Sometimes, while repertorizing, I surprise myself. At such moments, I wonder—should I call it the genius of a remedy, the genius of the Complete Repertory, or simply the genius of Homoeopathy itself?

Case

A 36-year-old female, a fellow homoeopath and long-time friend, complained of sore pain in the dorsal region of her back, between the scapulae, mostly on the left side—specifically in the rhomboid muscle.

The pain made it uncomfortable for her to sit, stand, or perform her usual activities—consulting, walking, cooking, or even simple household tasks. It was aggravated by the slightest exertion and by bending forward, and relieved by pressure, stretching, and rest.

The only mental symptom she initially mentioned was irritability due to pain. She is very dynamic, and can be noticed even in a crowd of hundred.

Rubrics considered

1. Mind; irritability; pain, during
   (Irritability was the only mental symptom she initially mentioned, and it was due to pain.)

2. Back; pain; exertion; agg.; slightest
   (The pain was aggravated by the slightest exertion, even minimal activity.)

3. Back; pain; rest; amel.
   (Relieved by rest—lying down eases the pain.)

4. Back; pain; stretching; amel.
   (Stretching gave her relief.)

5. Back; pain; dorsal region; left
   (Pain was in the dorsal region, more on the left side, specifically rhomboids muscle.)

6. Back; pain; dorsal region; bending; agg.; forward
   (Pain was aggravated by bending forward.)

7. Back; pain; dorsal region; pressure; amel.
   (Pain was relieved by pressure.)

8. Back; pain; dorsal region; standing; agg.
   (She found it difficult to stand—standing aggravated the pain.)

9. Back; pain; sore, bruised; dorsal region
   (She described the pain as sore in nature, located in the dorsal region.)

10. Back; stretching; amel.
    (Again, relief came from stretching—much general to covers any remedies if left.)

11. Generalities; exercise, exertion; agg.; slight
    (The slightest physical effort—walking, consulting, cooking—aggravated her pain.)

Prescription and Response

To my surprise, Cimicifuga came up strongly. Other remedies like Phosphorus, Sulphur, Rhus tox, and Kali carb were also present, but Cimicifuga intrigued me.

Cimicifuga 200C was prescribed: two drops in 250 ml of water, one sip every 30 minutes, gradually reducing the frequency as she improved.

First Follow-up

After the first dose, she felt relief. She had started the medication by late evening, taken it 3–4 times, and then slept. By the next day, she was completely better. I advised three more doses over the following couple of days.

Second Follow-up (Ten Days Later)

About ten days later, she contacted me again. She felt low and overwhelmed by thoughts of past events and by the behavior of certain family members and colleagues—almost on the verge of a breakdown.

During this conversation, she revealed something she had not disclosed earlier: at the time of the first prescription, she had visions of rats running around her workplace. She thought they were real—even set traps—but none were found.

This illustrates how sometimes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, patients conceal or withhold information. Even with the best efforts, if the patient is not forthcoming, not everything can be known. At other times, they simply fail to express themselves.

She then asked if she should repeat Cimicifuga. Since all the symptoms still corresponded to it, I advised her to take three doses of Cimicifuga 200, one each morning for the next three days.

Current Status

After this, her symptoms disappeared, and she continues to do well, with no relapse so far.

It should be emphasized that the generals and other accompanying symptoms were also taken into account in making the prescription.

Deeper Context

Looking more closely at her life, I realized how well it aligned with the Cimicifuga state at this juncture:

• Upbringing: She grew up in comfort, her father in central government service, with stability and domestic help.

• Current Work: Now employed in a state institution, she struggles with inefficiency, corruption, and non-compliance from colleagues—so unlike her upbringing.

• Financial Strain: Though earning well, most of her money is tied up in long-term investments suggested by her father and advisers. With no liquidity, she feels trapped. Her parents often criticize rather than reassure.

• Marriage and Health: Her husband, though supportive, suffered a sudden heart attack and bypass surgery soon after their marriage. His recovery and financial instability add to her burden.

• Family Relations: Her father is capricious and evasive; her mother is submissive and gives all affection to her son. This leaves her unsupported and emotionally isolated.

• Personal History: Despite brilliance in academics and career, she feels she has not achieved anything meaningful. Past relationships and turbulent job experiences deepen this sense of failure.

When seen together, these layers show a woman who feels trapped, less expressive, unable to voice her inner struggles, silently hoping others will understand. She carries both competence and vulnerability—precisely the contradictions reflected in Cimicifuga.

Reflections and Conclusion

At first glance, this looked like a simple local complaint. Yet the clarity and completeness of location, sensation, and modalities were enough for the repertory to point clearly to Cimicifuga. The later revelations—the hallucinations of rats, her inner despair, and her burdens—only confirmed the choice.

The “rat visions” were not stray phenomena but the externalized expression of her buried anxieties and fears. Even a simple back pain carried the imprint of her entire being. This case reminded me that when the totality is faithfully observed, the repertory can reveal the patient’s essence—even before the unspoken depths surface.

It also reaffirmed key principles:

• Symptoms are the outward reflection of the internal essence of disease (Organon, Aphorism 9).

• Even minimal physical complaints, when accurate, can represent the whole person.

• The repertory, when precise, can guide us—even when the patient cannot.

Such cases remind us that Homoeopathy does not treat isolated complaints, but the entire human being. Even when the patient cannot speak their deepest truth, the disease speaks through symptoms—and the repertory, faithfully applied, helps us listen.

Ultimately, it is the genius of the vital force, or Nature in the broader sense, that expresses itself through these signs and guides us to the remedy.

P.S. My approach is always to record what troubles the patient at that moment, repertorize faithfully, and see if the remedy also resonates with the broader background. Invariably, it does.

Case author: © Dr Rajesh Rajendran 
Complete Repertory © Roger Van Zandvoort.
Repertory version used and Softwares: Complete Repertory 2025, Curar © Roger Van Zandvoort, Complete Repertory 2024 r II, Complete Dynamics, Complete Repertory 2025, Similia.io. 

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