Homeopathy Papers

The Missing Link Connecting Traditional and Contemporary Schools of Homeopathy

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Written by Dinesh Chauhan

Dr. Dinesh Chauhan explains that the major schools of thought in homeopathy all seek the same goal.

Homoeopathy, being based on individualization seems to be a very diverse science. Homoeopaths all over the globe practise homoeopathy on the basis of their own individuality, as a result of which many branches (schools) of thought exist in homoeopathy. This diversity in homoeopathy raised many questions in me as a beginner….

  • Am I a homoeopath or do I belong to a certain school of thought existing in homoeopathy? Am I a homoeopath or a Vithoulkas school / Jeremy school / Massimo school / Sholten School / Saigal school / Predictive school / Sensation school / ICR school / etc., practitioner?

  • Do two homoeopaths belonging to different schools of homoeopathy ever come to the same understanding of the individuality of a patient?

  • If we believe in science then why is our method of reaching the patient’s core (case taking), searching “the” simillimum and understanding of the core of Materia Medica/ Repertory and Proving not reproducible every time and by every one?

  • Is there any connection between the traditional classical homoeopathy and the contemporary classical homoeopathy?

  • Why does the language of contemporary classical homoeopathy sound so unfamiliar from Dr. Hahnemann’s language?

For a long time I kept ruminating over these questions.

I read somewhere,

The new never replaces the old; instead, it includes the old.

The new (contemporary) is the further extension of the traditional old view.

Somewhere I knew that there is a deep connection between what the erstwhile masters of homoeopathy have said and what the modern stalwarts of homoeopathy are stating…however I yearned to derive the missing link connecting the traditional and contemporary schools of thought scientifically, and systematically; where all the diverse schools of homoeopathy get unified. This is when I went to the very basics of the homoeopathic science, and also to nature and laws of nature.

The very basic foundation of homoeopathy is based on the three pillars, the trinity of homoeopathy –

  • Individualization (understanding the individuality of the patient),

  • Holism (treating the patient as a whole being and not just treating his diseased parts)

  • Law of Similars (matching the individuality of the patient with a similar and stronger dynamic affection that is the potentised simillimum of that patient).

A homoeopath belonging to any classical homoeopathy school practises on the basis of individualization, holism and finally the law of Similars. The first and most primitive step for the homoeopath is to understand the individualistic PQRS expressions of the patient. The PQRS symptoms are expressed either at the physical particular plane or the physical general plane or the mental general plane. A totality of all the PQRS symptoms acquired by case taking are matched with the totality of the PQRS symptoms of a proven homoeopathic remedy which is the simillimum for the patient.

Now,

One law that deeply connects each and every thing in nature is the holographic theory –

It states,

That which is true for one part of the system is true for the whole system”

Applying the holographic theory to individualization,

If individualization is true for one part of the individual

It is true for the whole individual…

When a human being is understood homoeopathically, we obtain individualistic expressions at the physical level and at the mental level. But the mind and body do not exist as separate entities. At the holistic level, both speak one language. The peculiarities at the holistic level represent the core of an individual. A totality is formed by considering the entire core and all the mental symptoms, physical generals, and physical particulars which constitute the periphery. It is of utmost importance to actually obtain the individualistic expressions at the holistic level… Individualistic expressions at the holistic level indeed decide The most accurate simillimum for the patient.

In “Individualistic expressions at the holistic level” we can actually witness the unification of everything, i.e., individuality, holism, and the law of Similars.

Connecting the traditional and contemporary schools of homoeopathy:

Let us now see how all the schools also say the same thing.

Starting from Dr. Hahnemann, he proposed the use of PQRS—the individualistic characteristic symptoms at the physical and mental plane—as the basis of the search for the simillimum.

As time passed Dr. Kent said that the individualistic state expressed at the level of mental generals, physical generals, and physical particulars was vital to reach the simillimum.

As per the KENTIAN school, totality includes:

  • Physical Particular: (Location/Sensation/Modalities/Concomitants)

  • Physical Generals: (Craving/Aversion/Thermal/Sleep etc)

  • Mental Generals: (Emotion, intellect, sub conscious)

He gave most importance to symptoms that were common in the physical particular, physical general and the mental general plane.

Furthermore, Dr. Vithoulkas perceived individualistic expressions at the mind, body and spiritual plane. The theme running through the spiritual plane (where mind and body are connected) is denoted as “essence” of an individual.

As per VITHOULKAS school:

  • Mind: Common and qualified mental generals

  • Body: Physical particulars (Location/Sensation/Modalities/Concomitants)

Physical generals (Craving/Aversion/Thermal/Sleep etc)

  • Spiritual: Essence

He considered the “essence” to be of prime importance in unveiling the simillimum.

Then Dr. R. Sankaran, introduced the new concept of seven levels of experience to homoeopathy and explained that the higher the level of experience, the closer one was to his individuality.

As per Sankaran school:

Human Core = (Seven levels of experience)








Utmost importance is given to the sensation and the energy pattern of the patient.

As per Vijayakar school:

  • Mind: mental generals at psoric, sycotic and syphilitic plane

  • Body: physical particulars and physical generals at psoric, sycotic and syphilitic plane

  • Genetic Expressions: expressions common at mind and body plane

Let me share a story at this juncture!

