ENDOCRINOLOGY AND HOMOEOPATHY: A Defence of Section 153 and 213 of the Organon
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:36 pm
A study of endocrinology would help us to justify the reasons for the above two sections for curing a patient gently, quickly and permanently.
Metabolism means the sum total of physical and chemical changes taking place in the living human body. The entire metabolism is governed by the secretions of endocrine glands.
Endocrine glands do not receive blood supply from our body. Blood vessels are not connected to endocrine glands as in the case of other organs like liver, lung, etc.
The secretions of endocrine glands are spilled around and get mixed with blood and reach several organs for controlling and regulating various functions of the body.
Since the entire metabolism is governed by secretion of endorcrine glands, to cure a patient in toto without side-effects and quickly, gently and permanently we must a priori treat the endocrine glands.
Treatment of endocrine gland by direct means is not at all possible for the following reasons:
1. The quantity secreted by each endocrine gland is less than a drop throughout the lifetime of an individual.
2. You cannot treat each gland individually because each gland is not independent but all of them are inter-dependent. Thus, they are called "endocrine family" or "endocrine orchestra."
3. Endocrine glands are highly individualised. For example, the ratio between the quantity secreted by various endocrine glands is in the ratio of 1:5:4:7 in one patient with cancer. This ratio would be found in another individual while he is having jaundice. Again, in the third lady this ratio would be found while she is pregnant. Assuming that you are going to treat the glands, to treat a person, you must a priori have measured the ratio while that patient was in healthy state so that you can take him to that level. This is not at all possible.
We have said that endocrine glands are highly individualised. There is constant change in the balancing of the ratio of secretions between each gland, during various illness of stages of life. If the ration is 1:2:5:7 in a person with jaundice, it may be, say, 2:1:6:9 while he is having cancer.
Thus treatment of endocrine glands is not at all possible. But we have a shortcut.
Nature's ways are always short. (axiom of philosophy)
All symptoms that are not common to a disease, otherwise called "uncommon-rare-strange-peculiar" must necessarily belong to endocrine glands because the ratio of quantity of quantity of secretions by different endocrine glands also are not uniform to all individuals. This is something rare-strange-peculiar. Humans are highly individualised.
On the one hand we have "rare-strange..." symptoms in the patient. On the other hand the ratio of quantity of secretions between different endocrine glands in different individuals are not uniform. It is something rare-strange-peculiar.
Thus, when we prescribe on "uncommon-rare..." we are indirectly tackling endocrine glands.
We have said in the previous chapter that apart from "uncommon-rare..." remedy is selected on `mind' and `general' symptoms. Let us justify these two also.
There cannot be diseases of body separate and distinct from diseases of mind. There is a two-way of relationship between mind and body through the endocrine glands. You cause constant irritation of mind to a person and soon he gets peptic ulcer. Also, you create peptic ulcer in a patient by wrong food habits, lifestyle etc. and he would soon develop irritation of mind.
When mind is affected simultaneously it is reflected in the body and vice versa.
Thus, when we prescribe on `uncommon mind symptoms' we, in turn, treat the endocrine glands.
Now coming to `general symptoms'. General symptoms are those which do not belong to a particular part of body but affect the person as a whole. You cannot attribute them to any part of body. e.g., aversion to bathing; diseases of blood; color and consistency of discharge; nerves; muscle; skin; because these run throughout the body. So also symptoms of sleep, dreams. (For a list of generals see page 51 to 55 of Bulletin No.1). Endocrine glands control the entire metabolism. General symptoms also belong to the person as a whole. Therefore, when we prescribe on `general symptoms' we are taking care of endocrine glands.
————
MIND SYMPTOMS—UNCOMMON SYMPTOMS—CLASSICAL OR HAHNEMANNIAN HOMOEO-PATHY—Section 213 and 153 of the Organon
Most homoeopaths are being lured by `mind symptoms' in practice.
In Section 153 of the Organon Dr. Hahnemann advises that we must consider `rare-strange-peculiar, uncommon' symptoms and in S. 213 he continues that without selecting a remedy on `mind' symptoms a cure is not possible
When S. 153 is read with S. 213 we get the following:
"rare-strange-peculiar, uncommon mind symptoms."
Mind symptoms not at all related to the pathology of a disease (that the patient is suffering from) are `uncommon.' Actual treated cases alone can illustrate `mind' symptoms. [Mind symptoms as listed out in the repertories may not be told by the patient.]
Case 6: A chronic renal failure patient came to me with a few relatives, all of whom were allopathic doctors. Those doctors showed me the file containing the diagnostic and other papers of the patient. After this, one by one, the relatives went out.
