Abstract – In homoeopathy case taking is a tool by which we make a totality of symptoms after analysis, find out similimum medicine and apply holistic approach. In Homoeopathy Individual treat as a whole (body, mind and spirit) ,for the case taking mental and physical generals are essential for choosing similimum medicine. In this article we try to describe dreams, their types and some rubrics that belong to dreams. Dreams belong to the mental general. Sometimes it helps in selection of similimum. There are so many rubrics in the repertory belonging to different dreams which help to select a similimum.
Keywords – Dreams and Homoeopathy
Introduction: Dreams – Word Meaning(webster marriam dictionary)
“A series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep”
Dreaming is held to consist of three elements .Periodic, unrelated visual burst , emotional episodes and the cognitive synthesis of the first two .The theory predicts that there are two kinds of visual imagination in dreams.
One is vivid, detailed colorful large and in the center of the visual field
The other is less vivid, less detailed ,less colorful, smaller and in the periphery.
The scientific study of dreams is called Oneirology
The function of dream sleep (more properly rapid eye movement or REM sleep ) is to remove certain undesirable modes of interaction in networks of cells in the cerebral cortex. Greek physician Hippocrates (c.460, 377 BCE) suggested that dreams provide early evidence of disease
Father of Modern Psychotherapy sigmondfreud (1900) had given an understanding that dreams are symbolic condensation of conflicts that are diverted into the subconscious from the conscious to avoid emotional distress. (3)
It was common belief for centuries that a good sleep is dreamless, it was thought that dreams normally occur when one is upset or before awakening in the morning. Electronic monitory has proved that the brain is more active during sleep. It has been shown that there are two distinct sleep states – Active and Passive. There are segments of 90 minutes of a passive phase followed by an active dreaming period followed again by the passive phase. Initially the dreaming period is about 10 minutes but it goes on increasing after every 90 minutes passive phase and towards morning it may be as long as 45 minutes or more. During this active phase rapid movement of the eyes is also observed and this phase is considered to be a highly active phase for dreaming.
Types of Dreams
Safety Valve Dreams – They can be wish fulfilling and quite often the express desires which are not expressed freely during making life
Creative Dreams – Dreams can be applied in the development of an individual ability and functioning
Recurring and Sequential Dreams – Repressed or depressed desires or a problem which could not be solved may appear in the form of repetitive dreams.
Factual Dreams – Events and circumstances of daily life appear in the dreams.
Physiological Dreams – Physical discomfort and sexual arousal may be represented in the dreams of an individual.
Problem Solving Dreams – There are some individuals who have the ability to solve their problems in their dreams. (4)
Dreams are called swapna in Sanskrit. The literal meaning of the word conveys seeing that as real which is not experienced in the real world .In modern times dreams have been seen as connection to the unconscious mind. In vedic age dreams are believed to be the voice of God. It is differentiated in two types in nature, Good and Bad Dreams. It is believed that good dreams are created by God and bad dreams are created by evil. Dreams reflect the dreamer’s feelings about events and relationships. Dream is a much frighted phenomenon in the Atharv veda. Atharv veda describes the birth place of dream. It ids said that dream is the son of Gabhi and agent of yama (5)
In Homoeopathy Individual treat as a whole(body, mind and spirit),for the case taking(aphorism82-104 mention in organon of medicine ) mental and physical generals are important aspects in totality of symptoms for choosing similimum medicine.
Dream belongs to the mental general sometimes it helps in selection of similimum. There are so many rubrics in the repertory belonging to different dreams which help to select a similimum.
Some rubrics have single medicine
Sleep, Dreams absurd
Strange midnight after —- China
Dreams – abused being too weak to defend himself
Ambra grisea
Dreams achievement of — Adamas
Sleep Dreams, acquaintances, walking on water
Ped
Sleep, Dreams
Acrobats, swinging from trapezes
Hydrog
Sleep Dreams Affectionate
Coccus cacti
Sleep Dreams Amorous , Morning 5 :00 am
Merc – I – R
Sleep Dreams Amorous coition after
Kali Ca
Sleep Dreams Lying on right side
Sarsaparilla
Sleep Dreams, beast
Pulsatila
Dreams, blind that he was
Physostigma
Dreams body, rash covered
Ammon mur.
Dreams Body, disfigured
Sepia
Dreams Body, embalmed
Carb-ac
Dreams Body, paralyzed, right side
Irid
Dreams Body, swollen
Squil
Dreams disease cancer
Halonias
Dreams Disease – wounded by shot
Lobelia. [6]
There are so many rubrics in the dream section where single medicine represents it may help sometimes when less peculiar symptoms are present, in some cases patients told about recurrent dreams.
Conclusions : Sometimes dreams reveal the emotions and mental state of a patient that help to select the medicine in Homoeopathic practice dreams are important for psychoanalysis of patients. Dr, Kent and Dr. Hahnemann gives importance to dreams during case taking and so many authors work on them.
References :
- What is dream ?, Martin EP seligman, Amy Yellow, Behavior research and therapy 25(1) , 1-24, 1987
- The function of dream sleep francis crick Graeme Mitchtson nature 304 (5922), 111-114,1983
- Dreams What they mean and Psychology behind them American sleep association (APA Dictionary of psychology dream. American Psychology Association)
- Prakash Vakil Dreams and Homoeopathy Third Edition : 4,11
- Dr. Mridusmita Devi (Vedic Concept of Dreams and remedies of nightmare with special reference to the Rgveda and the Atharvaveda
- Homoeopathic Repertory (Dr. J T Kent)
