Why case taking is key to success for Homoeopaths?

Homoeopathic case taking is not a checklist. Homeopathic case taking is an art of obtaining  from clients the essence of their suffering symptom in their totality through the process of trained observation, interviewing followed by prescribing medicine. This detailed understanding helps the Homoeopath match the client’s individual expression of illness to the most similar remedy. Even if two people come with the same diagnosis, their experience, triggers, sensations and reactions are entirely unique. The role of the Homoeopath is to listen deeply without prejudice to capture that uniqueness.

Each case is unique in all respects. Only a true individualized approach can explore the true picture and help Homoeopaths to arrive at a totality in its true sense.

Homoeopathic case taking has many purposes. First of all is to get causative factors of the chief complaint. Detailed discussion about the present complaint is needed for getting unique individualized symptoms for symptom totality. Listening to the clients and observation is the key to success. Homoeopaths will observe how clients walk, sit and gesture while narrating symptoms. First observation will be the look of the client like pale, puffy, oedematous and so on. And observation for mentals like anxiety, anger, worried, fastidious, stupid, indifferent, irritable, timid, depressed. Homoeopaths should be involved in active listening and observing. Clients never are interrupted while narrating complaints. When they stop then only Homoeopaths ask more about location, sensation and modalities of the complaints. This is the most difficult stage of case taking. It necessitates sufficient sympathy, patience, introspection and tactfulness on the part of Homoeopath. Any hurry will completely spoil the whole picture of the case.

In order to obtain a complete picture of the disease one has to know what to notice and where to look for in a given case. Sound senses are needed for Homoeopathic case taking. Case taking involves detailed analysis of various aspects of a client's health. Key elements of Case taking are detailed symptom analysis, mental and emotional state, medical history, lifestyle and habits, family history. Importance of case taking are individualized treatment, understanding the root cause, finding simillimum, and well taken case will not only help selecting remedy but will help during follow up to judge level of improvement and deciding medicine for follow ups.