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Editorial: the inner beauty of the Lanthanidesby Deborah Collins

In November 2005, Jan Scholten published the first edition of Secret Lanthanides. For those who have been making use of his findings on the periodic table in homeopathy, gaining understanding of the Lanthanides in practice has been a logical and welcome step, bringing into use many elements that have previously not even been considered as remedies. It is, in fact, very timely for these elements have a broad use in modern technology, such as lasers, optic devices, and colour television. Accordingly, it seems fitting that they are now used as remedies. In a short time, they have become indispensible in the treatment of auto-immune diseases; those illnesses which have so often been outside the reach of our homeopathic aid. Similar to the discovery of the Lanthanides themselves, which were hidden away behind other elements, those patients needing a Lanthanide remedy have a rather hidden quality. Their inner life takes precedence over their outer life, and they tend to fight their own shadow rather than projecting it onto the outer world. They are discovering and developing their autonomy, or, as is the case in the remedies more to the right of the periodic table, they are relinquishing their autonomy. This inner wrestling can be part of auto-immune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematodes. One can also apply it to psychological auto-immunity such as self-mutilation. In a short time, these remedies have become indispensible in the practices of many homeopaths, who have found a means to treat previously intractable conditions. As Jan writes in his article “10 years of Lanthanides”, these remedies are in fact highly useful for many homeopaths themselves, since homeopaths often have many typical Lanthanide qualities: self-reflection, inner searching, and an aversion to external compulsion.

We will probably find, as time goes on, that many patients treated with some success with our more well-known remedies, such as Phosphorus or Sulphur, will in fact have highly curative results if the remedy is tuned more exactly to the patient. The understanding of the periodic table as a whole has facilitated a greater ease in the fine-tuning of remedies, providing us with ways to utilise more aspects of the patient, such

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as the family background, hobbies, and spiritual inclination. Knowing the stages of the periodic table are imperative for finding a correct Lanthanide, as this is probably the most effective way of differentiating these remedies. Another excellent book for understanding the various stages, and which perfectly complements Jan's Secret Lanthanides, is Ulrich Welte’s The Periodic Table in Homeopathy; The Silver Series (2010, Narayana Verlag).

The beautiful results from the Lanthanides make it tempting to apply them in all cases of auto-immune illness or to all alternative therapists, such as homeopaths. As Jan Scholten points out, though, lanthanides are also strongly present in plant remedies such as the Asteraceae (the daisy family, of which Arnica is a member). Here, too, we see the lanthanide qualities of “sending the doctor away” and wanting to do things in one’s own way. It remains therefore crucial to avoid knee-jerk reactions that might send us towards a Lanthanide remedy, merely because the patient has an auto-immune disease, or has a spiritual inclination. We also need to ascertain what their particular form of “stuckness” is and whether or not they actually need a remedy from the mineral kingdom. During an initial case-taking, one can sometimes pick up hints of a lanthanide quality and yet, find that it is only applicable as a remedy later in the treatment.

Despite the great increase in curative possibilities and the excellent results, some homeopaths are reluctant to make use of the Lanthanides, claiming that they have not undergone traditional provings. Others ask: “Why do we need more remedies when we don’t sufficiently know the ones we already have?” Unfortunately, we homeopaths have not been consistently successful in large areas of our practices, such as in auto-immune illness, which in fact necessitates an ongoing development of our science. Understanding and applying the inherent logic of nature makes it possible to prescribe even unknown remedies based on their position within a particular kingdom; that which is known for some members of a particular group can be extrapolated and adjusted to lesser-known members. Jan Scholten's work not only increases our therapeutic capacities, it also presents us with the possibility to come closer to the awe-inspiring principles of creation and follow the path opened by Hahnemann for the betterment of all and of our world.

Jan Scholten offers us two articles on the Lanthanides. The first article describes Lanthanide qualities as such and how they are so often seen in homeopaths. He calls it “homeopathy’s gift to homeopaths”, who have so often felt that they can heal their patients but that homeopathy does not work for themselves. In the second article, he highlights the use of one Lanthanide salts, Neodymium sulphuricum, pointing out its usefulness especially in women who are struggling to find their autonomy within their relationship: “a feminist remedy”. He gives us ten case examples of situations where Neodymium sulphuricum has proved effective, so that we get a good feel for the remedy and its application. A broad spectrum of cases is provided by several homeopaths who have extensive experience with the Lanthanides: Ulrich Welte, Ramon Frendo, Patricia LeRoux, Alex Leupen, Irina Shilova, Marie-Luc Fayeton, and Marguerite Pelt. One can also browse through back issues of Interhomeopathy to find more examples of Lanthanide prescriptions.

We hope this issue will inspire those of you who are already making use of these remedies, to deepen your knowledge of them and, hopefully, to send us some of your successful cases! We also hope that those of you who have not yet looked into these amazing remedies may be tempted to study and discover their ever increasing significance in the world of today.

Categories: Editorials Keywords: Lanthanides Remedies:

Lanthanides: homeopaths as patientsby Jan Scholten

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About 10 years ago, I started experimenting with the Lanthanides. It took five years to develop the picture of the Lanthanides to such a level that it could be published in a book, "Secret Lanthanides". Since that time there has been a lot of experience with the Lanthanides and many cases have been published, for instance in this journal, Interhomeopathy. The Lanthanides have become such an important part of homeopathic practice that I often wonder how I could have done without them in the past. In fact, we cannot do without them because they are essentially different from all the other elements in the Periodic Table. At first, I mostly used them in old, stubborn, unsolved cases but these days, they are very often prescibed as a first remedy.

Besides the fact that they have become invaluable, it is also the beauty of the pictures of the Lanthanides that makes them very attractive. One could say that the Lanthanides bring us as homeopaths back to ourselves. It is the quality of reflection of the Lanthanides that is also found in the homeopathic practice.

In this article, I will discuss the picture of the Lanthanides as a whole by showing the state homeopaths in general; the qualities needed to become a homeopath can be found in the Lanthanides.

ServingThe first motivation to become a homeopath is the desire to help people. They want to make people better, healthier, and happier. This is a serving quality, the desire to serve people and humanity. It is not only a desire to help specific people but people in general, and even to make humanity better, as a whole. This aspect is very strong in the Gold series, of which the Lanthanides are part.

UnderstandingA second motive is the desire to understand health and disease. They want to understand themselves, their body, psyche, and soul. By seeing how disease and cure work in patients day after day, they get an understanding of how it works in themselves. This is not only rational understanding but a very practical and emotional understanding.

Aversion to doctorsHomeopaths often have an aversion to conventional medicine and doctors. This aversion to doctors is known for certain remedies like Arnica. In Arnica, we see the symptom “he says he is well and sends the doctor away.” This attitude is a Lanthanide attitude. The Asteraceae, of which Arnica is a member, have a high content of Lanthanides and have the picture of the Lanthanides as part of their own picture. A strong motivation to become a homeopath is that one can treat oneself and is not dependent on conventional medicine anymore.

