Post by Admin - Joy Lucas on Jul 5, 2021 11:31:35 GMT
THE SUBSTANCE
ERYTHRINUS (JL-P2)
Erythrinus is a fish and according to our Materia Medicas it is a kind of red mullet fish from south America.
The taxonomy is confusing. Mullets are part of the mugilidae family (ray finned fish) although there appears to be some disagreement about this as some place them also in either the perciforme or the atheriniforme family. Numerous species and classification further this confusion.
Red mullets are also known as goat fish, due to the barbel hanging from the chin that serves as a sensitive food finder and although research shows many references to Mediterranean red mullets, this remedy is specifically named as a south American variety. Due to this apparent confusion within the taxonomy it is probably best to stay within the Erythrinidae family and ignore all references to mullets. This means that the search can be confined to Erythrinus erythrinus, this again can be sub divided into various genera and species as well as a vast number of common names but eventually we get closer to where and from what this remedy evolved. Below are a couple of useful links.
filaman.ifm-geomar.de/summary/speciessummary.php?id=23282
www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v93/n2/full/6800511a.html
Burnett is the true source of the homeopathic use of this remedy (see further notes below) but it remains uncertain as to where he obtained the remedy or who made it up for him – somewhere, maybe, the original vials are still in existence.
The Erythrinus fish abides in lentic environments, i.e. still waters that have low levels of oxygen such as ponds, lakes, swamps – as opposed to lotic conditions that have running and moving water. The lentic system can be very shallow or very deep, exposed to light where shallow or devoid of light where deep. The depth will determine various regions that support biota – bacteria, invertebrates, vertebrates, fish etc, so there is plenty for the Erythrinus, which is classed as a carnivore that also eats insects.
HOMEOPATHIC PRESENTATION
As mentioned before Burnett provides us with what we know about the use of this remedy. He based his use of it on account of its effects on some sailors who ate the fish.
They came out with a peculiar red rash which became chronic, and which the doctors took for a form of syphilis. Dr Burnett cured with it a case of Pityriasis rubra appearing in a large patch on the chest, and benefited other cases. He believed this form of skin affection to be a manifestation of syphilis in the second generation, the father of the patient he cured having had syphilis. Aurum muriaticum (due to the apparent syphilitic taint) is the complementary remedy.
J. H. Clarke, Dictionary of practical Materia Medica - "A patient came to be treated for a maddening neuralgia, which he had picked up on the banks of the Nile. After being cured of his neuralgia, he showed me his chest which was the seat of a big patch of red pityriasis that he had for a number of years. The patch was composed of a series of smaller patches all more or less circular or segments of circles."
The tincture of the fish was used for making potencies.
Curiously, there appears to be no entries of Erythrinus under the Pityriasis rubrics in the book repertories (I referenced Boericke, Kent, Murphy) – this is strange as many of the unproved remedies do make an appearance in the repertories.
Grimmer, in his Collected Works, adds that Erythrinus is electro-magnetically negative (see ‘preamble and musings and the proving data notes below) and that it needs further proving as it might well be a remedy highly valuable in forms of chronic skin disease.
PREAMBLE AND MUSINGS
I imagine that the reference to Erythrinus being ‘a type of red mullet’ comes only from the fact that the fish is red and has a tendency to ‘behave’ like the mullets, i.e. preferring to hide in deep water that is low in oxygen and thus difficult to locate, but also being able to accommodate shallow waters, indicating an extraordinary adaptability.
So, red mullet or not – this from the roman philosopher Seneca the younger "There is nothing,' you say, 'more beautiful than a dying surmullet [mullo]. In the very struggle of its failing breath of life, first a red, then a pale tint suffuses it, and its scales change hue, and between life and death there is a gradation of colour into subtle shades. See how the red becomes inflamed, more brilliant than any vermilion! Look at the veins which pulse along its sides! Look! You would think its belly were actual blood! What a bright kind of blue gleamed right under its brow! Now it is stretching out and going pale and is settling into a uniform hue." Seneca, Natural Questions (III.18.1,4) also The Greek name for the fish is triglê, which Athenaeus surmised might derive from the fact that the red mullet was said to spawn three times a year (Aristotle, History of Animals, V.9, who goes on to recount that, when frightened, the mullet buries its head in the mud, thinking itself to be completely hidden, VIII.2), By analogy, the mullet was dedicated to Hecate, the goddess of crossroads who looks three ways (Athenaeus, VII.324d ff).
In a letter to Atticus, Cicero speaks of wealthy Romans feeding by hand "the bearded mullet in their fish ponds" ( II.1.7). But, says Columella, the mullet is difficult to maintain there, "since it is a very delicate kind of fish and most intolerant of captivity, and so only one or two out of many thousands can on rare occasions endure confinement" (VIII.17.7).
The mention of ‘crossroads’ is an interesting one vis the actual proving data as themes of separation came through quite strongly. The ‘crossroads’ that might be encountered within the essence of the Erythrinus symptom picture, from an emotional point of view at least, could be described as ‘confinement’ – sometimes described as ‘hiding’ (low level oxygen, not being able to move freely etc (there were several symptoms describing types of confusion as well as ‘either/or’ type symptoms, e.g. either depressed or elated, and also one prover deluded that she was being called – so a decision has to be made as to which direction to choose at the crossroads – deep or shallow?) and ‘endurance’ (the possible syphilitic taint that finally expresses itself as an eruption). The third point at the crossroads, if selected correctly, would lead to adaptability – one that this fish has attained, and one that is essential to the progression of life – disease being merely the inability to adapt.
For some, during the proving, this separation, alluded to by crossroads, was further enforced when trying NOT to be separated, a curious situation giving rise to grief, sadness and anger – thus effort and will power is vital to overcome – aspects that are seriously challenged within the syphilitic miasm.
Some may say that these musings, these peripherals to the actual proving data, are unnecessary but I tend to think that there is always a concurrent link between the symptoms derived from the proving and the ‘signature’ of the substance and all other curious but relevant factors that occur either through serendipity or from more purposeful issues. For example, what do we make of Grimmer’s point about Erythrinus being electro-magnetically negative?
One would have to be in tune with Grimmer’s ideas regarding ‘ethers’ to respect this. He says, “The life ether promotes the forces of the propagation of the species. Like the chemical ether it works along positive and negative poles, the forces which work along the positive pole of this ether are those which work in the female during gestation; they enable her to do the positive work of bringing forth a new being. On the other hand, the forces working along the negative pole enable the male to produce semen. In the work on the impregnated ovum of the animal and man, or upon the seed of the plant, the forces working along the positive pole of the life ether produce male plants, animals and men; while the forces which express themselves through the negative pole generate females.
Next is the light ether having positive and negative manifestations as have the other ethers. The forces which play along its positive pole are the forces which generate the blood heat in the higher species of animal and in man, which make them individual sources of heat. The forces which work along the negative pole of the light ether are those operating through the senses, manifesting as the passive functions of sight, hearing, feeling, tasting and smelling. They also build and nourish the eye. In the cold blooded animals the positive pole of the light ether is the avenue of the forces which circulate the blood, and the negative forces have the same functions in regard to the eye as in the case of the higher animals and man. Where eyes are lacking, the forces working in the negative pole of the light ether are perhaps building or nourishing other sense organs.”
So, if positive = flowing, then negative = cessation of flow and we know that the Erythrinus prefers still waters where the oxygen is low. This means the energy levels are also low, not moving much but hiding and lurking with carnivorous intent. Many provers mentioned feelings of negativity and intense heaviness. But you cannot have a negative without a positive. A negative polarity suggests low pressure zones, a particular type of atmospheric pressure, the end result being a tumultuous storm. Is this the hidden or deep seated eruption of Pityriasis rubra, the syphilitic taint that Burnett wrote about? Maybe there is much more that is deep seated about this remedy – after all, still waters run very deep indeed.
