Miasm Rubrics in Various Repertories: Sycosis
Miasm Rubrics in Various Repertories: Sycosis
Miasm Rubrics in Various Repertories: Sycosis
he theory of miasms originates in Hahnemann's book The Chronic Diseases which was published in 1828, around the
same time that he decided to fix 30c as the standard potency for all homoeopaths. He declared that the theory was the
result of 12 years of the most painstaking work on difficult cases of a chronic character combined with his own
historical research into the diseases of man.
The three miasms given in that work are held to be responsible for all disease of a chronic nature and to form the
foundation or basis for all disease in general. This latter aspect was then to receive considerable amplification from
Kent. Kent was also able to clearly identify those remedies that relate to each miasm.
Though now generally accepted by most homeopaths without question, at the time, the theory was generally greeted
with disbelief and derision from all but the most devoted followers. This can be explained in part by the primitive
nature of medical science at that time, which was not really very willing accommodate any theory for the origin of
disease, least of all such a grand and all-embracing one.
The word miasm means a cloud or fog in the being. The theory suggests that if 100% of all disease is miasmatic, then
85% is due to the primary and atavistic miasm Hahnemann called Psora. The remaining 15% of all disease he held to
be either syphilitic or sycotic, being derived from suppressed Syphilis or suppressed Gonorrhoea. Hahnemann unlike
Kent later attached no moral dimension whatsoever to the sexual nature of the two latter miasms. Kent of course,
emphasised this a great deal. Which is hardly surprising in the somewhat Puritanical atmosphere of nineteenth century
small town America.
Taking them in reverse order, we can depict the main characteristic features of each miasm.
SYCOSIS
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
This miasm is held to be responsible for many sexual and urinary disorders, and affections of the joints and the mucous
membranes. Also those conditions worsened by damp weather and by contact with the sea. Thus arthritis and
rheumatism, asthma, catarrhs, bronchitis, cystitis and warts are all regarded as partly or mainly sycotic in character. The
wart came to be seen as the underlying archetype of this miasm as it is also held to be responsible for all warty
excrescences and growths. Chief remedies are Thuja, Lycopodium, Natrum sulph, Causticum, Kali sulph, Staphysagria,
Calc and Sepia amongst many others.
SYPHILIS
This miasm is held to be responsible for many diseases of the nervous system, the blood and skeleton as well as a range
of psychological disorders, including alcoholism, depression, suicidal impulses, insanity, loss of smell and taste,
blindness, deafness and ulcerations. It is also associated with many heart conditions, some vesicular skin eruptions and
diseases that have a definite nocturnal periodicity. Chief remedies are Arsenicum, Aurum, Mercury, Phosphorus and
Lycopodium, Nitric acid, amongst many others.
PSORA
The word Psora is derived from the Hebrew 'Tsorat' and Greek 'Psora' and means a groove or stigma. Hahnemann held
that all non venereal chronic diseases are Psoric. That includes most diseases of a chronic nature, all skin diseases, most
mental illness other than syphilitic ones, allergies, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, most dysfunctional diseases of organs
and systems, etc.
He lists among others, catarrhs, asthma, pleurisy, haemoptysis, hydrocephalus, stomach ulcers, scrotal swelling,
jaundice, swollen glands, cataract, diabetes, tuberculosis, epilepsy, fevers and suppressed urine as all being typically
psoric manifestations. Plus, of course, the whole gamut of skin problems.
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
Chief Psoric remedies he suggests include Sulphur, Natrum mur, Calc carb, Arsen alb, Lycopodium, Phosphorus,
Mezereum, Graphite, Causticum, Hepar sulph, Petroleum, Silica, Zinc and Psorinum amongst many others.
Hahnemann also claimed that Psora was the most ancient and insidious miasm, and that it was derived from skin
eruptions of various types in the past, such as scabies (Itch), leprosy and psoriasis. These had been contracted by
ancestors or in one's own early childhood. The suppression of these conditions especially through the use of ointments
he held to be the primary cause of Psora.
'Psora is that most ancient, most universal, most destructive, and yet most misapprehended chronic miasmatic
disease which for many thousands of years has disfigured and tortured mankind... and become the mother of all
the thousands of incredibly various chronic diseases...' [Chronic Diseases, p9]
Kent, in his Lectures, then greatly enlarged upon the theory, proposing that Psora was the foundation of all other
illness, without which mankind would be pure and healthy both in mind and body, as in the Garden of Eden. He thus
regarded Psora as being equated with the 'Fall of Man' and with original sinfulness. He portrayed Psora in this highly
moralistic light as also being the foundation of the sexual miasms that came later.
