APPROACHES TO SYMPTOM EVALUATION IN KENT, BOENNINGHAUSEN, BOGER AND SYNTHESIS REPERTORIES: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Author

Richa S.K., A.S. Suman Sankar , Aysha Bushra M., Suryagayathri V., Aarathy V.


Abstract

 Background: Repertorisation is the structural bridge between case-taking and remedy selection; four influential repertories in the development and teaching of homoeopathic repertorisation — Kent's Repertory, Boenninghausen's Therapeutic Pocket Book (TPB), Boger's Synoptic Key, and Schroyens' Synthesis 9.1 — rest on distinct assumptions about which symptoms deserve the most clinical weight.

Objective: To trace the historical and philosophical evolution across these four repertories, with attention to how each author's grading logic shapes the totality that is finally repertorised, and to discuss how these differences may influence the construction and analysis of the repertorial totality. 

Methods: A narrative review was conducted using databases like PubMed, Google Scholar etc and homoeopathy-specific sources, searching for English-language literature published up to September 2026 using terms including "repertorisation," "Kent's repertory," "Boenninghausen," "Boger," "Synthesis repertory," and "symptom grading." Classical repertory texts were consulted directly where accessible; peer-reviewed publications reporting prospective or statistical evaluation of repertorial grading were reviewed in full and prioritised where available.

Results: Kent's hierarchy privileges mental and general symptoms as the chief individualising markers; Boenninghausen builds totality from location, sensation, modality and concomitant through the doctrines of analogy and grand generalisation; Boger synthesises Boenninghausen's four-fold symptom with pathological generals and time/tissue-affinity considerations; Synthesis 9.1 retains Kent's structural skeleton while integrating source-verified additions from the other schools. Prospective studies using Bayesian and likelihood-ratio approaches have identified discrepancies between selected Kent repertory entries and empirically derived symptom–remedy associations. These findings raise questions regarding the reliability of the traditional typeface grading system, although the available studies concern selected rubrics and cannot be extrapolated to the repertory as a whole.¹,²,³.

Conclusion: The four repertories embody differing, historically traceable readings of Hahnemannian totality, and at least one of these readings — Kent's absolute typeface grading — has been empirically questioned in peer-reviewed research; repertory selection based on the characteristics of the presenting case and aware of this evidence, is a matter of clinical judgement rather than mechanical procedure.



Keywords

Repertorisation, Kent's Repertory, Boenninghausen, Boger's Synoptic Key, Synthesis, symptom weighting, likelihood ratio, totality of symptoms



Full Text:

