Day 30: Arsenicum Jill’s Case Notes

Arsenicum Jill: 28-year-old female.

Main complaints: hay fever, asthma, anxiety, eczema, sleep disturbances, stomach pain, exhaustion.

Mental-emotional: Anxious and worries a lot. Worries she could die – especially when awake at night. Worries that people may break in at night. Worries about health – frequent visits to her doctor. Worries she is being watched. Worries that she won’t have enough money. Becomes restless with her anxiety. Can’t sit still. Can’t stand having things out of order – has to keep things tidy. Companion says that as she becomes anxious, she becomes critical and fault-finding.

Hay Fever: Eyes burn, swell, and feel hot to touch but also feel better if she puts hot compresses on them. Eyes sensitive to light. Tears sting and excoriate the lower lids and cheeks. The right eye is always worse than the left. Nose runs – watery discharge that stings, burns, and scalds. The nostrils and upper lip often become excoriated from it with the right side more affected than the left. Excoriation may cause cold sores inside the nose. Scabs inside the nose. Frequent sneezing.

Asthma: Often around midnight – wakes with it. Also occurs when tired or after catching a cold. Burning tightness with a raw excoriated feeling in the chest. Chest feels heavy and oppressed during stormy weather and breathing becomes more difficult.

Gastrointestinal: Gurgling in the oesophagus when drinking. Stomach burns at night – has had it checked but worries it might turn into cancer.

Foods: Craves rye bread and wine. Melons, watery fruit, and vegetables disagree. Heavy food causes her stomach to burn.

Exhaustion: Feels faint in the morning on first getting up. When anxiety is at its worst, feels exhausted.

Skin: Dry, rough and scaley if doesn’t moisturise. When eczema flares it becomes Itchy and red. Generally worse on the right side of her body. The skin burns on scratching.

Sleep Disturbances: Wakes at midnight and worries. Becomes restless with the anxiety. Can’t stay in bed and will often get up and try to relax by having a glass of wine.

Thermal: Always feels cold. Shivers in cold air. Likes to rug up and sit in front of heaters. Needs warmer clothing than most.

Observation: Restlessness – constantly moving in chair. Immaculately dressed. High degree of anxiety.