Minutus

As Rosemary can not sent her mails to the group then I forwarded it.

At 01:03 AM 12/21/2005, you wrote:

Hello,

Living in India I have treated many acute epidemic miasms. Of course,
at times, one sees aggravations of the symptoms after the first dose. In
fact, the nature of acute miasms is such that quick crisis and quick lysis
is part of the process. For this reason, one should be careful in the
choice of the remedy, the degree of potency and the size of the dose. The
remedy for a true acute crisis should be chosen in accordance with the
exciting cause and active symptoms of the crisis not the entire
constitutional picture. Going too deep during crisis can cause unproductive
aggravations. After the acute crisis is resolved one can follow up with
chronic treatment to remove predispositions and prevent relapses. The
potency should match the intensity of the disease symptoms yet not be in
excess because that causes aggravation. The size of the dose should be kept
at a minimum rather than a maximum as acute are very sensitive. The remedy
should be given in a single test dose and the reaction awaited for a
reasonable amount of time.

First of all, one must understand what causes aggravation. Aggravation
is caused by an excessive primary action of the similar remedy as it
replaces the natural disease. This is caused by too high a potency or too
large a dose or both. It is also caused by giving the remedy when it is not
needed as in over repetition. This means a similar aggravation
(intensification of the present symptoms) is a sign of the right remedy but
the wrong posology or case management. A dissimilar aggravation (the
appearance of new and troubling symptoms) is a sign of the wrong remedy. It
is good to know the difference!

It is the nature of acute diseases to resolve in crisis. For this
reason, even a very harmonic remedy, potency and dose may involve a healing
crisis. This is when the organs of elimination are activated and the
organism seeks to eliminate through heat, sweat, discharges, etc. These
signs should show in the organism of elimination (skin, urinary, mucus
membranes, etc.P or lymphatic system and not disrupt the vital signs. So it
is not uncommon to see such things but they should pass through quickly, be
relatively painless, and be follow quickly by amelioration and an increase
in the sense of well being and vitality.

I am a strong supporter of the single test dose. One can never tell
what the first dose will do. As Hahnemann says in the 6th Organon, many
times one dose is all one needs in an acute disease. This is true with the
C and LM potency. This is true with both the dry dose and the medicinal
solution. Unfortunately, this does not always happen! This means that one
must be able to judge the nature of the disease in such a manner that one
knows what to expect. Treating typhoid, which has a three week to one month
cycle, is not the same as treating a severe cold or flu. You must try to
make a basic diagnosis of the nature and severity of the state and
prognosis as to what to normally expect. On this basis you must understand
within reason what to expect over what time period and act accordingly. If
the patient does not respond to a single test dose in a reasonable amount
of time for the case at hand then one must repeat the dose until one sees a
beneficial reaction and then assess the healing processes.

If one is using the dry dose 4th Organon method then one should stop
the repetition at the first signs of amelioration and what for a relapse
before giving the another dose. If one is using the 5th and 6th Organon
method (medicinal solution) one should also reassess the case at the signs
of amelioration. There is, however, a slight different in the later method.
If there is a strikingly progressive amelioration stop the dose. If the
amelioration is slow or moderate one may continuing to repeat the remedy to
speed the cure at suitable intervals as long as it does not cause
aggravation. Nevertheless, one should continue to slow down the remedy as
the patient continues to improve to prevent aggravations as well as
relapses. This more refined method offers certain advantages over the
strict dry dose wait until relapse method but is not a license for
mechanical repetition. This method demands an artistic approach with
aesthetic understanding of the disease state and Hahnemann's advanced
methods. If one does not possess these skills or the situation does not
allow for them then it is better to use the full wait and watch method as
it is better to be safe rather than sorry.

