| CONTENTS:
Previous article in this series
I. Introduction.
II. A condensed view of SCHOLTEN’s theory.
III. Two cases - Refined Case Analysis based on two Levels of
Repertorisation (KENT and SCHOLTEN)
Essences in cancer cases:
IV. Finding out the essence in cancer cases (Two Cases)
V. Theoretical aspects
a. Syndrome shifts
This issue focuses on
the
b. Miasmas – in comparison to constitution and life-conflicts
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IV.
Miasma
In
Comparison to Constitution and Life-Conflicts
MIASMA THEORIES
The large field of the Materia Medica showed many different remedies,
different in character. However, Hahnemann was most impressed by
particular diseases, which required particular attention.
The destructive
elements of syphilis became apparent. At this time, during the
Napoleon wars, syphilis spread quickly over Europe and could be studied very well. The character
of syphilis was an object of investigation, indicating a definite miasma.
Mercury could achieve results in these cases
and syphilis was first associated with Mercury as a main remedy.
Sycosis, different in character, was associated with Thuja and we
have here an important remedy for this kind of illness. Psora is
the third Miasma, the root and the reservoir of all diseases and
all evil that has touched mankind. The theory of the miasmas was
written.
Indeed, we must not forget that the origin of all disease is
an aberration of the life-force (Verstimmung der Lebenskraft)!
This has to be considered as the root of all diseases, a fact that
is more important than the miasma theory. The miasmas are multiple
in appearance and therefore of inferior significance in diagnosing
a disease-process.
Later remedies
have been systematically associated with these three miasmas. J.H. Allen wrote a lot about remedies
associated with different miasmas. Finally pseudo-psora, the tubercular
trait, was added to these three big miasmas. A fourth miasma was
detected and it was said that if syphilis is apparent in a person
for a long time or over generations, it may be mixed up with psora:
and pseudo-psora establishes. Reading the works of Allen,
Roberts and Speight we realize that they insist on the miasma theory in
order to be able to draft a strategy to cure severe cases! – Do
we really have to know? The patient with Hodgkin’s
disease was cured with a single remedy, Ferrum iodatum - without
the miasma theory. Other similarly complex cases I have published
were also cured without the miasma theory.
Prescribing a single remedy for a particular patient may cure cancer
as well. The Periodic Table (PT) is an example of how we look for
remedies before paying attention to a particular miasma. By this
way we observe that the miasmas are included in each element of
the PT. If we deal with a life-theme of the patient, we already
have found a constitutional remedy. Indeed, the elaboration of the
PT seems to give insight in superior orders, including the
“miasmas” (see below, "Other Concepts").
CONCEPTS of MIASMA THEORIES
Above all, the theory says that there is
a foreign force affecting the organism and producing
disease. Thus a remedy has to be administered to eliminate this
disturbance and to recuperate the patient’s health.
Sanchez Ortega said
that a cell has only three possibilities to exist in a pathological
manner: psora is connected with weakness, sycosis is connected with
hypertrophy, and syphilis is connected with perversion as well as
destruction. These kinds of diseases are of course expressed physically
as well as in character and psyche of particular individuals. And
they are always expressed symbolically which makes them easily detectable.
Syphilis, sycosis and psora are of course
not necessarily connected with the germs. It is the character
of syphilis, sycosis and psora, it is their symptomatology and trait
that points to a particular miasma.
Elizalde Masi teaches a more philosophical aspect of the
miasmas; when man is born, he starts with psora. He has great fears
when he is born into this world and at the same time loses contact
to the universe, to the only entirety, the continuum (Bohm). As
not only philosophers but also quantum physicists describe the only
one; man has lost the abilities and attributes of God, the almighty
God, the omnipresent God. The paradise is lost, fear arises; this
fear is unbearable and is thus projected onto objects; for example,
a dog, darkness, fear of disease and so on. In a desperate attempt
to escape the unbearable combination of fear and weakness, man is
driven into hypertrophy. Such thinking brings about severe consequences.
If two persons are interested in the same subject, a collision may
arise. As a result one’s personal point of view, one’s limited
“ego”, the very personal will and attitude have to be destroyed
– it is obvious that perversion and destruction set in if not corrected.
In a way,
disease is a message, sometimes even painful, which requires a higher
social consciousness for the individual as well as for the collective.
Masi says therefore that each remedy
may exist in a psoric, in a sycotic and in a luetic stage, in fear
and weakness, in hypertrophy and in destruction.
Originally Hahnemann himself drafted the first coordinates through
the vastness of the symptomatology of diseases and tried to associate
particular remedies, Mercury, Thuja and Sulphur with the three miasmas.
These miasmas constitute a system, coordinates,
enabling us to sail in the vast ocean of diseases, in which remedies
are closely bonded to each of these miasmas. It is not the germ
of syphilis or gonorrhoea, it is far more the character of these
diseases that is associated with these miasmas.
Why three
Miasmas? - It may be of interest that H.P.
Dürr, a particle physicist from the Max Planck Institute
in Germany, says
that we do not know why we are living in a 3-dimensional space,
why not in 4- or 5-dimensions. To describe a location, we need three
dimensions, motion is associated to the 4th dimension:
time. It is remarkable that time has a lot do to with the tubercular
element, quickness, desire to travel, etc. In order to understanding
this attitude we need a holistic view.

