This is because every drug is a medicinal force and can expend its disease-producing properties in a way peculiar to itself. There is no rule for this. It is a matter of pure experiment and Homoeopathic provings are especially prolific in bringing out such characteristic symptoms.’ We learn to look for such symptoms in one of the three divisions of the drug’s Pathogenesis, thus :
1. Location of tissue proclivity(elective affinity);
2. Sensation or kind of action;
3. Modalities (influences which aggravate or ameliorate).
Locality or Seat of Action – Every drug affects some organ or system of organs or tissue or region more decidedly than others, and there especially or primarily expends its power. This is not a local action merely, but a localization of the drug’s specific nature.
It appears, no matter by what avenue the drug is introduced into the body. A drug may come into direct contact with the blood, and thereby with every part of the organism, and yet only certain tissue or organs will be affected by it – that is, only these tissues or organs will react against the foreign element. This specific localization, or seat of a drug, is known as its elective affinity, by which it preferably chooses certain cells, tissues or organs, to manifest its action.
In a general way, we see that Belladonna affects principally the brain as its arena for action, and this organ, therefore, has a preferred relationship to Belladonna. So, in the same way, Aconite affects the heart, Ergot the uterus, Bryonia the serous membranes, Podophyllum the duodenum, Rhus the skin, Tellurium the tympanum, Glonoin the vaso-motor centre in the brain. This elective affinity cannot be explained, but it exists.
It was recognized even before Hahnemann and Homoeopathic provings, and has been made the foundation of a system of practice by Rademacher, a German physician and contemporary of Hahnemann, who himself traces the thought to Paracelsus.
While each drug has a preferred locality, based on its elective affinity, still it must not be forgotten that the whole organism – the whole man, mentally and -physically – is affected. This is so, because the various functions and organs are not independent instruments but wonderfully bound together by nerves and blood vessels, and parts most remote are in direct communication with each order.
Diseases are produced and continued along this network of lines when once they have fond a foothold, and drugs act in a similar manner along these tracks. We ought to get a mental picture of a drug as a whole – the drug personified, and thus the typical patient corresponding to the drug. Such study gives a reality and practical utility to the Materia Medica.
Sensations or Kind of Action – While the special seat of action is the first marked fact about the pathogenetic properties of drugs, the special kind of action is the second fact. This may be seen in the sensations and modalities of a drug. Thus, the burning pains of Arsenic, the coldness of Camphor and Veratrum, the sticking pains of Bryonia, the stinging pains of Apis and Theridion, the plug sensation of Anacardium, the soreness of Arnica and Hamamelis, are all characteristic.
Frequently, the character of these pains indicates the seat of the action and thus points to the elective affinity of the drug, as burning pains in general indicate the mucous membranes; dull, boring, gnawing pains, the bones; sticking, cutting pains, serous membranes, etc. In many drugs, these conditions may be so expressive of their special character, that we nearly always expect them to be present when they are Homoeopathically indicated and therefore prove to be the curative remedy.
Such characteristic conditions are the restlessness and anxiety of Aconite and Arsenic, the chilliness of Pulsatilla, the thirstlessness of Apis, the dullness and drowsiness of Gelsemium, the hysterical contradiction of its symptoms of Ignatia, the melancholy of Aurum, etc.
Modalities – Modalities are conditions which influence or modify drug action. Just as a plant thrives best in certain conditions of soil, climate, elevation, in short, a suitable environment, so a drug must be similarly situated to enable it to express itself clearly and fully.
It is of the greatest importance in drug proving as well as prescribing Homoeopathically to note the modalities. The main group of modalities are : time, temperature, weather, motion, menstruation, position, perspiration, eating and emotion. Thus, Lycopodium has a time aggravation in the late afternoon. Sulphur cannot bear heat. Natrum sulph is aggravate by wet weather. Bryonia is aggravated by motion, etc.
A practical point is that there are two types of modalities:
1. Those the apply to the person as a whole;
2. Those that apply to a person’s particular complaint or involve an organ.
The first class is by far the more important and a few general modalities should always be present in the outline of symptoms. We obtain general modalities by asking, ” Are you,” instead of ” Is your.” Thus we ask, ” Are you sensitive to cold weather?” ” Have you a craving for sweets?” ” Are you weak?” etc.
Now it is quite possible for a man to be generally better from heat yet a headache is much worse from heat. It is similar with drugs when studied minutely : Lycopodium generally is better from open air yet craves warm food, but Phosphorus is just the reverse. We shall have more to say on the whole subject of symptoms in the chapter on applied Homoeopathy.
American homeopath - Ann Arbor - Michigan.
Son of William Boericke.
Books:
A Compend of the Principles of Homeopathy.
Homoeopathy