Silicium metallicum [Sil-met]:
- Jan Scholten
The family, the cornerstone of society.
Once again it is quite remarkable that the pure element Silicium is not known in homoeopathy. We only know the oxide, silicium oxide or Si O2, which we call Silica.
In Silicium we see the paradox between flexibility and rigidity very clearly. One the one hand we find the hardness of stone in the mental picture of rigidity and monomania. On the other hand we find the flexibility in the physical picture of supple connective tissues.
Signature
The name is derived from silex, sandstone. It was discovered in 1823 and it is the second most common element on earth, forming one quarter of the earths crust. Silicium is chemically closely related to Carbon, which is right above it in the periodic table.
They are the same stage in different series.
Sand consist mainly of silicium oxide and is used in the manufacture of glass and cement. Most durable structures in the world are made of stone and cement, materials which contain large proportions of silicium.
It is a semi-conductor and is used in transistors and computer chips, devices that process and conduct information. It also gets used in solar energy cells.
Silicium improves the elastic properties of steel.
Concepts
Stage 10 Silicium series
Summit Relations
Success Family
Noble Other You
Centre Love Hate
Stable Communication
Shining Glittering Language Learning
Obvious Presentation
Independent Play
Rigidity Teenager
Home Neighbourhood
Group analysis
Trying to appear noble in front of your relations: image.
Obvious relationships: family ties.
Having a successful family: family image.
A noble group: family image.
The master of the family: father.
Stable point in the neighbourhood: home.
The centre of all relationships: home.
A balanced group.
An unstable group.
Not being master of the group.
Not being master of oneself within a group: timid.
Unequal group values.
Balanced relation; normal.
Rigidity within relationships: stubborn.
Rigidity in relationships: too much tied to the family.
Picture of Silicium metallicum
Essence: obvious relationships: family ties.
Obvious relationships: family ties
Relationships are a matter of course. Things happen the way they do within a close family, you don't have to do anything special, your family is just there. Even when the family splits up and goes their different ways, the blood ties will always remain.
The relationship is obvious
The attitude they have towards other relationships is also very matter of course. The communication between them is easy: they don't have to make any special effort to make the relationship work, they simply have to be there for each other.
A noble image to keep up
They feel they have to keep up an image of a certain nobility.
Sankaran (1991) has already pointed out how important reputation and fame is to the Silicium personality. They want to be respected for their achievements and for their appearance: their good name and reputation have to be kept up at all times.
Having a successful family: family image Besides their own image there is the family image, which is at least as important. The family home usually plays an important role in the first part of their lives. They also make use of the good name of the family to improve their chances later in life.
The opportunities seem just to land on their plate without their having to make any special effort.
The master of the family
The father as lord and master of the family is another important theme. These people need the support of a strong father, who tells them how to maintain their position in society and be sure of the respect of their peers. The family as the cornerstone of society describes the essence of this theme. A stable family environment can teach a child to become a stable adult in a balanced relationship with the rest of the world. The parents in such a family are always there, as a matter of course.
Stable point within the neighbourhood: home The parental home is the stable base from where the teenager will start to spread his wings. It is something you can always fall back on, a real haven. The physical structure of the home is also important. It has to be a strong, stable home built of stone, cement and concrete (Silicium) so that it can be there for a very long time.
Unstable group values
The other extreme may be an unstable family home, where there is nothing to fall back on. They miss the sense of security of a safe haven. This same situation may occur later in life if they have no steady home to go back to. Or they may feel insecure because the ley lines around their home make them feel disorientated and unstable.
Not in charge of himself within the group: timid The instability may show itself in relationships too. There is nothing to build on, no fixed point of reference. They are yielding and easily influenced. They want to find a stable point and they allow themselves to be led by others in the hope of finding this stability. They don't doubt the other persons ability to lead the way. They are timid and daren't express themselves within the group in case their image gets damaged. They would rather look for support from their parents or teachers.
They tend to be kind and pleasant and well mannered because they want to be liked. They are so sensitive that they may easily cry when criticised. They can also cry when they receive sympathy, because they take this as a criticism of their own lack of stability.