As an extra note regarding ‘energies’, one prover noticed a number of ‘low energy’ light bulbs were repeatedly ‘blowing’ and they were also susceptible to static electric shock sensations when stroking pets.
Nearly all the provers showed quite distinctive progress from the primary reaction to the secondary reaction to the remedy. As if to reinforce the syphilitic influence there were throat infections leading to eruptive states (some more pronounced than others). The three stages of the syphilitic state were not clear to see though, i.e. chancre, rash with fever, swollen glands etc, and finally organ or tissue damage (especially of the brain) leading to paralysis. But overall there was a distinctive passage from one stage to another, within the proving.
Relevant to the ‘hiding’ quality that seemed to run throughout the symptom picture is the lack of obvious information regarding this remedy. Here I am referring mainly to the confusing taxonomy, i.e. Erythrinus does not appear to be a type of red mullet at all and that it belongs to an order that has a rather large genera and species that all come within the Erythrininae order but also, more interestingly from a homeopathic point of view, it was really difficult obtaining reliable information about the history of the remedy from the pharmacies that supply it.
I was keen to find out how Burnett made up this remedy – did he do it himself, did a homeopathic pharmacy make it up for him (maybe in Edinburgh or London), do the original vials still exist, how did he obtain the fish, etc etc, but the pharmacies couldn’t provide any useful information.
Quite remarkably, one of the major pharmacies in Britain does not even supply Erythrinus. I think this is strange considering that it seems to be possible to purchase almost any potentised substance from all the pharmacies and yet Erythrinus has been in our Materia Medica for a long time.
I used two pharmacies for this proving and it turns out that one of them produces the remedies from pure magnetic code (hmm, this brings us neatly back to Grimmer’s electro-magnetic concepts) – some provers of this remedy unfortunately produced either very poor quality symptoms or absolutely none at all – is that to do with the essence of the remedy or the manufacture of the remedy, we don’t have the science to tell us. The other pharmacy admitted to not having their records in good order enough to say where the original substance was obtained – shame on them! Yet another pharmacy, not involved in the proving, informed me that their stock of Erythrinus dated back from original substance in 1975 but could go back further than that.
Also, one group of valuable provers had the misfortune to lose proving data due to a technical glitch, some of this was re-formatted but some was lost completely.
So there is a real ‘hiding’ of documentation, a reluctance to come forward from within the deep still waters and upward to the surface. Interesting as always.
As I wrote earlier most of the provers had a definite primary and then secondary set of symptoms. It was as if a low level acute state was trying to emerge initially and then either did assert itself as secondary symptoms or disappeared. One prover described this re-assertion as an ‘echo’ and I think this resonates nicely with the themes of hiding, confinement, separation and then an intense acute with eruption – suppression being released.
Finally, keeping in mind the relevance of the curing of the syphilitic taint that this remedy might possess, it should be mentioned that there is some reference to Erythrinus fish being called ‘wolf fish’ – wild card or not, the howling of the night time wolf, the darkness of the deep lentic waters, the <<< evening and night, the striking connection between throat and skin symptoms that evolved throughout the proving (a clear indication of the suppressed syphilitic miasm), the connection to Aurum muriaticum and the chronic syphilitic eruption, all serve the indications towards that miasm well.
How on earth was Burnett able to make all these connections with an unproved remedy – must be genius.
THE PROVING
The start date for this proving was set for March, 2006 but this too was difficult to pin down – supervisors were either unable to begin or provers were called away and it actually took months to begin and end, as opposed to what should have been a matter of weeks. It was intended that the proving be simultaneously carried out by all provers around the world but this was just not possible either.
The proving of Erythrinus took place in Australia, India, Scotland, Belgium and the USA.
Potencies = LM1, 6c, 12c, 30c, 200c, placebo There were 14 provers – male = 8, female = 6
Prover 1 = placebo (lost data) Prover 2 = LM1
Prover 3 = 6c (lost data) Prover 4 = 12c
Prover 5 = 30c (lost data)
Prover 6 = placebo (lost data)
Prover 7 = 12c (lost data)
Prover 8 = 30c
Prover 9 = 200c
Prover 10 = 30c
Prover 11 = 6c (produced no symptoms) Prover 12 = 30c (produced no symptoms) Prover 13 = 6c
Prover 14 = 12c
SYMPTOMS AND SUGGESTED RUBRICS
(where the suggested rubrics contain (+) this is to indicate that I could not find the appropriate rubric although this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t already exist). The number references 4, 3, 2, 1 are ranking for the symptoms, i.e. 4 = experienced by many provers, 3 = fewer provers experienced, 2 = less, 1 = only one or two provers experienced.
MIND
The main theme experienced was that of NEGATIVITY that took the form of ANXIOUS NERVOUSNESS; of being DISSATISFIED AND UNSETTLED; INDIFFERENT; VULNERABLE and HELPLESS; CONFUSED and INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE; WEEPING; feelings of GRIEF and to a certain extent some IRRITABILITY. The overall description of these feelings came through as being SEPARATED or DISCONNECTED, sometimes centering on the IDENTITY, NEGATIVE FEELINGS that cannot be identified (like the difficulty in accurately naming the fish); sometimes feeling SEPARATED FROM FRIENDS, sometimes WANTING TO BE SEPARATED and NOT COMMUNICATE, even ARGUING with people on purpose so as to form a distance/separation. As if to counter these feelings of negativity some provers experienced UNITY; ELATION; CALMNESS; SENSE OF WELL BEING; EXCITED AND HAPPY; FEELING ESPECIALLY FRESH AND HAPPY IN THE MORNING; LAUGHING; sense of AMUSEMENT with everything; DESIRING COMPANY; needing to be BUSY and enjoying the distraction.
As if caught between the NEGATIVE and the POSITIVE some provers wrote about a sense of things being WRONG; as if a CHANGE IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN;
A number of provers also described a peculiar sense of TIME DISTORTION – SENSATION AS IF AHEAD OF TIME; SENSATION AS IF LOSING TRACK OF TIME; chores taking a long time and getting very behind in work duties; also a sense of not having done something that should have been done; making PLANS for the future.
Part of the theme of SEPARATION involved a DWELLING ON SEXUAL MATTERS (as if to connect with another) and feeling uncomfortable with opposite gender energy, FEELING OF HAVING NO WILL IN MALE PRESENCE; AVERSION TO MEN; of being MASSIVELY PREGNANT WITH THE WHOLE EARTH; HEARS A MAN CALLING HER BUT NO-ONE THERE; and an over emphasis on relationships in general. (see also ‘dreams’ section).
Modalities = nearly always <<< evening and night; < throughout the day; >>> morning; >> being busy; weeping >>.
(4)
separated, feels as if delusion separated from the world estranged
confusion as to his identity + confusion, afternoon (+ >> talking to someone) + makes
mistakes + writing, while + talking, while + daily affairs anxiety about the future
anxiety < night
wrong, everything seems anticipation
company, aversion to + crying, with busy
work >> from work or diversion time, perception, loss of
delusion time passes too quickly
time, wastes away his
discontented
indifference + boredom + with aversion to work + to duties + ( + >> being busy + showing emotions)
crying + alone + ameliorates + evening + causeless delusion, someone calls him
(3)
sensitive + to trifles + to rudeness positiveness
taciturn
concentration difficult
calmness
critical with close friends
contented (+ > morning)
excitement, in company + afternoon
laziness + work + evening
depression + evening + friends, as if having lost affection of + anxious + diverted from
thoughts of himself, desires to be + from disappointment concentration difficult
irritability + remorse, with quick and easy (+ sudden) + sleep, during + anxiety, with + easily + disturbed, when + consolation aggravates + trifles,
grief + silent + hurt, from feelings
longing, good opinion of others, for opinions, expects others to pay respect to her
(2)
aversion to certain persons
company, avoids the sight of people
elated state of mind
delusion, fancies he has done wrong
anxiety for others
indecision
anxiety about salvation + crying ameliorates memory, weakness
forgotten, something, feels constantly as if he had guilt
fear, observed, of her condition being
(1)
will, loss of + weakness
delusion, thinks everything changed
delusion pregnant
talking, excessively, evening
aversion, men
impulsive
control, lack of emotional
alternating, mental and physical sx
exertion, mental aggravates, weakness from
dwells, sexual matters, on + disappointments + grief from past offences anxiety about the future
suspicious
betrayed, delusion she is
hopeless feelings
responsibility, aversion to + over responsible
plans, making many
recognise, does not, his relatives (friend)
delusion, alone, world that she is alone in the
egotistical (+ when talking with friend)
HEAD
The main sensation experienced was that of HEAVINESS with some NUMBNESS and TINGLING. The pain was usually described as being DULL or ACHING and sometimes THROBBING and most often felt in the TEMPORAL REGION. VERTIGO was often present.
