Kalium iodatum CaseA 68 year old man has problems with his joints. It started 3 months ago when his right knee collapsed. The knee was hot, swollen and stiff. Then other joints, his hands and ankles, also started to ache. The pains are worse in the morning and get better in the course of the day. In general they are aggravated by rest and ameliorated by movement and frequently changing position. The complaints started after his retirement as bank manager. He also moved house, so that he wouldn’t have to meet his former clients all the time. In the same way that he used to feel it his duty to do his job well, he now feels it his duty to stop his work completely. That is why he moved to another village. He felt very sorry to have to stop work, as he had always been very happy in his job.
He suffers from palpitations, a thumping of the heart, < lying down in the evening, > breathing deeply.
He has frequent sneezing attacks.
Eczema with itching around the anus, < after stool.
Diarrhoea after a hot meal, with pain in the left lower abdomen.
Past history: When he was 11 years old he had an operation on his knee to remove loose bits of cartilage. In 1979 he suffered from severe back pains. In 1982 he had an ear operation because of hardening of the stapes. In 1983 he had a infected wound on his right leg.
General characteristics:
Temperature: warm, < heat. -> fresh air.
Perspiration: on exertion.
Desires: spicy food (3), meat, fish, salt, fruit.
Aversion: food without spices, sweet, broad beans, peasoup, lemon.
Sleep: sound; sleeps on right side; likes going to bed early and getting up early.
snores
Mind: He is always busy and he manages to do many jobs by himself. He has had to fight in life, particularly in the war. He was picked up during a razzia and put in prison. They wanted to send him to Germany for forced labour, but he feigned a great weakness in his knee, preventing him from putting his weight on it. To test him they let him stand on his good knee for many hours. If he had put his weight on his bad knee even once during these hours they would have found out that he was lying and sent him to Germany. He managed to keep standing on one leg for 3 hours and he was allowed to go home.
He was very ambitious and he has had the full support of his wife. He did his job with dedication and enthusiasm.
He has always been active and can’t sit still for long. He always notices something that needs doing and he carries this out straight away.
He likes music and enjoys singing, which vibrates through him from top to bottom.
He also enjoys reading, particularly English or historical literature.
To keep moving he likes cycling and walking, but he hates driving.
AnalysisThere are many indications for Kali, particularly the mental attitude of working hard and fulfilling your duty. We can also find several symptoms of
Iodum: < warmth, active, working hard, > movement, knee problems, right-sidedness.
After Kali-i had had a very positive result, I realised that there were two psychological aspects in this case that may be significant for Kali-i. The first one is that he had been put through a test in the war. He had to remain standing on one leg in order to escape being sent away for forced labour. He had to remain true to his principle, keeping up this task for 3 hours, in order to keep his freedom, his right to exist.
The second aspect was that he moved house soon after his retirement. One could say that he escaped and had to find a new place to live, after he had fulfilled his duty.
ReactionFollowing a dose of Kali-i 1M the pains in his joints became better and worse alternately, whereas before that time the situation had been quite stable. After that they gradually started to diminish. He also became more relaxed and easy going. He could watch other people doing things, without having to jump up and do it himself. He is enjoying life much more.