Homeopathic Glossary

AllopathyGreek roots signifying “other” and “suffering”, orthodox medicine as we know it today.
Avogadro’s NumberThat state, according to the laws of chemistry, where there is a limit to how many serial dilutions can be made without losses to the original substance. Avogadro´s number is roughly 10 to the 24th power.
Drug EssenceThe basic picture of symptomatology displayed by a remedy.
HomeopathyCombination of two Greek words; “homoios”, meaning like or similar and “pathos”, meaning sickness or disease, as typifying the action of drugs according to the law of similars.
Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United StatesText which lists the drugs which have been studied adequately and describes in detail the standards of their preparation.
Law of SimilarsAny substance which can produce a totality of symptoms in a healthy human being, can cure that totality of symptoms in a sick human being.
Materia MedicaText which describes the characteristics of the drug in detail as to pathogenicity and modifications by external influences.
MiasmUnderlying causes of chronic disease. There are three Miasms:
1. Psoric
2. Syphilitic
3. Gonorrhea
Minimum DoseThat amount that is capable of eliciting the desired response.
NOSODERemedy made from a diseased animal source (animal excretion)
PolychrestFully proven remedy from plant or mineral source.
PotencyThe dilution of the drug; there are systems:
1. Decimal – 1/10
2. Centesimal – 1/100
ProvingA test of the action of a drug upon a healthy human; a record of all the unusual sensations or deviations from the normal; health experienced by the one taking the drug.
RemedyHomeopathic remedies are made in three mediums:
1. Water base
2. Alcohol base
3. Lactose sugar base
RepertoryA reference book or index of symptoms, arranged by locations systems, modalities, etc, listing the name of the remedy or remedies to be found under each symptom.
SarcodeRemedy made from a healthy animal source.
SimilimumThe remedy for any case of disease or illness is the substance which yields precisely the symptom pattern of the patient in three plains: physical, mental, spiritual.
Single RemedyUsing one remedy at a time, realizing the impossibility of predicting the synergistic effect of several drugs administered simultaneously.
StandardizationThe bringing of any preparation to a recognized standard.
SymptomAny morbid phenomenon or departure from normal in function, appearance or sensation; a change in the patient´s condition indicating some bodily or mental state.
Symptom PictureA comprehensive group of symptoms which points out the similimum.
SyndromeThe aggregate of symptoms associated with any morbid process, and together constituting a picture of the disease. (For instance, the grouped symptoms of diseases of the central nervous system.
Totality of SymptomsAll the patient´s signs and symptoms, whether or not they can be allocated to some named disease. This totality of symptoms gives a picture of the patient´s disturbance arising from malfunction or pathologic changes anatomy. Homeopathic prescribing is based on the totality of symptoms. All symptoms have three levels:
1. Mental – spiritual
2. Emotional – psychic
3. Physical – sex, sleep, food and five senses.
TherapeuticsThe practical branch of medicine dealing with the treatment of disease; a scientific account of the treatment.
TriturationA preparation as directed by the Pharmacopoeia of the American Institute of Homeopathy, according to the following general formula: take of the medicinal substance one part; sugar of milk nine parts, mix by thorough trituration. This produces the 1x decimal trituration. Take one part of the 1x decimal to nine parts of milk sugar and mix to thoroughly triturate. This produces the 2x decimal trituration. And so on.
VirusAny animal poison, especially one produced by and capable of transmitting disease.
Vital ForceAn influence, which directs all aspects of life in the organism, in all three levels.
Allopathy
Greek roots signifying “other” and “suffering”, orthodox medicine as we know it today.
Avogadro’s Number
That state, according to the laws of chemistry, where there is a limit to how many serial dilutions can be made without losses to the original substance. Avogadro´s number is roughly 10 to the 24th power.
Drug Essence
The basic picture of symptomatology displayed by a remedy.
Homeopathy
Combination of two Greek words; “homoios”, meaning like or similar and “pathos”, meaning sickness or disease, as typifying the action of drugs according to the law of similars.
Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS)
Text which lists the drugs which have been studied adequately and describes in detail the standards of their preparation.
Law of Similars
Any substance which can produce a totality of symptoms in a healthy human being, can cure that totality of symptoms in a sick human being.
Materia Medica
Text which describes the characteristics of the drug in detail as to pathogenicity and modifications by external influences.
Miasm
Underlying causes of chronic disease. There are three Miasms:

  1. Psoric
  2. Syphilitic
  3. Gonorrhea
Minimum Dose
That amount that is capable of eliciting the desired response.
Nosode
Remedy made from a diseased animal source (animal excretion)
Polychrest
Fully proven remedy from plant or mineral source.
Potency
The dilution of the drug; there are systems:

  1. Decimal – 1/10
  2. Centesimal – 1/100
Proving
A test of the action of a drug upon a healthy human; a record of all the unusual sensations or deviations from the normal; health experienced by the one taking the drug.
Remedy
Homeopathic remedies are made in three mediums:

  1. Water base
  2. Alcohol base
  3. Lactose sugar base
Repertory
A reference book or index of symptoms, arranged by locations systems, modalities, etc, listing the name of the remedy or remedies to be found under each symptom.
Sarcode
Remedy made from a healthy animal source.
Similimum
The remedy for any case of disease or illness is the substance which yields precisely the symptom pattern of the patient in three plains: physical, mental, spiritual.
Single Remedy
Using one remedy at a time, realizing the impossibility of predicting the synergistic effect of several drugs administered simultaneously.
Standardization
The bringing of any preparation to a recognized standard.
Symptom
Any morbid phenomenon or departure from normal in function, appearance or sensation; a change in the patient´s condition indicating some bodily or mental state.
Symptom Picture
A comprehensive group of symptoms which points out the similimum.
Syndrome
The aggregate of symptoms associated with any morbid process, and together constituting a picture of the disease. (For instance, the grouped symptoms of diseases of the central nervous system.
Totality of Symptoms
All the patient´s signs and symptoms, whether or not they can be allocated to some named disease. This totality of symptoms gives a picture of the patient´s disturbance arising from malfunction or pathologic changes anatomy. Homeopathic prescribing is based on the totality of symptoms. All symptoms have three levels:

  1. Mental – spiritual
  2. Emotional – psychic
  3. Physical – sex, sleep, food and five senses.
Therapeutics
The practical branch of medicine dealing with the treatment of disease; a scientific account of the treatment.
Trituration
A preparation as directed by the Pharmacopoeia of the American Institute of Homeopathy, according to the following general formula: take of the medicinal substance one part; sugar of milk nine parts, mix by thorough trituration. This produces the 1x decimal trituration. Take one part of the 1x decimal to nine parts of milk sugar and mix to thoroughly triturate. This produces the 2x decimal trituration. And so on.
Virus
Any animal poison, especially one produced by and capable of transmitting disease.
Vital Force
An influence, which directs all aspects of life in the organism, in all three levels.