3. A. Body language and Homoeopathy

Homoeopathy recognizes a man as the multi-dimensional, composite entity where mind,
body and spirit are viewed upon through indivisibility. The study of a human being in totality involves paying attention to both verbal and non-verbal communication. It is not always that the patient will speak with a physician in a ‘free’ way. Patient’s nature, his dispositions, his composure, the frame of reference (the environment in which setting physician – patient interaction takes place), the experiences in the life of a patient etc. have a role to play in communication block.

3. B. Homoeopathic Interview

Imagine conducting an interview with a patient behind a two-way a mirror. We wouldn’t have the benefit of responding to their facial expressions and would feel quite unnerved by the experience. Every little frown or smile gives us the caution or confidence to make our next statement and it is a sublime skill which every human being has developed since childhood. In other words, if we do not look at the Body Language and take on interview only through verbal exchange, such an interview would be a dry one. Somehow, the feeling will be that there is no life or soul in the interview.

3. C. Resemblances between Homoeopathy and Body Language

When I compare the two fields of body language and homoeopathy, I am astonished to find some striking resemblances.

1. The concept of totality – One of the warning signals of body language is that it must not be interpreted in isolation. It must be studied in clusters. In homoeopathy also one must study on the basis of totality and not on fragmentary data.

2. The Man behind sickness – It is the Man who moves the body. The whole process of interpretation of body language revolves around the man; homoeopathy too advocates the same principle.

3. Commonality – In homoeopathy data commonality is a universal feature, so also in body language. What is important in both fields is to look for individualistic symptoms / gestures.

4. Contradictoriness – Often the gestures and verbal language do not go harmoniously and in homoeopathy too, anomalies or contradictory symptoms are presented by a patient.

5. Judgment – Judgment plays a pivotal role in both – the study of body language and homoeopathy. The caution is that one must avoid going for prejudgment. One must judge only after gesture – cluster / totality have been perceived.

6. Perceptive field – The whole process of homoeopathic interrogation and patient’s observation of visible code is through sharpening of the awareness by relying on facts.

7. Analytical process – Both body language and homoeopathy extensively utilizes the analytical process in order to derive a concrete reality.

8. From ‘gestures’ / symptoms to a ‘person’ – Just as the symptoms are external manifestations of an internal malady, body language core elements exhibit the internal man which one has to explore.

9. The phenomenological concept – In phenomenon we discuss cause —- effect relationship, chronological sequence, origin, zenith and nadir under time-space continuum. Both body language and homoeopathy utilize the phenomenological concept.

3. D. Utility of Body Language for a Homoeopath

The utility of body language is tremendous for a homoeopath. If verbal language offers only 35 % communication, a homoeopath is at 65 % loss if he pays no attention to the non-verbal communication. Body language is a bridge between mind and body and when a person becomes sick, he represents the sickness through his unique body language. The essence of the sick individual can be understood through the cluster of gestures and postures, being represented consistently. Body language has a definitive place in homoeopathy and has a tremendous potential in redefining the concept of totality.

• One-sided diseases.
• Psychiatric difficulties.
• Semantic difficulties.
• Pediatrics cases.
• Contradictory / ill-defined data.
• Deaf, dumb, imbecile cases.
• Clinical diagnosis of a case
• Understanding ‘inner’ personality in a better way.
• Evaluating mental expressions, dispositions and mental state.
• Giving gradation to mental symptoms by appreciating the associated body language.
• Enriching and simplifying the intricate study of Materia Medica and Repertory.
• Explaining the rubrics with the help of body language.
• Living Materia Medica – adding ‘life’ in the drugs
• Body language serves to act as a facilitator in conversation.
• Body language may unlock the issue under exploration and may unlock, thus, the entire case too.
• Saves the valuable time.

3. E. Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Body language

The study of Materia Medica encompasses within its domain the study of a human being
in totality. It encompasses the study of perceiving MAN in all of its fields, ramifications, and through all angles possible. The study of a human being can’t be a dry subject because human personality is multi-dimensional, manifold, sensitive, vibrant and gives out through so many colours and hues that his study becomes a highly fascinating one.

