Idiosyncrasy and Allergy: Exploring Their Overlaps, Differences, and Homoeopathic Implications

Dr Hassan Talat Azharul

Definition:
Allergy is “a hypersensitivity reaction initiated by specific immunologic mechanism” either IgE or non-IgE mediated.¹

As per homoeopathy – Allergy is a morbid susceptibility of the deranged vital force, just like any other condition of illness or ailment is”.² According to Hahnemann, allergens are inimical, dynamic influences which are atmospheric, thermic, telluric, and geographic which aligns with the modern scientific theory of allergies.³

The term “idiosyncrasy” originates from the Greek words “idios,” meaning “one’s own,” and “sun-krasis,” meaning “mixture” or “temperament.” Essentially, an idiosyncrasy refers to a unique physical or behavioural trait that distinguishes an individual from others. ⁴

Historical origin:
The term Allergy was introduced in 1906 by Austrian pediatrician Clemes Von Pirquet which means other/different/strange reactions/activity in Greek.⁵

Way before 1906, many historical anecdotes can be found in literature starting from Father of Medicine, Hippocrates itself who coined the term idiosyncrasy for illnesses related to asthma and eczema in his book- Treatise of air, water and places. He also mentioned the respiratory troubles of blacksmiths and stonemasons (now called occupational allergy) and various untoward reactions to dairy products in few individuals.⁶

Allergy and Idiosyncrasy in Homoeopathy: Long before Von Pirquet’s work, homoeopathic literature recognized allergic diseases under the broader concept of idiosyncrasy.

Hahnemann stated Idiosyncrasies in § 117 as “peculiar corporeal constitutions which although otherwise healthy, possess a disposition to be brought into a more or less morbid state by certain things which seem to produce no impression and no change in many other individuals”. He also cited examples, in the Footnote 95 – including fainting from the smell of roses, and adverse reactions to foods like mussels and crabs.⁷

According to J.T. Kent, idiosyncrasy is an oversensitivity to one thing or a few things. For instance – hay fever, rose cold, patient cannot bear smell of flowers, lavender flowers in particular etc. This oversensitivity can be chronic or acute, resulting from chronic or acute miasms.

Kent emphasizes the importance of idiosyncrasy in determining susceptibility to remedies. Some individuals are highly sensitive to multiple stimuli, while others may exhibit sensitivity only when you go away from the plane of nutrition into the plane of dynamics, i.e, only by homoeopathically potentised remedy.

Idiosyncrasies can be inherited or acquired, with acquired cases often resulting from previous exposure to a substance (anaphylaxis?) and are amenable to treatment whereas the inherited one’s are the most difficult to treat. Kent attributes inherited and acquired idiosyncrasies to the psoric miasm, citing hay fever as an example that requires anti-psoric treatment alongside allergen avoidance.⁸

According to Stuart Close, idiosyncrasy refers to an individual’s unique constitutional peculiarity, inherited or acquired, making them abnormally susceptible to various agents, influences and not merely drug substances. Examples are unusual reactions to specific foods (e.g., apples, fish, onions) or sensitivities to distinct smells (e.g., violets, lavender). These peculiarities, when properly interpreted, can serve as important indications for remedies, helping to individualize cases and differentiate between similar remedies. Stuart Close illustrates this with a case where the symptom “aggravation from onions” led to the successful prescription of Thuja.⁹

According to J.H. Allen, idiosyncrasy encompasses physical, mental, or moral peculiarities that can influence an individual’s desires, fears, and behaviours. These unique characteristics can manifest temporarily or permanently, often due to inherited or acquired factors. Idiosyncrasies can be triggered by specific substances, such as certain foods, environmental factors, or atmospheric changes e.g, some individuals may experience urticaria (hives) after consuming specific types of seafood, such as shellfish, or certain vegetables and fruits, including strawberries, asparagus, and oatmeal. Idiosyncrasy is distinct from health, and individuals exhibiting these peculiarities require anti-miasmatic treatment. Allen views idiosyncrasy as a “bad habit” of the organism or mind, often rooted in underlying miasmatic influences, such as psora or tuberculosis. He emphasizes the connection between idiosyncrasy and predisposition, suggesting that individuals with idiosyncrasies are more susceptible to disease.¹⁰

