A case of vomiting from severe anxiety
James, age 28, consulted with me in January of 2010 regarding a severe case of anxiety leading to vomiting attacks.
"When I get nervous I get nauseous and often start to vomit for an hour or more. Then I don't feel well enough to eat for up to two days. "  After vomiting that severely he sometimes has traces of blood in the vomitus. If he drinks water he vomits it back up after a few minutes. He also gets very motionsick. This had been going on for at least five years.

Bad reactions to slight stress

Even slight stress can set off an attack of vomiting; for example, he had recently been getting ready to buy a pet hamster and built him a really nice cage, but was so worried about doing a good job and making sure the hamster would be happy that it set off an attack. To make matters worse, at this point he was thinking of proposing to his girlfriend and couldn't  quite stomach the idea of how and when to pop the question. He was also worried about planning the wedding and going on a honeymoon. But even the thought of being late for a ferry could set him off.  "It's the anticipation that gets to me," he said.

The perfect family

The onset of the problem seemed to be related to his parents getting divorced when he was a teen. He had grown up in what he described as 'the perfect family' and the break-up and divorce shook him to the core. He had felt that his home and family had been a very safe place. His parents had always been very kind and supportive of him. He may have had some anticipatory anxiety before as he remembered getting sick to his stomach before hockey games as a child.
As soon as he feels anxious he gets very negative thoughts. This can happen first thing in the morning, he can wake up, start sweating with anxiety, then begin to vomit, although there is nothing in his stomach. He vomits up white mucus and phlegm and later gets dry heaves.
This can also happen in the middle of the night, for example he might wake at 1:30 - 2:00 am and have an attack.

The need for support

He can also feel very emotional, break down and cry when he gets upset, even over small things again, like waiting for a ferry etc. He does not like being home alone and needs the support of having another person near. If he has to be alone he will call a friend or family member and talk to them for support.
He really needs the support. When his parents separated he felt as if he had lost his support system. His mother also suffers from anxiety. He has a brother who enjoys travel and frequently works in foreign countries, even Africa. James cannot imagine himself doing something like that.
He enjoys cold milk and salty foods.
He has been on Effexor for some time, but he feel that is is causing him too many side effects.

Facial features as a clue

I noticed that he had an asymetrical face. This clue in addition to the rather intense anxiety and feeling of depenedency on others as well as a certain level of obsessive compulsive thinking led me to prescribe Syphilinum 200CH, a homeopathic remedy made from syphilis. Although he did not have syphilis himself, there were enough clues here to think that one or more of his ancestors had this infection.
Homeopathic preparations of infectious organism are often used highly successfully when an ancestor has had this infection and something changed in his genetic or rahter, epigenetic make-up, which then can be passed on to other generations. The new science of epigenetics, the study of factors which influence which gene sequences may be turned on or off and thereby expressed or not, has thrown new light on possible mechanisms of action in homeopathy. Pleas see my article on homeopathy and epigenetics for more details.

Follow-up three weeks after Syphilinum 200CH

James reports having had a few bouts of anxiety, but they did not progress to the vomiting stage. He had diarrhea for two days right after the remedy. This is actually a good sign. He is also sleeping better, he had not told me previously that he has a great deal of trouble falling asleep. He is not as restless before sleep.
His girlfriend noticed that he sleeping much more peacefully. Before he would toss and turn at least every hour for some time in his sleep.  The restlessness is 50% improved overall. He had also suffered from nightsweats during his sleep before which he also did not tell me initially, but that has also improved now. It had been worse on Effexor as well.
Assessment: Good response, wait to repeat remedy.

Follow up, March 13, 2010

About two weeks ago the anxiety came back a bit, feels more nervous again. Was sick with vomiting once or twice but it didn't last long and did not affect him for two days as it did before. The restlessness in his sleep is still improved.
Plan: Syphilinum 1 MK one dose.

Follow-up May 29, 2010

Has been doing very well until this week. Vomiting attacks twice this week. Has not had any since the last dose of Syphilinum in March. Feeling down and unmotivated.
Plan: Syphilinum 10 MK

Follow-up June 10, 2011

Just over a year has passed since his last dose of Syphilinum. His anxiety has returned somewhat. He got married last month in Mexico! He manged well with just a bit of Rescue Remedy, but now his new wife has some worries about their future together which is affecting him. The other night he had a panic attack thinking about his new life and especially about starting a family.

Assessment:

He has done wonderfully well with this remedy and is now married to his long-time girlfriend as well as doing well at work. His last dose of syphilinum 10 MK has helped him for a year, which is a sign that it is a very good and deep-acting remedy for him.
Plan: Repeat Syphilinum 10 MK
I recently received an email from him telling me that all is going very well. He is very happy with the improvement in his health.