Types of repertories in homoeopathy definition types and examples of it
Reading File
Finding Sources
Searching the Web
types of repertories in homoeopathy definition classification examples
Reading Web Page
https://www.homeobook.com/classification-of-homeopathic-repe…
Finding Sources
Here is a thorough, well-organized guide to types of repertories in homoeopathy:
Types of Repertories in Homoeopathy
Definition
A repertory in homoeopathy is a systematic, indexed reference book that lists symptoms (physical, mental, and general) alongside the remedies known to produce or cure those symptoms. It serves as the "index" to the Materia Medica - where Materia Medica describes each remedy in detail, the repertory allows the practitioner to work in reverse: starting from the patient's symptoms to arrive at the indicated remedy.
The word "repertory" comes from the Latin repertorium, meaning "a storehouse or inventory."
There are over 200 repertories currently in existence, each designed for a different purpose or philosophy.
Classification of Repertories
Repertories are classified at three levels:
LEVEL 1 - Classification by Overall Appearance
1. Book Repertories
The most common form. Available in printed/bound book format.
- Advantages: Numerous, cost-effective, portable, easy to use
- Disadvantages: Difficult to update, may use outdated terminology, difficult to choose from among many
- Examples: Kent's Repertory, Boericke's Repertory, Boenninghausen's Repertory
2. Card Repertories
A special format where symptoms and remedies are recorded on individual cards, allowing physical sorting and selection.
- Designed to speed up repertorization by physically grouping cards for selected symptoms
- Examples: Kishore's Cards
3. Software / Computer Repertories
Digital repertories that run on computers and allow rapid repertorization with search and cross-referencing features.
- Advantages: Fast, accurate, easily updated, can cross-reference multiple repertories simultaneously
- Examples: CARA, RADAR, Hompath, MacRepertory
LEVEL 2 - Classification by Internal Formatting
1. Schematic Repertories
Symptoms are arranged in a schema (body parts from head to foot, mind, generals, etc.)
- Examples: Kent's Repertory, Synthesis
2. Repertories with No Distinct Philosophy (Concordance Repertories)
These maintain symptoms exactly as described by provers or clinicians, without reorganizing them under a philosophical framework. They preserve the purity of the original proving language.
- Examples:
- Knerr's Repertory of Hering's Guiding Symptoms
- Gentry's Concordance Repertory
LEVEL 3 - Classification by Group Characteristics (Most Practical)
This is the most useful classification for selecting the right repertory for a given case.
A. General Repertories
Cover the entire range of symptoms - mind, generals, and particulars - for all body systems. They are "logical utilitarian" repertories used for individualization.
i. Based on Deductive Logic (Generals to Particulars)
- General symptoms (mind, generals) are given higher importance than particular symptoms
- Case analysis proceeds from generals down to particulars
- Examples:
- Kent's Repertory of Homoeopathic Materia Medica (J.T. Kent) - the most widely used; first published around 1900; e.g., "Anxiety" has 417 remedies; "Anxiety, morning" has 54; "Anxiety, morning, on waking" has 30
- Synthesis (Frederik Schroyens) - most commonly used modern book repertory; follows deductive logic
- Lippe's Repertory (Dr. Constantine Lippe)
- Kent's Repertorium Generale (Kunzli)
- Homoeopathic Medical Repertory (Robin Murphy)
ii. Based on Inductive Logic (Particulars to Generals)
- Based on the doctrine of analogy and concomitants
- Particular symptoms lead up to the generals
- Examples:
- Therapeutic Pocket Book (Boenninghausen) - based on "Grand Generalisation"; particulars are elevated to the rank of generals
- Boenninghausen's Characteristics Repertory (C.M. Boger) - based on complete symptom, concomitants, and pathological generals
iii. Based on Clinical Approach
- Organized around disease conditions or clinical diagnoses rather than philosophical symptom hierarchy
- Examples:
- Repertory to Homoeopathic Materia Medica (Oscar E. Boericke) - appended to Boericke's MM
- Clinical Repertory (J.H. Clarke) - covers the whole range clinically
B. Regional Repertories
Focus on a specific region or organ system of the body. Used for reference, not for individualization, but highly specific to that region.
