History of Miasm
Miasm
Hahnemann published Chronic Diseases in 1828.
He felt he had unlocked a great truth.
Grapling with the question, “Why people do not remain well.”
At this time there were just about 90 remedies in existence, not including: Anhal. Apis. Cact. Calc-F. Calc-P. Calc-S. Cann-I. Carc. Cimic. Crot-H. Gels. Kali-Ars. Kali-Bi. Kali-Br. Kali-I. Kali-S. Lac-C. Lach. Lil-T. Lyss. Manc. Med. Naja. Nat-Ars. Nat-S. Nux-M. Pall. Plb. Psor. Rad-Br. Rhod. Sabin. Sang. Sec. Sel. Stront.Syph. Tarent. Tab. Ther. Tub. – just to name a few!
Thus we must wonder how many cases could have been missed!
Hahnemann coined the term miasm.
Infection. (Though he maintained rather opposing ideas of infection).
Casual contact causes psora; impure intercourse caused sycosis.
Yet states scabies occurs because the patient has psora; buboes because he has syphilis..
Instantaneously transmitted to whole economy through the nerves.
Identified 3 miasms.
Psora
Sycosis
Syphilis
While he described in detail the known symptoms of syphilis and gonorrhea (which he connected to figwarts), his description of psora is extremely difficult to understand.
“Psora is the oldest and most hydra-headed of all chronic miasms”
“It has disfigured and tortured mankind for centuries.”
Uses words like, Malign, living evil, scourge.
Traces 100 cases of suppressed itch leading to severe disease.
Next he gives a long list of symptoms which indicate psora. The list goes on for 25 pages. No one could understand or maintain this list in mind. There was absolutely no guiding principle to the list. Furthermore there was considerable over-lap of symptoms with sycosis and syphilis.
Hahnemann then assigned the known remedies to 4 categories:
Acute miasms: Aconite. Angustura. Belladonna. Bryonia. Ignatia.
Syphilis: Mercurius
Sycosis: Thuja.
Psora: Agar. Alum. Am-c. Am-m. Anac. Ant-c. Ars. Aur. Aur-m. Bar-c. Bor. Calc. Carb-an.Carb-v. Caust. Clem.Coloc. Con. Cupr. Dig.Dulc. Euph. Graph. Guai. Hep. Iod. Kali-c. Kali-n. Lyc. Mag-c. Mag-m. Mang. Mez. Mur-ac. Nat-c.Nat-m.Nit-ac.Petr.Ph-ac.Phos.Plat.Sars.Sep. Sil. Stann. Sulph. Sul-ac. Zinc
The result of these inscrutable symptom lists was that the majority of the homeopathic world either shrugged their collective shoulders or thought the 75 year-old master was past his prime.
Hering himself wrote: “What important influence can it exert whether a homeopath adopts the theoretic opinions of Hahnemann so long as he holds the principle of the master and the materia medica of our school. What influence can it have whether a physician adopts or rejects the psoric theory so long as he searches for the most similar medicine possible?” (Allen denied this saying that we could only find the simillimum if we knew the miasm).
This attitude more or less summed up the majority opinion.
There were however many who took Hahnemann’s ideas very much to heart. The most prominent of these was HC Allen (not Timothy) who wrote a 3 volume work on the Chronic Miasms. This work was to be the first of a series of nearly religious writings and ideas about miasm. Allen gives and alternate list of symptoms which correspond to the 3 miasms and an alternate list of the remedies which apply.
The 1st aphorism was effectively thrown out of the window as homeopaths argued about many facets of miasms.
For example a fierce debate sprang up about Tuberculosis. Some adherents said it was psora combined with syphilis. Others argued just as certainly that it was sycosis and syphilis. No one dared to suggest that their might be a miasm which Hahnemann missed. The whole thing was mired in dogma and in many places it still is.
