Something that I realised today looking at a case I'm studying is that at some level I have been judging remedies rather like people. i.e. Anac not someone you'd like to know, Phos someone you would like to know, etc.

When taking cases I inevitably like some patients as people more than others. I try to be aware of this and put it aside so that it doesn't get in the way but it is a part of being human.

It then occured to me that when I look through the remedies that arise in repertorisation I am sure that again at some level I am mapping my like of the patient with my scale of liking for the remedy pictures. e.g. much too nice a person to be Anac. I hope that when I really look deeply at a case that this disappears, I just wondered if homoeopaths long in practice automatically allow for things like this; or maybe its just a quirk in my way of looking at things?
Dave

The most important thing you can ever do when studying your remedy "pictures" is to throw out any preconceptions about what a particular remedy would look like if they were sitting in front of you. Most people will compensate for any socially unacceptable behaviour, and may very well look the opposite of what they actually are.

I have treated some lovely Anac people, much too nice for their own good (like Staph).

I have treated some irresponsible, flighty easily bored Phos people who seem really shallow and insincere. Not always the best sort of friend to have.

I have made mistakes assuming someone "could not possibly be" a particular remedy, because it is what the remedy DOES cover, not what it doesn't.

Sankaran talks at length about compensation of the patient, who presents in a hidden way.

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David Kempson
Dip.Homoeopathic Medicine
Member A.H.A(Australia)

If you want to know more about Sankaran ( and I view him as an ACE Hom) link to his site and get some info. Nice photo too!
Simon
http://www.homeopathyindia.org/rs-bd.htm

I'm a living example of a very likeable Anacardium BTW a very good remedy for two kinds of behaviours like the split between the buried feelings that burst out and the trained on respectful behavior !
Claudia

davegreen,
Im an Anac person, i.e not someone you would like to know.what is your perception of an Anac person?

Thanks,

Mia.

<<I have made mistakes assuming someone "could not possibly be" a particular remedy, because it is what the remedy DOES cover, not what it doesn't.>>

Hi David,
Could you explain the above in more detail. Do you mean you have dismissed acorrect remedy because it had in it symptoms that the person did not have e.g. Lycopodium couldn;t possibly be right because my patient has no digestive disorders or vice versa?

David Kempson is right when he talks about the "compensated patient". Baryta Carbs can learn to appear competent and self assured, Nux Vomicas can be charming in your office, and irritable and insulting at home. It really helps to have friends and family present at the consultation because they will often tell you what you really need to know.

Snoopy

Snoopy

Let's not forget the acute vs. the chronic picture. Anac. is a great remedy for itchy rashes like poison ivy. It would be inappropriate to think that this would have to be an anac. person before you could give the remedy; just like verat-alb. is a great diarrhea remedy, but the chronic picture of verat. isn't so nice, as these people can be religious nuts, etc.

Similarly, hemorrhages of bright red blood--you wouldn't stop to ask if the person is "phosphorus".

A lot of what we're called upon to do is acute prescribing, where often there are no mentals in the case. We would go wrong if we took the person's "healthy" mental state and said, "It looks like this indigestion is pulsatilla, but my patient isn't a crier and isn't needy and clingy, though he clearly is sick because of over-indulgence in fatty food, but, I guess I can't give puls." That would be a mistake. The mentals aren't part of the case.

Snoopy

Absolutely Snoopy, I have seen similar things. In fact almost all the Baryta carb people I have seen have been competent independent people who may have travelled the world on their own. But they were such dependent children! And many of the Nux vomica people I have treated all control their anger when with me, seem quite calm and rational, rarely raising their voice. I have seen one violent Staph, a messy Ars (desperately trying to not be his Father), tidy Sulphurs, extroverted Nat-murs, rough Pulsatillas.

People react to their impulses in one of two ways - they give in and go for it OR they react in the opposite way, to counteract what they may think is an inappropriate feeling.

The Law of Similars only calls for what is there, not what isn't. Often a person will either not have developed all the symptoms in the Mat Med, because there are just too many, or they are hiding it.

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David Kempson
Dip.Homoeopathic Medicine
Member A.H.A(Australia)

And to be generous to the patients they are like that because to some degree they are self aware.

I find this thread fascinating, like a lot of Dave's threads!!!

As a patient, there are certain remedies that I find 'insulting', despite what I know to be the case that it is not an insult. I am interested to hear that Dave struggles with this as a therapist, from the other side as it were!

I have been prescibed Anacardium and Staphisagria and never found it insulting. The one I struggle with is Lachesis! Although I KNOW that I can sit in a homeopath's office and BE Lachesis I still don't want someone to prescribe it... Ahem..

Reading Philp Bailey's 'Homeopathy Psychology' doesn't help either, you wouldn't want to be one of 'his' Anacardium's.

I liked Chris G's comment in another one of your threads Dave where Chris said 'remember Lycopodiums are nice people who've had the sh*t beaten out of them as kids'. No judgement, just lovely!

Dave, you keep on thinking up these interesting threads and I'll keep on reading...


[This message has been edited by debdell (edited 01 April 2001).]

[This message has been edited by debdell (edited 04 April 2001).]