Theory Shegal
[Shegal]
Founder of Revolutionized Homeopathy, offers the basic tenets of that
approach.
a) What is the change offered by Revolutionized Medicine?
Simply, a change of emphasis, a minor variation. Classical Homeopaths agree
that if we can have dependable mental symptoms we can ignore the physicals, but
that mental symptoms are not to be found
in every patient.
Here I will quote the case of a religious head settled in London where
he runs a big Ashram. He was suffering from allergic asthma. My brother wrote
to me that he is a devotee of the ashram and wants his priest to be
RECOGNIZES, everything, but
cannot move
INDIFFERENT, lies with eyes
closed
Cocc-i.: was prescribed in three small
doses, to be taken every 15 minutes. It is now about a decade that there is no
further attack of asthma. The priest was so grateful that he propagated his
recovery amongst his followers
I interpret rubrics in the pages to follow.
(b) How to select a remedy?
Since the mind is a vast field, for the purpose of selecting a remedy we
must select from the present mental state, Persistent and Predominant symptoms,
which I call signals.
(c) What is the meaning of PPP? (= Present, Predominating, Persisting
symptoms).
What persists is that which is trying to settle permanently, what
predominates is that which is the uppermost and all powerful and covers the
whole show. In other words it does not allow other symptoms to raise their
heads.
In the case of Swamiji, at times there may
have been many thoughts in his mind about his sickness, yet one final thought,
of identifying and accepting the reality, was predominant. Let me tell you here
that this phenomenon
(d) Case taking and implementing triple PPP.
For selecting a remedy, treat a patient as a computer in a human frame,
that emits signals in the form of speech and actions, which when combined, form
expressions.
Convert these expressions into the language of rubrics as
a “mechanical” way. It is as if the data has been pre-fed by whatever
order or disorder that is going on in the body
Why I call it mechanical, is to guard you against becoming emotional at
the time of case -taking. It may be that the patient is abusing you or
misbehaving in the worst manner.
You have to remain detached. Your relation is exactly like that between
a meter and a meter -reader. The job of the meter reader is to concentrate and
try his best to read the meter accurately. For example, let us take the case
(e) When not to prescribe
I am of the opinion that before the doctor examines a patient he should check
whether he himself is fit to do the job well. As in judicial norms it is well
known that a judge should sit for judgment only when he is in a normal
when he prescribes medicine. We have many rubrics like,
“GROPING, as if in the dark”,
“CAPRICIOUS, CONFUSION”,
“CALCULATING inability for” etc.
If the physician is himself under
the influence of any of these mind rubrics, he should not expect himself to be
in a position to select the right remedy. The right course
for him in such a situation will depend upon the type of patient in
front of him. If you feel that the patient is cooperative, you can tell him the
truth that your mind is not properly working at the moment, requesting him to
come
in proper hands. The second course is to send the patient back with
placebo, i.e. blank pills, with the instructions
study his case with a clear and stable mind. The third option is in the
case of the patient who is in a more serious condition. If the patient really
cannot wait, you can request
him to consult someone else. These three norms will never let you down
in your practice. So while you have to be mechanical in your approach you also
have to use your intelligence to understand the symptoms of the patient
accurately. To conclude, the main criterion is to arrive at the indicated
remedy with the help of the tenets of present, predominating and persisting
symptoms without any bias or prejudice; that is, without considering its grade
Requirement of successful prescribing
What is required for successful prescribing? Before answering this question
let us recall, the job involved in it.
1. The job is to convert the expressions of the patient into the rubrics
of the mind and this can be done only if we have
2. Know every rubric and to keep it in your memory.
3. The most important thing, is the expansion of its meaning by drawing
broader interpretation and inferences needed to capture the very soul
(Refer ROH Series 1 also). Here the point to be kept in mind is that the
conversion of the expression into rubrics should not be mechanical but
mathematical.
In mathematics we have exact equations e.g. 1 + 9 = 10,
“Fear” “Anxiety” and “Anguish”.
We need to know precisely the difference between the very sense conveyed
by them.
Fear, is a sort of discomfort aroused by an impending pain, danger or
evil, which is specific in nature. A person knows and can identify the object
of his fear. He says
that he fears a dog, or a lion, or a certain person or a specific
“Anxiety” is also a discomfort aroused by an impending pain, danger or
evil. But it is not certain or specific as in the case of fear. Something is
causing discomfort because
the patient does not know what is in store for him.
For example a patient says, “God knows when my disease will go. When
will it leave me?” Another example, “Whenever my husband goes out I remain
uncomfortable till
he comes back, as many types of forebodings come to my mind.” Anguish”
is about a discomfort which one is experiencing at the present moment. For
example a mother says, “Nothing pains me much in this world as the feeling that
my son, the product of my own womb, has betrayed me.”
(g) What is expected of a medicine?
(a) What is the meaning of first and second
action?
(b) How to verify that your selection of
medicine is correct?
In my experience, if the selection of medicine is correct, it must react
in two ways. They are the first and the second actions of the medicine.
1. The “First action” means immediate or rather instant relief in the
physical as well as
The relief under the “first action” may last for only a few seconds,
minutes, hours or days and it is sometimes here that we are required to be
vigilant, because it is the
“first action” that gives the indication that the remedy is right.
