Magnesium carbonicum CaseI will put either (Mag) or (Carb) in brackets behind some symptoms in this case and in the next short case. This is to show the method of thinking.
This boy was born in 1984. His mother brought him in August 1989 because of diarrhoea (Mag) which he has had virtually all his life. It began when he started to eat solid food. His stool was always very smelly, rather sour (Mag). He also often used to have a nappy rash. Diets did not help. In an allergy test they discovered a great sensitivity to histamine (Mag). The second reason why she brought him, is that he is always so terribly difficult. As a baby and toddler he already cried and whined (Mag) most of the time. Since August ‘88 it has become really bad: he sits or hangs around, and is always looking for trouble (Mag). He is so agitated his mother cannot stand it any more. Sometimes he has temper tantrums. He likes being with girls, but it often ends in teasing or being teased (Mag).
He is always tired, complaining and demanding. He doesn’t do anything and he doesn’t want anything. He is also jealous if his sisters gets the attention.
His parents quarrel a lot (Mag). His mother sometimes has great outbursts of anger (Mag.). She blames her husband (Carb) that he still doesn’t have a job (Carb), and she feels at the same time that she is faced with taking care of the children all on her own. The father is more gentle and passive and does not know how to handle the situation. They are talking of separating (Mag).
Other complaints are: hyper sensitive skin (Mag) with slight eczema in the face, minor cold all the time, and a hoarse voice.
General characteristics:Temperature: warm, likes to be outdoors.
Perspiration: profuse, also at night, often sour (Carb).
Desires: sweet (Carb), meat (Mag), fruit (Mag), cheese.
Aversion: vegetables (Mag).
Sleep: good, but in the morning tired again after half an hour (Mag); he sleeps on his back, talks and snores; he has bad dreams about witches (Carb).
AnalysisThe symptoms clearly indicate
Magnesium carbonicum: desire for sweet, meat and fruit, aversion to vegetables, sour diarrhoea, sour sweat, < morning, and aggressive. Aggression is obvious in that he is looking for trouble with his siblings. It is as if he wants to prove himself. Another theme of Magnesium carbonicum is the quarrelling parents. The group analysis also gives the theme of the aggressive, or the not assertive enough, father. We can see here a father who is not assertive enough.
ReactionThe reaction on
Magnesium carbonicum. was very good, with improvements on all levels.