FOREWORD. – BOENNINGHAUSEN’S CHARACTERISTICS MATERIA MADICA & REPERTORY – C.M. BOGER

Dr Clemens Maria Franz Von BŒNNINGHAUSEN
(1785-1864, Germany)

One
of the most noteworthy of the early practitioners of Homoeopathy was Clemens
Maria Franz, Baron von Boenninghausen, who was born on March 12, 1785, on
the ancestral estate of Heringhaven in Overyssel in the Netherland. His
family was of the oldest nobility of Westphalia. At the age of twelve years
he entered the high school at Munster, remaining for six years, when he
entered the Dutch University of Groningen, where for three years he attended
the lectures upon law, natural history and medicine. He received the degree
of Doctor utrinsque juris on August 30, 1806, and in October of the same
year was appointed lawyer at the Supreme Court at Deventer.

In
1807 he accompanied his father who went as Electoral Representative from
Overyssel to Utrecht to the Court of Louis Napoleon. He was made Auditor of
the Privy Council and within a year Auditor to the King and a fortnight
afterwards Secretary General. He was also appointed Royal Librarian and
Chief of the Topographical Bureau. He remained in Holland until the
resignation of the King on July 1, 1810. He then returned to his home and
devoted himself to the sudy of agriculture and botany. He married in1812 and
removed to his hereditary estate of Darup. He soon entered into
correspondence with the most prominent agriculturists of Germany and
published several pamphlets upon agriculture. He was instrumental also in
establishing the Agricultural Society for the District of Munster. In 1816
he became President of the Provincial Court of Justice for Westphalia in
Coesfield, which position he retained until 1822. About this time he became
one of the Commissioners for the registration of lands and his constant
travels gave him ample opportunity to study the Flora of Rhineland and
Westphalia and he published a book on the subject: “Prodromus Florae
Monasteriensis.” He became Director of the Botanical Gardens of
Munster, retaining this position for several years, and received much
distinction from his botanical writings. In 1827 a serious derangement of
his health occurred and two celebrated physicians decided that he had
purulent tuberculosis. In 1828, when all hopes of recovery had been
abandoned, he wrote a letter of farewell to an old botanical friend, Dr. A.
Weihe, of Hervorden, who was the first homoeopathic physician in the
provinces of Rhineland and Westphalia, though Boenninghausen had only known
him as an enthusiastic botanist. Weihe, distressed at the news, wrote asking
for a detailed description of the disease and expressed a hope that he might
by means of a newly discovered method in medicine be able to cure his
friend, Boenninghausen. Under Dr. Weihe’s treatment Boenninghausen was
entirely cured and became not only a firm believer in Homoeopathy, but its
active missionary. He revived his former knowledge of medicine and began to
practise. But he had no license to practise as a physician and for this
reason he devoted himself to literary labors upon subjects connected with
Homoeopathy. Most of the systematic works written by Boenninghausen
concerning Homoeopathy were published between 1828 and 1846. He was at this
time a constant contributor to the Archiv fur Homoeopathische Heilkunst and
the Allgemeine Homoeopathische Zeitung. On account of his great learning
King Wilhelm IV, on July 11, 1843, issued a Cabinet order bestowing upon
Boenninghausen all the rights and immunities of a practising physician.

Boenninghausen
was a valued correspondent with Hahnemann, Stapf, Gross, Muhlenbein, Weihe
and other notables of the homoeopathic school and was held in high esteem by
all of them. In 1848 he was largely instrumental in establishing the
Homoeopathic Society of Rhineland and Westphalia. He also was made member of
nearly all the existing homoeopathic societies; the Western Homoeopathic
Medical College, in Cleveland, in 1854, gave him an honorary diploma; the
Emperor of France appointed him a Knight of the Legion of Honor on April 20,
1861. He had seven sons, the elder of whom married the adopted daughter of
Madame Hahnemann.

Boenninghausen
for many years lived in Munster. He received patients daily from nine to two
o’clock, from two to five he spent in walking about the suburbs and in the
Botanical Gardens. He lived to attain the age of seventy-nine years, dying
of apoplexy on January 26, 1864.

