999 Good point. In these cases the acute exacerbation is unbearable or life-threatening, and so must be dealt with in the way it can be to quell the crisis. In some cases this will be a repetition of the chronic remedy itself, or a remedy related by chronic-acute relation. However, repeated use of the remedy for only the
acute totality in a chronic case may eventually worsen the overall chronic case. Unless the case must be merely maintained (i.e. when the case is for some reason incurable), the TRUE remedy for the chronic totality (can) be the best remedy even for the attack. But cases come in all shapes and sizes...
999 Same as above IMO. The situation may have to be patched along while the client reacts to the chronic remedy by throwing off acutes. Until the miasm complex can be worked through on such a case with well-chosen chronic remedie(s), the client will need close "care and feeding" and good instructions. A good situation for
the LM potency for the chronic, and an LM or centesimal of an acute analogue for a crisis only if needed.
999 Thanks Merrilee, Great food for thought from voluminous experience. And stimulus for me to clarify and extend the topic
since you have one of the best names ever and thus must be one of the coolest people Layer is a somewhat nebulous term, and I probably did not help matters by using it in that post. I had said:
"Also, many cases have iatrogenic etiologies which block carefully chosen rx; or timelines or "layers" mixed in. Cases with layer presentations require a linear march toward the center if the center is not apparent via comprehension of a matching pattern which reflects what must be cured in the most appropriate dimension of
totality."
My definitions (not the only ones):
Layer--
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1. a state encountered during chronic treatment that MUST be treated before the WORKING chronic remedy will again work even after adjustment of potency -- may also be called an "intercurrent" by some, but an intercurrent is sometimes not a layer, but a facilitator. A true layer must be treated or the case stalls completely.
An intercurrent is sometimes optional, but does speed up the case
(ex of a true layer:sulphur in a chronic case which stalls with lingering colds...etc--Here Boenninghausen says this about this use of Sulphur and uses the term intercurrent: "Useful as an intercurrent in cases where the carefully selected remedy fails to act because some foreign controlling influence (Psora) requires to be
subdued in order to allow the previous remedy a free scope to develop its power." )
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2. a "blocking state" which must be dealt with by finding a remedy for it, or NO indicated chronic remedy will put a dent in the case. This latter is in the category of "when carefully selected remedies fail to act" but not after a remedy has been found and stalls, but in a case in which no chronic remedy has ever been found
to work. The layer usually merely obscures the true chronic remedy which becomes evident later if the outside layer is found. Iatrogenesis (which may yield to tautopathy), an organ pathology, a dominant miasm, other situations, or simply an obscure remedy can create a "blocking" layer which make a case difficult to treat.
Often the client will give up before the layer is found. Examination of a timeline of epidemic diseases, "shocks", and hx of conventional treatment can reveal clues to events or iatrogenic poisonings after which the client was NBWS (although they may not realize nor remember it), and these can then be assessed as possible
blocking layer rx.
Complete 2000; Synthesis 8.1.4
GENERALITIES; REMEDIES; fail to act, when well selected (11) : alum., carb-v., carc., laur2., mosch2., Op3., psor., stram., sulph., teucr., tub.
Also:
--Ambr- Nervous affections when the supposedly properly selected remedy fails to act (Pulford)
--ang,-Podarthrocace, Abscess of the Ankle-Joint:
Angustura:In a case where none of the very carefully selected remedies seemed to have any effect, this remedy at once arrested the morbid process and brought it to a perfect cure. In this case, the condyles of the tibia were quite seriously involved, and it was on account of a remark of Aegidi, "Angustura acts especially
upon the long bones, " that this remedy was given with so happy a result. (Raue)
--arn-chief remedy for the chronic after-effects of injuries and concussions, which occasionally persist for years; and it may be given for such with the positive assurance that it will afford relief, provided, of course, that the symptoms are not better covered by some other drug. It may be needed as an intercurrent remedy,
for defective reaction, under such circumstances, when some other remedy seemingly well indicated fails to act. (The Medical Advance, Vol. XLIX, July, 1911, page 343. "Arnica Montana," by W.H. Freeman, M.D., Professor of Materia Medica, New York Homeopathic Medical College.)