FreedomThis aversion to conventional medicine is strongly connected to an aversion to be taken over. Homeopaths and Lanthanides want to be their own boss, they want to decide for

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themselves and they do not want to be dominated. That is just what conventional medicine does, it takes you over. Doctors have a tendency to dominate patients and to overstep their boundaries. They fill patients with pills, give them injections and vaccinations, and in the most extreme form put their patients under narcosis and operate on them. The will of the patient is then completely lost. This tendency to dominate is also seen in the way doctors often behave, as if they know better than the patient: they tend to decide for the patient rather than giving advice.

Homeopaths want to decide for themselves and do not want to be dominated or taken over. For the Lanthanides, freedom is a central word. It can be expressed in many ways: a word that is often used is ‘own’. They want to go their own way, they want to live their own lives, they want to do it their own way. And, of course, the opposite words are also very important: they do not want to be dominated, dictated to, told what to do or be limited by others.

Inner worldAnother factor that contributes to this attitude is that homeopaths have a kind of knowing of their inner world. They have an intuitive understanding that diseases are coming from the inside and not from the outside. This in contrast with conventional medicine and doctors, where the cause of disease is seen as something coming from the outside world; they fight against external causes like bacteria, viruses and fungi. But when the cause is in the inner world then this fight with external causes is a useless and detrimental action. So there is a conflict of philosophy between homeopathy and conventional medicine. There is a tendency to go inside instead of acting in the outside world.

SecretAn important word in the Lanthanides is secret. This is connected to the former theme of the inner world. The inner world is a secret world and from ancient times, groups that were busy with the inner world and tried to develop that were seen as secret societies, such as the Rosicrucians and Freemasons. The homeopathic movement as a whole is not a secret movement as such, but it is on the side-lines of society. It is not mainstream and is often completely misunderstood, so it has some secret aspects. In some countries, homoeopathy has been forbidden even to this day, and thus has become underground and secret.

PhilosophyWe also see a strong desire for philosophy in homeopaths. This is also a strong aspect of Lanthanides. It is connected to the desire to understand. The understanding is not limited to a technical understanding but has to do with the understanding of oneself, the world, the universe, and the essence of it all. It goes into the depth of life; it is the desire to understand what life is about, where it is coming from and where it is going to.

DeepThis is connected to another word that is frequently used, the word ‘deep’. There is a

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desire to understand things in the depth and not only superficially. It is the depth that we can find in philosophy and religion, albeit not in superficial forms of religion: it is more a spiritual experience of life. It is often seen in homeopaths and it is an integral aspect of the Lanthanides. Patients who need Lanthanides often use the word ‘deep’. Their pains are deeply located, the experiences are very deep.

PostscriptLooking back at the development of the Lanthanides over the last 10 years, one can see a tremendous expansion of the cases and knowledge. It fills me with great gratitude to have these remedies available in my practice. There are many cases for which the Lanthanides have given marvellous cures and for which I would not have been able to do much without them.

There is such a random beauty in the pictures of the Lanthanides. They are often so akin to the state of those who have chosen to be homeopaths. In the beginning of my practice, we homeopaths often commented about the contradiction between the success we had with our patients and the poor success rate when it came to treating ourselves: we joked that homeopaths were incurable! The Lanthanides have changed this situation and there is now much more that can be done for homeopaths themselves. It is as if homoeopathy is giving something back to homeopaths.

Photos: Wikimedia CommonsGnothi seauton (Know thyself); MladifilozofFalun Dafa, fifth exercise; source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14871980@N05/2482099283/in/set-72157605013738654

Categories: General Keywords: Lanthanides, homeopaths Remedies:

Neodymium sulphuricum in 10 casesby Jan Scholten

In this article, Neodymium sulphuricum will be discussed as an example of one of the Lanthanides. This remedy is frequently needed in our culture. Neodymium as such is the most prescribed Lanthanide in our practice. This has to do with the fact that our culture demands that people prove themselves. Situations are stressful, work has to be done fast, and people are frequently subjected to new challenges. The idea of calmly doing your job for many years has become a rarity. These qualities of ‘challenge’ and ‘proving’ are found in stage 6, where we find the Lanthanide, Neodymium. Neodymium sulphuricum is often indicated for women. In our present culture, women are gaining their freedom but many of them still have to fight for it in their intimate relationships. This is one of the basic themes of Neodymium sulphuricum: they have to prove their autonomy in marriage, they have to fight for their freedom in relationships. The remedy is really a remedy for the women’s liberation movement. The following 10 cases show different aspects of Neodymium sulphuricum. In many of them, we will see the theme of women fighting for their autonomy and independence, in marriage and love affairs.

Case 1Woman, 40, premenstrual syndrome. She is depressed and needs support to maintain her trust in love and relationship. She is irritable towards her children before the menses. She is a homeopath, having chosen this profession because of the holistic and individualistic aspects of homeopathy. She

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has been divorced, leaving the marriage as she felt limited and narrowed down. Independence, freedom, self-reliance, and making her own decisions are very important for her; it is necessary for her to make a connection with herself, to know who she is.

In this case, we see the theme of fighting (Stage 6) for her freedom and against limitation (Lanthanides) in her marriage (Sulphur). The Lanthanide themes are also found in being a homeopath, holistic, individual aspects, and the need for independence and freedom.

Case 2 Woman, 20, diarrhea.She easily has diarrhea, < stress, < sauerkraut, fish, tomato. She has acne on her face and back. She has vaginitis, burning pain. She has amenorrhea, < after using contraceptives for a while. She likes adventures and challenges. She is an artist, studying at an academy. She has an aversion to being forced; she wants to go her own way. She has had a boyfriend but she stopped the relationship because he was pushing her too much. She had very good contact with her father but her mother was jealous of this relationship.

The Lanthanide theme is seen here in the desire to go her own way and to not be forced. The theme of being forced was triggered by her boyfriend, which indicates Sulphur. Stage 6 can be seen in her desire for adventures and challenges. The burning pain, the acne and diarrhea confirm Sulphur. The amenorrhea from contraceptives and a hormonal imbalance, confirm the Lanthanides.

Case 3 Woman, 30, amenorrhea. She has amenorrhea, < after contraceptives, and she is anxious about being infertile. She has a bit of anorexia and is very controlling with food. She has a fear of becoming obese and unattractive. She has stomach pains and rumbling, < evening, < lying. She has had a boyfriend but stopped the relationship because he became too dependent on her. She has an anxiety to commit herself, fearing that she will miss her freedom. She is apprehensive of starting another relationship, for fear that it will go wrong again, but she wants to prove that it can be successful. Her parents had a difficult relationship and she felt their tensions.

The aversion to committing herself or losing her freedom points to the Lanthanides. It is connected with boyfriends and partners, which indicates Sulphur. The desire to prove that it will still work is an indication for Stage 6. Hormonal problems, such as amenorrhea in this case, are also an aspect of the Lanthanides. The anorexia is also an aspect of Lanthanides: it is the desire for control, an obsessive compulsive disorder.