2. And if this gets missed from our observation and when the patient
comes to us, he happens to be under the influence of “second action”, you will
The “Second action” is quite opposite to the first, because the ailments
on which the medicine was prescribed, come back. Here you have to apply your
mind whether the return of the complaints is due to the advance of the
when he is under the second action and says there is no relief. Don’t
take him on his words. You have to remind him, “The last time when you came to
me you were
weeping and annoyed. Today you don’t seem to be so. Likewise while on
your previous visit you were not walking as easily as at present. This is how
we have to educate ourselves as well as the patient about the progress of the
case.
(h) The discipline followed by the second
action
(i) ITS DURATION
The second action follows a fixed discipline. It lasts over a fixed
period of an odd number of days – like 1,3,5, and so on. The middle day is the
peak day. It gradually starts, reaches the peak and thereafter declines. It is
mostly
the patient when the reversal of his complaints had started. Since, in
most of the cases, the return of ailments
when they find things happening the way they were told, their faith in
you gets deeper. But in certain other cases the patient does not agree and
insists that he should be given a medicine. Such a patient is to be tackled
with placebo.
In such cases what I generally do is keep ready certain packets of
placebo with cross marks – i.e. of single (x), double(xx) and triple (xxx) etc.
and give it to the patient, telling him, “Keep them in reserve. Before taking
any of them wait as long as you can. Take only if you feel you can bear the
agony no more. Preferably it is better if you avoid taking the EXTRA DOSES
because it may obstruct the process of your cure.” This is just a scare to
manage the patient psychologically.
(ii) DISCHARGES of the TOXIC
MATTER
The other thing that is expected from the process of “second action” is
the discharges that may take place from the five natural outlets: nose, mouth,
anus, urethra and skin. This means, if the deposits of the toxins are in the
head,
the nose is its natural outlet. If they are in the liver or in the
respiratory system or stomach their exit is the mouth. If the toxins are in the
intestines they have to discharge through the anus. If they are in the urinary tract
they find
an outlet through the penis and if under the skin they come up in the
form of some sort of skin eruptions.
(iii) FUNCTIONING of the CURATIVE
PROCESS
At this point let me state that these phases are the signals of the
curative process. Each phase will be lesser in intensity, duration and
frequency, than the previous one and they keep recurring till the body is
finally cured. This process may last for some weeks, months or years. It is to
be kept in mind that the “first action” is the permanent and the second is the
temporary. The “first action” is the feeling of well-being. It is permanent,
and the “second action”,
which is the feeling of return of agony is temporary. This is exactly
opposite to the action of the medicine prescribed on the basis of the tenets of
Classical Homoeopathy. There the first action is aggravation i.e. painful, and
is called “temporary” which is expected to be followed by relief, the
“permanent action”.
In R H. it is relief first (hope), and then the aggravation. Since the
intensity, duration and frequency of the second and temporary action is on the
decline, day by day the
“first action” (relief) is gradually eliminating the “second” leading
toward the ultimate goal of health / complete cure (Refer ROH Series).
(iv) SIGN of PERFECT HEALTH
As a rule in health these discharges should take place periodically or
over a period of time with the same discipline (as stated above) i.e. in phases
of odd numbers of days, without any physiological and anatomical alteration and
(i) What does this change of norms bring to
us?
What catches one’s eye (the attention) is the relationship between the
PPP which reflects the mental attitude of a person and the process of
eliminations, which is purely a physical activity. What is this correspondence?
The first answer to a layman will be that the self-healing process which
somehow for some reasons gets deviated, is put back on the rails with the help
of the Revolutionized prescription – as after this, the body starts healing
itself and there ends the job of the medicine. To put it in other words, after
a few seconds or minutes of the administration of the medicine selected
according to R. H. the distance between the ill-health and health comes to an
end, because after that the job of the medicine ends and the mechanism of self
– healing takes over. To a layman, when he asks for the cause of his ailment, I
simply reply that your self- healing process is derailed and I shall be putting
it back on its track through the medicine, and without further questioning
about the cause of his suffering he feels satisfied.
The second and more appropriate answer will be that there is some
physiological relationship between PPP and the eliminations. It is assumed that
it is the cumulative action of a group of nerves belonging to the central
nervous system, at a point in time which is linked with the eliminating
process, and that is why the automation comes into action.
Further, one needs to understand the meaning of the general efficiency
-being regained (after the 1st action) side by side with the elimination (i.e.
after the 2nd action)- without the help of any sort of vitamins. We
infer that under the 1st action the body as a whole starts meeting it
deficiencies with perfection from the normal daily intake. As a result, the
eliminations also take place with utmost efficiency, which seems to be the
secret behind the restoration of the normalcy in the body. Hence a conclusion
that there will be no disease, if both the processes of assimilation and
elimination, remain in perfect order. By this finding we feel proud that we
have placed Homoeopathy on the top of the so – called medical sciences, because
Homoeopathy is based on natural laws and others are on data.
