Drugs are substances with medicinal properties. Medicines are drugs with known medicinal properties and are used for therapeutic purposes. A remedy is a medicine that is suitable for a given patient at a particular time.

Homeopathic remedies are homeopathic medicines that are selected for a patient. The selection of homeopathic remedies is based on the following points :

1. Patient’s disease
2. Patient’s individual symptoms (other than those of the disease)
3. Patient’s emotional and intellectual makeup
4. Patient’s past history, family history, and other factors

Over 3000 medicines have been described in homeopathy. The homeopathic doctor studies the patient’s characteristics and, accordingly, selects the suitable remedies from among these homeopathic medicines. The remedies are then administered in a particular sequence.

The prerequisite for the selection of the appropriate homeopathic medicines for a patient is a detailed case study. The homeopathic doctor has to investigate the patient thoroughly and gather information on all the abovementioned points.

According to their roles, homeopathic remedies can be grouped as constitutional homeopathic remedies, disease-specific homeopathic remedies, and inter-current homeopathic remedies.

We shall discuss each type individually.

a. Constitutional homeopathic remedy : These are remedies are essentially deep-acting homeopathic medicines that are selected on the basis of a complete study of the patient’s physical and mental constitution. They have the power to address the disease at a deep level. A patient may require one or may be a couple of constitutional homeopathic remedies during the treatment period.

Commonly used constitutional homeopathic remedies are Lycopodium clavatum, Silica, Kali carbonicum, Sulphur, Phophorus, Causticum, Sepia, Pulsatilla Nigra, and Zincum metallicum.

b. Disease-specific homeopathic remedies: These remedies are chosen on the basis of the following points.

1. Nature of the disease and its pathogenesis
2. Extent and stage of the disease
3. Curability/incurability of disease
4. Reversibility/irreversibility of the disease

Homeopathic remedies are sometimes chosen to relieve the symptoms of the disease, while constitutional homeopathic remedies attack the disease at a deeper level.

Commonly used disease-specific homeopathic remedies are

c. Inter-current homeopathic remedies : These are the medicines that assist, push, and enhance the effects of constitutional homeopathic medicines. These homeopathic remedies are selected largely on basis of the genetic characteristics of the patient; these medicines are very powerful and deep-acting. Therefore, it is very important that these remedies be carefully chosen by the homeopathic doctor.

The selection of the abovementioned types of homeopathic remedies involves deep understating of homeopathy, medicine, and art of patient interaction on the part of the homeopathic doctor. Skill, training, wisdom, experience, and knowledge are the basic requirements that will help a homeopathic doctor select the appropriate homeopathic remedy for each patient.