There is
another point of view!
The point of view of Rudolf Flury, who lived from 1903
to 1977 in Bern, is another very interesting
aspect of diseases and even of the miasmas. Flury
greatly stressed the aspect of the constitution. The constitution
consists of life-long signs and symptoms, features of the patient’s
character and body may be more important than local symptoms (we
treat the patient not just symptoms). Flury
further states that on the basis of one's constitution an illness
may break out or may not break out. To go back to the roots he took
the four Classical Aristotelian Temperaments to describe four basic
characters of a person, to which he associated corresponding remedies.
The elements of fire, water, earth and air were associated with
the following characters: choleric, phlegmatic, melancholic and
sanguine.
The fourth element, pseudo-psora or tuberculosis was later integrated
into homeopathy. Flury, a priori, integrated it into his four
types of persons, depending on the character of a Tuberculine
person - here of course we are dealing with the sanguine type.1

Hahnemann said that the tuberculine element,
or pseudo-psora, comes about when syphilis and psora are combined
for a long time, creating the tuberculine taint.
Flury has made a big step. He associated miasmas (outside)
with the constitution (inside). Symbolically spoken, an offender
may invade a particular fortress, or may fail to do so. In order
to save the patient, we may prefer the aspect of the constitution
rather than to chase miasmas. Stressing the constitution may be
a more efficient way in treating a patient instead of focusing on
the power of the invader. By concentrating on the "constitution",
we attain a much more positive attitude.
Flury considered the constitution of a patient as lifelong
signs and symptoms, features that characterizes a patient over
a very long time.

David
Bohm says: “Original and creative
insight within the whole field of measure is the action of the
immeasurable. For, when such insight occurs, the source cannot be
within the ideals already contained in the field of measure, but
rather has to be in the immeasurable, which contains the essential
formative cause of all that happens in the field of measure“.
According to Bohm, we can consider the universe as a single entity, which
cannot be divided. One element depends on the other.
We have to face the continuum – out of which all other elements
arise. Therefore an objective point of view, at least, the most
objective standpoint we can attain has to be asserted, in order
to see the essence and to be able to decide and to act. To divide
a system (the only one) in only three, or four pieces obliges us
to operate on a high hierarchic level.
If we divide the continuum into four elements,
we can see that the qualities of earth, water, air and fire are
very different in their nature. Flury’s
description of the character of these four categories is very distinctive.
The elements are projected into each human being and are absorbed
and reflected by the very individual character of a person.
The miasmas exist in the very moment we leave
the continuum (see Elizalde
Masi). In this very moment we confront a dissected life-force.
When the continuum is split up, we observe parts - here, three,
four or more miasmas.
It is however true that we need coordinates
to be able to find our own position and to find the position of
the remedy within this great multiplicity.
Chinese
philosophy considers five elements to describe reality. In mathematical
terms we even can display five or even more miasmas as Sankaran
does. But this is a question of one’s “point of view”.
Whereas
Scholten is very clear and systematic,
Sankaran enlarges this system. Similar
to the way in which the tuberculine miasma was added, further miasmas
are described by Sankaran
who speaks about the miasma of malaria and cancer and others. This
is a different nomenclature, which also has validity.
OTHER CONCEPTS
The Miasmas are included in the Order of the Periodic Table
Let us go back to the Periodic Table.
Scholten mentions that here we can see the manifestation of the “miasmas“.
They are integrated and represented by each individual chemical
element. Moving through the stages from the left side to the
right side we observe the stages of development, climax and decline
of a given theme: in the first stages there is insecurity and one
has to go step by step to overcome this kind of weakness; in the
center of the series we find hypertrophy, everything is formed and
blooming; and finally we descend towards decay and destruction and
the theme has to come to an end. So here we find weakness, hypertrophy
and destruction in a continuous sequence.
(Here, I refer to
Ortega with regard to the defined territory of a remedy, and later
I also refer to Masi with regard to the sequence of events concerning
"time").

