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Observations illustrated
(Seminar Report)
Seminar with Dr. Dhiraj Nanda at Hotel Coronet, Apte
Road, Pune on 07/06/09
Report by Dr. Mahesh T and Dr. Hema
One day seminar was conducted at Pune, Maharashtra on
07/06/09. More than 125 delegates attended the seminar.
Seminar was inaugurated by lighting the lamp of light
and garlanding the photograph of Dr. Hahnemann
by Dr. Mrs. T. A. Khan (Dean, Faculty of Homoeopathy,
Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune); Dr. Pradeep Sethia
(Principal, DSHMC, Pune); Dr. Manisha Solanki
(vice-principal and PG Director, DSHMC, Pune); Dr.
Rajesh Bhogale (a leading practitioner from the city of
Pune) and Dr. Dhiraj Nanda (speaker of the seminar). The
dignitaries on dais officially released two new books,
‘Complete Materia Medica – Indian Drugs by Dr. (Mrs.)
Meena Bhasme and Dr. K. J. Sushama’ and ‘Case-taking –
Stages, Parts & Methodologies by Dr. Dhiraj Nanda’
Dr. Nanda started the seminar by explaining that
observation is study by careful surveillance, viewing,
watching and monitoring in order to know more about the
topic or subject in focus. He pointed out that the
incidence that is regarded as precursor to birth of
homoeopathy roots from observation. It was an
observation that made Dr. Hahnemann think about law of
similars. So right from its birth homoeopathy has been
associated with the phenomena of observation. He
stressed that observations when interpreted logically
provide absolutely dependable information. Time and
again experience has proved that what one observes is
certainly more dependable than what the patient says.
Observations are useful in various aspects of
homoeopathic practice. These are
- Case-taking
- Case-analysis
- Understanding the ‘Direction Of Cure’.
Observations are definite pointers towards
- Miasms
- Rubrics
- Constitutions
- ESD
He concluded the first session by stating that what the
patient says should match to what one observes. For this
one should have the knowledge of what is be observed and
how is to be interpreted. Skills of observations can
god-gifted or acquired. Hahnemann was blessed great
skills of observations. Fortunately, one can develop
good skills of observations. With a little effort and
regular practice one can develop fairly good skills of
observations.
Dr. Dhiraj Nanda immediately proceeded ahead with the
second session ‘Observations and Physical Appearance’.
One of the aspects that are of interest to homoeopaths
is to know the hidden mind through physical appearance.
Is it possible? Can one know what is hidden in another
person’s mind by just looking at him? Do physical
features have some thing to tell about the mind or
personality? It is possible. He explained with a small
experiment. If you to a kindergarten class and ask the
children to describe a bad man, each child will try to
describe a picture of bad man. Don’t be surprised if you
find many aspects of bad man common among the picture
described by different children who are coming from
different socio-economic background. Similarly, good man
will also have some aspects that will be common among
these children. Why does one finds these common points
associated with these images?
This is because of subconscious association of about
physical appearance to the personality. Right from the
beginning of the evolution, in all the spheres of life
and knowledge, human mind started correlating unknown
with the known. This is the reason that one correlates
certain behaviour patterns with certain appearances of
the physical body. Experiences ratify this relation
between certain behaviour patterns with certain
appearances of the physical body. Dr. Hahnemann had
recognized this fact more than 200 years ago. This is
clear from aphorism 5 of ‘Organon of medicine’. In
aphorism 5 Dr. Hahnemann has given the ascertainable
physical constitution of the patient before
1.
Moral and intellectual character;
2.
Occupation;
3.
Mode of living and habits;
4.
Social and domestic relations;
5.
Age;
6.
Sexual function; etc.
After this Dr. Nanda quoted from literature on physical
appearance by pioneers in the field of homoeopathy.
Speaking on the ascertainable physical constitution of
the patient being a pointer towards the miasms he quoted
extensively from ‘The Principles and Art of Cure by
Homoeopathy by H. A. Roberts –– Reprint Edition 2000,
published by B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
Dr. Nanda explained the direct utility of physical
appearance in reportorial analysis. Dr. Nanda stressed
upon the importance of physical appearance in acute
prescribing. He explained one can use the Thermal,
Thirst, Laterality & Physical Appearance Axis
which can be used when there is paucity of data /
information to lead us to constitutional similimum.
Applying the axis greatly reduces the number of remedies
left for use to work with. He explained this with a few
examples from his practice. This was followed by
detailed explanation of twenty-two aphorisms from
‘Organon of medicine’ where Dr. Hahnemann talks about
observations.
After explaining aphorisms, Dr. Nanda talked on
perceiving certain negative points that form the very
basis for analyzing a constitution which patients would
never like to express / tell. He explained the
importance of observing ‘Ascertainable Physical
Constitution’ of the patient with respect to
1. Sexual behaviour covering rubrics – Amativeness; Lack
of morals; Lasciviousness, Lewdness; Aversion to
coition; Celibacy, etc.
2. Secretive behaviour covering rubrics – Deceitful,
selfishness, slyness, suspiciousness, Confiding,
Credulous, Imprudence, Indiscretion, Naive, etc.
3. Resistant behaviour covering rubrics – Argumentative;
Intolerant behavior; Anger, violent; Timidity;
Spineless; Fretful (worrisome); Yielding, etc.
After explaining correlation of physical body with
Behavioural pattern and mind rubrics, Dr. Nanda talked
on correlating physical body with miasms. As already
told the ascertainable physical constitution of the
patient is a pointer towards the miasms. Though every
part of the body gets influenced by the dominating miasm,
in clinical practice one has to focus and observe
certain parts that can be studied easily in every
patient. These are hairs, face and fingers. Of these,
face is to given maximum importance. Observe the face
with respect to
1. Physical appearance; and
2. Reactions.
Admire beautiful looks of a face in accordance to miasm,
other wise one may end up as poet, not a homoeopath.
During this session Dr. Nanda explained miasmatic
analysis of hairs, face and fingers.
Hairs were analyzed with respect to
1. Hairlines;
2. Brittleness;
3. Smoothness;
4. Pointing / Direction.
Nose was analyzed with respect to
1. Bridge of nose;
2. Shape;
3. Width.
Eyes were analyzed with respect to
1. Level of outer angle;
2. Set;
3. Size;
4. Protuberance;
5. Eyelid.
Ears were analyzed with respect to
1. Set;
2. Size;
3. Protuberance / visibility;
4. Slope;
5. Lobe.
Fingers were analyzed with respect to
1. Size;
2. Shape;
3. Thickness.
Dr. Nanda explained all the above aspects of physical
appearances with photographs of his patients.
Next session was on observing miasms through video
clips. Dr. Nanda presented eighteen video clips in this
session. Dr. Nanda ended the day with illustration of
different rubrics associated with observations and
physical appearance from repertory. Most of these
rubrics were explained along with photographs. This was
followed by question answer session where Dr. Nanda
answered the questions of the participants.
Almost all the delegates were full of praise for Dr.
Alkesh. B. Agrawal and his team who had organized such a
wonderful seminar almost to perfection.
“It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. More
than100 photographs and videos on observations shown by
Dr. Dhiraj Nanda really made the seminar ‘observations
illustrated’.” – A delegate who attended the
seminar. |
