After a series of other remedies I took calc carb 200 early last November, and it seemed to have a real impact on me. My aggravations included some temporary TMJ-like symptoms in which I could hardly open my jaw and it hurt to talk or chew, and later, huge quantities of dark-yellow/brown earwax, especially from my left ear, that have stopped now. My primary gynecological complaint, amenorrhea, has been getting better although in a rather strange way (heavy spotting for the last three months) . Along with that I had a repeat of some terrible intestinal cramps from a year and a half ago -- fading now. And just in the past week, my persistent insomnia, which I used to have at least every other night, seems to be gone!!! So could this still be the calc carb working, two months later?

The reason I ask is, I am looking for a new homeopath and I am wondering if I should be doing anything in between. My last practitioner said the calc carb seemed to have quite an impact and I should take it again if I felt my old symptoms coming back. What do you all think?

Calc Carb could still be acting, and sounds as though it is. Usually one would expect it to last about 60 days, but this is an approximation. If you are very receptive to it, it can last for very much longer.

All the while it is still acting it is better that you do not take other remedies, not even more CC. It could be just as well that you didn't take the remedy recently prescribed by the quack.

Thanks, Anna. So how do I know if something is a new symptom or an aggravation? e.g. I've always breathed through my nose, but lately my nose has been stuffy a lot and I've been breathing through my mouth more. It could be my mildew allergy acting up, or it could be something entirely different. How can I tell?

Well, a new symptom is simply one you haven't had before.
An aggravation is something caused by the remedy.
If CC had cured the symptom initially, and now it's come back to you, that would indicate more CC is needed.
If brand new symptoms hang around for ages and have no cause other than the remedy then it's time for another remedy. But if you have had a mildew allergy previously, this is surely not a new symptom, but a return of an old one?

Well, usually my mildew allergy leads more to a headache and maybe some sneezing if the smell is very strong; but now the stuffiness is just in my nose, so it's a little different.

Hmm... now my insomnia is back, in a big way I realize now that it is clearly connected with stress from my job. Would this be an aggravation, at this late date, or a sign that further treatment is needed? I am still looking for yet another homeopath, but rather confused on what to do because my symptoms are so odd.

Don't know if this makes a difference, but I took Arnica 6C once last weekend for a bad bruise from sledding -- it did help quite a bit.

CRA,

It sounds to me that the Calc was suppressive rather than curative. You said in your first post that you initially had aggravations of TMJ-like symptoms and copious earwax. If you did not have these symptoms before, they would be considered dis-similar or unhomeopathic aggs and this means that the remedy (calc) was not the simillimum. Sometimes remedies will have a suppressive action and will appear to help certain symptoms. Once the remedy wears off the symptoms return with a vengeance. The Calcarea obviously did have an impact, as your practitioner said, but not one that I would consider desirable. Because you are still having an effect from the calc (the stuffiness), you may want to consider antidoting it. I would find another practitioner and start over with this case. Best of luck to you.



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"We must never regard this medicine as ours - we are merely channels through which the Great Power helps other people achieve a state of well-being in mind, body, and soul." Bear Heart

nrg grl, I'd never considered the possibility that calc was actually suppressing my symptoms! I can't remember ever having the TMJ-like symptoms, but I could have had them and forgotten them. With the earwax, it's hard to say whether it was qualitatively different from the usual, but it was certainly copious. The remedy also had a pronounced effect on some premenstrual symptoms I happened to be having when I took it. Strangely, the insomnia seems to stem indirectly from an improvement in another symptom (inability to concentrate at work; the result is that I have been working much harder than usual). So perplexing!

To add to my confusion, I just read that milk, among other things, should be avoided when taking calc. carb, and I drink tons of the stuff. Always have. Would the milk antidote the calc carb? Maybe my stuffiness is from drinking milk (but it is a new symptom...?????) Hope I don't have to give up milk & other dairy products -- I crave them terribly.

I guess I really do just need to find a practitioner.

[This message has been edited by CRA (edited 19 January 2001).]

I do not believe that milk can antidote remedies. If you care to post your case here, I will see if I can help. If you choose to do this, put the most intense symptoms first and include anything strange, rare and peculiar, as well as symptoms that may be a result of the Calcarea, as it may be necessary to antidote that before giving another remedy.

Thanks nrg grl, you are very kind, but I am a little squeamish about publicizing the more personal and embarrassing details of my case. I greatly appreciate your comments, though, and I am keeping them in mind as I go.