The Importance of a Chronic Initial Constitutional Homeopathic Treatment Instead of a Symptomatic Intake

Why do most good homeopaths always insist on a full homeopathic intake, where they ask you a whole bunch of questions not even related to the reason you sought help? (or so you think😉)

No wonder it is expensive and time consuming! (Why can’t they refine their skills like a medical professional who can have you in and out of their consulting room within 15 minutes? ) Maybe I am being a little facetious in my reply but I am wanting to highlight the fact that there is good reason we take our time and do a complete job.

I always answer that question with another question. Would you marry a person after ‘hanging out’ and getting to know them after only 15 minutes? True health is more than just the absence of disease in the physical body. Lack of symptoms does not necessarily mean cure either. To help a patient to become healthy you need to know what is occurring in at least the physical and emotional and mental sphere. This is how you can address the chronic aspects of disease and return the patient to health. This cannot be achieved in a 15 min consultation.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Symptomatic homeopathic prescribing according to symptoms, it is good and non toxic and admittedly there are no side effects, but does it palliate or cure. Most times it removes the bothersome symptoms, but the condition often returns if the remedy is stopped. THAT IS THE REASON WHY HOMEOPATHS RECOMMEND CONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT.

Constitutional prescribing is approached through a thorough case history and understanding of homeopathic therapeutics to prescribe the perfect prescription, which will allow the body’s reticuloendothelial system and immune system to be stimulated and have enough energy to throw off the illness. Homeopaths explore aspects of emotional health, your fears and worries, traumas that may still be affecting you, dreams and nightmares. Obviously physical aspects are also important including your past medical history and surgeries, medication and modalities.

Homeopaths collate all this information which helps them to decide what makes the patient function the way he does with all his nuances and peculiarities. Constitutional treatment helps the homeopath to get a firm grip on the essence of the case. The treatment is focused on the essence. By essence, we look at where the vital force is stuck, maybe due to some obstacle to cure or a causative factor that led them to be in that situation, i.e. an emotional issue that they cannot come to terms with, such as a shame or grief, or a chronic infection preventing restorative healing. Can you now see the difference between symptomatic prescribing and constitutional treatment- I like to use the analogy of car. Driving  a Toyota will get you from point A to point B, or using a Rolls Royce or Mercedes will also get you to point B, but the luxury cars get you there more effectively, in faster time and in more comfort. The smarter move to retain your health ALWAYS, IS TO GO FOR HOMOEOPATHIC CONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT, where possible- if you can drive a Mercedes why wouldn’t you?

Let’s look at a short example to illustrate.

PRESCRIPTION Case report

35yo female

MAIN COMPLAINT: History of breast lumps and anxiety

CURRENT COMPLAINT: Pain in right breast and recurrent reflux aggravated by alcohol causing a hoarse voice and itching ears

Very irritable and aggravated by sugar

She is always in a hurry and has a constant fear of cancer.

Symptomatic(ACUTE) remedy prescription for the main complaint (HEARTBURN) may include prescription of some of the following remedies.

Nux vom- irritability, heart burn, agg by alcohol

Zincum met- nervousness restless <  wine

Arg nit- nervous, always in hurry, anxiety < sweets

We can assume that the above remedies would have offered relief to a fair degree, but the propensity for the heartburn to return would be good, and healing to cure would not be achieved with this prescription or treatment approach. The reason for this is that the essence of the case is not found in the patients gastrointestinal system (PHYSICAL), but the emotions that have been plaguing her for years (YOU WOULD NOT KNOW THAT WITHOUT TAKING A FULL HOMEOPATHIC CASE HISTORY). They have led to the development of her current emotional mindset and haughty mentality as a shield and protection against the emotional trauma she has experienced. (see chronic intake).

CHRONIC INTAKE (CONSTITUTIONAL PRESCRIBING APPROACH.) Taking the trouble and time to do a full intake which can take around 60-70 minutes, gives a complete idea of what is occurring with the whole person, not only in the gastrointestinal tract, which is the reason for her visit. (PHYSICAL SYMPTOM: heartburn).

Through extensive questioning, she was found to be very haughty, thinking she is really important and better than others. She loves the sun and the sea. She revealed that she was plagued by her past sins and had secrets that she was hiding, as she was scared to confront the issue. She also was aware she had to confront it otherwise she would always be ill emotionally.

CLINICALLY, I determined she had a leaky gut that was aggravated by the alcohol and gluten in bread. I recommended an elimination diet from gluten and alcohol for 30 days while on treatment.

The centre of gravity of the patient is on the emotional level, with the specific causation. Based on this exciting cause she was prescribed her constitutional remedy Platina metallicum 200, taken daily and Miasmic remedy Medorrhinum 200, weekly and asked to return for follow up in 4-6 weeks.

Now, directly neither of the 2 above remedies has specific symptoms of heartburn, but once the causation of illness is addressed the defence mechanism will move the vital energy away from the emotional body and address the gastrointestinal reflux and leaky gut.

Results and feedback of the first prescription after the weekend, (AFTER TAKING THE PRESCRIPTION FOR 4 DAYS) she reported that the pain and swelling in the R breast had already disappeared. We await further feedback after 2 months.

Assessment of the case.

Did you know from the point of view of body manifestations, the abdomen houses / is linked to your emotional body in the physical – think of butterflies in your ‘tummy’ or irritable bowel syndrome. These occur when you get emotional and are unable to express the emotion. The body takes over and manifests the stress physically in the form of a gastro intestinal tract complaint. Another way to explain this is through the gut brain axis model of disease. (The brain communicates to the gut via nerve innervation, emotional stresses/worries, which are manifested into the gut microbiome via symptoms of heartburn.)