Chapter 17 - What is Organon of Medicine?

Dr. Hahnemann was able to verify the curative action of Cinchona bark by 1790. For the next six years he proved many drugs upon himself, his friends and family to verify the law of Similia. In 1796, he published his findings in Hufeland's journal in an article titled 'An Essay on a New Principle for Ascertaining The Curative Powers of Drugs and Some Examination of Previous Principles'. When Hahnemann started practicing on the basis of the law of simila, he faced numerous difficulties. With increasing experience, his attitude towards disease, drug-actions, the method of testing their positive effects, the relation between the disease and the drug phenomena, and the mode of application and preparation of drugs began to take a definite shape. He felt the need to synthesize his thoughts and communicate them to other physicians. Apart from the above mentioned article, he also wrote - Aesculapius in the Balance (1805); Medicine of Experience (1805); On the Value of Speculative System of Medicine (1808); Observations on the Three Current Methods of Treatment (1809). These works paved the way for publishing his magnum opus - Organon of Rational Medical Science, in 1810. This book is written in aphoristic style (paragraphs with numbering) but there is continuity and logical sequence of thoughts underlying the sections. The book went through 6 editions in all. Five editions were published during the author's life. The 6th edition was completed by Dr. Hahnmeann in 1842 but he passed away on July 2nd, 1843 before the 6th edition could be published. The last edition was finally published in 1921 due to the efforts of William Boericke. Dr. Hahnmeann was a born searcher for truth and was always ready to modify his ideas to suit the facts. He had no hesitation in acknowledging his errors if fact and experience went against his principles. Title of the Book. The word 'Organon' is derived from the Greek word 'Organum', which means 'instrument of knowledge'. The word Organon was first used by the Greek Philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) for his treatise on logic. Later, Franics Bacon (1561-1626), the English philosopher and statesman wrote a treatise on logic in Latin titled 'Novum Organum', wherein he urged upon his fellow men to follow the inductive method of reasoning. Possibly these works of Aristotle and bacon influenced Hahnmeann to name his book Organon. In the first edition, Hahnemann named his book 'Organon of the Rational Medical Science'. From the 2nd edition onwards, the title was changed to 'Oragnon of the Healing Art'. Various Editions of Organon of Medicine First Edition Published in 1810 Published from Torgau Aphorisms - 271 Title - Organon of Rational Medical Science (Organon Der Rationellen Heilkunde) Translated by C. E. Wheeler, in English, in 1913. Below the title of the book there was a small couplet from Gallert's poem - The Truth We Mortals Need Us Blest To make And Keep The All-Wise Slightly Covered Over But Did Not Bury Deep. Just above the first aphorism was written 'Organon of The Healing Art'. The first edition had no table of contents. Second Edition Published in 1819 Published from Leipzig Aphorisms - 315 Title - Organon of The Healing Art (Organon Der Heilkunst) Translated by Ernest George von Burnnon, in French, in 1824. In the second edition the title of the book was changed. The Gallert's poem was also replaced by the phrase 'Aude Sapere', which means 'dare to be wise'. Third Edition Published in 1824 Published from Koethen Aphorisms - 317 Title - Organon of The Healing Art (Organon Der Heilkunst) No significant change. Fourth Edition Published in 1829 Published from Koethen Aphorisms - 292 Title - Organon of The Healing Art (Organon Der Heilkunst) Translated by Charles H Deurient, in English, in 1833 The theory of chronic diseases was included in the organon for the first time. In the 9th aphorism of this edition, Hahnmeann stated that the fundamental cause of all chronic diseases are 'Chronic Miasms' and in aphorism 72 he stated that chronic diseases are caused by 'dynamic infection of chronic miasm'. Introduction to Organon proper was introduced in this edition. Fifth Edition Published in 1833 Published from Koethen Aphorisms - 294 Title - Organon of The Healing Art (Organon Der Heilkunst) Translated by Robert Ellias Dudgeon, in English, in 1849 and agin in 1893. Also translated by C. Wesselehoft. This edition introduced two new approaches - Doctrine of Vital Force, and Doctrine of Drug Dynamization. Sixth Edition Published in 1921 Written in Paris Aphorisms - 291 Title - Organon of Medicine Translated by William Boericke, in English, in 1921. This edition was published after the death of Dr. Hahnemann. In this edition many significant changes took place. The term Vital Force was replaced by Vital Principle and a new scale for potentization, 50 Millesimal scale was introduced in the sixth edition. Apart from these many other changes in the preparation, administration and repetition of drugs took place. Some of these changes were so stark that large number of homeopaths have not been able to accept this edition till date.

Short Materia Medica

CARBO VEG.

Carbo veg., made from charcoal, proves useful when the vital power becomes low from loss of vital fluid, from grave or serious diseases, from effects of drugs etc. It helps when reactivity is low. The typical Carbo veg patient is fat, sluggish, lazy and has a tendency to chronicity of complaints. It especially suits to old people with low vitality and to people who have never recovered fully from the effect of some previous illness. It is a lifesaver remedy for the state of collapse in cholera, typhoid or other grave diseases, when the patient is almost lifeless, with cold body (head may be hot), breath cold, pulse imperceptible, respiration quickened and there is desire to be fanned. Hemorrhage, where the blood is dark, oozing from shock, after surgical operations, persists for hours or days. Alco bleeding gums. Weakness, flatulence, and air hunger are present with most of the complaints. Carbo veg has pronounced action on the gastrointestinal tract. Digestion is slow, food turns into gas. Aversion to meat, fat and milk which cause flatulence. Loud eructations which ameliorate. Heaviness and burning after eating. Abdomen distended, esp. the upper part. Can not bear tight clothing around waist. That's carbo-veg for you!