Case 4 Man, 40, arthritis. He has arthritis of his shoulders, wrists, hands, metacarpal and proximal inter-digital joints, < tired, < stress, < exertion, <<< after a hepatitis B vaccination. He works as a nurse and likes to work independently. As a student he wanted to prove himself. He likes to keep everything under control. In his marriage, he has ups and downs, he often feels hurt and powerless. After Neodymium sulphuricum, he sees his wife in a new light, with gratitude, and they have a few weekends with a lot of talks and emotions and weeping, which clarifies things between them.

Stage 6 is obvious in his desire to prove himself. Three previously prescribed Neodymium were palliating but not curative. The Lanthanides are indicated by the arthritis, which in 70% of cases is auto-immune. It can also be seen in his desire to work independently and his desire to keep things under control.In this case, I struggled a long time to get the right remedy. I gave him Neodymium nitricum, Neodymium oxydatum, Neodymium fluoratum, Praseodymium fluoratum and Samarium fluoratum, all with palliative effects. It is only when he spoke about his marriage problems more clearly that the sulphuricum aspect became evident – previously he spoke in a casual way about his marriage situation.

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Case 5 Woman, 30, ankylosing spondylosis. She has pains in her hips, sacroiliac joints, and dorsal region; a feeling of cramps and stabbing as from knives, as if overexerted, < citrus fruits, < turning in bed. The spondilitis started after an unhappy love affair: she was very much in love but her partner was not, and he had other affairs. She continued the relationship despite the advice of all her friends. She felt closed in, standing stiff with her arms along her body; she could not express herself for fear he would not like her anymore.

The ankylosing spondilosis, as an auto-immune disease, is an indication for Lanthanides. The disease started after an unhappy love affair, indicating Sulphur. The way she handled the situation was like a forcing: even when he clearly was not in love and had other affairs, she still tried to keep the relation going. This ‘forcing’ aspect is typical of Stage 6.

Case 6 Woman, 40, polymyalgia rheumatica. She has pains in her thighs, lumbar region, sides, and arms, < turning in bed, < walking, unable to do anything. She has arthritis of her hands, metacarpal and proximal interdigital joints. She is tired; she wakes at 5 a.m. tired, << from having worked too hard for many years in healing massage. She is divorced because she is a lesbian; for many years she wanted to prove with her marriage that she was ‘normal’. She wanted to be independent, to have her own practice and be autonomous but she could hardly relax.

The polymyalgia rheumatica, as an auto-immune disease, is an indication for Lanthanides. For many years, she tried to prove that she was ‘normal’ by being married. Proving oneself is Stage 6; in the marriage, indicates the Sulphur aspect. The desire to be independent and autonomously is typical for Lanthanides, as is her work in healing massage. Waking at 5 a.m. fits Sulphur.

Case 7 Man, 25, psoriasis. He has psoriasis – itching and scaling on his elbows, ear, eyebrows, and head; it is annoying. It started after a party weekend with lots of alcohol and unsafe sex. He is always looking for challenges, putting himself to the test. He is doing things for the greater cause, starting companies to make the world better. When he was 6 years old, his parents moved and he felt homeless. He was bullied until he hit the biggest of the bullies; since that time, he feels bound by nothing. He likes to be seen as social and warm, and he likes to help people. His parents divorced when he was 13; the children were all that held the marriage together.

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He is always looking for challenges, putting himself to the test, which is Stage 6. He is doing things for the greater cause, to make the world better: a Gold series and Lanthanides quality. Since he was 6 years old, he feels bound by nothing, again a Lanthanides theme, but he still wants to be seen as social and warm, which indicates Sulphur.

Case 8 Woman, 40, ulcerative colitis. She has colitis with thin, bloody stools, < alcohol, < rich food and cream, < stress. She has also stomach pain, squeezing and pain and heaviness in her heart; this is from stress in her marriage. Her husband is jealous, harassing her for days until she gives in and starts crying. She feels he wants to put her in a cage, a box. She has been fighting him to be able to do what she wants, to get her freedom.As a child, she was pleasing others - her parents and teachers – but she was mischievous too, to her sister.She is a homeopath and likes to have deep contact with colleagues and friends. She likes congresses, where she can go out and have a good time with colleagues. It satisfies her need to feel free and to go out. Her biggest fear is to be held down: that provokes the bleeding.

Here again, we see a woman fighting against her husband for her freedom: Neodymium sulphuriucm, or more generally a Lanthanide sulphuricum. The ulcerative colitis is an auto immune disease, a Lanthanide aspect. ‘Deep contact’ fits Lanthanides too, the deep aspect. The ‘fight’ fits stage 6. It could also be Stage 8 or 12, but it is definitely on the left side of the periodic table because she has not yet reached her goal. A confirmation for Stage 6 is her mischievous quality in her youth.

Case 9 Woman, 45, hepatitis C. The hepatitis came from an injection with antibiotics: it gave her liver pain, a tearing, cutting pain. She has palpitations and her left atrium is dilated. In her first marriage, her husband controlled everything. He was jealous and kept her home. She felt like a bird in a cage; it was a tragedy. They had lots of fights and once she threw a knife at him; he got anxious and she lost all feelings for him. They divorced. In her second marriage, she is the one making all the decisions.

She felt encaged in her marriage. ‘Encaged’ points to Lanthanides; ‘in her marriage’ indicates Sulphur. The ‘fighting her way out’ and ‘getting into freedom’ is an indication for Stage 6. The heart problems and palpitations fit Sulphur.

Case 10 Woman, 60, rheumatoid arthritis. She has pains in her joints: arms, shoulder, hands, and fingers. She has pain in her left hip, when walking too long and pain in her sacro-iliac joint when rotating her leg. She has had many relationships with men, but when it started to become official she went into resistance, even when she was very much in love. She hated the idea of being bound to a man, feeling that she would not be able to give him what he needed and that she would not be free. She hates being given orders and she has often stood up boldly against authorities on purpose. She hates hypocrisy and lies.

She does not continue relationships when they become official because then she would not be free. ‘Not free’ is a sign of Lanthanides, ‘in a relationship’ points to Sulphur. One could think of Stage 4 in this case because she stops when the relationship becomes official. ‘Official’ is a concept of Stage 4, but even though she has relationships that she does not want to offialise, she continues a few steps further in the relationship. It is more like Stage 6, which we also see in bold behaviour. Bold is a typical aspect of Stage 6. She goes against authority (Lanthanides) on purpose, as if to prove her autonomy.

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Conclusion In these cases, we can see many aspects coming together. The theme of auto-immune diseases, as seen in all the cases, points to the Lanthanides: ulcerative colitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and ankylosing spondylosis. The theme of freedom and autonomy is prominent in all cases. This theme is essential for Lanthanides and it plays a central role in the cases: it is the causative factor. The theme of service is also prominent. Two cases are of homeopaths, another is doing healing massage, and another is starting companies to improve the world. The serving quality is not essential - it is confirmatory, but not always present. Whether it will be expressed depends on the level of evolution of the patient. In all cases, we can see problems in relationships and marriage; a key factor for Sulphur.

Nine out of the ten cases are women. I think this is not due to the remedy as such, but to our culture. Men have already been independent for a long time in our culture. For women, however, there can still be the need to fight for their autonomy and independence, in relationships and marriage.

