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

Natrum Muriaticum is one of the most psychologically complex and poignant remedies in our materia medica. Because deep grief and sorrow are hallmarks of the character of Natrum Muriaticum, and because these emotions have (or will have someday) touched and shaped each human life, almost everyone will deeply identify with this remedy description.
<<Sensitivity>>. The Natrum Muriaticum personality is highly sensitive and refined. It is easy to see how such an individual could come to be wounded by life - whether by criticisms, insults, intentional rejections, or inevitable losses. In Natrum Muriaticum, these wounds are deeply felt and result in the patient placing a psychological wall around himself to avoid further pain. Thus the patient may appear closed or even hard.
<<Introversion.>> The Natrum Muriaticum patient is introverted and overly serious. He is responsible and perfectionistic. Often the patient is overly mentalized. In the interview he often offers very little information, and hesitates before his answers. During the course of the interview a significant grief is often discovered. The patient will discuss this grief only with reluctance or may show hostility that he is being asked such personal questions which result in bitter, involuntary, or hysterical tears.
<<Hysteria.>> There is an opposite presentation in which the patient seems abnormally open and can discuss even intimate aspects of his life, apparently not at all embarrassed. This is especially true of patients who have undergone psychotherapy and have "learned to be open." Yet this behavior is unnatural to him and comes across as forced or almost hysterical. Of course a great number of Natrum Muriaticum patients will not present in either of these extreme forms.
<<Reserve>>. The Natrum Muriaticum patient has extremely easily hurt feelings. The patient dwells on insults or criticisms and finds it very difficult to forgive. Anything which implies criticism, humiliation or rejection is intolerable. He is unable to ask for help because of the humiliation. For this same reason he is unable to accept, or is even aggravated by consolation. Despite this inhibition, the patient may be very sympathetic to the problems of others and finds that many people confide in him. These confidences are given because others feel that the Natrum Muriaticum patient is kind, but also so closed as to never divulge secrets.
<<Grief>>. When a loss (for example, through death), or a serious rejection ("Unrequited love") occurs the patient experiences abnormally prolonged grief and depression. Many times physical conditions - either functional or pathological - may occur from such griefs. Natrum Muriaticum is our most prominent remedy in patients whose problems begin from grief or insufficiently processed grief.
<<Romantic>>. The Natrum Muriaticum patient is often highly romantic but after a disappointment closes himself to further relationships for many years. This patient is rarely the cause of a separation, being loyal and dedicated to his loved ones. Often we will discover that the patient has been existing in an unhappy relationship for many years - too closed to his partner to fix the problem yet too loyal to leave.
<<Perfectionism>>. The typical patient is controlled and perfectionistic. Often the patient can be compulsively fastidious, trying to control the environment. As regards health matters, the patient may develop a type of hypochondria which is expressed as an anxious desire to find the cause of every blemish or pimple. This tendency goes along with the fastidious control of the environment and perfectionism. Excessive control can cover an inner hysteria in Natrum Muriaticum patients. When the inhibitions are broken the patient may cry hysterically, express long denied anger, or even exhibitionistic tendencies.
<<Children>>. The Natrum Muriaticum child is well-behaved and often mature beyond his years; "like a little adult." The child has a strong need for affection and is overly vulnerable. Like the adult, the child prefers to be alone with his griefs and will shrug off his parents consoling hug. Even as adolescents this same sensitivity and inability to accept help is problematic. The child is also extremely responsible about his homework or his family's needs. It should be recalled that a Natrum Muriaticum type may resort to drug use to help numb his emotional pain.

Mind.
<<Closed, responsible, dignified and much affected by grief.>>
AILMENTS FROM GRIEF AND DISAPPOINTED LOVE. SILENT GRIEF.
<<Depression>>, even suicidal feelings.
<<Too serious and overly proper and responsible.>>
<<Easily offended or wounded>>; complaints from humiliation.
SAD YET UNABLE TO WEEP.
<<Involuntary and hysterical weeping.>>
<<Aversion to company.>> Desires and ameliorated by being alone.
<<Dwells on past griefs and humiliations.>>
<<Fastidious.>> Perfectionistic. Always on time. Compulsive.
<<Averse to consolation.>>
Fears: <<Robbers>> or people breaking in to the house. Dark. Storms. <<Claustrophobia.>> Insects. Germs. Heights.
Hypochondria. Anxious about tiny blemishes.
Sensitive to noise and music.
Uses alcohol to loosen inhibition; "When I drink I love everyone."
Premenstrual syndrome with irritability and sadness.
Bites fingernails.

General.
Warm-blooded and generally aggravated from heat although some patients are chilly.
GENERAL AGGRAVATION FROM THE SUN.
<<General aggravation at 10 AM.>>
General aggravation from the sea; sometimes better at the sea.
Periodic complaints.
Recurring fevers; periodic fever.
General amelioration from perspiration.
Malaria or even a family history of malaria.
Anemia.
Neurologic disease: main remedy in multiple sclerosis.
Twitches or tremor, especially of the face and head.
Appearance: The patient often has a serious appearance. The hair style is practical and unflattering. He wears thick, awkward glasses. The face and lips are thin or pinched. The neck is
long and thin but often the patient is heavy in the thighs and buttocks. The skin is pale and fine with blue veins showing.
Vertigo, worse pregnancy, worse tea, worse looking to distance, causes nausea.
Vertigo with tendency to fall, especially to the left.

