Was the remedy correct?
adapted from Kent's Lectures on Philosophy
A remedy is correct when:
- They feel better and the improvement is permanent.
- They feel better and either some or no physical improvement
occurs.
- They feel worse at first but feel better afterwards.
- The symptom picture changes with symptoms that are in
bounds with the remedy.
A remedy is not correct when:
- They feel better but feel worse afterwards.
- They feel worse at first and then they return to the
original state.
- The symptom picture changes and the majority of the
symptoms are not in the last remedy's symptoms.
A remedy is inconclusive when:
- They feel better but they relapse to the original state.
This occurs when the remedy is a close hit but not exactly what is needed.
Test this case by repeating the dose once. If the same thing occurs then
you should change the dose or the remedy. This also occurs when the patient has
a placebo response to a remedy that does not act. Test this by giving a sac-lac
(sugar pill) with no remedy.
- Nothing happens. You need symptoms to know what to do.
A dose is correct when:
- They feel better and the improvement is permanent.
- A mild aggravation occurs and then they improve.
A dose is incorrect when:
- A strong aggravation occurs and then they progress. Test
this by using a milder dose.
- They felt better with the last dose but do not get any
further improvements from repeating the dose. Test this by using a stronger
dose.
- New symptoms appear that were not in the original picture
nor have they ever been with the person. These symptoms should recede with time.
Test this by waiting.
Exercise:
A patient has taken several doses of a remedy. His
presenting symptoms were extreme fatigue. The first dose made him feel better
generally after one day but no physical symptoms occurred. The dose was repeated
after two weeks. Three days after the second dose, he developed a pus-filled
eruption on his little toe.
Questions:
- Was the remedy correct?
- Was the dose correct?
- What is the patient's sensitivity to the remedy?
- What should be the next remedy and dose be based on?
Exercise:
A patient has taken several doses of a remedy. His
presenting symptoms were general fatigue. The first dose had no effect. The dose
was repeated after several days. The dose had no effect. Again the dose was
repeated for three more times. This time the patient developed a skin rash that
spread from his right knee and eventually covered his arms, back, chest, and
entire legs. The rash was similar to something he had had as an adolescent.
Questions:
- Was the remedy correct?
- Was the dose correct?
- What is the patient's sensitivity to the remedy?
- What should be the next remedy and dose be based on?
