Mind and Disposition in Homeopathy

One of the hardest parts of being a homeopath is understanding the mind and disposition of a person. Everyone is different and everyone has mental symptoms. These are often very common symptoms that may or may not fall into the class of a dis-ease or something that is asking to be healed. It requires great clarity to see the normal from the abnormal mental symptoms of a person. Sometimes they can be very subtle.

One of the most common symptoms of the mind and disposition is anxiety. The most common report I hear from my clients is that the reason they are feeling bad is because of stress. This tells me nothing about their sufferings. It is then I ask them to tell me stories about their stress that can paint the picture of their suffering. Usually, the end result of this is that some level of anxiety is present. The common themes of this anxiety will then lead me to understand the symptom and choose the correct rubric to describe it.

It can be difficult to differentiate a common symptom and a healthy response to one's life from that of the dis-ease that is needing to be healed. In today's economic world, the fear of losing one's job, cutbacks in income, financial loss, and the resulting effects can plague many people. It would be normal for the person to speak of this in the interview. How one responds to these stresses is what is most important to understand. There can be a fine line between having a healthy concern for problems in life and having a response that is keeping the person stuck.

It is necessary to put the person's story into the context of his life and see if this is the real exciting cause. Many times it is an additional stress that compounds the person's suffering but is not the real problem behind it all. It becomes the homeopath's job to investigate if this pattern is the pattern that really needs to be healed.

The most common forms of anxiety are about health, money, business, anticipation, and the future. These usually will come up repeatedly in the stories the person chooses to tell. To select one of these rubrics correctly would require that the symptom is a theme in the person's case. Rubrics that best describe these states from the Complete 2009 Repertory are;

• Mind; ANXIETY; Health, about (126) : acet-ac., acon., adam., aeth., agar., agn., aloe, alum., alum-p., alum-sil., am-c., androc., ant-t., aran-ix., 3Arg., arg-n., arist-cl., arn., 4ARS., ars-h., astac., aur-m., 3Aur-m-n., 3Aur-s., bar-c., bell., blatta, bor., bov., brom., bry., bufo, 3Calad., 4CALC., calc-ar., calc-f., 3Calc-p., calc-s., calc-sil., cand-a., cann-i., canth., caras., carb-v., carc., caust., chel., 3Chin-ar., choc., 2cinis-p., clad-r., 3Cocc., cop., corv-c., cub., culx-p., cupr., 2cyg-c., euph., fl-ac., galeoc-c., germ., gink., glon., grat., 3Hep., herpes, hist., hyos., ign., 4KALI-AR., 3Kali-br., 2kali-c., kali-m., kali-p., kali-sil., kreos., lac-c., lac-eq., lac-lup., lach., lamp-c., 2lat-h., lil-t., lob., 3Lyc., m-arct., mag-m., 3Med., merc., meteo., micro-a., morg., 2musca-d., nat-c., nat-m., nat-p., 4NIT-AC., nux-m., nux-v., onc-t., oro-ac., ozone, parth., perla, 3Ph-ac., 4PHEL., 3Phos., podo., posit., psor., 4PULS., ruta, scut., 2sel., 3Sep., sil., soph-m., spect., spong., staph., sulph., tarent., tax., tela, 2uran-n.

• Mind; ANXIETY; Money matters, about (24) : 2agath-a., aids, aq-mar., aur., bac., bry., c-di-o., calc-f., calc-sil., cand-a., choc., clad-r., cop., 2cyg-c., germ., hep., ign., kali-p., onc-t., posit., sol, tax., thuj., uran.

• Mind; BUSINESS; Talks of (19) : agar., ars., bell., 4BRY., canth., cimic., com., dor., 4HYOS., lach., 3Med., mygal., op., phos., plb., 2rhus-t., stram., sulph., uran.

