Scope and limitations of Materia Medica .pdf

For homeopathic students

1. žPresented by:
žDr.B.S.JEENSTUD
MD Part 1 MATERIA MEDICA
White Memorial Homeo Medical
college
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2. žHomeopathic MATERIA MEDICA is a
record book of the effects of drug on
human being.
žThis is store houseof every action and
reaction of drug.
žHomeopathic MateriaMedicais
constructed differently as compared
to other MateriaMedicas. Homeopathy
considers the study of the action of
drugs on individual parts or systems of
the body or on animal or their
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3. Isolated organs,onlya partial study of life
processes under such action and that it
does not lead us to full appreciation of the
action of medicinal agent.
žEssential and complete knowledge of the
drug experiments on healthy persons and
this alone make it possible to view all the
scattered data in relation too
psychosomatic whole of the person to
whom the knowledge of drug action is to
be applied.in this way the homeopathic
materiamedicaprovides the great scope
in the field of medicine.
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4. žMateriaMedicais a book contain
systemic records of the medicinal
substances.
žHomeopathic MateriaMedicais the
collection of systemic records of
Homeopathic remedies which are
provide on healthy human being of
both sexes and different ages.
žHomeopathic MateriaMedic is an
encyclopediaof the therapeutic
properties of medicinal substances.
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5. žThere are many Homeopathic MateriaMedicawhich are written and organisedin different styles.Since, MateriaMedicadetailed information regarding a Homeopathic drugs,itis nessasaryand important to study each and every medicine in a systemic way so that we can retain as much information as possible.
žEverybody has different style of studying MateriaMedica.Onecommon method is to memorisethe key mental and physical general symtomsalong with the characteristic physical symptoms.
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6. žEvery science has scope and
limitations . Scope and limitations of
MateriaMedicahelp the Homeopathic
physicians to be more confident while
prescribing.
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7. qThe construction of Homeopathic materiamedicais different as compared to materiamedicaof other system of medicine( chinese, ayurvedic,allopathic,siddhaetc)
qAs mentioned in various aphorisms of ORGANON OF MEDICINE , the rationality of Homeopathic materiamedicaand his accuracy is beyond any doubt.
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8. qEssential and complete knowledge
of the drug action can be obtained
only by qualitative synoptic
experiments on healthy human
being.
qThis can make it possible to vie all
scattered data in relation to
psychosomatic as a whole person .In
this way Homeopathic materia
medicaprovides great scope of
medicine.
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9. 1.HOLISTIC APPROACH :
qWHO Define as Health is a Physical ,
Mental and Social Well being in which
disease and infirmity are absent . Like
wise Homeopathic treatment all so
consider physical mental and social
factor, rather than just the symptoms of
disease . This approach also found in the
Homeopathic MateriaMedica.
qIn Homeopathy we approach the
treatment of any diseases .
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10. Weevaluate the organ/system in its totality ,
and try to understand its inner cause, at the
level of immunology , harmones,genetics ,
metabolic etc. and plan treatment in such a
way that disease is addressed at root level ,
treating the related cause.
qFor example , a middle age person coming to
the physician suffering from various diseases
like depression , indifference , diabetes ,
impotency , tiredness of entire body etc.
Will be dealt as having different diseases by
mordernallopathic medicine and be dealt by
different physicians like psychiatrist ,
cardiologist,endocrinologistetc.
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11. žBut considering homeopathic view
point and seeing proving symptoms
of acid phos, it is observed that all
the symptoms belong to this drug
and all the symptoms camesin
above sequence of occurrancein
proving of phosphoric acid is
prescribed,itbrings effective cure.
Such advantage only available in
homeopathic materiamedica.
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12. 2.PROVING ON HUMAN
BEING(HYGANTHRO
PHARMACHOLOGY):
qHomeopathic mateiamedicahas
been constructed on the symptoms
which are recorded by proving the
drugs on healthy human being (aph
108) of different ages ,both sexes
and at different places ,the exact
sensation ,location ,modality and
concomitants are recorded . This
type of proving is not found in other
systems of medicines.
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13. qHahnemann mentioned this on aphorism
no.106-146 sixth edition of organonof
medicine
qHuman drug proving mentioned before
hahnemannby ALBRETCH VON HALLER(1708-
1777).He is the father of mordernphysiology
& a Anatomist.
qExperimented by stork(1750-60) /alexander
(1768)
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14. 3.COLLECTION OF SUBJECTIVE SYMPTOMS:
qSubjective symptoms are those symptoms which
are felt by the patient.
qHomeopathic MATERIA MEDICA is filled with
such symptoms after proving on healthy
humans.
qThis helps while attending the cases in clinics
because patient usually narrate their subjective
symtoms.
