Homeopathy key to ovarian cysts?

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Ovarian Cysts

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. In most cases a cyst on the ovary does no harm and goes away by itself. Most women have them sometime during their lives. Cysts are rarely cancerous in women under 50. Cysts sometimes hurt - but not always. Often, a woman finds out about a cyst when she has a pelvic exam.

When 40-year-old Nisha felt muscles to the right of her abdomen go into a spasm, she gasped in pain. It recurred over the next two months. An
ultrasound scan revealed she had a 30 mm cyst in her right ovary.

-Each time Reena, 50, ate oily food, she suffered shooting pain in her gall bladder. Doctors said she had gallstones. The only solution advised was to remove it.

Such chronic cases are typically treated by allopaths because most people wouldn't want to hand themselves over to homeopaths. After all, hardly anyone has heard of homeopathy dissolving gall stones and causing cysts to disappear. But it can happen.

Nisha says, "I was told to take birth control pills as these prevent the ovaries from producing eggs during ovulation." Cysts, incidentally, are formed when a follicle fails to rupture and release an egg, leaving behind fluid which forms a cyst.

Nisha didn't want to take contraceptive pills. Instead, she took a three-month course of homeopathic pills and pain-relieving tablets. After three months, another scan showed the cyst had disappeared.

Homeopathy's efficacy in ovarian cysts was corroborated, says Dr C Nayak, director, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, by an article in the British Homeopathic Journal. The article, 'Homeopathic treatment of ovarian cysts', cited a study of 40 women with ovarian cysts. "After nine months of homeopathic treatment, the cysts disappeared in 90% cases," the article said.

Gallstones are another affliction that homeopaths claim they can treat. Incidentally, the Dalai Lama too suffered from it and opted for surgery recently.

The gall bladder stores bile which helps in digestion. When bile contains too much cholesterol, it can harden into stones. In allopathy, the only option is removing the gall bladder. While homeopathic doctors say removal of bladder may lead to irritation in the small intestine, detractors of homeopathy aren't convinced.

Dr Pradeep Chowbey, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeon, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, says, "The gall bladder needs to be removed as the actual disease is in the wall of the organ. When its concentration goes down, stones are formed. Cholesterol is another factor. Some 6.9% of these stones can become cancerous. I doubt homeopathy's efficacy here."

There is excruciating pain when gallstones move and get lodged in ducts causing inflammation, fever and jaundice. A diet high in fats and low in fibre causes it.

Dr Kalyan Banerjee, a leading homeopath, counters this. "Homeopathy boosts the immune system and dissolves the stones, provided they aren't too hard," he says. "Patients should try homeopathic medicines for six months, before opting for surgery. Even after surgery, stones can recur in the bile duct."

On ovarian cysts, Dr Neerja Batla, additional professor, AIIMS, says cysts less than 50 mm usually regress on their own. "I'm not sure how far homeopathy helps."

Banerjee says, "Acute benign cysts take about six months to disappear. If it doesn't work out even then, surgery is advised." But get the cyst tested for malignancy. "If malignant, the ovaries and uterus are removed," he says.

Adds Nayak, "Our council conducted a clinical study to ascertain usefulness of a homeopathic medicine, Fel taur, for gallstones. Results showed that out of 267 patients, 262 showed improvement in varying degrees."

But ovarian cyst-sufferer Nisha has the last word on detractors of homeopathic treatment for her condition. "After the shooting pains I went through even with a 30 mm cyst and the consequent acidity through painkillers, homeopathy has given me a new lease of life."
source

Move to make people use homeopathy for mother, child care

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TO Sensitise policy and opinion-makers, professionals of other systems of medicine, social scientists and commoners on benefits of homoeopathy, city-based Abhin Chandra Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital will organise a Statelevel campaign on ‘Homoeopathy for mother and child care’ here from tomorrow.


The two-day workshop will be organised by the State Health Department and Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The Centre has selected Orissa as one of the few states to implement and use homoeopathy for mother and child health (MCH) as the existing infrastructure in the field at government sector is quite good, but due to several other reasons overall MCH implementation is not up to the mark.

Two New Studies Find Anti-Homeopathy Review Wrong

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In August of 2005, the prestigious British medical journal the Lancet published a review comparing clinical trials of homeopathy with trials of conventional medicine. The conclusion of this study, which was widely hailed as evidence that homeopathy is worthless quackery, stated that homeopathic medicines are non-effective and, at best, just placebos. What’s more, an accompanying editorial in the Lancet said this “evidence” should close the door on the non-toxic, alternative treatment method, and flatly proclaimed this review should mark “the end of homeopathy”. Now two newly published studies, one in the journal Homeopathy and the other in the mainstream medical Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, have both gone on record to say the Lancet review was enormously flawed and downright inaccurate. Instead of showing homeopathy doesn't work, the conclusion should have been that, at least for some ailments, it is effective.

Homeopathy involves giving very small doses of substances called remedies that, according to homeopathy, would produce the same or similar symptoms of illness in healthy people if they were given in larger doses. The goal of homeopathy is to stimulate the body's defense system in order to prevent or treat illness. Homeopathy treatment is tailored to each individual and homeopathic practitioners work to select remedies according to a total picture of the patient, including not only symptoms but lifestyle, emotional and mental states, and other factors.

The original claim made in the Lancet review that homeopathic medicines are worthless treatments (other than being placebos) was based on six clinical trials of conventional medicine and eight studies of homeopathy. But what trials, exactly, were studied? It turns out the Lancet did not reveal this most basic information and, as the new studies point out, seriously flawed assumptions were made about the data that was presented. There are a limited number of homeopathic studies so it is not difficult to pick and choose facts to interpret selectively and unfavorably, which appears to be just what was done in the original Lancet anti-homeopathy article.

Bottom line: the Lancet’s report showing homeopathy is worthless lacked the academic care and scientific approach called for in medical journals. In fact, it could well be seen as a hack job.

In a statement to the press, George Lewith, Professor of Health Research at Southampton University in Great Britain, stated: “The review gave no indication of which trials were analyzed nor of the various vital assumptions made about the data. This is not usual scientific practice. If we presume that homeopathy works for some conditions but not others, or change the definition of a 'larger trial', the conclusions change. This indicates a fundamental weakness in the conclusions: they are NOT reliable.”

The two recently published scientific papers that investigated the previous Lancet review conclude that an analysis of all high quality trials of homeopathy show positive outcomes. What’s more, the eight larger and higher quality trials of homeopathy looked at a variety of medical conditions. The new studies point out that because homeopathy worked consistently for some of these ailments and not others, the results must indicate that homeopathic remedies can’t be simply placebos. In addition, the studies conclude that comparing homeopathy to conventional medicine was a meaningless apples-and-oranges approach. There are also concerns that the original anti-homeopathy review used unpublished criteria. For example, the researchers didn’t bother to define what they meant by “higher quality” homeopathy research.