Download Paper PDF


References


  1. Rutten ALB, Stolper CF, Lugten RFG, Barthels RWJM. A Bayesian perspective on the reliability of homoeopathic repertories. Homoeopathy. 2006;95(2):88-93. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2006.01.001
  2. Rutten ALB, Stolper CF, Lugten RF, Barthels RW. Statistical analysis of six repertory rubrics after prospective assessment applying Bayes' theorem. Homoeopathy. 2009;98(1):26-34. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2008.11.012
  3. Koley M, Saha S, Das KD, Roy S, Goenka R, Chowdhury PR, Hait H, Bhattacharyya CK, Sadhukhan SK. Prospective evaluation of few homoeopathic rubrics of Kent's repertory from Bayesian perspective. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2016;21(4):277-81. doi:10.1177/2156587215600561
  4. Schuett K. Repertorisation methods Kent - Boenninghausen - Boger - an overview [Internet]. Hpathy.com; 2008 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://hpathy.com/homoeopathy-repertory/repertorisation-methods-kent-boenninghausen-boger-an-overview/
  5. Synthesis Repertory: Editions, Structure & How to Access It [Internet]. Similia Blog; 2026 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.similia.io/blog/synthesis-repertory-guide
  6. Dr J T Kent and Kent's Repertory – a detailed study [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2022 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/dr-j-t-kent-and-kents-repertory-a-detailed-study/
  7. Kent's Homoeopathic repertory - the magnum opus [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2021 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/kents-homoeopathic-repertory-the-magnum-opus/
  8. Grading of symptoms - James Tyler Kent [Internet]. HomoeopathyBooks.in; 2019 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://homoeopathybooks.in/use-of-the-repertory-by-james-tyler-kent/grading-of-symptoms/
  9. Repertorising - Kent's Repertory - H I Kent [Internet]. Homeopathe International; [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: http://homeoint.org/hidb/kent/repertorising.htm
  10. Kent repertory: use of the repertory [Internet]. Homeoint.org; [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: http://homeoint.org/books/kentrep/kentuserep.htm
  11. A Critical Study on Boenninghausen's Therapeutic Pocket Book [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2022 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/a-critical-study-on-boenninghausens-therapeutic-pocket-book/
  12. Boenninghausen's Therapeutic Pocket Book - Quick Revision [Internet]. Homoeoadda.in; 2018 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homoeoadda.in/content_detail.php?id=42
  13. Akbari DR, Nigwekar AM, Parikh HM. Understanding the evolution of concept of concomitant and grand generalisation as proposed by Boenninghausen using materia medica and justifying its representation in the therapeutic pocket book – an exploratory study. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2025;8:70-9. doi:10.25259/JISH_2_2025
  14. Boenninghausen's Therapeutic Pocket-Book: A New American Edition [Internet]. PMC; [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9717944/
  15. Homoeopathic materia medica in the pre-Boger era – a narrative review. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2023 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://jish-mldtrust.com/homoeopathic-materia-medica-in-the-pre-boger-era-a-narrative-review/
  16. Understanding the application of Boger's concepts while using Boger's Synoptic Key: a case series. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2021 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://jish-mldtrust.com/understanding-the-application-of-bogers-concepts-while-using-bogers-synoptic-key-a-case-series/
  17. Boger Boenninghausen's Characteristics And Repertory (B.B.C.R.) [Internet]. Homoeopathy360; 2020 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homoeopathy360.com/boger-boenninghausens-characteristics-and-repertory-b-b-c-r/
  18. Importance of generalities and supplementary reference table section of Boger's synoptic key in practice [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2022 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/generalities-bogers-synoptic-key
  19. How to study Boger's synoptic key in reference to Kent repertory [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2022 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/how-to-study-bogers-synoptic-key-in-reference-to-kent-repertory/
  20. Review of a Synoptic Key of the Materia Medica by Dr CM Boger [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2021 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/review-of-a-synoptic-key-of-the-materia-medica-by-dr-cm-boger/
  21. History and development of Synthesis Repertory [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2021 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/history-and-development-of-synthesis-repertory/
  22. Synthesis Repertory by Frederik Schroyens - an overview [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2021 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/synthesis-repertory-by-frederik-schroyens-an-overview/
  23. Roberts R. Synthesis, Version 9.1 [book review, 7th edition] [Internet]. Homoeopathic.com; [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://homoeopathic.com/product/synthesis-version-9-1/
  24. Exploration of the Generals Chapter in Synthesis Repertory [Internet]. Homeobook.com; 2025 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.homeobook.com/exploration-of-the-generals-chapter-in-synthesis-repertory/
  25. Repertory renaissance: Dr. Kent's approach vs. Dr. Boger's approach – a comparative retrospective analysis. Int J All Res J. 2025;11(12). Available from: https://www.allresearchjournal.com/archives/2025/vol11issue12/PartD/11-12-101-714.pdf
  26. Harmonizing Philosophies: An In-Depth Exploration Of Homoeopathic Case Management Through The Lenses Of Dr. Boenninghausen, Dr. Kent, And Dr. Boger. STM Journals. 2024 [cited 2026 Sep 20]. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/article/article=2024/view=180440/

 

Share your valuable work from Social Media Buttons