Editorial: The Homeopathic Method

“When no dazzling facts present themselves, the examination, the investigation must keep to the insignificant circumstances, and it lies in the nature of the thing, that these occur more frequently than the striking indications and are often even more important than the latter …

The “peculiar,” the “characteristic” symptoms—these are to be regarded as the determining ones; but we must, at the same time, never forget, and we must always say emphatically, that these symptoms may be very insignificant ones and that we have to seek them, for the most part, in the series of little and unimpressive phenomena.”

– American Homoeopathic Review. Editors: PP Wells, Carroll Dunham, Henry M. Smith. [from a translation of] Characteristic Symptoms by Prof. Dr. J. Hoppe, of Basle. Volume V. New York: John T. Smith & Sons. 1865. P. 9, 10.

“[During a proving of a particular medication] On experiencing any particular sensation from the medicine, it is useful…to assume various positions while it lasts, and to observe whether, by moving the part affected, by walking in the room or in the open air, by standing, sitting or lying the symptom is increased, diminished, or removed…by eating or drinking, or by any other condition…at what time of the day or night it usually occurs in the most marked manner, whereby what is peculiar to and characteristic of each symptom will become apparent.” [Editor, italics]

– Hahnemann, S. Organon of Medicine. Transl. R.E. Dudgeon and W. Boericke. B. Jain Publishers. New Delhi. 1994. P. 88. Aph. 133.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to our Spring 2022 issue!

Sometimes even well-taken and well-rounded cases still perplex with a relatively subtle presentation. If we are not careful, we can easily miss the main characteristics. Recently, a 30-year-old lady, asthmatic and Covid positive, presented with congestion, sore throat, and a cough for four days. There was a nondescript sore throat that was gone before our treatment, and a burning and tight sensation in the chest more on the left which was worse with deep breathing, walking, and coughing. She had a mostly unproductive cough, worse talking, going upstairs, and walking. Expectoration was scanty, difficult to bring up, clear with greenish specks, or sometimes brown, and thick. She felt hot “all over” but wanted covers. There was also low back pain, bilateral hip tightness and soreness. The question of valuation of symptoms came up and in cases like this experience seems to count for more, because the repertorization of the totality of symptoms can be deceptive as the indicated remedy may not rate high. Furthermore, I learned to start with the expectoration being difficult to bring up and thick, so we can safely assume that it is “sticky” (viscid).

We can then look at the remedies where expectoration is difficult to bring up, greenish, thick, with a burning and constriction on the chest better by heat despite the feverishness. (Repertorization below.)

Though the well-known keynotes of the indicated remedy, namely the stringy and tough discharges, root of the nose “spot” pain, changing places rapidly, etc., are missing, we can still rely on the weight of the complex of our symptomatology. Kali bichromicum 200C was given, dry dose, four times a day for the first day, and then three times a day for three days with almost a complete resolution in five days without any complications.

The subtlety of the homeopathic method makes itself known the more experience we gain while keeping to the maxim of observing each individual patient as if this case has never been seen before. The prognosis in the above case was initially guarded due the likelihood of the development of Covid pneumonia.  Undoubtedly, when we find the indicated remedy, especially in serious cases, it prevents both morbidity and mortality. It is our great challenge as homeopathic physicians to present these facts to our skeptical colleagues in such a way that the openminded among them will take notice, and, on deciding to experiment, stumble upon this treasure, so that the blessing to humanity that is homeopathy will continue to advance long after we have left this earthly frame.

Respectfully yours,
Alex Bekker, MD, ABIHM
President, AIH/Editor, AJHM

1. Allen, TF. The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica. A Record of the Positive Effects of Drugs on the Human Organism. Boericke & Tafel. New York. 1877. P. 249.
   
   [Not commonly a left sided chest remedy but] “Sharp pain in left side, between the hips and last vertebra (after one hour and a half, eighth day), [6]. A  sharp shooting pain in the left side of the chest, that around the navel having disappeared by this time (after six hours, second day), [6]. … Acute  tearing-sticking pain in the whole left side of the chest, extending from the axilla to the flank, rather superficial, feeling as if in the costal pleura, in the morning on waking, lasting half an hour (fifty-seventh day),[35].”