Concept of homoeopathic materia medica

Materia Medica is a Latin medical term
for the body of collected knowledge
about the therapeutic properties of
any substance(drug) used for healing with their sources, preparations, doses and use.

1. STUDY OF MATERIA MEDICA DR SAROJ SAWANT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR HMM DEPARTMENT HHMC NIMSHIRGAON

2. OBJECTIVES To learn how to read, understand & give meaning to the data given in the source books of MM Learn the process of building the portrait of a drug in its chronic dimension through a combined study of source books and commentaries Know how to handle the vast clinical data and subject it to analysis and synthesis according to time-tested principles

3. OBJECTIVES Learn to erect the Totality of a case. Learn to match the portrait of the patient with that of the image constructed through a study of the source books and commentaries. Learn the process of differentiation between closely coming remedies. Learn the process of building the acute totality of a patient and of the drug in the Materia Medica .

4. INTRODUCTION TO MATERIA MEDICA “MASS OF SYMPTOMS” NO CONNECTIONS. “MEMORISING” “NO UNDERSTANDING” “NO KNOWLEDGE”

5. Materia Medica is a Latin medical term for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance(drug) used for healing with their sources, preparations, doses and use. 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 5

6. Materia Medica (a Latin medical term) Literally means: Medical matters or Materials of Medicine / Drug or Therapeutic Properties of Drug 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 6

7. Homoeopathic Materia Medica : The Record book of the effects of drugs on human beings Homoeopathic Materia Medica is based on the principles of “Drug Proving; {105-145} Albrecht von Haller (1708-77) suggested that medicines should be proved on human beings

8. DRUG Drugs are living, vibrating personalities each full of specific energy and capable of influencing life in all the three planes viz. Physical, Mental & Spiritual. Each drug performs a specific type of work of a specific degree. DEFINITIONS MEDICINE When a drug is applied for healing purpose, then it is called as medicine . REMEDY When a medicine is prescribed for a disease condition on a principle, and found to cure, then the medicine becomes a remedy of that particular disease/illness. 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 8

9. MATERIA MEDICA All systems of medicine based on drug therapies have their own Materia Medica. Each of the systems has its own varied principles and laws with regard to mode of preparation, administration(dose) and application. 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 9

10. TITLES OF THE SUBJECT ‘MATERIA MEDICA’ IN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE The prevailing systems of drug therapies and their ‘Materia Medica’ viz Allopathy : Pharmacology. Ayurveda : Dravya Guna . Siddha : Guna Padam . Homoeopathy: Materia Medica. 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 10

11. PRINCIPLES BASING THE FORMATION OF ‘MATERIA MEDICA’ IN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE Pharmacology - based on Physico Chemical Properties of the drug substances. Dravya Guna – based on Thridosha Sidhanda ( Vatha , Pitha & Kapha ). Guna Padam - based on Mucheer Amaippu ( Vatham , Pitham , Silatumam ). Materia Medica – based on dynamic properties of drugs applied on Law of Similars . 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 11

12. SOURCE : The point of origin or The thing from which something originates 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 12 EVOLUTION: The Process of gradual development or Growth or process of evolving

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14. Source & Evolution of Materia Medica of a Drug in Homoeopathy Dynamic properties of a drug are elicited through proving mainly on Healthy Human Beings . Experimentation on Animals and Plants. Observations of cases of Poisoning(accidental, homicidal, suicidal and over dosing). Symptoms (cautiously admitted) observed in the sick after the administration of drug through Clinical proving,Clinical verification and confirmation of cured symptoms. The knowledge with regard to Habitat, Empirical & Traditional uses, Medical & Non- medical uses, Doctrine of signature, Physico -chemical & Toxical properties of the drug substance will also contribute many valuable factors for proving, symptomatology and drug relationship . 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 14

15. 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 15 HABITAT : (Where it is found naturally growing / living) The animals and plants acquire certain properties by virtue of the soil and climate wherein they flourish. This knwoledge serves to contribute to valid symptomatology. Eg:- (1 ) Arnica Montana grows on mountains – it is a unique remedy both for the exertion and after effects of mountain climbing – as also for the injuries sustained by climbers from falls. (2) Aconite grows in dry soil and its symptoms are worse in dry weather. (3) The Belladonna grows in Calcarea soil and hence close relationship between Bell and Calcarea .

