655.66.13 Cochlearia officinalis, Case
Woman, 65, pharyngitis.
She has throat pain with yellow and red spots, starting on the left, moving to the right side.
She suffers from nagging pains in her stomach, radiating to sides and back. The modalities are: < lying down, > sitting, > morning, < afternoon and evening, < getting tense, visitors.
She often has diarrhoea when she has to go out somewhere. This complaint started when she suddenly had an attack of hyperventilation when she was watching a play in the theatre. It was accompanied by great fear, cramping stomach pains, weakness and fear of death.
Many problems started when her husband fell ill 5 years ago. He had cancer with metastasis. He tortured her with being angry and jealous, wanted to throw her out of the window, wanted to have sex all the time, although he was impotent since his testes had been removed. She could not understand what was happening, their marriage had been so perfect until then. She is a very trusting sort of person, always sees the good side in everybody. She always worries about her children. She is extremely nervous, always neat and tidy and likes to be on time. She is afraid of heights.
Weather: cold, < mist, < draught !, fear of hard wind and storm since the floods in 1953.
Time: < evening.
Desire: sweet, chocolate, salt, fatty meat, fish, eggs.
Aversion: sour rhubarb, milk.
Food: < red cabbage.
Analysis
Brassicaceae: worries about her husband and children; < red cabbage.
Cochlearia officinalis: stomach pains radiating to sides and back.
DD Argentum nitricum, Gelsemium: diarrhoea from anticipation; nervousness.
Follow up
After Cochlearia her muscle pains, stomach pains and nervousness became much less. She felt much better on the whole.
Argentum nitricum had very little effect. Calcium carbonicum, Rhododendron or Cimicifuga had no effect.