The homoeopathic treatment of epidemic acute miasms is truly wonderful.
In Asia I learned not to fear (but respect) even the worst acute conditions
like meningitis and typhoid. Homoeopathy provides safe and effective
treatment of the acute miasms as well as offers the means to prevent them
with the genus epidemicus remedies and nosodes. Making a group case of a
prevailing epidemic and constructing a specific materia medica of genus
remedies to prevent, abort and treat acute miasms if very effective. The
remedy that covers the most symptoms will prevent the acute miasma in most
patients and may help to abort the disease in easiest stages. The group
genus remedies will help cure most patients. Of course, a few patient may
need remedies outside of this study but it will cover most cases, which is
important when treating the masses. Read Boenninghausen's study of typhoid
in his Lesser Writings for more understanding on how to apply this method
correctly.

I hope this little discourse is helpful to some.
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

Dear David,

Thanx a lot for informative discourse, but I have been thinking about the
mechanism of
action of Homeopathic remedies in acute miasms in which VF is battling with
stressor.In this situation if VF is battling directly by stressor therefore
how Homeopathic
remedy can help VF ?

Kind Regards,
Nader

At 12:50 AM 12/24/2005, you wrote:
Hello,

Disease is initially mistuning of the vital force by a dynamic agent,
which in the case of acute miasms, involves a microorganismic-miasma. This
vital derangement begins with functional changes and ends in physical
pathology. The disease time-line in acute miasms runs susceptibility and
predisposition to the moment of infection to the prodrome period to the
onset of the symptoms to the development of crisis to lysis to
convalescence. Acute miasms tend to produce an intense set of symptoms that
reach crisis rapidly after which the patient either dies, recovers or moves
into sequels. Although the causative miasma may have died off this does not
mean that the alarm reaction induced by the infection is resolved and the
patient may go one to experience the Never-Well-Since Syndrome. In this
case, the sequels of the acute miasms have activated the chronic
predispositions in the patient and now become part of the overall
constitutional condition. This sums up acute epidemic miasms.

When the vital force is deranged by an acute miasm the vital energy
becomes so identified with the disease-essence that it can not tell self
from others and has a tendency to damage the organism with its own stress
chemicals and immune substances in a global reaction. The immune system
cannot clone any specific antibodies in the first few days and weeks. This
means that it must depend totally on inflammatory processes and the humoral
defenses already available through crisis. Therefore, the vital force
instinctively attempts to save the whole by sacrificing its lesser
important humors and tissues if necessary in a desperate attempt to
overwhelm the disease. This instinctive attempt at self healing is the best
the organism can do under these conditions. This process causes a great
strain on the constitution and temperament.

The presence of the disease-essence (G. pathogen) and the vital force's
fight for life (G. ponos) produced the suffering associated with the signs
and symptoms (G. pathos). We cannot see the human-esse but we can witness
the derangement of the vital force through the Gestalt-pattern of the
disease state. This is the only way that the innate powers of Nature can
show the unprejudiced observer the exact medicine required. By recording
the totality of the symptoms the healing artist can understand the
essential nature of the disease state as well as the nature of the similar
remedy. This is the basis for the first cardinal principle of Homoeopathy,
Similars Cure Similars.

The remedy-essence must not only be similar to the disease to be cure,
it must also be more powerful. This is because the stronger similar
overcomes the weaker similar and removes it. This is one of the reason
behind the principle of the potentized remedy. The similar more powerful
similar remedy delusively replaces the sensation of the natural disease and
magnifies the image of the derangement to the apprehension of the vital
force. This is the power of the primary action of the similar remedy.

The vital force is intrinsic to the human organism because it is part of
the human Esse while the disease is extrinsic and due to a stressor. Once
the primary action replaces the sensation of the natural disease the vital
force seeks to differentiate itself from the remedy-disease by removing the
impingement from without while reestablishing homeostasis within. During
this process the vital force opposes the stressor from without by
increasing its energy in degrees until the Vigor Vita is much more powerful
than the original natural disease. This produces the effects witnessed in
direction of cure in which healing takes place from within to without, from
the more important to lesser important spheres and the reversal of the
order of the symptoms. During this process the vital force removes the
disease in stages and degrees according to natural laws. At the same time,
it will reactivate any unresolved disease state it needs to re-experience
in the form of the natural healing crisis. In the process confusion and
disarray are replaced with order and harmony. This is the power of the
curative secondary action of the vital force.

