Different types of Symptoms Analysis in

Homoeopathy
Introduction
Let us know, what is Analysis? It means differentiation of different elements in a compound,
What we do in the laboratory. E.g. Salt Analysis. But in a case, it gives an idea about the type of
case in respect of its nature and the varieties of symptoms in a patient.

In earlier time, Hippocrates comments on symptoms as the expression of nature’s healing

powers. Nature is more powerful than human being and the perspiration is regarded as an
eliminating process of poisonous substances causing the illness. So, therefore the treatment
should be targeted to work with its and not opposite to it.

According to Hahnemann, Symptom is the any deviation from a former state of health
perceptible by the patient, around him and the physician.

J. N. Kanjilal says that, Symptoms to a Homoeopath are guiding lights in the path of cure and
more we disturb or put out these lights, the more is the path of cure darkened

Therefore, the disease is studied through signs and symptoms. Its progress will be known to us
by the changes in the symptomatology. Hence the understanding of this process of evolution is
quite essential. The uniqueness of Homoeopathy lies in the inherent character of its philosophy,
it can identify the disease at the dynamic level , and give prime importance to finest alterations in
sensation and functions.

What is Analysis of symptoms?

“Analysis of symptoms” means resolving or separating a symptom into its elements or

component parts.

Here symptoms of present complaints are analysed into four dimensions such as:

a. Location with radiation, b. Sensation or character with intensity, c. Modalities including

Aggravation and Amelioration, d. Concomitants or Associated symptoms.
Example :

Let us assume that a patient is having following group of present symptoms and how one should
proceed to make analysis.

 a) Burning pain in occiput since three years, < Cold / motion, > Heat / pressure associated
with nausea and vomiting.
 b) Burning pain in both foot since three years, < From motion / cold, > Warm/rest,
associated with constipation.
 c) Vague pain the abdomen (Right Hypochondriac region), < After food/pressure, > In
empty stomach.

Location with Radiation Sensation/ Pathology Modalities Concomitants

1. Occiput Burning pain < Cold /motion Nausea, vomiting

> Heat /pressure &

2. Foot Burning pain < Motion/cold Constipation

> Warm/rest

3. Abdomen Vague pain < After food / pressure

(Rt. Hypochondriac region) > Empty stomach

1. From above it is understood that No. 1 & 2 symptoms are completed in four dimensions
but 3rd symptom is lacking with concomitant.
2. Characteristic particular symptoms are differentiated from common particular symptom as
they are completed in all dimensions.
3. “Burning pain” is a particular symptoms but are found at two parts/locations/ organs,
therefore it is upgraded to the level of general. Similarly “Motion aggravation” is general
one.
4. Headache is relieved by pressure where as abdominal pain is aggravated by pressure
which is an example of the study of differential modalities.

From the above discussion we can conclude that the objectives of Analysis of symptoms are as
follows:

1. Whether the symptoms are collected in all dimensions or not, can be determined.
2. Characteristic particulars and common particulars or unqualified particulars are
differentiated from each other.
3. Symptoms of general categories are brought out of it or particular symptoms are made
general.
4. Differential modalities can be studied by the physicians.

Hahnemann advocated the following fundamental concepts which are accepted universally by
all:

1. Nothing can be known of disease except through symptoms.

2. It is the patient who is ill and not his parts or organs.
3. Symptoms furnish the only unfailing guide for selection of remedy.
 4. The remedy is hardly ever indicated by a single symptom however peculiar it may be.
5. Peculiar, characteristics, individualizing symptoms in the case and not common symptoms
denote Similimum.

Analysis of symptoms is also otherwise known as classification of symptoms.

Different methods of Analysis or classification of symptoms according to many stalwarts

1. Kentian Method
2. Hahnemannian Method
3. Boericke’s Method
4. Boenninghausen’s Method
5. Boger’s Method
6. Spalding’s Method

Kentian method: Kent has classified the symptoms into three main categories:

A) General B) Common C) Particular

A) GENERAL SYMPTOMS: All sensations or symptoms that the patient predicates of himself or in
the relating of which he uses the personal pronoun – are general symptoms.

