Homoeopathic Materia Medica : The Record book of the effects of drugs on human beings Earlier materia medicas have details regarding the materials and methods which may be used to prepare homeopathic medicines. There are different sources of materia medica such as plants, animal proving, clinical proving, toxicological findings, emperical methodas etc.

1. SOURCES &
EVOLUTION OF
MATERIA MEDICA
DR SAROJ SAWANT
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
HMM DEPARTMENT
LATE MRS HOUSABAI HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE &
HOSPITAL,NIMSHIRGAON,KOLHAPUR(MS)

2. The point of origin
or
The thing from which something originates
The Process of gradual development
or Growth or process of evolving
Dr Saroj Sawant

3. Materia Medica is a Latin medical term
for the body of collected knowledge
about the therapeutic properties of
any substance(drug) used for healing with their
sources, preparations, doses and use.
Dr Saroj Sawant

4. Materia Medica (a Latin medical term)
Literally means: Medical matters
or
Materials of Medicine / Drug
or
Therapeutic Properties of Drug
Dr Saroj Sawant

5. MATERIA MEDICA
All systems of medicine based on drug therapies have
their own Materia Medica.
Each of the systems has its own varied principles and
laws with regard to mode of preparation,
administration(dose) and application.
Dr Saroj Sawant

6. TITLES OF THE SUBJECT ‘MATERIA MEDICA’
IN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE
The prevailing systems of drug therapies and their
‘Materia Medica’ viz
 Allopathy : Pharmacology.
 Ayurveda : Dravya Guna.
 Siddha: Guna Padam.
 Homoeopathy: Materia Medica.
Dr Saroj Sawant

7. PRINCIPLES BASING THE FORMATION OF
‘MATERIA MEDICA’
IN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE
 Pharmacology - based on Physico Chemical Properties
of the drug substances.
 Dravya Guna – based on Thridosha Sidhanda(Vatha,
Pitha & Kapha).
 Guna Padam - based on Mucheer Amaippu(Vatham,
Pitham, Silatumam).
 Materia Medica – based on dynamic properties of
drugs applied on Law of Similars.
Dr Saroj Sawant

8. INTRODUCTION TO HOMOEOPATHIC
MATERIA MEDICA
“MASS OF SYMPTOMS”
NO CONNECTIONS.
“MEMORISING”
“NO UNDERSTANDING”
“NO KNOWLEDGE”
Dr Saroj Sawant

9. HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
Homoeopathic Materia Medica :
The Record book of the effects of drugs on
human beings
Homoeopathic Materia Medica is based on the
principles of “Drug Proving”
{105-145}
Albrecht von Halter (1708-77) suggested that
medicines should be proved on human beings
Dr Saroj Sawant

10. According to Samuel Hahnemann in
his Organon of Medicine § 143,
Homeopathic Materia Medica is
"a collection of real, pure, reliable
modes of action of simple medicinal
substances, a volume of book of
nature."
Dr Saroj Sawant

11. Homeopathic Materia
Medica are encyclopedia of
purported therapeutic properties of
each homeopathic preparation,
which are ascribe through proving
Dr Saroj Sawant

12. They thus act as a homeopathic
prescribing reference guide and source
for compiling Homeopathic repertory
Earlier materia medicas have details
regarding the materials and methods
which may be used to prepare
homeopathic medicines.
Dr Saroj Sawant

13. DRUG-Drugs are living, vibrating personalities each full of specific
energy and capable of influencing life in all the three planes viz.
Physical, Mental & Spiritual. Each drug performs a specific type of
work of a specific degree.
DEFINITIONS
MEDICINE-When a drug is applied for healing purpose, then it is called
as medicine.
REMEDY-When a medicine is prescribed for a disease condition on a
principle, and found to cure, then the medicine becomes a remedy of
that particular disease/illness.

