Repertory
Construction and Use
The Repertory
• Repertory: is a dictionary/lexicon of
symptoms/features together with modalities.
• Each entry of a symptom/feature is called a
RUBRIC.
• A rubric may have a number of modalities (time,
weather, etc) listed below it, and each of these entries
forms a SUB-RUBRIC.
• Listed alongside each rubric/sub-rubric are the
medicine(s) which have that particular feature in
their materia medica.
Repertorisation
• Repertorisation is the method that is used to analyse the
patient’s symptoms and thus compare the various medicines
that may be appropriate.
• There are a number of repertories available:

Kent

Boericke

Boenninghausen

Clarke

Barthel
• The standard work that forms the basis of international use in
homeopathic medicine is Kent’s Repertory.
• There are also computer repertories, but it is vital to have a
fundamental knowledge of the book itself before one can
adequately use computerised versions.
• The most commonly used book repertory is Synthesis.
Basic Layout of Rubrics
1.
Time of onset/aggravation /amelioration
of the symptom
2.
Modalities/Causal conditions alphabetically
3.
Location – arranged cranial to caudal,
proximal to distal
4.
Character/type of sensation alphabetically
5.
Extension – the direction of radiation
Type - faces - used
• The medicine(s) listed against each
rubric/sub-rubric are shown in three
different type faces. And shown by
abbreviation.
• The three type faces:
• Bold type = that particular symptom/feature
is a strong/marked feature of that medicine
• Italic type = the symptom/feature is of
moderate strength
• Ordinary type = the symptom/feature is
present but not marked.
Use of type faces in repertorising
• When repertorising, the type faces are used
by way of a scoring system. A number of
rubrics are being analysed that are relevant to
the patient. The medicines present in each
rubric are listed, and they are given a score
for each time they appear according to the
type face present.
– Bold type = scores 3
– Italic type = scores 2 points
– Ordinary type = scores 1 point
Beware!!!!!
• Thus at the end of your
repertorisation/analysis you will have a
total score for each medicine that has
appeared during the procedure. This
does not mean that the medicine that
scored highest is necessarily the
correct medicine for that patient.
• GIGO – Garbage in, Garbage out.
MM Comparison
• Next step is to go to the materia medica and
study the selection of medicine that have
featured most strongly in the repertorisation.
• Only by comparing the materia medica
picture of the medicine with that of the
patient can we decide which is the ‘best fit’.
• Repertorisation is an aid, which directs the
prescriber to the medicines that are most
likely to help the patient.