The Faculty of Homeopathy Malaysia
Homeopathic Doctrine & Philosophy
Curriculum based from 5th Year subjects from The Faculty of Homeopathy Malaysia, Pasir Mas, Kelantan. Leading to MD Homeopathy
Csxlassification of Diseases: All non-surgical diseases belong to one of the following classes: (A) Acute (B) Chronic (C) Those due to the use of drugs living under unhealthy conditions, etc.New Page 1
Acute Diseases:
1. Acute diseases are self-limited, and provided no treatment is pursued, they end in resolution or death. This being so, an acute disease can have no sequelae, the so-called sequelae being manifestations of one of the chronic miasms roused into activity by the acute disease.
2. AcASute diseases may be stopped at any stage by the similar remedy.
3. In acute infectious diseases all infection ceases as soon as the simillimum is given.
4. The best prophylactic in acute diseases is the epidemic remedy.
5. When a trivial acute diseases supervenes during the treatment of a chronic one, it is advisable to use the indicated remedy in a low potency; for, if this is done, it will often be found after the acute diseases has been cured, that the deep-acting remedy has not been interfered with by the short acting one, and that its till continues to act.
6. After the cure of the acute supervening diseases it is advisable, before repeating the remedy for the chronic diseases, to make sure hat the chronic diseases has not been modified by the treatment of the acute one or by the acute diseases itself, and not to call for a different remedy from that formerly needed.
7. When the acute diseases has been modified by allopathic or inappropriate homoeopathic remedies, it is usually advisable to prescribe for the case as it now stands, rather than according to the original symptoms.
8. Acute exacerbations of active chronic diseases must be treated in a different way from that of an acute supervening diseases, provided any remedy is required at all. Frequently the acute complement of the deep-acting remedy required by the chronic diseases is the suitable one, but if only an antipsoric is called for ,it is better not to give any medicine.
9. Commonly, when the chronic diseases is only partially active, as shown by the patient being apparently in good health except that slight causes give rise to frequent acute attacks of illness, the knowledge of the remedy for these acute manifestations will enable us to select its complementary deep-acting remedy, and so permit the cure of the chronic underlying diseases.
CHRONIC DISEASES
1. Chronic diseases are characterized by their progressing from without inwards and from below upwards, and that while the symptoms may vary, they never disappear in the reverse order to that in which they came.
2. So far as is at present known there are only three chronic diseases, viz, psora, syphilis and sycosis.
These diseases may be active or latent.
They may be present in three ways, viz:
(a) A single miasm.
(b) Two or three miasm co-existing, but separate and only one active at a time.
Two or three of the miasms may form a complex and this may be further complicated by a drug disease. If two or more miasms form a complex, the proper remedy will dissociate them, and then the most active must be attached; but the greatest caution is needed, as a mistake may cause them again to combine, and they will never again separate.
3. These chronic diseases often remain latent for long periods, but are apt to be roused into activity by acute diseases, unhealthy surroundings grief, etc. While latent their symptoms are very similar, and the patient may only feel ill in an indefinite way. The nosodes of great service in rationalizing the symptoms of such cases, and thus enabling the appropriate remedy to be found.
4. These diseases are always taken at the stage in which they exist in the already infected person. For example, the wife of a man with secondary syphilis will take the diseases at that stage and not in the primary or chancre stage.-[Kent in Journal of Homoeopathics. March, 1899.]
5. A man with syphilis or sycosis may fail to infect his wife if she is suffering from some other but dissimilar, protecting, chronic diseases such as phthisis, for dissimilar diseases repel one another.
THE TOTALITY OF THE SYMPTOMS
As our sole guide in the choice of the curative remedy is the totality of the symptoms, it is necessary to enquire to what is meant by the totality.
In acute diseases every symptom experienced by the patient or observable by others is to be included in the totality; also any cause, such as wetting, fright, etc., and circumstances aggravating and ameliorating.
