The Harmful Cure Observed by Hering and Kent in Contrast to Hahnemann's Concept of Gentle Restoration of Health

Summary

Introduction: the “laws of cure” for chronic diseases have been Hering's most significant work for generations of homeopaths. Kent endorsed Hering's laws and their ultimate progression up to skin lesions, and included “severe aggravations, revival of past symptoms and eliminations” among the expected results during the homeopathic treatment of chronic diseases. Despite the claims of Hering and Kent to be Hahnemann's followers, the cure standards established by them seem quite harmful and contrary to Hahnemann's gentle restoration of health ideal. Objectives: to ascertain if Hering and Kent based their arguments and procedures on Hahnemann's principles when inferring and observing those harmful cure standards. Methodology: Analysis of Hering's propositions in relation to his laws of cure and Kent's remarks about severe homeopathic aggravations compared to Hahnemann's writings. Conclusions: 1) Hering's “laws of cure” cannot be justified upon Hahnemann's premises, since according to Hahnemann internal and external symptoms should improve together, without a specific order of direction. The only point of convergence between Hahnemann and Hering's laws is the observation that the latest symptoms that have been added to a chronic disease are always the first to yield in an antipsoric treatment. 2) Misapplying Hahnemann's recommendations, Kent was careless with dosage; admitted as pathway to cure severe and long homeopathic aggravations, return of all past symptoms, exteriorisations and eliminations, which were considered by Hahnemann as organism defences against dose excess or incorrect prescriptions. 3) Hering and Kent did not follow Hahnemann's principles and the harmful cure they observed was probably a result of their own procedures in homeopathy, deviating from the objective of gentle restoration of health.

Key words

Hahnemann - Hering - Kent - Aggravation - Cure - Laws of cure - Eliminations - Old symptoms - Skin lesions - Dermatology - Ethical committees

References

• 1 Haehl R. Samuel Hahnemann: His life and Work. Vol. 1. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1989: 431-434
• 2 Thomas P. Homeopathy in the USA.  Br Hom J. 2001;  90 99-103
• 3 Hering C. As Três Regras Hahnemannianas sobre a hierarquia dos sintomas. [Translator: Gilda Campos: The Three Hahnemannian Rules about the hierarchy of the symptoms].  Selecta Homeopathica. 1997;  5 83-89
• 4 Saine, Andre. La ley del Hering: ley, regla o dogma?.  Homeopatia Mex. 2004;  73 11-18
• 5 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. Correspondence of organs, and direction of cure. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 273
• 6 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. Address. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 208
• 7 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. The plane of disorder and cure. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 410
• 8 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. The Action of drugs as opposed by the Vital Force. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 379
• 9 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. Aphorisms and Precepts. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 641
• 10 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. What shall we do when the law fails. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 485
• 11 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. Observations regarding the selection of the potency. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 346
• 12 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. The administration of the remedy. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 388
• 13 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. Why is cancer incurable. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 222
• 14 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. Use of the Repertory. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 255
• 15 Kent J T. Lesser Writings. The second prescription. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1985-7: 415
• 16 Kent J T. Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy. Lecture 2: The highest ideal of a cure. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1986: 27
• 17 Kent J T. Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy. Lecture 34: The homeopathic aggravation. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1986: 253
• 18 Kent J T. Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy. Lecture 35: Prognosis after observing the action of the remedy. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1986: 264
• 19 Kent J T. Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy. Lecture 18: Chronic diseases - Psora. New Dehli; B Jain, reprint 1986: 146
• 20 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §2
• 21 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §202
• 22 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §45
• 23 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §193
• 24 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §63
• 25 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §66
• 26 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §68
• 27 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §161
• 28 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §280
• 29 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §284
• 30 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §211
• 31 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §67
• 32 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere, 5. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1986: §253
• 33 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere. 6. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1988: §281
• 34 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere. 6. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1988: §161
• 35 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere. 6. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1988: §280
• 36 Hahnemann S. Organon der Heilkunst: aude sapere. 6. Aufl. Leipzig, Heidelberg; Haug 1988: §246
• 37 Hahnemann S. Die chronischen Krankheiten, ihre eigentüml. Natur u. homöopath. Heilung. 1. Theil, 2. Aufl. Heidelberg; Haug 1988: 21
• 38 Hahnemann S. Die chronischen Krankheiten, ihre eigentüml. Natur u. homöopath. Heilung. 1. Theil, 2. Aufl. Heidelberg; Haug 1988: 42
• 39 Hahnemann S. Die chronischen Krankheiten, ihre eigentüml. Natur u. homöopath. Heilung. 1. Theil, 2. Aufl. Heidelberg; Haug 1988: 50
• 40 Hahnemann S. Die chronischen Krankheiten, ihre eigentüml. Natur u. homöopath. Heilung. 1. Theil, 2. Aufl. Heidelberg; Haug 1988: 146
• 41 Hahnemann S. Die chronischen Krankheiten, ihre eigentüml. Natur u. homöopath. Heilung. 1. Theil, 2. Aufl. Heidelberg; Haug 1988: 168
• 42 Hahnemann S. Die chronischen Krankheiten, ihre eigentüml. Natur u. homöopath. Heilung. 3. Theil, 2. Aufl. Heidelberg; Haug 1988: Vorwort
• 43 Winston J. A brief history of potentizing machines.  Br Hom J. 1989;  78 59-68
• 44 Hahnemann S. Reine Arzneimittellehre, Bd.  1, Heidelberg; Haug 1991: 6
• 45 Debats F. Syndrome shift, or the morbid substitution as a leading principle in homeopathy.  Homeopathic Links. 1992;  5 32-34
• 46 Schmidt J. History and relevance of the 6th edition of the Organon of Medicine (1842).  Br Hom J. 1994;  83 42-48
• 47 Hehr G S. Was Kent a Hahnemannian?.  Br Hom J. 1984;  73 71-74
• 48 Cassam A. Was Kent a Hahnemannian?.  Br Hom J. 1999;  89 78-83
• 49 Dantas F, Rampes H. Do homeopathic medicines provoke adverse effects? A systematic review.  Br Hom J. 2000;  89 35-38
• 50 Grabia S, Ernst E. Homeopathic aggravations: a systematic review.  Homeopathy. 2003;  92 92-98
• 51 Sharples F MC, van Haselen R, Fisher P. NHS patients' perspective on complementary medicine: a survey.  Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2003;  11 243-248