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According to The Principles and art of cure by homeopathy. H.A Roberts describe the chapter 32 :Homeopathic therapeutics in the field of endocrinology

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Chapter XXXII: Homoeopathic Therapeutics in the Field of Endocrinology

H. A. Roberts, The Principles and Art of Cure by Homoeopathy, pp. 249-266

Roberts presents endocrinology through a classical homeopathic framework. The chapter was added in the 1942 edition, when hormone science was still developing. His main purpose is to argue that endocrine disorders support the homeopathic idea that illness affects the whole person, not only an isolated organ.

The full historical chapter is available through this online text of Chapter XXXII.

1. Central idea

Roberts begins with the then-modern physiological view that many illnesses, developmental problems, and emotional or behavioral changes are related to dysfunction of the ductless glands.

He compares this with Hahnemann’s concept of the human being as an integrated unity of mind, body, and spirit. In Roberts’s model:

Endocrine glands act through very small quantities of secretions.
A disturbance in one gland can affect the entire organism.
The endocrine system is closely connected with the nervous system, emotions, metabolism, growth, and sexual development.
Therefore, he considers endocrine illness a constitutional problem, to be treated from the totality of symptoms rather than from a gland diagnosis alone.

He also draws an analogy between tiny quantities of hormones and homeopathic high dilutions. This analogy is a philosophical claim in the chapter, not evidence that homeopathic dilutions have hormone-like physiological activity.

2. Roberts’s approach to case-taking and prescription

Roberts rejects organ-based prescribing. Rather than asking only, “Which gland is affected?”, he says the physician should consider:

Mental and emotional symptoms
Physical generals
Individual sensitivities
Family tendencies
Developmental features
Subjective symptoms
The patient’s constitutional pattern
Possible past emotional shock or stress

He recommends using the repertory and materia medica to identify the simillimum, the remedy considered most similar to the patient’s total symptom picture.

His stated principle is that endocrine manifestations should be interpreted as part of a wider constitutional disorder, rather than treated merely by replacing a deficient glandular secretion.

3. Miasmatic interpretation

Roberts interprets endocrine dysfunction through the traditional homeopathic miasmatic theory:

Psora is linked with functional disturbance, deficiency, poor assimilation, and general weakness.
Sycosis is associated with overgrowth, excess, and abnormal development.
Syphilis is associated with destructive changes and degeneration.

He proposes that obesity, abnormal fat distribution, delayed or precocious sexual development, skeletal abnormalities, and familial endocrine tendencies may represent inherited or acquired miasmatic influences.

These miasmatic explanations are part of historical homeopathic doctrine and are not accepted concepts in modern endocrinology.

4. Conditions discussed in the chapter

Roberts does not give a systematic textbook account of each endocrine disease. Instead, he discusses examples of disorders that he regards as glandular or endocrine-related.

Topic	Roberts’s homeopathic interpretation
Diabetes mellitus	Seen as a constitutional disorder with emotional and subjective symptoms important for remedy selection.
Pancreatic disease and peptic ulcer	He discusses a possible pancreatic relationship and recommends constitutional prescribing plus diet.
Menopause	Considered a frequent endocrine imbalance with many subjective symptoms.
Hyperemesis gravidarum	Treated as a condition where the indicated remedy may prevent the need for more intensive intervention.
Delayed development in children	Discussed in relation to pituitary, thyroid, pineal, gonadal, and general glandular function.
Obesity and adiposis	Considered expressions of glandular and constitutional imbalance.
Goitre and thyroid enlargement	Discussed mainly through remedy symptom pictures.
Sexual and reproductive disturbances	Linked with endocrine imbalance, constitutional state, and emotional symptoms.

5. Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is Roberts’s major clinical example. He acknowledges insulin’s ability to lower sugar output but characterizes it as substitution or palliative therapy rather than a cure. He proposes that a patient’s emotional history and subjective symptoms may identify the simillimum.

He particularly emphasizes:

Emotional shock before the onset of diabetes
Constitutional symptoms
“Sugar in urine” repertory rubrics
Deep-acting remedies and polychrests
General improvement rather than urine sugar alone

He mentions remedies such as Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Sulphur, and members of the Natrum and Kali groups in relation to diabetic or glandular symptom pictures.

Important safety correction: Roberts’s suggestion to begin with homeopathy and use insulin only later is unsafe and contrary to current medical care. Insulin is life-preserving in type 1 diabetes and is also necessary for many people with type 2 diabetes. It should never be stopped, reduced, or delayed in favor of homeopathy without a qualified diabetes clinician’s supervision.

