Thank you every body for showing response to the debate topic:

THE SUCCESS RATE OF HOMOEOPATHY CAN BE IMPROVED BY

RELYING ON MINIMUM SYNDROME OF SYMPTOMS AS UNDERSTANDING
EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND INDIVIDUAL CASE IS A MYSTERY
The various viewpoints expressed have been compiled as below:

Homoeopathy is the branch of medical science which works on the concept of

individualization and understanding every individual case as a mystery in its self.
Prescription in homoeopathy is an art. Hahnemann talked of striking, singular,
uncommon and peculiar symptoms in the form of
Cause, location, sensation, modalities, concomitants and mentals.
Each one of us tries to find the similimum for every case in a shortest possible
accurately because of the paucity of time with the patient and physician. As
Hahnemann says, he is the best physician who cures the best, all else is vanity.
So the aim is to develop a skill to elicit those symptoms which carries an indication to
indicated medicine in the shortest possible or we should be competent enough to
gather a syndrome of those symptoms which are minimum and of maximum
prescriptive value to enhance the accuracy of prescription. It does not gives a
meaning that there is a paucity of symptoms in a particular case.
Minimum means to perceive which group of symptoms are valuable in clinical
prescribing.

As for answer - without the " art " homoeopathy cannot survive in the long run. The
basis of our therapy is individualization. We may treat many cases of sore throat with
belladonna but if we make that our only drug for all sore throats we are bound to fail.
If we also start treating sore throats and not the patient currently suffering from sore
throat- what's the difference between them and us? Those are my views

Dr Vibha, Noida

Homoeopathy is both science and art. Our great master Dr Samuel Hahnemann
laid stress on both the aspects. Knowing the patient and individualising him/her is an
Art .We take the case history of the patient and try to identify PPP i.e. Peculiar ,
Persistent ,Predominating symptoms which form the cardinal symptoms of the
whole case
To my understanding if we are not aware of the course of the disease then our work
as a physician is half done.
For Eg In case of Molluscum contagiosum when inflammation occurs in the
eruptions it is a good sign which is otherwise considered aggravation in skin cases
So Homoeopathy is an ART as well as a SCIENCE and if followed religiously, our
system of medicine becomes more EVIDENCE BASED than modern practice of
medicine
Dr Sajneet
Delhi Govt Disp Mandawli

My view and experience is for acute cases, if we cant find a similimum, we may ve
to follow the most common drug viz belladonna for acute infections. In chronic cases
mainly individualisation and similimum will only give cure. There homoeopathy
differentiates from other systems

Dr Ganga K Moorthy

The art and science of homeopathy according to me is a systematic approach to any

individual case and this individualizes homeopathy too which treats the man in
disease unlike other therapies.
Organ based prescriptions in the longer run will reduce us to a bunch of organ or
organ system specific consultants as in allopathy and the very essence of
hahnemanian homeopathy will be lost.

Rashmi Arora, Ghaziabad

I think that our therapeutic system works and works so well, only because we treat
an individual as an individual and not as a collection of organ systems. Even in an
epidemic, not all individuals respond the same way to the pathogen due to their
underlying miasm, diathesis, constitution etc. The very basis of our prescription is
lost if we treat only the so called disease symptoms.

Dr Rakhi Yadav
Dehradun

THE MINIMUM SYMPTOMS SYNDROME

Homoeopathically speaking . The minimum symptoms syndrome comes in the

category of one sided diseases.
Organon aphorism 173. The only diseases that seem to have but few symptoms,
and on that account to be less amenable to cure, are those which may be termed
ONE-SIDED, because they display only one or two principal symptoms which
obscure almost all the others. They belong chiefly to the class of chronic diseases.
In homoeopathy the choice of remedy depends on totality of symptoms, which is
non-available in most of such cases, making them difficult to cure. But organon
beautifully guides us through such cases, helping us make the treatment plan.
The symptom/ symptoms available can be
1) External symptoms/ signs Those changes or symptoms that appear on
the external parts of the body, these are termed as local maladies. They
are further divided into 2 groups

A) Those which arise as a result of injury they require mechanical aid in

the form of surgery.
B) External maladies due to internal cause Here the treatment must be
directed against the whole, by means of internal remedies. The
selection is made based on the exact character of local affection, all
changes, sufferings, symptoms observable in the patients health taken
in conjugation. Thus the remedy is selected based on the given totality
which matches the PATHOGENESIS too.
If the remedy thus selected is truly homoeopathic it removes the
morbid state along with the local affection. Later on a anti miasmatic
remedy is given against the symptoms that still persist.