• Mind; BUSINESS; Ailments from, agg. (214) : acet-ac., 3Acon., acon-l., act-sp., aesc., aether, agar., agn., alco., all-c., aloe, alum., am-c., am-i., am-m., 3Ambr., 2amet., anac., androc., ang., apis, aq-des., aq-mar., 3Arg., 3Arg-n., arg-s., arist-m., 3Arn., ars., ars-h., asaf., asar., asc-t., 3Aur., aur-m., bac., 3Bamb-a., 3Bapt., bar-c., 3Bell., 3Bor., 3Brom., brucel., 4BRY., bufo, 2c-di-o., cact., cadm., 3Calc., calc-acet., calc-f., calc-sil., calen., camph., 3Canth., carb-ac., carb-an., carb-v., carc., carl., caul., caust., cham., 3Chel., 3Chin., chin-s., chir-f., cic., 3Cimic., 3Cina, cinnb., clem., 3Coca, 3Cocc., coff., coff-t., coloc., com., 3Con., cop., corv-c., croc., culx-p., 3Cur., cycl., cyg-c., dor., dros., elaps, eug., euph., falco-p., ferr-i., 3Fl-ac., gels., 3Graph., ham., harp., 3Hep., herin., hipp., hura, hydr-ac., 4HYOS., hyper., ign., ind., iod., ip., kali-ar., 3Kali-bi., 4KALI-BR., 3Kali-c., kali-chl., kali-i., kali-m., kali-n., 3Kali-p., kali-s., kola., kreos., lac-ac., lac-c., lac-eq., 2lac-h., lac-lup., 3Lach., 2lap-be-e., lat-h., laur., 3Lil-t., lim-b-c., lith-c., loxo-r., lsd, 3Lyc., lycps., mag-c., mag-m., mag-s., manc., mang., mangi., 3Med., mel-alt., merc., meteo., mez., mobil-ph., musa, mygal., myris., naja, nat-ar., nat-c., 4NAT-M., nelu., nit-ac., nitro., 4NUX-V., onos., op., opun-a., perla, peti., 3Ph-ac., 3Phos., phys., 3Phyt., pic-ac., plat., plb., plut-n., 3Podo., posit., psil., 3Psor., 3Ptel., 4PULS., pyrog., ratt-n., rhod., 4RHUS-T., ros-ca-a., sabad., sabin., salx-f., sang., sars., sel., 4SEP., ser-ang., sid-al., 3Sil., spect., spig., stann., staph., 3Stram., stront-c., 4SULPH., syph., tarent., tax., tax-br., tell., telo-s., tep., ther., thuj., 3Uran., verat., viol-t., zinc-p.

• Mind; FEAR; Poverty, of (48) : adam., agath-a., aids, alli-m., ambr., anac., ant-c., ars., 4BRY., 3Calc., 3Calc-f., calc-s., calc-sil., cand-a., catha-e., caust., chir-f., chlor., 2clad-r., falco-p., fl-ac., gink., graph., hura, hydrog., kali-c., lach., lamp-c., med., meli., 2mus-m., nat-c., nat-m., 3Nux-v., ph-ac., phasc-c., phos., posit., 3Psor., puls., 4SEC., 3Sep., sil., stann., staph., sulph., telo-s., uran.