(4)
heaviness, sensation + << 1 pm (afternoon) + << evening + << morning after rising (+ > eating)
pain, temples + extending to forehead
pain, dull, temples + << evening
vertigo << looking down + << on rising + << standing + >> lying down vertigo as if swinging
(3)
pain, after sleep >> vertigo with weakness vertigo with reeling
(2)
constriction
numbness
tingling, vertex (+ extending downwards to neck and fingertips) pulsating
throbbing
vertigo, during headaches
waves of pain
headache left to right
hair, falling
dandruff
itching
(1)
(+ pain, temples, sudden) pain, << stooping
pain, << laughing
pain, << sun
pain, << heat
pain, >> pressure
pain, >> cold room
(pain in head same time as pain in legs)
(+ vertigo >> stretching + >> leaning back) (+ vertigo >> being busy)
FACE
Few symptoms were recorded and those that were seemed linked to other symptoms such as ERUPTIONS (skin) and a sense of PRESSURE (headaches)
(4) (3) (2)
oily (< in morning)
eruption, pustule (below right eye) eruption, pimple, chin
pressing, pain
stinging, pain (< touch)
(1)
discolouration, dark, eyes, around
EYES
The HEAVINESS of the head symptoms was mimicked here but the main other sensation was that of BURNING and some LACHRYMATION
(4)
burning + < left eye + < air (fanning)
heaviness, sensation + < morning + < using the eyes lachrymation + < morning
(3) (2)
close, desire to
vision, hazy (+ >> closing eyes)
(1)
aching (+ <left to right) inflammation (+ < sun) discharge, white
EARS
Few symptoms recorded but were mainly related to ERUPTIONS
(4)
(3)
(2)
eruption, boils (+ small, right ear < right ear) eruptions (+ macular) lobes, on
pain, left
pain, sore
pain, aching, left stopped
(1)
NOSE
Many of the symptoms developed through the acute phase so there was a lot of SNEEZING, OBSTRUCTION and MUCOUS
(4)
sneezing + on waking + frequent + from irritation, in larynx
obstructed + left side + < night + < air right side + > motion + alternating sides +
alternates with discharge
discharge, thick + clear + white + yellow + thin + watery + bloody
(3) (2)
sore, pain, inside, left dryness, inside, left
(1)
blow, compelled to eruptions, around (+ left) smell, sensitive to odours
MOUTH
DRYNESS was the most important symptom and also some bad tastes that you might expect with an ongoing acute phase
(4) (3) (2)
dryness, lips (+ not >> wetting them) dryness, mouth
dryness, tongue
cracked, lips
discolouration, tongue, creamy + cracked, centre taste, bitter + metallic + bad
(1)
salivation, increased
pain, palate (+ < swallowing)
pain, jaw, (+ > pressure)
tongue, pustules, stinging (+ < touch)
THROAT
This was one of the most concentrated areas of expression for the acute phase that resembled Tonsillitis. Typically there was PAIN, BURNING, DRYNESS, SWELLING, INFLAMMATION, MUCOUS, CONSTRICTION
(4)
inflammation + left + tonsils + on waking swelling, tonsils, left
vesicles, tonsils (+ left)
pain, warmth in general >> + warm drinks >> burning, pain + cold drinks >>
(3)
constriction, throat pit
mucous, in throat + saltish + white + sensation of + post nasal + gelatinous + green
(2)
pain, extending to ear (+ left) + << swallowing lump, sensation in, on swallowing
glands swollen
hawk, disposition to, ineffectual
dryness + drinking does not >> + night (1)
pain, (+ >> expectoration)
(+ inflammation, left then right)
pain, warm drinks <<
burning, pain, << on lying down
foreign object in, sensation of
choking
swollen sensation (+ during sleep that will prevent breathing)
voice, changeable (+ when throat is sore)
ABDOMEN/INTESTINES
Highest ranking symptom was that of FLATULENCE and some NOISES and PAIN
(4)
flatus + before stool + after stool rumbling + stool >>
gurgling, in
pain, flatulence, with
(3) (2)
heaviness, sensation, as from a load, flatus >> cramping, pain (+ left side)
(1)
burning (+ with nausea) bubbling sensation
pain, sides, walking while twitching and jerking, of pain, eating during
pain, anxiety, causing pain, extending, back to
CHEST
Various types of PAIN were recorded and some mild ERUPTIONS
(4)
(3)
(2)
pain, breathing, on deep
pain, sides, left + alternating sides pain, ribs (+ < left) (+ left and right) pain, hands on chest >>, placing
pain, expectoration >> dull, pain in sternum sticking, pain (+ < left)
(1)
rash, red, itching (+ left axilla + < scratching) pain, (+ extending inward)
stabbing, pain (+ < left)
pain, motion <<
HEART
Few symptoms were noticed
(4)
(3)
(2)
(1)
palpitation, anxiety (+ weeping >>)
stopped, beating, as if heart had
crampy, pain in (+ < lying on back, >> being still)
RESPIRATION
Low levels of oxygen were experienced, just like the Erythrinus environment, a SUFFOCATIVE feeling with a need to BREATHE DEEPLY as well as a sensation as if the CHEST could not EXPAND. This led to a DRY COUGH but with some EXPECTORATION of various types
(4)
cough, dry + < evening
breathing, catching, respiration
breathing, deep, desire to breathe
breathing, deep, cannot get enough breath
breathing, impeded, obstructed
breathing, suffocative + air >> + < heat + < morning
(3)
(2)
expectoration, frothy + white + green + sour + lumpy
(1)
breathing, deep <<
BACK
WEAKNESS with some PAIN in various parts were recorded
(4)
(3)
(2)
aching, scapula, left (+ with tingling left hand) aching, scapula, right
pain, weakness, with
(1)
burning, scapula (+ < sun, < turning head) pain, waking, on (+ left side)
pain, menses >>
STOMACH
Nearly all provers experienced a LOSS OF APPETITE ALTERNING WITH SUDDEN EXTREME HUNGER, THIRST or NO THIRST. The main desires were SWEET, SPICE, SALT, COLD DRINKS
(4)
appetite, loss of (+ followed by hunger) appetite, loss of, with hunger
appetite, increased, sudden
thirst, cold water
thirst, extreme
(3)
nausea, mucous, in chest, from belching, sour + empty burning, morning
nausea, evening + sudden heartburn
(2)
appetite, increased, during fever
appetite, increased, forenoon
desires ice + buttermilk + sodas + sweet + salt + spicy
(1)
appetite, increased, afternoon + evening + on waking
thirst (+before sleep)
appetite increased + ravenous (+ fear of overeating, has to control it) desires warm food
gurgling, sensation (+ as if diarrhoea starting)
pulsation
RECTUM
Few symptoms recorded and were mainly concerning SOFT, LOOSE STOOLS with some FREQUENCY
(4) (3) (2)
stool, soft
stool, acrid
stool, frequent
flatus, offensive (+ frequent)
(1)
stool, hard + scanty urging, on waking urging, ineffectual constriction, during stool burning, stool, after
BLADDER/URINE
The few symptoms recorded indicated some connection with the acute phase such as BURNING, CYSTITIS, LOW OUTPUT, DISCOLOURATION
(4) (3)
urination, frequent, night
urination frequent, during menses
urine, dark + cloudy + dark + greenish + frothy
(2)
urine scanty
bladder, pain < movement, < evening, > urinating
(1)
urine, odour, strong
urination, involuntary, night + enuresis
FEMALE
MENSES LATE and EARLY as well as all symptoms << and >> AFTER MENSES were the main recorded symptoms. Curiously one prover had menses SMELL LIKE ROTTING FISH.
