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Medorrhinum or Kola? Understanding Two Fast-Burning Types

Sometimes in practice, we meet a patient who is high-energy, sensitive, and burning out. They might be intense, forgetful, or clairvoyant. They stay up late, think too much, live fast, and then hit a wall.

Picture of Kate Howard RSHom

Kate Howard RSHom

Homeopath and CHE Community Manager

At first glance you might reach for Medorrhinum, and often it works. But what if the case almost fits, yet the remedy doesn’t hold?

It might be time to think about Kola.

Let’s explore the differences between these two fast-burning types, because while they may look similar on the surface, their roots are very different.

Kola: The Remedy of ‘Never Good Enough’

In his article “Never Good Enough” (Spectrum of Homeopathy 2/2010), Terje Wulfsberg describes Kola as a remedy for people who are constantly trying to prove themselves. Deep down, they feel like they don’t measure up.

These patients might look successful and capable on the outside, but inside, they feel like they’re falling short. So they push themselves harder. They take on more. They keep going until their nervous system is overstimulated and frayed.

Wulfsberg describes them as feeling:

‘Inadequate and dissatisfied with their efforts… constantly striving to perform, but never feeling truly satisfied.’

They often have a background of emotional deprivation; early disconnection from caregivers, lack of nurturing, or no one really ‘seeing’ them. The result? A deep hunger to feel valued, and a belief that being busy or productive will make them feel whole.

Medorrhinum: The Rule-Breaker with a Wild Heart

Medorrhinum, on the other hand, comes from a very different place. These patients don’t overwork because they feel inadequate, they push boundaries because they want freedom. They reject limits. They want intensity, thrill, sensation, pleasure, escape.

Where Kola is tense, wired, and full of mental noise, Medorrhinum is impulsive, emotional, and unpredictable.

Medorrhinum patients often had chaotic or boundary-less early lives, and they still live as though the rules don’t apply to them. They can be passionate, disorganised, bold, sexual, scattered, and emotionally intense. They’re driven by a need to feel alive, and they don’t care if that means taking risks.

Forgetfulness for Different Reasons

Both remedies can be forgetful, but in very different ways.

  • Kola forgets because the brain is overstimulated. There’s too much going on. The mind is racing, and information just doesn’t stick.
  • Medorrhinum forgets because time feels strange to them. They might forget what happened yesterday or what’s planned for tomorrow. It’s more of a disconnection from time than a mental overload.

Emotionally Flat vs Emotionally Intense

Another key difference is emotional expression:

  • Kola patients often seem mentally overactive but emotionally flat. They may struggle to connect deeply with others, even those close to them. This is part of the emotional deprivation pattern described by Wulfsberg.
  • Medorrhinum patients are the opposite. They can be very emotional, even overwhelming. They may swing between extremes, cry easily, or react strongly.

What Drives Them?

Let’s simplify their core motivations:

In Practice: When to Think Kola Instead of Medorrhinum

Choose Kola when:

  • The patient is intelligent, driven, but exhausted.
  • They push themselves constantly but never feel satisfied.
  • There’s a history of emotional neglect or lack of maternal bonding.
  • They complain of brain fog, memory lapses, and mental burnout.
  • They overuse caffeine, screens, or productivity to feel okay.
 

Choose Medorrhinum when:

  • The patient is impulsive, risk-taking, and pleasure-seeking.
  • They live intensely and dislike rules or routine.
  • They feel time is strange or blurry.
  • They are emotionally intense, reactive, or extreme.
  • They have a wild, unpredictable edge.

Final Thoughts: Same Speed, Different Soul

Kola and Medorrhinum might both live fast, think fast, and burn out. But one is pushing from emptiness (Kola), and the other is pushing against limits (Medorrhinum).

Knowing the difference helps us prescribe more accurately, and reach the core of what’s really driving the patient’s pattern.

So next time your usual Medorrhinum case doesn’t resolve, pause and ask:

“Is this about escaping limits… or proving self-worth?”

That one question might lead you to Kola, the remedy they really needed.

Further Reading

  • Wulfsberg, T. “Never Good Enough” – Spectrum of Homeopathy, 2/2010
  • Sherr, J. Kola Proving
  • Sankaran, R. The Soul of Remedies
  • Clarke, J.H. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
  • Allen, T.F. Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica

 

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Disclaimer

The content shared here is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified and licensed healthcare provider. The views and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily represent those of CHE or any affiliated organizations.

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