*excerpt from Nature's Materia Medica (4th edition) by Dr. Robin Murphy, ND

Acute prescribing - Acute remedies are homeopathic remedies prescribed for acute infections and fevers. Examples: Aconite, Arsenicum album, Baptisia, Belladonna, Bryonia, Chamomille, Gelsemium, Ferrum phos., Pulsatilla, Pyrogen.

Acute remedies are prescribed in the following manner: (1) Take the acute disease case, consider the keynotes and the major symptoms. (2) Diagnosis the cause and the type disorder the person has. (3) Find a primary rubric or rubrics in the MetaRepertory such as, influenza, pneumonia, etc. (4) Differentiate the major remedies in the primary rubric, (influenza), by reading them in Nature’s Materia Medica. (5) Choose the most similar remedy. (6) Choose the potency, amount and repetition of the dose. (7) Follow-up the case and review to determine if the person needs the same remedy and potency, same remedy and different potency, different remedy and potency, etc.

The 30c and 200c or higher are effective potencies for acute and emergency prescribing. When indicated, follow the acute with a deeper acting chronic remedy or a constitutional remedy to help restore health and prevent relapses.

Chronic prescribing - This refers to giving homeopathic remedies for chronic or long term degenerative diseases and weaknesses. Therefore the goals and method of approaching the case is different than in acute or emergency prescribing. Low potencies are very effective for these long term conditions. The homeopathic remedies can be given in a 6c or a Lm1 potency, one to three times a day for weeks or months at a time according to the case. The frequency can be adjusted to once or twice a day if three times a day is two strong for the patient. If after a period of time the 6c or Lm1, stops affect- ing the vitality, then go up to the next potency in the scale, like 9c or a Lm2 potency. Homeopathic remedies can be also given in a single dose of a high potency remedy which is repeated only after the improvements have relapsed.

Constitutional prescribing - The proper constitutional remedy will enhance and help maintain the general health. Constitutional remedies fortify people through times of stress or help one to recover from infectious or debilitating diseases. When the vitality is weakened, then one’s susceptibility is increased to certain diseases. These homeopathic remedies are prescribed for the genetic vitality of the person. Constitutional remedies are often given to children while they are developing and to the weak and elderly. Some important constitutional remedies are: Bar-c., Calc., Calc-p., Sil., Phos., Graph., Sulphur and Lyc.

Emergency prescribing - Homeopathic remedies prescribed for injuries, bites, burns, shocks and traumas in any form. The important things to know are the causative factors and differentials for each emergency condition. Potency is selected as to availability, severity and how much time you have. The 30c and 200c or higher are effective potencies for first aid. Emergency and acute dosage. One dose equals a few of the pellets, tablets or two to four drops of liquid remedies. Take one dose of a 30c, 3 times daily for a few days, or as needed or take a dose of 200c, a few times daily for a few days, again repeat as needed. In severe cases, one may need to repeat the remedy more often if needed.

Epidemic prescribing - The epidemic remedies are found by using the frequent appearing symptoms and strong symptoms of the epidemic disease. The epidemic remedy is given in repeated doses for a short period of time, a few days or longer if needed. These conditions are treated as acute diseases with 30c or 200c, or Lm potencies. In case of mass epidemics the use of water potencies is essential. Take a few pellets or drops of the remedy and put it into a bottle of water, (4 or 8 oz. size) and shake well. This bottle can be preserved for long periods if 15% to 20% of the bottle is filled with pure alcohol. Also, each medicated remedy solution bottle can be grafted into new bottles by adding a teaspoon of the original to the new bottle and shaking.

Fundamental prescribing - The fundamental remedies give the general personality types of the medicine. In some cases, the fundamental will be the same remedy as it is for the pathological layer. In some cases, the constitutional remedy will cover the fundamental and the pathological layers.

Isopathic prescribing - Isopathically using the ‘same’ substance potentised as a remedy (rather than a ‘similar’ substance). These remedies are made from discharges, toxins, allergens and nosodes. Isopathic remedies help eliminate toxic chemicals and heavy metals. If there is a strong history that a certain disease, bacteria or virus caused a person’s condition then one would consider giving a isopathic remedy.

Miasm prescribing - Miasms are the tendencies and predispositions to certain diseases, like allergies or infectious diseases. If a person has predisposition to get colds and sore throats, then the acute remedy was given and it worked, but the colds and sore throats keep coming back. Here an anti- miasmatic remedy is indicated like Tub., or Bac. There are five major miasms: Psora, Cancer, Sycosis, Syphilis and the Tuberculosis miasm. Miasms can be dormant or active. Miasms can be acquired by a person during their lifetime or miasms can be inherited from the parents. Miasms should not be treated routinely, but only when they are clearly activated or when one gets stalled in a case and there is a miasm present. Gonorrhea and Cancer are the dominant miasms today.

Acquired miasms are very prevalent, because alot acute diseases get suppressed by drugs. These suppressed diseases can alter one’s susceptibility to the environment and lower their vitality. A family history of certain disease patterns helps to confirm, the presence of an active or dormant miasm. Treat the active miasms when ever they show themselves. Let the dormant miasm alone until they become activate.

Pathological prescribing - Pathological remedies are given for their similarity to the disease, as opposed to the fundamental and constitutional remedies which are aimed at the person in general. A patho- logical state should usually be treated first in many cases because it is the source of much suffering and pain. Pathological states are not limited to physical diseases alone. Also, mental and emotional diseases can form pathological layers and diseases. Examples are depression, mania, personality disorders, senility, violence behavior, insanity, etc. Low potencies in repeated doses are effective for severe pathologies like cancer and for those cases in which the patient is taking allopathic drugs.

Tautopathic prescribing - Tautopathically using the ‘same’ substance potentised as a remedy (rather than a ‘similar’ substance). These are the remedies made from allopathic drugs or chemicals. Tauto- pathics are made from cortisone, morphine, penicillin, histamine, etc. If there is a strong history that a certain drug caused a person’s condition then one would consider giving a tautopathic remedy.

Herbal Tonics and Superfoods

Herbal Tonics - The word tonic means tone as in musical tones. When the right tone is given it acts as a tonic. If continual vital tones are given then we achieve a sound body and a sound mind. Herbal Remedies give the vital tones that revitalize and restore the weak spirit and the elemental body. These are the vitality remedies that will raise up the health of the whole person. Tonic remedies improve the strength and harmony of the organs and vital systems.

Tonics are given in the following manner: Take the remedy bottle and succuss it 5 times or hit it against a hard book. Then take 5 or more drops of the herbal tincture and put in 1 oz. water, this is stirred or shaken and then consumed. Repeat this three to four times per day, between meals. To adjust the herbal tonic the person can increase the number of drops taken, from 5 drops go up to 10 drops, etc. If the tonic is too strong the person may reduce the amount of times they take the remedy from 3 times to 1 or 2 times a day or decrease the.

Herbal Tinctures - The herbal tinctures enhance the vitality and act also as specific tonics for weak organs and the vital systems. Herbal Tinctures are plant extracts which stimulate the organs or sys- tems of the body. These tinctures are alcoholic solutions of plant materials. Herbal remedies are often given to assist people through times of stress. These remedies also help one recover from infectious or debilitating diseases. When a person’s genetic vitality is weakened, then one’s susceptibility is increased towards certain diseases.

Superfood Tonics - These foods, also known as superfoods, are known to increase our body’s natural defense to fight-off stress and chronic diseases. Superfoods are natural, nutritionally rich foods and herbs that offer great dietary and healing properties. The superfood tonics are called rasayana because of their ability to heal and rejuvenate the human constitution.

Superfood tonics are fruits, herbs, leafly greens, nuts, seeds, vegetables, roots, mushrooms, minerals, etc. These have been shown to to have great healing and supported effects to the general health. The signs of health emerge from prolonged use of the superfood tonics. Some of the signs of health from taking superfoods are: clear mind, calm emotions, sense of well-being, strength, flexibility, stamina, adaptable, wakes refreshed in the morning, vitality, clarity and harmony in all the vital systems.

Superfood tonics can be given in the following manner: As foods, teas, spices, oils, juices, capsules, tablets, drinks, powders, soups, pills, electrolytes, minerals, supplements, enzymes, fermented foods, smoothies, poultices, ointments, lotions, creams, baths, etc.

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Homeopathic prescribing

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