POLYCHRESTS

ARG-NIT
ARSENICUM
AURUM
BRYONIA
CALC-CARB
CAUSTICUM
CHINA
IGNATIA
KALI-CARB
LACHESIS
LILIUM-TIG
LYCOPODIUM
MERCURIUS
NAT-MUR
NUX-VOM
PHOSPHOROUS
PLATINA
PULSATILLA
RHUS-TOX
SEPIA
SILICA
STAPHYSAGRIA
SULPHUR
THUJA
VERATRUM

Calcium is one of the most ubiquitous materials in life processes, therefore it is no wonder that Calcarea is one of our main polycrests. In fact, a very high percentage of the population may require Calcarea from birth. It is a sign of a strong vitality when we see older people who still require Calcarea as their constitutional remedy, often indicating that the defense mechanism has held the pathology on basically the same level since birth. However, Calcarea is indicated in almost every variety of disease, from common colds to all forms of catastrophic illness - cancer, heart failure, neurological diseases, mental illness. It is a frequent observation that even in advanced diseases, when Calcarea is truly the indicated remedy, the chance for a resolution of the illness is very favorable.
<<Work and responsibility>>. The typical Calcarea patient is solid, responsible and hard-working. He has a strong focus on security and practical matters. When taking on any project, he is methodical and determined. This leads to a tendency to over-work - a main pathology of the adult Calcarea patient. Eventually the patient takes on more and more responsibilities until he becomes overwhelmed. When we have cases of collapse on either the physical or the mental level from over-working, Calcarea is one of the first remedies we must consider.
<<Security>>. Another strong aspect of Calcarea is anxiety and fear. Generally these fears center around security issues such as money and health. When these basic aspects are not secure, the Calcarea patient develops a strong despair and feeling that he will never recover. Other fears of the Calcarea patient center around his ability to function and continue his responsibilities.
<<Overwhelm.>> In many cases, however, the patient will overwhelm his system with his many projects and responsibilities. His mind is tired and will not hold the many projects and details in order. This creates a tremendous anxiety and fear that he may lose his mind or his sanity. Often he will have a feeling that people can see his confusion or he exaggerates the degree of his confusion in his own mind. He may be afraid that others may notice a confusion, even when the actual mental state is normal. <<Phobia.>> Calcarea patients can be troubled with a wide variety of fears. A very high percentage of Calcarea patients have fear of heights, even feeling afraid when seeing other people in a high spot. Calcarea patients also commonly suffer from a very strong fear is of mice and rats, though this phobia is less frequently present than acrophobia.
<<Depression.>> There is also a depressed stage of Calcarea in which the patient loses interest in his work and business and is utterly unable to function. He feels an unreasoning despair. In this stage, the patient may become slovenly or unkempt like Sulphur.
<<Children.>> Calcarea children tend to be plump, tired and have weak resistance to infections. Many authors have remarked that the development can be delayed in Calcarea children, with slowness in the onset of walking or talking. It is important to remember that the absence of slowed development does not contraindicate Calcarea. The child is usually strong-willed, yet often very anxious concerning security. He has problems with anxiety and fears. The child may be very curious, asking questions often about religious or metaphysical things in order to relieve these fears about life and death. These anxieties are reflected in the characteristic nightmares which disturb the sleep. Unlike other remedies with strong anxieties, the Calcarea child faces his anxiety with a conviction that he must learn enough or prepare on his own to overcome life's uncertainties. He wishes to become independent and self-sufficient. Thus the child is nice but obstinate. Even the toddler is difficult to distract from his desires. The child is also hard working, even to the point of being compulsive. Physically, the Calcarea child tends to be solid, even plump or obese. The metabolism may be slow or defective. Often the child is clammy and has a sour odor to perspiration or stool (Rheum, Hep). He will often tire easily from exertion and find it difficult to keep up with his peers. Poor stamina is indicative of Calcarea, however robust children just as often need this remedy.

Mind.
OVER-WORKED, OVER-BURDENED, OVERWHELMED PATIENTS.
<<Strong sense of duty and responsibility.>>
WORKS TO EXHAUSTION THEN MUST GIVE UP HIS JOB ALL TOGETHER.
<<Preoccupation with metaphysical concerns, such as life after death, reincarnation, etc.>>
Fears: <<Heights.>> MICE OR RATS. <<Insanity.>> Insects and spiders. Dogs. Dark. Diseases. Claustrophobia. Cancer. Infections. Tuberculosis. Earthquakes. Storms. Poverty. Accidents.
<<Anxiety about health.>>
DESPAIR OF RECOVERY.
FEELS THAT HIS MIND IS WEAK OR THAT HE MAY GO INSANE, AND THAT OTHERS CAN PERCEIVE THIS CONFUSION.
<<Obstinate.>>
Aversion to hearing bad news, such as when hearing of crimes or accidents on the news or in the paper.
Visions of terrible faces on closing the eyes or even as soon as he lies down at night.
Nightmares or night terrors at any age.

General.
<<Obesity and flabbiness.>> PATIENT PUTS ON WEIGHT QUICKLY AND EASILY.
<<Chilly and generally worse from cold.>> (Although until age 6 or 7 the child is usually warm.)
<<General aggravation from cold wet weather.>>
<<General aggravation from exertion.>>
<<Poor stamina, even in childhood.>>
SENSATION OF INNER TREMBLING.
ALLERGY OR AGGRAVATION FROM ASPIRIN.
GENERAL AGGRAVATION FROM ASCENDING STAIRS OR A HILL.
Generally worse from getting wet.
General aggravation from coition (causing irritability, malaise, trembling, weakness, etc.).
Perspires easily from exertion, on getting cold, at night. Patient becomes cold and clammy.
Frequent colds and flus.
General aggravation from the full moon.
Seizure disorders.
Appearance: PLUMP OR OBESE PATIENT WITH ROUND, SOFT FACE, PALE COMPLEXION. THE FACE HAS MANY FINE WRINKLES.