Inference:
All stalwarts have included hay fever (One of the commonest form of allergy) as an example of idiosyncrasy. However, they also included other non allergic responses such as individual’s desires, fears, adverse drug reactions and behaviours in idiosyncrasy. Thus, Idiosyncrasy encompasses a broad range of individualized reactions to various substances, including non-immune-mediated responses along with immune mediated response. In contrast, allergy typically involves immune-mediated reactions to specific allergens, often characterized by an IgE antibody response. As opposed to the views of many stalwarts, who differentiate between allergy and idiosyncrasy, suggesting that the former requires treatment while the latter occurs in healthy individuals without needing treatment, our current insight of these phenomena has evolved due to a deeper understanding of the underlying pathophysiological process. Ultimately, while idiosyncrasy and allergy share certain similarities, they remain distinct conditions, both of which may benefit from appropriate treatment. Furthermore, as illustrated by examples from Hahnemann, Kent, and Close and Allen, it can be observed that all allergies exhibit idiosyncratic characteristics, whereas not all idiosyncratic reactions are necessarily allergic.

 Adaptability of Idiosyncrasy in Homoeopathic treatment:

1. The unique reactive tendencies of idiosyncratic individuals provide valuable insights into the pathogenetic effects of drugs i.e drug proving. Even rare symptoms, often absent in standard provers, may appear in idiosyncratic individuals.(§ 116) As H.A. Roberts states, “Idiosyncratic individuals are the best provers for the drugs to which they are idiosyncratic.” This heightened sensitivity allows physicians to better understand the distinct, disease-inducing properties of certain medicines.¹¹
2. Idiosyncratic reactions are produced in certain individuals only because of inherent power of the influencing substance and the capability of the vital force of the individual to be influenced by that substance. However, when these substance/agent are used as remedies they give effectual homoeopathic services to all the sick persons for that same symptom. He also cites its example in the foot note 96, second footnote to § 117, that Princes Maria Porphyroghnita, sprinkled rose water on his brother to restore his brother Emperor Alexius from fainting, i.e. she used the rose water as a remedy for his sick brother for fainting who was otherwise not idiosyncratic to the smell of rose.⁷

3. A substance that causes idiosyncratic sensitivity in a individual can sometimes be used in high potencies to treat or reduce their reaction to it.

Kent explains that idiosyncrasy to a particular remedy makes an individual more susceptible to its curative effects. Thus, if there exist no susceptibility, there won’t be idiosyncrasy and no homoeopathy.⁸

 References:

1. Johansson SGO, Bieber T, Dahl R, et al. Revised nomenclature for allergy for global use: report of the nomenclature review committee of the World Allergy Organization. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 May;113(5):832-6.
2. Hahnemann S. Organon of the art of healing. Philadelphia: Boericke and Tafel; 1833. p. 99, §12.
3. Hahnemann S. Organon of the art of healing. Philadelphia: Boericke and Tafel; 1833. p. 152, § 73
4. WikiDoc Contributors. Idiosyncrasy [Internet]. WikiDoc; [updated 2023; cited 2024 Nov 22]. Available from: https://www.wikidoc.org
5. Huber B. 100 Jahre Allergie: Clemens von Pirquet – sein Allergiebegriff und das ihm zugrunde liegende Krankheitsverständnis [100 years of allergy: Clemens von Pirquet – his idea of allergy and its immanent concept of disease]. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2006;118(19-20):573-9. German. doi: 10.1007/s00508-006-0701-3. PMID: 17136331.
6. Florian Y. History of allergies [Internet]. Fondation Ipsen; Available from: https://www.fondation-ipsen.org/podcast/history-of-allergies/
7. Hahnemann S. Organon of the art of healing. Philadelphia: Boericke and Tafel; 1833. p. 183-184, §117
8. Kent JT. Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy. 1st ed. Chicago: Ehrhart & Karl; 1921.
9. Close S. The Genius of Homeopathy: Lectures and Essays on Homeopathic Philosophy. 1st ed. New Delhi: Indian Books & Periodicals Publishers; 1990.
10. Allen JH. The Chronic Miasms: Psora and Pseudopsora. Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel; 1904.
11. Hahnemann S. Organon of the art of healing. Philadelphia: Boericke and Tafel; 1833, §116.

Dr Hassan Talat Azharul
P.G. Scholar, Department of Homoeopathic Repertory and Case Taking
Government Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Bhopal.
Email : Hassantalat4@gmail.com