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15. qIn allopathy, drugs are proved up
on lower animals , thus, only
objective symptoms are obtained.
qSubjective symptoms are those
which are felt by the patient
himself.
qThey are considered during the
treatment of the patient because
they are found during proving .
while receiving a case , the patient
usually narrates his subjective
symtoms.
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16. 4.MIASMS :
Miasmatic evaluation of
homeopathic drugs can be studied
with the help of materiamedica.
Miasmsare nothing but the
classification according to the
disease.
due to vast collection of
proved clinical records , homeopathic
materiamedicacomes handy in order
to evaluate the underlying miasmatic
background.
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17. 5.Relation and Accuracy of symptoms:
As mentioned in the aphorism
no 106,143,144 & 145 of Organonof
medicine ,the accuracy and
rationality of Homeopathic materia
medicais beyond any doubt than
authenticity of symptoms of
Homeopathic materiamedicais
perfect , as the symtomsare
extracted from human pathogenetic
trial.
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18. 6.ACCURACYANDRATIONALITYOF
SYMPTOMS:
qAllthesymptomsineachmateriamedica
Areactuallyprovedonhealthyhuman
beingsofbothsexesanddifferentages.
qEvensomeofthemateriamedicaare
recordedwithoutmodificationinprovers
sensation(subjectivesymptoms)
qTheyarewritteninwordsofproversalon
withdate,time,name,age,sex,doses
anddurationofexperiments.
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19. qEven the sequence of the appearance of
symptoms are maintained
qSo authenticity of the symptoms of
homeopathic materiamedicais precise.
7.VERIFIED AND CONFIRMED SYMPTOMS:
qThough Homeopathic materiamedicaare
filled with the symptoms healthy provers,
they are written only after the confirmation
by reproving and verification on sick
individuals.
qThis means medicine are used on sick
individuals,ifthey got cured by proved
medicine only then it is cosideredto be
verified.
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20. Crude drug disease Confirmation of
Substance =like = the action of
+ Symptoms drug substance
Healthy human on human
Individual Being
Cononfirmeddrug
Substance
+ =cure = Proved &
Patient having verified
Same disease like Medicine
Symptoms
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21. 8.RELATIONSHIP OF DRUGS :
Relationship between various
drugs can be ascertained with the
help of materiamedica.
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22. 9.PROPHYLAXIS:
Prophylactic drugs can be
selected by determining the
temperament , diathesis and
disposition of a person through the
materiamedica.
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23. 10.CASE TAKING :
qHomeopathic materiamedicais stable and
not supposed to change . It helps to
formulate the questions at the time of case
taking.
qHomeopathic case taking requirements
explain in aphorism no 83-103 in organonof
medicine.
qDue to wide variety of subjective symptoms
and modalities of the symptoms , we can
collect most accurate symptoms from the
patients.
qBecause we can formulate the questions
with the knowledge of extended variety of
symptoms.
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24. 11.SYMPTOMS OF HOMEOPATHIC
MAATERIA MEDICA ARE VERIFIED AND
CONFIRMED:
Symptoms are confirmed by
reproving and are verified on sick
individual.
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25. 12.SYMPTOMS SIMILARITY:
homeopathic drugs are applied
on the patient, on the basis of
symptoms similarity.Homeopathic
Basic law is SIMILIA SILILIBUS
CURANTUR . As per the law of
individualization no two humans are
alike . All so susceptibility differ from
person to person.
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26. 13.LARGE NUMBER OF DRUG:
qAccording to the latest information the
number has just reached 8661.Of this figure
there are a total of 6107 remedies which have
provings.
qThe Homeopathic materiamedicacomprises of
large number of remedies for the physician to
determine or select the correct similimumfor
the disease condition. Such type of scope of the
materiamedicais not found in the other
system of medicine.
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27. 14.LARGE NUMEBER OF SYMPTOMS:
We get large number of
symtomsduring drug proving . Which
can be applied on sick individuals in
different disease conditions.
15.PATHOGENESIS:
Without knowing the
pathogenesis of drug substance and
its effects up on healthy human
beings , is it not rational to apply it
on human beings for curative purpose.
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28. žPathogenesis means the study of biological mechanism which leads to the state of disease.
žDrug pathogenesis means development of diseased symptoms by drug.
žWithout the knowledge of the effect of drug substances on healthy human beings,itis not logical to prescribe it up on diseased human beings for curative purposes.
