Before we proceed further, I would like to define some rules here for discussion. 1. It is not an exam. It is just share of knowledge. 2. We will not get annoy by any means. 3. We will talk only on facts and not on the opinions, which previously built up by our ancestors. 4. We will follow the topic seriously until the close of this thread. 5. We will not pass any personal remarks. 6. We will not quote any rude remarks, which any body has given on other topics 7. We will try our best to develop an attitude to understand something new. 8. At the end of discussion, we will give concluding remarks. 9. If we will face some controversial points, then we will try our best to sort out that problem with consensus. 10. When we will raise any question during discussion. We will try your best to answer that question in brief and simple manner. 11. We will run this thread slowly. 12. I will try my best to keep the thread active.

Now Ladies and Gentleman!

It is my opinion that “Totality of symptoms in homeopathy is a wrong concept.”

We do listen all symptoms from the patient but when we search for remedy for that person. We always prescribed remedy based on one and only one single symptom. If the patient gives us that symptom on his first instance then there is no need to listen all symptoms of that patient. However, for psychological treatment we will listen all patient’s complains in order to satisfy him. If the patient tells us some complains, which in our opinion is not important, then we ask various questions to find out that symptom on which we will base our prescription. So, whenever we will prescribe any remedy to any patient it will always based on single symptom and not on totality of symptom. If the selected remedy is also covering other symptoms of that patient, then it is a plus point but not necessary for prescription. One can never prescribe any remedy based on the whole symptoms of a patient.

So my opinion is <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>“THE CONCEPT OF TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS IS NOT BASED ON TOTAL SYMPTOMS OF A PATIENT BUT TOTAL SYMPTOMS OF THAT PARTICULAR OR PECULIAR COMPLAIN, WHICH A PATIENT IS COMPLAING FOR”.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Example: A patient age 60 years (male) came to my clinic with Urination Problem.

Wait I am going to see a patient now ….. I will come back

I don't know about anyone else, but I NEVER prescribe on one symptom. I was taught Hering's three legged stool, i.e., that even in simple acutes, you must always have at least three complete symptoms in order to prescribe. When I take a chronic or constitutional case, I normally spend 2-3 hours on the initial case study. By no means am I listening to the clients complete case merely to make him think I care! I don't know that the first symptom he tells me is the most important one until I've heard all of them. Even then, even if something is the most important symptom for the case, I NEVER use only that symptom. Sometimes I look at each one individually, sometimes I try to group them around themes, etc., but I always try to prescribe based on the totality.
Shirley Reischman

[ 31 August 2001: Message edited by: sreischman ]

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Shirley Reischman

hallo Dr. Mas
you wrote:

“THE CONCEPT OF TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS IS NOT BASED ON TOTAL SYMPTOMS OF A PATIENT BUT TOTAL SYMPTOMS OF THAT PARTICULAR OR PECULIAR COMPLAIN, WHICH A PATIENT IS COMPLAING FOR”.

Absolutely right!

According to Hahnemann , there can be up to 3 different diseases present in one person at the same time. See par. 40 footnote, Organon.
If you say, ''we prescribe'', this implies, that you know how every body on this board board prescribes, which I doubt very much , as you never looked at my casework here in Ireland. or maybe you are using something like a ''plural majestatis'', which was used to express superiority over the mass.
However, the procedure you discribe as your own, does not fulfill in every aspect the rules for homeopathic prescribing as set out in the Organon.
Greetings from Ireland, hans

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cure by symptom similarity!<br /><a href="http://www.Boger-Boenninghausen.com/" target="_blank">www.Boger-Boenninghausen.com/</a>

A saying; 'You don't know who you're dealing with'.
Not personal; general.
Louise.

sreischman ! I agreed what you said

I want your opinion on "please help me work out remedy for my friend? " by valerian
Junior Member
Member # 4871

Please repertorize the case and tell us which symptoms you added and also tell us one single remedy on this thread.

I am impressed with your approach.

Hans!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Absolutely right!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You are not the first person who ack this point. Read Principle of Homoeopathy by Dr. Garth Boerick, MD the son of William Boerick.

Actually we have not the power to accept new approch. We all homeopath are doing same trick but have not the courage to accept.

You quoted Dr.CFSH remarks. I agreed. I accept this point.

This also confirms my previous all posts. That is there are 28 method of prescription in homeopathy.

on symptoms, on disease, on remedy action ... etc

rest of comments I will give next time

Dear Dr. Mas,

I will be going out of town shortly and will not have internet access until Tuesday. I will look at the thread when I return.

Shirley

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Shirley Reischman

dear dr Mas,
see what u r saying is only a part of story.please try to study the concept of complete symptom. a symptom can not complete if we dont specify location, sensation, modalities and concamitants.and if we specify all these ,somehow we get a good indication for certain remedy.here also we have to consider many things.it can be acute exacerbation of certain chronic ailment. in my view good homoeopaths prescribe in this way only

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AUDE SAPERE

Dear Dr. Mas,

Here is my analysis of the case and the way I would approach it if this person came to me as a client at the clinic. It's rather long and I have included the original case with my comments interspersed, which may make it a bit difficult to read. I would not ask any of the questions until the person was completely through presenting his case.

