1755
Samuel Hahnemann Is Born
Born in Meissen, Germany, Hahnemann later trained as a physician, chemist, translator, and medical reformer.
Classical Homeopathy Learning Path
Learn Homeopathy — From First Principles to Home Practice
A structured, visual, self-paced learning journey through classical homeopathy, from history and philosophy to practical self-help.
History
Hahnemann, Organon, classical roots
Principles
Similars, vital force, provings
Practice
Potency, repertory, case taking
Home Kit
Acute references, storage, safety
7-phase curriculum
0% complete
Study With Safety In View
This site teaches the logic and language of classical homeopathy. It is educational, not medical advice.
Emergency care comes first. Chest pain, breathing difficulty, confusion, severe fever, suspected fracture, infants under 3 months, and rapidly worsening symptoms need qualified medical help.
Based on curriculum from Dr. Bhatia's Homeopathy Foundation Course (academy.doctorbhatia.com), Alison.com Understanding Homeopathy, and The School of Homeopathy (homeopathyschool.com).
Module 1
Phase 1 of 7 | Estimated read: 15 min
History & Origins
Start with the historical thread: the cinchona experiment, the Organon, and the figures who shaped classical practice.
Timeline Visualization
1790
Cinchona Experiment
While translating Cullen's Materia Medica, Hahnemann tested cinchona bark and observed malaria-like symptoms.
1796
Law of Similars Published
His first paper on similia appeared in Hufeland's Journal, giving homeopathy its philosophical foundation.
1810
Organon of Medicine
The first edition formalized case taking, remedy selection, proving, minimum dose, and the vital force model.
1828
Chronic Diseases
Hahnemann introduced miasm theory to explain stubborn chronic illness and recurring disease patterns.
1843
Hahnemann Dies In Paris
The sixth edition of the Organon was completed but remained unpublished for decades.
1900
Kent's Philosophy
James Tyler Kent published Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy, a lasting classical reference.
1921
Kent's Repertory
Kent's repertory became a central tool for translating patient symptoms into remedy possibilities.
Today
Global Practice
Homeopathy is practiced in 80+ countries and is often described as one of the world's large complementary systems.
Key Figures
Samuel Hahnemann
Founder of homeopathy and author of the Organon of Medicine.
James Tyler Kent
Systematized repertory use and influenced constitutional prescribing.
Constantine Hering
"Father of American Homeopathy" and namesake of Hering's Law of Cure.
William Boericke
Author of the widely used Pocket Manual of Materia Medica.
George Vithoulkas
Modern classical teacher known for e-learning and international education.
Quick Quiz
Sources
- Organon of Medicine (6th ed.), Hahnemann.
- The Complete Homeopathy Handbook, Miranda Castro.
- Impossible Cure, Amy Lansky PhD.
Finished Phase 1?
Mark it complete to update your learning progress.
Module 2
Phase 2 of 7 | Estimated read: 20 min
Core Principles
Learn the ideas that organize classical homeopathy: similars, proving, vital force, potentization, and the direction of cure.
Like Cures Like
Similia Similibus Curentur
Law of Similars
A substance that can produce a symptom pattern in a healthy person is selected when a sick person presents a similar totality.
Examples: Coffea may match insomnia with mental overactivity; Allium Cepa may match hay fever with watery eyes and bland discharge.
Source: Organon of Medicine §26.
Law of Infinitesimals
The C scale repeats a 1:100 dilution with succussion. Classical homeopathy treats potentization as a dynamic process, where dilution and shaking are understood to release remedial activity.
1C
1 drop mother tincture + 99 drops water/alcohol, then succuss.
2C
1 drop of 1C + 99 drops, then succuss again.
30C
The same step repeated 30 times: a counterintuitive high dilution used commonly in acute home prescribing.
Sources: Organon §269-271.
Vital Force (Dynamis)
Hahnemann described an immaterial, dynamic energy that animates the living organism. Disease is understood as a derangement of this vital force; the remedy is selected to restore harmony.
Healthy Vital Force
Coherent, responsive organism
Coherent, responsive organism
Derangement
Symptoms as the language of imbalance
Symptoms as the language of imbalance
Similar Remedy
A dynamic stimulus to reorganize response
A dynamic stimulus to reorganize response
Sources: Organon §9-11.
Hering's Law of Cure
1From inside to out: deeper organs settle before skin or surface expressions.
2From above downward: head and upper body symptoms may improve first.
3From most vital organs to least vital tissues.
