Castanea vescaRemedy code: 3-644.44.08
"The cough hinders me so much in my functioning," a 36-year-old woman says. She is small in stature, a bit chubby, soft, stable, and independent. For four years she has had the same complaints; it starts in September with a cold and cough, lots of phlegm. That continues for months with a tickling cough, sometimes a bit less, and then it comes back; it lasts until April. Codeine puffs do nothing; the pulmonologist gave antibiotics and prednisone, which relieved it. She doesn't sleep because of the cough and is desperate, "I am a working mother with children." Sometimes green phlegm. Dry throat and tickling cough. It starts with a spasmodic feeling in the airway, behind the sternum, and it can't be coughed away. A dry barking cough; in the mornings when I start moving, it already begins, and it gets worse in the evenings. In the evening, she sometimes doesn't even go to bed, just lies on the couch; the cough also occurs during sleep, and then her partner is awake too. She often has to take time off due to client contact. It comes in waves. The voice is hoarse. So first phlegm, then dry, dry mouth, dry throat, and still swallowing phlegm, with breathing already difficult. Sometimes I hold my head; I have to cough so hard. Four years ago, when the complaint started, her second child was just 1 year old; the cough started at the end of breastfeeding; she had to work a lot, and already had three young children. Work is enjoyable, for 15 years; she has a lot of client contacts, varying shifts. In the summer, the energy is good. The cough is making her exhausted. Because of this, she's tired, irritable, prickly. "I have always been a cheerful type; now I am curt." Furthermore, she has a weak bladder; years ago, she received maintenance tablets from the urologist, still quickly gets a burning sensation from her 18th year. Pregnancies with hypertension, retaining water, cesarean section. She always had side jobs, and did a secretary course; that just seemed fun to her, but she found the work boring, "is this what I want," too few contacts, so she tried something else. As a sport, she does a lot of running, for many years. What she likes to do is visit people, and go to friends. Sleep is usually fine, and rested.
Dreams: yes.
Tongue clean, indented, often spots, she says (this indicates mucous membrane problems).
Beside this she has a lot of trouble with the intestines, from childhood, with lots of abdominal cramps; it is very sensitive; she can cramp from the pain, has to go to the bathroom a lot, and almost always has diarrhea. It's worse with milk and fat, but she eats everything; it's too tasty. At home, everything was always good, a happy family, good contact with both parents.
AnalysisClass 4: Emphasis on work, the complaint 'limits her functioning,' she is practical and decisive.
Fabaceae are known for tackling, practicality, gastrointestinal complaints, and indented tongue; these characteristics and themes can be extrapolated to the
Fabales and even to the
Fabidae. Beside the cough, she has livelong other complaints: she reports them but can live with them; they don't hinder her in a practical sense.
Phase 4: she is stable, and so is the complaint; her work and home situation are good, to her liking; she radiates calm; she feels and takes responsibility in work and upbringing.
Stage 8: She mentions severity; she works hard; the cough is hard and irritating.
Rubrics have been reviewed for suitable
Fabidae: worsening in winter gives Aesculus, Bryonia, and Colocynthus as an option. These possibilities do not fit when you consider the themes found in Phase and Stage. It is wise to always give yourself a 'second opinion,' to analyze the case from a different perspective, so you can compare; moreover, it helps to get a sharper image, to better articulate what your choice is based on. Look for a medicine that fits all the 'puzzle pieces': the complaints and recognizable themes.
Prescription: Castanea vesca MK
Follow-upIt is going very well. Just 10 minutes after taking it, she started coughing, but less severely, no longer the harshness or irritation. After a few days, the cough was almost gone. The voice is less hoarse. The tongue is less spotted but is sour red, clean, and still slightly indented at the front. Now there is a cough virus going around, but she doesn't catch it like before. Sleep is good again. Her mood is good again. In the second week, she had a bit of tension headache, reminiscent of the time of hypertension, but with a bit of rest, it disappeared again. Bites nail short, always have.
The intestines are calm now; that could be a coincidence. The bladder is indeed better, no longer sensitive, little burning sensation. She is amazed herself and asks, 'How long does such a medicine work, does it stay in your body, how can that be?' A well-matching medicine puts the body back on the right track, and normalizes the recovery system being the feedback on over and under-function, both of organs and tissues. The years after she still is fine, and healthy.