Repertory

The definition of the word repertory originates from the Latin word “repertoir,” which means any store or stock, (e.g. of information), that can be drawn upon. “Repertorium,” in French and Latin, means a catalogue or storehouse. Repertoire means a collection or an inventory of capabilities (e. g. songs, plays, music. etc.). In homeopathy the word “repertory” refers to books which are compiled indexes of the Homeopathic and Herbal Materia Medicas.

Referring to his repertory, J. T. Kent said, “It has been built from all sources, and is a compilation of all the useful symptoms recorded in the fundamental works of our Materia Medica, as well as from the notes of our ablest practitioners.”

There have been more than 110 different repertories published as part of homeopathic literature during the last 170 years. The first repertory was created by Samuel Hahnemann which he called a “Symptom Dictionary.” Later, Jahr and Boenninghausen compiled their indexes to the homeopathic materia medica.

In modern terms, the repertory represents the clinical and research database for the practice of homeopathic medicine. The general information contained in these books is derived from history, provings, clinical practice, research, physiology and toxicology.

This edition was designed to be a modern, practical and easy to use clinical guide to the vast homeopathic materia medica. To achieve these goals, a redesigned and upgraded repertory had to be compiled (including a new schema), focusing on filling in the clinical deficiencies and correcting the major flaws found in older repertories.