2.2.1 Beryllium muriaticum, Case 1A 40 year old woman has an inflammation in the left heel. It is swollen and it hurts on pressure. It has been operated on several times, but this did not help. Walking on bare feet aggravates, shoes with special support ameliorate the problem. Walking, especially walking on tip-toe, aggravates the shooting and drawing pains. She also suffers from headaches in the neck and base of the skull, radiating to the forehead. It feels as if she is wearing a tight bathing cap. The pain is worse when she is busy and better when she sleeps. It is worse in the beginning of the evening.
She also had an ear infection on the left side, accompanied by fever. No discharge.
Her jaws were very stiff at the same time. She still has pain in her ear on pressure. She has also suffered from a prolonged cold and sinusitis, with a cough with copious mucus, worse in the beginning of the evening. This is worse when she has to organise something in the evening, like a dinner party, when she has already had a busy day.
She has problems with her mother, who sits on the sofa criticising her all day. She is afraid she will become just like her mother. She desperately tries to be easy going and kind. She apologises for things that are not even her fault, like the butcher giving them a piece of meat that is a bit on the tough side. On the rare occasion that she shouts at the children she quickly catches herself: ‘I’m not turning out to be like my mother, am I?’ She is unsure of herself and wonders who she really is. She is afraid of showing her weakness. She goes along on a skiing holiday although she secretly hates it. She is afraid of appearing a bore, so she puts up a brave front.
She is kindhearted and tries to please everybody. She tends to worry about the children. She does everything for her husband and children. When her children happen to look sad she immediately fears that they will have emotional problems later on in life. In everything she does in the house or with the children she is driven by an urge to do well. She is aware of everything she missed as a child and she wants to do better.
Her mother used to be very kind towards her when she was younger. When she did not want to go to school her mother let her stay at home. All her mother asked of her then was that she would do the shopping. Later on she realised that her mother was afraid to leave the house. This is still the case, which is why she always has to do little jobs for her mother. She is afraid of her mother and doesn’t dare to stand up for her self. All she does is try to please her mother all the time.
When she was 13 she once had a panic attack when she was being held by a much older girl. She was afraid of this fear: everything became hazy and she felt very pressurised.
GeneralsWeather: warm hands and feet; > sea (2), < sun, -> fresh and sunny; fear of thunder in childhood.
Perspiration: little.
Time: < 7 pm.
Desires: sweet, chocolate, sour, spices, milk, coffee, vegetables, fruit.
Aversion: fat, eggs.
Food: < chocolate, spices.
Menses: prolonged, spotting after menses.
AnalysisTo summarise this case we could say that she feels very uncertain about herself as a mother. She has to achieve in all areas of making a home and raising the children, and is afraid of making mistakes. This aspect strongly indicates one of the Muriaticums.
The uncertainty, the childishness, and the lack of courage remind us of the
Carbon series.
The typical way in which she puts herself aside for husband and children is very characteristic of
Beryllium, which leads us to
Beryllium muriaticum. She worries about the children (Muriaticum), afraid that they will develop emotional problems (
Carbon series,
Beryllium). She always wants to please (
Beryllium) her mother (Muriaticum). Her mother (Muriaticum) was too afraid (
Beryllium) to leave the house.
Another key
Beryllium symptom is: always wondering who she really is.
Muriaticum symptoms: afraid of her mother, afraid of turning into a bitchy mother, afraid of being a bore, < extra cares after a busy day looking after home and family, > sea, < sun. little perspiration, prolonged spotting after menses.
ReactionOne month after
Beryllium muriaticum 1M she is a lot better, more relaxed, more self confident. She feels warm and nice inside. One month after that the fear that she will turn out to be like her mother has disappeared. She is able to get angry with her children without stopping half way. Looking after herself becomes easier, she’s less inclined to be angry with herself. The children also give her more feedback.
After 4 months and 4 doses of
Beryllium muriaticum 1M everything feels lighter to her. No more heavy, dark feeling in her head. She feels more relaxed in her mother’s presence, although she still doesn’t dare to oppose her mother’s wishes.
The headache and stomach pains were gone quite quickly. The pains in her heel did not start to get better until several months later, but now, after 9 months, they are almost gone.