Repertory › Remedies in the repertory

Petroleum (Petr.)

Petroleum (Petr.) appears in 671 rubrics in the Repertory. Of these, 21 are single-remedy rubrics in which only this remedy appears, and 42 are small rubrics with at most two other remedies. The emphasis lies on Delusions, in addition to Fear, Sadness, Delirium, Excitement, Quarrelsome and Jumping. From these emerges the picture of a person whose body multiplies in perception, who swings between exuberance and sadness, and who worries about his family.

Multiplied bodies

At the outset stands a peculiar group of delusions in which parts of the body and persons multiply. The person believes she has three arms or three legs, a limb is double, the whole body is threefold or tripled. She supposes two persons or two babies in bed, or someone lying beside her. Voices are also heard confused when she swallows or walks in the open air. The rubrics suggest that the boundary of one's own body is dissolved in bed and at night.

Alternation of exuberance and sadness

The mood swings. Elation alternates with discouragement or with timidity, exaltation with sadness, and the rubric "Exuberance – alternating with – Sadness" is assigned to this remedy alone. Corresponding to this are easy taking of offense over trifles, quarreling already on waking, and a long-lasting excitement with inner trembling and scolding.

Concern for the family

With the presentiment of death is joined the urge to put one's own affairs and business in order. Assigned to this remedy alone is inconsolability from anxiety about the family, even on a short trip. The attachment to those closest shows itself here as anxiety, not as serenity.

Public and children

The fear of public speaking is recorded as "Fear, phobia – Speaking, of – Public, in – Inability to speak in public". Among the children, the jump at the wall stands out: boys leap at a straight wall and try to climb up it. Fitting with this is the rage of children with atrophy.

Summary

Petroleum appears as a person whose sense of the body becomes blurred in the dark, whose mood tips without transition from elation into sadness, and who narrows in worry about the family and in dread of appearing before others.

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