DEFINITION:

……….Individualization is a process of singling out or differentiation by which one is distinguish from the other of same class or group by some exclusive feature……….’.

NEED FOR INDIVIDUALIZATION:

Homoeopathy is based upon the Rules and Regulations and individualization is also an important law of homeopathy. Without individualization we can not achieve the Rapid, Permanent, and Gentle Cure.

Homeopathy is an art and science, we know as …………………..

2 humans are not alike, their constitution, temperament, susceptibility and company is different.

In the similar way;

Two remedies are never similar only one remedy can match with the disease picture, so one remedy can’t substitute for the other. Two remedies may be similar but there will be some subtle differences between both.

A homoeopath must have to learn to observe these subtle differences this is ‘INDIVIDUALIZATION’.

PROPER WAY FOR INDIVIDUALIZATION:

Materia medica helps to individualize the remedies. When we study Materia medica we observe that the physical generals of one remedy differ from the others.

For Example:

A case of ‘PERITONITIS’ patient has the following symptoms:

§  Distended abdomen.

§  Restlessness.

§  Often vomits and passes blood from anus.

§  Horrible burning.

§  Thirst unquenchable.

§  Pulse slow.

§  Tongue is dry and red.

Arsenicum Alb. & Secale both these two medicines have all these symptoms equally in high degree but one is indicated, If the patient wants ‘cool and cold applications’ , wants cover off desires the window to be open, is unable to tolerate the warm room, here is  clear indication of ‘SECALE’,

If the patient wants ‘To be fully covered and wrapped up, desires ‘Hot food and drinks’ then ‘ARSENIC-ALB is fit.

IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUALIZATION:

Again we repeat Homeopathy is an applied science where ‘Individualization’ plays a very important role.

We can see that material medica is a book which contains a no. of such sensitive and subtle sensations all based upon the ‘Individualization’ ; generals are very important they help us to individualize one patient to the other and also to observe the ‘Distinctions’.

Homeopathic physician should perfect in their questioning skill with the sound idea of ‘Individualization’.

Many patients have rare or strange things that it has never been found in any remedy. It is necessary to examine the entire case fully and completely to find out which remedy of all the remedies is most similar to the patients.

BASIS OF INDIVIDUALIZATION:

STEP I:

          Thorough case taking.

STEP II:

Correct interpretations and anamnesis of the material which a physician has collected through case taking.

STEP III:

          Evaluation of the individualizing features.

STEP I: THOROUGH CASE TAKING:

For smooth a gentle cure the physician can choose the individual remedy just by proper and complete case taking. The modern physician note down only the ‘Common Symptoms’ and the ‘Morbid Anatomy of the patient and have left out the ‘General and ‘peculiar symptoms’.

All these symptoms are very important. The ‘General symptoms’ are use in the sense of ‘AN OFFICER OF AN ARMY’ who has command on whole Army and just like this General symptoms command all other symptoms and really play an important role in case taking to individualize one patient to the other and be helpful for the selection of the remedy.

So, Individualizing features are always available in all cases. They may of course being hidden in the details of the complaints, but very often they are obtained from the Mind, the Causation and ‘The Miasmatic background.

STEP II; CORRECT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MTERIAL:

Case taking is not the mechanical job, rather it is an ‘Art’  if the material is collected in haphazard manner, without proper evaluation, Individualization may not be possible in spite  of the presence of one or two such features.

STEP III; EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUALIZING FEATURES:

It is the most important stage before prescribing, if the symptoms are not arranged according to their value, Individualization can never be achieved.

For Example:

          A case of ‘ACIDITY’ patient has the following symptoms:

§  Aggravation from 4---8pm.

§  Appetite good but few mouthfuls satisfy his hunger.

§  Urine highly colored.

§  Desires hot foods and drinks.

In this case medicine is ‘LYCOPODIUM’. But if the patient complains for mental restless and anxiousness then medicine is ‘ARSENICUM-ALB’.

DIFFICULTIES IN INDIVIDUALIZATION:

The greatest difficulties encountered in Individualization are the incoherent, incomplete, and misleading expressions of the symptoms by the patient.

1.   Incomplete hasty and impatient case taking by the physician.

2.   Ignorance of the physician in understanding the effects, The Occupation, Mode of Living, Addiction, Domestic living, Dietary habits, Environmental stress, Age, Personality.

3.   Ignorance about the common nature of signs & symptoms of the Diseases.

4.   Ignorance of Evaluation of symptoms.

5.   Ignorance of gradation of medicine.

6.   Indiscriminate use of Drugs, produce varieties of intractable syndromes.

ESSENTIALS OF INDIVIDUALIZATION:

1.   Appearance.

2.   Present complaints.

3.   Past history.

4.   Personal history.

5.   Family history.

6.   Abnormalities.

7.   Physical Examination.

1.   APPEARANCE:

Consideration of the relations and effects of the Age, Sex, Race, Religion, and Residence of the patient.

2.   PRESENT COMPLAINTS:

Record of present complaints must be completed in regard to causation, Location, Sensation, Modalities, Concomitants, Onset, Duration, and Symptoms preceding following.

3.   PAST HISTORY:

Analysis of the Past History in regards to its effects on the constitution and symptomatology of the patient.

4.   PERSONAL HISTORY:

Relating to the personality of the patient. And about his or her family. Means how many siblings the patient has?

5.   FAMILY HISTORY:

The disease from which Maternal or parental side of the family has suffered, for example:

1.   Hypertension.

2.   Diabetes mellitus.

6.   ABNORMALITIES:

Anything unusual in the Appearance, e.g.

1.   Gait

2.   Complexion

3.   Look

4.   Clothes

5.   Expressions etc.

7. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:

Physiological changes in the Tissues, Secretions, and Excretions are to be evaluated. 

REFRENCES:

1.   Spirit of Organon by Mundal Tapan Chandra.

1.   Gems of Organon by Dr. P. B. Thombre.

2.   www.google.com