Abstract: Boericke’s Repertory is a valuable tool in managing cases of toxicological poisoning due to its comprehensive coverage of symptoms and remedies based on pathological similarity, causation, modalities, and concomitants. This repertory is particularly useful in cases where clinical conditions mask the characteristics of the patient allowing practitioners to find the similimum.
Keywords: Toxicological poisoning, remedy selection, clinical repertory, pathological similarity, Boericke repertory
Introduction: Boericke’s Repertory is a clinical repertory that conditions symptoms and corresponding groups of medicines. It is a valuable resource for homeopathy, especially in cases of toxicological poisoning where the patients’ symptoms are masked by the toxicological condition. The repertory helps practitioners select remedies based on pathological similarities.
Toxicology is the study of the toxic or harmful effects of chemicals .it is also concerned with the symptoms and treatment of poisoning and the identification of the poisoning
Fields of Toxicology
It includes
Environmental – air and water pollution
Economic – food additives, pesticides
Legal – forensics, regulations of emissions and additives
Laboratory – analytical testing for chemicals
Biomedical – toxicities of drugs used to treat diseases in humans and animals.
Types of Poisoning
Acute Poisoning – Involves sudden, severe adverse effects occurring shortly after a single or short term exposure usually less than 24 hours.
Examples – It includes overconsumption of alcohol, accidental ingestion of toxic substance, exposure to a strong poison
Chronic Poisoning – Chronic toxicity refers to the adverse effects resulting from repeated or continuous exposure to a toxicant over a prolonged period.
Examples – Long term exposure to heavy metal smoking, exposure to certain industrial chemicals
Organon Aphorisms Related to Toxicological Poisoning
Aphorism 73 – Emphasizes understanding the specific characteristics of a disease and selecting medicines based on those characteristics.
Aphorisms 153– discusses considering causal factors in selecting medicines.
By exploring the intersections of homeopathic philosophy and clinical practice, this research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of homeopathic medicine and its implication for patient cure3
About Boerickes Repertory – The Boericke repertory is a valuable resource for homeopaths, and it is written by OSLER.E. BOERICKE. This repertory is organized into 25 chapters, following a Hahnemannian anatomical schema. It covers various sections like Mind Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Face, and more. This repertory contains 290 pages of information with 8320 rubrics and 1409 medicines. the remedies are arranged alphabetically and the intensity of remedies is indicated using two types of typography: italics, more frequently verified clinical remedies and roman. The Boericke repertory is particularly useful for cases where clinical conditions mask the characteristics of the patients and it can be a helpful tool for homeopaths in their practice
Key Features of Boerickes Repertory
Comprehensive Coverage – Includes Various sections such as generalities, nervous system, specific sections on poisoning
Remedy Coverage – facilitates selections of remedies based on pathological similarity, causation, modalities, and concomitants.
Clinical Approach – Useful in cases where clinical conditions mask the characteristics of the patient.
Utility in Toxicological Poisoning
Boericke repertory can be used to,
Prescribe based on pathological generals – select remedies based on the patient’s pathological symptoms
Prescribing based on toxicological effects – identify remedies that can help alleviate toxicological symptoms
Boericke repertory includes rubrics related to complaints and abuse often focusing on symptoms and conditions such as
Generalities: Complaints Abuse of :
ABUSE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – agaricus, arsenicum album, lobelia inflatum, ranunculus bulbosus, nux vomica, veratrum album
ABUSE OF ACONITE – Sulphur
ABUSE OF ARSENIC – carbo vegetablis, ferrum metallicum, hepar sulpuricum, ipecac, sambucus, veratrum album
ABUSE OF BELLADONA -Hyos, opium
ABUSE OF KALIUM BROMATUM – camphor, helonius, nux- vomica, zinc ABUSE OF CAMPHOR – cantharis, Coffea cruda, opium
ABUSE OF CANTHARIS – apis mellifica, camphor
ABUSE OF CHAMOMILLA – chinchona, coffea cruda, ignatia, nux- vomica, pulsatilla, valeriana officinalis
ABUSE OF CHLORAL – cannabis indica
ABUSE OF KALIUM CHLORINUM – hydrastis
ABUSE OF COD LIVER OIL – hepar sulphuricum
ABUSE OF COFFEE – chamomilla, guar, ignatia, nux- vomica
ABUSE OF COLCHICUM – – ledum pal
ABUSE OF CONDIMENTS – nux vomica.