4Old symptoms may briefly return in reverse order, then resolve.
Example: in a chronic eczema case, sleep, mood, and digestion improving before skin fully clears is considered a favorable direction.
Doctrine of Drug Proving
The proving begins with healthy people, not sick patients, so the substance's symptom-producing pattern can be observed.
Mental, emotional, general, local, time, weather, and modality changes are captured in detail.
Those produced symptoms become the set of symptoms the remedy may cure when matched in a patient.
Hahnemann tested cinchona on himself in 1790 and reported symptoms resembling intermittent fever.
Systems Comparison
| Row | Homeopathy | Conventional | Ayurveda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basis | Law of similars | Pathology and physiology | Dosha balance |
| Unit | Whole person totality | Diagnosis or organ system | Constitution and imbalance |
| Disease view | Dynamic vital-force disturbance | Biological dysfunction | Imbalance in body-mind ecology |
| Selection | Individual symptom picture | Evidence-based protocol | Diet, herbs, lifestyle, therapies |
| Side effects | Typically low material toxicity in high potencies | Depends on drug and dose | Depends on herbs, dose, constitution |
Sources: Organon; Kent's Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy.
Finished Phase 2?
The principles are the grammar of every later module.
Module 3
Phase 3 of 7 | Estimated read: 20 min
Potencies & Preparations
See how potency scales work, how remedies are prepared, and how acute self-use decisions are commonly framed.
Potency Scales
X/D scale uses 1:10 dilutions, C/CH uses 1:100, and LM/Q uses 1:50,000. The chart compares total dilution factor on a logarithmic scale.
Interactive Potency Calculator
Potency Selection Guide
Tissue salts, biochemic remedies, organ support, and clear local symptoms. Lower potency is usually repeated more frequently.
The standard potency for home use in many acute conditions when the symptom picture is reasonably clear.
Often reserved for strong, clear pictures, more intense acute states, or constitutional use under guidance.
High potency. Best kept for trained prescribing with a clear constitutional picture.
Rule of thumb: lower potency = repeat more frequently; higher potency = dose less often.
How Remedies Are Made
1Mother tincture: plant material is prepared in alcohol, or insoluble substances are triturated in lactose.
21 drop + 99 drops water/alcohol, then vigorous shaking 10 times = 1C.
31 drop of 1C + 99 drops, then succussion = 2C.
nRepeat to the desired potency; insoluble substances typically use trituration through early potencies.
Remedy Forms
Pillules
Small lactose pellets, the most common home-use form.
Tablets
Compressed form, often used for tissue salts and common remedies.
Liquid Drops
Dilutions in water/alcohol, convenient for dosing and repetition.
Mother Tincture (Q)
Low-material preparation, commonly plant-based and more pharmacologically material.
Ointments & Creams
Topical uses such as Calendula preparations for skin support.
Tissue Salts
Schuessler's 12 biochemic salts, usually low potency.
Sources: Boericke's Pocket Manual; Organon §269-271; oorep.com.
Finished Phase 3?
You can now read potency labels and understand their scale.
Module 4
Phase 4 of 7 | Estimated read: 40 min
Materia Medica
Materia Medica is the library of remedy pictures: provings, toxicology, and clinical observation arranged for practical study.
What Is Materia Medica?
The encyclopedic collection of documented remedy symptom-pictures from provings, toxicology, and clinical observation.
- 3,000+ substances are documented in modern repertory systems.
- A practical core of roughly 100-250 polychrests covers most common study cases.
- Beginners learn remedy portraits, keynotes, modalities, and differentiations.
Source: hpathy.com structured study guidance.
Polychrests vs Small Remedies
Polychrests
Broad application, many symptoms, well-proven, used often in constitutional work.
Broad application, many symptoms, well-proven, used often in constitutional work.
Small Remedies
Narrow action, specific presentations, useful when the keynote is unmistakable.
Narrow action, specific presentations, useful when the keynote is unmistakable.
Keynote remedies may be recognized through one or two red-thread symptoms that sharply individualize the case.
Breadth Of Action
A study visualization for the 10 core polychrests.
10 Core Polychrest Remedies
Sources: IJCRT Polychrest Review; Kent's Materia Medica; hpathy.com.