'You cannot divorce medicine and theology. Man exists all the way down from his innermost spiritual to his
outermost natural.' [Lesser Writings, p.641]
'A man who cannot believe in God cannot become a homeopath." [p.671]
'The body became corrupt because man's interior will became corrupt.' [ibid, p.681]
'Man...becomes disposed to sickness by doing evil, through thinking wrong...' [ibid, p.664]
'Psora is the evolution of the state of man's will, the ultimates of sin.' [ibid, p.654]
'This outgrowth, which has come upon man from living a life of evil willing, is Psora.' [ibid, p.654]
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
'Thinking, willing and doing are the 3 things in life from which finally proceed the chronic miasms.' [ibid, p.654]
'...had Psora never been established as a miasm upon the human race... susceptibility to acute diseases would
have been impossible... it is the foundation of all sickness.' [Lectures, p.126]
'The human race today walking the face of the earth, is but little better than a moral leper. Such is the state of
the human mind at the present day. To put it another way everyone is Psoric.' [ibid, p.135]
'As long as man continued to think that which was true and held that which was good to the neighbour, that
which was uprightness and justice, so long man remained free from disease, because that was the state in which
he was created.' [ibid, p.134]
'The internal state of man is prior to that which surrounds him; therefore, the environment is not the cause...'
[ibid, p.136]
'Diseases correspond to man's affections, and the diseases upon the human race today are but the outward
expression of man's interiors... man hates his neighbour, he is willing to violate every commandment; such is the
state os man today. This state is represented in man's diseases.' [ibid, p.136]
'The Itch is looked upon as a disgraceful affair; so is everything that has a similar correspondence; because the
Itch in itself has a correspondence with adultery...' [ibid, p.137]
'How long can this thing go on before the human race is swept from the earth with the results of the suppression
of Psora?' [ibid, pp.137-8]
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
'Psora is the beginning of all physical sickness... is the underlying cause and is the primitive or primary disorder
of the human race.' [ibid, p.126]
'...for it goes to the very primitive wrong of the human race, the very first sickness of the human race that is the
spiritual sickness...which in turn laid the foundation for other diseases. [ibid, p.126]
I think it is abundantly clear from these quotes that Kent took a very puritanical and moral line about the origins of
disease within the human race and he apparently felt that Psora was equivalent to Original Sin or the Fall of Man.
Hahnemann also pointed out the origins of his theory and the remedies that he decided had the power to eradicate the
symptoms of a particular miasm.
The lists of miasmic remedies that Kent gives on page 1406 of his Repertory are as follows:
SYPHILIS : Arg-m., Ars-i., ars-s-f., ars., asaf., Aur-m-n., Aur-m., Aur., bad., benz-
ac., calc-i., calc-s., carb-an., carb-v., cinnb., clem., con., cor-r., crot-h., fl-
ac., guai., hep., iod., kali-ar., kali-bi., kali-chl., Kali-i., Kali-s., lach., led., Merc-
c., Merc-i-f., Merc-i-r., Merc., mez., Nit-ac., petr., ph-
ac., phos.,Phyt., sars., Sil., staph., Still., sul-i., sulph., Syph., thuj.
SYCOSIS : Agar., alum., alumn., anac., ant-c., ant-t., apis., aran., Arg-m., Arg-
n., aster., aur-m., aur., bar-c., bry., calc., carb-an., carb-s., carb-v., caust.,cham., cinnb.,
con., dulc., euphr., ferr., fl-ac., graph., hep., iod., kali-c., Kali-
s., lach., lyc., mang., Med., merc., mez., Nat-s., Nit-ac., petr., phyt., puls.,
sabin., sars., sec., sel., Sep., sil., Staph., sulph., Thuj.
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
These are exactly the same as the lists given on p86 of Speight's work on the miasms.
To discover the true psoric remedies we must add together the remedies listed in the Repertory for a range of 'psoric'
conditions. This means checking carefully all the symptoms and repertorising for all of them, gradually building up a
master list of remedies that fit Psoric conditions. This exercise was highly recommended by Kent as a sure way of
fixing in the mind the remedies of a particular miasm. It is also an excellent introduction to the miasms generally and is
good for revision purposes. With computer programs like Radar and Cara this task become a lot easier than it was in
Kent's or Hahnemann's day.
