A Case Of Childhood Depression

Many remedies share similar symptoms. Finding the simillimum — a homeopathic remedy that is best suited to the given patient — to a case can be a challenging [also humbling] undertaking. However by using Dr Paul Herscu’s method of ‘cycles and segments,’ I believe one can sometimes quickly get an insight into the nature of the patient’s difficulties in a way that helps to find the remedy more easily. The cycles and segments method offers a practical way of organising information and promotes deep and integrated homeopathic Materia Medica study, free from the cumbersome memorisation of long symptom lists.

- Dr Robert Kaladish

The following case demonstrates this idea. The patient was brought to me for a child psychiatric evaluation by his parents in desperation. They had already been to their local homeopath, who treated the boy, for depression, with Aurum Metallicum 1M, Natrum Muriaticum 1M and Aurum Muriaticum Natronatum 200C.

The three remedies can certainly be useful for depression, suicidal concerns, anger/irritability, etc., The elements were a big part of the case, all right, yet it was only through the understanding of the ‘cycles’ of the whole case the right remedy was found.

The patient was an 8-year-9 month-old 3rd grader who lived with his working parents and older sister. He was brought by his parents to the child and adolescent psychiatrist for evaluation of depression, low self-esteem and temper problems.

Since birth the patient has had a difficult temperament. He started with earaches as an infant and since then he has been fussy and unhappy.

When younger he would have terrible fits that could go on for an hour. He would have 2-3 fits per day.