Homeopathy General Questions

Question 1

General symptoms affect the whole person, this includes which 5 categories?

Answer 1

1. Mental/emotional
2. General modalities (what makes person better or worse) and General physical (sleep, temp, appetite, thirst, etc.)
3. Desires and aversions
4. Pathological predisposition
5. Physical structure (tall, thin, etc.) incl. symptoms that occur in 2 or more parts of the body

Question 2

These types of symptoms refer to a part of the person (patient refers to them with “my” statements). Not as important as general symptoms unless it is the focus of the case, as in acute prescribing, or anything strange, rare or peculiar.

Answer 2

Particular symptoms

Question 3

These types of symptoms are also called strange, rare, or peculiar symptoms. These are not only unusual but are listed in the repertory as a rubric w/ only a small number of remedies. Therefore, these are important symptoms to note, but must be confirmed by the rest of the case.

Answer 3

Characteristic symptoms

Question 4

Which type of symptoms that is so apparent or striking that it strongly suggests or points to a single remedy? The symptom is strongly correlated w/ a particular remedy. For example, “feeling of sand under the eyelids” is a ______ of ferrum phos.

Answer 4

Keynote symptoms

Question 5

Which law consists of “like cures like” and is a substance that provokes a symptom (usually in relatively high doses, but not necessarily) in a healthy person will remove that symptom in an unhealthy person?

Answer 5

Law of Similars

Question 6

What is a remedy that most closely corresponds to the totality of symptoms and has the potential to cure? This remedy frequently causes aggravation initially. It also provokes healing in the order described by Hering’s Law of Cure, including causing old symptoms to reappear and be healed. It does not provoke entirely new symptoms, nor does it cause a proving reaction.

Answer 6

Simillimum

Question 7

What is a method of remedy preparation: The finely powdered medicinal substance (insoluble in water or ethanol) is ground with a pestle in mortar with a certain proportion of lactose (i.e. 1 part medicinal substance to 9 or 99 parts lactose).

Answer 7

Trituration
[Thirty minutes of grinding yields the first potency, and then the process is repeated. It is only necessary to do this until a 3C potency is reached, as by the point all substances become soluble in water or ethanol (as the substance is now so dilute it is entirely lactose).]

Question 8

What is a method that slightly increases the potency of a remedy administered in water? Patient is instructed to dissolve remedy in a glass of H2O and then drink. For the next dose, the patient discards any remaining H2O, and w/out cleaning the glass, adds fresh H2O then stirs 12 times. This is set aside for the next day and the process is repeated. This produces the next dose of a slightly higher (approx. 1X differently) potency.

Answer 8

Plussing

There are several variations on how to perform this technique.

Question 9

Name the law:
Symptoms heal in a distinctive pattern when a simillimum is prescribed:
-From above —> downward
-From within —> outward
-From most important organs
—> least important
-In reverse order of appearance of the symptoms
Failure to heal in this manner is a sign of what 2 things?

Answer 9

Hering’s Law of Cure

1. Wrong remedy prescribed (and should be antidote immediately)
2. Presence of an incurable illness (which must be palliated)

Question 10

Infectious or heritable principle that, when taken into the organism, may set up a specific disease. They are said to be heritable and tend to run in families. What are the 3 types? What is the proposed 4th type and what is is a combination of?

Answer 10

Miasms, Chronic
(These are generally what people mean when they refer to “miasms” in the generic.)
1. Psora
2. Syphilis
3. Sycosis
4. Tuberculinism: combo of psora and syphilis

Question 11

These are considered various infectious diseases that occur just once in a person’s life (aphorism 73 of the Organon lists: smallpox, measles, pertussis, scarlet fever and mumps as examples). Highly variable in severity (from benign to lethal), they are never the underlying cause of a condition

Answer 11

Miasms, Acute
“Acute” doesn’t imply a time limit to the condition, only the limited nature of the affliction. All acute miasms are symptom pictures which arise from a chronic miasm.

Question 12

Which chronic miasm (not a remedy) is (according to Hahnemann) is the ultimate cause of all disease. Suppression of symptoms cause it to go deep. Can be inherited but not infectious from person-to-person?

Answer 12

Psora

Question 13

What is the classical skin symptom of Psora miasm?

Answer 13

Vesicles w/ itching and a particular odor

Question 14

What are 7 keynotes associated with the Psora Miasm?

Answer 14

1. Hypersensitive
2. Periodicity
3. Skin symptoms
4. Anxiety
5. Better with cold
6. Better at night
7. Gives energy

Question 15

What is the cause and transmission of the Psora Miasm?

Answer 15

Entirely incidental w/ ancient roots and and propagated widely.

Question 16

Which chronic miasm is associated with sexual transmission and is not a remedy itself?

Answer 16

Syphilis

Question 17

What is the classical skin symptom of Syphilis miasm?

Answer 17

Hard chancre
(Early symptoms are those of primary and secondary syphilis: Hard chancre ---->skin manifestations.

Question 18

What are 7 keynotes associated with the Syphilis Miasm?

