The Science of the Whole Person
Classical principles, remedy study and an individualised approach to care.
In its traditional philosophy, homoeopathy is described as a human science allied with principles observed in nature. It studies the person as a whole, including physical symptoms, mental disposition, relationships, habits, constitution and response to treatment.
Classical homoeopathic teaching considers disturbances of mind and body together. Persistent anger, grief, anxiety, suspicion, jealousy, dissatisfaction and other intense states are studied alongside physical symptoms as parts of one individual case.
Treatment is directed toward the whole person rather than one isolated complaint. The consultation seeks a complete picture of physical suffering, mental disposition, constitution, characteristic symptoms and the circumstances of the patient's life.
“Let likes be treated by likes.”
The term homoeopathy is derived from Greek words commonly translated as “similar” and “suffering.” The classical formula proposes that when a medicinal substance produces a characteristic group of symptoms in a healthy person, it may be selected for a sick person whose natural symptom picture is closely similar.
The theoretical part explains the principles used in homoeopathic case-taking, remedy selection, dosage and observation. Hahnemann's principal text on this method is the Organon of Medicine.
Materia Medica records the symptoms associated with individual remedies. Hahnemann preserved many proving records in Materia Medica Pura; later authors, including James Tyler Kent, organized further teaching works.
A substance is given to healthy volunteers and the symptoms attributed to it are recorded.
The practitioner gathers the patient's characteristic mental, general and physical symptoms.
A remedy is selected when its recorded picture closely resembles the patient's symptom totality.
The patient's response is observed before a remedy is repeated or changed.
Hahnemann reasoned that a stronger disease-state could permanently displace a weaker one when both were similar, whereas a dissimilar disease might only suspend another temporarily. Because waiting for a naturally occurring similar illness would be uncertain and dangerous, he proposed using prepared medicinal substances to create a controlled, temporary similar stimulus.
A remedy picture should be similar to, and closely matched with, the patient's natural symptom picture.
Remedies are prepared in highly diluted forms according to traditional homoeopathic pharmacy methods.
At MHV, homoeopathy is practised as a free service, with careful listening and compassionate follow-up.
Patients should seek qualified medical advice for serious conditions and should not stop prescribed treatment without consulting a doctor.
Based on lectures delivered by Dr. K. S. Sastry.