30C's - Primary and Secondary Actions
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:37 pm
Dear students and colleagues,
Hahnemann speaks in detail about the different actions of opposites
and similars in the Organon aphorism in 52 to 70. There is really some very
interesting material in these paragraphs and I suggest everyone reads it.
(For many of us, all over again). They also explain primary and secondary
actions to different medical powers and show how homoeopathic remedies
cure. These discussions have direct ramifications on posology and case
management strategies. I will explain a few of these later in my discourse.
In this regard I would like to offer some complementary data from the
Preface to the 4 Volume of the Chronic Diseases. This quote offers a model
of how homoeopathic remedies cure.
"But if we physicians are able to present and oppose to the instinctive
vital force its morbific enemy, as it were magnified through the action of
the homoeopathic medicines - even if it should be enlarge every time only
by a little - it in this way the image of the medicine foe be magnified to
the apprehension of the vital principle thorough Homoeopathic medicine,
which, in a delusive manner, simulate the original disease, we gradually
cause and compel the instinctive vital force to increase its energies by
degrees, and to increases them more and more, and at last to such a degree,
that it becomes far more powerful than the original disease. The
consequence of this is, that the vital force again become sovereign in it
domain, can again hold and direct the reins of sanitary progress, while the
appeared increase of the disease caused by the homeopathic medicine
disappears of itself as soon as we, seeing the preponderance of the
restored vial force, i.e., of the restored health, cease to use these
remedies."
"The fund or fundamental essence of the spiritual vital principle,
imparted by the Creator, is incredibly great, if we physicians understand
how to maintain it integrity in the days of health, by directing men to a
healthy mode of living, and how to invoke and augment it in diseases by
purely homoeopathic treatment."
Samuel Hahnemann
I find several statement in this quote worthy of contemplation. This
includes the quotes about "magnifying the *image* of the disease to the
*apprehension* of the vital principle", thus "simulating" the original
disease in a delusive manner. This simulation of the original disease in a
delusive manner is a role of primary action of the remedy. It compels the
vital force to "increase its energy in degrees", which is an aspect of the
healing secondary action. One often sees that after giving a remedy there
is an increase in vitality and sense of well being. As this energetic force
becomes more and more strong it becomes more "powerful than the original
disease". The idea of increasing the vital energy in "degrees" also
provides some insights into the use of the medicinal solution and divided
doses and how they work on the "Fund". It is interesting to note that
Hahnemann clearly says that homoeopathic remedies have the power to "invoke
and augment" the fundamental essence, the Wesen (Gr. esse, nature, being),
which is the source of the vital principle.
As we know the mistuning of the vital force by a dynamic stressor is
the proximate cause of disease. This causes a derangement in vital
sensation and function that lead to pathological changes in tissues, organs
and systems. The confused vital force become so identified with the disease
that the organism's own nervous secretions, pro and anti inflammatory
hormones and immune products are responsible for much of the tissue damage.
The idea of magnifying the "image" of disease to the "apprehension" of
the vital force implies that their is a transfer of data about the true
nature of the disease so that the VF can disassociated itself with the
disease and perceive exactly what it needs to remove! At the same time, the
remedial power "invokes and augments" the energy of vital principle, which
is the dynamic aspect of the Fundamental Esse. This offers an interesting
glimpse into the powers of the primary action of the remedy and secondary
actions of the vital force.
When the remedy, dose, potency and application are perfect one does not
see the primary action. There is only a rapid restoration of the health
with restored vitality. There is no excessive primary or secondary actions
as witnessed in allopathy. The role of the primary action is too replace
the sensation of the natural disease with a transient medical disease which
simulates the image of original disorder in a delusive manner to the
perception of the vital principle and thus "invoke and augment" the
Fundamental Esse.
Too much primary action produces a similar aggravation, which shows
that the remedy is correct but the size of the dose is too large, or the
potency is too high, or the remedy was given when it was not needed or any
combination of these factors. If the size of the dose, the potency and/or
the repetitions of the remedy are very excessive it runs the risk of cause
what Hahnemann called an "antagonistic secondary action of the vital
force". These types of reactions can be easily avoid if one uses the
minimum instead of maxim dose, is prudent with potency, and does not
repeated the remedy unnecessarily.
During an excessive primary action the secondary action is repressed.
If the primary action is much too strong and runs for far too long it will
consume vitality and reduce the potential energy of the secondary action of
the vital force. That is why one sees so little healing action after a
prolonged aggravation. For this reason, one must adjust the dose, potency
and application of the remedy carefully in accordance to the sensitivity of
the patient, the nature and stage of the disease, and the action of the
medicine. This discussion is not only theoretical as it has direct
ramification on posology and case management concerns.
