It would seem that you are suggesting that a lot of homeopaths predict the
outcome of each and every case, purely from the 'style' of their case taking
and managment. Not me - I like to think that each and every case speaks for
itself and requires equally individual approach and/or attention. What
exactly is your individual point here?? Regards Joy Lucas
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layered cases
-
David Little
- Posts: 407
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2001 11:00 pm
Re: layered cases
Hello Minutus,
The layer concept originated with Hahnemann in aphorism 38 of the
Organon of Healing. Please read it. The first homoeopath to use the term
"layer" was James Kent while referring to Hering's laws and removal of
dissimilar diseases. This may seem surprising considering that many
Neo-Kentian homoeopaths speak strongly against layers. In aphorism 38
Hahnemann explains that a stronger new dissimilar disease will suspend the
older dissimilar disease until it runs it course (if acute) or is cured by
homoeopathy (if chronic). Layers exist but it does not mean that every
"layer" needs a different remedy. A deep acting simillimum has the power to
remove several layers as the reversal of symptoms proceeds. There are also
advanced pathological conditions that sometimes require a few well chosen
remedies to complete the cure. Here the remedies act as complements. If one
has to give new remedies every few days, weeks, or months something is wrong.
Chronic diseases take a long time to develop and are not subject to
rapid changes unless there is crisis. When one gives a true simillimum it
should act in several different potencies over a long period of time
without changes of symptoms. When one gives a partial simillimum it will
improve the case in one area and produce new accessory symptoms in other
areas. If the remedy is close enough to the essential characteristics of
the case these accessory symptoms will be removed by the vital force and
the cure will proceed. If the partial simillimum it too far from the center
of the case the accessory symptoms will increase while the therapeutic
action of the remedy fades. This will change the natural symptom pattern
calling for a new remedy. This leads to "zig-zag prescribing" where the
cure is not a straight forward path.
There are those who are calling these accessory symptoms layers, new
diseases, or a crisis and giving new remedies for each change in the
natural symptom pattern. They rarely give a remedy that can be repeated in
several different potencies over a longer period to time. The chronic state
changes faster than is natural to a chronic state because the new state is
a mixture of medicinal symptoms and the old natural diseases. They need to
change remedies often because they are not giving a true simillimum in the
first place. This can be time consuming and counter productive in the long
run.
An experienced homoeopath can use one or two remedies over a longer
period while those who are new or not well trained might have to give
three, four, five or more remedies in the same time period. If the remedies
are close enough to the center that they do not cause obstructive accessory
symptoms the case has zig-zagged to cure with honors. The process may not
be as rapid or as gentle as it is when better remedies are chosen but they
will reach the goal of a permanent cure. Those that give many, many
remedies in one year are often like the preverbal dog chasing its own tail.
They are treating the side actions of their own remedies in the name of
layers, new states, crises, etc.. There is a simple rule in
homoeopathy: Less remedies - better prescriptions - More remedies - worse
prescriptions. I can always tell how well I understand a case by how many
remedies I have given the patient.
Now this said, there are layers of dissimilar diseases and there are
times when one must understand these layers and act accordingly. There are
true acute disorders, miasms and traumas that repress the constitutional
symptoms. There are also one-sided states and pathological crises that
represses the constitutional symptoms. At these times one can not (an
should not) give a grand constitutional remedy. This is more common in
heavy one-sided organic pathology and mixed miasms when vital organ are
compromised. Here the cure is not a straight forward event. One may have to
work in layers as the case progresses. Once the symptoms reverse to the
formerly repressed constitutional expression the worst is over. This is all
part of homoeopathic pathology found in the Organon and the Chronic
Diseases. The key is too be flexible and open and act according to time and
circumstances.
To think every case must be treated in layers is as narrow minded as to
think that there is no such thing as layers. The idea is to take a good
case history and recognize how the time-line of a complex state has
developed in layers. Then one gives the most complete remedy possible
depending on the circumstances and follows the case with an open mind. If
one remedy completes the cure - wonderful. If it takes a few complementary
remedies to complete the cure - wonderful. If one has to give many remedies
it is time to worry. Too many partial simillimums change the natural
symptoms pattern and can muddle the case. Remember, the minimal dose,
minimal changes, and minimal intervention are signs of true simillimums.
