ARSENICUM
ALBUM:
The
Arsenicum child tends to be proper and very concerned about the opinion of
others. He is often anxious and overly responsible. The great insecurity causes
anxiety and caution in any dangerous situation –even driving in a car. The
child pays abnormal attention to his parent’s responsibilities, for example he
double checks the mother about directions to their destination. He also has
great concern for the parent’s health. He fears that if something happens to
his parents, his own security will be threatened. The child’s anxiety prompts
truly compulsive school work which may even extend to obsessive behaviour.
CALCAREA
CARBONICA:
Calcarea
children tend to be plump, tired and have weak resistance to infections. Many
authors have remarked that the development can be delayed in Calcarea children,
with slowness in the onset of walking or talking. It is important to remember
that the absence of slowed development does not contraindicate Calcarea. The
child is usually strong-willed, yet often very anxious concerning security. He
has problems with anxiety and fears. The child may be very curious, asking
questions often about religious or metaphysical things in order to relieve
these fears about life and death. These anxieties are reflected in the characteristic
nightmares which disturb the sleep. Unlike other remedies with strong anxieties,
the Calcarea child faces his anxiety with a conviction that he must learn
enough or prepare on his own to overcome life’s uncertainties. He wishes to
become independent and self-sufficient. Thus the child is nice but obstinate.
Even the toddler is difficult to distract from his desires. The child is also
hard working, even to the point of being compulsive. Physically, the Calcarea
child tends to be solid, even plump of obese. The metabolism may be slow or
defective. Often the child is clammy and has a sour odor to perspiration or
stool (Rheum, Hepar). He will often tire easily from excretion and find it
difficult to keep up with his peers. Poor stamina is often indicative of
Calcarea , however robust and healthy children just as often need this remedy.
CALCAREA
PHOSPHORICA:
Calcarea
Phosphorica infants are irritable and
whiny. The child cries and requires constant attention. He wants to be carried
which is reminiscent of Chamomilla , Cina
or Antomonium crudum . Older
Calcarea phosphorica children are very sensitive and often overwhelmed by the
stresses of school. At school age the child often presents with complaints of
school phobias, school headaches or stomach pains during the daytime , often at
3 PM, at the end of the school day. A strong characteristic in Calcarea
Phosphorica children in a constant complaint of boredom. This feeling may often
be associated with a chronic , causeless feeling of unhappiness and a generally
bad attitude.
CARCINOSIN:
Carcinosin
children are often sensitive and sympathetic and may be rather timid. They are
open and easily wounded and can be suppressed. The children are markedly
sensitive to criticism and reprimand . They dislike and are intolerant of
consolation ( more rarely the opposite is true). As the patient reaches
adolescence and puberty , they may be strong sexual instincts and passion.
CAUSTICUM:
Causticum
children are sensitive and excitable. They are extremely aware of others and
sympathetic for the suffering of others. The emotions are very intensely felt.
A causticum child may burst into tears
from a slight provocation. There can be many fears in Causticum children,
especially of the dark. Compulsive and perfectionistic behaviour may also
occur. The teenagers are rebellious and highly idealistic.
HYOSCYAMUS:
Hyoscyamus
is one of the most important remedies in behaviour disorders of children, and there
is a wide range of behaviour problems. The child may simply have poor control
over his impulses-talking , joking, throwing tantrums at the most inappropriate
times. There are often tremendous difficulties with other siblings ; jealousy,
provoking of fights and abuse. The Hyoscyamus child should be watched carefully
to avoid violence toward younger siblings which can come in a coldly malicious,
detached and dangerous form. In most, but not all cases there is precocious
sexual behaviour; masturbation, secretive sexual play with other children,
exhibitionism. Sexual innuendo is constantly brought into conversation. Cursing
is a strong characteristic , often used especially for shock value by these
provocative children.
LACHESIS:
The Lachesis
child is usually unable to effectively control his overly-strong emotions.
Often the parent will bring the child for behavioural and emotional problems ,
typically beginning after the birth of a new baby in the family. The child has
tremendous jealousy toward the new sibling ( Hyos., Verat., Stram., Calc-s).
Often physical pathologies will develop from this strong jealousy , such as
asthma. The child will actually say he hates the young brother or sister. A
Lachesis boy may be very jealous of his father. The child may alsi be very
possessive of his friends and demands that they pay attention only to him and
no other friends. Also the child seems to have a precocious awareness of the
people around him. The child is able to find the most vulnerable spot and verbally
strike at you, like a snake. The child cannot bear to be under the authority of
another person; he doesn’t tolerate
restrictions. This pattern may be
carried over in adulthood with an extreme aversion to authority as when a
supervisor at work or his wife asks him to do things.
