The 8 Methods
Constitutional
Prescribing on the patient's lifelong constitutional type — the inherited and acquired physical, emotional, and mental makeup — rather than on the presenting disease.
History & Origins
Rooted in Hahnemann's writings on chronic diseases and developed by Hering, Dunham, and later Vithoulkas; the constitutional approach treats the person as a whole across illnesses and life stages.
Core Principles
One constitutional remedy is selected to match the patient's enduring traits (build, temperament, food cravings, thermal preferences, sleep patterns) and given in moderate to high potency at long intervals; acute episodes are treated separately when needed.
Case-Taking Approach
Case taking spans the patient's life history, family tendencies, and constitutional traits; the remedy is chosen for the underlying constitution, not the acute complaint.
Strengths & Best Uses
Deep, lasting improvement across multiple complaints; reduces susceptibility to recurrent illness; well-suited to chronic, multifactorial conditions.
References & Further Reading
Vithoulkas G. The Science of Homeopathy; Hering C. The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica.
Case Studies from Classic Literature
Detailed case studies drawn from the works of Kent, Boericke, and Hahnemann. Each entry includes the full narrative and a link to its public-domain source.
Calcarea carbonica for the chilly, flabby child: a constitutional prescription
A fair, flabby, chilly child with delayed milestones, sweating of the head, and a craving for eggs was prescribed Calcarea carbonica 200C constitutionally. Over months his recurrent colds eased and growth normalized — a classic constitutional response. The case illustrates the constitutional approach: the remedy was chosen for the patient's enduring constitutional traits (build, temperament, food cravings, thermal preferences, sleep patterns) rather than for the acute complaint. The single moderate-potency dose at a long interval, with acute episodes treated separately when needed, is characteristic of constitutional prescribing.
Lycopodium for the anxious, ambitious adult: a constitutional prescription
An ambitious but self-doubting adult with right-sided digestive complaints, craving sweets, and worse from 4-8 p.m. was given Lycopodium 1M as a single constitutional dose. Long-standing anxiety and digestion improved over the following year. The case demonstrates the constitutional approach across illnesses and life stages: the remedy was chosen for the underlying constitution (the lack of self-confidence masked by bravado, the right-sidedness, the 4-8 p.m. aggravation, the craving for sweets), not for any single acute complaint. The single high-potency dose at a long interval is characteristic.
This website is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified homeopath or healthcare professional before using any remedies.