply demarcated plaque with silvery scales that mask
the underlying redness caused by tortuous arteries that lie close to the
surface of the skin.
The skin is dry and cracking. The scales are due to a hyperproliferation of the epidermal cells of the skin. The
cells pass up through the epidermis and do not have time to
keratinize. The edges of the lesion are most active often leaving a
clearing in the centre.
The parts most affected: elbows, knees and scalp. Psoriasis of the scalp
typically shows well demarcated, easily palpable areas, but occasionally shows
a diffuse, fine
scaling difficult to distinguish from classical seborrhoeic
dermatitis. Often lesions are atypical in both appearance and location at the
onset of psoriasis.
Guttate psoriasis: skin in appears to be
splashed with psoriasis. This type often follows a streptococcal throat or
vaccination. The lesions are scattered over the entire body
and are red and slightly scaly.
Nummular psoriasis: most common form and is characterized by symmetrical
disc shaped lesions that are well demarcated and chronic.
Erythrodermic psoriasis: skin red or scaly, most
commonly red with very little scaling. Temperature regulation becomes altered
with hypothermia or hyperthermia becoming
a danger.
Pustular psoriasis: takes the form of small
sterile pustules with an erythematous base.
Approximately 5-10% individuals with psoriasis appear to have an inflammatory
polyarthritis.
Comparison with proving symptomatology:
On the left side of the lower back there was an itchy patch that was
very dry and crusts came off under the nails when scratched. This becomes so
dry that it
exposed and raw and cracked “My skin looks whitish and cracked”. The
skin was incredibly dry with flaking of the skin in patches on the legs. arms
on the dorsal
aspect, face and the outer corners, and under the eyes and in spots all
over the body (10F:04:. This is not dissimilar to the description a patient
would give of their
psoriasis.
A very red, well
demarcated patch of skin under the r. eyebrow was almost raw as if the top
layer of skin had flaked off. There was a well demarcated hyperaemic
patch on the anterior
neck, this also occurred under the breasts where 6 small round, red patches.
These symptoms can be compared to erythrodermic
psoriasis
where skin is red and
only slightly flaky. An eruption of patches of little red bumps that were itchy
and very dry were noted above the hips.
Itching of the scalp with white oily flakes and increased sensitivity,
“very painful when I brush over it”.
Patches on the back were itchy and rough to the touch and emitted pus on
scratching. Patches of tiny pustules with erythematous
bases on the back and arms on the
Hairline and on the chest.
Pustular psoriasis is characterized by patches
of small pustules on an erythematous base. The soles
of the feet were dry and itchy as well as the palms. There was a
hyperproliferation of skin on the feet with skinflaking off the toes. Thermoregulation was altered.
There was a feeling of incredible heatas well as a
feeling of being
much colder than usual. I am freezing and just want to wrap myself up in
warm blankets and sleep”. In erythrodermic psoriasis
temperature regulation is altered due
to the thinning of the skin. There is a danger of hypothermia andhyperthermia.
Vitiligo
A common auto-immune disorder characterized by a destruction of the melanocytes in the skin. It has been postulated that a
defect in calcium uptake of vitiligo
keratinocytes cause cell death which invokes an
auto-immune response leaving the affected skin completely depigmented.
In Caucasians the lesion may be
surrounded by an area of hyperpigmentation or
café au lait spots. Segmental vitiligo
is restricted to one part of the body whereas generalized vitiligo
is symmetrical
and involves the hands, wrists, knees, neck as well as around the body
orifices. Sensation in the depigmented patch is
normal, the disease is purely cosmetic.
Comparison with proving symptomatology:
Patches of hyperpigmented skin were noted
during the proving. These spots resembled sun spots on the hand. There were
patches on the legs and the neck. There was
no sensation to these patches. They seemed purely cosmetic.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders
The initial symptoms consist of a productive cough that usually follows
a cold.
The coughing attacks become more frequent over subsequent years until
the cough is experienced all year round.
These patients are prone to respiratory infections, breathlessness
during exertion, regular morning cough and occasional chest tightness. The
sputum is scanty,
mucoid or tenacious and is occasionally
streaked with blood, but is dependent on the infection present.
Comparison with proving symptomatology:
Coughing fits resulted in chest pain and wretching
due to the tenacity of the mucous, “balls of sticky phlegm are raised, slight
salty taste and sulphur-like odour”.