In a similar
pattern, the miasmas are represented from top to bottom: creation
of the ego - contact to others - work as task - creation of individuality
- then to rule over people and to loose oneself in the other – loss
of the personal ego. Psora, sycosis, syphilis – not only in a pathological
way, but also as a way of development. The development of the individual
person progresses if we elaborate the Lanthanides. They represent
persons who are intuitive, extremely sensitive to ideas (Silver
series) and at the same time responsible and active (Aurum series).
They have to accomplish a certain task with success.
In the left upper corner of the periodic
table, we find the strongest psoric disposition (underdeveloped),
whereas the strongest syphilitic condition (destructiveness) is
represented on the right lower side.
The periodic table is a Materia Medica as well as a Repertory.
We have a hierarchic order, preformed by nature. Moreover, when
looking at it we have another point of view regarding the Miasmas.
This view includes the three stages of Sanchez Ortega: weakness,
hypertrophy, followed by decay and destruction.
At the same time each element can be seen according to Masi: each
single element exists in a psoric, sycotic, or luetic stage (see
diagram below, mercury as an example).
This is another aspect of the
miasmas! Does it contradict the aspects of Hahnemann,
Ortega
and Masi? Not necessarily! It
is just a different perspective in perceiving the activity of the
miasmas. However, just by looking at it we can detect the miasmatic
character at a glance.
One can say that Mercury belongs to
a series containing destructive elements, the Aurum series;
its position is on the stages of decay (stage 12), therefore
it is mostly syphilitic. This would correspond with Ortega’s
concept and does not contradict Hahnemann’s first description of the luetic miasma.
One can say that a person, or a situation can be associated with
Mercury – just as it was the case with Germany. Regarding the period
in-between the two World Wars, Germany can be considered to have
been in a psoric state, with all its weakness and hopelessness (hostility
within the country). When Hitler attacked Poland the nation was
in a sycotic Mercury state, and finally when the Russians conquered
Berlin it was in a luetic Mercury state (compare Masi).
What's really important here is that this
is a Mercury state: Division and hostility! Separation and
decay! What is most important here is the THEME! This theme
can be observed for a certain period.
Mercury as a luetic element belongs to the Aurum series. Located
at stage 12, we have entered a territory of decay and destruction,
which stresses the decline of the theme.
Furthermore, the element itself may exist in three different miasmatic
stages (psoric, syphilitic, luetic.)

Stage 13 of the Aurum-Series represents the
theme of Thallium, and can be associated with former East Germany. People began spying on and
betraying each other. The destructive powers proceed, the violence
cannot be seen so easily any more. We no longer see how people
offend each other - the hostility is hidden. This is a stage 13,
Thallium, a substance out of which rat poison is made. Jan
Scholten himself has illustrated these features very carefully.
It is the
theme. The theme is the essence! But the theme of the element itself
may be differentiated into three miasmatic phases (Masi) as mentioned above.
Conclusion
I tried to give some insight into the development
of miasma theories, starting from three, going to four, up to ten
miasmas and made transparent the relation to the constitution.
Stressing the constitution, we pay attention to the character of
the patient in mind and body. Each constitution is sensitive
to different kinds of miasmas. Therefore there is a strong affinity
between constitution and miasmas.
From experience we know that a person requiring
Lycopodium has a lot of characteristics, which are not necessarily
symptoms, but features and properties. We are treating the patient,
his signs and symptoms and not only symptoms. By just considering
the symptoms of the patient/disease we dissect the diseased area
from the patient. This may lead to suppression, creating new symptoms.
According to the theory of the continuum
(Bohm), and according to experience, we should try not to
separate the signs and features of a patient from his/her symptoms.
Disease is an aberration of the healthy functions of the body and
mind, and not a part of its own. No dissociations should be made
(Flury).
We spoke of space and time and other dimensions
homeopathy deals with. Sankaran
extends our point of view and offers a very refined differential
diagnosis, enabling us to see fine nuances just as if we would use
a microscope.
The other way round is to condense space and time, and
here I will refer to Werner
Heisenberg who annotated that if we go to sub-atomic levels
(what homeopathy definitely does) the dissociation between space
and time is inexistent - only with the manifestation of the atom,
the space-time separation becomes evident.
Potentizing an appropriate remedy, we now
go back and condense space and time, whereas in the investigation
of a case we extend space and time. This explains many of the immediate
results of homeopathic remedies:
A lady consulted me because of sciatica. She has started a career as a dancing teacher for seniors; she is
a little bit shy and insecure to open herself to the audience.
She came with severe pain, worse on the right side, better when
she has warm applications.
The symptoms, modalities and conflicts (shy
to the audience, desire for company, openness), indicate Magnesium
phosphoricum. She had big troubles to come up the stairs, but after
taking the remedy, she was able to bind her shoe-laces by standing
on one leg. Whereas her troubles have developed over a long period
(video case), she was free of symptoms within 5 minutes after taking
the remedy.
A lady operated on a brain tumor was vomiting since two days following
surgery. Taking two globules of Arnica XM, she immediately felt
very heated, fell asleep for half an hour and was then fine and
had an appetite, so much so as to eat an entire slice of bread.
Annotations:
1) Gerhard Resch, Vienna, edited these elaborations of Flury.
Flury presents very distinctive descriptions of these four qualities,
of these four characters of mind and body. See Repertorium Dr.
FLURY ©. 1979 M. Flury-Lemberg, Bern;
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About the author:
Dr. Dietmar Payrhuber
Eduard Baumgarthner Str. 8
A-5020 Salzburg
e-mail: payrhuber@gmx.net
URL: www.payrhuber.at |