Remedies as Bridges
The New England Journal of Homeopathy
Winter 1996, Vol. 5 No.1
by Paul Herscu, ND, DHANP
Homeopaths have long known of the relationship between Medorrhinum and Thuja occidentalis. It is very common for one remedy picture to develop into the other remedy picture as the patient moves through life. Likewise, it is common to treat a patient with one of these remedies and later need to complement the action of the first remedy by administering the second remedy.
I have noticed that in cases of these “related remedies”, the patient will exhibit symptoms of one remedy strongly, yet some of the symptoms are also covered by the second remedy. The symptoms that are shared betwen the two remedies are what will form a bridge between the two remedies. After the first remedy is given and acts, it may be that all or most of the symptoms disappear. Yet a few may go away or recur along with a few new symptoms. Taking this new symptom complex together, the second remedy can be found. As an example, if a patient complains of symptoms a,b,c,d,e,f, is given a remedy, all the symptoms disappear only later to find that some symptoms recur. Now the symptoms are a,b,g,h,i- symptoms a and b formed the bridge between the two remedies. What I have grown to appreciate is how predictable this type of progression is and how much easier it can make the second prescription for cases which fit this category.
The example which follows illustrates the Medorrhinum patient who flows into a Thuja occidentalis state and nicely pictures this idea of remedy bridges.
Anthony is a thirteen-year-old boy complaining of asthma(3). His mother characterizes the asthma attacks as sometimes being wheezing(2) and sometimes being violent coughing(3). The coughing is especially at night(2) when he lies down, when he exerts himself while running or even when climbing up a staircase(2). he is alsoaggravated by smoke(2) from a wood-burning fire or stove. Additionally, the asthma is also worse in the wind(2).
During the asthma Anthony complains of heaviness in his chest(2), worse lying down at night(2). The wheezing is heard somewhat higher up in the throat. The asthma is accompanied by nausea and vomiting(2). If he becomes nauseous to the extent of vomiting, the act of vomiting ameliorates the asthmatic crisis(3).
A drink of water markedly helps his cough(2), as well as putting his hands in cold water(2). The respiration is easier if he sleeps on his right side(2), but if he lies in the knee to chest position, it relieves him greatly(3), and he fairs much better.
Anthony is very thirsty for cold water(3). He likes fruit(3), especially oranges(3) and apples, as well as fish and ice cream(2). He is averse to eggplant(2) and okra(2) and dislikes fat(2) and spicy. As mentioned before, he is ameliorated in his asthma by drinking ice cold drinks(2).
Mind: He had started becoming very introverted(3) and has begun to stutter(2) These two changes occurred the same year as he started having the asthma. He was very shy during the interview(3), never speaking to me(3)-always talking to his mother or father. He mumbles(2) and speaks with a slurred, southern, speech(3), although his family is not from that region. His stuttering is worse when he is conscious of it(2) He also has a slight speech impediment in which he does not pronounce the letter “R”(2). I noted that he answered questions by looking at the mother entirely and answering to her(3). I also noted that he bit his nails when he was nervous. He had a fear of the dark, especially when he was alone(2). He also had a fear of insects, spiders, dogs and claustrophobia.
Anthony sleeps mainly on his sides. He talks a little bit in his sleep. He is irritable when he wakes up in the morning(2). He dreams of dogs biting him(2).
As a baby he had a very bad diaper rash in the genital area all the way through the perineum to the anus(3). He developed warts around the perineum(3) and he had many burned off(3). He also had molluscum contagiosum(3) in that area. He has a history of hard nodules in the breast that would develop and gradually disappear(3).
Objectively, he is a very long, tall, thin young man with a sunken chest.
He likes cool showers.
He also has headaches, especially on the left side, near the left temple (2).
Anthony is adopted and so we don’t have any family history.
Assessment: The chief complaint of asthma does not offer any clue to the remedy as most symptoms are rather common to many remedies. The fear of the dark, dogs, being alone, claustrophobia as well as the stammering all point to Causticum and Stramonium, yet few of these symptoms are marked or intense. The desire for fruit, oranges, aversion to eggplant and okra, the irritability in the morning, the history of diaper rashes and warts all call to mind Medorrhinum. The symptom that really helps to confirm the prescription is in the asthma, the amelioration by lying in the knee to chest position. Kent’s repertory lists only Medorrhinum, and highly at that, for this symptom, making it a key note symptom for this remedy. Though not known for it, I have found that Medorrhinum may commonly exhibit the speech pathology as well as this shy timid nervous behavior; a behavior that is not typically thought of for this remedy.
