3.1.4 Natrium silicatum, Case 1
A 20 year old woman has suffered from Pfeiffer’s disease (glandular fever) for 3 months. She goes to college because she can’t afford to miss any lectures, but she is really too tired and it is getting worse all the time. She cries when she thinks about not being able to finish her studies. She has a sore throat and a heavy head, especially round the eyes. She sweats a lot, mainly under her arms, worse in the cold. She has ice cold feet, worse since she got ill. It all started with headaches which were worse when she walked. She has swollen glands.
She is in her second year of study to become a physiotherapist, but she still has parts of the first year to catch up on. She never took biology before. She wants to prove herself. She is very shy and usually waits to see what happens when she first meets some new people. When she is in a group she is always the last person to speak. She checks the door at least half a dozen times when she leaves the house. She also checks herself all the time when she is studying: she has to be thorough and precise in everything she does. She mentions all sorts of small and unimportant details to me.
She often wakes up at 5 in the morning, panicking about getting behind with her studies.
She is afraid of thunderstorms (3), lifts (3), being alone (3), horror films and the news on T.V., at night, dark, going to the toilet at night.
She has several moles on her neck.
She still lives with her parents and doesn’t want to leave.
She appears to be a self confident woman, not to be interfered with.
Generals
Weather: cold; < sun, < heat.
Perspiration: < cold.
Time: < 4 or 5 am.
Desires: sweet, chocolate (2), cheese, salt, fish, egg, milk.
Aversion: meat.
Sleep: wakes up from noise.
Analysis
What struck me most was her resistance to talk about herself: she wouldn’t tell me what was really going on. This made me think of Natrium.
The problems with her studies could indicate the Iron series. The shyness could fit with Calcium, except that she is a bit too closed for Calcium. She also comes across as very self assured, in total contrast to this shyness.
Another striking symptom was the way she talked about all sorts of minor details that had nothing to do with the main story. This reminds us of Stage 10, and if we add the coldness and the tendency to control we come to Silicium, which fits very well with the general complaints. So Silica and Natrium together makes Natrium silicatum. Now we see how the reluctance to leave the family home and live on her own also fits into this picture. Also the tendency to talk about details (Silica) in order not to have to talk about what is really going on (Natrium), so that her image (Silica) can remain intact.
Other Silica symptoms: fear of dark, swollen glands, cold, cold feet, profuse perspiration < cold, <- meat.
Natrium symptoms: fear of being alone, waking from noise, < sun, salt, fish.
Reaction
She was first given Thuja 1M which aggravated the condition and made her head feel empty. Her energy also deteriorated and her sleep was worse, with palpitations. Many old symptoms got worse, for example an old inflammation of the tendon in the thumb, without amelioration.
She was then given Natrium silicatum after which she had a general aggravation: headache, heavy eyes, couldn’t open them, extreme tiredness, couldn’t take any exams, stayed at home for a week. After that she started to feel totally different. The laboratory test were much better, she was able to go to college again, she took up running. She needs less sleep and doesn’t have cold feet anymore.