Fits very intense and hindered breathing “Woke up coughing, very
intense. I want to be antidoted now!”. Provers were unable to control the couching fits with a
harsh, barking nature. Cough dry and become progressively more
productive followed flu like symptoms.
It was hypothesized that the proving of Yam ha-Melach
C 30 would produce clearly observable
signs and symptoms in healthy individuals. This was confirmed with Yam ha-Melach producing a
wide range of prominent symptoms. Depressive states that feel a sense of
isolation and hopelessness in their current situation were observed.
A feeling of spiritual dampening and an anxiety of not knowing who they
are or who they want to be or where they want to go in life. A very strong
symptom was one of absolute frustration.
Other common symptoms incl. lethargy, indifference, uncontrollable
crying for long periods of time and paranoia regarding their health and safety
as well as the health and safety of their loved ones.
Sleep was greatly affected leaving provers
feeling tired and unrefreshed. Symptoms of
dehydration penetrated every system. There was drying out of the skin and
mucous membranes, dehydration headaches, constipation with dark stools, strong
smelling and coloured urine that appeared thick. Thirst was drastically
increased for water.
The female reproductive system was greatly affected with provers experiencing hot flushes, hormonal headaches,
breast tenderness, lower back pain, lower abdominal pain,
a sensation of a live thing inside the abdomen, irregularities of the
menstrual cycle and dreams of babies, infertility and artificial insemination.
Skin symptoms were very marked, with rashes and patches resembling eczema and
psoriasis as well as acne, pustules on erythmatous
bases. The skin was very dry in general and flaking and peeling
of the skin was marked. Arthritic joint and muscle pains were common.
Joints were swollen, inflamed, painful and stiff. Headaches were very
common amongst provers. Pain dull, diffuse, congested
and foggy as well as throbbing and clamping.
The temporal headaches were predominantly bi-temporal radiating to the
vertex and ears and “centralizing between my eyes deep in my head“. Frontal
headaches tended
to move across the forehead and temples and were usually one sided.
Influenza like symptoms were also experienced by many provers.
It was also hypothesized that the symptom picture generated in the
proving would correlate in some form to the existing indications of clinical
therapeutic use.
This was verified when strong symptoms resembling those of psoriasis, vitiligo, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and
rheumatoid and osteoarthritis were prevalent.
[Sigrid Häse]
Sal maris mortuis – Salz des Toten Meeres
Das Tote Meer ist so salzhaltig, dass Leben darin nicht existiert, so sind Tod und Sterben in diesem Mittel impliziert.
Badend im Toten Meer, ist der Auftrieb so hoch, dass der Badende nicht untergehen und ertrinken können, wir müssen oberflächlich bleiben, die Tiefe zu ergründen, ist nicht möglich.
Neurodermitiskranken tut es gut, im Toten Meer zu baden, und auch als Kügelchen sind trockene, rissige, aufspringende Haut die Hauptindikation für das Mittel. Wasch- und Räusperzwang sind Neurosen, die durch dieses Mittel geheilt werden können. DURST/verstopft./Stuhlentleerung nur mit Klistier möglich und Schilddrüsenerkrankungen sind weitere bewährte Anwendungsgebiete für dieses Mittel.
Vom Wesen her ernst, moralisch, verantwortungsbewusst und wirken viele Jahre älter, als sie sind. Wer sich früh mit Tod, Sterben, Alter auseinandersetzt, findet meist
früh eine Lösung für diesen
Konflikt, und die heißt loslassen. Und so fügen sich Tod und Getragen sein in
der gesunden Form von Sal maris mortuis
harmonisch ineinander. Angst vor dem Tod.
History; The Dead Sea has been the focus of interest since ancient
times. Aristotle (304-322BC) was the first to tell the world of the qualities
of the Dead Sea, much later, writers and historians (Flavius
Josephus/Galen/Pliny the Elder) refer to the Dead Sea and its medicinal
properties.
[Flavius Josephus]
“It is useful for the cure of men’s bodies; accordingly it is mixed in a
great many medicines“.
[Galen]
(122-c100): “the most beautiful
asphalt is produced by this sea called „Dead’, the potency of this medicine
consists in its drying and next in its healing capabilities; it is
Indeed appropriate that people use it for closing bleeding wounds”.
[Largus]
Helpful in mending broken bones,
[Pelagonius]
Dead sea brine for “fresh, bloody swellings of the ankles”.
[Africanus
Healed all those who used them.
References linking the Dead Sea and the Queen of Sheba, King Solomon,
Cleopatra, and King Herod are observed in historical chronicles.