No
one man, except Hahnemann, has left so deep an impress upon the literature
of Homoeopathy, or has exerted so great an influence in flavour of the
Homoeopathy taught by Hahnemann, as Boenninghausen. His Therapeutic Pocket
Book, first published in1846, has been a guide to many, and other of the
works of his scholarly pen have also been held in demand by the believers in
pure Homoeopathy. He devoted himself especially to presenting the Materia
Medica so that the chief characteristics of each remedy might be thoroughly
understood by the practitioner and his writings are mostly devoted to that
object. The great literary work of his life was probably his editorship of
the Aphorisms of Hippocrates with the Glosses of a Homoeopathist, which was
published in 1863.

Boenninghausen
adopted and practised the three precautionary rules as laid down by
Hahnemann in his practice, and his success in practice, his lucid exposition
of homoeopathic Materia Medica and the integrity of his writings habe
endeared him to all who believe that the law of the similars is the real law
by which the sick can be made well.

T. L. Bradford.
May 10, 1905

PREFACE

It
gives me great pleasure to be able to present the essentials of the
masterpieces of Boenninghausen, condensed into one volume, to the
profession. The ” THERAPEUTIC POCKET BOOK” is easily the foremost
of these; an annotated copy presented by the author to the late Dr. Carrol
Dunham later became the property of Dr. H. N. Guernsey and is now in the
possession of his son, Dr. Joseph C. Guernsey, whose courtesy enables me to
incorporate it in its entirety in the present work.

The
Materia Medica part consists of the ” Characteristics,” now
translated as such for the first time, the “Whooping Cough,” the
“Domestic Physician,” therapeutic hints gleaned from the
“Aphorisms of Hippocrates,” and the symptom text of the ”
Intermittent Fever.” For purposes of comparison the “Allied
Remedies” are added at the end of each remedy; they were the result of
long years of observation on the part of Boenninghausen and largely
supplemented the ” Concordances.” It has been my aim. to arrange
and sift the matter in a way that would avoid all needless repetition, as
well as to render the most expressive sentences as accurately as possible,
while preserving their essential meaning. The periodic homoeopathic
literature of Boenninghausen’s time contains many communications from him
and large numbers of hints from this source have been incorporated in the
text.

In
order to enhance the value of a book intended for ready reference, I have
thought, it best to add the following remedies: Aloes, Apis, Argentum
nitricum, Borax, Bromium, Calcarea phosphorica, Fluoricum acidum, Gelsemium,
Glonoinum, Kali bichromicum, Kreosotum, Mercurius corrosivus, Natrum
sulphuricum, Phytolacca, Podophyllum, Psorinum, and Tabacum. These, in a
very considerable measure, represent the advance in our Materia Medica since
Boenninghausen passed away.

The
Repertory embraces the “Pocketbook,” the “Apsoric” and
the “Antipsoric” repertories. the “Sides of the Body”
the repertory part of the “Intermittent Fever” and of
“Whooping Cough,” as well as a large number of paragraphs from the
” Aphorisms of Hippocrates.” Properly designated additions have
been made from the exigencies of daily practice, but no clinical symptoms
have been thus admitted.

ON THE USE OF
REPERTORIES

A
Repertory is essentially an index and may be advantageously used as such for
discovering particular symptoms as well as for grouping remedies containing
similar combinations in their pathogeneses. The latter, as it insures an
unique comprehensiveness of grasp, is by far its most important use. Such
groups are often large, and when so, are necessarily thinned out by
eliminating all the remedies which lack the essential, general and
special-regional-Conditions. It should be borns in mind that the Conditions,
especially if regional, are apt to modify almost any symptoms that the
remedy may possess. This subject is further elucidated by the following
article which is abridged from an article entitled “A Critical Review
of the Value of Symptoms,” published by Boenninghausen in the Allgemeine
Homoeopathische Zeitung, vol. LX., page 73.

CHOOSING THE REMEDY

Hahnemann,
(see Organon § 104 ) in § 152, of the Organon, gives explicit directions
for its selection ; he tells us how the choice should be made from among the
drugs which exhibit effects simulating those of the whole disease picture
at hand and shows how the final differentiation depends upon the
individualistic or peculiar symptoms. A truly scientific procedure.

