SEMIOTICS OF VISUAL SIGNS IN HOMEOPATHY SIGNS IN ...

SEMIOTICS OF VISUAL
SIGNS IN HOMEOPATHY
GHEORGHE JURJ, MD, DSC
UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA,
ROMANIA
relujurj@gmail.com

Foundations
• Our knowledge of a patient is possible through a
cognitive process mediated by signs.
• Signs are the elementary units in the approach to
any aspect of reality in which a message is
transmitted and received.
H hi i i i i i
• Homeopathic practice is a semiotic process as it
explicitly operates with signs.

Verbal and non verbal signs
• Signs might be verbal (symptoms) or non verbal
(signs).
• Verbal communication makes subjective data
available,
• however it is a complex mode of communication
involving i many factors that may distort the message.

Visual signs
• On the other hand, vision is a primary and
spontaneous channel of communication
• supplying direct evidence (Latin, e-videre, “to see
something as it is”).
• In the principle of “totality of symptoms”, visual
signs have to be an integral part of it.

Aims
• To analyze the role of visual signs in homeopathy
and their specific semiotic structure in correlation to
the codes that lead to possible significations.
• To evaluate the possibility to establish coherence
among the signs and symptoms of the patient.
t

Semiotic model
• The model proposed p includes 4g general steps:
1. Delimitation
2. Decomposition
3. Correlation
4. Reintegration

1. DELIMITATION
Something becomes a sign
when it breaks
continuity
it

Sign is
something
different,
unusual

2. DECOMPOSITION
Decomposition of the signs into
semiotic units along certain axes
This leads to the qualification of
the signs through their components
and relations

E.g.: spatial axis

Where

What

How

3. CORRELATION
3.1 TRANSLATION FROM THE VISUAL TO
WORDS
3.2 BETWEEN HOMEOPATHIC SIGNS
AND CODES OF INTERPRETATION
(REPERTORY RUBRICS; MATERIA
MEDICA)
3.33 CORRELATION TO REMEDIES

Belladona
Congestive red pharynx
Strong bright red color
Dry mucosae

Lachesis
C ti h d
Congestive pharynx and
tonsils, PURPLE
CYANOTIC color

Sulphur iodatum
Suppuration of tonsils
White deposit in crypts
Fibrin deposit
Moderate congestion

Mercurius
Pultaceous tonsils
Grayish secretion
Inflamed, cyanotic pillars
Thick coat of tongue
Toxic aspect

4. REINTEGRATION
THE ANALYZED SIGNS ARE REINTEGRATED TO THE
CONTEXT OF THE TOTALITY OF THE SIGNS
PRESENTED BY THE PATIENT:
PRINCIPLE OF COHERENCE

CONCLUSION
The application of this model results in highly
qualified and individualized visual signs which bring
new elements to reappraise the role of objective signs
in homeopathy.