VALUES OF DIFFERENT KIND OF SYMPTOMS

Dr. Abhishek Dalmia1, Dr. Navita Sharma2, Dr. Priya Bhardwaj3

1. (Asst. Professor, Department of Repertory, HOMOPATHY UNIVERSITY, JAIPUR)

2,3 (MD scholars, Department of Repertory of Medicine, HOMOEOPATHIC UNIVERSITY, JAIPUR)

ABSTRACT: Dr. Samuel Hahnemann recognise, three kinds of symptoms, “Symptoms,

Signs and accidents”. Symptoms refers to disease; signs are the fact, which are visible and
have importance in infants, persons out of their mind, comatose patients; accidents are
something that comes from external source. In applying the law of Similaris we have to know
the relative values of symptoms. Evaluation of symptoms implies the principle of grading or
ranking of different kinds of symptoms in order of priority, which are to be matched with the
drug- symptoms in order to cover the characteristic totality in a natural disease condition.
KEYWORDS: Homoeopathy, Symptoms, Signs, Accidents, Evaluation.
INTRODUCTION: Word symptom was derived from German word “Symptoma” which
means “change that happens”. It is defined as any evidence of disease or change from a state
of health. Evolution of symptoms present in these stages:
First stage – individual reactions like lassitude, malaise, run-down feeling
Second stage – disordered functioning of the affected organ and system
Third stage – structural alterations in the organs and tissue
Forth stage – gross structural changes occur in organs and tissue
The patient gives a list of symptom, all of which are not equal in importance. A physician has
to learn to distinguish symptoms which are most important and for this one have the
knowledge every type of symptom and their importance which prescribing.
SYMPTOM DEFINITION VALUE
SUBJECTIVE Subjective symptoms are those, The subjective symptoms are
SYMPTOMS which the patient feels, speaks of essential value in
about and communicated to the Homoeopathy because these
physician. symptoms which describe the
These symptoms are patient’s own intrinsic nature of the case or
consciousness. the drug.

OBJECTIVE Objective symptoms are morbid Objective symptoms are of

SYMPTOMS signs and phenomena perceived
and observed by the physician and
those around the patient and
therefore consist of physiological
findings, laboratory findings and
physician’s observations.
less value for identifying the
individual patient but are of
more value for identifying the
nature of the disease.
Objective symptoms are
valuable in cases where
subjective symptoms cannot
be obtained or relied upon
such as in the unconscious,
insane or imbecile patients and
in children.
CONCOMITANT Symptoms that accompany the Bodman stressed that the
SYMPTOMS chief complaints are known as mental concomitants are of
concomitants. immense value in physical
The concomitants bear no ailments while the physical
physiological and pathological concomitants assume great
relationship to the chief complaint importance in mental ailments.
than time-association. They are
therefor also known as Associated
symptoms.

KEYNOTE Keynotes are characteristic Keynotes are often valuable

SYMPTOMS symptoms that point unmistakably characteristic symptoms
to a small group of remedies; they
rarely indicate a single remedy.
A group of at least three keynotes
is essential before one can pick up
satisfactorily the similar remedy.
This is the “THREE LEGGED
STOOL” said by Allen.

BASIC These symptoms are also known as These symptoms having no

SYMPTOMS PATHOGNOMONIC value in repertorisation unless
SYMPTOMS. they have modalities.
Basic symptoms are those
symptoms that appear in every
proving and same disease and are
of general nature which usually
important for diagnosis.

DETERMINATIV Determinative symptoms also These symptoms are

E SYMPTOMS known as “NON- individual or personal ones if
PATHOGNOMONIC” symptoms. found in a patient or
These are strange, rare or peculiar Characteristics or keynote, if
symptoms of the patient or of the found in a drug’s
drug. Help to find out an indicating Pathogenesis.
remedy.

PATHOLOGICAL Pathological symptoms are the C.M Boger considered these

SYMPTOMS symptoms of disease. symptoms as Pathological
Generals, in Boenninghausen’s
Characteristics and Repertory
under constitution and also in
General Analysis.

CLINICAL The Distinct symptoms of a case of These are of less importance it

SYMPTOMS a disease, disappears on the can be included in Mental or
employment of the remedy for Physical General or
other purpose, is said to be its Particulars.
clinical symptom.
 ALTERNATING Two groups of symptoms keeping According to Kent a
SYMPTOMS alternating with each other in a successful prescription is
manner one appears when the other impossible unless this feature
is ameliorated, known as is taken into consideration.
alternating symptoms. These symptoms are classed as
strange, rare, uncommon,
peculiar, striking symptoms.

ELIMINATIVE Eliminative symptoms are those These symptoms are of great

SYMPTOMS symptoms which throws off all the
medicines that are not needed for
the patient and bring home only
those medicines which are required
for the patient.
value because the eliminate
the unnecessary remedies and
give a narrow field of similar
remedies.

ACCESSORY Accessory symptoms are those These symptoms are very

SYMPTOMS symptoms which are forgotten or useful because patient thinks
become a part of life due to its that these are necessary part of
chronic and insidious nature. their condition almost as
health.
NEGATIVE Absence of certain striking They have important value in
SYMPTOMS features of disease which should remedy selection
have to present.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In Homoeopathy Symptom is defined as any change in

the health of body and of the mind which is felt by the patient remarked by those around him
and observed by the physician. Signs and symptoms are the primary building blocks that the
Homoeopathic physician employs in evolution of the conceptual image of the patient in his
illness. A proper understanding and evaluation of these enables a physician to have an
undistorted image which can readily match with a similar image from the Homoeopathic
Materia Medica. Thus a good gasp of symptomatology helps a Homoeopathic physician
“What to look for” in the case of a disease.