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29. 16.PREVENTION AND CURE OF ANY EPIDEMIC AT
THE VERY ONSET:
Many epidemic like chickungunya
,flu , conjunctivitis etcwere controlled at the
time of hahnemannand there after because of
GENUS EPIDEMICUS(ap102 footnote ,147 & 241
of organonof medicine )
Hahnemann never used the phrase
genus epidemicus. but in aphorism 102
footenote,147 & 241 he says about
homeopathic (specific) remedy. Kent also says
that in an epidemic one may find half a dozen
remedies seems to be the best suited for
prophylaxis and this may differ from the
curative one.
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30. 17.CHOICE OF DRUG:
There are many deep
acting remedies in homeopathic
materiamedicawith a broad sphere
of action .Hence there is no problem
in choosing the similimum. The
materiamedicahas large number of
drugs with many symptoms. So it is
possible to find a similimumwithout
any problem.
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31. 18.ORGANIC CHANGES :
Drugs are used to cure the
structural changed before
irreversible pathology is established.
During drug proving , the drug
withdrawn before any organic changes
take place . The altered
symptomatology is purely functional.
Hence, Homeopathy is useful for
treatment before any pathological
changes can take place.
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32. 19.THE FRAME WORK OF MATERIA MEDICA STRONLY INDICATES ITS PURPOSE FOR COMPARISON WITH DISEASE SYMTOMS:
qThe Homoeopathic MateriaMedicaof Hahnemann is an enduring monument to the genius of its author, original in its conception and design and unique in its form and contents, constructed on accurately observed facts. When the drug symptoms recorded in the Homoeopathic MateriaMedicaare seen to be exact counterparts of the symptoms of disease, and it is explained that medicines cure disease by virtue of thissimilarity of symptoms,the reason for the existence of the MateriaMedicain its characteristic form is evident..
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33. qAdopting the plan of arranging the drug
symptoms observed, according to the anatomical
parts and regions of the body in which they
occurred, is the most rational and simple
method of classification for the purpose of
comparison with disease symptoms, which
Hahnemann constructed and published, first in
the ‘MateriaMedicaPura’, and later in ‘The
Chronic Diseases’, the greater part of which is
composed of proving of drugs. The arrangement
of symptoms according to an anatomical scheme
is for the purpose of comparing the symptoms of drugs, as observed on healthy provers, with the
symptoms of disease. Given the basic principle
and its corollaries, the rest is merely a matter of
mastering thelogical classification and
interpretation of symptoms and the use of the
manuals, indexes and repertories provided.
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34. 20.SCOPE OF HOMEOPATHIC MATERIA
MEDICA IN PRACTICE OF MEDICINE:
qIn §3 of Organonof Medicine, Dr.
Hahnemann said in order to be a true
practitioner of the healing art, a physician
must:
qClearly realize what is to be cured in disease,
in each case of disease.
qClearly realize what is curative in medicines,
qAnd be aware of how to adapt what is
curative in the medicine to what has
discerned to be undoubtedly diseased in the
patient.
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35. qHenceforth, In Organonof Medicine, §4,Dr. Hahnemann said, “He is likewise a preserver of health if he knows the things that derange health and cause disease, and how to remove themfrom persons in health.” That is, the physician must know the obstacles to recovery in each case and be aware of how to clear them so that health can be restored.
qIn cases where a pathology has been formed, our duty is to pause with surgery, if there is a totality of symptoms, or even if there are no current symptoms present but the patient can remember them. This will allow the homeopath to recognize the original totality of symptoms of the case, and in these cases the job of the true homeopath is always to find the chronic remedy first. The case is not hopeless as the symptom totality is the only condition for the choice of the indicated remedy according to theLaw of Similar.The elimination of all perceptible signs and symptoms means the removal of the inner modifications of the vital force which underlie them and thereby destruction of the whole disease, and when disease is destroyed health is restored.
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36. 21.INDIVIDUALIZE BY DIFFERENTIATING
THE CHARACTERESTIC SYMTOMS FROM
SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE:
MateriaMedicais full of symptoms deduced and
written from various angles and aims at effective
treatment of disease with strictindividualizationof
the case according to its own type. All patients
though suffering from same type of disease but the
causation, mode, severity, structural involvement
differs from patient to patient, depending upon
which their approach to treatment varies.
