Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Homeopathy and Minerals
Type:
Remedy
Chapter:
131
Zincum
Zincum has a very specific mental picture. They have the idea that they have to be very intellectual and achieve a lot in this area. That is why the suppression of emotions is usually seen as the main cause of the complaints in Zincum. This is not a very specific symptom, however, as there are many remedies who have this. What is special about Zincum is that they have to suppress their emotions because they have to develop their mental faculties to such a high degree.
Intellectual achievement
They feel that they have to be very intellectual and it makes them feel pressurised, particularly with regard to studies. They can become very anxious before exams, very afraid that they won’t pass.
Typical of Zincum is that they dream of failing an exam that they passed a long time ago. This has proved to be a very characteristic dream. After taking Zincum they will suddenly dream that they did pass the exam after all.
In a dream proving done by Cees Dam we see this theme very clearly: ‘I was on holiday in the mountains. There was a lot of snow and the chance of being snowed in was considerable, which meant that I wouldn’t be able to get back and my studies would be delayed by a whole year’.
Because they cultivate their intellectual side they initially achieve a lot. They are also good with computers: children will pick it up quickly and astonish everyone by the speed with which they can play all these computer games. But later on they might suffer from a mental dullness, as if all their mental faculties have been blocked.
This situation often originates in the sort of upbringing they had at home. Here the emphasis will have been on intellectual achievement, having to score high marks at school, otherwise they won’t count. It is often the father who exerts this sort of pressure and it is remarkable that these children are usually accompanied by their father when they come for a consultation.
Guilt, crime, persecuted
The pressure of having to achieve often leads to a feeling of guilt, particularly when they fail. It might make them feel that they have committed a crime. Hence the delusion or the dreams that they are being pursued, usually by the police.
In a proving dream by Cees Dam we see this very strongly: ‘I am sitting in a class-room (!) and feel an inner restlessness and anxiety. I feel guilty. It has something to do with a (murdered?) girl. I look outside and see two policemen in uniform approaching. I immediately think ’they have come to get me’.
The various themes of zincum are quite clear in these dreams: the feeling of guilt, the delusion of having committed a crime, the feeling of having to learn a lot, and the restlessness.
Emotional suppression
The emotional side of Zincum is underdeveloped. The reason overrules the emotions. This is why they may appear to be rather cold. Their emotions are suppressed and overwhelmed by the intellect. In the above mentioned dream of Dam the murdered girl may be the symbol of the emotions that have been murdered too.
Restlessness
The feeling of pressure leads to a feeling of restlessness. This is often located in the legs and feet, which they can’t keep still, particularly at night in bed.
During menses or other intense or exciting situations this restlessness can also come out strongly.
Fears: thieves, dark, horror.
General characteristics
Desires: salt, cold food, beer.
Aversion: sweet, meat, fish, warm food. < red wine, sweet.
Menses: > during menses.
Physical: > sitting back.
Complaints
Neurological complaints, such as chorea, tics, Gilles de la Tourette, repetitious movements, rolling the head, restlessness of mouth, eyes and legs.
Eczema.
DD: Cuprum, Ferrum.