In 1998 VCCH
commenced a project using the principles of Homeopathy and miasms
(genetic inheritance) to further the understanding of chronic disease. This
project has involved thousands of hours of research and highlights the role of miasms and how they can be effectively utilised
in the clinic.
As the project developed it became clear that facial features play an important
role in recognizing a patients' dominant miasm. All
these findings, including an understanding of miasms
and how to utilise them in clinical practice, have
now been published in "Appearance
and Circumstance" and "Homœopathic Facial Analysis" by Grant Bentley.
NINE STEPS TO PRACTISING HOMŒOPATHY USING FACIAL
ANALYSIS
By Grant Bentley and Louise Barton
Homœopathic Facial Analysis (HFA) is the most straightforward
and accurate way of determining a patient’s miasm. It allows for the selection of a remedy that
will act in a constitutional way to enhance a patient’s health. It reduces and
removes symptoms for long periods of time, using only one or in some cases a
few miasmatic remedies given one at a time.
The following nine step plan
demonstrates how to incorporate miasmatic prescribing using facial analysis
into clinical application.
|
ACTION |
ANALYSIS |
TOOLS |
CASE MANAGEMENT |
|
1 – Case taking |
3 – Choosing rubrics |
5 – Homœopathic
software |
7 – Potency and frequency
of dose |
|
2 – Taking photos |
4 – Choosing the miasm |
6- Digital camera |
8 - Outcome |
|
|
|
|
9 – Maintaining health |
A step by step example of
the process of HFA
FIRST VISIT
Case is taken
Photos taken
Symptoms charted
Rubrics chosen
from chart
Miasm selected from photos
Rubrics repertorised
Remedy selected
from miasmatic group
Potency and
frequency of dose chosen
SECOND VISIT AND SUBSEQUENT VISIT
Symptoms analysed
1 Good outcome – continue treatment as required
2 Poor outcome – repeat the following steps
Check photos to
validate miasm
Take new photos
if first set are unclear
Check rubrics
Re repertorise
Change remedy
This method has been used on
all patients presenting with chronic disease over an eight year period by a
number of practitioners in
1 – CASE TAKING
The aim of case taking is to
get the totality of the patient’s symptoms.
It is not about psychoanalysis or putting the patient through a deeply
reflective process. It is about finding
a simillimum that will bring about better health.
General classical Homœopathic concepts apply –
Listening
Removing judgement
Observing
patterns
Understanding
the main complaint – what, when, how
Checking from
top to toe for all physical complaints – current and history
Ensuring all
generals are covered – sleep, appetite, thirst, food (cravings, aversions,
aggravations), bowels/urination, menses, perspiration, environmental
sensitivity, positions and time factors
Special care must be taken
when using mental rubrics. There are two
ways ‘mentals’ can be used and they must be chosen
very carefully as this is the area where judgment by the practitioner will lead
to errors of rubric choice.
Emotional responses – use sparingly and only when they are very clear – for example
weeping, anger, jealousy are usually very easy to see and can be used as a firm
rubric choice
Circumstances – asking the patient to give you a biography of their life with an
emphasis on important moments is a solid way of determining the energy pattern
of their life. It is not about what they
think of themselves or how they would like to be but about what actually
happened. Being factual means the
practitioner is working on solid ground.
Examples would be a history of violence (Mind – Violence), a strong
concentration on business (Mind – Business or Mind – Dreams of business) or people
who spend much of their time alone (Mind – Company aversion to).
Another way circumstances
provide mental rubrics is by using the emotional state of the people around the
patient. For example a patient who has
had three jealous partners – even though they are not jealous themselves, are
attracting jealousy to them therefore jealousy becomes an important theme in
their life (Mind – Jealousy). Another
example is a patient who tells of a family who is always fighting, (Mind –
Quarrelsome).
2 – TAKING PHOTOS
Photos are taken after the
case taking is completed but prior to the analysis. This is a good time for the patient too as
you have gained their confidence through the case taking process. Detailed instructions for taking photos can
be found in Homœopathic Facial Analysis by Grant Bentley.
Tell the patient
about why you are taking photos before the consultation begins
Have a set way
of explaining the purpose of taking the photos
Use simple terms
like group or genetics rather than miasms
Do not use
pathologies when describing miasms
Five photos are required –
1.
Straight on – relaxed mouth
2.
Straight on – broad smile
3.
Straight on – hair pulled back
4.
Profile left
5.
