Calcium nitricum [Calc-n]:
- Jan Scholten
I have not been able to find a proving or a description of Calcarea nitrica anywhere. This remedy appears to be one of the most fearful remedies in the materia medica. This is perhaps not surprising if we look at the phobic traits of both Calcarea and, for instance, Arg-n.
Concepts
Calcarea Nitrica
What do others think Enjoyment
Sensitive to criticism Need for space, expansion
Insecurity Going out
Shyness Congestion, explosive
Fears Tension
Protection Relaxation
Withdrawal
Group analysis
The group analysis gives us for Calc-n the idea that others will think that you are enjoying life too much. This causes them to be afraid in those situations where others are enjoying themselves, situations such as parties, going to the cinema, or a restaurant, or the hairdresser. The fear can be so intense that they may faint, or hyperventilate, or even have a heart attack and die. The fears are much worse if there are other people present who may observe them. They are extremely sensitive to what others will think of them. They are especially afraid in situations where a lot of people are packed together in a small space, such as in restaurants, lifts, trains and planes. If they can't get out, their fear gets even worse. They must be able to escape, to have open space.
Case
A woman, aged 50, comes with various small complaints. It soon becomes clear that her main problem is fear: anxiety about her health, especially her heart. She has had this since she was 14, and the fear is worse when she is at home alone, or when she is away from home. In situations where she knows the people well, this anxiety is not so bad, but it is much worse in strange places with unknown people, such as in restaurants. She will want to sit near a window or a door and she is afraid of fainting and 'making a fool of herself'. She thinks all the time 'Oh dear, everybody is noticing me'. This is when the palpitations start too. She will act hurriedly, as if she is being chased. And yet her clients perceive her as being very calm and quiet. She explains that this is because she makes a great effort to control herself and to act normally. She has red patches on her face, round the eyes, alae nasi, lips and neck, (<) left. Backache near her left shoulder, radiating to the front. Stomach ache on the left side, with rumbling, diarrhoea or false urging. She also has a bloated stomach with much belching. Symptoms of hayfever, such as lachrymation, sneezing and nasal voice. Headache, pressing on vertex and on the left side, with pain in neck and shoulders. Vertigo with sensation that she will fall down, (<) sitting. Past history: she has had a spell of burning sensation in her knees, with red spots, (<) left. She was sterilised in 1979. In 1988 she had a hysterectomy because of excessive bleeding, caused by a myoma. When she was born she was blue, because the umbilical cord was twisted round her neck. General characteristics: Temperature: cold, but her face flushes easily; she gets nervous in warm, damp weather; she likes fresh air and the seaside. Desires: sweet (3), salt (2), spicy (2), sour (2), raw vegetables and bacon. Aversion: game, slimy food. Sleep: very deep; difficulty getting up; sleeps on stomach. Mind: She loves her work, selling things in her shop. She finds it easy to make contact with other people and she enjoys this. She gets angry very quickly, but gets over it equally quickly. She suffers from many fears: fear of heights, of narrow spaces, in cinemas, lifts, restaurants, hairdressers. She cannot stand the feeling of being locked up or suppressed. Her appearance is very neat: a brightly coloured and perfectly fitting dress, beautiful make up, hairstyle, nail polish and perfume. She is very open, lively and simple in the way she talks. Marriage: she has been married and has a grown-up son. Ten years ago she got divorced, because she thought her husband too aggressive and uncontrolled. She now has a relationship without ties, in which she feels very content. Childhood: Her parents had to get married because of her. She already had many fears by the time she was 6 years old. She can remember having a panic attack when she was at home on her own one day. She ran into the street gasping for air, thinking that she would suffocate. She had a nice childhood, a little bit unstructured, but she felt quite protected. Her parents died in an accident when she was 21, and she was nervous and very fearful for a long time afterwards.Analysis On reading this case, it looks as if Arg-n is the remedy. There are a great deal of symptoms pleading for it. This is also the remedy that I prescribed initially. But at the same time I had some doubts. I couldn't find any of the Argentum traits in her, such as arrogance, refinement or