6. Menopause and pregnancy

For menopausal symptoms, Roberts says the abundance of subjective symptoms makes the homeopathic approach especially applicable. He identifies Lachesis as a prominent remedy in his traditional framework, while stressing that another remedy may be indicated by the complete symptom picture.

For hyperemesis gravidarum, he lists historical homeopathic remedy indications including:

Arsenicum album
Bryonia
Cocculus
Colchicum
Kali carbonicum
Natrum muriaticum
Petroleum
Phosphorus
Sulphur
Veratrum album
Aletris farinosa

These are Roberts’s materia medica references, not evidence-based treatment recommendations. Severe vomiting in pregnancy needs prompt obstetric assessment because dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, weight loss, and nutritional deficiency can become dangerous.

7. Developmental and glandular disorders in children

Roberts describes children who are physically underdeveloped, delayed in walking or talking, intellectually slow, nervous, excitable, or convulsive. He links these patterns to possible glandular imbalance and recommends attention to the mental-emotional state.

Remedies mentioned in this setting include:

Calcarea carbonica
Baryta carbonica
Silicea
Sulphur
Phosphorus
Argentum nitricum
Bufo

He argues that prescribing should be based more on the child’s complete constitutional state than on giving glandular extracts.

8. Remedy groups emphasized

Roberts says it is “impossible, as well as dangerous,” to name leading remedies solely for a pathological diagnosis. Nevertheless, he discusses several broad groups.

Remedy or group	Roberts’s stated association
Sulphur	Deep constitutional action, tendency to reaction, diabetes, delayed development, effects after suppression.
Phosphorus	Excitable constitution, sexual and reproductive symptoms, growth and development patterns.
Lycopodium	Major remedy for glandular conditions; goitre, enlarged glands, emaciation of upper body with fuller lower body, fatigue, flatulence.
Natrum group	Emotional strain, melancholy, emaciation, thyroid sensations or enlargement, altered body fluids and sexual symptoms.
Kali group	Chronic glandular dysfunction, short and stout or obese constitution, anemia, mental dullness or nervous excitability.
Calcarea group	Developmental and skeletal patterns, particularly in children.
Silicea	Slow development and chronic constitutional weakness.
Nitric acid	Sexual disturbance, sensitivity, fatigue, prostration.
Nosodes	Considered by Roberts in relation to deep constitutional and miasmatic disease.

9. Role of mental and emotional symptoms

A repeated message in the chapter is that mental and emotional symptoms have high value in selecting a remedy. Roberts particularly refers to:

Fear and anxiety
Sadness and depression
Startling easily
Memory loss or mental dullness
Nervous excitability
Emotional shock
Aversion to consolation
Effects of grief, stress, or disappointment

This reflects the classical homeopathic emphasis on individualization. In modern medicine, emotional symptoms are also clinically important, but they do not establish a specific homeopathic remedy or replace biochemical testing and endocrine evaluation.

10. Conclusion of Roberts’s chapter

Roberts concludes that advances in endocrinology should be watched with interest, but that the homeopathic physician should remain guided by constitutional prescribing, the repertory, and the totality of symptoms. He believes a correctly selected potentized remedy can restore balance without disturbing other endocrine functions.

Modern clinical perspective

Roberts’s chapter is important historically for showing how mid-20th-century homeopaths attempted to integrate emerging endocrine science into homeopathic philosophy. However, its therapeutic claims are not supported by modern evidence-based endocrinology.

Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal insufficiency, pituitary disorders, delayed puberty, infertility, osteoporosis, and endocrine tumors require appropriate testing and medical treatment. Homeopathy should not replace insulin, thyroid hormone, corticosteroid replacement, antithyroid drugs, surgery, or other prescribed endocrine care.

Create a concise summary of Roberts’s Chapter 32

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Concise Summary: Roberts’s Chapter 32

In Chapter 32, “Homoeopathic Therapeutics in the Field of Endocrinology,” H. A. Roberts relates endocrine-gland function to the homeopathic concept of the individual as an integrated unit of mind, body, and spirit.

He argues that dysfunction of ductless glands can influence growth, metabolism, sexual development, emotions, behavior, and general health. Rather than treating a disease as an isolated gland problem, Roberts recommends studying the patient’s complete constitutional picture, especially mental, emotional, subjective, and physical symptoms.

Roberts advises selection of the simillimum through repertory work and materia medica, rather than prescribing solely on the diagnosis or using glandular extracts. He discusses diabetes, obesity, developmental delay, thyroid enlargement, menopause, pregnancy vomiting, and sexual or reproductive disturbances as examples of endocrine imbalance.