Answer 18

1. Destruction
2. Phobias and anxiety
3. Degeneration
4. Insomnia
5. Deformities
6. Worse at night
7. Steals energy

Question 19

What is the cause and transmission of the Syphilis Miasm?

Answer 19

“Impure coition” initially, later may be transmitted accidentally or by further improprieties.

Question 20

Which chronic miasm is associated with infectious (gonorrhea). Not a remedy itself?

Answer 20

Sycosis

Question 21

What are the classic skin symptoms of Sycosis Miasm?

Answer 21

Warts

Question 22

What are 8 keynotes associated with Sycosis Miasm?

Answer 22

1. Hypertrophy
2. H2O retention
3. Warty growths
4. Obsessions
5. Worse cold
6. Worse damp
7. Worse night
8. Repulsive energy

Question 23

What are early symptoms of the Sycosis Miasm?

Answer 23

Those of acute gonorrhea (painful urethritis w/ discharge)

Question 24

What is the cause and transmission of the Sycosis Miasm?

Answer 24

A form of chronic gonorrhea (particularly if the early symptoms are suppressed) transmitted sexually.

Question 25

Which chronic miasm is the most rarely seen?

Answer 25

Sycosis

Question 26

What is the term for intensification of the symptoms to a bearable degree after a remedy is taken?
How soon after the remedy is taken does this happen?

Answer 26

Aggravations

Can happen w/in hours to weeks and is followed by a general amelioration of symptoms.

Question 27

Aggravations often take on what type of character? What does it signal?

Answer 27

Eliminative character

Signaling suppressed symptoms are being released.

Question 28

T/F: Aggravations can be a mix of old, suppressed symptoms and can bring on new symptoms.

Answer 28

FALSE! Never an entirely new symptom, which is a key distinction between an aggravation and a proving.

Question 29

What is the term for when a symptom is not cured but driven deeper/out of sight?

Answer 29

Suppressions

This is considered damaging and most homeopaths agree that it is what palliative care does.

Question 30

Once suppression happens, how long does it take for the symptom to re-emerge?

Answer 30

Months to years

Question 31

T/F: Suppression can lead to decline in emotional/physical/vital health and may lead to many new symptoms arising.

Answer 31

True

Question 32

T/F: Disappearance of an old symptom and its replacement by a totally new, worse symptom is a sign of suppression

Answer 32

True

Question 33

What is the treatment for suppression?

Answer 33

Antidote the remedy, then wait until the case clears a bit before re-prescribing another one.

Question 34

What is the appropriate follow-up with prolonged aggravation, patient worsens?

Answer 34

Incurable case, attempt to palliate

Question 35

What is the appropriate follow-up with prolonged aggravation with slow improvement?

Answer 35

Repeat low potency of remedy after months pass (Simillimum has probably been found but longer observation is needed).

Question 36

What is the appropriate follow-up with rapid and brief aggravation with long-lasting improvement?

Answer 36

Ideal response; do not repeat remedy

Question 37

What is the appropriate follow-up with no aggravation with rapid, long-lasting improvement?

Answer 37

Ideal response; do not repeat remedy

Question 38

What are 3 appropriate follow-up considerations with aggravation after amelioration of symptoms?

Answer 38

1. This may be palliation of an incurable case (continue giving remedy)
2. This could be the wrong remedy (retake case and reconsider remedy)
3. Remedy was antidoted (re-prescribe the remedy)

Question 39

What is the appropriate follow-up with small or no aggravation with brief improvement in acute cases?

Answer 39

Pathology is rapidly moving. Prescribe or re-prescribe as required.

Question 40

What is the appropriate follow-up with small or no aggravation with brief improvement in chronic cases?

Answer 40

Severe damage is occurring, becoming incurable. It may be too late to avoid this problem. Prescribe or re-prescribe as required.

Question 41

What is the appropriate follow-up with small or no aggravation with relief up to a point?

Answer 41

Chronic damage that is partially incurable; continue palliating

Question 42

What is the appropriate follow-up when a patient proves every remedy (new symptoms appear which fit the remedy exactly)?

Answer 42

Give low potency (30-200C) of same remedy. Often it is necessary to antidote the remedy if proving continues.

Question 43

What is the appropriate follow-up when a patient has a “healthy proving” (proving, but overall the patient feels better)?

Answer 43

Do not repeat remedy; wait and see what develops. If proving continues, antidote.

Question 44

What is the appropriate follow-up when a patient experiences disruption (small or no aggravation with new symptoms appearing)?

Answer 44

Double check to be sure they are not just symptoms the patient has forgotten. Once they clear, retake the case (and then prescribe or re-prescribe accordingly)

Question 45

What is the appropriate follow-up when a patient experiences small or no aggravation with old symptoms reappearing?

Answer 45

Ideal response; do not repeat remedy

Question 46

What is the appropriate follow-up when a patient has small or no aggravations with symptoms healing in the wrong order (against Hering’s law of cure)?

Answer 46

Antidote immediately! Wrong remedy.