By Dr. Ajit Kulkarni
MD (Hom)

Resume: Trinity in Universe…Forms of Triplets in Religion, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Music, Art, Psychology, Medicine etc...Trinity in Homoeopathy…Trinity in Analysis, Evaluation and Synthesis…Trinity in Materia medica…Trios as seen in different perceptions…Attributes of trios… Explanations of concepts of trios…Need to widen the concept of trios …Suggestions for the future.

Universe and Dynamics

Universe is one. Creator is one. Life is one. The eternal drama is continued under the rein of the principle of unification. The organizing principle binds, connects, sustains, projects and keeps alive the matter through the diverse forms, the dynamis acting as an animator. This is true for the bio-life where the animate organism continues it drama under Time…Space continuum.

Universe is dynamis. It is in motion. It moves, perpetually. It is never still. It can’t be still. Stillness is death. Universe is alive, constantly. It is timeless, ceaseless, unending and undying!

Dynamis holds the universe. The continuous phenomenon of change, the only constant variable with universe, testifies the dynamis. The primitive life of inanimate beings was for millions of years and then at a certain favorable time, some chemical composition marshaled into matter, infused by bio-energy and life evolved! The animate beings, here and there! The evolution began from unicellular to multicellular, from lower animal species to higher. The human being appeared on the screen as a highly evolved design. Today’s human being carries the wisdom of the centuries in its cells.

Universal phenomenon and Trinity

It is interesting to see how universal phenomenon gets unfolded through the triad, through the trinity. By the way, when we are talking of Universe it is interesting to note that we perceive our universe to have three spatial dimensions and our Earth is the third planet in its local solar system. Egyptians see three as the number of the cosmos. Universe is regarded of three types – matter, astral and spirit. Three stages of matter are solid, liquid and gaseous. Matter is chiefly of three types – vegetable, animal and mineral. Astronomically, there are three main galaxy morphological classifications - Ellipticals. Spirals and Lenticulars. When we talk of matter, may I tell you that atoms consist of three constituents- protons, neutrons and electrons and further, a baryon (including protons and neutrons) consists of three quarks?

The importance of threesome is but basic in biology. Genetic information is encoded in DNA and RNA using a triplet codon system. There are three acts of existence – birth, life and death. Every organism has to pass through the three stages – the entry, the staging and the exit. This drama is ubiquitous and ever continued. A ‘living’ system has three basic properties - metabolism, growth and multiplication. It takes the molecules from the environment, retains and absorbs the materials needed to reconstruct itself and discards and eliminates the waste products. It grows from within and it multiplies from one to two and so on. There is also the triplicate of life, death and rebirth. Every phenomenon occurs under the dimensions of Time and Space. Time represents itself through Past, Present and Future. We record time in three formats- seconds, minutes and hours.

Although we usually think of relating physical space and virtual space in augmented reality, there are in fact three types of space to consider in computer field: Real space, Measured space and Virtual space. Three basic colours are Red, Yellow and Blue. Three Ionic poles are positive, negative and neutral.

Newton's laws of motion consist of three physical laws. They describe the relationship between the forces acting on a body and its motion due to those forces.

Religion and Trinity

The religions – Hindu, Christian and Islam, while elaborating on the concept of evolution, have focused on the TRINITY. The TRIMURTY (English: Three forms) is a concept in Hinduism “in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahma – the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver and Shiva – the destroyer or transformer. These three deities have been called “the Hindu triad” or the “Great Trinity.” In Indian spiritualism, Kundalini has been termed as as energy and 3 channels that transport prana (vital energy )are ida, pingala and sushumna.

