665.55.09 Lycopus virginicus, Case
Case by Alex Leupen.
Woman, 38, palpitations: My heart runs away with me.
Her palpitations are worse at night, especially around 4 am. They are also worse after exciting experiences; they start quickly, stop quickly and give the feeling as though she has been running fast.
In the past, she has been treated with carbimazol for hyperthyroidism. The palpitations remind her of this period since they have the same symptoms. She calls it a hyper feeling, as though she is dissociated, standing outside of herself.
She has a busy job; she and her partner have their own business in the design and export of wooden products.
She is very creative; she does a lot with oil paint and ceramics and makes her own paint with various pigments. She is very sensitive to the moods of others and picks up on things; this is something she has learned as the daughter of a deaf mother. She likes to touch people when talking. She is happy and cheerful and she does not like arguments, she prefers to be in agreement. She loves to travel.
She is the only child of a mother who had suffered from a war trauma. After the September 11 attacks in New York, her mother packed her bags and disappeared for weeks until she was finally found again. She does not want to have contact with anyone, not even with her own daughter, so the patient waits until her mother takes the initiative.
She is very lively, open and communicative; cheerful and laughing a lot. She often wears black clothing. I have noticed that she creates an almost euphoric atmosphere; I often find myself dissolving into helpless laughter.
Desire: cheese, French cheese, clove cheese, red wine, bread, chocolate.
Aversion: meat, coffee.
Thirst: very thirsty.
Menses: irregular cycles; sometimes they come every two weeks and then sometimes not for 6 months. When she has a period, it lasts for 2, 7 days, sometimes with profuse blood loss, sometimes with very little. Sometimes, she has hot flushes with palpitations and perspiration, with pressure in her occiput, followed by a desire for herb tea, especially lemon verbena or mint.
Analysis
Lycopus virginicus: hyperthyroidism with palpitations.
Lamiales: Phosphorus like, sensitive and communicative; exhilaration, sensuality.
On hearing the prescription she enthusiastically told me that her whole balcony is full of pots of basil, verbena and mint.
Follow up
After the remedy, her palpitations disappeared completely; she had not felt that good for years, ever since the hyperthyroidism. She has remained well for the last five years.