Gold, silver, copper [ nechoshet ]: some Tora thoughts and some medical and homeopathic issues . 

Copper , together with silver and gold are repeatedly mentioned in the parshiot va-yakhel-pekudei [starting at shemot 35:1]

"Take from among you a donation for G-d, let
every generous person bring it, a donation for G-d,
consisting of gold, silver, and copper";Vayakhel: Shemot/Exodus, Chapter 35 Verse 5

" And to devise [plans] with ingenuity, to execute [those plans] in gold, in silver and in copper."Vayakhel: Shemot/Exodus, Chapter 35 Verse 32:

He made the Basin [ Kior ] out of copper and its base out of copper, from the mirrors of the women who had gathered at the entrance of the Tent of MeetingVayakhel: Shemot/Exodus, Chapter 38 Verse 8:

The Kior was the basin in which the Kohanim washed their hands and feet every day at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

And today I will discuss some "medical issues" in connection with copper
Copper is -as everybody know- an excellent conductor [the second best after silver] and therefore used in electricity wires.
What may be less known is that copper does not sustain any bacteria growth on its surface and there fore it would be ideal to use this metal for door knobs especially in hospitals.
Is it not remarkable that the "Healer of all flesh" commanded that the Kior in the mishkan [Tabernacle] had to be made of copper?
The kohanim had to do the ritual washing form the copper basin!
[yes , I do realize that the Tora is not a medical hand book]

In the human body copper -even if it is present only in small amounts-has a vital function.
Copper and zinc are very dependent on each other.
Too much copper and low levels of zinc can lead to serious psychiatry problems and even possibly to certain forms of schizophrenia .
Fortunately, zinc food sources also provide copper.

Especially rich in copper are nuts (brazil nuts,cashews,peanuts, pecans), seeds (especially poppy and sunflower), chickpeas, liver and [oysters].
potatoes, legumes (beans and peas), grains (wheat and rye), fruits (peach and raisin), and even chocolate!
A shortage on the other hand can lead in the long run to serous blood vessel problems and even to a widening and weakening of the aorta which may rupture and cause a potential fatal bleeding.
Copper has many more important tasks.

It helps in the production of hemoglobin and some anemia's may never get better without the addition of extra copper, again a not very well known fact.
For a proper thyroid function proper amounts of zinc , copper as well as selenium and other minerals/vitamins are required.
Women seem to need more copper then men for their hormonal balance,where as men need more zinc.
Is it again not striking that the mirrors of the women were made of copper?
[I am not relating to the midrash in the pure spiritual sense ,but I am wondering -and again only the Creator may know-if the women needed the little bit of extra copper which they possibly could have absorbed from these mirrors [micro-homeopathic amounts?] , to gives a more "materialistic-physiological" explanation of the midrash concerning the function of the mirrors...........??
I will now discuss the use of copper in homeopathy and just mention the most striking characteristics of this metal and this will give an idea when copper in homeopathic form may be indicated as a remedy.
The main essence [characteristic] of copper [cuprum metallicum] in homeopathy is:
CRAMPS, all kind of cramps ,calve cramps, spasms,twitching and even convulsions [epilepsy],cramp cough [whooping cough!],severe,violent asthma often relieved by vomiting and this in itself may be a sign that the patient needs copper.
Language is fascinating and to compare the root letters of cramps and cuprum with each others does give one an chizuk [strong argument] that what happened at Babel was very real!!
C...R...M...P= C... u.. P...R..M
nachash..........nechoshet .........cramping -----cuprum: wind like a snake french : se torder , serpenter = to wringle serpent = snake

german:sich schlängeln ........ schlange =snake

To show you that nachash and nechoshet [the wringeling of the snake ,the crampy movements are all found back in other languages and that cuprum [nechoshet] has as main characteristic: CRAMPS
A very special indication for cuprum is the so called "breath-holding spells''.

Small children who -after a crying spell- suddenly stop breathing and turn blue for a short while and then come back to "life". The condition is innocent except that it can cause the parents the fright of their life!
One dose of cuprum [potency 200] may clear up all future attacks!

Also mentally "cramped"[introvert],suppressed feelings,duty bound,keeps all the rules and regulations and can't stand when other don't do thesame; fanatic,will not give up
Wants to be independent ,will not ask for help.
Dictatorial, they like to keep the same pattern,the same rules,no changes,please!
Policemen!! I understood that in the States police men are called in “slang”:copper
All cramps of the copper patient have a violent character [violent diarrhoea,violent vomiting,hysterical cramps,violent asthma]

Wants to be in control of everything.
Never able to relax, hard workers,ambitious very disciplined ,never gives up,hard for himself and others.
Cuprum children can behave violent [kicking,biting,spitting]
They are very serious in class and are afraid to get a rebuke or to be criticized and will do everything to please the teacher.[according to the rules]
School teachers should know this and they should not ask to much from children with a "copper picture",because these children will do everything to keep up with the demands and may then get sick if they can't perform as asked from them.

Copper children often don't like to be touched or to be approached.
Babies with colic's may react very well on cuprum especially when there is a clear gurgling sound when they drink/nurse.

And to end with a simple advise: in Ayurveda medicine children with severe asthma are often given to drink some water that has been left [overnight] in a copper vessel.

May we celebrate the coming Purim with -if necessary – taking beforehand some copper water to loosen up! Purim sameach.