2) Internal symptoms There are few symptoms available. Here the most
close homoeopathic remedy is selected based on the characteristic
symptoms (Striking, uncommon, peculiar) . If its a partial similimum ,
then may lead to appearance of new symptoms (ACCESSORY
SYMPTOMS) , which completes the picture of disease and likewise a new
similimum is selected with broader coverage .

Dr Cheshta Nagrath
S.M.O (H)
DGHD, Geeta Colony
 Minimum symptom syndrome appears to be a totality with unclear direction
either to diagnose or for accurate n reliable similimum.

The most difficult to treat are Idiopathic or iatrogenic diseases which are
mentioned in modern medicine or several syndromes without any specific
treatment.
This comes under chronic diseases with natural or artificial production of
symptoms which appears untreatable and becomes problem for medical
fraternity to handle.
Patients keep on changing doctors or try various systems in search of relief
like Medorrhinum or Pulsatilla.
The chief complaints may be untreatable so patients emphasis is on chief
complaint instead of explaining further.
The lack of rapport with patient during case taking can bring such a situation
in which he or she may hide lot of symptoms, ultimately frustrated picture of
one-sided disease.
Dr Hahnemann has also mentioned in Aphorisms 172-184 mentioning one-
sided diseases explaining various aspects in relation to lesser symptoms or
unexplainable symptoms either for diagnosis or for anamnesis.
Cases with too few symptoms which may be difficult to remove as per
patients demand or the most superficial violent symptom becomes more
irritating for patient , until it is removed , he or she cannot explain further as
occurs in the most painful Toothache.
Vulnerable group especially illiterate or old persons or small children which
require careful observation to extract symptoms.
Rare occurrences or rare diseases with no past experiences clinically but of
academic interest.
Artificial diseases or life style diseases or manmade disasters can cause
vague symptoms which are present in masses and the most difficult to treat.
Rational use of modern medicines like antibiotics, steroids, pain killers and
vaccines can push natural diseases to deep interior which becomes difficult to
treat.
One sided diseases can be External complaints like local maladies, e.g.
scars, hair problems, cosmetic problems etc.
Internal complaints as physical or mental symptoms such as Hemicranias or
IBS diarrhea, lumbago etc, mania or mood disorders or delusional disorders
etc.
Functional disorders like neurasthenia or constipation or sexual neurasthenia
etc.
Where there is Totality not available, so scarcity of symptoms makes it difficult
to cure.
 Diseases noted accidentally through health examination where asymptomatic
situation but some of the parameters of health are altered which frightens
patient.
Modern day illnesses like viral diseases or allergies to various things or
hidden injuries or Malnutrition during gestation and infancy, mal-absorption
syndromes, deficiency disorders etc.
Weak in studies or low immunity disorders in children, substance abuse or
addicts which cannot give accurate symptoms, Psychotic disorders etc.
 For prescribing utility:

Minimum symptom syndrome could be PQRS or the above said one-sided

diseases are treated with partially indicated remedies.
Macro view of the case and constitutional or anti miasmatic remedies is
selected on the basis of available mental and physical picture.
Sometimes personal specifics are administered or prescribing on specifics
or biases.
Fresh case taking every time the patient comes with different totality, new
drug is administered according to present totality or to wait for clearing of case
or persistence of symptoms.
If we get PQRS where single drug for particular symptom or few drugs for a
diagnosis which are discriminated on the basis of drug pathogenesis or
constitutional basis.
Sometimes single drug for particular condition becomes specific for all
cases of similar diagnosis.
Lack of time and initiative by doctor can bring one sided diseases which are
irrationally prescribed and brings bad name to the system.

DR.SANJEEVE AGGRAWAL