Abstract
The word “constitution” is derived from the Latin “constituere,” which means “to set up, to make up, or to establish.”
It is the physical makeup, composition, structure, or nature of something made up of hereditary traits that have been altered by the environment.
CONSTITUTION =PHYSICAL STRUCTURE + BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION
INHERITED CHARACTERISTICS MODIFIED BY THE ENVIRONMENT
Keyword-constitutional symptoms ,physiognomy,,Homoeopathy
Insight on constitutions:
According to Hippocrates (460–377 BC), “Natura Medicatrix” asserts that every person has an innate nature that cannot be altered.
He classified the constitution into two types –Short and Thick and Long and thin.
Aristotle (384–322 BC) categorized people according to their size, build, nature, and other characteristics. He also explained the odd symptoms of illnesses and humors.
The human constitution is sanguine, bilious, phlegmatic, and nervous, according to Galens.
Psoric, sycotic, and syphilitic are the three categories into which Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843), the founder of homeopathy, classified the human constitution.
Dr. Eduard Von Grauvogl (1811–1877), a German homoeopath, classified the constitutions into three groups: carbonitrogenoid (excess carbon and nitrogen in tissues and blood), oxygenoid (excess oxygen), and hydrogenoid (excess water).
Some points we need to understand how the constitution develops ?
Endogenous factors: We inherit certain traits from our parents, referred to as genetic traits, which is why we look like our parents.
Environmental influence: As we develop, we are exposed to a variety of environmental factors, including our homes, schools, playgrounds, teachers, friends, and family.
Exogenous variables can either directly or indirectly shape our knowledge and behavior patterns.
(A person’s susceptibility is also determined by their constitution)
The study of constitution is comparable to the art of “physiognomy,” which is evaluating a person’s character based on their outward appearance (facial, body, etc.). However, a person’s constitution can be diagnosed using more than just physiognomy.
Everybody inherits some traits from their parents, while some traits are brought about by a combination of their internal and external traits.
A homeopath attempts to personalize each patient according to his physical characteristics, morals, social behaviour, desires, and aversions, among other factors; therefore, understanding the constitution aids in this process.
When a disease is in its acute stage, using constitutional medication could be dangerous. Only the acute totality should be taken into consideration when choosing an acute medication during an acute stage of an illness. Only after an emergency crisis can a prescription for constitutional medication be given. It facilitates a speedy and uncomplicated recovery for the patient and successfully reduces the risk of relapse.
Assessing a person’s constitution aids in choosing and prescribing treatments, determining the dosage and effectiveness of chosen medications, and eventually in the treatment of illnesses.
The Constitution as Classified by Dr. Eduard Von Grauvogl
He was a homoeopathic doctor from Germany.
He distinguished three categories for the human constitution in 1870.
1.Carbo-nitrogenoid constitution
2.Oxygenoid constitution
3.Hydrogenoid constitution
Rubrics from ‘A Clinical Repertory To The Dictionary of Materia Medica’by Dr.J.H.Clarke
Constitution , Alcohol ,abused by- Led.
⸺Animal Heat Diminished ,with
⸺Asthmatic
⸺Bilious
⸺Broken –down
⸺Carbo-nitrogenoid *
⸺Debilitated
⸺Delicate
⸺Delicate ,with Pure White Skin
⸺Dry
⸺Feeble
⸺Gouty
⸺Hydrogenoid ,possessing an increased capacity to contain water
Constitutions ,Lax fibre with ⸺Hep.
⸺Leucophlegmatic
⸺Lymphatic*
⸺Nervo –sanguine or sanguine ⸺Ver.
⸺Nervous
⸺Nervous,disposed to haemorrhoids⸺Sul .
⸺Neuralgic
⸺Phthistical
⸺Psoric
⸺Scorbutic
⸺Scrofulous
⸺Slow ,torpid
⸺Weakly
Consumptives ,Asthma of ⸺Mep.
Convulsions of Children ⸺Pas
Cool, Dry Skin ⸺Nx.m.,Vi.o.
⸺Dry Skin ,person with,who do not easily perspire –Nx.m.
Corpulent People –Bl.o.
Cough ,Influenza ,after ,of children ⸺Sang.
⸺Severe,after Whooping –cough
⸺Sleeplessness due to ,or to Nervousness-Sil.
Dark complexion ⸺Bry., Cof .,Iod.,Kre.,Lyc.,Sul.,Thu.,Vi.o.
⸺Eyes
⸺Hair ,Choleric persons with⸺Vb.o.
⸺Haired persons of lithic or sycotic diathesis ⸺⸺Sars.
Defective Nutrituon⸺⸺Sil.
Deficient in Silicia ,Who are ⸺⸺Lo.p.
⸺⸺in Vital Reaction⸺⸺Cb.v., Pso.,Ver.