What has not been shown in this article is the type of personality of Neodymium sulphuricum. They possess an inner strength. They can even give the impression that they are quite sure of themselves. They have a tendency to hide their insecurity behind an image of boldness and over-confidence. They often have a boyish quality. Lanthanides in general have an androgynous quality, so women tend to look a bit more masculine and they tend to look young.

Photos:Wikimedia Commons: Liberté; valeriecharoux.unblog.frOnly if we want to: valeriecharoux.unblog.fr

Categories: Cases Keywords: auto-immune diseases, freedom, autonomy, service, problems in relationships Remedies: Neodymium sulphuricum

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Tell-a-Friend

Comments: Felméri Judit Posts: 4

neod-sReply #3 on : Thu September 01, 2011, 14:39:56

Yes, me too, I'd like to know the results of the treatment; otherwise all what we have just read is pure theory (altough beautiful and elegant, indeed, not very useful in the everyday practice).

Last Edit: September 01, 2011, 14:59:50 by mache

Ueli Becker Posts: 4

10 casesReply #2 on : Thu September 01, 2011, 14:14:12

So far so good...But will we learn if/how the patients improved after the remedy? Where is the information of the personality of Neod. drawn from?Any info on the provings available?

Kind regardsUeli

Last Edit: September 01, 2011, 14:59:08 by mache

roger Posts: 4

neod-s.Reply #1 on : Thu September 01, 2011, 09:01:10

i like to know exactly what got better, step by step, or: symptom by symptom.

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Terbium metallicum: psoriasiform eczema and tinnitus

by Ulrich Welte

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He is a good medical doctor, middle aged, well built, well controlled, well dressed, well respected, and very successful; a real gentleman. One of his hobbies is acupuncture. He suffers from a bad crusty and itching skin eruption, which started 3 years ago in the sacral region and slowly spread all over his body in a stricly symmetric fashion. Virtually, only his face and hands are now spared. It is a real nuisance for him because he has to cover himself all the time to avoid strange looks from his patients. The eruption and the itching is worse in bed in the evening, from perspiration, from slight touch, and from warmth. The dermatologist and the university had diagnosed psoriasiform eczema and prescribed steroid creams. The skin improved but as soon as he stopped using it, things got even worse. Then, he tried classical homeopathy with a renowned homeopath but without success. He says: “I dislike the dermatological treatment because it does not cure, it only suppresses the symptoms. I’m sorry to say that the homeopath also failed, he is very sincere. Then, I tried Sulfur on my own but it did not help my skin. The only improvement is that I can drink alcohol now, which formerly caused a headache after the very first glass of wine. What a pity that I don’t drink! I take alcohol only on rare occasions and eat vegetarian food.”

Another problem is tinnitus, a whooshing noise in his right ear. It is definitely worse after sleep. He says he has no specific stress. As he comes across as a rather debonaire, jovial man, this seems very probable, although he says that it gets worse after discussions in his team.

When asked if there was any other skin problem before, he remembers that he had cracks in the tips of his thumbs for 10 years; they subsided when his eczema began.

His colour preference is a light blue, 16B.

Analysis and progress:

His insight in the non-curative nature of suppressive treatment, as well as his openness towards homeopathy and his interest in acupuncture qualify him as a possible Lanthanide case. His free attitude and trying a remedy on his own when his homeopath

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failed is also quite typical for a Lanthanide. The pathology of skin eruption is not specific to Lanthanides but does not contradict it. Tinnitus can be Silver or Gold series, including the Lanthanides. Which stage? His well-balanced nature and his former cracks seemed to indicate stage 10. The strictly symmetric pattern of the eruption seemed to support this. The cover-up nature is a sycotic sign, which indicates a middle stage, most likely stages 9-11. So, Gadolinium, the stage 10 Lanthanide, was chosen. As he had previously responded favourably to Sulphur and has its modalities, worse in bed in the evening and from warmth.

Prescription: Gadolinium sulphuricum C200.

Follow-up:

A severe aggravation sets in during the first night, burning and itching, so severe that he uses antihistamines. Then, things get much better. He uses Gadolinum sulphuricum LM6, as needed, but after 6 weeks, he has a severe relapse. Without re-evalution, I prescribe Dysprosium sulfuricum LM6, the stage 12 Lanthanide, a rather offhand choice, but it helps.

After 2 months, he tells me that his skin and itching are 90% better, and he is very satisfied. It is only then that I learn that in the meantime he went back to his classical homeopath and got a single remedy without being told what it was, which he disliked – “Why should not he tell me?” – and which he says did not do anything. Then, he purchased Dysprosium sulphuricum, and afterwards the improvement started. His tinnitus, however, did not improve.

Three months later, he remains on the same level: 90% improvement of skin, tinnitus unaffected. Only then, do I realize that during interviews there is always a kind of tangible tension, as if he has to control the situation and cannot let go, even for a moment, although this happens in a very polite gentlemanly way. This is Terbium, stage 11. The tension is not unpleasant, as in Dysprosium, who suspects every move and retaliates hard at the slightest provocation, which makes you always feel on guard. In his case, the control was so subtle and so polite that I did not see it. Indeed, I realize only now that he had always been in charge of the anamnesis from the very start and controlled every follow-up in the same way; he told me only what he thought was important and gave me very little chance to intervene by taking full charge of the situation.

So, I now give him Terbium metallicum C200.

After another 6 weeks, he is very satisfied. Not only his skin is perfect but his tinnitus has also gone. He says that he has been hearing the rushing noise again since a few days but previously it was completely gone.

I prescribe Terbium LM6, to be taken as needed.

Nine months have passed, during which he had to take the remedy 5-6 times. Each time, it helped promptly. After another year, he sends me a very polite letter with a video, which documents the skin before and after. It is well documented, well filmed, and well cut: the professional video of a real gentleman.

Photo: Wikimedia CommonsGentleman: no es bingham; rafananda

Categories: Cases Keywords: psoriasiform eczema, tinnitus, gentleman, control Remedies: Terbium metallicum

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Europium oxydatum: ulcero-hemorrhagic rectocolitis

by Ramon Frendo

A. is a thirty year old woman, married and mother of one child – she works as a physiotherapist. She comes due to ulcero-hemorrhagic rectocolitis, which started in 2000; she was then 20.

“I started to have blood in my stools, I had intermittent bouts of abundant rectal hemorrhage. For several years, I didn’t do any tests because my doctor thought it was severe hemorrhoids problems, despite the fact that I had 4 to 6 stools a day. In 2005, that went up to 10 stools a day; I was bleeding dry. I went to see another doctor, who sent me for a coloscopy. I was then diagnosed with ulcero-hemorrhagic rectocolitis.”

She was prescribed Pentasa and Betnesol, which did not bring any relief. She also took Turmeric capsules.

Despite the treatment with Pentasa, she continues to suffer a hemorrhagic crisis once a month. She remains anemic with a marked aggravation during her periods, which are heavy. “I’ve taken the pill from the age of 17 to 27. I had my first period when I was 13. I first got pregnant with a treatment of Clomid and Duphaston, but the pregnancy failed.

