Page 10 - Autumn 23

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Prescription
Staphysagria 200c + Dulcamara 30c, twice daily
Staphysagria based on its previous success (but at a lower potency) and her feistiness. Possible stress being a trigger for obsessive behaviour. Self-disgust and overgrooming, fastidiousness. Dulcamara for its aggravation in Autumn.
Follow up 24.02.23
Given short course of glucocorticoids by a colleague on 10.02.23 after she managed to get to her back again causing trauma. The skin had not deteriorated prior to this, however she constantly had a collar on. Her skin improved and was drying out but she would persist in overgrooming if allowed to without the collar. She was “...ok in herself, calmer, more settled.” Happier, going out more to the neighbours for short periods despite the winter weather.
Further characteristics and information were obtained.
• She was generally fastidious.
• Before coming to the family, she was grabbed at her backend, and this is where the grooming focuses.
• “It is almost as if she doesn’t have a meow but will tap on the side of your face to get attention to let you know she is here.”
• Liked massage around neck, maybe because of the collar. Very agile.
• Drinking morning and evening long draughts.
• If the owner’s boys are unwell, she will go into the room
to be with them.
• Not good with other cats, growls, will attack.
WHAT DOES SHE THINK OF HERSELF?
“Her own lady”
“Knows what she wants to do.”
Quite happy to sit on lap. “Deep relaxation mode.”
IF SHE WASN’T A CAT, WHAT WOULD SHE BE?
A bird. Interested in birds, used to bring them in, now she doesn’t. “Maybe age or because we moved house, and she doesn’t need to provide and fend for herself as she used to 6-7 years ago.”
Prescription
Rhus toxicodendron 30c, 5 drops once daily for one month Lac lupinum 30c, 5 drops once daily for one month. (This had to be ordered and so was not started at the same time as the Rhus tox.)
Australian Bush Flowers Combination, 7 drops twice daily for two weeks.
Bottlebrush: To address the obsessive grooming ‘helping to let go of something that is no longer needed.’
Bryonia: Useful to break a pattern of repetitive thoughts and actions when an animal has become fixated about something.
Crowea: To ease worry by balancing and centering the body and energy fields.
Monga Warrah: Give courage to get on with life without the support of obsessive behaviours.
Bauhinia: Open up an animal to doing things in ways that are outside its normal routine.
There was a strong autumnal association and so I decided to try Rhus tox. indicated by the radar repertorisation.1 GENERALITIES - AGG. - Autumn, in: (18) Aur. bry. calc. calc-p. Chin. COLOC. DULC. ign. iris kali-bi. Lach. MERC. merc-c. nat-m. nux-v. RHUS-T. Stram. VERAT.
There was obviously a deviation from the Classical approach by using polypharmacy and this did concern me as it would confuse the case. But my inexperience and lack of confidence pushed me into using 2 remedies. As it turned out the Rhus tox. arrived with the client before the
Lac lupinum and there was only an improvement after the Lac was commenced.
WHY WOLF MILK?
Daisy showed many of the themes of the animal kingdom: survival, hierarchy, weakness, strength, conflict, and competition, being in a group.
Predator or prey.
Camouflage.
Self-loathing and body disgust.
Attractiveness.
Affectionate, caring, and playful but also, jealous, aggressive. Ailments from rejection, neglect, aggression, competition, failure in defence or competition.
Daisy had been given Lac leoninum in the past with some effect but not lasting.
Themes in the Lacs revolve around nurturing and the lack of it; dependence and independence. There is a need to suppress natural instincts to be able to fit in with the group. Lack of milk results in failure to thrive and possible issues with food and nausea that may add to the feeling of self-loathing. Inadequate bonding can result in isolation and estrangement leading to later issues around touch and trust. Lack of vital heat, security, and the compulsive behaviour of overgrooming is common to animals requiring a lac remedy.2
Daisy’s early years, her experiences as a mother and her existence as a homeless cat are largely unknown but suggest potential issues around these times.
Lac Lupinum seemed the best fit.
Farokh Master, describes this remedy as displaying:
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