TO FIND OUT UTILITY AND SCOPE OF PHATAK REPERTORY IN CHILDREN RESPIRATORY DISEASES

1. Dr. KAVITA SHARMA
Chief Medical Officer
Department of AYUSH
Keshavpuram Dispensary

2. Introduction
Repertory and Materia Medica are twin pillars for
successful practice of homoeopathy.
Proficiency in the art of prescribing in
Homoeopathy can be achieved by constant and
diligent study of the remedies given in Materia
Medica, with reference to their place value given in
the repertory.
To find a suitable medicine in the shortest possible
time, busy practitioners and sincere physicians are
not satisfied with one type of repertory.

3. Introduction
Different types of repertories were prepared to help
finding the medicines by various methods.
Phatak Repertory is one such repertory.
It is an alphabetical clinical repertory and a concise
reference work.
Dr. Phatak has included rubrics duly verified by him
and remedies for a particular rubric have been
reduced to minimum by a careful selection.

4. Introduction
Respiratory diseases are the most common
problem in tropical countries like India.
Acute respiratory infections itself constitute 22
to 66 percent of all paediatric outpatient cases.
Common cold, Pharyngitis, Bronchitis and
Asthma are the common respiratory illnesses
seen in children.
Incidence is more due to increasing air pollution

5. Introduction
Childhood is the most appropriate stage which
presents the characteristics of different miasm in
a more pronounced and clear way.
It is the most useful period for treatment on
constitutional level.
In children, objective and pathological symptoms
are more reliable than those given by the
patient.

6. Introduction
The case which has less number of mental
generals but more pathological symptoms can
be processed through Phatak’s Repertory.
The present study is undertaken to throw light on
utility and scope of Phatak’s Repertory in the
treatment of Respiratory diseases of children.

7. Aim
To study scope and limitations of Phatak’s
Repertory in the treatment of Children’s Respiratory
Diseases.
To study efficacy of homoeopathic medicines in
Children’s Respiratory Diseases selected with
Phatak’s Repertory.
To study Children’s Respiratory Diseases from
nosological and miasmatic point of view.

8. Review of Literature
The selection of the similimum from the materia
medica always demands some way of differentiating
or sorting out similar looking drugs and
repertorization is one such comprehensive,
scientific and precise tool of accomplishing this
task.
To quote Dr. P. Schmidt, “No one can know
everything and that is why in all honesty one must
admit that no conscientious homoeopathic doctor
can practice homoeopathy in a serious and really
scientific way without a repertory. To meet the
challenge of the exploding Materia Medica, the
homoeopathic repertory was born”

9. Review of Literature
As per Dr. Phatak, prescribing in homoeopathy
is both art and science. Good case taking, sound
knowledge of materia medica and skillful use of
the reference books are the three requisites.
There are more than 200 repertories available
and every repertory has its own characteristic
feature, importance and utility and the search for
an ideal and complete repertory will go on
unabated in future.

10. Review of Literature
‘A concise repertory of the Homoeopathic
Medicines’ by Dr. S.R. Phatak is an alphabetical
repertory based on Boger synoptic key.
Its first edition was published in September 1963.
Inclusion of rubrics and medicines has either
come from his own clinical experiences and
observations or there is a strong justification
provided for it by authorities like Dr. Boger,
Dr. Kent, Dr. Clarke etc.

11. Review of Literature
This repertory does not replace exhaustive
repertories like Kent or Boenninghausen, the
arrangement of rubrics in Phatak’s Repertory
makes it useful in most of the daily routine cases.
The headings including Mentals, Physical
Generals, Modalities, organs and their subparts
along with physiological and pathological
conditions are arranged according to their
alphabetical orders.

12. Review of Literature
For major organs, rubrics on locations are
arranged first, followed by complaints and
sensations. Among the locations, the right side is
followed by the left.
Dr. Phatak has garnered all useful modalities and
concomitants from different standard repertories
and has included them in this book.
For all the general modalities the word
Aggravation and Amelioration are printed in
capitals as AGG and AMEL and for particular
modalities agg and amel in roman have been
printed.