Thuja occidentalis is also a remedy to think about for this case. The shy timid character, the nervousness when anyone is near him, the mistakes in speech, and the warts are all key symptoms for that remedy. And so reviewing what I had listed above we find that both remedies share many of the symptoms that Anthony exhibits. This is common as the two remedies in question, Medorrhinum and Thuja occidentalis share so many symptoms in general.
It may be difficult to differentiate these two remedies as your patient may show many symptoms of both remedies. If this is the case, it will mean that sooner or later you will probably have to give the patient both remedies. The question is only to decide on the correct sequence. Eventually, after the remedy is given, many symptoms will go away, but some will return and be accompannied by symptoms of the second remedy. This process is easier when one shares so many symptoms of the two remedies.
Anthony’s type of Medorrhinum was extremely similar to Thuja occidentalis. While many Medorrhinum children are extroverted and perhaps wild, he was shy and introverted, much like the other remedy commonly is; this forms one strong bridge between the two medicines. Likewise a wild, violent, extroverted Thuja occidentalis child would be very likely to go into Medorrhinum as the personality forms the bridge; it is as if the personality in these cases has already changed into the other remrdy. All that is left is to give the first remedy to free the rest of the case to go into the next remedy.
Plan: Medorrhinum 200C, one dose.
After significant improvement for 3 and a half months Anthony began to relapse. For 2 weeks he spent the long nights spitting up a lot of mucus again getting into the hands and knees position to clear his lungs (3). He has a cough that comes from the throat. His cuticles are cracking and peeling, and he bites his nails in the office. He has oily hair and still looks only at the mother. He hasn’t had any headaches. This has been the best four months he has had in a long time.
He developed warts around the anus again, like he had as a child. His appetite has decreased in the last few weeks since he has been sick. He still likes fruit and oranges and hates fat, okra and eggplant.
He was thirsty for cold drinks.
Assessment:The Medorrhinum had a good affect and he was relapsing in the last two weeks.
Plan: Medorrhinum 200c, one dose, was given again.
Within the next eighteen months, he had two asthma attacks, some colds without asthma attacks, and no headaches. He has gradually regained his health and grew quite tall. He still slurs his speech. He is more confident and comes into the office and see me alone, without his mother.
Thuja occidentalis was eventually given because the left sided headaches returned, he became very chilly, shy, and developed a bladder infection. After receiveing Thuja 200c, he has remained well.
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Remedies as Bridges
by Paul Herscu, ND, DHANP
Homeopaths have long known of the relationship between Medorrhinum and Thuja occidentalis. It is very common for one remedy picture to develop into the other remedy picture as the patient moves through life. Likewise, it is common to treat a patient with one of these remedies and later need to complement the action of the first remedy by administering the second remedy.
I have noticed that in cases of these “related remedies”, the patient will exhibit symptoms of one remedy strongly, yet some of the symptoms are also covered by the second remedy. The symptoms that are shared betwen the two remedies are what will form a bridge between the two remedies. After the first remedy is given and acts, it may be that all or most of the symptoms disappear. Yet a few may go away or recur along with a few new symptoms. Taking this new symptom complex together, the second remedy can be found. As an example, if a patient complains of symptoms a,b,c,d,e,f, is given a remedy, all the symptoms disappear only later to find that some symptoms recur. Now the symptoms are a,b,g,h,i- symptoms a and b formed the bridge between the two remedies. What I have grown to appreciate is how predictable this type of progression is and how much easier it can make the second prescription for cases which fit this category.
The example which follows illustrates the Medorrhinum patient who flows into a Thuja occidentalis state and nicely pictures this idea of remedy bridges.
Anthony is a thirteen-year-old boy complaining of asthma(3). His mother characterizes the asthma attacks as sometimes being wheezing(2) and sometimes being violent coughing(3). The coughing is especially at night(2) when he lies down, when he exerts himself while running or even when climbing up a staircase(2). he is alsoaggravated by smoke(2) from a wood-burning fire or stove. Additionally, the asthma is also worse in the wind(2).
During the asthma Anthony complains of heaviness in his chest(2), worse lying down at night(2). The wheezing is heard somewhat higher up in the throat. The asthma is accompanied by nausea and vomiting(2). If he becomes nauseous to the extent of vomiting, the act of vomiting ameliorates the asthmatic crisis(3).
A drink of water markedly helps his cough(2), as well as putting his hands in cold water(2). The respiration is easier if he sleeps on his right side(2), but if he lies in the knee to chest position, it relieves him greatly(3), and he fairs much better.
