Repertorization

Repertorization is the systematic process of using a repertory to identify the remedies that best match a patient's totality of symptoms. It translates the qualitative data gathered during case taking into a structured analysis that guides remedy selection.

In Practice

Repertorization typically follows case taking. The practitioner reviews the patient's symptoms and selects the most characteristic ones — those that are striking, peculiar, or particularly individual. Each selected symptom is then located as a rubric in the repertory, and the remedies listed under each rubric are compared across the full set of symptoms.

The process can be performed manually using printed repertories and a grid (historically on paper), but most modern practitioners use digital repertory software. The software displays which remedies appear across the greatest number of selected rubrics and assigns weighted scores based on the grade of each remedy within each rubric. The result is a ranked list of candidate remedies.

Repertorization is an analytical aid, not a mechanical formula. Experienced practitioners understand that the remedy appearing at the top of the repertorization chart is not automatically the correct prescription. The short list must be evaluated against the materia medica to confirm that the full remedy picture — including mental state, generals, and modalities — truly matches the patient. A remedy ranking third in the numerical analysis may prove to be the simillimum once its complete portrait is considered.

Different approaches to repertorization reflect different prescribing philosophies. Some practitioners emphasize mental symptoms and generals (following Kent), while others prioritize pathological rubrics or local symptoms (following Boenninghausen's method). The choice of approach, combined with clinical experience, shapes how rubrics are weighted and interpreted.

Historical Context

The practice of repertorization evolved alongside the repertory itself. Boenninghausen pioneered systematic cross-referencing of symptoms in the 1830s. Kent refined the method in the late 19th century, emphasizing a hierarchy from mental to physical symptoms. The advent of computer software in the 1980s made large-scale repertorization practical for daily clinical use.

Related Terms

• Repertory — the symptom-to-remedy index used in the repertorization process
• Rubric — an individual symptom entry selected during repertorization
• Totality of Symptoms — the complete symptom picture that repertorization seeks to match
• Case Taking — the interview process that provides the raw data for repertorization

Learn More

• Totality of Symptoms — the principle underlying the selection of rubrics for repertorization