In his classic work, The Principles and Art of Cure by Homoeopathy, H. A. Roberts explains a deeply practical concept known as “The Deflected Current.”
This idea addresses a common clinical dilemma:
Why does a well-selected similimum sometimes fail to act?
According to Roberts, whenever the correctly chosen remedy does not produce the expected curative response, the physician must not hastily change the prescription. Instead, he must reinvestigate the case and search for possible obstacles that are interfering with the cure.
Roberts was constantly reflecting on two fundamental questions:
- Why are our results not uniformly satisfactory even after administering the proper similimum?
- Why does the remedy fail to work at times?
After careful study and observation, he identified several obstacles to cure that may deflect the action of the remedy — like a current that is diverted from its natural path.
He classified these obstacles into three major categories:
- Obstacles from the patient’s side
- Obstacles from the physician’s side
- Obstacles from the remedial side
Let us understand each in detail.
1. Obstacles from the Patient’s Side
Sometimes the failure of cure is not due to the remedy, but due to conditions surrounding the patient. These obstacles may deflect the curative current.
1. Advanced Pathological Conditions
When pathology has progressed beyond reversibility, cure becomes impossible. For example, in cases where cancer has metastasized from one organ to another, attempting a radical cure may fail. In such situations, palliation is more appropriate than curative expectation.
Homeopathy works best when vitality is still responsive. In terminal pathology, the scope becomes limited.
2. Mechanical Obstruction
A mechanical obstruction in the body can prevent a remedy from acting.
For instance, a foreign body lodged in the nose or ear of a child may produce symptoms like coryza or earache. No remedy will act effectively unless the obstruction is first removed mechanically.
The rule is simple:
Remove the obstacle first, then prescribe.
3. Psychic Trauma and Emotional Stress
Mental and emotional disturbances can seriously interfere with cure.
Constant anxiety, financial stress, domestic unhappiness, suppressed grief, or emotional trauma may deflect the action of the remedy. Many patients hesitate to disclose personal matters during case-taking. It becomes the physician’s responsibility to gently uncover such hidden stresses.
Even Samuel Hahnemann emphasized that unhappy domestic conditions are highly detrimental to health.
Proper counselling and consolation, along with remedy, may be required.
4. Overuse of Drugs and Suppressions
Frequent use of sedatives, narcotics, painkillers, antidepressants, and other suppressive medications can obstruct cure.
Modern lifestyle habits such as excessive use of cosmetics, deodorants, and even certain chemical exposures may interfere with remedy action.
Dr. Roberts narrates a striking case of persistent cough requiring Coccus cacti. The remedy failed to act until the patient stopped using lipstick. Once discontinued, the cough resolved.
Even minor suppressive influences can deflect the curative current.
5. Improper Diet
Excessive consumption of soft drinks, junk food, stimulants, and chemically processed beverages can retard the action of a homoeopathic remedy.
Dietary discipline supports vitality; without it, the remedy may struggle to act.
6. Lack of Physical Exercise
A sedentary lifestyle weakens vitality. In today’s work-from-home culture, many patients lack adequate physical activity.
Mild to moderate exercise enhances circulation, improves vitality, and allows remedies to act more effectively. Often, simple lifestyle correction restores responsiveness to treatment.
2. Obstacles from the Physician’s Side
Sometimes the failure lies not with the patient, but with the physician.
1. Errors in Remedy, Potency, or Repetition
Selecting the similimum alone is not enough.
A physician may commit three main mistakes:
- Wrong remedy
- Wrong potency
- Incorrect repetition
Any error in these aspects can become an obstacle to cure.
2. Loss of Neutrality During Case-Taking
The physician must remain neutral and unprejudiced.
If he becomes emotionally involved in the patient’s narration, he may lose clarity. Some patients exaggerate symptoms, hoping for stronger medicines. Others emphasize only their most troublesome complaint.
The physician must focus on peculiar, characteristic symptoms — not merely on dramatic narration.
3. Prescribing Only on Keynotes
Prescribing solely on keynote symptoms may temporarily relieve suffering, but it can disturb the totality of symptoms.
Once the original symptom picture is altered improperly, finding the true similimum becomes difficult. Cure requires understanding the totality — not isolated keynotes.
3. Obstacles from the Remedial Side
Even when both patient and physician are correct, the remedy itself may be at fault.
1. Lack of Genuine Medicine
The quality of the medicine is crucial.
Several factors matter:
- Correct identification of the source substance
- Proper preparation according to Hahnemannian principles
- Accurate dynamization
- Standardized dispensing
If any of these steps are faulty, the medicine will fail — no matter how well selected.
2. Poor Drug Proving
Materia medica is built upon drug provings.
Only sincere, careful, and competent provers can produce reliable symptom pictures. If proving is incomplete or poorly conducted, the foundation of prescribing becomes weak.
Without accurate proving, cure becomes uncertain.
The Core Message of “The Deflected Current”
The concept of the Deflected Current teaches humility and vigilance.
When a remedy does not act:
- Do not rush to change it.
- Re-examine the case.
- Search for obstacles.
- Remove them patiently.
Cure is not merely about prescribing the right remedy — it is about ensuring that nothing interferes with its action.
A wise physician constantly asks:
Is something deflecting the curative current?
“The Deflected Current” reminds us that homeopathic failure is rarely accidental. There is usually a reason behind it — whether from the patient, the physician, or the remedy itself.
By carefully identifying and correcting these obstacles, the path to cure becomes clear.
Hope this article helped you understand the concept of the Deflected Current in Homeopathy. If you have any doubts, feel free to ask in the comments below. Follow us on Instagram for more updates.