What is Causa Occasionalis in Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is rich in intriguing terms, one of which is “Causa occasionalis,” coined by Master Hahnemann to encompass both the Exciting cause and Maintaining cause.

While a direct translation of “Cause Occasionalis” might suggest occasional causes, in homeopathy, it refers to both the Exciting cause, which triggers acute suffering in a chronic condition, and the Maintaining cause, which perpetuates and prolongs the disease process.

Maintaining causes play a crucial role in the disease process by generating, sustaining, and lengthening it. They are often categorized as “The obstacles to cure” and are responsible for pseudo-chronic diseases. Removing the maintaining cause is essential for achieving a cure, as the disease may persist or recur if it remains unaddressed.

Simply put, a maintaining cause is any avoidable harmful factor that can initiate, foster, and perpetuate a disease condition. Without addressing the maintaining cause, a permanent cure is unlikely, and the disease may continue to resurface.

On the other hand, the exciting cause is the trigger that incites acute suffering within a chronic case. During case-taking, if a patient attributes their symptoms to a specific incident or timeframe, such as saying “Since then” or “Since that incident I am not feeling well,” the physician should consider that as the exciting cause.

For instance, if a patient reports, “Last night I drenched myself in rain, since then I am having this runny nose,” the act of getting drenched in rain serves as the exciting cause that led to the acute symptoms.

It’s important to note that an exciting cause can only affect the patient if they are already predisposed or affected by the fundamental cause. Therefore, acute diseases are essentially temporary eruptions of the underlying fundamental cause, such as “psora,” triggered by the exciting cause.

Types of Exciting Cause

Various types of exciting causes exist. Fear, trauma, exposure to excess cold or heat, and excessive eating can all act as exciting causes.

They can be categorized into 4 types:

1. Physical exciting causes: This category includes physical and environmental conditions such as exposure to excess heat or cold, thunderstorms, and intake of excess or inadequate food.
2. Mechanical exciting cause: Damages caused by physical trauma, such as injuries, accidents, burns, and insect bites, fall under this category.
3. Nervous exciting cause: Psychological reasons like fear, shock, jealousy, grief, and overjoy fall into this category.
4. Hygienic exciting causes: Food poisoning, pollution, and lack of personal and social hygiene are grouped under this category.

Example of Causa Occasionalis:
(It includes examples of both maintaining and exciting causes)

• If a cigar or tobacco smoker suffers from a persistent cough, it can be termed as the smoker’s cough. The treatment for this would be to stop smoking immediately. Smoking, in this case, acts as the maintaining cause. Improvement cannot be assured unless smoking is stopped.
• Malnutrition or an insufficient food supply and improper nutrition can be corrected with a balanced diet and nutrients.
• Prolonged abstinence or neglecting essential aspects required for maintaining life can lead to deficiency disorders.
• In § 75, Hahnemann provides additional examples such as habits of drinking alcohol or engaging in dissipations.
• Residing in unhealthy or marshy localities can result in various health hazards due to deprivation of proper sanitation and air.
• Deprivation of exercise and fresh air, as well as over-exertion of the body and living in constant mental and physical strain, are also contributing factors.
• All occupational disorders can be attributed to this category. Constant exposure to physical, chemical, mechanical, and psychological hazards in the workplace may lead to diseases such as silicosis and byssinosis.
• The only way to control silicosis is through rigorous dust control measures, which involve removing the maintaining cause. In cases where exciting and maintaining causes are identified, physicians can effectively cure the case by addressing these causes.

In some instances, despite thorough investigations, these causes may not be identified. In such cases, the physician must rely solely on the existing symptoms. These symptoms, present in the patient across physical, mental, and spiritual planes, collectively form the Totality of symptoms. As homeopaths consider the individual as a whole entity comprising both body and vital force, the totality of symptoms serves as the sole guide to curing the suffering.