Case 2.1: Convallaria majalis
Mrs. M. was 54 years old in 2000 when I understood she needed Convallaria majalis. I had known her for a year and during that time given her Magnesium phosphoricum and Thuja. Magnesium phosphoricum because of her ambivalent relation with her brother, and Thuja because she is a meek (zachtmoedig) and sensitive person.
Complaints.
Weariness < lying in bed
Palpitations < after eating < during sleep < milk < wheat < alcohol
> sitting > walking
She has a rapid pulse
Menopause: heat flushes, perspiration, waking at night.
She sometimes
Generals
Temp Aversion Nails Skin Female Bladder Ears Mind
feels ‘as if it snows on the inside’ and ‘as if an electrical current’ goes through her.
: normal
: fish
: biting
: stings insects swell; tendency to oedema; itching
: last menses 1998, before that metrorrhagia and clotted menses
: cystitis a few times, burning urethra after urination: pressing pain, noise of churchbells in ears
She is a punctual and very polite person who formulates precisely and clearly. She is very busy and has a full life. Making choices and priorities is not easy for her. She has a high sense of duty and responsibility. She has her own consultancy since some months, advising unemployed persons for a new job. ‘Interaction and attitude’ are the themes she promotes in her work. She is ambitious in her work, has high goals.
She is the eldest daughter of a family of five children. Her elder brother had crossed the borders of intimacy in her youth and she has tried to avoid him, but recently he has moved to her town. He is a pitiful alcoholic. My patient feels angry as well as compassionate versus him. Magnesium phosphoricum helped her to become more firm and clear in her relation to this elder brother.
Her father died of heart complaints in an I.C. unit. She felt very powerless and still regrets not being there at his bedside when he passed away. Mother is still alive but growing demented.
She is happily married and has three children and two grandchildren, that fill her life with joy. Fear: thunderstorm (1)
Prescription
In fact I prescribed Convallaria majalis because I thought she had the characteristics of a Liliales with emphasis of the complaints in the region of the heart. Typing Liliacea and palpitation in Reference works, Convallaria shows up together with 17 other Liliales.
Characteristics of Liliales: restlessness, high goals and a certain purity. On the physical level: complaints in the pelvic region (bladder, menstrual complaints).
Rubrics confirming Convallaria: Chest, palpitation, lying
Chest, palpitation with uterine disease Generalities, pulse frequent (2w) Generalities, dropsy
Bladder pain, after urination
Fear as if from burst of electricity?
Follow up
In the past four years Mrs. M. has received Convallaria majalis in increasing potencies (30K, 200K and MK). I see her once or twice a year, It is always a blessing to be in her vicinity: she radiates such a sweet and healing energy. She has long periods without complaints and only takes the remedy when the palpitations or skin complaints relapse. The menopausal complaints are not an issue anymore. During the course of the treatment she has grown mentally stronger, is more firm and clear, but is still sensitive. Her work flourishes. The relapses occur when her children or grand-children are in pain (divorce, operation).