In Buddhism, the number three has special importance viz. The Triple Gem - Buddha, Dhamma (Buddha's teaching) and Sangha (the preachers of Dhamma), The Triple Bodhi (ways to understand the end of birth)- Budhu, Pasebudhu, Mahaarahath and Buddhism's three refuges are Trisharana- Buddhan sharanam gacchami, Dhammam sharanam gacchami, Sangham sharanam gacchami. Enlightening words inspired by Buddha are of three types. In the Kaballah, trinity is expressed through male, female and uniting intelligence. In Taosm, the great triad is Heaven, Human and Earth.

Trimurty: Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh

The Christian doctrine of Trinity teaches the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. The doctrine states that God is the Triune God, existing as three persons, as in Greek hypostases, but as one being. The number three in the Christian faith tradition is symbolized by the trinity (Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer) and it means wholeness. 

The ‘Shield of the Trinity’ diagram of traditional western christian symbolism.

Within Islam however, a concept of plurality within God is a denial of monotheism and foreign to the revelation found in Muslim scripture. Qur’an repeatedly and firmly asserts God’s absolute oneness, thus ruling out the possibility of another being sharing his sovereignty or nature. The possible Quranic references to the doctrine of ‘Trinity’ are verses 4:171, 5:73, and 5.116. In Muslim devotional rites, certain formulas are repeated three times and others thirty-three times. A devout Muslim tries to make a pilgrimage to all three holy cities in Islam: Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

Guru Nanak says that creation is divided into three main grand divisions - The first is the 'Region of Truth and Pure Spirit' unmixed with matter. It consists of pure spirit and a subtle form of matter combined in varying degrees. The third region is the division of spirit and matter in its grossest form and is called And.

All religions emphasize that there are three attributes of God - omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.

Music and Trinity

There are three notes in a triad, the basic form of any chord- three keys of music Do, Fa, and Sol. In Indian classical music, three equal repetitions of a rhythmic pattern is a common device called ‘Thiai.’ Root, triton and octave are the three equally spaced notes in music. Roman numeral iii is the median scale degree, chord or diatonic function.

Some trios are well known in music viz. piano trio (piano, violin, cello – a common form found in classical chamber music), power trio (electric guitar, bass guitar, drum kit), jazz (piano, double bass, drums) etc.

Art and Trinity

The three main branches or divisions of abstract art are Abstract Cubism, Abstract Neoplasticism, and Abstract Expressionism.

The 3-dimensional art is an Art in a life seeing way instead of flat; Having, or appearing to have, height, width, and depth.

Three-dimensional art design

Number Three in Mathematics

According to the Chinese, three is a perfect number. Three is often the largest number written with as many lines as the number represents. Three is the first odd prime number and the second smallest prime. It is both the first fermat prime (22n+1) and the first mersenne prime (2n-1), as well as the first lucky prime. A natural number is divisible by three if the sum of its digits in base 10 is divisible by 3; e.g. the number 21 is divisible by three (3 times 7) and the sum of its digits is 2+1 = 3. A triangle is the only figure which, if all endpoints have hinges, will never change its shape unless the sides themselves are bent. 

Rhythmic imbalance and Ill-at-ease

Life itself is a process of rhythm and everyone sings a song of his life in three phases – childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The trinity of life appeals to sing the song in a rhythmic way. When unhealthy music is played and rhythm doesn’t match the transitional phases, it all goes for disease, ill-at-ease presentation. The ill-at-ease depends on three Gunas: Satvam, Rajas, Tamas. The three Gunas underlie action, in the Vedic system of knowledge. The doctrine of Karma is based on Gunas. The preponderance of Rajas and Tamas produces three Doshas: Vat, Pitta and Cough. Once these Doshas are produced, the adaptation to the three seasons: Hot, cold and wet is affected. Overall, it all results in disturbances at three levels: Mental, Physical and Spiritual. The progressive deterioration results in imbalance expressed at three basic activities: Hyper, Hypo and Neutral. The three miasms - Psora, Sycosis and Syphilis are responsible for distorted, perverted activities that tell upon the mental state through changes at emotional and intellectual levels and at physical body at three levels – physiological, pathological and anatomical. The human brain, a mass of pinkish-gray tissue, weighing in at a mere three pounds, is studied with three major divisions - the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. 

