The Tetractys of Simillimum
http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/matrix-method-tetractys-model/1/
https://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/matrix-method-tetractys-model/2
https://hpathy.com/organon-philosophy/tetractys-simillimum/ /
Anthroposofic.x
philosophy is based on the Tetractys concept.
Tetractys (Greek: τετρακτύς),
or tetrad, or the tetractys of the decad is a triangular figure consisting of ten points
arranged in four rows: one, two, three, and four points in
each row, which is the geometrical representation of the fourth
triangular number. As a mystical symbol, it was very important to the secret
worship of Pythagoreanism.
There were four seasons, and the number was also associated with
planetary motions and music.
Pythagoreer: bezeichneten Tetraktys als die Gesamtheit der Zahlen 1, 2, 3 und 4, deren Summe 10 ergibt. Da die Zehn (griechisch δεκάς dekás "Zehnzahl", "Zehnergruppe") die Summe der ersten vier Zahlen ist, nahm man an, dass die Vierheit die Zehn „erzeugt“. Der Zehn kam schon durch den Umstand, dass sie bei Griechen und „Barbaren“ (Nichtgriechen) gleichermaßen als Grundzahl des Dezimalsystems diente, eine herausgehobene Rolle zu. Von den Pythagoreern wurde die Zehn überdies, wie Aristoteles berichtet, wegen ihres Zusammenhangs mit der Tetraktys als „etwas Vollkommenes“ betrachtet, das „das ganze Wesen der Zahlen umfasst“. Daher wurde die Zehn auch „heilige Zahl“ genannt.
Die pythagoreische Kosmologie ging von der Annahme aus, dass der Kosmos nach mathematischen Regeln harmonisch geordnet ist. In dieser Weltdeutung war die Tetraktys ein Schlüsselbegriff, da sie die universelle Harmonie ausdrückte. Daher nahmen manche Pythagoreer an, dass es zehn bewegte Himmelskörper geben müsse, obwohl nur neun sichtbar waren – eine Spekulation, die ihnen Aristoteles verübelte.
Die Entdeckung der Weltharmonie wurde Pythagoras von Samos, dem Begründer der pythagoreischen Tradition, zugeschrieben. Daher gab es bei den Pythagoreern eine Eidesformel, die lautete:
„Nein, bei dem, der unserer Seele die Tetraktys übergeben hat, welche die Quelle und Wurzel der ewig strömenden Natur enthält.“
Mit demjenigen, der die Tetraktys übergab, war Pythagoras gemeint.
In den „Goldenen Versen“ (carmen aureum), einem in der Antike und dann erneut in der Renaissance populären Gedicht, das die pythagoreischen Lehren zusammenfasste, steht eine etwas abweichende Fassung der Formel (Verse 47 und 48):
„Ja, bei dem, der unserer Seele die Tetraktys übergeben hat, Quelle der ewig strömenden Natur.“
Tetraktys als gleichseitiges Dreieck – geometrische Repräsentation der vierten Dreieckszahl.
Die Tetraktys wurde mit Zählsteinen (psēphoi) ausgedrückt, indem die vier Zahlen in Form eines gleichseitigen Dreiecks übereinander angeordnet wurden. Auch hierin lag
eine Symbolik, da das gleichseitige Dreieck als eine vollkommene Figur galt.
Musik
In der Musik stellten die Pythagoreer fest, dass die harmonischen Grundkonsonanzen Quarte, Quinte und Oktave, denen die Zahlenverhältnisse 4:3 (= 8:6), 3:2 (= 9:6) und
2:1 (= 12:6) zugeordnet wurden, mit den vier Zahlen der Tetraktys ausgedrückt werden können, ebenso wie auch zwei weitere Intervalle: die aus Oktave und Quinte bestehende Duodezime (3:1) und die Doppeloktave (4:1).
Nur diese fünf Intervalle wurden als symphon anerkannt Die Undezime (8:3), die nicht in den Rahmen der Tetraktys passt, wurde also aufgrund einer theoretischen Überlegung von den konsonanten Intervallen ausgeschlossen, obwohl sie als konsonant oder zumindest nicht als dissonant wahrgenommen wird. Die Theorie der Tetraktys hatte Vorrang gegenüber der sinnlichen Wahrnehmung. Diese Vorgehensweise wurde von dem empirisch denkenden Musiktheoretiker Ptolemaios kritisiert.
Neben der Gruppe der Zahlen eins bis vier gab es bei den Pythagoreern noch andere bedeutsame Vierergruppen von Zahlen, die ebenfalls Tetraktys genannt wurden.
In der Musiktheorie war -wie auch in der Legende von Pythagoras in der Schmiede überliefert ist- die Gruppe 6, 8, 9, 12 besonders wichtig, da diese Zahlen den unveränderlichen Saiten der Lyra (Hypate, Mese, Paramese, Nete) zugeordnet waren. Der Musiktheoretiker Nikomachos von Gerasa bezeichnet diese Gruppe daher als
"erste" Tetraktys, wobei "erste" rangmäßig zu verstehen ist. Er gibt an, dass die Sechs dem tiefsten Ton, der Hypate, entspricht, die Zwölf dem höchsten, der Nete.
Auch in der Geometrie fand sich mit den vier Elementen Punkt, Linie (Länge), Fläche (Breite) und Körperlichkeit (Tiefe) eine Vierheit, die für die Pythagoreer auf die Tetraktys deutete. Der Punkt wurde der Eins, die Länge der Zwei, die Fläche der Drei und die Körperlichkeit der Vier zugeordnet.
Der jüdische Gelehrte Philon von Alexandria verwendete das Tetraktys-Konzept bei der Kommentierung des Buches Genesis. Er bezog es auf die Erschaffung der Gestirne am vierten Schöpfungstag.
Mittelalter
Die auf dem Tetraktys-Konzept fußende pythagoreische Konsonanzlehre prägte die mittelalterliche Musiktheorie weitgehend. Die abweichende Auffassung des Ptolemaios war ebenfalls bekannt, da der spätantike Gelehrte Boëthius sie im fünften Buch seiner Schrift De institutione musica dargelegt hatte. Die Frage der Einbeziehung der Undezime in die Gruppe der Konsonanzen wurde kontrovers erörtert, wobei die pythagoreische Auffassung überwog.
Neuzeitliche Rezeption
Nikolaus von Kues vertrat in seiner Schrift De coniecturis (1440) die Auffassung, dass in den Zahlen 1, 2, 3 und 4 und ihren Kombinationen alle Harmonie bestehe; er berief sich aber nicht ausdrücklich auf die pythagoreische Tradition.[9] Der Humanist Johannes Reuchlin verglich in seinem 1494 erschienenen Werk De verbo mirifico (Über das Wunder wirkende Wort) das Tetragramm, das den Gottesnamen JHWH darstellt, mit der Tetraktys. Raffael gab sie auf seinem Fresko Die Schule von Athen auf einer Tafel wieder. Auch Johannes Kepler hat sich in seinem 1619 erschienenen Werk Harmonice mundi („Weltharmonik“) mit der Tetraktys befasst.
[Dr. Mirjana Zivanov]
A homeopathic treatment is an adventure where the senses and mind of a
homeopath have to be on high alert, but actions may only be gentle and
compassionate.
A homeopathic remedy may be prescribed after a homeopath gets the whole
picture – in the mental, emotional and physical spheres, while a patient can
only give bits and pieces. These bits and pieces are the vital reactions, no
matter how small, unveiling parts of the nature of the patient’s Vital force in
all 3 spheres – mental, emotional and physical. All 3 spheres are bound
together in One, the 4th sphere – picture. When affected, each one of these
spheres has its own vital reaction: thought for the mental, emotion for the
emotional and sensation for the physical. Since all three spheres are often
affected at the same time, in a similar manner, it is clear that what shapes
the responses to the affection is beyond all three. There is a harmony in all
responses of all spheres, because they are all expressions of the One – the
nature of the patient’s Vital force.
We could present these spheres graphically as three circles intersecting
in one point common for all three – the point that symbolizes the Vital force,
present but at the same time beyond all three.
A sphere is a symbol of the Infinite, so beautifully said in one of
Empedocles’ fragments: “The Sphere on
every side the boundless same, exultant in surrounding solitude.” (28), but the
Infinite wouldn’t lead us any closer to the Simillimum.
Since any plane can be defined by three points, we will add three points
to each circle in order to describe the patient’s mental sphere with three key
thoughts, emotional with three key emotions and physical with three sensations.
The three spheres with three key issues each, and the One – the patient’s Vital
force in the middle – make 10 all together. Numbers 3 and 10 are the second and
the fourth triangular numbers in mathematics, so we will present the unity of
three spheres and the Vital force with the ancient Pythagorean triangular
symbol of 10 – the Tetractys.
The Pythagoreans believed that the 4 levels of Tetractys
symbolize the harmony of the spheres and the Cosmos. The base of Tetractys, the Four (Tetrade) represents
the Cosmos, the Substance that is composed of 4 elements – fire, air, water and
earth. One step higher is the Trinity (Triade)
representing the harmony of three in living beings – body, soul and spirit. The
next step are the Two (Diade), the power of opposites
that moves the world – forces of attraction and repulsion, love and hate, yin
and yang in Chinese tradition. On top is the One, the Source, that unites all,
and from which everything derives – The Monad, while all ten (Decade) together
create the higher Unity
of the Creation. The thought, emotion and sensation more or less are in
our conscious, while the Vital force is deep in the Individual unconscious,
beyond our perception.
Depending on the nature of a person’s Vital force the same cause may
lead to very different sensations, emotions and thoughts. The nature of a
person’s Vital force is the
same through their entire life.
It may be affected in numerous ways during a lifetime and no matter how
bruised and battered it appears – its nature, its essence, always stays the
same.
The nature of a person’s Vital force is like Plato’s Idea – an eternal
and immutable form. Plato in his concept of Ideas says that everything,
including numbers, has a perfect image in the heavens. Something may appear
beautiful, but it is really just a pale copy of the Idea of Beauty, because the
imperfect and changeable world cannot capture the glory of the eternal and
immutable forms.
Our conscious is overloaded by an abundance of thoughts and trying to
find the essence of a person’s being there, is like looking for a needle in a
hay stack. Thoughts are predominantly connected to our conscious, while
emotions and sensations to the unconscious. Emotions and sensations provide us
with glimpses into the very essence of
a person’s being. In order to find the Simillimum
we are connecting these glimpses into the true image of a person.