The new studies not only cast serious doubts on the original Lancet review, which was headed by Professor Matthias Egger of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Berne, but they strongly indicate Egger and his team based their conclusions on a series of hidden judgments that were prejudiced against homeopathy. So far,Professor Egger has declined to comment on the findings of the new studies in Homeopathy and the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology,

A press statement from the National Center for Homeopathy explains that an open assessment of the current evidence suggests that homeopathy is probably effective for many conditions including allergies, upper respiratory tract infections and flu, but agrees that much more research is needed. To that end, the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has announced it is currently supporting research in these areas:

* Homeopathy for physical, mental, and emotional symptoms of fibromyalgia (a chronic disorder involving widespread musculoskeletal pain, multiple tender points on the body, and fatigue).
* Homeopathy to help relieve or prevent brain deterioration and damage in stroke and dementia.
* Homeopathy (specifically the remedy cadmium) to potentially prevent damage to the cells of the prostate when those cells are exposed to toxins.
SOURCE

Claim that homeopathy was just a placebo seriously flawed

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Washington, November 14: : A review that claimed homeopathy is just a placebo, published in The Lancet, was seriously flawed, according to two new studies.
The new studies suggest that the review was not based on a comparative analysis and is unjustified because of the heterogeneity of trials and lack of sensitivity analysis.

“The review gave no indication of which trials were analysed nor of the various vital assumptions made about the data. This is not usual scientific practice. If we presume that homeopathy works for some conditions but not others, or change the definition of a ''larger trial'', the conclusions change. This indicates a fundamental weakness in the conclusions: they are not reliable", said George Lewith, Professor of Health Research at Southampton University

In August 2005, The Lancet published an editorial entitled ''The End of Homeopathy'', prompted by a review comparing clinical trials of homeopathy with trials of conventional medicine.

The claim that homeopathic medicines are just placebo was based on 6 clinical trials of conventional medicine and 8 studies of homeopathy but did not reveal the identity of these trials.
The review was criticised for its opacity as it gave no indication of which trials were analysed or the various assumptions made about the data.

Sufficient detail to enable a reconstruction was eventually provided and the two new studies are based on such a reconstruction and challenge the Lancet review.

These two studies show that analysis of all high quality trials of homeopathy yields a positive conclusion.

The 8 larger higher quality trials of homeopathy were all for different conditions. Homeopathy works for some of these but not others, implying that homeopathy is not placebo.

The comparison with conventional medicine was meaningless. Doubts remain about the opaque, unpublished criteria used in the review, including the definition of ‘higher quality’.

This reconstruction casts serious doubts on the Lancet review, showing that it was based on a series of hidden judgments unfavourable to homeopathy.

An open assessment of the current evidence suggests that homeopathy is probably effective for a number of conditions including allergies, upper respiratory tract infections and flu, but more research is desperately needed.

Prof Matthias Egger of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Berne, who led The Lancet trial, declined to comment on these findings.

SOURCE

POWER OF HOMEOPATHY: Dengue patients look towards homeopathy now

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While cases of dengue are still trickling in, some patients claim to have found the cure to the dreaded disease in homeopathy.
Dr Aneeta Singla, a doctor who has a homeopathic clinic in Barewal, said she has treated 50 patients over the last few weeks and has at least three to four patients visiting her daily, most being from Rampura Phul. “As many as 48 of them have responded well to the treatment and only two did not get satisfactory results,” she explained.

“Homeopathy treats every case individually. Every case is studied in isolation of other dengue cases unlike in allopathy, where the treatment for a particular disease is almost similar for all patients,” she added.

“After the patient’s history is known, I prescribe medicines from amongst 18 medicines that I have found for the disease based on different kinds of symptoms. In patients whose platelet count had dipped to less than 7,000, the treatment has swung it back to over 1 lakh 50 thousand in just over a couple of days,” she claims.

SOURCE

HOMEOPATHY AND DENGUE: SUGGESTED BOOK

Cancer, arthritis and homeopathy

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One of my neighbours is dying. Two years back he had a cancerous patch on his left arm that was surgically removed. Six months later cancer appeared in his mouth. Another bout of surgeries and radiation therapy followed. He was then declared free of cancer.

Fifteen days ago there was a furious relapse. He was hospitalised and then followed the usual brutal allopathic treatment. Two days back the doctor said that since there was no improvement in his condition there was nothing more he could do. His desperate family shifted him to another hospital where his condition is said to be deteriorating.

I felt sad. If the man had taken good homeopathic treatment years ago he would not be at the death bed today. The cancer would not have developed. A suitable homeopathic remedy with cancerous diathesis would have nipped it in the bud. Even a random dose or two of carcinosin 200 or 1M would have been enough.

I mentioned this to my mother. She nodded understandingly. She is a chronic arthritis patient. She takes no allopathic medicines, no physio-therapy, nothing. Only those sweet pills that I have been giving her for the last five years. She says often that "I am alive today only because of the little sweet pills."

It is not easy to be a believer of homeopathy publicly

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When my brother (elder. They are always bullies!) came to know that I was learning homeopathy, he smiled sarcastically at first as if I was a dumbo and an impractical fool. Then he tried to scare me.

"You are not a doctor," he said menacingly. "Don't give those pills to anyone. If anything happens, you could go to prison."

"Practising without a degree for monetary gains is an offence. I am just learning it. I will give to only those who want it, free," I clarified.

Another time as I gave a remedy to my mother and she declared fifteen minutes later that she was feeling fine now, the same brother said, "placebo," dismissively.

Some of my friends act patronisingly when I tell them homeopathy is good.

In the public domain, homeopathy is either dismissed as "those little pills" or "mere placebo." Ignorance is great. Most folks do not know there is a system of medicine called homeopathy.

This is because there is no big money involved. There are no advertising agencies singing paeans of praise of homeopathy. It is easier to sell a new brand of soap than sell homeopathy to people.

The media is partly to blame. Most media people are either ignorant about it or faithfully report dismissive reports (issued by the big drug corporations) that belittle homeopathy.

Keeping the common people away from homeopathy is one of the biggest conspiracies of modern times. It is the inherent utility of homeopathy that has kept it alive.

Prescribing in Homeopathy: Look for keynotes: Books to learn keynotes

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Many textbooks on homeopathy will tell you that for newcomers, repertorization is the best option as far as prescribing a remedy is concerned. Don't go by it. Of course if you 'like' the method of prescribing, go for it by all means. But it is a long drawn out process and very laborious.

Instead go for the keynotes of the case. Listen to the patient carefully and glean the keynotes (of remedies) and peculiar symptoms. This is the quickest way to prescribe. Of course, one or two keynotes will not do. You got to have the image of the remedy in the patient.

To know the keynotes well, read books on the keynotes and good materia medicas. You will be able to 'see' a remedy in a patient only if you the remedies well. It is as simple as that.

If you have a remedy in mind, check carefully if the mentals and the modalities of the remedy match with the mentals and modalities of the patient. If they don't, drop the remedy and start searching again. The mental state of the patient HAS TO MATCH with the mind symptoms of the patient, otherwise the remedy will not work. Remember, in Homeopathy, the state of the patient's mind, is all-important.

SOME GOOD BOOKS ON KEYNOTES
1 - Keynotes of the Materia Medica with Nosodes by Henry C. ALLEN
2 - Leaders in Homeopathic Therapeutics by E B NASH
3 - Keynotes of the Materia Medica by Robin MURPHY
4 - Master Key to Homeopathic Materia Medica by K C BHANJA


READ ALSO
More on homeopathic prescribing
Some vital hints on homeopathic prescribing
How to find the right homeopathic remedy?
Some essential books to learn homeopathy

LAYMAN - Why should you learn homeopathy?

