Sulphur Remedy Type: Personality: A General at Work

Note: Sulphur is predominantly a male remedy, although this does not exclude the existence of female Sulphurs. But mostly the reader will recognize a male figure in this portrait. To know more about the homeopathic personality types, pleases see my book What About Men or Catherine Coulter's Portrait of Homeopathic Medicines, once of the sources for these portraits (another being my observation of thousand of patients in my practice.)

As a child, the Sulphur person already stands out. You can see right away that he will be a leader rather than a follower. Even as young as two years old, the child shows his independence by wanting to run away from his mother. There are the toddlers whose mothers have to put them on a little leash when they go out. The Sulphur child is curious and explorative. As he grows up, other children tend to look up at him, as he commands attention through his strong personality. Other children like him because he has charisma and is fair in organization games, where even the underdog is allowed participate.

The Sulphur's disdain for external appearances shows up at a young age. His hair flies all over the place, his shirt hangs out of his pants and he falls over his untied shows. You never have guess what he has eaten the previous night - the spaghetti spots testify to his ability to eat too much, too fast. He especially craves stimulating food like Chinese food, fried and fatty foods, and his all-time favorite, pizza. He is usually very intelligent, but that does not always work in his favor. He can be bored stiff when the teacher has to repeat himself for the slower children in his class. Often he "checks out" and starts daydreaming.

The Sulphur child is interested in factual things: he reads biographies, books about wars or the Guinness Book of Records, and is not at all interested in novels. This tendency persists throughout a Sulphur's life. Not uncommonly, a Sulphur boy will correct his teacher, to the amazement of the adult who cannot understand how this "lazy" boy knows these facts.

Puberty comes as a shock to many teenagers but especially to the Sulphur adolescent. He is very prone to skin conditions like disfiguring acne. Whereas before he did not care much about how he looked, now he sees his problem skin as an obstacle to his growing popularity among the girls. He will only agree to see a homeopath to get rid of these "zits"; he is not interested in improving anything else about himself.

As a teenager he still makes a mess of his room, and cleaning it up consists of sweeping his "stuff" into a cupboard. Waking up in the morning and getting ready to go to that boring school is as much of an ordeal as having all his teeth pulled out. He is grumpy, "not hungry" and prefers not to talk to anyone before ten a.m. But he always needs some money for snacking on the "nutritious" food from the school canteen. His popularity at school soars as he gets older, and he is often elected class president by his admiring fans.

Even at a young age the Sulphur recognizes the value of things. Pity the child who dares to enter into an exchange of collectibles with him. The Sulphur always comes out on top, although the other party never suspects this, the way he talks up the deal.

Of course, as a dynamo of energy he is a hot-blooded person. The Sulphur boy defines a sweater as something his mother pushes on him because she is cold. At night he usually throws off the blankets or at the very least, he sticks his feet out from under the covers. He considers taking showers a waste of water, and standing or sitting still is pure torture. Everything has to be fast, stimulating and exciting: music, computer games, movies, books, sports, etc.

The adult Sulphur will not change much. He Just covers it up more to reap the full benefit of his behavior. He is still the man of action, the achiever and fierce competitor who can move mountains. He has just one great weakness: he can be pretty insensitive to his spouse because he is still very factual. This does not leave much room for sentiments. For example, he might keep an album with pictures of women he dated before. he married his present wife, not realizing that this could appear insensitive.

If feelings come in the way of his plans, the Sulphur's motto is: "On we go!". He does not look back, holds no grudges, and easily moves on professionally and in his relationships. But he won't tolerate laziness either and will only respect people who work at least as hard as he does. When you first meet him, you might think that he is a jerk, intolerant of others when they do not reach their potential by his standards. He says that he has no sympathy for his "freeloading employees". Of course there is no place for tears or showing emotions. "That's for sissies" he says; a man should never cry, at least not in front of other people.

Mr. Sulphur usually has a physical appearance resembling a nervous race horse. He is lean and mean, although he can easily change to the opposite picture when he is burned out. At that point his cynicism takes over and he becomes the well known philosopher: politics stink, newspapers he, people are stupid, etc. It looks as though the only intelligent person is a Sulphur person, at least according to him; everyone else is a degree lower.

Sulphurs love being the center of the conversation, and they usually are, with their knowledge of facts. A Sulphur doesn't hesitate to jump, unsolicited, into his neighbor's conversation to give his view on the affair. He will not easily back off either. He can become quite quarrelsome and erupt like a volcano. Just remember one thing: these Sulphur outbursts are like real volcanic eruptions, rare and short-lived.

Mr. Sulphur loves a deal and would not hesitate to drive an extra five miles because the gasoline is two cents cheaper. And shopping at Marshall's or other discount stores is a must! He can be manic-depressive in the winter because the boredom of the winter plagues him. He thrives out-of-doors in the spring and summer. He never misses a day of work, which reflects his great energy and resilience. He appreciates a quick mind, wit and humor, something he is not devoid of himself.

