Page 9 - Spring 18

• Throat symptoms
• Back pain
• Radiation burns
The mental (mind) symptoms cover a number of rubrics some of which I have spotted in horses matching the remedy – these are marked in bold:
• Anxiety in general
• Anxiety about the future
• Difficult concentration
• Lack of confidence
• Confusion
• Various fears – cancer, crowds, death, disease, failure,
flying, operations, strangers, of walking
• Forgetfulness
• Irresolution, indecision
• Decreased sense of orientation
• Sadness
• Sensitivity
• Slowness
• Timidity
The view from the perspective of Scholten’s periodic table
Terms used in the stage 2 column include timidly, does not realise what he can do, remains passive or adapts to the situation, just watches, the need for protection, bewilderment, feels overwhelmed.
The view from Vermeulen
(Synoptic reference Volume 1)
The section of the book covering Beryllium is detailed and pinpoints key areas of affinity as the lungs, musculoskeletal system, mucosa and skin. Mind symptoms include the delusion of being observed, dullness, difficulty thinking and comprehending, reflects for a while before answering, feeling of helplessness, impatience, the need for safety and support, insecurity, yielding nature and yielding with possessions, critical of self.
The nature of Beryllium Horse
Sitting near the top left hand corner of Scholten’s periodic table you would expect this remedy to suit young horses, I would say on average around 7 years old give or take a couple of years either side.
The comments in Scholten’s stage 2 and the comments in Vermeulen aptly reflect Beryllium type horses. These horses are timid, gentle and unobtrusive yet lack confidence. This is not reflected in an anxious or aggressive way but rather in that they need support which they seek out in a passive way. So when they feel that they need help they will wander over to you in a casual way and stand next to you just to be in your space, that’s all that’s needed to help. They might seek a little affection briefly and then after a while wander off again as quietly as they arrived. There is also the need to feel safe which manifests in much the same behaviour in seeking security from the owner. One of the horses I saw was referred to as a mummy’s boy because of this type of behaviour and was apt to chew the fence a little like an anxious child sucking its thumb I suspect.
Facing unfamiliar or new situations can present a problem as they do not know what to do. This is where the indecisiveness kicks in which at first may seem as pure stubbornness but it’s simply confusion, bewilderment, indecision and in reality working out in their head what to do which takes a little time to happen. A typical situation is when faced with going up a ramp into a new horsebox. They will just stop and refuse to move. They’ll look around for a bit, think for a bit and when it’s all worked out in their head that actually its ok, then and only then, will they load. One of the horses I treated was a good eventer but ended up in the water of a water jump. Whereas most horses would get out immediately our Beryllium horse stays calmly in the water and refuses to move whilst looking casually at the scenery. He’s working out what to do in his indecisive way before eventually coming to the conclusion that its actually quite a good idea to climb out of the water.
There is a great need to understand what is required of them hence a little anxiety in certain situations, but once it’s all worked out they perform well. On occasion they may pretend that things are not happening (the head in the sand situation) but I feel that this is just thinking time working out what to do whilst they adapt to what is happening. As far as I can tell, they like to be asked what to do and not told. They are happy with humans which they trust and are comfortable with other horses around.
The typical type of sarcoids which respond to Beryllium are the nodular or ulcerated fibroblastic type either single masses or in a clump of just two or three close together.
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