• Mind; ANTICIPATION (152) : 4ACON., 3Aeth., agar., 3Aloe, alum., 3Am-c., ambr., 3Anac., androc., ant-c., ant-t., 4ARG-N., arge-p., arist-cl., arn., 4ARS., aur., aur-m-n., 3Bar-c., bar-s., bell., blatta, bor., bros-g., 4BRY., cadm., calad., 4CALC., calc-p., camph., canth., 3Carb-v., 4CARC., carn-g., 4CAUST., chin., chir-f., choc., 3Cic., cina, 3Clem., 3Cocc., coco-n., 3Coff., colch., 3Con., crot-c., crot-h., culx-p., cupr., cyg-c., cyni-c-g., 3Cypr., cypra-e., cyrt-p., 4DIG., dros., dulc., dys-co., 3Ferr., 4GELS., geoc-c., 4GRAPH., hell., hep., hura, hydrog., hyos., 4IGN., iod., ip., 3Kali-br., 3Kali-c., kali-p., 3Lac-c., 3Lac-eq., lac-f., lac-lup., 4LACH., lamp-c., lap-be-e., lap-gr-m., lap-mar-c., lat-h., 3Laur., leon., levo., loxo-r., lsd, 4LYC., 3Lyss., m-aust., mag-c., 3Maia-l., mang., 4MED., 3Meny., 4MERC., meteo., mosch., 3Mur-ac., nabal., nat-c., 4NAT-M., nat-p., nat-s., nelu., 2nicc., 3Nit-ac., nitro., nux-m., nux-v., ox-ac., perla, petr., 3Ph-ac., 4PHOS., 3Pic-ac., 4PLB., plut-n., posit., propol., 4PSOR., 4PULS., rheum, rhus-t., ros-g., 3Ruta, sabin., salx-f., samb., sel., 3Sep., 4SIL., spig., spong., 3Staph., still., stront-c., 3Stroph., sul-ac., 3Sulph., syph., tax., telo-s., 3Thuj., 3Tub., ulm-c., uran., vanil., 3Verat., 3Zinc.

• Mind; ANXIETY; Future, about (169) : acon., adam., aego-p., aeth., agar., alco-s., allox., 3Aloe, 3Alum., alum-p., aml-n., 3Anac., anan., 3Ant-c., 3Ant-t., aquilr-a., arg-n., arist-cl., arn., 3Ars., astac., aster., aur., 3Aur-m-n., 3Aur-s., 3Bamb-a., 3Bar-c., 3Bar-m., bar-s., beryl., bros-g., 4BRY., bufo, buth-aust., calad., 4CALC., calc-acet., 3Calc-ar., calc-f., calc-p., calc-s., carb-an., carb-v., 2carc., 2cassi-s., 4CAUST., cham., 3Chel., 3Chin., 4CHIN-S., chir-f., choc., chrysan., 4CIC., cimic., cinis-p., clem., cocc., coff., 3Con., conch., culx-p., cupr., curc., cycl., 2cyg-c., 3Dig., dirc., 3Dros., 3Dulc., 3Euph., euphr., falco-p., ferr., ferr-acet., ferr-c., 3Ferr-p., fl-ac., fum., 3Gels., germ., gins., 3Graph., grat., harp., hell., hep., hipp., hura, 3Iod., kali-br., 2kali-c., kali-m., kali-p., kalm., kola., lac-leo., 3Lach., 2lap-be-e., lar-ar., lat-h., laur., lil-t., lith-c., lsd, lyc., 3M-arct., mag-c., mang., mant-r., meny., merc., methylp-h., 3Mur-ac., nat-acet., nat-ar., 3Nat-c., 4NAT-M., nat-p., nat-s., nelu., 3Nit-ac., nitro., 3Nux-v., onc-t., 3Op., ozone, parth., perla, 4PETR., 3Ph-ac., 4PHOS., plat., psor., 3Puls., querc-r., ran-b., 3Rhus-t., 3Sabin., scroph-n., scut., 3Sep., 3Sil., sol, sol-t-ae., spect., 3Spig., 4SPONG., 3Stann., 3Staph., stram., stront-c., sul-ac., 4SULPH., tab., taosc., tarent., tax., telo-s., 3Thuj., tub., ulm-c., 2vanil., verat., vichy-g., vichy-h., viol-t., wies., xan.

Another common symptom of the mind and disposition is anger. Anger is a healthy response if appropriate and in context to the situation. But the problem with anger is that it can often be an unhealthy response that becomes habitual. In this sense, it can be a very serious condition that needs to be considered in the person's case.

Many cultures have a loud and boisterous way that emotions get expressed. This can be confused with anger responses and would not be considered to be abnormal. This is something that no remedy could inspire healing with if the symptom fell into the range of normal. Closer investigation is necessary to find out what is behind the emotional response. Only when the pattern of this is understood can it be factored into the case.

