Perceiving A Remedy Portrait: Kali-bichromium
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2001 Mar / Apr VOL III NO 2.
Dr N L Tiwari
'Kali-bi

Introduction
Every well-proved remedy of the HMM has more than 1000 symptoms - clearly impossible to remember at the bedside. Even if computer-skills allow us to increase our retentive power, it is difficult to derive a coherent and well-defined image of the remedy from these symptoms alone. Successful homoeopathic prescribers, notably Kent, have poured life into remedies through their extensive clinical experience - these commentaries or lectures have been recorded and serve as a learning field, the base line for us, on which to build up the remedy further, through our own experiences.

But what about those numerous drugs like Kali-bich, Calc-flour, Nat-phos, Mag-phos, which are not well proved? How to study these remedies so that we can either use them effectively at the bedside or teach them? The million dollar question is, Should we be just enumerating the symptoms? Or should we be taking recourse to the drug pictures narrated by someone and thus become mere conduits of information? Should we be content with giving an exam-oriented performance in the classroom? Or should we attempt to recreate the reality of practice for the benefit of the students?

Aphorism 6 of the Organon of Medicine clearly states that matching of remedy should be at the level of "Portrait of Disease". Thus, in this article we shall examine how to evolve a portrait of the Remedy, with Kali-bichromium serving as an example.

Portrait: What is it?
The Shorter Oxford Dictionary defines "Portrait" thus:

1. A figure drawn, painted or carved upon a surface to represent some object; specially a likeness of a person, especially of the face.
2. An image, representation, type, likeness, similitude. A verbal picture; a graphic description.

1. A Portrait is, necessarily, a result of human effort and not that of a machine eg camera. So individual appreciation and understanding is required to put up a portrait.
2. The final product should resemble the object and should be readily identifiable, eg in India a line drawing of a bald, half bent figure with horn rimmed spectacles and large ears, seen walking with a stick, can be readily identified by everyone, even a child, as Gandhiji. But the same Gandhiji in his youth, when clad in a suit in South Africa would be hard to spot.

Remedy Portrait: How to make it?
From the work of Master prescribers, it is possible to derive the following general principles for use while making a portrait of remedies belonging to the Mineral Kingdom:

1. Identifying the physical and chemical properties of the elements, which constitute the base of that remedy. These properties have already been studied in quite some detail. They can also be readily derived from knowledge of their position in the Periodic Table. The later allows us to understand the relationship the elements have with each other and from this we can derive the relationship of Remedies. (viz Ajit Kulkarni's article)
2. Studying the physiological, pharmacological and toxicological data: This yields valuable information in the form of signs and symptoms in animals as well as humans.
   
   Correlating the data derived from 1 and 2 with the data in the HMM, makes it possible to establish a relationship between the crude form of elements with their properties and the qualities of the drug as expressed on the dynamic plane.
3. Understanding the relationship between physical symptoms and mentals: We are familiar with the psycho-physiological aspects of disease and are aware that mind influences the body and vice versa, producing symptoms while interacting with the environment. These should be rightly termed as expressions on different planes through which the being is trying to communicate in a new distinct language - the "language of disease". A close study of this language would convince an observer of the similarity of content at both levels of expression. Thus "Ebullitions" in a Ferrum individual could signify - at the Physical plane - a vasomotor instability and at the mental plane - the tendency for periodic aggressive outbursts. A connection between the mind and the body established in this way would undoubtedly strengthen as well as enliven the final portrait.
4. Making full use of cured Clinical cases by the remedy under study: The cases ought to be studied both in length and in depth. A thorough longitudinal study of the individual from birth to the present day needs to be undertaken with special attention paid in identifying significant landmarks in the person’s life and connecting these to his "space", ie the circumstances in family, work area or social circle. The efforts should give us an idea of the way the individual has performed various roles demanded of him, the difficulties encountered at making decisions at every crossroad, and what expressions, if any, have emerged at the physical or mental planes. All this enables us to study the casual as well as the concomitant axes in quite some detail. It allows us derivation of attributes (Disposition) of the person, giving at the same time a fair impression of the miasmatic march of events. On this can be built the course and how the person is likely to conduct his life in the future and what course the disease is likely to take (prognosis), should he continue to move in the direction taken by him so far. Above all, we are able to clothe the naked symptoms available in he Materia Medica with flesh and blood and breathe life into them. The remedy thus becomes our close friend, who will be around us whenever we feel the need for him.

Other articles in this issue will detail other ways of building a portrait through other means. Thus we will learn the mode of study of a remedy.

Case 1
Mr X, a practicing Chartered Accountant, 48, referred by an old patient, Mr X started our treatment in 1978 and was considered cured by 1982. He was suffering from the following:

1. Migraine and Chronic Sinusitis for 20 years
2. Spondylitis: Cervical and Lumbo-Sacral for 28 years;
3. Osteo Arthritis of the knee joint recently.

Family History
Father died at 63, Mother 76, living. Brother - good health. Sister - Chronic headaches, stays in Canada.

Investigation Reports
X-Ray Spine: Lower Dorsal and Lumbar Spondylosis with disc degeneration at L5-S1 and possibly at L4-L5 level.
Treatment Received So Far:
Inj. Gammalergen for recurrent colds; Tab Tegretol; Tab Novalgin; Cafergot and Cafergot Q (which had to be stopped due to the side effects of cramps in the calf muscles).

Reaction to Physical Factors:
Fan: Cannot tolerate on head; prefers air conditioning. But direct blast of air causes migraine. Bath - cold. AGG. Cold drinks³ headache.
Mentals: Anger at Work: when others do not meet his standard.

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