Rigidity in relationships: stubborn
Their behaviour can also go the other way, where they become extremely stubborn. They feel they have to be able to be themselves no matter what, while they still want to hold on to their position within the group. They feel they shouldn't have to creep and crawl in order to be part of it. They are so sure of themselves that they always stick to their own opinions. They are not afraid to say publicly what they think and they don't tolerate much opposition, acting as if they were the leader of the group. This courage can be very challenging to the rest of the group. It can even turn into arrogance.
This stubborn streak, coupled to their perfectionism and precision, can also turn into monomania. Then they become hard and cold, obsessed by trifles and extremely critical. Their clothes may display the same sort of fastidiousness and precision.
Rigidity in relationship: too much tied to the family If they are the head of the family their rigidity may leave a mark on the whole household. They insist that everybody obeys the rules, leaving little individual freedom to their children and partner. Their insistence on everyone obeying the rules is often the result of their fear that the family image will be damaged if someone steps out of line.
Expressions
Fears: needles, injections, trifles, narrow spaces, not waking up from sleep, failure, exams.
Dreams: crystal, ice, mirrors, clairvoyant, cobwebs, needles, friends, schoolmates, family, teeth.
Mood: refined, delicate, aristocratic, artistic.
Mental: forgetful (<)(<) exams, absorbed by occupation and reading, monomania (<) trifles, precise, punctual (crystal), mathematical, perfectionists. Contacts: sympathetic, clairvoyant, clairsentient. Causes: loss of parents, family, friends. Generals Build: thin, tall, fragile, looking old. Weather: cold (3), blue with cold, Bluish purple nails (<)(<) cold, cold water, (<) getting undressed; (>) heat; (<) draught (3), (<) outside. Perspiration: profuse, foot sweat stinking (3!); night sweats. Time: (<) 11 am; (<) full moon; (<) winter, December. Desires: egg, salt, warm food, fruit, milk. Aversion: milk (3), mothers milk (3), salt, meat, broccoli, cauliflower. Food: (<) fat, milk (3), broccoli, alcohol, fasting. Sleep: light, much tossing and turning. Physical: (<)(<)(<) vaccinations, radiation; (>) massage, magnetising; (<) coition; (<) soap.
Complaints
Pains: stitching, as of splinters or needles. Sensation as of a hair.
Discharges: thick, yellow, hard, smelling of old cheese, difficult to dislodge.
Inflammations: chronic, obstinate, hard. Abscesses.
Epilepsy, petit mal. Retarded growth.
Headache from occiput, spreading to forehead. Large head.
Slow closure of fontanelles.
Ear infections.
Colds, sinusitis. Swelling of glands.
Teeth: caries, crooked, large incisors; (<) dentition.
Lung complaints, silicosis (<)(<) miners, cancer.
Vascular diseases. Arteriosclerosis.
Constipation with hard stools which slip back.
Enuresis. Kidney stones.
Arthritis. Large joints. Back pains, scoliosis.
Bones brittle, little elasticity; rickets, exostoses.
Skin thin and delicate, sensitive, cracks; fingertips.
Wounds heal slowly, leaving scars; keloids. Complaints in collagen tissue.
Boils, acne. Eczema, itching, peeling, red, dry; on occiput.
Hair thin, brittle, grey, sticking up at the front. (Geukens, seminar Wageningen). Nails brittle, fungus, yellow to blackish/brown, ingrowing, with white spots.
DD Silicium series, Stage 10, Argentum, Aurum, Barytas, Fluoratums, Carcinosin, Causticum, Hepar sulphuricum, Lycopodium, Nitricums, Psorinum, Pulsatilla, Staphysagria, Thuja, Tuberculinum, Zincum.
DD Silicium-containing plants: Equisetum, grains and grasses, Triticum, Bamboo, Urtica urens, Medicago.
DD Silica: has certain traits of selfishness and feeling abused.
They are afraid of not getting enough, as can be seen in their fear of poverty and thieves. Silicium is more refined, but they are very similar, as the case written below will illustrate. It is quite likely that we have often given Silica in cases where Silicium would have been more appropriate.
DD Carbonicums: the father figure also plays an important role in their life, but In the Carbonicums it is more the father who is the provider of norms and values. In the Siliciums it is the father as the head of the household, the leader of the family (business).
DD Aluminium: Aluminium doubts whether he is in the right relationship: does he belong or doesnt he? In Silicium the relationship is a matter of course, even if wonders from time to time whether others see it like that too.
