Case studies

My client, a young woman in her 30s, came to me initially to help her treat a bothersome haemorrhoid, the likely result of periods of constipation caused by emotional stress. Apart from some discomfort, its presence was causing her anxiety and regular treatments were proving ineffective. She was going through a busy time in her private life, planning her wedding and purchasing a home. As I took her case, it became clear that she was also experiencing anxiety about her finances, her health and that of her loved ones, in particular her fiancé who had significant life-threatening health challenges. Episodes of anxiety would also be triggered at work in challenging situations and result in heart palpitations.

Taking a timeline of her life revealed a deep grief and hurt regarding her father, who chose not to be present in her life. She described herself as a perfectionist and an overthinker who did not like to say ‘no’ to, or upset people.

As is so often the case, the focus quickly shifted from her key physical symptom to her overriding emotional state of stress and anxiety. I prescribed a combination of remedies, including Arsenicum, which is wonderful for fears about health and poverty/finances. It is also for life’s ‘people pleasers’, something this woman acknowledged she did a lot. I also gave Buddleia for the broken connection with her father and associated grief. This remedy can support a person during times of great change in life and felt very fitting.

Carcinosin is a remedy for the fastidious individual who has anticipatory fears. It is known as ‘the great unsuppressor’ of both toxic emotions and liver toxicity. Liver function is inevitably compromised where there is stress, anger and suppressed emotion of any kind. It is often given where there have been emotional shocks and upsets.

In addition to these remedies for the patient’s state of anxiety and stress, I gave her remedies for the acute physical symptom of the haemorrhoid.

We met one month later and she was notably calmer, admitting to feeling more relaxed and not ‘over thinking’ situations so much. She reported also that her haemorrhoid was a lot smaller! At this time, she still had the stress of her wedding plans and house purchase going on, so I kept her on the same remedies for a while longer, knowing this period of high stress would limit her progress.

Indeed, by her 5th appointment, 5 months into her treatment and her wedding and house move behind her, my client was a much more relaxed and calm person, quite unrecognisable from the woman I first met. She reported feeling better energy levels and feeling less affected when work issues arose, with period of anxiety passing much more quickly. In fact, she described to me how she felt ‘completely different mentally’ compared to the beginning of the year.

This case illustrates how well homeopathy can support an individual beautifully through big changes and transitions in life whilst addressing any held traumas in the energetic body that may otherwise hinder their progress and contribute to physical ailments.