Guest guest Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 you may find this of interest. Sheri posted this a while back and I found it very enlightening before I started training in homoeopathy. Re-posting this on list now in case anyone else finds it of help. Love, light and peace, Sue " Many people will walk in and out of your life but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart. " > > ***************************************************** > > > > This is an excellent document - part of a book - all of the book can be > > read at the site. > > It is one of our main texts in beginning homeopathy. > > If you come to understand this you understand a LOT! > > Print out and read many times till you get it! > > Sheri > > > > http://www.homeoint.org/books4/close/chapter07.htm > > > > Main > > > > The Genius of Homeopathy > > Lectures and Essays on Homeopathic Philosophy > > By Dr Stuart M. CLOSE > > Presented by Médi-T > > > > > > > > Chapter VII > > Susceptibility, Reaction and Immunity > > > > By susceptibility we mean the general quality or capability of the > > living organism of receiving impressions; the power to react to stimuli. > > Susceptibility is one of the fundamental attributes of life. Upon it > > depends all functioning, all vital processes, physiological and > > pathological. Digestion, assimilation, nutrition, repair, secretion, > > excretion, metabolism and catabolism, as well as all disease processes > > arising from infection or contagion depend upon the power of > the organism > > to react to specific stimuli. > > > > The cure and alleviation of diseases depend upon the same > > power of the > > organism to react to the impression of the curative remedy. > > > > When we give a drug to a healthy person for the purpose of making a > > homœopathic " proving " or test, the train of symptoms which follows > > represents the reaction of the susceptible organism to the specific > > irritant or stimulus administered. > > > > When a homœopathically selected medicine is administered to a sick > > person, the disappearance of the symptoms and restoration of the > > patient to > > health represents the reaction of the susceptible organism to the > > impression of the curative remedy. > > > > The homœopathic aggravation, " or slight intensification of the > > symptoms which sometimes follows the administration of the > > curative remedy, > > is merely the reaction of the organism, previously perhaps inactive or > > acting improperly because of lowered susceptibility, as it > responds to the > > gently stimulating action of the medicine. As a piece of > > machinery in which > > the bearings have become dry or rusty from disuse, creaks and > groans when > > it is again started up into action, so the diseased, congested, sluggish > > organs of the body sometimes squeak and groan when they begin to > > respond to > > the action of the curative remedy. All this, and much more is > included in > > the Hahnemann doctrine of Vitality, under the Newtonian principle > > of Mutual > > Action, ( " Action and reaction are equal and opposite " ) restated > in medical > > terms by Hahnemann as " Similia Similibus Curantur, " and > employed by him as > > the law of therapeutic medication. > > > > It is understood that action and reaction in the medical and > > physiological sense takes place only in the living organism, and that it > > depends upon that fundamental quality and attribute of life > which we call > > susceptibility. > > > > We shall see that the kind and degree of reaction to > > medicines depends > > upon the degree of susceptibility of the patient, and that the kind and > > degree of susceptibility, in any particular case or patient, depends > > largely upon how the case is handled by the physician; for it is in his > > power to modify susceptibility. Indeed, this power to modify > > susceptibility > > is the basis of the art of the physician. > > > > If the physician knows how to modify susceptibility in > such a way as > > to satisfy the requirements of the sick organism and bring about a true > > cure, then he is a physician indeed; since cure consists simply in > > satisfying the morbid susceptibility of the organism and > putting an end to > > the influx of disease-producing causes. To accomplish this he must know > > that susceptibility implies and includes affinity, attraction, desire, > > hunger, need; that these all exist and express themselves normally as > > states and conditions in every living being; but that they may become > > morbid and perverted and so cause disease, suffering and death. He knows > > also that susceptibility implies the existence of the wherewithal to > > satisfy susceptibility; to supply need, hunger, desire, affinity, > > attraction, and he knows how and where to find the necessary > > modifying agents. > > > > It is a well-known fact that the living organism is much more > > susceptible to homogeneous or similar stimuli than to heterogeneous or > > dissimilar stimuli. Throughout the entire vegetable and animal > kingdom we > > find the law of development and growth to be like appropriating like. > > Organism and organs select elements most similar to their own > > elements. The > > same law holds good in excretion, each organ excreting or throwing off > > elements analogous to those of its, own basis structure. > > > > So it is in satisfying the morbid susceptibility which constitutes > > disease. As hunger demands food, so disease demands medicine. But the > > demand is always consistent with the universal law. It is for the > > symptomatically similar medicine, because that is the only thing that > > really satisfies the susceptibility. > > > > This morbid susceptibility which constitutes disease may > exist toward > > several different medicines, the degree of susceptibility to each > > depending > > upon the degree of symptom similarity; but the highest degree of > > susceptibility exists toward the most similar - the simillimum, > or equal. > > Hence, a given patient may be cured of his disease homœopathically by > > either of two methods; by giving several more or less similar > medicines in > > succession, or by giving one exactly similar medicine--the similimum or > > equal. It depends upon whether he is being treated by a bungler or an > > expert. The bungler may " zig zag " his patient along through a protracted > > illness and finally get him well, where an expert would cure him by the > > straight route with a single remedy in half the time. > > > > The sick organism being so much more susceptible to the similar > > medicine than the well organism, it follows that the size or quantity of > > the dose depends also upon the degree of susceptibility of the > patient. A > > dose that would produce no perceptible effect upon a well > person may cause > > a dangerous or distressing aggravation in a sick person, just > as a single > > ray of light will cause excruciating pain in an inflamed > retina, which in > > its healthy condition would welcome the full light of day. > > > > Susceptibility as a state may be increased, diminished or > destroyed. > > Either of these is a morbid state which must be considered > therapeutically > > from the standpoint of the individual patient. Morbid > > susceptibility may be > > regarded as a negative or minus condition a state of lowered > > resistance. J. > > J. Garth Wilkinson (Epidemic Man and His Visitations) says: > > > > " One man catches scarlet fever from another man, but catches it > > because he is vis minor to the disease, which to him alone is vis major. > > His neighbor does not catch it; his strength passes it by as no > concern of > > his. It is the first man's foible that is the prime reason of his taking > > the complaint. He is a vacuum for its pressure. The cause why > he succumbed > > was in him long before the infector appeared. Susceptibility to > a disease > > is. sure in the individual or his race to be (come) that > disease in time. > > For the air is full of diseases waiting to be employed. > > > > " Susceptibility in organism, mental or bodily, is equivalent > > to state. > > State involves the attitude of organizations to internal causes and to > > external circumstances. It is all the resource of defense or the way of > > yielding. The taking on of states is be history of human life. > > Pathology is > > the account of the taking on of diseased states, or of definite forms of > > disease, mental or bodily. > > > > " In health we live and act and resist without knowing it. > In disease > > we live but suffer; and know ourself in conscious or unconscious > > exaggeration. " > > > > We must also predicate a state of normal susceptibility to > > remedial as > > well as toxic agencies, which it is the duty of the physician > to conserve > > and utilize. No agent or procedure should be used as a > therapeutic measure > > which has the power to, diminish, break down or destroy the normal > > susceptibility or reactibility of the organism, because that is > one of the > > most valuable medical assets we possess. Without it all our > > efforts to cure > > are in vain. To use agents in such a manner or in such a form > or quantity > > as to diminish, impair or destroy the power of the organism to react to > > stimuli, is to align ourselves with the forces of death and > > disintegration. > > Conservation of the power of the organism to react defensively > to a toxin, > > a contagion, or an infection is as important as it is to conserve > > the power > > to react constructively to food and drink, or curatively to the > > homœopathic > > remedy. It is as normal and necessary for the organism to react > > pathogenetically to a poison, in proportion to the size and power of the > > dose, as it is to react physiologically to a good dinner. > > > > The problem is one of adjustment to conditions. The point > to be kept > > in mind is to recognize and conserve normal susceptibility in all our > > dealings with the sick and to do nothing to impair it. Every remedy or > > expedient proposed for treatment of the sick should be submitted to this > > test. Does it respond to the demand of the suffering organism > as expressed > > by similar symptoms? Does it supply the organic need? Does it > satisfy the > > susceptibility without injury or impairment of function? In > short, does it > > cure? Unquestionably many remedies, methods and processes more or less > > popular even to-day, in this ultra-scientific age, do not and cannot > > conform to this standard. > > > > Many substances are used medically in such form, in such doses, by > > such methods and upon such principles as to be distinctly depressive or > > destructive of normal reactivity. They are forced upon or into the > > suffering organism empirically without regard to nature's laws. > So far as > > their effect upon disease is concerned they are in no wise curative, but > > only palliative or suppressive and the ultimate result, if it be > > not death, > > is