Definition: Individualization is the discrimination or perception of the individual within a group or species. It is the process of singling out or differentiation by which we distinguish an entity or individual from the others of same class or group by some exclusive feature.

Individualisation in Homeopathy: Homeopathy as a scientific system of therapeutics is based on identifying the individual as an entity and selecting the similimum according to his characteristics. In homeopathy each individual is considered as a distinct entity with certain characteristics of his own and based on these characteristics we choose an identical medicinal picture. Sometimes, we come through remedies whish seem to have similar profile but on closer observation we recognize the subtle difference which gives both a distinct identity. Thus we see that Individualisation is one of the basic tenets of Homeopathy. The Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine defines Individualisation as, "The process of tailoring remedies or treatments to cure a set of symptoms in an individual instead of basing treatment on the common features of the disease is known as individualisation". Part of the effectiveness of homeopathy is attributed to the fact that the treatment is individualized to each patient; remedies are given to treat the individual as a whole and not to his sick parts.

Individualisation is efficacious in Homeopathy for:

1. Individualising the individual characteristics.
2. Individualising the Medicinal Symptoms.
3. Individualising exact Similimum by matching the patient picture with medicinal picture.
4. Prescribing Right Potency, Dosage and Eliciting the follow up record according to individual patient

Need of Individualisation: Dr. Hahnemann writes in the footnote of Introduction to Organon of Medicine "Every physician who treats disease according to such general character however he may affect to claim the name of homœopathist, is and ever will remain in fact a generalising allopath, for without the most minute individualisation, homœopathy is not conceivable"

So vital is individualization in Homeopathy that all through the Organon Dr. Hahnemann has lectured on the importance of Observation and the need of being an Unprejudiced Observer. For it is by keen and judicious observation alone that we can identify the distinct characteristic of an individual and individualize his remedy. So, for successful practice of Homeopathy every homoeopath should learn to observe and practice 'INDIVIDUALIZATION'.

Individualisation of Patient through Case taking: Homeopathy believes that each individual be he of any race, nationality, creed or background has some characteristic features which differentiate him from all other of his own kind. Even two twins with same environmental and genetic background have some features which differentiates them. You must have seen that in a same family too every individual responds differently to same situation, a drench in rain may cause backache in one, fever in other and headache in the third. Why is it so? It is because each of us has a different Constitution, an all together different individuality. Every person reacts to any external agent according to his/her individuality.

And it is the role of a Homeopath to identify this individuality in the patient during case taking. A Homeopath interrogates a patient thoroughly and taking in view every minute detail in order to identify his uncommon, peculiar or strange characteristic which would help him to identify his individual picture. So the more you tell your homeopath about your health and your symptoms the more you help him to understand you better, and this guides him towards the most appropriate remedy for your case. As Dr. Roberts puts it in his words, "The homeopathic physician may be likened to an artist painting a portrait. He fills in all those features pertaining to the likeness which he is painting, and those features which may be found on all faces, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, lips. In this way all individuals are similar, but each individual has peculiarities of his own, and in order to make the picture complete the artist must present the individualities in the portrait, but not accentuate over and above the other features the normal position, shape, and size as it appears in the individual himself. In taking a likeness, how strange the finished picture would be were we to draw or paint only the peculiar things! Just a nose or just an eye, and nothing by which we could distinguish the one whom the picture was intended to represent. On the other hand, if we painted the classic features only there would be no distinguishing characteristics in the finished product."

Dr. Hahnemann explains the benefit of this thorough case taking in eliciting the PQRS for it is these that help to find the similimum and hence cure : § 153 Sixth Edition

"In this search for a homœopathic specific remedy, that is to say, in this comparison of the collective symptoms of the natural disease with the list of symptoms of known medicines, in order to find among these an artificial morbific agent corresponding by similarity to the disease to be cured, the more striking, singular, uncommon and peculiar (characteristic) signs and symptoms 1 of the case of disease are chiefly and most solely to be kept in view; for it is more particularly these that very similar ones in the list of symptoms of the selected medicine must correspond to , in order to constitute it the most suitable for effecting the cure. The more general and undefined symptoms: loss of appetite, headache, debility, restless sleep, discomfort, and so forth, demand but little attention when of that vague and indefinite character, if they cannot be more accurately described, as symptoms of such a general nature are observed in almost every disease and from almost every drug."

Again In §82 of the Organon he says:

            "No genuine cure of the psoric diseases, or any of the remaining diseases, can take place without the strict individualized treatment of each case of disease."

Individualisation of Remedy/No Surrogates: The concept of individualisation is seen in every facet of Homeopathy. The Homeopathic Materia Medica is the record of the symptoms of different drugs produced during Homeopathic Drug Proving. The aim of this drug proving is to elicit from the healthy human beings those symptoms which are originally the effect of drug taken. Each drug has its own effect and by studying these we can closely differentiate one from another i.e no drug can produce the exact copy of symptoms which another drug produces. . This was explained by Dr. Hahnemann in his Organon of Medicine under aphorism 118:

"Each medicine exhibits peculiar action on the human frame which are not produced in exactly the same manner by other medicinal substance of a different kind." For e.g Bryonia-alb and Arsenicum-alb both produce increased thirst but the thirst of Bryonia (for large quantities at large intervals) is different from Arsenicum's thirst (small quantity at frequent intervals).

Regarding Homeopathic practice too we find that for any given case there is a single similimum which suits the case (exception in one sided diseases) and which when given establishes cure. It may be the fault of physician who fails to find the remedy but it does not mean that any other drug can substitute the action. Dr. Hahnemann explains it in the footnote to the aphorism 119:

"Anyone who has a thorough knowledge of, and can appreciate the remarkable difference of, effects on the health of man of every single substance from that of every other, will readily perceive that among them there can be no equivalent remedies, no surrogates."

Thus we see that in Homeopathic Medicine there are no surrogates or no substitutes. In selecting a remedy either it is indicated in the case or not; there is no question of two similar remedies or two identical candidates for the same job.

How to Individualise : Detailed case taking, keen observation and careful analysis & evaluation of symptoms helps the physician to select the characteristic symptom and thus individualise the case.

• Detailed Case Taking: It is only through in-depth case taking that the physician comes to understand the patient as a person and individualise him as an entity. It's the homeopathic physician who differentiates the
• Keen Observation: Keen observation helps us to select the characteristic or peculiar signs like gait, posture, facial expressions, oedema, pallor, condition of tongue, skin and hairs etc.
• Analysis and Evaluation: After recording all the symptoms it is the duty of physician to judiciously select the uncommon from Common; non-pathognomonic from pathognomonic or in short the peculiar, queer, rare and strange symptom PQRS from the multitude of complaints. This can be done by a thorough analysis and evaluation.

In short some points necessary to perform INDIVIDUALISATION are:

• Complete symptoms.
• Modalities and Concomitant symptom.
• Signs, appearance, behavior, gait and expressions.
• Mental reactions and symptoms.
• Past History, Family History, and Personal History.

Difficulties in Individualisation:

Referred Cases or Cases who have already taken treatment: Patients: Those cases who have a history of taking allopathic remedies or medicines for long duration often loose the peculiarity or identifying symptom and pose a problem in individualisation.

Difficult Cases: One sided disease, Skin disease or diseases with paucity of symptoms, terminal stages of disease. Such cases more than often lack characteristic symptoms and so physician is not able to individualise them.

Mistakes on the part of Physician: Sometimes the patient unknowingly or knowingly fails to observe the characteristic symptoms during case taking or by improper analysis & evaluation he misplaces the peculiar symptoms

Difficult patients: Patients who are indolent, or who exaggerate their complaints, even shy and modest people fail to give the necessary information required by the physician to individualise them.

References:

1. Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (c) 2005, Elsevier

2. Samuel Hahnemann, Organon of Medicine

3. Herbert A. Roberts, The Principles and Art of Cure by Homœopathy