Wandering in The Periodic Table: The Silver Series

(This article was earlier published in the  ‘Homeopathic Links’ . The Homeorizon Team thanks Dr. Ulrich Welte and Dr.Harry van der zee, Editor Links for giving their consent for using this article)

The Periodic Table: A new understanding of remedies.

The periodic table is the classification system of the elements of the mineral kingdom. It provides an elementary material structure of the whole universe. It is a universal system of mathematical beauty and symmetry. Mendelejev, a Russian chemist, discovered it in 1869 and published it in 1871 as a physico chemical table. He created a natural order of the then known elements, classified according to their atomic weight and chemical properties. But owing to its universal structure, the periodic table made it possible to predict the existence and material qualities of some unknown elements also. In the early 20th century, Plank’s and Schrödinger’s quantum physics explained this system mathematically on a deeper level of atomic structure. But it was no until 1996 that Jan Scholten’s inspiration opened another dimension of the whole periodic system by his publication " Homeopathy and the Elements " (H & E). In accordance with the physical and chemical aspects of the elements, it reveals their homeopathic significance in terms mind and consciousness. It shows the evolution of matter in correspondence to the evolution of living beings, which appear to develop along the same patterns. With this new dimension, the periodic system really came alive. And these concepts have turned out to be facts, because there are so many worldwide confirmations in the form of cures that there is no more serious doubt about their validity.

      Scholten’s homeopathic interpretation reminds us of the historical development of the periodic system, when Mendelejev predicted the existence, atomic weight and chemical qualities of certain unknown elements. Let us take one of these hypothetical elements as an example, Scandium . Eight years after the prediction of its existence, it was discovered in Scandinavia in 1879. So it was called Scandium. This element had exactly the predicted chemical and physical qualities. Similarly, in homeopathy Scandium was unknown as a remedy, because it was not proved until 2000 (Sherr proved it then). But according to the element position in the periodic system, Scholten predicted the themes of Scandium in 1996. As it is an element of the iron series, it reflects the level of teamwork, being observed and supervised in practical tasks involving precision and routine. It is in Stage 3 (scanning different possibilities and trying them one after another, but underestimating the difficulties and being easily discouraged). A combination of iron series plus stage 3 gives the hypothetic characteristics of Scandium: trying (st3) different jobs (iron series), but uncommitted (st3); following the rules (iron series), but easily discouraged (st3). This picture of Scandium has been frequently verified by cases of many homeopaths and the following case is just one of them.

A Scandium Case

We cured a patient with Scandium MK who had suffered from a severe form of Crohn’s disease for sixteen years, and whose ileum had been partly removed. She had been quite healthy until the disease began during her apprenticeship in an office. She has started the job with hesitation, only because someone else had suggested it. She was never committed to it, always thinking of a change, but too undecided. She went on half-heartedly and was discouraged at the slightest adversity, but as there was nothing else in sight she just continued. During four weeks after Scandium MK, her stools became normal and she felt and looked much healthier. For the first time in sixteen years, she made up her mind to stay with her job and to stand firm upon this decision. Already in these first weeks she weaned off cortisone, stopped loperamide, and she has been healthy for the last three years. The prescription of Scandium was based on the element theory. The colour preference and the similarity of handwriting with another Scandium case confirmed the choice. The case is published with more details in "Handwriting and Homeopathy" (H & H), pg 290 (see bibliography). We use colour preference and handwriting frequency as confirmed symptoms in case analysis. So we will describe them briefly before we continue with the periodic system.

Clinical symptoms:

Colour preference and handwriting

The true colour preference (or aversion) is a non-structured, formless elemental symptom. It indicates a basic mood and state of the vital force, which is even beyond mental forms and structures; colour is formless. Handwriting, on the other hand is form and structure. Handwriting images the sum total of personality structure in the form of habitual motion patterns. It can also tell about the level of development of a person. Taken together, colour and handwriting constitute an ideal pair to indicate the characteristic disposition of a person, non-structured as well as structured. Colour and handwriting are very helpful supplemental symptoms to find better remedies. They are easy to get and relatively simple to use. They require no elaborate techniques of anamnesis, and yet they reflect the disposition from its very root, even deeper than single mental symptoms do. How were these new symptoms revealed and established? The inspiration and discovery are thanks to the German homeopath Hugbald Volker Muller, who published these ideas in 1990. Patients cured by the same remedy have shown similar colour preferences and handwriting structures. So these are clinical symptoms of the remedy, indicating the disposition. We learnt the method from Muller and have been integrating a colour preferences and handwriting successfully for the last sixteen years with our homeopathic prescribing, along with Jan Scholten’s new concepts. The colour preference can be determined unambiguously a standardised printed colour system [’colours in homeopathy’ (C & H), see bibliography]. This homeopathic colour standard supplies a common basis for further research and ensures a safe international comparison. By coding the colours, we know exactly which colour we are talking about. Merely naming colours as red, blue or green is too vague and leads to failures. Concerning the handwriting, as a reference stock, 750 handwritings of 315 remedies are available, printed in original size (H & H). So these two new symptoms can be readily used by every homeopath willing to try their validity. But now let us get ready for out wanderings on the silver series.