DD image: many other remedy also have a theme around self image. But in each case this image is linked to other factors. The Ferrum person wants to have a good image with regard to his work, in the Argentum series the image is linked to their artistic creations, the Natrums feel they have to make contact with others before they can feel good. In Silicium the image they present to others is in itself the most important issue, not the fact whether they have to do something first to establish this.
DD houses: the Carbon series is more concerned with rooms and personal space. It is interesting to note that human houses are made of Silicium compounds, whereas animals who carry their house around with them have houses made of (calcarea) carbonate. The Ferrum series is concerned with work space. The Silver series is associated with large buildings such as theatres and concert halls, while the Gold series is associated with even bigger buildings such as large office blocks, banks head offices and skyscrapers.
Case
A 15 year old girl suffers from eczema. It is very itchy and the skin on top of her head, behind her ears and along the hairline on the back of her head is flaky. It is a dry form of eczema. The skin is red with whitish-yellow flakes peeling off. It gets worse from soap and shampoo and it is worse in the winter. It started when a girl friend of hers suddenly didnt want to see her anymore. She wanted to know why her friend was behaving in this way. At one point she felt that the whole class was against her.
Talking about it with her parents made her feel better.
She is very unsure of herself and needs a lot of reassurance. She wants to be liked and she wants to feel she belongs in her class at school. She gets very upset by the thought that others might find her a sissy. But she doesnt want to creep, she just wants to be herself. She doesnt want to be influenced.
She doesnt give the impression of being very timid, she knows what she wants and she doesnt hesitate to give her opinions during the consultation. She likes discussion time at school, she gets actively involved. She is quite intense in the way she lives. She can get totally absorbed in a book and forget the world around her.
She is quite a cheerful girl and she is very sympathetic when someone else is upset.
She quarrels a lot with her brother from time to time.
She can be very sharp, occasionally violent, especially when she feels she is under attack.
She likes sports, tennis and hockey. She is ambitious in hockey and wants to reach the top team.
She is a great perfectionist, and wants to be very good in whatever she does. She plays the flute and used to play the piano as well.
When she was younger she had frequent colds in the winter; later on her tonsils were removed. She often had high fevers with delirium and great fears, and she wanted to sit on her mothers lap during these attacks.
She often had a dream that a cobweb with a needle in the middle came towards her and then went away again. When she woke from this dream it felt as if the room was coming towards her and then receding again.
She frequently dreams of snakes coming towards her or eating her cat. Or she dreams about her school friends and her family.
Generals
Weather: cold (3), blue with cold, purple/blue nails (<)(<) cold, (<) cold water.
Perspiration: (<) night and being too hot.
Time: (<) december.
Desires: nasi, bami (Indonesian food), lettuce, tomatoes, chocolate, fruit, milk.
Aversion: broccoli (3), endive (2), cauliflower, french beans.
Food: (<) broccoli (3), (<) alcohol: nausea.
Sleep: much tossing and turning.
Analysis
The eczema started after her friend didnt want to see her anymore and she had the feeling that the whole class was against her.
This indicates the Silicium series. Her reaction was a feeling of insecurity, but she didnt want to do anything special to change it. She simply wants to be herself and she doesn't want to coax to be allowed to be part of the group, she doesnt want to be influenced by the others.
This is typical of stage 10, the stage of equilibrium, which brings us to Silicium itself. Her uncertainty and the amelioration from talking to her parents further confirms this element. The complaints of itching and flaky eczema on the occiput also fit this remedy. The dream she had during the fevers was very interesting: a web with a needle (silicium) in the middle (stage 10) comes towards her.
There is no reason to chose one of the Silicatums in this case.
There is also no reason to choose Silica, because there are no clear indication for an Oxydatum.
Other Silicium symptoms: perfectionist, sympathetic, dreams about classmates and family, cold (3), blue/purple nails (<)(<) cold, (<) winter, (<) alcohol.
Reaction One month after Silicium metallicum 1M the eczema has improved a lot. She feels better in herself, and everything is going smoothly. She doesnt have many worries anymore and she feels more relaxed. She is less concerned about what other people in the class think of her. There are three girls within the class whom she has become good friends with. The following year everything continues to go well.