to leave the patient in a worse state than he was before. Existing > > disease symptoms are transformed into the symptoms of an artificial drug > > disease. The organism is overwhelmed by a more powerful enemy > > which invades > > its territory, takes violent possession and sets up its own kingdom. > > > > Such victories over disease are a hollow mockery from the > standpoint > > of a true therapeutics. > > > > We do not have to seek far for illustrative examples: > > > > Professor Ewing, of Cornell University Medical College, in a > > lecture upon Immunity (1909), called the problem of the endotoxins " The > > stone wall of Serum Therapy. " He said: > > > > " The effort to produce passive immunity against the various > > infections > > by means of sera may fail in spite of the destruction of all > the bacteria > > present in the body, by reason of the endotoxins thrown out in > the process > > of bacteriolysis resulting from the serum injections. > > > > " The action of endotoxins of all kinds is similar: there is a > > reduction of temperature but an active degeneration of the organs > > –a status > > infectiosus. Thus sterile death is produced where cultures from > the organs > > and tissues show that the bacteria in question have all been > > destroyed; but > > the animal dies. > > > > " This problem of the endotoxins is at present the stone > wall of Serum > > Therapy. " > > > > Prof. Ewing cited the case of a patient who received injections of > > millions of killed gonococci for gonococcic septicæmia; the temperature > > came down to normal, but the patient died. He continues: " An > animal whose > > serum is normally bacteriolytic may, on immunization, lose this > power; the > > bacteria living in the serum, but not producing symptoms. > > > > " Thus, a rabbit's serum is normally bacteriolytic to the typhoid > > bacillus, but the rabbit is susceptible to infection. If, however, the > > rabbit is highly immunized the serum is no longer bactericidal, > > the typhoid > > bacilli living in the serum, but the animal not being susceptible of > > infection. The animal dies. " > > > > " It seems therefore that the. effort must be made in the future to > > enable the tissue and the bacteria to live together in peace > > rather than to > > produce a state where the serum is destructive to the bacteria. " > > > > These are strong and significant words from the highest > authority on > > pathology in America. > > > > In the cases cited by Prof. Ewing we see the destruction, > partial or > > complete, of susceptibility-of the normal power of the organism > > to react to > > the stimulus of either the sera or the bacilli. > > > > In the case of total destruction of the susceptibility death > > followed. > > The condition of the patients in whom destruction was only > partial may be > > better imagined than described. A rabbit or a man, whose fluids > > and tissues > > are in such a depraved or vitiated :state that typhoid or other virulent > > organisms live and thrive in them without producing symptoms, > and who will > > no longer react to a powerful serum, is not in a state of health > > to say the > > least. It is a condition which reminds us of the scathing words > > of Jesus; - > > " Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like whited > > sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but within > > are full of > > dead men's bones and all uncleanness. " > > > > The use of antiseptics in the treatment of disease, or > surgically (in > > the field of operation), is another means of impairing or > > destroying normal > > susceptibility. > > > > Articles have appeared in leading medical journals of the dominant > > school (Boston Surgical journal, and the Therapeutic Gazette), > in which it > > was pointed out that the use of antiseptics in the treatment of > > tonsillitis > > increased the inflammation, prolonged the disease and retarded > > convalescence. It was explained that by diminishing the number > of bacteria > > in the crypts which were generating toxin, the period required for the > > formation of the requisite amount of antibodies was unduly > prolonged. They > > had just waked up to the fact that the living organism, even if > diseased, > > has some means of self -protection and that, other things being > equal, the > > automatic formation of the antitoxins and antibodies in the > organism goes > > on at about an equal pace with the generation of toxins. > > > > The destructive action of the antiseptics upon the living > > tissue cells > > and phagocytic leucocytes of the host-otherwise the patient -was also > > pointed out as contraindicating their use by these discerning > authorities. > > In destroying these bodies we are destroying the physical basis of life > > itself. We slay our best friends. They further showed that the > depression > > of vitality thus caused resulted later in increase of fever and cervical > > adenitis, due to the increased absorption of toxins. What they failed to > > see and explain, however, was that the increased fever and inflammation > > were in reality the manifestation of that vital reaction or > resistance on > > the part of the organism, which is the means by which the real, natural > > curative antibodies and antitoxins are produced, and that this > > should never > > be interfered with. > > > > Inflammation and fever are not evils per se. They are merely > > the signs > > of normal reaction and resistance to an irritant or poison by > which nature > > protects herself. They are not enemies to be resisted, but friends and > > allies to be co-operated with in the destruction of a common enemy. > > > > Inflammation and fever mean simply greater vital activity, > more rapid > > circulation, respiration and oxygenation, more rapid and thorough > > elimination of waste or toxic substances, and the concurrent > formation of > > natural antitoxins and antibodies by means of which recovery is > > brought about. > > > > Pain, inflammation and fever are not the real disease nor the real > > object of treatment. To view them as such leads logically and > > inevitably to > > mere palliation or suppression of symptoms, than which there are > > no greater > > medical evils. It is based upon a false and illogical > > interpretation of the > > phenomena of disease which mistakes results for causes. > > > > Stimulants and Depressants.-Prof. C. Wood, veteran > surgeon and > > author -of Cleveland, Ohio, in a letter to the writer, dated > February 20, > > 1922, following the publication of this article in the Homœopathic > > Recorder, wrote as follows: > > > > " There is one remedy you have omitted in your discussion of shock, > > namely, strychnia or nux vomica. Crile in his experimental work on shock > > has shown that it is almost impossible to differentiate true shock from > > strychnia poisoning. As a result of his experimentation surgeons have > > pretty largely discarded strychnia in the treatment of shock, > > Crile proving > > that they are killing more than they are curing by full doses > of strychnia > > in dealing with the same. On the other hand, I am using it in > small doses > > with the, greatest possible advantage, showing conclusively, I > think, its > > homœopathicity in shock. " > > > > It seems to be pretty well established that alcohol, the > typical and > > perhaps most commonly used stimulant, adds nothing to the physiological > > forces of the body. It takes of what might be called the > " reserve fund " of > > organic force and uses it up a little faster than nature would otherwise > > permit. It acts like the whip to the tired horse, not like > rest, water and > > food, which nourish, strengthen, repair and replace worn-out > tissues. Its > > action on the brain and nerves is well known. Many have seen, on the > > dissecting table, the characteristic watery, contracted brain of the > > chronic alcoholic. We know the power of alcohol to harden and > shrivel and > > devitalize organic tissues Its power to paralyze the vaso-motor > system is > > seen in the flushed face, congested capillaries and ruby nose of the > > inebriate. We are aware of its inhibiting effect upon the > sensory nerves, > > by which it makes its victim insensible to the impressions of heat, cold > > and pain, so that, in extreme intoxication, he falls on a red-hot > > stove and > > is burned to death, or staggers into a show bank and freezes to death > > without knowing it. > > > > All these things define the nature and measure of power of > alcohol to > > decrease or destroy normal susceptibility. > > > > Less only in proportion to the amount used is its > influence to lessen > > susceptibility when used as a stimulant in disease. Here, as in > all other > > realms, the law holds good: " Action and reaction are equal and > opposite. " > > Stimulation and depression are equal and opposite. Whip the > > exhausted horse > > and he will go on a little ways and then drop. No amount of > whipping will > > start him up. again. He soon reaches a point where his > susceptibility to, > > that kind of a stimulant is exhausted. Overstimulate the weakened or > > exhausted patient and the same thing will happen. > > > > This is not to say that there is no place for physiological drug > > stimulants in the healing art, but only to point out that the > place which > > they legitimately fill is an exceedingly small one and rarely > met. Certain > > rare cases of typhoid fever, diphtheria, and perhaps a few other similar > > conditions, may be benefited by very small doses of pure brandy > and tided > > over a crisis by that means when they might otherwise die. But > the amount > > of stimulant necessary to accomplish that end is extremely small. > > More than > > the necessary amount will assuredly hasten death, because the margin of > > strength is so small the least waste by overuse may prove fatal. > > > > The proper use of stimulants in the type of cases referred > > to was once > > illustrated by Dr. P. P. Wells. In a critical case of typhoid > fever which > > he saw in consultation, the patient had suffered :a severe > hemorrhage from > > the bowels, was very weak, nearly unconscious and bad a soft > compressible > > pulse. Dr. Wells directed that six drops of brandy be put into six > > teaspoonfuls of milk and the whole given in three doses of two > > teaspoonfuls > > each, at intervals of two hours; to be repeated if reaction did > > not follow. > > The effect was surprising. Reaction quickly followed and the > > patient made a > > rapid recovery. > > > > We may smile at the size of the dose until we recall how > > many patients > > in a similar condition have died under tablespoonful doses of brandy, or > > hypodermics of strychnia and whiskey. Dr. Wells knew how to correctly > > measure a patient's susceptibility and he knew how to conserve the last, > > feeble, flickering remnant of vitality in such cases and make > the best of > > it. He knew better than to waste it by violent measures, as