Review by DrSunila BHMS,MD(Hom)
A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions all over. In human beings, “disease” is often used more broadly to refer to any condition that causes discomfort, dysfunction, distress, social problems, and/or death to the person afflicted, or similar problems for those in contact with the person. In this broader sense, it sometimes includes injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated symptoms, deviant behaviors, and atypical variations of structure and function, while in other contexts and for other purposes these may be considered distinguishable categories.
While many diseases are biological processes with observable alterations of organ function or structure, others primarily involve alterations of behavior.
Causes of disease
- Many different factors intrinsic or extrinsic to a person (or plant or animal) can cause disease.
- Examples of intrinsic factors are genetic defects or nutritional deficiencies.
- An environmental exposure, such as second-hand smoke is an example of an extrinsic factor.
- Many diseases result from a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
- For many diseases, no cause or set of causes has been identified.
There are many different factors that can cause disease. These can be broadly categorized into the following categories such as:
- Social
- Psychological
- Chemical, and
- Biological.
Some factors may fall into more than one category.
Biochemical causes of disease can be considered as a spectrum where at one extreme disease is caused entirely by genetic and at the other extreme is caused entirely by environmental factors. Environmental factors include toxic chemicals and infectious agents (e.g. smallpox virus andpoliovirus).
Related Concepts
The terms disease, disorder, medical condition are often used interchangeably.
Illness, although often used to mean disease, can also refer to a person’s perception of their health, regardless of whether they in fact have a disease. A person without any disease may feel unhealthy and simply have the perception of having a disease. Another person may feel healthy with similar perceptions of perfectly good health. A disease’s cause is referred to as its etiology. The broader body of knowledge about human diseases and their treatments is medicine. Many similar (and a few of the same) conditions or processes can affect non-human animals (wild or domestic). The study of diseases affecting animals is veterinary medicine.
Global Disease Burden
This chart, compiled in 2002 from the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease shows an overview of the impact of various classifications of disease, segregated by regions with low and high mortality:
Disease chapter in murphy’s repertory
Homoeopathic Medical Repertory by Robin Murphy represents the experimental & therapeutic database for the practice of homoeopathic medicine.
Dr. Robin Murphy was born on August 15, 1950 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He carried out his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. There he discovered their homeopathic collection and became intrigued with the system it described.
In 1976 he entered the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM), on a Hahnemann Scholarship. While at the school he studied with Dr. Ravi Sahni and Dr. John Bastyr. He directed the homeopathy program at NCNM from 1980-1984. He also taught at Bastyr University.
Dr. Murphy was one of the earliest seminar teachers and is responsible for introducing many people to homeopathy. He takes a practical approach to homeopathic education, bringing clarity to the interrelation between philosophy, Materia Medica, and Repertory work.
He published the Homeopathic Medical Repertory in 1993 and the Lotus Materia Medica in 1996. He is the director of the Hahnemann Academy of North America which sponsors seminars on homeopathy and natural medicine.
Homoeopathic Medical Repertory by Robin Murphy
The general information contained in the Homoeopathic Medical Repertory is derived from the following sources: history, provings, clinical practice, research, physiology & toxicology. All of the Kent’s Repertory & large sections of Kneer’s Repertory were used as the foundation of Murphy’s Repertory. Seventy chapters were created & arranged in alphabetical order from the original 37 chapters. All the rubrics & subrubrics are arranged in alphabetical order; thus simplified the Kent’s complicated system of arranging rubrics & subrubrics.
The formatting for the Homoeopathic Medical Repertory is similar to Kent’s Repertory with the strongest remedies designated in BOLD CAPITALS (3 points), next, bold italics (2 points) & plain type (1 point).
Murphy’s Repertory now has 70 chapters. Three new chapters were created from the original 67 chapters found in the first edition. These are:Disease, Constitutions & Headache.
Disease Chapter
The new DISEASE chapter contains all the pathological & tissue rubrics from the Generals chapter plus the primary disease & inflammation rubrics from other chapters.
The Disease chapter is full of clinical rubrics. In all other Repertories clinical rubrics are scattered in different chapters. But in this Repertory it is easy to find out the clinical rubrics as these rubrics can be seen in one place i.e. in Disease Chapter. Clinical Rubrics in Disease chapter can also be found in other chapters related with specific regions.
The disease chapter contains:
- Diseases
- Disorders
- Ailments
- Degenerative states
- Tissue changes
- Abscesses
- Allergies
- Atrophy
- Cancers
- Convalescence
- Oedema
- Emaciation
- Growths
- Herpes, infections
- Inflammations
- Miasms
- Organs
- Suppression
- Tumours
Denotations Of Some Of The Rubrics In Disease Chapter
- AFRICAN FEVER: (warthog fever): highly contagious and usually fatal viral disease of swine that is characterized by high fever, lesions, leukopenia (abnormally low count of white blood cells), elevated pulse and respiration rate, and death within four to seven days after the onset of fever. The virus responsible for African swine fever is classified as an iridovirus.