The process of defining the Tetractys of a
remedy is based on finding the issues that are in common to the Tetractys of a number of patients, who share the same Simillimum. These are the patients whose main complaint has
already been cured in a course of a classical homeopathic treatment.
Using the 10 points of Tetractys for
presenting the key issues named by the patient on one hand, and the similar Tetractys of the remedy on the other, may lead to a faster
and more precise way of finding the Simillimum, as
the number of defined Tetractyses of the remedies
rises. Since all the three spheres and the Vital force are rooted in the unconscious
we have been searching for a psychological method to help a patient in naming
the key thoughts, emotions and sensations – the patient’s Tetractys.
I am leading a team that is working on the new Matrix Method. My
colleagues in the team are Dr Stojan Primovic and Dr Andreas Kelemen.
The Matrix Method introduces
a psychological method for naming the key issues, adapted to be used in
addition to the classical homeopathic case taking, as well as their
implementation in the personal Tetractys of a patient
and the Tetractys of a remedy.
It may also be used in the proving of homeopathic remedies. After
defining the Tetractys of the patient, the next step
is to find the similar Tetractys of the remedy – the
patient’s Simillimum.
The method will soon be published in the book “The Tetractys
of Simillimum and the Matrix Method in Homeopathy”,
and more information will also be available on the
web site www.tetractysofsimillimum.com
For example, we’ve had an Arg-n case, a 32
year old women who came to us because of fears and anxiety, or as she said “I
have fear of fear”. First we did a classical homeopathic case taking. The
patient said that she was afraid of travelling by car because she fears that if
she gets stuck in a traffic jam, she will get overwhelmed with
an enclosed feeling followed by nausea; she will feel disoriented,
feeling as if she had butterflies in her stomach and that she would start to
feel completely powerless.
She is also afraid of flying by plane because, she couldn’t get out if
the panic would start. She can’t go out of the house when the streets are
crowded, because in the crowd she feels so nauseous, that she starts vomiting,
This has completely ruined her social life. When we asked her what helps her in
such a situation she said that she just needs
to run away and find a place to calm down in peace and quiet. She also
feels chest pain near her heart, but the doctors said she is fine after
examination. She also often has stomach pain.
She has painful menses, and polycystic ovaries. She starts feeling pain
in her ovaries as soon as she steps barefoot on a cold surface and it lasts for
days.
During the allopathic treatment of her polycystic ovaries, after
unsuccessful treatments with antibiotics she was even given insulin for the
ovaries, but that didn’t do any good either.
[Professor Vladimir Holodkov]
Review o “The Matrix Method with Tetractys Model” by Drs. Mirjana Zivanov, Stojan Primovic and Andreas Kelemen.
Homeopathy is a complete medical system based on omnicausality
of problems, ie. holism. It is a system open to any
innovative contribution which may be used in practice. Why? Let’s assume
that there are 7 billion ailing people on the one hand, and, on the
other hand, there are 3000 known homeopathic substances. Reaching the simillimum, which most closely covers the dysfunctional vital
force, is a demanding activity even for the most experienced homeopath.
Nowadays, homeopaths base their practice both on the art of Hahnemann (Heilkunst) and on innovative systems, verified in practice,
from the classical approaches (Kent, Hering, Bönninghausen, Boger, Boericke) to modern approaches (Vithoulkas,
Scholten, Sankaran, Vijayakar).
The authors of this book gradually introduce us to their
interdisciplinary system for arriving at the simillimum.
They are aware of the irreplaceable tools of classical homeopathy, and are
aware that it takes much time to unlock the patient’s vital force during the
interview. In heavily populated India, some homeopaths see as many as
150 patients on a daily basis. Knowing this is sufficient to stimulate
one’s thinking towards more efficient prescriptions based on aphorisms 1, 2,
and 3 of Hahnemann’s “Organon”.
The authors want to step beyond classical case taking and connect with miasm theory to reach the simillimum
in a simpler and more efficient manner. Let’s be reminded of Hahnemann’s
important publication “Chronic Diseases” where he explains the simillimum:
“For between IDEM and SIMILLIMUM there is no intermediate for any one
that can think; or in other words between idem and simile only simillimum can be intermediate, Isopathic
and aquale are equivocal expressions, which if they
should signify anything reliable can only signify simillimum
because they are not idem (Lat. same).”
Sometimes we fail, and therefore, we need a step further. Everyone
within his own development is in search for the solution. One of the potential
routes is the method explained herein. The authors use their knowledge about
the biochemical processes of human homeostasis and incorporate such knowledge
into homeopathic practice.
They show the relationship of three key hormones secreted by the human
body when processing emotional perceptions of the environment: dopamine,
serotonin and noradrenaline. They document these
relationships and take us a step forward. They are aware of the historical
understanding, from ancient times, that the vital force,
vital energy, dynamis, contains both
spiritual, intangible, and “invisible” components. They relate it to man’s
physical being and gradually introduce us to their system
of homeopathic understanding of vital force disruption.
The authors do not neglect Hahnemann’s explanation of vital force
genetic damage expressed in the notion of miasms.
Hahnemann provided clarification for three basic miasmas. The authors discuss the
interrelation of miasms and the above-mentioned
hormones. They propose a matrix method of understanding the vital force in
space,
the coordinates of which include the above-mentioned hormones and miasms, and they fit such method into the tetractys model.
Tetractys comes from the time of Pythagoras.
He and his followers considered the cosmic harmony of man and the Universe,
which they wanted to express in specific
symbols – through a special figure called tetractys.
In this model, decad structure is expressed through
the equilateral triangle. Ten points may be assigned various meanings, which is
also done by the authors. For the time being, it will only be suggested that
the tetractys model is also the basis of Judaic kabbalah, and Mircea Eliade. It deals with
the sociological and cultural meaning of such symbolism to develop a
therapy for ills of modern, and proves that myths and rites are not only the
memories of the collective unconscious, but also a subconscious part of man’s
vital force.
The authors also base their approach of the matrix method aspect of the tetractys model, on the researches of the Serbian
psychologist and mystic Z. Mihajlović – Slavinski who expressed his method in the PEAT model. Mihajlović acquired his PhD in psychology, based on
researching the possibility of applying kabbalah
and/or hermetism to therapeutic purposes. Mihajlović stated that man’s vital force has got one
illness (major problem) which was also noted by Hahnemman.
Therefore, a MAIN theme connects
the conscious and unconscious parts of man. Such connection is expressed
using the notion of Ki – the most elemental system of
connection within the sphere of the existence of everything. The special
concept of the authors “Matrix Method with Tetractys
Model” is that through their practice, they reveal that a MAIN theme occurs in
various homeopathic substances. Thus, e.g. Aurum and Naja share the topic of “happiness – sadness”, but in view
of the homeopathic kingdoms (minerals and animals), the essence of feeling
happiness and sadness with Aurum and Naia are not the same.
The matrix model with hormones as coordinates and miasmas as the areas
of chronic disease, are transformed in the tetractys
model with ten points, enabling us to recognise relations among the behaviour
patterns through the patient’s miasm. Thus, there is
a multidimensional approach to the vital force through the understanding of the
disorders of mental, emotional, psychological, and somatic components of the
person. The authors find that the vital force may be understood using a simpler
approach, where the tetractys characteristics are
related to the characteristics of the remedy. Through many years of practice
the authors have strived to reach the simillimum and
have verified their concept in practice. They include many cases as examples.
This book is not a product of speculation, nor is it based on
eclecticism. It is a documented scientific modelling of vital force behaviour.
Therefore, it has been written in the scientific language of homeopathy based
on the knowledge of the biochemical system of man’s homeostasis.
Two of their cases of Argentum nitricium are reported where the patient’s stories are
completely different, but who have the picture Argentum
nitricum. Those two persons fit into the tetractys model of Argentum nitricium at the global level. When the symptoms of these
two cases are considered, and the dynamis of these
two persons and Materia medica
of the above-mentioned remedy are considered, it is seen that these two persons
are covered by the simillimum. At the same time, the
individualisation principle has been observed.
The authors have feedback from patients confirming the efficacy of their
method, as in : “My child does not use an inhaler anymore”, “I have returned to
my life, my job,
I am fulfilled”. The authors have repeatedly verified their method in
practice. They indicate that this system may also be applied to animals,
plants, and the planet Earth.
This book is understandable and very usable for homeopaths. I am confident
that their method will become an important addition to homeopathic practice and
will help overcome the obstacles finding the simillimum.
I congratulate them for offering this contribution to the field of homeopathy.
It is up to us now, to apply their methods in
our own homeopathic practices.
Dr Mirjana Zivanov,
Dr Stojan Primovic, Dr
Andreas Kelemen discuss The Matrix Method with Tetractys Model.
Classical case taking and case analysis are irreplaceable tools of every
homeopath, but there are some critical points in this process that could be
improved. We have focused on the following three in the creation of the Matrix
method:
In the process of case taking one of the key difficulties is to get a
complete and accurate picture of the patient’s mental, emotional and physical
state. Because a patient forgets or avoids providing information that may prove
to be crucial for the entire process, a homeopath needs to find a way to get
past all of these conscious and unconscious barriers. Therefore it may take a long
time for the patient to open up. The patient may sometimes get tired of waiting
and move on.
In the process of case analysis a number of symptoms are chosen by a
homeopath as most significant and key to the case. This step depends very much
on skill, experience and talent that is not equal in all homeopaths, meaning
that we may expect that many mistakes are made at this point, in everyday
homeopathic practice.
In a case a homeopath gets, or more precisely chooses, there are a
number of symptoms and themes, and she needs to associate all of them with a
single homeopathic remedy – Simillimum. Since there
are a great number of homeopathic remedies, finding the right remedy for a
chosen set of symptoms may be quite challenging, especially because
both of the previously defined critical points of case taking and case
analysis may influence the choice of symptoms. There are many similarities and
differences of homeopathic remedies that we may find described in great detail
in a repertory. There is still a question of a point, a missing link, between a
symptom and a remedy, a small number of general categories, defined by many
symptoms and shared by many remedies. Also, by defining the relations between
these general categories we would get an insight into the relations of symptoms
and remedies.
