This document discusses the key sources of information used to develop the homeopathic materia medica. It describes 8 main source books that documented drug provings, toxicology studies, clinical experiences and other research: 1) Hahnemann's Fragmenta de Viribus Medicamentorum Positivis 2) Hahnemann's Reine Arzneimittellehre 3) Hahnemann's Die Chronischen Krankheiten 4) Allen's Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica 5) Hering's Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica 6) Hughes' Manual of Pharmacoddynamics 7) Hughes' A Cyclopaedia of Drug Pathogenesy 8)

1. SOURCES OF HOMOEOPATHIC
MATERIA MEDICA
Dr. MANALI TYAGI
Asst. Prof.
MATERIA MEDICA DEPTT.

2. ➢ Drug Proving
➢ Hahnemann Experiments
➢ Toxicology
➢ Overdosing
➢ Clinical symptoms
➢ Poisoning

3. INTERESTING SOURCES OF HMM

4. • Materia Medica of Homeopathy is the collection of the pathogenic effects of the
drugs & of the derangement’s they are capable of causing in the healthy body, by
means of which is worked the principle – Let likes be treating by likes.
• Some of the pathogenic effects are observations of the following –
1. Rituals and Worships :- ritual of their sacrifice or use in worship was followed
after the study of their other virtues. Most of these plants have proved their
usefulness as medicinal substances. Eg :- attention to Leptandra virginica
(St.Veronoca flower ) was drawn because of its distant resemblance to Christ’s
face.

5. 2. Doctrine of signature :- given by Phillippus Aurelius Theophrastus Bombastus
von Hohenheimim, better known as Paracelsus. Eg:- Red juice of Hamamelis is
indicative of its applicability in blood disease. Cyclamen is used for ear diseases
because its leaf resembles the human ear.
3. Empirical :- the primitive source of knowledge of the disease-giving powers of
drug was empirical, hearsay or animal instinct.
4. Chemistry :- deals with constitution of substances, elements and their mutual
reactions and the phenomena resulting from the formation and decomposition of
compounds. The rules of Chemistry has been applied in the treatment of human
diseases,.
5. Biochemistry :- gives information about the biochemical action of substances
the knowledge derived from biochemical study about the curative power of a drug
deals with the sphere of action of drugs on systems or organs

6. 6. Poisonings :- it includes suicidal, accidenta and homicidal. Under suicidal
comes toxicology, which deals with poisons, Snarcotics or any other substance.
The information or symptoms collected from the case of poisoning has been of
immense help. The poisoning effect of a substancec are enough evidence of its
curative properties.
7. Clinical experience :- these are the drug effect which were
obtained proving of a drug on healthy human being
8. Animal experimentation :- chemical and physiological reaction about
drugs became known to us by drug experimentation on mice, guinea pigs,
monkeys and other animals.

7. 9. Plant experimentation :- can study botanical changes including its
morphology and histology. Also get pathological changes on human body
produced by drugs. Eg – Thuja
10. Healthy proving :- Most rational and majority source of acquiring
knowledge about the drug effects. Albert Von Haller was the first person who
practiced drug proving on healthy human being. Then Hahnemann came the
drug proving in reality.

8. SOURCE BOOKS OF HOMOEOPATHIC
MATERIA MEDICA

9. 1. Hahnemann, “Fragmenta de Viribus Medicamentorum Postivis,
sive in sano corpore humano observalis”.
Published in 1805 (Latin).
➢Description:
'Fragmentary Observations relative to the Positive Powers of
Medicines on the Human Body'. This work was merely an earnest of
what was to come; it was published in 1805.' [Dudgeon, p.181]

10. It contains the pathogenesis of 27 drugs.
➢It has 2 parts – First part contains the Symptomatology of 27 drugs and
second part contains Repertory or Index (Listing medicines).
➢It is even known as the “precursor of further Materia Medica and
Repertory”.