The family, the cornerstone of society.
Once again it is quite remarkable that the pure element Silicium is not known in homoeopathy. We only know the oxide, silicium oxide or Si O2, which we call Silica.
In Silicium we see the paradox between flexibility and rigidity very clearly. One the one hand we find the hardness of stone in the mental picture of rigidity and monomania. On the other hand we find the flexibility in the physical picture of supple connective tissues.
Signature
The name is derived from silex, sandstone. It was discovered in 1823 and it is the second most common element on earth, forming one quarter of the earths crust. Silicium is chemically closely related to Carbon, which is right above it in the periodic table.
They are the same stage in different series.
Sand consist mainly of silicium oxide and is used in the manufacture of glass and cement. Most durable structures in the world are made of stone and cement, materials which contain large proportions of silicium.
It is a semi-conductor and is used in transistors and computer chips, devices that process and conduct information. It also gets used in solar energy cells.
Silicium improves the elastic properties of steel.
Concepts
Stage 10 Silicium series
Summit Relations
Success Family
Noble Other You
Centre Love Hate
Stable Communication
Shining Glittering Language Learning
Obvious Presentation
Independent Play
Rigidity Teenager
Home Neighbourhood
Group analysis
Trying to appear noble in front of your relations: image.
Obvious relationships: family ties.
Having a successful family: family image.
A noble group: family image.
The master of the family: father.
Stable point in the neighbourhood: home.
The centre of all relationships: home.
A balanced group.
An unstable group.
Not being master of the group.
Not being master of oneself within a group: timid.
Unequal group values.
Balanced relation; normal.
Rigidity within relationships: stubborn.
Rigidity in relationships: too much tied to the family.
Picture of Silicium metallicum
Essence: obvious relationships: family ties.
Obvious relationships: family ties
Relationships are a matter of course. Things happen the way they do within a close family, you don't have to do anything special, your family is just there. Even when the family splits up and goes their different ways, the blood ties will always remain.
The relationship is obvious
The attitude they have towards other relationships is also very matter of course. The communication between them is easy: they don't have to make any special effort to make the relationship work, they simply have to be there for each other.
A noble image to keep up
They feel they have to keep up an image of a certain nobility.
Sankaran (1991) has already pointed out how important reputation and fame is to the Silicium personality. They want to be respected for their achievements and for their appearance: their good name and reputation have to be kept up at all times.
Having a successful family: family image Besides their own image there is the family image, which is at least as important. The family home usually plays an important role in the first part of their lives. They also make use of the good name of the family to improve their chances later in life.
The opportunities seem just to land on their plate without their having to make any special effort.
The master of the family
The father as lord and master of the family is another important theme. These people need the support of a strong father, who tells them how to maintain their position in society and be sure of the respect of their peers. The family as the cornerstone of society describes the essence of this theme. A stable family environment can teach a child to become a stable adult in a balanced relationship with the rest of the world. The parents in such a family are always there, as a matter of course.
Stable point within the neighbourhood: home The parental home is the stable base from where the teenager will start to spread his wings. It is something you can always fall back on, a real haven. The physical structure of the home is also important. It has to be a strong, stable home built of stone, cement and concrete (Silicium) so that it can be there for a very long time.
Unstable group values
The other extreme may be an unstable family home, where there is nothing to fall back on. They miss the sense of security of a safe haven. This same situation may occur later in life if they have no steady home to go back to. Or they may feel insecure because the ley lines around their home make them feel disorientated and unstable.
Not in charge of himself within the group: timid The instability may show itself in relationships too. There is nothing to build on, no fixed point of reference. They are yielding and easily influenced. They want to find a stable point and they allow themselves to be led by others in the hope of finding this stability. They don't doubt the other persons ability to lead the way. They are timid and daren't express themselves within the group in case their image gets damaged. They would rather look for support from their parents or teachers.
They tend to be kind and pleasant and well mannered because they want to be liked. They are so sensitive that they may easily cry when criticised. They can also cry when they receive sympathy, because they take this as a criticism of their own lack of stability.