PULSATILLA

On account of its changing , shifting symptoms, this remedy is known as a weather cock remedy. It is preeminently a remedy for females - mild, gentle, plethoric, sluggish, yielding disposition - who cry readily. Thirstlessness, chilliness and shortness of breath is often present with digestive and menstrual disorders. Mucus discharges are profuse, bland, thick, yellowish-green. Symptoms often change, shift or appear contradictory. Mentally, the patient is mild, timid, emotional and fearful. Easily discouraged and offended. The patient craves sympathy, which ameliorates. Has a clinging nature. Children like fun and caress. In females there is often morbid fear of opposite sex. Also there is fear to be alone, of dark, of ghosts in the evening. Although the pulsatilla is patient is very mild, she is also very irritable at the same time. Pulsatilla is very useful if menses are delayed at puberty or when the menses are late, scanty and painful. It also helps if the labour pains are weak or when the pains after delivery are severe or when there is bleeding after delivery. It also helps when the milk is suppressed or scanty. Pulsatilla patient is usually worse by warmth, heat, closed room, evening and eating rich food and is better by cold, open fresh air, gentle motion and weeping. NUX VOMICA Nux vomica is an everyday remedy. It corresponds to many diseased conditions to which a modern man is prone. It is useful in those persons who lead a sedentary life, doing much mental work, or remain under stress and strain of prolonged office work, business cares and worries. Such people are are apt to indulge in wine, woman, rich food, stimulants and drugs, and suffer in consequence. The typical nux patient is rather this (may be potbellied), spare, quick, active, nervous and irritable. Nux affects nerves causing hypersensitiveness and overimpressionability - both mentally and physically. Mentally, the patients is active, gets angry easily, is impatient and can not stand pain. Nux is the remedy for males who are zealous, optimistic, ambitious, fastidious, faultfinding, headstrong and self-willed - the achievers. The focus is often on 'I', 'Me' or "Mine'. The patient is usually oversensitive to external impressions like noise, light, odor, touch etc. Nux is a very good remedy for gastric disturbances. The Nux person craves beer, fats and stimulants. There is heaviness in abdomen an hour or two after eating, must loosen clothing. The patient can not do mental work for 2-3 hours after a meal. Constipation; with frequent, unsuccessful desire; passing small stool. There is sensation as if not finished after stool. Nux patient is usually chilly, can not bear cold. Patient is usually worse in morning, mental exertion, after eating or overeating, touch noise, anger, dry-cold weather, disappointment of ambition etc. and better by free discharges, naps, milk and rest. IGNATIA Ignatia is a remedy which often comes into play when there is history of suppressed anger, grief, loss of loved ones, or disappointed love. Persons who become mentally of physically exhausted by long-concentrated grief. Such people often have desire to be alone. They are amicable in disposition if feeling well, but easily disturbed by very slight emotion; easily offended. The slightest faultfinding or contradiction excited anger, and this makes her angry with herself. The person becomes moody. Mental conditions change rapidly from joy to sorrow, from laughing to weeping. Children when reprimanded or scolded, get sick or have convulsions in sleep. Ignatia especially suits to women of a nervous temperament who have a mild disposition. But they are quick to perceive and rapid in execution (unlike Pulsatilla). Ignatia patients often have involuntary sighing. Also they have an aversion to tobacco/smoking. Ignatia is called the remedy of contradictions as it presents lots of contradictory symptoms like thirst during chill, pain in throat better by swallowing, cough worse by coughing, piles better by walking etc. Ignatia is also oversensitive to pain. And pains usually occur in small circumscribed spots. Another interesting feature of Ignatia is that its patients often sweat on face while eating. That's Ignatia for you! ARSENIC ALBUM Arsenic is a medicine with a very diverse range of action. It can prove useful in many acute ailments like diarrhea, cold, gastritis, fever etc. It is also a very deep acting medicine useful in many chronic ailments. Whatever be the ailment the arsenic patient shows some characteristic features. To begin with, the patient requiring arsenic often feels very prostrated, very tired. The feeling of fatigue is usually not in proportion to his/her ailment. The patient feels more tired than he should for the severity of his/her ailments. At the very same time, the patient also feels mentally restless. Although the patient feels tired, he can not rest in one place. He/she will continue to move or change his position as long as the body permits. There is lot of anxiety too regarding his disease and health in general. The patient exaggerates the disease and may even feel that his/her disease is incurable (even simple diarrhea or cold!!). The feeling leads to fear of death. The complaints of arsenic patients are often worse around midnight and midday - more around midnight. The pains felt by a patient needing arsenic are often burning in nature. The arsenic patient usually feels better by heat (except in headache), hot drinks, hot application etc. The arsenic thirst is also very typical. The patient feels thirsty but drinks small quantities at frequent intervals. There are some other symptoms of arsenic too that you should be aware of - * Arsenic is often indicated in gastric derangement ( gastritis / diarrhea / vomiting) after cold fruits, ice-cream, ice-water, old food (cases of food poisoning). The diarrhea of arsenic patient is often worse after eating or drinking. * In asthma, the arsenic patient can not lie down. Feels better by sitting and bending forward. * Arsenic patient often becomes nauseous with the smell or sight of food. That's arsenic in short for you! BELLADONA The acute conditions in which belladona often finds indication are cold, sore throat, fever, headache, dentitional problems of children, and acute painful inflammations of all kinds. The patient catches cold very easily and the cold usually settles in throat. The patient develops sore throat, the tonsils enlarge, throat appears red, feels dry and painful, more so on the right side. The cough is dry, short and is often worse at night. The pains pointing towards belladona are usually throbbing or pulsating in nature. The pains are often very intense and they start suddenly (not gradually). In headache also, the congestion and throbbing pain is found. During headache the face becomes red and there is throbbing pain in the head. The pain is worse by lying down, noise, light, and exertion. It becomes better on applying pressure. Belladona is often indicated in primary stages of inflammation, when there is lot of redness, congestion, and pain in the affected part. It is specially useful in the pre-suppurative stage (before the pus has formed). In fever also the redness and heat characterizing the congestive state predominates. The heat can be very intense with little sweat. The skin feels dry and red. The head appears more hot. The patient often has no thirst during fever. Belladona is also useful in many other conditions. Congestion, redness, heat, and throbbing pains are the keynotes to remember for you. A brief discription of 8 homeopathy medicines (aconite, arnica, arsenic, belladona, carbo veg., pulsatilla, nux vomica and ignatia) is given here to make you familiar with homeopathy materia medica, medicines and their application. The descriptions are not very exhaustive and have been simlified for better understanding. Many keynotes of each medicine are given in bold. Do remember them. ACONITE Often there are times when you feel that you are about to fall ill. The stage when the disease has not localized, yet you can feel dis-eased - technically called the prodormal phase of an acute illness. Aconite is a medicine that can be taken in the prodormal stage of most acute ailments, especially, if they develop suddenly. It will abort the illness in most cases. Aconite is a medicine to consider whenever complaints appear suddenly. You were fine till 2 hours ago and now suddenly you develop pain in throat - aconite could be the remedy. You went into cold air, entered a warm room and suddenly started sneezing, aconite can be the remedy at this stage before the cold has fully gripped you. Similarly, if you suddenly develop fever, your skin feels dry and hot, there is dryness of mouth and you feel thirsty and there is redness of face - aconite could be your remedy. Often in aconite patients, you will find that they get more disturbed even with slight ailments. They become more anxious and restless. They may even develop an undue fear of disease and death. The ailments are slight but the slightest ailment puts them off the track. That is aconite for you in brief - just remember acute ailments, sudden onset, anxiety and restlessness! ARNICA Arnica is a medicine which is best known for its ability to heal in cases of injury, especially, when the injury results from a fall, blunt instruments, concussions, and contusions. In injuries where there is an element of shock or where the muscles are more affected with a sore, lame, bruised feeling in whole body, as if beaten, arnica is often indicated. Arnica can work wonders in injury cases where the flesh is not torn. If there is ecchymosis or internal bleeding after an injury or if there is pus formation in soft tissue or bones (without lacerations) after injury, arnica is often indicated. Many times it happens that you meet people who tell you that they suffered some injury or met with an accident many years ago, but they still feel the pain in the injured parts. Arnica can even heal such effects of very old injuries. The arnica patient is very sensitive to touch. More sensitive than most people. The pains are often worse at rest, by touch, by motion, and better by lying down. Arnica has more use than described here. But if you remember injury, sore/lame/bruised feeling, ecchymosis, and sensitivity to touch - you will be able to put arnica to good use!

