Introduction:
- In
homoeopathy, it is not enough to treat the main complaint (chief
complaint).
- The whole
person must be understood — which includes auxiliary symptoms
(secondary symptoms).
- A correct
homoeopathic prescription depends on the totality, not just the
most prominent symptom.
1. What is the Chief Complaint?
- It is the main
reason why the patient seeks help.
- Example:
Headache, joint pain, skin eruption, etc.
- It may be common,
not always characteristic.
Not always helpful in finding the Similimum
because it may be shared by many diseases.
2. What are Auxiliary Symptoms?
- These are
the additional symptoms — mental, emotional, physical — apart from
the chief complaint.
- May
include sleep, thirst, dreams, fears, bowel habits, behavior, etc.
- Often contain
peculiar and characteristic features.
Mnemonic: A.S.P.E.C.T.
- Auxiliary
- Symptoms
- Point to
- Emotions,
- Character,
and
- Totality
3. Why Auxiliary Symptoms Are
Important
- Help
individualize the case
- Reveal the
inner state of the patient
- They often
guide to the right remedy, especially when the chief complaint is
non-specific
A patient’s emotions, habits, dreams, or reactions to weather may
be more helpful than a physical complaint.
4. Relation Between Chief &
Auxiliary Symptoms
- The chief
complaint shows the external expression of disease.
- The auxiliary
symptoms show the internal disharmony.
- Together,
they help construct the totality of symptoms, which is the basis of
remedy selection.
Mnemonic: C.A.T.
- Chief
- Auxiliary
- Totality
5. Errors to Avoid in Case
Analysis
- Giving too
much importance to the chief complaint alone.
- Ignoring
mental and general symptoms.
- Choosing
remedies only based on physical diagnosis without understanding the whole
case.
6. Example (for understanding)
|
Component |
Example |
|
Chief Complaint |
Headache for 3 months |
|
Auxiliary Symptoms |
Aversion to company, desires cold food, weeps easily, dreams of
falling |
|
Remedy Based On |
Totality including mental/emotional state, not just the headache |
|
Feature |
Chief Complaint |
Auxiliary Symptoms |
|
Meaning |
Main reason for consultation |
Additional emotional/mental/physical signs |
|
Importance |
May be general |
Often more individual/personal |
|
Use in Prescription |
May guide diagnosis |
Helps in remedy selection (Similimum) |
|
Commonality |
Common among many patients |
Unique to the individual |
|
Word / Phrase |
Meaning |
|
Chief Complaint |
The main symptom for which the patient seeks help |
|
Auxiliary Symptoms |
Additional symptoms that support understanding of the full case |
|
Totality of Symptoms |
The complete set of symptoms (mental, emotional, physical) |
|
Similimum |
The remedy most similar to the patient's full symptom picture |
|
Individualization |
The process of finding what makes this patient different from others |
|
Characteristic Symptoms |
Unique or peculiar symptoms that define the patient |
|
Unprejudiced Observer |
A physician who observes the case without bias or assumptions |
|
Disease per se |
The disease in itself, not just its external symptoms |
In homoeopathy, the cure depends not just on treating the chief
complaint, but by understanding the entire individual through auxiliary
symptoms. Only when the case is studied in totality — combining chief and
secondary symptoms — can the correct remedy (Similimum) be selected. This
chapter teaches that every symptom counts, and nothing should be ignored
in a well-taken case.
