Analysis of Symptoms in Homoeopathy

Definition

Analysis of symptoms means resolving or separating a symptom into its elements or component parts.

Purpose

• To identify the prescribing symptoms in a given case.
• To give an idea about the nature and type of symptoms.
• It helps us in evolution of a “conceptual image” or “portrait of a patient”.
• By analysis of symptoms, the raw data collected from the patient are processed for building a totality of symptoms / repertorial totality.

Symptoms of present complaint are analysed into 4 dimensions:

• Location with radiation
• Sensation with intensity/pathology
• Modalities
• Concomitants / Associated symp.

A symptom when is completed in 4 dimensions is of characteristic value. By this process of analysis of symptoms, the characteristic particular symptom can be differentiated from common particular symp.

Different methods of Analysis or classification of symptoms

1. Kentian method
2. Boenninghausen method
3. Boericke method
4. Boger method
5. Spalding method
6. Grading method

1. Kentian method

Kent has classified the symp into 3 categories (a) General (b) Common (c) Particular

(a) General Symptoms All sensations or symptoms that the pt predicates of himself or in the personal pronoun are called General symptoms. eg. I feel cold I have cold I am sleepy

As the general symptoms affect the Pt as a whole, they are naturally of higher value than the particulars.

General symptoms are divided into 2 categories a) Mental General b) Physical General

Mental General : They all are classed as Generals as they reflect the inner self & individuality of pt the highest value in CT.

• will & emotions eg. love, hate, lasciviousness
• understanding
• intellect eg. delusion, delirium, hallucination

Physical General : These are the symp which deal with reaction to heat & cold. Physical love & sensations of body as whole.

• Perversions of sexual sphere including menstrual Generals
• Appetite & desire, aversion, thirst
• Thirst, weather, tempo, position of sleep, clothing, bathing etc.

(b) Common Symptoms These symp are valueless unless qualified with modalities.

• Common symp are common to any patient suffering from certain dse or complaint.
• They are of least importance because they will be found in almost every drug dse.
• Common symp become peculiar when circumstances are peculiar eg. Headache relieved by profuse urination Common symp eg. Blood in dysentry, rash in measles.

(c) Particular Symptoms Symptoms relating to the particular part or organ of body are called Particular symptoms. First Grade - Peculiar, uncommon, unexpected, unaccountable Second Grade - Particulars with marked modalities Third Grade - Those having rather appreciable modalities

2. Boenninghausen method

a) General symptoms : Boenninghausen concept of General symptoms is same with the common symptoms of kent. b) Uncommon symptoms : Any symptom which is unaccountable, absurd, inexplicable, Paradoxical, Peculiar, rare, strange which are found in few patients or in the proving of medicines. eg. cough relieved by cold bath burning relieved by heat application

The uncommon symptoms which reflects the individuality of the pt being ignorant of time, importance of such symptoms.

Seven points of classification

• Quis : Personality of individual
• Quid : dse nature & peculiarity
• Ubi : seat of dse
• Quibus Auxilius : Associated symptoms
• Cur : cause of dse
• Quomodo : modalities - agg & amel
• Quando : time of appearance, agg & relief

4. (Truth) Boericke’s method

He has divided symptoms into 2 classes a) Basic or absolute symptoms b) Determinative symptoms

a) Basic symptoms : Those symptoms that appear in every proving & are of a general nature & usually diagnostically important. eg. Malaise, headache, weakness. They have little value to determine the Homeopathic drug indication.

b) Determinative symptoms : These symp are individual or personal ones found in a patient or a characteristic feature of a drugs pathogenesis. They usually consist of modalities, mental symp, qualified basic symp, strange, rare & peculiar. These symp helps in individualization of the pt & thus help in the selection of homeopathic remedy.

5. Boger’s method

He has classified symptoms into :

• Time dimension
• Causative modalities
• Tissue affinities
• Pathological Generals

6. Spalding method

He has classified symptoms into :

• Mental Generals
• Physical Generals
• Discharges
• Dreams
• Special senses
• Desire
• Aversion
• Modalities
• Strange rare & peculiar
• Particulars
• Objective or pathology

Conclusion

At a glance - Objectives of Analysis of symp.

• Whether symp are collected in all dimensions or not.
• Charac. particulars & common particulars are differentiated from each other.
• Symptoms of general category are brought out of it, and particular symp are made general.
• At a glance, differential modalities can be studied by the physician.

Additional Keypoints Added for Completeness

• Analysis bridges raw case taking and repertorization by converting symptoms into usable rubrics.
• Characteristic (strange, rare, peculiar) symptoms hold the highest prescribing value across methods.
• In cases with few symptoms (one-sided/pathological), greater emphasis is placed on generals, modalities, and concomitants.