Totality of symtopms in Homeopathy

TOTALITY  OF  SYMPTOMS

  Homeopathy repertrisation always its very important to understand

Diseases is nothing but altered life,the deviations of vital force from health. Everything that can be seen, felt  or detected with the microscope,is but an ultimate result and not the cause.

After taking the case as mentioned by Hahnemann especially a homeopathic physician is left with huge list of symptoms which includes list of disease symptoms, symptoms of sick, and to cure one has to pick up the individualizing features in a case which is most of the time misunderstood by the beginners and in homeopathy.

The totality of symptoms (TOS) as it is understood by other systems is not sum total of all symptoms of the patient. Hahnemann has usaed this term,which means a peculiar expression,requiring a special attention & carrying adeeper meaning and when these symptoms are brought together they  should represent the patient as a whole. it is very  important to understand exactly what totality of symptoms 

means & involves.

Aphorism 6 – Hahnemann states that the physician should note only the deviations from the healthy state of the now diseased individual , which felt by the patient himself , remarked by the those around

him and observed by the  physician (including the sings), together they form the true portrait of the disease.

Aphorism 7 – Hahnemann states that the totality  of these    symptoms which are the outwardly reflected  picture of the internal essence of the disease, that is , of the vital  force  must  be the sole

means by which the disease can be know what remedy it requires.

Stuart close defines TOS as trhe symptoms  of the case, which are capable of being logically combined into a harmonious & consistent  whole, having form , coherency & individuality. Totality is more than the numerical totality & includes concomitance or form in which symptoms are grouped

Ken’ts view- TOS is not only the sum total of patient but it is one grand symptom,the symptom of the patient. TOSis not n arithmetic mean or haphazard jumble thrown but is it a comprehensive method

where individuality of patient can be made.

Boenninghausen says TOS is not the ssum total but one grand symptom, the symptom of the patien The`` totality``is not, therefore, a mere haphazard, fortuitous jumble of symptoms thrown together

without rhyme or reason. it is in the symptom  picture, which is technically called the Totality. The

totality must express an idea about the patient.

When studying a case from the diagnostic standpoint, certain symptoms are selected as having a

known pathological relation to each other, and upon these is based the diagnosis. The classification

of symptoms thus made represents the therapeutic idea. These two groups may be and often are different. The elements, which go to make up the therapeutic totality, must be as definitely and logically related and consistent as are the element, which go to make up the diagnostic totality.

In aphorism 104,153, our master asks us to look for P.Q.R.S. symptoms, as they only form the totality.

In aphorism 17- Hahnemann syss that the physician has only to remove the whole of the symptoms in

order, at the same time , to abrogate and annihilate the internal change, that is to say, the morbid

derangement of the vital force-consequently the totality of the disease, the disease itself.

In aphorism 18- He says that it is undeniable truth that the sum of all symptoms and conditions

in each individual case of disease must be the sole indication, the sole guide to direct us in the choice

of a remedy.

Hence Master Of Our System Have Development Their Own METHODS To Arrive At Totality Of Symptoms.

BOENINGHAUSEN`S METHOD OF ARRIVING AT TOTALITY

Boenninghausen explains his method of arriving at totality in his article ``A Contribution to the judgment

Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms.``He said ``it is seen , how ever, that it is here left to the physician to judge what is understood by the`` more striking, particular, unusual and peculiar``

symptoms, and it might, indeed, be difficult to furnish a commentary to this definition which would

not be too diffuse and, therefore, easily understood ,and on the other hand would be complete enough

to be properly applied to all these cases.``

He included the following points for arriving at the totality;

1.Personality of the individual

2.Disease its nature & peculiarity,

3.Seat of the disease,

4.Accoopanying symptoms

5.Cause of the disease,

6.Modifying factors

7.Time

BOGER`S METHOOD OF ARRIVING AT TOTALITY

He included the following points for arriving at the totality;

1.Causation.

2.Modalities.

3.Sensation.

4.Pathology.

5.Location.

KENT`S METHOD OF ARRIVING AT TOTALITY

Kent always preached & practiced the holistic approach & his explanations give the guidelines of totality.

He said everything that can be seen, felt or observed, or detected with the microscope, is but an ultimate result and not the cause. In his Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy, inn the chapter XII he

says The totality of the symptoms means a good deal. it is a wonderfully broad thing…..It is all that enables the physician to individualize between disease and between remedies; the entire representation of a disease is the totality of the symptoms and the entire representation of a drug is the

totality of the symptoms. it dose not mean the little independent symptoms, but it means that which will bring to the mind a clear idea of the nature of the sickness.`` Thus it is clear that the totality of symptoms must cover the entire diseases picture and should be utilized to individualize patient. He also

says that the more a symptoms possesses the individualizing feature, the higher the place it occupies in the evaluator gradation. One can understand the utility of TOS after going through the chapters ``Totality and individuality,`` Characteristic symptoms, `` and Representative symptoms`` from Kent`s Minor Writings On Homoeopathy.

UTILITY OF TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS – The process of erecting a totality for a case is an essential step because it;

1.Helps in building of portrait of the individual.

2.Helps in repertorisatino of the case.

3.Helps in selection of the similimum.

4.Helps in better grasp of drug picture.

Dr Ajay Yadav
article and reference taken from Dr K harinadham from book the principal and practice of repertrisation