Paradigms of prescribing - Robin Murphy in Mumbai, Dec'04
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2004 Nov / Dec VOL VI NO 6.
Dr Rama Hariharan
"We are in the business of restoring the Vital Force." ------ Dr Robin Murphy's opening remarks set the tone for the 3-day workshop and seminar organized by B JAIN Publishers, Delhi in their maiden attempt of seminars through CASH, at Mumbai. He emphasized that he did not belong to any school or group and was only adding to what we already know. Ten years after teaching and practicing classical H, a chance meeting with Dr Eizayaga whose insight of the 6th edition of the Organon, transformed his perspective entirely.
Case analysis, prescribing techniques, case management with practical hints --- all from the 6th edition were the focus of the 3-day event.
"Disease is a process. Perceive the process, nobody can be cured with one prescription Understanding human nature is the key to any case. Every symptom has a story /person behind it --- find it"!
"Are we overanalyzing our cases? The context and intensity of the symptoms' manifestation are more important than the mere numerical totality arrived at from any repertory...The susceptibility that made the symptoms happen is to be addressed. Treat that and the symptoms disappear just like taking a jellyfish out of the pool then all its myriad tentacles too disappear."
He emphasized that, according to Hahnemann, emergencies and acutes must be treated even during chronic diseases, as that is when the Vital Force bounces to a higher level and the chronic disease becomes easier to handle.
Case analysis begins with perceiving that Vitality is present in layers.
The Innermost Layer is the Constitution. This is the state we are born with, our basic level of health. It is seen in convalescence. As it is a non-disease state, ‘Homoeopathic remedies' are not used. The vitality is enhanced by adjuvant therapy: Bio-chemics, herbal tonics, exercise, diet, meditation, yoga, magnetotherapy, gem therapy (natural biochemical combinations) etc.
The Next Layer is the Fundamental Layer. This is the state, which we acquire through upbringing, education, social interaction etc. Here disease exists in the functional plane when susceptibility is disturbed. Therefore the Kentian method of prescribing brings excellent results. The psychology, generals and the susceptibility of the patient in the diseased state, when addressed, restore the patient to health. Generally polycrest remedies are indicated. The extent of this fundamental layer determines the prognosis in every case.
The Topmost Layer is the Clinical Layer. This contains the chief complaint and all other associated complaints. All emergencies belong here. Etiology and modalities will lead you to the indicated remedies. This layer must be fully cleared before prescribing the fundamental remedy in order to enable the vital force to bounce back, fast yet non-perceptibly, to health.
Miasm: This is present in all layers and has to be appropriately addressed. Never disturb a dormant miasm.
Dr Murphy dwelled extensively on Tautopathic prescribing. Most patients come today with heavy toxicology from allopathic drugs. In his experience, either a gentle withdrawal or potentizing the same toxic drug helped. Toxicological proving of these drugs is readily available today. Eg Aspartame - a key ingredient of all artificial sweeteners and widely used in common 'sugar-free' food items like 'Equal, Diet-Coke, Diet-Pepsi, OTC diabetic foods' is a neuro toxin developed by the US army for chemical warfare! For eight years it was not allowed by FDA to enter the market. And today it's available OTC! It mimics a host of neurological disorders like 'ADD, Parkinson's, Alzheimer, Insomnia, Blood sugar disorders, tingling and numbness of extremities, panic attacks, seizures, convulsions etc. He spoke of a case where the presenting neurological symptoms were the same as the toxic effect of Aspartame in Diet Pepsi, which the 22-year old patient was addicted to. After 3 weeks of completely stopping the drink, all her symptoms vanished!
All chemotherapies and radiation in cancer therapy cut across all layers of vitality. Dr Murphy often prescribes herbal remedies, mother tinctures, bio-chemics to boost the ebbing vitality in order that the indicated Homoeopathic remedy works successfully albeit palliatively.
He explained the Concept Of Bio Water by presenting various slides of on-going research around the world on the molecular crystal structure of water. When water brought from places of worship like Lourdes, exposed to classical music or laughter was analyzed, the molecular structure was perfectly six-sided. Potentized Homoeopathic remedies too showed the same structure! This structure easily bonded with other molecules in the body and moved freely whereas water exposed to rock music, junk food, anger, hate had an amorphous structure and did not bond. Do look it up under 'IE Crystals' on the Internet! Yet another facet of Hahnemann's genius of giving Homoeopathic remedies in water being proved 200 years later!!
He presented many of his own cases and even took a few live cases from the audience to demonstrate how he arrived at the clinical and fundamental remedies. Even if a nosode was indicated, he would give it in 6c potency, in water-plus method just like in the Organon. Case taking was enormously shortened, logic restored in every prescription including adjuvant therapy and the patient's vitality restored swiftly and gently. Dr Murphy's vitality, sincerity and honesty were an asset. His genuine interest to bring back humanness in Homoeopathic prescribing and to make the Vital Force an integral part of our art of therapeutics with the sixth edition of the Organon as our guide, made the workshop an enjoyable learning process.