The patient was still sitting. He said, "Doctor, my sons say that I am sick and so I should not ride bicycle, go out and do our business work. They say they will do everything and ask me to sit at home taking rest. As my children, they should only tell me that I am all right and that I would recover soon. But instead of encouraging me for speedy recovery they have branded me a permanent and incurable patient."
The reader may note here that in most cases the `uncommon' symptoms (on which we can make a prescription) is told by the patient at the end of the consultation, or, in some cases, after you have made the prescription!)
This patient feels that his sons, instead of encouraging, are letting him down. What one requires from his or her sons and relatives is not money or help but moral support. The patient feels that this is completely missing in his case.
This symptom we find in two remedies. They are
"… a feeling of moral deficiency…" – Kali brom.
(See Lilienthal, page 698 and 702)
We are quoting this not as a case report but it is an actual case to illustrate how to translate the words of the patient into a mind symptom.
The `uncommon mind symptom' may, in most cases, be one only. In the above renal failure case, the above quoted two symptoms cannot be classified in any existing rubrics in the repertory. Homoeo software would be of utter failure. The practitioner must memorise the symptom of the above two remedies and keep it in his finger tips. Homoeopathic practice is not a mechanical work but it is artistic. Therefore homoeo software would but be a mockery.
To illustrate this point, let us examine more cases; in the following two cases, only one "uncommon" mind symptom was present and the reader, after studying the three cases, would at once agree that with computer and homoeo software he cannot do anything to find the similimum.
Case 7: A lady of 55, school teacher, was under my treatment for three months for sinusitis with little relief. She lives thirteen kilometers away from my clinic and she works in a school which is less than one kilometer from my clinic. Before going to the school she would come to me once a month, take medicine and go to school. Seeing no relief in spite of three visits, I told her that a certain acupressure doctor would come and give just 3-minute treatment once only; for this she need not pay any fees and also she would get total relief. Since the acupressure doctor comes to my clinic on Sundays only I asked her to come on a Sunday. To this she replied, … "I have to come all the way… from ... (her place of residence.)
During the last three visits she would come to me in the morning before going to her school which is near my clinic. Sunday is holiday for the school and she feels it an ordeal to come for acupressure treatment all… the… way from her residence thirteen kilometers away.
It is hesitation. I told her no need to pay anything and 100% cure was also assured. Therefore, travelling 13 kilometre cannot be a crime. But to do this she has hesitation. Before we show the reader how we selected the remedy on this symptom let us see the other two cases also.
Case 8: A lady allopathic doctor was learning homoeopathy from me. She consulted for her complaints and got partial relief. Once she said, "Doctor, can you give one-dose treatment for my son? Since birth he is having perennial cold; now he is five years and almost every week he has to take drugs?" I told her that she must bring her son at least once and I would cure him completely. Bringing her son once (and I am not going to charge her since she is my student) is not an ordeal or something immoral. To this she replied, "For this I have to… bring him all the way from my home (which is just twenty kilometers away.)"
For this small thing of bringing the boy once only (and for that he is going to get total relief permanently) she hesitates.
Only if you actually listen to the patient's reply in person you may understand this. Let me explain and elaborate on this.
Suppose you (the reader of this book) are my student and one day I ask you to murder a certain person. What would be your reaction? Immediately you would reply as under:
"Sir, I… have to do…" (The sentence would be incomplete. Because you have hesitation since doing this job pricks your conscience.)
But in the abovesaid two cases for merely travelling 15-20 kilometre they have lot of hesitation as if I am asking them to do some crime or immoral thing. In other words, they are overconscious of a trivial thing. The apt term would be "Conscientious scruples." This symptom is in the remedy Aresenicum album. [See Lilienthal - p.694.]
Let us repeat, that uncommon mind symptom may be in most cases one and the computer-software or `remedy finders' are of no use. To the above sinusitis case one single dose of Arsenicum Album-10M completely cured her.
—————--------
HOW TO TRANSLATE THE WORDS/ACTIONS OF PATIENTS INTO THE RUBRICS OF THE REPERTORY
(This is the only biggest difficulty faced both by the begineer as well as the experienced homoeopathic practitioners.) We are giving below only examples of what the rubric mean in terms of the report of the patients. The practitioner must go through all the rubrics (more particularly in the chapters Mind and Generalities) till he becomes familiar with them.
