A repertory, a materia medica: what are they?

In homeopathy, the concepts of the materia medica and the homeopathic repertory play an important role in the way practitioners traditionally select a remedy. Below is an overview of these tools and how they are used within the homeopathic framework.

Pathogenesis: the origin of homeopathic symptoms

Pathogenesis refers to the set of effects and symptoms observed when a homeopathic substance is tested on healthy individuals. These tests, known as provings, involve administering the substance in small doses in order to observe physical, emotional, or mental reactions reported by participants.

The symptoms described during these experiments form the basis of the homeopathic materia medica.
It is important to note that these observations belong to the homeopathic tradition and do not constitute proof of clinical effectiveness according to current scientific standards.

Homeopathic materia medica: a compilation of traditional remedy descriptions

The homeopathic materia medica is a reference compilation that brings together all substances used in homeopathy along with their observed effects on the human organism. Each remedy is described in detail, covering the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms it is traditionally associated with in an unwell individual, or said to provoke in a healthy individual.

Use in consultation

During a consultation, the homeopath refers to the materia medica to compare the patient’s symptom profile with the portraits described in these reference works.
This comparison helps identify the remedy considered closest to the patient’s overall profile, according to homeopathic principles.

  • Global approach: the focus is on the full set of symptoms rather than an isolated one.
  • Detailed analysis: the patient’s individual characteristics guide interpretation.
  • Individualization: the remedy considered may vary from one person to another based on descriptions found in homeopathic literature.

The homeopathic repertory: a rapid search tool

The homeopathic repertory is a symptom classification tool.
Unlike the materia medica, which provides detailed descriptions of each remedy, the repertory functions as an index that links a symptom to a list of remedies traditionally cited in that context.

Use in consultation

The homeopath uses the homeopathic repertory to quickly narrow down possible remedies based on the symptoms reported by the patient.

Example: If a patient mentions mild fatigue at the end of the day following a period of light stress, the homeopath may consult the relevant repertory section (e.g. “Fatigue / temporary overload”) to identify remedies traditionally associated with this type of transient sensation.

Once potential remedies are identified, the homeopath refines the choice by consulting the materia medica, to ensure that the remedy description aligns with the patient’s overall symptom picture.

  • Rapid filtering of relevant remedies
  • Classification by symptom categories
  • Time-saving for the practitioner

How does a homeopathic consultation work?

During a consultation, the homeopathic practitioner generally follows several steps:

Symptom collection

The homeopath questions the patient about physical, emotional, and behavioral manifestations, as well as elements such as:

  • modalities of aggravation and improvement (e.g. worse with cold, better with movement),
  • context or possible causes as perceived by the patient (stress, trauma, family background, etc.),
  • rare or distinctive symptoms, often used in the homeopathic tradition to refine interpretation.

Consultation of the homeopathic repertory

The practitioner then uses the repertory to identify remedies most frequently associated with the main symptoms.

Analysis of the Materia Medica

The choice is further refined by comparing the patient’s profile with the detailed descriptions found in the materia medica, in order to orient toward the remedy considered most coherent within this framework.

Example: If a patient presents with a mild cold featuring clear nasal discharge, frequent sneezing, and increased sensitivity to cold, several remedies may be mentioned in homeopathic literature (e.g. Allium cepa, Nux vomica).
The homeopath then refers to the remedy whose description best matches the patient’s overall profile.

Prescription and follow-up

Once a remedy is selected, follow-up may be organized to observe changes and adjust if necessary, according to homeopathic principles.

Conclusion

Homeopathy traditionally relies on three main tools: the materia medica, the repertory, and pathogenesis.
These resources provide a structured framework for identifying a remedy that corresponds to a patient’s symptom descriptions, according to homeopathic principles.

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Homeopathy is a complementary approach and is not recognized as a conventional medical treatment.
Homeoco is a pedagogical reading and understanding tool: it does not provide diagnoses, prescriptions, or automated therapeutic decision support.
For any health-related questions, seek advice from your pharmacist or a healthcare professional.