Valeriana officinalis

Remedy code: 3-666.63.13.A 78-year-old man, slightly hunched in posture, seeks help for anxiety. He looks uncomfortable, his wife made the appointment spontaneous. He hasn’t been feeling well for several weeks but struggles to explain it. The tension centers on his chest. Pain occurs beside the left side of the breastbone, extending to his flank, “as if they’re shoving a piece of wood in there.” It suddenly comes on when he’s sitting or about to fall asleep, causing a spasm. The pain startles him, increasing his anxiety, and he jumps up from his chair and heads outside. He also has discomfort in his left shoulder when lifting or walking with his large dog. This makes him fearful; his doctor wants to prescribe heart medication, but he’s too scared to take it. He ran his own business for 40 years, which was stressful, involving long hours, 12-14 hours a day, as he handled everything himself. Then came the deaths of colleagues. Now he walks his dog, “just to get outside.” He takes medication to sleep; otherwise, he’d sit upright in bed, something that started after his younger brother—his longtime work partner—suffered a series of strokes. He used to have a spastic colon, crying in pain on the toilet, worsened by sauerkraut, cabbage, and cold beer. He previously had eye cancer, which was treated with radiation. His soles feel like 5 cm thick, like walking on foam. He uses an inhaler for asthma, needing it more with every weather change. His tongue has a medial groove and indentations.AnalysisGold series: independence, anxiety (symptom in awareness), colitis, and asthma.
Phase 6: symptoms arose after retirement, related to his circumstances. Giving a lot, too much, within the independence of Gold series. Hard-working, demanding much from himself, and facing high demands in his situation. Digestive issues. Feet: the sensation is reduced but not gone.
Dipsacales: desire to withdraw.
Phase 3: he often says, “It can’t be helped,” adapting to circumstances.
Stadium 13: withdrawal, old emotions.
Referenced repertory rubrics: Pressing pain chest and escape, both indicating Valeriana.
Prescription: Valeriana officinalis C30.Follow-up after two weeks:Within days, the chest and arm pain disappeared; he no longer felt the urge to run outside. After taking it, he experienced brief moments of panic, according to his wife. A week later, he dreamed about a relative who died 35 years ago. His tongue shows a slight haze but is otherwise fine. After two months, he’s still doing well, feels calmed down and doesn’t wish to return.