The interpretation of what constitutes a striking
or singular symptom, except as pointed out in § 86 and the following
seven considerations :

1.
Changes of personality and temperament are particularly to be noted,
especially when striking alternations, even if rare, occur ; the
latter often supplant or by their prominence may obscure the physical
manifestations and consequently correspond to but few remedies. Taking
written notes of every case gradually drills the mind into recognizing types
(personalities) and their corresponding remedies.

The
expressions of the intellectual and moral proclivities are inter-dependent
and their combined character affords the best and almost sole indication in
the choice of remedies for mental affections.

2.
It is self evident that the nature and peculiarities of disease, as
well as the virtues of drugs, must be thoroughly known before we can hope to
give practical aid in sickness. The homoeopath soon realizes that for him
everything in medicine is generalized too much ; the most diverse diseases
needing quite different remedies are designated by a common title which
excludes every precise indication that might lead to the most suitable
remedy, hence he can make only a limited use of diagnosis. For the same
reason every allopath orders a different medicine or mixes his drugs to
cover the various indications.

The
most accurate and indubitable diagnosis of a disease form as depicted in
pathological (allopathic) treatises can seldom or never suffice for the sure
selection of the similar (homoeopathic) remedy in a concrete case. It can,
at most, but not invariably, serve to exclude from the comparison all
medicines which do not correspond to the nature of the disease, but which on
the contrary seem to expend themselves upon other parts of the living
organism.

3.
The seat of the disease frequently points to the decisive
indications, for almost every drug acts more definitely upon certain parts
of the organism, the whole body seldom being affected equally, even in kind
; differences occur in the so-called local disease, as well as in the
affections designated as general ; such are gout and rheumatism. At times
the right, then again the left side suffers more, or the pains may appear
diagonally, etc., etc.

The
amount of attention to be given to the affected part is necessarily
proportioned to the magnitude of the general illness of which it is a
portion. Such general terms, therefore, as headache, toothache, bellyache,
etc., even when the nature of the pains is expressed, cannot contribute even
the least towards a rational choice of the remedy.

It
is essential to ascertain the seat of the local disease with accuracy ; for
every experienced homoeopath knows how, in toothache for instance, it is
necessary to select the remedy which in its provings has repeatedly acted
upon the very tooth that suffers. The specific curative power of Sepia in
those stubborn and sometimes fatal joint abscesses of the fingers and toes
is extraordinarily conclusive evidence upon this point, for they differ from
similar gatherings in location only, while the remedies so suitable for
abscess elsewhere remain ineffectual here.

Had
the niceties of physical diagnosis of our times been know during the age of
Hahnemann he would doubtless have localized his remedies more accurately
than merely giving such vague designations, as above, below, right or left,
etc. It would become our contemporaries infinitely better to fill up these
gaps than to keep on repeating well known symptoms or discovering others
which are almost invariably of no importance.

In
the treatment of disease the value of modern methods is far less therapeutic
than prognostic. The internal physical signs and objective material changes
never represent the dynamic disease, but are its product, developing as it
progresses. When, as if often possible, such disorganizations can be nipped
in the bud by well selected remedies it is unpardonable to await their
appreciable ravages. This is equally true of homoeopathic prophylaxis.

4.
In finding the simillimum for the whole case the concomitants, above all,
demand the most thorough examination. While carefully elucidated
characteristics strikingly portray the leading features of a case they are
always modified by the peculiarities of the relief before the picture can be
said to be accurate. Common-place or well known accompaniments are
unimportant unless they are present in an extraordinary degree or appear in
a singular manner.

We
must, therefore, examine carefully all those accessory symptoms which are :

(A)
Rarely found combined with the main affection, hence also infrequent under
the same conditions in the provings.

(B)
All those belonging to another sphere of disease than that of the main one.

(C)
Finally those which bear the distinctive marks of some drug, even if they
have never before been noted in the preceding relation.

