Author:
Maarten van der Meer
Book:
Evolution of analysis
Type:
Case
Chapter:
3-643.16.10
Camphora officinalis
Remedy code: 3-622.54.12
A six-year-old boy presents with behavioral issues and ear complaints. He is struggling with himself. For a year, he has had many ear infections; tubes were placed, and since then, the infections still occasionally recur, and the ears are sensitive during swimming. He experiences extreme pain, with very swollen lymph nodes, which frightens the parents so big they are. In the evenings and nights, he often cries and cannot sleep. Sometimes he has a fever, and sometimes a discharge from the ear. He can be very explosive and has difficulty listening. He is restless both at home and at school, always fidgeting, moving, and getting up. His mouth can be fiery red, and he says "ow" with sore lips. He frequently has colds, in periods. Sleep is good; he wakes up at 6 a.m. At school, it is often noted that he cannot sit still, which he finds upsetting. He hides than in a corner, behind a couch, and talks very little. Usually, he hides; if you pick him up, he gets angry, starts hitting, and flailing around. These reactions often stem from minor things. He cannot entertain himself, often saying, "I don't know," and starts acting out. He doesn't know how to play, which can anger his mother. This behavior began with the ear issues. Since starting school, he has been explosive at home; initially, they thought, "Let it go." He was always sweet and helpful and still is, but now he acts out more and always gets into trouble with his brothers. He catches colds and flu the same way others do. He has always bitten his nails. In his sleep, he sometimes suddenly sits up, looks around, and then goes back to sleep. He always talks very loudly; he cannot speak normally. When playing a game or on the computer, he is entirely absorbed and has to be told things ten times, like "Put on your shoes, time for school." At school, he is everyone's friend but often plays alone. He is very eager to learn, smart, and wants to be very independent.
Analysis
What is here standing out, what is characteristic, what is 'deviant' behavior: his primary responses, survival instincts, characteristic of Carbon series. The Carbon Series is analogous to Carbon series. Problems started since he was ‘leaving’ home, his safe place. "Hammering away at it. Loud talking (more then necessary)”, means not enough awareness of the outside world: from case studies, this is a hallmark of the Magnoliidae, Carbon series. They live in and from their bodies, with a strikingly strong awareness within their body boundaries, even within their skin, focused on experience or upbringing already ingrained, with little reflection on the outside world. The repertory was consulted; the rubric "hide", it includes Camphora. Series was recognizable in the mentioned remedy, as are the Phases and the Stadium.
Phase 5: restlessness, mobility, explosiveness, desire to learn more, seeking independence.
Phase 4: feeling and knowing one's self with confidence.
Stage 12: repeating, persisting, struggle.
All aspects are present: Series, Phases, and Stage. A repertory rubric was reviewed against the 'grid' of the anamnesis, and each mention was cross-checked for recognition within the Series, Phase, and Stadium framework.
Prescription: Camphora officinalis C200.
Follow-up
After taking the remedy, he experienced redness around his mouth for two days. Since taking it: he no longer wakes up startled during sleep, the restlessness is gone, and he can play and entertain himself for extended periods again. In the first weeks, he was still very explosive, with a loud voice, very angry, and yelling. This was followed by a week of vacation, and since then, he has remained consistently very well. He is still very active, enjoys playing with his brothers, and often acts as the clown. After a month, he had a day of slight ear and neck pain but no swollen glands. Now, he listens when spoken to and even makes eye contact. Previously, he always looked away. The loud talking disappears after a month. The hyperactivity remains, but there are no more complaints at home or school. In the following months, everything remains stable and good.