The State of our materia medica

Abstract

Our materai medica was born of Hahnemann's realisation of the only path to discovering the singular effects of therapeutic substances through a methodical and deliberate process of trials on the healthy provings as they are termed and such trials undertaken by Hahnemann and recorded pure so to speak from the very substance for our application of similars. But even our pure materia medica is inclusive of data derived through other than deliberate trials on the health and this presentation will (briefly) review and discuss these sources in order to highlight their limitations and scope both from a theoretical and practical perspective. We will also clarify what is meant by the term proving in relation to our materia medica to define and therefrom limit this term to its originator's intention, itself forged upon an unprecedented methodical pharmacologic experimentation and clinical verification. For this purpose we must establish a clear definition of terms which may best be done through careful examination of sources in this case, Hahnemann whose literary legacy, fortunately, includes unambiguous and extensive writing on this very matter.