INRODUCTION TO HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA

DR VANITA JOHARI
M.D (HOM) M.Sc (COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY)

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

Homoeopathic Materia Medica is defined as the record book of the effects of medicines on the human
beings. It is a storehouse of every action and reaction of drug that it incites in the human beings
Drug: Any substance which is capable of altering the state of health of any living organism is called a
drug
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.

Homoeopathic Materia Medica :

Homoeopathic Materia Medica is defined as the record book of the effects of medicines on the
human beings. It is an encyclopaedia of therapeutic properties of each drug, a collection of real,
pure, reliable modes of action of simple medicinal substances.
 THE SOURCES OF HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA.

1. Proving on healthy human beings

2. Clinical observation
3. Accidental and Toxicological source
4. Physical and Chemical properties of the substance
5. Empirical source and traditional uses
6. Knowledge of botany and zoology
7. Proving on plants and animals
8. Doctrine of signature
9. Laboratory investigations.
10. Accidental proving.

1. Drug Proving: Drug proving is the basic source of Materia Medica through which, dynamic
properties of a drug are elicited through proving mainly on healthy human beings. In 1790, Dr
Hahnemann tested the effect of cinchona bark on himself after reading the remark made by
William Cullen. Thereafter, he went on to prove several other drug substances. Proving is
conducted on healthy individuals of different age group of both sexes at different times of the year
till satisfactory outcome is achieved as described by Hahnemann in his Organon Of Medicine in
§105 to §145. This forms the major source of Materia Medica.

2. Traditional and Empirical Uses: Knowledge about use of drug based on practical experience
without reference to scientific principle can give additional information about utility of the
substance. For e.g. Arnica was known for its effects on falls & sprains and Asafoetida for its
miraculous cures of flatulence, before it being incorporated in homoeopathy.
The use of drugs also takes place as a result of handing down of information about them
orally in the form of stories, beliefs, customs, etc from generation to generation about various
herbs and animal products. These traditional uses of the drugs also give much information and are
often the clue or the reason for being subjected to proving for ascertaining its curative action on a
larger plane.

3. Clinical Data: Symptoms observed cured in the sick after the administration of drug through
Clinical proving gives us clinical verification and confirmation of symptoms. Several symptoms
which do not appear at proving can be added to Materia Medica when it disappears after cure.
The limitation of proving which is not conducted beyond certain level is overcome by getting
additional symptoms in the form of clinical data.

4. Toxicological properties: Toxicological properties of the drug substance will reflect in the
symptomatology. Cases homicidal, suicidal and accidental poisonings provide information about
the action of the substance in crude form. These pathological symptoms do not feature in proving
as drug is potentised before dispensing for the purpose of proving.
 White Arsenic produces violent purging and vomiting if it is taken in crude form (a
toxicological observation). Phosphorus produces necrosis of lower jaw in those who are working
in match factories (Phosphorus is a chief chemical used for manufacturing match box & sticks).

5. Experimentation on Animals and Plants. Several documented research works are conducted to
ascertain curative powers of remedies by scientist from different fields on plants as well as
animals. These trials though carried out with intention of either approve or disapprove the efficacy
of Homoeopathic Medicines, help us additionally to understand the scope of our remedies in
clinical practice.
6. The Physical and Chemical properties of a drug: The Physical and Chemical properties of a drug
may reflect themselves in the symptoms. E.g.: The yellow and red color of Phosphorus, remind us
of its action on the liver producing Jaundice and its hemorrhagic properties.
7. Botanical/ Zoological knowledge and habitat of plants and animals : The animals and plants
acquire certain properties by virtue of the soil and climate wherein they flourish. This knowledge
serves to contribute to valid symptomatology. E.g.:- (1) Arnica Montana grows on mountains – it is
a unique remedy both for the exertion and after effects of mountain climbing –as also for the
injuries sustained by climbers from fall. Aconite grows in dry soil and its symptoms are worse in
dry weather.
8.Doctrine of signature: we get an idea about the utility of the plant or animal for treatment by
certain signs on the plant or animal. For e.g. , Sanguinaria , the roots of the plant are red in colour
and the remedy is used in treatment of bleeding disorders.
9. Laboratory investigations. Changes brought about in the laboratory investigations before and
after the treatment help us in understanding the pathological scope of the drug. The symptoms
thus cured become yet another important scope of Materia Medica.
 Types of Materia Medica:

The proving carried out by Dr Samuel Hahnemann with 37 provers appeared in six
volumes of Materia Medica Pura (1830 – 1827) with total number of 61 remedies. These
volumes contained all symptoms of all the drugs are combined in one schema and numbered
continuously. Each volume contains a varying number of medicines, arranged alphabetically
according to their common German names. The word ‘pura’ stands for pure or unmodified.
There is classification or any analysis done of any symptom recorded at the time of proving.