This seem to me to be a constitutional case rather than a series of different problems that are each of an acute nature. This is why I've asked so many questions trying to get the full case.

My first thought on reading the thread was also Lyc. It looks like it was suggested based on two keynotes, ravenous hunger increased by eating and anticipatory anxiety. When the general area of digestive problems is added to that, you get the three-legged stool. So Lyc could be a well-indicated remedy. But I don’t like to have any remedies in mind until after I’ve taken the case and analyzed it, so lets go a little deeper and see what we have.

CASE
Male
Birth Date: 6th. April.1966., height: 5'8"
weight: 80 kgs.
Only Child in the family
Married 1996.
Children: Two (eldest son-aged 3 and daughter-aged 4months).
Parents Married Late: Mother was 40 and Father was 46. Mother has hypertension, suffered a stroke ( cerebral hemeplegia –left side) 15 years ago, asthma &lt; vexation, mild myocardial infraction.10 years ago. Father: Expired this February 2001 @ age 82, generally healthy except for chronic smokers bronchitis.

SR's commments
I generally don’t consider a lot about his heredity unless the first few well-selected remedies don’t work. Then I consider possible miasmatic blocks and look to the parent’s health. The exception is for Carc when there is a strong history of cancer, diabetes or heart disease on both sides of the family.

CASE
History: Childhood
Late Walker @ 3 years. Undernourished in growing years. Shifting aches in the arms and legs.
Worms-anal itching and grinding of teeth.
Typhoid once at age 7-10 years.
1988-89 (age 22 years)-Herpes Zoster.
1990 ( 24 years) – mumps.
1997 (age 31 years)-Chicken Pox (It was a year of stress- mother-in-law & daughter-in- law problems)
1997- Circumcision operation, urine in two streams ever since.

SR's comments
I don’t prescribe on prior conditions, but I do consider them when I evaluate the results, using Hering’s law.

CASE
Gastric problem since 1997, offensive flatus, aggravated by eating pungent spicy food. Samosa etc eaten outside evoke dysentery. Coffee induces red itchy rashes over the abdomen region.
Present Symptoms:
Mind: Anxious/Procrastination habit/Day Dream/Anger or wasteful thoughts on imaginary situation/Easily stressed.

SR's comments
Need more information: What is meant by imaginary situation? What does he feel anxious about? What does he daydream about? What things stress him? Did the gastric problem begin with either the chicken pox or circumcision?

CASE
Head: Dandruff and Oily. Premature graying 40 %

SR's comments
Note: Premature graying could be dietary, not enough B vitamins or hereditary. Ask about father’s hair.

CASE
Face: Oily (Pimples marks from teenage days).
Mouth: Tongue Coated White, Black spot in the front portion (Typhoid?!), Gums bleeds occasionally while sucking it.

SR's comments
What is the sucking gums about? A nervous habit or is there some sensation that triggers it?

CASE
Ears: Itching after bath and urge to clean it with swab sticks.
Neck: Warts (5-6) on the nape region.

SR's comments
Any warts or skin tags on other parts of body?

CASE
Throat: Frequent bouts of throat infection- especially after swimming or exposure to cold dry winter conditions.

SR's comments
What are the symptoms of the infections? If there is pain, where is it located and describe the sensation. How does the throat look, i.e., color, inflammation, etc.? How has it been treated in the past?

CASE
Stomach: Ravenous hunger: More I eat the more I crave ; &lt; at time of stress and worries, anger.

SR's comments
Kent gives Caladium as the only remedy for ravenous hunger increased by eating, but there are 41 remedies, which have appetite, increased by eating and 144 with ravenous hunger, so I would not automatically give Lyc.

CASE
Gastric Offensive flatus on consumption of Dal. (Excessive strong craving for Dal)

SR's comments
Note that later is a mention of food cravings. Any aversions? Do other foods make you feel better or worse?

CASE
Excessive non-satisfying thirst at night.

SR's comments
Note that later is a mention of preference from hot drinks. Do you gulp or sip?

CASE
Red Itchy rashes appear over the stomach and liver region when I drink coffee.
Urine: light yellow and burn a bit.

SR's comments
Does it burn all the time or are there certain things that make it better or worse?

CASE
Stools: shred and occasionally constipated. Anus burns slightly after stools.

SR's comments
Do they burn all the time or are there certain things that make it better or worse? Describe the constipation, i.e., what is the sensation and what are the stools like. What makes the shredding and what makes the constipation better or worse.

