Ever found yourself puzzled over finding the right remedy for an acute situation?

Imagine yourself as a detective, much like Sherlock Holmes, piecing together clues to solve a mystery.

With endless possibilities for homeopathic remedies, how do we find the best one for the specific situation at hand?

Each remedy has what is called 'Keynotes,' which are the most common and reliable symptoms to refer to when looking for a remedy. This process is known as finding the 'Simillimum, this is one of the core pillars of Homeopathy: “Like cure likes” or in Latin: “Similia Similibus Curentur”.

For example, have you ever experienced a sudden onset of symptoms, high fever, restlessness, and fear? These are keynotes for the remedy Aconite. By recognizing these keynotes, we can identify Aconite as the suitable remedy.

We collect symptoms in a way that forms a clear picture, which then guides us to the remedy that matches this symptom picture.

A useful tool for this task would be to follow the CLAMS mnemonic:

• C-complaints and accompanying symptoms

• L-location of the pain or complaint in the body

• A- aetiology- the potential cause of the complain

• M-modalities, what makes the symptoms feel better or worse

• S-sensations- what does it all feel like: pain, itchiness

It's good to rank symptoms according to their severity, focusing on what is most bothersome, especially if there are any striking or peculiar ones.

Let's look at a case example to illustrate this process:

Meg is a 6-year-old girl. she has been playing outside this afternoon and in the middle of the night she woke up with a sudden and terrible earache.

She has a high fever and chills. She is very uneasy, tossing and turning in bed, she seems quite frightened.

Using our mnemonic, it looks a little something like this:

3. Differentiating Remedies and choosing "The one"

• C- Earache, high Fever, very sudden

• L- Ears

• A- Perhaps wind from playing outside

• M- Worse at night, warmth of the room and lying on the affected side. Better for fresh air.

• S- Sudden extreme pain, Fright

1. Understanding Keynotes

2. Collect a clear symptom picture

The next step is to consult your home prescribing materials, whether it's a book, app, or website (referred to as Materia Medica in homeopathic terminology).

Now you can look under Earache and see the differences between the remedies according to your clues. We can identify the remedy to be Aconite in this case. Many remedies will mention earache and fever, but the striking and keynote symptoms will make it clear.

And just like that, you have solved your first case! Congratulations, hopefully you could help your loved ones.

At the end of the day, the beauty of homeopathy lies in its gentle and personalized approach. Even if the process of solving a case feels like navigating a mystery, every attempt helps you grow more confident and intuitive in your practice. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal—it’s the care and effort you put into helping others that truly matters.

So, take pride in the detective work, the learning, and the moments of satisfaction when you see the bigger picture come together. And if you ever feel stuck, feel free to contact the Worldwide Homeopathic Helpline that is open 24/7. help is just a call away.h