Chapter 12 - Myths about Homeopathy

Myth 1. Homeopathy is an unproved science. Fact: Homeopathy is based on experimental pharmacological and clinical data. Over the years, homeopathic medicines have been extensively studied for their efficacy in a variety of indications. Clinical studies have been conducted in India as well as other countries. The physical basis of the homeopathic medicines is still not clear but there is enough clinical data to prove its efficacy. All the principles of homeopathy are based on sound logic and experimental data. Myth 2. Homeopathic medicines are only sugar pills which act more as placebos and have no medicinal value as such. Fact: Yes, the white sugar pills, as such do not have any medicinal value. But these act as vehicles or carriers for the medicines, which are alcohol based. Otherwise the medicine can be taken directly or dissolved in water. Homeopathic medicines have been scientifically studied the world over and found to be effective in a wide range of diseases. Thus they are not placebos. Myth 3. Homeopathy is slow acting and cannot be used in acute cases of diarrhea, fever, cough, cold, etc. Fact: Homeopathy is fast acting in acute cases and can be effectively used in treating infections, fever, cold etc. Unfortunately, people tend to go to a homeopath only when the acute problem becomes chronic. Naturally, these cases take longer to treat. Also, most people take recourse in homeopathy in cases of arthritis, allergic asthma or skin conditions etc., which take a longer time to treat with any other medicines. Myth 4. Homeopathy is a 'magic remedy' that can treat any disorder. Fact: Homeopathy like any other field of medicine, has its limitations. For example, it cannot treat cases where surgery is unavoidable, many dental cases, etc. Myth 5. Homeopathic doctors are quacks who do not have formal training in the field of Medicine. Fact: Qualified doctors practice Homeopathy, in most parts of the world. In India, there are over 200 homeopathy medical colleges and world over the number is close to 500, which offer degree and post -graduate studies n Homeopath At present, there are over 2,00,000 trained homeopaths in India and at least half-million across the globe. Myth 6. One has to follow strict dietary restrictions while on homeopathic treatment. Fact: Some patients are asked to abstain from onions, garlic, coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol etc. as these substances interfere with the action of certain homeopathic medicines. But then, restricting alcohol and tobacco is also safe and healthy. Myth 7. Homeopathy is only useful in chronic cases. Fact: Very often it is - where everything else has failed! But the true reason for this perception is because people turn to homeopathy so late when everything else has failed! After years of allopathic treatment often an illness becomes chronic, the treatment will now naturally take longer than in case of using homeopathy right from the beginning, the recovery period is very less. Homeopathy medicines are equally effective in chronic and acute ailments. Myth 8. Homeopathy cannot be used in diabetic patients. Fact: It can be used! The minute amount of sugar globules (the little round pills) taken daily does not matter. Sugar intake in the daily diet is significantly higher than that taken by a few globules. In very severe cases, the dilution may be taken as drops in water or over lactose. Myth 9. The homeopath gives the same white pills for all types of illnesses. How can they be really effective? Fact: Depending on the illness, homeopaths medicate with different medicines. The sugar pills serve only as a vehicle for transfer of the medicine. The selected medicine, out of a range of more than 3000 different dilutions, is targeted to the individual problems. Myth 10. Are there really no side effects of homeopathic medicine. Fact: Generally there are no side effects of homeopathic medicine if prescribed in potencies of 3CH and above. However, some tinctures and triturates in very low potencies like Ix, 2x have some side effects of minor nature. Sometimes, homeopathic medicines in higher dilutions may also elicit drug-proving in sensitive individuals. But just like any other medicine, homeopathy medicines should be used with caution and in chronic ailments, they should not be taken without consultation with a qualified homeopath.

