Introduction: Homeopathic Clinical Repertory

(Third Edition)
by Robin Murphy, N.D.

The definition of word repertory originates from the Latin word "repertoir,"
which means any store or stock, (e.g. of information), that can be drawn upon.
"Repertorium," in French and Latin, means a catalogue or storehouse. Repertoire
means a collection or an inventory of capabilities (e. g. songs, plays, music. etc.).
In homeopathy the word "repertory" refers to books which are compiled indexes
of the Homeopathic and Herbal Materia Medicas.
Referring to his repertory, J. T. Kent said, It has been built from all sources,
and is a compilation of all the useful symptoms recorded in the fundamental works
of our Materia Medica, as well as from the notes of our ablest practitioners.
There have been more than 110 different repertories published as part of
homeopathic literature during the last 170 years. The first repertory was created
by SamuelHahnemann which he called a "Symptom Dictionary." Later, Jahr and
Boenninghausen compiled their indexes to the homeopathic materia medica.
In modern terms, the repertory represents the clinical and research database for
the practice of homeopathic medicine. The general information contained in these
books are derived from history, provings, clinical practice, research, physiology
and toxicology.
This edition was designed to be a modern, practical and easy to use clinical
guide to the vast homeopathic materia medica. To achieve these goals, a redesigned
and upgraded repertory had to be compiled (including a new schema), focusing
on filling in the clinical deficiencies and correcting the major flaws found in older
repertories.
Historical Repertory Schemas
A schema is defined as a plan, outline or diagram. In homeopathy, a schema
comprises the basic outline of headings and sub-headings used in our materia
medicas and repertories. Many variations have been tried throughout the last 170
years. The most common historical schemas are represented by the hierarchical and
concordance approaches while the schema used in this work is clinically focused
and organized alphabetically.
1. HIERARCHICAL/Anatomical/Theoretical - Boenninghausen, Boericke,
Lippe, Kent, Knerr.
2. CONCORDANCE-Symptomatic - Allen, Clark, Gentry, Phatak.
3. ALPHABETICAL-Clinical - Murphy.
Hahnemann's schema offered an outline for recording the information gathered
from the experimental provings of homeopathic remedies. This eventually became
the schema for his Materia Medica Pura. In it's preface, Hahnemann describes his
schema (the first ever formulated) on pages 4-5. Hahnemann's schema differed
radically from Kent's later hierarchical organization. It begins with Vertigo, goes
through more than fifty sections, finally ending with the Emotions and Mind, where
subsequent schemas would begin.
Kents Repertory is based on the assumption that all cases should be analyzed
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from the general to the particular, from the psychological to the physical. Kent
saw his cases from one perspective only; he was prejudiced even before he took
a case! This perspective helped to establish the modern homeopathic view that
mental symptoms are always more important than physical ones. We should re-
member that particular symptoms (for instance: tumors, diseased organs or wounds)
can literary kill a person, which highlights the importance of local symptoms in
pathogical cases.
Dr. T. F. Allen addressed this issue of whether our repertories should be orga-
nized in a hierarchical order or a simple alphabetical one in his introduction to the
Index of the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica. He states: We venture to hope
that future standard works will present a new schema free from theoretical ideas
concerning the physiological action of remedies, classifying our symptomatology
in a form which will permit ready reference and enabling numerous provings to
be condensed.
A natural hierarchy used for case analysis should be based on several premises:
first, what is most life threating to the patient; second, the causative factors in the
case, and finally, the most severe or important presenting symptoms.
In homeopathic literature, a fixed hierarchy is unnecessary because it goes
against the individualization of each case. The natural hierarchy in a healthy per-
son is physiological, while in a sick person, that natural order becomes deranged
into multiple, unpredictable patterns. We should not have preconceived ideas
about what should be important in a case becuase we should perceive the unique
hierarchy of each case.
The Homeopathic Clinical Repertory
After prolonged research and experimentation with the old schemas, I decided
to create a new one that would facilitate access to rubrics at all levels in order to
provide clearer images of the anatomical, physiological and clinical rubric groups.
For example, all the lungs rubrics are in one place instead of being spread throughout
the chest chapter. This schema allows an easy transition from particular to general
chapters, and vice versa. If a pain rubric cannot be found in its precise chapter
("Lungs," for instance), then go to a more general chapter ( "Chest," in this case,
but be aware that becuase these rubrics are more general they also include heart
pain.).
The Alphabetical Format
This repertory contains 74 chapters arranged in an alphabetical order. They
were rearranged and compiled from the original 36 chapters found in Kents
Repertory.
The Homeopathic Clinical Repertory was created to be more consistent with
Hahnemanns anatomical and physiological categories and has been reorganized
into an alphabetical order. This schema was chosen as the most natural organiza-
tional method for large amounts of information, bringing this repertory into line
with the homeopathic materia medicas.