14. Dr Saroj Sawant

15. Dynamic properties of a drug are elicited through --
 Proving mainly on Healthy Human Beings.
 Experimentation on Animals and Plants.
 Observations of cases of Poisoning(accidental, homicidal,
suicidal and over dosing).
 Symptoms (cautiously admitted) observed in the sick after the
administration of drug through Clinical proving,
 Clinical verification and confirmation of cured symptoms.
 The knowledge with regard to Habitat Empirical & Traditional
uses, Medical & Non- medical uses, Doctrine of signature
 Physico-chemical & Toxical properties of the drug substance
will also contribute many valuable factors for proving,
symptomatology and drug relationship.
Dr Saroj Sawant

16. 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.
Dr Saroj Sawant

17. Plant experimentation :-
It can study botanical changes
including its morphology and
histology. Also get pathological
changes on human body produced by
drugs.
Eg – Thuja
Dr Saroj Sawant

18. Animal experimentation :-
Observations of chemical and
physiological reaction about drugs
became known to us by drug
experimentation on mice, guinea
pigs, monkeys and other animals.
Dr Saroj Sawant

19. Rituals and Worships :
Use of drugs in 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 drawnbecause
of its distant resemblance to Christ’s face.
Dr Saroj Sawant

20. Doctrine of signature:-
Idea given by Phillippus Aurelius Theophrastus
Bombastus von Hohenheimim, better known as
Paracelsus.
Relation between the external physical properties
of the drug substance and the signs and
symptoms present in the patient.
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.
Dr Saroj Sawant

21. Empirical –
The primitive source of knowledge of the
disease-giving powers of drug was empirical,
hearsay or animal instinct.
It is traditional source.
This can be observed from the general
therapeutic study of the medicine.
In olden days, the medicinal values of many
medicines were known.
Guess work or fiction
Dr Saroj Sawant

22. Chemistry :-
Deals with constitution of substances, elements
and their mutual reactions and the
phenomena resulting from the formation and
decomposition of compounds.
Knowledge of chemistry. i.e. physical and
chemical properties and rules of Chemistry has
been applied in the treatment of human diseases.
Eg- Acids have a corrosive, violent action on any tissue
and leads to burning, inflammation, ulceration,
excoriation with fetidness and putrefaction.
Dr Saroj Sawant

23. 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
Dr Saroj Sawant

24. Poisonings:-
It includes suicidal, accidental and homicidal case
information.
Under suicidal comes toxicology, which deals with
poisons, narcotics or any other substance.
The information or symptoms collected from the
case of poisoning has been of immense help.
The poisoning effect of a substance are enough
evidence of its curative properties.
Dr Saroj Sawant

25. Clinical experience :-
In practice after prescribing of the medicine to the patient,
curative action is discovered accidentally. Thus this source
is also called as accidental source.
New symptoms produced by the medicine which have not
been produced by the medicine while its proving.
These are clinical symptoms and they also help in building
the Materia Medica
These are the drug effect which were obtained proving of a
drug on sick human being
Dr Saroj Sawant

26. Dr Saroj Sawant

27. Dr Saroj Sawant

28. The discovery of Homeopathy dates back
to the year 1790 and its credit goes to Dr.
Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician
and scholar.
Cullen, a professor of medicine at London
University had written 20 pages of materia
medica describing the medicinal effects of
a certain Peruvian bark (cinchona) in his
paper.
Dr Saroj Sawant

29. Dr. Hahnemann was translating Cullen’s materia medica from
English to German. He came across a statement that cinchona cures
intermittent fever because of its bitter and astringent properties and
was dissatisfied with this explanation because there are many bitter
substances which do not produce intermittent fever like cinchona.
As a young doctor, he was curious to know the action of cinchona.
So, Dr. Hahnemann decided to take cinchona in the form of
medicine everyday and consumed four drams of cinchona twice a
day.
To his astonishment, he experienced the same medicinal effects of
cinchona as described by Cullen. Thus, a medicinal substance was
being taken, or drug proving on humans was done – for the first time
in medicine.
Dr Saroj Sawant

