A remedy prescription when based on an analysis of the state of mind (central feeling, core delusion, etc), it is only wise to check whether the chief complaint (CC) with its characteristic concomitants and modalities are covered by that remedy. It is also important that the remedy covers the pathology (miasmatic application) of the CC. Then one can be fairly certain the patient will move towards cure, without superficial palliation or suppression in the long term.

There are many remedies in the Materia Medica that are not completely proved or else the expressions of their mental state have been reduced to rubrics in the repertory. The rubrics give us an idea of a symptom, but if we do not understand the feeling behind that expression we tend to pigeon hole our understanding of these rubrics and their meanings and hence make inaccurate prescriptions. This can be partially overcome by matching strong physical modalities, concomitant or PQRS symptoms. Ultimately, it helps to understand these remedies more deeply so that one can recognize them more easily the next time around.

The Palladium Mind:

After a few successful Palladium prescriptions, here is an insight into the remedy to help consider Palladium when the expression of the mind symptoms are too subtle too recognize easily. Lets us first discuss this of Palladium and differentiate with a few close remedies.

Each individual has grown up in a different set of circumstances and hence experienced or acquired insecurities peculiar to those situations. The deep core of a remedy state is clearly evident in most insecure area of their life. Identifying the insecurity and correctly understanding the feeling behind it helps one to decide the appropriate remedy. The insecurity in Palladium shows itself in areas that they wish to hide (sycotic miasm), or in the areas where they lack confidence, as basically they are confident people. Hence these are the areas where one can perceive the feelings to confirm the mental state expressed in the rubrics above.

As I was going through Reference Works – Morrison had a detailed description of some aspects of Palladium. Sankaran too has highlighted a few important aspects. But I found that Ernest Roberts was the one who gave a very balanced and complete picture of the Palladium state.

A person in a Palladium state seeks to reach the best their capacity in whatever field they are in. Scholten’s description highlights this expression. They seek perfection and work very hard at trying to be perfect. For this reason they try to control circumstances around them, so that there will be less margin for error. They appear controlling but it is because they are concerned about details and pay great attention to them. After all this effort, it is not surprising to see these two rubrics:
o Longing for the good opinion of others.
o Delusion she is not appreciated.

These feelings often arise as a consequence of hard work and aiming for perfection. In fact often someone in a Palladium state can appear quite humble and hardworking, sincerely wanting to do their best. Often they look for appreciation of this hard work – and may expect it from specific people. Otherwise they may look for it from everyone in general. The appreciation and approval gives them a sense of confidence in themselves which in turn expresses positively in feeling capable in the work they do and a furthur impetus to do better. In Calc Sulph, there is a feeling of not being appreciated as well, but this is in a situation of comparison directly with a sibling or someone who takes away the attention from them and is fuelled by a feeling of jealousy of the other person. Whereas in Palladium, the appreciation relates to how perfect or good they can be.