chapter 20, the principles and art of cure by homoeopathy H A Roberts

1. Chapter XX
Temperaments
Principles and art of cure by homoeopathy
By H A Roberts
Dr Ananthakrishnan

2. Definition
• Psycho – physical personality peculiar to an individual,
influencing his metabolic process, manner of thought and
action can be termed as temperament of that particular
person.

3. • There are 4 classical temperaments – Nervous, bilious,
sanguine, phlegmatic
• Sometimes we find it difficult to identify the temperament of
a patient – being a combination of several basic types.
• Temperaments concentrates more on physiology
• Also includes functional tendencies of circulation,
elimination, respiration, and mental and emotional
tendencies in reaction to environment and circumstance.

4. • Temperaments are cast in very beginning of the new
individual, happens when the parent cells 1st unite. During
that time no medicines can bring a change in the initial
tendencies.
• But homoeopathically indicated similimum can modify
physiological tendencies in babes and children to a
considerable degree
• The morbific influences attracted by temperamental
tendencies can be removed by homoeopathic similimum

5. • Homoeopathic prescriptions may go wrong if the
temperaments are not taken in to consideration properly.
• Phlegmatic type is essentially sluggish in reaction, we expect
venous stasis(marked for phlegmatic). This stands opposite
to sanguinous.
• Nervous temperament – indicates quick action
• Bilious – liver disorders.

6. • Many physicians make snap judgements that a patient is Puls
or Nux vom, Phos
• Thus becomes a half – truth.
• The best provers of Nux vom were wiry dark men.
• This means that, the natural physical makeup of certain
people predisposing them to certain reactions under certain
circumstances makes them particularly susceptible to certain
disease influences whether natural or artificial.

7. • Temperaments as a cast in beginning of existence
predisposes to develop certain morbific reaction if not
controlled.
• If we study closer we can identify that persons of certain
temperaments are prone to certain affections. And we can
manage them homoeopathically through exact similimum.
• When a person become ill, he manifests symptoms as a
reaction of his inner and outer conditions. The susceptibility
will be varied too

8. • Indications during proving
• Bell has shown marked reaction in florid, phlegmatic
temperament
• Phos developed many symptoms in nervous bilious temp
• Baryta reacts more in dwarfed, stunted or backward
individual
• Nux vom reacts more on nervous temp

9. • As equilibrium gets disturbed – susceptibility increases –
remedy indicated can bring cure
• Various remedies brought different symptoms in different
teperaments.
• Phos – spare, narrow chested individuals – tubercular
syndrome
• Phos – rotund, florid individuals – vascular symptoms
• Phos acts on all kinds of persons and bring cure when
indicated

10. • Phos – spare, narrow chested individuals
• For them phos acts better. But physical make up alone
cannot be depended. If its exact similimum it works well
• Colouring alone cannot be considered for remedy selection,
• All nux vom men are not dark, all puls women are not
blonde
• Symptomatology, disposition, and modalities can lead us to
exact similimum, not only the physical properties

11. • Faintness < class room, >open air indicates puls more than
fair skin and blue eyes.
• Case – hay fever – remedies nux & puls, patient was red
haired, tall, vigorous which are not the indications of puls
and nux. On detailed case taking patient narrated that she
cries when thoroughly angered. Thus Nux was given and case
was a success.
• When a remedy is indicated symptomatically then confirm
the remedy without considering the colour or type.

12. • Prescribing only on the basis of temperaments is just a
keynote prescription. That can mislead the patient since
whole symptom picture is left behind
• Homoeopathic remedy selection must be based on sum total
of symptoms of mind, body and spirit. The colour and type
cannot lead us to the exact similimum. Single indicated
remedy alone is sufficient to bring cure.