(j) How to assess the overall
progress
Here it is very important to note that while prescribing, our parameter
is different. We simply read the dial (mental state) which indicates the
medicine, but while assessing the progress of healing we have to consider the
anatomy, physiology, pathology and the latest uppermost mental state. That is
why sometimes diagnostic investigations, especially relating to the vital
organs which we cannot see with our eyes e.g. diseases belonging to lungs,
liver, kidneys, heart – etc., will require such data to properly assess the
action of the medicine. Sometimes it has been seen that in spite of the best
overall progress, the particular diseased organ shows no improvement. For
example, there was a case
of twitching of eyelids. The lady regained overall efficiency, her sleep
became normal, her appetite and routine eliminations became regular including
eliminatory system but the problem for which she came remained the same for a
(k) Wait and watch
How long should one wait and watch whether to change the medicine or the
potency? Before answering this question I will say that you should ask yourself
why you want to wait and why you don’t want to wait. You must have proper
reasons for that. What is to be taken into consideration is the totality, in
the sense whether the man, in total, is coming out of the woods. Sometimes the
medicine provides partial benefit but does not push the case forward and
is given undue weight to wait more than is needed. You may have to
change the medicine, sometimes many times a day, till the case stabilizes
creating a condition for requiring no change for a long time.
(l) Need to Identify the drugs
There was a question: “If you say that practice according to R. H. is
Present, Predominant and Persistent symptoms (mental state), then why do you
talk of drug pictures as advocated according to Classical Homoeopathy?” The
first answer to this is that R.H. is not simply to oppose any method but that
it changes the emphasis where needed. We need to identify drugs as individuals,
especially in those cases where P. P. P. has many drugs. For example, the
rubric, “LIGHT, desire for” has many drugs, and unless we know their
distinguishing features it will be difficult to identify the real indicated
medicine. Obviously it makes the selection quick, easy and sure. In actual
practice we have three ways of selecting a Revolutionized Homoeopathic remedy.
Translating PPP expressions of a patient into the rubrics of mind
Comparing to other remedies sharing a common meaning conveyed by the
single rubric, as stated above. As an individual, independent of any connection
with other drugs, keeping in view its established and unchangeable disposition.
An Exploration of the Delusion Rubrics of Stramonium
DELUSIONS poor he is
DELUSIONS, wife is faithless The feeling is that he lacks many
things, e.g. a person feels that his or her spouse is faithless.
To define wife or in other words, also husband denotes a co-relation between
man and woman. This is not so mechanical as defined in the dictionary. By
nature it is expected. When two persons belonging to the opposite sex come
into contact, they attract each other. For that it is necessary that
they should like each other which in due course takes the form of love or faith
(trust).
Faith means mental commitment which is the outcome of one’s inner and
honest feeling of linking for the other party. It depends how deep the faith
is. Stramonium feels poor in this respect. Also, he
or she feels that the love or affection which she expects naturally is not
available to him or her.
DELUSIONS position she is not fitted for her
Position (n):- The seat one occupies in society, office or in the family
Not fitted for (adj):- Unsuited to
It is the sense of
incompetency to justify the position one occupies. For example a mother feels
she doesn’t deserve to be a mother because she doesn’t have those qualities or
capabilities which a mother should have.
A wife feels that she is not fit to
be a wife as she is not able discharge the duties of a wife.
DELUSIONS, business, ordinary, they were pursuing
Business:- The main occupation of a person
Ordinary:- Small, not treated as respectable or remunerative
DELUSIONS, engaged, ordinary occupation, in So here the feeling is lack of status or lack of
respectability in the society. The overall feeling of Stramonium
is that she is poor in almost every respect. This poverty gives her the feeling
of injury.
DELUSIONS injury, is about to receive injury damage or harm
DELUSIONS injury injured, is being
For example, a person
meets with an accident. He falls down and the check-up reveals a fracture,
damage to flesh or bone or both. Therefore one can understand when it is said
that someone has received the injury.
But one has to scratch one’s head, when it is said the injury is a
continuous process. Here the difference between injury, suffering and pain will
be worth mentioning. All three terms can be represented by “receiving strain”,
stress, which is a continuous process. Each one of us is receiving it all the
time.
Strain in other words means the load and the stress from stimuli.
DELUSIONS, injured is being
FEAR, injured, of being
DELUSIONS injury is about to receive
DELUSIONS, danger, impression of
CLINGING to persons of future etc.
CLINGING child awakens terrified, knows no one, screams, clings to those
near
The degree of strain
distinguishes all three. There is a limit up to which strain is not felt, rather
is absorbed (assimilated) and up to that it gives a tolerable feeling which may
be pleasant even. But when the strain crosses this limit, its impact gives
negative feeling and the stage is reached at which we will name it ‘suffering.
When one becomes increasingly conscious of this feeling it becomes pain. The
limit of unbearableness increases to a feeling of
being broken, in a variety of sensations i.e., Injury is about to receive, or
Is being injured etc. To understand the sensitivity of Stramonium
towards the term injury in various forms we see that he has no money even for
the medicine. ..that he himself is doing a very ordinary job which does not fulfill the minimum needs. This feeling of real poverty
gives him the feeling of injury in every form. At times this sensitivity to
injury takes the shape of extreme fright. Either a person is suddenly reminded
of something terrible or wakes up after seeing a horrible dream and the shock
throws him into confusion, and he is not able to identify anyone. He hangs on
to the persons who are near him.