The seven series

In its common versions, the periodic table arranges the elements in seven rows which Scholten calls series. Each of the seven series indicates a new level of development. The series are named after their most prominent elements: hydrogen series, carbon series, silicum series, iron series, silver series, gold series and uranium series. In each series from left to right, a new outer ’shell’ of electrons gets filled, along with the corresponding increase of ’heaviness’ by incorporation of core protons and neutrons. In the atoms at the right end of the row, the outer shell has got its fill of electrons, and thus the mission of this series is completed. Then the next series starts one level below to the left with the first electrons in a new outer shell, which is again filled up with electrons in the same manner. The evolution of elements begins with the lightest element and the simplest form of matter: hydrogen. From hydrogen, the evolution continues in successive steps. With each step another element is born, gaining in atomic mass by adding more and more core protons (and neutrons) and thin layers of shell electrons, until the atoms become so heavy and complex that their inner stability begins to deteriorate in the form of radioactivity. This loss of stability indicates the end of (the) matter in the incomplete 7th row or the uranium series.

The themes of the seven series:

1 . The hydrogen series can hardly be called a series, because it consists of only two atoms, Hydrogen and Heliium . This is the initiation of the evolution of elements. Hydrogen is the lightest and the simplest atom is like the first born in space. This series of ’only one or two’ represents the dualistic principle, the pairs of opposites. Therapeutic hydrogen helped in severe forms of cyclothymia, even after Lithium had failed, especially with pronounced forms of megalomania alternating with devastating feelings of nothingness. In this series there is only yes or no, to be or not to be. With hydrogen as the affirmative, helium represents a futile negation of existence by cutting off any communication, as in autism, in which it has been used successfully.

2 . The second level is the carbon series with eight elements from Lithium to Fluor . These light and small, ’young’ elements represents the development of the body, of simple self-confidence and physical vitality as in childhood.

3 . The ’ripening’ eight elements of the silicium series from Natrum to Chlorum represent the level of adolescence in the family, relationship, and love affairs.

4 . The ’grown-up’ eighteen elements of the iron series from Kali to Brom stand for duty and teamwork as in schools ("non scholae, sed vitae") or factories, for rules and regulations. This series is ’grown-up’ also in the sense that for the first time it spans the fully differentiated number of eighteen stages.

5 . The fifth level of the silver series with another eighteen elements represents creative genius, show and performance in arts, scientific publications, and the position of mediators in middle management. You will recognize these in the following cases.

6 . The gold series stand for leadership, responsibility, power and politics. It includes a special sub series, the Lanthanides, with an emphasis on development of inner power and autonomy.

7 . The uranium series may stand for a kind of ‘sixth sense’ or attempted intuition. Most of our Radium and Uranium cases were obese people who also felt psychologically ’heavy’. This series is indeed falling apart, emitting energy, for reason of having become too heavy. Correspondingly, there is a sense that life is too precarious, with death always present as its antipode, but with a full and radiating quality. Unstable wisdom. 

The eighteen stages

     As we have seen, each series represents a period of development. Each period has a rise and a fall. It has a beginning, a summit and a decline. This rise and fall is divided into stages. The hydrogen series has only two elements. So this series has only two stages yes or no. The Carbon and silicium series are more differentiated and consist of eight elements. So they have eight stages. The iron, silver and gold series are fully differentiated in eighteen stages. The stages are the vertical columns or the periodic table. All elements of the same stages are in the same column. Foe example, copper (which is in the iron series), silver, and gold are all in stage 11, the stage of maintaining and keeping up wealth with conservative attitude. In chemistry, the stages are called groups. So copper, silver, gold, which are in 11 th group, have similar chemical properties, because they share the same electron configuration.

