Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Homeopathy and Minerals
Type:
Remedy
Chapter:
38
Calcium phosphoricum
'The worst thing is if they think I am stupid'.
The general picture of Calcium phosphoricum is quite well known. It is all the more surprising that we do not know a central theme or essence yet.
Concepts
Calcarea Phosphorica
What do others think Communication
Sensitive to criticism Sympathetic
Insecurity Friends, acquaintances, neighbours
Shyness Brothers
Fears Homesickness
Protection Curiosity and travel
Withdrawal Restlessness and fears
Analysis
The group analysis provides as the central theme of Calcium phosphoricum the delusion that others will think that they are not very good at learning or making friends. This theme is a little unexpected at first sight. We don’t find any indications towards it in the literature. One reason why this theme is not present in the literature could be the shy and hiding character of Calcarea itself. If we pause to think about this theme for a while, we will see that the usual expressions of the Calcium phosphoricum state can be the result of this basic delusion. In Calcium phosphoricum schoolchildren with headaches we usually find this theme as the underlying cause. In the case described below we also find the theme as deduced through group analysis.
Calcium phosphoricum is extremely sensitive about what others will think of his learning capacities. One expression of this theme might be that they start to study very hard, just to prevent others thinking that they can’t learn or communicate very well. They are always busy developing their knowledge, they continually want to see and experience new things. We find this in the repertory under 'desire to travel' and 'desire to wander'.
But they feel uncertain about the things they have seen and learned. They doubt their own powers of observation and judgment. That is the reason they want to experience new things, or variations of these, again and again.
The desire to develop themselves further makes them very impatient and restless. They remain dissatisfied with what they know, and want to keep on experiencing new things. Zaren (seminar Lelystad) concluded that they are often very boyish. Girls would rather climb trees, have excitement and do naughty things, than sit quietly at home.
They might get mentally exhausted from all this intensive learning. Then they cannot study anymore, even talking becomes too much for them. Here we get the symptom 'prostration of mind from talking'.
Another reaction is that they might give up and withdraw. They are afraid that they can’t live up to expectation and that others will notice this, so they would rather withdraw. We often see this with schoolchildren. The demands of school are too high for them, they cannot cope with spelling or maths. They develop an aversion to school. At school they might get a headache or a stomach ache. We find this in the repertory as 'desire to go home' and 'headache in schoolgirls'.
Another situation in which Calcium phosphoricum might be needed is when there is a lovesickness. In this case it is useful to differentiate between Calcium phosphoricum and the Sulphuricums. The latter have a problem in the whole area of love and and partners. In Calcium phosphoricum and the other Phosphoricums it is more a matter of the breaking of a contact, the loss of a friendship. Calcium phosphoricum is afraid that others will think that that they cannot be a good friend.
Essence
they are afraid that others will think they are stupid.
Mind
They have a great fear that others will think that they can’t keep up. To compensate for this they will do their utmost to study well. They want to develop themselves, gather knowledge, see new and far away places. This makes them very restless, they always want to explore new things, travel far away and meet new people.
If they don’t succeed in their self development, they become very dissatisfied. They withdraw and want to stay at home. If they are at school and they can’t keep up with the work in spite of all their efforts, they will get headaches or stomach aches. When they are really exhausted any mental strain is too much. And more studying will bring more complaints.
They like to have company with a lot of contact and discussions. They are very open, spontaneous and extrovert. They have many friends. If they lose their friends, through moving house for instance, they can get very homesick. They will long for the old friends and all their discussions together. This situation can also occur when a love relationship is broken. The loss of contact can make them feel very gloomy.
Fear: being alone, disease, death. Easily frightened.
Generals
Location: right sided.
Physique: thin, tall.
Temperature: cold, sensitive to thunderstorms, draught and wind.
Time: < 3 pm and 9 pm.
Desire: spicy, smoked, salt, sweet, fish, cold drinks.
Aversion: salt, fish.
Menses: copious.
Physical: rubbing.
Body
burning pains.
Haemorrhages of bright red blood.
Neurological complaints, convulsions, hyperventilation.
Weakness with nervousness.
Migraines.
Tuberculosis, lung problems, bronchitis, asthma.
Bone problems: growing pains, Scheuermann, scoliosis, fractures, rachitis, osteo-porosis.