Trinity in our daily life

When we apply the concept of three to our daily life, we are astonished to see how much we are in three. A human being has three basic operational fields – family, society and work. As far as family is concerned, many phases of life happen in combinations of three - Son-Father-Mother, Daughter-Father-Mother, Maiden-Mother-Crone etc. Even the concept of office space has three types – commercial office space, Serviced office type and a home office space. As far as sanskaras (virtues) are concerned, we are encouraged to live and act in trinity of faith, hope and charity. We pray God for three things - happiness, tranquility and prosperity. The triplex of thought, word and deed is the sum of the capability of a person. Japanese focus on three treasures – Truth, Courage and Compassion. In the society and in economic guidance, classification is done as lower, middle and higher.

In our communication, we often use ‘yes’ or ‘no’ three times if we want to stick up to our opinion and to lay emphasis on. Our personality has been categorized as aggressive, submissive or assertive. Freud revolutionalized the concept of psychology through his division – id, ego and superego, three parts of the psychic apparatus. Carls Jung contributed three main concepts- The concept of introversion and extraversion, The concept of the complex and The concept of collective unconscious. Hans Eysenck believed just three traits - extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism. Machiavelli says that minds are of three kinds: one is capable of thinking for itself; another is able to understand the thinking of others and a third can neither think for itself nor understand the thinking of others.

According to Peter McWilliams, we each possess a thought pyramid consisting of three major things: THOUGHT, FEELING, ACTION. This gets complicated and difficult to understand but there’s truth in the theory. The three must work together to produce a positive outcome. If one is missing, then the outcome is either negative, not at all or dysfunctional.

Thought-Feeling-Action Pyramid

Trinity in Psychology

Aristotle's three appeals are Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. Ethos - has to do with using ethics to develop credibility. Logos - Is the use of logic. Pathos - Has to do with emotions.

Plato claims to have detected three main sources for motivation within people - Desire to satisfy one’s instincts, Desire for preservation and Desire for understanding and truth. The three divisions are Irrational - that in which one’s cardinal appetites reside. Reflective - using one’s reason, being skilled, calculating or mathematical and Spirit - that in which one’s courage and higher passions reside.

Freud's investigations into internal conflicts of the mind led him to an eventual division of the mind into three parts, three conflicting internal tendencies, the well-known id, ego, and super-ego.

Carl Jung's theory divides the psyche into three parts. The first is the ego, which Jung identifies with the conscious mind. Closely related is the personal unconscious, which includes anything which is not presently conscious, but can be and third the collective unconscious, the reservoir of our experiences as a species

In Metaphysics, mind is comprised of three divisions; the conscious, the subconscious and the superconscious mind each having a unique and equally important duty and purpose to the whole mind.

For Hegel there are three divisions of the philosophy of Spirit/Mind ('Geist') - The Subjective Spirit/Mind - that deals with, among other things, Anthropology and Psychology. The Objective Spirit/Mind - that explores the philosophical questions of Law/Jurisprudence, Moral philosophy, Political philosophy, History and more. The Absolute Spirit/Mind - that explores Fine arts, Religion and Philosophy itself, as the Science of the General.

Though no definitive taxonomy of emotions exists, one categorization proposes three divisions - 'cognitive' versus 'non-cognitive' emotions, instinctual emotions versus cognitive emotions and categorization based on duration: Some emotions occur over a period of seconds (for example, surprise), whereas others can last years (for example, love).

Personality determinants

In Organizational Psychology, several Contemporary Theories of Motivation have been presented. Clayton Alderfer’ ERG Theory holds that there are here groups of core needs – Existence, Relatedness and Growth.

