MATERIA MEDICA
DEFINITION:
The branch of medical science which studies the origin and
preparation of drugs, their doses, and their mode of
administration , also, the drugs themselves.In Homeopathy, it
is a reference work listing remedies and their therapeutic
actions.
MATERIA MEDICA PURA:
means that the information comes solely from provings and not
from Clinical or from toxological symptmotology.
There are many homeopathic materia medicas,
the most well known being the BOERICKE, which came out in
1901. There are two kinds of materia medica : ones like
Hering's and Allen's which are compilation of raw proving
data and those like Boericke's , Kent's , Nash's etc. which
are good digests.
When homeopathy was in its infancy the number
of drugs or remedies in the Materia Medica was very small. It
was extremely easy to go remedy by remedy and look up symptoms
in order to find out the curative remedy. However, as the
science expanded it was necessary to find a better way to
retrieve all these 'quotes' or symptoms , therefore an index
was needed. And thus the REPETORY was born- which is the
index to MATERIA MEDICA . KENT'S REPETORY is the most
commonly used REPETORY.
All the diseases known to man have their
likeness in the Materia Medica and the physician must
become so conversant with this art that he perceive this
kiindness.
POLYCHREST REMEDIES:
A remedy whose provings and clinical applications show that it
has many widespread uses, covering a wide variety of mental,
emotional and physical symptomatology . For example compare
the uses of NUX VOMICA, a polycrest with Selenium . Other
well known polychrests include sulphur, phosphorus , Arsenic
Album , lachesis and natrum mur.
From his introduction to NUX VOMICA in his
Materia Medica Pura , Hahnemann defines polychrest:- "There
are a few remedies in which the majority of symptoms
correspond in similarity to some common disease, and which can
therefore often be collectively applied homoeopathically. We
could call these remedies as POLYCHRESTS . They become
specific remedies for certain disease like CONSTIPATION,,
MEANOPAUSAL SYNDROME , RHEUMATIS M ETC.
In materia medica the quotes written in
ittalics are the characterstic and peculiar symptoms of the
medicine confirmed by repeated provings and observations.
MODALITIES:
< means aggravation; > means amelioration.
The sides of the Body and Drug Affinities(page
41 of Boericke) - like some medicines are having affinities
for left side or some on left side(Spigelia, lachesis
acts better on left side and belladonna and Lycopodium
acts better on right sided complaints.)
HOT
REMEDIES AND COLD REMEDIES
i.e. remedies pre-eminently aggravated by cold,; and remedies
pre-eminently aggravated by heat . and REMEDIES SENSITIVE TO
BOTH EXTREMES OR TEMPERATURES..(19)
ANTI PSORICS/ ANTI
SYPHILITICS/ ANTI SYCOTICS.( MIASMATIC REMEDIES).
NOSODES:
It
is derived from Greek word: Nosos:"Disease" eidos: "from".
The potentized homeopathic remedy prepared
from diseased tissue or the product of the disease is called
the Nosodes. It can be used to prevent or treat a miasm or
the associated diseases of the tissue material or a miasm as
well as many other uses.
EXAMPLES
are
: (1) PYROGENUM: prepared from potentizing SEPTIC PUS.
(2) PSORINUM:
prepared from potentized Scabies vesicle.
(3) TUBERCULIN
M:----------DO---------Tubercular abscess.
(4)VARIOLINUM:---------------DO---------SMALL POX PUSTULE.
(5) CARCINOSIN----------------DO---------CARCINOMA.
HAHNEMANN was the first man to conceive that
the products of disease could be used in the cure of
diseases. His preparation , PSORINUM was the first vaccine to
be made in the medical history(even before Pasteur invented
VACCINE.
SARCODE:
(iso (same) organo-therapy) a healthy glandular or tissue
extract made into a homeopathic remedy (cf. NOSODE, a remedy
made from diseased tissue or discharges) when administered ,
it acts to support and/or restore normal functioning of the
respective tissues or organ by stimulating its normal
functions.
EXAMPLES:-
THYROIDINUM ( Dried Thyroid gland of sheep)
PITUITARY GLAND:
They are prescribed
in potencies or mother tincture.
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