A
concomitant may so distinctly and decidedly depict the nature of drug, and
consequently indicate it, as to acquire an importance far outranking the
symptoms of the main disease ; it then points to the most suitable medicine.
Such symptoms above all others evidently belong to those which Hahnemann
called striking, extraordinary, and peculiar (characteristic)
and are to receive our almost exclusive attention because they lend their
individuality to the totality. A number of efficient and partly specific
remedies for various disorders are almost solely discoverable from among
them because the disease symptoms proper, for lack of peculiarities, offer
no possible assistance in the choice. The system of concomitants also makes
Homoeopathy distinctly safer, rendering it less dependent upon a previously
constructed diagnosis which is often deceptive.

5.
The cause. Pathological explanations and speculations are too far
removed from our entirely practical method to have any great value in a
therapy and cure diseases are logically divided into internal and external.
The former arise from the natural disposition, which is sometimes highly
susceptible (idiosyncrasy). The latter can excite disease principally by
means of external impressions, when there is already a natural
predisposition thereto.

The
modified natural tendency to disease depends according to Hahnemann, upon
the uneradicated miasms of psora, syphilis and sycosis. When it does not
originate in these it is mostly composed of remnants and sequels of the
acute affections which so largely go to make up drug diseases and poisonings
; but we not infrequently see both factors combine to undermine the health,
thus presenting a proportionately deeper rooted disease just that much
harder to combat. In such cases antipsoric remedies very much excel all
others in efficacy. (The scrofulous diathesis -psora- is constantly being
extended by the practice of vaccination ; our view of the matter receives
confirmation from the fact that in very many cases of such diseases which
are essentially acute in character it is only by the administration of our
so-called antipsoric remedies that rapid and durable cures can be effected).
Preface to Whooping Cough.

Whether
or not we believe the psoric theory, the fact remains that the best selected
remedy is often ineffectual unless preceded by the proper antipsoric,
antisycotic or antisyphilitic, as the case may be, but because of their
almost identical symptom lists, it is generally chosen with difficulty by
differentiating and searching out the few true characteristics.

Drug
diseases and poisonings do not differ in their health destroying power. the
drug given should be ascertained and properly antidoted. Simple poisons are
easily detected by their effects, but a drug disease is generally a compound
result which fails to show a clear and accurate picture, hence a knowledge
of the contents of former prescriptions taken is a necessity and lightens
the labor.

Practice
has extracted and rendered the anamnesic symptoms easy to access,
thus greatly restricting the list from which the selection is to be made, so
that attention to but a few characteristics quickly determines and accurate
choice. This is especially true of sprains, bruises, burns, etc. Colds are
more complicated, because of the diverse manner in which they are contracted
and the different parts which they affect point to different remedies ; for
instance, it makes a great difference whether they are contracted while
sweating by exposure of a part, being drenched all over or partly, etc.
Various remedies must be considered according to whether the symptoms
localize themselves internally (stomach, chest, abdomen, etc.), or
externally (head, feet, back, etc.). Such remedies are not to be too readily
thrown aside unless certainly found dissimilar in other respects. -So much
depends upon a knowledge of the cause (Anamnesis) of disease, that without
it the choice of a homoeopathic remedy cannot be made with safety :
Aphorisms Hippocrates VII. 12.

Homoeopathic
prophylactics are tested and sure. The very remedies which cure the fully
developed diseases will protect exposed persons. This is very important for
the reason that incipient diseases are generally very lacking in the
characteristics which determine the choice.

6.
The modalities are the proper and most decisive modifiers of the
characteristics, not one of which is utterly worthless, not even the
negative ones. They have developed in importance with the growth of
Homoeopathy.

A
Superficial examination of any completely proven drug will reveal the common
symptoms of all diseases, such as headache, bellyache, diarrhoea, eruptions,
etc., etc. A little closer inspection of their sensations and relations to
the different parts of the body establishes undoubted differences in the
manner of their appearance, the modality. All experienced homoeopaths
pay great attention to this point. It is not sufficient, for instance, to
note the general effect of motion in a given case, but the various kinds of
motion, and whether they arise during continued or at the start of movement
must be known. Likewise, the general effect of position, such as lying on
the side, back, crosswise, horizontally, etc., as well as the painful or
painless side, must be elicited in order to apply the most suitable remedy.