Each remedy is a wealth of thousands of symptoms, and there are thousands of remedies which, taken together, represent the enormous gamut of human suffering. The thousands of symptoms at emotional, intellectual and physical levels, the clinical information that flows, allow us, with the utilization of various faculties, to regard each homoeopathic remedy, at least the polychrest variety, as a full-blown human being. This is the concept of ‘living‘ Materia Medica. The remedy talks, vibrates, throbs, and shows all human emotions.

Within the span of 200 years enormous work has been added from various sources. Apart from clinically verified data which now outweigh the proving data, we find additions coming from physical appearance (make-up), attire, craving for a particular object, color or issue, linking of gestures which has been observed by a physician in his clinic and the behavioural responses which our patients (their counterpart drugs also) exhibit and the research in various fields which is occurring by leaps and bounds is utilized.

3. F. Linking Remedies with Basic Modes

Some polychrest remedies are presented below by linking their dispositional characters with the basic modes of body language.

Some drugs of Materia Medica are presented through the study of Body Language. ‘The core rubrics which define the personality of a remedy’ are regarded as parameters to link Body Language. The unifying principle that binds the components of a remedy together is the base as also the pattern of energy fundamental to that specific remedy to understand the body language.

3. G. Linking personality of drugs to Body Language

1. Platina: The core issues concern impression, beauty, sexuality and projecting the self. The energy is utilized for the same and the body assumes the role of showing off.

a) High self image / superiority / Egoistic / Pride: Head high with chin pointing upwards. Look is contemptuous. Legs are crossed and arms folded with erect posture. Giving jerks to neck with eye to eye contact for that moment.

b) Disdain / Arrogance: Contemptuous upward movement of neck with head high and eye-brows raised.

c) Gayness / Beauty consciousness: Appearance – excessive use of ornaments; make-up and dressing, sense of expensive type. Showy type. Also gaudy. Constantly taking care of make-up and hair-style. Hair – style of modern type and usually not suitable to the age of patient.

d) Nymphomania: Sexual eyes. Making lascivious gestures. Looking through. Too much learning forward and blinking of eyes. Kissing, embracing and sexual positions.

2. Lycopodium: Inflated ego, need of more space, more power, taking hold of the situation, encroachment on others and manipulation are the core issues. The inner weakness also gets reflected in body language.

a) Confidence, want of: Eye to eye contact less. Fingers on mouth frequently.

b) Haughty: Eye-brows raised with head tilt back. Blinking. Looking up while
answering.

c) Contradiction is intolerant of and anger < contradiction: Frowning. Wrinkling of eye-brows. Direct eye contact with flushing of face. Clenched fist with stroking on table. Pointing index finger frequently. Constantly re-questioning to physician. Continued eye contact with dilatation of pupils, contracted brows Memory, weakness of. Forgets names of places and of closely related persons while talking in interview.

d) Dictatorial: Chin upwards with head backwards. Good eye to ye contact occurs but direct piercing book. Blinking over sensitive issues. Leaning backwards, with one ankle resting on other knee. Commanding voice.

e) Anticipatory anxiety: In waiting chamber: Restlessness. Constantly asking questions to a receptionist. Punctual of time.

f) Boasting: Hands behind head. Head high. Steeping gestures.

g) Superiority complex: Standing up-right, sitting with arms spread apart on chair, hands behind neck, eyebrows, raised, loud, dictatorial voice.

h) Lies, inclination to tell: Touching nose with hand especially at the end of sentence with poor eye to eye contact and robbing of eyes.

i) Malicious: Raising of eye-brow with side glances especially when talking about the person concerned.