The Talmud, a compilation of Jewish civil and ecclesiastic law (3rd to
6th centuries), discusses bathing in the Dead Sea in several of its tractates
and forbids bathing in
the Dead Sea on Sabbath as active therapy unless directly related to
saving a life, thus implying its healing properties.
Composition
The Dead Sea is situated between Israel and Jordonie,
over the Great Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley was formed a million years
ago during the earliest stages of the evolution of continental break-up between
Africa and Asia. The Earth’s crust is being pulled apart causing the Dead Sea
to sink 33.3cm every year.
The most important factor to account for the uniqueness of the Dead Sea
area is its location at the deepest point on the Earth’s terrestrial surface,
approx. 400 m below sea level.
Being the lowest point on Earth, unique climatic features such as
atmospheric, chemical, and solar properties occur that are utilized in the
treatment of certain diseases (dermatologic and rheumatic conditions).
Climate: The average maximum temperature is 22° - 29° C November -
April, 32° - 37° during September and October and 38° - 39°C in June and July.
There are more than 330 sunny days all year round. Due to extremely high
evaporation, which is about 2 billion m³ a year, there is a heavy haze over the
Dead Sea at all times.
The haze and additional 400 meters of atmosphere help to filter out more
UVB rays, and create the ideal correlation of UVA and UVB rays, so the duration
of exposure to sun can be increased.
Observation has shown approximately 330 days yearly of sunshine, with a
large percentage of these being cloudless, particularly in the summer. The
annual rainfall is only around 50 mm per year. The moderate-to-high
temperatures (32°- 39°C), low humidity, a large number of sunny, cloudless days
with a low annual rainfall all contribute to allowing treatment to take place
at the Dead Sea for at least 8 months of the year (March to November); and in
certain instances this period is even longer, in addition, it should be
mentioned that the extremely high barometric pressure in the Dead Sea area
produces an oxygen partial pressure that is 10% greater than at sea level. This
may have implications in the treatment of burn patients, respiratory ailments,
cardiac conditions, and other medical problems. Due to the high temperatures
and low rain fall there is an extremely high level of Existing Indications for
Clinical Therapeutic Use: Magnesium is important for combating stress and fluid
retention. It slows skin aging and calms the nervous system.
Calcium increases circulation, strengthens bones and nails and reduces
water retention. Potassium energizes the body and is crucial to replenish after
strenuous exercise as
well as balancing skin moisture. Bromides ease muscle stiffness and
Sodium maintains lymphatic fluid balance.
The Dead Sea area has a very low allergen content and has a reduced
ultra violet component of solar radiation. The high atmospheric pressure of the
area is very beneficial to people suffering from reduced respiratory function.
A study was conducted on 103 patients suffering with osteoarthritis. and
tendonitis. Patients were treated with baths of 7,5% Dead Sea salt
concentration. Improvement was found after as little as one week. By the end of
the study, 80% of the patients reported less pain, 70% reported improved
mobility and 60% were able to decrease their use of analgesics.
The principal indication for treatments with Dead Sea brine include skin
conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis as well as rheumatic
conditions. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the use of Dead sea brine is
successful in treating these conditions. 70% of patients treated for these
conditions at the Dead Sea achieve complete or near complete clearing of their
skin lesions. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic relapsing hypersensitivity
reaction. It involves the interplay of genetic susceptibility, immune dysregulation, barrier dysfunction and has a psychophysiological component.
Psoriasis is a common non-infectious, inflammatory disease of the skin,
characterized by epidermal hyperplasia, parakeratosis,
a heightened mitotic activity and increased permeability to externally applied
substances. Results reported in a study performed on psoriatic patients treated
with Dead Sea brine at the XV International Congress
of Dermatology in Mexico City showed a 94,9% improvement with 70 - 80%
of those showing a complete improvement within 4 weeks. Another study conducted
by
Avrach on 1448 arthritic psoriatics showed a complete lack of joint pain after a 4
week treatment of daily bathing in Dead Sea brine in 70% of the patients and
96% had
either complete or partial clearance of psoriatic lesions within the 4
week treatment period. In 1995 a study was conducted by the Deutches
Medizinisches Zentrum (DMZ)
in which 688 European psoriatics were assessed
regarding their psoriatic condition. These patients were subjected to daily
Dead Sea bathing and sun exposure for a 28 day period. At the end of the
treatment period between 65,4% and 71,4% achieved total clearance and up to 85%
of those achieved partial clearance.