reservedness. The reaction on Arg-n was not good: a short improvement, lasting one week and afterwards no change. Aconite did not bring more than a temporary improvement either: after acon 1 M she was better for one month and afterwards back to the same state. On further analysis there appeared to be one aspect that was never changing: the fear that others will notice her problems. And this is the central theme of Calcarea. Further indications for Calcarea are desire for sweet, fear of heights, myoma, sleeping on stomach. But which Calcarea? It wasn't quite clear what is was that she didn't want other people to see; she couldn't give any clear answer to this. There were, however, a few indications for Nitricum. In the first place Arg-n fitted the picture quite well. In the second place, the fear was focused on the region of the heart and blood vessels. Further Nitricum symptoms are desire for bacon and fat, left- sidedness and fear of narrow spaces. And last but not least, we have the essence from the group analysis for Calcarea nitrica: the delusion and the fear that others will see that they are enjoying themselves. This was observed in her case from the fact that her fears were worse in restaurants and at the hairdressers, places where the good things of life are enjoyed. Reaction The reaction on Calc-n was one which we, as homoeopaths, love to see. Immediately after taking the remedy she was very dizzy for two days. Following that she was very anxious for a day, but she could control it. Then the fears started to diminish. Two months later an old headache reappeared. A repeat of Calc-n made this symptom disappear too. Picture of Calcarea nitrica Essence: the delusion and the fear that others will see how they enjoy themselves. Mind: they are afraid that other people will disapprove of them, especially if they enjoy the good things in life. This makes them very fearful. They also develop anticipatory fears, which are worse before a nice outing, such as going to the cinema or a restaurant. They are afraid that they will make a fool of themselves, that they will faint or even have a heart attack. The fears are worse when they are alone or in the company of strangers. When they are with people whom they know they feel a lot more secure and happy. This is also the case when they work: it makes them feel secure, so they are inclined to be very intense and hurried in the way they work. They do, however, enjoy their life especially in the company of their friends and family. They are sociable and talk about all sorts of things, but preferably not about their fears. They tend to be well dressed and the women like to wear make-up. Perhaps the theme of being born to parents who had to get married is characteristic of Calc-n. It could be that the mother felt that people were watching her and noticing that 'she couldn't wait, but had to give in to her desires'. Fears: heights, narrow spaces, shops, lifts, restaurants, planes, trains, heart disease. General characteristics: Location: left sided. Temperature: a little cold, but (<) heat, (<) damp and heat, (>) fresh air,(>) sea.
Time: (<) 9 am.
Desires: sweet (3), cheese (2), bacon (2).
Menses: copious.
Sleep: deep, difficulty getting up, on the stomach.
Physical: (<) sitting.
Complaints:
Headache, congestive.
Hayfever, lachrymation, sneezing, nasal voice.
Palpitations. Heart complaints.
Stomach pains, belching, bloated stomach, rumbling.
Menses copious, myomas.
Red patches on skin.
DD: Calcarea's, Nitricums, Arg-n, Aconitum.
I have not been able to find a proving or a description of Calcarea nitrica anywhere. This remedy appears to be one of the most fearful remedies in the materia medica. This is perhaps not surprising if we look at the phobic traits of both Calcarea and, for instance, Arg-n.
Concepts
Calcarea Nitrica
What do others think Enjoyment
Sensitive to criticism Need for space, expansion
Insecurity Going out
Shyness Congestion, explosive
Fears Tension
Protection Relaxation
Withdrawal
Group analysis
The group analysis gives us for Calc-n the idea that others will think that you are enjoying life too much. This causes them to be afraid in those situations where others are enjoying themselves, situations such as parties, going to the cinema, or a restaurant, or the hairdresser. The fear can be so intense that they may faint, or hyperventilate, or even have a heart attack and die. The fears are much worse if there are other people present who may observe them. They are extremely sensitive to what others will think of them. They are especially afraid in situations where a lot of people are packed together in a small space, such as in restaurants, lifts, trains and planes. If they can't get out, their fear gets even worse. They must be able to escape, to have open space.
