Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only. 103

CONTINUING HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL EDUCATION SERVICES

QUARTERLY HOMEOPATHIC DIGEST

VOL. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010

Part I Current Literature Listing

______________________________________________________________________________

Part I of the journal lists the current literature in Homeopathy drawn from the well-known

homeopathic journals published world-over - India, England, Germany, France, Brazil, USA,

etc., - discipline-wise, with brief abstracts/extracts. Readers may refer to the original articles for

detailed study. The full names and addresses of the journals covered by this compilation are

given at the end of Part I. Part II contains selected essays/articles/extracts, while Part III carries

original articles for this journal, Book Reviews, etc.

______________________________________________________________________________

I. PHILOSOPHY

1. LM Potencies, Remedy Reactions, Aggravations

and cure

LITTLE, David (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

The author discusses about recognizing and

managing remedy reactions.

1. A similar aggravation: This results from the too

large dose of the right remedy. Prolonged

aggravation demands intervention in the form of

very small dose of lower potency of the same

remedy. If still uncontrollable, antidote is required.

2. A dissimilar aggravation: New and troublesome

symptoms indicates wrong remedy. Remedy

selection is based on these symptoms and old

symptoms. If Aggravation still persists, antidote.

3. Accessory symptoms: Improvement in some

symptoms and new symptoms indicate partial

Similimum. Recasetaking and a better remedy to

be given. This leads to zig zag path towards cure.

4. A true healing crisis: The cure should follow the

direction of cure. The return of old symptoms

should be gentler and pass off more quickly than

the original incidents.

The major difference between a Řsimilar

aggravationř and a Řhealing crisisř is that an agg. is

controlled by the primary action of the remedy and the

healing crisis is controlled by the secondary curative

response of the Vital Force.

HAHNEMANN pointed out that the order of the

return of old symptoms can be disrupted in the case of

over-drugging, suppression, unnecessary surgical

intervention, etc. It may also be disrupted by an old

local complaint or a one sided pathology that has acted

on the organism for a long time. These may not be

removed until the rest of the health has been recovered

in most other regards.

2. The concept of Miasm Ŕ evolution and present day

perspective

MATHUR Mohit (HOM. 98, 3/2009)

This paper reviews the circumstances in which the

concept of Miasm evolved and how subsequent

developments in medicine have improved our

understanding of the cause of diseases. It concludes

with an emphasis on the need to further refine the

homeopathic concept of disease. [How to refine? How

would the author who seems to integrate Homeopathy

and the Hegemony Medicine consider the high

potencies which are not Řrationalř = KSS.]

3. Psychosomatic Healing

WHITMONT Edward, C. (AJHM. 101, 4/2008)

The efficacy of Homeopathy requires modern

medicine to revise its mechanistic paradigm of the

human body-mind and its physiology. Scientists such

as Sheldrake and Schrödinger have demonstrated that

the reality of shape or organization (i.e., the organizing

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 104

patterns of Nature) supersede the apparent material

reality of matter. This Pattern is equivalent to

relationship or context, which ultimately confers

meaning to existence. ŖMorphicŗ fields are postulated

by Sheldrake to surround each natural system and can

linger as a kind of memory even after the system has

disintegrated. WHITMONT suggests that in the same

manner Disease represents a field, as it were, that must

be reckoned with by the afflicted organism Ŕeither by

shielding against it, succumbing to it, or integrating it,

and in consequence achieving a new Řevolutionaryř

form. The concepts above all stem from the

phenomenon of the infinitesimal dose, which reduces

substance to Řexperimential memory.ř Additionally, the

Law of Similars phenomenon, in revealing the similarity

of form between the patient and remedy, reveal the

implicate order (or meaning) underlying each. Thus

existence is imbued with a sense of meaning. Similarity

is demonstrated as a healing principle not only in

Homeopathy but also in successful psychotherapy.

4. Diagnosis

MOSKOWITZ, Richard (AJHM. 102, 1-2/2009)

The problem with diagnosis centers on the

distinction between illness, which features subjective

elements (symptoms), and Ŗdisease,ŗ which is defined

purely objectively. Diagnosis, the identification of

disease, works very well to explain illness, by situating

it within the accumulated body of pathological

knowledge. It works much less well as a predictor of

illness in the future. Yet medical practice increasingly

focuses on identifying potential disease elements before

the patient is aware of them. These data are inherently

ambiguous and misleading, both by identifying

abnormalities which never materialize as illness (Ŗfalse

positivesŗ), and by failing to detect perceptible signs of

actual illness (Ŗfalse negativesŗ). Above all, they are

dangerous, by inculcating fear, reducing risk to a

statistical calculation, and promoting drastic, irrelevant,

and injurious treatments to Ŗcorrectŗ them.

