Chamaemelum nobile
Anthemis nobilis
Remedy code: 3-666.47.04
An 11-year-old girl, with pimples on her foot for three weeks, her mother initially thought they were mosquito bites. They're pimples, they're increasing, and she scratches them open. Around the knuckle of the right big toe, the skin is open, red, and inflamed. The doctor prescribes cortisone cream, without result. It causes a burning pain, when one pimple opens, a new one appears afterward. Sometimes she has a sun allergy. When she's sick, she gets sick and recovers quickly. The tongue is white-pale, indented on the right, and she has enlarged sublingual glands. She's very shy, even as a toddler, spending the first half-hour on her parents' lap when visiting grandparents. She doesn't say a word to me, and in the following consultations, she doesn't look at me, doesn't shake hands, and leans forward on her mother's lap. 'I want to say something, but my mouth won't let me,' she tells her parents at home.
Analysis
It's an infection, with blisters and pus. The characteristic 'infection', is fitting with the Compositae, which can be extrapolated to the Asterales, Gold series, and Phase 4. Indented tongue and swollen lymph nodes suggest lymphatic weakness or overload, defense as a theme, confirms this. A pale tongue indicates a corresponding blood flow to the mucous membranes, a slow and maybe hesitating reaction, fitting a Stage below 6. A Stage can also be evaluated as a 'theme', either as a burdensome or triggering factor or a resolving ability. A repertory rubric was used to differentiate within the Asterales. The pale tongue mentions Gnaphalium, placed within the Calendulaceae at Stage 5.
Prescription: Gnaphalium polycephalum C200.
Follow up
After this, the spots quickly closes, but after two months, the pimples return, and something remains – rough skin, redness and a spot has appeared behind the right ear, which is open and red, she scratches it open. They initially thought it was due to sleep deprivation, but it persists. After taking Gnaphalium: she got a sore throat, couldn't swallow, she was feverish (flushing, 38 °C), unable to talk, etc., but it subsided.
Analysis
The reaction confirms Compositae as a family: fever and the spot on the toe is a reflex area of the ear area. The fact that there is still red skin on the toe, and the spot behind the ear indicates that there is still a problem, Gnaphalium is not good enough to solve the problem quickly. Re-evaluate with the new information from the reaction. Further search within the Asterales, Anthemis nobilis is also listed under 'tongue, discoloration, white'. The closure in her behavior is characteristic of Stage 4, compare for this the behavior and feeling of Cerium. Later, the mother reveals that she doesn't want to grow up, she wants to remain a child and struggles with her body changing already. Phase 7 characteristics, the theme 'loss’, Phase 4 the theme it's okay like this. Individuality and independence are the themes of Gold series, this is okay, I don't want to lose this (Phases 4 and 7), shy and hiding is Stage 4. Prescription Anthemis nobilis C200.
Follow-up
The skin closes, and remains slightly rough for another month, but no more itching or scratching and disappears soon. At home, she now expresses herself well, in recent weeks she has spent more time in her room. 'Musts' she dislikes, she also wants to do her things. We see her through her behavior a new phase in her development, she feels more resilient towards the outside world, and her resistance remains good thereafter.