AFFECTATION
IMITATION
From this state of mind
many types of reactions come up.
One of the reactions may be to put up a brave posture, although he is
fearful.
DELUSIONS injured is being
DELUSIONS, injury, is about to receive
DELIRIUM, crying, help for
BEGGING
PRAYING
RAGE, insults, after
RAGE, Kill people, tries to
RAGE, Laughing, with
RAGE, touch, renewed by
RAGE, Violent
Another reaction can be a feeling of injury or the danger of receiving
injury which derails her mind and compels her to cry, beg, or pray for help. A
third reaction could be in the form of extreme anger. Rage means anger crossing
the bounds and devastating its own banks and everything around. Insult means
receiving of injury to one’s honor.
REFUSES to take the medicine
INTROSPECTION
Laughing actions, at his (her) own
Laughing # groaning
Laughing # rage, frenzy
Laughing # vexations, ill humor
Laughing # violence
DELUSIONS poor, he is
He becomes extremely
angry. She even refuses to take the medicine, in other words, the help which
she was crying for. Or she starts examining her mental state and feels like
laughing at her own actions. To her the event seems to be quite minor. She
feels that she could have easily tolerated it. And also feels that she is not
mature enough to justify her position as an elder.
She belittles herself in her own eyes and feels that others will also
see her in the same light.
DELUSIONS position, she is not
fitted for her That’s why,
while addressing the persons who she goes to for help or is continuing to get
it from, she says, “How will you feel about me?” A person who is clinging to
you
and never thinks of leaving you.
Perhaps you may laugh at me.
SHAMELESSNESS
NAKED, wants to be
NAKED, constantly wants to be
NAKED delirium, in
DEATH desires
Every time I come to
you with a fresh problem. Here she seems to be opening her mind to the maximum.
In the same breath she continues, “I am a worthless person, just a burden on
earth. Even death does not like to
take me away.”
LAUGHING, actions, at her own She
says all this in a laughing tone, as if the thoughts being expressed are not
coming deep from the mind.
LIGHT desire, for
LONGING sunshine, light and society, for
SHINING objects <
SHINING objects >
Rather it seems that
she is enjoying her commentary about herself and laughing at it. Her mind
reflects light desire for, wanting to remain in a light mood, and to fulfill momentarily some of her long standing, and subdued
wish for pure and overwhelming joy in the company of like-minded people
(at present the person to whom she is opening her mind.)
(Pure means spotless, with full freedom to adopt any type of medium of
enjoyment.)
Question Why are you
laughing?
Answer It’s my own
concern. Is there any ban on laughing? Nobody can stop me as to what I do.
Like this she laughs away your simple and innocent enquiry.
TALKING, pleasure in his own
TALKING, sleep, in
TALK, < of others
TALKS when alone
TALKS, ones subject, of nothing but
Taking pleasure in her
own talking means she does not allow others to enter into the talk because she
does not seem to be interested in others and dislikes any type of interference
likely to spoil her present mood.
LIGHT, aversion to,
SADNESS, sunshine in, Rage shining objects, from
SHINING < objects
DELIRIUM, talks in a foreign language
DELIRIUM frightful
DELIRIUM, gay
DELIRIUM, # laughing, signing, whistling, crying
That is why she tries
to avoid any type of focus on her shortcomings. Her remarks are sharp and
discouraging to others. (Is there any ban on laughing? ) This is like talking
in a foreign language.
(Foreign means unfamiliar, denying
intimacy, closeness changed attitude and stance. Language means the medium of
communication.)
DELUSIONS, divine being
DELUSIONS, God communication with, he is in
DELUSIONS, religious
DELUISONS proud
DELUSIONS, pure, she is,
Basic points of the Sehgal Method.
Certain broad outlines, which have to be kept in mind at the time of
case taking. They are:
1. All those expressions, coming out of the human mind during the case
taking should be treated as feelings. These expressions get exhibited through
speech or action, or both. Primary importance is given to those
expressions which are Present, Predominating and Persisting.
2. Expressions comprise of common statements used by the patient while
telling about their problem. They are not from the category of the rare,
peculiar and uncommon symptoms.
For example: Annoyingly a patient says, “Doctor, it is for many days now
that, I am under your treatment, but I did not get any improvement. When I
came, you told me that in three months I would be cured.
Your fee is more than other homeopathic doctors. I did not say anything
to you. I have spent so much money on the treatment with the hope that in three
months I would be cured. Now I am disappointed that nothing
much has happened in my case. Leave apart the cure I did not get even
10% relief. Apprehend that I will have to keep taking the medicine and spend the
money forever. ***Annoyingly says, “I am not going to pay you
further, till I **get the relief justifying the amount I have already
paid to you”
FEAR, extravagance of
BUSINESS, talks of
IRRITABILITY, pains during
(Annoyingly telling about his problem and money he spent on the treatment which
is painful for him)
3. After prescribing a remedy -only on the basis of the expression as
given in No. 2- some discharges (called expulsion) of toxins take place from the
natural outlets of the body. In some cases expulsion takes place immediately
i.e. in a short time -a few seconds to a few minutes- or in some cases
it takes place after some time i.e. after few days to few months.