Chapter 11 - How do Homeopathy Medicines Work?

In the last 2 chapters, while discussing the method of preparation of homeopathy medicines, I told you that homeopathy medicines are usually given in sub-physiological doses. It means, the homeopathy medicine 'Arsenic' does not contain even a single molecule of arsenic and the homeopathy medicine Cinchona(or china) does not contain any bark extract in it. (Beyond 12 C potency) So if there is nothing chemical left in these medicines, then how and why do they work? Big questions. And Frankly speaking, I do not have any specific answers to them either. This is an unsolved puzzle. We have just started putting the pieces of this puzzle together. There have been many double blind clinical trials which have undoubtedly shown that homeopathy medicines have definite medical properties. Some newer concepts in modern physics like 'memory of water', nuclear magnetic resonance, kirlian photography etc. are also being used to find the physical basis of homeopathy medicines. The initial results are very encouraging and I expect a full answer to this puzzle within the next few years. The current hypothesis regarding the action of homeopathy medicines is as follows - Diseases as characterized by various names (diabetes, hypertension, cancer, peptic ulcer, OCD etc.) are not definite entities. They are 'states' - states of deviation from health. Diseases as we know them, are just the final stage of a long process. Homeopathy recognizes all diseases as a process and not as an entity. Homeopathy medicines when given to a healthy human being, create an artificial disease like state which is called proving. When given to a sick person having a similar 'disease state', the medicine (somehow) stimulates the body's defense mechanism (possibly through neuro-endocrine axis) in such a specific manner that the body itself compensates the diseases state and the process of healing starts. The way clinically health is restored through homeopathy medicines has been documented extensively and millions of times. What transpires within the body is of academic interest. What is of primary interest to people who are sick and the people who want to heal, is that homeopathy medicines can restore a persons health. This is the bottom line, which no one can deny!

Chapter 10 - How are Homeopathy Medicines Prepared? What are Homeopathic potencies?

To answer these questions, I will take you into the process of discovery of the methods of preparation of homeopathy medicines. When Dr. Hahnemann established the 'Law of Similia', he started prescribing the medicines he had tested. He used to give crude, material doses as was the norm those days. For e.g.., If a patient came with symptoms of malaria resembling the symptom picture produced by china bark, the patient would be given the crude extract of the china bark (cinchona) as a medicine. Dr. Hahnemann observed that these crude medicines, although acted curatively, produced lot of unnecessary side effects. He also realized that many substances, which are poisonous in nature, can alter the human state of health, but can not be used in crude form. For e.g.., When a person ingests some arsenic, the person suffers from severe vomiting and watery diarrhea. But arsenic being a poison could not be used on the law of similars for similar cases of cholera. To reduce these undue limitations, Dr. Hahnemann started to reduce the dose of drugs. He would take 1 part of medicine, mix it with 9 or 99 parts of alcohol or water or sugar of milk and would shake it or grind it. While experimenting with this process, he soon realized that the medicines prepared in this way were acting better than the crude medicines. With every successive dilution, he found that the medicines were acting better and more deeply. Exactly when and how Dr. Hahnemann stumbled upon this method of drug preparation is not known. This discovery has become one of the most controversial discovery of medical science ever. Now a days, medicines are prepared in two basic scales of dilution - decimal and centesimal. In decimal scale, the medicine is diluted in a ratio of 1:9 in every successive preparation (potency) (1X, 2X, 3X, 4X...and so on). In centesimal scale, the medicine is diluted in a ratio of 1:99 in every potency (1C, 2C, 3C, 4C..and so on). The medicines are strongly shaken after every dilution (there is a specific method for shaking). The controversy starts here because after 24th decimal dilution (24X potency) and after 12th centesimal dilution (12C potency), the medicine gets so diluted that even 1 molecule of the original drug substance can not be traced in the medicine(!!!!! the Avogadro's number is crossed)). Yet the medicines work! and work better than the lower potencies. This is a big scientific puzzle. Our current concepts of physics and chemistry are not able to explain what is left in these medicines at such dilution that works curatively. A 12C is considered a low potency by homeopaths. Homeopaths frequently use potencies as high as 30C, 200C, 1000C, 10000C and beyond. The current hypothesis is that the method of shaking somehow transfers the 'electromagnetic signature' of the drug substance to the diluting vehicle. What this signature is and how it gets transferred should be left as work for physicists. What is important for the patient and the homeopath is that the medicines work and work very effectively. It has been clinically verified millions of times. Very soon, you yourself will start appreciating the power of small doses of homeopathy.

