Student of Homeopathy Series. THE PAIN SECTION AND WHAT ARE RUBRICS

by:Jude Cresswell

Continuing our examination of the way that the Repertory is set out, let's look closely at the Pain section and then examine briefly what a rubric is, in homeopathic terms.

THE  LAYOUT  OF  THE  PAIN  SECTION  AND  WHAT  IS  A  RUBRIC?

Under each pain section there are a number of subsections;

  1. Sides: This covers the side on which the pain is experienced, right, left, one-sided pain, or pain alternating from one side to the other.
  2. Time: This section gives the time the pain is worse, or the time the pain comes on. Later Repertories show times in the 24-hour clock.
  3. Modalities and Situations:  In this section, you will find a broad number of rubrics which cover situations or modalities that make the pain better or worse or bring the pain on.  E.g.  ‘Pain in the head ascending the stairs’, or  ‘pain in the head ameliorated by wrapping up the head’. It is important to note that the term ‘aggravation’ is often not written but it is understood. e.g. Head Pain *lying while means – the head pain is aggravated while lying down. If a pain is ameliorated by a position or a time etc then usually the word ‘amel’ is written
  4. Extensions to other parts. eg. ‘pain in the ear extending to the throat’.
  5. Parts affected: Where applicable this section comes next.  Some body parts can be subdivided for greater clarity. The Head is divided into forehead, occiput, right and left side, temples, vertex. The Extremities are divided into joints, upper limbs, lower limbs. These are then further divided into shoulder, upper arm, elbow, hand, fingers, thumb etc. This section where applicable also has a subsection of sides, modalities, situations and extensions. This provides for greater accuracy in prescribing.
  6. Types of Pain: Descriptions such as aching, stitching, burning, pressing, Again, where applicable this section also has its own subsections of sides, modalities, situations, extensions and parts affected.

 

RUBRICS - THE LANGUAGE OF THE REPERTORY

A Rubric is a short succinct symptom description that has beside it a list of remedies which have been shown to have an effect on that symptom during a formal or informal proving OR from sufficient clinical evidence to warrant the remedy’s inclusion in that rubric.

We have to learn to translate the 'word for word symptoms that the patient gives us' into' the rubric headings and subheadings'. e.g.  “I get really nervous and shy when I have to get up and talk in front of the class” translates as TIMIDITY -appearing in public, about  If you want to find the symptom of ARNICA ‘ aversion to being touched’  you would find the rubric TOUCHED, aversion to being the first Rubric is the main heading and then underneath that may be  sub rubrics. Sub rubrics give you more information and definition about the original rubric. They are indented to show that they are associated with the main rubric.

In Homoeopathic Case Analysis we consider symptoms in the following order of importance.

  1. Strange Rare and Peculiar symptoms
  • Know what is common to a disease -  the signs and symptoms.
  • Look for the uncommon symptoms.
  • Evaluation is a process of individualisation
  •  
  1. Mental and Emotional symptoms
  • Look for the individual and not the disease
  • All symptoms are an outward reflection of an inner disturbance
  • Assess the degree of disturbance of the Vital Force
  • Changes in the mental and / or emotional state are always very important

(Aphs 211 and 212)

  1. Physical general symptoms
  • Treating the whole person
  • Give more emphasis to symptoms which affect the individual as a whole
  •  
  1. Particular symptoms
  • Unusual or unexpected symptoms ( as in 1)
  • Complete symptoms including location, sensation, modality and/or concomitant
  • Symptoms with a marked modality and/or concomittant
  • Symptoms without any appreciable modalities are of little value or use

 

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