642.14.16 Podophyllum peltatum, Case
Man, 60, conjunctivitis.
He has itching of his eyes, < in winter and outside, with a lot of tears.
He has a lot of worries about his three adopted sons. They have difficulty in becoming adult although they are already around 30. One is intellectually backward and has a tendency to alcohol abuse and no real job. Another has no job, treading a difficult path in life. The third is very distant, difficult to help, without a job after an accident. His biological mother did not want to recognise him when he had found her. All three have no relationship, no real home, no good education or job and financial problems.
He himself feels hopeless with all these problems because they are so careless with all the opportunities they get. They come to him for financial support to him but do not want to hear his advice, so he cannot do anything anymore.
He has worked in developing countries out of idealism. Once he was very ill there, with diarrhoea and fever. Others were very worried that he would die. He was not worried at all, does not remember anything of what happened during 2 days.
Analysis
The worries and cares about the family are a strong theme of the Berberidaceae. There is also the theme of the survival in a hard world.
The situation is that he cannot do anything anymore, he has been sidelined: Stage 16. This leads to Podophyllum.
The acute fever with diarrhoea fits Podophyllum well.
Follow up
After Podophyllum MK he is more relaxed and focused. His eye symptoms are gone. His still worries about his children but to a much lesser degree.