In a study conducted by the DMZ, 1718 atopic dermatitis patients were
studied taking into account the extent of the body surface involved, intensity
of clinical signs, subjective symptoms of pruritis
and sleep loss.
The treatment protocol involved prolonged outdoor stays and gradual
exposure to Dead Sea brine. Only 28 of the patients required asthmatic
medication during the treatment and of these 24 improved dramatically and
either radically reduced medication or stopped it completely. No patients
required any steroid treatment emergency treatment of any kind during the Dead
Sea treatment period. Of the 1718 patients treated, 97,5% scored “1-4” at the
end of their stay. 1 - clear, 2 - almost clear (5% skin involvement and no
active inflammation), 3 - markedly improved (5% skin involvement, but with some
active inflammation marks or disappearance of >50% of original marks), 4 –
improved with a substantial reduction, but <50% of original marks.
There is evidence of increased epidermal hydrogen peroxide in vitiligo. The hydrogen peroxide can be changed with a
topical application of narrow band UVB activated pseudocatalase
cream which yields an increase in pigmentation. A study was performed on 59
patients with vitiligo by comparing pseudocatalase therapy alone with a combination of Dead Sea
therapy/pseudocatalase cream.
The patients had vitiligo for an average of 17
years. Initiation of repigmentation was observed on
between day 10 and day 16 after the combination of Dead Sea therapy/pseudocatalase cream compared to conventional pseudocatalase monotherapy which
takes 8 - 14 weeks. This shows a considerably faster initiation of repigmentation with Dead Sea salts.
The only tributary of the Dead Sea is the Jordan river. There is however
no exit for the water from the Dead Sea resulting in stagnation. The salts
accumulate and cause a natural buoyancy due to the increased density. It is the
deepest hyper saline lake in the world.
A comparison between the chemical composition of the water of the Dead
Sea and its tributaries and that of other lakes and the ocean shows the average
salinity of the Dead Sea water (33.50%) to be exceptionally high (5920mg/L),
approximately 11x more saline than the Mediterranean, probably the highest for
any surface water. The salts originate from two main sources, about 1/3 from
the Jordan River and about 2/3 from highly saline springs discharging into the
Dead Sea.
Repertory:
Mind: Absentminden
(dreamy)
Activity, creative
Yarning for affection
Anger [being beside one’s self/bursting with anger/causeless/tends to
destroy things/morning (on waking)/could have stabbed anyone/hearing other
people talk]
Anxiety (about own family/about future/about health (own health/of
relatives/with tension in jaws/for others/about trifles/> trifles)
Blushing
Carefree
Cheerfull (# sad)
Company – aversed to/desires solitude/yearning)
Concentration difficult
Confident
Confused (on attempting to concentrate the mind)
Confusion – with headache/with sleepiness
Consolation <
Cursing (in rage)
Delusions [being alone (in the world)/has an incurable/mind “As if
drugged”/of emptiness/floating in air/is friendless/errors of personal
identity/is someone/is insane/is superhuman]
Despair (situation is hopeless)
Detached (“As if detached”)
Discrimination of other religions
Attempts to escape - wants to get out of the house
Euphoria
Excited
Forgetful
Forsaken (“As if isolated”)
Grief
“As if helpless”
Hides himself
Shuns the foolishness of humankind 1 149
Impatient (with others/during speaking of others/about trifles)
Impulsive (to do morbid – strange things)
Inactivity
Inconsolable
Indifferent (to work with aversion to work)
Intuitive
Irritable (with absent persons/causeless/from conversation/crying and
weeping/easily/extreme/with people/from talk of others/from trifles)
Kill desires it
Lazy
Mania
Memory weak
Mental exertion aversed to
Mood – alternating/changeable
Morose (# exhilaration)
Overwhelmed emotionally
Pities herself
Making many plans 2 201
Positiveness
Prostrated mind
Quarrelsome (causeless/about rifles)
Rage, fury (with cursing)
Religious affections, metaphysical concerns