--Bowel Nosodes--Indications and Choice of the Nosode
Bowel nosodes are particularly applicable to the treatment of chronic diseases.
The bowel nosodes can be prescribed on any one of the following indications.
1) Symptom - similarity:
By virtue of symptom similarity between the patient's picture and the nosode picture just as is done in every - day homoeopathic practice. As has already been mentioned, the materia medica of these nosode remedies has been built up by carefully observing the symptoms exhibited by thousands of patients in whom each type of
organism was found in the stool, And this materia medica picture can provide the basis for symptom matching and prescription.
2) When the apparently indicated remedy fails:
In a case where the apparently indicated remedy fails to act or there is a lack of response to a previously effective remedy, an intercurrent dose of the appropriate nosode can be prescribed e. g. Morgan (Bach) where Sulph. seems indicated but fails to act, Gaertner for Phos., Bacillus No. '7' for Kali c., and so on. The
corresponding nosode for each remedy can be looked up from the table of collateral remedies given at the end of this booklet. Later the original remedy may be repeated, this time with beneficial response.
3) No remedy clearly indicated:
In a case where several remedies seem indicated but none of them clearly and outstandingly, a nosode can be selected which is related to the majority of these drugs. If a remedy comes out from the "taking of the case" the rule is to give that remedy, but in many cases the choice is difficult and lies within a group of
possible remedies. Here, the homoeopath can make use of the published list of remedies associated with the bowel nosodes, and repertorise the group of possibles. If the majority of remedies which repertorise out appear in any one of the nosode groups that is the nosode of choice in that case. For instance, if a patient
exhibits symptoms of Sulph., Calc. carb., Medo., and Nat c., we can prescribe for him Morgan (Pure). In a case where Merc., Phos., and Sil., all seem indicated, Gaertner (Bach) can be selected. Within the Morgan (Bach) group one may even be able to select Morgan (Pure) or Morgan - Gaertner, but again if there is doubt, then
the broader type of nosode - Morgan (Bach) should be used.
Extending this principle, if there is no outstanding group of remedies which would decide the choice of a particular nosode, you may start the case off with `Poly bowel (Bach) ' formerly called "P. B. V. " which is the broadest of all the nosodes since it was made from all the non - lactose fermenting bowel organisms,
excepting the Sycotic Co. (Paterson) (P Sankaran)
AMENDED LIST (SEPTEMBER, 1949).
(A) Morgan-Pure
(Paterson)
Alumina
Baryta carb.
Calc. carb.
Calc. sulph.
Carbo veg.
Carbo sulph.
Digitalis
Ferrum carb.
Medorrhinum
Graphites
Kali. carb.
Mag carb.
Nat. carb.
Petroleum
Psorinum
Sepia
SULPHUR
Tuberc. bov.
(B) Morgan-Gaertner
(Paterson)
Chelidonium
Chenopodium
Hellebor. nig.
Hepar. sulph.
Lachesis
LYCOPODIUM
Merc. sulph.
Sanguinaria
Taraxacum
PROTEUS
(Bach)
Ac. mur.
Amon. mur.
Aurum mur.
Apis
Baryta mur.
Borax
Conium
Cuprum met.
Calc. mur.
Ferr. mur.
Ignatia
Kali. mur.
Mag. mur.
NATRUM MUR.
Secale
MUTABILE
(Bach)
Ferrum phos.
Kali phos.
Kali. sulph.
PULSATILLA
BACILLUS No. "7"
(Paterson)
Arsen. iod.
Bromium
Calc iod.
Ferrum iod.
IODUM
Kali. bich.
Kali. brom.
KALI. CARB.
Kali. nit.
Merc. iod.
Nat. iod.
GAERTNER
(Bach)
Calc. fluor.
Calc. hypophos.
Calc. phos.
Calc. sil.
Kali. phos.
MERC. VIV.
Nat. phos.
Nat. Sil. Fluor.
PHOSPHORUS
Phytolacca
Pulsatilla
SILICEA
Syphilinum
Zinc. phos.
Dys. Co.
(Bach)
Anacardium
Argentum nit.
ARSENICUM ALB.
Cadmium met.