Head.
<<Vertigo>>, worse ascending, worse looking down from a height, worse turning the head quickly.
PERSPIRATION ON THE HEAD, ESPECIALLY THE OCCIPUT OR THE BACK OF THE NECK AT NIGHT DURING SLEEP.
Slow closure of fontanelles in infants.
Cold head.
Migraine headaches, worse light, worse menses, worse ascending.
Acne, often quite severe.
Recurrent otitis media.
Eruptions on or under the ears. Boils under the ears.
Tinnitus, with or without vertigo.
Chronic nasal obstruction.
Hay fever.
Nasal polyps.
Cervical adenopathy.
Delayed dentition. Teeth break easily.
Recurrent aphthous ulcers of the mouth (the main remedy for this condition in infants).
Frequent tonsillitis and pharyngitis.
Goitre and hypothyroid conditions.

Gastro-intestinal.
Cravings: EGGS. SWEETS (especially pastries and ice cream). Salt. Olives. Indigestibles as chalk, pencils, or dirt. Cheese. Nuts and Seeds. Milk.
Aversions: Fat. Meat. Coffee. Slimy. Milk.
Indigestion. Sour eructations. Heartburn.
Indigestion from milk, bread, dry food.
<<Constipation without an urge for stool.>>
Patient feels no ill effects from constipation.
Clay-like stool (Card-M).
Sour diarrhea, especially in infants.
Fear felt in epigastrium.
Epileptic aura felt in epigastrium.
Emaciation with distended abdomen (marasmus).
Cholecystitis.

Urinary and Sexual Organs.
<<Uterine fibroids>>, sometimes with marked uterine hemorrhages.
METRORRHAGIA, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE TIME OF MENOPAUSE.
Menses "too early, too profuse, lasting too long."
Leukorrhea, acrid or milky, worse between menses. Vaginitis.
Premenstrual syndrome with anxiety, headache, sore breasts.
Sex desire is generally high.
Kidney stones.
Enuresis.
Prostatic hypertrophy.

Chest.
<<Dyspnea with exertion, especially while ascending stairs or a hill; poor stamina.>>
Dyspnea from lying flat or from stooping forwards, especially in heavy set people.
Galactorrhea or excessive lactation.
Breast cancer.
BREASTS SWOLLEN AND PAINFUL ESPECIALLY BEFORE MENSES.

Back.
<<Back weakness and low back pain.>>
Scoliosis.
Degenerative arthritis of the spine. Cervical spondylosis.

Extremities.
<<Arthritis>> either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
<<Pain worse cold, damp>>; worse exertion; worse hanging down.
Fibrositis.
Arthritis affecting mainly the knees.
Arthritic nodosities.
Weakness of limbs, especially weakness of legs from ascending.
Cramping of the thigh, calves, foot muscles, especially in bed at night, and also when stretching or straining.
Late learning to walk.
Sprains linger or become chronic; repeated sprains of the ankles.
Weakness of muscles.
Perspiration and odor from feet.
Bunions.
Varicosities, often painful when standing or walking.
<<Cold, clammy extremities>>: cold, clammy feet and handshake.
COLD FEET IN BED AT NIGHT, MUST WEAR SOCKS TO BED. Later the feet warm-up and become too hot requiring removal of the socks then finally uncovering of the feet.
NAILS DISTORTED, BRITTLE AND BREAK OR PEEL EASILY.

Skin.
Boils or abscess formation at any location of the body.
Eczema and cracking of the skin, especially in the winter.
Warts. Psoriasis.

Sleep.
Sleeps mainly on the left side.
Sleep disturbed by nightmares.

Clinical.
Abscess. Acne. Adenopathy. Allergy. Anxiety. Aphthae. Arthritis. Asthma. Bronchitis. Chemical sensitivity. Cholecystitis. Chronic fatigue syndrome. Claudication. Colds. Connective tissue disease. Constipation. Depression. Eczema. Goitre. Gout. Headache. Heartburn. Hypertension. Hypothyroidism. Influenza. Kidney stone. Leg cramps. Low back pain. Malignancy. Metrorrhagia. Migraine. Mononucleosis. Multiple sclerosis. Muscular dystrophy. Nasal polyps. Night sweats. Nightmares. Obesity. Osteoarthritis. Otitis media. Pharyngitis. Phobic disorder. Premenstrual syndrome. Psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis. Rhinitis. Sciatica. Scleroderma. Scoliosis. Seizure disorder. Sinusitis. Systemic lupus. Tonsillitis. Uterine fibroid. Varicosities. Vertigo. Warts.

Relationship.
Complementaries.
Bell. Rhus-T. Nit-Ac. Calc to Lyc to Sulph to Calc.
Comparisons.
Sil - Delayed development, slow metabolism, defective bone, teeth and nails, perspiration on head in sleep, offensive foot sweat, anxiety, obstinate children, generally worse from cold, desire eggs, abscess formation, constipation.
Kali-C - Responsible and conservative people, anxiety, chilly and worse from cold or damp, constipation, craving sweets, stout or obese, arthritis, kidney stones, generally worse from coition, anxiety felt in epigastrium.
Puls - Pleasant, plump, fears of heights and insanity, desires eggs and sweets, nightmares.
Sanic. Rhus-T. Caps. Ant-C. Graph. Phos. Other Calcareas.