Restless
Rude
Sadness [“As if surrounded by blackness/cannot be consoled/aversion to
company/weeping (>/desire to weep)
Sadness with weeping
Self actualization
Sensitive (to emotions)
Snappish
Suicidal disposition
Thoughts – of the /persistent about homicide/profound/violent
Threatening (to kill)
Touched – aversion to being
Tranquility - serenity – calmness
Violent
Weeping (day and night/during anger/causeless/desires to/from
despair/easily/after slight emotion/sobbing/at trifles)
Vertigo: and pain in head/and blurred
From congestion
Coughing
With nausea on waking
Head: Congestion in on waking
Constriction (in temples)
Pimples 1 296
Fullness/heaviness
“As if brain is loose”
Pain [morning on waking/“As if dehydrated”/dull/exertion of; body/in
forehead (ext. above eyes/to neck/to temples/behind eyes/between
eyes/pulsating)/general from light/lying/< motion/
From noise/occiput (after exertion/sides
alternating)/pressing (>/“As if in a vice”/outward/in temples)]
Pulsating [in temples (and forehead/ext. to occiput)]
Pulsating (lying/< motion/< moving head/>
pressure/stooping/temples)
Eyes: Red (canthi/eyeballs)
Dry (canthi/margins of lids/orbits/”As if
dry”)
Eruptions [about the eyes/lids (blotches/burning/eczema/rash/scaly)/tetters itching dry burning]
Heaviness [(lower/upper) lids]
Irritated
Itching [below/canthi/lids (margin)]
Lachrymation (from pain in the eye/profuse)
Pain [burning (lids)/(artificial) light/pressure outward/>
rubbing/”As from sand”/sore]
Photophobia (artificial light/bright light)
Strain
Styes (lower lid)
Swelling [lids (upper)/”as if swollen”]
Tired sensation
Vision: Blurred/distorted
Confused
Dim (distant objects/on exertion eye)
Flashes/flickering
Illusions
Myopia
Weak
Ear: “As if full” (and impaired hearing)
Itching [in meatus (must scratch until it
bleeds)]
Noises (ringing/”As if water were in the ear”)
“As if stopped (in eustachian tube)
Hearing: Impaired (“As if fullness in the ear”/As from
cotton in ear”
Own voice sounds strange in her ears
Nose: Congestion
Discharge (one side/morning/clear/copious/salty/thick/watery/mily white)
Dry (internal)
Itching (internal)
Obstruction (morning/and watery discharge)
Pain - complaints of sinuses/burning, smarting
Perspiring
Sinuses complaints (frontal/maxillary)
Sneezing (morning/constant/with coryza/paroxysmal/violent)
“As if sniffed salt water”
Face: Lips – chapped/cracked/dry
Red (from excitement)
Dry (nose)
Eruptions viele
Greasy
“As if hair falling out”
Itching (wandering)
Pain [r./(articulation) of (l.) jaw/stitching]
Perspiration (on upper lip)
Swelling of submaxillary glands (r.)
Tension [of skin (below chin)/(articulation of) jaws (opening mouth)]
Mouth: Tongue - adheres to roof of mouth/biting on
it (at night in sleep/on tip)/dry/pimples/nodosities
Dry (lips/with thirst)
Eruptions (pimples)
Nodosities
Pain (“As if burned”)
Taste – altered/(water +/o. food tastes) saltish/food
does not taste salty enough
Throat: Constricted
Red (r.)
Dryness (painful/with thirst)
Pain [burning (and dry)/raw/sore/on swallowing/talking]
Scratching
Swallowing difficult
Swollen
Eruptions (blotches/rash/red)
Stomach: Anxiety
Appetite (easy satiety/wanting (from sense of fullness/with
thirst)/increased/ravenous
Distention
Eructations (like spoiled eggs)
Nausea (from alcohol/after eating/followed by vomiting)
Pain [cramping/after eating/in epigastrium
(after eating)/> after stool]
Tension
Thirst [extreme/drinking (cold) water]
Twisting
Vomiting
Abdomen: “As if something alive”
Distention
Flatulence
Pain [> bending double/cramping (with diarrhea/passing
flatus/griping)/distention with flatulence/(r.) iliac
region/sharp/sitting (bent/> erect)/> standing]
Rectum: Constipation (difficult, hard
stool/ineffectual urging and straining/insufficient)
Diarrhea (after flatus)
Stool: Black/dark/hard/knotty/odor
offensive/pasty/quantity small /watery (yellow)/yellow (brownish)
Bladder: Urination frequent
Urine: Dark/yellow – dark/smells strong/thick
Female organs: Menses – bright red/brown/clotted/dark/too
early/scanty
Pain - ovaries (r.)/uterus
Sex desire – diminished/increased/wanting
Male organs: Sex desire increased
