Dear Denis,

It is true that there are a lot of remedies missing from repertory rubrics where they ought to be found. Remedies like Sulphur are over-represented in the repertory while a remedy like Hydrastis will never come to the top of a repertorization chart.

So, to begin with, we have to know what we are looking to solve in a case. Do we want a remedy for toothache? Then we don't need to do a constitutional case. We do, however, need the repertory very much here, because we might never guess in a million years that "Pressue of the Hand Amel." suggests that the remedy may be Rhus tox!

More often than not, a person comes to you because something specific is wrong. They have heartburn or chest pain or the flu. These are not constitutional cases. We have been led astray in the belief that every person needs his constitutional case taken. We look for "the simillimum" when the person before us has shoulder pain due to improper lifting or leg pain from having to stand too long at work. "What does the pain feel like?" we should ask. "What makes it better or worse? What was the cause? Is there a diagnosis? When did it start? Is it constant or does it come and go? How does it come and go, gradually? Suddenly? Is it in one location or does it move around or radiate?" Knowing what to ask is half the ballgame. Then we must consult our repertory as the remedy might surprise us.

However, even saying that, my last three cases of pain were very predictable: Arnica (sore sensation) and Bryonia (sharp pains, worse motion, not better on continued motion).

Snoopy