miasms - PSORA 2

[David Little]

At 10:37 PM 7/18/2005, you wrote:

Chickenpox appears to be what Hahnemann called a half-acute miasma in
the Chronic Diseases sin that it is not self limiting in a short period
like the acute miasms as it may have prolonged sequels in the form of
shingles. Chickenpox, your example, is passed by droplets and contact with
skin lesions. That patient is most infective before the skin lesions
appear. In psora the vector of transmission is from host to host through a
primary skin infection. It is never passed by droplets and aspiration, etc.
This makes psora different from the childhood eruptive diseases like
measles, chickenpox, etc.
Hahnemann did not group together "everything" take causes skin
symptoms. For example, sycosis and syphilis have their characteristic skin
lessions such as condylomata accuminata (sycosis) and the chancre and
condylomata lata (syphilis). He also did not include acute miasms that have
skin eruptions. Where have to be a little more specific when making up our
revised lists of classifications. There is a different in the nature of
acute, half-acute and chronic miasms.

Hahnemann did, however, group together several chronic skin lesions. He
listed several vectors that transmit psora in the Chronic Diseases where he
gave examples like leprosy (Lepra and TB bacteria), erysipelas
(staphylococcus), pimples, boils (staphylococcus), herpes (herpes viruses),
tetter (tinea) and itch (mites). These are the transmission vectors by
which the disease is passed from by skin to skin or skin to infected
articles to skin. These are exclusively contact diseases that are not
passed by droplets like the childhood acute and half acute miasms like
measles and chickenpox. One must not mix the acute and half acute miasms
with the chronic miasms as their nature and transmission vectors are
different.
Yes, Hahnemann did list an number of vectors for psora but they all
share the same primary pathway of the disease, which is a cutaneous primary
eruption which acts as a medium for transmission from host to host by
contact not by droplets or aspiration. That is what makes the Psora
different than sycosis, syphilis, TB,. hepatitis or HIV/AIDS. Sycosis also
seems to involve more vector, for example gonococcus, HPV, clamdiya,
trictamonous, etc. It is very possible that some miasms include a group of
microorganism that share a similar band of susceptibility and pathway of
disease. There are some fungi that produce symptoms in the lungs that are
almost identical to TB. Miasms also tend to "piggyback" one upon the other
as seen in HIV/AIDS, etc.

So as you can see this areas is very interesting and needs to be
brought up to date. This is one reason why I keep my definition of miasms
in line with its original meaning as acute, half-acute and chronic
infectious diseases. When we de-link the miasms from infection and make
them the same as the primordial homeomeries we lose a very special aspect
of homeopathy, which is vitalist epidemiology. This study offers
preventative, abortive and curative remedies for active acute, half-acute
and chronic infections as well as the long term sequels and affects of
their suppression and maltreatment.
First of all, Hahnemann's original list of psora symptoms and its
secondary diseases in the Chronic Diseases in 1828 included some symptoms
of the pseudopsora-TB as well as sycosis. While constructing his first
group anamnesis he mixed up some of the symptoms miasms. In some cases he
may have been looking at mixed miasms without realizing it.

Hering stated that Hahnemann was separating the symptoms of psora and
pseudo psora and we know from Boenninghausen that he was working on new
list of symptoms for sycosis. Unfortunately, these symptoms lists have not
be recovered. What we see in the 1828 Chronic Disease needs to be corrected
and brought up to date. Hering, Boennighausen, J.H. Allen, Kent and others.
In the process the symptoms of psora and TB miasms have become more
clarified and the images of sycosis and syphilis expanded. Therefore,
anatural evolution of the pictures of the miasms have taken place although
a few new mistakes have been made along the way.

Now, returning to psora. Yes, there are four major vectors of psora
based on bacteria, fungi, viruses and mites. One might called these types
psora 1,..2.,, 3, and 4. And yes, this may be one of the reasons there are
so many antipsoric remedies! All these vectors share the fact that their
transmission is by host to host by skin contact or skin to infected
material to skin. They are not spread by droplets and contact like the
childhood eruptive infections like measles and others like smallpox, etc.,
which are all acute miasms. Chickenpox, however, has much longer sequels
than these acute miasms and may be a half-acute miasma that is a bridge
between the acute and chronic miasms. That you brought up this particular
example is rather astute. I have been contemplating its nature and
classification for some time.

Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[David Little]

At 03:44 PM 7/18/2005, you wrote:

Most childhood eruptive disease are acute miasms not chronic miasms
like psora, sycosis and syphilis.
Chickenpox is an interesting example because it is not strictly an
acute miasma as shingle can appear many years later. It can lay dormant
level and then arise due to the affects of time, aging or stress. This is
more similar to what Hahnemann called half-acute miasms in the Chronic
Diseases.
The lack of expression of the natural eruptions on the skin is an
atypical symptom that is characteristic of a lack of the ability of the
constitution to external skin symptoms. The skin symptoms, whether
expressed, repressed or suppressed, is still part of essential nature of
the disease. Chickenpox is transmitted by droplets and contact while psora
is only passed by skin contact from host to host. Chickenpox is most
infective before the skin lesions arise while psora can only be transmitted
by skin contact when the primary lesions are on the skin. There are also
some other major differences. One must carefully separate the symptoms of
the acute, half acute and chronic miasms as their natures are different.
The term "psora", which means fault, pollution, taint, was used by the
ancient Greeks to described a number of skin diseases The idea of "skin".,
disease" is integral to the derivation of the "psora". Hahnemann was only
bringing this term up to date in his times. I do not see how the example of
a repressed eruption in chickenpox fundamentally changes the definition of
psora. Your definition makes ANY and ALL infections "psora", which is far
too broad to suit either the ancient Greek derivation of the term or
Hahnemann's definition of psora. Sycosis is an infection but it is not
psora. Syphilis is an infection but it is not psora. Acute miasms are
infections but not psora. Half-acute miasms are an infections but not
psora. Your definition suits all the miasms, but in my humble opinion, is
far too broad to be called psora, which has its own unique signs and symptoms.

Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[David Little]

At 11:07 PM 7/18/2005, you wrote:

Hahnemann makes it clear that between the moment of infection and the
appearance of the primary skin eruptions the complete constitution becomes
involved in the psoric miasm. That is why suppressing the skin lesions only
causes the disease to mutated into more dangerous internal manifestation.
The skin lesion acts like a "pressure value" that protects the f inner
organs and humors to some degree but only provides term short term
palliation. Once this diversionary channel is denied the internal pressure
of the disease increases on the inner more vital spheres. The leads
directly to the latent state and eventual secondary symptoms. This happens
because the psora is a constitutional disorder right from the start NOT a
local disorder of the skin.

Hahnemann also points out that psora is *transmitted* by the its
primary eruptions through skin contact or skin contract with articles
infected by the skin. He notes that psora cannot be transmitted when the
skin lesions are not present because the disease is latent or in the
secondary stages. Interestingly, the diseases he uses for examples of
psora's transmission vectors (itch mites, leprosy, tetter, herpes, boils,
etc. ) are all transmitted only by host to host contact. Psora cannot be
transmitted by droplet and aspiration like the childhood eruptive diseases
like measles, etc., which is an acute miasms and chickenpox, which seems to
be a half-acute miasm. The affects of psora, however, may be passed on by
heredity. In this case, the suffer does not have to suffer the primary
infection because the unresolved affects of psora through their parents.

Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[David Little]

At 09:52 AM 7/19/2005, you wrote:
Dear Roger,

This is a perfect example of the use of an etiologic rubric in a case
where the remedy might have been missed. Our repertories and materia
medicas contain a good number of aetiological rubrics that are often useful
in finding a remedy. I have had many similar cases where a specific cause
like this led me to a remedy I might not have highlighted only by the
presiding symptoms. That is why Hahnemann suggested that we based our cases
on cause (when it can be known), symptoms and attendant circumstances. This
provides a wide survey of possible rubrics that may be helpful in selecting
a remedy. The relevance of Causa in remedy selection is clearly stated in
aphorism 5 of the 5th and 6th Organon. He Hahnemann clearly says "It will
help the physician to bring about cure".

§5

It will help the physician to bring about a cure if he can find out the
data of the most probable occasion of an acute disease, and the most
significant factors in the entire history of a protracted wasting sickness,
enabling him to find out its fundamental cause. The fundamental cause of a
protracted wasting sickness mostly rests upon a chronic miasm. In these
investigations, the physician should take into account the patient's:
1. discernible body constitution (especially in cases of protracted
disease),
2. mental and emotional character [character of the Geist and the Gemüt],
3. occupations,
4. lifestyle and habits,
5. civic and domestic relationships [relationships outside and within the
home],
6. age,
7. sexual function, etc.

Every major aphorism Hahnemann speaks of the essential importance of the
symptoms he refers back to the data
found in aphorism 5 which includes Causa, miasms and attendant
circumstances. He speaks of the importance of the symptoms and then says:

"along with regard for any contingent miasm and with attendant
circumstances (aph. 7)
"with consideration of the accompanying circumstances (aph 18).
"with regard for the originating cause (when it is known) and the attendant
circumstances" (aph. 24)

Of course the symptoms are most central to the section of the a homeopathic
remedy but this doesn't mean the causal rubrics, miasms and attendant
circumstances are irreverent in forming a prescription. Causa, miasms and
attending circumstances may also provide use rubrics in selecting a remedy.

