Abstract
Homoeopathy is a system of holistic medicine which focuses on individualization. In homoeopathy there are many types of symptoms upon which prescription or treatment is built, Keynote symptoms is one of them. Keynote symptoms helps physicians to ease out the process of treatment as it is rapid and fast which helps to serve lots of patients in very less time. It is most useful in large gatherings of patients, if there is any outbreak of disease etc.
Keywords
Keynote symptoms, Characteristics, Uncommon, Peculiar, Homoeopathic treatment
Introduction
Homoeopathy is based on the principle of Similia Similibus Currentur. Here we focus on each and every complaint and consider the whole body as one which is to be cured in a sickness. Keynote symptoms are the basis for keynote prescriptions which proves to be a boon for busy practitioners as it helps to solve many cases in less time. Inaugurator of the term “key-note” was Dr H.N Guernsey. He simply invented a new name for the old Hahnemannian idea. The key-note, in music, is defined to be “the fundamental note or tone to which the whole piece is accommodated”; and the key-note of music finds, by analogy – through which things most remote and unlike superficially are connected in the closest relationship – its likeness everywhere. The “key-note system” is not only applicable to the array of symptoms constituting the pathogenesis of our Materia Medica, but it also corresponds to the array of symptoms and conditions constituting disease. When we study Pathology, the term pathognomonic symptom is intended to express a collection of symptoms, what might be termed the key-note of a given disease.
What is Keynote Symptom
When we read Organon of medicine aphorism 153 we find that, “ the more striking, singular, uncommon and peculiar (characteristic) signs and symptoms of the case of disease are chiefly and most solely to be kept in view; for it is more particularly these that very similar ones in the list of symptoms of the selected medicine must correspond to, in order to constitute it the most suitable for effecting the cure.”
Dr H.N Guernsey quoted in his book ‘THE APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF HOMOEOPATHY TO OBSTETRICS AND THE DISORDERS PECULIAR TO WOMEN AND YOUNG CHILDREN’- “It is only meant to state some strong characteristic symptom, which will often be found the governing symptom, and on referring to the Symptomen Codex all the others will surely be there if this one is. There must be a head to everything ; so in symptomatology — if the most interior or peculiar, or key-note, is discernible, it will be found that all the other symptoms of the case will be also found under that remedy that gives existence to this peculiar one, if that remedy is well proven”.
The term “keynote” is merely suggestive as used in this connection. The reference being to the analogy between materia medica and music. This analogy is shown in the use of other musical terms in medicine, as when the patient speaks of being “out of tune,” or the physician speaks of the “‘tone” of the organism. Disease is correctly defined as a loss of harmony in function and sensation.
When comparing the symptoms of medicines, each medicine presents peculiar differences from all other medicines. All the differences by which a remedy is distinguished from another, are the “keynotes” of the remedy, as per Dr. Guernsey.
A characteristic or keynote symptom is a generalization drawn from the particular symptoms by logical deduction. Evidently the characteristic or peculiar symptoms of a case cannot be determined until a complete examination has elicited all the symptoms of the case (the numerical totality) for purposes of comparison.
What Stalwarts Say About Keynote Symptoms
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- Dr HC Allen defines Keynote symptom as a characteristic, red strand of the rope, and central modality or principle. He further provided examples viz., aggravation from motion of Bryonia, amelioration from motion of Rhustox, the furious, vicious delirium of Belladonna or the apathetic indifference of Phosphoricum acidum.
- Dr. P. P. Wells says: “Characteristic symptoms are those which individualize both the disease and the drug. That which distinguishes the individual case of disease to be treated from other members of its class is to find its resemblance among those effects of the drug which distinguish it from other drugs. This is what we mean when we say that with these the law of cure has chiefly to do. When we say ‘like cures like’ this is the ‘like’ we mean.”
- Dr H A Roberts said – Let the single symptom be only a partial indication to the application of the materia medica. Beware the keynote that is not backed up by knowledge of, or reference to, the materia medica. No single symptom, no matter how “strange, rare and peculiar”, can stand without the support of the well taken case, and the likeness of the whole patient to the remedy.
