Homeopathy Tips for 1/27/09 Asking Questions
Sometimes when we receive a case it comes to us on a silver platter. This happens when the person delivers their story and it is so rich and full with descriptors that it makes our jobs very easy in understanding what is asking to be healed, selecting rubrics and coming to the remedy. But it is not always so easy. Sometimes the person is not accustomed to sharing their life and will report just names of their physical diseases. This does not offer much to the homeopath in the way of understanding the subtle nuances that are necessary for correct homeopathic prescribing.
Many times the person will be able to describe their disease in allopathic terms and know much more about it than you; the homeopath. It is helpful to let them speak and not stop their flow even if it seems that the information you are receiving may not be that useful in prescribing. When this occurs I listen closely to how they are delivering their story and for any ways that they refer to their experience of the suffering.
I call these moments “cracks” in their story and I make a note to come back and ask more. I will ask an open ended question in reference to this part of the story. Then it is necessary to ask how they feel about what they have reported. This starts to get them talking about them selves instead of a clinical report of their disease.
At every level of their sensation the next question will be, “and how does that feel?” Eventually they will be providing many rich descriptors of what their dis-ease is about. Many times it becomes very apparent from which kingdom the remedy will come based on the stories and sensations they share. If you persist long enough they will always tell you their core disturbance. They will speak in the language of their dis-ease. You may very well hear them describe the very remedy by the words they choose. Always pay close attention to the metaphor of what they are speaking about. It will show up everywhere in the case.
When it seems that a person is stuck I will often ask them to tell me a story. They often ask, “What kind of story?” My response is, “Any story. Just tell me a story.” It is amazing that without any more prompting, I will learn more about their dis-ease and their suffering by the story they will tell, than any other place else during the consultation.
Sometimes it is beneficial to ask ourselves a question in regards to the case. By asking the question, “If this person were completely well in all ways, what would that look like?” Often this will point out quickly what is asking to be healed. It helps get ourselves out of the repertizing mindset and into the realm of simply seeing the case in a more simple manner.
I often see my students miss the big picture because they get too focused on the details. Always step back and feel the case. Never ask leading questions unless it is to confirm a remedy, and always make them open ended so there is no expected right or wrong answer. Hear the case as a story of fact, as an expression of feeling and the sensations they speak about. With these synthesized properly a complete picture of the dis-ease can be formed. By probing deeper into the sensations of the case you will hear the language of the remedy speak.
Hi Robert,
I look forward to your weekly ‘tips’.
So much is said these days about ‘vital sensation’ as a method of prescribing in the Sankaran tradition. Would you take a few minutes here to define sensation from your approach of seeing what needs to be cured. Is it different? Would an example be: “there is heat running through the M/E/P of the case, a theme, a metaphor-when a person has <heat generally, but also gets angry, inflamed, irritable easily with people…..
Many thanks again…I am so grateful you take time each week to share your thoughts, ideas and gifts.
Shirley
Hi Shirley,
There is no difference in the Vital Sensation method of Dr Sankaran and what I am sharing and speaking about. Dr. Sankaran has coined a term and has been promoting it so it leads to confusion. Hahnemann has described in the Organon the direct method of doing homeopathy. In our more complerx and modern language we have expanded and expounded about it. That makes it a bit confusing. If you are an unprejudiced observer and pay close attention to the case as it is given, the person will share with you how they are experiencing their suffering. If you are not getting any rich descriptors then asking a few of the right questions will open the case to them sharing their “vital sensation” as explained above. You are understanding it correctly as stated in your comment above. It will run through the case. As you do more of the online video cases these concepts are explained during the cases so you will have a real life example of what we are talking about.
Robert Field
hello robert i am doctor in pakistan for homoeopahtic medciene i am more about know homoeopahty olz u help me ok tke care bye
thanks, Robert its wnderful information . thanks again and carry on plz
Thanks for the guidance would like to know of generalised anxiety disorder and its homoeopathic tt
Hi Dr. Robert There is no doubt in my mind Homeopathy is an Art. The Art of coversation. As we know Listening is the key to good Conversation being able to draw out the inner most thoughts and feelings of the individual. Regards.
Thanks for the tips, As is said, listening with empathy is an art and shows patience which works wonders in case taking. Somtimes the inquiry with empathy malso gives results.
Very nice to read the article.
regards
Dr. K L Rana
Hallo there,
you caught my interest about the different kingdoms and i wonder if there is further information somewhere to help us expand upon this point. thanks Robert.
Please Astma, alergy, and IBS, Amebiasis treatment medicines explain
COOL, APPRECIATED. SOMTIMES IN THIS SITUATION PATIENTS OPEN UP IN FOLLOWING VISIT.
THANKS.
dear sir ,
i would be thankful if you provide me information for ambylabia ( an eye disorder due to weakness of nerve from during birth which cannot be recovered .) as defined by an allopath doctor to me . i would refer to your medicne and sugggestions for recovery from this kind of weakness.
can u highlight on Vitiligo cases in child
Sir,I have done diploma in alternative medicines.Please will you help me in prescribing medicines in homoepathic and biochemic.please reply in my email address.
you can say that alternative medicine is cheaper too and usually comes from natural sources *;*
Dr. please advise me to remove blemishes on my nose and cheaks,which are increasing day by along with brown spots on the back of my palms etc.
I am 66 years old and having some or the other Skin infections,like staptococcus bacterial infection,where very painful pimples start which increase in size,then pus and blood is formed in it.
i have very strong Antibiotics.but these Boils leave dark scar.
now they are appearing on my cheaks and inside Nostrils also.
my Homeopathic Doc. gave me 3 types of medicins
1….MYRISTICA SEBIF.Q—-12drops in water mor.. eve.
2….SILICEA 10M 3 dozes every 15 days
and Hepersulf 6x 4-5 times in a day.
these are for Boils and are effective to some extend.
pl. advice me for both my problems.
Thanks a lot
Deepa
Can i continue gossypuim Q during my periods?how long shud i take it for treatment of irregular periods?
Sir I need a dietic chart for diabetes patient of age 47 yrs and pls reply to my questions sir.