4.11.3 Cuprum phosphoricum, Case 1A man suffers from frequent sore throats and sinus infections, with blocked nose and ears. He likes to test how long he can carry on working or doing sports before he really has to stop, he likes the challenge, but the result is that he tends to overdo things. He has studied voice and speech control. His speech is carefully measured but full of stops and starts. It makes you think: ’Why don’t you get on with it!’.
He used to be anaemic every spring. He loves travelling, he cycles all over the world.
At school and later on at college he used to get many headaches. At job interviews he gets into a state of cramp, as if he has had to reach too high. He prefers a chat in a more informal atmosphere. He is afraid of confrontation, he stiffens and becomes cool and distant as soon as there is a hint of disharmony.
He can only deal with conflict if it is played out according to the set rules. He dislikes quarrels because he doesn’t know how to handle them, he has had this ever since he was young. He loves to be the social host and make sure everyone feels at ease. He is always alert not to hurt anyone’s feelings. He also has difficulty dealing with abstract things.
He gets frequent backaches, a sort of cramp, making it difficult to bend down; certain movements cause electric shocks in his body.
AnalysisThe Phosphor element in this case it quite clear: loves travelling, sociable, headache from study, likes harmony.
But this is not the only element in the case, there is also the theme of control which belongs to the
Iron series, and to Cuprum in particular. We can recognise the theme of Cuprum in his tendency to carry on, to see how far he can go, the cramp and sensation of over reaching after a job interview, the inability to handle conflict unless it is acted out according to the set rules.
The combination of
Cuprum phosphoricum can be found in several symptoms. He studied speech [Phosphor] control [Cuprum]. He speaks [Phosphor] in fits and starts [Cuprum]. He stiffens [Cuprum] when there is disharmony [Phosphor]. He has cramps [Cuprum] in his back with electric shock [Phosphor] sensations.
ReactionAfter
Cuprum phosphoricum he felt fine. He has no more complaints and two years later he still feels very well.