Susceptibility is the capacity of the organism to react to stimuli—either natural (disease) or artificial (medicine).
Mnemonic: "SHE PACE"
This stands for the 7 main uses of assessing susceptibility:
- S – Selection of Potency
- H – Helps Choose Repetition of Dose
- E – Evaluates Remedy Action
- P – Predicts Prognosis
- A – Assists in Individualization
- C – Confirms Cure or Improvement
- E – Essential in Chronic & Acute Cases
Pointwise Use of Susceptibility
1. Selection of Potency
- Higher susceptibility → High potency remedy.
- Lower susceptibility → Use low potency, possibly repeated.
2. Helps in Dose Repetition
- Sensitive individuals may need single, minimal doses.
- Low susceptibility cases need frequent repetition.
3. Evaluates Remedy Reaction
- A well-matched remedy shows quick results in highly susceptible patients.
- Weak or absent response indicates need for remedy change or intercurrent.
4. Predicts Prognosis
- High susceptibility = favorable prognosis.
- Low susceptibility = poor or guarded prognosis.
5. Aids Individualization
- Helps tailor treatment based on patient’s sensitivity, constitution, and temperament.
6. Confirms Cure or Improvement
- Improvement in symptoms with general well-being shows good susceptibility.
- No change despite correct remedy = may need to raise susceptibility (e.g., using nosodes).
7. Essential in Chronic and Acute Cases
- Guides the choice of potency and repetition in both acute (rapid diseases) and chronic (long-standing) cases.
Clinical Tip:
Before prescribing, always assess level of susceptibility using:
- Temperament
- Constitution
- Disease stage
- Past medication history
- Current symptom picture
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ORGANON OF MEDICINE