    A characterisation of each single stage is given in the following chapter of cases of the silver series. Here is a general overview of the dynamics of the stages: the left side elements (stage 1-9) are in the beginning stages, trying to fill up their electrons shells. They strive for completion. Stage 1 just gives away its first and only electron without thinking twice; it begins spontaneously and enters the ’stage’ without doubt. Often even without thinking and just doing it in a native fashion. Stage 2-9 is in doubt if they can make it, but doubt decreases by steps. Thus, stage 2-5 is most uncertain and suffers from indecision, but doubt lessens with growing experience. Stage 6-9 hides doubt by resolution with growing confidence, until the last shade of doubt has to be discarded in stage9. On reaching the summit or stage 10 in mid-position, there is an equal choice of bonding with left or right-sided atoms. This position naturally feels as if on top of the series, as can be easily seen with the natural arrogance of platinum, which is stage 10 of the gold series and feels on top of the world, looking down upon the small creatures on either side below. Going further (stage 11-17); they begin to encounter a feeling of increasing loss, which is experienced as a decline. Although they feel confident, thinking that they know it all after having reached the summit at stage 10, suspicion enters. From stage 11 onwards, anxiety about losing their position becomes as increasing problem. Stage 16-17 feels like an outcast. Stage 18 is called the noble gas configuration. Their outer shell is complete and these atoms are chemically inactive. They lose interest in communication, hovering in their orbit like in a cocoon, as if taking a break in between the lines in a nowhere land, before the next round of a new series begins with stage 1 on the next level.

Stages and miasms

Hahnemann introduced a threefold miasmatic classification of chronic disease: Psora, sycosis and syphilis. Sankaran has elaborated on these and differentiated ten miasms. He sees them as specific attitudes or reactions towards typical forms of disease, with a progressing depth or intensity of desperation. He grouped them in horizontal succession. There is high hope in the miasms to the left and dejection and desperation to the right, ending with syphilis. This clearly corresponds to Scholten’s stages. ’Acute miasm’ is stage 1, ’ringworm’ is stage 3, ’malaria’ in stage 5, ’sycosis’ spans stage 6-12 with a peak in stage 10 ’leprosy’ is stage 16 and ‘syphilis’ is stage 17. Another parallel of miasms and stages according to Sankaran, the miasm can be seen on every level of a case. In Scholten’s theory, the stages are common to all series. But these authors interpret ‘level’ and ’series’ quite differently.

Cases From the Silver Series

The elements of the silver series (ss) represent creative and unique people from science, art and show business. They publicly present and mediate ideas and like performances on stage. Scholten’s key words of the silver series are:

Creation Inspiration, Ideas, Culture- Unique, Admiration -Aesthetics, Beautiful, Ugly - Art, Science, Mysticim - Show, Performance - Queen, Ambition, Hurt, Humiliation.

You will find some of these aspects of silver series in all of the following cases. As they are given in the order of the eighteen stages, you can see their dynamics from the beginning to the end. The development after stage 1 starts with doubt about their own creativity (2-9), until full confidence is gained (10), which is then set against the experience of loss (11-17). The culmination of artistic or scientific success spans from stages 7-12 and declines to loss and destruction of creative ideas in stages 13-17/18. For a ready grasp, the keywords or key-concepts are given in brackets with reference to stage (st) and series (ss). The following 25 cases are from our practice.

1. Rubidium (Stage 1: The stage of initiation and single-mindedness). She was a highly creative (ss), spontaneous and naive (st), women of 68 years, working with innovative ideas(Rubi) in the fashion business (ss, Sulph), and designing (ss), expensive clothes (Sulph). Fifty years ago as a young women she spontaneously (st 1) went to Paris (city of the arts - ss, ’capital of grande - nation’ = st 10). Though a country woman from a small town, she went completely on her own (st1) and even went completely on her own (st 1) and even without knowing any French. She was convinced that she would make it somehow or other. Indeed she succeeded after many obstacles. After returning to Germany, she had her own design business and created fashion clothes, but then she retired and lived alone(st 1). She was still very restless and driven, and continued to design clothes. She had hypertension for an unknown period. When we saw her, BP was 180/120, and she took bisoprolol in low dose. After Rubidium MK, in the course of three weeks hypertension went down to 155/90, constricting cardiac pains subsided restlessness improved, climacteric flushes ameliorated, and inflammation of right knee of two months standing subsided. Then Rubidium Sulphuricum 30k was given. She could leave off bisophrolol and was stabile with 140/90, no more pain in heart region. Her vision of the left eye had been weak since childhood, but this also normalized after four months. During this period she was fine. She then consulted another doctor and we didn’t see her any more. Her colour preferences were red 9C and blue 15C, but as this is only Rubidium sulpuricium case, they serve only as an idea for further cases.

