Classification of Repertory in Homeopathy

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Homeopathic repertories are indispensable tools for practitioners, helping them organize and utilize the vast knowledge recorded in materia medica. Since the time of Master Samuel Hahnemann, the number of repertories has steadily increased, and today more than 200 repertories are available. To use them effectively, it is important to classify them according to their principles and purpose.

1. Repertories Based on Philosophic Concept

These repertories are built on distinctive principles and require understanding their underlying philosophy for proper use. The language of symptoms may differ from the original materia medica to fit the structure of the repertory. These belong to the logical-utilitarian group.

a. Generals to Particulars

  • Focuses on general symptoms first, followed by characteristic particulars.
  • Examples:
    • Repertory of Homoeopathic Materia Medica
    • Lippe’s Repertory
    • Synthetic Repertory by Dr Barthel & Dr Will Klunker
    • Kent’s Repertorium Generale by Kunzli
    • Homoeopathic Medical Repertory by Robin Murphy
    • Synthesis by Fredrick Schroyens
    • Homoeopathy and Child Care by Dr Shashi Kant Tiwari
    • Complete Repertory & Repertorium Universale by Zandvoort

b. Particulars to Generals

  • Based on the philosophical concept of totality of symptoms.
  • Subtypes:
    1. Doctrine of analogy and concomitants – e.g., Therapeutic Pocket Book by Boenninghausen
    2. Complete symptoms with concomitants and pathological generals – e.g.,
      • Boenninghausen’s Characteristics and Repertory
      • Synoptic Key of Materia Medica by Boger

2. Repertories Having No Distinctive Philosophy

Also called Concordance Repertories, these are mostly used for reference rather than systematic repertorization. They present symptoms with minimal variation from the original provings, belonging to the puritan group.

Examples:

  • Knerr’s Repertory to Hering Guiding Symptoms
  • The Concordance Repertory of the Materia Medica by Gentry (6 volumes)

3. Clinical Repertories

These repertories focus on clinical conditions and diseases rather than philosophical organization. Medicines are grouped under disease names or affected systems.

a. Whole Body Clinical Repertories

  • Cover the entire body and multiple systems.
  • Examples:
    • Clinical Repertory appended to Boericke’s Materia Medica
    • Clinical Repertory by J.H. Clarke

b. Specific Conditions or Parts

  1. Organ-specific:
    • Berridge’s Eyes
    • Morgan’s Urinary Organs
    • Minton’s Uterus
  2. Condition-specific:
    • Roberts’ Rheumatic Medicines
    • Bell’s Diarrhoea
    • Allen’s Repertory of Intermittent Fever

4. Card Repertories

These repertories use slips or punched cards for easier and faster reference. They are systematically arranged for quick identification of remedies.

Examples:

  • Kishore’s Card Repertory
  • Boger’s Card Index
  • Field’s Card Repertory
  • P. Shankaran’s Card Repertory
  • Sharma’s Card Repertory

5. Mechanically-Aided / Computerized Repertories

With advancements in technology, repertories have been digitized to speed up repertorization. Software allows fast, organized, and accurate searching of rubrics and remedies.

Examples of Computer Repertories:

  • C.A.R.A.
  • R.A.D.A.R.
  • Organon 96
  • Macrepertory
  • Dolphin
  • Hompath

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