Introduction:
- After
giving the Similimum (most suitable remedy), the body reacts.
- This reaction
helps us understand:
- Is the
remedy correct?
- Is the
patient getting better?
- Should
the remedy be repeated or changed?
- A good
homoeopath must act as an unprejudiced observer and understand the meaning
of every change after medicine.
1. What is Remedy Reaction?
- It is the change
in symptoms (mental, emotional, physical) after giving the homoeopathic
medicine.
- The change
may be:
- Better (amelioration)
- Worse (aggravation)
- No change
(status quo)
- Appearance
of new symptoms
Mnemonic: S-A-A-N-C-R
- Status quo
- Amelioration
- Aggravation
- New
symptoms
- Change in
order
- Relapse/Arrested
progress
2. Types of Remedy Reactions
a) Status Quo (No Change)
- No
improvement or worsening.
- May be due
to:
- Wrong
remedy
- Improper
potency or dose
- Low
patient susceptibility
Wait patiently in chronic cases before deciding.
b) Amelioration (Improvement)
i. Simple Amelioration
- Patient
feels better in general.
- Ideal
reaction = Good remedy + Right potency
ii. Apparent Amelioration
- Symptoms
disappear but patient gets weaker.
- Seen in
incurable or terminal cases (only palliation).
iii. Short Amelioration
- Improvement
is temporary.
- Reasons:
- Patient
interferes (e.g., coffee, camphor)
- Structural
changes in disease
- Remedy
not repeated in acute conditions
c) Aggravation (Worsening)
i. Homoeopathic Aggravation
- Symptoms
worsen slightly but patient feels better.
- This is a good
sign. Indicates cure is starting.
ii. Prolonged Aggravation
- Symptoms
worsen and patient suffers for a long time.
- Indicates
deep disease or wrong potency.
iii. Killer Aggravation
- Seen in incurable
or terminal cases when deep remedy is wrongly used.
- Rapid
decline in health.
iv. Medicinal Aggravation
- New
symptoms of the remedy appear (due to idiosyncrasy).
- May pass
off on their own.
d) New Symptoms
- May arise
due to:
- Natural
progress of disease
- Wrong
remedy proving itself
- Return of
old symptoms (as per Hering’s Law = good sign)
e) Change in Order of Symptoms
- Good sign:
If symptoms improve as per Hering’s Law
- Bad sign:
If disease goes inward (wrong remedy/suppression)
f) Arrested Progress or Relapse
- Improvement
stops or old disease returns.
- Causes:
- Remedy
exhausted its effect
- External
interference
- Patient
not following restrictions
- Deep
miasmatic layer not treated
Chart: Remedy Reaction Summary
|
Reaction Type |
Meaning |
Interpretation |
|
Status Quo |
No change |
May need re-evaluation |
|
Amelioration |
Symptoms improve |
Good remedy reaction |
|
Aggravation |
Symptoms worse temporarily |
Good or bad (context matters) |
|
New Symptoms |
Depends on type (old = good, proving = bad) |
Observe carefully |
|
Change in Order |
If Hering’s Law followed = good |
If reversed = wrong remedy |
|
Relapse |
Case stagnates or old symptoms return |
Needs 2nd prescription |
Word Meanings
|
Term |
Meaning |
|
Remedy Reaction |
The body’s response after administering the homoeopathic remedy |
|
Status Quo |
No change in symptoms or condition after the remedy |
|
Amelioration |
Improvement of symptoms or condition |
|
Aggravation |
Temporary worsening of symptoms |
|
Susceptibility |
The sensitivity of the patient to medicines |
|
Unprejudiced Observer |
Physician who observes without personal bias or assumptions |
|
Hering’s Law |
Natural direction in which cure occurs |
|
Disease per se |
The actual disease, not just the symptoms |
Conclusion:
Remedy reaction is the key to understanding if the cure has begun. A correct remedy shows proper response in symptoms. The physician must observe patiently, understand patterns, and act accordingly — without interference. This chapter highlights the importance of watchful waiting and respecting the body’s healing signals.