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You might be a working guy, business executive, working woman, housewife, a college student or an aged person. It does not make a difference. You should learn homeopathy. Why? read on....

WHY SHOULD YOU GO FOR HOMEOPATHY

1 - Homeopathic medicines are harmless and gentle

Homeopathic drugs if used sensibly are completely harmless. Contrast that with the massive side-effects of allopathy medicines. More importantly, they act gently and quickly. If the remedy has been selected well, your loved one will see his/her sickness disappear as if by magic; with no side -effects! Homeopathy drugs are very useful with aged, sensitive and frail patients, who cannot tolerate the harsh allopathy medicines.

2 - Homeopathic medicines are cheap

Today the prices of drugs of allopathic treatment are going up all the time. Doctor's fees. Numerous tests. It add ups to a big hole in your pocket. In contrast, homeopathic drugs are very cheap.

3 - Homeopathic medicines can be bought 'over the counter' with ease

Most allopathic drugs are sold by the chemist shops only on producing a doctor's prescription. With good reason. All allopathic medicines have dangerous side-effects. In contrast homeopathic remedies are easily available any your near homeopathy pharmacy. YOU DO NOT NEED A HOMEOPATHIC DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION TO OBTAIN A REMEDY.

4 - Self-knowledge of homeopathy cuts down your medical expenses drastically

I won't talk of how costly your little baby's little bout of flu can turn out to be. That is if you go in for allopathic treatment. If you know homeopathy, you can treat your loved ones yourself and at fraction of the cost!

5 - In chronic diseases only homeopathy helps

It is a well known fact that if one is suffering from a complicated and chronic disease, the last resort is homeopathy. This is so with a good reason. That is because in curing (not palliating) chronic ailments there is nothing like homeopathy. In old diseases, when all other methods of medicine and therapies fail, homeopathy cures!

6 - Why not go to a homeopath? Why learn homeopathy yourself?

That is because, I am sorry to say, there are many dumb, lazy and inflexible homeopaths around. They are bound to fail in curing chronic cases. One then loses faith in homeopathy, without realizing the fact that here, the fault was with that particular homeopath AND NOT WITH HOMEOPATHY. If the homeopath is good he will be able to cure any disease. Believe me, good homeopaths are few. The really good ones cost a bomb. So why not learn homeopathy yourself? The only qualification you should have is the willingness to read extensively and learn homeopathy.

7 - Homeopathy drugs do not interfere with the action of allopathic drugs

Homeopathy drugs and allopathic drugs work wonderfully without coming in each other's way. You could take allopathic treatment if you like and also take homeopathic drugs at the same time. The recovery will be quicker. Also homeopathic remedies are very useful in combating the harsh side-effects of strong allopathic drugs and of chemo-therapy. (Cancer can be cured by homeopathy, provided the remedies are selected very carefully).

8 - Homeopathy makes you stronger

Taking homeopathic medicines helps strengthen your immune system, without any ill-effects. Studies have shown that children who grew up with homeopathic treatment turned out into stronger and healthier adults.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

1 - Buy all the books I have mentioned in earlier posts on this site. Or read them at the nearby library, if they are available. My advice is READ ALL THE ARTICLES ON THIS SITE.

2 - Read the books and absorb them. Learning homeopathy necessitates a lot of reading. That requires patience and hard work. But once you have grasped the subject, you will be able to select the correct homeopathic remedy quickly.

3 - Homeopathy is also an art. Mere memorising books will not enable you to learn it. You have to use your imaginative and intuitive skills too. That is, after you have read and studied the subject hard.

4 - Pick up a good medical dictionary. Nothing high funda and detailed, but a rudimentary, but GOOD medical dictionary. Dorland's dictionary (even the concise edition) is too technical, which is not needed in homeopathy. You just need a basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology and human disease. Remember, in homeopathic prescribing names of diseases are of no use. There are more diseases than allopathy has found names for. In homeopathy, naming a disease is not necessary.

BEST INTRODUCTORY BOOK

SUGGESTED BOOKS TO SELF-LEARN HOMEOPATHY

Treat SIMPLE FEVER yourself with Homeopathy

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Now get cracking! Start practising Homeopathy yourself. I will give you some remedies which cure simple fever. (Please make sure it is simple fever and nothing else before prescribing). I will give you the drug picture of the remedies. If they match with the disease picture of the patient, you can administer the drug. If you are a raw beginner, use either 6C or 30C potency. Give one of the remedies only if the pictures match; otherwise you will have to look further.

Give just one globule of the remedy dry on the tongue. Some Homeopaths say you got to take 4 globules at a time. Disregard all that. The great Kent had said that even one tiny globule is as effective as four of them. Or you could dissolve one globule in half a cup of clean water and give one tea spoon at a time, till there is improvement. Once improvement starts, stop. Do not give any further teaspoons.

Acon.- After exposure to cold and dry air, especially when perspiring. The skin is hot and dry. Violent thirst. restlessness with tossing about.

Bell.- Face of the patient is red. He has a throbbing headache. Sweat on covered parts of the body. Hot head. Feet cold. Sleepy but cannot sleep.

Bryonia- Mouth, lips and tongue very dry. Hard dry cough but with little or no expectoration. The chest hurts during cough. Wants to lie down quietly. Big thirst for lots of water, but at long intervals. Or no thirst. The stool is dry and hard or constipated.

Gels- Drowsiness. Semi stupor. The patient cannot open his/her eyes, nor think clearly. Wants to lie still. Wants to stay silent. Does not like anybody's presence near him/her, even if the person stays quiet.

Ipecac- Fever with nausea and vomiting.

Merc sol- Creeping chilliness, especially in the evening. Chilliness alternates with heat. Profuse sweat at night without relief. The tongue is soft and flabby, taking the impression of the teeth.

Nux Vom- Great heat of body. Body is burning hot, yet the patient wants to have covers over him. Even then feels chilly.

Puls- Constant chilliness. Even in a warm room. Worse in the evening. Mouth is dry but does not feel thirsty. Bad or bitter taste in mouth.

Rhus Tox- Fever caused (Causation!) due to exposure to cold and rainy weather. Fever from getting wet. Whole body is painful. Great restlessness. Wants to change position, especially at night. Feels better after doing that.

The Miasms in Homeopathy: Miasms by Roger Morrison

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The following is miasms according to Roger Morrison. He agrees with interpretations of each miasm by different Homeopaths (named after each miasm in the following list)

Acute/Rabies Miasm (Sankaran)

Originally, these remedies were used during acute illnesses such as scarlet fever, pneumonia and delirium. Later it was found that they are useful in chronic conditions where the sensation of the patient is identical to the sensation of an acutely ill patient. The patient feels as if he were reacting to a sudden, unexpected, life-threatening situation (illness, attack, accident, etc). The patient is in an almost “primitive” state usually accompanied by great fear and child-like reaction. There is no compensatory mechanism except fight or flight. He seeks reassurance and protection. Often mania states require remedies from the acute or typhoid miasm. Severe phobia disorders also frequently fit within this miasm.
Remedies- Aconite. Arnica. Belladonna. Cactina. Calendula. Camphora. Chocolate. Coffeinum. Croton Tiglium. Digitoxin. Elaterium. Ergotaminum. Hydrogen. Hypericum. Lithium. Melilotus. Morphinum. Oenanthus. Stramonium. Strychninum. Veratrum.
Nosode: Lyssinum. Morbillinum. Diptherinum.

