Organon’s Aphorism No. 1 – What’s Mission of A Physician

Dr. Hahnemann’s Aphorism No. 1 of his famous book “Organon of Medicine” is as follows:

“The high and only mission of a physician is to restore the sick to health, to cure, as it is termed.”

 

Explanation of Aphorism#1:

This Aphorism looks quite simple but actually it has very deep meanings and it must be properly understood by all Homeopaths. We must understand following terms used in this Aphorism to fully understand what is really mean by Hahnemann:

1- High And Only Mission:

Hahnemann did not use the word like “duty, responsibility, work or task” here. Instead the word “High and Only Mission” is used. It means that a Homeopathic physician must take every case like a mission that must be achieved fully. In order to achieve that high mission, one must put all one’s efforts and capabilities to achieve the goal.

2- Sick:

One of the main concepts every physician must know is that “In Homeopathy We Don’t Cure Diseases, Instead We Cure Patient or Person Who is Sick”.

In all other methods of therapeutics, all focus is on the diseases or the organs of the patient affected by those diseases. For example if a patient is suffering from TB, then doctors will focus on the lungs and other organs affected by TB. Once TB is “controlled” it is said that mission is accomplished. Similarly if patient is suffering from Anal Fistula, Physician will consider it a Cure if wound is closed by Surgery.

In Homeopathy, it is believed that it is the Patient as a whole who is sick. We should not only take symptoms of the parts of the body that are affected by some disease. Rather we should take all symptoms of the patient from Head to Toe including mental symptoms to find the correct remedy for the patient. If a person is affected by TB, a good Homeopath will not only note the symptoms of TB (cough, mucus, blood, fever, sweating in nigh etc) but also “GENERAL” symptoms of the patient. For example feelings of patient (restlessness, anxiety, Fears, Sadness, Revenge etc), effects of cold/hot weather, likes dislikes, eating habits, sleeping habits and so on.

After taking full case all important symptoms of the “Patient” (not disease only) are noted and then a Single most similar Homeopathic remedy is selected to cure the Patient.

3- Health and Cure:

In Homeopathy a patient is said to be cured when all of his mental and physical problems are solved and returned to the point where no disturbance is present. Patient is fully healed, when his “Vital Force” is fully healed.

According to Homeopathic Concepts It is the Vital Force that is affected first of all. If not treated, then Vital Force expresses the issue in the form of diseases and symptoms in different parts of the body including thoughts and feelings. Once a patient is fully cured, it means that “all symptoms” that were the indication of weakness of Vital Force have been disappeared completely.

This cure must be permanent also, should not return back after few days or months.

Footnote on Aphorism#1:

Hahnemann also added that a Physician should not propagate false hypothesis or theories about health, disease and cure. This will only move the physician and patients away from perfect cure. It should be understood that “Laws” never change. If Earth is revolving around the Sun, then it will keep doing the same till end of Universe. It is not possible that after 100 or 1000 years, the Sun would start rotating around the Earth.

In the same way, the laws of cure will remain the same because these are the laws of nature. The basic law of Homeopathy is “Similar Cures Similar” and this cannot be changed as it is a Law of Nature. A good homeopath must stick to basic laws and should not coin new hypothesis or theories to avoid confusions.