4. At this point when the expulsions start taking place, most probably
your patient will call you to know about it. Here distinction should be made
whether the expulsion has taken place due to the medicine or it is the outcome
of the disease itself, or due to some other external factors.
In case the expulsion take place due to the action of the correct
medicine, then you will probably get a simple report from your patient. A
simple report means no emotions i.e. without any stress, tension, fear, etc.
A patient will say, Doctor I have just called you to inform that after
taking the medicine I have got some vomiting, but as such I am not worried
about it. I thought it may be important for you to know about it, perhaps
you may have to give supplementary medicine for it.” When a patient
reports to you like this, then it means, everything is normal and it is a
passing phase which will get over soon. But if the expulsion happens due to
some
reasons other than the medicine, then in this case you will hear the
same version -as given above- associated with the emotions like anxiety, fear,
anger, irritability, etc. In this case fresh analysis of the case has to be
done.
After taking fresh symptoms we have to verify if the medicine given
before is still the same or we need to change it.
5. Like the law of physics, “Likes repel each other and unlikes attract each other”, the relation between the
prescription made on the basis of R.M. and the expulsion taking place after the
prescription are interlinked. A remedy
after which a patient experiences the expulsion is called the simillimum.
6. While prescribing the medicine, R.M. gives importance to the “Center” which otherwise has never been considered. R.M.
considers that nothing exists without a center
including disease or life itself. The efficacy of every
organ depends upon the efficiency of the center.
So the role of the medicine has to be to restore the efficiency of the centre
which in turn helps to restore the efficiency of the different organs depending
upon it.
Coming to the practical side, a few examples of the new concept are
given below:
In Asthmatic cases, the specific symptoms of the drug: Ant-m. Tart, are-?
Rattling sound from the chest
Profuse sweating
Drowsiness
Prostration
In three different cases where Ant-t. failed on the indications of the
above rare and peculiar symptoms, Ant-c. Ign. and Sulph.
gave instant and successful coverage.
1. The indications of Ant-c. were
LOVE, love sick
ANGER touched, when
WEEPING touched, when
During the attack the patient wanted to be treated with love by her
husband, and being unable to cook meals for him she became angry with herself.
She started weeping over the same issue which was making her touchy.
2.The indications of Ign. were:
DISCONCERTED
SENSITIVE, moral impressions, to
The patient said, “No more treatment now. Let anything happen to me.
This is the end of the struggle. There is no justification of so much spending
of time, energy and money on me, by ignoring the needs of others in the house”.
3.The indications of Sulphur were:
IRRITABILITY exertion, from
QUIET, wants to be, repose and tranquility,
desires
The patient said, “I am so tired now, after having suffered
sufficiently, that I am getting irritable and want some relief, so that I may
get tranquility through calmness and rest.
Translating the patient’s expressions into rubrics.
To practice this method one must have knowledge of existing rubrics in
the repertory, especially rubrics given in Kent’s repertory. Thereafter one
should look for their clinical meaning in a dictionary. (For that we have
already
published the clinical dictionary named Pathfinder).
After we get the feeling of the patient expressed through different
versions we interpret and convert it into the rubric. One must keep in mind
that a version given by a patient to express his problem can be identical to
another
patient’s version. So while observing and listening our focus should be
on the way patients are expressing their feelings i.e. How, Why, What and When
they are saying or doing in front of you. Another thing is that, there
could be different expressions for a particular rubric or there could be
an identical expression for different rubrics having minute differences between
them.
The next point to understand is the expression of different remedies
given under one rubric. No doubt they carry similar meaning but clinically it
is very important that we should know how to differentiate one medicine from
the other. A patient will speak or act in a simple manner about his or her
feeling. So practically, while selecting the medicine, it is not easy to find
out in a short time to which medicine our patient belongs. To really
differentiate between all the medicines it will take a long time. Due to such
difficulties physicians ignore many rubrics, which have many drugs under them.
With R.M. it is possible to do it. For example under the rubric
DELUSIONS, wealth imagination of: Agn. Alco. Bell.
Calc. Cann-i. Kali-br.
Nit-ac., Phos. Plat-met. Pyrog.
Sulph. Verat.
By simply paying attention to the feeling expressed by a patient about
what he imagines is his wealth (mentioned by him in a few words) there is
enough for us to understand and differentiate which remedy he belongs to.
Agn.: cast : He is at no loss so there is no
danger to his possession.
Alco : She is gainer in all respects, so she has no threat even from an
enemy.
Bell.: His mobility is his wealth.
Calc.: He is independent
Cann-i.: All are his friends and he has no
one to owe anything to.
Kali-br.: His wealth is his possession of
knowledge.
Nit-ac.: His wealth is affection
Phos.: His wealth is his self sufficiency.
Plat-met.: Self sufficiency.
Pyrog.: Considers himself so big and rich that he is
capable of possessing the whole world.
Sulph.: Hope is his wealth
Verat.:
His communication with God.
Given below are some versions, which we commonly hear from our patient
in day-to-day practice.