Due the exceptionally small dose and temporary nature of the potentized
remedy the vital force finds it much easier to remove the remedy-disease
than a natural disease. This is one of the reasons for the principle of the
minimal dose. The life force only needs to use as much vital energy as
necessary to bring the organism back to the state of health with restored
vitality without any over reactions. This process is witnessed in rapid
transitions from a state of illness to the state of health without the
suffering and sacrifices associated with purely instinctive crisis. Thus
the homoeopathic cure takes place through the interaction of the dynamic
primary action of the similar remedy and the energetic secondary curative
action of the vital force. During this process the alarm reaction invoked
in the vital force, nervous and immune system is resolved and the organism
returns to the state of homeostasis with more resistance to similar acute
miasms in the future.

The four cardinal principles of Homoeopathy are Similar Cure Similars,
the single remedy, the minimal dose and the potentized remedy. These four
areas form the checks and balances that makes Homoeopathy a safe and
effective system. This is what makes us all homoeopaths. On this basis
there are many schools of practice yet these four principles are the
unifying factor. The vital force is the synergistic life power in the
nervous, glandular and immune system as well as all other physiological
systems. It is the unifying factor in the human organism. The
electromagnetic nature of the biological organisms is well established and
no longer can be denied by the mechanists. These dynamic energy fields are
an integral part of the physiology of cells, tissues, systems and organs.
Bioelectricity and biochemical actions are now considered to be two aspects
of the same phenomena associated with life. As Hahnemann said in aphorism
14 the vital force and organism are actually one but we discuss them as
different aspects for easy comprehension.

Alterations in bioelectricity are integral to the earliest disease
changes recorded in the brain and neuro-endocrine system just as Hahnemann
discussed in aphorism 16. Disease is initially a negative change in the
dynamic functions of the human organism which leads to organic pathology.
That is why disease is said to be a mistuning of the vital principle of
life itself. Healing is initially the re-tuning of the vital principles of
life that causes positive changes that are followed the reversal of organic
pathology. In both cases the time flow is from dynamic changes to organic
changes. The ancient idea of the vital energy is no longer a theory. It is
a proven fact.

Homoeopathy is the medicine of the future and only in that future will
all become known. It may take a few more decades or even 100 years before
science is able to catch up with exactly how homoeopathic remedies heal.
Nevertheless, we have helpful models that are useful guides that aid us in
our clinical practice. The models can be supported by various scientific
hypotheses. As to the final say on exact "how" remedies cure lies in the in
the future. What we must learn "now" is "how" to understand the guidepost
that lead to cure and learn how to apply the four cardinal principles in
the most safe and effective manner.

Similia Minimus
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

Dear David,

Your model of thinking about mechanism of action of Homeopathic remedies is
very interesting but I have some question which are in between lines of your
email.

At 01:14 AM 12/25/2005, you wrote:
In orthodox medicine they think of acute, sub-acute and chronic in terms of
time. Hahnemann, however, classified acute, pseudo-chronic and chronic by
the *nature of the disease states*. He describes three classes of acute
diseases, i.e. the individual, sporadic and epidemic miasms. These are
diseases that are self-limiting by nature. When he speaks of acute miasms
he describes acute epidemic diseases he is speaking of infections that are
self limiting. He explains that there are two types of acute miasms, those
one experiences once and then gains immunity (measles, mumps, etc), and
those that one may suffer many times (typhoid, cholera, etc).
Hahnemann definition of chronic diseases is also by the nature of the
disease state not the time a patient suffers. For example, a venereal
disease like syphilis is chronic and life lasting from the first day one
acquires it. It is the nature of the disease itself. A pseudo-chronic
diseases is one which is dependant on a maintaining cause that keeps up the
disease such as bad diet, emotional stress, etc. If such things are remove
quickly the VF will self correct. If the stressor is not removed in a
reasonable time the patient may move into a never well since condition. So
what you are saying is in terms of time like orthodox medicine but
Hahnemann was classifying acute and chronic diseases by the nature of the
disease itself. Some diseases are acute by nature like a cold and others
are chronic for life like TB.
Again what you say is true when speaking of biological stress as in the GAS
syndrome. If we are speaking of biological stress as the alarm state
(acute), stage of resistance and adaptation (sub-acute) and the stage of
exhaustion (chronic) are related to time. In the Organon, however,
Hahnemann teaches defines acute and chronic by the nature of the disease.
An acute miasm is acute from the start like mumps. This infection is self
limiting as the bacteria dies but it may lead to a never well since state.

