For practical purposes, homoeopathic research work can be divided into two great groups :.
GROUP I. Research not requiring money.
GROUP II. Research requiting money.
I begin with Group I which is more readily attainable for obvious reason, and wish to subdivide this group into a two group:.
A. Clinical Research.
B. Theoretical Research.
I. HOMOEOPATHIC RESEARCH NOT REQUIRING MONEY.
A. CLINICAL RESEARCH.
First of all, homoeopathy is not a theoretical but clinical science, as it is set forth with monumental terseness in the first paragraph of the Organon : “The first and only duty of the physicians is to cure.” Therefore, provings done for this purpose alone, and clinical observations of drug effects at the bedside, will always constitute the fundamentals of research in homoeopathy.
1. Provings of Drugs.
Although the homoeopathic materia medica is richer than any other materia medica in existence, the introduction of new proved medicines will always be welcome and even necessary. We often have to struggle with pathological conditions which do not seem to fit any given drug picture altogether, and, therefore, demand a sequence of remedies, which sometimes still does not give completely satisfactory results. There are many powerful agents in the various kingdoms of nature which could furnish remedies capable of covering disorders such as those mentioned above.
Besides, it is safe to say that each era has not only its own characteristic mental, economical and cultural physiognomy, but also its own characteristic diseases. For this reason too, it may be necessary to discover new drugs, fitting the particular traits that disease take on in a certain era, or fitting even entirely new pathological condition. The polychrests will always be useful. Their usefulness is as unchangeable as human nature basically is. However, at the same time, there is within the frame of human nature a steady flow and change of conditions.
There are certain more recently discovered agents which are particularly inviting for homoeopathic provings, such as the great group of bacterial toxins, used as vaccines, and the group of vitamins. Apart from the provings of new remedies, a re- proving of the old, particularly of the minor remedies which have not as yet been proved as thoroughly as they certainly deserve, is highly recommendable. If possible, modern means of psychological observation and laboratory tests should be utilized to bring provings up to date.
Formation of smaller or larger mixed groups of provers, consisting of doctors and laymen, would make possible the accomplishment of this work. The various existing homoeopathic laymens organizations could be of the greatest service to the cause of homoeopathy by lending their assistance.
The setting up of a central council which, year after year, would choose the drugs so to be proved and would supervise the work to be done in the various provings units-each under the direction of a homoeopathic physician-would guarantee planned, organized work. The formation of similar councils in other countries, working under the same plan, and coordination of all these effects on a world-wide scale would certainly produce the greatest practical results.
2. Observation of Occupational Diseases in Mining Districts and in Factories.
Additional sources of knowledge of the effect of chemical and other poisons are the factories. Homoeopathic physicians living in mining districts and factories. Homoeopathic physicians living in the vicinity of mining districts, particularly if in charge of health supervision of workers, are in a position to collect valuable toxicological material which can be used, supplementing provings.
The systematic observation of toxic effects of drugs taken in crude form may furnish additional material or stimulate the undertaking of provings of these drugs.
3. Observation and Confirmation of New Clinical symptoms.
No new clinical symptoms of any importance have been added to a drug picture for a long time. These drug pictures have become a more or less fixed pattern in our minds, with no impetus toward enrichment by new clinical symptoms. There is no doubt that a closer observation of the constitutional set-up of our patients, their character traits and their physiological and pathological reactions would furnish new clinical symptoms, making the choice of a remedy easier for the future.
4. Critical Observation of the Effect of Different Potencies and of Different Ways of Administering the Remedy.
Another field of research, at the bedside, is the observation of the effect of the different potencies. Here also a fixed mental pattern has been created which is detrimental to research. For many prescriber, the teaching of Kent has become the binding principle in the field of prescribing, and no new experimental work has been done since Hahnemann himself set a great example for homoeopathic research, by doing experimental work according to the inductive method, not recognizing any authority except experience.
The potency question can be solved only by open-minded cooperation of highly critical observers, who do experimental work within the whole scale of potencies, beginning with the mother tincture up to the highest dynamizations. In the field of remedy administration, a rechecking of Hahnemanns observation concerning the effect of smelling the remedies should be made.
The sixth edition of the Organon describes another method of remedy administration, different from that method used by most prescriber, who follow the advice of the previous editions. This last method of Hahnemanns prescribing the regular daily use of a high potency, dissolved in water (see page 226 of the original edition of the Organon) should be checked. Only the cooperation of many unbiased, critical observers can establish a real law of dosage, based exclusively on experiments and not on theoretical speculation.
5. Setting up of a Critical Standard in Reporting Cases.
Homoeopathic literature consists basically of drug provings and case reports which confirm the drug provings and the Law of Similar. In drug provings, a very high standard of accurate observation and critical judgment is required. the same standard should be valid for the other part of homoeopathic literature, case reporting. Unfortunately, the latter does not always obtain. Thoroughly examined cases, treated according to the Law of Similars, are a very valuable contribution to homoeopathic research, particularly if rarely used or new remedies have been administered. Such cases should be thoroughly examined with all available definitely established, cases should not be published as a cure of this or that disease, as case reports of this sort are misleading. It would be better to give a complete description of all the symptoms of the case, instead of a diagnosis.
6. Certain of a Central Department of which Epidemic Remedies in case of influenza and Other Epidemics Can Be Reported.
The existence of such a central department would facilitate the task of combating epidemics, if the remedy found useful at the onset of the epidemic were reported quickly and made known to all doctors. In view of the fact that epidemics of various sorts are to be expected in the wake of the war, the organization of a central department for epidemic diseases would be highly useful. A duty of this department would be to study in advance remedies and remedy groups which might be useful in epidemic diseases, or which have been used successfully in epidemic diseases such as typhus, etc.
7. Preparation of Statistics.
The central department for epidemic diseases should get all the material from homoeopathic doctors in order to prepare statistics in epidemic and other diseases which would prove the value of homoeopathic treatment. Special forms should be issued to the doctors to facilitate this type of research work.
B. THEORETICAL RESEARCH.
8 (a) Rechecking of the old literature and following up of current literature concerning toxicology, in journals and archives, in order thus to complete old drug pictures, and to find new agents which appear particularly promising therapeutically, and should therefore be proved.
(b) Rechecking of old and following up of current pharmacological literature in order to obtain a deeper insight into the action of the drug.
(c). Research in the field of empirical use of drugs in popular medicine of peoples all over the world, in order to find material stimulating provings of new drugs.
9. Following up of modern literature in school medicine, biology biochemistry, which confirms the Law of Similars and the effect of the infinitesimal dose, which throws new light upon problems in homoeopathy.
10. Application of the New Methods and results of Modern Psychology, Endocrinology, and Constitutional Medicine in Homoeopathy.
Modern psychology, psychoanalysis, Rorschach test, graphology, would be made useful for the interpretation of the mental symptoms in our patients as well as in our drug pictures. The same applies to endocrinology and constitutional medicine which would explain many of our drug and personality types.