First Aid Remedy Quick Reference
Filter by symptom, remedy, or keynote.
| Remedy | Key Condition | Keynote |
|---|---|---|
| Arnica Montana | Injuries, bruises, shock | "I'm fine, don't touch me" |
| Aconite | Sudden fever, shock, fright | After exposure to cold/fright; midnight fear |
| Belladonna | High fever, sudden inflammation | Redness, heat, throbbing, sudden onset |
| Calendula | Wounds, cuts, infected skin | Promotes healing, prevents sepsis |
| Apis Mellifica | Bee sting, allergic swelling | Puffy, rosy, stinging, better cold |
| Cantharis | Burns, UTI with burning | Intense burning before/during/after urination |
| Rhus Tox | Joint pain, sprains, skin | Worse first motion, better continued motion |
| Bryonia | Dry, stitching pain | Worse any motion; wants to lie still |
| Hypericum | Nerve injuries, puncture wounds | Nerve pain shooting upward |
| Ledum | Puncture wounds, insect bites | Cold applications relieve |
| Chamomilla | Teething children; unbearable pain | Child demands things, throws them away; one cheek red |
| Gelsemium | Flu, anticipatory anxiety | Weak, trembling, drowsy; no thirst with fever |
Study Sequence Guide
- Start with Nash's Leaders in Homeopathic Therapeutics.
- Use Boericke's Pocket Manual for broader reference.
- Then read Kent's Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica.
- Use homeopathybooks.in for classic free texts.
- Use hpathy.com for remedy articles, provings, and study support.
Beginner Study Rule
Do not memorize remedies as labels for diseases. Learn each remedy as a living pattern: temperament, generals, modalities, sensations, keynotes, and differentiations.
Materia Medica becomes useful when it is cross-checked against repertory rubrics and the whole case.
Finished Phase 4?
You now have the core vocabulary of remedy pictures.
Module 5
Phase 5 of 7 | Estimated read: 25 min
Repertory
The repertory is the reverse dictionary of homeopathy: symptom to remedy, rubric to comparison, case to candidate remedies.
What Is The Repertory?
A massive indexed database of symptoms mapped to remedies. You look up the symptom, not the remedy.
- Kent's Repertory: 37 chapters, 647 pages, thousands of rubrics.
- Like a reverse dictionary for symptom language.
- Best used with Materia Medica confirmation.
Source: oorep.com and Kent's Repertory.
Structure Of Kent's Repertory
Examples: Anxiety, grief, irritability, fear of death, consolation aggravates.
Head, eyes, ears, nose, face, mouth, throat, stomach, abdomen, rectum, urinary, genitalia, respiration.
Chest, back, limbs, sleep, chill, fever, perspiration, skin, and generals.
Remedy Grading
Rubric: Skin, itching, heat aggravates
Sulph. Grade 3, strong
Rhus-t. Grade 2, moderate
Graph. Grade 1, mild
How To Repertorize
1. Take the complete case
Gather symptoms with modalities and concomitants.
Gather symptoms with modalities and concomitants.
2. Evaluate symptoms
Mental > general > particular; PQRS carries high value.
Mental > general > particular; PQRS carries high value.
3. Translate to rubrics
Convert patient language into repertory language.
Convert patient language into repertory language.
4. Find each rubric
Record remedies and grades under each symptom.
Record remedies and grades under each symptom.
5. Compare overlap
Look for remedies appearing in most or all rubrics.
Look for remedies appearing in most or all rubrics.
6. Confirm in Materia Medica
Select the remedy matching the total picture.
Select the remedy matching the total picture.
Mini Repertorization Demo
Case: fever, thirstless, weepy, better in open air, changeable symptoms.
Select rubrics to see remedy overlap.
Major Repertories Comparison
| Repertory | Author | Year | Rubrics | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent's Repertory | J.T. Kent | 1897 | ~7,000 | Classical homeopathy; mental symptoms |
| Boger-Boenninghausen | Boger | 1905 | ~5,000 | Pathological prescribing |
| Murphy's Repertory | Robin Murphy | 2005 | ~65,000 | Modern, clinically organized, beginners |
| Synthesis | Schroyens | 1993 | ~300,000 | Comprehensive digital use |
| Complete Repertory | van Zandvoort | 1994 | ~290,000 | Most comprehensive |
Free access: oorep.com and homeoint.org/books/kentrep.
Finished Phase 5?
Repertory gives the bridge from case language to remedy candidates.
Module 6
Phase 6 of 7 | Estimated read: 25 min
Case Taking
Good prescribing begins with good listening. A complete symptom includes location, sensation, modality, and concomitant.