Kalmia
Veratrum album
Veratrum viride
SYCOTIC Co.
(Paterson)
Ac. nit.
Antim. tart.
Bacillinum
Calc. metal.
Ferrum met.
Natrum sulph.
Rhus. tox.
Thuja
FAECALIS
(Bach)
SEPIA
(Paterson )
--calc-o-t-Should be thought of when Calc. fails to act though apparently well indicated. Useful in frail constitutions with weakened immune systems: after vaccine damage: after long illnesses of childhood: after any of the childhood diseases that prove particularly severe (& in spite of vaccines). Also of service in the
treatment of children born after artificial insemination or hormone therapy - many such children do not respond well to indicated remedies or present confused symptom pictures. (Prometheus)
---Carbo-v-- Sepia, Sulphur and Natrum carbonicum have an all gone sensation at the pit of the stomach worse at eleven AM. The pains of Arsenic are burning, and the dyspepsia of Pulsatilla is especially after rich and fat food. Waterbrash is more characteristic of Nux, while heartburn is more characteristic of Pulsatilla.
Atonic dyspepsia with a putrid taste in the mouth in the morning compelling the patient to rinse out the mouth, with a desire for beer and bitters, and an aversion to coffee will strongly indicate Nux, and when Nux fails to act perhaps the best remedy is Carbo vegetabilis. The tongue of Nux is coated, white usually, and this
coating is more on the posterior part; the front half of the tongue may be clean.(Dewey)
--Chamomilla is not a remedy to suggest itself in abscess, yet has proved valuable in promoting the formation of pus in chronic abscesses where Hepar has failed to act promptly, and in making the pains more bearable.(Dewey)
--Chel -I have often cured with Chel. when Lyc. was apparently indicated and failed to act well. (Clarke)
--Diph- When the patient from the first seems doomed, and the most carefully selected remedies fail to relieve or permanently improve.
RELATIONSHIP-SIMILAR TO: Ars., Bapt., Brom., Carb-Ac., Caust., Chlor., Gels., Lach., Mur-Ac., Phos., Sulph.(Lippe)
--Myrica-We can say that all conditions of the liver are secondary to some affection of the heart. Here is the group as I have found it; liver enlarged, tender, sore; stools light - colored; skin jaundiced; pulse irregularly intermittent; ascites; dropsy; nausea and vomiting; the patient is drowsy, dull, sluggish in all his
actions.
I want to speak of Myrica in this connection. It is a remedy which has most of the liver symptoms of Digitalis, but it acts primarily upon the liver. In two cases when Digitalis failed to act Myrica the 3rd cleared up the case. This is the only mention I will make of Myrica as I have never used it for any other condition.
(Royal)
--Follic--Overwhelming pressure or self-imposed expectations in domestic, professional, spiritual, religious, or family life can lead to "over-tiredness, with a conflict of loyalties resulting in excessive stress."1 Foubister suggests that if well indicated remedies fail to act for a patient undergoing extreme pressure,
Folliculinum may be indicated, at least until the pressures are past. (Foubister, in Inez)
--Gels--A splendid remedy for dysfunctional labor with failure to dilate, GELSEMIUM will usually be suggested by generalized exhaustion with trembling, shivering, or nervous or emotional excitement in anticipation of all that is still to come. In all these respects, its actions on the female reproductive system resemble
CAULOPHYLLUM in every detail and indeed may be even more striking and easier to recognize. When the clinical picture of generalized fatigue and nervousness is fully developed, or CAULOPHYLLUM seems indicated but fails to act, GELSEMIUM is very likely to be effective. In such cases, GELSEMIUM 30 may be given up to every 15 to
30 minutes as needed. (Moskowitz)
--hep--Acute and chronic colds when Mercurius is indicated but fails to act, or where the patient has been overdosed with mercury formerly.(Clarke)
-- iod-- Endocarditis: Iodium. According to Kafka, if Spigel. has failed to act favorably during twenty - four to thirty - six hours.(Raue)
--kali-i-Individuals with this susceptibility to colds and sore throats and weather changes, that is, from the effects of Mercury, who have been led into a Mercurial state, run two ways. Those who are invariably shivering and cold, and want to hover around the fire, and cannot keep warm, will need Hepar, and those that are