Taking some of Hahnemann's list of psoric conditions given above we can find the corresponding remedies as follows:
Acet-ac., Agar., ant-t., ars-i., ars., bar-m., brom., bufo., Calc-p., calc-
Phthisis (Kent p879) :
s., Calc., carb-an., carb-s., carb-v., card-m., chlor., con.,dros., dulc., elaps., ferr-i., ferr-
p., fl-ac., graph., guai., Hep., hippoz., Iod., kali-ar., Kali-c., kali-n., kali-p., Kali-
s., kreos., lac-d., lach., led., Lyc., med.,merc., mill., myrt., nat-a., nat-m., nit-ac., ol-j., ox-
ac., petr., ph-ac., Phos., plb., Psor., Puls.,
samb., sang., Senec., seneg., sep., Sil., Spong., Stann., still., sul-
ac., Sulph., Ther., Tub., Zinc.
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
Hayfever (Kent p326) :
Ail., All-c., ars-i., ars., arum-t., Arund., bad., brom., carb-
v., cycl., dulc., euphr., gels., iod., kali-bi., kali-i., kali-p., lach., naja.,Nat-m., nux-
v., Psor., puls., ran-b., Sabad., sang., sil., Sin-n., stict., teucr., wye.
Diabetes (Kent p691) : Acet-ac.,all-s., alumn., am-c., aml-n., arg-m., ars., benz-
ac., Bov., calc-p., calc., camph., carb-ac., carb-v., chel., chin-
a., chin.,coff., colch., conv., cupr., cur., elaps., ferr-m., Helon., hep., iris., kali-chl., kali-
n., kali-p., kreos., lac-d., lach., lact-ac., lec., lith., Lyc., lycps., lyss., mag-
s., med., morph., mosch., nat-s., nit-ac., op., petr., Ph-ac., Phos., pic-
ac., Plb., podo., rat., sal-ac., sec., sil., sul-ac., sulph., Tarent., Ter., thuj., Uran., zinc.
Varices lower limbs (Kent p1223) : Ambr.,
arg-n., Arn., ars., calc-f., calc-p., Calc., carb-
s., Carb-v., card-m., caust., clem., crot-h., ferr-ar., ferr., Fl-ac.,graph., Ham., hep., kali-
ar., kreos., lac-c., lach., Lyc., Lycps., nat-m., plb., Puls., sabin., sars., sil., spig., sul-
ac., sulph., thuj., vip., Zinc.
Eczema (Kent p1312) : Alum., am-c., am-m., anac., ant-c., arg-n., Ars-i., Ars., astac., aur-
m., aur., Bar-m., bell., bor., brom., bry., calad., Calc-s., Calc., canth., carb-ac., carb-
s., carb-v., caust., Cic., clem., cop., Crot-t., cycl., Dulc., fl-ac., Graph., Hep.,
hydr., iris., Jug-c., Jug-r., kali-ar., kali-bi., kali-c.,kali-chl., kali-s., lach., Lappa-m.,
led., lith., lyc., merc., Mez., nat-m., nat-p., nat-s., nit-ac., Olnd., Petr.,
phos., phyt., Psor., ran-b., Rhus-t., rhus-v.,sars., sep., sil., staph., Sul-
i., Sulph., thuj., viol-t.
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
Psoriasis (Kent p1316) : Alum., am-c., ambr., Ars-i., ars., aur., bor., bry., bufo., calc-
s., calc., canth., carb-ac., chin., clem., cor-r., cupr., dulc., iod., iris.,kali-ar., kali-br., kali-
c., kali-p., kali-s., led., lob., Lyc., mag-c., mang., merc-c., merc-i-r., merc., mez., nit-
ac., nuph., petr., ph-ac., phos., Phyt., psor.,puls., ran-b., rhus-
t., sarr., sars., Sep., sil., sulph., tell., teucr., thuj.
Herpetic skin eruptions (Kent p1312) : Acet-ac.,agar., alum., am-c., ambr.,
anac., anan., apis., ars-i., Ars., aster., aur., bar-c., bar-m., bell., berb.,
bor.,Bov., bry., bufo., cadm., calad., Calc-s., Calc., caps., carb-an., Carb-s., carb-
v., caust., chel., cic., cist., Clem., cocc., com., Con., crot-h., crot-t., cupr., cycl.,
dol., Dulc., Graph., grat., hell., hep., hyos., iod., iris., kali-ar., kali-c., kali-chl., kali-
i., kali-n., kali-p., kali-s., kalm., kreos., lac-c., lach., led., Lyc., mag-c., mag-m., manc.,
mang., Merc., mez., mosch., mur-ac., nat-a., nat-c., Nat-m., nat-p., nat-s., nit-ac., nux-
v., olnd., par., petr., ph-ac., phos., plb.,psor., puls., ran-b., ran-s., Rhus-t., rob., rumx.,
ruta., sabad., sars., Sep., Sil., spig., spong., squil., stann., staph., sul-ac., Sulph.,
tarax., Tell., teucr., thuj., valer., viol-t., zinc.