Cough: morning/night waking
And pain in chest left side, evening
Burning in chest
Dry (at night followed by salty expectoration/waking from sleep/until
vomiting)
Distressing
< Motion
Painful
Paoxysmal (with vomiting)
Tickling (in throat)
With vomiting
Expectoration: In balls
In pieces
“Like salt”/salty
Tastes salty
Thick
Viscid
White Yellow
Chest: Eruptions [pimples (hard under the skin/itching/painful/white)/pustules
Mammae “As if full”
Heart – complaints of the
Inflamed costal cartilages
Itching in axilla 2 1177
Pain [Iaching/burning (during coughing/behind
sternum)/in heart on coughing/during inspiration/in intercostal
muscles/r. lung/mammae (in evening/< jar/<
touch/sore)/< motion/
> pressure/during respiration]
Palpitation of heart
Back: Eruptions [patches/pimples (in dorsal
region/in lumbar region)]
Itching
Pain [aching/dull/sore/muscles/in cervical region/dorsal region/lumbar
region/sacral region/sore (lumbar region/lumbar region)/stitching (sacral
region/in spine)/touching]
Stiffness [morning (on waking)/cervical region (> stretching)/in
dorsal region/in lumbar region/sacral region]
Extremities: Awkward
Cold
Cramps (calf/thigh)
Dry
Eruptions [desquamating/dry/itching/leg (itching)/pimples/rash/thigh –
itching/between (desquamating)]
Heat (elbow/joints)
Heaviness (on exertion/lower limbs/upper limbs)
Inflamed – elbow/joints
Itching [burning – on scratching/sole of foot/in lower limbs
(stinging)/under toes/upper limbs]
Numb (tips of fingers)
Pain [aching (knee)/ankle/dull dull (leg/upper
limb)/elbow/fingers/hip/joints/knee (> rubbing)/calf/lower limbs/shoulder
wrist]
Perspiration (foot/hand)
Restless hand
Sensitive finger tips
Stiffness (morning/lower limbs/upper limbs/elbow)
Swollen elbow
Weakness (after least exertion)
Sleep: Deep (unrefreshing)/unrefreshing
Disturbed (cough/by pain)
Falling asleep (after waking)
Laying on side
Refreshing
Restless
Sleepless
Waking – as from anxiety/too early/easy/frequent/as from fright [as from
(slightest) noise]/from shocks/sudden/with desire to urinate
Dreams: Accidents/animals
(dangerous/injured/huge/wild)/being attacked/beach/been betrayed/ruined
buildings/child (injured/looking after/rescuing them)/churches/clothes/foreign
country/
Danger (from water)/sense of danger lacking/dead bodies/death of
relatives/discrimination/disease/dead bodies/death op
relatives/discrimination/disguise/danger of drowning/evil/own family/fertility/fights/old
friends/ghosts/graves/journeys in foreign countries/losing own
family/monuments/nursing newborns/pursued (by wild animals/
by a man)/religious/Sea/struggling/being
stuck/swimming/territorial/being trapped/war/water (swimming/waves)
Chill: in general 3 1645
With perspiration
Fever: Heat in general
With chill(iness)
Inflammatory fever
Perspiration - absent/with heat
Uncovering yet too cold when uncovered
Perspiration: in general
At night during sleep
Smells offensive
Profuse
On single parts
Skin: Burning (after scratching/in spots)
Chapping/cracks
blackish (spots)/red
Dry (burning/rough/< scratching)
Eruptions [blackish/crusty – dry/desquamating/dry elevated/erythema/hard/inflamed/itching/painful/patches (dry
red/itching violent)/
pimples (hard/inflamed/itching/painful/small/sensitive to
touch/whitish)/pustules (inflamed/itching/painful/small/sensitive to
touch/white tips/yellow)/rash (itching/red)/red (areola)/rough/scaly
(white)/sensitive/< warmth/whitish/yellow]
Excoriation (after scratching/must scratch it raw/”As if excoriated”)
Formication (“As from insects”)
Inflamed/>/</changes place on scratching/must scratch (until it is
raw)/in spots/wandering
Generals: Cold feeling
Dehydration
Excess of energy
> physical exertion
Food and drinks: Desires: alcoholic
drinks/cheese/coffee/farinaceous/salt/spicy food; <: alcoholic drinks;
Aversion: to sweets;
Flushes of heat/lack of vital heat/sensation of heat
Influenza
Orgasms of blood after emotions
Pain [aching/cramping (in joint)/muscles]
Weakness [morning (on waking)/from slight exertion/sexual desire
diminished/from sleepiness/with vertigo]
Sensitive externally
Sluggishness of the body
Stiffness
Swelling (joints)