is so often > > done in cases of shock when hypodermics of brandy and > strychnine and other > > powerful stimulants are used. > > > > The idea held by many that large and powerful doses and strenuous > > measures are necessary in such cases is entirely wrong. The > conception of > > disease and the interpretation of symptoms is wrong. The resultant > > treatment is wrong. The imaginary Idea of violence, of the malignity and > > rapidity of the disease, is forced to the front and dwelt upon until it > > seems rational to believe that the treatment must also be > violent, active, > > " heroic. " This is practicing homœopathy with a vengeance! > > > > Such an error arises naturally from considering the disease to the > > exclusion of the patient. Look at the patient who is suffering > from shock. > > He is pale, his, features are sunken, his skin and muscles > relaxed, he is > > covered with a cold, clammy sweat. His respiration is feeble, his pulse > > almost or quite extinct, he is perhaps almost or quite unconscious. > > Everything indicates that life :and strength are at lowest ebb. > The store > > of vital energy is almost exhausted. The margin left to work > upon is very > > narrow. There is but a step between him and death. The slightest false > > move, the least violence, is likely to force him across the line which > > marks the boundary between life and death. > > > > If there is any condition which would seem to demand the > use of mild, > > of the very mildest and most delicate, means, this is one. > Reaction, as an > > expression of susceptibility in such cases, is like the love of > fair women > > - something to be wooed delicately; not brutally and fiercely as among > > barbarians. The condition of shock, or of extreme exhaustion, is no > > occasion for heroic doses or strenuous measure, but rather for > > the greatest > > gentleness and most refined doses. Let the patient inhale camphor, or > > vinegar, or ammonia (very carefully) if only these domestic > > remedies are at > > hand; or give him two or three-drop doses of brandy in a teaspoonful of > > water; if that is at hand. Teaspoonful doses of hot black coffee may be > > useful. But as soon as possible, give our potentiated Arnica, Arsenicum, > > Nux vomica, Veratrum or Carbo veg. Or whatever other remedy may be > > indicated by the etiology and symptoms of the case. The results will be > > infinitely better than the results of the strenuous method. > > > > " Never, " said Dr. Wells, " give brandy or any other stimulant with a > > hard and wiry pulse. " > > > > > > Bœnninghausen > > > > Deficient reaction or diminished susceptibility may exist in > > a case or > > appear during treatment and constitute a condition requiring special > > treatment. This is especially true in the treatment of chronic diseases, > > where improvement ceases and well selected remedies do not seem to act. > > Under such circumstances it may sometimes be necessary to give a due of > > what is called an " intercurrent remedy. " Bœnninghausen mentions as > > appropriate in such cases: Carbo veg., Lauroc., Mosch., Op., Sulph. To > > these may be added the typical nosodes: Medorr., Psor., Pyrog., Tuberc., > > Syphil.,. and also Thuja. The choice of any particular one of these > > remedies must be governed by the history and symptoms. > > > > Excessive reaction, or irritability, is a condition sometimes met > > where the patient seems to suffer an aggravation from every > > remedy, without > > corresponding improvement. There is a state of general > hypersensitiveness. > > > > For such a state, Bœnninghausen recommends Asar., Cham., > > Coff., China, > > Ign., Nux v., Puls., Teuc. and Valer. > > > > Aggravation after Mercury requires Hep. or Nit. ac. > > > > Therapeutic suggestion is of use in all such cases, to calm, and > > soothe terrified or excited patients. But in these, as in all > other cases, > > the case and remedy must be carefully individualized. > > > > We see, therefore, that the cure or successful treatment of disease > > depends not only upon conserving and utilizing the natural > susceptibility > > of the living organism, but on properly adjusting both remedy > and dose to > > the needs of the organism so that susceptibility shall be > > satisfied, normal > > reaction induced and equilibrium or health restored. The " Law > of the Least > > Plus " should never be forgotten:- " The quantity of action necessary to > > effect any change in nature is the least possible. " > > > > Immunity which is obtained at the cost of the integrity > and purity of > > the vital organism and its fluids is too dearly purchased. > > > > Inoculation of crude, pathological products like animal sera and > > vaccines confers only a spurious immunity through impairment or > > destruction > > of normal susceptibility. It results in the contamination or > poisoning of > > the entire organism, sets up a morbid condition instead of a healthy one > > and leads to physical degeneration. > > > > The homœopathic remedy, correctly chosen upon indications > afforded by > > the anamnesis and symptoms of the disease as manifested in the > individual > > and the community, and administered in infinitesimal doses, per oram, > > satisfies the morbid susceptibility, supplies the need of the > organism and > > confers a true immunity by promoting health, which is the true > > object to be > > gained. > > > > > > > > Copyright © Médi-T ® 2000 > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.