1. "Doctor, I have come to you as a last resort after finding no cure in the hands of so many doctors. I now entirely rely upon you for the cure of my joint pains…"
2. "Doctor, please cure me somehow. It is my humble request to you. I beg you to cure me." Praying. If a patient uses any one of the above or similar statements go to the rubric "Praying, begging" on (page 22 of Final Repertory of Mind Symptoms)
3. We do occasionally come across a child who would do just the opposite of what the parents tell to do. Go to the rubric "Perverse, refractory…" on page 22. [This symptom we see in actual practice but all other existing repertories do not list this.]
4. Whenever the patient points out more than one spot with his finger tip or points to an area of suffering by placing his palm on or above along that area, go to the rubric "Gesticulating all the time" page 14. (This you will, of course, take only if you do not have other more valuable mind or general symptom in a given case.)
5. A lady of forty-three tells pain in her joints for three years. She uses both her palms and holds it above ankle, knee etc. to show the affected joints. Then telling that the pain is quite drawing, with both of her hands, she brings it from ankle to her knee as if pulling something from below upwards to show me the type of pain. (See GESTURES page ...). This is not so much a valuable symptom but in the absence of more valuable symptoms we may make use of this rubric.
6. A lady of thirty-two is brought by her friend and it is the friend who is describing her complaint. The patient looked indifferent to the treatment. The friend continues, "Doctor, when I ask her to come to you (the doctor) she just does not come. Even if I forcibly take her to a doctor and get medicines for her she won't take them regularly."-Indifference.
7. Let us now listen to a patient: "Doctor, I have so much tiredness. My husband is a heart patient and I used to take care of him by regularly giving the tablet etc. Yesterday he complained of chest pain but it did not occur me to me to give him the tablet required during the chest pain."
In another case the wife of a patient said, "Doctor, my husband is such an indifferent person. Last week my daughter fell down with profuse bleeding on her leg. He was simply watching it and showed no reaction."
In both the above cases it is not indifference because in emergencies no one would be indifferent. This is 'inactivity' of mind.
We read all these remedies in the MATERIA OF MIND SYMPTOMS and under the remedy Opium the following words agree with the above two cases.
…imbecility of will, as if annihilated…
This cannot be included in the repertory. Better we have to memorise it.
The practitioner should know the difference between TORPOR and ABSENTMINDEDNESS. Also DULLNESS and IMBECILITY.
8. During case taking one patient remarked about the corrupt government officials, "Doctor, we must shoot down these corrupt and bribe taking officials."—For this you must go to the rubric Indignation
9. Learn the difference between the rubric "MEN, dread of" and "FEAR of men"
----------------
Metabolism means the sum total of physical and chemical changes taking place in the living human body. The entire metabolism is governed by the secretions of endocrine glands.
Endocrine glands do not receive blood supply from our body. Blood vessels are not connected to endocrine glands as in the case of other organs like liver, lung, etc.
The secretions of endocrine glands are spilled around and get mixed with blood and reach several organs for controlling and regulating various functions of the body.
Since the entire metabolism is governed by secretion of endorcrine glands, to cure a patient in toto without side-effects and quickly, gently and permanently we must a priori treat the endocrine glands.
Treatment of endocrine gland by direct means is not at all possible for the following reasons:
1. The quantity secreted by each endocrine gland is less than a drop throughout the lifetime of an individual.
2. You cannot treat each gland individually because each gland is not independent but all of them are inter-dependent. Thus, they are called "endocrine family" or "endocrine orchestra."
3. Endocrine glands are highly individualised. For example, the ratio between the quantity secreted by various endocrine glands is in the ratio of 1:5:4:7 in one patient with cancer. This ratio would be found in another individual while he is having jaundice. Again, in the third lady this ratio would be found while she is pregnant. Assuming that you are going to treat the glands, to treat a person, you must a priori have measured the ratio while that patient was in healthy state so that you can take him to that level. This is not at all possible.
We have said that endocrine glands are highly individualised. There is constant change in the balancing of the ratio of secretions between each gland, during various illness of stages of life. If the ration is 1:2:5:7 in a person with jaundice, it may be, say, 2:1:6:9 while he is having cancer.
Thus treatment of endocrine glands is not at all possible. But we have a shortcut.
Nature's ways are always short. (axiom of philosophy)
All symptoms that are not common to a disease, otherwise called "uncommon-rare-strange-peculiar" must necessarily belong to endocrine glands because the ratio of quantity of quantity of secretions by different endocrine glands also are not uniform to all individuals. This is something rare-strange-peculiar. Humans are highly individualised.
On the one hand we have "rare-strange..." symptoms in the patient. On the other hand the ratio of quantity of secretions between different endocrine glands in different individuals are not uniform. It is something rare-strange-peculiar.