Much of homeopathic education is focused on preparing a homeopath to
recognize the key symptoms and themes in a case-taking, but we shouldn’t forget
there is another person there as well – the patient, with truthful unconscious
information usually hidden under the mask, sometimes quite deeply. The issues,
contents of unconscious, most important for the person, are associated with
intense, highly charged, emotions and behaviours. Some psychological techniques
may be of great help in unlocking the contents of the patients unconscious, so
we were looking for a fast and accurate technique that could provide the most
intense emotions and sensations of a patient, and simple enough to be used by a
homeopath with no psychological training. We have found that the best suited
technique for this purpose, to our knowledge, is the Deep PEAT technique by Z. Mihalovic – Slavinski. This
technique may be included in a group of psychological techniques known as
Meridian therapies, because the subject taps certain points on his/her face,
body or fingers that are placed along meridians (path through which the
life-energy known as “qi” flows in traditional
Chinese medicine), hence the name. There has been an almost three decades long
discussion in psychology on the effectiveness of meridian therapies, but even
the results of their most vocal critics have found that these techniques are
effective only not because of use of the meridians.
Meridian therapies are based on the idea of using tapping or pressing on
a sequence of acupuncture points, located on main meridians, during the
psychological treatment, basically using distraction and desensitization paired
with exposure – a well established psychological treatment technique. While it
was shown that “tapping (or pressing)
of meridians” was not a critical mechanism, the tapping and pressing of
any points, as instructed by the therapist, has shown significant reductions in
fear for all 3 groups
that used tapping variations but not for the control group. It is
important to point out that two of these three groups were also control groups
regarding the use of points on meridians. The other key element of this
treatment technique is exposure, and since it is often difficult to achieve in
clinical settings, the imaginary exposure is commonly
used. Since these findings didn’t show these techniques to be
ineffective, just that there is no connection to meridians, we’ve had pursued
this path.
The Deep PEAT technique, is a process that usually lasts up to half an
hour and gets us the deepest pair of opposites of a person, called the Primes,
and a line of content that leads to it. Originally in the technique, the prime
goal was to get and integrate this deepest pair of opposites – the Primes,
while the other contents are a byproduct. But for a
homeopath trying to find the patient’s Simillimum,
the chain of these other contents are usually just as important, and often even
more so. These contents highlight the most important issues in the case-taking,
and often open up a number of issues that didn’t even come up in the case
taking. This gives a much more complete picture necessary for finding the Simillimum. So, while in the Deep PEAT process the aim is
to get to the Primes as fast as possible, in as few steps as possible, for a
homeopath using this technique the aim is to get as much content as possible.
The First Step
The first step of the Matrix method is doing the Deep PEAT process,
after the classical homeopathic case-taking, but aiming to get as much content
as possible before getting to the Primes, because these are the emotions,
sensations and behaviours with highest emotional charge – the key symptoms and
themes we need for repertorisation.
This may reduce the risk for the homeopath of choosing an inadequate set
of key symptoms and themes from the case taking.
By using the Deep PEAT technique after the case taking, we may
significantly improve the first critical point we have listed at the beginning,
because it can assist the patient
in opening up. Also by modifying the aim of the technique for use in
homeopathy, we may get a longer chain of contents, for the case analysis.
The Design of the Matrix Model of Behavioural States
The relations of the contents we have got in the previous step, are
parts of the bigger picture of the general behaviour and emotional states. For
better understanding of the relations between the contents we have got from the
patient, as well as their effect on the complete picture of a patient, and
understanding the patient’s miasm, we have created a
three-dimensional model of general behavioural states in relation to the three
monoamines (serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline) –
the Matrix model, and it’s flattened two-dimensional version, the Tetractys model, named after the ancient Pythagorean symbol
of tetractys, that turned out to be very similar to
this flattened model. The chain of contents we get from the Deep PEAT technique
basically consists of emotions, as well as sensations and thoughts that express
the underlying emotion.
People are expressing many different emotions, using even more words,
but are all those emotions completely different from each other, or are there
significant similarities
that allow us to group all emotions in just a few clusters?
Charles Darwin in “The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals”
listed over thirty emotions, classified into seven clusters. Ever since this
groundbreaking work scientists have argued over whether or not there is a
finite number of basic emotions at all. Certain emotions may be grouped in
clusters because they share an underlying pattern of behavioural-neuro-endocrine control, in which monoamines play a vital
role.
Monoamines are phylogenetically ancient signaling molecules and it has been found that they are
involved in behavioural control in a wide range of species from humans
to structurally simple organisms such as nematodes. The fact that many
allopathic psychotropic drugs, like antidepressants and antipsychotics act by
interfering with the monoamine system, may illustrate the importance of
monoamine systems in human beings.
The three monoamines essential to behavioural-neuroendocrine
response patterns are serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline.
A certain relation of quantities of these three monoamines, creates a basic
pattern that corresponds to a type of emotional response or behaviour, such as
“fight or flight”, imprinted in the limbic-amygdala
hippocampus section of the mammalian brain (paleocortex),
as well as in the subordinate hypothalamic and brainstem centres. Since the phylogenetically ancient monoamines are crucial
for behavioural control throughout evolution, these systems give a great
advantage for survival because they enable an organism to modify its behaviour.
Monoamine systems
are very dynamic, probably in relation to the need for quite rapid
modifications in behaviours and emotion in order to adjust to changes of
environment. We can only imagine the huge diversity of situations that
monoamine systems had to deal with successfully in order to survive, therefore,
a system of behavioural control cannot be specific to
every possible situation. It has to activate a number of general
emotional and behavioural patterns.
The effects of dopamine and serotonin are still not completely
understood, because the brain may use a particular neurotransmitter for
different purposes in different parts
of the body. Some forms of dopamine are related to reward, or more
precisely to reward prediction, and some forms of serotonin are related to
aversion and punishment.
In order to better understand the complex relations between the three
essential monoamines and the general behavioural and emotional patterns, we
will focus on eleven characteristic ratios of these monoamines and try to
associate them with certain characteristic emotional states.
A plasma dopamine and noradrenaline variations
research, in response to stress, has shown that both monoamines are not high or
low at the same time, so if either one of
these two is high in response to stress, the values of the other
monoamine are small – high negative correlation has been found.
Negative correlation is a relationship between two variables in which
one variable increases as the other decreases, and vice versal
A research on serotonin and dopamine system interactions in the
neurobiology of impulsive aggression, has shown that serotonin hypofunction may represent a biochemical trait that
predisposes individuals to impulsive aggression, with dopamine hyperfunction, so between these two monoamines has also
been found negative correlation.
Anatomical and pharmacological data also suggest that serotonin and
dopamine may act as mutual opponents, meaning in negative correlation.
Given the negative correlation between the monoamines, to present it in
the theoretical model, we will use the perfect negative correlation of dopamine
(DA) and noradrenaline (NA), in an orthogonal
coordinate system with two axes, with each end of the arrows represents low and
high levels of signaling respectively, with five
representative positions marked with circles: zero-point (NA=0; DA=0), high noradrenaline point (NA=1; DA=0), high dopamine point
(NA=1; DA=0), noradrenaline/dopamine point (2/3 NA;
1/3 DA) and dopamine/noradrenaline point (1/3 NA; 2/3
DA). Because of this negative correlation the area is triangular instead of
square (it would be square in positive correlation). The zero-point and the
high points of both monoamines are the three points that define this coordinate
system, as the points of low and high signalling.
All possible ratios of the two monoamines in negative correlation are
inside the gray triangular area marked on the diagram, half of which have
predominance of one monoamine over the other and vice versa for the other half.
Both circles placed on the negative correlation borderline, between the points
of arrows on the two axes, represent the areas where both monoamines are
present in a significant percent with one dominating over the other. For
illustration of these two states in this theoretical model we have marked with
circles the positions with 2/3 of one monoamine and 1/3 of the other – in this
example the Noradrenaline/Dopamine point (2/3 NA; 1/3
DA) and the Dopamine/Noradrenaline point (1/3 NA; 2/3
DA) representing all ratios with predominance of noradrenaline
over dopamine in former, and vice versa in the later. This is the diagram
representing the theoretical model of two monoamines correlation with five
typical ratios marked:
On the following pages we will try to associate each of these typical
ratios to a behavioural or emotional state.
In a study of rats that have been conditioned to fight at a specific
time each day over a 10-day period, with serotonin levels decreased in the
nucleus accumbens, heart rate
and dopamine release were concurrently measured and both were raised in
anticipation of the fight. This study shows us that lowering of serotonin,
raises the other two monoamines, but not in what ratio. Another study of aggressive
behaviour shows that when noradrenaline is in excess
(release is stimulated or reuptake is blocked by pharmacologic manipulations)
it influences aggression biphasically: a slight activation
increases aggression, while a strong activation decreases it. Putting these two
studies together may lead us to conclusion that aggressive behaviour is
connected to low serotonin, high dopamine and moderately elevated noradrenaline, meaning that all three monoamine systems are
negatively correlated to each other. Only in a theoretical situations that one
monoamine is at minimum, a 2D diagram, such as the previous one presenting a
correlation between only two monoamines, has sense.
Much closer to reality, would be to use a 3D model of the all three
monoamines in negative correlation. Because of this negative correlation of all
three monoamines, the area of the diagram is limited to the tetrahedron
presented in the image below, instead of a cubic area of positive correlation.
If we mark the five points of typical ratios of each monoamine pair on
the three triangular faces which meet at the zero-point corner, of the
tetrahedron like 3D model of the
all three monoamines in negative correlation, we will get ten marked
points of typical ratios on it, since five points are overlapped on the 3D
model. We will add to these 10 points one more, the point of highest equal
parts of all three monoamines, placed in the center
of the fourth triangle tetrahedron – the darker gray one on the previous image,
and the following one. This is the Theoretical 3D model of three monoamines
correlation with eleven typical ratios of monoamines marked with circles and
labelled based
on their predominance:
The three monoamines are placed on the three orthogonal axes creating a
tetrahedral space, since monoamines are supposed to be mutually orthogonal in a
3D model of monoamines as this maximizes the amount of information that can be
transmitted, making it evolutionarily rational.
Associating these eleven typical ratios of the three monoamines, is may
lead to better understanding of relations between a number of emotional and behavioural
states.