If your patient says:
1. I have not taken my skin problem very seriously. I thought it would
get better on its own. Yesterday I saw that it increased further. Seeing that,
I got scared, and I immediately decided that I must visit the doctor before it
increases further.”
INDIFFERENCE complain, does not
FEAR extravagance, of
2. I did not notice when this patch appeared on my hand. Laughingly
says, “Actually I am careless about myself. I wonder why I did not notice it
though I use my hand every day. It was only when my mother / friend asked
me about this patch that I realized about it.”
FRIVOLOUS
LAUGHING speaking, when
3. Since many days, I have been feeling some heaviness over my chest. I
did not care about it. I consider it as a normal complaint of acidity or
flatulence, and for that reason I did not think of telling / visiting the
doctor.
A couple of days ago, by chance, while I was reading a medical journal I
came across an article in which I read that heaviness of chest could be related
to heart problem. Then, one day while talking with my friend about it,
he also told me the same thing. Although I do not get scared so easily,
but this time I got a bit scared of getting some serious problem. I thought
that I must visit a good doctor. I have a feeling that by neglecting it I might
have created a problem for myself. I think that with the present problem
now you have to take care of that problem (occurred due to negligence) also. Do
you think that it is related to heart or it is a flatulence problem?
Because I am not able to understand what is it?
INDIFFERENCE complain, does not
HIGH-SPIRITED
COMPLAINING supposed injury, of
FEAR betrayed, of being
GROPING as if in the
dark
4. Doctor please take care that I am not put through any suffering
(pain), I am afraid of it.
Dr.: Why are you so afraid of it?
P.: Because in such condition it becomes difficult for me to move / do
anything. I have to lie down which I do not like. Physically as well as
work-wise I have to suffer then.
FEAR suffering, of
5. I am at a dead end. I cannot fight anymore. I have accepted defeat. There
is no use pursuing the treatment anymore as I feel it is not going to make any
difference to my problem. I did not want to come to you. It is only
on the insistence of my wife I have come to you.
DISCONCERTED
6. I want to get rid of this condition even if it is achieved by death.
I feel so bored. I want to get out of this routine. I feel as if I am in a
prison.
ENNUI
7. I want that no one should disturb me. Neither there should be any
activity around me nor I would be involved in any sort of activity.
DISTURBED, averse to being
QUIET, wants to be
8. I have a feeling that the main cause of my not getting better and
always getting one or the other trouble is because of intolerable environment,
people, circumstances, family members around me.
DELUSIONS injury, injured,
surroundings, by his
9. Frankly I must tell you that I have no faith in any medicine.
Dr.: Why?
P.: Whatever I am going through today is only because of medicines.
Dr.: How can you say this?
P. Before I took medicines I had only one problem. After taking
medicine, I developed so many other problems. I have a feeling that the doctor
did not handle my case properly. He gave me wrong / strong medicine, which has
spoiled my life. Now I cannot eat, sleep or work properly.
DELUSIONS, wrong suffered, has
10. Please do not disclose my problem to any one in family. I do not
want that someone should know about my problem. Till now no one except my
mother/ father/ wife/ husband/ children know about it. Though I did not
want my mother/ father/ wife/ husband / children to know about it but
somehow it got disclosed. I take utmost care not to appear like I have some
problem.
SECRETIVE
11. Doctor I wish that no one should know about my problem. I do not
like it. Actually I am not afraid of it but I would not like people ask about
it. Once they come to know they begin to ask stupid/ irrelevant questions
about it. I want to keep myself away from such hassles.
HIDE, desire to
12. I am an open person but there are certain personal matters
(emotions, deeds, acts, problems etc.) which I think no one should know about.
Before coming to you I decided thought that I will not tell you about my
personal
matters (emotion, deed/ act, etc.) but I do not know how I told you
about them.
HIDES things
13. I have taken many treatments for my problem but nothing has given me
any relief. I do not see any ray of hope now. For this reason I have no more
desire/ enthusiasm left in me to take any more treatment. I have come to
you but I do not feel that my condition will get any better.
DESPAIR recovery, of
14. Doctor I have tried many treatments without any refractory results.
Now I doubt will I ever get better. Perhaps I will have to live like this for
the whole of my life.
DOUBTFUL recovery, of
15. Now, since the attack has come I am finding ways to get out of it.
ESCAPE, attempts to
16. Doctor you will not believe it, but I have a feeling that someone
has been doing something mysterious to me.
Dr.: What do you mean by mysterious?
P.: Something like black magic.
Dr.: How can you say that?
P.: You will not believe it, but I have a strong belief that there is
something, or how could I always be getting one or other problem, and no
medicine works on me. Because of this I have developed a fear that I am not
going to get better unless the effect of such a thing wears off.
FEAR, superstitious
17. Before coming to you I have checked about my problem on the
internet. I have also talked about it to people to know more about it. I looked
into several health journals as well. Doctor what do you have to say about this
problem?
INQUISITIVE
18. It came to my mind several times that I should consult a doctor
about my problem. But sometimes I forgot and sometimes I hesitated. Can you
please tell me, doctor, what is my problem? If you think some tests have to be
done
I am ready to do them.