KENT
Generalities; SYCOSIS (52) : Agar., Alum., Alumn., Anac., Ant-C., Ant-T., Apis, Aran., Arg., Arg-N., Aster., Aur., Aur-M., Bar-C., Bry., Calc., Carb-An., Carb-V., Carbn-S., Caust., Cham., Cinnb., Con., Dulc., Euphr., Ferr., Fl-Ac., Graph., Hep., Iod., Kali-C., Kali-S., Lach., Lyc., Mang., Med., Merc., Mez., Nat-S., Nit-Ac., Petr., Phyt., Puls., Sabin., Sars., Sec., Sel., Sep., Sil., Staph., Sulph., Thuj.
Generalities; SYPHILIS (48) : Arg., Ars., Ars-I., Ars-S-F., Asaf., Aur., Aur-M., Aur-M-N., Bad., Benz-Ac., Calc-I., Calc-S., Carb-An., Carb-V., Cinnb., Clem., Con., Cor-R., Crot-H., Fl-Ac., Guai., Hep., Iod., Kali-Ar., Kali-Bi., Kali-Chl., Kali-I., Kali-S., Lach., Led., Merc., Merc-C., Merc-I-F., Merc-I-R., Mez., Nit-Ac., Petr., Ph-Ac., Phos., Phyt., Sars., Sil., Staph., Still., Sul-I., Sulph., Syph., Thuj.
BOENINGHAUSEN
Generalities; Constitution; psoric (21) : Ant-C., Bar-C., Brom., Calc., Calc-P., Carb-An., Carb-V. Cupr., Graph., Hep., Iod., Kali-I., Lyc., Nat-C., Nat-M., Nit-Ac., Petr., Psor., Sil., Sulph., Tub.
Generalities; Sycosis (17) : Apis, Arg., Arg-N., Ars., Calc., Caust., Dulc., Fl-Ac., Graph., Kali-S., Med., Nat-S., Nit-Ac., Sel., Sep., Staph., Thuj.
Generalities; Syphilis (15) : Am-C., Aur., Carb-An., Cinnb., Iod., Kali-Ar., Kali-I., Kali-S., Merc., Nit-Ac., Phyt., Sars., Sil., Syph., Thuj.
KNERR
General; CONSTITUTION; psoric (7) : Ars-I., Calc., Graph., Hep., Kreos., Psor., Sulph.
General; CONSTITUTION; sycotic (8) : Aran., Aster., Med., Nat-P., Nat-S., Nit-Ac., Sars., Thuj.
General; CONSTITUTION; syphilitic (30) : Ars., Asc-T., Aur., Benz-Ac., Clem., Cor-R., Crot-H., Cund., Euph., Ferr-I., Fl-Ac., Guai., Kali-Bi., Kali-I., Merc., Merc-C., Merc-D., Merc-I-R., Mez., Nit-Ac., Petr., Ph-Ac., Phos., Phyt., Sars., Sil., Still., Sulph., Syph., Thuj.
If we look carefully at these lists we see the tremendous disparity between the authors as well as overlap between the miasms.
The next move forward was in the Ortega meeting of 1944. Ortega put forward his concept of miasm. (book: notes on miasm by Ortega)
He maintained the fiction of 3 miasms (something nice about 3).
He described the main characteristics of the three constitutions:
Psora = inhibition
Sycosis = excess
Syphilis = destruction (same said by Dr.Vijaykar)
This concept became quite fashionable until Vithoulkas pointed out:
1) No definition of miasm
2) Many inconsistencies within the theory (Aur-M-N has huge tumors. Merc is inhibited, Sulph is audacious and flashy, etc)
3) No precise limit is placed upon the number of miasms
4) No clear listing of remedies and miasm existed.
Vithoulkas went on to define miasms:
• Infectious
• Hereditary
• Nosode can be made of them
Thus he stated clearly and for the first time that Tuberculosis was a separate miasm since it fit all of these criteria. Later the Cancer miasm was coined.