Chapter 9 - What are the Sources of Homeopathy Medicines?

Homeopathy medicines are prepared from a number of sources like plants, minerals, animal products, energy forms etc. Sometimes even diseased tissue is also used as a crude base for the preparation of homeopathy medicines. Homeopathy is the only system of medicine which has been able to successfully use all forms of matter and energy for therapeutic purpose. Even otherwise harmful substances like arsenic, snake poisons, disease products and tissues etc. are successfully prepared to yield therapeutic benefits homeopathically. The magic of it all lies in the way homeopathy medicines are prepared. We will study that in our next chapter. For now, here is a list of sources of homeopathy medicines along with some examples of medicines prepared from each source. Go through them carefully. Many of the medicinal sources are going to raise questions in your mind like 'How can a medicine be prepared from this substance?' or 'Are homeopaths nuts to use this as a drug?'. Do not worry. You will get your answers soon. None of these medicines are given in crude or physiological doses. Here is the list of medicinal sources with examples of medicines from each source - Plant Kingdom - Aconite napellus, Arnica montana, Belladona, Chamomilla, Chelidonium, Drosera, Dulcamara, Euphrasia, Hyoscyamus, Pulsatilla, Gelsemium, Allium cepa, Cinchona officinalis, Baptisia tinctoria, Rhus tox, Digitalis, Oleander, Thuja, Lycopodium Calendula, Coffea, Nux vomica, Agaricus muscaris, Aloe etc. Animal Kingdom - Apis mel (honeybee), Blatta orientalis (cockroach), Culex (mosquito), Tarentula (spider), Cantharis (spanish fly), Sepia (cuttle fish), Carbo animalis (ox hide), Lecithin (egg yolk), Lac caninum (bitch milk), Vipera (snake poison), Lachesis (snake poison) etc. Mineral Kingdom - Aluminum, Argentum (silver), Aurum (gold), Cuprum (copper), Platinum, Ferrum (iron), Graphites (carbon), Lactic acid, Oxalic acid, Petroleum (mineral oil) etc. Sarcodes (healthy secretions/extracts) - Adrenalinum (adrenal gland), Insulin, Pancreatinum (pancreas), Thyroidinum (thyroid gland) etc. Nosodes (disease producing agents, disease products or diseases tissues) - Carcinocin (cancer tissue), Medorrhinum (gonorrheal virus), Psorinum (itch eruptions), Tuberculinum (tubercular pus), Anthracinum (spleen of anthrax affected animal), Influenzium (influenza virus) etc. Imponderabilia (energy forms) - Luna (moon), Sol (sun's ray), X-Ray, Electricitus (electricity) etc.