30. From 1790 to 1796, for six long years, Dr. Hahnemann repeated
such experiments on himself, healthy individuals and fellow
doctors. In every experiment, he found the same result and that,
‘medicines cure diseases because they produce similar diseases in
healthy individuals’ or ‘like cures like’.
So in 1796, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann put forward these findings in
a popular journal during that time, ‘An Essay on New Principle for
ascertaining the Curative Powers of Drugs and Some
Examinations of Previous Principles’.
He published this newly found doctrine of cure i.e. Similia
Similibus Curentur or ‘like cures like’. These findings were
published in Hufeland’s Journal vol. II, parts 3 and 4.
Dr Saroj Sawant

31. Dr. Hahnemann wasn’t the first to state the law of similars or
like cures like.
In fact, the founder of modern medicine, Hippocrates was the
first person to mention this law.
But Dr. Hahnemann was the first to apply this law to
therapeutics & medicine and develop a new science of
medical treatment – ‘Homoeopathy’, as we know today.
Thus, cinchona bark was to Dr. Hahnemann just as the
pendulum was to Galileo and the falling apple was to Sir
Isaac Newton.
Dr Saroj Sawant

32. Interestingly, Dr. Hahnemann
also coined the term
‘allopathy’, a very popular
system of treatment, which
means ‘treatment by
opposites’.
Dr Saroj Sawant

33. Dr Saroj Sawant

34. STRENGTH OF HOMOEOPATHY
From the one medicine proved by Hahnemann in 1790, the No. of drugs added to
the treasure of Homoeopathy has reached now almost about 4500. But the Govt:
of India has acknowledged only 2300 drugs in its list of Pharmacopoeia.
Hahnemann published the 1st book in Materia Medica
containing only 27 drugs with limited symptoms in 1805.
It is understood that there after, thousands of books
in various languages viz, Latin, German, English, French, Spanish, Russian,
Chinese and Indian languages have already come out in print
Homoeopathy has sent its roots deep into the soil of about 90 countries all over
the world. In true appreciation of this fact , the WHO has recognize
Homoeopathy as 2nd largest system of medicine in the world.
Viewed in this respect it has to be said to the credit of Homoeopathy that it
can be poised as a significant system of medicine capable of vying with other
systems of medicine
Dr Saroj Sawant

35. Sources & Evolution of
Homoeopathic Materia Medica- A Flash-back…
It is rather enthusing to enlist
the emergence of Homoeopathic
Materia Medica through a flash-back
Dr Saroj Sawant

36. Dr Saroj Sawant

37. 1805 - CFS Hahnemann – F. D. V. M. P. - 27 drugs
Source Books of Homoeopathic Materia Medica
1811 – 1821 CFSH- Materia Medica Pura 1st Edn.– 64 drugs
1822 – 1827 CFSH- Materia Medica Pura 2nd Edn.- 67drugs
1830 – 1833 CFSH - Materia Medica Pura 3rd Edn. - 67 drugs
1828 – 1830 CFSH- Chronic Diseases 1st Edn. – 22 drugs
1835 – 1839 - CFSH - Chronic Diseases 2st Edn. – 48 drugs
1867 R. Hughes - Manual of Pharmacodynamics - 301 drugs
1874 - 1879 T. F. Allen– Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica(10 vol.) - 716 drugs
1891 C. Hering - The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica - 410 drugs
1886 R. Hughes - A Cyclopedia of Drug Pathogenesy(4 vol.) - 275 drugs
1884 - C. Hering - CONDENSED MATERIA MEDICA - 410 drugs
Dr Saroj Sawant

38. STALWARTS WHO FOUNDED
HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA
MEDICA
Dr Saroj Sawant

39. C.F.S.HAHNEMANN
BOENNINGNHAUSSEN
C. HERING
R. HUGHUES T .F. ALLEN
Dr Saroj Sawant

40. STALWARTS WHO DEVELOPED
HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
J.T. KENT W. BOERICKE H.C .ALLEN C.M. BOGER
BORLAND.D C.DUNHAM J.H.CLARK R.E. DUDGEON
Dr Saroj Sawant