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17. The discovery of Homeopathy dates back to the year 1790 and its credit goes to Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician and scholar. Cullen, a professor of medicine at London University had written 20 pages of materia medica describing the medicinal effects of a certain Peruvian bark (cinchona) in his paper.

18. Dr. Hahnemann was translating Cullen’s materia medica from English to German. He came across a statement that cinchona cures intermittent fever because of its bitter and astringent properties and was dissatisfied with this explanation because there are many bitter substances which do not produce intermittent fever like cinchona. As a young doctor, he was curious to know the action of cinchona. So, Dr. Hahnemann decided to take cinchona in the form of medicine everyday and consumed four drams of cinchona twice a day. To his astonishment, he experienced the same medicinal effects of cinchona as described by Cullen. Thus, a medicinal substance was being taken, or drug proving on humans was done – for the first time in medicine.

19. From 1790 to 1796, for six long years, Dr. Hahnemann repeated such experiments on himself, healthy individuals and fellow doctors. In every experiment, he found the same result and that, ‘medicines cure diseases because they produce similar diseases in healthy individuals’ or ‘like cures like’. So in 1796, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann put forward these findings in a popular journal during that time, ‘An Essay on New Principle for ascertaining the Curative Powers of Drugs and Some Examinations of Previous Principles’ .  He published this newly found doctrine of cure i.e. Similia Similibus Curentur or ‘like cures like’. These findings were published in Hufeland’s Journal vol. II , parts 3 and 4. 

20.  Dr. Hahnemann wasn’t the first to state the law of similars or like cures like. In fact, the founder of modern medicine, Hippocrates was the first person to mention this law. But Dr. Hahnemann was the first to apply this law to therapeutics & medicine and develop a new science of medical treatment – ‘Homoeopathy’, as we know today. Thus, cinchona bark was to Dr. Hahnemann just as the pendulum was to Galileo and the falling apple was to Sir Isaac Newton .

21. Interestingly, Dr. Hahnemann also coined the term ‘ allopathy ’, a very popular system of treatment, which means ‘treatment by opposites ’. 

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23. STRENGTH OF HOMOEOPATHY From the one medicine proved by Hahnemann in 1790 , the No. of drugs added to the treasure of Homoeopathy has reached now almost about 4500.But the Govt: of India has acknowledged only 2300 drugs in its list of Pharmacopoeia. Hahnemann published the 1 st book in Materia Medica containing only 27 drugs with limited symptoms in 1805. It is understood that there after, thousands of books in various languages viz, Latin, German, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Indian languages have already come out in print. Homoeopathy has sent its roots deep into the soil of about 90 countries all over the world. In true appreciation of this fact , the WHO has recognize Homoeopathy as 2 nd largest system of medicine in the world . Viewed in this respect it has to be said to the credit of Homoeopathy that it can be poised as a significant system of medicine capable of vying with other systems of medicine 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 23

24. Sources & Evolution of Homoeopathic Materia Medica- A Flash-back… It is rather enthusing to enlist the emergence of Homoeopathic Materia Medica through a flash-back 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 24

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26. 1805 - CFS Hahnemann – F. D. V. M. P. - 27 drugs Source Books of Homoeopathic Materia Medica 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 26 1811 – 1821 CFSH- Materia Medica Pura 1 st Edn. – 64 drugs 1822 – 1827 CFSH- Materia Medica Pura 2 nd Edn.- 67drugs 1830 – 1833 CFSH - Materia Medica Pura 3 rd Edn. - 67 drugs 1828 – 1830 CFSH- Chronic Diseases 1 st Edn. – 22 drugs 1835 – 1839 - CFSH - Chronic Diseases 2 st Edn. – 48 drugs 1867 R. Hughes - Manual of Pharmacodynamics - 301 drugs 1874 - 1879 T. F. Allen– Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica (10 vol.) - 716 drugs 1891 C. Hering - The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica - 410 drugs 1886 R. Hughes - A Cyclopedia of Drug Pathogenesy (4 vol.) - 275 drugs 1884 - C. Hering - CONDENSED MATERIA MEDICA - 410 drugs

27. CARNINAL PRINCIPLES The cardinal principles are 7 in number; they give Homeopathic system of medicine its scientific footing and establishment.