Common rubrics associated with anger that can be useful are;

• Mind; ANGER; Causeless (17) : aego-p., 2ant-c., carc., 2cassi-s., chel., culx-p., cyn-d., diox., hydr-ac., hydrog., 3Mez., ped., posit., salx-f., sel., tax., zinc.

• Mind; ANGER; Contradiction, from (63) : aesc., agar., aloe, am-c., 3Anac., ars., 4AUR., aur-ar., bros-g., 3Bry., cact., calc-p., carc., 2cassi-s., caul., 4CHAM., 3Cimic., cocc., cop., dendro-p., echi., falco-p., 4FERR., 3Ferr-ar., gall-ac., grat., helon., hep., herin., hura, hydr-ac., 4IGN., ignis, 3Lac-c., lac-h., lac-leo., lap-be-e., 4LYC., med., merc., nat-ar., nat-c., nat-sil., 3Nicc., nit-ac., 3Nux-v., olnd., op., petr., pitu-a., prot., querc-r., ros-d., 4SEP., 3Sil., staph., stram., sulph., tarent., tax., 3Thuj., til., 3Verat.

• Mind; ANGER; Easily (88) : 3Acon., adam., aesc., alco-s., 2alli-m., androc., arg-n., arge-p., 3Ars., aur., aur-ar., bar-c., bar-m., bell., 3Bry., bufo, calad., 3Calc., calc-hp., calc-s., calc-sil., 3Caps., carb-v., 4CHAM., 4CHEL., 3Chin., chin-ar., chir-f., cinis-p., 3Cocc., con., 3Crot-h., cyna., cyni-c-g., diox., 3Dulc., 3Ferr., ferr-i., 3Gels., 3Graph., 3Hell., 3Hep., herin., hippo-k., 3Hydr., ign., iris, kali-m., lap-gr-m., latex, 2leon., lil-t., 4LYC., mand., mang., meph., 3Mez., mim-p., 2musca-d., nat-c., 3Nat-m., nat-p., 2nelu., nept-m., nicc., 3Nit-ac., 4NUX-V., pall., perla, 3Phos., 3Plat., 3Psor., ran-b., rob., salx-f., sep., squil., staph., sulph., 3Tarent., telo-s., teucr., 3Thuj., v-a-b., valer., 2vanil., zea-i., 3Zinc.

• Mind; ANGER; Mistakes, about his (17) : ars., aur-m-n., aur-s., bell., blatta, bros-g., bry., carc., ignis, lac-f., 3Nit-ac., nitro., nux-v., ros-ca-a., salx-f., 3Staph., 3Sulph.

• Mind; ANGER; Oneself, with (31) : adam., aego-p., agar., agath-a., aloe, ars., bell., cop., corv-c., 3Croc., cyg-b., cytom., elaps, germ., gink., herin., ign., lac-lup., lamp-c., lyc., mand., mus-m., neon, nux-v., phyt., puls., rhus-g., sep., staph., 3Sulph., zinc.

• Mind; ANGER; Trifles, about (142) : 4ACON., adam., agki-p., am-c., am-m., anac., ang., 3Ant-c., arn., 4ARS., asaf., asar., aster., atro., aur., aur-m-n., bar-c., bart., bell., blatta, 3Bry., bufo, 2bung-f., 3Calc., calc-i., cale-z., cand-p., cann-s., canth., 3Caps., 3Carb-v., 2carl., catha-e., 3Caust., cere-s., 3Cham., 3Chel., chin., chir-f., 3Cimic., cina, cinis-p., cist., clem., 3Cocc., 3Colch., coloc., 3Con., 2croc., culx-p., cycl., cyg-b., digin., dros., ferr., gink., glon., graph., hell., helon., 3Hep., hippo-k., hydr-ac., 3Ign., iod., ip., kali-bi., kali-c., kali-m., kali-sil., kola., kreos., lach., lat-h., laur., lyc., lyss., m-arct., m-art., m-aust., mag-c., mang., mel-alt., meph., merc., 3Mez., morph., mur-ac., nat-ar., nat-c., 3Nat-m., nat-p., 4NIT-AC., nit-s-d., 3Nux-v., onc-t., pall., par., perla, 3Petr., ph-ac., 3Phos., phyll-a., pitu-a., 3Plat., plut-n., posit., puls., ran-b., 3Rhus-t., rob., ros-ca-a., sabad., sang., sanic., sarcol-ac., sars., scorp., sel., seneg., sep., sil., sol, sol-n., spig., squil., stan-e., stann., 3Staph., stram., sul-ac., 3Sulph., telo-s., teucr., thuj., thyr., tril-c., tub., verat., wye., zinc., zinc-p.