13. Review of Literature
Rubrics like blood pressure, bronchitis,
bronchiectasis, colitis mucous etc are very useful
nosological rubrics.
Cross references are given wherever necessary.
Three varieties of typography has been used to
indicate the gradation of remedies in a particular
rubric – Capitals, Italics, Ordinary
Total number of medicines in the fourth edition is
451 and the number of main rubrics is 1971.

14. Review of Literature
Dr. Phatak had also contributed many other
books in Homoeopathy.
Other Literary Contribution of Dr. Phatak
1. Materia Medica of Homoeopathic Medicines
by Dr. S.R. Phatak (English) – July 1977
2. Repertory of Biochemic Remedies (English)
3. Homoeopathic Materia Medica (Marathi).
4. Repertory of Homoeopathic Medicines
(Marathi).

15. Review of Literature
RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN CHILDREN
A child comes to this world as an individual and
brings with it a stock of inherited miasms from its
parents and faces the exacerbation of acute
miasm excited by numerous climatic conditions.
Acute Respiratory infections are the most
common illnesses in childhood comprising 50%
of all illnesses in children under 5 yrs and 30% in
children of 5-12 yrs.

16. Review of Literature
There are seven main clinical categories of resp. infec.
1. Upper Respiratory Infection
Acute Rhinitis, Acute Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis
Acute laryngitis, Adenoids, Sinusitis
2. Nasal Polyp and Epistaxis
3. Laryngotracheobronchitis
4. Bronchiolitis
5. Acute Bronchitis
6. Bronchial Asthma
7. Pneumonia

17. Material and Methods
The present study was conducted in
Homoeopathic Unit of Shakurpur Delhi
Government Dispensary
The cases were collected from O.P.D. during
period of 12 months from 2009 – 10.
30 cases of acute and chronic respiratory
disease were treated during this period of
study.

18. Inclusion criteria
The children belonging to different age group,
of both sexes, different socioeconomic status.
Different types of respiratory disease were
randomly selected for the study.
The different age categories are as follows:
a. Infants – 0-1 year
b. Toddler – 1-3 year
c. Preschool – 3-5 year
d. School going – 6-12 year

19. Exclusion criteria
a. Tuberculosis
b. Foreign body aspiration
c. Pulmonary oedema
d. Bronchiectasis and Lung abscess
e. Complicated cases and cases requiring
hospitalization

20. Methodology
Proper Case taking was done according to
prescribed homoeopathic case record format.
In all the cases family history and past history
was recorded to evaluate the hereditary
tendency and genetic involvement.
The cases were analyzed, evaluated and later
repertorized according to computer version of
Dr. Phatak’s Repertory in Radar 10.0 software

21. Methodology
All the patients were advised to report at
regular intervals and this interval varied
according to the severity of the symptoms and
presentation.
Chronic cases were received once in 7, 15
days and the follow up continued for 6 months
to one year.
Acute cases were reviewed once in 3 and 7
days and follow up continued for 1 to 3 weeks.

22. Assessment of results
The following parameters were fixed according to the
type of response obtained after the treatment.
(a) Recovered - Feeling of Mental and Physical
well being with disappearance of all the Symptoms
and Signs.
(b) Improved - Disappearance of Symptoms during
treatment as long as medicine was continued.
(c) Not Improved - No relief of Symptoms and
Signs even after sufficient period of treatment.