And for a Sulphur, taking care of the family financially is his greatest achievement and concern. He is the one who should have been born a cave man so he could have "whacked the saber-toothed tiger on the head and brought him home for his wife to cook." He has a phenomenal memory, usually photographic, which contrasts so much with the fact that he can't remember names, even of good friends. A Sulphur would reason that he never wants to become that personal, because it is a form of weakness.

A Sulphur's mind is always "preoccupied with higher things," so he is indifferent to what or when he eats. Don't ever expect him to pick up after himself. His desk is invariably covered with innumerable rings from cups and glasses. Dirty dishes pile up, as well as stacks of old newspapers, empty bottles, grocery bags, etc. representing his collector's mentality and his strange view of his possessions: if it's his, it's beautiful. So don't throw away an old pair of shoes or a ragged T-shirt, as these are his most prized possessions. He has almost no fears, except a fear of heights, where he feels that he is being drawn to the ground below if he risks looking downward.

A Sulphur is rarely depressed or discouraged. His outspokenness can cause many to dislike him. His utter conviction that he is right and everyone else wrong can easily make him enemies. The fact that he is frequently right does not ease matters. His ambition is fame, whatever it means and whatever it is worth. He is very tolerant about a person's sexual preference and will never pass judgment. As for himself, all the evidence shows that he is aggressively heterosexual.

All in all, a well-balanced Sulphur is witty, intelligent, hard-working, non-judgmental, a defender of the underdog and the general of the troops, not afraid to make decisions and change plans on the spur of the moment. If you have a Sulphur at home, you are in for the ride of your life, full of excitement and unexpected events. Enjoy!

A Sulphur person is likely to need these acute remedies:

• Sulphurs are apt to get skin conditions like eczema, diaper rash and other rashes, for which Sulphur is an excellent acute remedy, as is Graphites.

• Sulphurs are also prone to the ambitious, competitive, hardworking lifestyle-often associated with overindulgence in alcohol and other addictive and stimulating substances - which characterize a Nux vomica state.

• Nux vomica is an excellent remedy for the indigestion and hangovers which are likely to occur.

• Sulphurs are also likely to have a sensitive digestive system and to suffer from gastrointestinal disturbances.

• Lycopodium is apt to be a good remedy for their gas, bloating and GI distress.

• Finally, here is a tip which is useful for anyone who has had an Aconite cold (see Aconite in the Guide to the Remedies) which does not resolve completely. Take a dose of Sulphur 200C (3 pellets dry, in the mouth) and the fatigue, cough or other remnant will disappear. (Aconite is an acute remedy associated with Sulphur, which means that Sulphur people are more likely than others to get an Aconite cold.)

by Luc De Schepper, MD, PhD, DI Hom., CHom., Lic.Ac
from his book, "The People's Repertory". Reprinted by permission.
Dr. Luc is the author of excellent books on Classical Homeopathy.

Pulsatilla Type: Neediness for Attention

Have you ever seen a windflower in your garden? I remember seeing one in the yard of one of my students. It was a calm, windless day. Nothing moved except the little windflower: it was swaying from one side to another, like a pendulum. Keep that image in your mind and you will know what a Pulsatilla person stands for. Indeed, changeability is Pulsatilla's great characteristic.

You can also call it irresolution: Pulsatilla can't make up her mind, whether choosing from a menu (more than one waiter has thought about committing hara-kiri because that sweet little Pulsatilla keeps on changing her main course) or when confronted with the 31 different flavors at a Baskin Robbins ice cream store. When a Pulsatilla buys some apples, she has to handle thirty of them before choosing the two she needs.

Note: I have referred mainly to she in talking about Phos­phorus, Pulsatilla, Nat mur and Sepia, and mainly to he in discussing Sulphur, based on the predominance of the gender for each type. But this does not exclude the opposite sex from being any of these types. A Calc. carbo is equally likely to be male or female. We rarely see adult men who are Pulsatillas, but little boys who cling to their mothers can be.

And talk about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-there is no better example than Pulsatilla. She has the uncanny ability to switch from one mood to the complete opposite within five minutes. Tears al­ways seem to be present when needed for sympathy or attention, but the rainbow of smile and laughter always follows the rain.

It is hard to be angry at a little Pulsatilla child.

She is sweet, always ready to help mummy in the kitchen, and constantly asking for approval from her mother. This is easily seen on a visit to the doctor. Ask her a question directly, and she will turn her head to mummy to make sure she gives the right answer. Or she may say, "You tell the doctor, mummy."

There is a sweetness and shyness about them, but don't be fooled. They have figured out at a very young age that you catch more flies with sugar than vinegar. Looking pretty, with such sweet behavior, dressed in their little dresses and sailor costumes, they can put a spell on you when you meet them. Hugs and kisses are demanded and given in equal amounts: who could ever say no to such a little princess?

Behind this smoke screen, though, there is a great hidden motive. They want constant attention; in fact there is no amount of love sufficient to fill the bottomless pit. Pulsatillas constantly demand proof of love. Comes the first day of school, they are a terror. They break their mother's heart with their piercing screams as they absolutely refuse to let go of mummy's hand, and the tortured mother is haunted by the screams of her sweet little princess as she leaves the school building.