(4) (3)
menses early, + late
sexual enjoyment, increased menses <<<
menses >>>
(2)
(1)
menses, intermittent + profuse + scanty menses, offensive, like spoiled fish menses dark (+ excoriate)
leucorrhea, afternoon + evening + white itching, vulva
MALE
Few symptoms recorded except for an INCREASE IN SEXUAL DESIRE
(4)
(3)
(2)
(1)
sexual enjoyment, increased
LIMBS
MUSCLES were the main area where symptoms were produced such as ACHING, BURNING and CRAMPING PAINS. ERUPTIONS were other important symptoms
(4)
(3)
aching, pain < walking + < pressure + < standing
(2)
cramps (+ > pressure + on waking)
burning, pain (+ < draft + < standing)
tingling (+ extending downwards, + < tough, + < pressure) twitching, of (+ < left)
eruption, pustule, < touch, < pressure (+ boil)
(1)
heaviness, sensation, tired swelling of (+ < walking) stiffness < walking + < right (+ tight feeling)
(+ striking pain, left hip) trembling
eruption, dry
eruption, scales
(+ eruption, vesicles, herpetic)
SKIN
Various types of ERUPTIONS occurred (to prove Burnett’s point) ranging from SMALLPOX like to ITCHY SPOTS and to RINGWORM like and also INFLAMED RASHES – mostly ERUPTIONS were on ABDOMEN and LIMBS
(4) (3)
skin, itching < night, < morning, < scratching skin, eruptions, elevated
skin, eruptions, brownish
skin, eruptions, pocks
skin, eruptions, desquamating (+ < scratching) (+ skin, eruptions, extends downwards)
(2) (1)
skin, eruptions > hot + > cold + < undressing + < heat skin, dryness < morning, < bathing
hair, sensation of a
(+ skin, eruptions, moles)
(+ skin, eruptions, grief, from) (+ skin, eruptions, circinate)
PERSPIRATION
Few symptoms recorded even though FEVER was present for some provers
(4)
(3)
(2)
(1)
perspiration, profuse, axillae + between breasts + neck + soles perspiration, sleep during
perspiration, waking, on
TEMPERATURE
FEVER and CHILLS with a mainly DRY HEAT and often < NIGHT were the main symptoms
(4) (3)
fevers, night
fevers, afternoon chilliness, fever with fevers, dry heat
(2)
fever, weakness during (1)
fevers (+ < lying left side) fever, heat absent
fever, coldness, with external (+ fever, heaviness with)
SLEEP
SLEEPY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP, SLEEP DIFFICULT DUE TO NEGATIVE FEELINGS, SHORT SLEEP, SUDDEN SLEEPINESS and OVERPOWERING and DEEP SLEEP were all experienced – nearly every prover had some change to their sleep pattern
(4)
sleep, disturbed, easily
sleep, falling, difficult + with sleepiness + late, waking early, with
insomnia, restlessness, from + uneasiness, from (+ from confusion + negative feelings +
increased sensitivity) sleep, waking, frequent
(3)
sleep, waking, difficult
(2)
sleepiness, all day, from debility, with vertigo sleep, deep
sleep, short, catnaps, in
(1)
sleep, waking, anxiety, as from (+ feeling restless) sleep, waking early
sleepiness, morning + afternoon + after eating sleep, unrefreshing
insomnia, itching, from (sleep, restless, itching from) sleepiness, sudden
sleep, waking, pain, from
sleep, waking, >> general, on waking
sleep, talking, during sleep (+ sensation of) (+ sleep, waking, trembling, from)
(+ sleep, difficult due to heaviness of body)
GENERALS
The most pronounced symptoms were a general WEAKNESS, HEAVINESS, DESIRES AIR, <<< NIGHT and EARLY MORNING
(4)
weakness, acute diseases, during or after weakness, lying >> + sitting >>
evening <<<
morning <<<
heaviness, sensation
(3)
(2)
afternoon >>
air, cool >> + draft of air >>
(1)
weakness, restlessness, with weakness, afternoon
air, draft of air, cold <
electric shocks, sensations, touching anything (+ stroking cats)
DREAMS
I have not attempted to interpret dreams nor suggest appropriate rubrics for them, I am just recording the dreams as they occurred to each prover but I think it is clear to see connections previously suggested in the ‘musings’ regarding this remedy.
Dreams not remembered
Dreams of old friend and myself – gives a nice feeling
Dreams of being pursued and attacked
Dreamt that brother was in danger and had been trapped and imprisoned
Dreams of being trapped in a castle during medieval times while it was being laid siege by some menace – made me feel unsettled
Dreams of driving in a van and see a bird ripping apart a dead animal. A child in the van calls it a bald eagle
Dreams of disciplining the son of a friend (in a not very nice manner) because of terrible table manners – hope he doesn’t tell his mom
Dreams of a face made of translucent glass and a giant louse crawling over it which becomes arachnoid – then I squash it
Dreams of lying half asleep in bed at night but not in own home, the front door opens and a neighbour walks into bedroom. He has been wanting to have sex and I vaguely remember this but pretend to be asleep. I fall asleep again and awake to find him reading paper in no light. He’s wearing an old fashioned nightgown and cap and climbs into bed. Physical contact is wonderful and I can’t get enough of it. We have sex but it is not emotional. He says he has to get up early to check the electric wiring that are faulty in the attic
Dreams of conversations regarding the fragmentation going on in the world and what was happening to heal it – vivid and intense consciousness focussed on the unity of life on earth rather than beyond
Dreams during skin itching – each itch represents a link on a website but one where the html is not quite correct, if I can correct that then this will relieve the itch. But it doesn’t work and the itch returns
Dreams of typesetting and performing universal treatment on boundaries of graphics – expanding and merging into other elements
Dreams of losing the use of legs and had to drag self along with arms, thought I was awake during the dream and had to ask for help – I was at university and about to take a biology exam but I was late and unprepared so had to hurry (this dream occurred when the rash first appeared)
Dream of being at a sleepover with a friend and friend tells me about her sleep bra which she showed me, it is made of special material to help maintain shape. I made one instantly but had to hide this fact from my friend – felt guilty about this and pretended to want to buy one so we both walked through various store departments to find one
Dreams of trains - recurring
Dreams of someone offering tea and coffee and food but had to refuse because I was a prover (this dream became a reality at noon)
Dreams of being with relatives standing on a railway platform. The train arrived and we get on, relations sit at one place and I at another. My father and uncle are crying because they have lost a friend – they were on one train going in one direction and I was on another going in a different direction. I didn’t have a ticket so I was frightened and ran away to escape. I was being watched and had to hide so I wasn’t observed but another ticket checker arrived and I was caught, then I woke up needing water
Dreams of a colleague in a location who in reality does not live there. His mother was in the house. I go on a bike and pass other friends along a rail track and meet other friends on bikes, then ask friend how to get to location. I explained that new zones exist which require 3 or 4 trains to reach location. I leave station and go up to a terrace of a high rise building to see railway station and it’s name “Turke” – does it exist
Dreams of urinating (had actually done so) Dreams of defaecating and stools.
End of proving.