Medical history:- severe rectal pains; must sit or lie down- tired, irritable, weak- feels defeated- crisis of hyperthyroidism; losing weight despite eating a lot- no major antecedent- Hepatitis B vaccine

Family history:- Mother: 1955, treated by antidepressants and Lexomyl. She has always had digestive problems; gastritis, hemorrhoids- Father: 1953, suffers from osteoarthritis; coxarthrosis with hip replacement- Several cases of digestive cancer: maternal grandfather and paternal uncle

General:Her personality is joyous and energetic, also complaining and irritable, alternating busyness and tiredness: “When I was young, I had tantrums.” She is a perfectionist.Her parents divorced when she was 24. She had been working as a physiotherapist for a year.

Ramon Frendo (RF): What affects you the most?

A: “My parents’ separation. It was so unexpected, so incomprehensible, a lack of communication.”

RF: What was your reaction?

A: “I was saddened… I felt betrayed by my mother, who left my father. I would have preferred that they had argued in front of us. I feel angry inside.

RF: What do you mean by ‘perfectionist’?

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A: “I wanted to be perfect in relation to my older sister, who was academically gifted. I was obsessed by it; I was always first of the class and first of my year. Meanwhile, I had low self-esteem, I felt like I had no worth. My sister, who was considered more intelligent than me, has failed in everything. She failed her pharmacist studies and now she is just a pharmacist’s helper.”

RF: What about your childhood?

A: “I was always on the move. I wanted to learn the piano but I was told that it would be my sister who would learn it. I finally learned it, despite my parents saying that she would be better.”

RF: What about your relationship with your sister?

A: “It’s fine now but for a long time there was much jealousy. We fought until I was 20. She would look for me and then I would beat the hell out of her. Since I had more energy and I was stronger, I dominated her. I’ve tried to suppress the fact that my parents preferred my sister. I’m still upset with my mother. Until she failed her studies, they thought she was infallible.”

RF: Do you sleep well? Any dreams?

A: “I sleep well. I have a dream where I am being pursued by people who want to kill me (with firearms, or I’m being beaten). It’s as if I was able to change the scenario. In the dream, I’m still the master and they can never catch me. I manage to hide but the pursuit never stops. In another dream, I have a task that I cannot do. It’s either smuggling or trying to get something out of someone, and I’m being threatened.”

RF: What is your relationship with money?

A: “My mother often frightened me with money: “if we do that, we’ll end up in the street; if we don’t work enough, we’ll have to sell the house…” I’m always afraid of losing money. In life, however, I experience people as beautiful and kind. I give

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everything and sometimes I’m taken advantage of. I’ve got to be much stricter with people.”

RF: How did you studies go?

A: “I worked a lot, all the time. I forced my husband to eat at my desk while I continued to work. After each exam, I felt I hadn’t done well enough, I wanted to control everything.

RF: Can you tell me more about this?

A: “I’ve been able to study physiotherapy because my sister had failed her pharmacy studies. My parents thought that studying was too expensive. I wanted to know everything, anatomy, etc… I can’t stand mistakes. If I make a mistake, it will cost us. To work independently is much better for me. I don’t want to be ordered around.”

Analysis1: Auto-immune illness; pre-cancerous; ulcero-hemorrhagic recto-colitis.2: She wants to dominate; Gold series or Lanthanides; control and mastery direct towards the Lanthanides.3: The first dream could fit stage 12, Dysprosium. Dysprosium can feel attacked either with a knife or with bare hands but he fights back until the end to maintain his autonomy. Here, she does not fight but hides and the pursuit never ends. One could think of a partial retreat, which could fit stage 13, Holmium.4: The second dream indicates being on a mission, which could fit stage 9, Europium. It is, however, a particular mission: smuggling or getting something out of someone.5: She has money issues; fear of losing it, of being short of money, having to sell the house. She also contradicts herself: she gives everything but she’s afraid of being short of money. Contradictions direct towards auto-immune illnesses and therefore, towards the Lanthanides; domination, control, mastery.6: She yearns for perfection with the subsequent fear of making mistakes, which in turn pushes her to study ceaselessly. Study, intelligence, knowledge and science direct towards Europium.

If we add to this: stools, blood, fear of lacking money, smuggling, and corruption, we are directed towards Oxygen.

Prescription: Europium oxydatum 100K, once every two weeks for a month.

In Europium oxydatum, we find an analogy between the fear of losing money and the loss of stools, blood, life; the fear of losing everything.

Follow-ups:Three months later: A radical change has taken place. Within 4 days, the rectal hemorrhages have stopped. She has discontinued her allopathic treatment. From the seventh day, she feels much better, quieter, more peaceful. She casts a gentler gaze on her family history, her parents and her sister.

Prescription: continue Europium oxydatum 1000K

Eight months later: No remaining symptoms: normal stools; family life and work are going pleasantly well.

She comes to see me because she would like a second child and she wishes the pregnancy to go well.

Prescription: Europium oxydatum 1000K, every two months.

Photos: Wikimedia CommonsIgraet / (She) plays; Sergei Vinogradov (1869-1938)

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Cerium carbonicum: idiopathic purpura

by Patricia Le Roux

Dora Lou is age 8 when idiopathic purpura is diagnosed on January 7th, 2008. She is brought to me by her mother, who raises Dora Lou and her small brother on her own. The purpura is diagnosed following a bad cold in December 2007. (Theme: problems with platelets: Lanthanides). The platelets are very low (4 giga/l) and the child is treated with cortisone, 20 mg per day for four days. A few days later, the platelets have gone up to 48 Gi/l and Dora goes back to school.

On the 11th of January, large bruises reappear. At the hospital, the platelets are tested at 6 Gi/l and the cortisone is increased to 20 mg, 3 times per day, finishing on the 23 rd of January. The cortisone is then stopped and platelets are measured on February 13 at 5 Gi/L. The mother writes to me saying that she is not receiving clear guidance from the hospital and that she lives in fear of an imminent hemorrhage. Dora is very weak. (Theme: Fear of new situations). She then sees a nearby homeopath who prescribed Ledum palustre 9CH, Phosphorus 12 CH and Arnica 7CH for 8 weeks.

First consultation: March 24, 2008

The mother asks for help, so that Dora can have sufficient platelets without a threat to her life (Theme: fear of a new situation). Dora is an independent but awkward child, who does not really know how to handle conflicts. She avoids conflicts and never takes part in fights; she withdraws, both at school and in family surroundings. She has always been very independent and asked for freedom. Ever since her youth, she regularly travels on her own to Canada to visit her father. Her parents divorced when she was 2 years old and her mother never talks nicely about the father.

“I have a hard life,”’ the mother says, “I have organized a cocoon around those two children, they have been so badly abandoned!” (Theme: cocoon). The father left her for another woman and never recognized the two children.

Dora is not particularly brilliant and she is very timid at school, always on the look-out. At home, she has the male role, as the older child. She is also very frightened of new situations, even new food. She changed school last year for primary school and that was terrible for her. She adapted well, however, and wanted to do it herself, as her mother said. The mother herself says that she is scared of this new pathological situation. (Theme: Fear of the new, officially has to do it herself).

