What if Genus Epidemicus in Homeopathy?

Master Hahnemann talked about the Genus epidemicus in his book Organon of Medicine in Aphorism 102. But this idea is mentioned in several places throughout the book. Before you learn about the Genus epidemicus, you should first understand acute and chronic diseases very well.

Every epidemic disease is different from others, and each outbreak of an epidemic needs to be treated as a new situation by a homeopath.

To figure out the best remedy for an epidemic, the homeopath looks at many individual cases in the affected area. Then, they choose a remedy based on the symptoms shared by the whole group of people. This is called the group totality.

However, sometimes just by looking at the first or second patient, an experienced observer can understand the nature of the epidemic. Based on this understanding, they can choose the most suitable “genus epidemicus” remedy for that specific epidemic disease.

The Genus Epidemicus is a homeopathic remedy chosen to treat diseases where many people are experiencing similar symptoms from the same cause. This remedy can be used not just to cure the illness but also to prevent it during that specific epidemic. For each new epidemic, the homeopath needs to select a new “genus epidemicus.”

For example:

1. In 1801, Hahnemann chose Belladonna as the Genus Epidemicus for an epidemic disease known as scarlet fever.
2. Another example is when Aconite was used as the Genus Epidemicus to successfully treat a type of purpura miliaris that originated from the West.

3. In the current situation of c0v!d, the Ayush Homeopathy Department of the Government of India has chosen Ars Alb – 30 as the genus epidemic.

A homeopathic doctor doesn’t approach diseases based on their names, unlike traditional medicine. Instead, each patient is treated individually, focusing on their specific symptoms.

Case Taking In Epidemic Diseases

(§ 100-102) :

1. Hahnemann believed that every epidemic or sporadic disease is unique and should not be assumed to be the same as previous occurrences. For instance, two cholera outbreaks in different areas may have distinct symptoms.
2. The doctor must view each prevailing disease as new and unfamiliar. Medications that worked before may not be effective for the current epidemic.
3. Upon careful examination, the present epidemic’s disease phenomenon is found to be distinct from previous outbreaks. Hahnemann excludes fixed miasmatic diseases like smallpox and measles, where the contagious element remains constant (§ 100).

Uses of the Genus Epidemicus:

1. Treatment of epidemic disease: When the genus epidemicus is identified, the need to select individual remedies for each person is eliminated. This saves the physician’s time and enables the treatment of numerous patients efficiently within a short period.
2. Preventive measures: The identified genus epidemicus can also serve as a preventive medicine for every healthy individual in the affected area. Therefore, the genus epidemicus functions both as a preventive measure and a curative remedy.