Evolution of Symptoms

The word SYMPTOM is derived from Greek word SYMPTOMA - means anything that happens around us. Symptom means any change in the health of the organism - which is described by the patient himself, remarked by those around him and observed by the physician (§ 6). Dr. Samuel Hahnemann defines disease as 'outwardly reflected picture of the internal essence of the disease i.e. of the affection of the vital force' (§ 12).

Dr. H. A. Roberts says that 'Symptoms are the only representative expression of the diseased state'.

Symptoms are the language of nature. In the sickness it is necessary to know, not from pathology, not from physical diagnosis, no matter how important these branches are - but by the symptoms. In real sense, they are the reflection of disturbance of the vital force.

ELEMENT OF SYMPTOM : - There are 03 elements ----

1. Location
2. Sensation
3. Modalities i.e. circumstances of occurrence.

PLANES OF SYMPTOMS : - There are 03 planes ----

1. Mental - Depicting the emotional state.
2. Spiritual - Depicting affection of the intellect.
3. Physical - Depicting the bodily affection.

In the Kent 's Repertory, MIND is given collectively as mental + spiritual symptoms. Dr. Boenninghausen considered these as a separate heading.

EVOLUTION : - Disease means not in ease. The development of symptoms occurs in the following stage ---

In the advanced stage of the disease, the portrait is called on to make further adjustment which vary often he find unable to make or accept. This inability is manifested through an emotional disturbances leads to SECONDARY NEUROSIS; that complicate the picture of disease.

CONCLUSION : -

It is extremely important to realize that individual characteristic reaction to illness have a natural tendency to fade with increasing structural involvement of the tissue & organ, which naturally leads to a clear-cut picture of the disease from the standpoint of diagnosis. Similimum is based on these individual characteristic reactions. Symptom reflect the inner nature of the disease to the outside; so that, a Homoeopathic physician is able to interpret it - S ymptom point the way in the search for the drug which will initiate recovery in the individual case .

Sources : -

1. Dhawale, Dr. M. L. - The Principles of Homoeopathy (Part I).
2. Hahnemann, Dr. C.F.S. - Organon of medicine (5th & 6th edition).
3. Koehler, Dr. G. - The Handbook of Homoeopathy.