23. Observations and Analysis
Distribution of cases in relation with age
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
NumberofCases
Infants Toddler Preschool School going
Age Category

24. Observations and Analysis
Distribution of cases in relation with sex incidence
1614
Male Female

25. Observations and Analysis
Distribution of cases in relation with
socioeconomic status
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
NumberofCases
Poor Average Affluent
Socioeconomic Status

26. Observations and Analysis
Distribution of cases in relation with the
family history
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
NumberofCases
Respiratory
Disease
Any other
Miasmatic
Disease
No other
Miasmatic
Disease
Family History

27. Observations and Analysis
Distribution of cases in relation with the
disease diagnosis
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
NumberofCasesA
cute
R
hinitis
A
cute
P
haryngitis
A
cute
Laryngitis
A
llergic
R
hinitis
A
cute
Tonsillitis
C
hronic
Tonsillitis
E
pistaxisS
inusitis
N
asalP
olyp
A
denoids
A
cute
B
ronchitis
B
ronchialA
sthm
a
Disease Diagnosis

28. Observations and Analysis
Distribution of cases in relation with the
nature of disease
8
22
Acute Chronic

29. Observations and Analysis
Distribution of cases in relation with the
results of treatment
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
NumberofCases
Recovered Improved Not Improved
Results of Treatment
Chronic
Acute

30. Discussion
30 cases of ‘Respiratory diseases in children’
were treated from holistic point of view with
different homoeopathic medicines.
Study of children from its birth situation to its
growth, temperament, constitution, miasmatic
and nosological aspect was helpful in deriving
the antimiasmatic and curative remedies.

31. Discussion
The majority of cases observed in this study are
in the school going age group (6-12 yr).
As regards to the socioeconomic status, it was
observed that 46.6% cases are of average status
Family history of respiratory disease was found in
about 36.6% of cases
Family history of some miasmatic disease was
found in about 50% of cases

32. Discussion
In this study, I found a definite link of respiratory
disease to the family history especially in chronic
cases like asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis.
In the light of Hahnemann’s miasmatic theory,
various chronic respiratory diseases in children
could be linked to many deep seated chronic
diseases like dermatitis, asthma, rheumatism,
tuberculosis etc. and other miasmatic diseases in
the family history.

33. Discussion
Along with proper case taking, physician’s
observation is very important in children.
Symptoms with regard to body language, facial
expression should be taken as objective mental
symptoms and rank them high in analysis.
Pathological generals are well represented in
Phatak’s Repertory and I found them very useful
in prescribing.

34. Discussion
This Repertory helps the physician in selection of
the Similimum where Causation, Time,
Modalities, Aggravating, Ameliorating factors,
Pathological generals are available.
Dr. Phatak has given due importance to General
Modalities, Time of expression and Clinical
Rubrics in the Repertory which are very useful in
prescribing.

35. Discussion
The assessment of results - 53.3% cases
recovered, 30% cases improved and in 16.6%
cases no improvement was seen.
In this study the repertorization of cases and
selection of medicine was done through Phatak’s
repertory which was found to be useful.
The results as obtained in the observation
confirm the utility of Phatak’s repertory in
paediatric respiratory patients.

36. Conclusion
In this particular study, following conclusions were drawn
• There are significant mental symptoms including body
language in Phatak’s Repertory and were used.
• Modalities and Causation are well represented in this
repertory and were helpful in selection of the similimum.
• Pathological general were given importance in few
cases and helped in selecting the similimum.
• Antimiasmatic drugs are well represented and are
found to be useful in chronic cases.
• This repertory is a key tool for the selection of
similimum in the shortest possible time.

37. Conclusion
Few limitations of Phatak’s repertory were
also found during this study :
• Number of Remedies and Rubrics are less
when compared to other Repertories.
• Rubrics without any medicine given as
cross reference are of little significance.

38. Conclusion
Even though Dr. PHATAK’S REPERTORY is
a concise repertory, it is unique in that it is
based on his well documented clinical
experience.
In this study, Phatak’s Repertory is found to be
very much beneficial in finding out the
similimum in paediatric cases in the shortest
possible time with less labour.

39. Bibliography
Banerjea S.K.: Miasmatic Diagnosis, B. Jain
Publishers Pvt. Limited, New Delhi, Revised Edition
2003.
Boenninghausen: “Lesser Writing”, B. Jain
Publishers Pvt. Limited, New Delhi, Translated by
T.L. Bradford, Indian Edition, Reprint 2007.
Boger C.M. : A Synoptic Key to the Materia
Medica, B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Limited, New Delhi,
Fifth Edition, Reprint 2006.
Boger C.M. : Boenninghausen’s Characteristics
Materia Medica and Repertory, B. Jain Publishers
Pvt. Limited, New Delhi, Third Edition, Reprint 1996.

40. Bibliography
Boger C.M.: “Studies in the Philosophy of Healing”,
Roy and Company, Calcutta, Second Edition 1979.
Ghai O.P.: Ghai Essential Paediatrics, Delhi, Dr. O.P.
Ghai Publications, 6th Edition, Reprint 2008.
Jolly H.: Diseases of children, The English book
society and Blackwell scientific publications, Oxford,
London, Third Edition, Reprint 1978.
Kent J.T. : Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia
Medica, B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Limited, New Delhi,
Sixth American Edition, Enriched Indian Edition 2006

41. Bibliography
Kishore J.: “Evolution of Repertories and
Repertorisation”, Kishore cards Publications, New
Delhi, First Edition 1988.
Master Farokh J.: Clinical observations of children
remedies, B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Limited, New
Delhi, First Indian Edition 2010.
Nayak C., Khurana A., Chugh S., Sachdeva J.:
Handbook on homoeopathy for mother & child care,
Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New
Delhi, 2008.

42. Bibliography
Phatak S. R.: Concise Repertory of Homoeopathic
Medicines, B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Limited, New Delhi,
Fourth Edition, Reprint 2009.
Phatak S. R.: Materia Medica of Homoeopathic
Medicines, B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Limited, New Delhi,
Second Revised and Enlarged Edition 1999.
Rastogi D.P.: An Overview of Repertories, B. Jain
Publishers Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, Second Edition 2008.
Tiwari S.K.: Essentials of Repertorization, B. Jain
Publishers Pvt. Limited, New Delhi, Fourth Edition,
Reprint 2008.
Website : www.similima.com

43. S.No Age Sex Religion Socioeconomic status Family
History
Treatment taken
before
Diagnosis Nature of
disease
Medicine Given Result
1 7 M Mu P RD A Epistaxis C Calc carb R
2 6 F H AF RD A Asthma C Puls R
3 4½ F H AV NS NT A. Laryngitis A Spongia R
4 10 M Mu AV MD A All .Rhinitis C Sulphur R
5 4 M H AV MD A C. Tonsilitis C Bar carb R
6 12 F H AF MD Ho Sinusitis C Silicea I
7 7 F H AF MD A Nasal Polyp C Phos R
8 8 F Mu AV NS NT A. Tonsilitis A Hep Sulp R
9 10 F Mu AV RD A Asthma C Lachesis R
10 4 F H AF MD A Adenoids C Calc carb I
11 5 M H AV RD Ay A.Bronchitis A Bryonia R
12 5 F H AV MD Ho C.Tonsilitis C Nat mur R
13 4½ F Mu P MD A Epistaxis C Merc sol R
14 5 M Mu P MD NT A. Tonsilitis A Bell R
15 10 M H AF RD A Adenoids C Medorr NI
MASTER CHART OF CASE RECORDS

44. 16 9 M Mu AV RD A All .Rhinitis C Silicea R
17 5 M S AF MD A C. Tonsilitis C Lyco I
18 1½ F Mu P NS NT A. Phryngitis A Puls NI
19 7 M Mu AV RD A Asthma C Ars Alb I
20 1 F H AV MD NT A.Rhinitis A Merc sol R
21 5 M H AV MD A Adenoids C Thuja I
22 11 F H AV MD Ho All .Rhinitis C Nat mur I
23 2 M Mu P RD Ay A.Bronchitis A Chamo R
24 11 M H AF MD A Sinusitis C Phos I
25 8 M H P MD A Epistaxis C Acid nit I
26 7 F Mu P RD Ay Asthma C Psorinum NI
27 3 F S AF NS NT A. Rhinitis A Rhustox R
28 5 M H AF RD A Adenoids C Tub NI
29 6 M H AV MD A C. Tonsilitis C Nux vom I
30 5 M H AV RD Ho Asthma C Lyco NI