The chapters in this book are arranged alphabetically according to anatomy,

physiology or clinical topic. The rubrics and sub-rubrics contained in each chapter
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are also sorted into an alphabetical format. This simplifies Kents complicated sys-
tem for arranging rubrics and sub-rubrics (by sides, time, conditions, modalities,
circumstances, extensions, locations, etc.).
The Language of the Homeopathic Clinical Repertory
Using modern terminology is paramount to the study and practice of homeopathy.
The language of the provings, materia medicas, therapeutic books and repertories
must reflect the cultures in which one lives. If homeopathic provings and the case
taking protocols require us to record a persons symptoms in their own words,
shouldnt the repertory utilize a similar language?
Formating and Grading of Remedies
The formatting for The Homeopathic Clinical Repertory is similar to Kents
Repertory with the strongest remedies in the rubric or sub-rubric are designated in
bold-capitals, CALC., (4 points), CALC., (3 points), next, bold-italics, calc., (2
points) and plain-type, calc., (1 point).
In general, if a remedy has cured a symptom or condition more than three times
and been confirmed by more than three homeopaths, it deserves to be added to the
repertory in the first grade (1 point, plain type). If a remedy has cured more than
six times and likewise confirmed by three others, it should be added in the second
grade (2 points, bold-italics). The third grade, (3 points, bold-capital), requires
twelve cases plus confirmations by three or more practitioners.
Other criteria for gradations: (1) Remedy's Provings, the frequency and intensity
of symptoms. (2) Remedy's Toxicology. (3) Remedy's Cured Cases, symptoms and
diseases. (4) Remedy's Clinical Experience and Research. (5) Remedy's History
and Folklore.
Clinical and Pathological Rubrics
In the preface to his repertory, Kent stated that Physicians are requested to
send in verified and clinical symptoms, and to call attention to any errors which
they may discover in the text. When referring to how his repertory was compiled,
Kent admitted that the rubrics came from three major sources: previous reperto-
ries, the materia medica and notes from the ablest practitioners of the time. These
sources comprise the new rubrics, remedy upgrades and additions when verified
in homeopathic practice.
Hahnemann states throughout The Organon that every homeopath must clearly
perceive what has to be cured in diseases, and to perceive the totality of symptoms
of the disease. He also refers to acute diseases, chronic diseases, epidemic diseases,
iatrogenic diseases, infectious diseases, mental diseases, miasmatic diseases, physi-
cal diseases, traumatic diseases, etc.
Therefore, modern homeopathic repertories must include more clinical rubrics,
particularly those that reflect new diseases and conditions of our modern chemical-
industrial society, in addition to those caused by allopathic drugs, radiation, che-
motherapy, surgery, vaccinations, etc. (see the "Cancer," "Clinical," "Toxicity,"
and "Vaccinations," chapters).
The Need for a Modern Clinical Repertory
Kent stated in The Homoeopathician, Journal for Pure Homoeopathy, No. 2,
August 1912. "Provings of remedies are not continued to the extent of producing
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tissue alterations-indurations, infiltrations, suppuration, caries, etc. The most of the
indications for the use of remedies in these conditions must be learned clinically;
from the use of remedies in patients when these conditions have developed. When a
remedy has been prescribed for a patient in whom tissue-changes have occurred, the
prescription being based on the symptom-image, resolution of the existing tissue-
changes has occurred, as a result of the reaction to the remedy. These become reliable
clinical symptoms of the remedy: demonstrations of the power of the remedy over
the altered tissue. These remedies are then recognised to be suited to constitutions
in which these pathological changes can develop. Hence they are as important to
the prescriber as though they had appeared actually in the proving."
"By reference to the repertory the prescriber may find remedies which have thus
been established as suitable for suppuration, those suited for cancer, those suited
for tuberculosis, those related to apoplexy, etc., and as an intelligent prescriber,
the physician should select a remedy for the patient similar to the condition of the
ultimated disorder. This is totally different from prescribing on the pathology alone,
or seeking a specific for the name of the ultimate, regardless of the patient."
Dr. Shashi Kant Tiwari writes in his book, The Essentials of Repertorization: "An
urgent and constant need was strongly felt by the professionals for a repertory, which
could meet the pace of development of modern pathology and internal medicine.
This need was fairly and squarely met by the emergence of Homeopathic Medical
Repertory, (2nd edition) authored by Robin Murphy, N.D."
"This is a unique repertory, which helps a practitioner to find out the simillimum
on the basis of clinical as well as classical symptoms. The author has merged both
the types of practice, i.e. classical and clinical".
"Murphys concept of totality is based on clinical as well as classical homeopathic
practice. It embraces the principles of Kents generals, Boenninghausens complete
symtoms, Bogers pathological generals and other stalwarts clinical principles of
prescribing. This repertory can be used for all types of cases:
1. Where mentals and generals are prominent
2. Where clinical symptoms/diagnosis is available
3. Pathological generals/constitutions are available.
4. Where complete symptoms are available.
5. Where the case has a paucity of symptoms
Dr. Shashi Kant Tiwari, is the Head of Dept. of Case taking and Repertorization
and Principal, of Father Mullers Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital,
Mangalore, India.

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