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Ferrum metallicum (Ferr.)

Ferrum metallicum (Ferr.) appears in 547 rubrics in the Repertory. Of these, 40 are single rubrics in which only this remedy appears, and 29 are small rubrics with at most two other remedies. The emphases lie in Delusions, Anxiety, Sadness, Cheerfulness, Laughing and Balancing. The picture is that of a person who experiences balance, water and movement as unsteady, whose mood alternates in a fixed rhythm between cheerfulness and sadness, and in whom mind and cycle are closely connected.

Balance, water and vertigo

The delusions revolve around balance. Only this remedy is found at the feeling of balancing oneself back and forth, and at the feeling of balancing when crossing a bridge over water; the small rubrics name fear of crossing a bridge. At the sight of flowing water the person feels intoxicated or thinks everything is going round and round. Further delusions are as if being driven in a carriage, on closing the eyes, being pushed forward, everything going around in a circle with her, the surroundings seeming too large or expanded, the head constantly inclining to the right side. In the dark someone is behind her. The fear concerns riding on the railway, and drunkenness occurs as a deception with vertigo.

Periodic change of mood

The periodicity is striking. As single rubrics stand periodicity every second day and the changeable, variable state every second evening; the small rubrics list cheerfulness alternating with sadness, periodically every second day. Sadness is ameliorated after exertion. In the evening fear of misfortune appears, and the person thinks of death with anxiety for relatives.

Laughing, weeping and cycle

Feelings touch the body directly. Recorded are laughing during climacteric and menopause, plus simultaneous laughing and weeping in menopause, further mental symptoms around the time of menses, excitement and sullenness after menses. Weeping occurs in anemia and immoderately, in young girls at puberty with chlorosis and the desire for indigestible substances. The person blushes easily, in women also without recognizable cause. Coition is painful from dryness, and there is a feeling of having been raped.

Haughtiness, anxiety and appetite

A single rubric describes a self-satisfied look as a sign of haughtiness. Anxiety occurs after beer, with palpitation, associated with aphonia, and the person fears appearing before friends. As a feeling there is anxiety of having committed a crime, with gloomy forebodings. Only for this remedy stand anorexia nervosa with aversion to all food and the desire to spit out food. The desire to be carried slowly belongs to the children. At night the unconsciousness improves.

Summary

The picture of Ferrum metallicum consists of unsteady balance and relation to water, of a change of mood in a two-day rhythm, and of a close binding of feelings to cycle and menopause. The large number of single rubrics among the delusions distinguishes it. A king-pin symptom is not identified in the available data.

A reference work for professionals; it does not replace diagnosis or treatment.