I AM twenty-eight years old, a hard-worked clerk and I come from medium stock and I have been a victim to chronic catarrh for many years. I had read much about nature cure and had tried to cure myself by an eliminating diet, cold baths and an abundance of water and raw fruit, and before all, by occasional fasts.
The fats caused the disappearance of the catarrh for a time but after a time it came back. I was terribly disappointed, especially as several allopathic doctors had assured me that chronic catarrh was incurable.
Some years ago I saw on the bookstall a copy of “HEAL THYSELF”. I liked th title, bought it and became mightily interested in Homoeopathy. I also bought a number of books, studied the new art of healing very thoroughly and at last resolved to treat myself.
I discovered that my catarrh was, to some extent, of the Pulsatilla type. Beside that I found that I had many Pulsatilla symptoms. I am sentimental, cannot digest fat or rich foods, tears come easily to my eyes when I go to the theatre and I cannot stand stuffy rooms. Also when I am in bed I frequently have my hands under my head or above my head.
I started taking Pulsatilla 1x three times a day, then I went on to 3x, then I took 6x and then 30 once or twice a week. I felt greatly improved in general health, the catarrh was much better but there was till a considerable residue which I wanted to get rid of.
I started once more studying my homoeopathic books and discovered Kali bichromicum. The characteristic of Kali bichromicum is that the catarrh is either lumpy or extremely stringy, and usually the discharge is yellowish. Besides, Kali bichromicum is an excellent remedy for catarrh and pus in the antrums and sinuses, the cavities in the bones of the face which are connected with the nose.
I did not know whether there was catarrh or pus in these cavities but I had distinct discomfort and occasional faceache and frontal headaches, worse on the left side. I tool Kali bichromicum 3x twice or three times a day and after a few weeks the catarrh was vastly better and had lost its character of stinginess. My faceaches and headaches had disappeared completely, but regards discharge there was still some catarrh in existence.
I restudied my materia medica and read many books by Dr. John Compton Burnett and I came to the conclusion that possibly my catarrh might be due to either a tuberculosis tendency or to inherited gonorrhoea. Acting on Burnett;s advice, I took, once a week, a dose of Bacillinum 200, which had a marvellous effect and then I started on Medorrhinum 200. The latter is the remedy for actual or inherited gonorrhoea. The Bacillinum worked wonders but Medorrhinum, which is made of the actual gonorrhoea poison, had no effect.
I then discovered in one of Dr. J.H. Clarkes books the maxim “If in doubt give Thuja”. which was first given to the world by Dr. Compton Burnett and which was taken over by Dr. J.H. Clarke. I had been vaccinated as a baby and my mother had told me that I had had a fearful arm and that I had nearly died. Vaccinal poisoning acts on the left side and the left side of my head, nose and throat were always worse than my right side. To clinch matters I frequently had dreams of falling, a most important symptom indicating vaccinal poisoning and the need of Thuja. Also my body jerked in bed.
Having come to the conclusion that Thuja was my most important remedy I bought Thuja 30 and took a dose every night. The effect was miraculous. Not only did my catarrh disappear completely but I felt a well-being and joy in living, such as I had never known before. It was as if a millstone had been taken from my heart and mind. I became a totally different man. I gained seventeen or eighteen pounds and everyone congratulated me on my wonderful appearance and most of my friends imagined that I had been for a long sea trip.
The whole cure took almost a year because of my inexperience. Thuja was the most important remedy and I feel convinced that if I had begun with Thuja, my catarrh of long-standing would have disappeared in two or three months. I am immensely grateful to Hahnemann and his followers and I have become a most enthusiastic Homoeopath.