Because the symptoms are the way the VF shows exactly what remedy it needs
by similars. You record the symptoms and match them with the remedies found
in the materia medica. That is why what we are practicing is called
Homoeopathy.
Hahnemann taught that disease is a mistunement of the VF by a dynamic
pathogenic power. This is what is say in the Organon. It takes a
pathogen (a cause) to create ponos (the fight of the VF for life) and
pathos (signs and symptoms). So, yes, the cause of the disease is not
intrinsic to the VF. To be mistuned it must be disrupted by some negative
influence. This is all in the Organon.

According to the Organon dissimilar diseases either repel, suspend or
combine into complex states. An older stronger dissimilar disease will
repel new weaker similar diseases. You see this when an persons suffering
from a one sided chronic state like arthritis says "Other than these bone
pains I never get sick!" A newer dissimilar disease will suspend an older
dissimilar disease. This is what makes active, latent and dormant layers.
Two dissimilar diseases of reactively equal strength act for a longer time
they may both act in the areas they rule. This produces a complex disease.

Two similar diseases cannot exist in the VF at the same time. The stronger
will replace the weaker. Hahnemann give pages of examples of this. That is
why we match the similar symptoms with the similar remedy. The remedy,
however, has to be stronger than the natural diseases. That is the purpose
of potency. Now the primary action of the remedy-disease replaces the
sensation of the naturals disease. It was Hahnemann who used the idea of
the remedy placing the natural disease in a delusive manner in that the VF
now seeks to remove the remedy as if it was the new stronger disease. In
the process the vital energy increases in degrees until it is stronger than
the original disease. That is how resistance works. This is all in the
preface to the Chronic Diseases.
That is the difference between how the confused VF acts to a natural
disease instinctively compared to the temporary remedy-disease. Hahnemann
spoke about this in the introduction of the Organon. He makes it clear that
the reason gifted spirit can utilize the laws of nature in a way that
instinct cannot. One cannot the time of exposure, the duration of the dose
nor the potency of a natural disease. Hence the cure by a natural similar
disease can be as bad as the disease it cures. When one uses a homoeopathic
remedy they can control the time of exposure, duration of the remedy and
potency in such a manner it is capable of causing reactions in the VF that
nature alone cannot. That is the whole point of the Introduction of the
Organon. All of this is basic homoeopathic philosophy not my creation. What
I have observed fits very well with this hypothesis.
Yes, it is.
By Hahnemann's definition acute miasms are caused by self limiting
infections by living parasites that derange the vital force. That is his
definition. The stronger primary action makes a clear impression on the VF
showing the unprejudiced observer exactly what it needs to combat. If it
was not stronger than the natural disease for the moment it could not
over-tune the disease and would be repelled. if the remedy's primary actoin
is stronger than the natural disease it has the power to over tune the
natural disease and make an impression of the VF. It is the secondary
action of the VF that marshals vitality to oppose the remedy-disease, and
in the process the resistance factors becomes stronger than the original
disease leading to cure. This is quite in line with the modern
understanding of the immune system and overcoming infections.

The aggravation in acute miasms is caused by the primary action of the
remedy when it is too strong due to too large a dose, too high a potency,
or over repetition. The most gentle and rapid cure takes place when the
primary and secondary action in balanced. This is the action-reaction model
of healing which is based on the interaction of the primary action of the
remedy and curative secondary action of the vital force. It makes no
difference whether the disease is acute or chronic. What I have been
sharing is based on Hahnemann's model. As of yet I have seen nothing that
fits with my observations or experience as well. One has to study all his
writings to see the bigger picture but I like what I see. As I said,
however, I make no claim that this is the absolute truth but it is a very
good hypothesis with which one can predict certain outcomes in a very
practical manner in the clinic.

