Modern Trends In Homoeopathy
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 Nov / Dec VOL 5 NO 6.
Dr B D Patel
It is often said that if you were to read the Hom Materia Medica, it would start with confusion and end in vertigo; but watching the current trends in Hom, especially with regard to the young budding doctors, they start with vertigo and end in a faint [of late Hom is catching on many SCIENTIFIC MINDS]. 20-30 years ago there were many a hobby practitioners, [of course there are many more now] and those that joined the Hom colleges did so out of compulsion, for bread and butter, ie to seek some means of living rather than a conviction about the Hom Science. Today it is heartening to see that students with good percentage of marks and from affluent families are studying in Hom Institutions, and even as they graduate they are experimenting with newer ideas and concepts. Simultaneously, the world over, practitioners of this system are trying to make it more scientific, and in a way which is acceptable to the practitioners of conventional medicine, so called modern medicine. New theories, concepts, innovative methods of prescribing and different ways of interpreting the various laws of Hom [Organon and MM ] are being put forward. Some of the work done is really appreciable. But I doubt if stretching of the things beyond the breaking point is valid?
Being a teacher, Principal, Director of many Institutions and in active practice for the last 25 years, with a strong conviction in Classical Homoeopathy, I put forward some of my apprehensions for the fraternity to think about.
1. Drugs prescribed only on the basis of Mental symptoms
2. Delusions, its interpretations and its uses in prescribing
3. Prescribing of Double salts.
4. Grouping of drugs like Sodium, Potassium, and Calcium groups.
5. Music proving and music therapy
6. Prescribing only low potencies.
Let us see each one in detail
1. Mental Symptoms
a] Homoeopaths are already confused with the totality of symptoms, finding out peculiar, rare,queer, strange, concomitant redline symptoms. Along with this, new nomenclatures are being introduced like "Situational MM, Practical MM, Clinical MM etc." which has enhanced the confusion. Doctor Kent's evaluation of symptoms has really given a new turn and boost to Homoeopathy, which has extended the scope of the system. He divided the total symptoms into mental symptoms, physical generals and particulars. Under each category he further divided into first, second and third grade symptoms depending on their importance, which is very apt and explains accurately the concept of mind over body, the center to circumference, the most important to less important. Most of us do agree [those who practice Classical Homoeopathy] patients with gross structural changes have been helped by giving importance to mental and physical generalities
b] Dr Kent goes to the extent of saying that if there are strong mental symptoms and the drug selected on these symptoms does not cover the physical generals or the particulars will nevertheless cure the case, I fully agree with this. Does the patient really present a correct mental picture? Many of us do not present the same mental picture in different interrogation. Most of us put on a facade, one for ourselves and one for the external world, be it with our spouses or friends, we do not present our true picture. The mental picture studied during the first consultation may be a fallacy. SHOULD WE HAVE OUR RESERVATIONS IN ACCEPTING THIS MENTAL STATE IN TOTO? More often than not, the patient modifies his mental symptoms during his second visit or he may give an entirely different picture altogether.
c] I have observed that the mental picture is greatly modified by his physical symptoms as well as his financial conditions. After getting some relief in his physical complaints with the first prescription [whether curative or palliative] his mental symptoms are changed. Some times there can be an entirely different set of symptoms. It is probably for this very reason that. Dr Boeninghausen did not give a superior place to the mental symptoms over the physical generals. Because we are not very sure of the mental picture of the patients and we have to blindly believe them.
d] Many of the mental symptoms can be handled, rather overcome by proper counselling which can be observed on subsequent visits wherein we can see plenty of changes in the mental state/ symptoms. [My personal experience in practice]
e] The mental symptoms also depend upon the state of mind at that particular moment. Delving deep into the mental sphere and its interpretation, is feasible only if the person is intelligent enough to recall and elucidate all the past and present it in the right manner. Moreover, the person's upbringing must be in a conducive atmosphere wherein he is capable of expressing his emotions freely, which is only possible in western countries and in a very few families in India. On the contrary, in a developing country like India, 90% of children or adults are not allowed to express their feelings, and are denied emotional freedom. Their whole life is aimed at making two ends meet. In such a case how can we expect to get a true picture? We could possibly have only one symptom that is "emotions suppressed"
f] Most of the marriages in India are arranged and finalized by the parents where there is no question of love. Generally people have marriage love rather than love marriage. The general tendency in Indian people is that they are more casual than responsible in life, even at their work place, they don't take things seriously or strive for excellence. They only work under compulsion or for the fear of losing their job. There is hardly any thing to struggle for: things move at their own pace. Let us be more practical, down to earth and not get carried away by what we hear or see and perceive things in their true perspective. Let us not take our students/younger generation into an imaginary world of fantasy.
