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studying materia medica
I'm a 1st year student and finding it really difficult memorising remedies. I'm sure that once I start putting cases to remedies I will remember them but at the moment feel slightly lost. Can anyone advise on a good technique for revision.kateB on 2005-04-06
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
One learns little things that are guides to list a possible group to study. My teacher called these the "major Factors."
Belladonna, in fevers, red cheeks, hot and dry, no thirst and pulling covers up. Quiet.
Carbo Veg, fever with diarrhea and kicks off covers, wants to be fanned. General stomach in babies, (Lycopodium/colic, is 4 to 8 pm).
Bryonia, less fever, with emotional irritable. "don't touch the bed!!" Headache. No water; just let me die.
Chamomilla, less fever, angry irritable, can be teething, just cannot be soothed. Wants something and when given, throws it away. Piteous OR difficult.
Gelsemium, not much fever, just wants to cuddle up with blankets and sleep it off. A bunch of symptoms, but this is major clue.
Rhus Tox sometimes good for the flu person that refuses to lie down, but is helping others in bed. Swelling under arms. Good for getting chilled. Sunstroke. And this is poison ivy, good for hives.
These are what we call the "first" major factors to compare the most common remedies to be able to study a smaller group and then choose the one most closely fitting.
As you learn a remedy, seek out the major factor and write it down. Use a medium size, plain, telephone/address book and write what you learn under fevers...flu...headache...birthing...insects...allergies...etc. Write in pencil so you can adjust as you go.
Soon, you will have your own reference list to go to and it cuts down time and effort. Also, my materia medica is really marked up and has all sorts of sticky notes in it.
Write me: a1remedy(at)yahoo.com
Blessings, Sabra
Belladonna, in fevers, red cheeks, hot and dry, no thirst and pulling covers up. Quiet.
Carbo Veg, fever with diarrhea and kicks off covers, wants to be fanned. General stomach in babies, (Lycopodium/colic, is 4 to 8 pm).
Bryonia, less fever, with emotional irritable. "don't touch the bed!!" Headache. No water; just let me die.
Chamomilla, less fever, angry irritable, can be teething, just cannot be soothed. Wants something and when given, throws it away. Piteous OR difficult.
Gelsemium, not much fever, just wants to cuddle up with blankets and sleep it off. A bunch of symptoms, but this is major clue.
Rhus Tox sometimes good for the flu person that refuses to lie down, but is helping others in bed. Swelling under arms. Good for getting chilled. Sunstroke. And this is poison ivy, good for hives.
These are what we call the "first" major factors to compare the most common remedies to be able to study a smaller group and then choose the one most closely fitting.
As you learn a remedy, seek out the major factor and write it down. Use a medium size, plain, telephone/address book and write what you learn under fevers...flu...headache...birthing...insects...allergies...etc. Write in pencil so you can adjust as you go.
Soon, you will have your own reference list to go to and it cuts down time and effort. Also, my materia medica is really marked up and has all sorts of sticky notes in it.
Write me: a1remedy(at)yahoo.com
Blessings, Sabra
♡ sabra last decade
I may add to what Sabra said.
Study remedies in comparison.
Ars,Merc and Allium cepa and a few more medicines have fluent coryza. Don't stop there. See how they are different from one another, in cases of fluent coryza.
The modalities will be different, and though the main complaint is same, the modalities allow us to differentiate.
Sabra gave a good example for fevers.
Do a similar exercise for all common problems like cough,indigestion,diarrhoea etc.
The smaller materia medicas like Nash "Leaders", Boger, and boericke are best to start with.
Kent also have lot of comparisions, though scattered across many remedies.
Murthy
Study remedies in comparison.
Ars,Merc and Allium cepa and a few more medicines have fluent coryza. Don't stop there. See how they are different from one another, in cases of fluent coryza.
The modalities will be different, and though the main complaint is same, the modalities allow us to differentiate.
Sabra gave a good example for fevers.
Do a similar exercise for all common problems like cough,indigestion,diarrhoea etc.
The smaller materia medicas like Nash "Leaders", Boger, and boericke are best to start with.
Kent also have lot of comparisions, though scattered across many remedies.
Murthy
bandarbabu2000 last decade
All major remedies have "character" .
Pick up on the 'keynotes' .
For Instance Sulphur is hot feet in bed , little or no breakfast , bowel motion soon after waking - was known as the "ragged trouser philosopher " - untidy .
arsenic alb is very tidy , control freaks come in this category - like head cool but the covers under the chin keeping the body warm. Only drink fluids in small sips or mouthfuls , any pains are of the 'burning' type.
and so on
Pick up on the 'keynotes' .
For Instance Sulphur is hot feet in bed , little or no breakfast , bowel motion soon after waking - was known as the "ragged trouser philosopher " - untidy .
arsenic alb is very tidy , control freaks come in this category - like head cool but the covers under the chin keeping the body warm. Only drink fluids in small sips or mouthfuls , any pains are of the 'burning' type.
and so on
passkey last decade
Kate-
This is what I do (tho I am not an expert in this arena). I imagine the plant (or animal or whatever), get a clear color picture in natural habitat in my mind, and then I learn the characteristics, ascribing them to that plant. Its like I learn the personality of the plant. HTH
Rebecca
This is what I do (tho I am not an expert in this arena). I imagine the plant (or animal or whatever), get a clear color picture in natural habitat in my mind, and then I learn the characteristics, ascribing them to that plant. Its like I learn the personality of the plant. HTH
Rebecca
Rebecca last decade
I've tried what you've all said and yes it does seem much more simple. I was getting too involved in the sea of information rather than general points. Thank-you.
Kate
Kate
kateB last decade
Don't bother about constitutional types right now. That will confuse you more.
Concentrate on the medicine's capbilities. Each medicine has certain affinity for particular organs, in a particular way. Try to find it out. Polychrests can affect alll the organs. So, concentrate on how they differ from others, for each organ.
For example merc.sol and merc.cor both has diarrohea.
But,more blood indicates merc.cor.
Aloe.s can't wait for stool. He has to rush to toilet, otherwise, he may soil his clothes.
Don't fall for the easy way out like
Sulphur is untidy.
Puls for ladies and 'blondes'
Ars for neat and tidy people
Graphites for obese ladies
etc..etc.
These things are derived from the experiences of various people, while treating patients, and are to be regarded as a sort of another confirmatory point and nothing more. They have no basis, as far as provings are concerned.
Never try to associate a person with a medicine by his appearence. It is misleading.
But, after careful study,if the person seems to match the general physical attributes, as given in the books, then,you can be sure, your medicine is likey to work.
But, never the other way.
Murthy
Concentrate on the medicine's capbilities. Each medicine has certain affinity for particular organs, in a particular way. Try to find it out. Polychrests can affect alll the organs. So, concentrate on how they differ from others, for each organ.
For example merc.sol and merc.cor both has diarrohea.
But,more blood indicates merc.cor.
Aloe.s can't wait for stool. He has to rush to toilet, otherwise, he may soil his clothes.
Don't fall for the easy way out like
Sulphur is untidy.
Puls for ladies and 'blondes'
Ars for neat and tidy people
Graphites for obese ladies
etc..etc.
These things are derived from the experiences of various people, while treating patients, and are to be regarded as a sort of another confirmatory point and nothing more. They have no basis, as far as provings are concerned.
Never try to associate a person with a medicine by his appearence. It is misleading.
But, after careful study,if the person seems to match the general physical attributes, as given in the books, then,you can be sure, your medicine is likey to work.
But, never the other way.
Murthy
bandarbabu2000 last decade
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