Chapter 8 - Concept of Health

Factors for Failing Health While discussing physical, mental, and emotional health, I did not discuss the causes for the derangement of health. I left that part because there is hardly any cause which affects one plane without affecting the others. Our mind and body are so closely integrated that when one is affected there are bound to be repercussions on the other. Let me give some examples to elaborate this. Even a small cut in your hand (physical plane) can make you worry (mental plane) about the bleeding or injury in general and can make you angry (emotional plane) with yourself that you were not careful enough. Again, mental anxiety (which often results from emotional problems) is a well known cause for peptic ulcers and hypertension. These are not isolated examples. Nearly every known disease, be it physical or psychological, can be associated with signs and symptoms on the other planes. Now let me elaborate some of the most common factors affecting our health. 1. Genes - Yes! our genes are one of the biggest factors in deciding the way in which our health gets deranged. They also decide which plane is affected the most in a particular person. Through ages, it is known to humanity that children tend to inherit their 'mother's nose' or their 'father's eyes'. But what most of us do not realize is that children can also inherit the 'father's temperament' or 'mother's thought process'. And as children inherit the physical and mental makeup from their parents, they also inherit the tendencies and susceptibilities to acquire diseases. For example - it is a well known fact that conditions like obesity, hypertension, peptic ulcers, crohn's disease, diabetes, depression etc. often run in families. Defective genes sometimes directly result in diseases. What we commonly call as genetic disorders. But even the 'emotional instability', 'tendency to worry a lot', or the 'tendency to catch a cold frequently' can be attributed to our genetic inheritance. 2. Lifestyle and Social factors - Our contemporary life style is the second biggest factor for failing health of people. Increasing sedentary habits, long working hours, reduced rest hours; diet containing highly processed food, poor in fiber content and with loads of artificial colors and flavors; increased anxiety and tensions related to education, career, job, performance, etc. are some of the factors that are responsible for decreasing the health status of our society at large. Coupled with environmental factors and allopathic drugs, these factors are playing havoc with our health. 3. Allopathic Drugs - Even allopaths say that allopathic drugs are one of the biggest cause of health problems today. Allopathic drugs not only have their side-effects, but their excessive use is decreasing the immunity level of our society at large. The pill-popping culture is an open invitation to chronic ailments. People keep suppressing their ailments and keep working until their body finally gives up. 4. Environmental factors - Increasing pollution of our air, water, and earth is a well known factor in the increasing level of many diseases. There is a high level of asthma and other allergic complaints in urban areas. Depleting ozone layer is a known factor in increasing rate of skin cancers. Noise pollution is a recognized factor in increasing anxiety and stress levels in our society. -------- These are some of the major factors. One factor that I have left and which is commonly considered a cause for illness is - bacteria, viruses, and parasites. What about these? Are they not a major cause of disease? Yes, they are a cause of disease - but not a major one. The ability of these microorganisms to make a person sick relies on two factors: virulence (quality and quantity) immunity Plus there is a third factor that made me say that bacteria, viruses etc. are not a major cause of human sickness: Social health If a person gets infected by a potent microbe and has a low immunity against it, then he may fall ill. But bacteria and viruses are not a cause for decreasing health status of our society. Man himself is the cause for it. People through their lifestyle and drug-abuse, decrease their immunity and create fertile grounds for these microorganisms. And people themselves act as the carriers and create conditions for their spread. Think of it this way - if there is no drug abuse, no sexual perversions, no promiscuity - what will be the rate of infection of HIV or Hepatitis-B? Extremely low. And that applies to most of the modern diseases in some way or the other. Bacteria and viruses cannot rage a war against us - it is us who help them kill us! What about Spiritual Health? I could not have left this one! Homeopathy does consider that we all have a 'spirit like' vital force, which animates us. And it is this spirit like vital force which gets deranged before we fall sick. Also most of the humanity believes in God. And if you believe in God, you cannot logically disbelieve the spirit within us. And since homeopaths themselves are human beings and deal with other human beings, we cannot just shun the beliefs of a large proportion of humanity. We need to work with them and on them. The first question that comes up in context of spiritual health is whether you believe in spirits? And then there are related questions like - do you believe in God? good spirits and evil spirits? afterlife? hell and heaven? etc. etc. All are very philosophical questions and the only answer scientific reasoning can give to them is - 'NO'. But I believe there is more to life than just science and so I will give my views regarding these questions in relation to the question of spiritual health. To begin with, yes! I do believe in human spirit and God too. Wait! Don't jump to any conclusions. Not yet. There is a big question that follows this one. What do you understand by God and human spirit? Well! I don't know if there is something ethereal like God and spirits. For me God means 'Good Deeds'. I don't believe there is any God in idols and churches or heaven. I believe if there is any God, he is within us. The 'Goodness' in you is the God you think about. I do not know and can not know if there is a dynamic human spirit that animates us. What I know is that life itself is dynamic. And the spirit I believe in is the summary of our physical, mental, and emotional health. For me 'human spirit' is what a person really is, apart from what he appears to be. I believe what goes around, comes around. What you sow, is what you reap. So if there is a hell, it's right here and if there is a heaven, it's right here. I am not aware of my past-life or afterlives, if I had any. But I have this life to live - the life that I am aware of - and I want to live it healthily. That's my spirit! Emotional Health Our brain is the part which regulates both our mental and emotional faculties. So these two are highly related. In fact, most of the people who suffer from some psychological disease are both mentally and emotionally ill. But in this part, I will specifically focus on the emotional health. Technically speaking, our emotions are neuro-hormonal reactions occurring in response to some physical or mental stimulus, which in turn, affect our response to the same stimulus on the physical and mental plane. This may sound like a very unromantic explanation, but it is a fact. Emotions do not come from our heart, they are generated in our brain. All the emotions we feel - love, joy, hate, anger, sorrow etc. are nothing but some primitive algorithms that are processed to generate response on the physical and mental level. Let me give an example. Suppose somebody abuses you. Afterwards you feel angry towards that person. The question is how is this 'anger' generated? And why only 'anger' is produced? Why do not you fall in love when somebody abuses you? First, let me answer the second question. What kind of emotional response is generated depends on two factors - our subconscious mental awareness and, through social learning. Our subconscious mental awareness is probably a mental reflex action that comes without learning. For e.g., a young child also shows reaction to anger and shouting. This is what is inherent in us. The second thing that affects our emotions is our learning. Through social learning we are taught the meaning of love, joy, hate, anger etc. and we are taught to differentiate them. Now I come back to the first question as to how 'anger' is generated. The moment somebody abuses you, your mind perceives it as a threat or offense based on its social learning. To counter this threat, the mind needs to prepare the body and itself for some reaction. Based on the perception of stimulus, some neuro-hormonal reactions are generated which create 'emotions'. What we perceive as 'anger' is the after result of that processing. Our mind generate negative thoughts towards the concerned person. The concentration level of mind increases and it is focused on the current situation. Our eyes become prominent. The winking rate decreases, muscles in face and the other parts of the body become tense in anticipation of further action.. In this state we say a person is 'angry'. But this is the primary response occurring as a reflex phenomenon. There can be a secondary phenomenon like you can also hurl abuses or hit the person, or just walk away. This secondary reaction is based on the intensity of emotions and the integrity of the regulatory mechanisms in our brain. Other kind of emotions are also generated in a similar way. There is a primary stimulus which generates the 'emotions' based on the perception of stimulus, and which leads to appropriate physical and mental response. I have delved deep into the probable mechanism of emotions so that it becomes easy to understand how our emotional health can fail just as our physical health does. As the physiological reactions taking place in our liver or lungs can go awry, so can they go wrong at the emotional level. Our brain can produce too strong an emotional response for a small stimulus or it may produce a very weak response against a strong stimulus. The response may persist for too little a duration or too long a