Legatum Homeopathicum

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====== Project Remedies ======

{{:en:proj_rem_icon_s.jpg?nolink |}}

This project aims to create order out of a jungle of homeopathic remedy names, as well as providing additional data about the original substances and their use as homeopathic remedies. 

The result of this ongoing project is the [[en:rem:start|Official Remedy Name List]] and its linked data. You can also check the [[en:rem:extended|Extended Remedy Name List]]((includes naming variations)) and [[en:rem:complete|Complete Remedy Name List]]((includes naming variations and common names)). 

This project is a part of [[en:about|Legatum Homeopathicum effort]]. Please also have a look at [[en:projects|other projects]] we are working on.

===== Idea =====

Homeopathic literature often uses different names for a single substance and sometimes includes several distinct substances under a single name. When we prescribe a remedy, we (hopefully) base our prescription on a proving / clinical symptoms image of a substance as recorded in our books. These substances are denoted by distinct names, but the usage of these names vary from one author to another -- for example, your case may call for <span grade2>Mercurius iodatus ruber</span>, but the pharmacy has no remedy with such name, they have it under <span grade2>Mercurius bi-odatus</span>.

Also, various pharmacies use various source substances for homeopathic remedy preparation. The optional goal is to find out what exact substances are used to prepare specific remedies -- if their cooperation can be obtained.

===== Substance identification =====

Each __sufficiently distinct substance__ has a unique page name, with a unique numeric identifier. What considers a distinct substance? There is no simple answer. In theory, every substance is different from any other substance, even if taken from the same source and prepared by the same process.

For practical purposes, if we, for example, consider two specimens of species <span grade2>Achillea millefolium</span>, we usually consider them as a single substance -- even if one was grown in Europe and the other one in North America, although it is akin to claiming that all grape varieties are the same.((Pondering the idea, it would be really useful if homeopathic remedy manufacturers always named the source of the original remedy substance or prepared the remedy from the substance originally used in the proving, if at all possible -- ideally providing a photo and a description of how and where the source substance was obtained.))

Since the point of this project is linking substances with their respective names used in homeopathic literature, the question of a distinct substance is largely determined by the status provided by said literature. For example, in Hahnemann's Materia Medica Pura under <span grade2>Ferrum metallicum</span>, we find symptoms belonging not only to iron((of the purity of which and the actual composition used in the original provings we can only speculate)), but also to iron acetate and sometimes even iron carbonate.

Notwithstanding these problems, the project should provide clear answers to the //questions of identification//, such as follows:

  * If my case calls for <span grade2>Pulsatilla</span> and my homeopathic pharmacy only has <span grade2>Pulsatilla pratensis</span>, is it the same remedy or is it a distinct substance?
  * If Kent describes <span grade2>Pulsatilla nigricans</span>, is it the same plant as <span grade2>Pulsatilla pratensis</span> or something different?
  * Is <span grade2>Pulsatilla patens</span> the same plant as <span grade2>Pulsatilla pratensis</span>?
  * Is <span grade2>Pulsatilla nuttalliana</span> the same plant as "general" <span grade2>Pulsatilla</span>?
  * In [[en:ahr:wells-pp-gelseminum-158-10655|this article]] from the pen of P.P.Wells about <span grade2>Gelseminum</span>, is he actually describing a remedy we now know as <span grade2>Gelsemium sempervirens</span> or is it a distinct remedy?
  * In [[en:ahr:boenninghausen-c-kreasotum-158-10362|this Boeninghausen's article]] listing the characteristic symptoms of <span grade2>Kreasotum</span>, it he referring to the same remedy we know as <span grade2>Kreosotum</span>?
  * How many distinct substances are remedies named <span grade2>Benzenum, Benzolum, Benzinum, Nitrobenzolum, Benzinum nitricum</span>?
  * If I purchase <span grade2>Medorrhinum</span>, <span grade2>Psorinum</span>, <span grade2>Carcinosinum</span> or other nosodes from my local pharmacy, will these work as described in homeopathic literature or should I be doubtful? 
===== Record template =====

Each substance page should contain the following basic data:

  * **Standard name** -- this is the usual / traditional __unique__ name of the remedy prepared from a substance; the name most frequently used for that particular substance in homeopathic literature
  * **Other names** -- other names used to denote the same substance, whether historical or modern, as recorded in homeopathic literature; ordered by frequency of use, semicolon-separated (most common names are first); erroneous names are marked with //(err.)// behind the name or stated in the optional Erroneous name field (see optional data)
  * **Standard abbr.** -- this is the usual / traditional __unique__ remedy abbreviation as used in homeopathic literature 
  * **Other abbr.** -- other remedy abbreviations as used in homeopathic literature, semicolon-separated
  * **Scientific name** -- current accepted scientific name of the source substance, if any, including author name, if applicable (example: //Pulsatilla pratensis// (L.) Mill.)((please respect the italics and normal type for the name and the author))
  * **Other scientific names** -- other scientific names of the source substance, if any, including author name, if applicable (example: //Anemone pratensis// L.)
  * **Common names** -- common name(s) of the source substance in English; ordered by frequency of use, semicolon-separated (most common names are first)
  * **Source substance description** -- a concise description of the source substance part to be used for remedy preparation ((for example, "a tincture of the root of the plant" description may be sufficient)) and / or a process to obtain it ((for example, for Hepar Sulphur, a following description could be given "A mixture of equal parts of finely powdered, clean oyster shells and quite pure flowers of sulphur is kept for ten minutes at a white heat in a hermetically closed crucible and afterwards stored up in a well-corked bottle."))
  * **Distinctness** -- distinctness attribute of the remedy; possible values
    * DISTINCT = unambiguous identification of the substance and its mode of preparation
    * UNIQUE = substance used in the proving is unique and remedies should be made from this particular substance only, otherwise the effect is uncertain; warning should be added (example: [[en:rem:r383|Tarentula cubensis]])
    * GROUP = several identified substances grouped under one remedy label; provide explanation in the brackets (example: [[en:rem:r329|Mephitis putorius]])
    * VARIANTS = various forms, variants or parts of the substance are used for the preparation of the remedy, which may or may not cause differences in medicinal action); list various variants (example: [[en:rem:r132|Crocus sativus]])
  * **Classification** -- remedies are classified into several groups based on the original substance or mode of preparation
    * Organism -- these are futher classified into eight [[wp>Kingdom_(biology)|Kingdoms]] ([[wp>Plantae|Plantae]], [[wp>Animalia|Animalia]], [[wp>Fungus|Fungi]], [[wp>Bacteria|Bacteria]], [[wp>Virus|Viruses]], [[wp>Archaea|Archaea]], [[wp>Chromista|Chromista]], [[wp>Protozoa|Protozoa]]) and categorized into simplified [[wp>Taxonomy|taxonomy]] consisting of [[wp>Phylum|Phylum]], [[wp>Class_(biology)|Class]], [[wp>Order_(biology)|Order]], [[wp>Family_(biology)|Family]] and [[wp>Genus|Genus]]
    * Chemical substance
      * Element
      * Acid
        * Organic
        * Inorganic
      * Base
      * Compound
        * Organic
        * Inorganic
      * Mixture
    * Nosode
    * Sarcode
    * Radiation
  * **Provings** -- all known provings((if the source text contains both provings symptoms and clinical symptoms, the proving symptoms must be distinguishable from the clinical ones; if not, include the source text within Materia Medica section)) of the substance (potentized, crude and poisonings), with a direct link to proving text, if possible
  * **Materia Medica** -- all known Materia Medica sources of the substance, with a direct link to text, if possible; clinical and proving information are mixed and not readily distinguishable

The basic data set can be further enhanced by additional optional information:

  * **Erroneous names** -- erroneous names of the remedy based on a typo, misunderstanding, ignorance or similar, as used in the homeopathic literature (such as Aloe soccotrina, which should be [[en:rem:r109|Aloe socotrina]]); semi-colon separated
  * **Similar remedies** -- similar remedies, remedies made from a similar source or of similar origin; semi-colon separated, ideally with a direct link to the remedy named (examples are [[en:rem:r120|Tuberculinum]] and [[en:rem:r260|Bacillinum]], both having relationship to tuberculosis) 
  * **Provings mixed with** -- official names of the remedies (with corresponding hyperlinks within Project Remedies records), symptoms of which are often included with this remedy; semicolon-separated
==== Examples of processed remedies ====