There is an excellent article regarding Erythrinus to accompany this proving by Wendy Howard and this can be read at the following link (if still available)
www.smeddum.net/articles/erythrinus.htm
Joy Lucas January, 2007
ERYTHRINUS (JL-P2)
Erythrinus is a fish and according to our Materia Medicas it is a kind of red mullet fish from south America.
The taxonomy is confusing. Mullets are part of the mugilidae family (ray finned fish) although there appears to be some disagreement about this as some place them also in either the perciforme or the atheriniforme family. Numerous species and classification further this confusion.
Red mullets are also known as goat fish, due to the barbel hanging from the chin that serves as a sensitive food finder and although research shows many references to Mediterranean red mullets, this remedy is specifically named as a south American variety. Due to this apparent confusion within the taxonomy it is probably best to stay within the Erythrinidae family and ignore all references to mullets. This means that the search can be confined to Erythrinus erythrinus, this again can be sub divided into various genera and species as well as a vast number of common names but eventually we get closer to where and from what this remedy evolved. Below are a couple of useful links.
filaman.ifm-geomar.de/summary/speciessummary.php?id=23282
www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v93/n2/full/6800511a.html
Burnett is the true source of the homeopathic use of this remedy (see further notes below) but it remains uncertain as to where he obtained the remedy or who made it up for him – somewhere, maybe, the original vials are still in existence.
The Erythrinus fish abides in lentic environments, i.e. still waters that have low levels of oxygen such as ponds, lakes, swamps – as opposed to lotic conditions that have running and moving water. The lentic system can be very shallow or very deep, exposed to light where shallow or devoid of light where deep. The depth will determine various regions that support biota – bacteria, invertebrates, vertebrates, fish etc, so there is plenty for the Erythrinus, which is classed as a carnivore that also eats insects.
HOMEOPATHIC PRESENTATION
As mentioned before Burnett provides us with what we know about the use of this remedy. He based his use of it on account of its effects on some sailors who ate the fish.
They came out with a peculiar red rash which became chronic, and which the doctors took for a form of syphilis. Dr Burnett cured with it a case of Pityriasis rubra appearing in a large patch on the chest, and benefited other cases. He believed this form of skin affection to be a manifestation of syphilis in the second generation, the father of the patient he cured having had syphilis. Aurum muriaticum (due to the apparent syphilitic taint) is the complementary remedy.
J. H. Clarke, Dictionary of practical Materia Medica - "A patient came to be treated for a maddening neuralgia, which he had picked up on the banks of the Nile. After being cured of his neuralgia, he showed me his chest which was the seat of a big patch of red pityriasis that he had for a number of years. The patch was composed of a series of smaller patches all more or less circular or segments of circles."
The tincture of the fish was used for making potencies.
Curiously, there appears to be no entries of Erythrinus under the Pityriasis rubrics in the book repertories (I referenced Boericke, Kent, Murphy) – this is strange as many of the unproved remedies do make an appearance in the repertories.
Grimmer, in his Collected Works, adds that Erythrinus is electro-magnetically negative (see ‘preamble and musings and the proving data notes below) and that it needs further proving as it might well be a remedy highly valuable in forms of chronic skin disease.
PREAMBLE AND MUSINGS
I imagine that the reference to Erythrinus being ‘a type of red mullet’ comes only from the fact that the fish is red and has a tendency to ‘behave’ like the mullets, i.e. preferring to hide in deep water that is low in oxygen and thus difficult to locate, but also being able to accommodate shallow waters, indicating an extraordinary adaptability.
So, red mullet or not – this from the roman philosopher Seneca the younger "There is nothing,' you say, 'more beautiful than a dying surmullet [mullo]. In the very struggle of its failing breath of life, first a red, then a pale tint suffuses it, and its scales change hue, and between life and death there is a gradation of colour into subtle shades. See how the red becomes inflamed, more brilliant than any vermilion! Look at the veins which pulse along its sides! Look! You would think its belly were actual blood! What a bright kind of blue gleamed right under its brow! Now it is stretching out and going pale and is settling into a uniform hue." Seneca, Natural Questions (III.18.1,4) also The Greek name for the fish is triglê, which Athenaeus surmised might derive from the fact that the red mullet was said to spawn three times a year (Aristotle, History of Animals, V.9, who goes on to recount that, when frightened, the mullet buries its head in the mud, thinking itself to be completely hidden, VIII.2), By analogy, the mullet was dedicated to Hecate, the goddess of crossroads who looks three ways (Athenaeus, VII.324d ff).
In a letter to Atticus, Cicero speaks of wealthy Romans feeding by hand "the bearded mullet in their fish ponds" ( II.1.7). But, says Columella, the mullet is difficult to maintain there, "since it is a very delicate kind of fish and most intolerant of captivity, and so only one or two out of many thousands can on rare occasions endure confinement" (VIII.17.7).
The mention of ‘crossroads’ is an interesting one vis the actual proving data as themes of separation came through quite strongly. The ‘crossroads’ that might be encountered within the essence of the Erythrinus symptom picture, from an emotional point of view at least, could be described as ‘confinement’ – sometimes described as ‘hiding’ (low level oxygen, not being able to move freely etc (there were several symptoms describing types of confusion as well as ‘either/or’ type symptoms, e.g. either depressed or elated, and also one prover deluded that she was being called – so a decision has to be made as to which direction to choose at the crossroads – deep or shallow?) and ‘endurance’ (the possible syphilitic taint that finally expresses itself as an eruption). The third point at the crossroads, if selected correctly, would lead to adaptability – one that this fish has attained, and one that is essential to the progression of life – disease being merely the inability to adapt.
For some, during the proving, this separation, alluded to by crossroads, was further enforced when trying NOT to be separated, a curious situation giving rise to grief, sadness and anger – thus effort and will power is vital to overcome – aspects that are seriously challenged within the syphilitic miasm.
Some may say that these musings, these peripherals to the actual proving data, are unnecessary but I tend to think that there is always a concurrent link between the symptoms derived from the proving and the ‘signature’ of the substance and all other curious but relevant factors that occur either through serendipity or from more purposeful issues. For example, what do we make of Grimmer’s point about Erythrinus being electro-magnetically negative?
One would have to be in tune with Grimmer’s ideas regarding ‘ethers’ to respect this. He says, “The life ether promotes the forces of the propagation of the species. Like the chemical ether it works along positive and negative poles, the forces which work along the positive pole of this ether are those which work in the female during gestation; they enable her to do the positive work of bringing forth a new being. On the other hand, the forces working along the negative pole enable the male to produce semen. In the work on the impregnated ovum of the animal and man, or upon the seed of the plant, the forces working along the positive pole of the life ether produce male plants, animals and men; while the forces which express themselves through the negative pole generate females.
Next is the light ether having positive and negative manifestations as have the other ethers. The forces which play along its positive pole are the forces which generate the blood heat in the higher species of animal and in man, which make them individual sources of heat. The forces which work along the negative pole of the light ether are those operating through the senses, manifesting as the passive functions of sight, hearing, feeling, tasting and smelling. They also build and nourish the eye. In the cold blooded animals the positive pole of the light ether is the avenue of the forces which circulate the blood, and the negative forces have the same functions in regard to the eye as in the case of the higher animals and man. Where eyes are lacking, the forces working in the negative pole of the light ether are perhaps building or nourishing other sense organs.”
So, if positive = flowing, then negative = cessation of flow and we know that the Erythrinus prefers still waters where the oxygen is low. This means the energy levels are also low, not moving much but hiding and lurking with carnivorous intent. Many provers mentioned feelings of negativity and intense heaviness. But you cannot have a negative without a positive. A negative polarity suggests low pressure zones, a particular type of atmospheric pressure, the end result being a tumultuous storm. Is this the hidden or deep seated eruption of Pityriasis rubra, the syphilitic taint that Burnett wrote about? Maybe there is much more that is deep seated about this remedy – after all, still waters run very deep indeed.