Four men – a Persian, a Turk, an Arab, and a Greek – were standing in a village street. They were travelling companions, heading for some distant place; but at this moment they were arguing over the spending of a single piece of money which was all that they had among them.

I want to buy an angur,” said the Persian. “I want uzum,” said the Turk. “I want inab,” said the Arab. “No!” said the Greek, “we should buy stafil.”

Another traveller, a linguist, passed by and said, “Give the coin to me. I promise to satisfy the desire of all of you.” At first they would not trust him. Ultimately they let him have the coin. He went to the shop of a fruit seller and bought four small bunches of grapes.

This is my angur,” said the Persian. “But this is what I call uzum,” said the Turk. “You have brought me inab,” said the Arab. “No!” said the Greek, “this is my stafil.” The grapes were shared among them, and each realised that the disharmony occurred because of different languages used by each of them and faulty understanding of the language of the others.

The observation of individualistic expressions at the holistic level is the long sought missing link between classical Hahnemannian homoeopathy and the contemporary classical homoeopathy. In my view, this bridges the gap and integrates all classical homoeopaths, thereby clearing up all ambiguity. It is this “individualistic expression at the holistic level” that has been given different names like “essence” by Dr. Vithoulkas, “the central state” by Dr M. L. Dhawale, “the genetic constitution” by Dr. Vijaykar, and “the vital sensation” by Dr. Sankaran.

Everyone uses a different word,

Yet each one shares the same quest;

Namely, to distinguish the most characteristic symptoms…

That individualise a person at the holistic level!

Application of missing link to every aspect of homoeopathy:

The missing connection integrates all the diverse schools of homoeopathy. If individualisation at the holistic level is true for one aspect of homoeopathy, it has to be true for each and every aspect of the homoeopathic science. The application of individualisation at the holistic level is effective while:

  • Constructing the core of human being

The construction of the human core is complete when individualistic expressions at the physical plane, mental plane and above all at the holistic plane are considered.

  • Witnessing and receiving the case of a patient, that is during case taking

The whole process of receiving the case is complete when it brings out the individualistic expressions of the patient at the physical level, mental level and the level where both the mind and body speak one language that is the holistic level.

  • Searching the remedy

Once the entire core of the patient is received, it is required to search the remedy which matches with the physical, mental and holistic core of the patient.

  • Studying the core of the Materia Medica / Repertory / Proving

While studying the Materia Medica, Repertory and Proving, the homoeopath should focus upon the holistic core of the remedy, the central theme of the remedy which runs along the physical plane, mental plane and indeed the holistic plane of the remedy.

  • Assessing the follow ups of the patient

The whole process of cure begins from the centre and goes towards the periphery. Hence, the criteria while assessing the follow up of the patient are made by taking into account the physical symptoms, mental symptoms and in particular the whole state of the patient where both the physical and mental symptoms are connected.

(The present article is taken from the book The Scientifically Intuitive Case Witnessing Process: The Journey of Three Steps by Dr. Dinesh Chauhan; for s detailed description, readers are referred to the same book.).

How often have I wished for…

The concurrence of some physician of eminence on these points!

I always hoped to obtain in believing that

Observation conducted by really practical minds must eventually unite in truth,

As the radii of a circle though even so far asunder at the circumference,

All converge in a common center.”

(From ‘The lesser writing’ by Samuel Hahnemann)

{This article is taken from Dr. Dinesh Chauhan’s book The Scientifically Intuitive Case Witnessing Process: The Journey of Three Steps}

Editor: Dr. Urvi Chauhan

Compiled by Dr. Kadambari

About the author

Dinesh Chauhan

Dr. Dinesh Chauhan practices Classical homoeopathy in Mumbai, India. Case Witnessing Process is a scientific and human-centric case taking approach developed by him over a decade of research and seeing patient after patient at Swasthya Homeopathic Healing. Distinguished as a lecturer in many countries, he has the ability to captivate listener’s attention as he masterfully makes homoeopathic theory come to life. He heads the non-profit ABJF foundation with his wife Dr. Urvi Chauhan where Indian Homoeopaths are taught free. He is the author of three books A Journey into the Human Core; A Wander with a Little Wonder - Child centric Case witnessing, and The Scientifically Intuitive Case Witnessing Process – A Journey of Three Steps. Website: www.homeohome.com, www.casewitnessing.com Email: [email protected], [email protected]

1 Comment

  • THOSE IN MY COUNTRY WHO CRITICIZE OTHER METHOS OF PRESCRIBING BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL HAHNEMANIAN OR KENTIAN WAY SHOULD READ THIS ARTICLE. IT ENLIGHTENS THE SIMILARITIES OF ALL METHODS IN WHAT CONCERNS INDIVIDUALIZATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ESSENCE OF THE PATIENT AND OF THE REMEDY IF WE REALLY WANT TO FIND THE SIMILIMUM…. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A BROADER WAY OF UNDESRTANDING AND VIEWING ALL ABOUT THOSE METHODS ALWAYS COME BACK TO INDIVIDUALISATION, AS DR CHAUAN EXPLAINS IN HIS ARTICLE…. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO READ HIS BOOKS BUT THEY ARE UNAVAILABLE HERE IN BRASIL..

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