That's all I can say on the matter.
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

In orthodox medicine they think of acute, sub-acute and chronic in terms of
time. Hahnemann, however, classified acute, pseudo-chronic and chronic by
the *nature of the disease states*. He describes three classes of acute
diseases, i.e. the individual, sporadic and epidemic miasms. These are
diseases that are self-limiting by nature. When he speaks of acute miasms
he describes acute epidemic diseases he is speaking of infections that are
self limiting. He explains that there are two types of acute miasms, those
one experiences once and then gains immunity (measles, mumps, etc), and
those that one may suffer many times (typhoid, cholera, etc).
(((((Dear David,

If being Acute or Chronic depends on the "Nature of the disease" and also
measles (as you said), is classified as an Acute Miasm, therefore why we
have conditions such as SSPE which is a late complication of measles and
occurs months to years after an attack of measles? If it is a sequel of
Measles, why it occurs many years later? or may be it is Chronic miasm?! if
it is chronic why we do not have its sign and symptoms as a separate chronic
miasm?esp when we have global vaccination with MMR?

Let me tell a story:
I had a patient with IHD, all his sign and symptoms has been begun after a
"fright". At first I thought "Fright " has activated his underlying miasms
but I couldn't find anything, therefore I decided to give him Aconite 1m and
at my surprise it cured him marvelously, I was wonder that if "Fright" can
not induce a chronic state solely therefore why my patient had IHD? or if
Fright has activated Chronic maisms, why Aconite could cure him solely. May
be it is said that Aconite is anti psoric, but Hahneman himself has not put
it in his antipsoric remedy classification.

Hence, How can we classify diseases as an acute or chronic merely based on
their nature? )))))))
Hahnemann definition of chronic diseases is also by the nature of the
disease state not the time a patient suffers. For example, a venereal
disease like syphilis is chronic and life lasting from the first day one
acquires it. It is the nature of the disease itself. A pseudo-chronic
diseases is one which is dependant on a maintaining cause that keeps up the
disease such as bad diet, emotional stress, etc. If such things are remove
quickly the VF will self correct. If the stressor is not removed in a
reasonable time the patient may move into a never well since condition. So
what you are saying is in terms of time like orthodox medicine but
Hahnemann was classifying acute and chronic diseases by the nature of the
disease itself. Some diseases are acute by nature like a cold and others
are chronic for life like TB.

((((((( How did you conclude that my classification is based on TIME?,
although I am a MD, too, but this does not mean that I am thinking in
Orthodox medicine way. Of course IMO, We can use information of orthodox
medicine in understanding the mechanism action of remedies.! For example, In
conventional medicine, it is believe that many of chronic diseases are due
to Hyperfunction, Hypofucntion or dysfunction of Immune system in response
to external (or internal) stressors. For example in Rheumatic fever, Immune
system attacks Hear, Joints and skin because it thinks erroneously that
Antigens of these organs are the same as antigen of previous streptococcal
infection.
In Homeopathy How do we think? we believe that Streptoccoacal infection has
mistuned the VF and then FV in response to "False stressor" (Exciting cause)
begins to destroy the organs. What is the solution? how can we tell the VF
that these " False stressors" are not the Previous "True Stressor", only by
giving the stressor which is similar to the PREVIOUS TRUE STRESSOR".
As we all know the only way to cure is Simillia simullibus Curenture which
evident too in the above example.But my question is that In ACUTE MIASMS in
which VF is battling with TRUE STRESSOR how the similar remedy can help the
VF?
In Acute Miasms, VF knows its TRUE STRESSOR, Can't we weaken the stressor
(e.g, By giving AB in bacterial Infections !)? if not, I refer you to
Hahnemann's lesser writing in "Cause and prevention of the asiatic cholera".
Here it is:
....In the first stage accordingly, the patient must get, as often as
possible (at least every five minutes) a drop of spirit of camphor (made
with one ounce of camphor to twelve of alcohol), on a lump of sugar or in a
spoonful of water. Some spirit of camphor must be taken in the hollow of the
hand and rubbed into the skin of the arms, legs, and chest of the patient;
he may also get a clyster of half a-pint of warm water, mingled with two
full teaspoonfuls of spirit of camphor, and from time to time some camphor
may be allowed to evaporate on a hot iron, so that if the mouth should be
closed by trismus, and he can swallow nothing, he may draw in enough of
camphor vapour with his breath.......
If Camphor is the similar remedy at the first stage of the disease, why the
patient must rub the camphor to his body?! Didn't Hahnemann want to
disinfect the skin by Camphor? Didn't he want to kill the
tressor? ))))))))

