Hahnemann used different words, in order to present different views and explanations. This shows that these words certainly have different meanings and explanations. Without knowing the difference one could not interoperate organon. e.g.


Remedy (93)**Medicine (404)**Drug (24)
Rubric**Symptoms (65)**Disease (800)
Combination (2)**Compound (3)**Mixture (17)
Aphorism**Principle (10)**Law (11)


How many times these words came in organon are written in parenthesis.

I want your help. Just simply differentiate them.


[This message has been edited by DR.MAS (edited 26 March 2001).]

DrMas, First of all it should be said that the accuracy of the definitions depend on the context in which they are written.

But I'll have a stab at it anyway...

To me, Remedy, Medicine, and Drug are three ways of refering to the curative agent.

Rubric is a heading under which the modalities of a symptom are grouped.

Symptom is a manifestation of disharmony as expressed by the Vital Force.

Disease is the pathological outcome of prolonged disharmony in the Vital Force.

Combination, Compound, and Mixture refers to more than one drug in the medicine.

Aphorism is a sentence or paragraph that expresses a general truth or observation.

Principles can be beliefs, theories or laws that explain how something happens or works.

Law is a natural process based on scientific observation in which a particular event or thing always leads to a particular result. E.g. the law of similars.

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Chris Gillen
Member AHA (Australia)

The only one I'm relatively sure of is symptom vs. rubric. A rubric is a symptom that developed during a proving. Therefore, if a symptom can be found in the proving of a remedy, it is a rubric. Not all symptoms are rubrics, but all rubrics are symptoms.

Shirley

Dr. Mas,
In the case of the use of synonyms, I am ableo the give an explanation as a native German speaker: It is considered bad German to repeat words too often, hence the use of synonyms like remedy/medicine/drug etc. I do remember having to search for alternative words in School to make my essays better ! In German literature you will usually not encounter word repetitions in sentences following eachother if they can be avoided so that the text is not boring to the reader. When I read the Organon in German, I have the impression that this is what Hahnemann did. IMHO we have here not an interpretation problem, but one of writing styles.

In the case of the other words, Chris gave the explanation as I understand it too.
Claudia

This post is actually, I have written for title post "The Neem Tree" by MJM.

Please also read the above mentioned title and also give your comments too.

Our most of the medicines are derived from Plants and Animals. A few of them are Elements and some of them are Compounds. We are dependent on various Compounds (e.g. Sodium Chloride) prepared with the help of Chemistry knowledge. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann was a famous Chemist too. He had vast knowledge on chemistry. But we do not even know the difference between

Remedy ** Medicine ** Drug ** Compound ** Mixture

Our homoeopath by all means tried their best to include homoeopathy into science. But they do not want to accept the difference between Compound and Mixture, Drug and Medicine with reference to Science (Chemistry)

Let’s see the difference. I will try my best to explain the phenomenon in layman language so that rest of the members could also enjoy. In homoeopathy, Sodium Chloride is a single Medicine and not a compound. Quite right with reference to homoeopathy because it has been proved as Sodium Chloride and not Sodium and Chlorine. Hence it is a single medicine in homoeopathy, inspite of having two elements Sodium and Chlorine. But in chemistry, this Sodium Chloride is surely a compound and have its own properties. Compounds in chemistry cannot be separated by physical means.

If two elements COMBINE together in fixed mass ratio and to form a new substance having new/different properties as compared to previous ingredients, then this substance is called a compound. So in chemistry, Compound means COMBINATION of two or more substance in some FIXED RATIO with DIFINITE change in the properties of new substance or product. For example, Sodium Chloride is a compound. Water is a compound, because it has oxygen and hydrogen in a fixed mass ratio of weight 8:1, Moreover, the properties of water are different from oxygen and Hydrogen.

But in homoeopathy, COMBINATION means just to combine two medicine to form a compound/combination.

In Chemistry mixture is obtained by mixing two or more elements or compounds in any ratio while retaining specific properties of ingredients. In other words, In mixture, if you will add two substance together. No new product will be formed and basic substances will keep their original properties.

In homoeopathy, when you will combine sodium chloride (a compound in chemistry but a single medicine in homoeopathy) in glass of water (a compound in chemistry but a single medicine in homoeopathy), a new COMBINATION will be formed in homoeopathy but this new combination will be called MIXTURE in chemistry. Remember! Sodium Chloride does not react with water. The ingredients of this mixture will show their separate properties (with reference to chemistry) although they are combination with reference to homoeopathy. Our homoeopaths called them a new compound but Chemist are saying this is not a compound.

