Last year I looked at three remedies through the lens of Te Whare Tapa Whā.
If you would like to read about Phosphorus, Nux Vomica and Sulphur you can find them here: https://www.
This year I have chosen three other remedies that I use often, and have taken a new look at them. This is a snapshot of each remedy and does not encompass all the possible symptoms, but I have tried to get the essence so you too can understand them through the lens of Te Whare Tapa Whā.
Before we go there though, let’s have a quick recap of what Te Whare Tapa Whā is.
Te Whare Tapa Wha translates to the house with four sides; each side is equally important for well-being, and with a problem in any of these areas then you can become unbalanced and unwell.
Taha Tinana, the physical, encompasses growing, developing and physical health complaints. Taha Hinengaro, the mind, is our mental and emotional sphere. Taha Wairua, the spirit, is our connection to the divine and the world around us. This may encompass faith in religion, but is also our life force and our connection to our ancestors. Taha Whanau, our family, affects our every day life, and our social interaction with others.
Pulsatilla
Taha Tinana
Pulsatilla is known for its thick, bland, yellow discharges – this could be the yellow snot candles in young children, or the eye discharge from a blocked duct in newborns or conjunctivitis. They have coughs that are changeable – dry at night and loose in the morning, and can have a cough that disturbs the sleep, and makes it difficult to breathe at night.
It is a remedy for hormonal complaints, there can be irregular periods with changeable flow, but also very heavy periods or absent completely. Pulsatilla can also have varicose veins in pregnancy, and suffer from chilblains.
They may crave butter, cream and peanut butter, but be worse for rich or fatty foods and particularly for pork. They are usually thirstless. Pulsatilla hate being in a stuffy or closed room, and are better for fresh air.
Taha Hinengaro
Pulsatilla is often stereotyped as tearful, soft and shy. However, Pulsatilla can also be intensely irritable, and their moods are changeable – having been described as like a spring day.
Taha Wairua
Pulsatilla may sometimes seem like they don’t have a strong belief in their own ability, needing reassurance or strong support from people around them. However, there is another type of Pulsatilla who has a deep seated belief that they are all alone, or have been ‘forsaken’. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are physically alone, but they do not have the support they really need and need to do everything themselves – these are the capable people who turn down offers of help, because they don’t want to be left down.
Taha Whanau
Pulsatilla loves and needs company. They are better for consolation, although that may make them cry. Children can be clingy to their mother, and these are children who want a lot of connection with trusted family members – but they can be shy with new people or in new situations. Pulsatilla people, particularly those with the forsaken feeling above, will always be those offering to help others so they are not unsupported.
Natrum Muriaticum
Taha Tinana
Natrum Muriaticum discharges are thin, watery and clear or white, or may be thick with an egg-white consistency. There can be hay fever and colds with sneezing, runny eyes and nose. They can have cold sores, cracks in the corners of the mouth or mouth ulcers. They are prone to headaches, which can be like hammers beating in the head.
It is a remedy for dryness, particularly vaginal dryness which can make sex painful.
They crave salty or sour foods, and dislike fatty or rich foods. They can be thirsty for ice cold drinks.
Taha Hinengaro
Nat Mur are reserved and shy – they can’t even pee when there are people nearby who could hear them. They keep their emotions to themselves, while they are very sensitive and will dwell on hurtful remarks or criticisms, they will keep this to themselves, not wanting a consoling hug or someone to talk it over with.
Taha Wairua
Nat Mur people hold on to the past, particularly hurts and grief. They are not connected with the cycle of life, instead even decades later can still be stuck in their grief and resulting depression.
Taha Whanau
Natrum Muriaticum are loyal and responsible, and will do a lot for their family. In relationships, they will stay even if unhappy for many years, but they may have difficulty opening up to address any problems. They may have only a few good friends, but those friendships are deeply held – Natrum muriaticum will help you bury the bodies, and have the attention to detail needed to prevent you getting caught.
Stramonium
Taha Tinana
Stramonium is a remedy for neurological conditions. There can be convulsions, jerking and twitching, as well as tics and grimaces.
It is a remedy for neurological inflammation: they can look possessed, with a red face, dilated pupils and increased strength.
They are worse for glittering things, even the sun shining on the water could cause twitching. They may crave sweets.
Taha Hinengaro
Stramonium cases for children often involve rage and violence, they may bite, kick, and hit others. There can also be night terrors
Taha Wairua
Stramonium has a connection with death – symptoms may come on after a trauma, particularly if violent or a near-death experience. They have a strong fear of death, the dark and ghosts, and may have night terrors that are vivid and realistic and hard to wake up from.
Taha Whanau
Stramonium children can appear to be little angels at school, and then be violent and uncontrolled at home. Family is their safe space, so after masking all day they can lose their temper and devolve into rage.
Tuberculinum
Taha Tinana
Tuberculinum are restless and move constantly – sometimes used for hyperactivity and ADHD because of this. There can be head banging, often from frustration. It is a primary remedy for recurrent chest infections, bronchitis or pneumonia, and has a hard, short, dry cough.
Eczema is also part of the picture, and they can later develop asthma. There can be fungal infections with tinea including on the scalp.
Taha Hinengaro
Tuberculinum is known for irritability, and children particularly can be destructive. They cannot stand being contradicted, and in some cases with children Mum cannot say anything right, they will argue semantics and they have to be right. They can be maliciously destructive to make their point.
Taha Wairua
The word for Tuberculinum is dissatisfied. This can come with frustration or a need for change. There is an element of searching and seeking – Tuberculinum love travel, they love exploring other places and will be interested in spiritual aspects because they are looking for the answer to their feelings of boredom with mundane life.
Taha Whanau
This is a remedy with a strong family inheritance pattern. There may be an ancestor several generations back with a history of Tuberculosis, but without that if there is a family history with upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, Tuberculinum should be considered.
I hope this has given you a different way to look at these remedies, and helps reinforce the Te Whare Tapa Whā framework for health.