Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Homeopathy and Minerals
Type:
Remedy
Chapter:
12
Magnesium carbonicum
Magnesium carbonicum is a relatively well known remedy. Particularly the difficult, aggressive child is a familiar Magnesium carbonicum picture. They are the sour-faced and perpetually awkward children. But where does this pattern come from? And why does this not happen in adults, or why don’t we recognise it in them?
Concepts
Magnesium Carbonicum
Pacifism Giving meaning
Aggression Stating values
Fear of loss Self worth
Pain Dignity
Shyness
Workers
Father
Analysis
If we look at the group analysis, we get as the theme for Magnesium carbonicum the idea that aggression is either necessary for a feeling of self worth, or on the other hand that it is very detrimental to self worth. This makes it easy to understand why Magnesium carbonicum. children are so aggressive. They have a need to be recognised and accepted, and if this does not happen spontaneously, then they will show their presence in another way: they will force you to respect them.
Kent (1983a, page 656) describes Magnesium carbonicum as his first choice of remedy for orphans. He meant orphans in an orphanage. One can easily imagine that there was no room for respect for the child in the orphanages of the last century. If necessary, stubbornness would be beaten out of them. So the children would either become rebellious, or they would swallow their aggression.
A differential with Magnesium muriaticum is important here. Both are first choice remedies for children of quarrelling or divorced parents. But in Magnesium muriaticum we have a much stronger fear of losing the support. They are very afraid that the quarrels will lead to it, that they will not be nurtured and cared for anymore. In Magnesium carbonicum it is much more a matter of respect. Magnesium carbonicum has the feeling that he is not appreciated. He might think that his parents are quarrelling about him, because he is so troublesome and aggressive. Or he might feel that his parents don’t think he is worth anything, so they could easily leave him.
In Magnesium carbonicum we also have the theme of the father. The father could be too aggressive, or the opposite, too weak. In one case the theme of the father was as follows: the patient felt very angry when she was sent away from home for a few weeks when her father was dying. She had not been allowed to say good-bye to him.