McClelland’s Theory of Needs, on the other hand, proposes three needs – Need for Achievement, Need for Power and Need for Affiliation. Kurt Lewin’s Three-step Model is famous for successful change in organizations- Unfreezing the status quo, Movement to a new state, and Refreezing the new change to make it permanent.

The Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine

These are Jing, Qi and Shen. Jing or Essence, is the source of life and is the most dense of the Three Treasures. Qi gives us the ability to activate and move our bodies and it the most refined Treasure and Shen is the most subtle of the Three Treasures and is the vitality behind Jing and Qi.

Trinity in Homoeopathy

We have surveyed the number three in different fields of life. It is necessary to understand the importance of three in terms of its capacity to express the whole, to express the essence out of the whole; for, essence denotes the whole. Homoeopathy, an out and out holistic therapy can’t remain away from trinity.

The word Trio is applied to Hahnemann, Hering and Bonninghausen who were the pioneers of homoeopathy.

Trio at philosophical level

Three fundamental principles of nature cure are - first, all forms of disease are due to accumulation of waste products and bodily refuse. Second, the body is always striving for the ultimate good of the individual, no matter how ill treated it may be, and that all acute diseases—such as fevers, colds, diarrhoea, skin eruptions of all kinds, inflammations etc. are nothing more than self-initiated attempts on the part of the body to detoxify and the third, the body contains within itself the power of healing, to restore the health, provided right methods are employed to enable it to do so.

The three basic principles on which homoeopathy is based are the Law of similars, the use of a single medicine and minimum dose. This is expressed as Simplex, Simillimum and Minimum. Through these three principles, Hahnemann embraced the nature and embarked upon the healing in a remarkable way keeping at the front the philosophy of non-violence.

The application of basic principles of homoeopathy results in following the fundamental principles of nature cure. Homoeopathic remedies act as immuno-stimulants and help in the process of detoxification. Homoeopathy regards that symptoms are due to organism’s adaptogenic efforts. 

The three suggestions of direction of cure proposed by Dr. Constantine Hering are well known in homoeopathy - "As a patient recovers from a disease, the symptoms move from within outwards, from above downwards and disappear in the reverse order of their appearance".

In homoeopathy we have three types of cases – curable, incurable and palliative and accordingly we have to match the state and vital economy.

The principle of Three-legged stool

This is attributed to the elder Lippe (Dr. Adolph Lippe). He states that while prescribing a remedy, three leading symptoms of that remedy should match the symptoms of the patient. Just as a stool with three legs is more stable than a stool with one leg, a remedy given on the basis of at least three key symptoms is more reliable than that treated with one symptom. Thus, a careful study is required to apply this law. As a matter of fact, the system of key note prescribing is based on the concept of generalization which is reflective of essence.

The three legged stool can be considered from another view. Often a question is asked, “is three legged table stronger than a four legged table?” The answer is that a triangle is the strongest geometric figure. It is not necessarily stronger but it will stand on the ground on all legs when the ground is uneven, unlike a table with more legs. A three legged stool doesn’t not wobble or rock as much as a four legged stool because the three points are the minimum required to define a geometric plane. I understand the three legs as analysis, evaluation and synthesis. The seat is of course “Hot Seat” of homoeopathy (Kaun Banega Crorepati?) on which a homoeopathic physician sits. If the three legs are very weak and uneven and proper balancing has not been done, a 3-legged stool will tip over more easily.

I have a frank opinion about the use of key note symptoms. You can’t sit on a three legged stool for long, it soon results in discomfort. As a homoeopath, I have to ask myself why I am after few key note symptoms only? The science of homoeopathy has widened itself in many fields and it no longer should be practiced on few symptoms only. In a chronic case, I would like to treat my patient from the point of key theme. Key theme concept is deeper and it touches at the level of personality of the patient. It is as if you precisely hit the bull’s eye. Boger’s synoptic key, A Select Homoeopathic MM, Personality profiles of drugs as presented by many authors render the theme in more appealing way. Let us take some examples - Stifled emotions of Sepia, Oneness concept of Hydrogen, Identity crisis of Alumina, Inhibition of Ambra grisea, Fine, Fined and Refined and fragility of Silicea, Venomousness of Lachesis, Corrosiveness of acids etc.