Complete Symptom Formula
Location
Where exactly? Right side, left side, below knee, inside ear.
Where exactly? Right side, left side, below knee, inside ear.
Sensation
Burning, stabbing, aching, pressing, pulsating.
Burning, stabbing, aching, pressing, pulsating.
Modality
Better or worse from time, weather, motion, food, position.
Better or worse from time, weather, motion, food, position.
Concomitant
What else occurs at the same time?
What else occurs at the same time?
Symptom Hierarchy
PQRS Symptoms
Fever usually brings thirst; thirstlessness is a distinguishing feature.
Example: burning pain better by heat in a chilly patient.
Headache better lying in the dark and pressing the head can narrow the remedy field.
Source: Organon §153.
Key Modality Categories
Time
Morning, evening, midnight, 4-8pm, periodicity.
Temperature
Worse heat, worse cold, worse temperature change.
Weather
Damp, wind, storms, humidity, seasons.
Motion
Worse motion like Bryonia, better motion like Rhus Tox.
Position
Lying, standing, sitting, bending, pressure.
Food
Cravings, aversions, aggravations, thirst.
Mental State
Worse grief, anxiety, consolation, company, solitude.
Concomitant
Symptoms occurring together in a characteristic pairing.
Interactive Case-Taking Template
Structured Summary
Your case summary will appear here.
Common Case-Taking Mistakes
Diagnosis Labels
Over-emphasizing the disease name instead of the individual picture.
Ignoring Emotion
Missing the mental and emotional state that colors the case.
Missing Modalities
Leaving out what makes symptoms better or worse.
Leading Questions
Suggesting answers instead of observing the patient's own language.
Sources: Miranda Castro; Organon §§149-153; Kent's Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy.
Finished Phase 6?
Case taking turns scattered symptoms into a useful totality.
Module 7
Phase 7 of 7 | Estimated read: 30 min
Miasms & Chronic Disease
Miasm theory is Hahnemann's attempt to explain recurring chronic patterns and why well-chosen acute remedies may not hold.
What Is A Miasm?
A fundamental predisposition or underlying disease tendency that perpetuates illness. Hahnemann introduced the theory in Chronic Diseases (1828).
Think of it as inherited disease soil: the background tendency that lets certain illness patterns recur.
Source: Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases.
Miasm Identification Chart
Psora
Theme: deficiency, lack, under-function, poverty consciousness.
Expression: dry itchy skin, functional disorders, chronic fatigue, anxiety.
Typical complaints: eczema, psoriasis, IBS, hypersensitivity.
Remedies: Sulphur, Calcarea Carb, Lycopodium, Psorinum.
Sycosis
Theme: excess, overflow, over-production, secrecy, fixity.
Expression: warts, cysts, fibroids, excess secretions, fixed ideas.
Typical complaints: PCOS, asthma, OCD tendency, joint disease.
Remedies: Thuja, Medorrhinum, Natrum Sulph, Causticum.
Syphilinum
Theme: destruction, ulceration, degeneration, nihilism.
Expression: ulcers, bone destruction, mental disturbance.
Typical complaints: bone pains at night, progressive neurological disease, alcoholism.
Remedies: Mercury, Syphilinum, Kali Iod, Aurum Metallicum.
Tubercular
Theme: restlessness, longing for change, rapid breakdown.
Expression: respiratory disease, allergies, recurring infections.
Typical complaints: hyperactivity, desire to travel, repeated colds.
Remedies: Tuberculinum, Drosera, Phosphorus, Calcarea Phos.
Nosodes
Nosodes are remedies made from diseased tissue or secretions. Classical homeopaths may use them when a well-chosen remedy plateaus against a miasmatic background.
Key nosodes: Psorinum, Medorrhinum, Syphilinum, Tuberculinum, Carcinosin. These are typically prescribed by trained homeopaths, not for self-use.
Reverse Of Disease Progression
1Symptoms move from vital organs toward the periphery.
2Symptoms move from head downward.
3Old symptoms briefly reappear and then disappear.
In classical theory, this is considered a favorable sign when the overall patient is improving.
Sources: Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases; Lotus Health Institute; hpathy.com miasm articles.
Finished Phase 7?
You have completed the main learning path.
Module 8
Practical Reference
Home Kit & Practical Self-Help
A practical reference for acute home use, safety limits, remedy storage, and learning resources.
Essential Home Kit: 35 Remedies
Each card lists common acute uses and 30C as a typical home-kit potency.
