Introduction:
- After taking
the case, the next important step is its analysis.
- Analysis
helps the physician understand:
- What is important
in the case
- Which
symptoms to prioritize
- How to
select the Similimum (most similar remedy)
1. What is Case Analysis?
- Case
analysis means:
- Evaluating the
collected symptoms
- Classifying them
into useful categories
- Understanding the
patient as a whole
- The goal
is to extract the totality of symptoms to guide remedy selection.
Mnemonic: E-C-U
- Evaluate
symptoms
- Classify
them
- Understand
the whole case
2. Importance of Analysis
- Without
proper analysis, even good case-taking is wasted.
- It brings clarity
to a confused case.
- Helps in
finding peculiar, characteristic, and individualistic
symptoms.
3. Types of Symptoms in a Case
Mnemonic: G-P-C-I
- General
symptoms – Appetite, sleep, thirst
- Particular
symptoms – Local complaints (pain, discharge)
- Concomitant
symptoms – Accompanying symptoms (e.g. headache with stomach pain)
- Individualizing
symptoms – Unusual, strange, rare symptoms (important for remedy
selection)
4. What to Look For During
Analysis
- Mentals
First – Emotions, fears, dreams, behavior
- Physical
Generals – Sleep, appetite, temperature sensitivity
- Particulars –
Organ-specific complaints
- Peculiar
Symptoms – The most striking and rare signs (these guide us
most)
These peculiar symptoms reflect the person’s individuality, not
just the disease name.
5. Classifying Symptoms
|
Type |
Description |
Use in Prescribing |
|
Common Symptoms |
Seen in many patients with same disease |
Less useful |
|
Peculiar Symptoms |
Rare, strange, individual symptoms |
Most important |
|
Pathological Symptoms |
Disease-related signs (diagnosis-based) |
For diagnosis only |
|
Modalities |
What makes symptoms better/worse |
Helpful in remedy choice |
6. Eliminating the Unimportant
- Not every
symptom helps in remedy selection.
- Focus
should be on:
- Marked symptoms
- Peculiar
expressions
- Modalities (what
affects the symptom)
Example: “Headache worse from sun, better from pressure” is more
valuable than just “headache.”
7. Final Goal of Analysis
- Build the
complete totality of symptoms.
- This
totality helps match the case with the similimum.
Mnemonic: T.R.U.E.
- Totality
- Remedy
matching
- Unique
symptoms
- Expression of the patient
Word Meanings
|
Term |
Meaning |
|
Unprejudiced Observer |
Physician who observes without bias or personal opinion |
|
Totality of Symptoms |
Full group of symptoms—mental, emotional, physical—that define a case |
|
Peculiar Symptoms |
Unusual, strange, or unique symptoms that reflect the patient's nature |
|
Modalities |
Factors that make symptoms better or worse (like time, weather,
motion) |
|
Concomitant |
A symptom that appears at the same time as the main complaint |
|
Similimum |
Remedy that exactly matches the patient’s totality of symptoms |
|
Elimination Symptoms |
The symptoms used to narrow down and choose the correct remedy |
Conclusion:
The analysis of the case is the bridge between case-taking and remedy selection. By organizing and evaluating symptoms carefully—especially the peculiar and individualistic ones—the physician can find the right Similimum. Without proper analysis, even a well-taken case may fail to result in cure.
