Dr. Rajesh Shah, Bombay
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Background:
In the last 200 years the science of homoeopathy has witnessed
and withstood numerous ups and downs, criticism and growth,
failures and successes. It has withstood change due to
socioeconomic factors, political factors, external factors, as
well as change due to internal ( within the homoeopathic
fraternity ) factors. It has withstood the ultimate test of time.
The period from the late nineteenth century to the early
twentieth century has seen the influence of American homoeopaths
notably Hering, Kent, and Allen .The latter part of the twentieth
century has seen the resurgence of classical homoeopathy with the
dominating influence of Vithoulkas, Tyler, Weir and Shepherd in
the west and Bose, Sarkar and Dhawale in the east. India has
always played a substantial role by absorbing developments from
all over the world and passing the benefits to the masses.
Changing Trend:
With the rejuvenation of classical homoeopathy in Europe (Post
Vithoulkas era) a large number of young homoeopaths took to
active practice . Similarly India also saw an influx of young
practitioners in the profession. (As proof, most practitioners
are in their mid-thirties in India). A requirement for the growth
of any science is the infusion of young blood. It is for this
reason that the youth deserve the credit for the upsurge of
homoeopathy among the laity.
Youth, Ambition, Haste...
The last two decades have seen the dominance of youth in
homoeopathy the world over. A characteristic of the youth is that
they boldly pursue new ideas and are not hampered by convention.
In homoeopathy, too, the young practitioners have advocated
several new or even radical approaches. Some of these
approaches, particularly those related to case analysis, have
been widely accepted by the fraternity. This acceptance has
spurred some homoeopaths into adopting new untried (inadequately
experimented) techniques in a hasty manner.
From Innovation to Speculation:
Some of the radical approaches that have been too hastily
adopted, have created confusion in the fraternity. This is
because these techniques are not as successful as their
propagators claim. For example, dream analysis. According to this
new approach the patients' dreams have to be evaluated to get a
feel of the patient and thereby selecting a remedy that will fit
the similimum. The traditional approach is to select the remedy
under a particular dream or to select a remedy which causes the
dream. The new approach rejects the traditional approach and says
that each dream has to be evaluated for its significance and
based on this a remedy should be proposed. Now a dream is highly
subjective and each dream can be interpreted in 10 different ways
by 10 different practitioners. This approach has crossed the
boundary from innovation to, speculation. An examination of any
scientific journal will show that a lot of homoeopathic case
studies involve speculation. The scientific foundations of
homoeopathy are in danger of being corroded by speculation.
Any science is founded on bedrock theories. All theories start as
speculation. The speculation is subjected to experimentation,
criticism, alteration and even outright rejection. It is only
when the speculation has stood the test of time, it is accepted
as a theory.
Time to come-back:
The end of the second century requires that the homoeopathic
community be alert and go back to its roots. The basis of
prescription, as Hahnemann propounded, should be only drug
proving: the simple matching of the patient's history and
symptoms, to the drug proving data. Innovation and imagination
are very much needed for progress but they should not result in
the scrapping of reality.
Hard-Core Prescription
What is Hard Core prescription? It is nothing but prescription
based on hard facts. This is not a new theory. An examination of
case studies in journals will show that in most case studies the
prescription is based on totality interpretation. The totality is
based on an abstract interpretation of the dreams, symbols,
illusions, etc. The case prescription is based on interpretation
which makes for a very soft and flexible core. This is because
different practitioners can interprete the case in different ways
and thereby propose different prescriptions.
In hard core prescribing the core of the case is hard and rigid.
Most importantly the core of the case is not subject to loose
interpretation. The core consists of well defined facts such as
patient's dreams, thermal states, mental state, modalities,
concomitants, dislikes, pathology, sleep pattern etc. These are
hard data and are not subject to misinterpretation. The patient's
symptomatology should match with the drug proving data. The
advantage with hard core is that no part of the case handling is
subject to the practitioner's interpretation or imagination.
Whoever be the practitioner the hard core of the case will allow
all practitioners to reach the same prescription.