With the advancement of time number of proved drug increased with a lot of clinical
symptoms from different sources were introduced by different Homoeopaths. There was a
need felt by many scholars of early and mid nineteenth century like Dr. Hering, Dr. R.
Hughes, Dr. J.T. Kent to systematize the writings  of Materia Medica. With different
approaches and styles, symptoms were presented in different formats resulting in evolution
of different types of Materia  Medica.

Broadly Materia Medica can be classified into two.

1. Unmodified or Puritan materia medica 

2. Modified materia medica.

1.   Puritan Materia Medica or Unmodified Materia Medica

The word Pura signifies purity, symptoms listed are written down as narrated
by the provers, with no addition or interpretation made by the author. Materia
Medica Pura by Dr. Hahnemann consists of six volumes published from 18251 to
1833. In first two editions all symptoms noted by Hahnemann are listed first
followed by symptoms noted by his disciples. While in the 3 rd edition all symptoms
are put together irrespective of their origin. An abbreviation of the names of the
person whom it belongs is appended to their respective observations, while
Hahnemann’s own observations being distinguished by having no name or sign
attached. Each volume contains varying list of remedies arranged alphabetically
according to their common German names. In 1846 Dr Hempel published first
translation with many flaws, as pointed out by Dr Hughes besides discrepancies in
arrangement and exclusion of names of authorities for their symptoms. Examples of
Materia Medica Pura books are:

1) Materia Medica Pura by Dr. Hahnemann

2) Chronic disease their peculiar nature and their homoeopathic care by Dr.
Hahnemann
3) The Encyclopaedia of Pure MM by T F Allen
 2. MODIFIED MateriaMedica

1. Anatomical or Schematic MM

2. Physiological MM

3. Keynote MM

4. Essay type MM

5. Clinical MM

6. Therapeutic MM

7. Picture  type MM

8. Pharmaco dynamic type MM

9. Comparative type

10. Psychoanalytical MM

11. Approach through periodic table

12. Study of drug by analyzing the group

13. Combined type

14. Specialized MM

15. Indian Materia Medica

16. Poetic Materia Medica

MODIFIED TYPE OF MM

1. ANATOMICAL OR SCHEMATIC MM: The schema of an anatomical type of MM is

designed in such a way that the symptoms are described from head to toe. As the
drugs are systematically written against each organ, it facilitates to memorize  such
multitude  of symptom of each drug. A ready reference can be made easily and
quickly for a particular symptom while searching it for a particular part of the body.
The symptoms lose their value and gradation in this arrangement. Dr. R. Hughes
criticized this arrangement considering that anatomical segregations takes away the
pictorial totality from a drug picture like... “An artist painting a family  painting 
keeping all eyes of all the members of family in one part of the picture all the nose in
one another and so on”. Volumes of Materia medica based on Anatomical description
 are written down by T F Allens, Constantine Hering and J H Clarke and many more
authors.
1. The Encyclopedia of Pure  MM by T F Allen
2. The Guiding  symptoms  of our MM by Constantine Hering (10 volumes)
3. A Dictionary of practical MM by J.H. Clarks.

2. MM OF PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION: These books deal with the physiological actions of

each drug. Focus of study is on the physiological changes brought on by different
alkaloids, poisons and chemicals etc, in the drugs. When summoned to court, sphere
of action of remedy must be known by the physician to protect him. However, many
symptoms of the drug could have been overlooked in this type of study and this does
not provide complete description of any drug. Eg: 1. Physiological Materia Medica by
W.H. Burt and Characteristic Materia Medica by D.C. Das Gupta 1 st Edition 1936 (no
of drugs 176).
3. KEYNOTE MM:
The Anatomical and Physiological MM with their limitation did not
convey key symptoms or their gradations. Guernsey introduced keynote MM. The
peculiar, queer and rare symptoms are presented with different fonts, in bold, italics
and other styles to convey their gradations. Keynote of a given drug could be with
regards to its special affinity for an organ, or maybe direction of complaints or
intensity of symptom. The most important utility of keynotes is to direct the
attention of the physician when looking for a Similimum as it narrows down the
remedies covering the PQRS and hence can be time saving. Some books which focus
more on keynote indications are:

1. Keynotes on leading remedies by H.C. Allen (304 drugs)

2. A primer of MM – TF Allen (265 drugs)
3. A synoptic key to MM – By CM  Boger (323 drugs)
4. Keynote and redline symptoms of the MM – A.V. Lippe (235 drys)
5. Characteristic of Hom MM – by M.E. Douglas.