As an extra note regarding ‘energies’, one prover noticed a number of ‘low energy’ light bulbs were repeatedly ‘blowing’ and they were also susceptible to static electric shock sensations when stroking pets.
Nearly all the provers showed quite distinctive progress from the primary reaction to the secondary reaction to the remedy. As if to reinforce the syphilitic influence there were throat infections leading to eruptive states (some more pronounced than others). The three stages of the syphilitic state were not clear to see though, i.e. chancre, rash with fever, swollen glands etc, and finally organ or tissue damage (especially of the brain) leading to paralysis. But overall there was a distinctive passage from one stage to another, within the proving.
Relevant to the ‘hiding’ quality that seemed to run throughout the symptom picture is the lack of obvious information regarding this remedy. Here I am referring mainly to the confusing taxonomy, i.e. Erythrinus does not appear to be a type of red mullet at all and that it belongs to an order that has a rather large genera and species that all come within the Erythrininae order but also, more interestingly from a homeopathic point of view, it was really difficult obtaining reliable information about the history of the remedy from the pharmacies that supply it.
I was keen to find out how Burnett made up this remedy – did he do it himself, did a homeopathic pharmacy make it up for him (maybe in Edinburgh or London), do the original vials still exist, how did he obtain the fish, etc etc, but the pharmacies couldn’t provide any useful information.
Quite remarkably, one of the major pharmacies in Britain does not even supply Erythrinus. I think this is strange considering that it seems to be possible to purchase almost any potentised substance from all the pharmacies and yet Erythrinus has been in our Materia Medica for a long time.
I used two pharmacies for this proving and it turns out that one of them produces the remedies from pure magnetic code (hmm, this brings us neatly back to Grimmer’s electro-magnetic concepts) – some provers of this remedy unfortunately produced either very poor quality symptoms or absolutely none at all – is that to do with the essence of the remedy or the manufacture of the remedy, we don’t have the science to tell us. The other pharmacy admitted to not having their records in good order enough to say where the original substance was obtained – shame on them! Yet another pharmacy, not involved in the proving, informed me that their stock of Erythrinus dated back from original substance in 1975 but could go back further than that.
Also, one group of valuable provers had the misfortune to lose proving data due to a technical glitch, some of this was re-formatted but some was lost completely.
So there is a real ‘hiding’ of documentation, a reluctance to come forward from within the deep still waters and upward to the surface. Interesting as always.
As I wrote earlier most of the provers had a definite primary and then secondary set of symptoms. It was as if a low level acute state was trying to emerge initially and then either did assert itself as secondary symptoms or disappeared. One prover described this re-assertion as an ‘echo’ and I think this resonates nicely with the themes of hiding, confinement, separation and then an intense acute with eruption – suppression being released.
Finally, keeping in mind the relevance of the curing of the syphilitic taint that this remedy might possess, it should be mentioned that there is some reference to Erythrinus fish being called ‘wolf fish’ – wild card or not, the howling of the night time wolf, the darkness of the deep lentic waters, the <<< evening and night, the striking connection between throat and skin symptoms that evolved throughout the proving (a clear indication of the suppressed syphilitic miasm), the connection to Aurum muriaticum and the chronic syphilitic eruption, all serve the indications towards that miasm well.
How on earth was Burnett able to make all these connections with an unproved remedy – must be genius.
THE PROVING
The start date for this proving was set for March, 2006 but this too was difficult to pin down – supervisors were either unable to begin or provers were called away and it actually took months to begin and end, as opposed to what should have been a matter of weeks. It was intended that the proving be simultaneously carried out by all provers around the world but this was just not possible either.
The proving of Erythrinus took place in Australia, India, Scotland, Belgium and the USA.
Potencies = LM1, 6c, 12c, 30c, 200c, placebo There were 14 provers – male = 8, female = 6
Prover 1 = placebo (lost data) Prover 2 = LM1
Prover 3 = 6c (lost data) Prover 4 = 12c
Prover 5 = 30c (lost data)
Prover 6 = placebo (lost data)
Prover 7 = 12c (lost data)
Prover 8 = 30c
Prover 9 = 200c
Prover 10 = 30c
Prover 11 = 6c (produced no symptoms) Prover 12 = 30c (produced no symptoms) Prover 13 = 6c
Prover 14 = 12c
SYMPTOMS AND SUGGESTED RUBRICS
(where the suggested rubrics contain (+) this is to indicate that I could not find the appropriate rubric although this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t already exist). The number references 4, 3, 2, 1 are ranking for the symptoms, i.e. 4 = experienced by many provers, 3 = fewer provers experienced, 2 = less, 1 = only one or two provers experienced.
MIND
The main theme experienced was that of NEGATIVITY that took the form of ANXIOUS NERVOUSNESS; of being DISSATISFIED AND UNSETTLED; INDIFFERENT; VULNERABLE and HELPLESS; CONFUSED and INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE; WEEPING; feelings of GRIEF and to a certain extent some IRRITABILITY. The overall description of these feelings came through as being SEPARATED or DISCONNECTED, sometimes centering on the IDENTITY, NEGATIVE FEELINGS that cannot be identified (like the difficulty in accurately naming the fish); sometimes feeling SEPARATED FROM FRIENDS, sometimes WANTING TO BE SEPARATED and NOT COMMUNICATE, even ARGUING with people on purpose so as to form a distance/separation. As if to counter these feelings of negativity some provers experienced UNITY; ELATION; CALMNESS; SENSE OF WELL BEING; EXCITED AND HAPPY; FEELING ESPECIALLY FRESH AND HAPPY IN THE MORNING; LAUGHING; sense of AMUSEMENT with everything; DESIRING COMPANY; needing to be BUSY and enjoying the distraction.
As if caught between the NEGATIVE and the POSITIVE some provers wrote about a sense of things being WRONG; as if a CHANGE IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN;
A number of provers also described a peculiar sense of TIME DISTORTION – SENSATION AS IF AHEAD OF TIME; SENSATION AS IF LOSING TRACK OF TIME; chores taking a long time and getting very behind in work duties; also a sense of not having done something that should have been done; making PLANS for the future.
Part of the theme of SEPARATION involved a DWELLING ON SEXUAL MATTERS (as if to connect with another) and feeling uncomfortable with opposite gender energy, FEELING OF HAVING NO WILL IN MALE PRESENCE; AVERSION TO MEN; of being MASSIVELY PREGNANT WITH THE WHOLE EARTH; HEARS A MAN CALLING HER BUT NO-ONE THERE; and an over emphasis on relationships in general. (see also ‘dreams’ section).
Modalities = nearly always <<< evening and night; < throughout the day; >>> morning; >> being busy; weeping >>.
(4)
separated, feels as if delusion separated from the world estranged
confusion as to his identity + confusion, afternoon (+ >> talking to someone) + makes
mistakes + writing, while + talking, while + daily affairs anxiety about the future
anxiety < night
wrong, everything seems anticipation
company, aversion to + crying, with busy
work >> from work or diversion time, perception, loss of
delusion time passes too quickly
time, wastes away his
discontented
indifference + boredom + with aversion to work + to duties + ( + >> being busy + showing emotions)
crying + alone + ameliorates + evening + causeless delusion, someone calls him
(3)
sensitive + to trifles + to rudeness positiveness
taciturn
concentration difficult
calmness
critical with close friends
contented (+ > morning)
excitement, in company + afternoon
laziness + work + evening
depression + evening + friends, as if having lost affection of + anxious + diverted from
thoughts of himself, desires to be + from disappointment concentration difficult
irritability + remorse, with quick and easy (+ sudden) + sleep, during + anxiety, with + easily + disturbed, when + consolation aggravates + trifles,
grief + silent + hurt, from feelings
longing, good opinion of others, for opinions, expects others to pay respect to her
(2)
aversion to certain persons
company, avoids the sight of people
elated state of mind
delusion, fancies he has done wrong
anxiety for others
indecision
anxiety about salvation + crying ameliorates memory, weakness
forgotten, something, feels constantly as if he had guilt
fear, observed, of her condition being
(1)
will, loss of + weakness
delusion, thinks everything changed
delusion pregnant
talking, excessively, evening
aversion, men
impulsive
control, lack of emotional
alternating, mental and physical sx
exertion, mental aggravates, weakness from
dwells, sexual matters, on + disappointments + grief from past offences anxiety about the future
suspicious
betrayed, delusion she is
hopeless feelings
responsibility, aversion to + over responsible
plans, making many
recognise, does not, his relatives (friend)
delusion, alone, world that she is alone in the
egotistical (+ when talking with friend)
HEAD
The main sensation experienced was that of HEAVINESS with some NUMBNESS and TINGLING. The pain was usually described as being DULL or ACHING and sometimes THROBBING and most often felt in the TEMPORAL REGION. VERTIGO was often present.