As an acute diseases never forms a complex with a chronic one, the latter being suppressed until the former one has run its course, care must be taken when ascertaining the symptoms of the acute diseases not to take into account old symptoms which belong to the chronic diseases. But in some cases of acute diseases, SYMPTOMS of the chronic diseases remain and are active during the acute diseases; such chronic symptoms are peculiar because they have not disappeared, and very often are guiding to the cure of the acute diseases; while the remedy will have no relation to the chronic diseases, yet that peculiar symptom will stand out and guide you to the remedy that will cure the acute diseases; such symptoms are peculiar to the patient - [Kent, Medical Advance, January 1890.]
In chronic diseases the totality includes all symptoms experienced by the patient since birth, excluding these arising during acute diseases. While theoretically it is proper to include all such symptoms yet great caution must be used. (1) some other chronic miasm may have been acquired during life, or (2) the symptoms may have been so perverted by inappropriate treatment that they do not truly represent the diseases,-[Kent, Journal of Homoeopathics July 1899.] When the symptoms have been much perverted by inappropriate treatment we can sometimes get a sure foundation on which to base a prescription by taking the symptoms as experienced by the patient before this inappropriate treatment was commenced.
This investigation into the former symptoms of the patient is frequently of great service when the presently existing symptoms do not point clearly to any remedy. For example, in an adult with neuralgia of the limbs, where present symptoms are not guiding, if we find that in infancy he had scald-head like that of Mezereum; and we now examine the neuralgias produced by that remedy, it will often be found that they bear a close resemblance to that of the patient, and it will probably prove curative and reproduce the original eruption.
It frequently happens that , when we search for the totality of the symptoms, we find they have been so perverted or suppressed by inappropriate treatment that these now present do not present a true picture of the internal diseases. For example , take a case of gonorrhoea suppressed by Arg.Nit.. and on examination there will be found a pretty full picture of Med. and a partial one of Arg.Nit.., and probably Natr.Mur.
[In all such cases we must prescribe upon the symptoms if possible, but if the case does not respond and the suppressing drug is known, it is sometimes advisable to select a remedy competing which has an antidotal relationship.-K.]
In determining the totality, especially with regard to former symptoms in chronic diseases, it is also necessary to ascertain whether one or more miasms are present, as it is useless to attempt to find a remedy for all the symptoms when there is more than one. In such cases, as a rule, only one miasm is active at a time, and the treatment must be directed against that one. When two or more miasms form a complex we must endeavor to separate them.
[The symptoms are the only guide to the separating of the miasms. The road to death is by more complexity, and any remedy that improves the patient will cause a simplification or separation of the miasms.-K.]
THE SELECTION OF THE REMEDY
Having, then, determined the totality of the symptoms, we must now search for the remedy that has produced symptoms most similar to those observed in the patient.
Theoretically we endeavor to discover a remedy whose symptoms exactly correspond in character and grade to those of the patient; but this can rely if ever be done, and accordingly Dr. Hahnemann directs that in searching for the homoeopathic specific remedy we ought to be particularly and almost exclusively attentive to the symptoms that are striking , extraordinary peculiar (characteristic).
It is especially those symptoms that are peculiar to the patient and not to the diseases that are to be our guides. For example, the characteristics of dysentery are bloody discharges, pain and tenesmus; but if fainting accompanied every stool, that would be hence guiding.
In determining what are characteristic symptoms of the case the following rules and cautions are of importance, viz:
1. The characteristic symptoms must be equally well marked, both in the patient and in the remedy. In other words, no matter how peculiar a symptom may be, either in the patient or in the remedy, unless it is distinctive and outstanding we must pay little heed to it.
2. No one symptom, however peculiar it may be, can be our true guide, for, unless there is a general correspondence between the symptoms of the patient and the remedy, failure will result. Those single peculiar symptoms are however, invaluable in suggesting remedies as being worthy of examination.
3. General symptoms, or those that affect the whole body, are of very much higher rank than particulars which only relate to special organs; so much so that any number of particulars symptoms can be overruled by one strong general.