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37. qDr. Adolph Lippesaid “In many cases, the
characteristic symptoms will consist in the result
obtained by deducting all the symptoms generally
pertainingto the diseasewith which the patient
suffers, from those elicited by a thorough
examinationof the case. In other words,the
characteristic symptoms are the symptoms
peculiar to the individual patient, rather than
the symptoms common to the disease.He
illustrated this by a case, as follows: “The
patient was attacked by cholera.All the
characteristic symptoms of cholera were present;
but in this individual case there was (1) an
unusual noise in the intestines, as if a fluid were
being emptied out of a bottle, (2) The discharge
came awaywith a gush.
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38. qOf what pathological value these symptoms were, we may not know. Still they formed part of the totality which we must cover. Deducting from the (numerical) totality of the symptoms those common to the disease, we were in possession of the characteristic symptoms of the patient. Those two symptoms are also characteristic ofJatrophaCurcas, and that this remedy, at the same time, has caused symptoms corresponding with the general pathological condition. Jatrophapromptly cured the case.3
qIt illustrates the necessity of being familiar with the natural history, symptomatology and diagnosis of disease.Dr. Lippecould not have decided that these two symptoms were peculiar and characteristic if he had been unfamiliar with the symptoms of cholera. Neither could he have selected these two symptoms as peculiar if he had not had the rest of the symptoms before him for comparison.
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39. qNo system is complete and
homeopathy is of no exception.
qAs we have discussed utilities of
homeopathic materiamedica,there
are some limitations too.
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40. 1.NO PROVING RECORDS OF
PATHOLOICAL CHANGES:
qDuring drug proving , the drugs were
withdrawn before any pathological
or organic changes took place.
qThe altered symptomatology
recorded are purely functional.
qSo proving records for pathological
changes are not found in
homeopathic materiamedica.
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41. qBut very often many homeopathic
physcianscome across the advanced
pathological cases like irritable
bowel syndrome , Tumours,
hemiplegia etc. and get positive
results of cure by homeopathic
remedies.
qThe pathological symptoms are
collected from clinical practice after
being cured or from poisoning cases
only. No proving of dynamic drugs
with an intention to get pathological
symptoms.
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42. 2.LACK OF SYMTOMS PROVED ON
FEMALE :
qDue to smaller number of female
volunteers at the time OF
HAHNEMANN,Symptoms collection
from female proversis
comparatively less.
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43. 3.LACK OF RELIABILITY IN PROVINGS:
qMany proverswho voluntarily
participated in homeopathic drug
proving were non medical person.
qSo, sometimes it is possible that
important symptoms may get
neglected by proversunknowingly.
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44. 4.VAST NUMBER OF DRUG SYMTOMS:
A human brain can not remember
all the symptoms of homeopathic
remedy as the number of symptoms in
the materiamedicaare very vast.
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45. 5.LACK OF OBJECTIVE SYMPTOMS :
qHomeopathic materiamedicais filled with the subjective symptoms.
qObjective symptoms are those which can be perceived by others than the patient such as pallor, rapidness of pulse rtc.
qObjectivsympptomscan be evident for the disease diagnosis.
qHOMEOPATHIC materiamedicado not have an extensive range of objective symptoms.
qEven till date there is no provision in homeopathy to have regular proving on lower animals.
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46. 6.ACUTE EMERGENCY :
There is very limited scope for
Homeopathic drugs in acute emergency
cases like congestive cardiac failure ,
shock, accidental cases etc.
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47. 7.LIMITATIONS FOR SURGICAL CASES:
qThere are no dependable homeopathic
specific medicines for anaesthesia,pre
operative or post operative changes etc
available.
qSo, homeopathy has very little scope in
the field of surgery , anaesthesia,drug
induced abortion etc.
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48. 8.NO COMPLETE HOMEOPATHIC
MATERIA MEDICA:
There is no materiamedicawhich we
can claim to be complete and
contains all the information.
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49. 9.SENSATION:
During homeopathic drug proving ,
sensation holds an important place.
For example , sensation of pain is
described using words like tearing,
tingling ,aching , boring etc. But
practically in many cases, the
patients rarely represent the
sensation in words.
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50. 10.PARTIALY PROVED REMEDIES:
qMany homeopathic medicines in
materiamedicaare proved partially
which are known as rare remedies.
qUtilization of them is difficult due to
lack of verified records.
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51. 11.IMPERFECT MATERIA MEDICA :
There are hundreds of venomous
snaked and thousands of scorpions ,
but only few have been properly
proven.
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52. It is evident that there is a very thin line of
demarcation between the scope of
homeopathy and its limitations .The
physician may very well understand the
scope and limitations of homeopathy, but
each physician must also be governed by his
own individual judgment and the
circumstances of the case. Hence ,there
will always be differences of opinion
between individual physicians under such
circumstances
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