Case 1.5: Aristolochia clematitis (Birthwort, clematitis= clematis like: it's climbing habit) (Aristo = best, Lochia = childbirth)
I saw this girl for the first time in September 2001, ten years old. She had chronic bladder infections for a year. She had been treated by a pediatrician for four years. Bladder pictures showed that at the exit of the ureter there were two very small nodules.
She was extremely tired and could only run for a few meters. After jumping rope she was short of breath. At school she was very lethargic and hung in the chair. During swimming lessons she always came out of the water last and was sometimes blue around her mouth. During the holidays at the seaside she could be deep purple in her face, after swimming. She often had a fever with temperatures up to 41 degrees Celsius. After a while the temperature suddenly dropped to 34.3 degrees Celsius. She also regularly had periods when she had a heartbeat of 180 beats per minute.
History
Her mother had M.E. This made the pregnancy extra difficult, although she was happy to be pregnant. She was very nauseous. She felt like she was in her own little world. The outside world was less important.
The baby's heartbeat was irregular. The delivery was short, but powerful. 10 days before the due date she had a contraction storm at home. The doctor didn't take her seriously and said it wasn't contractions. When her mother indicated that she wanted to go to the hospital, she was suffering from contractions and the doctor panicked because there was nothing ready. The delivery went smoothly after that. Immediately after the birth, the mother became ill: maternity fever and was not allowed to breastfeed. She had to rest for 6 weeks.
As a baby she had a striking red colour. Once she was blue around her mouth.
When she was one and a half years old, her parents were divorced. Her father was 12 years younger than her mother. Both parents kept in close contact with each other. Her father can be very cut off from the world.
Mind
She had a great love for animals. She was especially fond of horses. An outdoor child and very creative. She also had a lot of feeling for music.
She had just changed school, because she was bullied and beaten by the teacher at the previous school. She closed herself off from the world and became difficult to reach.
She can stand up for herself, but as soon as she comes to school, she shuts herself down. When she is explained at riding lessons, she also seems to shut herself off, but she can hear it.
She is afraid of criticism and afraid of angry people and loud voices. When she was five years old she already said: "Mommy, I want to die." There was also a fear of dying, as well as statements like: "If only I were dead." Furthermore, she was afraid of ghosts from the wall. She was afraid that her mother would leave and that big people would abandon her or be angry with her. Afraid of thunderstorms (++) and loud noises. Very sympathetic to animals.
Generals
Nutrition: little thirst
Desires: chocolate, sugar
Aversions: butter, sauerkraut, red beetroot, meat
Sleeping: falling asleep badly, usually at 10 pm, sometimes at 12 pm; often comes to bed with M. at night; waking up as a baby between 10 pm and 11 pm: totally panicked, unattainable; scary dreams about monsters, that she had to leave M.'s house.
Local
Vitiligo eyelids, knees and armpits, after scarlet fever (3 years).
Early puberty (already breast development and pubic hair).
Bruising, ulcers, headaches, fever at the corners of the mouth, winter toes.
Headings (RADAR and Concordant Vermeulen II)
Mind - Company - aversion to 1-
Mind - Forsaken feeling 1-
Mind - Forsaken feeling - isolation, sensation of 1-
Mind - Inconsolable 1-
Face - cracked - mouth, corners or 1-
Face - eruptions - herpes - lips - about 1-
Bladder - inflammation 1-
Extremities - chilblains 1-
Generals - food and drinks - sauerkraut - agg. 1-
(Generals - Riding - horseback;on - agg. 1-)
Great tiredness and exhaustion, sleeplessness, urinary tract, headache, desire chocolate, sweets
Contains Aristolochia Acid and Allantoine (stimulating effect on suppurating wounds and resistant ulcers). Allantoine is present in fetal urine and in allantoic fluid. It is also an oxidation product of uric acid. The flowers of the plants are unpleasant smelling and have tubular form and yellow color. The plants are found in England, usually near old ruins. Especially horses are very sensitive to the plant!
The reason this girl thought of Aristolochia clematitis was because she reminded me very much of the previous girl. The same detachment and apparent immobility (hardly any facial expressions when asked). The fear of death and the desire to die at such a young age. The sensitivity to sounds. The symptom I missed with Asarum was cystitis. The drug from the same family where complaints of the bladder were clearly described was Aristolochia clematitis.
Reaction
After the first dose of Aristolochia 30K she immediately got a cold sore and heart palpitations. Sleeping went worse: more fears about burglars and that M. would die. After that she got more energy and the bladder calmed down. She could run again and M. found her psychologically stronger. She sulked less.
In December M. told that she is more cheerful and that teacher (of the new school) was very surprised: a totally different child and much better school results. She takes the lead in school with drama. Gradually less to no more palpitations. The figure for energy is an eight instead of a three. Sleeping goes better.
Almost two years after starting with Aristolochia clematitis, she was very active in horseback riding. She was talented and won many prizes. Making contact went better, also noticeable during the consultations: she told occasionally what, albeit with some reluctance.. The drug had been prescribed with a potency of up to 50 MK.
=