Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Homeopathy and the Elements
Type:
Remedy
Chapter:
4.11.1
4.11.1 Cuprum aceticum
Cuprum aceticum is described in Boericke and Clarke.
I have had a most unusual opportunity to get to know this remedy. I had been invited to attend the sun dance ritual of the Lakota Indians in South Dakota. This ritual is performed over 4 days during which time the dancers don’t eat or drink anything. The medicine man had asked me beforehand whether I would be able to assist if there were any problems with the sun dancers, who often developed cramps during these rituals. I immediately thought of Cuprum and asked Rienk Stuut to send me some. This he did, choosing Cuprum aceticum as the most likely remedy, considering the ascetic aspect of the occasion.
Concepts
Cuprum Aceticum
Serious Ascetic
Cramp Hardship
Ritual Abstinence
Containing Deprivation
Guarding Lonely
Telling tales Stark
Being observed < Hard
Analysis
Working seriously and denying yourself: in the ban of a whim.
Ascetic rituals.
Rigid abstinence.
Hardships lead to cramp.
Protecting people who are deprived.
Work is stark and hard.
Lonely through criticism.
Picture of Cuprum aceticum
Essence: ritualistic abstinence.
Working seriously and denying your own needs
They have a tendency to work very hard and to deny themselves all sorts of basic needs. As if they have to fulfil their duty whatever the cost.
Ascetic rituals
A typical situation is that of ascetic rituals. By repeating fixed patterns and abstaining from eating, drinking or having sex, they hope to get into a trance. The trance is meant to make contact with the spirit world, to receive messages and to bring sacrifices for the sake of the family and the well being of the tribe.
Rigid abstinence
The self imposed abstinence can get too a bit too rigid, they don’t know when to stop anymore. They carry on against better judgment, thus endangering their own health. They are afraid of being criticised and left behind on their own if they don’t go on.
Protecting people who are deprived
A variation on this theme is that they want to offer protection to those who are having a hard time. They feel something should be done for the hungry or handicapped or deprived in this world.
Work is hard and stark
In the final stages they are completely exhausted. The hardships and exertions often cause cramp in their calves, stomach or other parts of the body. They become totally apathetic, don’t want anything, except to be dead, at least there will be no more demands then. Failing that the least you can do for them is to leave them alone to rest and sleep.
Expressions
Fears: failure, falling, losing control, anticipation, future, arriving too late, new enterprises, criticism, opposition, approached, looked at, touched, people, family, strangers, health, going mad, heart disease, epilepsy, accidents, dark, water, fire; panic attacks with sweating and fainting, big eyes, easily frightened.
Dreams: futile efforts, paralysis, falling, driving the car without brakes.
Delusions: selling vegetables, general, officer calling a policeman, pursued by enemies or police, loss, thieves, falling, fainting, devils, death, renovating old chairs, busy, insanity, ghosts.
Mood: friendly, mild, haughty.
Aggression: kicking, striking, screaming, destructive, biting, scratching faces (Smits), teasing animals, quarrelling, taunting, shitting in the street, malicious; << being touched, looked at, < injustice, < insults.
Contacts: mild, friendly, <- people, <- talking, doesn’t recognise friends, mad, acting foolishly, hysteria, imitation.
Mental: exhaustion, confused, dementia, delirium.
Mood: happy, laughing, crying, gloomy, > music.
Hobbies: bravado, army outfits, black jackets and clothes.
Work: -> and <.
Profession: general, guard, priest, judge.
Causes: overwork.
Generals
Locality: left.
Weather: cold, cold feet.
Time: < 3 am and 5 pm; sudden attacks.
Desires: cold food, cold drinks.
Aversion: boiled potatoes, sauerkraut, warm food.
Food: > cold drinks, < warm drinks.
Sleep: << sleep.
Physical: > lying down (3), > magnetising, > rubbing, > stretching, > slow movement; < teething, < feathers.
Complaints
Exhaustion, weakness and dizziness. Cancer.
Epilepsy, starting in stomach with pain and nausea; thumbs clenched in fists, biting tongue, loss of urine, screaming; afterwards: restlessness, headache and vomiting.
Cramps (3!), in calves. back, > stretching; Chorea, tetanus, paralysis.
Migraine with loss of sight.
Ear infections. Colds, sneezing.
Asthma (3). Hyper ventilation. Cough, prolonged, spasmodic, suffocating, with vomiting, blueness in face and lips, stiffness and cramps; whooping cough. Lung cancer.
Heart spasms, pain radiating to left arm; high blood pressure; low blood pressure, shock (3); anaemia; Raynaud.
Stomach complaints, tension, contraction, > eating. Nausea. Vomiting, periodic vomiting. Gurgling sounds on drinking.
Diarrhoea, cramps before stool; cholera.
Liver, cirrhosis. Diabetes.
Cramp in muscles of thighs, buttocks, calves, soles of feet. cramp in hands and thumbs, thumbs are turned inwards. Cramp accompanied by numbness, stiffness, doesn’t know how to move.
Eczema.
DD: Carbon series, Iron series, stage 1, 10, 11 and 16, Arsenicum, Belladonna, Cactus, Calcium carbonicum, Camphora, Carcinosin, Dulcamara, Hyoscyamus, Ipecac, Magnesiums, Stramonium.