Homoepathy In 21st Century

Homoeopathy is now synonymous with the little white globules… how this tiny dose works, still continuous to baffle the minds of general public. The concept of dynamic healing is now emerging ; and adequate efforts must be made to educate the public regarding the same. Even for the practicing Homoeopath, the practice of homoeopathy has been rather limited to prescribing these tiny pills …These tiny pills is currently the image of the ’Homoeopathic Prescription’ (popularly known as the similimum) and is the also the image of homeopathic practice.

The traditional tenets of Homoeopathy as described by its founder Dr Samuel Hahnemann in 1796, principally revolve around a fundamental doctrine – like cures like (Similia Similibus Curentur ) . His principles and style of Homeopathic system of medicine are followed till date by many practitioners.This traditional approach is based on the unique concepts embodied into the Organon of Medicine, and can be listed under following broad categories

Over the last 200 years, the science of Homoeopathy has seen two schools of thought emerging – one school comprises of the staunch traditionalists, who abide by the original doctrines and methodology as prescribed by the founder himself. The other school comprises of all the others (Liberals), which includes those who propose different concepts of miasms, different approaches to diagnose illness, and different ways to apply medicines.

Though Homoeopathy has evolved with clinical research and increase in the number of homeopathic remedies, the practice of homoeopathy remains confined to the dispensing of the white globules. It is time to take Homoeopathy to the next level, a more complete and holistic one, which can take on far greater challenges faced by the healer. Dr Samuel Hahnemann himself may have felt the need for a holistic approach, and he revealed his thoughts in his last edition of the organon of medicine….the 6th Edition. However, this section never received its due attention and credit.

With the advent of modern medicine and the revolution of modern technology, it is but obvious that one needs to change with the times. Homoeopathy must also evolve. The very concepts of the three miasms (Psora, Sycosis, Syphilis), single dose , one similimum are being challenged by practitioners. New thought forms are emerging and clinical applications are showing positive results.

Today, the main challenge faced by the homeopathic fraternity are

Thus, It is important to have a Homeopathic analytical model which is more consistent and tangible and not individual-centric.

Some of the main challenges faced by homoeopaths, which need to be addressed are :

a. Understanding and deciphering MENTAL STATE

The MENTALS are highly ranked for their role in prescriptive totality. Dr Hahnemann give it the utmost importance. Analysing the Mental State is as complex as the Mental State itself. Firstly one has to deal with the patients own interpretations, the limitations of his intellect and expressions and the unexpressed subconscious ‘Affects’ which poison the Mind and manifest illness. It is a task to extract all the relevant information necessary for the prescription. Secondly, the physician has to deal with his own prejudices and his individual understanding of the Mental state.

In both of the above scenarios, the interpretations of the mental state vary from one physician to the other. Subsequently, the prescription also varies. Thus, the selection of the remedy is labelled as partially similar but not accurate; and such partially similar remedy results in partial or no results.

Diagnostic Hypnosis Case Taking is an important skill which every homoeopath must master. This diagnostic protocol can bypass the conditioning of the conscious Mind and unravel the true mental State.

Hypnosis proves to be particularly relevant when it is seen in the light of ‘Somatisation’ – the process which links the Mental processes to physical manifestations. Every mental attribute is reflected on the physical body. If the physician is conversant with the language of the Mind and reads it through their manifestations on the body, it will make the selection of MENTALS more accurate.

“The concept of Somatisation can confirm interpretation of the Mental State, since they reflect on the corporeal body and can be recognised and confirmed easily.”

b. Dealing with chronic illnesses with advanced pathologies

The Homeopathic Materia Medica is transcribed in a format which is 200 years old. It is extensively exhaustive, an encyclopaedia of drug symptoms, and needs to be studied on its own merits. Till date, this data is the basis of understanding a homeopathic drug and the basis of applying ‘Similia Similibus Curentur’.

Though the concept of prescribing on symptoms is equally valid, the Homeopathic physician must keep pace with the modern medical technology. It is important to find the relevance of the drug symptomatology to the depth, pace and pathology of the illness.

Converting symptoms of drugs to corresponding physio-pathological states is what can make homoeopathy futuristic. The scope of individual homeopathic drugs must be widened to include the relevance of drug symptoms to correspond to the modern medical knowledge

The drug actions are being studied on the dynamic plane, corporeal plane, physiological plane, and pathological plane.

It is seen that Homeopathic drugs can be used for nutritional, physiological, antidotal and specific pathological process manipulations. Homeopathic drugs are also seen as tools or modulation of genetic expressions. The need of the hour is to create a Materia Medica which can be called as Dynamic Physio-Pathology. The generals, key notes, modalities and concomitants need to be interpreted in light of specific medical conditions.

c. Integration

In principle, every individual is unique and so is their malady. Every illness is usually multi-factorial. Though the individual constitution is a single entity, it can be afflicted by multiple ‘Miasms’ which co-exist and result in a complex illness. A holistic treatment protocol is essential for a complete solution.

Homoeopathic medicines are energies; these energies have to be given their due place on the dynamic spectrum that influences life. It is necessary to know where Homoeopathy stands amongst all the dynamic agents available with us.

Holistic medicine is a form of healing that considers the whole person – the body, mind and spirit – the physical symptoms, the emotions, the intellect, the spiritual consciousness itself and correspondingly employs multiple healing protocols for CURE.

THUS, the true form of holistic healing is a therapeutic approach that administers a complete protocol, one which covers all the dynamic frequencies that constitute our existence.

In simple terms, Homoeopathy can use different complimentary approaches to enhance the effectiveness of the Similimum. The use of Healing Diets, Healing dynamic exercises, mental affirmations, Dynamic herbal supplements etc are proving to be very effective.
Also, the homeopathic armoury itself can be used more effectively specially in chronic cases with advanced pathologies. Tissue salts, Mother Tinctures can find new avenues of application and supplementation.

Newer concepts can be explored viz.

– Every Potency is system specific (e.g. Nux Vomica 30 for GIT; Nux Vomica 200 for respiratory and Nux Vomica 1m for headaches, neuralgias) can be verified clinically

– Customisation of remedy – Different dynamic agents can be formulated to produce a new medicinal agent. Thus we will not be limited to the few thousand remedies, but can create infinite combinations…