He emphasizes deep-acting constitutional remedies, particularly Sulphur, Calcarea, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Natrum salts, Kali salts, Silicea, and some nosodes. Mental-emotional states such as grief, fear, depression, anxiety, emotional shock, poor memory, and nervous excitability are considered important guides to remedy selection.

Roberts concludes that endocrinology supports the idea of constitutional treatment, but his therapeutic claims reflect historical homeopathic philosophy and are not supported by current endocrine evidence. Endocrine diseases require appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment.

The Principles and Art of Cure by Homoeopathy, Chapter XXXII, pp. 249-266.

Women chapter acc to hutichson clinical metho dobs examination

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Chapter XXXII: Homoeopathic Therapeutics in the Field of Endocrinology

H. A. Roberts, The Principles and Art of Cure by Homoeopathy, pp. 249-266

Roberts presents endocrinology through a classical homeopathic framework. The chapter was added in the 1942 edition, when hormone science was still developing. His main purpose is to argue that endocrine disorders support the homeopathic idea that illness affects the whole person, not only an isolated organ.

The full historical chapter is available through this online text of Chapter XXXII.

1. Central idea

Roberts begins with the then-modern physiological view that many illnesses, developmental problems, and emotional or behavioral changes are related to dysfunction of the ductless glands.

He compares this with Hahnemann’s concept of the human being as an integrated unity of mind, body, and spirit. In Roberts’s model:

Endocrine glands act through very small quantities of secretions.
A disturbance in one gland can affect the entire organism.
The endocrine system is closely connected with the nervous system, emotions, metabolism, growth, and sexual development.
Therefore, he considers endocrine illness a constitutional problem, to be treated from the totality of symptoms rather than from a gland diagnosis alone.

He also draws an analogy between tiny quantities of hormones and homeopathic high dilutions. This analogy is a philosophical claim in the chapter, not evidence that homeopathic dilutions have hormone-like physiological activity.

2. Roberts’s approach to case-taking and prescription

Roberts rejects organ-based prescribing. Rather than asking only, “Which gland is affected?”, he says the physician should consider:

Mental and emotional symptoms
Physical generals
Individual sensitivities
Family tendencies
Developmental features
Subjective symptoms
The patient’s constitutional pattern
Possible past emotional shock or stress

He recommends using the repertory and materia medica to identify the simillimum, the remedy considered most similar to the patient’s total symptom picture.

His stated principle is that endocrine manifestations should be interpreted as part of a wider constitutional disorder, rather than treated merely by replacing a deficient glandular secretion.

3. Miasmatic interpretation

Roberts interprets endocrine dysfunction through the traditional homeopathic miasmatic theory:

Psora is linked with functional disturbance, deficiency, poor assimilation, and general weakness.
Sycosis is associated with overgrowth, excess, and abnormal development.
Syphilis is associated with destructive changes and degeneration.

He proposes that obesity, abnormal fat distribution, delayed or precocious sexual development, skeletal abnormalities, and familial endocrine tendencies may represent inherited or acquired miasmatic influences.

These miasmatic explanations are part of historical homeopathic doctrine and are not accepted concepts in modern endocrinology.

4. Conditions discussed in the chapter

Roberts does not give a systematic textbook account of each endocrine disease. Instead, he discusses examples of disorders that he regards as glandular or endocrine-related.

Topic	Roberts’s homeopathic interpretation
Diabetes mellitus	Seen as a constitutional disorder with emotional and subjective symptoms important for remedy selection.
Pancreatic disease and peptic ulcer	He discusses a possible pancreatic relationship and recommends constitutional prescribing plus diet.
Menopause	Considered a frequent endocrine imbalance with many subjective symptoms.
Hyperemesis gravidarum	Treated as a condition where the indicated remedy may prevent the need for more intensive intervention.
Delayed development in children	Discussed in relation to pituitary, thyroid, pineal, gonadal, and general glandular function.
Obesity and adiposis	Considered expressions of glandular and constitutional imbalance.
Goitre and thyroid enlargement	Discussed mainly through remedy symptom pictures.
Sexual and reproductive disturbances	Linked with endocrine imbalance, constitutional state, and emotional symptoms.

5. Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is Roberts’s major clinical example. He acknowledges insulin’s ability to lower sugar output but characterizes it as substitution or palliative therapy rather than a cure. He proposes that a patient’s emotional history and subjective symptoms may identify the simillimum.

He particularly emphasizes:

Emotional shock before the onset of diabetes
Constitutional symptoms
“Sugar in urine” repertory rubrics
Deep-acting remedies and polychrests
General improvement rather than urine sugar alone

He mentions remedies such as Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Sulphur, and members of the Natrum and Kali groups in relation to diabetic or glandular symptom pictures.