2. Strontum (stage 2: undecided, assessing). A timid (st2) psychologist, 60 years; her favourite hobby is writing lyrics (ss) even from childhood. She was very kind (Phos) but too shy to publish her manuscripts (Stront) from fear of being criticised by the public (Stront), so she had kept her works hidden. She suffered from an insecure feeling (st 2) in her ankles (Stront) with frequent sprains and stiffness after a complicated fracture many years age. The themes of Strontium were clearly seen. Her colour preference was 14 B, a pale violet. This confirmed the choice of Strontium. An hour after Strontium phosphorium MK , she felt as if drunk and then slept deeply at noon (quite unusual for her). Then she got moving pains in all places she had suffered from in the past. One month after the remedy she started publishing her books and had good success. There is still some stiffness, but her ankles are much better and she can run, which she couldn’t do before. Observation period is two years. See also H & H, p.304.

3. Yttrium (stage 3: searching, in doubt what to do, uncommitted; see also the Scandium case). A young man; he was rather uncommitted truth seeker who studied a little of Plato’s philosophy to understand society (ss ? lanthanide?). He used to give up after a little search without really grasping what he wanted to study (st3). He changed his university curriculum several times (Yttr, Lanth). He disliked competition and trembled quickly. His main complaints were sleeplessness, trigeminal neuralgia (ss) of three years’ standing and meniscus pains worse from exertion. The neuralgia subsided three weeks after Yttrium MK, and the old meniscus pain got cured. The remedy was repeated after two months. For four months he remained completely OK; also the trembling and mental insecurity were much better. Afterwards he moves to Spain and we haven’t seen him for three years.

Another patient doing well on Yttrium threw an I Ching (ss) every day (frequent changes = st3) but never followed the advice given by the hexagrams (uncommitted = st3).

Both patients preferred the colour yellow-orange 4C; a third Yttrium patient desired pure yellow; as 4C is on trial as a colour preference for Yttrium.

4. Zirconium (stage 4: doubting if they can succeed after having started officially). A young man had just began his university study of musical sciences (st4 of ss = Zinc); he finds it very difficult and is still dependent on his mother. He reacted to Zirconium MK with nausea on the same day, slept deeply in the afternoon and dreamt of playing a guitar concert with much applause (ss), but one person criticised him severely (perhaps his mother, he couldn’t tell). Soon after this he got over his hand-ups. He said that he formerly did only a little of everything, but now he really made up his mind and goes for his studies seriously. Here Zirconium was only situational and had no constitutional effect. It helped him only for this specific problem. The dependence on his mother still remained. Then he had a dream: he was the conductor of an orchestra (silver or gold series), but his mother (Mur) ridiculed him (Barium). Barium muriaticum MK helped him deeply. He wrote a letter of thanks stating his mental progress and growing self-confidence. He feels free from his mother also. Then he began a study to be a conductor of an orchestra. This had been his dream ever since he was a child Observation period is three years.

5. Niobium (stage 5: repeatedly failing in unrealistic attempts, not knowing how to go on, postponing and getting stuck in preparations). A man of 30 suffered from severe sleeplessness with burning on vertex. Just at the moment of falling asleep he felt as if something clicked and he was awake again. This started after he began studying physics (ss). His father was a mechanic and wanted him to achieve, but when he started to study, the father became suspicious. He had attempted several curricula, but each time he failed (st5) and afterwards returned to simple jobs, which ameliorated his sleep a little. The last time he studied philosophy (ss, Lanth) for two years, when tinnitus (ss) forced him to give up. Since the first week after Niobium 30K/200K he sleeps well and dreamlessly every night and wakes up in time, refreshed. He takes things easier and has no more fear of failing. The burning feeling on vertex had returned only once, but it was milder and didn’t hinder his sleep. This is more than six years back, and we have not seen him since.

