Worried about the risk of atypical antipsychotics for your child? Homeopathic Medicine offers a safer alternative

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Oct, 2006 by Robert Ullman, Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman

The medicine that best fit Jesse's case was Androctonos (scorpion), indicated for individuals with a tendency towards malicious, unfeeling behavior and unprovoked attacks of aggression. After two months, his mother reported that the calls from the teacher about Jesse fighting at school had plummeted from nearly daily to just once. He was no longer acting mean towards the other children and even did quite well at a birthday party, which would previously not have been the case. "I'm nicer," Jesse remarked.

At his next visit, four months later, Jesse continued to do well. There were no more complaints about fighting or aggression. His eyes were tracking well. Jesse seemed to be getting along quite well with his baby sister. The fears of poisonous snakes and dinosaurs had evaporated, and overall, his mother was quite relieved, especially with a new baby to occupy her attention. After seven months, though still considered a case-in-progress, Jesse had improved rather dramatically, despite the challenge of a new sibling, and did not need any further repetitions of the medicine.

A Hot-Tempered Little Boy

Corky, a challenging seven-year-old from Cleveland, was either out of control or spaced out. Sometimes he would seem just fine all day; then, for no apparent reason, he would "go off." It was impossible to reach or reason with him. Uncontrollable sobbing was accompanied by a glazed look in Corky's eyes. It almost seemed like he were having some type of seizure or attack.

As a toddler, Corky yanked his sister's hair out in handfuls and crawled around with the air of an army commander. Not one to be held or cuddled, Corky preferred to keep moving. Constantly. When Corky got mad, he exploded. His mom recounted a phase of biting everyone around him without any provocation. He had the habit of sinking his teeth into his sister's shoulder, arm, or leg without a second thought. The child bit or spat when he was ticked-off. Corky was quite the picture of rage: scrunched-up face, glaring eyes, and clenched fists. Then began the kicking, throwing, and striking-out. Corky was not one to either offer or accept an apology.

The violent incidents had begun to mount. Recently, when his mother would not permit him to go outside, he threw a knife right over her head. On another occasion, his mother refused his demands to buy candy. Corky responded by kicking, screaming, and jumping at her, nearly pulling her over backwards.

Mischief was Corky's middle name. Once, he dragged a rubber hose into the house and turned it on full force in the living room. Another time, he was bent on tossing his mother's purse into a swimming pool. It was as if he took great effort to orchestrate the worst possible scenario and act it out brilliantly.

We often find with our patients that violence is a cover-up for fear. Such was the case with Corky, who was afraid of excitable dogs, "terror stricken" about getting his hair cut, and even fearful of talking on the telephone. There was also an unsettling, recurring nightmare about someone drilling into Corky's skull. This dream occurred after Corky hit his head on the linoleum floor while tormenting the family dog until she snapped.