Examples : I feel cold, I have cold, I am sleepy, I am thirsty, I am burning all over etc.

As the general symptoms affect the patient as a whole, they are naturally of higher value than
the particulars, it can overrule any number of even strong particulars.

The general symptoms are divided into two categories: Mental and Physical.

a) Mental General: All mental symptoms are classed as generals as they reflect the inner self
and individuality of the patient. These symptoms are of highest value in case taking.

Among the mental symptoms changes of will and emotion come first e.g. love, hate, loathing,
suicidal tendencies, lasciviousness, sexual perversion, fear, hurry, weeping disposition etc.
followed by the understanding e.g. delusion, delirium, hallucination and mental confusion,
Lastly, the symptoms of intellect e.g. memory, concentration, mistake in writing, speaking etc.

b) Physical Generals: These are symptoms which deal with reaction to heat & cold, physical love
and sensations of body as a whole.

The highest importance is given to perversions of sexual sphere including menstrual generals.
The second importance is laid on those symptoms pertaining to appetite, desire, aversion, thirst.
The third importance is given to symptoms affecting the entire physical body, time, weather,
climactic influences, food that aggravate, extremes of temperature, position, motions, sleep,
clothing, bathing, external stimuli etc.

B.COMMON SYMPTOMS:
These symptoms are valueless unless qualified with modalities. Common symptoms are
common to any patient suffering from the certain disease or complaint. They are of least
importance because they will be found in almost every drug disease in one form or other.

Examples: Blood in dysentery, Rash in measles, Headache in fever

Common symptoms become peculiar when circumstances are peculiar.

Examples: Headache relieved by profuse urination

Leucorrhoea alternates with piles. Etc.

C. PARTICULAR SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms relating to the particular part or organ of the body.The first grade particulars are those
that are peculiar, uncommon, unexpected, unaccountable, rare, unusual, and odd. The second
grade particulars are particulars with marked modalities.The third grade particulars are those
having no appreciable modality.

1. Hahnemannian method:

Hahnemann classified symptoms into two types:

 a. General symptoms
 b. Uncommon symptoms

Hahnemannian concept of general symptoms is same with the common symptoms of Kent.

Uncommon symptoms: Any symptom which is unaccountable, unexplainable, absurd or

paradoxical. This symptom found is few patients in the provings of few medicines.

Examples: Coryza relieved by cold bath, Burning relieved by application of heat

The uncommon symptoms which reflects the individuality of the patient are of great value in the
selection of the homoeopathic medicine.

Boenninghausen’s method:
Boenninghausen’s method consists of the following seven points:

Quis: Personality of the individual – age, sex, bodily constitution and temperament.

Quid: Nature and peculiarity of the disease.

Ubi: Seat of the disease.

Quibis auxilus: Associated symptoms

Cur: The cause of the disease

Quomodo: The modifying factors

Quando: The time of appearance, of aggravation and relief.

Garth Boericke’s method:

Garth Boericke has divided the symptoms into two classes:

a) Basic or absolute symptoms

b) Determinative symptoms
a) Basic or absolute symptoms are those that appear in every proving and are of a general
nature and usually diagnostically important.

Example: Malaise, headache, weakness, anorexia, eructation, fever and pain, etc.

They are of little value to determine the homoeopathic drug indicated, but taken together
furnishing a suggestive beginning.

b) Determinative symptoms are individual or personal ones found in a patient or a

characteristic, keynote or guiding symptoms found in a drug’s pathogenesis.

Determinative symptoms whether encountered in disease or in a drug proving are alike and
usually consist of – modalities, mental symptoms, qualified basic or absolute symptoms, and
strange, rare or peculiar symptoms as mentioned by Hahnemann. These symptoms help in the
individualization of the patient and thus help in the selection of homoeopathic remedy.

Boger’s Method:
Boger has classified the symptoms like following manner.

 Time dimension
 Causative modalities
 Tissue affinities
 Pathological generals

Spalding’s Method: He has classified the symptoms like this.

1. Mental generals
2. Physical general
3. Discharges
4. Dreams
5. Special senses
6. Desires
7. Aversions
8. Modalities
9. Strange, rare & peculiars
10. Particulars
11. Objective or pathology