The ovary is such an organ of creativity. It simply seethes with life and activity.

A little hormone snatching leads to a large
number of repercussions.

...it covers the majority of symptoms found under the umbrella of the premenstrual syndrome

I have found that an optimum time to use Folliculinum is on the tenth to fourteenth day of the cycle.

One of the reasons why I love homeopathy, so much is because something with all the sinister possibilities of synthetic estrogen can be turned around and used in such a powerful way.

from p.1

However, when the corpus luteum produces less progesterone than usual, the reproductive system appropriates progesterone from the adrenal chain. The feedback system of the sex hormones is then able to continue and the menstrual cycle is completed. It is almost like an extra backup system to ensure the survival of the species. So despite a lack of ovarian progesterone production, the menstrual cycle remains unbroken. But this occurs at the expense of the corticosteroid production in the adrenal glands. The chain leading to their production is broken when progesterone is borrowed, and as a result, fewer corticosteroids are produced.

A little hormone snatching leads to a large number of repercussions. The adrenal gland produces many corticosteroids, each with a different function. Some are responsible for the water balance in the tissues of the body, regulating the sodium and potassium in the cells. Some prevent allergic reactions. Some regulate the level of blood sugar and others mobilize parts of the immune system response. So we can see that this imbalance, happening at the stage of the cycle before the menses, would cause much disruption at this time.

Specific Symptoms

Folliculinum is fairly well known. for having symptoms from ovulation to menses.

• all symptoms < ovulation to menses
• all symptoms > after menses except specific menstrual symptoms
• worse from heat, noise, touch, resting
• better from fresh air. So, there are ovulation problems such as
• drawing, burning, gripping pains,
• spotting
• ovarian cysts
• polycystic ovaries

Premenstrual Symptoms

Reading down the list we can see how it covers the majority of symptoms found under the umbrella of the premenstrual syndrome:

• breasts swollen and painful < touch (Lac caninum)
• migraines (Natrum muriaticum)
• nausea and vomiting diarrhea alternating with constipation (both Pulsatilla)
• diarrhea ten days before menses
• very low or high libido
• weepy and depressed
• hyperactive,
• indecisive, with
• panic attacks. with
• huge mood swings from aggression to
• apathy, and
• unable to tolerate noise, touch or heat

Candida Albicans

We can also see a group of symptoms which might be categorized as Candida albicans infestation:

• cravings especially for sugar and wheat
• rumblings, bloating, weight gain and itching
• and recurrent cystitis which returns at this time.

This Candida picture may tie into the body's inability to regulate sugar, due to the adrenal system not functioning properly, as I have already shown with the previous diagram.

Menstrual Problems

• painful periods centered in ovaries
• prolonged and heavy bleeding with
• bright red blood and dark dots
• all sorts of cycle problems,
• either too short
• too long
• or none at all.

Menopause

Folliculinum is a really brilliant remedy around menopause, for which it is well known. It pretty well covers the whole range of physical and mental symptoms we might find at this time. Let's have a look:

• cycle irregularities
• flooding
• hot flushes
• hyperactive < rest (hot and bothered)
• night sweats
• air hunger
• dizziness and faintness
• abdominal heaviness
• fibroids
• folliculaemia [4]
• vaginal dryness
• slow movement and spacey chinking
• hypersensitive to noise, heat and touch

And of course, this covers any of these symptoms arising from a hysterectomy which is like premature menopause.

Clinical Situations

There are too many here to go over each one, but there are some special areas of interest here:

• history of abuse whether, sexual, physical or psychological.
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis; this is an obvious one when we consider the overall picture of feeling drained and exhausted;
• fibroids; Folliculinum will help to regulate the cycle while the tumor is shrinking. This of course is very important as there are often frequent periods with very heavy bleeding accompanying fibroids;
• Raynaud's disease, a vascular disorder where the fingers go cold and numb and lose their ability to circulate properly. Horrifyingly enough it has been treated allopathically with the birth control Pill. Most of us are aware of the dangers when there are vascular problems and the Pill is known to be responsible for causing thrombosis;
• Cardiovascular problems: this aspect shows up in our Folliculinum picture in angina, palpitations, tachycardia, and other heart irregularities;
• Eating disorders; it is not surprising that Folliculinum is useful in eating disorders considering the mental picture of the remedy.
• Self-abuse with substances which should nourish.
• Self-denial, but that is such a huge subject in itself that I cannot elaborate here.
• Post-natal problems; another very interesting connection is that of post-natal depression, difficulty bonding with the baby and children unable to separate from their mother; all of these are about unbalanced connections. When our babies are born it is such a poignant reminder of the unresolved hurts from our pasts. As for the child, if the connections are not secure enough, or too tightly bound, the terror of separation is too painful to contemplate.