41. STALWARTS WHO DEVELOPED
HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
C.J.HEMPEL
COWPERTHWEITE E.B NASH E.A.FARRINGTON
E.M.HALE C.G.C.HARTLAUB LIPPE J.E.STAFF
Dr Saroj Sawant

42. STALWARTS WHO DEVELOPED HOMOEOPATHIC
MATERIA MEDICA
N.M.CHOUDARY JULIAN. O. A RAUE. C. G
TAFEL MOHR C G QUIN FREDERIK H
Dr Saroj Sawant

43. STALWARTS’ ORDEALS
FOR THE CAUSE OF HOMOEOPATHY
It is thus clear that
what an ordeal the stalwarts had to undergo
in evolving Materia Medica to the present level
which exemplifies their most dedicated life
for the cause of Homoeopathy.
2012 Dr Saroj Sawant

44. A SELF – INTROSPECTION
We tread upon these precious contributions
made by the renounced stalwarts
to reap the benefits from them.
Have we done anything of our own
to make us worthy of their success?
THE ANSWER IS DEFENITELY NO.
Dr Saroj Sawant

45. Source Books of
Homoeopathic Materia
Medica
Dr Saroj Sawant

46. 1. HAHNEMANNN’S
FRAGMANTA DE VIRIBUS MEDICAMENTORUM
POSITIVIS.
It was written in Latin. Published at Leipsic in 1805
Contains the pathogenesis of 27 drugs.
The 27 drugs proved were as follows [Haehl, vol 2,
p.82]: [followed by number of symptoms obtained by
Hahnemann and those by others]
Dr Saroj Sawant

47. 2. REINE ARZNEIMITTELLEHRE
1st edition in 6 volumes.
 There are six volumes.
 1 volume – 1811 , contain pathogenesis of 12 medicines. Six
of which are new, the pathogenesis of all of those which
had already appeared being considerably increased.
 2 volume – 1816 , contain pathogenesis of 8 medicines
together with those ascribed to the magnet.
 3 volume –1817, with 8 medicines.
 4 volume –1818,with 12 medicines.
 5 volume –1819, with 11 medicines.
 6 volume –1821, with 10 medicines.
Dr Saroj Sawant

48. 3. SECOND AUGMENTED EDITION OF REINE
ARZNEIMITTELLEHRE
 6–Volumes like the first edition.
 Volume 1 – 1822.
 Volume 2 – 1824.
 Volume 3 & 4 – 1825.
 Volume 5 – 1826.
 Volume 6 – 1827.
 Each contain the same list of medicines as before, save
that in the sixth, Ambra, carbo animalis, carboveg
were introduced for the first time.
 Total 66 medicines ( of which 3 new ).
Dr Saroj Sawant

49. 4- CITATIONS FROM AUTHORS
Occupy so large a space in many of the pathogenesis
and are entirely absent from but very few. There are 13
medicines which are omitted from the list as having no
citations from authors attached to them. Medicines
with citations are observation of poisoning and of
over dosing. In poisoning, subject is a healthy
one. Over dosing, done in sick with disease of limited
character and with fair general health.
Dr Saroj Sawant

50. 5.THIRD EDITION OF REINE ARZNEIMITTELLEHRE
2 Volumes – 1830 and1833 respectively.
The 2 volumes contain the same medicines as before save
that causticum is omitted from the second having been
transferred to the chronic diseases.
The chief change which has taken place has been the
amalgamation of all the symptom of Hahnemann’s own
observations with those of others into one continues
schema.
Pathogenesis increased in most instances. New symptom –
30 to 40 number. Hahnemann’s own i.e. n observation
upon the sick.
Dr Saroj Sawant