Thus, when we prescribe on "uncommon-rare..." we are indirectly tackling endocrine glands.
We have said in the previous chapter that apart from "uncommon-rare..." remedy is selected on `mind' and `general' symptoms. Let us justify these two also.
There cannot be diseases of body separate and distinct from diseases of mind. There is a two-way of relationship between mind and body through the endocrine glands. You cause constant irritation of mind to a person and soon he gets peptic ulcer. Also, you create peptic ulcer in a patient by wrong food habits, lifestyle etc. and he would soon develop irritation of mind.
When mind is affected simultaneously it is reflected in the body and vice versa.
Thus, when we prescribe on `uncommon mind symptoms' we, in turn, treat the endocrine glands.
Now coming to `general symptoms'. General symptoms are those which do not belong to a particular part of body but affect the person as a whole. You cannot attribute them to any part of body. e.g., aversion to bathing; diseases of blood; color and consistency of discharge; nerves; muscle; skin; because these run throughout the body. So also symptoms of sleep, dreams. (For a list of generals see page 51 to 55 of Bulletin No.1). Endocrine glands control the entire metabolism. General symptoms also belong to the person as a whole. Therefore, when we prescribe on `general symptoms' we are taking care of endocrine glands.
————
MIND SYMPTOMS—UNCOMMON SYMPTOMS—CLASSICAL OR HAHNEMANNIAN HOMOEO-PATHY—Section 213 and 153 of the Organon
Most homoeopaths are being lured by `mind symptoms' in practice.
In Section 153 of the Organon Dr. Hahnemann advises that we must consider `rare-strange-peculiar, uncommon' symptoms and in S. 213 he continues that without selecting a remedy on `mind' symptoms a cure is not possible
When S. 153 is read with S. 213 we get the following:
"rare-strange-peculiar, uncommon mind symptoms."
Mind symptoms not at all related to the pathology of a disease (that the patient is suffering from) are `uncommon.' Actual treated cases alone can illustrate `mind' symptoms. [Mind symptoms as listed out in the repertories may not be told by the patient.]
Case 6: A chronic renal failure patient came to me with a few relatives, all of whom were allopathic doctors. Those doctors showed me the file containing the diagnostic and other papers of the patient. After this, one by one, the relatives went out.
The patient was still sitting. He said, "Doctor, my sons say that I am sick and so I should not ride bicycle, go out and do our business work. They say they will do everything and ask me to sit at home taking rest. As my children, they should only tell me that I am all right and that I would recover soon. But instead of encouraging me for speedy recovery they have branded me a permanent and incurable patient."
The reader may note here that in most cases the `uncommon' symptoms (on which we can make a prescription) is told by the patient at the end of the consultation, or, in some cases, after you have made the prescription!)
This patient feels that his sons, instead of encouraging, are letting him down. What one requires from his or her sons and relatives is not money or help but moral support. The patient feels that this is completely missing in his case.
This symptom we find in two remedies. They are
"… a feeling of moral deficiency…" – Kali brom.
(See Lilienthal, page 698 and 702)
We are quoting this not as a case report but it is an actual case to illustrate how to translate the words of the patient into a mind symptom.
The `uncommon mind symptom' may, in most cases, be one only. In the above renal failure case, the above quoted two symptoms cannot be classified in any existing rubrics in the repertory. Homoeo software would be of utter failure. The practitioner must memorise the symptom of the above two remedies and keep it in his finger tips. Homoeopathic practice is not a mechanical work but it is artistic. Therefore homoeo software would but be a mockery.
To illustrate this point, let us examine more cases; in the following two cases, only one "uncommon" mind symptom was present and the reader, after studying the three cases, would at once agree that with computer and homoeo software he cannot do anything to find the similimum.
Case 7: A lady of 55, school teacher, was under my treatment for three months for sinusitis with little relief. She lives thirteen kilometers away from my clinic and she works in a school which is less than one kilometer from my clinic. Before going to the school she would come to me once a month, take medicine and go to school. Seeing no relief in spite of three visits, I told her that a certain acupressure doctor would come and give just 3-minute treatment once only; for this she need not pay any fees and also she would get total relief. Since the acupressure doctor comes to my clinic on Sundays only I asked her to come on a Sunday. To this she replied, … "I have to come all the way… from ... (her place of residence.)
During the last three visits she would come to me in the morning before going to her school which is near my clinic. Sunday is holiday for the school and she feels it an ordeal to come for acupressure treatment all… the… way from her residence thirteen kilometers away.
It is hesitation. I told her no need to pay anything and 100% cure was also assured. Therefore, travelling 13 kilometre cannot be a crime. But to do this she has hesitation. Before we show the reader how we selected the remedy on this symptom let us see the other two cases also.
