Paul Herscu ND, MPH
Herscu Laboratory
Well, this is turning
out to be an extremely busy winter season! There are several influenza-like-illnesses,
as well as influenza, currently raging through the US and Europe. This is just
a short update, building on many previous pieces written on this topic. I write
here with an assumption that you understand the topic of the genus
epidemicus (see Herscu Letters #33-38 to review the topic of the genus epidemicus,) the
difference between acute and chronic prescribing at any given time in your
patient, and of course that you know how to keep your patients safe.
Currently, there are
several common presentations:
1. Phosphoric
acid: The prominent feature here is the extreme weakness, physically. While
many times in past years this kind of weakness responded well to Gelsemium,
if it does not do so this time, consider Phos-ac. This is
especially accompanied with a sort of ‘flatness’ of emotions, where the person
stops caring about most things, a deep and pervasive apathy.
2. Bryonia
(or Spongia?): The prominent feature here with Bryonia is a rapidly
developed severe and intense cough, which may lead to bronchitis or even
pneumonia. One similar remedy also showing up this year is Spongia.
The keynote of the cough in Spongia is the patient is triggered by
an irritation in the suprasternal notch aggravated by stretching the neck, up and
back, as if looking upwards.
3. Cocculus
indicus: The prominent feature here is an upper respiratory tract infection
accompanied by a persistent low level vertigo. The patient does not feel steady
on their feet.
4. Belladonna:
While this remedy is a well known remedy, at this time it is missed because
of its presentation. The prominent feature here is an intense, sudden, extreme
attack of vertigo, leading to nausea and vomiting. The vertigo is worse motion,
especially leaning forward, stooping. It is accompanied by a very mild
headache, and slightly warm head compared to cool extremities. But the driving
symptom, the most extreme symptom, is the intense and sudden vertigo.
5. Mercurius:
The prominent feature here is a more common non-descript respiratory tract
infection. If you don’t have any other clear remedy and you decide they need
one, it might be that they need this remedy. While the symptoms of this remedy
are typically very clear and well known, those keynotes seem to be missing this
season. No perspiration, salivation, tremulousness, etc. If you have an ever increasingly
bad infection, with whitish, greenish mucus and you are in a quandary about
what to give, consider this remedy. Interestingly, after giving the remedy, as
they improve, they will begin to perspire.