The idea is then to compact this data down by deleting all those remedies that only occur once or twice and then
totalling up all the scores until we get a master list of 40 or so highest scoring remedies. It is these that are the major
Psoric remedies. In essence, this is the method Hahnemann himself used to establish both the miasms and their
corresponding remedies.
Since the 1950's it has been claimed that Tuberculosis and Cancer have developed into new miasms in their own right,
most probably as offshoots of what Hahnemann termed the 'Hydra headed Psora miasm' (The Chronic Diseases, p14).
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
59 symptoms and major conditions were selected and repertorised using Kent's Rep. The symptoms were as follows:
TB (p879), TB incipient (p879), TB pituitous (p879), scabies (p1318), pso riasis (p1316), dandruff (p114), hair loss
(p120), leprosy (p1314), cancer (p1346), cancer lupus (p1346), leukaemia (p1370), diabetes (p691), cataract (p236),
blindness (p281), long sightedness (p280), short sightedness (p283), lack of reaction (p1397), takes cold easily (p1349),
swollen neck glands (p474), indurated glands neck (p472), swollen tonsils (p469), swollen axillary glands (p880 1),
buboes (p541), goitre (pp471), tooth decay (p431), deafness (p323), insanity (p56), asthma (p763), liver (p563),
haemorrhoids (p619), itching anus (p622), offensive stools (p640), varicosities (p1223), numbness (limbs p1035),
chilblains (p955), sweaty feet (p1183), offensive foot sweats (p1183), halitosis (p409), nasal crusts (p330), perianal
moisture (p623), hayfever (p326), foul flatus (p618), cracking joints (p970), worms (p634), ulcers on legs (p1231),
ringworm, Haemoptysis (p813), Hydrocephalus (p128), Stomach ulcers (p531), Scrotal swelling (p712), Jaundice
(p1307), Dysuria (p656), Eczema (p1312), Psoriasis (p1316), Herpetic skin eruptions (p1312), Crusty skin eruptions
(p1310), pleurisy (p836), epilepsy, swollen inguinal glands (p603),
These symptoms were chosen as they are in the list given by Hahnemann as of 'latent psora' or they are major diseases
of modern life, which I have assumed to be predominantly more psoric than syph or sycotic. I have assumed, like
Hahnemann, that they are derived from suppressed scabies, leprosy or plague. They are disorders mentioned in
Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases as often being the products of suppressed itch, or they are skin disorders in their own
right. To an extent one major justification for choosing these symptoms is that they have all increased during for
choosing these symptoms is that they have all increased during this century, which many take to be a confirmation of
the Psora doctrine. The symptoms come from Chronic Diseases pp52 77 and include the expanded list he gives plus
those listed by Juncker. Also included are those symptoms as major past or present diseases. All of these are assumed
to be broadly psoric in accordance with Hahnemann's descriptions of the miasm.
If the symptoms used in this analysis are truly psoric; if Kent's Repertory is generally accurate; if the scoring system
adopted here is OK; and if Hahnemann's list, expanded list, the assertions of Juncker and my own observations
regarding Psorinum and conditions are all correct then the following remedies cannot be seriously considered as being
truly Psoric remedies.
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
These are Am m, anac, ant t, arg m, aur m, borax, bovista, bromium, camphor, cantharis, carb ac, cistus, clematis,
occculus, colchicum, colocynthis, crot h, digitalis, euphorbium, ferrum, ferr phos, guaj, kali chlor, kali nit, ledum, mag
carb, mag mur, manganum, merc c, mur ac, nat ars, nat phos, platina, podophy, sang, sarsap, secale, selenium, spigelia,
spongia, tarantula, veratrum. They are important remedies but they are not truly psoric.
This exercise now reduces Hahnemann's original list of 47 antipsorics to 32. It is possible that Hahnemann based his
list of 47 on what he knew about them at that time. He simply fitted maybe? the symptoms of latent psora to those
remedies he had proved at that time. The result was his list of 47.