CASE
Extremities: Sharp stitching pain in Right Tendo-Achilies heel (&lt; with cold air)
Right index finger pains when pressed downwards towards palm. Cracking sound of wrist joints on rotating it.
Appearance of dry peeling of skin on the right thumb &lt; winter.
Occasionally pain in the sole of the feet. Cramps in the calves &lt; winter

SR's comments
Are these symptoms there all the time and worse from cold or are they only there in cold? Are they only worse in cold air or worse all winter? How bad are they? If not too bad, the fact that they are in isolated, end of extremity locations would indicate that they are not major symptoms. If that’s the case, I would use them to differentiate, but not prescribe on. Although, the general worse from cold might be an important rubric, so in general are you worse from cold air and/or worse in winter? Also, what is your skin like in general? The cramps could be a dietary problem. What are the calcium, copper and magnesium levels?

CASE
Cravings:
Salty/Sour/Spicy Pungent food and hot drinks.
Butter Milk/Sol Curry/Sausages/Dal/ Soups/Oranges/ Raw Mangoes/like to add salt to fruits.

SR's comments
Do any of these foods make you feel better or worse? What is your general appetite like?

CASE
Vaccination:
Hepatitis B in the 1999. Apart from the standard childhood vaccination.

SR's comments
I would consider this an obstacle to cure if a few well-selected remedies don’t work.

CASE
Tests:
Serum Cholesterol 246.5 mg/dl.
Triglycerides 251.3 mg/dl.
HDL 52 mg/dl
LDL 144.2 mg/dl
Total Cholesterol: HDL 4.74
LDL: HDL 2.77
Fasting Blood Sugar 108.7 mg%
Serum Uric Acid 4.2 mg/dl
R A factor negative.

SR's comments
Since these aren’t symptoms that would be described in provings, and I’m not a clinical homeopath, they aren’t of value to me in choosing a remedy.

CASE
Homeopathic Medications so far:
I used to get throat problem recurrently at Nagpur and Diarreah due to change of water etc this was remedied homeopathically.
Most recently I had taken Phosphorus 200 (Jan’2001) and that stopped my morning diarrhea(as soon as I would wake up).
Based on the symptom sticking pain in tendo- Achilles and dry peeling skin on left thumb I had take petrol 200 infrequent dose, this cleared my thumb skin problem and the pain of the tendo- Achilles returned after 2 weeks.
Thinking it could be uric acid, and based on the symptom that the urine some time smells offensive , pain in tendo- Achilles and stiff pain in index finger, occasional frothy stools I took Acid Benz 30 for a week with minor relief. I am now taking Cal Phos 6X and my finger appear improved.
Occasionally I take Num Vom 200, Arnica 200.

SR's comments
It doesn’t appear that any of these remedies were prescribed on the totality of the case, so none of them are going to affect the general well being. Also, the occasional frothy stools should be added to the stool section with the same question – what makes it better or worse?

CASE
the major complaints are 1) continuing gastric (flatus).
2) The sharp pain in the spot above the heel.
3) Mentally, get amorous thoughts forcing to waste time on use visits to porn sites and hampering professional work.

SR's comments
This would bean important symptom. What triggers the thoughts? How would you describe your sex drive in general? How satisfying is your marriage at all levels, not just sexual?

CASE
4) High triglycerides level causes some worry.

Speaking of anxiety: I have a nervous anticipation before any event. I am hesitant taking up any new project (Lyc?). I dislike entering into arguments and would rather keep quiet as I get tongue tied on such occasion.

SR's comments
This is an important mental symptom.

CASE
I had worked on pathaks repertory and got Phos and Ars Alb as my remedy. But wonder if my past history (recent) of mumps, herpes zooster and chicken pox would need any nosode.

SR's comments
It's generally a bad idea to try to treat oneself for anything other than some acute problems - even then the acutes could be a part of the constitutional case and should not be self treated. All of these partially indicated remedies can have an adverse affect on the healing process.

Re the past history, dates were given earlier in case. Again, unless a few well-selected remedies did not work, I probably wouldn’t use these to repertorise, but I would use them to evaluate the response of the remedy.

Other general questions to fill out the case: What do you look like (I don’t know how much 80 kg is)? Is that thin or fat? Are you strong or weak? What is your complection relative to others of your race? How is your sleep? Any dreams? What time of day are you better or worse? Do you tend to feel either warm or chilled? Do you have any fears? What is your temper like? Do you prefer to be with people or by yourself? How do you feel when you hear sad stories?

There are basically three ways I would approach this case:
1. Since Lyc seems to be well indicated on the keynotes, I would check Lyc to see if other symptoms where included in the remedy.
2. Since Caladium is a unique remedy for one of the symptoms as the client described it in his own words, I would check caladium to see if other symptoms were included in the remedy.
3. I would take the totality of the symptoms important to the case as it now exists, and which describe the client’s current state, and repertorise on them.

However, before I would do any of that, I would want my questions answered, so I would have the full case. After looking at the remedies which are in the short list after doing the three analysis methods above, I would look at them more in depth and possibly ask more questions of the client in order to differentiate which remedy is the closest match.

Shirley Reischman

[ 04 September 2001: Message edited by: sreischman ]

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Shirley Reischman

Excellent Shirley and also very useful for any students who are on the BB. I don't know how you found the time to type all that!!

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RSHom - Registered Homeopath