13. 2. Hahnemann, Reine Arzneimittellehre
➢ Published in German. Its Latin version is known as Materia Medica Pura.
(1811)
➢ It has 3 editions -
▪ 1st Edition in 6Volumes (1811-1821) (61 medicines besides magnet = 22o+39n)
▪ 2nd Edition in 6 volumes (1822-1827)
▪ 3rd Edition in 2 volumes (1830-1833)
➢ English translation is done by R.E. Dudgeon and annotation by Richard
Hughes.

16. Description:
In this book, a record of purely the proven symptoms of the drugs has been
kept. These were proved by Dr Hahnemann on himself, friends, disciples,
colleagues and relatives. He recorded all these symptoms in a systematic
manner and according to anatomical schematic representation. As the book
contains pure, proved symptoms of the drugs, that is why the name of the
book is Materia Medica Pura. Previously, Materia Medica Pura was published in
six volumes (1811–1821), but for the sake of convenience, now it is published
in two volumes. The first volume was published in 1830 and the second in
1833.

17. 3. Hahnemann’s Die Chronischen Krankheiten
Published in German.
➢Description: It is also know as “The Chronic Disease”.
➢It has 2 editions:
▪ 1st editions = 4 volumes (1828)
▪ 2nd edition = 5 volumes (1835-1839)
➢ It is translated by Louis H.Tafel.
➢ It contains 47 drugs.
➢ It contains observation on the sick person.

18. Description:
After a long practice of 30 years, Dr Hahnemann observed the obstacles in the
way of treatment and recovery. He found that the obstruction in the path of
cure is at the dynamic level. He considered that some fundamental causes
played the highest role in the complication of diseases. He classified this
fundamental cause behind the chronic diseases as psora, syphilis and sycosis.
Thus, he discovered the doctrine of miasm as a concept and placed it in his
book Chronic Diseases.

20. 4.The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica byT.F.Allen
(1874–1880)
➢ The provings which were done by Dr Hahnemann were
verified by DrT. F.Allen. He also added some new symptoms
from poisoning and overdosing, available in the prevalent
literature in the post Hahnemannian era.
➢ It contains 1039 drugs.
➢ It has 12 volumes:
▪ 10 volumes contain symptoms.
▪ 2 volumes contain symptom register or index.

22. 5.The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica by C. Hering
Period of publication 1879- 1891.
➢ Contains 410 drugs.
➢ It has 10 volumes.
➢ Contains following 5 grades of symptoms:
▪ I – 1 thin line (occasionally confirmed)
▪ II – 2 thin lines (frequently confirmed)
▪ I – 1 thick line (verified by cures)
▪ II – 2 thick lines (repeatedly verified)
▪ Pointing finger of a hand – Approved characteristics

23. ➢ Contains following Symbols:
▪ * t – toxicological condition
▪ * ^ – observed only on sick person under medical action
▪ * : – observation from old school
▪ – pathological or physiological condition

24. Description:
Hering collected verifications and confirmations from all the reliable
sources. He presented a voluminous book to the world that
contained only the verified symptoms through cure in the form of
characteristics, which he made from all available resources. This work
of Dr Hering has had a great contribution in the evolution of
Homoeopathic materia medica.

26. 6. Manual of Pharmacoddynamics by Richard Hughes
➢ Publishing years – 1867 to 1893
➢ It has single volume and 6 editions.

29. 7. A Cyclopaedia of Drug Pathogenesy by Richard Hughes
➢ Year of publication = 1886 – 1891
➢ Originally has 4 volumes.
➢ Description:
Discarded proving conducted on less than 2 people.
Discarded the observation on the sick and potency above 12 unless
collaborated.

31. 8. Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica by J.H. Clarke
➢ Year of publication = 1900
➢ It has 3 volumes.
➢ Description:
Dr J. H. Clarke had arranged all the drugs in this book in the Hahnemannian
schema. Each remedy was given in such a fashion that it may be at once
distinguished and recognised from other medicines. He also included
indications of some medicines according to nosological diagnosis. He had
tried his level best to give the keynotes and predominating symptoms of the
medicine.