Rigidity in relationships: stubborn
Their behaviour can also go the other way, where they become extremely stubborn. They feel they have to be able to be themselves no matter what, while they still want to hold on to their position within the group. They feel they shouldn't have to creep and crawl in order to be part of it. They are so sure of themselves that they always stick to their own opinions. They are not afraid to say publicly what they think and they don't tolerate much opposition, acting as if they were the leader of the group. This courage can be very challenging to the rest of the group. It can even turn into arrogance.
This stubborn streak, coupled to their perfectionism and precision, can also turn into monomania. Then they become hard and cold, obsessed by trifles and extremely critical. Their clothes may display the same sort of fastidiousness and precision.
Rigidity in relationship: too much tied to the family If they are the head of the family their rigidity may leave a mark on the whole household. They insist that everybody obeys the rules, leaving little individual freedom to their children and partner. Their insistence on everyone obeying the rules is often the result of their fear that the family image will be damaged if someone steps out of line.
Expressions
Fears: needles, injections, trifles, narrow spaces, not waking up from sleep, failure, exams.
Dreams: crystal, ice, mirrors, clairvoyant, cobwebs, needles, friends, schoolmates, family, teeth.
Mood: refined, delicate, aristocratic, artistic.
Mental: forgetful (<)(<) exams, absorbed by occupation and reading, monomania (<) trifles, precise, punctual (crystal), mathematical, perfectionists. Contacts: sympathetic, clairvoyant, clairsentient. Causes: loss of parents, family, friends. Generals Build: thin, tall, fragile, looking old. Weather: cold (3), blue with cold, Bluish purple nails (<)(<) cold, cold water, (<) getting undressed; (>) heat; (<) draught (3), (<) outside. Perspiration: profuse, foot sweat stinking (3!); night sweats. Time: (<) 11 am; (<) full moon; (<) winter, December. Desires: egg, salt, warm food, fruit, milk. Aversion: milk (3), mothers milk (3), salt, meat, broccoli, cauliflower. Food: (<) fat, milk (3), broccoli, alcohol, fasting. Sleep: light, much tossing and turning. Physical: (<)(<)(<) vaccinations, radiation; (>) massage, magnetising; (<) coition; (<) soap.
Complaints
Pains: stitching, as of splinters or needles. Sensation as of a hair.
Discharges: thick, yellow, hard, smelling of old cheese, difficult to dislodge.
Inflammations: chronic, obstinate, hard. Abscesses.
Epilepsy, petit mal. Retarded growth.
Headache from occiput, spreading to forehead. Large head.
Slow closure of fontanelles.
Ear infections.
Colds, sinusitis. Swelling of glands.
Teeth: caries, crooked, large incisors; (<) dentition.
Lung complaints, silicosis (<)(<) miners, cancer.
Vascular diseases. Arteriosclerosis.
Constipation with hard stools which slip back.
Enuresis. Kidney stones.
Arthritis. Large joints. Back pains, scoliosis.
Bones brittle, little elasticity; rickets, exostoses.
Skin thin and delicate, sensitive, cracks; fingertips.
Wounds heal slowly, leaving scars; keloids. Complaints in collagen tissue.
Boils, acne. Eczema, itching, peeling, red, dry; on occiput.
Hair thin, brittle, grey, sticking up at the front. (Geukens, seminar Wageningen). Nails brittle, fungus, yellow to blackish/brown, ingrowing, with white spots.
DD Silicium series, Stage 10, Argentum, Aurum, Barytas, Fluoratums, Carcinosin, Causticum, Hepar sulphuricum, Lycopodium, Nitricums, Psorinum, Pulsatilla, Staphysagria, Thuja, Tuberculinum, Zincum.
DD Silicium-containing plants: Equisetum, grains and grasses, Triticum, Bamboo, Urtica urens, Medicago.
DD Silica: has certain traits of selfishness and feeling abused.
They are afraid of not getting enough, as can be seen in their fear of poverty and thieves. Silicium is more refined, but they are very similar, as the case written below will illustrate. It is quite likely that we have often given Silica in cases where Silicium would have been more appropriate.
DD Carbonicums: the father figure also plays an important role in their life, but In the Carbonicums it is more the father who is the provider of norms and values. In the Siliciums it is the father as the head of the household, the leader of the family (business).
DD Aluminium: Aluminium doubts whether he is in the right relationship: does he belong or doesnt he? In Silicium the relationship is a matter of course, even if wonders from time to time whether others see it like that too.
