Susceptibility to disease is a key concept in homeopathy. Dr Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) wrote the following:
The psychic and physical inimical influences that we encounter in the world and that we call disease agents do not have an absolute power to untune our organism. We fall ill under their influence only when the organism is disposed and susceptible enough to their attack for its feelings and functions to be altered and untuned from the normal. Thus these agents do not make everybody sick each time. [Organon of Medicine: aphorism 31 translation by Künzli et al (1989, Gollanz)]
In this short article I consider the nature of susceptibility and then share an interesting example from my own case load.
Science writer Philip Ball in his recent book titled How Life Works opens with a true story of two people who caught Covid – one elderly, frail and asthmatic, who suffered from a lung disease (COPD), the second, a fifty-six-year-old in good health. One quicky recovered, the other sadly died. Unremarkable were it was not for the fact that it was the one in good health who succumbed.
Ball goes on to write, “the pandemic reminded us…how little we understand about our bodies and about how they are assailed by the slings and arrows or outrageous fortune.”
This anecdote is an excellent recent example of our susceptibility. Hahnemann recognised this two centuries ago and thus our individuality is one cornerstone of homeopathic prescribing. We are all different and consequently have different vulnerabilities. Some people are prone to respiratory illness, some gastric, some migraines and so on. Such vulnerabilities are – it seems – part of our inheritance. In case taking it is interesting to see how patterns are present across the generations. Hahnemann’s meticulous observations of these patterns across a vast case load led to his concept of ‘miasm’ on which subject I have written before.
Simply put, susceptibility is our weak spot – the degree to which we are vulnerable to a particular outside influence. This does not have to be something in nature – perhaps a virus or bacteria or even particular foods – it could be someone! Fear, anxiety, grief – even attraction are very real events, that impact.
Nor are our susceptibilities static through time. The diseases or anxieties of childhood are often not those of out adult years. Like it or not, we will all be susceptible to some morbific (disease causing) influence at some stage in out lives, and the greater that susceptibility the more likely we succumb.
Predisposition typically refers to our inherited traits and tendencies – often perceived through the patterns in disease and in familial medical history. The goal of effective homeopathy is to eradicate or at least calm the influence of this predisposition. It goes further than just strengthening immunity though that can certainly be understood as a core objective.
One important point – applicable to all medicine – it to address ‘maintaining causes’. Diet, stress, living conditions all have the potential to increase susceptibility to ill health. Much of the burden on the NHS stems from these factors alone. Part of the homeopathic practitioners role is at least to have a conversation (not to lecture) around these matters. This is one reason for the emphasis on understanding the ‘totality‘ of a person during the homeopathic consultation – that is to say understanding the whole person and not just the presenting symptoms (another tenet of homeopathic practice).
I recently had a interesting case which demonstates the above. It does touch on the subject of vaccination, which risks generating more heat than light. Two points here. Firstly, this article is about susceptibility not vaccines (on which I have written previously). Secondly, vaccination actually follows the homeopathic principle of like-curing-like or the law of similars. Thirdly, The Faculty of Homeopathy the body representing the medically qualified homeopaths (Doctors for the most part) support immunisation.
Anyway, a young child was brought to me with ‘glue ear’. This is where there is a catarrhal state affecting the ear and the draining tube (eustachian) gets blocked. This tube is small in a small child and more prone to blockage. The risk is hearing loss and sometime grommets are inserted temporarily to help with drainage.
Today we vaccinate against the measles virus. It is actually a live attenuated vaccine (as opposed to a killed vaccine). So in effect a mild dose of measles is given to stimulate and immune response and protect against the more severe effects of catching the wild virus.
Measles – which is very infectious – is known for its rash (see photo), and it was rather a right of passage for my age group.
It is also a very catarrhal disease, and in days gone by, the number one homeopathic remedy was Pulsatilla known for its ability to resolve catarrhal states (in young and old).
(The late Dr Andrew Lockie in his book The Family Guide to Homeopathy (1989 ElmTreeBooks/Penguin) tells us that in measles there is a pre-rash stage with fever, sore throat, cough dry or with phlegm, watering eyes followed by the rash lasting for 2-3 days after which the temperature returns to normal. I wrote previously on the subject of fever in children here).
With hindsight, Pulstatilla is the remedy that I should have opened the case with. Instead I gave a related remedy, which did bring some improvement. However, Pulstatilla is really a remedy given at the time of the active disease, which the vaccinated child does not have. For the longer standing (chronic) condition, the remedy is Silica, which the child was subsequently given to good effect.
Given the timeline, my hypothesis is that this catarrh was a reaction to the vaccine – a mild pseud-measles. Had she – as in days of old – caught wild measles then she likely would have been very catarrhal. That was her susceptibility. However, because children don’t get measles any more it wasn’t noticed. In fact it was Grandma who suspected that the child was not hearing so well.
In my past life as a Chemical Engineer, the work of safety specialist Trevor Kletz was was essential reading. He is no longer with us, but one key theme was our – or an organisation’s – ability to forget the past. Something no longer commonplace becomes forgotten.
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Disclaimer: I am a qualified professional homeopath and not a medical doctor. The NHS has many resources, and seeking the opinion of your GP is always of value.
Dibden Purlieu, Southampton