Treating Chronic Complaints – Step-by-Step

Remove the confusion on how to treat chronic cases by homeopathy with this step-by-step guide.

Step 1

‘Causations’ create ‘obstacles to cure’. Check if there is a maintaining cause for any of the presenting symptoms, and if present, remove it. Eg. Mould in a house can cause allergies; lack of sun (vitamin d) can cause frequent respiratory infections; constant eye glare can cause headaches.

Step 2

As much as possible, observe and ask questions to create ‘complete symptoms’ for each complaint, A complete symptom covers:

1. Location – the part or side of body in which the symptom/problem occurs.
2. Sensation – burning, stinging, aching, pulsating, itching, etc.
3. Modalities – Factors that worsen or improve the symptom.
4. Concomitants – Another problem or symptom that is unrelated to the main concern but always occurs in conjunction with it. Eg. Headache and joint pain; earache and diarrhoea; itchy skin and hot feet.

(As a general rule, a – d, in that order, narrow down the field of potential remedies on repertorising. ‘Sensation’, for example, can be used to eliminate some of the numerous ‘location’ remedies. In the same way, modalities can eliminate excessive numbers of ‘sensation’ remedies. Concomitants are of greater significance than modalities and reduce the field even further, but concomitants won’t always be present.)

Step 3

Before repertorising the symptoms, separate:

• Common symptoms from the uncommon, unique, and individualising symptoms, and
• Particular symptoms from the general symptoms (mental-emotional and physical).

The most important symptoms of the case are the he unique and general symptoms of the case. The prescription should be based on these symptoms.

Common and particular symptoms are less important but should be retained to one side as changes in symptoms will help show if the person is improving or aggravating with treatment.

Step 4

Repertorise the significant symptoms (uncommon/unique/individualising and generals).

Step 5

When looking at the completed repertorisation chart, if the lead remedies are unfamiliar, read about each in a materia medica and choose the one most appropriate for the symptoms of the case. With experience and increasing knowledge this may not be necessary.

Step 6

Paying attention to how sensitive to homeopathics the person may be, prescribe the best indicated remedy from either existing knowledge or materia medica study.

Chronic conditions usually need less frequent repetitions of the remedy than energetically-intense acute problems. This may be determined by giving one ‘test’ dose of the remedy and assessing what changes take place over a three-day period.

Good strong changes indicate the remedy is needed infrequently- perhaps once or twice a week initially for a 30C potency, or once or twice a month initially for an M potency.

Mild changes indicate the remedy may be needed more often- perhaps every one to two days initially, for a 30C potency, once or twice every two weeks, initially for an M potency.

Step 7

Monitor the case.

Stop dosing once there is obvious improvement and repeat when improvement stall or symptoms start to return.

If there is no improvement by 3 – 4 doses, the remedy is incorrect; examine the symptoms again and re-prescribe.

Further information on different responses to a remedy may be read at:

Remedy Responses: What They Mean (Part A)

Remedy Responses: What They Mean (Part B)

As with acute prescribing, it is best for the person to dose ‘when needed’ rather than on a regimented schedule so that over-dosing aggravations can be avoided.

f there is no improvement at all by 3 – 4 doses, the remedy is almost certainly incorrect; examine the symptoms for a better matching remedy and re-prescribe.