Utility of Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory in Homeopathic Management of Pharyngitis
Abstract
Pharyngitis is the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx. In most cases, the cause is an infection, either bacterial or viral. Other less common causes of pharyngitis include allergies, trauma, cancer, reflux, and certain toxins. This study explores the utility of Boericke’s Repertory in managing pharyngitis, a common inflammatory condition of the pharynx. The repertory’s comprehensive coverage of symptoms and remedies facilitates effective remedy selection, enabling homeopaths to provide targeted treatment. By analyzing relevant rubrics and symptoms, practitioners can identify the similimum and offer relief to patients suffering from pharyngitis. The study highlights the importance of Boericke’s Repertory as a valuable resource for homeopaths in treating pharyngitis and promoting holistic healing.
Keywords: Pharyngitis, Homoeopathy, Boericke’s Repertory, Rubric, Management.
Introduction:
Pharyngitis is an inflammatory condition of the pharynx, often caused by viral or bacterial infections. Boericke’s repertory offers a range of remedies for pharyngitis, including symptoms such as sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and inflammation. By utilizing this repertory, homeopaths can identify effective remedies tailored to individual patient needs.
Prevalence : Roughly 75% of instances of pharyngitis are caused by viruses. Group A beta haemolytic streptococci is the most prevalent cause of acute pharyngitis, accounting for 5% to 36% of cases. The majority of pharyngitis cases also develop the disease .Pharyngitis rates are extremely high worldwide , especially in nations where antibiotics are overprescribed.
Cause
Viral pharyngitis
A range of viral pathogens can cause pharyngitis, or sore throat, with between 50% to 36% of cases being viral in nature.
Most common- viruses are:-
∙ Influenza virus
∙ Adenovirus
∙ Coronavirus
∙ Rhinovirus
∙ Parainfluenza
∙ Epstein-Barr virus.
∙ Coxsackievirus.
Bacterial Pharyngitis:
The most prevalent bacterial illness is caused by Group A hemolytic streptococci, which causes 5% to 36% of cases of acute pharyngitis.
Other bacteria are:-
∙ Streptococcus pyogenes( GAS)
∙ Arcanobacterium haemolyticum
∙ Fusobacterium necrophorum
∙ Corynebacterium diphtheriae
∙ Haemophilus influenzae
∙ Candida
∙ Chlamydia pneumoniae
∙ Mycoplasma pneumoniae
∙ Neisseria meningitidis
∙ Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Classification :
- Acute pharyngitis
- Chronic pharyngitis
Two types : (i) Chronic catarrhal pharyngitis
(ii) Chronic Hypertrophic (Granular)Pharyngitis.
Symptoms:
∙ Low grade fever
∙ Dry cough
∙ Sore throat
∙ Difficulty in swallowing
∙ Headache
∙ Malaise
∙ Dysphagia
Complications:
∙ Epiglottis
∙ Sinusitis
∙ Mastoiditis
∙ Acute Rheumatic Fever
∙ Otitis media
Diagnostic criteria:
Throat culture remains the criterion standard for bacterial pharyngitis diagnosis, with 97% to 100% specificity and 90% to 95% sensitivity.
Rapid antigen detection testing (RADT), detects bacterial and viral antigens from throat swabs taken from tonsillar exudates or the posterior oropharynx using dipsticks.
Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory:
Boericke’s repertory is a clinical Repertory, which comes under General Clinical Repertory, which covers symptoms of the whole body.
It is the most widely used bedside repertory which has been attached to Homoeopathic Materia Medica by William Boericke in 1906 by Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia.
The repertory has a total number of medicines 1409, but as per remedy index it provides 1414 medicines but certain medicines appear twice because of their dual name.i.e. Actea racemosa and cimicifuga.
It has 2 parts,
I-part-Materia Medica (given by Dr. William Boericke)
II-part-Repertory (given by Dr. Oscar E. Boericke)
2 grades followed in this repertory I grade & II grade.
Total 25 chapters in this repertory. Hahnemannian schema is followed in the construction of chapters of this book. Heading, subheading, and specific conditions arranged in alphabetical order under each chapter. In each chapter Rubrics are arranged in alphabetical order.
Boericke’s Clinical Repertory helps us to record the cases lacking in mental general and physical generals but rich in common symptoms of diseased condition, cases with clinical diagnosis, this repertory helps us to find the most appropriate and similimum remedy.