Head.
HEADACHE; MIGRAINE.
<<Headache, worse light, worse sun, worse reading,>> worse before or after the period, worse noise, worse head injury.
HEADACHE WORSE 10 AM OR FROM 10 AM TO 3 PM.
HEADACHE "LIKE HAMMERS BEATING THE HEAD."
<<Headache from grief.>>
<<Headache in schoolgirls.>>
Headache, better from lying in dark, quiet room, better by perspiration, better cold application.
Headache felt in any location, more often right-sided hemicrania, but also occipital, etc.
Numbness in face or lips (or even extremities) before headache.
Facial neuralgia, worse from suppressed malaria or use of quinine, especially on the left side.
Whitish crusts on the scalp; eruptions at hair margin (Sulph).
HAY FEVER, especially in over-mentalized patients.
CORYZA ALBUMINOUS OR "EGG-WHITE". Colds begin by sneezing.
HERPETIC ERUPTION - LIPS, face, corners of nose and mouth, chin.
<<Cracks of the lips>>, especially of the corners of the mouth.
<<Aphthae>> of mouth, gums, tongue; glossitis.

Eyes.
LACRIMATION OF THE EYES, WORSE OPEN AIR OR WIND, worse cough, worse reading.
EYELID WITH TRANSVERSE LINE THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE UPPER LID, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN.
A fine line under the margin of the lower lid.
Pains of the eyes, worse looking, worse reading.
Visual disturbance before headache.
Allergic "shiners".

Throat.
Emaciated appearance of throat, neck and face.
Goitre and thyroid conditions.
Pharyngitis with stitching pains.
Sensation of a lump in the throat.

Gastro-intestinal.
Peptic ulcers, often beginning from grief or conflict.
Craves: SALT. SOUR. Lemon. Bitter. Beer. Chocolate. Fish. Burned food or burned toast. Bread. Milk.
Averse: <<Fat.>> <<Rich foods. Slimy foods>> and egg-white. <<Chicken.>> Bread. Salt. Milk.
Thirsty for ice cold drinks (Phos, Sulph).
Colitis with sudden urging for diarrheic stool, hemorrhage from rectum after stool.
Bleeding hemorrhoids, worse after hard stool. Constipation.

Urinary and Sexual Organs.
"BASHFUL KIDNEYS"; UNABLE TO URINATE IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
Stress incontinence.
Chronic nephritis.
Falling out of the pubic hair.
Uterine prolapse. Chronic leukorrhea.
During sex, the desire to use dirty words.
<<Painful coition. Vaginal dryness.>> Vaginitis.
<<Aversion to sex in women>>, especially after the emotions are closed down due to grief.

Chest.
ASTHMA IN THE EVENING, worse 5 to 7 PM.
Palpitations at night, worse lying left side, worse noise.
Sighing.

Extremities.
BACK PAIN AND LOW BACK PAIN, BETTER LYING ON SOMETHING HARD OR PRESSING AGAINST THE FIST OR AN OBJECT SUCH AS A BOOK.
Cracked skin of fingers.
Peeling of the fingertips.
Cracked nails.
Eczema. Urticaria. Psoriasis. Ringworm.
Hangnails.
Tremor of hands (and whole head).
Bites the fingernails.

Sleep.
INSOMNIA; CANNOT FALL ASLEEP FROM THOUGHTS OF GRIEFS OF THE DAY AND DISAGREEABLE THINGS FROM LONG PAST.
<<Sleeps on the left side.>>
Dreams of robbers.

Clinical.
Allergy. Anemia. Aphthae. Arrhythmia. Asthma. Chemical sensitivity. Chronic fatigue syndrome. Colitis. Connective tissue diseases. Depression. Diabetes. Dyspareunia. Eczema. Fever. Fever of unknown origin. Gastritis. Globus hystericus. Goitre. Grave's disease. Headache. Hemorrhoids. Herpes. Hypertension. Inflammatory bowel disease. Irritable bowel syndrome. Insomnia. Low back pain. Malaria. Malignancy. Migraine. Multiple Sclerosis. Nephritis. Obesity. Peptic ulcer. Premenstrual syndrome. Psoriasis. Sciatica. Sexual dysfunction. Stomatitis. Suicidal states. Thyroiditis. Tinea. Urticaria. Vaginitis. Vertigo.

Relationship.
Complementaries.
Apis. Bry. Ign. Lyc. Sep.
Comparisons.
Nat-C - Headache, worse sun, worse milk, grief, sensitive noise and music, aphthae, herpes.
Nat-S - Headache, gastrointestinal disorders, grief and severe depression, sensitive to music, asthma, head injury.
Ign - Grief, globus hystericus, aversion to consolation, sighing, etc.
Sep - Emotionally withdrawn, aversion to sex, amelioration while alone, aversion salt, amelioration from exertion, etc.
Aur - Serious, proud, grief and disappointed love, sensitive music, heart symptoms, severe depression.
Staph. Phos. Kali-C. Chin. Bor. Caust. Cocc.