duration. Let me give some real life examples to explain this. It is normal to be angry when somebody abuses you. But if you can't let that anger go for a very long time, then everything is not right with you. It s normal to feel sad when somebody close to you passes away. But if you try to kill yourself after that, then you are not emotionally healthy. If you always feel elated (not just happy) without any good reason then you are not emotionally healthy. These are only a few raw examples. Our emotions show very fine variations from person to person. There is no measurable way to define emotional health. The three basic attributes that can be given to an emotionally healthy person are: An emotionally healthy person is - able to show correct emotional response based on the stimulus able to express his emotions (actually, able to express the thoughts generated as a result of emotions) able to regulate the mental and physical response generated due to an emotion. There are so many people around us who are unable to cry when they need to; who are unable to fight when they need to; who fear every passing wind; who lose their ability to reason when they fall in love. These people do not have any 'disease' and yet these people are not 'healthy'! The Triune So far, I have discussed the three components of health as separate entities to understand each one of them more thoroughly. But emotional health, mental health, and physical health are not separate entities. You cannot have a healthy mind without a healthy body or healthy emotions and vice-versa. The degree to which one of these components is affected can vary from person to person, but ultimately it is the person as a whole that is affected. This understanding of the human being is why I like Homeopathy so much. And this is the reason why Homeopathy is so different from every other system of medicine. The dominant medical school still has to realize that just as the parts of a human body can not work in isolation, they also can not fall ill in isolation. There can not be a disturbed liver or a damaged lung unless and until there is a primary disturbance which affects the person as a whole. We can not forget that every part in our body and every cell in those parts has come from a single cell. A cell which had a life force of its own. How can any one dissociate the body parts which have all come from one single cell? Leave aside the differentiation of parts, even the classification of health as emotional, mental, and physical is not totally true. These are components which can not be separated - neither in health, nor in disease. What is health? How do you define it? * Health is a state of being free from any disease. * Health is a state of perfect harmony between all the organs and systems of the body. Or is there more to health? Let us explore. The first definition of health has a basic fault in it - it tries to define a primary state through a secondary state. Health is a primary state. It cannot be fully defined through a secondary phenomenon, disease. And then there is a larger question. Does being free from any disease which can be given a name, makes one healthy? I think, no. I know so many people who have no known disease and yet they are not healthy. I know a woman who likes to show off her tons of jewelry to those who can't have it; a woman who snobs at everyone. She has no known disease. But would you call her healthy? I know a man, who is a couch potato. He goes to his job and does nothing else. He does not help his wife with family responsibilities. He behaves with her as if she is his servant. He has no known disease. But would you call him healthy? I know a man who brags about his achievements till everybody around drops dead. He has no known disease. But would you call him healthy? 'Health' is an elusive word. Most people who consider themselves healthy are not. And many people who are suffering from some known disease, may be relatively healthy. Health is a concept which does not merely relate to the absence of disease, of healthy working of organs, or having good thoughts. Health is a holistic concept. It relates to a person as a whole. Not just the person you see, but also the person you 'feel'. Health is a triune of three parts: - Emotional Health - Mental Health - Physical Health Let us explore each one of these. Physical Health This is probably the easiest to define and yet it is sometimes the most difficult to understand. Physical health can be defined as a state in which all the body parts are anatomically intact and are performing their physiological functions perfectly and harmoniously. It is a very simplistic definition, but it basically covers everything like: All the body parts should be there All of them are in their natural place and position None of them has any pathology All of them are doing their physiological functions properly And they work with each other harmoniously This may seem a bit idealistic to some, but here we are talking about the ideals. But even this definition does not cover it all. Let me give an example. There are lots of people around us who catch a cold with every change of season or with every sudden change of temperature. Now in common parlance, we say that these people have low immunity. But the fact is that most of these people have normal blood counts and normal immunological tests. So when these people are not down with cold they are in perfect health as per the above definition. And yet they are not perfectly healthy. Their system breaks down with every stressful condition. So we can add another aspect to the above definition of physical health: The anatomical and functional integrity of the body parts and systems should be maintained under moderate stress. Now a bit more tricky part. Read the following statement carefully. 'Not falling ill at all is also not a sign of good health' This statement needs to be understood carefully. It is a normal phenomenon to occasionally get a cold, a fever, or a stomach bug. There is nothing wrong in getting an occasional acute ailment. It is quite natural and also good for our immune system. Occasional sickness keeps our immune system in a ready state. But you might have seen many people around you, who never seem to get an acute illness. People who have never had a cold or never had a fever in ten years. Not all of these people are healthy. In fact many of these people are more ill than their counterparts who keep getting their occasional acutes. I say this because these people are not super humans and most of them are not in 'ideal' health either. The fact is that these people do get affected by environmental factors and other stresses. But the result of these forces is not seen on physical plane. Such people are more affected on the mental and emotional plane. They become 'dis-eased' but their disease is not easily apparent on the physical level. If you want to cross-check my statement, then go to a mental asylum and inquire about the rate of prevalence of acute ailments. You will find it extremely low. Now let us move on to the mental health. Mental Health When we talk about mind, we basically refer to our capability to perceive, comprehend, think, judge, and remember - the intellectual and reasoning faculties. Now pause for a moment and think. Think about all the people you know, who have rather strange perceptions of people around them, or about certain cultural and political ideologies. People whose perceptions are delusional. Think about the people around you who need to be told everything twice before they understand you. Think about the people who either do not think at all (thoughtless ones) or who think too much. People who take wrong decisions even when facts are against their decision. And then think about the children at school who do not seem to remember anything. And the housewife who looks for her specs while wearing them on her nose. I do not intend to say that all such people are mentally ill. But many of them are. Not everyone can have the same level of mental faculties, but these signs do show that these people are not in their optimum mental health. I will not talk here about the mental sickness that takes some of us to asylums. My focus here is on the concept of mental health and not on mental sickness. Although they are totally related but there is a difference of degrees. There is no absolute definition for mental health as there is a great variation in the level of mental faculties among people. But still we can set some reasonable standards. Some of the markers of mental health can be: having a mental aptitude near or above social average. having the ability to perceive things as they are, and not as one thinks they are. having the ability to understand the social structure and ability to comprehend vocal and other forms of communication within that social structure having a reasonable ability to make judgments regarding good and bad or right and wrong. having the ability to remember and reproduce information collected through various senses or through learning to a reasonable degree. These are just some of the basics and even these cannot be given a measuring scale. The only measuring scale we have is that of social average. But even that has its limitations. The concept of mental health is so vast that whole books can be written about it- without reaching to any conclusions! The modern medical science does not consider a person mentally ill, if he or she can not be given a disease label to wear. But look around you and you will see so many 'mentals' moving around. Most of us are unable to recognize when our mental health starts to fail. The reason for this is that when our mind is affected, our ability to reason and judge ourselves is also affected. And so people often do not realize that they are not in optimum mental health, until the things start taking bad shape. As we appreciate changes in the normal functioning of body parts as probable signs of disease, similarly, we should appreciate the subtle signs which reflect a change in our mental being. Most mental deviations cannot be labeled as 'disease'. They are at best 'deviations' that need correction through social and medical therapies.