Timing and Potency

I have found that an optimum time to use Folliculinum is on the tenth to fourteenth day of the cycle. This of course is not always the case. It would not be so for men or for amenorrhea where ovulation is unknown or indeed for postmenopausal women. I have used it a few days before the period, usually five days or so.

L. de Mattos found that different potencies worked in quite different ways, and I have found this to be true. The 3x or 4c stimulates and can bring on menstruation; the 7c is a balancer, and the 9c is a menstrual retardant, where there may be very frequent periods.

There is a myth about not repeating Folliculinum to which I have not taken heed. I have given it repeatedly every month, or on five consecutive nights and in many other variations. As with any remedy it is important to be creative in its use. I have used Folliculinum from 3C up to 10M.

Comparisons

Folliculinum is related to quite a few other remedies: Sepia is very close, but the cycle modalities are stronger in Folliculinum. Pulsatilla; but Folliculinum cannot stand contact. Lachesis does the draining, Folliculinum get drained. Zincum shares many symptoms but is > hard pressure and warm air. Thyroidinum has a different focus but can look alike. Hypothalamus shares characteristics of appetite. Aristolochia clematis has never been well since the Pill and recurrent cystitis. Natrum muriaticum re-establishes periodicity of the cycles. Luna is out of tune with the world, and it's cycles. Other remedies to consider include Staphysagria, Carcinosin, Thuja, and Lac humanum, (made from mother's milk.)

The Great Mother

One of the reasons why I love homeopathy, so much is because something with all the sinister possibilities of synthetic estrogen can be turned around and used in such a powerful way. It is almost as if we can use it like a metaphor, to reach back through our mother, and our mother's mother and her mother to our self determined beginnings, to the first revered mother, The great mother Goddess. We can use it to reconnect, retune ourselves to a sense of the pure feminine which has not yet been colonized. The pure creative potential of all female energy in every human creation.

Before I finish, I want to share with you something which has given me great inspiration in my work in homeopathy. Perhaps some of you have heard of the sculpture, by the American artist Judy Chicago. It is an amazing celebration of women through history. It's called The Dinner Party; a giant triangular table set for thirty-nine guests.

In the entrance to the room which holds the triangle, she hung six embroidered banners, giving them the collective name She and wrote about them that: 'She, the Goddess, that is, the feminine principle and the spirit within each human being which affirms life, gathers all people before her to witness a vision of an equalized world (symbolized by the equilateral triangle) where disparities of difference are erased, and people live in peace and harmony on Earth.'

So here are the six banners:

And She gathered all before her

And She made for them a sign to see

And Lo they saw a vision

From this day forth like to like in all things

And then all that divided them merged

And then everywhere was Eden once again

References

[1] Donald Foubister, Tutorials in Homeopathy, Beaconsfield Publishers 1989.

[2] L. de Mattos, Homëopathie et Gynécologie, Librarie le François, Paris 1978.

[3] 0. A. Julian, Materia Medica of New Homeopathic Remedies, Beaconsfield Publishers 1979.

[4] Folliculaemia, hyperfolliculinaemia or hypereserogenaemia is simply the over secretion of estrogen. The estrogen half of the cycle works, but ovulation does not happen, so there is not enough progesterone produced. So periods happen every two weeks, or are delayed or may then not occur for several cycles. Bleeding may be heavier than normal - a characteristic of menstruation without ovulation. This happens in menopause, and in ovarian disorders like polycystic ovaries. It can occur in endometriosis. The orthodox treatment is to use Danazol. Danazol actually prohibits all the pituitary hormones! Goddess forbid! Danazol is also used to treat what they call benign breast disorders and precocious puberty.

[5] Dorothy Cooper, "Folliculinum" British Homeopathic Journal 79:4, pp. l00-103. The Homeopath Vol. 11, No. I, 1991