Home Kit Breakdown
Potency Decision Tree
Dosage Rules
1 remedy at a time
minimum dose
2-4 pillules
stop when better
reassess if no change
- Use one remedy at a time in classical homeopathy.
- Give the least possible dose to stimulate a response.
- Standard dose: 2-4 pillules under the tongue; let dissolve.
- Stop the remedy when better; repeat only if symptoms return.
- If no change in 48 hours for acute illness or 4 weeks for chronic illness, reassess.
- Avoid coffee, mint, camphor, strong essential oils, and steroids when following traditional guidance.
- Handle pillules with clean, dry hands and avoid touching unnecessarily.
Common Conditions Quick Reference
| Condition | First Choice | If no response |
|---|---|---|
| Bruising, shock after injury | Arnica 30C | Ledum if joint |
| Cuts, open wounds | Calendula topical + 30C oral | Hypericum if nerve-rich area |
| Sprains | Arnica then Rhus Tox | Ruta if tendons/ligaments |
| Burns | Cantharis 30C | Urtica Urens if superficial |
| Puncture wounds | Ledum 30C | Hypericum if nerve pain |
| Bee/wasp sting | Apis 30C | Seek emergency care for anaphylaxis |
| Condition | First Choice | Keynote to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden high fever | Aconite 30C | After cold/fright, anxious, midnight |
| High fever, red face | Belladonna 30C | Throbbing, glassy eyes, hot and dry |
| Flu with weakness | Gelsemium 30C | Weak, drowsy, trembling, no thirst |
| Slow fever, no thirst | Pulsatilla 30C | Changeable, wants open air |
| Restless, burning | Arsenicum 30C | Better warmth, midnight aggravation |
| Cold with yellow-green mucus | Kali Bich 30C | Thick, stringy, tough mucus |
| Condition | First Choice | Keynote |
|---|---|---|
| Overeating, hangover | Nux Vomica 30C | Chilly, irritable, craves stimulants |
| Food poisoning, burning | Arsenicum 30C | Restless, burning, better warmth |
| Food poisoning, vomiting/diarrhea | China 30C | Exhausted, flatulence, weakness |
| Colic, cramping | Colocynthis 30C | Doubling up with pain, better pressure |
| Colic in infants | Chamomilla 30C | Screaming, one cheek red |
| Heartburn, gas | Carbo Veg 30C | Bloating, belching, coldness |
| Condition | First Choice | Keynote |
|---|---|---|
| Acute grief/loss | Ignatia 30C | Sobbing, lump in throat, sighing |
| Anticipatory anxiety | Gelsemium 30C | Trembling, weakness, diarrhea |
| Panic attacks | Aconite 30C | Sudden intense fear of death |
| Burnout, overwork | Nux Vomica 30C | Driven, chilly, digestive symptoms |
| Prolonged grief | Natrum Mur 30C | Silent grief, cannot cry with others |
When NOT To Self-Treat
Chest Pain
Chest pain or pressure can be cardiac emergency.
Breathing Difficulty
Shortness of breath, blue lips, or severe wheeze needs urgent care.
High Fever
Fever above 104°F / 40°C that will not come down requires medical help.
Meningitis Signs
Stiff neck with fever, confusion, or severe headache is urgent.
Suspected Fracture
Major injuries and possible fractures need assessment.
Infants Under 3 Months
Young infants need prompt professional evaluation.
In any emergency, call for medical help first. Homeopathy can be used alongside emergency care, but never instead of it. Also seek care for loss of consciousness, confusion, rapidly worsening illness, and symptoms that do not improve within 48 hours with a correct acute remedy.
Remedy Storage & Handling
- Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
- Keep away from strong smells such as essential oils, camphor, and eucalyptus.
- Traditional guidance avoids strong electromagnetic fields.
- Shelf life is considered long if stored correctly.
- Label all remedies clearly with name and potency.
Recommended Resources
Free Online
- hpathy.com
- homeopathybooks.in
- oorep.com
- homeoint.org
- alison.com
- academy.doctorbhatia.com
Books In Reading Order
- The Complete Homeopathy Handbook
- Homeopathy: Start Here
- Impossible Cure
- Leaders in Homeopathic Therapeutics
- Pocket Manual of Materia Medica
- Organon of Medicine
- Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy
Professional courses: School of Homeopathy, Vithoulkas E-Learning, Lotus Health Institute.
Reference reviewed
The main progress tracker counts the 7 learning phases; this section is your ongoing practical reference.