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
The layer concept originated with Hahnemann in aphorism 38 of the
Organon of Healing. Please read it. The first homoeopath to use the term
"layer" was James Kent while referring to Hering's laws and removal of
dissimilar diseases. This may seem surprising considering that many
Neo-Kentian homoeopaths speak strongly against layers. In aphorism 38
Hahnemann explains that a stronger new dissimilar disease will suspend the
older dissimilar disease until it runs it course (if acute) or is cured by
homoeopathy (if chronic). Layers exist but it does not mean that every
"layer" needs a different remedy. A deep acting simillimum has the power to
remove several layers as the reversal of symptoms proceeds. There are also
advanced pathological conditions that sometimes require a few well chosen
remedies to complete the cure. Here the remedies act as complements. If one
has to give new remedies every few days, weeks, or months something is wrong.
Chronic diseases take a long time to develop and are not subject to
rapid changes unless there is crisis. When one gives a true simillimum it
should act in several different potencies over a long period of time
without changes of symptoms. When one gives a partial simillimum it will
improve the case in one area and produce new accessory symptoms in other
areas. If the remedy is close enough to the essential characteristics of
the case these accessory symptoms will be removed by the vital force and
the cure will proceed. If the partial simillimum it too far from the center
of the case the accessory symptoms will increase while the therapeutic
action of the remedy fades. This will change the natural symptom pattern
calling for a new remedy. This leads to "zig-zag prescribing" where the
cure is not a straight forward path.
There are those who are calling these accessory symptoms layers, new
diseases, or a crisis and giving new remedies for each change in the
natural symptom pattern. They rarely give a remedy that can be repeated in
several different potencies over a longer period to time. The chronic state
changes faster than is natural to a chronic state because the new state is
a mixture of medicinal symptoms and the old natural diseases. They need to
change remedies often because they are not giving a true simillimum in the
first place. This can be time consuming and counter productive in the long
run.
An experienced homoeopath can use one or two remedies over a longer
period while those who are new or not well trained might have to give
three, four, five or more remedies in the same time period. If the remedies
are close enough to the center that they do not cause obstructive accessory
symptoms the case has zig-zagged to cure with honors. The process may not
be as rapid or as gentle as it is when better remedies are chosen but they
will reach the goal of a permanent cure. Those that give many, many
remedies in one year are often like the preverbal dog chasing its own tail.
They are treating the side actions of their own remedies in the name of
layers, new states, crises, etc.. There is a simple rule in
homoeopathy: Less remedies - better prescriptions - More remedies - worse
prescriptions. I can always tell how well I understand a case by how many
remedies I have given the patient.
Now this said, there are layers of dissimilar diseases and there are
times when one must understand these layers and act accordingly. There are
true acute disorders, miasms and traumas that repress the constitutional
symptoms. There are also one-sided states and pathological crises that
represses the constitutional symptoms. At these times one can not (an
should not) give a grand constitutional remedy. This is more common in
heavy one-sided organic pathology and mixed miasms when vital organ are
compromised. Here the cure is not a straight forward event. One may have to
work in layers as the case progresses. Once the symptoms reverse to the
formerly repressed constitutional expression the worst is over. This is all
part of homoeopathic pathology found in the Organon and the Chronic
Diseases. The key is too be flexible and open and act according to time and
circumstances.
To think every case must be treated in layers is as narrow minded as to
think that there is no such thing as layers. The idea is to take a good
case history and recognize how the time-line of a complex state has
developed in layers. Then one gives the most complete remedy possible
depending on the circumstances and follows the case with an open mind. If
one remedy completes the cure - wonderful. If it takes a few complementary
remedies to complete the cure - wonderful. If one has to give many remedies
it is time to worry. Too many partial simillimums change the natural
symptoms pattern and can muddle the case. Remember, the minimal dose,
minimal changes, and minimal intervention are signs of true simillimums.
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