A group analysis of the mind symptoms of homoeopathic plant remedies from the Asteridae Subclass of plants in terms of known materia medica

Abstract

There are thousands of proven homoeopathic remedies available for prescription by homoeopaths worldwide. With the ever-growing wealth of information on homoeopathic materia medica, there comes a need for systemization in order for homoeopaths to better understand and apply accurately, and effectively, the remedy indicated to patients seeking homoeopathic care. Over the past two decades, methods of systemization, collectively referred to as “group analysis”, have been developed by the likes of Sankaran (2005), Scholten (1993) and Mangialavori (2010) in attempt to gain greater insight into the vast bank of remedies now available, their relationships to each other and how they can be applied in homoeopathic practice. The intention of group analysis is to study the symptoms, sensations and pathological affinities that are common within a group of remedies. This study, a non-empirical, theoretical homoeopathic group analysis, investigated the mind symptoms of seven purposively selected remedies from seven Orders within the Subclass Asteridae. The data was collected and systematically organised into synonymous categories and then translated into common mind symptoms based directly on the concepts that arose. The results were compared to that of Yakir (2017) in her work Wondrous Order, which unites developmental psychology, botany and homoeopathic materia medica into a Systematic Table of Homeopathic Plant Remedies. The system of classification developed by Cronquist in the 1980’s, based on evolutionary taxonomy, was applied due to the schematic approach of ordering plants based on morphological characteristics which relates to the homoeopathic ‘signs and symptoms’ of function and sensation in the plant kingdom (Yakir, 2017) and to allow for a fair comparison to that of Yakir who applied the same system in Wondrous Order. The representative remedies were selected through a quantitative method using MacRepertory computer software, and elected based on the highest number of mind rubrics represented by a remedy from seven Orders within the Subclass. The following seven remedies were chosen for the study: (Subclass – Order – Family – Species) 1. Asteridae – Lamiales – Verbenaceae – Agnus castus (agn.) 2. Asteridae – Polemoniales – Solanaceae – Atropa belladonna (bell.) 3. Asteridae – Asterales – Asteraceae – Chamomilla vulgaris (cham.) 4. Asteridae – Rubiales – Rubiaceae – China officinalis (chin.) 5. Asteridae – Scrophulariales – Scrophulariaceae – Digitalis purpurea (dig.) 6. Asteridae – Gentianales – Loganiaceae – Nux vomica (nux-v.) 7. Asteridae – Dipsacales – Valerianaceae – Valeriana officinalis (valer.) A computer repertory search was then conducted using MacRepertory Professional (Synergy Homeopathics, 2018), isolating rubrics from the mind section of the Complete Repertory 2017 (Van Zandvoort, 2018) containing a minimum of 3 of the selected representative remedies and a total of 50 or less remedies. The resultant rubrics were tabulated in ascending order in terms of the number of remedies within each rubric, and then grouped according to common threads in the mind rubrics and the associated symptoms. The rubrics were visually analysed, compared and contrasted to determine the governing mind themes of the Asteridae Subclass. A comparison was drawn between the common mental themes identified from the results of the study and the basic themes of the Asteridae as put forward by Yakir (2017). An overall sense of mental “instability” was observed by the researcher from the highlighted concepts and common mind symptoms that arose in the study. One of the first mind themes identified in the study was that of over-sensitivity which parallels with how Sankaran (2017) describes the basic theme of the Plant Kingdom as “the basic issue of plant families is sensitivity and reactivity. In the human being, the Plant experience is that of sensitivity. They are affected by many things and must adapt and adjust to them. The plant individual gets easily affected and describes that as something is happening within him”. The concept of delirium, both hyperactive (insanity, madness, mania) and hypoactive (prostration, stupefaction and dullness of mind) was found to have the highest number of supporting rubrics. A theoretic progression was hypothesized by the researcher showing a development of mental instability in the group of Asteridae remedies. Beginning with the concept of sensitivity (a plant attribute as described above) which filters into the thematic states of anger (irritable, rageful, and violent quality), excessiveness (excitable, debaucherous and chaotic quality), sadness (a melancholic, morose, and depressive quality), and anxiety (fearful, restless and anxious quality), and finally developing into a state of delirium which presented either as hyperactive delirium (insanity, madness and mania) or hypoactive delirium (confusion, prostration of the mind and stupefaction). Some opposing concepts of the common mind symptoms arose: insensitivity (opposed to sensitivity); joy (opposed to sadness); and lack (opposed to excess). Opposing concepts did not arise relating to anxiety or anger. The final thematic tendency found by the researcher was the desire to escape, for an end or a death. This concept was theorised to be the ending result of the progression. The purpose of the study is to determine the common mental themes of the Subclass Asteridae and draw a comparison to confirm and/or expand on what Yakir has put forward. The group analysis study, although broad, provides a bridge between kingdom and family group analyses, providing clarity to certain highways, byways and alternate routes for practitioners navigating the complex map of homoeopathic remedies currently available. It is proposed that the resulting themes will better aid in the homoeopathic understanding of plant remedies from the subclass Asteridae. The researcher proposes that the resulting information will contribute positively to creating more structure to the body of homoeopathic plant remedies allowing for greater understanding, application and prescription of plant remedies.