28. 1- LAW OF SIMILARS Similia Similibus curentur or like cures like: Homeopathy (Gr. homoeos = similar, pathos = suffering) is a scientific system of medicine based on the law of similars , iS similia similibus curentur or ‘symptom-similarity’.

29. 2- LAW OF SIMPLEX Law of simplex or single remedies: The law of simplex or single remedies is the 2nd cardinal principal OF Homoeopathy. Dr. Hahnemann during his time proved crude substances known as ‘drugs’ on himself and he insists only one, single, medicine is to be prescribed to the patient at a time.

30. 3- LAW OF MINIMUM DOSE Law of minimum dose: This law states that the single remedy to be given should be given in the least potency and repetition. Minimum dose is that dose which is just required to evoke a reaction in the patient. It is that quantity which is just sufficient to produce a gentle remedial effect and medicinal relief.

31. 4-DOCTRINE OF DRUG PROVING Doctrine of Drug Proving: Dr. Hahnemann proved 99 drugs and recorded their proving in Materia Medica Pura (volumes 6). The first volume was published in 1811 and last expanded was published in 1827. It consists of proving or ‘symptoms’ written by Dr. Hahnemann in his own words, and they have been documented as they appeared during the day. Drug proving is the systemic investigation of pathogenetic powers of a drug/medicine on healthy human beings of different ages, both sexes, under all climatic conditions, at all times in all medicinal potencies.

32. 5- DOCTRINE OF CHRONIC DISEASES Doctrine of Chronic Diseases: Dr. Hahnemann after practicing Homoeopathy for 12 years, observed that inspite of prescribing correct medicines to his patients; the patient complained of…… partial relief , no relief, mixed pattern of relief and recurrence of symptoms

33. THEOTY OF MIASMS The three single miasms are- Psora (the itch, real cause of all type of chronic diseases), Sycosis (the gonorrhoeal , venereal fig-wart disease characterised by warts) Syphilis (venereal chancre disease, characterised by ulceration).

34. 6-DOCTRINE OF VITAL FORCE Doctrine of Vital Force: Homoeopathy advocates the presence of an invisible power iS vital force present in all human beings and when this force becomes disturbed or deranged due to various causative factors, man becomes sick or diseased. Thus, homoeopathy states the importance of mind + body + spirit (vital force) in medicine .

35. 7- DOCTRINE OF DRUG DYNAMIZATION Doctrine of Drug Dynamization : This theory is also known as doctrine of drug potentization . The potentization process is found only in homoeopathy and remedial properties which are latent, hidden in drug substances become awakened and are developed into activity. It is by this process that inert crude medicinal powers exert their cure on the deranged vital force.

36. STALWARTS WHO FOUNDED HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 36 C.F.S.HAHNEMANN BOENNINGNHAUSSEN C. HERING R. HUGHUES T .F. ALLEN

37. 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 37 STALWARTS WHO DEVELOPED HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA J.T. KENT W. BOERICKE H.C .ALLEN C.M. BOGER BORLAND.D C.DUNHAM J.H.CLARK R.E. DUDGEON

38. STALWARTS WHO DEVELOPED HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 38 C.J.HEMPEL COWPERTHWEITE E.B NASH E.A.FARRINGTON E.M.HALE C.G.C.HARTLAUB LIPPE J.E.STAFF

39. STALWARTS WHO DEVELOPED HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 39 N.M.CHOUDARY JULIAN. O. A RAUE. C. G TAFEL MOHR C G QUIN FREDERIK H

40. Stalwarts’ ordeals FOR THE CAUSE OF HOMOEOPATHY It is thus clear that what an ordeal the stalwarts had to undergo in evolving Materia Medica to the present level which exemplifies their most dedicated life for the cause of Homoeopathy. 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 40 2012

41. 2012 Dr Saroj R Sawant 41 THANK YOU ALL