Taking the Case
TAKING THE CASE - ACUTES
Sometimes acute cases have to be taken on the telephone but it is always best to try and be present with the individual as this will certainly give you a clearer picture of what is going on with them. Either way, these are the basic necessities of an acute case.
Take all contact details – such as name, address, contact number, age, gender. If you take the case by phone make sure you have the details of the person who is relating the case to you (if not the client themselves), also try to make sure you speak with the same person each time to keep continuity and reliability of information. If you are not communicating with the actual client then try to make sure the person you are getting information from knows the client well enough to give reliable details.
QUESTIONS
What is the presenting complaint
Where is the location of the complaint
What is the type of pain or sensations experienced
Does this extend anywhere, if so, are there any changes during the extension
When did the illness begin
How did it begin – is there a known causation, was it sudden or slow
Is there any fever or chill – if so, describe
Is there any pattern to the illness that is evolving
What are the modalities – what makes it better or worse, times of occurrence, duration of occurrence, times of day or night, what are the reactions to temperatures, bathing, light and dark, noise, being covered or uncovered, having company or not, having consolation or not, positions which ameliorate or aggravate, rest and motion, touch or pressure, anything else which ameliorates or aggravates
Are there any tendencies to this illness – if so, take the details of previous occurrences
What medication, if any, is the individual taking
Is the client already being treated with Homeopathy
Has their appetite changed – if so take details + details of what they might be craving or are now averse to – ask specifically about certain foods if nothing is forthcoming – include ice, sour, sweet, salty, spicy, fat, rich, comforting, hot, cold, thirst, sips or gulps, quantity, type of liquid etc. Ascertain the changes from their usual diet.
Are there any concomitant symptoms – if so, take all details and include location, sensations, extensions and modalities
Is there any sweat or any other type of discharge – if so, take details
What is their sleep quality like, any dreams
Is there anything else in the case which is characteristic or strange, rare and peculiar
Take note of the person's reaction to their location - sensitivities, state of mind and emotions, reactions to others a round them, whether active and alert of weak and submissive (or ask the chief carer’s observations)
What are their general energy levels like and how are they coping overall with the condition.
This really should give you enough detail to repertorise and find the remedy and select the appropriate potency and dose.
Arrange to communicate as and when necessary once the remedy has been prescribed.
SIGNS OF CHANGE
After giving a remedy the Homeopath is confronted with assessing the action of the remedy. There are favourable and unfavourable signs to understand.
GOOD SIGNS =
. in acute disease an immediate or at least noticeable change
. in acute disease if the person falls asleep soon after taking the remedy
. in chronic disease there is a homeopathic aggravation, a return of old symptoms, a general amelioration of symptoms, the appearance of new symptoms if accompanied by general improvement
. in chronic disease if there is a greater degree of comfort, increased calm and a general feeling of being well, even if experiencing a homeopathic aggravation.
BAD SIGNS =
. the discomfort continues and gets worse (make sure this is not a homeopathic aggravation)
. the person becomes helpless, despairing and pitiable (and this was not part of the previous state)
. when there is no change at all (but you have to be sure that no antidoting or sluggishness is occurring and that ‘maintaining causes’ are not to blame)
. when an aggravation persists with no amelioration on any level.
HOMEOPATHY FOR CHILDREN
When prescribing for children much consideration is given to the parents. The younger the child the less their individuality has been able to impress itself and the more they will be creatures of their parents and also of their health inheritance. The common childhood illnesses, such as Measles, Chicken Pox etc, are efforts to throw off any inherited disadvantages and are considered a good sign. An absence of childhood illness is a sign of poor development.
It is important to study the family medical history and also the history of the pregnancy and birth. You need to develop a tactful relationship with the parent/s as you may need to question them at length and even prescribe for them as well as the child.
Take into consideration the parental expectations of their children especially how they are expected to behave emotionally.
Babies are often over stimulated and therefore easily become sleepless and stressed.
Consider whether a remedy is really necessary.
A lot of information can be got just from observing very young children. If the child is older it is important to relate to their interests, they will open up much quicker if you do.
A thorough understanding of miasms will help to interpret the case taking information.
You also need to be aware of all the 'normal' stages of childhood development and vaccination schedules.
PROBLEMS IN THE CLIENT/HOMEOPATH RELATIONSHIP
. you are too sympathetic and become too involved with your client, thus you do not observe objectively
. you are only treating friends and relatives and cannot be objective enough or they won't open up enough to you
. you associate too much with the client's remedy
. the case is not going well so you begin to withdraw from the client's needs
. you have problems with your own health and become too distracted and cannot 'listen' adequately to the client
. the case isn't moving along and you wait too long in referrng the client to another homeopath
. the client is taking a lot of allopathic drugs and you get over concerned about this without going forward with the case
. you concentrate too much on giving advice to the client which can be both invasive and inappropriate
. you become attracted to the client
. you get too anxious about finding the correct remedy and the client picks up on this
. you let the client control the consultation and you do not get the required information about the case
. you are too emotional about the client's health instead of objectively incorporating the symptoms into the case taking
. the client has come to see you only because they have been told to and they are uncooperative
. the client wants to buy you an expensive gift as a thank you
. you just cannot relate to each other
. you make judgments about the client's lifestyle
. you feel intimidated by the client for some reason.
Every Homeopath has a problem with at least one of these aspects of client/prescriber relationship. Try to eliminate these problems within your practice. Recognising that there might be a problem is half the problem solved.
Further Case Taking Notes to download
location - sensation - extension - modalities - causation - concomitants
always recognise what needs to be cured
grade symptoms
always be curious
read the organon
