Repertory Construction and Use

The Repertory Repertory: is a dictionary/lexicon of symptoms/features together with modalities. Each entry of a symptom/feature is called a RUBRIC. A rubric may have a number of modalities (time, weather, etc) listed below it, and each of these entries forms a SUB-RUBRIC. Listed alongside each rubric/sub-rubric are the medicine(s) which have that particular feature in their materia medica.

Repertorisation Repertorisation is the method that is used to analyse the patient’s symptoms and thus compare the various medicines that may be appropriate. There are a number of repertories available:  Kent  Boericke  Boenninghausen  Clarke  Barthel The standard work that forms the basis of international use in homeopathic medicine is Kent’s Repertory. There are also computer repertories, but it is vital to have a fundamental knowledge of the book itself before one can adequately use computerised versions. The most commonly used book repertory is Synthesis.

Basic Layout of Rubrics 1. Time of onset/aggravation /amelioration of the symptom 2. Modalities/Causal conditions - alphabetically 3. Location – arranged cranial to caudal, proximal to distal 4. Character/type of sensation - alphabetically 5. Extension – the direction of radiation

Type - faces - used The medicine(s) listed against each rubric/sub-rubric are shown in three different type faces. And shown by abbreviation. The three type faces: Bold type = that particular symptom/feature is a strong/marked feature of that medicine Italic type = the symptom/feature is of moderate strength Ordinary type = the symptom/feature is present but not marked.

Use of type faces in repertorising When repertorising, the type faces are used by way of a scoring system. A number of rubrics are being analysed that are relevant to the patient. The medicines present in each rubric are listed, and they are given a score for each time they appear according to the type face present. – Bold type = scores 3 – Italic type = scores 2 points –Ordinary type = scores 1 point

Beware!!!!! Thus at the end of your repertorisation/analysis you will have a total score for each medicine that has appeared during the procedure. This does not mean that the medicine that scored highest is necessarily the correct medicine for that patient. GIGO – Garbage in, Garbage out.

MM Comparison Next step is to go to the materia medica and study the selection of medicine that have featured most strongly in the repertorisation. Only by comparing the materia medica picture of the medicine with that of the patient can we decide which is the ‘best fit’. Repertorisation is an aid, which directs the prescriber to the medicines that are most likely to help the patient.