PRIMA CAUSA MORBI

The words Prima Causa Morbi are of Latin origin.

“Prima” means “Primary” or “Main”.

“Causa Morbi” means “Cause of disease”.

So, “Prima Causa Morbi” means “Primary Cause of Disease”.

Synonyms:

  • Causa Morbi
  • Causa Prima
  • Inner cause
  • Real cause
  • Prime cause
  • Fundamental and basic cause of diseases
  • Proximate cause

There is a saying,

“The cause of a thing (event) can never be at the same time the thing (event) itself.

Dr. Hahnemann in the footnote of Aphorism 6 says that the physicians of old school thought the character of the disease as its cause.

Therefore, their treatment methods were against inflammation, spasms, fever, debility, secretions, putridity, obstructions etc.

They used to prescribe anti-inflammatories, anti-spasmodic, anti-pyretic, tonics, stimulants, anti-septic, evacuants etc.

The old school supporters believed that the bacteria, viruses and the substances created by the diseased person are the primary cause of the diseases.

What are the primary causes of the disease?

 Dr. Hahnemann confidently declares that the primary cause of the diseases are the Miasms.

When normal bodily functions or operations gets disturbed (dynamic derangement of vital force) by the miasms, we get a disease.

Miasms (particular disease predispositions, either inherited or acquired) are the only basic, real and fundamental cause of the disease.

The old schools were treating only the results of the diseases and the related causes of the diseases.

Example:

Old school says, “The cause of tuberculosis is tubercular bacillus”.

They are also aware of the fact that a patient’s constitution, environmental or nutritional factors also play a major role in the development of the disease.

Even the presence of bacteria in the body cannot develop the disease in unfavorable bodily environment.

Only when the vital force of body gets deranged by the miasm, a person gets ill.

Conclusion:

The “Prima Causa Morbi” is not the material cause but the miasms are.