What the patient predicates of himself is usually general, as when he says, "I am thirsty", meaning that his whole body is so and not any one special organ.
General symptoms, however, are of different grades of value. In the highest rank must be placed all mental symptoms, if at all well marked, and of those all symptoms of the will and affection, including desire and aversions, also irritability and sadness , are the most important. Of less important are disorders of the intelligence, while those of memory rank lowest of the mental symptoms.
Pathology
While we must ignore pathological changes when choosing the remedy, yet a knowledge of true pathology is absolutely necessary.
1. We can only thereby understand the course and progress of the case.
2. We thereby know the symptoms that are common to that special state and hence those that are peculiar to the patient.
3. Pathology enables us to decide, when new symptoms arise, whether they are due to the mental progress of the action of the remedy.
4. We also thereby know that in certain diseases or at certain stages of diseases, that no matter how similar the symptoms produced by some remedies may appeared to those of the patient, yet owing to the superficial character of their action, they cannot prove curative. For example, in pneumonia, in the stage of exudation, while the symptoms may apparently call for 'Aconite', we know that remedy cannot produce such condition, and closer examination will reveal that some deeper acting remedy such as 'Sulphur' or 'Lycopodium' is needed.
5. We must clearly understand that it is the patient that is curable and not the disease, and without a proper understanding of pathology, we are liable to err. Suppose a case of inflammation of a joint that has led to ankylosis. The suitable remedy will cure the inflammation, but will be powerless to break down the adhesions and surgical aid must be sought. The same holds good with regard to tumors, for when the patient is cured the tumor will cease to grow, and perhaps it may be absorbed, but very often it persists and must be removed by surgery. etc.
Concomitant Symptoms
It is a mistake to suppose that a remedy can cure groups of symptoms only in order in which they appear in the proving. Often a remedy cures a group whose component and often in quite a diferent order.
While this is so, experience teachers that certain groups of symptoms are apt to appear together, and when this is so, they are more characteristic of the remedy.
Dr. Hering of USA says that the comparative value of concomitants may be determined thus. If they are essentially concomitant, one being really the cause of the other (e.g. lachrymation due to a general catarrhal condition), then this feature of the case must be considered, but if no such relation of cause and effect is observed it may be ignored.
Effect Produced by Homeopathic Remedy
The homeopathic remedy having been given it will affect the case in one of the following ways:
In such cases the remedy and potency have been exactly similar to the disease force.
It may also mean that the disease has not been deeply rooted.
This cases are incurable and only short acting remedies should be use.
if the remedy was the similimum the case is incurable, but the remedy only corresponded superficially it may have acted palliatively.
If the remedy selection is according to the similimum and the potency given are correct, then the symptom will disappear and cure.
Homoeopathic Aggravation
In acute diseases the homeopathic aggravation is not as a rule, marked unless the disease has been severe and dangerous.
in chronic cases without tissue changes the aggravation is usually not severe, but when there are tissue changes there is almost invariably a marked aggravation usually with elimination through some of the natural orifices of the body.
in the former the aggravation is due to the medicinal disease, where as in the letter it is due to an effort on nature's part to put matter right-a sort of house cleaning.
when the remedy does not correspond exactly to the disease symptoms we are not likely to have an aggravation (except in over-sensitives, where it is medicinal and not curative)
this is especially observable in feeble patients who, owing to their deficient vitality, are not able to reproduce any very guiding symptoms. - [Kent, Journal of Homeopathic, may 1900.]
