Introduction:
- Understanding
types of diseases helps in accurate case-taking and prescription.
- In
homoeopathy, diseases are classified based on their origin, nature, and
behavior.
- This
chapter explains how homoeopaths differentiate diseases to choose
the correct remedy.
1. What is Disease
Classification?
- It means dividing
diseases into groups based on their cause, duration, and symptoms.
- Helps the
physician:
- Understand
the depth of the disease
- Plan the remedy
and potency
- Know if
the disease is curable, palliable, or chronic
Mnemonic: C-P-S
- Cause
- Progress
- Symptoms
2. Main Categories of Disease in
Homoeopathy
a) Acute Diseases
- Sudden in
onset, short in duration
- Caused by
external factors like weather, food, infection
- Can be
self-limiting or dangerous
Examples: Fever, cold, food poisoning
b) Chronic Diseases
- Long-lasting
and recurring
- Arise from
miasmatic causes (psora, syphilis, sycosis)
- Deep-rooted
and need careful treatment
Examples: Asthma, eczema, arthritis
c) Miasmatic Diseases
- Origin
from deep-seated taints in vital force
- Three main
miasms:
- Psora –
functional and deficiency-based (e.g., itching, weakness)
- Syphilis –
destructive (e.g., ulcers, bone pains)
- Sycosis –
overgrowths, excesses (e.g., warts, tumors)
Mnemonic: P-S-S
- Psora
- Syphilis
- Sycosis
d) One-sided Diseases
- Only one
or two symptoms are prominent
- Common in
chronic or advanced stages
- Require
deeper observation for hidden symptoms
e) Alternating Diseases
- Symptoms
appear alternately, not together
- E.g.
headache one day, constipation the next day
f) Pathological or Named Diseases
- Based on
diagnosis or organ pathology
- Important
for reference but not enough for remedy selection
Homoeopaths treat patients, not disease names.
Chart: Disease Types in
Homoeopathy
|
Disease Type |
Features |
Remedy Selection Based On |
|
Acute Disease |
Sudden, short, external cause |
Present symptoms |
|
Chronic Disease |
Long-standing, miasmatic origin |
Totality + miasmatic background |
|
Miasmatic Disease |
Deep-rooted tendencies (Psora/Sycosis/Syphilis) |
Constitutional symptoms |
|
One-sided Disease |
Few symptoms, obscure case |
Peculiars + mental traits |
|
Alternating Disease |
Symptoms alternate in pattern |
Observation over time |
|
Pathological Disease |
Based on diagnosis |
Used for reference, not treatment |
Word Meanings
|
Term / Phrase |
Meaning |
|
Disease Classification |
System of dividing diseases based on features like duration, origin |
|
Miasm |
Underlying chronic disease tendency affecting vital force |
|
Psora |
Miasm of deficiency and functional disorder |
|
Syphilis |
Miasm of destruction (tissue breakdown) |
|
Sycosis |
Miasm of excess (overgrowth, discharges) |
|
One-sided Disease |
Disease with very few symptoms, hard to diagnose |
|
Unprejudiced Observer |
A doctor who observes the case without bias |
|
Disease per se |
The disease in its true internal nature, not just its label |
Conclusion:
Disease classification helps homoeopaths understand the patient beyond the disease name. Knowing whether a disease is acute, chronic, or miasmatic helps guide the right remedy selection. A homoeopath should always treat the individual based on totality of symptoms, not just external diagnosis.
