Page 50 - Fall2012

Homeopathy Journal

HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA?
By Joette Calabrese, HMC, CCH, RSHom (NA)

No one could blame Angie and Arnold for thought of resorting to drugs rang like a distant
their parental strictness. In fact most wished bell that warned the Reynes of danger. Mr. Reyne
they’d kick it up a notch. To say that one of their had been suspicious of drugs used to alter behav-
offspring was hyper stimulated is a turn of phrase ior after reading The Myth of Mental Illness by
reserved for gracious company. Neighbors, Thomas Szasz, MD.
teachers and relatives used more graphic terms Besides, the Reynes shunned drugs of com-
to describe the Reynes’ fourteen-year-old Maria. merce in general, ever since Mr. Reyne suffered
Maria kicked at the boundaries of conven- persistent leg cramps and loss of libido as a
tion. She was primal and plucky. She was gutsy result of taking prescribed statins a few years
and experimental. Her personality was nothing earlier. And their nineteen-year-old son devel-
the Reynes had ever witnessed. oped asthma after steroid use for fatigue from
Maria’s worn out mother soothed her ma- exams. Their youngest was left with diarrhea
ternal heart with the thought that her daughter’s from an antibiotic about the same time. They
“spirited” disposition might eventually serve her were especially suspicious of drugs that could
well in the harsh world of adulthood. Her father alter behavior, although that certainly would’ve
knew better, however. So did the neighbors. been welcome about now, but not at the cost of
Maria’s behavior was never quite right. Well, worsening Maria’s symptoms in the future.
perhaps she had actually been a rather normal The Reynes investigated the side effects of
child before that first ear infection at age four. Wellbutrin on drugs.com to appease their rela-
Yes, thought her mother, she started having tem- tive and found this gruesome listing: “Bizarre
per tantrums shortly after those illnesses. What behavior; confusion; decreased concentration
was it about those infections that would make her and coordination; exaggerated reflexes; fainting;
daughter turn into such a…? But she couldn’t say hallucinations; memory loss; new or worsening
the word. After all, Maria is her child. agitation, panic attacks, aggressiveness, impul-
But it was easy for others to say. Maria was a siveness, irritability, hostility.”
Conventional brat. She was demanding, embarrassing, overtly The same site showed the makers of Cym-
medicine has rude and even promiscuous, if one could say that balta reporting that “new or worsening mental or
little or no about a fourteen-year-old. The way she dressed mood changes including concentration problems,
reminded the neighbors of women from a dif- depression, panic attacks, aggressiveness, agita-
interest in the ferent part of town. Maria’s father had to police tion and anxiety” were reported as side effects
etiology of her clothing and whereabouts daily. Sometimes of their product.

disease. By he was successful. Sometimes not. When he was
not attentive, Maria would wear a bustier under MAKING A CHOICE
contrast her sweater that later became her outer wear and Besides the fact that conventional medicine
homeopathy other shenanigans would ensue. often leaves a wake of long-term side effects and
considers the To say that the Reynes were heartbroken homeopathy does not, modern medicine places
and exhausted is underreporting the effect this behavioral problems into diagnostic categories.
exciting cause child had on the family. Maria was an alarming That is, a large number of people are placed into
of disease problem. the same small diagnostic class. For example,
Once, a cousin who is a psychiatrist sug-
to be a gested that Maria might have a chemical imbal- if Maria was considered manic depressive, she
would share this diagnosis with children who
critical factor. ance and that a drug could be prescribed. The were inactive or suicidal. That didn’t fit. If in-
50 Wise Traditions FALL 2012 FALL 2012 Wise Traditions

101665_text.indd 50 9/14/12 1:33 AM