LYCOPODIUM:
Both of the
two basic types i.e., Inferiority and
Egotism can be seen in Lycopodium Children. Many of the children are angry,
bossy, and rude to parents who are too “ permissive”. The parents are often
perplexed to find that at school the child gets good conduct scores because
this bullying attitude is not tolerated.
But the more usual Lycopodium
child is extremely shy. He has inner sense of weakness and in many cases he
does in fact lack of normal child’s stamina. Rough physical games are frightening and exhausting
and in no way attractive to him. The features are usually fine or even
delicate. His head may be overly large for his body. The parents describe the
child as being “cautious” or fearful of rough games, bikes, slides, swimming. As the child develops he turns more of his
energies to intellectual pursuits such as reading, hobbies, or computers.
MEDORRHINUM
The
Medorrhinum child often comes with behavioural problems is found to have
excessive aggression in addition to his other physical complaints. He is often
pale and looks as though he is poorly nourished , often suffering with eczema ,
rhinitis, or asthma. He may have violent temper tantrums, kick or strike the
parents , and fights with other children. Like the adult patient , the child
often has an extremely passionate nature. Other Medorrhinum children are
sensitive and may withdraw from the parents and family because of emotional
shocks. There is often excessive attachment to animals and also cruel behaviour
towards animals. Sexual development begins even by the age of two or three and
incestuous impulses are strong in this nosode.
MERCURIOUS:
The Mercury
child is often very precocious and seems to have almost adult-like emotions. He
can seem flirtatious , intense and sensitive . The child has strong emotions
and can be very irritable. More often the child is shy or withdrawn. In almost
all cases the child suffers with poor resistance to infections- chronic otitis
media, pharyngitis and stomatitis. The child usually exhibits the typical
confirmatory keynotes.
NATRUM
MURIATICUM:
The Natrum
Muriadicum child is well behaved and
often matured beyond his years; “like a little adult”. The child has a strong
need for affection and is overly
vulnerable. Like the adult, the child prefers to be alone with his griefs and
will shrug off his parents consoling hug. Even as adolescents this same
sensitivity and inability to accept help
is problematic. The child is also extremely responsible about his homework or
his family’s needs. It should be called that a Natrum Muriaticum type may
resort to drug use to help numb his emotional pain.
NUX
VOMICA:
The Nux
Vomica child is irritable and often affected with gastrointestinal problems
such as colic or colitis. At school age, the child is extremely competitive
about his grades and sports. He is terrible loser. The parents may say that the
child can be under no circumstances admit that he is at fault or that he has
made a mistake. Jealousy of his other siblings or other gifted children at
school is often a problem. In adolescence the child may develop strongly bitter
feelings towards his parents , especially the same sex parent. It can be
astonishing to find how rudely this child can speak towards his parents in such
cases. These children are very concerned about fair-play both towards
themselves and others and can seem very idealistic. Many Nux Vomica children
exhibit strong fears , especially fear of the dark.
PHOSPHORUS:
The
Phosphorus child is sensitive, precocious and open. He can make contact with
anyone , child or adult. The parents say that they fear the child to be
kidnapped because of this open , trusting nature. The child is both curious and
sympathetic for others. They are often strong fears and great desire for
company. The child often has great anxiety
that something bad will happen to his parents and become very concerned
about the least illness in the family. Often the Phosphorus child experiences
fast growth and suffers from the growth with fatigue and poor resistance to
illness. A large percentage of Phosphorus children suffer with epistaxis,
bleeding gums, bruising or other bleeding problems.
PULSATTILLA
:
The typical
Pulsattilla child is shy and clings to the mother. She makes good contact with
the prescriber from the safety of her mother’s lap. She is vulnerable to other
children , easily bullied. She craves attention and affection. Often the mother
will reveal that the child comes to sit on her lap at any opportunity and often
asks the mother , “ Mommy , do you love me”, Yet she can be pouting and
irritable at other times. Often the parents complain that the child comes in to
their bedroom at night to sleep.