Another case of Niobium was in a woman with M. Parkinson (ss?). She had an adopted daughter and kept postponing (st5) telling her the truth about her parentage until the marriage of the daughter was imminent, when she finally told the facts in the form of a letter. The daughter was so shocked that she cancelled the marriage. It was during this period that she developed Parkinson. She is under heavy allopathic medication and Niobium 30K only minimizes the rigidity and gives her a kind of ease, but it still palliates after more than five years. Whenever she leaves it off (she needs it every 2-3 days) she feels the change. The patient did not dare to change treatment and so things are stuck halfway, which is also typical of stage 5.

6. Molybden (stage 6: have to prove themselves, challenge, never show weakness). A woman who had migraine for nine years. She wanted a second child but had amenorrhoea since two years. Formerly she was working in the PR department (ss) of a bank, but now she was only working ’backstage’ in bookkeeping, which she regretted, because she missed the challenges (st6) of publicity (ss). Her colour preferences were blue 15C and ochre yellow 3C. These confirmed the choice of Molybdenum. Twenty minutes after Molybdenum MK she turned pale with severe headache, nausea and vomiting followed by perspiration. The aggravation tasted for two days. Afterwards she got her first menses in two years. Three months later she had another attack of migraine. Molybdenum was repeated and again caused a severe reaction. Menses returned every seven weeks from that time on. Migraine was much less frequent for one year, but no pregnancy. We interpreted the severe aggravation as a sign that the remedy was quite close but not really perfect. As she desired another child from her husband (Sulph), we tried Molybdenum Sulphuricum 30K . She got pregnant the very same month delivered a healthy child and was very happy. An example of handwriting can be on p. 237 of H & H.

7. Technetium (stage 7: helpful learning and improving by feedback). She was a former medical scientist (ss) in the pharmaceutical industry and practised acupuncture. She would have liked to do it in an inspirational way (ss), but felt she was too technical. She wanted to cooperate (st7) with other creative (ss) colleagues (st7) to get inspired (Techn). She exhausted herself quickly, perhaps because she was too helpful. She felt drained of energy after each patient. This symptom was cured quickly after Technetium MK. It worked the very same day and her old energy returned; her old zeal came back. She does not feel drained any more. She said this was the only thing it did for her, but it was also the only thing she had complained of. This was four years back, and she now runs a successful practice.

8. Ruthenium (stage 8: Preserving under pressure, forcing one’s way against resistance). A man of 49, consultant (ss) for ecological (ss) farming. He was preparing for a public presentation (ss) and felt under pressure (st8) to convince his audience (Ruth), when he for kidney colic with excruciating pains. The pain was so severe that he lay writhing on the floor. Formerly Ruthenium MK had been a deep acting constitutional remedy for him. He remembered this when he had the colic and tried it as a rescue remedy. It helped immediately, and in a few minutes the colic was gone. He was a convinced ecological farmer and wanted to convince others too. This is the typical situation of Ruthenium (cf. ’Repertory of the elements’ p 32). Formerly he had suffered from chronic effects of an old brain trauma after a car accident twenty years ago, and Ruthenium had helped him greatly for the past five years. In fact was the best remedy he had even taken, after trying all the typical trauma remedies with little success. He had taken Ruthenium many times over a period of more than five years with Ruthenium and increasing success. Ruthenium is a good remedy for whiplash. We could verify this clinical indication in many other cases. His colour preference is blue 15C as with several other Ruthenium patients, and his hand writing is shown together with another case (H & H, p 286). He was our first and best case of the remedy. It was more than 8 year back from now that he took it for the first time and he has needed no other remedy since.

9. Rhodium (stage 9 ; nearly complete at this point of being authorised, sure about himself, but needs the final approval) It helped an ambitious sixteen- year -old boy who wanted to become a famous TV star (ss); he had been suffering from severe headache for six weeks, formerly worse by rainy weather, appearing almost every day with increasing intensity. He had stage fright (Rhodi) when he played guitar in public (ss). The day after Rhodium 200K MK he had to lie down for the whole day, and after the second day the headache was gone. He also gained confidence in public. He has needed no repetition for more than two year now.

Another fourteen year old Rhodium patient had the problem of failing in written exams, whereas she was brilliant in oral test. Her teacher observed this and asked her to go to a homeopath. She said she gets a complete blackout at the very moment she sees the written tasks of the exam (st9/10); it feels like a big mountain to be climbed all at once. She had an unusual capacity of finding her way in large cities(ss) by looking just briefly at a map. The first night after Rhodium MK she had wild dreams and awoke many times, felt as if the had slept only for two hours. Since then the fear of tests at school was gone. She got better results, became softer and less impatient. She has been stable for a year.

Two more cases are shown along with handwritings (H & H, p 279. One was a student of economics who was cured of chronic effects of an Achilles tendon rupture (a clinical indication of rhodium). The other patient suffered from MS, which had started during an examination (st9). She expected a kind of ’Blitz’ homeopathy to call off an imminent operation at the very last moment (st9).

10. Palladium (Stage 10: simply the best but you must justify it; being on top; you can also fall deep). A young chemistry scientist (ss) with high ambitions. She wanted to be best and she is the best (st10), winning prizes etc. All the same she was afraid to look foolish or to fall completely in a test (st9/10). Such were also the themes in her dreams, that she forgot something essential (st9). The DD between Rhodium and Palladium was difficult. Both remedies prefer blue 15C as she does. But handwritings of both remedies differ considerably and hers looked like other Palladium cases (’H & H’, P. 257). After Palladium MK, she and those around her noticed a change in her behaviour. Anxiety was gone. She noticed that in the course of two weeks, she was able to admit a mistake. "I feel that I don’t block my own path any more". She had chronic headache before which was also gone. Sleeplessness much improved. Observation period is five years.

Another case of Palladium was an ambitious actress and singer (ss) who enjoyed the limelight like a drug (Pall). She also had to be the centre of attention during every consultation. There was no other way but listening to her dramatic descriptions, even when she took too much time. She had the same fears as the other Pall, patient (to fall during a performance and to be looked down upon), same colour preference blue 15 - 16C and similar handwriting. The first few nights after Palladium, she slept very uneasily, tossed in bed, dreamt about justifying her position, negotiations, and the need to be appreciated. During the next two months she began feeling more like herself than ever. This was expressed by increasing success in her drama performances; her self-confidence has become free from the fear of failure. There were no physical complaints in this case. This was nine year ago.

11. Argentum (stage 11: maintain and conserve) is well documented in many cases in out literature. We saw a case of Argentum Sulphuricum ten years ago: a woman with bright eyes and penetrating gaze, wide space between the eyes, facial skin (Sulph) and a little scarred. She came for recurrent sciatica and depression. The sciatica pain, extending to left leg, was permanent for several months, worse standing (Sulph). For fifteen years she had never been really well. She had viral hepatitis, which she contracted in India. She wanted to maintain (st11) her relationship (Sulph) with an old hippy, with whom she had travelled during those years. They separated and reunited (st11) several times. He seems to reflect her desire to keep alive (st11) her creative independence (ss); but he just misused her love (Sulph). The remedy choice was really no more than a lucky strike. Its Argentum part was just chosen because of her colour preference (black), indicating the Argentum and her handwriting (’H & H’, p.47). The Sulphur anion was added because of worse standing modality and the dirty skin appearance. We did not know Scholten’s series and stages then, but they fit in well, and it is only now that we see the other indications of stage 11 and the silver series. Argentum Sulphuricum 200K acted beautifully on all levels. The sciatica pain was gone after three days. She left more in balance mentally already after the first days. After three weeks the general depression was over. She was surprised at the changes the remedy had wrought for her. She looked finer and more beautiful. We saw her the last time five months after the remedy, and she was completely fine. This was about ten years ago. No repetition was needed.

12. Cadmium (stage 12; defence and attack; exaggerated fear of secret enemies; repetition of old patterns, but overdoing it) was frequently used with success in cancer cases by Grimmer , a truly great homeopath. Cancer is an exaggerated and malignant (st12) creation (ss) of cells. Cancer is frequently triggered by situation of exaggerated mental control and critical stress. Simonton describes this fact, and its application by element theory supports Grimmer’s chain. Patients requiring cadmium prefer deep purple to dark indigo 12-14 DE.