- AMBLYOPIA, OR LAZY EYE, is a disorder of the visual system that is characterized by poor or indistinct vision in an eye that is otherwise physically normal, or out of proportion to associated structural abnormalities. It has been estimated to affect 1–5% of the population.
- AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig‘s Disease, or Maladie de Charcot) is a progressive, usually fatal, neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of motor neurons, the nerve cells in the central nervous system that controlvoluntary muscle movement.
- ATHETOSIS: A derangement marked by ceaseless occurrence of slow, sinuous, writhing movements, especially severe in the hands and performed involuntarily, it may occur after hemiplegia and is then known as posthemiplegic chorea. Synonym: mobile spasm. Origin: Gr. Athetos = not fixed.
- BESNIER-BOEK-SCHAUMANN-MORBUS: Sarcoidosis with systemic granulomatosis.
- COWPOX (also known as Catpox) is a disease of the skin that is caused by a virus known as the Cowpox virus. The pox is related to thevaccinia virus, and got its name from cow maids touching the udders of infected cows. The ailment manifests itself in the form of red blistersand is transmitted by touch from infected animals to humans.
- CELIAC DISEASE is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in products we use every day, such as stamp and envelope adhesive, medicines, and vitamins.
- DUPUYTREN’S CONTRACTURE is a painless thickening and contracture of tissue beneath the skin on the palm of the hand and fingers. Progressive contracture may result in deformity and loss of function of the hand.
- EBOLA is the common term for a group of viruses belonging to genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae, and for the disease which they cause,Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
- EPULIS is the most common benign tumor of the mouth in dogs. It is usually located in the gum tissue near the incisors or canine teeth. It originates in the connective tissue that holds the teeth to the bone of the jaw. The literal translation of “epulis” is “gum boil.”
- NEUROSIS CORDIS: Panic disorder (also known as cardiac neurosis or neurosis cordis) is a mental condition that causes the sufferer to experience sporadic panic attacks, which are episodes of intense and extreme anxiety. A panic event may be triggered by an especially stressful situation, or it may occur for no particular reason. These events usually last for several minutes.
- OSGOOD-SCHLATTER (say: “oz-good shlot-ter”) disease is one of the most common causes of knee pain in young athletes. It causes swelling, pain and tenderness just below the knee, over the shin bone (also called the tibia). It occurs mostly in boys who are having a growth spurt during their pre-teen or teenage years. One or both knees may be affected.
- RIGG’S DISEASE: It is characterized by chronic periodontitis & purulent inflammation of the teeth sockets.
- SCOTOMA (Greek: darkness; plural: “scotomas” or “scotomata“) is an area or island of loss or impairment of visual acuity surrounded by a field of normal or relatively well-preserved vision.
Important rubrics in disease chapter
ABSCESS, suppuration: ANTHR, ARN, CALC-I, CALC-S, CALEN, HEP, LACH, MERC, MYRIS, PHOS, SIL.
- absorption of pus: LACH.
- acute: HEP, MERC, SIL.
- burning: ANTHR, ARS, TARENT-C.
- chronic: HEP.
ACETONEMIA, blood, in child: phenob.
ACETONURIA: calc-mur, caust, insulin, senn.
ACID, diseases: children suffering from excess of lactic acid, resulting from overfeeding of milk or sugar nat-p.
ACNE, rosacea: CALC-SIL, CARB-V, CAUST, LACH, PSOR, RHUS-T.
ACNE, vulgaris: AUR, CARB-AN, CARB-S, CARB-V, CAUST, HEP, KALI-BR, NUX-V, SEP, SIL.
ACROMEGALY: bar-c.
ACTINOMYCOSIS: nit-ac.
ACUTE diseases, weakness during or after: ARS, CARC, CHIN, CHIN-A, GELS, PH-AC, SIL.
ADENITIS, glands: BAR-M, BELL, CALC, CARC, MERC, PHOS, PHYT, SULPH.
ADENOIDS, problems: bar-c, bar-m, calc, carc, thuj, tub.
AEROPHAGIA, excessive swallowing of air: plat.
AFRICAN FEVER: TER.
A.I.D.S., acquired immune deficiency syndrome: ARS, MED, MERC, THUJ.
ALBUMINURIA, proteinuria Pregnancy, during: APIS, MERC-C.
ALLERGIC REACTIONS:
- anaphylaxis, allergic attack: APIS, URT-U.
- asthma: ALL-C, ARS, IOD, THUJ, ALL-C.
- hives & swelling, with: APIS, ARS, ASTAC, HIST, LED, NAT-M, RHUST, SULPH, URT-U.
- rhinitis: ALL-C, ARS, EUPHR, NUX-V.
ALTITUDE, sickness: CALC, CARB-V, COCA, SIL.
AMAUROSIS, optic nerve paralysis, (see Vision, Blindness): BELL, CON, GELS, KALI-I, NAT-M, PHOS, PULS, SEC, SIL, STRAM, SULPH.
AMBLYOPIA, (see Vision chapter): CHIN, GELS, PHOS.
AMPUTATION, pain from: CALEN, COFF, HYPER, PHOS.
