A Gateway to the Organon of Medicine (part 3)
Bray Williamson MA Lic.BS Hom
In this, the third part of my Gateway series to the Organon of Medicine, I will deconstruct and explain the meaning behind the fifth aphorism of the Organon. My deconstruction and explanations of aphorisms one to four are available on ‘Homeopathy360’ in parts 1 and 2 of this series.
‘Useful to the physician in assisting him to cure are the particulars of the most probable exciting cause of the acute disease, as also the most significant points in the whole history of the chronic disease, to enable him to discover its fundamental cause, which is generally due to a chronic miasm. In these investigations, the ascertainable physical constitution of the patient (especially when the disease is chronic), his moral and intellectual character, his occupation, mode of living and habits, his social and domestic relations, his age, sexual function, etc.., are to be taken into consideration.’
This aphorism makes it clear that Hahnemann is making a distinction between acute diseases and chronic diseases, and also how to understand them when prescribing a homoeopathic remedy.
In the first part of this aphorism he states, ‘Useful to the physician in assisting him to cure are the particulars of the most probable exciting cause of the acute disease…’
First of all, it is vital to understand that an acute disease is a short-term, self-limiting condition such as an infection, injury, fever, cold, influenza, digestive upset, emotional shock, or even poisoning. With this in mind it is important to note that Hahnemann does not state that the most important thing is to diagnose the illness, instead the most important thing to do is to understand the exciting cause of the illness. In other words, a homoeopath needs to find out what is it that is having such a profound energetic effect upon the Dynamis (Vital Force) in order to create such energetically active symptoms.
This is where a homoeopath needs to have a true understanding of the nature of disease and of how physical, mental, and emotional issues, can affect the Vital Force and cause the production of the symptoms of acute disease.
If for example we have a patient presenting with nausea and vomiting, it is not enough to just prescribe on those two symptoms. To understand the exciting cause, we must find out whether these symptoms have been caused through over indulgence, bad food, the stress of work or study, or from a sudden emotional upset such as a breakdown in a relationship. All of these and more can be exciting causes affecting the Vital Force and leading to these symptoms. Knowing the exciting cause will then lead us to the correct remedy resulting in a rapid, gentle, and permanent cure of the acute symptoms being presented.
In the next part of the fifth aphorism Hahnemann states, ‘…as also the most significant points in the whole history of the chronic disease, to enable him to discover its fundamental cause, which is generally due to a chronic miasm.’
Here Hahnemann is firstly demonstrating the difference between acute and chronic disease. A chronic disease has a history. It is not self-limiting, but it can affect a person for many years. By stating that there are significant points within the history of the chronic disease state, Hahnemann is showing us that when a chronic disease affects the Vital Force, it can have vastly different symptoms over time, whilst still being the same energetic derangement. This clearly shows us the futility of the allopathic obsession with naming diseases, resulting in a diagnosis which only leads to the suppression of symptoms and not the cure.
Hahnemann next differentiates between acute disease and chronic disease by stating that in a chronic disease we must find the fundamental cause, rather than looking for the exciting cause as we do for an acute disease. The fundamental cause of a chronic disease is often considered by homoeopaths to be the, ‘Never been well since’. This is the starting point of the patient’s journey into chronic disease and it can manifest from any physical, mental, emotional or indeed even energetic affliction.
Environmental issues can also be a fundamental cause, and it is the duty of a homoeopath to be aware of all these other causes as between them they can create a situation that allows chronic disease to occur.
Hahnemann continues by stating that the fundamental cause is generally due to a chronic miasm.
To put it simply, a miasm is a chronic underlying disease state which causes a susceptibility to specific types of disease.
In his book ‘The Chronic Diseases’, through his careful observations Hahnemann advanced the idea that there were 3 miasms; Psora, Sycosis, and Syphilis. Each of these miasms affects the constitution causing a person to be more susceptible to certain chronic diseases. Miasms can also influence the symptoms a person develops in acute disease, as well as how they react to environmental triggers, mental strain, and emotional stress. I shall be writing a separate article to help simplify the understanding of miasms in the near future.
In the final part of the fifth aphorism Hahnemann states: ‘In these investigations, the ascertainable physical constitution of the patient (especially when the disease is chronic), his moral and intellectual character, his occupation, mode of living and habits, his social and domestic relations, his age, sexual function, etc.., are to be taken into consideration.’
From this we can see the depths to which we are required to explore in a homoeopathic case taking. This is a far cry from the allopath, with their obsession with a single ailment diagnosis and the naming of disease. A true homoeopath will perform the essential full analysis of the person and their environment in order to completely understand the entire picture of their disease. Exploring the entirety of the patient through their mental, emotional and physical symptoms, as well as their external influences, allows us to find the correct remedy and thus to cure them.
In the next part of this series I shall continue with the sixth aphorism of the Organon of Medicine.
REFERENCES:
- ‘Organon of Medicine’ S.Hahnemann
- ‘The Chronic Diseases’ S. Hahnemann