Profile right
Each image must
show the patient holding their head as straight as possible
All images must
be in focus and must fill the screen – ie so the
patient isn’t too far away
The five photos
must clearly show the following aspects of the face - hairline, forehead, eyes, bridge of nose,
mouth, teeth, smile, chin and ears
3 – CHOOSING RUBRICS
After taking the case and photos
we do a case analysis. Symptoms are
categorized into a chart as follows
|
MENTALS |
GENERALS |
PHYSICALS |
|
Fearful ++ Jealousy themes ++ Dreams – vivid + Likes friends + |
< night ++ > rest Des coffee +++ Av milk + Burning pains +++ Right sided ++ < summer Constipation - occasional |
Sinus – pain, discharge –
yellow - occasional Headaches – frontal ++ Knee pain + Skin – eruption itchy – on
chin |
It is easier to determine
which rubrics to choose when the whole case is clearly laid out in front of
you. It is important to observe
patterns, intensity of symptoms and what is unusual. Our aim for the repertorisation
is to choose between five and eight rubrics that meet the following criteria
The symptom is
frequent
The symptom is
intense or distinctive
The symptom is
unusual
|
Mentals |
Generals |
Physicals |
|
1-2 rubrics |
3-5 rubrics |
1-2 rubrics |
By ensuring that each of
these three areas has some representation (with the majority being generals)
the remedies coming through will be certain to cover the case. Note that general rubrics are always the most
important and if your case is mostly mental or physical, it will be more
difficult to find the correct remedy.
So in our example above we
might choose
MIND; JEALOUSY
(65)
MIND; FRIGHTENED
easily (162)
GENERALITIES;
NIGHT,
GENERALITIES;
FOOD and drinks; coffee; desires (51)
GENERALITIES;
PAIN; burning; internally (195)
GENERALITIES;
SIDE; right (225)
HEAD PAIN;
LOCALIZATION; Forehead (430)
Note that we try to use
rubrics with 40-500 remedies in them.
Even though this will bring us more remedies to choose from we can feel
certain that the one remedy we need
will be amongst the group. In the
example above fourteen remedies will repertorise. Once we know our patients miasm
our choice will become much smaller.
4 – CHOOSING THE MIASM
Facial analysis
will always determine the miasm accurately
Pathology is a
poor indicator of miasms
Psora, sycosis
and syphilis are the base of all miasmatic prescribing
Essence pictures
of psora, sycosis and
syphilis are incomplete
All miasms are equal in their potential for destruction
Each facial feature is influenced
by psora, sycosis or
syphilis or a combination of two or more miasms. Some
facial features are within normal range and will not rate. Categorised features
(about seventy in total) are detailed in both books on HFA
Appearance and Circumstance – photos
Homœopathic Facial Analysis – sketches
There are fifteen feature
areas on each face
- Hairline
- Forehead
- Bridge of nose
- Eyes
- Nose
- Cheeks
- Mouth
- Lips
- Smile
- Teeth
- Chin
- Ears
- Lines
- Skin
- Asymmetry
These features and their
miasmatic classifications come from more than eight years of observation and
analysis from thousands of patients – they have been clinically verified and form
the basis of HFA.
Learning to apply HFA
Practice on at
least fifty faces before expecting to be competent
Use family,
friends, patients, television and movies
Practice taking
photos
Use the HFA book
to help in defining parameters
Chart your
results
It is important to take your
time and judge carefully. Use the HFA
book as a desktop guide – soon you will remember the features well and know
when to allocate them and when to leave them out. Make a simple chart like the following and
place the patient’s features in them.
Not every feature is rated as some fall within “normal” parameters.
|
PSORA (Yellow) |
SYCOSIS (Red) |
SYPHILIS (Blue) |
|
Down-turned nose Close set eyes Two lines Thin lips Two front teeth Chin – receding Ears – sloped 7 features |
Wide nose Teeth – straight 2 features |
Hairline – high Asymmetry – nose, eyes Dimples 3 features |
The patient in this example
will need a psoric remedy as their psoric features dominate over their sycotic
and syphilitic features.
COLOURS
Are used to describe the miasms – see Appearance
and Circumstance for detailed description
Pathology is not
an accurate way to determine a miasm
Colours are non-judgemental
Colours are easy to
remember
For example patients who are
dominated by the tubercular miasm can get cancer and
patients dominated by the cancer miasm can get
tuberculosis. By removing the
pathological tags we remove the disease name from our minds and focus on the
true nature of the miasm.
5 – HOMŒOPATHIC SOFTWARE
Provides the following
benefits
Large rubrics
are very useful – they cast a wide net and will draw our remedy to us
Cases can be
looked at from more than one perspective
Saves time
We use MacRepertory
Complete but any Homœopathic software will be adequate. The package you choose must contain all the
generals as grouped by Boenninghausen and Kent
including modern updates.