Anthony is very thirsty for cold water(3). He likes fruit(3), especially oranges(3) and apples, as well as fish and ice cream(2). He is averse to eggplant(2) and okra(2) and dislikes fat(2) and spicy. As mentioned before, he is ameliorated in his asthma by drinking ice cold drinks(2).
Mind: He had started becoming very introverted(3) and has begun to stutter(2) These two changes occurred the same year as he started having the asthma. He was very shy during the interview(3), never speaking to me(3)-always talking to his mother or father. He mumbles(2) and speaks with a slurred, southern, speech(3), although his family is not from that region. His stuttering is worse when he is conscious of it(2) He also has a slight speech impediment in which he does not pronounce the letter “R”(2). I noted that he answered questions by looking at the mother entirely and answering to her(3). I also noted that he bit his nails when he was nervous. He had a fear of the dark, especially when he was alone(2). He also had a fear of insects, spiders, dogs and claustrophobia.
Anthony sleeps mainly on his sides. He talks a little bit in his sleep. He is irritable when he wakes up in the morning(2). He dreams of dogs biting him(2).
As a baby he had a very bad diaper rash in the genital area all the way through the perineum to the anus(3). He developed warts around the perineum(3) and he had many burned off(3). He also had molluscum contagiosum(3) in that area. He has a history of hard nodules in the breast that would develop and gradually disappear(3).
Objectively, he is a very long, tall, thin young man with a sunken chest.
He likes cool showers.
He also has headaches, especially on the left side, near the left temple (2).
Anthony is adopted and so we don’t have any family history.
Assessment: The chief complaint of asthma does not offer any clue to the remedy as most symptoms are rather common to many remedies. The fear of the dark, dogs, being alone, claustrophobia as well as the stammering all point to Causticum and Stramonium, yet few of these symptoms are marked or intense. The desire for fruit, oranges, aversion to eggplant and okra, the irritability in the morning, the history of diaper rashes and warts all call to mind Medorrhinum. The symptom that really helps to confirm the prescription is in the asthma, the amelioration by lying in the knee to chest position. Kent’s repertory lists only Medorrhinum, and highly at that, for this symptom, making it a key note symptom for this remedy. Though not known for it, I have found that Medorrhinum may commonly exhibit the speech pathology as well as this shy timid nervous behavior; a behavior that is not typically thought of for this remedy.
Thuja occidentalis is also a remedy to think about for this case. The shy timid character, the nervousness when anyone is near him, the mistakes in speech, and the warts are all key symptoms for that remedy. And so reviewing what I had listed above we find that both remedies share many of the symptoms that Anthony exhibits. This is common as the two remedies in question, Medorrhinum and Thuja occidentalis share so many symptoms in general.
It may be difficult to differentiate these two remedies as your patient may show many symptoms of both remedies. If this is the case, it will mean that sooner or later you will probably have to give the patient both remedies. The question is only to decide on the correct sequence. Eventually, after the remedy is given, many symptoms will go away, but some will return and be accompannied by symptoms of the second remedy. This process is easier when one shares so many symptoms of the two remedies.
Anthony’s type of Medorrhinum was extremely similar to Thuja occidentalis. While many Medorrhinum children are extroverted and perhaps wild, he was shy and introverted, much like the other remedy commonly is; this forms one strong bridge between the two medicines. Likewise a wild, violent, extroverted Thuja occidentalis child would be very likely to go into Medorrhinum as the personality forms the bridge; it is as if the personality in these cases has already changed into the other remrdy. All that is left is to give the first remedy to free the rest of the case to go into the next remedy.
Plan: Medorrhinum 200C, one dose.
After significant improvement for 3 and a half months Anthony began to relapse. For 2 weeks he spent the long nights spitting up a lot of mucus again getting into the hands and knees position to clear his lungs (3). He has a cough that comes from the throat. His cuticles are cracking and peeling, and he bites his nails in the office. He has oily hair and still looks only at the mother. He hasn’t had any headaches. This has been the best four months he has had in a long time.
He developed warts around the anus again, like he had as a child. His appetite has decreased in the last few weeks since he has been sick. He still likes fruit and oranges and hates fat, okra and eggplant.
He was thirsty for cold drinks.
Assessment:The Medorrhinum had a good affect and he was relapsing in the last two weeks.
Plan: Medorrhinum 200c, one dose, was given again.
Within the next eighteen months, he had two asthma attacks, some colds without asthma attacks, and no headaches. He has gradually regained his health and grew quite tall. He still slurs his speech. He is more confident and comes into the office and see me alone, without his mother.
Thuja occidentalis was eventually given because the left sided headaches returned, he became very chilly, shy, and developed a bladder infection. After receiveing Thuja 200c, he has remained well.
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