Humans, unlike other species, have the sophisticated neocortex,
that allows us to learn, at least to certain extent, to voluntarily suppress or
modify the somatomotor-behavioural responses, while
the autonomic and hormonal expressions cannot be suppressed voluntarily in the
same manner. Voluntary suppression or modification of somatomotor-behavioural
responses, if often repeated, may even permanently change them if often
repeated, disturbing the balance in our physiological systems – “homeostasis”,
consequently making changes in organic systems and tissues, including the
immune system.
The sophisticated psychosocial challenges of today’s modern life may
evoke a modified pattern of emotional response, and to understand these
partially suppressed emotions and behaviours, we sometimes have to observe the
autonomic and hormonal expressions that cannot be suppressed voluntarily.
To truly understand these modifications and suppressions it is necessary
learn more about the general, unmodified and unsuppressed, emotional and behavioural
states and
to connect them to specific ratios of the three monoamines. Thanks to a
huge number of studies on monoamine systems conducted through decades, there is
an abundance
of data available on these issues, and we will use some of these studies
to propose the associations between the 11 typical ratios of the three
monoamines with emotional
and behavioural states.
We will start with the zero-point, as the point of origin.
The zero-point of orthogonal coordinate system, should be understood as
a point where all three monoamines are at the their lowest values, lower then
normal basal level,
a depressed state in the range from dysthymia
to major depression disorder.
Dysthymia form of subthreshold
depressive pathology, that may last for decades, neither getting better nor
developing a full blown psychological disorder, such as major depression
disorder, bipolar disorder etc. Therefore, this state wasn’t conidered to be a pathologycal
condition, but a constitutional personality type. In dysthimia
(old
diagnose was melancholy) a person is in a long-lasting state of
gloominess, anhedonia, low drive and energy, low
self-esteem and pessimistic outlook.
The association between low values of all three monoamines and
depression, was the leading concept in 1960s, that regains its importance in
recent years, with new research
on triple monoaminergic reuptake inhibitors (TRIs), as next generation antidepressants. When patients
talk about this state, they often associate it with the sensations of darkness,
cold and heaviness, feeling sadness, some of the patients start to cry etc. In
the homeopathic Repertory, the big Mind rubric we could associate to this state
is SADNESS or MELANCHOLY, so we will use this term for the zero-point.
High Dopamine point (High DA; Low 5-HT; Low NA)
Dopamine is considered to have rewarding, motivating and reinforcing
effects, and it is associated with impulsive and addictive behaviour Dopamine
system also signals a
large class of stimuli that are intrinsically appetitive (e.g., pleasure
or sweet), and react to them with the anticipation of appetitive stimuli –
reward. The key theme for
dopamine could be ANTICIPATION of REWARD, that may be motivating, cause
of addiction +/o. impulsive behaviour.
Dopamine/Serotonin point (High DA; Moderate 5-HT;
Low NA)
Noradrenergic neurotoxin DSP-4, preceded by zimelidine
to prevent serotonin depletion, was administered IP to rats behaving in a
defensive-submissive manner in a resident-intruder paradigm, resulting in
decrease of frequency and duration of defensive episodes and marked increase of
offensive aggression. This might suggest an increase of aggressiveness and
therefore support the notion of an inhibitory role of the noradrenergic system
in aggressive behaviour.
As a result of selective lesions of dorsal (DB) noradrenergic (NA)
system it was observed that it doesn’t simply decrease noradrenergic metabolism,
but also violates its balance with the serotonergic
(5-HT) system, because of the lack of noradrenergic tonic excitatory effect on serotoninergic system it decreases. Since both noradernergic and serotonergic
systems are lowered in this research the increase in affective aggression may
be associated with the dopaminergic system. The
increase in aggression is caused by changes in dopamine and serotonin levels,
after noradrenaline depletion. OFFENSIVE or predatory
AGGRESSION is characterized by planned, goal-directed, emotionless, hidden and
not preceded by autonomic arousal[33]. We could also say it is cold in nature,
since one of is characteristics is low NA.
Individuals seek out the opportunity to engage in certain aggressive
acts, since the performance of aggressive behaviour can serve as a potent
positive reinforcing event, therefore high dopaminergic.
Study shows that primates with lowered serotonin levels show behaviours
similar to type II alcohol abuse: poor impulse control, risky behaviour, and consumption
of alcohol in huge amounts, while another study finds that high dopamine levels
have been observed in some populations of substance users such as type II
alcoholics – leading to conclussion that type II
alcoholic addiction could be associated with this dopamine/serotonin point.
[Dr Mirjana Zivanov,
Dr Stojan Primovic, Dr
Andreas Kelemen]
Cocaine, unlike MDMA, shows consistent rewarding
effects, due to the high dopamine level – significantly contributing to cocaine
addiction. The other two monoamines
are moderately elevated, so the cocaine abuse may be placed close to
this point. It may be placed here also because a study of repeated low-dose
cocaine treatment
(0.5 mg/kg/day) during adolescence facilitates offensive aggression in
male Syrian hamsters, while treatment with fluoxetine
(SSRI), resulting in elevated serotonin, inhibited the cocaine-facilitated
aggressive response.
Therefore, we may associate this point with ADDICTION and OFFENSIVE
AGGRESSION.
Serotonin/Dopamine point (High 5-HT; Moderate DA; Low NA)
The dopaminergic system together with oxytocin and vasopressin
are crucial in the formation of pair-bonds, and dopamine reward system makes
love a rewarding experience. Infusions of moderate doses of dopamine into the
nucleus accumbens facilitate pair-bonding, whereas
infusion of high doses does not generate this effect. Love can feel like an
addiction, and the dopaminergic pathways that are
involved in love and pair-bond formation are largely similar to those that are
involved in addictive behaviour.
It is suggested that serotonin and dopamine act as mutual opponents, we
may assume that lower dopamine levels result in higher serotonin levels.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the central
nervous system related to loss of dopamine-generating cells, and consequent low
dopamine levels, and again we may assume that in turn serotonin levels may be
elevated. Study has shown that young Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, with
early disease onset, have significantly higher incidence of hypomania and mania
related to dopamine replacement therapy (DRT), so in these cases to assumingly
already elevated serotonin levels, dopamine levels are also increased.
Therefore, we are going to associate hypomanic behaviour
with this point.
A hypomanic person is described as cheerful,
optimistic, extroverted, self-confident, energetic and needing habitually less
sleep than other people. They can also be irritable, rude, reckless and
irresponsible. Hypomanic people are also focused,
productive and generally successful at work, Hypomania may be an evolutionary
advantage, since hypomanic behaviour is generally
perceived as being energetic, euphoric, visionary, overflowing with new ideas,
and sometimes overconfident and very charismatic, but coherent enough in
thought and action to participate in everyday activities. Therefore, a hypomanic person will rarely think of changing this state –
going to treatment of this condition. Low dopamine levels have been found to
contribute drug- and alcohol-seeking behaviour, so basically attracted to
addictive behaviour, while the next point whit inverse serotonin/ dopamin ratio, is associated with addictions.
Since moderate doses of dopamine facilitate pair-bonding, so we may call
this one the point of LEADERSHIP and ATTRACTION.
Serotonin/Noradrenaline point (High 5-HT;
Moderate NA; Low DA)
Very close to serotonin/noradrenaline point
may be placed abused psychostimulant MDMA (Ectasy), has affinity for serotonin (5-HT), noradrenaline (NE) and dopamine (DA) transporters ( SERT,
NET and DAT respectively), but predominantly for SERT with 10-fold higher
affinity at SERT compared to DAT, leading to lower rewarding strength, and
consequently addictive, effect compared to cocaine, for example.
MDMA abuse is associated with euphoria, exhilaration, an increased
perception and feeling of closeness to others – emapthy,
mood-enhancement, increased energy and heightened senses, but also hyperthermia
that, esspecially in warm environments may develop
acute complications with potential fatal consequences, as well as tachycardia,
hypertension, seizures etc. Most frequent acute somatic complaints of MDMA were
jaw clenching, lack of appetite, impaired gait, and restless legs. It affects
mnemonic processes including spatial, working and episodic memory domains, but
without affecting simpler aspects such as vigilance, reaction time, selective
attention, and response inhibition. MDMA affecting response inhibition may be
connected to serotoninergic inhibitory effect, while
high dopaminergic effect of impulsiveness is found in
cocaine impaired performance on response inhibition.
Single low dose of MDMA produces cognitive impairments lasting up to 72
h post-administration, whereas acute low doses of cocaine produced cognitive
enhancement.
Although it was expected that drugs of abuse that increase sleepiness
and sedation (e.g., cannabis) are more likely to induce dissociative symptoms
than stimulant drugs (e.g., MDMA, cocaine), a study has demonstrated that MDMA
and cannabis can induce dissociative symptoms, unlike cocaine. While cannabis significantly
increased subjective ratings of depersonalization, derealization,
and amnesia during intoxication, and MDMA primarily increased feelings of derealization, their magnitude of total dissociation was
comparable.
Exhilaration with EMPATHY could be the most adequate terms to describe
this behavioural state.
Noradrenaline/Serotonin point (High NA; Moderate
5-HT; Low DA)
In early stages of romantic love, there is a depletion of serotonin
levels.
In the classical experiment by Dutton and Aron
the influence of an elevated noradrenergic state on the sexual attraction was
shown, when the sexual attraction to an attractive interviewer was increased by
locating the interview on a anxiety-arousing, high suspension bridge, as
compared to a low bridge.
Depletion of central serotonin is also found in obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD). Early stages of romantic love show similarities to OCD, like a
mild serotonin-depletion-related form of obsessive behaviour, including
symptoms of anxiety, stress, and obtrusive thinking. Of course love is not a
mental disorder, so 12–18 months after the start of the relationship, subjects
do not have any obsessive ideation regarding the partner anymore. The high
levels of anxiety and stress indicates high noradrenaline
content, so the obsessive component maybe related to serotonin.
Another study has shown significant correlation between increased
anxiety severity and decreased DAT availability in newly diagnosed, untreated
PD patients[58], that may also indicate negative correlation between the three
monoamines, by finding behaviour associated with elevation of noradrenaline and serotonin as a result of lowering
dopamine levels.
Serotonin agonists (5-MeODMT) raise pain thresholds dramatically, as
well as very markedly facilitate male rat sexual behaviour (male rats require
fewer intromissions to reach ejaculatory threshold), but degeneration of
central noradrenergic (NA) neurons by DSP4 abolished entirely the analgesic
effect and most of the effects on male rats sexual behaviour, of 5-MeODMT or
serotonin (5-HT) itself. So, high serotonin levels loses both of these effects,
without a moderate action of noradrenaline.