Food desires: Dora craves meat and fruit.

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Analysis:

- Lanthanides: She is independent and she suffers from an auto-immune disease, both of which point to the Lanthanides.

- Stage 4: timid (timidity indicates Stage 2 to 5). She wants to have little contact with others, in order to have freedom: “out of contact” is a strong indication for Cerium (cocoon). She is also very frightened in new situations.

- Carbon: this story is strongly connected with the father, indicating Carbon. The lack of self-confidence and timidity also point in this direction.

Prescription: Cerium carbonicum 200 C

Follow up:

2nd consultation, May 28: The platelets are slowly going up; there has been another course of cortisone at the beginning of May, as the platelets count dropped under 10 gi/L

Prescription: Cerium Carbonicum 1M

-3rd consultation, July 11: Dora’s mother emails: “We have just had the last results for Dora: the platelets are up to 97 Gi/L. It’s really a very big change, and the progress has been really visible these last weeks after the Cerium 1M. We will come to see you in September and see how things are going. We all thank you from all our heart, and hope you have a lovely summer. From the now very happy family of Dora.”

-4th consultation

Dora is seen in September 2008; her platelets have returned to normal and she has had no more problems since then.

Photo: Wikimedia CommonsCocoon of a Monarch Butterfly; Greyson Orlando

Cerium oxydatum: arthritis psoriaticaby Alex Leupen

The patient is a 53 year old man who came to the clinic for the first time in November 2004, seeking help for his arthritis psoriatica: he has had psoriasis since he was thirteen. He works as an organisational advisor. He later started to study piano, “my childhood dream”. Just before the final exam at the music conservatory, he developed inflammation in his joints: the small joints of his right hand and wrist, both ankles, and his right knee. Some nails of both hands are affected. His rheumatologist wants to prescribe him Methotrexate.

He is also seeking help through orthomolecular medicine, following a strict diet (no meat, sugar, wine or wheat products, lots of brown rice) and taking many supplements.

His mother felt that there was something wrong with him as a child. “I was supposed to be happy and grateful as a child. If I was angry or sad, she felt like she was not doing her job well, so that wasn’t allowed…!” His mother died some years ago, and that opened up old wounds for him. He was an only child, and he was very jealous, not

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allowing other children to play with his toys. Now, he is ashamed of his shadow side; the part of him that feels jealous and unfairly treated.

He has periods of depression. “I don’t know what I want to do.” Sometimes, he can be very angry and his reactions are out of proportion. He has two sons, the youngest of whom has congenital malformations and has been operated on three times. This son has demanded a lot of energy from him and his wife, due to the problematic physical and emotional development.

Food and drink:

Desires: Indian food (3), curry (3), coriander (3), fish and meat (3).

Aversions: witlof, Brussels sprouts, endive (all three in his youth).

He is very thirsty. He loves red wine and desires either hot or cold drinks (extremes).

His stools are normal.

As a child he had a poor appetite and constipation, which, in hindsight, he sees as an opposition to his mother (“I was keeping my autonomy.”)

Sleep: He sleeps on his belly. He usually falls asleep easily, and wakes up early (around 5:30 – 6:00). He has recurring dreams of losing his clothes and finding himself naked in company.

Music: He loves classical music, especially Chopin and Schubert. He loves romantic music: “I play passionately,” and he can be moved to tears by music.

Colour preference: Royal blue.

Analysis and follow-up:

It is important to note that the arthritis started just before his conservatory exam: this fits stage 9 (“almost there”) of the Silver series (the series of art and creativity).

Prescription: Rhodium 200K.

Follow-up after 7 weeks: He has more energy and can play piano for 3 hours per day with no problems. The joint pains are 90% improved, and he feels emotionally better.

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After some doses of Rhodium MK, the joint pains have dramatically improved and he decides to look for a job with a different organisation bureau. When asked about his basic underlying feeling, he says: “I am outside the world.” He sometimes does not understand human contact at all, and has the feeling that he is in a glass bell. This is an old feeling from his childhood.

Second prescription: Cerium oxydatum MK. Cerium fits the feeling of being in a glass bell, looking out at the world. Arthritis psoriatica is an auto-immune illness, and this is a strong indication for prescribing a Lanthanide. The Oxydatum part goes with his childhood feeling of being unfairly treated.

Follow-ups:

After 7 weeks: He has been to an American city on vacation, where he felt belittled and humiliated by a passer-by. After that, he cried for half an hour, which he experienced as a catharsis. His joint pains are much better and he has composed his first piece of music. The remedy was repeated in a MK potency.

After 8 weeks: He has been back to the rheumatologist, who, to his surprise, sees no signs of destruction on the X-rays. He is rethinking his life and his application for a job with a new organisation bureau has been accepted. He is asked to play more and more concerts.

“Through homeopathy, I have much more energy and self-confidence, and I feel much better emotionally. I feel like I am more autonomous and I don’t have the same feelings of being unfairly treated.”

Six years later, he remains stable and content.

Photo: Read and Play Piano.com

Categories: Cases Keywords: arthritis psoriatica, as in a glass bell, outside of the world, feeling unfairly treated, love of classical music Remedies: Cerium oxydatum

Lanthanum phosphoricum: progressive muscular distrophy

by Irina Shilova

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The patient is a 30 year old woman who works as a translator. Her main complaint is progressive muscular dystrophy, which began at the age of 12. According to the patient, it started after a quarrel with a friend, which was a great shock. A friend told the whole class that the patient liked a certain boy, and he made fun of her. His mother also told her friends about her and the patient was afraid that they would laugh at her. "At school I was the weakest, the slowest. Nobody loved me." Because of this, she concealed her illness for a long time. Her brother has also a serious disease, cerebral palsy, and she says that people laugh and jeer at him, too.

Her illness began with weakness in the legs; it was hard to climb stairs. The patient cannot get up from a chair or go out independently, and even a small hill is too hard for her to climb. She has been treated with Nandrolone. Her menses stopped five years ago. She has severe headaches, pain in the right hypochondrium, attacks of pancreatitis, constipation, and excessive hair growth on her body. She is slow and depressed, crying every night. She does not like to be told what to do and she protests, since she likes doing things her own way. Her hobby is psychology; she wants people to understand themselves and to “get to the bottom of the problem.” She dreams of the classmates who laughed at her. There are tensions in the family; she is always in conflict with her brother.

Analysis:

This is a serious hereditary disease, incurable in conventional medicine. She does not like being ordered about, preferring to go her own way, and she wants to get to the bottom of things. All this points to the Lanthanides.The fact that her friends and classmates were laughing at her, as well as her problems with her brother (who was also laughed at), points to a Phosphorus combination.The fact that she had such a lack of confidence and felt unable to stand up for herself points to a remedy on the left side of the periodic table, especially Lanthanum.

Prescription: Lanthanum phosphoricum 200C then 1M, 1-2 times per month. I also prescribed a nosode for the disease itself: Dystrophia musculorum progression Nosode.

These remedies were given for 8 months.

