3.3.1 Alumina, Case 1
A 50 year old man comes with eczema on his face, chest, scrotum and hollow of knees. It is particularly bad in his face, dry, itching and red. The itching gets worse from dust, egg yolk, strawberries, birds and cats.
He is also allergic to mites and chocolate, heat of bed, perspiration, wool, autumn and hot showers also aggravate the condition. Amelioration from rest and lukewarm showers.
The eczema has flared up again lately after a few relatively trouble free years. It started when he was at secondary school. He wanted to take a course that would enable him to go to university, but he did not make it because he was told it was too difficult for him. He still regrets this. He felt unsure of himself and found it difficult to choose what he wanted. He spent a long time finding out who he really was.
His mother was so overprotective that he could hardly develop his own will. He was brought up according to strict religious rules and he felt that God always saw everything, every single mistake. He felt he had to be able to justify all his actions.
He used to work as a physiotherapist and nowadays he counsels people in groups. He loves this work, he is very good with words. He hates people who take on a leading role without having the qualifications.
Generals
Weather: < sun; it burns him to the point of blisters; sea.
Desires: sweet, meat, fish, starch, cheese.
Aversion: buttermilk(3), sherry.
Food: < chocolate, onion, sauerkraut, beans (2).
Analysis
The eczema started during a period of inner searching, when he had to find who he really was. This is a symptom of both Boron and Aluminium. He did what others wanted him to do: they told him he couldn’t take a degree course at school, so he didn’t. This would point to Aluminium. Aluminium is further confirmed by the fact that his mother was over protective so that he couldn’t develop his own will and he became very unsure of himself. He also felt he had to justify his actions. The complaint of dry and intensely itching eczema is also typical of Aluminium. But which Aluminium should we choose? He regrets that he followed other people’s advice, as he feels it wasn’t in his best interest. This points to Oxydatum, which leads us to Aluminium oxydatum, i.e. Alumina.
Reaction
One month after Alumina 1M the eczema is a lot better. There were several relapses during this time, but now the skin feels a lot softer. He himself feels more at ease, more relaxed. After 6 months there is a relapse of the eczema, which disappears after another dose of Alumina.