1. By Julius Wambua Homeopath, Acupuncture technician and Nature Cure
Effective Case Taking
By Julius Wambua
Homeopath, Acupuncture technician and Nature Cure

2. Basic Guidelines on Case Taking
Study never ends; know more than your patient!
Make use of internet resources & phone apps
Homeopathic sites to study new articles
Homeopathic mailing lists to learn and discuss cases
Drugs.com to study allopathic drug side-effects and uses
Study diseases & symptoms
Study other support therapies for different diseases
Study more about nutrition and how to apply it
A new remedy every week
Continue studying diseases & physiology

3. Basic Guidelines on Case Taking
Remember the basics don’t get out of fashion.
CLAMS
• Concommitants • Location • Aetiology
• Modalities • Sensations
Generals, Particulars, Mental-Emotional, Rare & Peculiars
Timeline & Aetiology
Environment, Social relationships, Lifestyle, Family History

4. Basic Guidelines on Case Taking
Let the patient talk, then ask after
Don’t just assume the disease just because the patient called it “…”. Confirm for yourself what’s really happening
Don’t get satisfied until you fully understand
Dig, dig, dig until you uncover the aetiology
Keep the repertory open on the main sx’s to get a few hints on more questions to ask

5. Basic Guidelines on Case Taking
Capturing the Aetiology or the Miasm can solve the whole case, so keep at it until you’re satisfied
Past history
TB, Cancer, STD, Hiv?
Surgeries
Family planning
Social history… smoking, alcohol, drugs, sexual
Vaccination history

6. Basic Guidelines on Case Taking
Physical observations are a great help:
Skin
Blood pressure & pulse
Weight
ENT
CAJCOLDD Cyanosis, Anemia, Jaundice, Clubbing, Oedema, Lymphadenopathy, Dyspnea, Dehydration
Lungs
Kidney and Abdominal palpation

7. Basic Guidelines on Case Taking
Constitution
Miasm
Personality
Emotions

8. Basic Guidelines on Case Taking
The 5 C’s of mental outlook or personality traits
Company
Consolation
Confrontation
Contradiction
Criticism
How a person deals with these Cs is a window to their personality.
How do you manage yourself when in … circumstance?

9. Basic Guidelines on Case Taking
6 major emotions
Grief (sorrow, lost love, loneliness)
Anger (irritation, vexation, rage)
Fear (foreboding)
Anxiety (panic, worry)
Humiliation (shame, embarrassment)
Depression (sadness)
Anger, Anxiety, Fear, Depression are most often secondary reactions to a deeper layer.
What are you thinking about when you feel … ?
So what if … happened? What would it matter?

10. Case Taking Guide
What are you treating? (i.e., a chronic or constitutional problem, long-term, or a short-term acute disease?)
What does the patient want to be treated for? (i.e. the CC: chief complaint?)
What is the centre of the case? or What is the key point that this case turns on?
Have you noted a time-line or a history?
What is the aetiology (if any)?
Did you capture the generals: sleep, temperature, appetite & food habits; libido or overall energy?
Did you capture the CLAMS of the major sx: concommitants, location (exact), aetiology, modalities, sensations?
Describe what is happening on the mental level with this patient?
What are the mental /emotional and generals sx related to the disease or pathological state?
What are the mental /emotional and generals sx related to the general personality?

11. Case Taking Guide
Have you uncovered any rare, peculiar or outstanding sx or observations?
Have you made a physical examination of the patient? BP, Cajcold, ENT, organs, etc
Describe what is happening on the physical level with this patient? or What organs or systems are involved? Can you identify the pathology involved. (i.e. what’s the disease?) Have you tried looking it up in clinical books?
Have you taken the symptoms of the disease only, or have you gotten sx of the individual? (e.g.: frequent urination is a diabetes sx, > milk is a ulcer sx. Being irritable, < cold, feeling the bed is hard are sx of the individual)
If the patient has told you a number of confusing sx, which sx are affecting the vital force the most?
If the patient has told you a number of confusing sx, did you ask “which of these pains (sx) disturbs you the most?”
Have you double-underlined critical or important sx, observations or words of the patient throughout the case?
Have you checked or referred to the repertory for further hints to what you must ask the patient?