Since there is evidence to support association between low dopamine
activity and social phobia, and increased dopamine transporter binding in
generalized social anxiety disorder, making these conditions low dopaminergic, while high doses of caffeine with elevating
noradrenergic effect might provoke panic attacks in patients with panic
disorder or social phobia, and noradrenergic β-blockers are sometimes used
to treat uncomplicated performance anxiety, so this might support that social
anxiety/panic state
is high-noradrenergic. There is an increased serotonin transponder
binding in generalized social anxiety disorder, therefor
a lowered serotonine level, but since there are low
dopamine levels in these conditions if we take into consideration the previously
mentioned negative correlation between serotonin and dopamine, the level of
serotonin will
be higher then dopamine levels, so we could say that we will have
moderate serotonin level.
We could say this is the point of PASSIONATE, but also social
anxiety/PANIC behaviour.
High Serotonin point (High 5-HT; Low NA; Low DA)
In the previous study the serotonin component was linked to obsessive
behaviour, and also serotonin 5-HT2A receptor polymorphism has recently been
linked to an obsessive romantic attachment behaviour[63]. If there is a purpose
to the obsessive behaviour in OCD it is to avoid some potential or imaginary
danger. Serotonin system signals a large class of stimuli that are
intrinsically aversive (e.g., stress or pain)[64], and reacts to these stimuli
with repulsion and withdrawal. Serotonin leads to behaviour inhibition and
aversion to punishment. We may say that the key theme of serotonin could be
avoiding danger, regulating the other two monoamines by inhibitory mechnisms, in other words CONTROL the system. Also, another
study showed that systemic administration of the selective dopamine D2 receptor
antagonist sulpiride caused proaversive
effects in rats in the elevated plus maze, and since lowering dopamine may lead
to elevated serotonin, this study also leads us to assumption of association
between elevated serotonin and (pro)aversive behaviour . Serotonin also has a
well established anti-depressive effect, illustrated by the fact that serotonin
synthesis in normal male was found to be 52% higher than in normal female,
which might explain the lower incidence of major unipolar
depression in males.It is also associated with
nausea, and feeling disgust and CONTEMPT.
Dopamine/Noradrenaline point (High DA;
Moderate NA; Low 5-HT)
The study described before, when we were giving an explanation on the 2D
diagram of dopamine/noradrenaline relation, this
point was associated with the emotional aggression as emotional response.
Another study of the aggressive biting response effects, on
stress-induced noradrenaline (NA) release in the rat amygdala and gastric ulcer formation, one group of rats
were exposed to a 60-min period of cold restraint stress with or without being
allowed to bite a wooden stick. The results have shown that the group allowed
to bite a wooden stick had approximately doubled the noradrenaline
(NA) release, and it returned to basal levels immediately after release from
stress, while in the other group the noradrenaline
level has approximately tripled, and it was maintained until 80 min after
release from stress. This suggests the possibility that expression of
aggression during stress exposure might attenuate stress-induced fear and/or
anxiety – a rewarding effect probably connected to high dopamine levels. In
this example we can once again find that the medium elevated noradrenaline (NA), with low serotonin and high dopamine is
present in expressed AFFECTIVE AGGRESSION. Affective aggression is impulsive,
overt and unplanned in nature, equivalent to defensive rage[69]. Impulsive
alcoholic offenders show lower CSF 5-HIAA than non-impulsive alcoholic offenders
and healthy controls[70] (Virkkunen et al., 1994),
indicating that the impulsive type of aggression is associated with serotonin hypofunction. High dopamine levels have also been observed
in some populations of substance users such as type II alcoholics, a group
associated with impulsive and aggressive behaviour.
Noradrenaline/Dopamine point (High NA; Moderate
DA; Low 5-HT)
The non-bitting group in the previous study
had approximately tripled the basal noradrenaline
(NA) release – a clearly high NA level[73]. Stress-induced increases in NA
turnover in the amygdala are closely related to the
provocation of negative emotion such as anxiety and/or fear observed in animals
during stress exposure[74],[75], so we may connect this point to FEAR, since
fear also has a rewarding dopamine component – its one of the reasons why
people enjoy horror movies. Fear can be characterized by arousal, noradrenergic
effect, and fight-or-flight responses to imminent threats[76]. Analysis of the
gastric ulcer data indicated that the biting rats had significantly fewer and
smaller lesions, up to five times, as compared to the non-biting rats. These
results strongly support the hypothesis that suppression of aggression during
stress exposure may lead to psychosomatic diseases such as peptic ulcer and/or
neuroses in humans. FEAR is also a big rubric in the Mind section of the
Repertory.
High Noradrenaline point (High NA; Low DA; Low
5-HT)
In the same study, the above mentioned stress-induced increases in NA
turnover in the amygdala is closely related to
negative emotion of anxiety, an unrewarding, hence low dopaminergic
and low self-esteem, hence low serotonegic emotion.
Central serotonin depletion is found in anxiety disorder[77]. Thus we may
connect this point to ANXIOUS and AROUSED. The high noradrenaline
levels are also connected to active, aroused, high pulse and blood pressure,
attentive[78]. Anxiety is characterized more by apprehension, tension, and
worry, where the potential threat might occur in the distant future[79].
ANXIETY is also a big rubric in the mind section of the Repertory – another
reason to use this therm high noradrenaline
point.
The point of equilibrium (Moderate 5-HT, DA and NA)
There is anther point in the middle between the high points of all three
monoamines, the point of equilibrium, a more or less neutral state, but
heightened, as opposed to lowered neutral state of dysthymia,
until about a century ago diagnosed as melancholy and the lowest neutral
zero-point, basically of a depressed state – sadness. This high point of
equilibrium is quite often described by our patients with the sensation of
light, warmth and lightness, image of a beautiful sunny day, feeling of peace
and tranquility. This is the point of balance and
inner PEACE & JOY.
Each point represents a behavioural state of a person, depending on the
underlying relational pattern of the three monoamine, while their positions in
the 3D model reveals the relations between them. This model shows the pattern –
the MATRIX of behavioural stated, in order to help us understand why do the behavioural
changes of a certain type of person occur in a particular sequence:
Since all the points except the zero-point, are placed in the same
triangular plane with the point of each axis arrow, at the corners of the
triangle. To flatten the 3D MATRIX
of behavioural states, into this one triangular plane we will
superimpose the two points of equal parts of all three monoamines – the zero
point of low equilibrium (depression), and the point of equilibrium (peace
& joy), in to one point, represented with black and white half.
This flattened MATRIX model of behavioural states has a triangular shape
with 10 points marked with behavioural states looks very much like the ancient
Pythagorean symbol tetractys, so we have named this
2D model of behavioural states the TETRACTYS model. This TETRACTYS model might
be easier to follow then the 3D model, for everyday use in homeopathic practice
together with the Chain of emotions:
These states represent typical behavioural states, while a person in
real life will usually somewhere in-between, but gravitating to one of them at
any given time. We have chosen one term for each of these states, but, for
example, elevated Dopamine is not just about anticipation – it is also about
rewarding feeling, motivation, addiction, impulsiveness etc. We have asked ourself, what is in common for all these themes, and why?
These are all behavioural patterns shaped through the evolution. Every
human being has conscious and unconscious goals, at least the survival as the
deepest instinctive goal. When a goal is pursued every moment is charged with
ANTICIPATION of REWARD, making you motivated, but also reckless and impulsive.
It seems to us that by creating a feeling of ANTICIPATION about a goal dopamine
affects our behaviour, so we have chosen these terms.
In order to survive, apart from goal pursuit, you need to avoid danger,
and to be vigilant most of the time. In order to avoid danger one has to
anticipate risks, stop risky behaviour and plan ahead, in other words to
CONTROL, accompanied by feelings of CONTEMPT, strength and high self esteem.
Similarly, staying vigilante most of the time may lead to the state of ANXIETY.
Feeling of inner weakness, with feeling threatened or under pressure, is
shared by all four low serotonin states and the zero-point of depression.
Feeling of inner strength and self-confidence gets higher with elevated serotonin
content, with its high at high serotonin point (the superior feeling of
contempt and disgust to others, an extreme state connected to satiety – in the
food related disgust, if a person keeps eating after there is no more hunger,
it will lead to the point of food aversion. Connection of this feeling
to serotonin is well established since in allopathy
the nausea and vomiting are often treated with antagonists of the serotonin
receptor type 3. States of fear and affective aggression are considered both
low serotonergic, but on the other hand, as all the
other states with elevated dopamine share the feeling of reinforcement and
reward. States
of elevated noradrenaline are supposedly
active and aroused, attentive, with a high pulse, feeling heat, may be even
with reddish face[82], but not focused to either avoid or achieve something,
therefore with an element of uncertainty that may lead to anxiety .
Most people go through some form of all of these behavioural states, but
every person is more prone to get in a few of these states over and over again
throughout life –
a disposition to a certain kind of behaviour. Aggression is one of the
most researched behaviours because of its impact on society. It is a behavioural
pattern with a crucial evolutionary role, so finding a genotype associated with
it was a logical step. Low functioning MAOA genotypes have been reliably linked
to increased reactive aggression, with increased impulsivity, specific to
conditions of negative affect, as a key element of this behavioural pattern.
Study suggests that disrupted serotonergic systems,
thus limited in its inhibitory actions, in MAOA genotype predispose individuals
towards aggressive behaviour by increasing impulsive reactivity to negative
affect[83]. Impulsivity in the MAOA genotype, is a trait of a high dopaminergic activity, and in our model both states near
the high dopaminergic corner, are associated with
aggression (one with offensive and the other with affective aggression).
Just as MAOA genotype may be associated with predominance of dopamine,
due to disrupted serotonergic system, other genotypes
may be associated with high activity of the other two monoamines (noradrenaline and serotonin), resulting in three general
types of disposition.
In homeopathy, Hahnemann has defined the three genaral
dispositions, the three miasms – Psora,
Sycosis and Syphilis. Genotypes with predominance of
serotonin could be associated to the Syphilistic miasm, due to incredibly similarity with the hypomanic type of behaviour that is placed in the
Serotonin/Dopamine point near the High serotonin point of our flattened MATRIX
of behavioural states. Dopaminergic anticipation and
motivation could be associated with Psora as a
driving force behind the never ending psoric
struggle, while anxiety and fears of the on and near the high noradrenergic
point may be associated with fears and hiding of Sycosis.