⸺⸺and Weak Nutrition, Feeble Irritable Persons Who have ⸺⸺Phel.
Delicate ⸺⸺Act.r., Am.c., Cb.v. ,Chi., Lyc,.Sec.,Sep.,
⸺⸺Children .Sickly ⸺⸺Pso.
⸺⸺Constituutions ⸺⸺Nx.m.
⸺⸺Constitutions with Pure White Skin⸺⸺Sep.
⸺⸺Eyelashes ⸺⸺Pho.
⸺⸺Girls ,fearfully constipated with Low Spirits⸺⸺Fer.
⸺⸺Organisation ,Women of ⸺⸺Xan.
⸺⸺Skin⸺⸺Bro., Caus.
⸺⸺Women ⸺⸺Eu.pi.
Dentition⸺⸺Act.r., Bor.,Sil.,
⸺⸺Cerebral Irritation of Children from⸺⸺Scu.
⸺⸺Complaints durings ⸺⸺Cof .
⸺⸺Punny Children ,during⸺⸺Mag.m.
⸺⸺Rickety Children ,during ⸺Mag .m.
⸺⸺Scrofulous Children ,who have Worm Diseases, during ⸺⸺Sil.
Dentition ,Suckling and children during ⸺⸺Rhe.
Depression of Nervous and Vital powers after Long Sickness⸺⸺Scu.
⸺⸺⸺⸺of Vital Powers ⸺⸺Cb.v.
Despair of Perfect Recovery ⸺⸺Pso.
Despondent and Without Hope ,Phthisical Patients who are⸺⸺Stn.
Destructive Tendency ,Person of⸺⸺Trn.
Diarrhoea⸺Chi., Sil., Sto.c.
⸺Chronic ,sufferers from ⸺⸺ Calc.,Fer.,Kre.,Mag.m.
⸺Early Stages of ⸺⸺Rhe.
⸺Morning ,or Constipation,Lymphatic Persons with⸺⸺Sul
⸺Persons disposed to,who take cold easily ⸺⸺Nt.x.
⸺Profuse,Watery of Old People⸺⸺Gam.
Dry Constitution⸺Chi., Lyc.,Nux,Pb.
⸺⸺Habit,Vigorous persons of⸺⸺Nux.
⸺⸺Skin and Cool⸺⸺Nx.m., Vi.o.
⸺⸺Skin ,Profuse Saliva ,Diarrhoea Night -Sweats⸺⸺Sil.
Dullness of Head⸺Ag.n.
⸺⸺of intellect ⸺Mac.
Dwarfish ⸺⸺Ba.c.
Dyscrasia,Deep seated ;Child is weak ,with no other symptoms ⸺⸺Su.x.
Dysmennorrhoea of Nervous Women ⸺⸺Ter.
Dyspepsia of old people ⸺⸺Nx.m.
Exertion ,Mental and Nervous ,Disorder from ⸺Coca,Nux.v.,pi.x.
Eyelashes ,Delicate ⸺Pho.
⸺Long⸺Stn.
Face,Children with ,like old people⸺Sars.
Fair Children ⸺Calc.
Fat Children ⸺Calc. ,K.bi.
Fibre,Firm ,Fleshy ⸺Bry.
Girls or Women ,with tendency to Blood to Head⸺Jab.
⸺Chlorotic ⸺⸺Alet.
⸺Delicate,fearfully constipated,with Low Sirirts⸺Fer.
⸺or Women ,with Dry Skin⸺Jab.
⸺Flushed Cheeks,Ftigue and Breatglessness, with⸺Fer.
⸺Impressive ,Mild,,of Fair Complexion⸺Vi.o.
⸺Tall,Thin,Nervous⸺Vi.o.
Haemorrhoidals,Nervous Constitutions disposed to⸺Sul.
⸺Tendency to,with venous Constitution⸺Nux.
Herpetic Constitution⸺Lyc*.
Hydrogenoid Constitution⸺Arn.,Na.s.,Nt.x.,Nx.m.,Thu.*
Reference –
- Medicosage. Constitution in Homoeopathy: Homoeopathic Constitutional Remedies & Types. Medicosage; 2021 Nov 2. Available from: https://medicosage.com/constitution-in-homoeopathy-homoeopathic-constitutional-remedies-types/
- Constitutional medicines by John H.Clarke,M.D.
- A Clinical repertory to the dictionary of material medica by Dr. J.H.CLARKE.
AUTHOR
Dr.. Sunita Rawat (MD Scholar)
Department of Homoeopathic Repertory and case taking.
Govt. Homoeopathic Medical Collage and Hospital Bhopa l( MP)
CO -Author Name-
Dr. S.K. Mishra sir
Principal and CEO of the govt .homoeopathic medical college and Bhopal ( MP)