Chapter 7 - What is Individualization?

Individualization is the process of differentiating an object or a person from a class or group of similar objects or persons. It is a character of homeopathy that all its practical processes are governed by the process of individualization. In its drug-proving, its study of the Materia Medica compiled from those provings; its examination of the patient and study of the case; its selection of the remedy and its conduct of whatever auxiliary treatment is required, it always seeks to individualize. Individualization of Drugs Homeopathy recognizes the individuality of each drug and substance in nature. Its method of testing or 'proving' drugs upon the healthy human beings is designed and used for the purpose of bringing out the individuality of each drug so that its full power and relations are established. During a homeopathy drug proving the effect of a drug is closely studied on all parts of the body and in large number of people. This gives us the full range of action of the medicine. The crude sensations and symptoms like headache, colic, diarrhea etc. are not of much use to a homeopath and in homeopathy drug provings, much finer symptoms are elicited. For e.g., if a medicine produces headache during a homeopathic drug-proving, then the symptom is completed with the location of pain, type of pain (throbbing, aching, bursting, burning etc.), aggravating and ameliorating factors, concomitant symptoms etc. The complete information allows us to differentiate various medicine producing headache in drug-provings or to say in other words the information allows us to differentiate various medicines capable of curing headache. Individualization of a Case / Patient No one would argue that all healthy human beings are anatomically and physiologically alike. And no one would argue that inspite of that similarity in our structure and functions, we all have our individuality. We all have our way of thinking, reflexes, emotions, expressions, built, desires, aversions, likes, dislikes, hobbies, thermal reaction; patterns of sweating, salivation, sleep, dreams; susceptibility to various external influences and diseases etc. These and many other traits help to create our individuality. As we all have an individuality in health, we also have an individuality in disease. The signs and symptoms of a disease are nothing but the reaction of a person to the disease causing morbific agent or stimulus. Every person reacts to any external agent according to his/her individuality and so a persons individuality is reflected in his/her disease too. In every case of a disease, a person gives two types of symptoms - Common and Uncommon. Common symptoms are those symptoms which are found in most cases of a particular disease. For e.g.; Fever with shivering is a common symptom of malaria, burning pain in esophagus and sour eructation are common symptoms of gastric acidity. Common symptoms help us in disease diagnosis and in suggesting the prognosis and general management to a case. Uncommon symptoms are those symptoms which are found in very few patient suffering from a particular disease / condition. They reflect the individual reaction of a person to a morbific agent. Such symptoms help us in individualizing a patient and selecting a similar remedy for him. For e.g.; a person suffering from fever can be restless or dull, may have perspiration on a specific part like face or soles, may have thirst for cold or warm drinks, may feel better in the evening or in morning hours etc. Such characters reflect the individuality of a patient and are of great use to a homeopath in selecting the right remedy. Homeopathy recognizes the individuality of each patient. The entire examination of a patient is conducted with a view to discover not only the common symptoms of a case/disease by which it may be classified diagnostically and pathologically, but the special and particular symptoms which differentiate the case from others of the same general class, are sought to find out the individuality of the patient.. It recognizes the fact that no two cases or patients, even with the same disease, are exactly alike. It maintains that a true therapeutic science must enable the physician to recognize these differences and find the needed remedy for each individual. In clinical practice these 'differences' are usually the deciding factor in the choice of the remedy. It is said that homeopathy does not treat disease, it treats the patient. In other words, it individualizes!