Here is a case of ours. He was loner, difficult to get along with and had no friends after he had moves from East Germany ten years ago. He came because he wanted homeopathic psychotherapy. He talked hurriedly and liked to argue. He stressed his discontent with society and longed for the super-control (st12) of socialism, where everything was regulated and safe. He got cadmium because of his tendency to exaggerate (st 12) of social and philosophical problems (ss). His colour preference 14E and the very good similarity of his handwriting (’H & H’, p.80) with two Cadmium sulphuricum cases induced the choice of the sulphuricum version. The first night after Cadmium sulphuricum 200K he dreamt about quarrels with his colleagues, and after two to three days he began to feel much better. In fact he said he felt very good, a thing you would not have expected of him. After one month he was quite content with his life. He had become calmer and talked without hurry. He realized that he had been a dominating character and had quarrelled (st12) too often with his girlfriend (Sulph), and he said that he had changed that. In the course of two years he still had some fight with her, but he seems to be stable.

13. Indium (stage 13: reduced, nostalgic, retiring to the good days and ways). A talkative old man of 78 years. Though restricted (st 13), he was sexually over-stimulated, enjoyed erotic videos and shocked his family with this. He sarcastically (st 13) ridiculed the Pope and his dogmas, thinking that he knew better (st 10 onwards). As a hobby he still directed a museum (Indium). He revelled in his bygone days of would be grandeur (st 16) during the war, although he had only been a sergeant. He complained about weak memory and prostate troubles. After Indium MK he had two days of pain in kidneys and liver. Then his complaints got better, and his memory, general health and transaminase values improved. From then on he said he was completely OK for five years, after which period he came back because of frequent nycturia and high levels of PSA (indicating possible prostate cancer), he was then 83 years old. Indium MK was repeated plus Selenium D6 daily and we have not seen him for four years. He had only sent an art postcard stating that he is doing fine. It shows "good old art", a painting in the Spitzweg style. His handwriting is shown on p. 184 (H & H).

Scholten saw another Indium patient, who also directed a museum. It is typical of indium: holding on to obsolete ideas, stubbornly clinging to the good old arts and despising the younger intellectuals with all their new ideas.

14. Stannum (stage 14: disengaged, empty shell, formal appearance). This remedy greatly helped in a severe case of Lyme’s disease. He was a religious writer (ss), who felt drained (st 14) of nerve energy (ss) and completely exhausted, as if the marrows were gone and only the body continued like an empty shell. The weakness had started with the voice (ss), he felt completely exhausted after talking (stann). It felt as if his energy was drained by the throat. As the element theory was not known to us then, DD Argentum/ Stannum was difficult, and we tried both remedies. Argentum helped, but Stannum MK was definitely better. He felt the effect immediately. He took the remedy as needed and recovered completely in the course of a year. He has been completely well for more than eleven years.

Another two cases of Stannum iodatum and Stannum phosphoricum were seen in posttraumatic dystrophia (Sudeck-syndrome). The diagnosis itself is characteristic: the limb is drained (st14) of nerve energy (ss) and is like an empty shell (st 14), the vital force is lacking inside, even the bone withers (local osteoporosis) - this could be gold series (they target the bone and marrows). We have seen seven cases of Sudeck dystrophia cured with Plumbum and Stannum; Plumbum phosphoricum was the outstanding remedy.

15. Antimonium (stage15: loss and defeat - forgive and forget: learn to sacrifice and let go; the drowning man will clutch at a straw). Antimonium had problems with loss (st15) of honour (ss). They feel disgraced and with a sullen defiance they dislike being looked at. Usually Antimonium crudum is given, which contains three parts of Sulphur. This modifies its character towards a grosser Sulphuric appearance: the fatty and indolent type for which it is mostly known. We recently sae Antimonium metallicum in a slender boy of fine features, quite unlike the Antimonium crudum picture. He hated most of all attacks on his dignity. He madly clung (st15/17) to the idea of being something special (ss) and was beaten by his classmates for his form of arrogance: they hated him. He mentally retaliated by becoming a silent martyr: he even didn’t tell his parents. He would never let go (st15/17) of his mental dignity (ss) and never wept, which made his enemy even more furious. Two days after Antimonium metallicum 200K a change came over him. He began to accept advice from his parents, was less blocked and less arrogant. But he had for long nurtured another oddity: he never disposed off anything he owned; he even refused to throw off his old socks. When his mother would put a worn-out T-shirt in the garbage) oxide), he searched for it and recovered it. This whim did not change. And it took him two hours to fall sleep every night. Perhaps he could not let go of his thoughts. Six months later Antimonium oxidatum 200K (oxygen stands for stinking and rotten things) was given. It worked even better, and he can now let go off worn out things. He gets along well along with his classmates. He goes to bed and falls asleep. This is only nine months back, and the case is still going on. The remedy was chosen according to series and stage. His colour preference confirmed it, cyan 17C. The two colour preferences of Antimonium are magenta and cyan.