6 – DIGITAL CAMERA
Give instant
images
More accurate
than the naked eye
Catch the
patient in the best position
Allow for many
extra images until the information is fully provided
WHAT TYPE OF CAMERA?
2.2 to 7.2 megapixels
The higher
the megapixels the more definition. Definition is
helpful for zooming in on teeth or hairlines.
7 – POTENCY AND FREQUENCY OF DOSE
Everyone in Homœopathy has different ideas about posology. We commenced our clinics using Kentian prescribing but have developed the following
guidelines from ongoing clinical experience.
We find daily doses of 6C or 30C satisfactory for many patients and can
give daily doses for one, two or more months without any aggravations provided
there is continuous or sustained improvement. However there are still cases
that are given a single dose of 200C or 1M with occasional repeats as required.
What about aggravations?
When choosing a remedy from
within the patient’s miasm few aggravations are
encountered as long as the remedy matches the totality and the potency is low
enough to suit the patients sensitivity.
VCCH POSOLOGY GUIDELINES
|
|
6C daily |
30C daily |
200C sd |
1M sd |
10M sd |
|
Structural
pathology – long term or very bad |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
Structural
pathology – less severe |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Functional
signs and symptoms – daily occurence |
|
x |
x |
x |
|
|
Functional
signs and symptoms - intermittent |
|
|
x |
x |
|
|
Allergies
– all ages |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
Child -
sensitive |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Child –
first remedy (no structural pathology) |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
Child –
second remedy or later (no structural pathology) |
|
|
x |
x |
|
|
Mental
symptoms dominant (no sp or strong fss) |
|
|
x |
x |
|
|
Mentals with structural pathology |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
Mentals with functional signs and symptoms |
|
x |
x |
x |
|
|
Elderly –
structural pathology – long term/very bad |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
Elderly –
structural pathology – less severe |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Elderly –
functional signs and symptoms |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Elderly –
mental symptoms only (no sp or fss) |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
Mental
illness – no sp or strong fss |
|
|
|
x |
x |
sp = structural pathology (changes to body – skin,
joints, organs)
fss – functional
signs and symptoms (sleep, pains, digestion with no test results indicating
structural changes)
Sd = single dose
Where more than two
potencies are shown always commence at the lowest potency
FREQUENCY OF REPETITION
6C or 30C daily – commence
with a daily dose from two weeks to one month or until their next visit. When the problem is 90% or greater fixed and
all auxiliary symptoms have settled withdraw the remedy. Commence again if and when symptoms decline,
if returning symptoms are different search for a different remedy.
200C, 1M,
10M – single dose. Give one dose only. Repeat the single dose only when the action
of the remedy is slipping backwards. If
a patient slips back for one or two days still wait as people are always
changing and re-establishing a state of balance and they may get better without
a further dose. If the slip back
continues for longer than a few days it is time for another dose. When the
potency no longer brings about the depth of response or the length of response
consider going up the scale.
8 – OUTCOME
A well chosen Homœopathic remedy should provide the following for our
patients
70-100% improvement of the
presenting complaint AND
Improvement in auxiliary
symptoms such as
Sleep
Other pathologies
Well being
Energy
Repetition of the remedy
will depend on
The state of the
patient
The type of
pathology
External
stresses
External stresses deserve a
special mention. They are almost always
the cause and the continuance of chronic disease. External stress can be
Removed (best
outcome for patient)
Adjusted
Put up with
Where external stress
continues it is reasonable to expect that the remedy will hold for lesser
periods than when it has been removed.
Areas that result in energy
being drained from the patient include
1.
Worry
2.
Tension and stress
3.
Overwork
4.
Poor nutrition
5.
Negative self belief
6.
Emotional trauma
7.
Physical trauma including childbirth and accidents
It is important to remember
that our remedies are medicines – they are not people themselves and although
we have painted caricatures to help us learn materia medica these pictures are not always true of every patient
that needs that remedy. The remedy is a
set of potentials waiting to replace an existing state of energy imbalance
using the law of similars as an agent for removal of
those symptoms. It is nothing more and
cannot change the soul or the personality of the patient.
This chart is a guideline
for what can be expected from the application of a well chosen miasmatic remedy
|
BEFORE THE REMEDY |
AFTER THE REMEDY |
|
Functional symptoms |
Gone Reduced in frequency – 70%
or more Reduced in intensity – 70%
or more |
|
Structural symptoms |
Completely gone (rare) Partially gone Reduction of pain – 70% or
more No further advancement of
symptoms |
|
Negative emotions |
Gone Reduced – 70% or more Only triggered by far
greater stress than previously Patient takes control more
quickly |
|
Positive emotions |
Will remain the same –
they are not to be “fixed” and are not part of the problem |
|
Personality |
Belongs to the patient for
life and to be used only as a guide for remedy selection if at all |
*We regard the removal of
symptoms as a “quelling” of symptoms.