always too warm, that want the covers off, and want to be in constant motion, extreme restlessness, very tired when keeping still, will have their Mercury antidoted by Kali iod. The Mercurial state will be antidoted, but it some times takes several prescriptions and sometimes a series of carefully selected remedies. The psora,
that is, his chronic state, will not manifest itself until you have lifted off this miasmatic state, which has been caused by Mercurius. It is astonishing what a great number of men, women and children are bowed down by the miasm that Mercury produces, and yet those prescribers go on giving this form of Mercury and say it is
practicing Homeopathy. I am led to remark that there is yet much to be learned about the art of prescribing. (kent)
--Lac-c-- Follows well when Nitric Ac. seems indicated, but fails to act. (Swan)
--Lap-a--The BONES develop caries and a particular specific symptom is suppurative otitis media when Silica is indicated but fails to act. (Wright, van der Zwaag)
--Med--For any complaints in either sex where indicated remedies fail to act. and where a history of gonorrhoea can be traced. (Wood)
--Merc--It is good for ulceration of the mouth and gums, tooth decay, rheumatoid arthritis, trembling, foul excretions, colds with ulcerated nostrils, pains in the bones, enlargement of the liver and skin disorders associated with itching. Mercurius may be tried when the more usual remedies fail to act. An irritated state of
the veins may call for this remedy. (Powell)
--Morg.-- I have had too much experience of this disease in children and proved again and again the undoubted value of remedies, such as lycopodium, sulphur, phosphorus, antim. tart., and many others, to ask you to discard any remedy, but it is just where the seemingly well - chosen remedy fails to act that use is to be found
for the nosode, Morgan co.
Kent advised a dose of sulphur under such circumstances, but as already indicated Morgan co. is a much more complex sulphur compound with a greater width of action. A single dose of high potency of Morgan co. (pure) will often turn the tide in a case of bronchopneumonia, where the child's life is despaired of owning to
lack of response to the usual homoeopathic remedy.
Not only in the acute attack is this action valuable, but it may be applied where from the clinical history, ill - health is found to have commenced from an attack of bronchopneumonia, or where there is a history of repeated attacks. (Paterson)
--Mur-ac-- Muriatic acid is frequently indicated when Bryonia or Rhus has failed to act. (H. Farrington)
--ph-ac--Irritability: physical, excessive: medicine has produced an over-sensitive state and remedies fail to act, when too much. (Complete 2000)
--Quinhydrone--Quinhydrone should always be used when well-selected remedies fail to act, in disorders of accommodation, in cataract, in otosclerosis and tinnitus, diminution of sense of smell, disturbances of coordination, in hyperactive children (in combination with Stramonium and Hyoscyamus), and in vaccination damage to
small children, affecting the sensory organs.
Good results have also been obtained from a combination of Vitamin B12, 12x, with Quinhydrone 12x or 6x, e.g. in anxiety sates in darkness, the striking pallor always being typical in critical stages of disease. Coupled with Hydroquinone and Fumaricum Acidum 12x, Quinhydrone is indicated in vascular diseases such as
polyarteritis nodosa, arteriosclerotic dementia, intermittent claudication ("smoker's leg"), thromboses, and thrombophlebitis where the affected parts are snowy-white and ice-cold (not purple), and also in shock following myocardial infarction. Quinhydrone also facilitates rapid resorption of hemorrhages following to and
contusions In migraines, frequent doses are needed, whilst para-
Benzoquinone and Hydroquinone require frequent doses initially and should then later on be injected at longer intervals. (Reckeweg)
--Rhododendron--Rhododendron: once again such an unpretentious plant, endowed with so little self-confidence (from a homœopathic viewpoint: with so few useful symptoms), happy to be overlooked and grows in the shadow of larger plants! - At best a "rheumatism remedy" with sensitivity to wind or a "testicle remedy', and used
mostly then, when other remedies have failed to act...(Konig and Santos)
--Rhus radicans-- Characteristics of Rhus Radicans:
It is a long, deep acting remedy. It has developed suppressed eruptions, demonstrating its claim to be an antipsoric.
