UTILITY AND SIGNIFICANCE

OF REPERTORY
DR. SUMAN SANKAR. A.S, M.D.(Hom)
Professor, Department of Repertory
Sarada Krishna Homoeopathic Medical College
Kulasekharam
 Uses of Repertory

To find out the similimum

As reference book
It helps us to study of Materia Medica
Helps to find out a complete symptom
It helps in formulating questions.
Its constant use makes a physicians efficient.
It suggests related remedies, which could be helpful
for selecting a drug for a second prescription.
The study of sub-rubric will help us to
formulate questions to complete the disease
picture.
 For a pathological prescription if nothing is
available, the remedies present in that rubrics
can be differentiated and given.

 In a one-sided disease, depending upon the

presenting symptomatology, repertorisation
can be done and a prescription given.
Reference to repertory will show the remedies
for the referred condition that the physician
may not have thought of.

It helps to refresh memory for particular

symptoms.
The quest for compiling an updated repertory
has not only given birth to many repertories, but
also to authentic repertories. Modern repertories
can also be considered as sources of
information.

 Through the references and ‘cross – reference’

one can know the similar rubrics. Thus
repertories help us to select the right rubric
among similar rubrics.
Addition of a number of medicines, clinical
rubrics and pathological generals helps in the
study of homoeopathy in relation to modern
pathology.

 With introduction of the computer in

repertory, it has become an invaluable
companion, both for clinicians and
Academicians. It helps in a speedy retrieval of
the known facts
Where to use the repertory
 Cases where several remedies seem to cover the
picture
 Mismanaged cases
 Cases where do not show clear picture and related
group of remedies
 To trace out probable sequence of remedies that may
be necessary to cure.
 To differentiate between seemingly indicated
remedies.
 To work out relationship of remedies and second
prescription.
 Where not to use

In those cases where there are clear indication of

simillimum.
limitations of repertory
Itis a means to an end, never an end in itself.
Each one has its own scope and
limitations.one should be thorough with all
types of repertories in order to get the best out
of them.

New additions to Materia Medica cannot be

accommodated in repertories on a day to day
basis. Hence, they cannot always keep pace
with the latest in Materia Medica.
There are many rubrics, which are not
represented well . Therefore, they cannot
guide a physician properly in the selection of a
similimum.

If the physician makes a mistake at the

beginning ,by ignoring the person and just
counting the symptoms and marks, then using
a repertory will be futile.
The repertory cannot give guidance regarding
the potency, doses and repetition schedule.

Nosodes are not represented properly in any

repertory.

Handling and use of repertory cannot be

independent of the knowledge in Materia
Medica ,Organon or clinical subjects ,as well as
knowledge of human behaviour.
Each repertory has its own gradation of remedies. One
must master how the gradations are given in each
repertory.

Gradation varies under similar rubrics in different

repertories.

Very few latest repertories show the source of each

remedy.

There are many similar rubrics in one repertory, which

are difficult to differentiate from each other.
Similar rubrics in different repertories consist
of different remedies.

Family history or past history are not well

presented in the repertories.

A lot of misplaced rubrics can be seen in

different sections of repertory.
TERMINOLOGIES
RUBRICS :

The word rubric originated from Latin word

“rubrica” . It means a heading , a guiding rule. In
repertory rubrics are the headings and sub-
headings which list a group of drugs or a drug.
These headings are the converted form of the
symptoms of a patient or drugs, thus a rubric is
the repertorial language of representing
symptom.
General rubrics: - these are the main rubrics /
main headings under different chapters. They are
mentioned as side headings and usually contain a
larger number of medicines. They are also called
super rubrics.

Sub-rubrics: - these are the further divisions of

rubrics. Commonly they are mentioned below the
general rubrics. Usually they qualify or modify
the general rubrics.
Similar rubric: - are those rubrics which
resembles or correspond in meaning.

Particular rubrics: - rubrics related to the

parts or organ are called particular rubric.

Pathological rubrics: - rubrics which

represents some pathological changes or
conditions are called pathological rubrics like –
inflammation
Clinical rubrics: rubrics related to disease
conditions are called clinical rubrics.
Eg- Addision’s disease, anemia etc.

Eliminating rubrics: - it is the rubric which is

used for elimination of apparently similar
medicines in order to select the simillimum.
Cross-references: - means a reference made
from one part of a book, register etc. to
another part where the same word or subject
is treated of.

In repertory, cross- references means the

referring of similar rubrics either to compare
or to enhance the knowledge of a group of
medicines.
They are two types:
1. The main rubric contain a synonym in the
bracket without giving any medicines against
it.
2. The main rubric contain some terms, which
are similar in meaning. Such rubrics also
contain a group of medicines.
THANK YOU