Case 8: A lady allopathic doctor was learning homoeopathy from me. She consulted for her complaints and got partial relief. Once she said, "Doctor, can you give one-dose treatment for my son? Since birth he is having perennial cold; now he is five years and almost every week he has to take drugs?" I told her that she must bring her son at least once and I would cure him completely. Bringing her son once (and I am not going to charge her since she is my student) is not an ordeal or something immoral. To this she replied, "For this I have to… bring him all the way from my home (which is just twenty kilometers away.)"
For this small thing of bringing the boy once only (and for that he is going to get total relief permanently) she hesitates.
Only if you actually listen to the patient's reply in person you may understand this. Let me explain and elaborate on this.
Suppose you (the reader of this book) are my student and one day I ask you to murder a certain person. What would be your reaction? Immediately you would reply as under:
"Sir, I… have to do…" (The sentence would be incomplete. Because you have hesitation since doing this job pricks your conscience.)
But in the abovesaid two cases for merely travelling 15-20 kilometre they have lot of hesitation as if I am asking them to do some crime or immoral thing. In other words, they are overconscious of a trivial thing. The apt term would be "Conscientious scruples." This symptom is in the remedy Aresenicum album. [See Lilienthal - p.694.]
Let us repeat, that uncommon mind symptom may be in most cases one and the computer-software or `remedy finders' are of no use. To the above sinusitis case one single dose of Arsenicum Album-10M completely cured her.
—————--------
HOW TO TRANSLATE THE WORDS/ACTIONS OF PATIENTS INTO THE RUBRICS OF THE REPERTORY
(This is the only biggest difficulty faced both by the begineer as well as the experienced homoeopathic practitioners.) We are giving below only examples of what the rubric mean in terms of the report of the patients. The practitioner must go through all the rubrics (more particularly in the chapters Mind and Generalities) till he becomes familiar with them.
1. "Doctor, I have come to you as a last resort after finding no cure in the hands of so many doctors. I now entirely rely upon you for the cure of my joint pains…"
2. "Doctor, please cure me somehow. It is my humble request to you. I beg you to cure me." Praying. If a patient uses any one of the above or similar statements go to the rubric "Praying, begging" on (page 22 of Final Repertory of Mind Symptoms)
3. We do occasionally come across a child who would do just the opposite of what the parents tell to do. Go to the rubric "Perverse, refractory…" on page 22. [This symptom we see in actual practice but all other existing repertories do not list this.]
4. Whenever the patient points out more than one spot with his finger tip or points to an area of suffering by placing his palm on or above along that area, go to the rubric "Gesticulating all the time" page 14. (This you will, of course, take only if you do not have other more valuable mind or general symptom in a given case.)
5. A lady of forty-three tells pain in her joints for three years. She uses both her palms and holds it above ankle, knee etc. to show the affected joints. Then telling that the pain is quite drawing, with both of her hands, she brings it from ankle to her knee as if pulling something from below upwards to show me the type of pain. (See GESTURES page ...). This is not so much a valuable symptom but in the absence of more valuable symptoms we may make use of this rubric.
6. A lady of thirty-two is brought by her friend and it is the friend who is describing her complaint. The patient looked indifferent to the treatment. The friend continues, "Doctor, when I ask her to come to you (the doctor) she just does not come. Even if I forcibly take her to a doctor and get medicines for her she won't take them regularly."-Indifference.
7. Let us now listen to a patient: "Doctor, I have so much tiredness. My husband is a heart patient and I used to take care of him by regularly giving the tablet etc. Yesterday he complained of chest pain but it did not occur me to me to give him the tablet required during the chest pain."
In another case the wife of a patient said, "Doctor, my husband is such an indifferent person. Last week my daughter fell down with profuse bleeding on her leg. He was simply watching it and showed no reaction."
In both the above cases it is not indifference because in emergencies no one would be indifferent. This is 'inactivity' of mind.
We read all these remedies in the MATERIA OF MIND SYMPTOMS and under the remedy Opium the following words agree with the above two cases.
…imbecility of will, as if annihilated…
This cannot be included in the repertory. Better we have to memorise it.
The practitioner should know the difference between TORPOR and ABSENTMINDEDNESS. Also DULLNESS and IMBECILITY.
8. During case taking one patient remarked about the corrupt government officials, "Doctor, we must shoot down these corrupt and bribe taking officials."—For this you must go to the rubric Indignation
9. Learn the difference between the rubric "MEN, dread of" and "FEAR of men"
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