Important safety correction: Roberts’s suggestion to begin with homeopathy and use insulin only later is unsafe and contrary to current medical care. Insulin is life-preserving in type 1 diabetes and is also necessary for many people with type 2 diabetes. It should never be stopped, reduced, or delayed in favor of homeopathy without a qualified diabetes clinician’s supervision.

6. Menopause and pregnancy

For menopausal symptoms, Roberts says the abundance of subjective symptoms makes the homeopathic approach especially applicable. He identifies Lachesis as a prominent remedy in his traditional framework, while stressing that another remedy may be indicated by the complete symptom picture.

For hyperemesis gravidarum, he lists historical homeopathic remedy indications including:

Arsenicum album
Bryonia
Cocculus
Colchicum
Kali carbonicum
Natrum muriaticum
Petroleum
Phosphorus
Sulphur
Veratrum album
Aletris farinosa

These are Roberts’s materia medica references, not evidence-based treatment recommendations. Severe vomiting in pregnancy needs prompt obstetric assessment because dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, weight loss, and nutritional deficiency can become dangerous.

7. Developmental and glandular disorders in children

Roberts describes children who are physically underdeveloped, delayed in walking or talking, intellectually slow, nervous, excitable, or convulsive. He links these patterns to possible glandular imbalance and recommends attention to the mental-emotional state.

Remedies mentioned in this setting include:

Calcarea carbonica
Baryta carbonica
Silicea
Sulphur
Phosphorus
Argentum nitricum
Bufo

He argues that prescribing should be based more on the child’s complete constitutional state than on giving glandular extracts.

8. Remedy groups emphasized

Roberts says it is “impossible, as well as dangerous,” to name leading remedies solely for a pathological diagnosis. Nevertheless, he discusses several broad groups.

Remedy or group	Roberts’s stated association
Sulphur	Deep constitutional action, tendency to reaction, diabetes, delayed development, effects after suppression.
Phosphorus	Excitable constitution, sexual and reproductive symptoms, growth and development patterns.
Lycopodium	Major remedy for glandular conditions; goitre, enlarged glands, emaciation of upper body with fuller lower body, fatigue, flatulence.
Natrum group	Emotional strain, melancholy, emaciation, thyroid sensations or enlargement, altered body fluids and sexual symptoms.
Kali group	Chronic glandular dysfunction, short and stout or obese constitution, anemia, mental dullness or nervous excitability.
Calcarea group	Developmental and skeletal patterns, particularly in children.
Silicea	Slow development and chronic constitutional weakness.
Nitric acid	Sexual disturbance, sensitivity, fatigue, prostration.
Nosodes	Considered by Roberts in relation to deep constitutional and miasmatic disease.

9. Role of mental and emotional symptoms

A repeated message in the chapter is that mental and emotional symptoms have high value in selecting a remedy. Roberts particularly refers to:

Fear and anxiety
Sadness and depression
Startling easily
Memory loss or mental dullness
Nervous excitability
Emotional shock
Aversion to consolation
Effects of grief, stress, or disappointment

This reflects the classical homeopathic emphasis on individualization. In modern medicine, emotional symptoms are also clinically important, but they do not establish a specific homeopathic remedy or replace biochemical testing and endocrine evaluation.

10. Conclusion of Roberts’s chapter

Roberts concludes that advances in endocrinology should be watched with interest, but that the homeopathic physician should remain guided by constitutional prescribing, the repertory, and the totality of symptoms. He believes a correctly selected potentized remedy can restore balance without disturbing other endocrine functions.

Modern clinical perspective

Roberts’s chapter is important historically for showing how mid-20th-century homeopaths attempted to integrate emerging endocrine science into homeopathic philosophy. However, its therapeutic claims are not supported by modern evidence-based endocrinology.

Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal insufficiency, pituitary disorders, delayed puberty, infertility, osteoporosis, and endocrine tumors require appropriate testing and medical treatment. Homeopathy should not replace insulin, thyroid hormone, corticosteroid replacement, antithyroid drugs, surgery, or other prescribed endocrine care.### Concise Summary: Roberts’s Chapter 32

In Chapter 32, “Homoeopathic Therapeutics in the Field of Endocrinology,” H. A. Roberts relates endocrine-gland function to the homeopathic concept of the individual as an integrated unit of mind, body, and spirit.

He argues that dysfunction of ductless glands can influence growth, metabolism, sexual development, emotions, behavior, and general health. Rather than treating a disease as an isolated gland problem, Roberts recommends studying the patient’s complete constitutional picture, especially mental, emotional, subjective, and physical symptoms.