16. Tellurium (stage 16: decay; ragged and rotten; live lazily in bygone days of glory and demand back what they think is still theirs, tempting, theorizing). A man of 75; he was a philologist for historic languages (st13-16, ss) who neglected himself (st16). I did not see this man; his wife told me about her problems with him. She had to care of him, because he had become so lazy (st16) that he neglected (st16) everything. He only liked to read his old and fanciful looks (tell). She gave me a sample of his handwriting, which confirmed the suspected remedy Tellurium. She sent me a postcard two weeks after Tellurium MK , stating that he was slowly beginning to clean up his mess and was returning to a better standard of order. She also wrote that he was beginning to "clean up his past". She was very happy about the change. She also noted that his hearing had improved. The case is a recent observation and only dates back nine months. So the famous ’ ragged philosopher’ is not only Sulphur.

17. Iodum (stage 17: extinguished, expelled, beyond hope). One feature of Iodum is the loss (st15-17) of cultural background (Ss) in refuses, expelled (st17) from their countries; a desperate fight for existence (st17) in a foreign culture (ss). We saw a case of a restless and demanding African girl of twelve. A German couple had adopted her. She had fits of aggression and would suddenly demolish things (st17). She was afraid that the men of the garbage collection (st16-17) would grab and take her away (st17). Her main complaint was a very severe form of acne of face, back and chest. About a dozen ’ well - indicted remedies’ had failed during a period of two years. Iodum D6 in daily doses of ten drop was tried just because of the known indication of the remedy for acne, her slender figure, and her demanding restlessness. This was in 1996, just before the book about the elements (H & E) was published. So I had no idea about stages and the refugee concept. The remedy acted beautifully. Six weeks later I got a call from the mother, who said the skin had become "super". Unfortunately I left it at that and did not ask for more information. We continued with Iodum LM 18 daily, later only once a week. She continued for six months and then stopped because their was no more need. She has become a sweet women with nearly clear skin (some scars left) and is training to become a teacher, going back to Africa. We saw her just recently coming back from Ghana.

18. Xenon (stage 18: pause, inactive, transformed by stillness) is known as the ideal   in anaesthetic without any side effects, it is just too expensive for common use. This very quality of the element is depicted by its position in the periodic table: unconscious = complete loss of mental activity, completely free (st18) from any ideas (ss). We have seen no homeopathic case.

References                                 

1. Sankaran r. the Sensation in Homeopathy. Bombay: Homeopathic medical publisher,    2004.

2. Scholten J. Homeopathy and the Elements. Utrecht: Stichting Alonnissos, 1996.

3. Scholten J. Homeopathy and Science. Homeopathic links 2004; 17: 160.

4. Scholten J. Homeopathy and Minerals . Utrecht: Stichting Alonnissos, 1993.

5. Scholten J. Homeopathy and Perfinity . Homeopathic links, 2004;17:164.

6. Trueb  l.Die chemischen Elemente - ein Streifzug durch das Periodensystem . Stuttgart : Hirzel verlag,1996 .

7. Welte U. colours in Homeopathy. Kandern: narayana verlag, 2003.

8.  Welte U. handwriting and Homeopathy . Kandern: Narayana Verlag, 2005.

Vita

Ulrich Welte’s intrest in Homeopathy arose during his medical studies in the early seventies. The first homeopathic years were inspired by the old classics, especially Hahnemann and Kent. Several years in allopathic and naturopathic hospitals furnished a solid clinical work as homeopathic GP in a joint practice in Kandern, Black forest, Germany together with Herbert Sigwart MD. An old friendship brought them together. They also practice meditation guided by Swami Narayana along with the daily work. Further inspirations in homeopathy came by the works of George Vithoulkas, then HV Muller, later by Rajan Sankaran and especially Jan Scholten. With Jan, he developed a sincere and fruitful cooperation ever since the first publication of Homeopathy and Minerals in 1993. Many of Ulrich welte’s cases are in Jan Scholten’s publications. He has been instrumental in the homeopathic integration of scientific systems like the periodic table and botanic with the introduction of patient colour preference as a homeopathic symptoms.