Doctrine of Signature: when integrated completes the understanding of therapeutic agent

Abstract
Doctrine of signature is a visual clue provided by God or just a superstition. It has been a debatable topic. Apart from the doctrine of signature, the natural behaviour, toxicological action and physiological action of the substance is also a part of the study to understand the hidden utility of the substance as a therapeutic agent. This article attempts to explore an integrated approach for the complete understanding of the therapeutic agent.
 
Abbreviations:
G.I tract- Gastro Intestinal Tract,
Na- Sodium,
Cl- Chloride,
NaCl- Sodium Chloride,
SOA- Sphere of Action
 
Introduction
The Doctrine of signature, ‘signs of nature’, for long has been considered as visual clue provided by God to the hidden utility of the therapeutic substance. There is no scientific evidence that the shape and colour of plants help to discover its therapeutic utility. Thus, instead of considering only the doctrine of signature, the natural behaviour, physiological action and therapeutic action, gives a better understanding of the therapeutic agent. The final court to ascertain their medicinal powers are to observe those changes of health medicine is capable of producing in the healthy organism.
 
Integrated approach for complete understanding
To have a complete understanding of the therapeutic agent, an example from plant animal and the mineral kingdom is taken; its natural behaviour, physiological action and toxicological action are interpreted and co-related with the evidence available in source books
 
The following table represents remedies from plant, animal and mineral kingdom; in their natural behaviour, physiological action and toxicological action.
 
Tarantula hispanica

Sr. no	Data (biology- natural behaviour, physiology- physiological action, poisoning- toxicological action)	Interpretation derived from the data	Evidence: Source- Book (symptoms- from Materia Medica, Hering’s guiding symptom, Allen’s encyclopedia, Prisma)
A	Natural Behaviour
1	Spider has 8 legs and is in constant motion, Rhythmic	Patients are always restless- rhythmic	The restlessness of hands and legs;
2	Coloration	Fascination for bright colour	Colours dark desire for
3	Strategy for survival –trick and trap	Patients are cunning and deceptive in their behaviour Sensitive to being trapped	Cunning Deceitful
4	Sense organ sharp	Patients hypersensitive – (pain/noise/ touch/ light /vibration)	Hypersensitive
5	Web sticky, others do not come near/ touch	Sensitive to interaction <touch Loneliness	Sensitive to touch
6	Fear of being preyed	Fear- danger, fear- death	Fear dark
B	Toxicology
1	Local irritation-inflammation Skin, G.I Tract Pain, violent-stinging	Inflammation Pain: violent-stinging	Irritation Redness Burning Swelling Pain-stinging type Pain intense
2	Stimulant action Mind and Nervous system-  melancholia, delirium, involuntary movements, hysteria, chorea, convulsion, hyperesthesia, Sexual desire++	Excitability- Mind and Nerves   Depression	Depression Hysteria Delirium Twitching- chorea Convulsion Hyperesthesia Sexual desire ++
3	Paralytic action	Paresis, Paralysis	Paretic condition, paralysis
4	Constriction Circular, cardiac muscle fibre	Angina pectoris	Heart region: pain, constriction, breathlessness
5	Necrosis	Septic condition	Evidence are directly available in source book
6	Destruction-Degeneration Blood, Bone	Haemorrhage Caries	Evidence is directly available in source book

 
Natrium muriaticum

Sr. no	Data	Interpretation	Evidence : Source- Book
A	Natural Behaviour
1	Na belongs to group IA and Cl (Halogen group). Na has only one electron in the outermost shell, hence to complete the octate state it has to give away the electron or share 7 electrons, which it does with Cl to form a NaCl bond. Na+ Cl – [affinity towards Cl]	Independent and dependable. Attachment-Relationship Specific towards a person Fear of being alone	One- to – one attachment   Company desire for, alone agg
B	Physiological
1	Maintains Osmotic pressure, volume and composition of extracellular fluid compartments Electrolyte  and fluid balance	Sphere of action (SOA)- intracellular and extracellular fluid, blood	Dryness of mucous membrane
2	Neuromuscular conductivity	(SOA)Nerves
3	Cardiac rhythmicity and peripheral resistance of blood vessels	(SOA) Heart  & circulation	Palpitation, with faintness
4	Muscle relaxation and contraction	(SOA) Muscles	Contraction of muscles
C	Toxicology
1	Electrolyte imbalance (irritability, increased thirst)	Irritability	Irritability Thirst increased
2	Depression of sensorium (confusion, coma)	Confusion Coma	Confusion Comatose
3	Paralytic action (muscle spasticity , focal deficits)	Paralysis : muscle, tissue, organ	Paretic condition Paralysis
4	Laboured respiration	Breathlessness	Difficult respiration

 
Zincum metallicum

Sr. no	Data	Interpretation	Evidence : Source- Book
A	Physiological action
1	CNS and Mind	Excitement	Hypersensitive – nervous system
2	Skin Helps in protein synthesis and metabolism	Hair growth and wound healing	Effectual in securing rapid healing
3	Blood Increases oxygen affinity of haemoglobin	Impaired- Anemia	Impaired- Anemia
4	Eye :Uveal tract	Deficiency- (keratitis)	Deficiency-Inflammation
5	Ossification	Impaired – growth retardation, osteoporosis	Joint pain
6	Reproductive system Development of secondary sexual character	Deficiency- Inhibits sexual maturation	Sexual neurasthenia
B	Toxicology
1	Stimulant action CNS and Mind	Excitability and Irritability	Irritability, convulsion
2	Paralytic action	Paresis, paralysis	Paralysis , muscular incordination, imbalance
3	GIT Irritation, Inflammation, ulceration	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, gastric ulcer	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain

 
Pulsatilla partensis

Sr. no	Data	Interpretation	Evidence : Source- Book
A	Natural Behaviour
1	Grows in dessert, needs less water	Dryness of mouth and thirst less	Dryness of mouth thirst less
2	Flowers are drooping downwards	Shyness	Timid
3	Flowers are always in a group	Company desires	Company desire for
4	Flowers are delicate so they change direction with a draft of wind	Sensitive Changeability	Impressionable Mood changeable
5	The stem of the flower is delicate and covered with hair like structure to protect it from wind in chilly phase	Sensitive to a draft of air Needs covering in open air	< draft of air Desire open air, covers in open air
B	Toxicology
1	Local irritation Skin, GI tract	Nausea, vomiting diarrhoea	Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea
2	Hypotension Coma	Faintness attack Coma	Faintness Comatose
3	Female genitor-urinary tract Induces abortion, uterine contraction	Abortion Dysmenorrhoea, Metrorrhagia	Abortion tendency to Contraction hourglass

 
The doctrine of signature, natural behaviour, physiological action toxicological action and observation those changes of health the therapeutic agent is capable of producing in the healthy organism gives a complete understanding of the therapeutic agent. Thus, instead of evaluating their role separately and debating about it, an integrated approach must be used.
 
Conclusion
Studying each entity separately and debating about its usefulness might not help us in understanding the complete picture.
Thus, an integrated approach- doctrine of signature, natural behaviour, physiological action, toxicological action and drug proving together gives a complete understanding of the therapeutic agent.
 
 
Bibliography

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