It has cured eczema and dermatitis exfoliata after Rhus tox., and the most carefully selected remedies failed. Persons not susceptible to the effects of Rhus tox are often easily poisoned by Rhus radicans.
Periodicity is well marked; it is one of the few remedies in the materia medica which has an annual return of the diseased condition or paroxysm. Symptomatology comparison:
Rhus radicans.
1. Affects most prominently, muscles, tendons, skin and mucous membranes.
2. The ulcer is deep with clean cut edge and is very obstinate and difficult to heal.
3. Pains most violent on beginning to move, worse from motion, most marked.
4. Restless, sleepless after midnight; unrefreshing, restless sleep; sleepy by day.
5. Dreams are amorous, voluptuous; seminal emissions toward morning.
Rhus toxicodendron.
1. Affects prominently, ligaments, attachment of tendons and fibrous tissues.
2. The ulcer is broad, more superficial and erysipelatous.
3. Pains most violent during rest.
4. Restless before midnight, unrefreshing, restless sleep; spasmodic yawning; tossing about, cannot stay in bed.
5. Dreams are laborious; of rowing, climbing, swimming; frightful of fire. (HC Allen)
--Sanic--I had given Belladonna, Calcarea, Graphites, Cina, Mercurius, Rhus Tox., Sulphur, Hepar Sul. and Silicea; but despite my best selected remedies, she would return as bad as ever. For about two or three weeks she suffered from ulcer of the cornea. Both eyes were terribly photophobic, attended with severe pain. She would
improve for a time, and then on would come the inevitable relapse. Each remedy had been carefully selected, and allowed a proper time to act., before repetition of the dose, but without avail. From a proving of Sanicula which appeared in the Advance in January, 1885, and a careful correspondence of the symptoms, especially the
tendency to relapse, which Sulphur had failed to prevent, I determined to give it a trial. Sanicula 50m. (Skinner) was accordingly prescribed, with very gratifying results. Improvements began at once, and continued without any more relapses. The bloated and enlarged stomach and abdomen, the profuse sweating of the head so that
the pillow was wet while sleeping, for which Calc. and Silic. had been given with only temporary relief, gradually but permanently disappeared. There is no doubt but that Sanicula will become one of the best remedies, rivaling some of our valuable antisorics. (Sherbino)
--Sec-- Suppose there is oozing of blood, which does not coagulate, and the remedy seems clearly indicated, but it doesn't act. You will be apt to say, I have tried Homeopathy for the symptoms and it doesn't act. I will give a big dose of Ergot and stop it that way. But a big dose won't always stop it, no matter how big the
dose.
You must give Sulphur if Secale fails to act. It is an intercurrent.
If your hemorrhage stops, as it often does under the Sulphur itself, you needn't feel that Sulphur has cured. The Sulphur has simply permitted the indicated remedy to act — the cure by Ergot has been hastened by Sulphur. You sometimes have to change from Ergot to Sulphur; after having given Sulphur you sometimes have to
change, and then in about twenty-four hours you can give the indicated remedy again. (Kent)
--Syph-- Also when Sulph. fails to act, or aggravates, we should think of Syphilinum. (P Sankaran)
--Therid.--Poison of this orange spider produces hypersensitiveness of NERvES; esp. to NOISE; which PENETRATES THE BODY; affects the teeth; causes nausea, chills and pains all over; strikes the painful parts etc. It causes spinal irritation, and affects the bones causing caries, necrosis. Tubercular diathesis. When the best
remedy fails to act; esp. in caries and necrosis. Rachitis. Bones feel broken. Phthisis. Water feels too cold. Bounding internally; as of a child. Burning pains. Seasickness. Sense of duality. Effects of sunstroke. Hysteria; during puberty and at climaxis. Infantile atrophy; glands enlarged; with marasmus. Nodes on various
parts esp. buttocks. (Phatak)
--Tub bov--This remedy seems better adapted to blondes than to brunettes; to the thin, slender individuals rather than the fleshy; and to the mentally active, rather than those of sluggish dispositions. It is allied to Sulphur, Psorinum, and Carbo-veg., in being useful where the indicated remedy fails to act. It has the power
of reviving the vital force, so that indicated remedies may regain an action, and good authority says an occasional dose of Tuberculinum is not interfered with by the intercurrent use of other remedies. (Holmes)
--X-Ray-- - I consider X-ray to be a "deeper" Thuja with its own characteristic mental state — with more irritability than Thuja, suicidal impulses, and characteristics suggesting the signature of X-ray. It is definitely a remedy to consider when Thuja fails to act in a case. (Klein)
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3. a chronic state which bears treatment for a period of time before it reveals yet another (previous) state. A "layer" may be as a result of being unable to see the remedy in the center of the case-- as Merrilee points out--in which case it is equivalent to a zig-zag and is NOT really a layer. However, the zig-zag and the