This leads to the conclusion that the three Hahnemann’s miasms are the three general miasms,
three general patterns of behaviour, well founded in the effects bio-dynamcs of the three monoamines on behaviour.
In the study of the aggressive biting response effects, on
stress-induced noradrenaline (NA) release in the rat amygdala and gastric ulcer formation[84], mentioned above,
a significant correlation has been found between the monoamines state and
higher incidence of gastric lesions (up to 5 times higher).
Since the homeopathic miasms affects the
mental emotional and physical level, this example of mental/emotional and
physical correlation of monoamines action speaks in favour of the three
monoamine – three miasm correlation.
When each content from Chain of contents is associated with one of the behavioural
and emotional states in our TETRACTYS model of behavioural states, depending on
area of the model where most contents are positioned we may define the patients
miasm. We will demonstrate this later in the examples
of case analysis using the MATRIX method.
Every patient will have one predominant miasm,
but usually with elements of one or both of the other two miasms.
If we observe the dominant miasm with elements of one
of the other two as a separete subtype of miasm, we may find six more subtypes and one more
theoretical subtype that has elements of all three myasms,
so the model of three miasms doesn’t exclude
additional six/seven subtypes, or even defining each behavioural state on our
flattened MATRIX of behavioural states model as a separate miasm.
On the other hand by defining each variation as a separate miasm
would cloud the similarities between these subtypes, and the real-life dynamism
between these states.
By associating the states on our TETRACTYS model, with the emotional and
behavioural states behind the contents a homeopathic patient is going through
during the case taking and in the Chain of contents, we may follow the dynamic,
sequence and paths of his/hers changes in behavioural states. Usually a patient
will go through just a few behavioural states, while talking of all kinds of
things in case taking and in the Chain of contents. These few behavioural
states a patient is going through, create together his/her personal pattern
similar to a pattern of that patients constitutional homeopathic remedy – Simillimum. This pattern on the TETRACTYS model is the
TETRACTYS of a patient.
Based on the positions of the points of general behavioural states on
the Tetractys of a case, we may recognize the miasm of that patient, as it is presented on the diagrams
below:
After this lengthy, but necessary explanation we will give an example,
of an Arg-n case mentioned in an earlier article on Tetractys of Simillimum by Dr M. Zivanov, but this time in detail through all steps of the
Matrix method.
Example of the first step of the Matrix method – the Deep PEAT techique
Arg-n Case, Woman, 34 years old, Teacher
The procedure of Deep PEAT is quite simple to learn. It begins with
discussion with the patient in order to define the starting point of a process.
For a homeopath this step is unnecessary since the patients main complaint is
usually pointed out by a patient at the beginning of the classical homeopathic
case taking. Deep PEAT is a psychological technique, so the starting point has
to be the way a patient feels about his/her main complaint.
In the next step this staring point – “problem” has to be defined
briefly in the words of the patient, because only a persons own words are
powerful and meaningful enough to provoke a reaction of the subconscious.
The technique starts at the “I-point”, on sternum, where the patient
holds the index finger and the middle finger, and embracing the feeling of
acceptance and love for yourself and your “problem” as a part of you, while
making the FAM statement with regard to the starting “problem”:
“Even though I feel _________(“problem” – the statement of complaint), I
accept and love myself, my body, my personality and _________ (“problem”)”
After that the patient should take a deep breath, exhale, and move the
two fingers to the point in the inner corner of the eye – the “first-point”,
“insight point”. Here the patient should imagine himself/herself in situation
that results in the “problem” as intensely and deeply as he/she can – the imaginal exposure, then take a deep breath, exhale and
report his/her experience. If the content does not change the patient moves the
next, second, point around the eye, takes a deep breath, exhales and again
imagines the “problem” situation and intensifies it as much as possible. If the
content doesn’t change again, the patient moves to the next, third, point
around the eye, and if it still doesn’t change, back to the first
“insight-point”, and so on until it does.
When a new material arises the patient moves back to the chest “I-point”
and repeats the Formula of Antagonistic Motivation (FAM)with the acceptance of
that content, followed by taking a deep breath and exhaling.
Whenever there is a change, the patient goes the “I-Point” and “dives
deeper”. It is important to carefully listen to each new content that arises,
and when the patient states to opposite contents, he/she is directed to the
“I-Point” to make the FAM statement, regarding each opposite separately, then
taking deep breath and exhaling, and move the two fingers to the First point,
“Insight-point”.
At the “Insight-point” the patient first has to imagine and intensify
the feeling of one opposite, take a deep breath and exhale, then he/she is
told: “now forget about ______(the first opposite)”. Then the patient is
instructed to imagine and intensify the feeling of the other opposite, take a
deep breath and exhale, and after that to imagine both simultaneously, followed
by taking a deep breath and exhaling,
Than the patient is told: “Now tell me, without using logic and
reasoning, do you fell that you can feel this opposites separately”, If the
answer is “no” this pair of opposites are the Primes, and they have been
neutralized. It is the end of the process, for the needs of a homeopath[85].
For example, here is an Argentum nitricum case, with fear of being alone as the main
complaint:
Dr: We should start with some issue that bothers you the most.
P: Well, its that fear. I want
to feel independent. To get rid of that fear.
Dr: So, the starting complaint is “fear”. Now close your eyes, lightly
touch the “I-Point”, with first two fingers of your right hand and repeat after
me:
Even though I feel fear, I accept and love myself, my body, my
personality and that I feel fear. (the patient is repeating FAM after the
homeopath)
Take a deep breath and exhale.
Now lightly touch the “First-point” and imagine feeling that fear, a
situation were you’ve felt that kind of fear and dramatize it.
Say the first thing that comes to your mind.
P: [content: “fear”;
“First-point”]
I feel enclosed, like someone is walling me in from all sides (she is
gesturing with her hands like showing sides of a box )
Dr: Take a deep breath and exhale.
Lightly touch the “I-Point” and repeat after me:
Even though I feel enclosed, I accept and love myself, my body, my
personality and that I feel enclosed. (the patient is repeating FAM after the
homeopath)
Take a deep breath and exhale.
Now lightly touch the “First-point” and imagine feeling enclosed, and
dramatize it.
P: [content: “enclosed”;
“First-point”]
I feel something here (showing the back of her neck, more to the left),
like a tingling, like I’m not in control of my muscles.
Since this tingling is a localized sensation, just like the next one,
the stomach pain, we are moving on to the next point around the eye – waiting
for a content that is a feeling or a general sensation, and only then starts
the new cycle at the “I-point”.
Dr: Take a deep breath and exhale.
Lightly touch the “Second-point” outside the eye, and imagine feeling enclosed,
and dramatize it.
P: [content: “enclosed”;
“Second-point”]
Is it possible that I’ve just felt pain in my stomach, like slight
burning.
Dr: Take a deep breath and exhale.
Lightly touch the “Third-point”, under the eye, and imagine feeling enclosed,
and dramatize it.
P: [content: “enclosed”;
“Third-point”]
I can’t concentrate on that feeling anymore. Now I don’t feel anything
and I feel calmer.
Dr: If you can’t feel that anymore it’s good, because one of the
purposes of the process is to relief the charges on the issues.
Take a deep breath and exhale.
Now lightly touch the “First-point” and imagine feeling enclosed, and
dramatize it.
P: [content: “enclosed”;
“First-point”]
I feel sad (starts crying).
Dr: Take a deep breath and exhale.
Lightly touch the “I-Point” and repeat after me:
Even though I feel sad, I accept and love myself, my body, my
personality and that I feel sad. (the patient is repeating FAM after the
homeopath)
Take a deep breath and exhale.
Now lightly touch the “First-point” and imagine feeling sad, and
dramatize it.
P: [content: “sad”;
“First-point”]
That’s it. I can’t dramatize it anymore than that. I am thinking how I
feel ashamed now.
From this point on, we are going to skip the guidance by a homeopath,
because these are the same sentences repeated in each cycle, with a few words
changed, namely the content that surfaced at the end of the previous cycle. It
will make following the chain of contents easier.
P: [content: “ashamed”;
“First-point”]
I feel hot. I am sweating. I can feel anything else at the moment.
P: [content: “hot”;
“First-point”]
I don’t know. I can’t. It is like I am blocked and I can’t cooperate. At
first I have opened up, but since I’ve started to cry, I closed myself in and
it is very hard for me to continue. I guess it is because I don’t feel anything
right now, so I have nothing to say.
P: [content: “closed myself in”;
“First-point”]
I am tensed.
P: [content: “tensed”;
“First-point”]
I feel much more peaceful now.
Dr: What is the opposite of feeling peaceful, for you?
P: Fear is opposite.
Dr: How do you feel when you are afraid?
P: Powerless.
P: [content: “powerless”;
“First-point”]
At the moment I can’t imagine feeling powerless, or a situation where I would
feel powerless. Right now I feel bright and capable.
P: [content: “bright”;
“First-point”]
Me in the countryside, walking and feeling cheerful.
P: [content: “bright”;
“Second-point”]
I imagine myself going for a walk, travelling, shopping, how I can do
everything on my own and to be able to spend a day all by myself. I can’t do it
in real life because
of that fear.
P: [content: “bright”;
“Third-point”]
I still imagine the same image, me walking through the city, but now I
start criticizing myself because that is how I imagine feeling bright. I
started thinking of studying and work. At the previous point I’ve felt free,
and now I blame myself.
P: [content: “blaming myself”;
“First-point”]
Now I could start crying again, but I wont. I am starting to feel sad
again, but it is more like I pity (smiling) myself.
P: [content: “self-pity”;
“First-point”]
Well, I don’t know. It’s a miserable thing to say that I feel self-pity.
P: [content: “self-pity”;
“Second-point”]
It’s like, everything is bright and clear to me now. Like I’ve unwrapped
some stuff. I feel much lighter, as if a burden’s been lifted.
P: [content: “self-pity”;
“Third-point”]
I feel better now. Much clearer, like I can organize my thoughts well
and I clearly see myself. I feel much stronger.
P: [content: “strong”;
“First-point”]
I am thinking now: “i feel so strong i could explode”
P: [content: “strong”;
“Second-point”]
Again, some fear started to appear because I feel too strong. I used to
have that feeling before, like when I’m feeling good I start to be afraid
because I feel good – as if it’s too much for me.