(4)
heaviness, sensation + << 1 pm (afternoon) + << evening + << morning after rising (+ > eating)
pain, temples + extending to forehead
pain, dull, temples + << evening
vertigo << looking down + << on rising + << standing + >> lying down vertigo as if swinging
(3)
pain, after sleep >> vertigo with weakness vertigo with reeling
(2)
constriction
numbness
tingling, vertex (+ extending downwards to neck and fingertips) pulsating
throbbing
vertigo, during headaches
waves of pain
headache left to right
hair, falling
dandruff
itching
(1)
(+ pain, temples, sudden) pain, << stooping
pain, << laughing
pain, << sun
pain, << heat
pain, >> pressure
pain, >> cold room
(pain in head same time as pain in legs)
(+ vertigo >> stretching + >> leaning back) (+ vertigo >> being busy)
FACE
Few symptoms were recorded and those that were seemed linked to other symptoms such as ERUPTIONS (skin) and a sense of PRESSURE (headaches)
(4) (3) (2)
oily (< in morning)
eruption, pustule (below right eye) eruption, pimple, chin
pressing, pain
stinging, pain (< touch)
(1)
discolouration, dark, eyes, around
EYES
The HEAVINESS of the head symptoms was mimicked here but the main other sensation was that of BURNING and some LACHRYMATION
(4)
burning + < left eye + < air (fanning)
heaviness, sensation + < morning + < using the eyes lachrymation + < morning
(3) (2)
close, desire to
vision, hazy (+ >> closing eyes)
(1)
aching (+ <left to right) inflammation (+ < sun) discharge, white
EARS
Few symptoms recorded but were mainly related to ERUPTIONS
(4)
(3)
(2)
eruption, boils (+ small, right ear < right ear) eruptions (+ macular) lobes, on
pain, left
pain, sore
pain, aching, left stopped
(1)
NOSE
Many of the symptoms developed through the acute phase so there was a lot of SNEEZING, OBSTRUCTION and MUCOUS
(4)
sneezing + on waking + frequent + from irritation, in larynx
obstructed + left side + < night + < air right side + > motion + alternating sides +
alternates with discharge
discharge, thick + clear + white + yellow + thin + watery + bloody
(3) (2)
sore, pain, inside, left dryness, inside, left
(1)
blow, compelled to eruptions, around (+ left) smell, sensitive to odours
MOUTH
DRYNESS was the most important symptom and also some bad tastes that you might expect with an ongoing acute phase
(4) (3) (2)
dryness, lips (+ not >> wetting them) dryness, mouth
dryness, tongue
cracked, lips
discolouration, tongue, creamy + cracked, centre taste, bitter + metallic + bad
(1)
salivation, increased
pain, palate (+ < swallowing)
pain, jaw, (+ > pressure)
tongue, pustules, stinging (+ < touch)
THROAT
This was one of the most concentrated areas of expression for the acute phase that resembled Tonsillitis. Typically there was PAIN, BURNING, DRYNESS, SWELLING, INFLAMMATION, MUCOUS, CONSTRICTION
(4)
inflammation + left + tonsils + on waking swelling, tonsils, left
vesicles, tonsils (+ left)
pain, warmth in general >> + warm drinks >> burning, pain + cold drinks >>
(3)
constriction, throat pit
mucous, in throat + saltish + white + sensation of + post nasal + gelatinous + green
(2)
pain, extending to ear (+ left) + << swallowing lump, sensation in, on swallowing
glands swollen
hawk, disposition to, ineffectual
dryness + drinking does not >> + night (1)
pain, (+ >> expectoration)
(+ inflammation, left then right)
pain, warm drinks <<
burning, pain, << on lying down
foreign object in, sensation of
choking
swollen sensation (+ during sleep that will prevent breathing)
voice, changeable (+ when throat is sore)
ABDOMEN/INTESTINES
Highest ranking symptom was that of FLATULENCE and some NOISES and PAIN
(4)
flatus + before stool + after stool rumbling + stool >>
gurgling, in
pain, flatulence, with
(3) (2)
heaviness, sensation, as from a load, flatus >> cramping, pain (+ left side)
(1)
burning (+ with nausea) bubbling sensation
pain, sides, walking while twitching and jerking, of pain, eating during
pain, anxiety, causing pain, extending, back to
CHEST
Various types of PAIN were recorded and some mild ERUPTIONS
(4)
(3)
(2)
pain, breathing, on deep
pain, sides, left + alternating sides pain, ribs (+ < left) (+ left and right) pain, hands on chest >>, placing
pain, expectoration >> dull, pain in sternum sticking, pain (+ < left)
(1)
rash, red, itching (+ left axilla + < scratching) pain, (+ extending inward)
stabbing, pain (+ < left)
pain, motion <<
HEART
Few symptoms were noticed
(4)
(3)
(2)
(1)
palpitation, anxiety (+ weeping >>)
stopped, beating, as if heart had
crampy, pain in (+ < lying on back, >> being still)
RESPIRATION
Low levels of oxygen were experienced, just like the Erythrinus environment, a SUFFOCATIVE feeling with a need to BREATHE DEEPLY as well as a sensation as if the CHEST could not EXPAND. This led to a DRY COUGH but with some EXPECTORATION of various types
(4)
cough, dry + < evening
breathing, catching, respiration
breathing, deep, desire to breathe
breathing, deep, cannot get enough breath
breathing, impeded, obstructed
breathing, suffocative + air >> + < heat + < morning
(3)
(2)
expectoration, frothy + white + green + sour + lumpy
(1)
breathing, deep <<
BACK
WEAKNESS with some PAIN in various parts were recorded
(4)
(3)
(2)
aching, scapula, left (+ with tingling left hand) aching, scapula, right
pain, weakness, with
(1)
burning, scapula (+ < sun, < turning head) pain, waking, on (+ left side)
pain, menses >>
STOMACH
Nearly all provers experienced a LOSS OF APPETITE ALTERNING WITH SUDDEN EXTREME HUNGER, THIRST or NO THIRST. The main desires were SWEET, SPICE, SALT, COLD DRINKS
(4)
appetite, loss of (+ followed by hunger) appetite, loss of, with hunger
appetite, increased, sudden
thirst, cold water
thirst, extreme
(3)
nausea, mucous, in chest, from belching, sour + empty burning, morning
nausea, evening + sudden heartburn
(2)
appetite, increased, during fever
appetite, increased, forenoon
desires ice + buttermilk + sodas + sweet + salt + spicy
(1)
appetite, increased, afternoon + evening + on waking
thirst (+before sleep)
appetite increased + ravenous (+ fear of overeating, has to control it) desires warm food
gurgling, sensation (+ as if diarrhoea starting)
pulsation
RECTUM
Few symptoms recorded and were mainly concerning SOFT, LOOSE STOOLS with some FREQUENCY
(4) (3) (2)
stool, soft
stool, acrid
stool, frequent
flatus, offensive (+ frequent)
(1)
stool, hard + scanty urging, on waking urging, ineffectual constriction, during stool burning, stool, after
BLADDER/URINE
The few symptoms recorded indicated some connection with the acute phase such as BURNING, CYSTITIS, LOW OUTPUT, DISCOLOURATION
(4) (3)
urination, frequent, night
urination frequent, during menses
urine, dark + cloudy + dark + greenish + frothy
(2)
urine scanty
bladder, pain < movement, < evening, > urinating
(1)
urine, odour, strong
urination, involuntary, night + enuresis
FEMALE
MENSES LATE and EARLY as well as all symptoms << and >> AFTER MENSES were the main recorded symptoms. Curiously one prover had menses SMELL LIKE ROTTING FISH.