3. Lachesis: Tremendous energy. The emotions are at high pitch and must be ventilated. The body synchronizes with the energy and more choreography is represented.

a) Suspicion: Failing to make eye to eye contact. Glancing sideways. Rubbing or touching nose. Frequent cleansing of glasses.

b) Dictatorial: Proud erect body stance with chin forwards. Leaning back with hand behind head. Resting feet on desk. Continued eye contact with less blinking. Stands with erect body and legs apart. While sitting one ankle is resting on the other knee. While answering frequently pointing index finger.

c) Excited: Excessive forward leaning. Dilated pupils. Voice loud and bouncing.

d) Anger-violent: Flushed face. Pointing fingers while talking. Dilated pupils. Anger usually associated with abusive language. Body rigid. Fists clenched. Lips closed and held in a light thin line. Body in motion due to intense emotional energy.

e) Sarcastic: While answering smiling from one corner and raising of eye-brows. Arguing with the physician, aiming to discourage him by certain words.

f) Inquisitive (Children): Constantly asking number of questions. Flash-bulb type of eyes. Handling and desire to know the working mechanism of toys or instruments present over desk.

g) Aggressive: Leaning forward. Finger pointing. Fists clenched. Talks with loud voice as if not interested in other’s view. Encroaches upon others.

h) Loquacity: Jumping from one point to other without head or tail. Voice loud and bouncy. Suffocating other during talk.

i) Exaggerated / Over-enthusiastic: Constantly moving hands while expressing enthusiastic complaints. Appearance – dark. Make-up with use of fluorescent colors in dressing and showy (unsuitable to the age).

4. A. Some suggestions for physicians

• Are you sending the right signals? Just making a few subtle changes can have a significant impact on how you are perceived by others. Create a lasting impression and win peoples respect and trust for a lifetime.

• Simply, be ‘open.’ Be aware of your own body posture. Discover how people truly feel about you.

• Do not cross arms in front of you, or cross your legs away from the person you are talking with.

• Maintain eye contact. Glance away periodically to prevent intimidation but not at crucial moments. Converse at patient’s eye level.

• ‘Touch.’ It helps patient know that you view them as ‘people.’ A pat on the back, a light touch on the shoulder can be reassuring to patients. But beware of its universal application.

• ‘Barriers.’ Masks, safety glasses, gloves, bibs etc. Communicate ‘barrier free’ with the patient.

• ‘Facial expressions.’ Openness, smile, eagerness, interest yet serious and sincere.

• ‘Tone of voice.’ Polite tone. Speak slowly, articulately. Proper enunciation and pronunciation of words.

• ‘Body Movements.’ Avoid excessive, repeated movements of body, legs, hands, fingers etc.

• The FIRST person you need to impact with positive Body Language is not others, but YOURSELF.

4. B. Epilogue

Both nature and nurture (e.g. culture) play a role in body language. Hence ‘movements’ need interpretation. They are highly unique, succinct and individual. They deal with nuance, with feeling, with degree. One has to recognize them. ‘All movements of the body have meaning. None is accidental.’ The specific meaning of body movement may be different from person to person. Sometimes body language may not coincide with verbal language. The interpretation requires high skill and perspective vision. Hence, it is always better to see the body language in conjunction with verbal language and not in isolation; together they comprise a dual dialogue. If they match and are consistent with each other, they strengthen and underscore the meaning.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer and one body language signal doesn’t necessarily make a message. It is estimated that humans are capable of producing more than 650,0000 nonverbal signals. Body language is full of ambiguities. To have clarity, one must focus on the cluster of signals and upon those signals that are persistent, pervasive, repeated and characteristic. The words (i.e. verbal language) themselves are produced by articulated body movements of the vocal tract is also a point to be noted.

Body language opens up new vistas of perceptions heretofore unexplored. The language of symbols, the language of universal symbolism is blended with holistic philosophy of homoeopathy and a homoeopathic physician will miss a lot if he neglects the important information flowing from the cluster of symbols, signs and cues. Hence the issue of ‘non-verbal consciousness’ has a great scope in homoeopathic practice. It is a peep-hole into patient’s hidden conflicts and feelings and will certainly help a homoeopath in knowing an elusive and indefinable mind. The concept of totality which is central to homoeopathic prescribing will be redefined if we include appropriate appreciation of body language. At the same time, a homoeopath must know its limitations and he should be wary of its exclusive clinical application. Body language must be interpreted in reference to the situation, the context, and the culture of the people involved and there can be variations.
————————————————–

Dr. Ajit Kulkarni

www.ajitkulkarni.com