Typhoid Miasm (SANKARAN)

Also known as the subacute miasm. Remedies in this miasm were originally used for typhoid fever – that is high, unremitting fever often associated with prostration from violent diarrheas or other infections. The infections are slightly less rapid in their onset (like all our descriptions of Bryonia) than the remedies in the acute miasm. Now we find these remedies can be useful in a variety of chronic conditions such as colitis, Crohn’s disease, collapse states, psychosis. Patients in this miasm who have acute or recurring psychotic breaks have good prospects from homeopathic treatment. The patient feels himself to be in an urgent, life-threatening situation requiring his full capacity to survive. The patient is willing to use any means to return to a secure position: Violence, scheming, flight, lying, etc. Willful children who demand their desires so strongly that parents cave in often require remedies from this group. The patient’s goal is to conserve every resource to combat the threat. Thus materialism and business struggles are a strong component. The feeling is, “If I can just get through this crisis, I have it made and I can rest.” He seeks rest and a secure position.
Remedies- Abelmoschus. Acetic Acid. Aethusa. Ailanthus. Anantherum. Argemon. Asclepias Tuberosa. Baptisia. Benzoic Acid. Bryonia. Carbo Animalis. Carbo Vegetabilis. Carnegia gigantea. Chamomilla. Doryphora. Euphrasia. Gallic Acid. Gambogia. Helleborus. Hyoscyamus. Ipecac. Lycopus. Mancinella. Nux Moschata. Nux Vomica. Paris. Petroleum. Polystyrene. Podophyllum. Pyrogenium. Rheum. Rhus Tox. Sacchrum Album. Sulphuricum Acidum. Thyroidinum. Veratrum Veride. Viscum.
Nosode: Typhoidinum.

Malarial Miasm (Sankaran)

In malaria, the situation is still less severe. The patient is suffering but not in immanent danger for his life. Instead he finds himself repeatedly accosted by highly uncomfortable conditions. These conditions leave him weak and vulnerable between the attacks. He is partially crippled by the condition causing him to be dependent on those around him. His forward progress is arrested as he deals with these harassing attacks. For chronic conditions, the remedies of the malarial miasm feel they are facing recurring attacks from life – they feel stuck in a situation where nothing goes right and he is never truly well. He can do little more than complain or act out. Patients in this miasm often feel miserable and make those around them miserable from their negative outlook. The patient especially suffers with intermittent fevers, recurring hemorrhoids, recurring or allergic asthma, migraines, neuralgia, rheumatism.
Remedies- Ammonium Muriaticum. Angustura. Antimonium Crudum. Aurum Muriaticum Kalinatum. Berberis. Boletus. Cactus. Capsicum. Cedron. Chelidonium. China (and it’s salts). Cina. Clematis. Colchicum. Colocynthis. Eupatorium Perfoliatum. Eupatorium Purpureum. Iris. Kalmia. Magnesia Muriatica. Menyanthes. Natrum Muriaticum. Peonia. Prunus. Ranunculus Bulbosus. Sarracenia. Spigelia. Sumbulus. Verbascum.

Ringworm Miasm (Sankaran)

Ringworm and fungal disorders are annoying but not at all life-threatening. These conditions often get better very slowly but slip back in at the first vulnerable moment. It is a constant effort to combat the condition. The theme for ringworm miasm is struggle against an external object but alternately feeling optimism or pessimism. The patient often repeatedly uses the word, “trying.” The feeling is that he must try and try and yet he never quite gets there though never quite gives up.
Remedies- Actea Spicata. Allium Sativa. Calcarea Fluorica. Calcarea Silicata. Calcarea Sulphurica. Dulcamara. Fagus. Gossypium. Magnesia Sulphuric Opunta vulgaris. Pseudotsuga. Rhus Venanata. Sarsaparilla. Taraxicum. Teucreum. Upas. Veronica officianalis. Viola Tricolorata.
Nosode – Ringworm nosode.

Psoric Miasm (Hahnemann)

The theme for psora according to Sankaran is struggle against an external problem but with a feeling of optimism. Paradoxically, since many of the remedies and characteristics of psora have been differentiated into other miasms, few remedies are left in this category. Many have noted the similarity between Sankaran’s description of this miasm and his description of the ringworm miasm.
Remedies- Calcarea. Cuprum. Ferrum. Graphites. Kali-Carbonicum. Lycopodium. Niccolum. Sulphur. Zincum.

Sycotic Miasm (Hahnemann)

Gonorrhea is a condition that is not life-threatening but is shameful and embarrassing. The remedies used to combat gonorrhea and gleet also treat the ailments of suppressed gonorrhea. All of the diseases that respond to this group of remedies are fixed and intractable: They do not go away but they do not progress. The patient spends a great deal of time trying to cover up or compensate for the illness. Thus we have the well-known characteristic of the sycotic miasm: secretiveness. The patient is often riddled with guilt and insecurity. Inferiority complex is a common finding in this miasm. The physical conditions often center around the urinary or genital tract. Also common is asthma, tumors and neoplasms, eczema, genital herpes.
Remedies- Argentum Metallicum. Borax. Bovista. Calcarea Bromata. Cannabis Indica. Caulophyllum. Crocus Sativa. Digitallis. Gelsemium. Kali Bichromicum. Kali Bromatum. Kali Sulphuricum. Lac Caninum. Lac Delphinum. Natrum Sulphuricum. Palladium. Pulsatilla. Sabadilla. Sanguinaria. Silica. Thuja.
Nosode: Medorrhinum

Cancer Miasm (Foubister)

When a patient receives a diagnosis of cancer, it is obvious that the condition is life threatening. The patient and the family feel there is almost no hope but yet they do not give up. They search high and low for a new drug trial, a new surgery, or even a farfetched alternative like homeopathy. The feeling is one of desperation, of holding on to hope with the fingernails. The patient who needs a remedy from this miasm feels he must carry out his life perfectly – one failure of duty, one lapse in cleanliness, one cheat of the proper diet and all will be lost. Perfectionism and the need for control with the feeling of being strained to one’s very limit are the normal presentation. Physically the cancer miasm is often found in patients with a history of cancer but many other physical ailments can be produced. Anorexia nervosa is often treated by remedies of this miasm. Tumors of any sort, neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis are often found in this miasm.
Remedies- Agaricus, Anacardium. Anhalonium, Argentum Nitricum, Arsenicum Album. Asarum. Baryta Arsenica, Bellis Perenis, Calcarea Arsenica, Calcarea Nitrica, Causticum, Conium. Ferrum Arsenicum, Ignatia, Kali Arsenicum, Kali Nitricum, Natrum Arsenicum, Nitricum Acidum, Opium, Physostigma, Ruta, Sabina, Staphysagria, Tabacum, Viola Odorata.
Nosodes: Carcinocin, Scirrhinum