layer may be impossible to differentiate unless in retrospect it was clear that one missed the rx that was in fact clear at the beginning (i.e. would the remedy "underneath the "layer", if it could be perceived, have worked? And not aggravated the case?). Often this situation means we have not found the center of the case,
and we are zig-zagging, but there ARE cases with many discrete layers that must each be treated or it is very difficult or impossible to see the deeper pattern which leads onward. And these layers may be requisite and thus be "true layers" equivalent to definition #2. Definition #3 is what is meant by: "Cases with layer
presentations require a linear march toward the center if the center is not apparent via comprehension of a matching pattern which reflects what must be cured in the most appropriate dimension of totality." What I meant here is the apparent outer layer must be treated, and later, a complement or some other remedy will appear
and must be treated. Beware however of situations when this apparent layer remedy should not be used, and is merely a recapitulation of the past as part of the healing process of the WORKING chronic remedy. In such a common situation, waiting and continuing with the chronic remedy already chosen is appropriate.
The distinction between #2 and #3 above is between an obvious progression (#3), and one which is very difficult to find, and requires stretching to tautopathy, relationships of remedies, or other ways of finding the remedy (#2).
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Some Material Related to "Layers"
=====
Konig and Santos on questions relating to the concept of "layers"(from their proving of Berberis):
**The question of which symptoms should lead to a change in remedy (cp. Hahnemann's Organon [44] §§ 167, 168) and which not (when new symptoms surface during homœopathic treatment) has in our opinion still not been answered sufficiently in homœopathic theory and teachings.
**When speaking with other homœopaths the "timing" of a prescription is often mentioned. We wonder if it is possible that the very same remedy (in each case according to the indicated symptom picture) demonstrates different results when administered at different times. We're not thinking so much about the phases of the moon or
circadiane rhythms, but rather the appropriateness of the subjective timing for the patients in question (or provers) - also similar to how when travelling in outer space, in order to achieve a specific objective, only at very specific times should there be open "windows', and a delay could jeopardize the completion of a
project.
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Konig and Santos on Terminology of related remedies:
**In agreeing with Massimo Mangialavori, Modena, we refer to remedy relationships or similarities as being vertical when they describe remedies which are similar (-collateral) but have no relationship within their system e.g. Helleborus (as plant) and Aurum (as metal). We allude to horizontal remedy relationships however where
the similarity of various homœopathic remedies is based on systematic affiliation, e.g. Naja and Elaps (as Elapidae - "snake remedies').
======
From Georg von Keller, MD The British Homoeopathic Journal, Volume 71, Number 1, January 1982, pp. 24-30.
Chronic diseases have always presented their own problems. Hahnemann discusses these problems in P 171 of the Organon: "In... chronic disease we often require several antisporic remedies in succession in order to effect a cure. But each succeeding remedy must be chosen homoeopathically, in consonance with the group of
symptoms remaining when the preceding remedy has ceased to act." And in P 182 he says, "Even the imperfect selection of the medicament, in this case almost inevitable owing to the limited number of symptoms present, contributes to the completion of the symptom content of the disease, and facilitates in this way the finding of
a second, more accurately matched homoeopathic medicament."
P 182 deals with cases having only a limited number of symptoms, with the "difficulty in the way of the cure that arises from the symptoms of the disease being too few", as it is expressed in P 172. Patients often present with only a limited number of symptoms in this sense, not only because one does not usually see a
large number of high-grade, violent symptoms, but also because our patients frequently come to us with a ready-made diagnosis at the beginning of treatment and are not yet used to describing their subjective symptoms exactly and completely. For this reason our cures tend to become "zigzag cures", as Lippe once called it. Just
as a golf player who does not get his ball into the hole at the first stroke will approach the hole a little more with each stroke, so we approach our goal a little more with each remedy.
