This is a very special post because you are going to experience the Evolution of Homoeopathic materia medica.
Since the Discovery of Homoeopathy a vast variety of materia medica has been written by so many dedicated homeopaths all over the world.
Not only the Students but the practicing homeopaths will also find this post helpful and knowledgeable.
So, let’s get started…
INTRODUCTION
The word ‘Materia medica’ is of Latin origin which means ‘Medical material’ or ‘Medical substance’.
DEFINITION
Materia medica is the branch of medical science which is concerned with the study of drug substances (source, nature, origin, properties, preparation, dosage, and administration), their therapeutic properties and their uses to treat the diseases.
EVOLUTION OF HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
In 1790 while translating Dr. William Cullen’s “A TREATISE ON MATERIA MEDICA” from English to German Dr. Hahnemann was dissatisfied with the explanation for curative effect of the Peruvian Bark.
So, Dr Hahnemann experimented it on himself and proved the old therapeutic saying “Similia Similibus Curentur” which means “Like Cures Like”.
Then after, he started proving of drugs on himself and other volunteers one after another.
This process of drug proving became the base for his ‘Materia Medica Pura’ the first part of which was published in 1811.
After him, many individuals, like Dr. Hering, Dr. Kent and others started proving of drugs. Thus, a vast Materia medica for Homoeopathy was created.
“Evolution of Materia medica started from the first writings of Dr Hahnemann”.
“The most expert is the man who knows how to handle his Materia medica”- C.M. BOGER
- Written by Dr. Hahnemann.
- Published in Leipzig (1805).
- Printed in Latin, in two volumes.
- Full title- Fragmenta de viribus medicamentorum: positivis sive in sano corpore humano observatis (Fragmentary Observations relative to the Positive Powers of Medicines on the healthy Human Body).
- The first volume contains the detailed symptoms caused by 27 different drugs.
- The second volume contains the totality of the symptoms in alphabetical order.”
2.Title: Materia Medica Pura
Author: Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (1755- 1843).
It contains collection of pathogenic effects of drugs on healthy human beings according to the law of similar.
These were proved by Dr Hahnemann on himself, friends, disciples, colleagues and relatives.
He recorded all the symptoms in a systematic manner and according to anatomical schematic representation.
The book contains pure and proved symptoms of the drugs, this is why the name of the book is Materia Medica Pura.
Title of German edition: Reine Arzeneimittellehre.
There are 6 Volumes of Materia medica Pura in German language.
- 1st Volume: 1811- Contains pathogenesis of 12 medicines.
- 2nd Volume: 1816- Contains pathogenesis of 8 medicines.
- 3rd Volume: 1817- Contains 8 medicines.
- 4th Volume: 1818- With 12 medicines.
- 5th Volume: 1819- With 11 medicines.
- 6th Volume: 1821- With 10 medicines.
Total number of editions: Three.
- First edition- 6 Volumes (medicines 61+ 3 magnets).
- Second edition- 6 Volumes (medicines 64+ 3 magnets).
- Third edition- 2 Volumes (medicines 64+ 3 magnets).
Translators
- First attempted by DR. HEMPEL (but was imperfect and many medicines were omitted) and then by DR. QUIN (first volume printed but was destroyed by a fire at printing press, only copy saved is in library of British homeopathic society).
- Latest version translated in 1880 by R.E. DUDGEON in collaboration and footnotes by DR. RICHARD HUGHES.
- The original 6 volumes were unequal in size with no alphabetical arrangement of medicines.
- So, the translator published it in 2 handsome volumes (third edition) of equal sizes for convenience.
First volume (1830)- 37 medicines.
Second volume (1833)- 30 medicines.
- The essays by Hahnemann were distributed throughout the original volumes.So, in new volumes they were divided between two volumes.
- 67 medicines are given with symptoms from proving and poisoning cases. Dr. Richard Hughes also comments about the circumstances under which the symptoms were observed.
3.Title: The Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica
- Author: Dr. Timothy Field Allen (1837–1902).
- Volumes and editions: 12 volumes (1847 – 1879).
- Total number of medicines: 757.
- Pathogenesis given by Dr. Hahnemann.
Characteristics
- Complete record of all proved homoeopathic medicines.
- Symptoms recorded in prover’s language without any modification.
- Name of prover mentioned at the beginning.
- Medicines arranged alphabetically and according to anatomical planes.
- Subjective and objective symptoms arranged in proper manner.
- Repeatedly proved symptoms are differentiated by star, italics, or full faced type.