Repertorial Approach:
INFLAMMATION (Pharyngitis)
Atrophic (sicca) — Æsc., Alum., Dub., Arg. n., Ars. iod., Kali bich., Nux v., Sabal. Catarrhal, acute — Acon., Æsc., Apis, Arg. n., Bell., Bry., Canth., Caps., Caust., Cistus, Eucal., Ferr. p., Gels., Glycerin, Guaiac., Gymnocl., Hep., Iod., Justicia, Kali bich., Kali c., Kali m., Lach., Lachnanth., Led., Menthol, Merc. c., Merc. i. fl., Merc. i. r., Merc., Naja, Nat. ars., Nat. iod., Nux v., Phyt., Quill., Sal. ac., Sang., Sang. n., Scilla, Wyeth.
Predisposition to — Alumen, Bar. c., Graph., Lach., Sul.
Catarrhal, chronic — Æsc., Alum., Am. br., Am. caust., Arg. iod., Arg. m., Arg. n., Ars., Arum, Aur., Bar. c., Brom., Calc. p., Can. ind., Carbo v., Caust., Cinnab., Cistus, Coccus, Cub., Elaps, Ferr. p., Graph., Hep., Hydr., Iod., Kali bich., Kali c., Kali chlor., Lach., Lyc., Med., Merc. c., Merc. i. fl., Merc., Nat. c., Nat. m., Nux v., Ox. ac., Penthor., Petrol., Phos., Puls., Rumex, Sabad., Sabal, Sang., Sec., Senega, Sep., Stann., Sumb., Tab., Wyeth. Follicular, acute — Æsc., Apis, Bell., Caps., Ferr. p., Iod., Kali bich., Kali m., Merc., Phyt., Sang. n., Wyeth.
Follicular, chronic (clergymen’s sore throat) — Æsc., Alum., Am. br., Arg. n., Arn., Ars. iod., Arum, Calc. fl., Calc. p., Caps., Caust., Cinnab., Cistus, Dros., Hep., Hydr., Ign., Kali bich., Kali m., Lach., Merc. cy., Merc. i. r., Nat. m., Nux v., Phos., Phyt., Sang. n., Sticta, Still., Sul., Wyeth.
Herpetic — Apis, Ars., Bor., Hydr., Jacar., Kali bich., Kali chlor., Lach., Merc. i. fl., Nat. s., Phyt., Sal. ac.
Rheumatic — Acon., Bry., Colch., Guaiac., Phyt., Rhus t.
Septic — Am. c., Hep., Mur. ac., Sil.
Tubercular — Merc. i. r.
AGGRAVATIONS
Cold [from] — Cistus, Fluor. ac., Hep., Lyc.
Drinks, warm or hot [from] — Lach., Merc. i. fl., Phyt.
Menses [from] — Lac c.
Pressure [from] — Lach., Merc. c.
Sleep [from] — Lach., Lyc.
Suppressed foot sweat [from] — Bar. c., Psor., Sil.
Swallowing [from]
Empty — Antipyr., Bar. c., Crotal., Dolichos, Hep., Justicia, Lac c., Lach., Merc. i. fl., Merc. i. r., Merc., Phyt., Sabad.
Liquids — Bell., Bry., Ign., Lach.
Solids (See Deglutition.) — Bapt., Merc. s., Morph.
Sweet things — Spong.
Intervals of swallowing, in — Caps., Ign.
Warmth [from] — Coccus, Iod., Lach., Merc.
Afternoon, in — Lach.
Bed, in — Merc. i. fl., Merc.
Left side, on — Lach., Merc. i. r., Sabad.
Left to right, on — Lac c., Lach., Sabad.
Right side, On — Bar. c., Bell., Guaiac., Lyc., Mag. p., Merc. i. fl., Merc., Niccol., Phyt., Pod., Sang., Sul.
AMELIORATIONS
Inspiring cold air [from] — Sang.
Swallowing [from] — Gels., Ign.
Liquids — Cistus.
Warm — Alum., Ars., Calc. fl., Lyc., Morph., Sabad.
Solids — Ign., Lach.
Conclusion:
Boericke’s Repertory is an indispensable resource for homeopaths treating pharyngitis . Its comprehensive coverage of symptoms and remedies enables practitioners to effectively select the similimum , providing relief to patients suffering from this common inflammatory condition .By utilizing the repertory’s clinical approach and emphasizing modalities , concomitants and pathological similarity , homeopaths can tailor treatment to individual patient needs , promoting holistic healing and symptom resolution.
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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230674718_Homoeopathy- _an_alternative_to_antibiotics_for_Throat_Infection‘
- Boericke’s new manual of homeopathic Materia medica and repertory, third revise and augmented edition based on ninth edition by O.E. BOERICKE.
- Essentials of repertorisation 5th edition by Dr. Shashi Kant Tiwari
About the Author
Dr. Snehlata Rawat – Md Scholar , Dept. of Homoeopathic Repertory And Case Taking , Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College And Hospital, Bhopal. (Mp)
Co-Author:
Dr. Neetu Kushwah – Professor, GHMC Bhopal.
