The Technique of Finding the Simillimum
This time we intended focusing readers attention on the technique of arriving at the simillimum in each case. Three pre-requisites in this exercise, are :.
- To develop the ability to elicit all the relevant (individualising, characteristic) symptoms of the patient,. .
- To know the peculiar individualising symptoms of remedies (mental and physical generals) and.
- the ability to identify the remedy whose "genius" or strong, guiding "pathogenetic effect" is a counterpart of the peculiar symptoms of the patient. Unless all these three aspects of the endeavour are practised to work in unison, the results are bound to be indifferent. It is needless to state that all the three aspects are not exclusive, but are mutually supporting (synergetic). Skill in one aspect contributes to the skillful performance in the other two aspects.
Knowledge of the materia medica, or in the same token, of the various Rubrics of Mind, Generals, and Particulars, help the practitioner to elicit the most relevant and characteristic symptoms of the patient in the first two aspects and to co-relate them (third aspect). This knowledge also enables him to "take all important aspects of the case". This ability creates an impression on the patient that he is in proper hands, that the doctor is knowledgeable and painstaking. Lack of knowledge, especially of the vast number of the rubrics results in noting down of pointless "symptoms" and the patient gets the feeling of the "inadequacy" of the doctor. The advantage of creating a good "first impression" is that even if the first prescription may not be a "hit", the patient will not get easily disappointed and leave the doctor in disgust.
Let us take a few cases and see how the three aspects are complementary and raise the doctors success potential.
Mr. D, aged 56, complained of having sudden attacks of vertigo with falling since a few years. In fact during one such attack his fall resulted in cerebral haemorrhage, from which fortunately he recovered quickly, though his left side hearing was impaired. Under homoeopathic treatment he was feeling better with no episode of falling. Yet, his fears still persisted, and he felt as if he is being pushed from behind by a gust of wind. He also had fear of downward motion (descending stairs) as well as fear of being alone. Someone had to accompany him to protect him from falling, he felt. I found that on going through the Synthetic Repertory, the three marked rubrics were at pages 500 (fear of falling), 495 (fear of downward motion), 477 (fear of being alone). All these fears were capped by the fear of failure (499). I found that Lac-can was common to these rubrics. As I wanted to make sure that Lac-can was really going to be the simillimum, I asked him about his level of self-confidence. He said spontaneously with a sad, painful gesture that right from his childhood he was not brought up in an encouraging atmosphere. Though he was a bright student, his actual worth was not appreciated, and he was looked down upon (318). The result was that although he passes his Engineering degree with credit, he always had an anxiety whether he will succeed in life (fear of failure). As I had known the peculiar mental symptoms of Lac-can. I had no difficulty in concluding from the patients spontaneous observations, that this is indeed a case of Lac-can. The patient has not needed another dose ( after two doses of the remedy, 1M were given at 12 hourly interval), though over eight months have elapsed. And he keeps on regularly reporting, and has not a single episode of the fear of falling.
ANOTHER CASE :
A girl of seven was brought by her parents at 10.30 night, on the fathers shoulders, with the complaint that she had not taken any food during the past two days, that she was sluggish, drowsy and inspite of Diwali time when children were enjoying the crackers and sweets ( of which she was very fond), she took no interest in them. She looked as if stupefied and listless. I looked at the rubrics "indifferent to pleasure" (p 620), stupefaction (967), and found Opium as the common remedy strongly emerging. As it covered sleepiness also, I referred to Phataks materia medica which graphically described the childs condition, viz. "Fl- acid; wants nothing, says nothing ails him. "There was no history of fright, or any such causation. Opium 10M one dose was given; and the child had very good sleep that night and got up cheerful as usual at 9 am. She took a couple of days to regain her appetite.
CONCLUSION : When we find a remedy that correctly identifies the mental disposition and condition, which also matches with other peculiar physical symptoms, we can be sure of a rapid and long lasting (permanent) cure. The mind and body are two sides of the same coin and you can approach any of these aspects through the other. The more the knowledge of peculiar, outstanding features of remedies (both mental and physical), the easier and accurate will the prescriptions be. Admittedly,it is difficult to remember the detailed symptomatology of even the leading remedies.
Hence, familiarisation with the Rubrics in the repertory, is the only "easy and sure way out of this difficulty. This is the reason why devoted Homoeopaths are bringing out new and upto date repertories even surpassing Kents which for beginners still, however, continues to be the best.