The
cravings and aversions to various foods furnish some of the most important
points in deciding upon the remedy.

When
the symptoms seem to point out a particular remedy with which the
modalities, however, do not agree, it is only negatively indicated and the
physician has the most urgent reasons to doubt its fitness ; he should,
therefore, seek for another having the same symptoms.

7.
The time is hardly less important than the aggravation and amelioration
itself and could be of great use were the different stages of disease left
undisfigured by drug influences, for they constantly produce the most
devious effects upon the natural course of disease. I hope no one will say
that periodicity necessarily indicates Cinchona (Quinine), for there is
hardly a single homoeopath who has no treated numerous victims of this
error. This homoeopathic objective concerns two points which have a direct
bearing upon the choice of the remedy.

A.
The periodical return of the symptoms after a shorter or longer period of
quiescence.

B.
The hour of the day when they are better or worse.

The
former coincides with epochs having special, accident causes, such as
menstrual disturbances, all seasonal or temperatural influences, etc. Where
it is impossible to discover such secondary causes, or where, as is usually
the case, their time of recurrence is not more accurately designated they
have no value for homoeopaths because they are lacking in precise
indications.

The
general or special modalities referable to the time of day are of much
greater importance, for hardly any disease lacks this feature and the
provings supply the same peculiarity, qualifying them for the best and most
comprehensive uses. To illustrate this we need only refer to influences
which the time of day exerts upon coughs, diarrhoeas, etc. A considerable
list of remedies exhibit typically recurrent effects ; unless these are
clear and decided (like Hell. and Lycopod. at 4-8 P.M.), or return at
exactly the same hour (Ant.c., Ign., Saba.), they are unimportant.

(In
general, the tyro in Homoeopathy cannot too earnestly take to heart the
caution to avoid the great error of regarding a numerically large mass of
symptoms that are general in their character, but do not individualize the
case, as a sufficient guide in choosing the remedy. The keen perception and
appreciation of those symptoms, which, at the same time, correspond to the
nature of the disease and also designate the remedy which is exclusively or
at least most decidedly indicated -this alone betokens the master mind-. For
it is easier -very much easier- to select the right remedy after a picture
of the disease, complete in every respect and fully meeting all
requirements, has been drawn up, than to obtain the materials for such a
picture and construct it for oneself.) (From the Preface of the Whooping
Cough).

THE REPETITION OF
THE DOSE

Medicines,
by propre (higher) potentization, develop a continually widening, quicker
and more radical sphere of action which stretches far beyond all
pathological forms but never outgrows their own true characteristics. This
should however, not lead us into straining at conclusions and making blind
applications of this postulate.

A
single dose of the properly selected homoeopathic remedy will in a short
time so transform the character of a disease as to cause it to show
indications for a different remedy. The common experience that the continued
thoughtless and injudicious use of the same medicine often does more harm
than good, and that two very similar remedies do not follow each other well,
has its origin in this fact.

The
primary and secondary action of many drugs repeats itself alternately,
hence, as long as this happens, the one (first) dose has not exhausted its
action.

In
diseases like small-pox, scarlet fever, etc., which generally attack man
only once, every repetition, particularly of the higher dynamizations, only
tend to prejudice or retard the cure, whereas, in other diseases it
regulates itself by the extent of their liability to recur.

In
every attack, one minute dose of the rightly chosen remedy, if allowed to
quietly expend itself, not only accomplishes everything to be expected of
medicine, but when the same drug is, after a long time, again given, as
evidently the most applicable remedy even for another disease, it
disappoints us, and will only act after a sufficient time has elapsed for
the former dose to have finish its work.

In
chronic disease the action of the truly legitimate (similar) remedy must be
left undisturbed if we wish to attain success.