The concept of Monogram: Essence

The concept of Monogram as offered by Dr. Tarkas and then expanded by me can be used for the sake of perceiving the essence of the data. Let us do the exercise of making a monogram of this case.

A female aged 38 years. A diagnosed case of Rheumatoid arthritis. < winter. since 10 years. Eggs and chocolates = eruptions and itching. Varicose veins since 8 years. Recurrent tonsillitis, < winter, since childhood. Recurrent attacks of acidity and gastralgia since 6 years. Distension of abdomen with flatulence. Can’t tolerate cold. Currently, lost 8 kg weight within 3 months. Investigated ----- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Monogram for this case –

Rheumatic. Allergic. Venous. Glandular. Dyspeptic. Cachectic. Cancerous. Chilly.

Few physical generals and mental generals pointed to Ferrum arsenicum which helped this case. It is possible to arrive at group analysis based on monogram. Monogram words are like genetic coding that focus on characters that are unique to the case and that run through and through. It attenuates on pathological generals (Boger approach) and precisely renders what is happening to the tissues, what kind of pattern system has, what kind of behaviour system has, what kind of pre-disposition and disposition system has!

The trinity – monogram, dispositions at mental level and physicals (generals and particulars) will go a long way to fish out the simillimum.

The monogram study at materia medica level is also rewarding. let us take an example of Rhus aromatica. Three words – Diabetic, Tubercular and Atonic render the essence of this remedy. 

In homoeopathy, Principles of intensity and characteristic symptoms are followed at three levels – mind, body and spirit. The parameter for knowing the intensity is again through the principle of generalization. This principle figures out the pattern of consistency the system presents. This pattern can be perceived through ‘n’ number of components of data – gestures, postures, dreams, concomitants, delusions, sensations, miasmatic influence, causative factors at genetic level, at environmental level, the repeated use of the words etc. etc. In Fever totality too, what is most important is Fixed General Totality and Unmodified symptoms. It is the patient who decides which component will assume the crucial and determinant character.

Trinity: Form, Function and Structure

Dr. M. L. Dhawale developed the triangle of Form, Function and Structure. This categorization is very useful in organizing data in respective fields and then to understand it in integration. 

Dr. M. L. Dhawale writes, “Every disease we recognize as a FORM that evolves with Time. FORMS express themselves to us through complaints. Complaints often arise when we are not able to deliver FUNCTION to carry out the work we/our organs are expected to. Disturbance in FUNCTION over a period of time produces a like disturbance in STRUCTURE. This latter aggravates the former. A vicious cycle is thus set up and kept up. Disease thus progresses and is revealed to us in continuous change in the FORM, FUNCTION and STRUCTURE.” 

Trio in Materia medica

Let us peep into the history of trio. The first pioneer who introduced the concept of trio is Dr. S. Hahnemann himself. The first ever but still very influential trio over profession is the Antisporic trio of Sulph-Calc-Lyc of Hahnemann. Read this sentence, “Lyc. ranks with Sulphur and Calcarea in the central trio around which all the rest of the materia medica can be grouped.” This trio has been praised to such an extent that all the remedies of materia medica constantly move like electrons around the nucleus of Sulph-Calc-Lyc. Second trio given by Hahnemann is Camphor-Veratrum album-Cuprum met on Cholera. The third trio of Hahnemann is on Croup- Aconite-Spongia-Hepar sulph. Note that the first trio is about three grand remedies, thoroughly proved and their pathogenesis is adequately known. The second and third trios are on the disease conditions of cholera and croup. Hahnemann mentions here three best remedies for particular disease conditions.