Kind Regards,
Nader

At 11:07 PM 12/25/2005, you wrote:
Hahnemann spoke of individual, sporadic and epidemic acute diseases. Only
the self-limiting epidemic diseases are technically called "acute
miasms. This is what I thought you were speaking about.
Some persons never do recover from acute infections. These are called
never-well-since the acute miasma syndromes. They may have never been well
since an acute miasma like mumps but the microorganism that causes mumps is
not longer present. This sequel may become part of the over all
constitutional condition due to underlying predispositions that are part of
the chronic state. As I said I see no conflict in all this. Vaccinosis is
an artificial man-made condition from which a person my never been well
since not a natural condition. That this can upset the constitution is well
known.
Miasms by Hahnemann's definition are the effects of prior infections.
Fright is NOT a miasm. The patient was simply never well since fright.
Fright is psychological cause based on trauma. In such cases the *ailments
from* rubrics often work well. That is not an "acute miasma" by the
Hahnemann's definition. That Aconite works on remote fright is a well known
characteristic. These are all never-well-since syndromes.
This was Hahnemann's major classification related to acute and chronic
miasms. That was the original area you asked about i.e. "acute miasms". In
acute and chronic diseases of all types I would say that it is a
combination of the nature of the disease and the time factor.
What you were pointing out included time factors so I just pointed out the
nature the disease factor. IMO, both are relative and must be assessed. I
have no qualms about using good information from any source. I think your
training as an MD are very valuable.
Yes, we agree that similars cure similars.
You have pick one exception out 100s examples that follow the general
rules. In most cases of acute miasms (acute infections) we give internal
remedies in potency. When one gives Belladonna 200c in an acute throat
infection the remedy does not "kill" the bacteria by poisoning it by
itself. The remedy stimulates the immune and lymphatic system to destroy
the organisms. A potentized remedy does not "kill" microorganisms without
the aid of increased resistance by the vital force through the organism's
system of mass defense. Put the 200c alone in a test tube with the bacteria
and it will do nothing.

Camphor Q and cholera may be a different question. This method,
however, had no effect in the later stages. Here Hahnemann suggested
potentized Cuprum and Verat-a in potency. Certainly Cuprum 30c does not
kill the cholera without the aid of the vital force through the immune
system, etc. Put the 30c remedy in a petrie dish with the germs an nothing
happens. The defensive systems of human organism is part of the healing
process.

Anyway, I have stated my opinions as you have, so if there is no ground
breaking information I don't really have much more to say. Sorry if I added
nothing useful for you. All the best and keep up the good work.

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

Seasonal Greetings!

It would be interesting to see when Hn actually wrote the bits about
applying camphor on to the skin.
In general in the Organon '6' he advises against skin applications when an
internal remedy has been given. So could one of the historians advise the
date of this Lesser wring pls.
Rgds
Soroush

On the other hand in aphorism 285 (6th organon) Hahnemann talks about rubbing in externally on the back, arms and extremities "the same medicine he gives internally and which showed itself curatively." I haven't heard of anyone who rubs in remedies but am starting to check out the method. Hahnemann goes on to say in the same aphorism "he must avoid parts subject to pain or spasm or skin eruption".
Regards,
Vera

Finrod wrote:
Seasonal Greetings!

It would be interesting to see when Hn actually wrote the bits about
applying camphor on to the skin.
In general in the Organon '6' he advises against skin applications when an
internal remedy has been given. So could one of the historians advise the
date of this Lesser wring pls.
Rgds
Soroush