Dealing with Organs/Parts:
- Berridge's Repertory to the Eye - ophthalmology symptoms
- Repertory of the Tongue (Dr. Douglas)
- Minton's Uterus - uterine symptoms
- Kent's Repertory of the Head - head-related symptoms
Dealing with Systems:
- Morgan's Repertory to Urinary Organs - urinary system
- Lilienthal's Homoeopathic Therapeutics - classified by disease conditions affecting various organs
C. Particular Repertories
Deal with particular states, modalities, or specific disease conditions.
Dealing with Particular States/Modalities:
- Repertory to Time Modalities
- Repertory to Thermic Modalities
Dealing with Specific Diseased Conditions:
- Repertory of Diarrhoea (Bell James)
- Repertory of Intermittent Fevers
D. Alphabetical Repertories
Symptoms are arranged in strict alphabetical order. They serve as reference books more than strict repertorization tools.
General Alphabetical:
- Murphy's Repertory (Robin Murphy)
- Pathak's Repertory
Clinical Alphabetical:
- The Prescriber (J.H. Clarke)
Reference:
- Highlights of Homoeopathic Practice (T.P. Chatterjee)
E. Concordance Repertories
Maintain the exact wording of symptoms as recorded by provers and clinicians, without philosophical reorganization. They are cross-references between different Materia Medicas.
- Repertory of Concordance (Kneer)
- Knerr's Repertory (based on Hering's Guiding Symptoms)
F. Comparative Repertories
Allow side-by-side comparison of remedies and their symptoms across different Materia Medicas.
- Comparative Repertory of Homoeopathic Materia Medica (Docks & Kockelenberg)
G. Pathogenic Repertories
Based entirely on drug provings (pathogenesis), listing only symptoms produced by remedies in healthy provers.
- Repertory to Cyclopedia of Drug Pathogenesy (Richard Hughes)
H. Reference Repertories
Simplified, condensed repertories for quick remedy selection.
- Select Your Remedy (Biswamber Das)
I. Therapeutic Digests
Combine therapeutic and pathological information for disease-based prescribing.
- Raue's Special Pathology and Therapeutics
Summary Table
| Type | Basis | Key Example |
|---|---|---|
| General - Deductive | Generals to particulars | Kent's Repertory |
| General - Inductive | Particulars to generals | Therapeutic Pocket Book (Boenninghausen) |
| General - Clinical | Clinical diagnosis | Boericke's Repertory |
| Regional | Organ/system specific | Berridge's Eye Repertory |
| Particular | Specific state/disease | Bell's Repertory of Diarrhoea |
| Alphabetical | A-Z symptom order | Murphy's Repertory |
| Concordance | Exact prover language | Knerr's Repertory |
| Comparative | Cross-MM comparison | Docks & Kockelenberg |
| Pathogenic | Drug provings only | Hughes' Repertory |
| Card | Physical card format | Kishore's Cards |
| Computer | Digital software | RADAR, Hompath, CARA |
Key Landmark Repertories at a Glance
| Repertory | Author | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Kent's Repertory | J.T. Kent (~1900) | Most widely used; deductive logic; 3 grades of remedies (bold, italics, plain) |
| Therapeutic Pocket Book | Boenninghausen (1846) | Inductive logic; "Grand Generalisation"; totality via analogy |
| Boger-Boenninghausen | C.M. Boger | Combines complete symptom with concomitants |
| Synthesis | F. Schroyens | Largest modern repertory; most commonly used currently |
| Murphy's Repertory | Robin Murphy | Alphabetical; user-friendly; clinical sections |
| Boericke's Repertory | W. Boericke | Appended to Pocket Manual of MM; clinically oriented |
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.