H.A. Roberts discusses Hahnemann’s theory of psora, a foundational concept in homeopathy. Psora has long been debated, but Roberts suggests that rather than dismissing it, we should view it in the light of modern knowledge, particularly through the lens of deficiency. Hahnemann took years to develop the psora theory based on clinical observation, and Roberts defends its logic, noting that it holds up when considered alongside our understanding of body chemistry and nutrition.
Roberts examines Bœnninghausen’s list of antipsoric remedies, consisting of 50 medicines. Most of these are made from elements naturally present in the human body, such as carbon, magnesium, phosphorus, etc., which are constructive and essential for life. He highlights that only three remedies (Aurum, Platinum, Baryta) come from heavier elements not commonly found in the body, suggesting these may relate more to syphilitic than psoric conditions. This distinction reinforces his central idea: psora may be rooted in deficiency—a lack or imbalance in the body’s essential nutrients and elements.
He explores the concept of vital elements in the human body, showing how even in minute amounts, elements like manganese, iodine, and magnesium play crucial roles in health. A deficiency in such elements may not immediately destroy tissue, but it disrupts function, particularly on the nervous and emotional plane—the same sphere in which psora expresses itself. He uses manganese as an example: though found in tiny amounts, it influences reproduction, emotion, and nervous stability. Its absence in animal studies leads to sterility and loss of maternal instincts, effects that mirror emotional symptoms seen in psoric conditions.
Roberts argues that psora is not always inherited—sometimes it develops from modern stress, poor living habits, malnutrition, emotional strain, and lack of exposure to natural elements (like sunlight, fresh air, or unadulterated food). He believes these environmental and emotional stresses disturb the body’s ability to assimilate needed elements, causing functional disorders. This matches Hahnemann’s observation that unhealthy environments weaken the vital force and allow chronic miasms like psora to develop.
Using carbons (like Carbo veg, Graphites, Sepia) and Calcarea carb as examples, Roberts shows that these remedies match both physiological deficiencies (like lack of body heat, bone weakness, poor digestion) and emotional symptoms (exhaustion, anxiety, dullness), linking the remedy pictures directly to psoric patterns. He suggests that the symptoms described by Hahnemann as psoric mirror the signs of deficiency, especially when seen through the effects of modern life—mental overwork, poor diets, indoor living, and constant stress.
Finally, Roberts emphasizes that modern life interferes with natural rhythms: poor breathing, suppressed perspiration, hurried lifestyles, lack of rest—all of which prevent the body from restoring and absorbing what it needs. Over time, this leads to chronic imbalances that are passed to future generations, deepening the psoric tendency. Thus, Roberts proposes that psora may in fact be a chronic condition of systemic deficiency and maladjustment, and that cure lies not just in potentized remedies, but also in restoring balance through healthy, natural living.