Follow-ups:During this time her mood has improved; she has stopped crying and has become more optimistic. Her stools have normalized. Her gait has become more solid and confident;

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she is able to walk more and she is less tired. Her headaches have gone, as well as the pain in the hypochondrium.

After one year: she was given Medorrhinum due to the “hiding” aspect; hiding her excess hair growth. She also loves to go to the sea on vacation, a confirmation for Medorrhinum. After Medorrhinum, her menses resumed.

Two years later: her condition continues to improve on frequent doses of Lanthanum Phosphoricum LM. She is renewing old acquaintances and making a lot of new friends. Her relationship with her brother has improved too, and she helps him with his work. It is becoming easier for her to rise from a chair, and her gait is more confident; she can now walk much longer distances.

The treatment continues.

Photo: Wikimedia CommonsStairway in the auditorium of Miletus theatre; Wolfgang Glock

Categories: Cases Keywords: progressive muscular distrophy, lack of confidence, being laughed at, hiding

Remedies: Lanthanum phosphoricum

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Comments: Dr.Haran chandra malaker Posts: 1

Lanthanum phosphoricumReply #1 on : Thu September 01, 2011, 10:15:32

Thanks for the article and treatment of muscular distrophy with help of Lanthanum phosphoricum in different potencies with the help of 2 nosodes.In this connection, I like to know this remedy as it's new to me, as we tend to use Phosphorus in our daily pratice. Could you kindly inform me. Regards, Malaker

Last Edit: September 01, 2011, 11:35:57 by mache

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Lanthanum oxydatum: a matter of chromosomes

by Marie Luc Fayeton

B., born in 1992, was first seen in June 1988. He was diagnosed with “partial trisomy” and he lives in an institution with trisomics. He suffers from cryptorchidy, for which he has had gonadotrophins, and from cypho-scoliosis. He has a pronounced facial asymmetry: his left side is clearly narrower than his right. He also has sleep apnoea and allergies. Benjamin has a lack of self-confidence: “I can’t do that, come and help me; I can’t do

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it on my own.” He tires easily, lying on the sofa and sleeping 12 hours a day. He loves giving a hand, helping someone to push his/her trolley in the supermarket, and he buys sweets to give people.He does not help at home and refuses any pressure on him.

He has terrible fits of anger and wants to kill those who thwart him. He calls everything he finds worthless a “chromosome”. When something does not go well, he says: “trisomic, mongoloid”. He feels responsible for everything that goes badly. His vocabulary is accurate but he cannot manage learning to read. When he is with other disabled people, he does not sit at their table; he looks for a seat with normal young people.

He can easily read people’s minds and he can find the exact right word that someone is looking for. He senses when people are afraid of him or do not accept him: if people are afraid of him, he becomes restless or plays the role of a retarded person. He is very angry with his father: “When he cut the umbilical cord, he broke one of my chromosomes.” He does not like orders. His first reaction is to say: “No”. He wants to be in power.

He received Verbascum - no confidence in himself nor in the help of others - then Androchtonos - dictatorial, wants to kill the opponent, perceptive, would like to be in power - several times.

After Androchtonos, he started reading, stopped biting his nails, and his moods became more regular. He became more positive and cheerful. His testicles have now come down.

19/05/09His mother says: “He used to ask for his autonomy, now he takes it while complying with the rules.” B. says: “I’ll manage to read even though they used to say I would not be able to. I’ll read books for grown-ups.” On account of his teasing side, his absurd behavior, dictatorial, hurried and tiredness, I give Alloxanum.

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31/07/09He refuses tasks if he has not decided to do them himself. He refuses to be shown; on the contrary, he does the opposite: “I’m going to show you.” He has had a fit of anger, which lasted for two hours. It was completely out of proportion and it was impossible to reason with him. He wanted to kill the person who was against him. His baptism is being prepared.

B: “Doctor, do you love God?Marie Luc Fayeton: Yes, I do.B: “I do love God. God is like a father to me. Doctor, how can I remove evil from my heart?”MLF: What is this evil?B: “Anger. How can I take the chromosome away?”

B. draws himself in the shape of a fellow dragging a big millstone. He does not have a good sense of time. If he has an appointment at 18:00, he leaves at 18:00.On account of the symptoms: chromosome not connected, wording, family, definite guilt feeling, and flattering, I give Thuja, which calms him down for a few days.

22/09/10

He starts to mature and starts shaking hands rather than kissing. He goes to the physiotherapist on his own by bus and takes the bus to do his grandmother’s shopping: he knows the stalls at the market. He loves the independence and he can even extricate himself from difficulties. He

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enjoys writing. He often gets bored. He has again said to his parents; “it’s your fault that I am like that, it’s the chromosome.”

Jan Scholten says: “Lanthanides want to find out what they got from their parents or what is really from themselves.” And: “they suffer when they discover a dark side in themselves. They are overwhelmed by their negative side.”

B.has inherited a bad chromosome, so he is angry; he keeps thinking of that. I consider my hypothesis about Lanthanum according to Dr Masi’s concepts: “He has not accepted that his being be determined by something which comes from elsewhere, he has envied the being subsisting by himself. Benjamin’s liking for independence and his interest in spirituality points to Lanthanum.

Prescription: Lanthanum oxydatum XM

08/12/10

B. insists on going alone to the surgery. He wants it to be “a little intimate”.He expresses himself very well: “Really, I’ve got my head in the clouds: I lose my wallets, my mother’s cell phone.” He hears me phoning a man experiencing difficulties with his wife. He comments: “Women are a pain, couples are complicated. My uncle and my aunt swear at each other.” His mother says: “He is quite tonic, more dynamic, less drowsy, less quick-tempered, and less oppositional; his first reaction is still “no”, but he can go back, he does not give vent to his anger.”

Prescription: Lanthanum oxydatum 12000

02/02/11

He comes alone to the surgery and for the first time he did not annoy my secretary, while waiting for his turn.

B: “Doctor, I am very well. My anger is over. The bad language is over. The nasty gestures are over.”MLF: You are happy? B: “Yes, I am.” MLF: You get less bored? B: “I used to be bored. Now, I keep myself busy, I go cycling, I play with a computer. I’m going to do a cooking course. I can peel marrows, I can cook, make chocolate cakes.”

His mother says: “He has taken the biggest step since we have come here. He is calmer, he is cheerful, and he no

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longer gets angry. He is far less tired and he sleeps well. He can pack his own things when he goes away and he can manage on his own in public transportation: he can memorize the lines, the timetables. That’s perfect. He’s not the same anymore. His teacher finds him more controlled; he follows through everything he does. The counsellor for sports and handicaps has said 4 years ago that he would not have thought his integration into society feasible. He is going to put him in a video to demonstrate integration through sport.

He took Lanthanum oxydatum 15000 on February 6th with good result, because he was tired, nervous, and provocative.

31/03/11

“I’ve finished my cooking course and I have passed!”