Case
A woman, aged 50, comes with various small complaints. It soon becomes clear that her main problem is fear: anxiety about her health, especially her heart. She has had this since she was 14, and the fear is worse when she is at home alone, or when she is away from home. In situations where she knows the people well, this anxiety is not so bad, but it is much worse in strange places with unknown people, such as in restaurants. She will want to sit near a window or a door and she is afraid of fainting and 'making a fool of herself'. She thinks all the time 'Oh dear, everybody is noticing me'. This is when the palpitations start too. She will act hurriedly, as if she is being chased. And yet her clients perceive her as being very calm and quiet. She explains that this is because she makes a great effort to control herself and to act normally. She has red patches on her face, round the eyes, alae nasi, lips and neck, (<) left. Backache near her left shoulder, radiating to the front. Stomach ache on the left side, with rumbling, diarrhoea or false urging. She also has a bloated stomach with much belching. Symptoms of hayfever, such as lachrymation, sneezing and nasal voice. Headache, pressing on vertex and on the left side, with pain in neck and shoulders. Vertigo with sensation that she will fall down, (<) sitting. Past history: she has had a spell of burning sensation in her knees, with red spots, (<) left. She was sterilised in 1979. In 1988 she had a hysterectomy because of excessive bleeding, caused by a myoma. When she was born she was blue, because the umbilical cord was twisted round her neck. General characteristics: Temperature: cold, but her face flushes easily; she gets nervous in warm, damp weather; she likes fresh air and the seaside. Desires: sweet (3), salt (2), spicy (2), sour (2), raw vegetables and bacon. Aversion: game, slimy food. Sleep: very deep; difficulty getting up; sleeps on stomach. Mind: She loves her work, selling things in her shop. She finds it easy to make contact with other people and she enjoys this. She gets angry very quickly, but gets over it equally quickly. She suffers from many fears: fear of heights, of narrow spaces, in cinemas, lifts, restaurants, hairdressers. She cannot stand the feeling of being locked up or suppressed. Her appearance is very neat: a brightly coloured and perfectly fitting dress, beautiful make up, hairstyle, nail polish and perfume. She is very open, lively and simple in the way she talks. Marriage: she has been married and has a grown-up son. Ten years ago she got divorced, because she thought her husband too aggressive and uncontrolled. She now has a relationship without ties, in which she feels very content. Childhood: Her parents had to get married because of her. She already had many fears by the time she was 6 years old. She can remember having a panic attack when she was at home on her own one day. She ran into the street gasping for air, thinking that she would suffocate. She had a nice childhood, a little bit unstructured, but she felt quite protected. Her parents died in an accident when she was 21, and she was nervous and very fearful for a long time afterwards.Analysis On reading this case, it looks as if Arg-n is the remedy. There are a great deal of symptoms pleading for it. This is also the remedy that I prescribed initially. But at the same time I had some doubts. I couldn't find any of the Argentum traits in her, such as arrogance, refinement or reservedness. The reaction on Arg-n was not good: a short improvement, lasting one week and afterwards no change. Aconite did not bring more than a temporary improvement either: after acon 1 M she was better for one month and afterwards back to the same state. On further analysis there appeared to be one aspect that was never changing: the fear that others will notice her problems. And this is the central theme of Calcarea. Further indications for Calcarea are desire for sweet, fear of heights, myoma, sleeping on stomach. But which Calcarea? It wasn't quite clear what is was that she didn't want other people to see; she couldn't give any clear answer to this. There were, however, a few indications for Nitricum. In the first place Arg-n fitted the picture quite well. In the second place, the fear was focused on the region of the heart and blood vessels. Further Nitricum symptoms are desire for bacon and fat, left- sidedness and fear of narrow spaces. And last but not least, we have the essence from the group analysis for Calcarea nitrica: the delusion and the fear that others will see that they are enjoying themselves. This was observed in her case from the fact that her fears were worse in restaurants and at the hairdressers, places where the good things of life are enjoyed. Reaction The reaction on Calc-n was one which we, as homoeopaths, love to see. Immediately after taking the remedy she was very dizzy for two days. Following that she was very anxious for a day, but she could control it. Then the fears started to diminish. Two months later an old headache reappeared. A repeat of Calc-n made this symptom disappear too. Picture of Calcarea nitrica Essence: the delusion and the fear that others will see how they enjoy themselves. Mind: they are afraid that other people will disapprove of them, especially if they enjoy the good things in life. This makes them very fearful. They also develop anticipatory fears, which are worse before a nice outing, such as going to the cinema or a restaurant. They are afraid that they will make a fool of themselves, that they will faint or even have a heart attack. The fears are worse when they are alone or in the company of strangers. When they are with people whom they know they feel a lot more secure and happy. This is also the case when they work: it makes them feel secure, so they are inclined to be very intense and hurried in the way they work. They do, however, enjoy their life especially in the company of their friends and family. They are sociable and talk about all sorts of things, but preferably not about their fears. They tend to be well dressed and the women like to wear make-up. Perhaps the theme of being born to parents who had to get married is characteristic of Calc-n. It could be that the mother felt that people were watching her and noticing that 'she couldn't wait, but had to give in to her desires'. Fears: heights, narrow spaces, shops, lifts, restaurants, planes, trains, heart disease. General characteristics: Location: left sided. Temperature: a little cold, but (<) heat, (<) damp and heat, (>) fresh air,(>) sea.
Time: (<) 9 am.
Desires: sweet (3), cheese (2), bacon (2).
Menses: copious.
Sleep: deep, difficulty getting up, on the stomach.
Physical: (<) sitting.
Complaints:
Headache, congestive.
Hayfever, lachrymation, sneezing, nasal voice.
Palpitations. Heart complaints.
Stomach pains, belching, bloated stomach, rumbling.
Menses copious, myomas.
Red patches on skin.
DD: Calcarea's, Nitricums, Arg-n, Aconitum.
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