Tubercular Miasm (Vithoulkas)

The feeling of the miasm relates to the ever encroaching and eventually fatally suffocating infection. The patient rebels, struggles, longs for freedom from his condition. He hurries to live his life even as he intuits that it is burning away from him. He feels the walls closing in upon him. His loved ones cannot be trusted. He suffers from respiratory conditions, persecution complex, deformative arthritis
Remedies- Abrotanum. Acalypha. Apis. Aranea. Arsenicum Iodatum. Atrax. Balsamum. Brucea. Bromium. Calcarea Iodata. Calcarea Phosphorica. Cereus Bonplandii. Cimicifuga. Cistus. Coccus Cacti. Coffea. Drosera. Elaterium. Euonymus. Ferrum Iodatum. Ferrum Phosphoricum. Fluoric Acid. Ginseng. Iodum Kali Phosphoricum. Latrodectus. Magnesia Phosphorica. Mygale. Myristica. Myrtus Communis. Natrum Phosphricum. Oleander. Phelandrium. Phosphorus. Pix. Rumex. Salix Niger. Sambucus. Senega. Succinic Acid. Tarentula. Theridion. Ustilago. Verbascum.Vespa.
Nosode – Bacillinum. Tuberculinum (in all its preparations). BCG vaccine.

Leprosy Miasm (Vakil)

Lepers have suffered enormously through history. The condition is slowly progressive and eventually leads to death. However, even more disturbing to the patient is the reaction of those around him. He is reviled by his friends and community. Where they looked at him with affection they now feel loathing. This results in a desperate state of self-disgust and self-hatred. He feels contempt with his condition and towards himself or others. He desires to tear, mutilate or bite himself. He suffers from suicidal thoughts or impulses, depression, morbid obesity.
Remedies- Agraphis. Aloe. Ambra. Androctonus. Aristolochia. Aurum Sulphuricum. Azadirachta. Baryta Iodata. Baryta Sulphurica. Cereus Serpentinus. Cicuta. Coca. Codeinum. Comocladia. Curare. Cyclamen. Fumaria. Gratiola. Homarus. Hura. Hydrastus. Hydrocotyle. Indolum. Kola nut. Lac Defloratum. Laurocerasus. Ledum. Mandragora. Mephites. Ocimum sacntum. Rhus glabra. Secale. Sepia. Skatolum. Solanum Tuberosum Aegrotans. Spiraea.
Nosodes – Leprominium. Psorinum.

Syphilitic Miasm (Hahnemann)

Syphilis was an inexorable death sentence in the pre-antibiotic era. The condition is utterly destructive – either physically or mentally. Extreme nihilism marks the patient in the uncompensated state. The diseases are destructive of bone and tissue leading eventually to death. The patient reacts to his illness or his perceived life situations as though under a death sentence. He is prone to feelings of violence and revenge. Suicide or homicidal feelings are common. Destructive addictions often result. Physical conditions include advanced cardiac conditions, aortic disease, aneurysm, alcoholism.
Remedies- Alumina. Anagallis. Aurum. Cenchris. Clematis. Crataegus Echinacea. Elaps. Hepar Sulphur. Hydrocotyle. Lachesis. Lathyrus. Leptandra. Mercurius. Origanum. Osmium. Naja. Platinum Plumbum. Plutonium. Psilocibe. Stillingea.
Nosode -- Syphilinum

SOME IMPORTANT BOOKS ON MIASMS

The Homeopathic Miasms - A Modern View by IAN WATSON

This is a modern review of the homeopathic theory of miasms, taking Hahnemann's groundbreaking hypothesis as the starting point, and extending it to include positive as well as negative traits, exploring how miasms can and do contribute to a growth in human consciousness. Considering the miasms as challenges to humanity, the author describes each major miasm in terms of its life issues and affinities, with the disease aspects being incorporated into a much larger picture. It includes the five chronic miasms of psora, sycosis, syphilis, tuberculosis and cancer, plus the more recent miasms of radiation and AIDS. It also includes the organ and tissue affinities, associated homeopathic remedies and flower essences.

Indications of Miasms by H CHOUDHURY

Dr. Choudhury's treatise on miasms is very explicitly written in all the aspects with practical suggestions which would help the readers immensely. He described the relationship of miasms with micro-organisms, the correct indication of the particular miasm thereby identifying one from another. He described mixed miasms, vaccinosis, acute miasms, etc., to understand and distinguish them for the purpose of treatment. He has written on the present days' dreaded diseases like Tuberculosis, Cancer, AIDS, etc. for appropriate understanding from homoeopathic point of view. He has compiled lists of drugs under each miasm for the benefit of readers.

Miasms as Practical Tools: A Homeopathic Approach to Chronic Disease (Beaconsfield Homeopathic Library) BY JOHN SAXTON

Here is a model for understanding the miasms and utilising them as real tools for prescribing which covers all the bases and has never quite been done this way before, to my knowledge. Illustrated well, with many useful and detailed discussed cases, this work should become a baseline for teaching of the subject and be added to each school's essential reading list, enabling a really good grounding.

-- The Homeopath

The Chronic Miasms: Psora, Pseudo-psora and Sycosis BY J H ALLEN

Comparative Study of Chronic Miasms- Y R AGARWAL

Notes on the Miasms- P S ORTEGA

Originally published in 1977 as Apuntes sobre los Miasmas o Enfermedades Cronicas de Hahnemann. Primera edicion. Biblioteca de Homeopatia de Mexico A.C. Mexico D.F. The English edition was published under the supervision of Diwan Harish Chand. This book is an in-depth look at miasmatic analysis of cases.

Miasmatic Diagnosis Practical Tips With Clinical Comparisons: Includes Summary of Miasmatic Indications from Head to Foot With Phychic and Paedeatric Manifestations and Miasm Medicine Chart- SUBRATA KUMAR BANERJEA

The Foundation of the Chronic Miasms in the Practice of Homeopathy- HENNY HEUDEN MAST

"Henny's depth of understanding of homeopathic philosophy is unsurpassed, as is her knowledge of materia medica, case taking, case analysis, miasms, and her amazing ability to find the simillimum. Her consistency in upholding the highest principles of homeopathic philosophy and healing in her teaching and practice shine a bright clear light on homeopathy. We are fortunate to receive this great gift to our healing profession.
Durr Elmore, D.C., N.D., LAc, Associate Professor
National College of Naturopathic Medicine
Portland, Oregon



A COMPARISON OF THE CHRONIC MIASMS (Psora, Pseudo-Psora, Syphilis, Sycosis). With a Foreword by Noel Puddephatt- PHYLLIS SPEIGHT.

In chronic diseases theory of miasms is vital. Some books

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
Because of the Theory of Miasms, Homeopathy stands much above other systems of medicine. it is unrivalled in treating chronic cases. By chronic we do not mean diseases which last for a long time. Chronic disease in Homeopathy has nothing to do with time. It has everything to do with miasms. Wherever miasms are present, the case is a chronic one and will not be cured even with the best similinum (matching disease picture with drug picture). Then is Homeopathy is useless, you may say. No way!