Then his mother comes in: “He’s happy. I get only congratulations for his behaviour. The person in charge of him during the course has told me only positive things about him: his rhythm, the precision and quality of his work. A student who has come to help the staff has said: ‘Your son is a great guy, calm, controlled, involved.’ He phoned his brother: “I’ve passed.” His brother has come to congratulate him and has found him to be more mature. He tidies his room, makes his bed, sorts his clothes out and wants to change his wallpaper.

Meanwhile B. is writing to me: “I love ya, doc,” and asked me: “Am I handsome?” His teacher says: "He has got a good rhythm at work, he takes care of his work, it is precise, he doesn’t go and bother the others or disrupt the class. He loves going out on his own with me. He has got the notion of time and he takes the bus on time. He wants to be on time. He can tidy up in a more sensible way.”

I notice that today he has not been touching the objects on my desk as much or taking the pens apart.

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Thank you Jan Scholten.

Photo: Wikimedia CommonsDrumastle Mill old grindstones; Roger GriffithArtlibre: Down syndrom illustration

Categories: Cases Keywords: partial trisomy, severe anger, dictatorial, tiredness cryptorchidy, apnoea, allergies Remedies: Lanthanum oxydatum

Lanthanides and allergiesby Marguerite Pelt

In November 2005 Jan Scholten’s book “the Secret Lanthanides” was published, in which he brought to light the importance of this new series of homeopathic remedies made from modern, “secretive” metals. They are especially useful for the treatment of auto-immune diseases. During an international seminar in May 2006 Jan demonstrated the use of the Lanthanides in constitutional eczema by presenting the cases of two children who had been treated effectively with Neodymium carbonicum.

Constitutional eczema

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In Holland about 400,000 people suffer from constitutional eczema, which is about 2,5% of the population. This makes it the fourth on the list of the top ten chronic ailments. In children, it is, after asthma, even the most important chronic complaint. People with constitutional eczema often have an (over-)sensitive skin which reacts faster than that of healthy skin to stimuli from the environment. Such stimuli can be:

- food allergies (cow’s milk, eggs, nuts, fish) or inhalation allergies (pollen, house mites, animal hair) etc. - psychosocial factors such as emotions, nervousness, stress- bacterial and viral infections- irritating factors such as cosmetics, soap, wool etc. - external factors such as heat, cold, water, etc.

Neodymium carbonicum

Carbon is an important element in homeopathy for the treatment of skin disorders. It is in some of the traditionally known skin remedies, such as Graphites, Petroleum, and Calcium carbonicum. Graphite salve is a common remedy for cracks and swimmer’s eczema. Tar salves are regularly prescribed for eczema.

Neodymium is a metal in the Lanthanide series. The Lanthanides are used for independent, precocious children, who do not like to follow the rules. They can have large eyes and like to “look”. Other indications that can support a Lanthanide prescription are dyslexia, a strong desire for meat, and complaints after vaccinations.

After the seminar, I prescribed Neodymium carbonicum a few times for children with constitutional eczema, but without success. Then, I understood that children who need Neodymium carbonicum have a father (father figure is translated as Carbon) who is unreachable or even completely absent. In this way, a small boy whose father was often absent due to his work could be helped; even when the father was actually at home, he was still involved in his work, and the boy sighed “I wish that Daddy was here more often.” I have also given the remedy with success to someone whose biological father is unknown.

Jan Scholten relates Neodymium carbonicum to the “impervious father” – unavailable, unreachable. Stage 6 of the periodic table symbolises courage and the need to prove oneself. It also has a secretive aspect: “hide, secretive, and cover” are words that describe this aspect. In reaction to the lack of fatherly attention, the patients behave in a tough way: “bravery, daredevil”. They prove to the world that they are independent and that they do not need a father to help them feel worthy (carbon). It is as though their skin is a sort of armour, behind which they hide their vulnerability. The skin becomes thicker, redder, itchy, and oversensitive.

Oversensitive bowels

Another complaint that the Lanthanides can help to resolve is that of oversensitive bowels. Spastic colon and irritable bowel syndrome are other names for the painful belly and changeable stool pattern (both diarrhea and constipation) that can be part of this complaint. As in constitutional eczema, food allergies, psychosocial factors, and bacterial or viral infections can play a role in people whose intestines are easily irritated.

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I have been able to help a young boy who had belly aches and food intolerances, with Europium phosphoricum. Europium is a Lanthanide which is useful for children who are extremely bright. This young boy loved fish, and he was rather anxious and easily distracted. Repertorisation indicated Phosphorus as the remedy of choice: aversion milk, desire fish, bluish discoloration around the eyes, fear of examinations, difficult concentration when studying. This Europium phosphoricum child was very alert during the consultation, and potentially the cleverest of his class (“wise guy”). He wanted to do a lot, but when it came around to it he did not dare to try. One could translate his problem as follows: too smart (stage 9) to learn by rote at school (Phosphorus), afraid of losing face (stage 9) in his class (Phosphorus), misunderstood (stage 9) by the people at school (Phosphorus). This boy had big eyes, was independent, and had the radiance of a New Age child, all of which are indications for Lanthanides, and reasons for choosing Europium, the stage 9 Lanthanide.

Lanthanides are new in homeopathy. It is to be expected that in future they will be found effective not only in auto-immune illnesses but also in cases of allergies and over-sensitivities, where a sort of over-irritability of the immune system plays a role. In the following schema we can see the transition between allergies and auto-immune illnesses.

Gell and Coombs differentiate oversensitivity reactions into four groups, based on the type of antibodies prevalent: IgE, IgG, IgM, cytokines…

Type 1. Mest cells bind the antibody IgE, thereby releasing mest cell mediators such as histamine, which induce an allergic inflammation. Reaction takes place after about 20 minutes. Test via blood test for IgE (RAST test), skin test, elimination diet. Examples: Anaphylaxis (fainting and shock); Atopia (asthma and eczema); food allergies; medication over-sensitivities, hay fever.

Type 2. An antibody (IgG or IgM) is directed against antigen cells. This can induce cytotoxic or cell-killing reactions by stimulating killer cells, as is the case after blood transfusions with an incompatible blood group. Reaction takes place after several hours. Examples: Auto-immune haemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells); Myasthenia gravis (muscular weakness due to a disturbed relay of stimuli from the nerves to the muscles); pemphigus (blistering of the skin); over-sensitivity to medication.

Type 3. Immune complexes (of antigens together with IgG or IgM) which are deposited in tissue. This attracts leukocytes, and local tissue damage and inflammation result. Takes place after 6 – 8 hours. Examples: Polyarteritis nodosa (inflammation of arteries); post-streptococc glomerulonephritis (inflammation of filter system of kidneys); systematic lupus erythematodes (an auto-immune illness).

Type 4. Antigen-sensitised T-cells produce cytokines, resulting in local inflammation reactions, for instance after organ transplants. Takes place after 48 – 72 hours. Examples: Nickel allergy; sarcoidosis; Crohn’s disease.

This article has been published in a shortened version in the Dutch journal “Homeopathie”, 2- 2008

Photo: Wikimedia CommonsPhotograph of typical, mild dermatitis; Topbanana

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Categories: General Keywords: Lanthanides, auto-immune diseases, allergies Remedies: Europium phosphoricum, Neodyminum carbonicum