AMYOTROPIC lateral sclerosis: PLB.
ANCYLOSTOMIASIS: thymol.
ANEMIA (see Blood chapter): ARS, ARS-S-F, BOR, CALC, CALC-P, CHIN, FERR, FERR-AR, FERR-P, GRAPH, HELL, KALI-AR, KALI-P, MANG, MED, MERC, MOSCH, NAT-M, NIT-AC, PLAT, PLB, PULS, SQUIL, STAPH, SUL-AC, SULPH.
ANEURISM, large arteries: CACT, CALC, CUPR, SPIG.
ANGINA, pectoris (see Chest or Heart): AM-C, APIS, ARG-N, ARN, ARS, AUR, AUR-M, CACT, CHIN-A, LACH, LAT-M, NAJA, OX-AC, PHOS, RHUS-T, SPIG, SPONG.
ANKYLOSING spondylitis: AESC, KALM.
ANOREXIA nervosa: ARS.
refuses to eat: HYOS, KALI-CHL, PH-AC, TARENT, VERAT, VIOL-O.
ANTIBIOTICS, worse from: nit-ac.
APPENDICITIS: BELL, BRY, IRIS-T, MERC-C, PHOS, SIL.
ARTHRITIC , nodosities, joints: APIS, BENZ-AC, CALC, CALC-F, GRAPH, LED, LITH, LYC.
ASCARIDES: BAR-C, CINA, NAT-M, SABAD, TER.
Female genitalia: SABAD.
ASCITIS, dropsy: APIS, APOC, ARS, LYC, TER.
ASPHYXIA: ANT-T, CARB-V, OP.
new born infant: ANT-T, CAMPH, CUPR, LAUR.
ASTHMA: AMBR, ARG-N, ARS, ARS-I, BLATTA, CARC, CUPR, IP, KALI-AR, KALI-C, KALI-N, LOB, NAT-S, PULS, SAMB, SIL, SPONG, STRAM, SULPH, VISC.
- children: ANT-T, ARS, CARC, CHAM, IP, KALI-N, KALI-S, MED, NAT-S, PHOS, PULS, SAMB, TUB.
- vaccination after: ANT-T, THUJ.
CANCER, general: ARS, BROM, CADM-S, CARB-AN, CARC, CON, HYDR, LYC, NIT-AC, PHOS, PHYT, SIL, TRIF-P (Trifolium pratense, Red clover).
- axilla, cancer: ASTER.
- brain, cancer: CON, PHOS.
- breast, cancer: ASTER, BUFO, CARB-AN, CON, CUND, GRAPH, MERC, PHYT, SIL.
- cervix, cancer of uterine cervix: CON.
- chemotherapy, drugs, for side effects of: CADM-S.
- emaciation, with cancer: ARS, HYDR.
- epithelioma: ARS-I, CON, LYC.
- eyes, cancer: CALC, PHOS.
- face, cancer: ARS.
- fear, of cancer: ARS, CALC, CARC, PHOS, PSOR.
- fungus, haematodes: ARS, CARB-AN, LACH, PHOS, SIL, THUJ.
- genitalia, cancer: CON.
- hodgkin’s disease: PHYT, SCROPH-N.
- intestines, cancer: HYDR.
- leukemia, blood: ARS, CARC, NAT-A, NAT-S.
- lips, cancer: CON, CUND.
- liver, cancer: HYDR.
- lupus, carcinomatous: ARS, LYC, THUJ.
- nose, cancer: AUR.
- ovaries, cancer: CON.
- pains, from cancer: ARS, CARC, HYDR.
- pancreas, cancer: CON, HYDR.
- prostate, cancer: CON, THUJ.
- radiation, sickness: CADM-S, SOL.
- rectum, cancer: HYDR.
- skin, cancer, epithelioma: ARS-I, CON, LYC, SOL.
- stomach, cancer: ARS, BISM, CADM-S, CARB-AC, CARB-AN, CON, CUND, HYDR, LYC, ORNITHIOG, PHOS.
- testes, cancer: CON.
- uterus, cancer: ARS, ARS-I, AUR-M-N, CON, GRAPH, HYDR, KREOS, LACH, LYC, MURX, PHOS, SEP, SIL, THUJ.
- vagina, cancer: CON, KREOS.
ZYMOTIC fever: ARN, ARS, BAPT, BRY, CROT-H, ECHI, KALI-P, LACH, LYC, MUR-AC, PYROG, RHUS-T.
Other references:
Dr Sunila BHMS,MD(Hom)
Email : babuabau@gmail.com
It is interesting to see how medical doctors keep on doing what they have learned on medical school, ignoring the true basis of disease in homeopathy, i.e. Organon, par. 72 to 80. Here Hahnemann divided diseases in:
-Acutes, subdivided in: individual and collective diseases
-Chronic diseases, subdivided in: iatrogenic, pseudo (avoidable) chronic and miasmatic diseases.
This is an essential classification of diseases which includes all forms of disease
With this “toolkit”, called Disease Classification, it is possible to cure most acute and chronic diseases if you follow Hahnemann’s directions carefully.