Sincerely, David Little

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

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[Rosemary C Hyde]

Dear David,

Thanks for that useful distinction between transmission through droplets and transmission via skin to skin contact (or heredity). I hadn't processed Hahnemann's explanation in quite those terms, and it's an excellent way to draw miasmatic distinctions. Rosemary

[David Little]

At 09:42 AM 7/23/2005, you wrote:

Dear Rosemary,

All of these exact details, and more, are found in the Chronic
Diseases. Homeopathic epidemiology is establish on a very strong
observation basis and the theory section of the CD written in 1828 is
astoundingly perceptive! In this work Hahnemann establishes the point that
hereditary predispositions and environmental factors are the major
conditioning factors in the diverse set of secondary symptom that appear as
differently named chronic diseases in the miasms. This is also an
extraordinary observations for the time when Lamarck's hypothesis was very
new. He did not speak about the heredity of psora until the 6th Organon in
the 1840s, He also told Boenninghausen in a letter that one could not deny
the hereditary transmission of psora.

To bring the miasms up to date one must first of all carefully separate
the acute, half-acute and chronic miasms as clearly as possible. Then one
needs to look at causes, modes of transmission, pathways of the disease,
and the essential nature of the signs and symptoms. One must also separate
the endemic miasms depending on zoological hosts and specific environments
from the universal miasms passed from person to person. I have taken all
the infections found in a modern textbook on epidemiology and reviewed them
carefully in this manner. On this bases I have greatly expanded the number
of acute, half-acute and chronic miasms and their symptoms and
interrelationships. Now I am working on the groups cases of all these
diseases. Yes, this clinical method takes a lot of work but it provides
much more medical information ungrounded transcendental speculations!

Hahnemann's basic parameters hold up extraordinarily well and the
vitalist view ties together many lesser understood factors. To me this is
bringing the miasms up to date more than trying to de-linking them from
infection and turning them into the primordial homeomeries and psora the
"original sin" or the mental fall of humanity, etc. Why throw out all of
homeopathic epidemiology in the name of modernizing when the study of
infection, prevention, auto-immune and immuno-deficiency disorders is one
of the most important part of modern medicine? Why throw out the use of
collective anamnesis for preventative, abortive and curative remedies for
both acute and chronic miasms? This is the essence of the Chronic Diseases
and it is worth preserving.

When I wish to study the archetypes associated with the primordial
homeomeries I use the three forces (positive, neutral and negative poles of
energy) and the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether) in
relationship to the Mappa Mundi as first introduced by Pythagoras and used
up to the time of Plato. This includes macrocosmic phenomena like the
changing of four seasons, phases of the moon, and the growth and decay
cycle in nature as well as microcosmic phenomena like the four temperament
(choleric, phlegmatic, sanguine, and melancholic) and their 12 major
mixtures. This system also can be used to categorize predispositions,
diseases states, signs, symptoms AND miasms!

If you read Hahnemann Lesser Writings, the Chronic Diseases, the
various editions of the Organon, and the Paris casebooks one finds
Hahnemann speaking in terms of the four temperament, daithetic
constitution, hereditary predispositions, the vital force, miasms and psora
- ALL of which are terms introduced by the ancient Greek naturalists. These
works form the basis of vitalist tradition and many theories and terms
found in Homeopathy. Homeopathy did not appear out of a vacuum. It was the
natural evolution of the best of Western Medicine. Part of bringing this
data up to date is studying history closely not ignoring the past and
changing things one did not understand in the first place.

Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[Piet Guijt]

David wrote:

Hahnemann's basic parameters hold up extraordinarily well and the
vitalist view ties together many lesser understood factors. To me this is
bringing the miasms up to date more than trying to de-linking them from
infection and turning them into the primordial homeomeries and psora the
"original sin" or the mental fall of humanity, etc. Why throw out all of
homeopathic epidemiology in the name of modernizing when the study of
infection, prevention, auto-immune and immuno-deficiency disorders is one
of the most important part of modern medicine? Why throw out the use of
collective anamnesis for preventative, abortive and curative remedies for
both acute and chronic miasms? This is the essence of the Chronic Diseases
and it is worth preserving.
Hello David,

De-linking the miasm from infection, is something we must not do, I agree.
But we should not narrow down the miasms to infections only as well.
In Aph 78 Hahnmann writes: "....the disease that was received by infection
or inheritance"
Whether infections are the initial cause of the miasmatic constitutional
patterns or not, a fact is that every human being to some extend has those
tendencies, which could play their part in the suppression of disease.
We can debate the cause of these patterns, with metaphysical explanation or
not, but does it really matter?
An miasmatic infection will join these corresponding existing patterns, so
can't be separated from them.
The infection is the short term expression and the inheritance the long term
part of the same phenomena?

Kind regards, Piet

[David Little]

Dear students and Colleagues,

In my work I look at the primordial homoeomeries like the 3 forces
(positive, neutral and negative poles of energy) and the five elements
(earth, water, fire, air, either) as the fundamental archetypal patterns of
life. These are symbols of innate patterns found throughout nature such as
the proton, neutron and electron as well as gravity, electromagnetism and
strong and weak nuclear forces. These patterns may also be found in the
double helix of the DNA and its four chemicals which makes up all our
genes. This was the method used from the time of Pythagoras to Plato and is
at the roots of western medicine as practiced by Hippocrates and the Greek
naturalists.

The creative and destructive cycles of these "unchanging roots" are
displayed in the Mappa Mundi. On this basis comes the four temperaments
(choleric, phlegmatic, sanguine and melancholic constitutions) and their 12
major mixtures (cholero-sanguine, etc). Hahnemann includes the observations
of C. Junker on how the suppression of psoric skin eruptions affects each
of the classical temperaments differently in the Chronic Diseases. He also
points out that the human constitution, hereditary dispositions and
environmental factors are the number one conditioning factors in the
development of the symptoms of the chronic miasms. On the basis of the
homoeomeries it is possible to categorize all phenomena in groups that
include constitution, temperament, predispositions, mental symptoms,
aversions and desires, thermal reactions, signs, symptoms and miasms, etc.
Miasms follow the pattern of the homoeomeries but miasms are not the cause
of all the archetypal phenomena witnessed on earth and throughout the
universe.

The four temperament show that the major conditioning factors related to
susceptibility is the innate human constitution (nature) followed by
environment factors(nurture). A patient is influenced by inheritance and
conditions acquired in this life as wells as outer affects like poverty,
lack of sanitation, bad diet, overcrowding, negative telluric influences,
continual emotional stress, etc. Each of the four constitutions are
predisposed to certain diseases and miasms and strongly influenced by
certain environmental factors. By understanding the four temperament we
understand susceptibility and predisposition better and this gives insights
into the acute, half-acute and chronic miasms as well as none miasmic
diseases.

It is very clear that Hahnemann taught psora could be passed by
infection and heredity in the 1840s. This does not mean that miasms are the
same things as inheritance in general. It just means that the *affects of
miasms can be transmitted by infection or heredity*. In Hahnemann's
paradigm the miasmic symptoms are based on the constitutional effects of
unresolved infections in the ancestors or the acquired by the individual.
In my work I consider constitutional diathesis and miasms two aspects of
potential pathogenesis that are often inter-related. There are inherited
and acquire diatheses and well as inherited and acquired miasms.

The constitution may be affected by many causative factors such has
physical trauma, poor diet, deprivation, negative environment factors,
poisons, toxins, emotional complexes ad infinitum. These causative agents
are not "miasms" but their affects can also be passed by heredity. Just
because inter-dependant factors work together in various combinations does
not mean that they are all the same in the end. This type of false oneness
does not express the true nature of the aetiological constellation
properly. I think it matters whether the symptoms are predominantly caused
by a trauma, toxic substance, an unresolved miasm or a mental complex
because it may affect my approach to the case. I do not call all these
potential unresolved causes and effects "miasms". Hahnemann was very
precise in his definitions and they accord with modern medical science's
understanding of epidemiology.

In my work aetiology involves individual causes, collective causes,
exciting causes, maintaining causes, and fundamental causes as well as
co-incidental befallments and non-linear synchronisms. The true proximate
cause often remains a mystery as it is often based is an aetiological
constellation not one single factor. So we base our cases as best we can on
causation, miasms, symptoms and the attending circumstances (Organon - aph
5, 6,. 18, 24, etc) in various degrees according to presentation of the
symptoms. In my clinic practice I don't try to pigeon hole all my cases
into miasmic boxes unless there are some clear characteristics symptoms of
the collective miasms in the case history and/or presiding symptoms.

Everyone shows some aspects of the chronic miasms as they are in
everyone's family trees but unless they are central to the important points
in the history and presiding symptoms I don't necessarily center my case on
them. When the chronic miasmic syndromes are central to the history and
presiding symptoms I do center my case on the chronic miasms. If I find
that a psychological complex is central to the case I center my focus on
the psyche and it concomitants. If there is some other dominating cause and
effect complex acting on the pati8ent I center my case on them. I used an
open system and integrate various individualized factors in the formula to
come to my conclusions and then I act accordingly.

I am comfortable with the Greek Naturalist's teachings as they
represent the oldest living tradition in the Western Medicine and have 2,
500 years of clinical observation behind it These teaching also form the
foundation of Homeopathy. Such a system is also in harmony with what I have
learned by living in the East for a quarter of a century as they share a
common origin. I find the principles of the Mappa Mundi more satisfying
than trying to make the chronic miasms everything and all things under the
sun. In this way I leave nothing important out and include everything I can
observe in my mind and senses.

Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000