Dr. E. B. Nash was one of the pioneers known for Trio remedies. He gave much importance to trio remedies as he focused on therapeutic study of Materia medica. He gave trios based on his clinical experience. If we read old Materia medicas, we come across many trios being given. Comparatively new literature over remedies gives fewer trios.

What a homoeopath expects from a trio? What is a trio? Is it necessary in practice? Is it a superficial concept or a deep philosophical and practical solution to many difficult cases? These are the questions that bother us.

A simple definition of trio is a group of three remedies that are useful one after the other in a definite order. To exemplify, the famous trio ‘Sulphur-Calcarea-Lycopodium’. This order is indicative of a sequence in terms of (natural) evolution of a disease process. Lycopodium can’t come before Calcarea or Calcarea can’t come before Sulphur.

Some attributes of trio 

· The symptomatology at functional and structural level evolves in a sequential way.

· The careful assessment of the follow-up of a case is the source of trio relations in materia medica.

· The study of a trio is an in-depth study of the remedies through- source, evolution, psycho-clinico-pathological co-relations, remedy relations etc.

· Trio includes many Remedy relations like - complementary, follow-well, analogous, sequential, counterpart, compatible, collateral, antidote, symbiotic, inverted, midway and bridge.

· Trio must contain, in a sequential evolutionary pattern, the more intensified, deeper acting cognate remedies that are capable to allow the system to steer towards the path of recovery.

· There must be a symbiotic relationship existing in the group.

· No remedy in the group should have inimical or incompatible relationship.

· Trio allows us to study the ‘why’ part.

· Trio opens up many new ways of avenues of prescribing.

· Trio helps define the stage in which the patient is stuck. If you know the former and the latter and what is the need of the patient in the current situation, fishing out the simillimum becomes easy.

· Due to trio concept, comparative study of seemingly indicated remedies with their colours and hues is possible.

· Trios can be acute or chronic; It may contain a nosode and nosode’s place is usually at the end.

· Each remedy in the trio partakes properties of the remaining two remedies.

As a matter of fact, when we try to apply all these attributes to the trios described in Materia medica, we find that not all trios could be explained satisfactorily.