- Dr JT Kent says in Lecture 32 The Value of Symptoms — I do not mean that all or any part of what you have written is useless, but it is necessary to have individualizing characteristics to enable you to classify that which you have, to perceive the value of symptoms, and, if you must settle down to a few remedies, to ascertain which of these is more important than another, or most important of all. You cannot individualize unless you have that which characterizes. The things that characterize are things to make you hesitate, to make you meditate. Suppose that you have been acquainted with a large number of cases of measles, for instance, but along comes one of which you say to yourself, “That is strange ; I never saw such a thing as that before in a case of whooping cough. It is peculiar.” You hesitate, you meditate, and at once recognize it as something individual, because it is strange and rare and peculiar.
Books Based on Keynote Symptoms
- The application of the principles and practice of Homoeopathy to obstetrics and the disorders peculiar to women and young children. by Dr Henry N. Guernsey (1879)
- Keynotes to the Materia medica as taught by Dr Henry .N Guernsey (1887)
- Characteristic Materia medica by W. H Burt
- Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of Some Leading Remedies of Homoeopathic Materia Medica with Some of the Nosodes (1898) by H. C. Allen
- Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutic with Grouping and Classification (1899) by Dr. E. B. Nash
- A synoptic key of the Materia Medica (1931) by C. M. Boger
- A primer of Materia Medica for practitioners of Homoeopathy (1891) by T. F. Allen
- Keynotes and Redline symptoms of the Materia medica by Dr Adolf Von Lippe
- Characteristics of the Homoeopathic Materia medicas by ME Douglas
Few Keynote Symptoms taken from HC Allen
- Zincum metallicum
- Incessant and violent fidgety feeling in feet or lower extremities; must move them constantly.
- Always feels better every way as soon as menses begin to flow; it relieves all her sufferings; but they return again soon after the flow ceases.
- Theridion Curassavicum
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- Every sound seems to penetrate through the whole body, causing nausea and vertigo.
- For extreme nervous sensitivity; of puberty, during pregnancy and climacteric years.
- Rumex Crispus
- Extremely sensitive to open air
- Slightest inhalation of cold air; covers head with bedclothes to make air warmer
- Plumbum metallicum
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- Violent colic, sensation as if the abdominal wall was drawn as if by a string to the spine.
- Distinct blue line along the margin of gums; gums swollen, pale, show a lead-colored line
- Pyrogen
- The bed feels hard; parts lain on feel sore and bruised.
- Stool, large, black, carrion-like; small black balls, like olives.
My Cured Cases based on Keynote Symptoms
- Case 1
- A girl 23 years old came to my OPD with fever, pain which agg on lying down, coughing with shortness of breath specially at 2 am, backache severe wants to lie down even if she only starts to walk. All complaints were from a week ago. I prescribed her Kali carb 30, three doses to be taken in an interval of 15 minutes. After 3 days I got a call from her and she told me that she is feeling well completely.
- Case 2
- A male of 30 years age came to OPD having catarrhal discharge, ulceration , corrosion in nose, slight swelling like feeling in nose, severe sneezing specially at night since 2-3 days. The thirst increased to an intense level but the tongue was moist. I prescribed him Merc. Sol 30 two doses , I was amazed within 24 hours he was feeling much better, almost all complaints relieved.
References
| 1. | 18 Guernsey HN, Guernsey JC. Key-notes to the materia medica as taught by Henry N. guernsey, M. d. Legare Street Press; 2021. |
| 2. | Guernsey HN. The application of the principles and practice of homoeopathy to obstetrics, and the disorders peculiar to women and young children. Legare Street Press; 2022. |
| 3. | Allen HC. Allens’ keynotes: Rearranged & classified. New Delhi, India: B Jain; 2022. |
| 4. | Kent JT. Lectures on homoeopathic philosophy. Legare Street Press; 2022. |
| 5. | Close SM. Genius of homeopathy: Lectures & essays on homoeopathic philosophy with word index; 2nd edition. New Delhi, India: B Jain; 2023. |
| 6. | The “key-note” system – by Henry n. Guernsey [Internet]. Homeoint.org. [cited 2025 Apr 18]. Available from: http://homeoint.org/articles/reis/guerkeyn.htm |
SUBMITTED BY :
DR SUSHIL KUMAR RAJBHAR
MD SCHOLAR
DEPARTMENT OF HOMOEOPATHIC REPERTORY AND CASE TAKING
GOVERNMENT HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL BHOPAL MP