P: [content: “fear of too much”;
“First-point”]
Now that I’m think about the words “too much”, I remember the last
period I was going out with my friends, the drinking, sex. It felt good.
P: [content: “fear of too much”;
“Second-point”]
Now I remember the guilt I felt the morning after, because back then, it
was very hard for me to convince myself that was OK to drink too much, and find
my peace again.
P: [content: “peace”;
“First-point”]
I feel peaceful now.
Dr: What is the opposite of peace for you?
P: Anxiety.
Dr: Take a deep breath and exhale.
Lightly touch the “I-Point” and repeat after me:
Even though I feel peace on one side and anxiety on the other, I accept
and love myself, my body, my personality and that I feel peace on one side and
anxiety on the other. (the patient is repeating after the homeopath)
Take a deep breath and exhale.
Now lightly touch the “First-point” and imagine feeling peace.
Now forget about feeling peace.
Now imagine anxiety.
Imagine peace and anxiety at the same time.
Take a deep breath and exhale. You may open your eyes when you are ready.
There are two ways we may understand the processes in the Deep PEAT
technique – one is classical psychological explanation and the other is from
the holistic perspective, based on energy paradigm – energy therapies.
The first classical explanation of the technique, fundamentally based on
the mechanistic concept of a human being, is that after defining a “problem”,
follows the phase of the imaginal exposure with light
pressure on a point, not necessarily on a meridian, followed by distraction in
a form of FAM with light pressure on sternum, and back again to the previous
step of imaginal exposure. These steps are repeated
until desensitization of a “problem”, the third part and the goal of this
treatment, is achieved.
The other explanation is based on the application of energy paradigm to
removal of psychological and emotional aberrations, believed to be caused by
disturbances in the energy field of a human being. These disturbances manifest
themselves neurologically, biochemically, cognitive and behaviourally, while
their energy foundation exists and acts on the deepest level of energy
structures and fields.
The second step of the Matrix method – the Tetractys
of a patient
The patient has chosen the following issue for the starting point in
Deep PEAT:
“Well, its that fear. I want to feel independent. To get rid of that
fear.”
Therefore, we will use the word “fear” for the starting point.
This is the same case we have used to illustrate the Deep PEAT
technique, but here we will analyze it in the context of the Matrix method, and
Tetractys of Simillimum.
We will simplify the layout of this case, and the cases we are going to
present in the following chapters, so every content that goes to the I-point is
going to be marked by
a number, while the points around the eye are marked with dashes.
Based on the data presented in the chapter “The Matrix of Miasms Model” we will try to associate each content we get
in the Deep PEAT process, to a general behavioural
of emotional state in the Tetractys of Simillimum – points of Tetracys
and we will mark them by using bold condensed typeface. We will also explain
our decisions about associating a content to a point of behavioural or
emotional state, and our explanations will be marked by using italic typeface.
Fear (Fear point)
– I feel enclosed, like someone
is walling me in from all sides (she
is gesturing with her hands like showing sides of a box )
Enclosed feeling
(Passion/Panic point) The contents that follow the
starting point, the enclosed
feeling, pain in the stomach and tingling
may associated to the panic,
because the enclosed feeling, feeling
trapped, is often accompanied
by fear and overwhelming panic
followed by sensation heat, that
we may recognize in the burning
pain in the stomach. Until the
moment when a patient says
that she starts feeling calmer
we may assume that she is in the same
general behavioural or
emotional state, so all the contents before the
change of state will be listed
under the previous state, in this case
the of Passion/Panic point Tetractys model.
– I feel something here (showing
the back of her neck, more to the left), like a tingling, like I’m not in
control of my muscles.
– Is it possible that I’ve just
felt pain in my stomach, like slight burning.
– I can’t concentrate on that
feeling anymore. Now I don’t feel anything and I feel calmer.
A person may get calmer either because has reached the
state of high energy
equilibrium, Peace & Joy point, or
because the energy has
decreased towards the zero-point,
Melancholy / sadness point – both states in a way stabilize an
acute stressful
situation. In this case we can see that the patient has calmed down towards the
zero-point, because the following content is “sadness”.
– I feel sad (starts crying).
(Melancholy / sadness point)
Sad
– That’s it. I can’t dramatize
it anymore than that. I am thinking how I feel ashamed now.
Ashamed (Passion/Panic point)
We can see a change back to this state
again, because the patient
says that there are no more contents left
at the Melancholy / sadness
point and the new state is described by feeling ashamed, hot and sweating.
Sensations of heat and sweating
onset of panic attack with the
elevated NA and 5-HT Passion/Panic
point and feeling ashamed is
also connected to blushing, heat and sweating, a passive reaction low dopamine
reaction.
– I feel hot. I am sweating. I
can feel anything else at the moment.
Hot
– I don’t know. I can’t. It is
like I am blocked and I can’t cooperate. At first I have opened up, but since
I’ve started to cry, I closed myself in and it is very hard for me to continue.
I guess it is because I don’t feel anything right now, so I have nothing
to say.
I closed myself in
– I am tensed. (Fear point)
Feeling tensed is connected to
DA anticipation,
speaking in favour of the state of fear.
Tensed
– I feel much more peaceful now.
(Peace & Joy point)
The patient has reached the state of high energy
equilibrium, and even
our following two questions couldn’t
change this state, so she
can’t even describe an imaginary
powerless feeling
while in this state. She further describes
this state as feeling
bright and capable.
What is the opposite of feeling peaceful, for you?
Fear is opposite.
How do you feel when you are afraid?
Powerless
Powerless
– At the moment I can’t imagine
feeling powerless, or a situation where I would feel powerless. Right now I
feel bright and capable.
Bright
– Me in the countryside, walking
and feeling cheerful.
– I imagine myself going for a
walk, travelling, shopping, how
I can do everything on my own and to be able to spend a day all by
myself. I can’t do it in real life because of that fear.
– I still imagine the same
image, me walking through the city, but now I start criticizing myself because
that is how I imagine feeling bright. I started thinking of studying and
work. At the previous point I’ve felt free, and now I blame myself.
(Melancholy / sadness point) The patient start to get into
a gloomy, low energy mood, blaming and
pitting herself,
almost starting to cry
again – the zero-point.
Blaming myself
– Now I could start crying
again, but I wont. I am starting to feel sad again, but it is more like I pity
(smiling) myself.
Self-pity
– Well, I don’t know. It’s a
miserable thing to say that I feel self-pity.
– It’s like, everything is
bright and clear to me now. Like I’ve unwrapped some stuff. I feel much
lighter, as if a burden’s been lifted. (Peace & Joy point) Apart from the
previously used word
“bright”, this state is now also described with words
“clear”, “light”, in
contrast to the previous state of
melancholy-sadness
that has been a burden – heavy, hard.
– I feel better now. Much clearer, like I can
organize my
thoughts well and I clearly see myself. I feel much stronger.
Strong
– I am thinking now: “i feel so strong i could explode”
(Exhilaration with Empathy point) High serotonergic
and
noradrenergic point, a very high energy
point, with feeling
there is too much of
something that may be associated to
serotonin (nausea,
disgust). This point is also associated to
friendship and
empathy, but this state lasted just for a
moment because it is
more like remembering a state she used
to have in the past.
– Again, some fear started to
appear because I feel too strong.
I used to have that feeling before, like when I’m feeling good
I start to be afraid because I feel good – as if it’s too much for
(Fear point)
Fear of too much
– Now that I’m think about the
words “too much”, I
remember the last period I was going out with my friends,
the drinking, sex. It felt good. (Exhilaration with Empathy point)
Once again this is a reminiscence of a state she used to have.
– Now I remember the guilt I
felt the morning after, because
back then, it was very hard for me to convince myself that
was OK to drink too much, and find my peace again.
Peace
– I feel peaceful now. (Peace
& Joy point)
The “peaceful” feeling was repeated a number of times during
the process, and once
again in the previous content, so we have
assumed that this is the key theme for the
patient, so we ask
the patient about the
opposite of this content.
What is the opposite of peace for you?
Anxiety
Since the patient has stayed in the point of high energy
equilibrium – the
point of peace & joy, after uniting these
two opposites, we may
assume that the deepest pair of
opposites, the Primes,
for this patient are:
PEACE – ANXIETY
The Simillimum for this patient was Argentum nitricum, so we may also
assume that the patient’s contents in the: Fear point, Passion/Panic point,
Anxious – aroused point, Melancholy – Sadness point, and Peace & Joy point
together with the Primes – Peace-Anxiety, are the key elements of this remedy’s
Tetractys of Simillimum.
Exhilaration with Empathy point is a state the patient remembers, while now she
may get into that state just for a moment at best, so we will mark this state
with a dashed line as a potential state that she presently doesn’t have.
The following contents were associated with the six points of Tetractys in this case:
Fear point:
– Fear
– Tensed
– Too much
Passion/Panic point:
– Enclosed feeling
– Tingling
– Pain in the stomach, slightly
burning
Passion/Panic point(continued):
– Powerless
– Ashamed
– Hot
– Sweating
Anxious – aroused point:
– Anxiety
Melancholy – Sadness point: – Sad
(crying)
– Self-Blame
– Self-Pitty
– Guilt
– Miserable
Peace & Joy point:
– Bright
– Capable
– Cheerful
– Clear
– Light
– Peaceful
(Exhilaration/Empathy point): –
Feeling so strong I could explode
– Able to organize my thoughts
– Going out with friends
(drinking, sex)
– Feeling good
The case started with the theme of fear, Fear point, followed by
Passion/Panic point and after a short lowering of the patient’s energy to the
Melancholy – sadness point she gets back to the Passion/Panic point and
followed by the Peace & Joy point of high energy equilibrium. After that
the energy level has decreased to the Melancholy – sadness point, but just for
the next few contents, and then back to the Peace & Joy point followed by the
energy rise to the Exhilaration/Empathy point. This was immediately replaced by
a state of fear, Fear point, of the previous exhilarated state, so we may
assume that the patient used to have this state in the past, and it may appear
again in the future but right now it is not one of her general behavioural
states. After the Fear point the patient once again reminiscences of her
exhilarated state in the past, followed by the peaceful feeling of Peace &
Joy point, that continued after uniting the Primes. The opposite of content to
“peace” was “anxiety” so this adds the Anxious – aroused point as well.