(4) (3)
menses early, + late
sexual enjoyment, increased menses <<<
menses >>>
(2)
(1)
menses, intermittent + profuse + scanty menses, offensive, like spoiled fish menses dark (+ excoriate)
leucorrhea, afternoon + evening + white itching, vulva
MALE
Few symptoms recorded except for an INCREASE IN SEXUAL DESIRE
(4)
(3)
(2)
(1)
sexual enjoyment, increased
LIMBS
MUSCLES were the main area where symptoms were produced such as ACHING, BURNING and CRAMPING PAINS. ERUPTIONS were other important symptoms
(4)
(3)
aching, pain < walking + < pressure + < standing
(2)
cramps (+ > pressure + on waking)
burning, pain (+ < draft + < standing)
tingling (+ extending downwards, + < tough, + < pressure) twitching, of (+ < left)
eruption, pustule, < touch, < pressure (+ boil)
(1)
heaviness, sensation, tired swelling of (+ < walking) stiffness < walking + < right (+ tight feeling)
(+ striking pain, left hip) trembling
eruption, dry
eruption, scales
(+ eruption, vesicles, herpetic)
SKIN
Various types of ERUPTIONS occurred (to prove Burnett’s point) ranging from SMALLPOX like to ITCHY SPOTS and to RINGWORM like and also INFLAMED RASHES – mostly ERUPTIONS were on ABDOMEN and LIMBS
(4) (3)
skin, itching < night, < morning, < scratching skin, eruptions, elevated
skin, eruptions, brownish
skin, eruptions, pocks
skin, eruptions, desquamating (+ < scratching) (+ skin, eruptions, extends downwards)
(2) (1)
skin, eruptions > hot + > cold + < undressing + < heat skin, dryness < morning, < bathing
hair, sensation of a
(+ skin, eruptions, moles)
(+ skin, eruptions, grief, from) (+ skin, eruptions, circinate)
PERSPIRATION
Few symptoms recorded even though FEVER was present for some provers
(4)
(3)
(2)
(1)
perspiration, profuse, axillae + between breasts + neck + soles perspiration, sleep during
perspiration, waking, on
TEMPERATURE
FEVER and CHILLS with a mainly DRY HEAT and often < NIGHT were the main symptoms
(4) (3)
fevers, night
fevers, afternoon chilliness, fever with fevers, dry heat
(2)
fever, weakness during (1)
fevers (+ < lying left side) fever, heat absent
fever, coldness, with external (+ fever, heaviness with)
SLEEP
SLEEPY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP, SLEEP DIFFICULT DUE TO NEGATIVE FEELINGS, SHORT SLEEP, SUDDEN SLEEPINESS and OVERPOWERING and DEEP SLEEP were all experienced – nearly every prover had some change to their sleep pattern
(4)
sleep, disturbed, easily
sleep, falling, difficult + with sleepiness + late, waking early, with
insomnia, restlessness, from + uneasiness, from (+ from confusion + negative feelings +
increased sensitivity) sleep, waking, frequent
(3)
sleep, waking, difficult
(2)
sleepiness, all day, from debility, with vertigo sleep, deep
sleep, short, catnaps, in
(1)
sleep, waking, anxiety, as from (+ feeling restless) sleep, waking early
sleepiness, morning + afternoon + after eating sleep, unrefreshing
insomnia, itching, from (sleep, restless, itching from) sleepiness, sudden
sleep, waking, pain, from
sleep, waking, >> general, on waking
sleep, talking, during sleep (+ sensation of) (+ sleep, waking, trembling, from)
(+ sleep, difficult due to heaviness of body)
GENERALS
The most pronounced symptoms were a general WEAKNESS, HEAVINESS, DESIRES AIR, <<< NIGHT and EARLY MORNING
(4)
weakness, acute diseases, during or after weakness, lying >> + sitting >>
evening <<<
morning <<<
heaviness, sensation
(3)
(2)
afternoon >>
air, cool >> + draft of air >>
(1)
weakness, restlessness, with weakness, afternoon
air, draft of air, cold <
electric shocks, sensations, touching anything (+ stroking cats)
DREAMS
I have not attempted to interpret dreams nor suggest appropriate rubrics for them, I am just recording the dreams as they occurred to each prover but I think it is clear to see connections previously suggested in the ‘musings’ regarding this remedy.
Dreams not remembered
Dreams of old friend and myself – gives a nice feeling
Dreams of being pursued and attacked
Dreamt that brother was in danger and had been trapped and imprisoned
Dreams of being trapped in a castle during medieval times while it was being laid siege by some menace – made me feel unsettled
Dreams of driving in a van and see a bird ripping apart a dead animal. A child in the van calls it a bald eagle
Dreams of disciplining the son of a friend (in a not very nice manner) because of terrible table manners – hope he doesn’t tell his mom
Dreams of a face made of translucent glass and a giant louse crawling over it which becomes arachnoid – then I squash it
Dreams of lying half asleep in bed at night but not in own home, the front door opens and a neighbour walks into bedroom. He has been wanting to have sex and I vaguely remember this but pretend to be asleep. I fall asleep again and awake to find him reading paper in no light. He’s wearing an old fashioned nightgown and cap and climbs into bed. Physical contact is wonderful and I can’t get enough of it. We have sex but it is not emotional. He says he has to get up early to check the electric wiring that are faulty in the attic
Dreams of conversations regarding the fragmentation going on in the world and what was happening to heal it – vivid and intense consciousness focussed on the unity of life on earth rather than beyond
Dreams during skin itching – each itch represents a link on a website but one where the html is not quite correct, if I can correct that then this will relieve the itch. But it doesn’t work and the itch returns
Dreams of typesetting and performing universal treatment on boundaries of graphics – expanding and merging into other elements
Dreams of losing the use of legs and had to drag self along with arms, thought I was awake during the dream and had to ask for help – I was at university and about to take a biology exam but I was late and unprepared so had to hurry (this dream occurred when the rash first appeared)
Dream of being at a sleepover with a friend and friend tells me about her sleep bra which she showed me, it is made of special material to help maintain shape. I made one instantly but had to hide this fact from my friend – felt guilty about this and pretended to want to buy one so we both walked through various store departments to find one
Dreams of trains - recurring
Dreams of someone offering tea and coffee and food but had to refuse because I was a prover (this dream became a reality at noon)
Dreams of being with relatives standing on a railway platform. The train arrived and we get on, relations sit at one place and I at another. My father and uncle are crying because they have lost a friend – they were on one train going in one direction and I was on another going in a different direction. I didn’t have a ticket so I was frightened and ran away to escape. I was being watched and had to hide so I wasn’t observed but another ticket checker arrived and I was caught, then I woke up needing water
Dreams of a colleague in a location who in reality does not live there. His mother was in the house. I go on a bike and pass other friends along a rail track and meet other friends on bikes, then ask friend how to get to location. I explained that new zones exist which require 3 or 4 trains to reach location. I leave station and go up to a terrace of a high rise building to see railway station and it’s name “Turke” – does it exist
Dreams of urinating (had actually done so) Dreams of defaecating and stools.
End of proving.
There is an excellent article regarding Erythrinus to accompany this proving by Wendy Howard and this can be read at the following link (if still available)
www.smeddum.net/articles/erythrinus.htm
Joy Lucas January, 2007