Best indicated remedies will not cure in chronic cases unless while prescribing the miasmatic dimension of the case is included. Hahnemann had faced the same problem centuries ago. He found that despite giving the best indicated remedy, the disease did not go away. After the first dose, there was some improvement. But soon there was a relapse. The second and third dose did nothing.

"Is the law of similars useless," Hahnemann had asked himself for a fleeting moment. But so sure was he that Homeopathy could never be wrong that he continued his hard work.

After much trials and tribulations he slowly gave shape to the theory of miasms. Today many Homeopaths still say it is all rubbish (luminaries like Dr. P. Sankaran tops the list). But experience has told me the theory of miasms is the greatest gift to humanity.

Hahnemann said there were only three miasms- psora, sycosis and syphilis. J.H.Allen added one more; tubercular miasm. Rajan Sankaran added six more. But it is widely accepted that these additional miasms are just combinations of the basic three miasms. They are not new.

I will not explain to you what these miasms are. Better and superior minds have given a clear account of them in their books. My advice to you is, read them. Though in the next article I will give you a table of miasms according to Rajan Sankaran. It has been prepared by Roger Morrison.

Essential Reading on Miasms:-

1. Miasmatic Diagnosis by Dr. Subrata Kumar BANERJEA (This can be taken as gospel as far as miasms are concerned. The book also has a table of remedies with corresponding miasms they act on. Invaluable. Read this before you go to Sankaran's interpretation of miasms. You will not get confused. Banerjea gives the pathology of miasms, Sankaran gives the mental states of miasms. Both are indispensable).

2. Predictive Homeopathy part 3. The End of Myasmtion of Miasms-Mathematics of Human Defense against Diseases by Prafull VIJAYAKAR. (He puts it all very succinctly. He derides Sankaran, but remember that Vijaykar is a brilliant Homeopath).

3. The Substance of Homeopathy by Rajan SANKARAN
(Page numbers: 20-24, 29, 30, 31-32, 37-45, 51-57, 72-73, 74-78 )

4. Notes on the Miasms by Proceso Sanchez ORTEGA (He says the color of psora is blue, of sycosis yellow and of syphilis red)

5. Chronic Disease- Its Cause and Cure by N. Ghatak (translated by P.N. BANERJEE)

6. Indications of Miasm by Harimohon CHOUDHURY

7. The new book by Henny Heudens-Mast is being highly praised. I haven't got to read it. Give it a try if you get a chance.

More on Homeopathic prescribing

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
When I said that Homeopathic prescribing is all about matching the image of the disease with drug picture I did not mean that you sit down and go through mentals, generals, modalities one by one. Things don't work that way in Homeopathy.

Look at the patient and observe what you get from him/her. It might be strong mental picture or you might see keynotes of some remedy lurking. Hit with what you get. If you get mentals use them. If you get prominent keynotes, hit them. If you get characteristic local symptoms, use them. If the causation is clear, use causation to prescribe.

Kent's method, Boeninghausen's method, Boger's method.... Use them when you can use them in a case. If the mentals and generals are striking, use Kent's method. I modalities, use Boeninghausen's. Each case will cry out for the relevant method. You have to use your head.

But keep one thing in mind. Whatever symptoms you use they should be striking and strong. Weak and vague symptoms are of no use.

Recommended reading:-
1. Case Analysis and Prescribing Techniques by Robin MURPHY (Murphy's thinking is original. He has an awesome knowledge of Homeopathy. He believes you do not have to hit miasms with high potencies to get rid of them. 6C everyday for some time will do the job too. Though he does not rule out high potencies altogether).

How to get the mentals well- Homeopathy psychology

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
The value of the mental state during Homeopathic prescribing cannot be overstated. It is all important. Though note that sometimes when the mentals in a case are unclear, go for the generals and then for the particulars. If nothing is available, then go by the clinical symptoms. This happens in gross pathology and all other symptoms have been suppressed. Go by clinical symptoms and give the remedy and hope that the suppressed symptoms begin to emerge again.

Both the first two books of Dr. Rajan Sankaran are invaluable to understand the mentals. His books have revolutionized Homeopathy and given it newer dimensions. His concept of compensation is as original as it is indispensable for prescribing.
So I will suggest the two books by Rajan Sankaran.

1. The Spirit of Homeopathy by Rajan Sankaran
2. The Substance of Homeopathy by Rajan Sankaran

I must readily admit that his later books, like The Sensation in Homeopathy has left me flummoxed, though many Homeopaths claim they are following the concept of sensation in their practice. My advise it forget that book. But those interested in reading cases by Homeopaths following Sankaran's 'sensation' and Scholten's methods can visit http://www.interhomeopathy.org/

Here are some more books that will acquaint you with the mental pictures of Homeopathic remedies.

1. Homeopathic Psychology (Personality Profiles of the Major Constitutional Remedies) by Philip Bailey.
An unique book. Gives the nature of important constitutional remedies. But he could have given more remedies.

2. Portraits of Homeopathic Medicine by Catherine R. COULTER (This book has volume 2 and volume 3 too)

3. Kent's Comparative Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica by DOCKS and KOKELENBERG
A great book. It has 500+ pages out which about 170 pages are devoted to the mind. These guys have not just copied down the mind symptoms from Hering or Allen or Clarke. They have explained, in their own unique way, the different shades of different remedies for a rubric. I give an extract...
The rubric is Irritability, when hurried.(From Kent's repertory).

For people who like to work in their own tempo. You may not urge
them.
Mercurius: When you urge him, he will not
like it, but he will work twice as fast.
Alumina: He will block. He loses his head. he is slow, but
in words he has a hurried feeling. For slow, cold people who are tired and
perspired.

The translation from Flemish to English is not too good, but adequate.
This book is a gem.

4. Synthesis Repertory (Synthesis Repertorium Homeopathicum Syntheticum) by Frederik SCHROYENS (The mind chapter)
5. Teachings: Homeopathy and Psychiatric Patients by André SAINE (The Canadian homeopath has exhaustively read old journals of the nineteenth century containing articles by masters of Homeopathy. His book describes many remedies that are used in psychiatric cases)

6. Homeopathy and the Elements by Jan SCHOLTEN

7. Homeopathy and Minerals by Jan SCHOLTEN

8. The Soul of Remedies by Rajan SANKARAN

9. Thematic Repertory and Materia Medica of the Mind Symptoms by José Antonio MIRILLI (Invaluable, but very expensive)

10. Complete Repertory - Volume 1 - Mind by Roger VAN ZANDVOORT (A deep knowledge of mind of Homeopathic remedies is not possible without this book. But it is not readily and widely available. It can be freely downloaded from the internet though).

How to choose the right potency in Homeopathy?

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
The potency problem is the one which remains unsolved this day. I mean there is disagreement amongst the different masters of Homeopathy on the issue. Some like Dr. Kent and Dr. Nash were unabashed high potency preachers. On the other hand British homeopaths like Dr. J H Clarke voted for the lower potencies. (I HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR Dr. Clarke. His works are a treat to read).

