Repertory › Remedies in the repertory

Selenium (Sel.)

Selenium (Sel.) appears in 327 rubrics. Of these, 9 are single-remedy rubrics in which only this remedy is listed, and 21 are small rubrics with at most two other remedies. The emphasis is on fear and dullness with 17 rubrics each, followed by sadness, irritability, sensitiveness, and mental exertion. From these emerges the picture of a person who fails mentally after exhaustion and sexual excesses, remembers and calculates in sleep, and becomes anxious on exertion.

Mental weakness

Mental performance is impaired. Single-remedy rubrics name anxiety when studying, difficulty comprehending what is read or heard, and mental exhaustion after protracted fever. Small rubrics list dullness as to what is read and heard, confusion after emission of semen, and wrong syllables when writing. Dullness accompanies waking after emissions and also shows itself as insensibility to surroundings.

Sexuality and exhaustion

Small rubrics link exhaustion with sexual excesses: inability to work and aggravation from mental exertion after them, dissatisfaction after coition. Alcoholism before the menses stands beside these as a small rubric.

Remembering in sleep

A distinct pattern lies in sleep. Small rubrics record that forgotten things are recalled in sleep, in three versions, and a single-remedy rubric lists amelioration in half-sleep. Forgetfulness in business is added. Calculating in sleep fits here: one single-remedy rubric records talking in sleep that calculates, and a second records talking aloud about arithmetic problems in dreams.

Sensory stimuli and mood

Strong odors irritate, others' talking aggravates, sunlight ameliorates. Also listed are repulsive fancies when alone and fancies from absent or diminished strength. One single-remedy rubric describes diminished appearance of fancies. Sadness is listed on the second day of the menses; fear is directed at occupation.

Summary

Sel. appears as the picture of a mentally exhausted person whose comprehension fails through exertion, fever, and sexual exhaustion, who finds forgotten things only in sleep and rather fears occupation. With 30 specific rubrics the data are solid.

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