In repertorization, what describes rubrics?

• A. Rubrics are the category headings used in repertorization.
• B. Rubrics are the remedies listed under each rubric.
• C. Rubrics are categorical symptom headings used to locate remedy patterns.
• D. Rubrics are the totality of symptoms in the patient.

Answer: (C)

Rubrics in repertorization are the categorical symptom headings that organize the patient’s signs and symptoms into meaningful groups. They are the navigational keys you use to locate remedies that fit a pattern. Each remedy in the repertory is listed under the rubrics that describe its proving symptoms, and by selecting rubrics that match the patient’s totality you identify remedies that cover multiple aspects of the case. The goal is to find remedies that appear under several strongly matched rubrics, indicating a strong correspondence between the remedy’s pattern and the patient’s picture. For example, if the patient has a throbbing headache aggravated by heat and a desire to be in the dark, you’d look at rubrics like “headache, throbbing, aggravated by heat” and “desire to avoid light” to see which remedies are associated with these headings. The rubrics themselves are not remedies, nor the totality of symptoms, but the symptom-based categories that steer the search for the best remedy pattern.