4.Title: Guiding Symptoms of The Materia Medica
- Author: Dr. Constantine Hering (Father of American Homoeopathy, 1800–1880).
- Volumes and editions: 10 Volumes.
- First volume (1879) and second volume (1880) were written by Hering.
- Additional volumes given by his students, colleagues, Dr. C.G. Raue, Dr. C.B. Knerr, and C. Mohr.
characteristics
- All the symptoms are verified several times.
- Also contain symptoms written in Hahnemann’s Materia medica Pura and Allen’s encyclopaedia including the symptoms which Hering ignored due to their lower gradation, but were later verified and confirmed by others.
- Various pathological symptoms included, along with confirmation of proved drugs for particular disease given in brackets at the end of the symptoms.
- There are total 48 chapters and 408 medicines which covers all the 10 volumes.
5.Title: Key Notes and Red Line Symptoms of The Materia Medica
- Author: Dr. Adolph Von Lippe (1812- 1888).
- Volumes and editions: One volume.
Characteristics
- Contain symptoms of most important remedies.
- Common name of each medicine mentioned.
- All medicines having the same symptoms are given in the brackets.
- Grading of symptoms- Three types (CAPITALS, italics, ordinary).
6.Title: Lectures on Materia Medica
• Author: Carroll Dunham (1828-1877).
• Volumes and editions: Two editions (1878 and 1880).
7.Title: A Cyclopaedia of Drug Pathogenesis
- Author: R.Hughes and J.P. Dake.
- Volumes and editions: 4 volumes, first edition published in 1886.
Characteristics
- Detailed records of proving and poisoning cases.
- Symptoms listed in order of their appearance.
- Details of doses and time.
- Includes scientific name, synonyms and natural order of each medicines.
- Includes only those remedies which had shown pathological effects in two or more provers.
8.Title: Lectures on Clinical Materia Medica In Family Order
- Author: Prof Dr. Ernst Albert Farrington (1847–1885).
- Volumes and editions: One volume two editions (1887 and 1890).
Characteristics
- Lectures are presented exactly as they were delivered.
- Remedies are grouped in animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms with many comparisons.
- Indexed by medicines and diseases.
- Symptoms are described from general to particular.
- Includes description about general pathological action on organs with each drugs.
- Concordant, complementary, and antidotes of medicines are given.
9.Title: Allen’s Keynotes
- Author: Dr Henry C. Allen (1836–1909).
- Volumes and editions: One volume, first edition was published in 1898.
- First edition covered keynotes of 188 medicines.
- Source: Hering’s guiding symptoms.
- Printed by Boericke and Tafel.
Characteristics
- Describes guiding symptoms and characteristic symptoms of each medicine.
- Alphabetical list of remedies.
- Characteristics of some leading remedies are included.
- Includes some important nosodes and sarcodes.
- Contain a section on remedy relationship and remedies that “Follows well”.
- Medicines having same symptoms are mentioned in brackets.
10.Title: Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics with Grouping and Classification
- Author: Eugene Beauharis Nash (1838- 1917).
- Volumes and editions: one volume, first edition published in 1898.
Characteristics
- Contains over 200 remedies.
- Medicines are not in alphabetical sequence.
- Characteristic symptoms of each medicine included, with a narrative description.
- Nash also mentioned the potency that he found to be the best.
11.Title: A Manual Materia Medica, Therapeutic and Pharmacology
- Author: Alexander Leslie Blackwood (1862- 1924).
Characteristics
- It is a condensed Materia medica.
- Includes pharmacy, common uses and therapeutics of medicines.
- A chapter on prescription writing and management of poisoning cases.
- The heading therapeutics covers the cardinal indications for the remedies.
12.Title: Homoeopathic Materia Medica And Repertory
- Author: Dr William Boericke (1849–1929).
- Volumes and editions: One volume and nine editions, first edition was published on 1900.
Characteristics
- Accurate, reliable and vast compilation from verified Materia medica with clinical suggestions.
- Covers most of the substances which have been proved and utilized effectively.
- Medicines are described in anatomical order.
- General modalities and relationships are given at the end of the medicine.
- At the end of the book, repertory was added by William Boericke’s brother Oscar E Boericke in 1906.
- Remedies are arranged in alphabetical order.
- More frequently verified clinical symptoms are written in italics.
- Complete alphabetical and clinical index at the end of the book.
- In latest editions Gibson Miller added remedy relationships.