In the old days, in the treatment of life-endangering acute diseases, the distinction between the right and the wrong remedy was unequivocal and vital. Either the patient died or he was cured. A mistake in the selection of the remedy could mean the death of the patient. This fear of giving the wrong remedy has survived
and even today one may hear opinions like that given by Freeman in 1905:
"It is very important to realize fully the great harm that can result from a wrong remedy. No matter how similar it may be, if it is not the similimum, it will often change an orderly into a very disorderly and puzzling collection of symptoms...Our object is to cure the patient...and that cannot be done by involuntary
provings of improperly selected drugs that mix up the case and make the selection of the truly curative remedy impossible."
As we have heard, Hahnemann's view was different. An imperfectly selected medicament induces a proving in the patient, that is true, but it does not make the selection of the truly curative remedy impossible; on the contrary, the imperfectly selected medicament serves to complete the display of the symptoms of the disease; in
this way it help us to reach our object of curing the patient by facilitating the discovery of a more accurately matched medicament. Now hear P 181 on this topic: "Let it not be objected that the secondary and new symptoms of the disease that now appear should be laid to the account of the medicament just employed. They owe
their origin to it, certainly, but they are always only symptoms of such a nature as the disease itself is capable of producing in this particular organism; owing to its power to cause symptoms of that kind, the medicine given has merely evoked them, induced them to appear."
Kent commented on this in 1885. He said that in such cases, where the number of symptoms is limited, it is necessary to summon forth the old symptoms again, and by administering Carbo vegetabilis, Sulphur, Calcium carbonicum, Psorinum, Lycopodium or Sepia to induce the disease to develop properly again. This is the
essence of the frequently heard recommendation to give Sulphur or Psorinum, "if the indicated remedy fails to act." It is also the essence of the doctrine of complementary remedies, i.e. remedies which according to experience follow each other well.
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SOME UNUSUAL USES FOR THE NOSODES by ELIZABETH WRIGHT HUBBARD, M.D.
That most fascinating of books, the dictionary, defines a nosode as "a disease product used as a remedy". Many of our homoeopathic doctors would describe nosodes in opprobrious terms; some use one to open almost every chronic case; others give them where the miasmatic history is clear and the symptoms are mixed or
obscure; certain prescribers put them in as "intercurrents"; the French school combine or alternate the suitable miasmatic nosode with the most similar remedy for the top layer or recent symptoms. In cases where no drug stands out after patient questioning and repertorizing, some give the nosode of the main miasm in order to
stir up the depths and throw out indications for a curative prescription. We hear much of the role of the nosode when seemingly well chosen drugs fail to act or hold: and in the clearing up of recalcitrant relapses. The strict homoeopath uses the exanthem nosodes for immunization often, although Merc. cy., Bell and Dros.
prevail, too.
The list of nosodes in current usage in homoeopathy is sizable; in the precious fourth volume of Clarke's Dictionary of Materia Medica, the Clinical Repertory. we find mention of twenty - two including such a well - known remedy as Secale. In great Britain Bach developed a new group of the intestinal variety mostly.
Certain ones from the exanthemata have been added, such as Scarletinum and Pertussin. Some are rare to many, as Melitagrinum, Skinner's nosode from eczema capitis, or Nectrianinum, the tree cancer remedy. The big three, corresponding to Hahnemann's miasms, Psorinum, Medorrhinum and Syphilinum, are well known to all as is
Tuberculinum or Bacillinum. H.C. Allen's books, The Nosodes, is a classic on these; but an adequate knowledge of them must be built up by study of J.H. Allen's books on two of the three miasms, as well as modern sources such as H.A. Roberts' masterly lectures to the American Foundation for Homoeopathy Summer School.
The best practice, I believe, gives the nosodes by their definite symptomatology, like any other remedy: and this truism has led me to make some brilliant results in acute cases. While driving on your rounds, ask yourselves the acute uses of Syphilinum or of Psorinum
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