DD image: many other remedy also have a theme around self image. But in each case this image is linked to other factors. The Ferrum person wants to have a good image with regard to his work, in the Argentum series the image is linked to their artistic creations, the Natrums feel they have to make contact with others before they can feel good. In Silicium the image they present to others is in itself the most important issue, not the fact whether they have to do something first to establish this.
DD houses: the Carbon series is more concerned with rooms and personal space. It is interesting to note that human houses are made of Silicium compounds, whereas animals who carry their house around with them have houses made of (calcarea) carbonate. The Ferrum series is concerned with work space. The Silver series is associated with large buildings such as theatres and concert halls, while the Gold series is associated with even bigger buildings such as large office blocks, banks head offices and skyscrapers.
Case
A 15 year old girl suffers from eczema. It is very itchy and the skin on top of her head, behind her ears and along the hairline on the back of her head is flaky. It is a dry form of eczema. The skin is red with whitish-yellow flakes peeling off. It gets worse from soap and shampoo and it is worse in the winter. It started when a girl friend of hers suddenly didnt want to see her anymore. She wanted to know why her friend was behaving in this way. At one point she felt that the whole class was against her.
Talking about it with her parents made her feel better.
She is very unsure of herself and needs a lot of reassurance. She wants to be liked and she wants to feel she belongs in her class at school. She gets very upset by the thought that others might find her a sissy. But she doesnt want to creep, she just wants to be herself. She doesnt want to be influenced.
She doesnt give the impression of being very timid, she knows what she wants and she doesnt hesitate to give her opinions during the consultation. She likes discussion time at school, she gets actively involved. She is quite intense in the way she lives. She can get totally absorbed in a book and forget the world around her.
She is quite a cheerful girl and she is very sympathetic when someone else is upset.
She quarrels a lot with her brother from time to time.
She can be very sharp, occasionally violent, especially when she feels she is under attack.
She likes sports, tennis and hockey. She is ambitious in hockey and wants to reach the top team.
She is a great perfectionist, and wants to be very good in whatever she does. She plays the flute and used to play the piano as well.
When she was younger she had frequent colds in the winter; later on her tonsils were removed. She often had high fevers with delirium and great fears, and she wanted to sit on her mothers lap during these attacks.
She often had a dream that a cobweb with a needle in the middle came towards her and then went away again. When she woke from this dream it felt as if the room was coming towards her and then receding again.
She frequently dreams of snakes coming towards her or eating her cat. Or she dreams about her school friends and her family.
Generals
Weather: cold (3), blue with cold, purple/blue nails (<)(<) cold, (<) cold water.
Perspiration: (<) night and being too hot.
Time: (<) december.
Desires: nasi, bami (Indonesian food), lettuce, tomatoes, chocolate, fruit, milk.
Aversion: broccoli (3), endive (2), cauliflower, french beans.
Food: (<) broccoli (3), (<) alcohol: nausea.
Sleep: much tossing and turning.
Analysis
The eczema started after her friend didnt want to see her anymore and she had the feeling that the whole class was against her.
This indicates the Silicium series. Her reaction was a feeling of insecurity, but she didnt want to do anything special to change it. She simply wants to be herself and she doesn't want to coax to be allowed to be part of the group, she doesnt want to be influenced by the others.
This is typical of stage 10, the stage of equilibrium, which brings us to Silicium itself. Her uncertainty and the amelioration from talking to her parents further confirms this element. The complaints of itching and flaky eczema on the occiput also fit this remedy. The dream she had during the fevers was very interesting: a web with a needle (silicium) in the middle (stage 10) comes towards her.
There is no reason to chose one of the Silicatums in this case.
There is also no reason to choose Silica, because there are no clear indication for an Oxydatum.
Other Silicium symptoms: perfectionist, sympathetic, dreams about classmates and family, cold (3), blue/purple nails (<)(<) cold, (<) winter, (<) alcohol.
Reaction One month after Silicium metallicum 1M the eczema has improved a lot. She feels better in herself, and everything is going smoothly. She doesnt have many worries anymore and she feels more relaxed. She is less concerned about what other people in the class think of her. There are three girls within the class whom she has become good friends with. The following year everything continues to go well.
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