Some case illustrations of hard-core prescriptions:
Case-1:
Mrs. K.S. a 75 year old lady was bedridden for 5 months. She had
an open wound ( six inches long and two and a half inches wide
and 2-3 inches deep) on the left gluteal region . This wound was
a result of hip joint surgery ( for fracture of the head of the
femur ) . Since the lady was a diabetic the wound refused to heal
in spite of two surgeries. The patient had chronic suppuration of
the wound and profuse pustular discharge requiring daily cleaning
and dressing under the supervision of an orthopedic. She had
febrile episodes every week ( more at night) along with frequent
urinary tract infection. Her urine samples showed more than 400
pus cell in each report.
The failure of higher generation drugs had made the patient turn
to homoeopathy even though her family and the orthopedic were
skeptical of the chances of recovery. The homoeopath carefully
studied the patient and made video recordings.
Life-Study:
The old lady was the second wife of a rich industrialist who had
expired about 10 years back. He had 4 sons and a well
established family business. The lady was strong willed and had
seen many ups and downs. Now she was seeing the sons gamble away
all their father's riches. From living like a queen the lady was
forced to live with a step - daughter in a lower middle class
house.
Hard-Core totality:
1) Non-healing abscess
2) Suppuration, chronic infection
3) Diabetes,Disposition
4) Nightly fever
5) Frequent urinary tract infection
6) Sweat, offensive and staining
7) Dreams of robbers, falling, fire, anger
8) Strong-will, obstinacy, despair
9) Thermal factors: sensitive to heat and cold
10) Desire: milk, sweets, bread, salt
11) Weeping, mild, anxious
These hard core facts are solid indicators. Solid indicators are
those that will be accepted by any homoeopath without any
controversy.
Treatment and response:
The lady was prescribed Mercury Solubus in 200 potency to be
taken twice a day for 6 weeks and then in 1m potency twice a day
for another 6 weeks. In the first 6 weeks the purulent discharge
reduced considerably and the febrile episodes reduced to twice in
6 weeks. She had acute urinary infection for which she was
prescribed some doses of Cantharis - 30. The subsequent urinary
reports were clear. At the end of 4 months the patient had fully
recovered and was mobile. For the skeptical doctor and family ,
this was a revelation.
Case-2 :
13 year old Monti Rati , from a lower middle class Punjabi
family, was brought on 24.10/94 for the treatment of
malabsorption syndrome. He had had this since he was 5-6 years
old. Extensive investigation could not reveal any particular
aetiology. The boy had frequent ( 10-15) stools, semi solid to
watery, which were offensive with flatus ,painless and without
mucus, blood or worms. He would defecate after every meal or
drink,however small. He failed to put on weight and was a
constant 33 kgs for two years.
The Other Symptoms:
Increased appetite and thirst with no marked likes and dislikes
for food. Ambithermal with warm palms. Profuse sweating ,non
staining. Slept well on back with no significant dreams.
Mental state :
Poor at studies, irritated at trifles, very timid
fearful, obstinate, self willed and hot tempered. Mischievous.
When angry beat his brother and sister, got beaten by young
children while playing, wept easily when scolded by mother or
teacher. Could not answer in class. Fond of spending money on
kites balls, bat etc.
Totality:
Anger, beating
Timidity, cowardice
Weeping, shy
Poor at studies, memory, concentration
Increased appetite, thirst, sweat
Malabsorption-bowel disorder
Lean, thin, ill-nourished
Stool: frequent, semisolid, after eating and drinking.
Treatment and follow-up:
The hard data suggested his constitutional remedy to be
Lycopodium which was administered in 200 potency ,administered in
one single dose on 27/10/94.
A month later:
His bowel frequency gradually reduced from 10-15 times to 2 times
per day and was well formed. His excessive appetite was reduced
to normalcy. His frequent headaches stopped. He put on 1 kg.
weight.
After 10 months:
He was reported to be having no gastro-intestinal ailment for the
last 6 months. He maintained good health, and his body weight was
37 kg. His treatment was terminated.
Summary:
Hard Core prescription is the need of the hour in order to :
i) Expect consistent results ii) instill confidence in the young
homoeopathic generation iii) prove and maintain scientificity of
the fundamental principle iv) make it practicable by every
average practitioner v) generate mass public acceptance.
Editor: Homoeopathy Times
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Write to: rajesh@classicalhomoeopathy.com