I believe the claims made above are correct and that the remedies listed are not antipsorics. If a remedy is incapable of
scoring more than 22 points out of a maximum of 120, then it cannot seriously be considered to cover that range and
depth of major human diseases and is thus NOT a very profound remedy. And to be considered psoric a remedy must
be profound. It must cover the major diseases of humanity as well as the symptoms of latent psora.
agar, alum, anac, ant c, ant t, apis, arg m, ars, ars i, ambr, aur, bar c, bar m, bov, brom, bry, bufo, CALC, calc p, calc s,
canth, carb ac, carb an, carb s, carb v, caust, cham, chel, chin, cist, cocc, colch, con, crot h, cupr, dulc, fl ac, graph, hep,
iod, kali ar, kali ci, kali carb, kali i, kali p, kali s, kreos, LACH, led, LYC, mag c, mag m, med, merc, merc c, mez, nat
ar, nat c, nat m, nat p, nat s, nit ac, nux, petr, ph ac, PHOS, phyt, plat, plmb, podoph, psor, Puls, sang, sec, sep, SIL,
spig, spong, stann, staph, SULPH, sul ac, tarent, thuja, tub, verat a, zinc.
However, this is not the full results for the entire run. It just indicates the main thrust. There are many remedies here
that fail to match up in range or depth to our expectations of a truly psoric remedy.
An alternative method using the page-length entry of the entry of each remedy in Hahnemann gives the following:
agar, alumina, am c, anac, ant c, ARS, aur, aur m, bar c, CALC, carb an, CARB V, caust, con, cupr, dulc, graph, hep,
iod, KALI C, LYC, mag c, mag m, mez, nat c, nat m, NIT AC, petr, PHOS, ph ac, plat, SEP, SIL, stann, SUL, sul ac,
zinc
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
Two other problem about miasms relate to a) where the miasms are stored and what they actually are and b) to how the
miasms can be used in practice. On the first point it may be that the miasms are archetypes in the unconscious mind, or
it may be that they are stored in the DNA or some other large molecule within the organism. These are just
possibilities. Many would say 'what does it matter?'
On the point about the use of miasms in treatment, many people routinely give the corresponding nosode. For example
to a child born with syphilitic skin vesicles, they might give Syphilinum rather than the simillimum say Merc. This
would tend to be seen as an inappropriate use of the miasm concept, as the simillimum is what the patient needs, not the
nosode. The routine use of Psorinum, Medorrhinum and Syphilinum is in general frowned upon because it is the
simillimum that the patient needs and that will cure. Certainly the nosodes can do good work, but it should be used
when it be comes the simillimum not just routinely.
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
Physician Name : Dr. PRAFULL KUMAR
Date : 14/05/2020
Remedy Mer Sulp Nit Cal Thu He Pso Grap Au Kali Ar Carb Ly Io Me
c h -ac c j p r h r -i s -an c d d
Totality 31 26 25 24 22 20 20 18 18 18 16 16 16 14 14
Symptoms Covered 13 11 11 10 11 10 10 10 9 9 9 7 6 9 5
[Complete ] [Generalities]Gonorrhea,
4 3 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 4 3 4
sycosis:
[Complete ] [Generalities]Psora: 3 4 3 3 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 0
[Complete ]
[Generalities]Syphilis:Mercury, after 3 1 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 3 0 4 0 1 0
abuse of:
[Murphy ] [Constitutions]Psoric,
0 4 0 4 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
constitutions :
[Murphy ] [Constitutions]Psoric,
constitutions :Patient, emits a 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
disagreeable odor :
[Boger ] [Generalities]Sycosis: 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
Miasm rubrics in various repertories
[Boger ] [Generalities]Syphilis: 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
[Boger ] [Supplimentary
1 2 0 2 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
references]Psora:
[Clarke ] [Temperaments]Psoric
0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
constitutions:
[Clarke ] [Temperaments]Sycosis: 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
[Clarke ] [Temperaments]Sycotic or
lithic diathesis:Dark-haired persons 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
of:
[Clarke ] [Temperaments]Sycotic or
0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
lithic diathesis:Persons:
[Clarke ] [Temperaments]Sycotic or
lithic diathesis:Subjects esp. nervous 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
affections of:
[Clarke ]
[Temperaments]Syphilis:Subjects of, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
hereditary or acquired:
[Clarke ] [Temperaments]Syphilis:Old
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
cases of:
[Clarke ]
1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
[Temperaments]Syphilitic:Subjects:
[Clarke ]
[Temperaments]Syphilitic:Subjects:W 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ho are sensitive to damp weather:
[Clarke ]
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
[Temperaments]Syphilitic:Taint: