A materia medica comparison of bowel nosodes and related homoeopathic remedies

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this study was to ascertain which homoeopathic remedies are most closely associated with the respective bowel nosodes with a specific focus on the similarities that exist with regards to the mental and physical symptomatology and the clinical indications by means of an independent comparative analysis conducted via computerised repertorisation. The purpose of ascertaining this information was to provide a better understanding of the interrelationships which exist between a given bowel nosode and its most closely associated homoeopathic remedies. This understanding will therefore provide more insight and may act as a guide as to when and how one can use the bowel nosodes in relation to specific homoeopathic remedies in practice. Methodology The following four bowel nosodes were selected for this study from the original listing compiled by Dr John Paterson (1890-1954), one of the pioneers of research on the bowel nosodes which was published in the article “The Bowel nosodes” in the British Homoeopathic Journal in 1950: Proteus (Bach), Gaertner (Bach), Dysentery Co. (Bach) and Sycotic Co. (Paterson). These nosodes were selected on the basis that they present with the most extensive, distinctive and distinguishable mental and physical symptoms when compared to the remaining seven bowel nosodes. The methodology employed for this study was based on a computerised repertorisation process utilising the Synergy Mac Repertory program. The most prominent and significant mental and physical symptomatology and clinical indication rubrics were selected as per the information obtained from the materia medicas, original works and from more recent authors. A repertorisation was conducted for each individual bowel nosode in order to determine the most closely associated homoeopathic remedies for each bowel nosode as per the above criteria. Results The results obtained through the repertorisation process included the following top three associated homoeopathic remedies pertaining to each individual bowel nosode. 1. Proteus (Bach) – Natrium muriaticum, Nux vomica and Sepia officinalis. 2. Gaertner (Bach) – Silicea terra, Mercurius vivus/solubilis and Nux vomica. 3. Dysentery Co. (Bach) – Lachesis muta, Argentum nitricum and Ignatia amara. 4. Sycotic Co. (Paterson) – Causticum, Nitricum acidum and Thuja occidentalis. Conclusion The results of this study revealed that many similarities pertaining to the mental and physical symptomatology and clinical indications exist between the chosen bowel nosodes and their respective associated homoeopathic remedies. These similarities provide more insight with regards to the interrelationship exiting between a particular bowel nosode and its associated homoeopathic remedies, therefore bringing a clearer understanding and consequently assisting the homoeopathic practitioner in the usage and prescription of the bowel nosodes in practice. The results of this study also revealed important correlations between the original listing by Dr John Paterson regarding the chief associated homoeopathic remedies of individual bowel nosodes and those obtained in this study therefore corroborating some of the original chief associated homoeopathic remedies. The newly found chief associated homoeopathic remedies of individual bowel nosodes resulting from this study may be given preference during case analysis and may be used to expand or update the original listing providing an expanded or updated guide for the homoeopathic practitioner.