In all these discussions of miasm, there was no agreed upon definition of the real characteristics of the miasms. Vithoulkas considered the miasms as layered in patients and that most patients had several miasms. He felt that any remedy could apply to several or any miasm. He did feel that certain remedies were more closely related to particular miasms (i.e. Thuj and Nat-S for sycosis).
Thus by the end of the 1980’s we were pretty much where Hering left us: What difference does it make since we have to choose the similimum by the symptoms any way.
Finally in the 1990’s Sankaran revolutionized homeopathy. He created a new paradigm for miasm.
Each remedy is assigned to a specific miasm and only one,
Each miasm has extremely clear and tight defining characteristics
Added to a total of 10 miasms
The value of this concept in case taking/analysis is remarkable.
Acute: Sudden, unexpected, life-threatening situation (illness, attack, accident, etc). The patient is in a primitive state usually accompanied by great fear. There is no compensatory mechanism except violence or flight. He seeks reassurance and protection.
Animal – Spongia
Mineral – Aetherum. Chlorum.. Hydrogen. Lithium.
Plant – Aconite. Arnica. Atropinum. Belladonna. Cactina. Calendula. Campora. Chocolate. Croton Tiglium. Digitoxin. Elaterium. Ergotaminum. Hypericum. Melilotus. Morphinum. Oenanthus. Stramonium. Strychninum. Veratrum.
Nosode – Lyssinum. Morbillinum. Diptherinum.
Typhoid: Urgent, life-threatening situation requiring the patient’s full capacity to survive. The patient is willing to use any means to return to a secure position: Violence, scheming, flight, lying, etc. His goal is to conserve every resource to combat the threat. Thus materialism is a strong component. He seeks rest and secure position. He suffers with diarrheal conditions, strong pains, severe fevers, mania but is well inbetween these conditions.
Animal – Carbo Animalis
Mineral – Acetic Acid. Benxoic Acid. Carboneum Sulphuratum. Gallic Acid. Petroleum. Polystyrene. Sacchrum album. Sulphuric Acid. Terebinthina.
Plant – Abelmoschus. Aethusa. Ailanthus. Anantherum. Argemon. Asclepias Tuberosa. Baptisia. Bryonia. Carbo Vegetabilis. Carnegia gigantea Chamomilla. Doryphora. Euphrasia. Gambogia. Helleborus. Hyoscyamus. Ipecac. Lycopus. Mancinella. Nux Moschata. Nux Vomica. Paris. Podophyllum. Pyrogenium. Rheum. Rhus Tox. Thyroidinum. Veratrum Veride. Viscum.
Nosode—Bowel nosodes.
Malaria: The patient is suffering but not in immanent danger. Instead he finds himself repeated accosted by highly uncomfortable conditions. These conditions leave him weak and vulnerable between the attacks. He is partially crippled by the condition causing him to be dependent on those around him. His forward progress is arrested as he deals with these harassing attacks. He can do little more than complain or act out. He suffers with intermittent fevers, migraines, neuralgia, rheumatism.
Animal – None.
Mineral – Ammonium Muriaticum. Antimonium Crudum. Aurum Muriaticum Kalinatum. Chininum salts. Magnesia Muriatica. Natrum Muriaticum. Sacrum Album.
Plant – Angustura. Berberis. Boletus. Cactus. Capsicum. Cedron. Chelidonium. China. Cina. Clematis. Colchicum. Colocynthis. Eupatorium Perfoliatum. Eupatorium Purpureum. Iris. Kalmia. Menyanthes. Peonia. Prunus. Ranunculus Bulbosus. Sarracenia. Spigelia. Sumbulus. Verbascum.
Nosode— None so far.
Psora and Ringworm: Sankaran separates these into two miasms but fails to categorize a single plant remedy in psora. The theme for psora according to Sankaran is struggle against and external problem but with a feeling of optimism. The Ringworm miasm is struggle against an external object but alternately feeling optimism or pessimism. In both the operative concept is effort and struggle.