51. 6.HAHNEMANN’S DIE CHRONISCHEN KRANKHEITEN
(CHRONIC DISEASE)
1st edition – 4 Volumes.
1,2,3 Volumes – 1828.
4 Volumes – 1830.
1 st Volume – Theory of Chronic Disease.
2nd,3rd & 4th Volumes – Pathogenesis of medicines, new to Materia Medica Pura or to
any Materia Medica have 17 new remedies + 2 old remedies.
Total of 22 remedies.
2nd & 3rd Volumes – 15 remedies.
4th Volume – 7 remedies
 Hahnemann’s 2nd Edition of Die Chronischen Krankheiten
5 Volumes.
 1st & 2nd Volumes – 1835.
 3rd Volume – 1837.
 4th Volume – 1838.
 5th Volume – 1839.
 22 medicines of 1st Edition + 25 remedies ( 13 new + 12 old in M.M.P.)
Total of 47 remedies.
Dr Saroj Sawant

52. OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
Dr Saroj Sawant

53. 1. Dr. Johann Christian Gottfried Jorg
 He was a Professor in Lepzeic University.
 Jorg + 21 pupils + 2 sons + 3 females formed the provers (aged
45,18,12 respectively).
1st Volume with 13 remedies was published in 1825.
 Medicines were given in moderate doses and taken repeatedly
until impression was made. Symptoms were related in full just as
they were made. In preface age, temperament,constitution of
prover and a statement that he is in good health. He gives details
of prover, dose taken, order and connection in which the
symptoms appear.
 Digitalis, Iodum and Nitrum of Jorg were transferred to the 2nd
Edition of Chronic Disease.
Jorg’s work is preserved in the library of College of Surgeons.
Also printed in the 4th Volume of Frank’s “Magazin”.
Dr Saroj Sawant

54. 2.Drs.Hartlaub and Trinks.
 2 distinguished members of the Hahnemannian school.
They also named their collection as Reine Arzneimttelhere a
seqel to Hahnemann’s work.
 Published in Leipsic in 3 Volumes – 1828,1829 & 1831.
Contain symptoms of proving and poisonings.
Arranged in schematic order.
No information of the circumstance of experiment.
1st Volume – Plumbum, Cantharis, Laurocerasus,
 Phosphorus,Antimonium crudum + 18 other drugs.
2nd Volume – Gratiola, Oleum an., Alum., Phelland.+ 14
other drugs.
3rd Volume – Bovista, kali.i., Rat., Stront., Tab.+ > 30 drugs.
Used by 3rd Edition of M.M.P. and 2nd Edition of C.D.
Dr Saroj Sawant

55. 3. Dr.Ernst Stapf

One of Hahnemann’s oldest and most valued disciples began in
1822 to publish a journal devoted to the interest of the new
method. He called it ‘Archiv’ Fiir die homoopathische Heilkunst
or generally known as the Archiv.
 Hahnemann also took part in proving.
Included in 2nd Edition of C.D.
12 medicines added to M.M.P. of 1836.
Proved in single moderate and substantial doses.
Presented in usual form but with reference to experiments of
provers.
Introduction of medicine contain information about former use
and homoeopathic experience gained by it.
Translated to English by Hempel.
Valuable work according to Hughes.
Dr Saroj Sawant

56. 4.Austrian Provings
 Begun in 1842.
Hahnemann had given his proving to the world, i.e, a schema of detached
symptom without information as to how or in what order and sequence they
were obtained.
 The monographs containing these most valuable provings- chiefly published in
a journal conducted by the Austrian society . Most of them were translated to
English.
 Homoeopaths in Vienna decided to reprove as they were not satisfied by the
presentation of Hahnemann
Primary provings of Argentum.nit., Coccus. cacti & Kali. bich.. Society had 8
members.
Each was entrusted with a proving of 20 -30 provers.
 They undertook and supervised experiments and published them with full
details upto that time.
The aim was to study the physiological action of drugs.
These were published in the Journal of Austrian Society for 4years.
Hughes considered it as the chief material for the construction of future
Materia Medica.
They conducted reproving also in 1848..
Dr Saroj Sawant