My advice is keep a open mind. Decide after observing the case. If the totality of the case matches well with the characteristics of the patient, even high potencies will do good work. But be careful that the patient can take the high potency. If there is continuous aggravation (especially of the mental condition of the patient) antidote it or give the same remedy in low potency. Remember, lower potency of a remedy will antidote the high potency of the same remedy. I recollect I had given Carcinosinum 1 M to a patient. There was frightening aggravation. Now know this well, Carc. has no antidote. I gave Carc. 30 and everything was fine.

Remember, after giving the remedy, monitor the mental state of the patient. If the patient feels better, you have nothing to worry, even if the pathology is worsening. The cure process is under way.

If you are a novice in Homeopathy, start with 6C or 30C. Go after the 200, 1 M and 10 M only after you have read extensively. Ignorance is not bliss in Homeopathy. Read books. Then read more books, is my advise. Don't be lazy. There is no place for laziness in Homeopathy. Use your head. Be original. Always remember what Hahnemann, Boeninghausen, Hering, Kent, Von Lippe, Boger, Nash, Clarke, Bhanja, Grimmer say. They were greats. They knew what they were talking about. Be sceptical about everybody else. But what those greats said; take it as gospel. You will not regret it.

Essential Reading for potency

1. Select Your Dose and Potency by Dr. P.S. RAWAT

2. Introduction to Homeopathic Prescribing by S.M. GUNAVANTE (Lesson 7 - Selection of Potency and Repetition of Dose)

3. The Elements of Homoeopathy (Ch. 16 - The Potency Problem) by P Sankaran.

Some good books on Homeopathic therapeutics

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
Good books on therapeutics are useful. They are useful in the sense that it gives you some idea of which are the likely remedies in a case. But do not depend wholly on these books. If none of the remedies seem to fit in your case, forget that book and get down to hard work. Keynotes, mentals, generals, modalities..... Find them. They will always remain your true guides.

1. The Homeopathic Prescriber by Dr. K.C. BHANJA. (I have found this to be the best book on therapeutics. Bhanja gives the keynotes of different remedies in different diseases. Most useful. He has given the keynotes of 60 odd remedies in the book, like nobody else before. I find them better than the much vaunted Allen's Keynotes. Dr. Bhanja was abrilliant Indian homeopath, who I think has not been fully appreciated by the internetional homeopathic community. Each of his books are masterpieces.  )

2. Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics by Willis Alonzo DEWEY

3. Select Your Remedy by Bishamber Das.
4. The Prescriber by John Henry CLARKE (Perhaps the best book on Homeo therapeutics. Even a novice can use it with success. When I was taking my first baby steps in Homeopathy, I had cured a case of spinal meningitis after going through the prescriber)
5. I also found the famous Homeopathic Therapeutics by Samuel LILIENTHAL very useful.

Some vital hints for Homeopathic prescribing

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.

• Common symptoms become characteristic ( which are used for prescribing) if they are 1. very intense or 2. group unexpectedly or peculiarly with other common symptoms

• HIERARCHY - Modalities (most imortant), sensation (less important) and then location (least important)

• HIERARCHY OF MODALITIES- 1. Causation, 2. Aggravation and 3. Amelioration

• HIERARCHY OF CAUSATION- 1. Mental 2. Physical (diathesis, suppressions)

• HIERARCHY OF AGGRAVATION- 1. Emotional 2. General and 3. Particular

• Common mentals are useless unless they are very intense or accompanied with modalities

• Concomitants of mental symptoms are extremely important

• Common symptoms become characteristic when they are 1. Very intense 2. Have modalities 3. associate themselves together peculiarly (Example-clean tongue with nausea) 4. Group together (ex. vomiting and diarrhoea)

• HIERARCHY OF SYMPTOMS ACCORDING TO DR. P. SANKARAN- 1. Mental characteristics, 2. General characteristics, 3. Particular characteristics 4. mentals common 5. Generals common 6. Particulars common (least important)

• KEYNOTES are characteristic symptoms which unmistakably point to a small group of remedies. Single keynote is of no use in prescribing. Atleast three keynotes are needed (Hering's three-legged stool)

• BOENINGHAUSEN'S GENERALISATION- when a sensation or modality is experienced in two or more locations; this can be safely generalised

• PHYSICAL GENERALS- 1. AGGRAVATIONS 2. AMELIORATIONS 3. SENSATIONS 4. Food (Aggravation and cravings) 4. Sleep & dreams 5. Sex (Desire, masturbation,menses) 6. Pathological generals (See Boger's General Analysis and "Sensations and complaints" chapter in Boger-Boeninghausen Repertory)

• TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS is not totality of all symptoms but is the totality of characteristic symptoms

• CAUSATION is the most important. Causation forms the core of the picture of illness in a patient. If you get the causation in a case, you have hit bullseye. (There are about 5 pages of 'ailments from' in Synthesis Repertory in the mind chapter. They give the mental causation. Priceless stuff.)

• Boeninghausen considers aggravations as being more important than ameliorations during prescribing

• CHARACTERISTIC PARTICULARS come last in importance. They help in prescribing in acute diseases when the acute disease throws the chronic picture of disease into the background. They are useful in finding acute remedies.

• BOENINGHAUSEN'S FUNDAS- 1. Generalize on a large scale 2. Prime importance of modalies 3. Concomitants are very important 4 Physical generals are important 5. Mentals are used to differentiate

• KENT'S APPROACH 1. Mentals are most important 2. Generalization on a limited scale 3. Then come the Physical generals 4. Characteristic particulars help to differentiate during prescribing

• BOGER'S APPROACH It is mostly the Boeninghausen's method. Boger's contribution is Pathological generals

• Remember that all chronic cases have miasms involved. Such cases need miasmatic prescribing. What are miasms? We will discuss that in a later article. In fact because of the concept of miasms, Homeopathy is a much superior system of medicine as compared to Allopathy and other systems.

• Unlike in allopathy diagnosis is useless while prescribing Homeopathically. Clinical systems as they are called are totally useless. In Murphy's repertory ther are about 100 remedies under tuberculosis. How do you decide which to pick? Get my point? Moreover, if the mentals and physicals fit, even if that remedy is not given under tuberculosis, it will cure and cure pronto.

How to find the right Homeopathic remedy?

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
Please allow me to apologise here if sometimes you find it difficult to comprehend what I am talking about. There are two reasons for that. Firstly I make no pretence of being a teacher. I am just sharing with you all that I know about Homeopathy. Please read my articles carefully and also start reading books on the subject. Things will begin to become clearer.

Secondly Homeopathy is a difficult subject. Remember what I said at the outset? Homeopathy is like a beautiful and good woman who is difficult to woo. But the silver lining is that once you fall in love, hard work and commitment to learning Homeopathy will come easily and by itself. It is like falling in love.

How do we go about finding the right remedy for a patient? There are many ways of prescribing. The following book will be of help.

Principles of Prescribing by K.N.MATHUR

Most authors will say for beginners, painstaking repertorising is the only way. But to me this has seemed to be clerical drudgery. Homeopathy is not about memorising and slogging. It is an art. "Dare to be wise"- is the universal motto.

I finally found refuge in Kent. He says while prescribing, only the mentals and the generals are of consequence. Mentals means we try to draw the picture of the state of mind of the diseased patient. Generals are whether he likes warmth or called, is he always thirsty or that he prefers to drink only a little water. Things like that.