External
manifestations are in nowise indispensable to the existence of chronic
disease, on the contrary, the more the external (vicarious) symptoms are
disturbed or repressed, the deeper do they take root and flourish
internally. It follows from the dynamic nature and constitution of every
real disease that it is never purely local, but always finds its genesis in
the immaterial life force, therefore in the whole living organism, and can
only be rooted out as fast as the increasing vital reaction displaces the
primary drug action ; most rapidly towards the end. Abstracted from the
Aphorisms of Hippocrates, VII, 12.

In
conclusion it may not be useless to call to memory, in an abridged form,
what my worthy friend, Dr. J. Aegidi, says in the Archive of Homoeopathy
(XII., I., 121), which coincides entirely with my own experience, after the
administration of the carefully selected (according to the similarity of the
symptoms) remedy, as early, at the latest, as after the lapse of eight days
(in acute sickness often already after a few hours), one of two events
certainly follows either.

A.
The state of the illness is changed, or

B.
It remains the same.

A
change in the sick condition embraces three events, either.

1st.
The condition is ameliorated,

2nd.
It is aggravated, or

3rd.
The disease alters its symptom complex.

In
the first case one sees the medicine’s beneficial action penetrating deeply
and it is, therefore, hasty not to wait the fullest extent of the
amelioration. Here, at least, haste is useless, mostly harmful, and only
then, when the improvement comes to a visible standstill, is it advisable to
give a second, third or fourth dose of the same remedy, especially, however,
only as long as a lessening, but not essentially changed symptom complex
still points to it.

In
the second event we see the state of the sickness becoming worse ;
particularly do the characteristic symptoms heighten their intensity without
changing or transposing themselves, the so-called homoeopathic aggravation.
Here the remedy has overcome the action in its essence and for a while
nothing further is to be done unless perhaps entirely too important
complaints make the application of a proper antidote necessary, which on
most occasions is found in a second, and, if possible, still smaller dose of
the same medicine.

The
third instance concerns an alteration of the symptom complex and is evidence
when this happens that the remedy was not fittingly chosen and must be
exchanged for a suitable one as soon as possible.

When
notwithstanding, the carefully chosen remedy and the patient’s faultless
diet, the sick condition, on the contrary, is not at all changed, as in the
case mentioned under B, the cause usually lies in want of receptivity, which
we must seek to remove either by repeated small doses or by medicines
recommended for deficient reaction.

By
following these rules we have the pleasure of assisting the sick to recovery
in an incomparably shorter time than has commonly been possible under the
former evil treatment where the physician lacked a fixed rule of practice
(From the Preface of the Antipsoric Repertory).

The
repetition of the dose is determined by the nature and force of the response
elicited ; this response reveals the actual status of the patient in
proportion to the accuracy of the prescription. The speed of the reaction is
naturally governed by the course of the individual affection plus the vital
reactive power of the individual. Hence, it follows that a quick relief in
chronic disease bodes no good, if the remedy has been properly chosen.

No
second dose should be given as long as the relief progresses, even though
slightly. The amelioration is apt to show itself in the mental state first ;
the mind becomes more tranquil and the suffering is more easily borne,
although its intensity may as yet not be lessened.

In a real cure
the symptoms recede from above downward, from within outward and in the
reverse order of their coming ; all other ways are irregular and open to the
suspicion of being mere palliations calculated to destroy the natural
symmetry of the manifestations, hence to complicate and render the disease
intractible.

THE HOMOEOPATHIC
PROGNOSIS

Homoeopaths,
besides knowing all that the allopaths do of diagnosis, possess the most
trustworthy signs derived from the behaviour of the remedy.

Experience
teaches that whenever the quite correctly and fittingly chosen remedy is
applied and operates within the sphere corresponding to its action, hence
excites the necessary reaction, the overthrow of the disease is naturally to
be expected. If, on the contrary, the reaction, remains absent or symptoms,
which are foreign thereto, appear during the operation of the drug, the
prognosis is most grave, even if not apparently so.

In order to
profit by examples of such phenomena it is absolutely necessary to have an
accurate knowledge of the powers of every medicine, even down to their
finest shades of difference, as well as to see to it that only one remedy is
administered at a time. Aphorisms of Hippocrates, II., 19 ; also I., pages
12-13.

