Definition :-
Those striking, singular, uncommon, and peculiar signs and symptoms of the case ( or of the medicine) which characterise the patient (or the medicine) are known as characteristic symptoms.
Discussion :-
In paragraph 153 of the Organon of Medicine, Hahnemann says that in comparing the collective symptoms of the natural disease with drug symptoms for the purpose of finding the specific curative remedy, "the more striking, singular, uncommon and peculiar (characteristic) signs and symptoms of the case are chiefly and most solely to be kept in view; for it is more particularly these that very similar ones in the list of symptoms of the selected medicine must correspond to, in order to constitute it the most suitable for effecting the cure. The more general ( common) and undefined symptoms: loss of appetite, headache, debility, restless sleep, discomfort, and so forth, demand but little attention when of that vague and indefinite character, if they cannot be more accurately described, as symptoms of such a general nature are observed in almost every disease and from almost every drug".
According to Stuart Close : "The characteristic symptoms are the symptoms peculiar to the individual patient, rather than the symptoms common to the disease." They are the points which enable us to differentiate between similar cases and remedies.
Example :-
(i) Bloody mucus and painful tenesmus are the common symptoms of dysentery. However, when we find in addition, the peculiar characteristic symptoms, "every drink of cold water causes chill and is followed by a hurried stool." — Capsicum is the indicated remedy in this individual case.
(ii) Again, if the patient with dysentery is ·routed out of bed at 5.00 a.m. and the stool is preceded by rectal fullness and heaviness and colic, and every attempt to pass flatus is accompanied by a spurt of faeces."— Aloe socotrina is the indicated remedy.
(iii) Sudden high rise of temperature after an exposure to dry cold wind with intense mental restlessness and burning thirst for large quantities of cold water. These symptoms characterise a drug — Aconite nap.
(iv) Headache in frontal region < motion , >absolute rest, with great thirst for large quantities of water at long intervals. These symptoms characterise the drug — Bryonia alba.
Characteristic symptoms are found in few patients, and produced in the provings of few medicines. They may be mental or physical.
Importance :-
These characteristics are the guide to the differentiation of similar cases and remedies. Hence they are of great importance in homoeopathic prescribing.
Those striking, singular, uncommon, and peculiar signs and symptoms of the case ( or of the medicine) which characterise the patient (or the medicine) are known as characteristic symptoms.
Discussion :-
In paragraph 153 of the Organon of Medicine, Hahnemann says that in comparing the collective symptoms of the natural disease with drug symptoms for the purpose of finding the specific curative remedy, "the more striking, singular, uncommon and peculiar (characteristic) signs and symptoms of the case are chiefly and most solely to be kept in view; for it is more particularly these that very similar ones in the list of symptoms of the selected medicine must correspond to, in order to constitute it the most suitable for effecting the cure. The more general ( common) and undefined symptoms: loss of appetite, headache, debility, restless sleep, discomfort, and so forth, demand but little attention when of that vague and indefinite character, if they cannot be more accurately described, as symptoms of such a general nature are observed in almost every disease and from almost every drug".
According to Stuart Close : "The characteristic symptoms are the symptoms peculiar to the individual patient, rather than the symptoms common to the disease." They are the points which enable us to differentiate between similar cases and remedies.
Example :-
(i) Bloody mucus and painful tenesmus are the common symptoms of dysentery. However, when we find in addition, the peculiar characteristic symptoms, "every drink of cold water causes chill and is followed by a hurried stool." — Capsicum is the indicated remedy in this individual case.
(ii) Again, if the patient with dysentery is ·routed out of bed at 5.00 a.m. and the stool is preceded by rectal fullness and heaviness and colic, and every attempt to pass flatus is accompanied by a spurt of faeces."— Aloe socotrina is the indicated remedy.
(iii) Sudden high rise of temperature after an exposure to dry cold wind with intense mental restlessness and burning thirst for large quantities of cold water. These symptoms characterise a drug — Aconite nap.
(iv) Headache in frontal region < motion , >absolute rest, with great thirst for large quantities of water at long intervals. These symptoms characterise the drug — Bryonia alba.
Characteristic symptoms are found in few patients, and produced in the provings of few medicines. They may be mental or physical.
Importance :-
These characteristics are the guide to the differentiation of similar cases and remedies. Hence they are of great importance in homoeopathic prescribing.
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