Therapeutic interaction through metaphor: A textual approach to homeopathy

In semiotic terms, the doctrine of modern western medicine is based on allopathic indexicality: symptoms caused by pathology are cured by interventions concerning primarily the causing pathology & not the symptoms. Contrarily, Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, based his approach to cu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Semiotica 2002-01, Vol.141 (141), p.1-27
Main Authors: KONITZER, Martin, SCHEMM, Wiebke, FREUDENBERG, Nahid, FISCHER, Gisela C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative medicine
Discourse semiotics
Discourse studies
Language
Linguistics
Metaphor
Pathology
Philosophy
Semiotics
Therapy
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Summary:In semiotic terms, the doctrine of modern western medicine is based on allopathic indexicality: symptoms caused by pathology are cured by interventions concerning primarily the causing pathology & not the symptoms. Contrarily, Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, based his approach to curing diseases on the simile. Similarity is indicative of the curative relationship between the symptoms of a disease & the toxic properties of the remedy given in the right dosage to bring about healing effects. A semiotic interpretation of homeopathic medicine is proposed, exploring the usefulness of the concept of metaphor for discussing the homeopathic simile. Leading models of metaphor proposed in linguistic & semiotic literature are surveyed, & a synoptic table is produced of the therapeutic & interactive features of the term "metaphor." Two transcripts (English translations from German) of homeopathic instructions in doctor-patient communication are processed, following A. Strauss's (1987) rules of qualitative social research, to identify metaphorical dimensions in homeopathic consultation. It is found that the model of metaphor aided in clarifying the function of the simile in homeopathic healing practices. The simile carries discursive-interactive characteristics from its determination in the doctor-patient relationship & pharmacosemiotic characteristics as a medicinal preparation. 6 Tables, 1 Figure, 36 References. Z. Dubiel
ISSN:0037-1998
1613-3692
DOI:10.1515/semi.2002.054