Trios of Nash

1. Asthmatic complications – Ars alb – Ipecac - Nat sulph

2. Brain typhus - Apis - Hell - Zinc met

3. Burning pain - Ars alb – Sulph - Phos

4. Condylomata – Thuj-Staph-Nitric acid

5. Delirium – Bell-Stram-Hyos

6. Drooping eyelids -Gels-Caust-Sepia

7. Exhaustion - Ars alb- Muriatic acid-Carbo veg

8. Flatulence – Lyc-Carbo veg-China

9. Fluent coryza - Ars alb-Allium cepa-Merc

10. Glandular remedies – Con-Brom-Carbo animalis

11. Restlessness – Acon- Ars alb-Rhus tox

12. Offensive urine – Sep -Nitric acid-Benzoic acid

13. Pain – Acon-Cham-Coff

14. Pneumonia – Merc-Chel-Kali carb

15. Profuse expectoration – Sang-Kali hydrod-Stann

16. Profuse and purulent (the expectoration) - Hepar -Silicea-Tub

17. Profuse stringy expectoration - Kali bich-Hydrastis - Cocc cacti

18. Sleepiness – Opium-Ant tart-Nux mosch

19. Spasmodic cough – Dros-Ipecec-Cupr met

20. Weakened constitutions – Am carb-Cinchona-Carbo veg

21. Urging and colic – Rheum-Coloc-Jalapa

Kent's Triads

1. Skin (anti-psoric) – Sulphur - Calc carb – Lyc

2. Anti-miasmatic – Sulphur - Merc sol - Thuja

3. Flatulence - Carbo veg – China – Lyc

4. Burning sensation- Ars alb – Phos - Sulph

5. Restlessness – Acon - Ars alb - Rhus tox

6. Pain sensitivity – Acon – Cham - Coff

7. Delirium – Bell – Hyos - Stram

8. Snake remedy trio – Lach – Naja – Crot-hor

9. Cough after pneumonia - Kali iod – Sang - Stann

10. Fear – Acon – Ign - Opium

11. Drowsiness - Ant tart – Opium - Nux mosch

12. Collapse in cholera – Ipecac - Cupr met - Verat alb

13. Grief – Ignatia - Nat mur – Phos acid

14. Rheumatism – Caust - Rhus tox - Sulph

15. Upper lips – Bell - Calc carb - Nat mur

16. Headaches – Glon-Bell-Melilotus

17. Droopy eyelids – Gels – Caust - Sepia

Comments over some Trios

Let me comment over the trio - Fluent coryza - Ars alb-Allium cepa-Merc sol of Nash. It can be accepted that these three remedies can be regarded as best remedies of coryza. But there is always a choice for every homoeopath to select what is the best, given his personal experience and interpretation. (I can give my own trio of coryza- Allium cepa-Arum triph-Sabadilla.) Further, if I try to apply the logic of deeper acting, more intensified, fixed order, evolutionary sequence etc. etc. then the problem crops up. I understand that Arsenic album is deeper acting than Allium cepa. Does Nash want to say that illness begins with Arsenic album, and then the situation worsens and demands Allium cepa and then Merc sol symptoms step in? It may be possible that Merc sol can come at the last when the final target of throat in the form of tonsillitis or pharyngitis sets in. So, many trios are borne out of personal references, preferences and inferences.

The trio on Grief – Ignatia-Nat mur-Phos-acid as given by Kent is, however, acceptable in terms of evolution and magnitude. All have basic melancholic temperament and ailments from grief; further each one has silent grief. Ignatia, Natrum mur and Phos-acid isolate themselves when grieved. So they share a lot in common as cognates. Hence, there is every reason to announce them as a trio. It’s a time tested statement- “Ignatia is useful for the acute stages of grief, Natrum mur for its chronic effects.” Phos-acid has profound grief. It is more pathological. There is paralysis of emotions after grief. Grief can come in many forms- Loss of hair, prostration, can’t eat anymore, loss of weight etc. In serious grief, Phos-acid becomes very indifferent and he doesn’t care anymore about his life. In the evolution Phos-acid shows characters like non-communication, ‘still’ depressiveness, emotional numbness, low energy, slow-in thinking and speaking. This is a furtherance state and aptly fits in the criteria of Trio. It is not just three favourite remedies of grief. There is logic behind it.

Let me address you about Nash trio: Profuse stringy expectoration - Kali bich-Hydrastis - Coccus cacti. It is clear that Nash wants to present his favourite list of three remedies for profuse and stringy discharge. If you want to examine this trio as an irreversible order, the logic goes off. Hydrastis is more for decrepit old people, and hence I will prefer it to be at the last. Even Kali bich is deeper acting than Coccus-cacti. Appropriate trio should be Cocc cacti-Kali bich-Hydrastis. 

Comments over E. A. Farrington’s Trio

Masturbation and excessive venery trio - Nux vom-Sulphur-Calc carb.

The general rubric Masturbation contains Calc for 1 mark, Nux vom for 2 marks and Sulphur for 2 marks. But in the sub-rubric, excessive masturbation, Calc is for 3 marks and there is no mention of Nux vom and Sulphur. How will you explain all these calculations? (Reference: Kent’s Repertory and Synthesis 9.1).

I am interested to know what logic of rigid order and evolution this trio represents. One can intellectualize, pseudo-intellectualize, super-intellectualize, but I fear if it will be figured out adequately.

My list of prominent remedies for masturbation is Bufo rana-Lachesis-Med.

Comments over A. G. Clarke’s Trio

Climacteric trio – Lach – Sepia – Sulph

In this trio, in the middle, there is an extremely chilly remedy and two extremely hot remedies at sides. It can be understood that these are often indicated remedies for climacteric disturbances like hot flushes, DUB, post menopausal depression, anxiety etc. These three remedies have space of their own and they try to maintain their image before others. Have all these considerations any place in this trio? If it is just a collection of three prominent remedies of climaxis, why should I stretch myself? About sequence, anything can happen. A patient of Sepia can present symptoms of Lachesis and then of Sulphur. Or, it may also be possible that chilly Sepia presented herself as a chronic remedy and because of menopause, she became hot and showed herself as Sulphur. But hot flushes and other symptoms didn’t respond to Sulphur and finally she required Lachesis. Possibilities of thinking patterns are diverse and that makes the situation funky for a homoeopath.

Interchangeability in the trio remedies

About the trio, Sulph-Calc-Lyc, the same issue of hot then chilly and again warm blooded comes up. The king of anti-psora (by the way, I have a strong opinion that Sulphur is more tubercular in miasmatic preponderance than psoric, given its lean, thin constitution, voracious appetite but emaciating, every little injury festers, rapid metabolism, destructive disposition, phthisical and cancerous diathesis etc.) comes first as a consequence of suppression of skin or discharge; the condition becomes chronic and sycotic and finally culminates into syphilitic stage where Lycopodium pathology is produced. Recently while searching the old jottings of Dr. Tarkas, I found his views, “The classical trio Sulph-Calc-lyc should rather begin with Calc and end with Sulph; psoric miasm to be removed last. Moreover Calc’s first miasm is already psora; this way too, Calc should take up the beginning”.

Let me introduce the trio Nat-mur-Nat-carb-Aur-met. This trio is at the mind level. It also depicts the evolution of personality, changes in dispositions. Aurums have been termed as intensified Natrums, given their profound grief and suicidal disposition. Natrum mur invests a lot of emotions and energy in others. The heart rules the head and if he sustains disappointment, he is severely hurt and offended. He feels defeated and develops a melancholic temperament. His ego acts as a barrier in maintaining the healthy relations and he goes into the state of self-reproach. His conscience starts biting him and this is the state of Nat-carb. Nat-carb is one of the prominent remedies for conscientious about trifles. The carbonicum element makes him more sensitive (music <, for example) and weak (‘feels stupefied if he tries to exert himself’). He develops misanthropy, starts estranging himself from family and society and drives himself to Aurum met state. Miasmatic evolution from psora-sycosis-syphilis is also represented by the trio.

Let us discuss three remedies – Bar-carb-Bufo-Tarent. Bufo is a bridge between Bar-c. and Tarent. Bufo has the childish immaturity of Bar-carb and the cunning deceitfulness of Tarent. Bar-carb is slow and timid, Bufo reckless, restless and active. Tarent. hyperactive, rather dancing. Bar-c accentuates on glands, Bufo on CNS, Tarent on nerves in “Tarantism” way. It is possible to define this trio of remedies. The evolution is of a definite order. A Bar-carb child develops as a Bufo rana and then as Tarentula hispanica.

Exercise for NJH readers

The writings of Dr. P. I. Tarkas contain many graphs. We have selected two of them for our NJH readers. The readers are requested to explain the trios.

Conclusion

The concept of Trinity is basic to life. The beginning, maintenance and destruction are basic to every phenomenon. Trinity is followed in every field of life. Trinity has a special significance in holism and hence in the holistic science of homoeopathy. The trinity concept should be limited not only to Materia medica. There is a need to define trio remedies. Mere listing of three prominent remedies against a particular disease condition or even a symptom doesn’t make the concept logical and practical. Favouritism should not rule the science. Clinical stages of disease, the requirements that the patient puts across in the evolutionary process have bearing upon the trio concept. The knowledge of remedies with their pathogenetic actions and energy patterns in variable stages are also necessary for successful application of the Trio concept in clinical practice.