6.14.3 Plumbum muriaticum, Case 1
A 40 year old woman has come for a consultation because she is very dizzy. She feels lightheaded, as if she is swaying and often has to hold on to a wall for support. It is worse of walking (2) or cycling, > in the mountains. She had the same symptoms ten years ago. That was when her first child had just been born and she had wanted to share the upbringing together with a friend. She was doing a part time study in child psychology, but couldn’t combine this with looking after her son full time.
At the time she was sharing a house with friends and she had previously also lived in a commune with this same friend. But sharing the upbringing of their children did not work out at all. She felt she had no say in the upbringing of her baby during the two days her friend was in charge. Eventually she and the baby moved house, which was an enormous relief to her. She never discussed this whole issue with her friend afterwards.
The dizziness started after she was prescribed Calcium muriaticum 1M at her last visit. At that time she had terribly painful, swollen breasts during the two weeks before the menses. The pain was worse on touch and on running, better if she was wearing a bra. She also had itching nipples.
She is very sensitive to criticism, especially if it is about the way she brings up her child. She cannot tolerate anyone interfering with her rules. She lives in a commune again and her children are the only ones in the group. Other members sometimes question her sense of responsibility, wondering whether her children are eating properly. She gets very worried about her children and starts to fear the worst when her son arrives home an hour later than usual.
She gets frequent colds in the winter, with a blocked nose, sore throat and coughing. She has much tough, green mucus in the nose. Worse on getting up in the morning, worse inside and worse on change from cold to warm weather.
She hates routine, always wants to do something different. She is restless and can’t sit still for long. She likes travelling, cycling and folk dancing.
Her father was never at home when she was little, but her mother always used him as a threat. Her mother was a suffocating influence, she couldn’t take the fact that there was always something wrong with one child or another. One of her sisters is a lesbian, the other one is divorced and remarried, her brother is an alcoholic and she herself lives in a commune. None of the four children are going to church anymore. Her mother still hasn’t learned to really listen to her, to try and understand how she feels and what she likes. That is why she hasn’t gone home to see her parents for a long time. She has frequent dreams about being in a church and swinging from one big lamp to another.
Generals
Weather: warm, storm, -> fresh, -> sea.
Perspiration: < exertion.
Time: < morning.
Desires: chocolate, cake.
Aversion: tough food (2), fish, milk.
Food: < coffee: dizzy and trembling; < wine.
Menses: profuse, long lasting; stomach pains, back pains, moody.
Sleep: sleepless, < during menses, < heat, wine.
Analysis
The problems with her breasts and with motherhood in general indicate one of the Muriaticums. The sensitivity to criticism might point to Calcium, but on closer investigation we see that she cannot tolerate comments on the principles along which she brings up her children, and this isn’t really a Calcium theme. She became dizzy when she was sharing the upbringing of her first child and she felt that she had no say in the matter anymore. It was as if someone had taken away her control over her own child, as if she had been pushed aside. This is the theme of stage 14, which, together with the issue of power (Gold series) leads us to Plumbum. Combined with the muriaticum element we get Plumbum muriaticum.
She cannot combine her study in child psychology (Metal) with taking care of her child (Muriaticum). She cannot tolerate criticism on her responsibility (Gold series) towards her children (Muriaticum). Her mother (Muriaticum) was a suffocating her (Metal, later stages).
Other Plumbum symptoms: dizzy, disinterested, storm, -> fresh, sleeplessness.
Muriaticum symptoms: anxiety about her children, warm, sea, menses profuse and prolonged, with stomach- and back pains, moody.
Reaction
After Plumbum muriaticum 1M she feels very tied for a week, accompanied by backache, stomach ache, and perspiration, as if she is menstruating. Afterwards she starts to feel better, she has more energy and the dizziness is less. The pains in her breasts came back briefly during the last menses. After another dose of Plumbum muriaticum 1M I don’t see her for six months. She has been very well, energy is still good, no more dizziness or pain in her breasts.