The term “concordance” originates from the Latin word concordare, meaning “harmony” or “state of being of the same heart and mind.” In literature, it also refers to the alphabetical arrangement of important words or terms used by an author or in a book.
In homeopathy, the word concordance was first used by Boenninghausen in the early editions of Therapeutic Pocket Book to describe the relationships among remedies under various subheadings. Later, Allen replaced the term with “relationship of remedies” in his editions to make it more comprehensible.
Concordance Repertory is therefore defined as a repertory where the original symptoms of materia medica are indexed alphabetically, with minimal modification, preserving the original wording and context.
1. Knerr’s Repertory
Introduction
Compiled by Dr. Calvin B. Knerr in 1896, the Repertory of Hering’s Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica contains 408 medicines, with symptoms largely preserved in their original form from Hering’s materia medica.
Features
- Source: Hering’s Guiding Symptoms
- Classification: Follows Hahnemannian anatomical/regional division into 48 chapters
- Symptom Verification Marks:
- Double thick black vertical lines (II): Symptoms repeatedly verified (highest value)
- Single thick black vertical line (I): Symptoms verified by cures
- Two ordinary vertical lines (II): Symptoms more frequently confirmed or strictly matching the remedy’s nature (lowest value)
- Perpendicular dotted line: Marks observation
- T: Toxicological extracts
- Hand symbol: Cross-reference to related symptoms, diseases, or conditions
Classification of Chapters
The repertory is organized organ-wise, starting from Mind & Disposition and ending with Drug Relationships:
| Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Main Rubrics / Pages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mind & Disposition | Abandoned – Zoomagnetic |
| 2 | Sensorium | Confusion, Dizziness, Vertigo |
| 3 | Inner Head | Apoplexy, Headache, Migraine |
| 4 | Outer Head | Dandruff, Hair, Skull, Tumours |
| 5 | Eyes | Accommodation to Vitreous |
| … | … | … |
| 48 | Drug Relationship | Antidotes, Complementary, Similarities |
Note: Chapters 1–34 follow Hahnemannian organ-wise classification; 35–48 include reactions of the whole body, generalities, and relationships.
Use in Practice
- Mainly for reference work, not systematic repertorization
- Can help acute cases by referring to single symptoms in patient language
- Hierarchy for case analysis:
- Temperament, Stages of Life & Constitution
- Mind & Disposition
- Physical generals (appetite, aversions, desires, perspiration, etc.)
- Complaints with special features (modalities, concomitants)
- Tissue affinities – sensations & modalities
2. Gentry’s Concordance Repertory
Introduction
Compiled by William D. Gentry, this is a six-volume concordance repertory where symptoms are arranged alphabetically under each chapter, reflecting the second meaning of “concordance.”
Volumes and Chapters
| Volume | Chapters |
|---|---|
| I | Mind & Disposition, Head & Scalp, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Face |
| II | Mouth, Throat, Stomach, Hypochondria |
| III | Abdomen, Anus, Rectum, Stool, Urine, Male Sexual Organs |
| IV | Uterus & Appendages, Menstruation, Pregnancy, Parturition, Lactation, Mammary Glands |
| V | Voice, Larynx, Trachea, Chest, Lungs, Bronchia, Cough, Heart, Circulation, Chill & Fever, Skin |
| VI | Sleep & Dreams, Neck & Back, Upper & Lower Extremities, Bones & Limbs, Nerves, Generalities & Keynotes |
Features
- Preserves materia medica phraseology
- Multiple references for one symptom, e.g., confusion in head can be found under Head & Scalp and Mind – Thinking
- Covers around 420 medicines
- Primarily a manual for reference, not systematic repertorization
Example Use
A symptom like “Constant dull frontal headache, worse in temples, with aching in umbilicus” can be located quickly due to alphabetical indexing, saving time during case analysis.