• Mind; ANGER; Violent (163) : 4ACON., adam., aesc., alco-s., 2alli-m., am-c., ambr., 4ANAC., androc., 3Apis, arn., 3Ars., 3Astac., 4AUR., aur-m-n., aur-s., 2bacch-a., bamb-a., bar-c., 4BELL., bor., bros-g., 3Bry., bufo, 2bung-f., cahin., 3Calc., camph., cand-p., cann-s., canth., caps., carb-an., 4CARB-V., carc., cast., 3Caust., cere-s., 4CHAM., 3Chel., chin., chin-b., cimx., 2cinis-p., citl-l., cocc., coff., con., 3Croc., culx-p., cupr., cycl., cyg-b., cyna., cypr., dendro-p., des-ac., dros., falco-p., ferr., ferr-m., ferr-p., germ., 3Graph., grat., harp., hecla., hell., 4HEP., herin., 3Hom., hydr-ac., hydrog., 3Hyos., ictod., 2ign., iod., ip., 3Kali-c., kali-chl., kali-i., kali-m., kola., lac-f., lac-h., 2lac-leo., lach., latex, led., lsd, 3Lyc., lycpr., lyss., m-art., 3M-aust., mag-c., mag-s., mand., mang., med., mel-alt., 3Meli., merc., mez., mosch., mur-ac., nat-c., 3Nat-m., nat-s., neon, 4NIT-AC., nit-s-d., nitro., 4NUX-V., oena., olnd., onc-t., 3Onis., op., ozone, pall., perla, 3Petr., ph-ac., phos., pitu-a., 3Plat., posit., prot., pter-a., puls., ran-b., ros-d., ros-g., ruta, sabad., salx-f., scorp., sec., seneg., senn., 3Sep., sil., sol-t., spig., stan-e., 3Stann., 4STAPH., stram., stront-c., sul-ac., 3Sulph., taosc., 4TARENT., tell., thal-s., thyr., tub., tub-k., uran., verat., zinc., zinc-p.

• Mind; WEEPING, tearful mood; Anger, vexation; with (33) : ambr., ant-t., arist-cl., ars., bell., cand-a., caras., caust., 3Cham., cocc., coff., gink., lac-c., lap-be-e., lil-t., m-aust., merc., 3Mosch., nit-ac., nitro., nux-v., op., petr., pitu-a., puls., sabin., salx-f., sep., spong., staph., sulph., thyr., zinc.

• Mind; WEEPING, tearful mood; Anger, vexation; after (35) : aids, ambr., arn., aur-m-n., 3Bell., bung-f., calad., calc., cast., caust., cham., 3Cocc., 3Coff., culx-p., cyg-b., hydrog., ign., lach., luna, lyc., m-aust., 3Mosch., nat-m., nit-ac., 3Nux-v., petr., 3Plat., puls., sabin., 2salx-f., spong., staph., sulph., tarent., 3Zinc.

There are many other ways to differentiate the healthy parts of a person's response to the conditions of their life from the parts that create and maintain their suffering. It is very important to keep this idea in mind during case receiving. The homeopath's job is to know the difference between health and disease. We need to know the common elements of mind and disposition to be able to effectively help our clients. Having knowledge of rubrics and remedies that are common in mental symptoms and dispositions will be helpful.