The signs used in
this work are:

The * used to designate paragraphs from the Pocket Book as altered by the
Dunham copy.

The
+ used to mark new paragraphs whose introduction, it is hoped, will help in
the selection of the similimum.

The
‘ is attached to single abbreviations and indicates that the remedy so
marked has been inserted as a true pathogenetic symptom.

This
work is now introduced to the profession with the hope that it will be found
an ever ready aid in finding the most similar remedy: such I have found it
to be, and I am anxious that my professional brethren shall, share its
benefits with me. That it is either entirely exhaustive of the subject or
perfect I do not claim, but that it is a help of no mean value I am certain.

C. M. BOGER.
Parkersburg, W. Pa., June 25, 1905.

Duration of Action
of Remedies

B. A. H. Z. Vol. 49; p. 81

Shortest

Action:
Aco., Cam., Coff., Ip., Laur., Mos., Op., Par., Rhe., Samb., Stram., Tarax.

Brief

Action:
Ag-c., Arn., Asar., Bry., Calad., Cann., Canth., Caps., Cham., Chel., Chin.,
Cina., Coccl., Croc., Cycl., Dros., Euphr., Hyo., Ign., Kre., Mgs., M-arct.,
M-aust., Mar., Men., Nux-m., Nux-v., Pul., Ran-b., Rut., Saba., Scill.,
Sec-c., Valer., Verat-a., Viol-o., Viol-t., Verb.

Medium

Duration
of Action: Agar., Amb., Am-m., Anac., Ang., Ant-t., Arg., Asaf.. Bell.,
Bor.. Bov., Bro., Cic., Clem., Colch., Coloc., Con., Cup., Dig.,
Dulc., Euphor., Guai., Hell., Iod., Lach., Led., Mag-m.,
Merc., Mez., Mur-ac., Nat-m., Nit-ac., Oleand., Phos-ac.,
Plb., Ran-sc., Rhod., Rhus-t., Sabi., Sars., Seneg., Spig., Spo., Staph.,
Sul-ac., Thu., Zin.

Useful in not too
rapid acute diseases and not too deeply rooted chronic ones.

Long
Acting Remedies:

Alu., Am-c., Ars., Aur., Bism., Carb-a., Carb-v.,
Ferr., Flu-ac., Kali-n., Lyc., Mag-c., Mang., Nat-c.,
Petr., Plat., Sele., Stann., Stront.

Act
for several weeks. As long as old ailments reappear or are worse, without
the appearance of essentially new symptoms which lie outside of its sphere
of action, we should guard against a repetition of the remedy or changing to
a new one.

Very
long and deep acting Remedies:

Ant-c., Bar-c., Calc-c., Caust.,
Graph., Hep., Kali-c., Phos., Sep., Sil., Sul.

The symptoms
which appeared last in the provings are of the greater value.

Hering, confirmed by Boenninghausen.

Important Hints

The
medicinal aggravations are very significant and are of inestimable value in
the management of disease. What they indicate, as stated by that able
expounder of homeopathic philosophy, Dr. James T. Kent, is given in a
condensed form:

“If
the aggravation is long, with a decline of the patient’s strength, the case
is incurable, and can only be palliated.”

“If
the aggravation is long, with a slow improvement, all will be well if the
remedy is not too soon repeated.”

“If the
aggravation is short and violent, the best results will follow.”

“If
the quality and quantity of the remedy administered are in exact proportion
to the quality and quantity of the sickmaking force, then do we have a cure
without aggravation.”

“If we have
an immediate amelioration, followed soon by an aggravation. it is a
failure-the case is incurable.”

”
If too short an amelioration follows a pronounced aggravation, in a psoric
case especially, it will prove incurable.”

”
If a full time amelioration of symptoms occurs without any increase in the
patient’s strength, he will prove too weak for a restoration to
health.”

”
If the patient develops symptoms of the remedy given without improvement in
his disease symptoms, the case is a hard one to treat, even for an
experienced homeopathician.”

“If
the old symptoms appear with the aggravation, you may wait: you need study
no more; you have the remedy.”

Copyright © Médi-T
2006