Roberts advises selection of the simillimum through repertory work and materia medica, rather than prescribing solely on the diagnosis or using glandular extracts. He discusses diabetes, obesity, developmental delay, thyroid enlargement, menopause, pregnancy vomiting, and sexual or reproductive disturbances as examples of endocrine imbalance.

He emphasizes deep-acting constitutional remedies, particularly Sulphur, Calcarea, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Natrum salts, Kali salts, Silicea, and some nosodes. Mental-emotional states such as grief, fear, depression, anxiety, emotional shock, poor memory, and nervous excitability are considered important guides to remedy selection.

Roberts concludes that endocrinology supports the idea of constitutional treatment, but his therapeutic claims reflect historical homeopathic philosophy and are not supported by current endocrine evidence. Endocrine diseases require appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment.

The Principles and Art of Cure by Homoeopathy, Chapter XXXII, pp. 249-266.Do you mean the examination of a female patient, including breast and pelvic examination, from Hutchison’s Clinical Methods?Please specify which section of the Women chapter in Hutchison’s Clinical Methods you need:

Breast examination
Pelvic examination
Both, as concise notes
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"Examination of Women" "Hutchison's Clinical Methods" breast pelvic

Summary: “Women” chapter, Hutchison’s Clinical Methods

The chapter emphasizes that examination of women requires the same systematic clinical approach used for every patient, with particular attention to reproductive, breast, menstrual, obstetric, sexual, and psychosocial history.

Core principles

Establish privacy, dignity, trust, and clear communication.
Explain the reason for every intimate examination, obtain informed consent, and allow the patient to decline or stop any component.
Offer a trained chaperone and document consent, findings, and any specimens obtained.
Use a sensitive, non-judgmental, trauma-informed approach, particularly where pain, past sexual trauma, domestic abuse, or anxiety may be relevant.

The current edition places this subject under Chapter 5, Women, within its assessment of particular patient groups, as shown in the publisher’s table of contents.

History-taking

Important areas include:

Presenting complaint
- Pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, abnormal bleeding, urinary symptoms, breast lump, or systemic symptoms.
Menstrual history
- Age at menarche, last menstrual period, cycle length and regularity, duration and amount of flow, pain, intermenstrual or postcoital bleeding, and menopausal status.
Obstetric history
- Number of pregnancies and births, miscarriages or terminations, ectopic pregnancy, complications of pregnancy or delivery, and current possibility of pregnancy.
Gynaecological and sexual history
- Contraception, cervical screening history, sexually transmitted infection risk, sexual function, dyspareunia, and previous gynaecological surgery or disease.
Medical and family history
- Hormonal medication, thromboembolic risk, cancers of the breast, ovary, uterus, or bowel, and endocrine or systemic disease.

General and breast examination

General examination may reveal anaemia, weight change, hirsutism, acne, thyroid disease, lymphadenopathy, oedema, or other systemic signs.

Breast examination includes:

Inspection with the arms relaxed, raised, and pressing on the hips.
Looking for asymmetry, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, erythema, ulceration, scars, and discharge.
Systematic palpation of all breast quadrants, the nipple-areolar complex, axillary nodes, supraclavicular nodes, and infraclavicular nodes.
Recording the position, size, surface, edge, consistency, mobility, tenderness, and fixation of any lump.

Pelvic examination

A pelvic examination is performed only when clinically indicated, not as an automatic routine procedure. It usually consists of:

External inspection
- Mons pubis, vulva, perineum, groins, hair distribution, lesions, discharge, inflammation, prolapse, and signs of trauma or infection.
Speculum examination
- Inspection of the vaginal walls and cervix for discharge, bleeding, lesions, cervical appearance, and collection of indicated swabs or cervical screening samples.
Bimanual examination
- Assessment of cervical motion tenderness, uterine size, shape, position, mobility, and tenderness, plus adnexal masses or tenderness.
Rectovaginal examination
- Reserved for specific indications, such as suspected posterior pelvic pathology, rectal symptoms, endometriosis, or assessment of a pelvic mass.

Current clinical guidance similarly describes external genital inspection, speculum examination, bimanual examination, and selective rectovaginal examination, with consent and explanation at every stage. See the Merck pelvic examination guide.

Key message

The chapter’s central message is that examination of women must be patient-centred, respectful, properly chaperoned, and clinically focused. Findings from the history, general examination, breast examination, and pelvic examination should be integrated with appropriate investigations, rather than interpreting any isolated sign alone.

Recent reviews also indicate that interventions focused on communication, comfort, and patient control can improve women’s pelvic-examination experience, as reported in a 2026 systematic review.