5. CLINICAL MM

In this type of books discussion is emphasized on therapeutic aspect. Routinely these

types of Materia Medica books are used by clinicians for treatment of pathologically
advanced cases.
 1. A clinical MM by E.A. Farrington
2. A dictionary of practical MM by E.A. Farrington
3. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic MM with repertory by W. Boericke

6. THERAPEUTIC MM

Here the drugs are studied under the headings of different diseases. Regional
therapeutics cover limited organs or system cater to physicians with specialisation in the
given field.

1) Practical Homoeopathic therapeutics by W.A. Dewey

2) Select your remedy by Dr. R.B. Bishambar Das. 

3) The Prescriber by Lilienthel

7. PICTURE TYPE MM

Here the symptomatology of drug is presented in a comprehensive, essay like

manner so that an individual picture of a drug can be studied from different perspectives.
Data from different regions and authors are also combined to get a bigger picture of the
drug. Description is more lucid with various examples and cases.

1. Homoeopathic drug picture by M.L. Tylor

2. Lectures of Homoeopathic MM By J.T. Kent

1. COMPARATIVE TYPE OF MM

In this type of MM, drugs having similar pathogenesis are compared with their
differentiating points making it easy  to understand the differentiating  features of each
drug. Useful when symptoms seem to be matching with apparently similar remedies. All the
symptoms can’t study by this way. Understanding of the whole  drug cannot be possible in
this type of MM. Again they are studied with similarity of pathogenesis at different level
which are as follows.

1. At Symptomatic  Level: All clinical MM are of this type. Comparisons of the

drugs are made on peculiar signs and symptoms present in a drug. E.g.:
Comparative MM by E.A. Farrington Comparative MM by Gross (no. of drugs
115)
 2. Comparison at Organ Level  :Drugs are compared with here indication  for a
particular  organ. Those are otherwise known as “organopathic type”. Eg :
Therapeutics by K.C. Bhanja
3. Comparison  at organ level : Drugs  having a resemblances to each other are
compared.  Eg : Cina and Chamomella in the book -children types by Douglas.

2. PSYCHO ANALYSIS TYPE OF MM

Similar to portrait type, in this type of MM mental symptoms and psychological
sphere are analysed and probed  so that drugs are individualized  on the basis of
their personality , temperament  understanding etc. Understanding of drug at
psychic level is possible, useful in cases with  more of mental symptoms. Essence of
Homoeopathic MM by George Vithoulkas, Portraits of Homeopathic  MM by
Catherine Coulter, Homeopathic psychology by (35 drugs) Philip M. Barley are some
of the exemplary books of MM describing analytical picture of remedies.

3. STUDY OF DRUG ANALYZING THE GROUPS

Drugs  belonging to same family is vegetable  Kingdom , belonging  to same group in 
mineral kingdom and same species  in animal Kingdom bears many similar  relations 
as regards symptomatology is concerned,  though bearing  their own individuality to
be differentiated. E.g.: Ophidian group having  common symptoms like sepsis,
haemorrhage,  oedema etc. E.g: a. clinical MM by EA. Farrington and Homoeopathic
prescribing by Harvey Farrington. Harvey Fariengton made groups accordings  to his
own  choice  not including drugs of same family but drugs  bearing similar spheres  of
action is a group.

4. COMBINED TYPE
In the age of 20th  century many genius  of Homoeopathy try to represent  all types
described above, in gist with emphasis  on important aspect relating to each  drug.
They are ready made, easy to remember  giving an overall idea of a drug. Even
though all points are given in brief still they are not of the type in Jack of all trades,
master of none. A clear picture of the drugs cannot be understood.

 Text book of MM by S.K. Dubey

 Text book of MM by M Mohanty
 Systematic MM by K.N. Mathur.