A remedy that is Homœopathic to the patient and their symptoms, gives them
the extra energy required to quell those symptoms.
Increased energy = health
Energy down = signs and symptoms
Humans are homeostatic
beings and designed to react to stress.
Pathology is the result of wrong thinking that came about due to stress
either imposed externally or from within.
There are no guarantees in life that this will not occur again in the
future. It is up to the practitioner to
explain to the patient that it is possible that these symptoms or other
symptoms may occur again in time.
9 – MAINTAINING HEALTH
Use miasmatic Homœopathic remedies as required
Eat natural,
whole foods
Exercise
regularly in fresh air
Keep company
with people you love and like
Choose an
activity that you find joyful – indulge in it regularly
GRANT BENTLEY
ND Dip Hom Grad Dip Psych. Th
Prof Memb AHA AROH reg ATMS
ANPA
|
|
Principal
of the Victorian College of Classical Homeopathy since 1995, Grant has
enthusiastically taught and researched Homeopathy during that time. He first
studied Naturopathy and Psychotherapy but on discovering Homeopathy recognised the depth of understanding Homeopathy brings to
the therapist when dealing with ill health.
Determined to understand the underlying factors, he was fascinated with Hahnemann's
last great work The Chronic Miasms and subsequent work done later by Allen and
Roberts. This saw him embark on a personal research project regarding the miasms that has led to a remarkable link between our
appearance, our circumstances and our health. His first book Appearance
and Circumstance was published in 2003 followed by Homœopathic
Facial Analysis in 2006.
He is currently writing his third book showing how miasms
are reflected in all aspects of structure, behaviour,
life events and time. Grant considers himself a Hahnemannian
Homœopath, using facial analysis as a modern
technique in conjunction with traditional Homœopathic
principles.
|
|
LOUISE BARTON
Dip Hom Prof Memb AHA AROH regd
Louise
Barton has been in clinical practice since graduating in 1996. She was involved
in the Australian Homoeopathic Association (Vic) from 2001, both organising seminars and as President from 2002 - 2004.
She teaches at the Victorian College of Classical Homœopathy
and has been involved with miasmatic research and the production of her partner
Grant Bentley's book Appearance and Circumstance and Homœopathic Facial Analysis.
"Homoeopathic
Facial Analysis" by Grant Bentley
Hundreds of photos and
sketches with detailed parameters to aid in the miasmatic analysis of faces. This book is the
complete visual guide to facial analysis and combined with Appearance and
Circumstance will allow homoeopaths from student level to practitioner to
make an accurate miasmatic diagnosis before a remedy is chosen.
"Appearance and
Circumstance" by Grant Bentley
After 12 years of research, Hahnemann presented his theory regarding the origins of
chronic disease - the miasms. Psora,
Sycosis and Syphilis were triumphs in Homœopathic understanding.
Extending on Hahnemann's original idea of three primary miasms,
Appearance and Circumstance details the development of the complex miasms - Tubercular, Syco-Psoric,
Syco-Syphilitic and Cancer, as well as the three
primary miasms.
Knowing that miasms are genetically inherited
influences, the author discusses how each miasm will
dominate physical structure, pathology and mental outlook. Recognizing the
lifetime influence of a miasm helps to explain the
events and circumstances that surround us.
Understanding that every individual is dominated by one of the miasms, facial features have been identified and matched to
each group, and can be used as clinical aids. Themes together with facial
features enable a practitioner to recognize the dominant miasm
of the patient.
This book contains explanations and facial charts to aid the Homœopath in utilising these
concepts. Facial feature identification can be incorporated into any current
case-taking method.
By the end of his life Hahnemann regarded himself as
a miasmatic prescriber and made a clear distinction
between this method and symptom prescribing only. The further he examined the miasm theory, the more convinced he became that miasms are the key to understanding chronic disease and
unlocking a case. Appearance and Circumstance continues this work.
Appearance and Circumstance has been welcomed by homœopaths
around the world as being a fresh and innovative way of using miasmatic
understanding to find better remedies for our patients. The knowledge (gained
from patients) of the themes and behaviours within
these miasms has again validated why homœopathy is not only a true medicine of natural law but
also a medicine covering all human experience. The understanding of human behaviour provided by the miasms
has been an extraordinary journey of richness and clarity. It is a journey that
continues to unfold the mysteries of human nature and delight both patients and
practitioners alike with improvements in health and wellbeing.
To order books - http://www.vcch.org/book.html