Vitis vinifera

Vitis vinifera
Case by Maarten van der Meer.
Remedy code: 3-643.16.10.

A 2 ½ year old toddler, wakes often, he does not sleeps all night yet, it has only happened 4 times. The other children always slept fine. His behavior is also ‘noticeable’, quick with pushing, being mean, slapping his sisters. He can play well alone, he loves to sculpt, as soon as the other children are there he is very busy and negatively present, he wants to join in, starts to shout himself over. He likes to do his own thing, lets his voice be heard and can persevere well. Bringing him to bed: he can scream for 2 hours, only in bed with the parents he is quiet. He sleeps restlessly, is awake a few times a night and then seeks contact, wants to touch the parents. Pregnancy was in vitro, mother felt well, it was twins but after a few months one foetus died. The delivery did not go well, he was in transverse position and it became a cesarean section, the mother almost fainted. The first few months he dropped in weight. The child has had ear infections a few times, he does not indicate it but has pain with lying down. He has lots of earwax, dirty and greasy. After vaccinations, he developed high fever. Eating is good, he wants to try everything, there are also days when he eats only a few bites. Stools are sticky. The parents are both working with children, they are very quiet, they also have the “firm character,” liking to have his way he has from his father. Mother is a burly and strong, with bulging eyes.

Analysis 1
Entry was the section ‘strike’, where Veratrum viride is listed among others. What is recognizable: Silicon series: Loss (in pregnancy) of a twin child, Phase 7 within the concept of Silicon series. Crossing boundaries with behavior is also Phase 7. Childbirth: mother “almost fainted,” Phase 6. Claiming. Veratrum viride is known from sleep problems. Arguing, fighting, fits Stage 12.
Prescription: Veratrum viride C 30, (WP coding 3-633.67.12).

Follow up
After two days he suddenly developed a rash on the trunk, left side only. Bumps, millet granules, slightly itchy, severe in armpit, flank and left leg. This only went away after three weeks. The first week he called his tummy, “pain” a few times. He was also angry a lot the first week, hitting and pinching, but after a week everything calmed down. He wakes up happy now, talks more, with emotions he can be adjusted. He is still briefly angry once a week - more violently, as if it had been hoarded - , but no longer whole days. He has started talking more, eating better, reacting less to his little brother. Before, he used to wake up at 2 hr 35 minutes sharp, and then every half hour, now only once around midnight. He still sleeps with a pacifier, is very forceful in steering and in emotions. After three months the behavior suddenly deteriorates, now every day he has scream attacks, for weeks. The only way is to put him down, with nothing around for him to kick or hit, and let him cry it out. It can take an hour. Stomping, thrashing, slapping, out of nowhere it sets in. The physical toward other children is back, pushing and screeching. He can suddenly pull his brother's hair and then laugh at him. He clings to mother in the night, lies on top of her. With putting him to bed you have to stay with him, he is still too active to sleep by himself. If you are alone with him he is fine, then he gets all the attention. Sleeping is still the same.

Analysis 2
A good medicine has a buildup, can give fluctuations but does not need repetition. In case of a strong relapse it is good to look further: used this time is the rubric ‘anger sudden’, this gives a number of possibilities: Crotalis cascavella (the strong mother care and bonding), Cypripedium parviflorum (the nights), Dendroaspis polylepis (the ‘aggression’), Melaleuca alternifolia (phase 4, flammable), and Vitis vinifera. In all these possibilities, you can look for the overlap in detail with the case study, and check what all you recognize. With enough “overlap” with these listed drugs, with these assumptions, you can focus the analysis on recognizing the themes either Class, Phase and Stage. Vitis venifera is placed at stage 10, this fits its obvious, bossy behavior (WP: domineering, forcing one's will on others). Ailments from anger suppressed. We also recognize Phase 1 in the impulsiveness and ferocity of anger, Phase 6 see the overlap with Veratrum viride. Iron series then fits the imposition of will on the outside world, and interest in functioning in that outside world. Silicon series fits the living world and consciousness of a toddler, the tension with parents and siblings, family as living environment. Side note on the repertory entries: this is a prooving made from wine, not from the plant or the fruit, and there is certainly an overlap with the test image of Alcoholis.
Prescription: Vitis vinifera C200.

Follow up
The night after taking it, he slept through one night, again three consecutive times the following week. Then for a few weeks again the old pattern, waking before midnight and then restless sleep. The behavior has changed: when he is angry you can easily take him out again or distract him, and it doesn't last long anymore. The whole violent thing is no longer there. He is remarkably cuddly towards mother, wants to sit on her lap and touch her, he puts his hand on her cheek. With this he quickly calms down and can then go back to playing. He remains alert, he sees everything. Growth continues to lag, he has energy for 10. the next four months he remains calm in behavior, at times of anger he often shuts down, can then go under the table. He now wants to explore everything, often indicates that noise is too loud, on the street or in the house. Sleep is good, he sleeps all night, and is calmer in sleep, during the day he no longer needs sleep.