Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements: Expand The Mind to Greater Insight

Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements interprets the concepts of Jan Scholten into the structure of a repertory. Using the Periodic Table as the foundation, Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements builds on Scholten’s classification of the various stages and series, and gives a detailed view of the consequent remedies.

So what is different about Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements?

Jan Scholten gave the homeopathic world a whole new outlook to prescribing the similimum with the help of the Periodic Table. Borrowing from his clinical experiences, observations and research of many years, he conceptualized a Periodic Table of the Elements, in which he described the characteristics of each Stage and Series, as well as the key features of every element.

This ground-breaking concept opened new vistas in the field of homeopathic prescribing, and with more and more adherents, he consolidated and converted this fascinating concept in the form of a repertory, the Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements.

The most remarkable aspect of Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements is that it seamlessly systematizes the concepts of Scholten into a comprehensive literature that integrates existing data with added observational experience.

The introductory pages of Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements explain the unique arrangement of rubrics into three parts:

• Subject
• Thematic
• Dynamic

The Thematic component represents the Sensation /Phenomenon, whereas the Dynamic Aspect signifies the Modality.

Scholten also puts forward his own exclusive concepts of coding and naming remedies.

• He proposes that in case of animal remedies, the species should be mentioned first, and then the body part used to make the remedy, so that Lac Humanum would become Homo sapiens lac
• Acids should be stated with the name of the anion first and cation later, hence Fluoric Acid would become Acidum fluor whereas
• Mineral remedies should start with 3-letter abbreviations and plants and animals should begin with 4. Isn’t it a great way to see abbreviations differently?

Although Jan Scholten repertory of elements is based on the Periodic Table, few rubrics like ‘Time’, ‘Weather’, ‘Body Sensations’ and ‘Color Preferences’ include remedies from the plant and animal kingdoms as well.

[Scholten ] [General] Time day: 1 pm, 13h, aggravates

[Scholten ] [General] Weather: Weather: Air: Fresh: Aggravates[Scholten ] [Body] Sensation: Boring[Scholten ] [Mind] Nature: Colour preference: 0e, blackUnlike other repertories, the rubrics given in Jan Scholten repertory of elements are not just restricted to the interpretation of particular symptom, but represent a common theme or problem running through the diagnosis of the patient. In this way, Scholten provides a wholesome view or pattern to be discovered and utilized while prescribing.In spite of the fact that Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements is the fruit of Jan Scholten’s clinical experiences, in literature as well as his own practice, the chapter on Generals reflects the concept of Generalization pioneered by Boenninghausen that every remedy has sensations and modalities reflecting on the general level.

Let us take a case…

A 45 year old man comes with complaints of ulcer on the lips and brittleness of nails since 8 years. Taking a detailed life history, the totality that comes up is:

1. Ulcer on the lips- small
2. Brittleness of nails
3. General aggravation from cloudy weather
4. Recurrent dreams of “waves”

On repertorisation from Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements we see:

With this analytical repertory, the remedy coming up is Plumbum muriaticum, a remedy which very few physicians would think about. It makes one think beyond one’s prejudice and concepts and, simultaneously, learn and practice.

In essence, the Jan Scholten Repertory of Elements successfully merges the philosophies of the early stalwarts with the contemporary thinking, concepts and experiences of Jan Scholten, and challenges the accepted wisdom of the homeopath of today to a deeper understanding of homeopathy, minerals and mankind.