For better evaluation of current data setup, please have a look at first 5 remedies:

  * [[en:rem:r1|Sulphur]]
  * [[en:rem:r2|Phosphorus]]
  * [[en:rem:r3|Lycopodium clavatum]]
  * [[en:rem:r4|Sepia]]
  * [[en:rem:r5|Pulsatilla]]
===== Adding a new remedy =====

<WRAP center round important 60%>
Please only add substances / remedies that actually __exist__, not made-up remedies that you only __think__ may exist! (such as arbitrary combinations of elements that do not even react chemically)
</WRAP>


When adding a new remedy, please follow this process:

  - Check that the remedy is not already present under a different name. Check not only the [[en:rem:start|Official Remedy Name List]], but also the [[en:rem:extended|Extended Remedy Name List]] (which includes all known naming variations) and the [[en:rem:complete|Complete Remedy Name List]] (which also includes common names).
  - Find out the most recently added remedy number -- in the Official remedy name list, section Most recently added remedies. The page name looks like **rXXXX**, where XXXX is the index number of the remedy, so your new remedy should have the next highest number.((For example, if the last remedy page name is r2541, your new remedy should reside on page r2542))
  - Direct your browser to URL http://www.legatum.sk/en:rem:rXXXX, where XXXX is your new remedy number. The page should say "This topic does not exist yet". If it contains a remedy information, increment your remedy number in the URL and try again.
  - Click Create button in the right-upper area of the window.
  - Open a new tab in your web browser((try Ctrl+T or Ctrl+N)) and direct your browser to http://www.legatum.sk/en:rem:template
  - Click Edit and copy / paste the remedy template from the template page to your newly created remedy page
  - Edit the information for your new remedy -- not applicable lines in Classification should be deleted
  - Once you have saved your remedy, please add it to the Official remedy name list, especially the Most recently added remedies section 

The remedy lists are re-generated from time to time, so you do not need to add your new remedy to all the lists as these will be generated by a script.

===== Where to find remedy information =====

<WRAP center round important 60%>
If at all possible, DO NOT rely on a single source of information. Verify, verify, verify!
</WRAP>

The following sources we have found to provide quite reliable information pertaining to this project:

==== Substance identification and preparation ====
  * Hahnemann, S: Materia Medica Pura
  * Hahnemann, S: Chronic diseases
  * Allen, T.F: The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
  * Clarke, J.H.: A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
  * Vermeulen, F: Prisma
  * Vermeulen, F: The New Synoptic One
  * Vermeulen, F: Synoptic Materia Medica II
  * various homeopathic pharmacopeias
  * single provings of substances

==== Plant and animal substance identification and taxonomy ====
  * http://www.zipcodezoo.com
  * http://www.catalogueoflife.org/
  * http://en.wikipedia.org (use with caution)
===== Current status =====

<WRAP center round info 60%>
This project is currently in a tentative launch phase. First [[en:rem:start|500 remedy templates]] are in place, but we will be adding more, so do not add new remedies yet.

Meanwhile, feel free to work on the available remedy records by filling in the missing information -- take a look at a [[en:rem:miss_substance|Missing substance identification remedy list]] and [[en:rem:miss_common_name|Missing common name remedy list]].
</WRAP>

===== Donate =====

If you wish to donate specifically for this project, please use the donation link below. For general purpose donations, please [[en:contribute#donate|proceed here]].

[[https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=D3CFETY4HCGTY|{{ en:paypal-button.png?200 |PayPal donations for Project Remedies}}]]

For direct bank transfer, please use the following banking information:

^ Name on the Bank Account: | LEGATUM HOMEOPATHICUM |
^ Foundation address: | Hrušková 28/A, 836 01 Bratislava, Slovakia |
^ Bank Name: | FIO BANKA, A.S. |
^ Bank Address: | Nám. SNP 21, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovakia |
^ Bank Account number: | 2900308392 |
^ BIC / SWIFT Code: | FIOZSKBAXXX |
^ IBAN: | SK94 8330 0000 0029 0030 8392 |

In the message to the recipient, make sure to state PROJECT Remedies or something similar indicating you wish to support __this particular project__.
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