In other words, we have to draw the picture of the disease (I do not mean allopathic diagnosis here). And then try and find a remedy with a matching picture. You give the remedy and presto! The disease disappears!

Modern Indian Homeopaths like Rajan Sankaran claim that the mentals are all important. If they fit, just go ahead and prescribe. I have found mentals are the most important. But the generals also should fit, to be on the safer side.

Homeopathic remedies are like humans. They have their own likes and dislikes, their peculiarities. Know them well. Read the Keynotes of the Homeopathic remedies well. The next time you see a sick person you will find one of them lurking inside him. Give him that remedy and you will cure. Definitely.

Some essential books to learn HOMEOPATHY

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
Please note at the outset that there might be other people advising you to buy some other books, besides the ones I am going to list down. These are the books I found to be my best friends. I learnt Homeopathy without any guidance from any one, in other words the hard way; through trial and error. THAT INCLUDES BUYING MANY BOOKS THAT were not very helpful to me, but I bought them because I had no one to ask.

I am telling you this so that you do not waste money and time like I did.

It is a tough subject and many might get discouraged, in the face of total lack of guidance. I want to smoothen the path for others.

KEYNOTES

1. Leaders in Homeopathic Therapeutics BY E.B. NASH 
(Buy book in India)
2. Keynotes of the Materia Medica with Nosodes by Henry C. ALLEN 
(Buy KEYNOTES AND CHARACTERISTICS In India)
3. Desktop Guide To Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms by Roger MORRISON

MATERIA MEDICA

1. Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory 
BY William BOERICKE 
 (Buy book online in India)
2. Materia Medica of Homeopathic Medicines 
by S.R. PHATAK
(Buy the book in India)
3. Concordant Materia Medica by Frans VERMEULEN

REPERTORY

1. Homeopathic Medical Repertory by Robin MURPHY
(Buy this book in India)

What is Homeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory?

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
I will talk about the Homeopathic materia medica and the Homeopathic repertory. You may gasp in horror. "What on earth are these?"

It is actually very simple. You know Homeopathic medicines are tried on humans, not on poor monkeys, rats, and guinea pigs like it is done in allopathy. The idea is to see how the remedy acts on a human body. Don’t worry; no one has died 'proving' a remedy, as it is called.

How is it done? You administer the drug to many volunteers. They then feel the effects of the remedy on their body and mind. The effect on each part, like mind, head, stomach, urinary system are felt by these volunteers and carefully noted down. This is your materia medica of the drug.

I give an example to explain. I give below an extract of the materia medica of the drug Phos. It is taken from the book HOMŒOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA by William BOERICKE

Mind.--Great lowness of spirits. Easily vexed. Fearfulness, as if something were creeping out of every corner. Clairvoyant state. Great tendency to start. Over-sensitive to external impressions. Loss of memory. Memory. Paralysis of the insane. Ecstasy. Dread of death when alone. Brain feels tired. Insanity, with an exaggerated idea of one's own importance. Excitable, produces heat all over. Restless, fidgety. Hypo-sensitive, indifferent.

Head.--Vertigo of the aged, after rising (Bry). Heat comes from spine. Neuralgia; parts must be kept warm. Burning pains. Chronic congestion of head. Brain-fag, with coldness of occiput. Vertigo, with faintness. Skin of forehead feels too tight. Itching of scalp, dandruff, falling out of hair in large bunches.

Eyes.--Cataract. Sensation as if everything were covered with a mist or veil, or dust, or something pulled tightly over eyes. Black points seem to float before the eyes. Patient sees better by shading eyes with hand. Fatigue of eyes and head even without much use of eyes. Green halo about the candlelight (Osmium). Letters appear red. Atrophy of optic nerve. Œdema of lids and about e eyes. Pearly white conjunctiva and long curved lashes. Partial loss of vision from abuse of tobacco (Nux) Pain in orbital bones. Paresis of extrinsic muscles. Diplopia, due to deviation of the visual axis. Amaurosis from sexual excess. Glaucoma. Thrombosis of retinal vessels and degenerative changes in retinal cells. Degenerative changes where soreness and curved lines are seen in old people. Retinal trouble with lights and hallucination of vision.

Now all symptoms, when they are carefully collected (of all drugs) in a register form , se have the Repertory. I will give an extract from Kent's Repertory. It will make things clearer.

ANXIETY,
walking, while : Acon., aloe., anac., ant-c., arg-m., arg-n., bar-c., bell., cina., clem., hep., ign., manc., mang., nux-v., plat., spong., staph., tab.
in open air : Anac., arg-m., arg-n., bell., cina., hep., ign., Lyc., nux-v., plat., spong., tab.
amel. : Iod., kali-i., kali-s., puls., rhus-t.
rapidly, when : Nit-ac., staph.
which makes him walk faster : Arg-n.
warm bed yet limbs cold if uncovered : Mag-c.
warmth, from : Gamb., Kali-s., puls.
amel. : Graph., phos.
weeping, followed by : Acon., am-m., carb-v.
amel. : Dig., graph., tab.
work, during manual : Aloe., anac., graph., iod.

Some suggested medical dictionaries for studying Homeopathy

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
i want to advise you here to pick up a basic medical dictionary. some knowledge of anatomy, physiology and diseases is necessary in Homeopathy. You don't need to buy a costly and thick medical dictionary. A basic one will do but it should be a good one. I will give three recommendations. You may buy any one of them or you may go in for some other, if you find that it suits you better.

1. POCKET MEDICAL DICTIONARY by HARRISON 

2. OXFORD MEDICAL DICTIONARY

3. LONGMAN MEDICAL DICTIONARY

I would also like to give you her the name of an excellent introductory book on Homeopathy. It slipped my mind earlier. But I give it now.

Brief Study Course in Homeopathy by Elizabeth Wright-Hubbard

Homeopathy drugs and Homeopathy masters

REAL CURE. GENTLE CURE.
Now you may ask, what is the difference between allopathic and Homeopathy drugs. Well, the former are crude substances. Homeopathy remedies have 'spiritual' energy. Examine a pellet of arsenic album 30C under a microscope. You will no trace of arsenic.

Then how does it act? The matter of arsenic album may not be there, but its spirit is there. This is the reason that allopathic school of medicine does not recognize Homeopathy and looks down on it with disdain. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Every time a well selected remedy is administered, it acts promptly. No one has been able to explain why Homeopathic drugs act, but they act like a dream.

One has to believe in spirituality to believe in Homeopathy. That is the reason why India has taken to Homeopathy. It vibes well with its belief in the concept of AATMA.

In fact India is the citadel and powerhouse that has not only kept Homeopathy alive, but it is also flourishing. A few years back it was gasping for survival in the United States, but lately it is becoming increasingly popular there again. This is happening because people are getting disillusioned by the failure of allopathy in curing many diseases, especially chronic diseases. Also the side effect of allopathic drugs has left people searching for alternatives. Homeopathy has been the king of alternative therapy.

It might sound strange, but in the 19th century, Homeopathy had flourished in the US. It had thrown up some of the masters of Homeopathy, whose contribution is priceless. Hering, Kent, Lippe, Nash, Farringdon and Grimmer's books are still and will remain essential reading in Homeopathy.