There is more to said about these subjects but this is all I have time
for today.
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
Hahnemann speaks in detail about the different actions of opposites
and similars in the Organon aphorism in 52 to 70. There is really some very
interesting material in these paragraphs and I suggest everyone reads it.
(For many of us, all over again). They also explain primary and secondary
actions to different medical powers and show how homoeopathic remedies
cure. These discussions have direct ramifications on posology and case
management strategies. I will explain a few of these later in my discourse.
In this regard I would like to offer some complementary data from the
Preface to the 4 Volume of the Chronic Diseases. This quote offers a model
of how homoeopathic remedies cure.
"But if we physicians are able to present and oppose to the instinctive
vital force its morbific enemy, as it were magnified through the action of
the homoeopathic medicines - even if it should be enlarge every time only
by a little - it in this way the image of the medicine foe be magnified to
the apprehension of the vital principle thorough Homoeopathic medicine,
which, in a delusive manner, simulate the original disease, we gradually
cause and compel the instinctive vital force to increase its energies by
degrees, and to increases them more and more, and at last to such a degree,
that it becomes far more powerful than the original disease. The
consequence of this is, that the vital force again become sovereign in it
domain, can again hold and direct the reins of sanitary progress, while the
appeared increase of the disease caused by the homeopathic medicine
disappears of itself as soon as we, seeing the preponderance of the
restored vial force, i.e., of the restored health, cease to use these
remedies."
"The fund or fundamental essence of the spiritual vital principle,
imparted by the Creator, is incredibly great, if we physicians understand
how to maintain it integrity in the days of health, by directing men to a
healthy mode of living, and how to invoke and augment it in diseases by
purely homoeopathic treatment."
Samuel Hahnemann
I find several statement in this quote worthy of contemplation. This
includes the quotes about "magnifying the *image* of the disease to the
*apprehension* of the vital principle", thus "simulating" the original
disease in a delusive manner. This simulation of the original disease in a
delusive manner is a role of primary action of the remedy. It compels the
vital force to "increase its energy in degrees", which is an aspect of the
healing secondary action. One often sees that after giving a remedy there
is an increase in vitality and sense of well being. As this energetic force
becomes more and more strong it becomes more "powerful than the original
disease". The idea of increasing the vital energy in "degrees" also
provides some insights into the use of the medicinal solution and divided
doses and how they work on the "Fund". It is interesting to note that
Hahnemann clearly says that homoeopathic remedies have the power to "invoke
and augment" the fundamental essence, the Wesen (Gr. esse, nature, being),
which is the source of the vital principle.
As we know the mistuning of the vital force by a dynamic stressor is
the proximate cause of disease. This causes a derangement in vital
sensation and function that lead to pathological changes in tissues, organs
and systems. The confused vital force become so identified with the disease
that the organism's own nervous secretions, pro and anti inflammatory
hormones and immune products are responsible for much of the tissue damage.
The idea of magnifying the "image" of disease to the "apprehension" of
the vital force implies that their is a transfer of data about the true
nature of the disease so that the VF can disassociated itself with the
disease and perceive exactly what it needs to remove! At the same time, the
remedial power "invokes and augments" the energy of vital principle, which
is the dynamic aspect of the Fundamental Esse. This offers an interesting
glimpse into the powers of the primary action of the remedy and secondary
actions of the vital force.
When the remedy, dose, potency and application are perfect one does not
see the primary action. There is only a rapid restoration of the health
with restored vitality. There is no excessive primary or secondary actions
as witnessed in allopathy. The role of the primary action is too replace
the sensation of the natural disease with a transient medical disease which
simulates the image of original disorder in a delusive manner to the
perception of the vital principle and thus "invoke and augment" the
Fundamental Esse.
Too much primary action produces a similar aggravation, which shows
that the remedy is correct but the size of the dose is too large, or the
potency is too high, or the remedy was given when it was not needed or any
combination of these factors. If the size of the dose, the potency and/or
the repetitions of the remedy are very excessive it runs the risk of cause
what Hahnemann called an "antagonistic secondary action of the vital
force". These types of reactions can be easily avoid if one uses the
minimum instead of maxim dose, is prudent with potency, and does not
repeated the remedy unnecessarily.
During an excessive primary action the secondary action is repressed.
If the primary action is much too strong and runs for far too long it will
consume vitality and reduce the potential energy of the secondary action of
the vital force. That is why one sees so little healing action after a
prolonged aggravation. For this reason, one must adjust the dose, potency
and application of the remedy carefully in accordance to the sensitivity of
the patient, the nature and stage of the disease, and the action of the
medicine. This discussion is not only theoretical as it has direct
ramification on posology and case management concerns.
There is more to said about these subjects but this is all I have time
for today.
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