For a Pulsatilla, this is sheer abandonment. "You don't love me anymore," they say. But once they adjust· to the class, and especially if the teacher is gentle and pays attention to them, they love school. They become the teacher's pet, always ready to help. To the dismay of the Sulphurs and Phos­phoruses, they are the ones reminding the teacher that she forgot to give homework.

Imagine how upset a Pulsatilla is when a younger sibling is born. This is the greatest threat to their source of love: mom. All of a sudden their mother must pay attention to a little creature and Pulsatilla feels so abandoned. She refuses to visit mom in the hospital and does not want to kiss the new baby. If she can, she will pinch or hit the baby when no one is looking, or simply smack the door in the face of a younger sibling when he toddles innocently into the room. And of course, Pulsatilla will deny all of this.

If that does not work, there is the ultimate revenge. If mummy pays attention to a baby, she will resort to baby behavior. All of a sudden she wets her bed again, after being potty trained for the last three years. All of a sudden she loses her ability to dress herself. "Mummy, you help me put on this dress." No other child sucks on their thumb longer than a Pulsatilla. And if the baby's diaper gets changed, she wants something to be done for her, too. This jealous behavior is always towards the younger sibling, not the older one.

When a Pulsatilla gets angry at mummy and storms into her room, she makes sure not to lock that door. She expects that mom is going to run after her, to take her into her arms and profess her deep love for her. Attention, attention-that's all she wants. When mom and dad are involved in a conversation, she keeps interrupting because she feels so excluded, and therefore abandoned. It is as if all the energy of a Pulsatilla is aimed at conquering love and attention.

Not all Pulsatillas are little girls. A little four­year-old boy told me in the office that "I sold my bed to my Dad, so I can sleep with Mummy." I will never forget that little smile on his face: triumphant and sweet as he had finally achieved his biggest victory. Indeed Dad slept in his bed surrounded by the teddy bears, while my Pulsatilla boy was holding Mom's hand in bed.

This refusal to grow up is easily seen at puberty when Pulsatilla is a great remedy to help the moody, insecure girl to grow up. If your teenager has been grumpy, confused, hostile and insecure since her first menstrual cycle she needs Pulsatilla.

As Pulsatillas finally decide to grow up, though, they make excellent partners. A Pulsatilla person is not an intellectual or very cerebral person. Their prettiness and non-threatening behavior lets the husband feel strong, as if he is always in command. "You decide for us, sweetheart," she says, when it comes to going on vacation. The poor husband thinks he is always in control-yet upon reflection, at the end of his life, he would see that his Pulsatilla wife always got her little wish in her own subtle way.

But she brings much happiness to her husband as she does not need an exciting life. Pulsatillas just adore babies, who they consider their little dolls, fussing over them and running to the doctor at the first sign of a cough. They always keep a certain childish image, easily seen in the way they dress or the way they talk to their dog or baby.

A Pulsatilla is not shy about discussing her medical history in front of people; in fact she is the first one in a homeopathy class to volunteer to come forward. And she loves group counseling rather than a one-on-one session, as she prefers to get consolation from many people. One of my patients complained about woman (a Pulsatilla!) who kept interrupting a group session by constantly bursting into tears, so that everyone had to come and hug her. Twenty-some interruptions later, the sympathy of the other patients was watered down quite a bit, which Mrs. Pulsatilla could not understand.

If you succeed in giving Pulsatilla to your young Pulsatilla child, you will do yourself and your child a great favor. You will find peace of mind, since not every moment of your life will have to be dedicated to her, and she will accept attention and love in a more balanced way. Good luck!

A Pulsatilla person is likely to need these acute remedies:

• Children with a Pulsatilla personality are likely to come down with ailments that respond well to Pulsatilla acutely: ear infections, fever without thirst, hay fever.

• A typical Pulsatilla ear infection can be right or left-sided, or both; acute pains starting and stopping; and a variable discharge of yellow or white pus.

• A little Pulsatilla girl may have a vaginal discharge that is creamy or constantly changing. (Changeability of symptoms is typical of Pulsatilla on the physical plane as are moodiness and indecisiveness on the emotional and mental planes.)

In their needy emotional state, Pulsatillas are likely to suffer from real or imaginary ailments to get attention, like the little Pulsatilla girl who complains of a tummy ache so she can stay home with mommy instead of going to school. Since Pulsatilla is a great remedy for digestive disorders, Pulsatilla will relieve her tummy ache, if it indeed exists, and in any case will help her to grow a little more independent of her mother.

Another wonderful acute remedy associated with Pulsatilla is Kali bich, stuffed up noses. Remember, 'If it sticks, it's Kali bich!'" referring to the thick, ropy, green, stringy mucus. Pulsatilla itself can be a great remedy for sinusitis and sinus headaches, especially when the sense of smell is totally gone because of stuffiness.

This article was written by Luc De Schepper, MD, PhD, DI Hom., CHom., Lic.Ac
from his book, "The People's Repertory". Reprinted by permission.