Homeopathy Repertory

Use of Boenninghausen’s Repertory

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Written by D P Rastogi

A useful article about Use of Boenninghausen’s Repertory.Full details about Use of Boenninghausen’s Repertory

Boennighausen has the credit for producing the first usable

repertory in 1832. Its preface was written by Hahnemann and he used this repertory in his practice. His later repertory known as the Therapeutic Pocket Book, was published in 1846.This became the standard reference work used by most American homoeopaths including Stuart Close, Caroll Dunham, H.N. Guernsey And T.F. Allen.

Dr. CM Boger who was familiar with both Kent’s method and Boenninghausen’s method of repertorizing preferred Boenninghausen’s work on  repertory and improved this to include more rubrics and remedies. This was published as Boger-Boenninghausen’s Characteristics and Repertory [BBCR] in 1905. Dr Boger continued to improve this till his death in 1935 and the 2nd edition of this great work was published in 1937.

Referring to his earlier repertory the Therapeutic Pocket book, Elizabeth Wright Hubbard writes “In Boenninghausen’s 482 small pages are 335 rubrics which are not to be found in Kent’s 1423 large pages . She further states :

“The Kent’s Repertory claims to be based on Generals yet it is a maze of particulars” .

Boeninghausen is most focused and classified .

Boenninghausen’s method of repertorisation shines in the following cases :

·       Without many mental symptoms.

·       Without rare, strange and peculiar symptoms .

·       With few particulars .

·       In cases where modalities predominate and     concomitants are marked

·       Cases showing pathological symptoms and objective symptoms

Thus the scope of using Boenninghausen’s repertory is immense, as in our general practice we have a majority of cases of the above variety. We can come to a remedy even on the basis of one complete symptom. A complete symptom has four components namely Location ,Sensation, Modality and Concomitant.

At the time of case taking we have to keep in mind these four components and try to get as accurate information as possible. Repertorisation on Boenninghausen’s repertory was time consuming  when it was done manually, but not now, as computer software is available both for the Therapeutic Pocket book and Boger Boenninghausen Characteristics and Repertory [BBCR]

Here are some cases worked out on Boger Boenninghausen’s Characteristics and Repertory [BBCR].

1. Mr. AP aged 20yrs, a medical student approached for homeopathic treatment after exhausting all options of conventional medicine. As he was a medical student at the medical college, the best of care was paid to his case.

He complained of shooting pain in the left hip radiating down the back of the knee.

< least touch, jar

< early morning

< external pressure, even slight pressure over the soles leads to excruciating type of pain

< mental exertion/ tension

< winter

< physical exertion / bending forwards.

> lying down on the back

Backache = lumbo sacral region , sacro ileitis

Stiffness is very much marked.

Neuralgic type of pain is present

< morning

< cold weather

< bending forwards

> hot fomentations

> lying on the back

Burning sensation in epigastria, water brash

< fried food

< mental tension

Flatulence + tenesmus

Thirst increased

Appetite normal

Stools- habitual loose stools

Urine  normal

Desires cold drinks, sweets, sour and spicy.

Chilly patient

Temperament

Anxiety, tense by nature.

Irritable, does not express his feelings.

Desires company.

Craves sympathy

Fastidious

The case was on BBCR.repertorized

The case was given Ars alb 0/1 4 times daily on 28/4/1994 for 2 weeks. On 11/1/95 the medicine was repeated for 2 weeks in 0/2. On 30/1/95 patient reported 90% improvement. He was given Ars alb 0/3 followed by 0/4 after 2weeks. The reports were most encouraging and last time he took medicine was on 9/8/95. Ars alb alone.

2. A case of mucus colitis

•    A 26 yrs old pilot trainee consulted me for his complaints related to mucus colitis . He complained of passing mucus with stools 3-4 times daily. He developed lot of weakness and gets tired easily. He has been under stress during studies. Due to the problem he avoids fruits and ghee.  He desires salt and is often thirsty taking one glass of water at one time.

Verat album, Nit acid ,and Causticum came up in repertorisation. However because of the higher rank Verat album 0/1 was given and he responded beautifully.

•    He has completed his training and is flying now.

3. A case of Migraine

•    Mrs AS complained of chronic migraine which made her life hell. She was constantly taking pain killers to get some relief. She gave a long history of suffering from this pain which always used to be only on one side of the head and used to be almost a daily occurrence. She was introspective by nature and had a weeping tendency and the weeping always came with anger. Her pain was made worse by noise.

I made use of the following rubrics from her history

•    Location of pain–Half of, one side

•    < by noise

•    Mind introspective

•    Weeping with anger

•    migraine

The case was prescribed Chamomilla 0/1 to be taken 4 times daily as it covered all rubrics.

This brought almost complete relief in the occurrence of the pain and also brought overall general improvement as soon as the medicine was taken.

4. A Case of Chronic Otorrhoea

•    Miss S B 10yrs presented on 20/2/2001 with complaint of ear discharge since 4 years. She complained of itching in the meatus. The discharge was offensive.

•    Her mother described it as putrid. There was no other symptom to guide the selection of the remedy. No marked desires or aversions for food. Nothing remarkable in the temperament.

Rubrics taken:

Petroleum and Psorinum were the two remedies which were suggested, As offensive and putrid discharge was covered by Psorinum , it was preferred and given in LM 1, 4 times daily.

•    Follow-up visits were on 8/3, 23/3,27/4, 3/5 and finally on 1/9/2001. The case showed improvement right from the first follow-up and did not need any other remedy and was cured.

5. A case of varicose ulcer

•    Mr RN aged 46 yrs consulted me with a non healing varicose ulcer in his right leg on 5.2 08.. He had undergone surgery for this in 1995 and was ok for 10 years. But it has developed again and not responding to any treatment. The patient is a mild diabetic. Desires tasty food and sweets.

I took the following rubrics and repertorized from BBCR:

•    Lower extremity leg

•     Blood vessels, varicose and inflamed

•    Blood vessels varicose, veins especially

•    Desire for piquant, appetizing things

•    Desire for sweets

•    Urine saccharine

•    There were 3 remedies for consideration Lyco, Sulphur and Arsenicum Lyco did not cover desire for piquant, appetizing and Ars did not cover desire for sweets, so were not considered. Sulphur covered all the rubrics and therefore was given in LM 1 potency 4 times daily on 5.2.08

Result

•    There was a follow up on 12/2 ,19/2,18/3/,10/4,1/5, 15/5, 3/6,10/6,17/6, 1/7 and 22/7

•    On the first follow up itself on 12/2 the ulcer healed up and became dry. Sulphur LM 1 was continued on subsequent follow ups and finally stopped on 22/7

•    The case is cured.

6. A case of chronic sinusitis

A 50 yrs old man consulted me for chronic sinusitis with deviated nasal septum. He complained of the following:

Fatigue

Nasal blockage

Snoring

Dry feeling in mouth

Arthritic pains

Chronic constipation with urging

Frequent urination

X-ray of the PNS confirmed maxillary sinusitis and enlargement of prostrate was confirmed by ultrasound.

The case was repertorized on BBCR

The patient was prescribed Sulphur. The other remedy  Nux vom was also considered, but as this did not cover the rubrics snoring and prostrate enlargement, it was not selected. The patient received Sulphur 0/1 4 times daily. The patient reported profuse discharge for a few days after the administration of Sulphur however his nasal obstruction, dryness of mouth and snoring improved and after 2 months he was completely relieved.

Surprisingly X-ray examination showed no DNS and sinuses were clear.

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D P Rastogi

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