Hahnemann's Direction of Cure and Hering's Laws 2

[David Little]

Dear students and colleagues.

I respect Sanie and Adler but I also respectfully disagree with some of
their hypotheses. Adler wrote the following in The Harmful Cures Observed
by Hering and Kent in Contrast to the Hahnemann's Gentle Restoration of
Health.

According to Hahnemann the idea that the destruction of the cutaneous
symptom would impel the scabies to the interior of the system was common at
that time, but false. Hahnemann clarifies:

".....all miasmatic maladies which show peculiar local ailments on the skin
are always present as internal maladies in the system before they show
their local symptom externally upon the skin;”

“Only when the whole organs feels itself transformed by this chronic
miasmatic disease the vital force will try to relieve and soften the
internal illness, through the establishing of a proportional local symptom
on the skin...”

Therefore, contrary to what Hering affirmed, Hahnemann, in his theory
regarding chronic diseases, believes that the internal disease precedes the
cutaneous primary symptom, that is, *it progresses from the inside outwards*.
----------------------------------------------------------

Comments by DL.

First of all, no one is saying that scabies mites are pushed inward by
external treatment. Suppression of the external lesions removes the
external "pressure value" and causes the dynamic mutation of the inner
symptoms of psora to more serious states. The movement of these symptoms
is from without to within.

Secondly, here is the complete text of the above quotes.

"We shall more closely elucidate this process, and in consequence we
hall see that all miasmatic maladies which show peculiar local ailments on
the skin are always presented as internal maladies in the system before
they show their local symptoms externally up the skin; (The Chronic
Diseases, Theoretical part, page 71).

“Only when the whole organism feels itself transformed by this peculiar
chronic-miasmatic disease, the disease vital force endeavors to alleviate
and to sooth the internal malady through the establishment of a suitable
local symptom on the skin, the itch-vesicle (The Chronic Diseases,
Theoretical Part, page 80-81).

It is impossible to see the bigger picture by taking a few quotes out
of context. One has to look at the entire development of the three stages
of psora and put the above quotes back into their original context. The
idea that the disease progresses from inside-outwards is a
misrepresentation of the prodromal period of the primary stage of psora,
which last a maximum of 14 days. This certainly does not represent all 3
stages of psora that takes place over several years.

The prodromal period of the primary stage begins when the moment the miasma
touches the external skin. Once the infection takes hold it excites the
local nerves which transmit the dynamic derangement to the entire nervous
system. The nervous system transmit it to the whole organism.Then, after
the whole organism has been affected from without to within the incubation
period the itch-eruptions ends and the primary eruption appears at the site
of the original infection.

Here is the information that accompanies the quote "“Only when the whole
organism...." on the same pages.

Moment of Infection and Prodromal period (Chronic Diseases, page 80-81)

1. The prodromal stage begins from the moment of infection when the miasma
touches the skin.
2. Once the infection takes hold it excites the local nerves.
3. The local nervous dynamically transmit the derangement to the complete
nervous system.
4. The nervous system transmits the derangement to the whole organism.
5. The symptoms of the prodromal period before the eruptive stage are a
slight or more severe chill in the evening and a general heat followed by
perspiration in the following night.
6. At the end of the incubation period of 3, 7 to 14 days the eruptions
appear "first in the region of the spot first infected".
7. Now primary stage continues with the primary eruptions on skin.

The prodromal period runs from the touch of the infectious miasma on
the skin, to the local nerves, to the entire nervous system, to the whole
organism. This direction is from without to within. Once the inner whole
organism is permeated by the psoric infection, the incubation period ends,
and the primary eruptions appear on the skin.

Hahnemann wrote that a similar process takes place with the acute
eruptive miasms like smallpox, measles, etc.

"From the progress of all these miasmatic diseases we may plainly see
that, after the contagion from without, the malady connected with it in the
interiors of the whole man must first be developed; i.e., the whole
interior man must first have become thoroughly sick of small-pox, measles
or scarlet fever, before these various eruptions can appear on the skin.
The Chronic Diseases (Theoretical Part), Psora, p. 75.

After the establishment of the "contagion from without" the malady
connected with this infection develops in the "interiors of the whole man"
before the eruptions appear on the skin. Again the direction is from "the
contagion from without" to a internal malady during the prodromal period.
Once the incubation period is complete the eruptions appear on the skin. A
similar process takes place in acute and chronic miasms. This is because
Hahnemann's miasms are infectious contagions, which naturally are received
into the body from without through contact with a carrier of the particular
disease.

The point of all these statements is to show that after the moment of
infection by the contagion from without the derangement is transmitted
dynamically to the inner organism. At the end of the prodromal period the
eruptions appear on the skin as the sign the whole patient is ill! This
shows that Psora is a constitutional disorder and the skin eruptions are
not a local disease and should not be treated as such by external means. To
do so suppresses the miasm and causes more serious internal symptoms.

According to Hahnemann Psora develops in three stages; the primary
stage (including the prodromal period), latent stage and secondary stage
the following manner. The 1st stage of psora includes the prodromal period
to the eruption of the primary symptoms on the skin, the most external part
of the body. Hahnemann wrote "The local symptom has its place on the least
dangerous part of the body, the external skin, and, indeed on that part of
the skin where, during the infection, the miasma had touched the nearest
nerves." (The Chronic Diseases, page 167). As long as the eruptions
effloresce on the skin they act as a pressure value that slows the advance
of the internal malady.

If the eruptions are suppressed or spontaneously are removed the patient
progress to latent psora. Hahnemann gives 97 examples of how suppressing
the external primary eruptions causes internal pathology (The Chronic
Diseases, Theoretical part, p. 50 to 69) . The direction of suppression is
also without to with. Hahnemann recorded 60 symptoms of latent psora in
The Chronic Diseases. This includes paleness of the face, bad smell from
the mouth, perspiration, tedious catarrhal discharges, obstruction of the
nose, cough, breathing difficulties, digestive upsets, pain in the abdomen,
flushes of heat, falling out of hair, twitching, itching of anus, dark
urine, painful joints, dry skin, itching vesicles here and there, etc.

The third stage of psora is the secondary stage. As the sufferer ages,
or if they are placed under undue stress, the latent sage ends and the
secondary stage begins. This is when the functional disorders of the latent
stage gives way to serious organic pathology in the inner vital organs and
systems. Hahnemann lists around 400 secondary symptoms and over 100
pathological states including melancholia, mania, insanity, nightmares,
lung diseases, consumption, heart diseases, kidney diseases, diabetes, bone
diseases, intestinal diseases, stomach diseases, liver diseases, diseases
of sexual organs, paralysis, strokes, convulsions, epilepsy, deafness,
dropsy, goiter, cancer, etc.

This review makes is obvious the prodromal period of psora progresses
from the moment of infection touches the skin, to local nerves, to the
entire nervous system, to the whole organism, to chill, to fever, to
perspiration, to the primary eruptions on the exact place on the skin the
miasma originally established itself. The primary stage then continues with
the spread of the skin lesions, to suppression or spontaneous progression,
to the functional symptoms associated with the latent stage, to the organic
pathology in the inner vital organs and systems of secondary psora.

This disease progression clearly runs from without to within as the
symptoms of the disease state intensify. In the case of psora these
examples are made to show that psora is from the moment of infection Psora
is a constitutional disorder. The skin eruptions are not a local disease
and should not be treated as such. Suppressing the external lesion on
worsen the internal derangements associated. The whole patient must be
treated with internal homœopathic remedies.

The Reversal of the Order of the Symptoms.

The disease symptoms developed from stages 1 to 2 to 3. The disease
direction is from the most external, less important area of the skin to the
more important functional internal symptoms, to the most important organic
pathology in the inner vital organs and systems. The reversal of symptoms
is from stage 3 to 2 to 1. The healing direction is from the most important
serious organic pathology in the inner vital organs to the less important
functional states, to the least important and less dangerous external skin
lesions. The reversal of the chronological order of the symptoms, the
return of old unresolved symptoms and the movement of the symptoms from
WITHIN TO WITHOUT together because they are all part of the same curative
process. During this process, old unresolved symptoms, eruptions and
discharges may reappear and then pass through as the cure progresses.

Lastly, the term "Harmful cures" is an oxymoron. A cure cannot be
"harmful". A better term would be "violent cures". Violent cures are not in
harmony with Hahnemann's teaching of a gentle, rapid and permanent cure. It
is true the use of a random number of dry pills of high C potencies can
cause excessive, painful, long-term crises. This method originated with
Kent because he did not believe that the size of the dose (1 or 1000 pills)
mattered in the action of a remedy. Hahnemann taught that the more accurate
the remedy, and the higher the potency, the MORE the size of the dose
matters! I have been pointing this for many, many years. Kent's "wonderful,
distressing and painful reactions" were violet reactions caused by over
medication with large doses of high C potencies. These severe
aggravations, however, were in cases with serious organic pathology that
were difficult to cure.

In the section called Discussion of the article following is written:

"Strong exacerbations of the patients´ symptoms, revival of past
ailments, skin lesions, “great prostration, violent sweating, exhaustion,
vomiting and purging following the action of the remedy” are treatment
effects accepted and even desired by Hering and Kent but combated by
Hahnemann."

The initialized words in the above quote are from Kent, and hence may
apply to him. Hering, however, knew that the size of the dose mattered and
suggested using small doses. The critics of Hering have not shown any
statements or cases that show that Hering's accepted violent reactions as
desirable. Hering's work should not automatically be equated with Kent's
mistakes! Hering was a different man who practiced in a different way.

Adler's Conclusions

"1. Hering’s “law of cure” cannot be justified upon Hahnemann´s
premises, once according to Hahnemann internal and external symptoms should
improve together, without a specific direction order. The only convergence
point between Hahnemann and Hering’s laws is the observation that the
latest symptoms that have been added to a chronic disease are always the
first to yield in an antipsoric treatment."

The facts are that 5 out 6 aspects commonly associated with the
direction of cure are found in Hahnemann's writings. The above statement
ignores the fact that psora progress from a skin infection to internal
latent psora and secondary psora. The cure takes place according to the
reversal of symptoms from the secondary stage, to the latent stage, to the
eruptions on the skin. This direction is from within to without.

1. The reversal of the order of the symptoms is found in the Chronic
Diseases on p. 230.
2. The appearance of old symptoms is found in The Chronic Diseases, p.
203-204.
3. The process of diseases moving from *without to within* from less
important to more important areas and cure moving from *within to without*
from more important areas to lesser important areas is found The
Chronic Diseases in the discussion of suppression, the three stages of
psora, and other miasms.
4. The idea that the mental symptoms and sense of well being improves at
the commencement of successful treatment is found in the Organon 253.
5. The idea that the strength of the patient improves throughout treatment
is found in the Chronic Disease, page 233.
6. In 1865 Hering wrote that the symptoms ameliorate from the brain to the
nerves outward and downward. The idea that the nervous system (brain, CNS,
ANS) are the first physical systems to perceive homoeopathic remedies is
referred to in aphorism 16 of the Organon. The movement of the pains from
above to below, however, has yet to be found in Hahnemann's teachings.

2. "Misdirecting Hahnemann´s recommendations, Kent was careless with
dosage, admitted as pathway to cure severe and long homeopathic
aggravations, return of all past symptoms, exteriorizations and
eliminations (which were considered by Hahnemann as organism defences
against dose excess or incorrect prescriptions)."

This statement is correct in terms of Kent's posology mistakes and
provoking of strong aggravations, etc. The idea that Kent said strong
aggravations were "desirable" is not true. Kent did not seek aggravations
nor did he think that they were desirable or necessary. James wrote:

"Too high a potency gives an unnecessary aggravation, and then will not
perform the best curative action.

The best action is the slight aggravation, as in the first few hours in the
acute disorders. [Hahnemann said the same thing about acute disease even in
the 6th Organon aphorism 161-DL).

The ideal is the one that gives no aggravation but amelioration. We do not
seek to produce an aggravation, that is not the best, not the longest
curative effect." (Kent’s Lesser Writings; J. T. Kent, Potencies
Discussion, page 350.)

3. "Hering and Kent did not follow Hahnemann´s principles and the
harmful cure they observed was probably a result of their own procedures in
Homeopathy, deviating from the objective of gentle restoration of health".

Associating Hering's practice automatically with Kent methods is
assuming guilt by association with the law of cure. No one has presented
any cases of Hering's which show "harmful cures" nor has anyone shown
places in his writing that say violent reactions are desirable. Hering
deserves the presumption of innocence unless the facts definitely prove
otherwise. Just because Hering stated that chronic psora ends on the skin
does not mean that Hering was provoking violent reactions. Some of
Hahnemann's Paris cases using the C and LM potency demonstrate
aggravations, remedy caused symptoms, and the production of evacuations,
eruptions and discharges!

Hering stated that the ideal cure should limit the course of the
disease and moderate or totally prevent pathological products WITHOUT
arriving at the signs normally associated crisis! (Life of Hering, p. 143).
It should also demonstrates a rapid recovery of strength and bodily vigor
and an improvement in the mental condition as well as prevent relapses even
when exposed to exciting causes. This statement says nothing about desiring
aggravations and crisis or the need to cause violent reactions.

Hahnemann's cases also show the development of skin eruptions during
antipsoric treatment skin with remedies like Sulphur and Hepar Sulph. In
the Lecomte case (DF-6, p. 89) the patent was suffering with lung problems,
dry cough, tightness in the stomach, and tickling in the throat, shooting
pains in the left side and heart. She was given Hepar Sulph in a descending
series of C potencies. The patient's chest and heart symptoms improved
greatly from Nov. to Feb the next year and in the last interview Hahnemann
wrote down "doing perfectly well" and noted that some pimples had appeared
on her forehead and nose. In the case the symptoms were removed from the
lungs and ended with a skin eruption.

Hering was a great homoeopath who made wonderful contributions to our
art including introduction of the nosode class of remedies, the Analytical
Repertory (mental concomitants), The Guiding Symptoms of the Materia
Medica, and his works on the order of cure has for the most part been very
useful in the clinic. Let us give credit where credit is due.

Similia Minimus
Sincerely, David Little

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines." - Samuel Hahnemann

Homoeopathic Online Education (H.O.E)
Visit David Little's website:
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2006
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines." - Samuel Hahnemann

Homoeopathic Online Education (H.O.E)
Visit David Little's website:
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2006

[healthinfo6]

If 5 of 6 aspects of Hering's Law can be found in Hahnemann's writings,
why should Hering be given credit for a "Law" ?
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, David Little wrote:
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[Michael]

Hering never said it is a law. J.T.Kent decided to
call it a law, most probably. Even if it is called a
law, it is not necessary to judge it as a law of
nature. Just take it as a rule of thumb. Law or rule,
it is only a game of words, the most important thing
is that it works.

Michael

--- healthinfo6 wrote:
___________________________________________________________
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