SEPIA:
In the early
stages of Sepia- that is in children and teenagers – we do not see any sign of
the typical stasis. The child is alive , excitable and affectionate. She is
often the center of the attention. The complaints in this stage include fears
and over-sensitivity and over-excitability. The next stage of the pathology
occurs from stress, grief and disappointment. The child becomes more
self-contained, introverted and closed. The patient will complain mainly of
physical disorders such as headache, menstrual disorders and skin troubles ,
such as psoriasis or ringworm.
SILICEA:
Silicea children can be over-sensitive and actually
irritable and obstinate. The child is demanding at these early ages but as he
grows older he takes on the more typical refinement and yielding nature. By the
age of 6 or 7 years , the child is quite proper, well-behaved and serious. He
may be very shy in the office , refusing to answer any questions. Instead , he
whispers his responses to the mother who must then relay the information to the
prescriber. The Silicea child often suffers repeated infections , such as colds,
otitis media, or pharyngitis. Often the stamina is very poor. The features are
fine and deligate, the hair is often quite thin, the skin is pale, and the head
may be overly large.
STAPHYSAGRIA:
The
Staphysagria child resembles Natrum Muriaticum
greatly. The child is usually quiet, serious and composed. She has a
sensitivity, an inhibition and vulnerability which is very apparent. There may
be infrequent periods of emotional, angry outbursts. In most cases there is a
history of an abusive parent or older sibling who suppresses or humiliates the
patient. We must consider carefully whether Staphsagria should be given to the
child living in an abusive household. If we stir the child’s reactivity against
a superior force, unproductive turmoil can result.
STRAMONIUM
The
Stramonium child is often placid in the office showing little or none of the
violence described by the parent. Sometimes the child becomes dreamy or drowsy
as the parent describes the problems. The troubles often begin after a strong
fright such as car accident , a sexual abuse,
the witnessing of an act of violence in the environment, or after a
neurological insult such as meningitis
or encephalitis. The precipitating event is often followed by a
nightmare or terrible night-terrors and eventually the development of rages.
The rage in Stramonium is uncontrolled and impulsive-that is, without malicious
forethought. It comes in an outburst, almost as a convulsion or neurological
discharge. It would be unusual for a Stramonium case to develop such a violence
without equally strong fears. Remember that the parents may for various reasons
be reticent about explaining the full degree of pathology in such a child.
SULPHUR
Sulphur
children are curious, robust, strong-willed and extraverted. They need to be
the center of attention and may react in a jealous, angry way if others take
center stage. The arrogance that we see in adults can often be found in the
children as well. Sulphur boys are very mechanical and astute at figuring out
how things work. The boys are often large, heavy, and pugnacious. If the
temperament is good , they will be popular at school and become leaders. If the
temperament is bad, they will become bullies or behaviour problems. Also
Sulphur children can be very open and innocent. They enjoy contact with adults
and resent not being treated as adults, finding it unfair when they are sent to
bed early while the adults continue the conversation.
TUBERCULINUM
Tuberculinum
is an important childhood remedy in simple recurring infectious illness of
childhood such as otitis media and
recurring bronchitis. It is also an important remedy in more advanced pathology
such as failure to thrive , development defects, mental retardation and Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD).
In classic
hypereactivity, Tuberculinum is a mainstay of practice. The child is unable to
remain long in one place, is loud and very demanding and capricious. We
especially think of Tuberculinum when the parents tell us that the child is
coldly and deliberately destructive and malicious. He breaks his mother’s
favourite vase right in front of her if contradicted. The child may have great
anger, even violence and tendency to strike others. He seems completely
indifferent to punishment or reprimand. Tuberculinum is also one of our best
remedies in cases of mental retardation and even AUTISM. In these cases, ritualistic behaviour and head-banging are
common expressions of the pathology.
VERATRUM
ALBUM
The pathology begins with excessive mental
development and precocity. The child is curious and almost adult level in
conceptual ability. But, this over-stimulation of the mind is eventually also
reflected in a great restlessness. There is an inner frustration which leads to
disobedience and behaviour problems. The child has a tremendous restless
feeling which is typically expressed by senseless, repetitive behaviour such as
stacking things or cutting papers into ever smaller bits. In some cases, he is so restless he cannot sit down to eat instead must
be moving constantly. The child may be extremely disconnected , or also
hard and tough. He shows no emotion even when reprimanded or punished. The
child may be difficult to distinguish from other remedies for behaviour
disorders such as TARENDULA, ANACARDIUM, STRAMONIUM, SULPHUR or HYOSCYAMUS.
Source : DESKTOP GUIDE
Author : Dr. Roger Morrison., M.D
Compiled by : S.Karuppiah.