The Repetition Of The Remedy
the medicine must not be repeated until the action of the last dose is fully exhausted. In other word, they can be no fixed time as to when to repeated, each case must be judged on it own merits.
in acute case it is comparatively easy to determine when the last dose has exhausted its action to means of the general appearance and mental state of the patient, and also to a less degree by the pulse and temperature.
in typhoid fever in vigorous patient Kent usually gives the remedy in water every few hour for several day, because it is a continued fever, but on the slightest sign of action stop the remedy.
on the other hand, he does not repeated the remedy in continued fever in a feeble patient.
in remittent fever reaction will appear in a few hour, and one dose is sufficient.
but in chronic case it is not so easy, for it is the rule and not the exception to have sharp, short exacerbations interrupting the improvement, and we must be sure that the exacerbations is a permanent and not a mere passing one.
in chronic case we know that the dose is still acting as long as old symptoms return, or, if the symptoms continue to disappear in the reverse order to that in which day originally appeared, or if they pass from internal organs to more superficial part, or if they go from above down.
more case are spoiled by too frequent repetition then from any other cause, and it must be remembered that an acute case may show no improvement for three day and some chronic ones from sixty.
when the vitality is very low, as in collapse, it is dangerous to repeat the dose. But when there is a lack of response to the remedy after the allopathic, drugging, which is really due to a sluggishness and not to a want or vitality, it is necessary to repeat often.
incurable disease requires more frequent repetition of the short acting remedy for palliation, and it is not advisable to use a higher potency then the 200th.
some antipsorics have also an acute action, and when indicated in acute disease we have exactly like the short acting remedies.
when the remedy corresponds very closely to the disease the symptoms, after reasonable time, will come back exactly the same of perhaps with the omission of one or two. In such case all we have to do is to repeat a same remedy and potency until it fails to act, when another potency must be use. Unfortunately in chronic disease it is rarely possible to select a remedy that correspond with perfect accuracy to the disease, and consequently when the symptoms return they are somewhat changed ; and frequent repetition of the original remedy will confuse the case, for it is possible to suppress symptoms by the too frequent use of the even high potencies.
The Second Remedy
the first remedy having done all that it can, we must proceed to chose the second one. If the symptoms came in the order, a, b, c, d, and e, and after a dose of an antipsoric remedy we find great improvement for 6 or 8 week, with the disapparance of symptoms e, d, c, and then a and b again increase and even a return, but d and c have permanently gone, finally a new symptoms f appears, so that we know have a, b, c, f; this last appearing symptoms, f, is guiding and will appear in the anamnesis as best related to some medicine which has it as a characteristic. Hering said that this new symptom, f, will generally be found amongst the symptoms of the last given remedy, but only of the low rank. It is on account of the appearance of this new symptoms and the disappearance of d and e that the original remedy is now contraindicated.
the second remedy must bear a complimentary relation to the first, and hence the last remedy, either homeopathic or allopathic, that has acted, form one of the most important guides in the choice of the second remedy.
if a case has been much drugged we are often forced to give nux vomica as an antidote. This giving of Nux how aver, does not confine our choice of the remedy that is to follow to the 8 or 10 remedy which bear a complimentary relation to Nux, for Nux have a white range and after giving it the case will open up and you can give any remedy excepting zinc., which would have to be avoided.
Potency
The minimum dose is as essential to homeopathy as the law of similars.
the best results are only obtained when the disease force and the remedial force are on the same plane. This may explain why in some cases a low potency cures after the failure of a high. When a medicine needs repetition it should be given in the same potency as long as it will act.
If the remedy called for during an acute exacerbation is afterwards needed for the chronic condition it must be given in a different potency.
very high potencies should not be used in incurable cases.
in certain oversensitive very high potencies instead of curing always cause proving, and such people do better with the 200th or 1M. When the patient has been long accustomed to the use of low potencies you do not always get good results from the higher potencies at first. Conversely the freguent proving of high potencies seems to develope a susceptibility and such provers obtain more and finer symptoms than those who have only proved low potencies.
in all periodic diseases, periodic either with regard to pain, convulsions, or discharges, it is not advisable to give the remedy during the exacerbations, but immediately after it.
Direction Of Symptoms During Cure
1. From within out
2. Usually from above downwards.
3. In the reverse order to that in which they appeared, etc.
Sources: The Faculty of Homeopathy Malaysia & Homeopathic Hospital
122 Taman Universiti, Kg gelang Mas, Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Malaysia. tel: 09-7972948
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