When we look at the positions of these five points on our Tetractys model, two of them are in the middle – the zero
point (Melancholy – sadness point) and the point of high energy equilibrium
(Peace & Joy point), while the other three (Fear point, Passion/Panic point
and Anxious – aroused point) are in the Sycotic miasm corner, and since the Exhilaration/Empathy point
belongs to the patient’s past, we will mark it with dashed line as a potential
state she may get into.
For finding the patient’s miasm we need to put
aside the zero-point and the point of high energy equilibrium, because both are
present in all three miasms. In this case, after
removing these two, we are left with the three points in the sycotic corner – the Fear point, Passion/Panic point and
Anxious – aroused point, therefor patient’s miasm is Sycotic, while in the
past she also had a syphilitic component when she was getting into the state of
Exhilaration/Empathy point .
The points and the miasm present in this case
are presented in black on the diagram, while the points that may be associated
with this miasm but were not present in this case
with dashed line around that point:
zivanov-nov15-img10
This case was managed as a classical homeopathic case, and only later in
the course of the treatment we have used the Matrix method. There was a number
of issues that didn’t come up in the classical case taking, but since the
Matrix method uses a psychological Deep PEAT technique it is much easier for
the patient to open up. These additional issues gave us a much clearer insight
into the essence of the patient, as well as the connections between the
patient’s issues. Many of these other issues would probably come up later in
the course of the treatment, but this way, instead of waiting for months for
that to happen, we can get them in a matter of minutes.
An Outline of the Patient’s Classical Homeopathic Case-taking
A 32 year old women who came to us because of fears and anxiety, or as
she said “I have fear of fear”.
We can see that two of the three key reoccurring behavioural states –
Fear point and Anxious – aroused point have been pointed out in at the very begining of the case taking, soon to be followed by the
third, Passion/Panic point, connected to enclosed feeling and followed by
nausea, the indication of elevated serotonin levels, and the Passion/Panic
point does have elevated serotonin level, as well as NA.
The patient said that she is afraid of traveling
by car because she fears that is she gets stuck in a traffic jam, she will get
overwhelmed by enclosed feeling followed by nausea, she will feel disoriented,
feeling as if she had butterflies in her stomach and that she would start to
feel completely powerless.
When we asked her what helps her in such a situation she said that she
just needs to run away and find a place to calm down in peace and quiet.
She also feels chest pain near her heart, by the doctors said she is
fine after examination. She also often has stomach pain. She has painful
menses, and polycystic ovaries. She starts feeling pain in ovaries as soon as
she would step barefoot on a cold surface and it lasts for days. During the
allopathic treatment of her polycystic ovaries, after unsuccessful treatments
with antibiotics she was even prescribed to take insulin for the ovaries, but
that didn’t do any good either.
She often gets sore throat with raised temperature and difficulties
swallowing. She likes to eat pastry, fish, salads, salty and sweet food. Likes
chocolate.
Her mother had cancer of cervix, 18 years ago. Her father didn’t have
any serious illnesses. Her parents are divorced for 28 years.
She graduated from Faculty of Philosophy. She is unemployed. Her hobby
is painting.
She said that she misses how she used to feel as a child.
On the first follow up after the remedy – Argentum
nitricum 1M, she had chills, slightly elevated
temperature, soreness of the entire body and mild headache. She dreamed her ex
boyfriend his friends and in the dream she felt like she doesn’t belong there,
any more. She felt pain in the pelvic region like she is going to have a
period, accompanied by increased perspiration. She remembered that she used to
have that kind of pain many years ago. On the other hand, she said that
mentally she was feeling perfect, no more interrupted thoughts.
The next day after the second follow up, when the remedy was repeated,
she has got her period and it was painless, with light menstrual flow, like it
used to be 15 years ago. After 15 years it was her first period without
painkillers. She went to Adriatic sea, through Bosnia, and before the remedy
the high Bosnian mountains used to cause her panic attacks, but this time there
was no panic, she just felt a bit strange because of the high altitude. She
also said that she started to wake up early in the morning, and that her sense
of smell is heightened. She had a sore throat and some stitching pain in the
upper left part of the chest. The remedy was repeated in the higher potency – Argentum nitricum 10M.
On the next follow up she said that she went to a club and she was
relaxed with no nausea and vomiting. For the first time in years she could
sleep alone in her flat, and just for a moment she felt uncomfortable like the
panic will start, but it didn’t.
After a year since she came to the homeopathic treatment, she was
getting married and she moved to her husband’s country. In this period she had
to travel by plane many times, in the company and alone, and she manage to get
through all that without a single panic attack. Just once she felt a little
uncomfortable, but she was able remain calm and soon this feeling was gone. She
said that her appetite is very good.
The first four numbers
symbolize the musica universalis
and the Cosmos as:
(1) Unity (Monad)
(2) Dyad – Power –
Limit/Unlimited (peras/apeiron)
(3) Harmony (Triad)
(4) Kosmos
(Tetrad).[4]
The four rows add up to ten,
which was unity of a higher order (The Dekad).
The Tetractys
symbolizes the four classical elements—fire, air, water, and earth.
The Tetractys
represented the organization of space:
the first row represented
zero dimensions (a point)
the second row represented
one dimension (a line of two points)
the third row represented
two dimensions (a plane defined by a triangle of three points)
the fourth row represented
three dimensions (a tetrahedron defined by four points)
A prayer of the Pythagoreans shows the importance of the Tetractys (sometimes called the "Mystic Tetrad"),
as the prayer was addressed to it.
Bless us, divine number, thou
who generated gods and men! O holy, holy Tetractys,
thou that containest the root and source of the
eternally flowing creation! For the divine number begins with the profound,
pure unity until it comes to the holy four; then it begets the mother of all,
the all-comprising, all-bounding, the first-born, the never-swerving, the
never-tiring holy ten, the keyholder of all.[5]
As a portion of the secret religion, initiates were required to swear a
secret oath by the Tetractys. They then served as
novices for a period of silence lasting five years.[citation needed]
The Pythagorean oath also mentioned the Tetractys:
By that pure, holy, four
lettered name on high,
nature's eternal fountain and
supply,
the parent of all souls that
living be,
by him, with faith find oath,
I swear to thee."
It is said[6][7][8] that the Pythagorean musical system was based on the
Tetractys as the rows can be read as the ratios of
4:3 (perfect fourth), 3:2 (perfect fifth), 2:1 (octave), forming the basic
intervals of the Pythagorean scales. That is, Pythagorean scales are generated
from combining pure fourths (in a 4:3 relation), pure fifths (in a 3:2
relation), and the simple ratios of the unison 1:1 and the octave 2:1. Note
that the diapason, 2:1 (octave), and the diapason plus diapente,
3:1 (compound fifth or perfect twelfth), are consonant intervals according to
the tetractys of the decad,
but that the diapason plus diatessaron, 8:3 (compound
fourth or perfect eleventh), is not.[9][10]
The Tetractys
[also known as the decad] is an equilateral triangle
formed from the sequence of the first ten numbers aligned in four rows. It is
both a mathematical idea and a metaphysical symbol that embraces within
itself—in seedlike form—the principles of the natural
world, the harmony of the cosmos, the ascent to the divine, and the mysteries
of the divine realm. So revered was this ancient symbol that it inspired
ancient philosophers to swear by the name of the one who brought this gift to
humanity.
Kabbalist symbol
Symbol by early 17th-century Christian mystic Jakob
Böhme, including a tetractys
of flaming Hebrew letters of the Tetragrammaton.
A tetractys of the letters of the Tetragrammaton adds up to 72 by gematria.
There are some[who?] who believe that the tetractys
and its mysteries influenced the early Kabbalah. A
Hebrew tetractys has the letters of the Tetragrammaton inscribed on the ten positions of the tetractys, from right to left. It has been argued that the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, with its ten spheres of
emanation, is in some way connected to the tetractys,
but its form is not that of a triangle. The occultist Dion Fortune writes:
The point is assigned to Kether;
the line to Chokmah;
the two-dimensional plane to Binah;
consequently the
three-dimensional solid naturally falls to Chesed.[11]
The relationship between geometrical shapes and the first four Sephirot is analogous to the geometrical correlations in Tetraktys, shown above under Pythagorean Symbol, and
unveils the relevance of the Tree of Life with the Tetraktys.
Tarot card reading arrangement
In a Tarot reading, the various positions of the tetractys
provide a representation for forecasting future events by signifying according
to various occult disciplines, such as Alchemy.[12] Below is only a single
variation for interpretation.
The first row of a single position represents the Premise of the
reading, forming a foundation for understanding all the other cards.
The second row of two positions represents the cosmos and the individual
and their relationship.
The Light Card to the right
represents the influence of the cosmos leading the individual to an action.
The Dark Card to the left
represents the reaction of the cosmos to the actions of the individual.
The third row of three positions represents three kinds of decisions an
individual must make.
The Creator Card is rightmost,
representing new decisions and directions that may be made.
The Sustainer
Card is in the middle, representing decisions to keep balance, and things that
should not change.
The Destroyer Card is
leftmost, representing old decisions and directions that should not be
continued.
The fourth row of four positions represents the four Greek elements.
The Fire card is rightmost,
representing dynamic creative force, ambitions, and personal will.
The Water card is to the right
middle, representing the emotions, feelings, and whims.
The Air card is to the left
middle, representing the mind, thoughts, and strategies toward goals.
The Earth card is leftmost,
representing physical realities of day to day living.
Occurrence
Coat of arms of an archbishop of the Catholic Church
The tetractys occurs (generally
coincidentally) in the following:
the baryon decuplet
an archbishop's coat of arms
the arrangement of bowling
pins in ten-pin bowling
the arrangement of billiard
balls in ten-ball pool
a Chinese checkers board
the "Christmas Tree"
formation in association football
In poetry
In English-language poetry, a tetractys is a
syllable-counting form with five lines. The first line has one syllable, the
second has two syllables, the third line has three syllables, the fourth line
has four syllables, and the fifth line has ten syllables.[13] A sample tetractys would look like this:
Mantrum
Your /
fury /
confuses /
us all greatly. /
Volatile, big-bodied tots are
selfish. //
The tetractys was created by Ray Stebbing, who said the following about his newly created
form:
"The tetractys
could be Britain's answer to the haiku. Its challenge is to express a complete
thought, profound or comic, witty or wise, within the narrow compass of twenty
syllables.[14]
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum