Temperaments

chapter 20, the principles and art of cure by homoeopathy
H A Roberts

1. Chapter XX Temperaments Principles and art of cure by homoeopathy By H A Roberts Dr Ananthakrishnan

2. Definition Psycho – physical personality peculiar to an individual, influencing his metabolic process, manner of thought and action can be termed as temperament of that particular person.

3. There are 4 classical temperaments – Nervous, bilious, sanguine, phlegmatic Sometimes we find it difficult to identify the temperament of a patient – being a combination of several basic types. Temperaments concentrates more on physiology Also includes functional tendencies of circulation, elimination, respiration, and mental and emotional tendencies in reaction to environment and circumstance.

4. Temperaments are cast in very beginning of the new individual, happens when the parent cells 1 st unite. During that time no medicines can bring a change in the initial tendencies. But homoeopathically indicated similimum can modify physiological tendencies in babes and children to a considerable degree The morbific influences attracted by temperamental tendencies can be removed by homoeopathic similimum

5. Homoeopathic prescriptions may go wrong if the temperaments are not taken in to consideration properly. Phlegmatic type is essentially sluggish in reaction, we expect venous stasis(marked for phlegmatic). This stands opposite to sanguinous . Nervous temperament – indicates quick action Bilious – liver disorders.

6. Many physicians make snap judgements that a patient is Puls or Nux vom , Phos Thus becomes a half – truth. The best provers of Nux vom were wiry dark men. This means that, the natural physical makeup of certain people predisposing them to certain reactions under certain circumstances makes them particularly susceptible to certain disease influences whether natural or artificial.

7. Temperaments as a cast in beginning of existence predisposes to develop certain morbific reaction if not controlled. If we study closer we can identify that persons of certain temperaments are prone to certain affections. And we can manage them homoeopathically through exact similimum . When a person become ill, he manifests symptoms as a reaction of his inner and outer conditions. The susceptibility will be varied too

8. Indications during proving Bell has shown marked reaction in florid, phlegmatic temperament Phos developed many symptoms in nervous bilious temp Baryta reacts more in dwarfed, stunted or backward individual Nux vom reacts more on nervous temp

9. As equilibrium gets disturbed – susceptibility increases – remedy indicated can bring cure Various remedies brought different symptoms in different teperaments . Phos – spare, narrow chested individuals – tubercular syndrome Phos – rotund, florid individuals – vascular symptoms Phos acts on all kinds of persons and bring cure when indicated

10. Phos – spare, narrow chested individuals For them phos acts better. But physical make up alone cannot be depended. If its exact similimum it works well Colouring alone cannot be considered for remedy selection, All nux vom men are not dark, all puls women are not blonde Symptomatology, disposition, and modalities can lead us to exact similimum , not only the physical properties

11. Faintness < class room, >open air indicates puls more than fair skin and blue eyes. Case – hay fever – remedies nux & puls , patient was red haired, tall, vigorous which are not the indications of puls and nux . On detailed case taking patient narrated that she cries when thoroughly angered. Thus Nux was given and case was a success. When a remedy is indicated symptomatically then confirm the remedy without considering the colour or type.

12. Prescribing only on the basis of temperaments is just a keynote prescription. That can mislead the patient since whole symptom picture is left behind Homoeopathic remedy selection must be based on sum total of symptoms of mind, body and spirit. The colour and type cannot lead us to the exact similimum . Single indicated remedy alone is sufficient to bring cure.