57. 5. Contributions from America
 Dr.Constantine Hering (originally he is a German)
Provings include Lachesis, Glonoine, Apis, Merc.bin iod.,
Natrum sulph., Osmium, Benzoic acid, Flouric acid, Oxalic acid,
Ksalmia, Podophyllum, Eupatorium, Aloes, Allium cepa, Millefolium,
Sanguinaria (16 new remedies ) + Cuprum, Spongia, Stramonium,
Physostigma, Sepia (5 old remedies ). His provings published in
• 10 Volumes of “Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica” form his contribution.
-1st Volume – Hering , 1879.
-2nd Volume – Hering , 1880.
-3rd – 10th Volumes – C. G. Raue, C. B. Knerr, & C. Mohr ,1881 -1891.
-48 Chapters.
-408 remedies.
-4 Grades. Hering was the first person to introduce evaluation in the Materia Medica.
-Symptoms that appeared in provers and it were verified at the bed side a number of
times.
-He mentions this book as “the TEXT” in his Lectures.
 Other contributions – Neidhard, Jeans, Williamson 9 (earlier period), Dunham, Allen,
Conrad Wesseihoeft.
Dr Saroj Sawant

58. 6. Contributions from France

Quinine by Dr. Alphonse Noack.
Main compilers of Materia Medica in France were Dr.
Roth and Dr. Jahr.
 Some indigenous proving have been done by Petroz,
Ozanam, Teste, Imbert, Gourbayre – published in
French Homoeopathic Journals.
Dr Saroj Sawant

59. 7. Contribution of others in Germany
 Buchmann’s Chelidonium.
Reproving of Cuprum by Central Verein
 Contribution of Old School in Germany –
Jorg –He proved Kali chlor..
Ferrum proved by followers of Rademacher was
published in British Journal of Homoeopathy.
Prof. Schroff proved on animals and human beings.
His contribution is Aconite
Dr Saroj Sawant

60. 8.Contributions from England
Kali bich. by Drysdale.
Naja by Russel.
Cedron by Casanova.
Cotyledon umbilicus by Craig.
Uranium nitricum by Edward Blake.
Dr Saroj Sawant

61. 9. Contribution from Spain
Tarentula by Nunez.
Dr Saroj Sawant

62. 10. Contribution from Italy
Cactus Grand. by Rubini.
Dr Saroj Sawant

63. 11. Contributions from Brazil
Provings of plants and animals indigenous
by Dr.Mure.They are of obscure origin and
doubtful value.
Dr Saroj Sawant

64. 12.Contributions by E. M. Hale of Chicago.
New Remedies in Homoeopathic Practice published in
1865.
Contain the indigenous drugs used by common
people, botanic and eclectic practitioners.
1st Edition – 1865 – 45 remedies.
2nd Edition – 1867 – 35 + 45 remedies.
3rd Edition – 1873 – Characteristics.
4th Edition – 2 Volumes –
1st Volume – Special Symptomatology.
2nd Volume – Special Therapeutics.
Dr Saroj Sawant

65. 13. Contributions by Allen T .F of Newyork.
* “Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica” – 10 Volumes
Contain contributions from Dr.Richard Hughes, Dr.Caroll Dunham, Dr.C.Hering and
Dr. Adolph Lippe.
Alphabetical arrangement of drugs.
Symptoms are arranged in accordance with the anatomical plan.
Sub grouping has been made in accordance with the following general principles in any
part. First – General symptoms not localised definitely.
Second – Localized symptoms.
Appearance of a part is given first.Afterwards sensation.
Symptom denoting increased activity are given first.
Those denoting depression and loss of action or function follows.
*Dr.Richard Hughes
To study Materia Medica one has to procure Allen’s Encyclopedia.
One should go through the original records of proving.
One should go through the “Day books” of provers.
Also go through the narratives of poisonings in Frank’s
“Magazin”in Hempel’s Materia Medica.
Also go through the “Pathogenetic Records”in British Journal of Homoeopathy.
Dr Saroj Sawant

66. References :-

A Manual Of Pharmacodynamics – Hughes Richard
Materia medica pura vol 1 &2.
Dr Saroj Sawant

67. Dr Saroj Sawant