Dr. Are you worried?
P.: No, I am not worried. Actually, now I have begun to get frequent
attacks, and also it is not getting any better with medicines. Due to this I am
a bit tensed, however if I know about my problem then it would ease me. I do
not
want to live with a burden in my mind. I do not want to know about it in
detail. A little information is enough for me.
LIGHT, desire for
19. Sir if you do not mind, can I ask you something?
Dr.: Yes.
P.: Did you ever treat a case like me?
Dr.: Why is it important for you to know?
P. Just to be assured that you will cure me. I am not doubting your
ability, but if you need to, you can consult your seniors. I can wait for some time
for medicine. I will pay you for that. I have heard about you a lot. My
relatives praised you a lot. I visited your website and read about you.
Dr.: Why ?
P.: To make sure that I am going to the right person. I do not visit a
doctor till I know about him or her fully. I do not want to take any risk.
Dr.: What is the risk?
P.: I want to get better but I apprehend that if you could not select
the right medicine then the action of that medicine may have an adverse effect on
me. Instead of getting relief I will end up losing whatever good health I have.
And then you will tell me to go to the hospital. I fear such a situation.
FEAR betrayed, of being
20. First I try to get better without taking any medicine. I take rest,
plenty of water, sleep, eat boiled food, but if nothing works then I take a
pill or apply some natural ointment. I do not like to visit the doctor for my
problems.
From my childhood I have never seen my father, mother, their parents or
anyone in my family visit any doctor. They always preferred to take natural
treatment. I am also following their way. I do not mind taking
herbal/homeopathic
or any natural treatment but I will not take allopathic medicine. For my
present problem I myself have tried herbal treatment, which indeed helped me,
then I felt that perhaps I require your help. I think medicine will give an
extra
boost to the process of my recovery.
PREJUDICES, traditional
DELUSIONS help, calling for
SHRIEKING aid, for
21. I think now I cannot get better without medicine. Doctor, do
something. I cannot live with this anymore. Bring me out of it. While speaking
his voice gets a bit sharp accompanied with some tears in eyes.
DELIRIUM crying, help, for *
22. I got your reference from one of my friends. Your treatment cured
him. When he told me about you I did not wait and immediately phoned you. I
wish this problem should get better soon. I wish you prescribe me a medicine
that works fast.
CARRIED, desires to be fast
23. My mother has referred me to you. She came to know about you from
her friend whom you have treated. That patient had a similar problem. After
hearing the result of your medicine I have developed a faith -blind- that my
problem will also get better after taking your medicine.
SUPERSTITIOUS
24. I have taken many treatments. Though no change has occurred in my
problem I think that perhaps there is some chance that with homeopathy my
problem may get better. May be your medicine will work on me. With this hope
I have come to you.
HOPEFUL
25. I will make effort even if I do not get a result. Once I start a
treatment I do not give up on it unless the doctor himself tells me that
nothing can be done.
PERSEVERANCE
The above examples are clinically verified, and are useful in practice.
But please keep in mind that to grow further in this method one needs to put
lots of labor in to it. Constant efforts through
seminars, courses, clinical courses and small classes from our team have been
made for a better understanding of this method. Also our further publication
will be helpful to you.
How to understand the psyche of a patient from his/her common
expression?.
Suppose a patient comes to us for the first time and tells us that it is
his/her first visit to any doctor for the problem. We ask why he did not take
any treatment. There could be various reasons for a patient not visiting a
doctor earlier. Some patients say:
[Sanjay Sehgal and Yogesh
Sehgal]
1) Before this problem I never had any problem in my life. (WELL, feels
very, ill, before falling) (Bry., Helon.,
N. V., Phos., Psor., Sep.)
Normally sometimes I used to get headache, fever etc. as sickness. I never
considered
them as a problem. I used to consider them a normal routine problem of
life. I never took any medicine for that. (DELUSIONS, well, he is)
(For this patient, headache, fever, cough etc. is not a problem but in
his opinion such ailments are part of a normal routine trouble for which he had
never felt the need to visit a doctor.)
2) I have been suffering from this problem for a long time. It used to
heal by itself within 2 - 3 days. (INDIFFERENCE, complain, does not). This time
it did not happen like this. Today is the 6th day and it is still
persisting.
It has caused some apprehension (ALERT) in me that if it won’t stop it
might take more days and with this my problem could increase further (FEAR,
extravagance, of).
3) I had been thinking of coming to you for a long time. But somehow, I
could not make it due to some unavoidable circumstances like guest visits,
exams of kids, or illness of a family member. I do not have time for myself.
Today, I was a bit free so I thought it a better opportunity to come to
you. I would not have come to you if there had been some work at home. It is
important for me to take care of my family members and to regard my elders.
CARES, others, about REVERENCE for
those around him
4) I was able to manage without any medicine. I never felt the need
therefore. (CONTENT)
5) When I mentioned about my sickness to my family members nobody took
it seriously. Instead they told me that it was only psychological. It seemed no
real problem to them and they expected me to ignore it.
Then I kept quiet and did not mention it again.