Animal – None
Mineral – – Calcarea. Calcarea Fluorica. Calcarea Silicata. Calcarea Sulphurica. Cuprum. Ferrum. Graphites. Kali-Carbonicum. Magnesia Sulphurica. Niccolum. Sulphur. Zincum.
Plant – Actea Spicata. Allium Sativa. Croton Tiglium. Dulcamara. Gossypium. Lycopodium. Opunta vulgaris. Pseudotsuga. Rhus Venanata. Sarsaparilla. Taraxicum. Teucreum. Upas. Veronica officianalis. Viola Tricolorata.
Nosode – Ringworm nosode.
Sycosis
Cancer
Tubercular: The feeling of the miasm relates to the ever encroaching and eventually fatally suffocating infection. The patient rebels, struggles, longs for freedom from his condition. He hurries to live his life even as he intuits that it is burning away from him. He feels the walls closing in upon him. His loved ones cannot be trusted. He suffers from respiratory conditions, persecution complex,
Animal – Nearly all insect and spider remedies. Coccus Cacti. Falcon. (prossibly all bird remedies). Moschus.
Mineral – Antimonium Tartaricum. Arsenicum Iodatum. Aurum Muriaticum. Bromium. Calcarea Iodata. Calcarea Phosphorica. Ferrum Iodatum. Ferrum Phosphoricum. Fluoric Acid. Iodum (and many of its salts) Kali Phosphoricum. Magnesia Phosphorica. Natrum Phosphricum. Phosphorus (and all of its salts). Stannum. Succinic Acid. Zincum.
Plant – Abrotanum. Acalypha. Atropinum. Balsamum. Brucea. Cereus Bonplandii. Cimicifuga. Cistus. Coca. Coffea. Drosera. Elaterium. Euonymus. Ginseng.. Myristica. Myrtus Communis. Oleander. Phelandrium. Pix. Rumex. Salix Niger. Sambucus. Senega. Teucreum Scordonia .Ustilago. Verbascum.
Nosode – Bacillinum. Tuberculinum (in all its preparations). BCG vaccine.
Leprosy: A desperate state of self-disgust and loathing. Contempt with his condition and towards others. Desire to tear, mutilate or bite himself. He suffers from suicidal thoughts or impulses, depression, morbid obesity.
Animal – Ambra. Androctonus. Lac Defloratum. Mephites. Sepia.
Mineral – Aurum Sulphuricum. Baryta Iodata. Baryta Sulphurica. Indolum. Skatolum.
Plant – Agraphis. Aloe. Anacardium. Aristolochia. Azadirachta. Cereus Serpentinus. Cicuta. Coca. Codeinum. Comocladia. Curare. Cyclamen. Fumaria. Gratiola. Homarus. Hura. Hydrastus. Hydrocotyle. Kola nut. Laurocerasus. Ledum. Mandragora. Ocimum sacntum. Rhus glabra. Secale. Solanum Tuberosum Aegrotans. Spiraea.
Nosodes – Leprominium. Psorinum.
Syphilis: Utterly destructive state – either physically or mentally. Violence and revenge. Suicide. Destructive addictions. Advanced cardiac conditions. Aortic disaese. Aneurysm. Alcoholism. Homicide.
Animal – All snakes. Bufo. Maiasaura Os. Scorpion.
Mineral – Alumina. Aurum. Barytas. Hepar Sulphur. Kali Iodatum. Mercurius. Osmium. Platinum Plumbum. Plutonium.
Plant – Absinthium. Anagallis. Berberis aquiflia. Clematis. Coriandrum. Corydalis. Crataegus. Derris. Echinacea. Francisea. Guiaicum. Hoang. Hydrocotyle. Ledum. Leptandra. Lotus. Origanum. Passiflora. Psilocibe. Stillingea.
Nosode -- Syphilinum