ABUSE OF DRUGS IN GENERAL – aloes socotrina, hydrastis, nux vomica, teucurium.
ABUSE OF DIGITALS – chinchona, nitricum-acidum ABUSE OF SECALE COR – chinchona, Lachesis mutus, nux-vomica, secale cornutum, solanum nigrum
ABUSE OF IODIDES – arsenicum album, belladonna, hepar sulphuricum, hydrastis, phosphorus.
ABUSE OF IRON – chinchona, hepar sulphuricum, pulsatilla
ABUSE OF LEAD (PLUMBISM) – Alum, bell, carbonicum sulph, causticum, colocynthis, iodum, kali-bro, kali-iodide, mercurius, nux -vomica, opium, petroleum, platinum metallicum, sulphuricum acidum.
ABUSE OF MAGNESIA – nux- vomica, rheum
ABUSE OF MERCURY – hepar sulphuricum, aurum metallicum, iodum, mezereum, kali iodide, nitricum acidum.
ABUSE OF NARCOTICS – chamomilla
ABUSE OF ARGENTUM NITRICUM – natrum – mur
ABUSE OF PHOSPHORUS – lachesis, nux-vomica
ABUSE OF QUININE -arsenicum album, ipecac, natrum muriaticum, pulsatilla.
ABUSE OF SALT (HALOPHAGIA) – arsenicum album, carbo- vegetabilis, natrum muriaticum, phosphorous.
ABUSE OF STRAMONIUM – aceticum acidum, nux -vomica, tabacum ABUSE OF STRYCHININE – curare, eucalyptus, kali-bro, physostigma4
ABUSE OF SULPHUR – pulsatilla, selenium.
ABUSE OF SUGAR – mercurius, natrum phosphoricum.
ABUSE OF TAR, LOCALLY – bovista.
ABUSE OF TEA – chinchona, Dioscorea, selenium.
ABUSE OF TOBACCO – abies nigra, arsenicum album, ignatia, ipecuac, gelsemium, phosphrous, platina, sepia, spigelia.
ABUSE OF TURPENTINE – Nux – moschata
ABUSE OF VEGETABLE MEDICINE – camphor, nux- vomica
ABUSE OF VERATRUM – camphor, coffea
ABUSE OF AMYL NITROSUM – aceticum acidum, ammonium-causticum, amyl- nitrosum, hepar sulphuricum, phosphorus4
Conclusion:
Boericke’s Repertory is a valuable tool in managing cases of toxicological poisoning ,offering comprehensive coverage of symptoms and remedies .its clinical approach and emphasis on pathological similarity ,causation ,modalities and concomitants facilitate effective remedy selection .By combining Boericke’s Repertory with a thorough understanding of homeopathic principles and patients individual case , practitioners can provide effective treatment and relief to patients suffering from toxicological poisoning .
Reference:
- Toxicology and Poisoning Mhmedical.com. [cited 2025 May 2]. Available from: https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com
- Study.com. [cited 2025 May 2]. Available from: https://study.com/academy/lesson/acute-vs-chronic-toxicity
- Organon of medicine 5th edition by SAMUEL HAHNEMANN
- Boericke’s new manual of homeopathic Materia medica and repertory, third revised and augmented edition based on ninth edition by O.E. BOERICKE.
- Essentials of repertorization 5th edition by Dr. Shashi Kant Tiwari
AUTHOR
Dr. K. R. Anjugam
- scholar Department of Homoeopathic Repertory and Case Taking Government Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