MILDNESS, YIELDING disposition
6) A couple of times I called at your clinic and also visited but you
were not there. I came to know that you were out of town. Meanwhile the problem
subsided and I forgot about it. Today when I felt the pain again it
reminded me of you.
UNCONSCIOUSNESS, interrupted by
screaming
7) I don’t take any medicine easily; also I am not very fond of visiting
a doctor. Usually I try to manage my problem by myself. I take natural
treatment like I take herbal tea if I get a cold or apply some herbal ointment
if I get headache. It is only when I feel that it is not possible for me
to manage without the medicine then only I go for the homoeopathic medicine.
DELUSIONS, help, calling for
SHRIEKING, aid, for
8) I never get scared of any problem whether it is related to my body,
my profession, my family or home. For the last 3 months I have been feeling
some problem but I ignored it.
(INDIFFERENCE, complain, does not)
A couple of days back I got some medical investigation done for it. They
diagnosed a problem in my stomach for which there is no allopathic medicine
except surgery. Since I have come to know that my problem’s only
solution is surgery, I am thinking on how to avoid surgery. I don’t want
to have surgery for it.
AFFECTATION (Why is it affectation?
In the beginning he says, I ignored it. He wanted to show how bold he is but as
soon
as he comes to know that his problem needs surgery, his boldness
vanishes. So he is pretending a false image. I wish it would be cured with
medicine, no matter how much time and money I have to spend. I am capable to
buy even the costliest medicine. I beg and pray you to please take me
out of this problem.
PRAYING, DELIRIUM, crying help, for
9) I must tell you the truth, (TRUTH, tell the plain) I did not take my
problem seriously in the beginning. I kept on ignoring it considering it as a
minor problem. (INDIFFERENCE, complain does not) One day I read an
article in a health magazine about problems related to throat problems,
in which they have mentioned that if somebody has such and such symptoms,
chances are that he or she could have an impending serious condition
of health. (FEAR, betrayed, of being) Thereafter I have become cautious
and now I am taking it seriously. (CAUTIOUS)
10) I had been thinking of doing something for my problem but I could
not understand as what to do, and whom to approach for it.
GROPING, as if in the
dark
11) I had been thinking of taking treatment for it but was not able to
decide which treatment shall I take, allopathy or homoeopathy.
I don’t mind taking any one of them. For me I am more concerned about relief.
THOUGHTS, two trains of thoughts,
CONFUSION
12) It was in my mind to consult a Doctor for my treatment but I did not
want my parents to know about it. I was worried about them. I did not want to
put them to undue anxiety and worry for me.
ANXIETY, others for
13) I have been suffering from this ailment and easily bearing it for a
long time. (PERSEVERANCE) I was able to do my work with an ease. (DELUSIONS,
wealth, imagination of) But for a month now I am noticing
some weakness with it which is affecting my ability to work efficiently.
I am worried that if it prolongs for some time more it can affect my business.
BUSINESS, talks of
14) After getting repeated attacks at frequent intervals I have now
realized that it is the same old problem, which used to trouble me during my
childhood. (DULLNESS, understands the question only after repetition).
15) In our house nobody believes in allopathic treatment. For ages we
have believed in natural healing. Everybody in my house is aware of its harmful
effect on the whole body even if you take it for simple headache.
I am full of such fears. (PREJUDICE, traditional, FEAR, poisoned of
being)
16) I need medicine for weakness. I had fever during the last two days.
For that I myself took Paracetamol tablet. (EGOTISM)
Now I don’t have fever but I am feeling too weak. For that I don’t know what to
do.
I thought it is better to consult a doctor. Perhaps I need some tonic or
vitamin. (SHRIEKING, aid for)
17) I am always so busy in my work that I cannot give more attention and
time to my problem. (BUSINESS, talks of) I don’t remember if I ever took leave
from my work for my problem. This is the first time that due to
my fear of any serious problem I liked to remain in bed. (BED, remain
in, desires for) The thing, which is bothering me is, What is my problem, Is it
something serious? (FEAR, betrayed of being)
18) I did not bother to take any medicine. (FRIVOLOUS). I am taking rest
at home. (REST, desires for). I have taken leave from office. I thought that
with the help of taking rest I would be better in a couple of days.
It did not happen like this and I have to attend my office very
urgently. I can’t take any more leave. Please give me such a strong medicine
which can give me quick relief so that I will be able to attend my office.
CARRIED, desires to be fast
19) Because you were not in the town so I waited for you to come.
(RELIGIOUS, affection) I have faith only in you, your medicine suits me very
well. (SUPERSTITIOUS)
20) For 2 years I have left all treatment. In the beginning I had taken
a lot of treatment. I tried almost all the good doctors. Ultimately I left all
the treatment. Even today I have no hope of having any relief. I don’t want
to take any medicine. It is because of my husband’s persuasion that I
agreed to come. What is the use of taking treatment? (DISCONCERTED)
21) Last year I have left all the treatment to give a break in between.
(REST, desires for) I got bored of taking treatments. I thought some relief
might come without any medicine but nothing happened. Therefore I thought
of making another try through your medicine. (PLAY, passion for
gambling) May be you can cure me. Please look into my problem carefully and get
me rid of it. (CARRIED, desires to be).
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