13.Title: A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
- Author: Dr. John Henry Clarke (1853-1931).
- Volumes and editions: Three volumes in 1900.
- Volume 1 has 951 pages.
- Volume 2 has 736 pages.
- Volume 3 has 1635 pages.
Characteristics
- Each remedy includes pictures, origin, historical uses, source, clinical uses and characteristics.
- Symptoms are written into body areas such as mind, face, stomach, upper and lower limbs etc.
- Around 1000 remedies with full of information on clinical uses, keynotes, relationships, causations, location of symptoms etc.
- Sources: T.F.Allen’s encyclopaedia of pure Materia medica and C.Hering’s guiding symptoms.
14.Title: New, Old and Forgotten Remedies
- Author: E.P. Anshutz.
- Edition: First edition in 1900.
Characteristics
- Author has compiled the proving records and arranged them in simple and easily understandable manner.
- Includes new and old drugs through clinical observations.
- It is a collection of essays from homeopathic literatures, covering 117 remedies.
- Each drug is arranged in form of name, natural orders, common names, provers, preparations, proving records, with some clinical cases.
15.Title: Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica
- Author: James Tyler Kent (1849-1916).
- Volumes and editions: One volume, first edition in 1904.
Characteristics
- Medicines are described in picturised form.
- Symptoms arranged is anatomical but no specific headings.
- Mental symptoms are given more importance.
- Symptoms are described with comparisons.
- Source- Hering’s guiding symptoms.
16.Title: A Synoptic Key of The Materia Medica
- Author: C.M. Boger (1861-1935).
- Volumes and editions: One volume, first edition in1915 and fifth and final edition in 1931.
Characteristics
Book is divided in 3 parts.
- First part- 80 pages of Repertory covering 489 medicines.
- Second part- 215 pages, synopsis and Materia medica having 323 medicines.Medicines arranged alphabetically with diagrams and graphical representations.
- Third part-110 pages of four appendices.
17.Title: Studies of Homoeopathic Remedies
- Author: Douglas M. Gibson (1888-1977).
- Edition: First published in British homoeopathic journal (1963-1977).
- Author’s studies are published in book form.
Characteristics
- Over 100 remedies are covered in brief narrative style.
- Each remedy is described under source, preparation, proving, appearance, psychology, physiology and other symptomatology.
- Clinical notes and relationships are given.
18.Title: Comparative Materia Medica And Therapeutics
- Author: Dr. Narayan Chandra Ghosh.
- First edition in 1937.
Characteristics
- Written language is Bengali, translated in Hindi by Chandra Shekhar Pathak.
- Also includes Indian medicines.
- Each remedy is described according to clinical conditions with comparisons along with doses and modalities.
- Therapeutics are also given at the end of the book.
19.Title: A Study on Materia Medica
- Author: Dr. N.M. Choudhuri.
- One volume, first edition in 1961.
Characteristics
- Alphabetically arranged remedies.
- Almost all known remedies are covered.
- Remedies are described with comparisons to other drugs including case examples.
- A short and concise repertory is included.
- Remedy index and therapeutic index are given at the end of the book.
20.Title: A Materia Medica And Repertory
- Author: James Stephenson.
- Edition: First edition was published in 1963.
Characteristics
- Book contain two parts: Materia medica and repertory.
- Materia medica covers information on proving in homoeopathic journals throughout the world.
- Multilingual synonyms for each medicine have been mentioned.
- Subject division and grading of symptoms used by Dr. Kent has been followed.
21.Title: Materia Medica of New Homoeopathic Remedies
- Author: O. A. Julian (1910- 1984).
- Volumes and editions: 0ne volume, French edition in 1971 and English edition in 1979.
Characteristics
- A collection of more than 100 of new remedies.
- Summarization of proving and clinical indications of some 130 remedies.
- Each remedy contains bibliography and information on their chemistry.
- A very detailed clinical repertory is provided at the end of the book.
22.Title: Essence of Materia Medica
- Author: George Vithoulkas (1932).
- Volumes and editions: One volume, first edition was published in 1988.
Characteristics
- Essence/ core/ nucleus of 53 remedies are included.
- Many medicines are compared with others having similar symptoms.
- Helps to understand symptomatology of medicines answering the same rubric in repertory, thus help to pick up the right remedy for given case.
23.Title: Synoptic Materia Medica 1 And 2
- Author: Frans Vermeulen.
- First edition in 1992, second in 1996.
- Second edition is the continuation of first volume.
Characteristics
- First edition covers 190 major remedies having list of modalities, leading symptoms, food desires or aversions, summary of most important symptoms etc.
- Second edition covers 330 drug pictures. Having information on nomenclature, mythology, chemistry, biology, botany, astrology and metallurgy etc.
- There is a section named Botanical Relationship given in preface which classifies plant medicines by order.
24.Title: Materia Medica Viva
- Author: George Vithoulkas (1932).
- The book is beautifully written to guide detailed characteristics, generalities, key notes, psychology and pathology of medicines.
- It contains precise description of personality type of some medicines.
25.Title: Lotus Materia Medica
- Author: Robin Murphy.
- 5 editions are there, first edition published in 1993.
Characteristics
- Cover 1400 homeopathy and herbal medicines.
- It is a compilation of the special qualities of medical substances.
- A vast area of information covered in this book is almost sufficient to get knowledge about herbs and homeopathic remedies.
- It has sections like pharmacy, history, homeopathic, clinical, mind etc.
26.Title: Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms
- Author: Roger Morrison.
- Edition: First edition in 1993.
Characteristics
- Contain 290 remedies.
- Well organized remedy description.
- Under clinical section, list of diseases with commonly used medicines are mentioned.
27.Title: Homoeopathy and Minerals
- Author: Jan Scholten (1951).
Characteristics
- One volume, first edition in 1993.
- Author describes each mineral family using a process he calls group analysis.
- He extracts the symptoms common to all the remedies in a family, he composes a theme that can be applied to the various remedies in that family.
- Lesser known remedies are also thoroughly described.
- The artistic association of different mineral families with mountain ranges to understand remedy pictures.
28.Title: Homoeopathy and Elements
- Author: Jan Scholten (1951).
- One volume, first edition in 1996.
Characteristics
- Author found the themes of the elements by their position in periodic table.
- This book explores relationship between the elements and the structure of the periodic table.
- Elements are discussed in terms of series and stages.
- Series- Remedy relationship in the same line across the table.
- Stages- Remedy relationship in the rows from top to the bottom of the table.
29.Title: The Soul of Remedies
- Author: Dr.Rajan Sankaran (1960).
- One volume, first edition in 1997.
Characteristics
- Cover 100 remedies.
- Includes reportorial rubrics that are most important for many of the remedies.
- Clear, brief and confirmed descriptions of the inner views for each remedy.
- Sources, Miasm and kingdom of remedies, with the innermost feelings and delusions of remedies are explained.
30.Title: Materia Medica of Homoeopathic Medicines
- Author: Dr. S.R.Phatak (1896-1981).
- One volume, first edition in 1977.
- Contain many useful clinical and other symptoms from other Materia medicas.
- Under generalities the picture of the remedy is described along with the affected regions, mechanism of action, causation and prognosis of the diseases.
32.Title: Homeopathic Psychology
- Author: Philip M. Bailey.
- First Indian edition in 2002, having one volume.
Characteristics
- Covers 35 major remedies with detailed personality profile, common behaviour, emotional tendencies, mental conflicts, spiritual conflicts, developmental psychology, physical appearance and even male and female ratio in each constitutional type.
- This book offers unique elements to learn different constitutions.
33.Title: Prisma- The Arcana of Materia Illuminated- Similars And Parallels Between Substance and Remedy
- Author: Frans Vermeulen.
- One volume, first edition in 2002.
Characteristics
- Excellent collection for information on myth, herbal uses, scientific aspects, and source of each remedies.
- In the Main symptoms section, each individual symptom is given with their elaborated meaning.
34.Title: An Insight into Plants
- Author: Dr.Rajan Sankaran (1960).
- 3 volumes, first edition volume 1 and 2 in 2002.
Characteristics
- These books contain new approach to case taking, introduction to plant kingdoms etc.
- Remedies are described with their common names, their family, their connection between members of family, description of remedies, their active or passive reactions, their sensations, their compensations, the Miasms they belong to and relevant cases.
- Volume 3 contain table of sensation, the periodic table of Miasms and remedies.
I am pretty sure that you are astonished after reading this post. Hope you also find the information provided in this post valuable. Do not forget to share with your Classmates, Friends and colleagues.
Evaluation of Meteria Medica ” is impressed me. Done a hard job, congratulations dear doctor. Thank you.
I’m Dr. Udayanath.
Thank you Dr. Udayanath for your appreciation…
your blog is tremendously informative doctor. i feel blessed to have visited this blog. its really really awesome. thank you for helping doctor!
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