“Yes, I will doing volunteer work, and living with Dr. Sarkar and his family.” I saw the puzzled look on his face and decided to provide more details as I could see that things were not going according to plan and I was beginning to worry. I quickly added, “He is a professor that teaches at The National Institute of Homeopathy in Calcutta.”
The immigration officer, seemingly stuck on the first part of my answer, looked completely puzzled. “Dr. Who?”
Oh, here we go again. “Dr. Sarkar, Dr. Shaaarrkaaarr!” I could feel my voice starting to tremble as my apprehension and anxiety started to escalate. You see, the Bengalis pronounce “S” as “Sh”! What a nightmare! I tried again, “Dr. Shhharkar,” I spoke ever so slowly, trying my best to say this world famous homeopathic doctor’s name.
The immigration officer, in his khaki brown, stiff uniform, looked at me sternly and asked, “What is his first name?”
I knew at that very moment I was in deep trouble! Could it really be possible? Dr. Sarkar’s first name started with another “S.” “Shhhunirmal, Shhharkar,” I tried my very best to say his name.
No, not bit of luck! He absolutely could not understand whose name I was trying to say.
The immigration officer became even more serious. “Madame, I am truly worried about your well-being here in West Bengal, India. I fear that harm may come to you! I beg you, please, take care and do not talk with anyone! Things are not always what they seem in India. Please be careful!”
And with that long-winded speech, he stamped my passport in three different places. Loud and clear! Stamp, Stamp, Stamp!
I tried to control my emotions, but the heat, humidity, and two hours of standing in line had indeed gotten the best of me. Now, I was frightened, and needed a whole vial of Aconitum napellus at this point. Instead of under the tongue, I was thinking that an IV infusion would prove well! Trembling from fright, I inched my way to the baggage claim.
The group of Westerners, two to be precise, quickly received their baggage. They both glanced at me filled with pity and worry as they exited the immigration department and proceeded on to their loved ones. More panicked with every minute that passed, I finally saw my black luggage coming alone on the conveyor belt with a red bandanna tied around the handle for identification. This was precisely one hour after everyone had already claimed their belongings and left immigration as I had checked the time (every two minutes) on my Mickey Mouse Timex that contained a second hand for taking pulses. My watch was fastened with a stylish red strap that had been loosened due to the swelling in my left wrist, a sign that I was in the tropics and definitely too hot.
Pale, exhausted, drenched with sweat, and with little confidence left, I pushed my luggage cart out the door into the intense heat, humidity, and bright sunlight to find the family I was about to meet for the very first time. Dr. Sunirmal Sarkar, his wife Kalpana, and three little children had been standing, leaning against a metal railing, waiting in the tropical heat for numerous hours.
I was their very first visitor from another country and they did not know what to expect. The whole family, and to my surprise, many of the medical students and residents from the National Institute of Homeopathy, in what was then called Calcutta, welcomed me with open arms and a big Namaste!
We all piled into the royal blue Tata Land Rover and headed off into the vast tropical jungle for the ride of my life. Over potholes, ditches, past cows in the highway, dodging on-coming traffic, bicycles, rickshaws, and the odd goat that wandered from his nearby home, the driver quickly, with intense concentration, swerved at the last possible moment all of these obstacles to avoid what would be a most unpleasant accident. I screamed the whole way and nearly passed out with fright. I held on for dear life, as anyone would on their first two hour jeep ride into the deep jungle, past the neem and banyan trees into the tropics of West Bengal.
I will avoid talking any further about my crazy, endless mishaps at the airport, and extreme mind symptoms that I encountered in customs and immigration, and focus on the children that may require Zincum metallicum. The children are our future and the joy of our lives. Therefore, I have dedicated my first chapter to all the children that require Zincum metallicum.
Zincum Metallicum: Tips of the Day
Zincum metallicum is an excellent remedy for children with Sensory Integration Disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, providing the keynotes fit. A remedy must never be given solely on pathology or a disease title alone. Every case must be taken properly with attention to detail. Having said this, after taking a patient’s case, if the keynotes fit, Zincum metallicum can be prescribed. If the prescription is based solely on pathology or disease, then we are prescribing allopathically with homeopathic remedies.
Zincum metallicum is one of my favorite remedies. Once properly selected, the remedy, simply put, does a beautiful job. Let us take time to carefully look at the keynotes of the remedy which may provide a valuable insight or clue to the proper prescription of the remedy. Our ultimate goal is to provide relief to the patient and help them maintain homeostasis. Restoration of the body, mind, and the soul is our ultimate vision that takes place when the vital force is stimulated.
Zincum metallicum has provided outstanding results with children in my practice. I would be lost without the remedy as there is no substitution for Zincum metallicum. The remedy stands alone as the keynotes are so profound. Therefore, I will, without further introduction, give to you the presentation of Zincum metallicum.
Children requiring Zincum metallicum are restless. They are so restless that it may be impossible for them to stand still or stop for even a moment. These are the children that climb on your desk, stand on the examining table and switch the light on and off non-stop. They are restless and movement is their favorite activity! They have restlessness to the infinity!
If a physical examination is required, the mission may be aborted due to the child’s restlessness! I have found myself more than once chasing a child with my stethoscope! “Yes, I say to myself, their heart is beating, otherwise, how could this child be so active?” The child requiring Zincum metallicum wants to keep me on my toes and make sure that I have thought of a new and creative way to listen to their heart and lung sounds!
However, one must not overlook a simple but important clue to zinc; the fingernails may present with little white patches, or Beau’s lines, when there is a deficiency. I do try my hardest to get a glimpse of the little child’s fingernails even though it is like catching a flea on a hot griddle.
Mind, restlessness, nervousness
Mind, restlessness, morning
Mind, restlessness, evening
Mind, restlessness, night
Mind, restlessness, night, midnight, after
Mind, restlessness, anxious 7
The Zincum metallicum child may be oversensitive to noise. They can hear the central air conditioner in the office building and it sounds very loud. A conversation in the next room is easily overheard, even though the door has been tightly shut. The child can hear your office manager booking appointments for the next day and surprisingly, they may be able to repeat the conversation back to you! The child requiring Zincum metallicum has acute hearing, known medically as hyperacusis, which drives them to distraction.
At home, the child complains they cannot sleep due to the air conditioner switching on and off during the night. The child hears every time the dog turns over and switches position. Never mind that the dog is sleeping in your bedroom which is down the hall from your child’s bedroom. The child evidently has acute hearing which wakes him from a deep sleep!
The child’s parents cannot speak in their home without the child hearing every word, even if the child is upstairs in bed. There is no privacy for the parents of a child