In chemistry drug may be a compound or single element (Selenium). A medicine can be formed with the combination of drug, in order to administer to patient. DRUG IS THE BASIC INGRIDENT of medicine and is called raw material or crude form or MEDICINAL SUBSTANCE. Most of our homoeopathic medicine generally proved in the form of DRUG.

Now read the most important paragraph of this discussion. In homoeopathy, if somebody asked you to please administer the MEDICINE to a patient, then it means you will give a proved medicine generally in the form of potency because this specific medicine means, the medicine has been proved for some specific symptoms or disease. Remember this proved medicine is the combination of drug but actually not a drug. On the other hand, if you are going to give a drug to your patient then you are not doing homoeopathy because drug means basic raw material or crude form, which has yet to be proved for some specific symptoms or disease.

Simply says, in homoeopathy, Medicine means proved substance ready for administration to a patient and drug means unproved substance not ready for administration.

These things are quite confusing but not for those who know chemistry. I am not telling you something NEW. All are written in middle school chemistry book. Samuel Hahnemann was a chemist. He knew the difference. So he used these words in his organon with reference to chemistry. Now let’s see what Great Hahnemann said

Quote:

It is not conceivable how the slightest dubiety could exist as to whether it was more consistent with nature and more rational to prescribe a single well-known medicine at one time in a disease, or a mixture of several differently acting drugs.

If you will read this post with reference to chemistry and by placing all other aphorism a side, then you can easily follow the point.

In Hahnemann’s opinion, If you can easily approach to a single medicine (proved substance having symptoms) and that medicine has result too or healing properties then why you are prescribing mixture of drugs (not proved substance) to a patient.

In Hahnemann’s period, it was common practice of allopath and homoepath that they were generally using mixtures with several number of drugs (not proved) in order to manage their patient’s diseases. Hahnemann was against in such type of practice. Actually this address was for specially to allopaths and not for homoeopaths. He was talking to them in their technical language and trying to create the importance of simple homoeopathic medicine among the allopaths as compared to mixture of several drugs. He was assuring to them that his simple substance could give you the same result, which you are trying to take from a mixture of several differently acting drugs. This aphorism does not tell us not to use combination of medicine in homoeopathy but tell us not to use combination of drugs in allopathy and homoeopathy, leave allopathy and join homoeopathy.


[This message has been edited by DR.MAS (edited 27 March 2001).]

Dear Dr.MAS

You are using the same trick as MJM in Neem proving Post, to teach others. By the way, you are right, most of the members of this BB have lack of knowledge. (sorry)

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Dr.Waqar

Dr Mas, Like I said, it depends on the context in which they are written.
Many homoeopathic remedies occur in natural chemical combinations.
For example, the Natrums. Nat-a., Nat.carb,Nat.phos, Nat.sulph and then there's the Murates. Mur.ac, Calc.m, or Kali.mur. Just for starters.
It's a good idea to study each mineral separately and then in natural combinations. So next time a case that looks like Nat-mur (which is given far too often) think about the other combinations. For example, Nat.phos is more fearful at night, nervous, forgetful and indifferent (Phos) than Nat mur, yet they share sitting in silence and are both <by music. Nat carb suffers from heat and desires to be alone (Natrums) yet is weak and sow (Carbons). Nat ars has great anxiety and fastidiousness, frightens easily, is most restless and easily startled (Ars) but still indisposed to talk (Natrum). Nat Sulph is fastidious and melancholic, and <from music (Natrum) but has more loathing of life with impulses to kill (Sul).This information and the way to study can be found on David Little's website,www.similimum.com

I don't think it is sensible to confuse this natural occurence with Hahnemann's plea to allopaths to prescribe single remedies.
I mean what's next you start splitting atoms into protons and electrons etc?

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Chris Gillen
Member AHA (Australia)

I read drmas post again and again but could not understand. I am practicing homoeopathy for the last 12 years. Now I got the print and going to my friend who is a Professor.

I also put DR.MAS word in serach box and read all his post. He has basically a crupt creative mind. Because the points raised by drmas are controversials and demands lot of discussion. He may be right or may be wrong.

I am going to take all of his posts prints. Because I am much confused now. No doubt, drmas is thinking beyond my border.

If any body have the answer. It will give me great help.

DrMass
I really don,t envy you, having all those questions and having to wait until someone has said something,so that I can reply and show off my answer. Must be nerverecking to sit there.
Hans

This was the post / reply appeared under my posts. Is this interactive system.

Sharing my views, I would say Calc Carb in homeopathy is a single remedy and not a compound remedy. Homeopathy stands differently on these terms.

__________________
Homeo Dr. Rasheed Khan,
M.A (Pol Sci), M.A (Islamiat), M.A (History), DHMS (4 years)
Registered Homeopath in NCH, Pakistan
Member of P.H.S, PHDA, HPCA & PHMA.