5. Internal Psora

DIMITRIADIS, George (AJHM. 102, 1/2009)

The author describes the latent and secondary

stages of Psora as identified by Samuel HAHNEMANN

in his book, Chronic Diseases. This is the second in

the (interrupted) series of articles on Psora by George

DIMITRIADIS and is a reprinting (by permission of the

author) of various chapters from his book entitled The

Theory of Chronic Disease According to

HAHNEMANN.

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II. MATERIA MEDICA

1. The Fruit Remedies

DEROUKAKIS Marilena (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

The indications of the following fruit remedies

Musa sapientum (Banana), Fragaria vesca

(Strawberry), Citrus limonum (Lemon), Punica

granatum (Pomegranate) Asimina triloba (Pawpaw),

Amygdala persca (Preach) are discussed and their

differential diagnosis of the more common remedies are

given.

2. The State of Our Materia Medica

Substance Trials and Effects for Homeopathic

Application through the Study of our Primary

Sources

DIMITRIADIS George (AJHM. 101, 4/2008)

Our Materia Medica was born of Hahnemannřs

realization of the only path to discover the singular

effects of therapeutic substances through a methodical

and deliberate process of trials on the healthy, proving,

as they are termed, and such trials undertaken by

HAHNEMANN, and recorded pure, so to speak, form

the very substance for our application of similar.

But even our Pure Materia Medica is inclusive of

data derived through other-than deliberate trials on the

healthy, and this presentation will (briefly) review and

discuss these sources in order to highlight their

limitations and scope, both from a theoretical and

practical perspective. We will also clarify what is

meant by the term proving in relation to our Materia

Medica Ŕ to define and therefrom limit this term to its

originatorřs intention, itself forged upon an

unprecedented, methodical pharmacologic

experimentation and clinical verification. For this

purpose, we must establish a clear definition of terms,

which may best be done through careful examination of

sources Ŕ in this case, HAHNEMANN, whose literary

legacy, fortunately, includes unambiguous and

extensive writings on this very matter.

In the Appendix he has given xerox pictures of our

original Pharmacographic Records Ŕ the so-called

Řsourceř literature.

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III. THERAPEUTICS

1. The smallest car in the world that can fit in a brief

case

BALDOTA, Sudhir (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

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A patient with cold and pain in and around eyes and

poor concentration. Based on series of questions, the

sensation of sudden shrinking and sudden expansion is

elicited. Cactina of cactaceae is prescribed in 30

potency. Three months later, feeling good, no

headaches at all. 7 months later, feeling calmer and

still. No distraction in studies. The remedy was

repeated twice in a year.

2. Cases of: Mentha piperita

MANGIOLAVORI, Massimo (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

Two cases cured by Mentha piperita are presented

which had the following common symptoms.

GI problems

Cold flatus/abdomen.> warmth

Coldness in their bellies

Both bend double to help abdominal pain

Strong appetite. Overeating

Throat problems.

Attentive to personal appearance. Need attention

through their appearance; but donřt want much

intimacy.

Work hard, proud of it.

Strong reaction from loss.

Sleep problems.

Mental dullness; concentration problems.

Themes of the Mint-like Remedies

Narcissism

Ambition

Efficiency

Duty

Extreme pains

Coldness

3. Childhood Ear Infections:

A homeopathic Model for Diagnosis, Treatment

and Research

MOSKOWITZ, Richard (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

Otitis Media has become the most common

paediatric diagnosis in United States and several

medical journals have begun to question the safety of

antibiotics and tympanostomy.

The author summarizes his experience with Otitis

Media in children. Emphasizing diagnosis, treatment,

Prognosis and long term case management.

Although symptoms often recede during treatment,

relapse is common. Critical requirement for success is

to re-educate the parents and develop an alternative

model that works and makes sense.

With significant ear involvement, it is helpful to

remind parents that antibiotic treatment is no more

effective than placebo.

It is imperative to take a careful vaccine history and

to look for familial influences or other factors which

may aggravate.

Chronic or recurrent Otitis is frequently reactivated

by a booster vaccine after a long period of remission.

If the child is not acutely ill, one dose per week of

indicated constitutional remedy, for up to three weeks if

necessary. One or more remedies in hand for acute

flare-ups are suggested. Once this critical phase of

illness is traversed without antibiotics, the rest of the

treatment usually proceeds quite smoothy.

Based on this clinical experience and research

MOSKOWITZ concludes that modern epidemic of

chronic ear disease is attributed in large part to two

public health blunders 1. The war on nasopharyngeal

bacteria, fought with antibiotics, tympanostomy tubes

and systemic cultivation of fear; and 2. The vaccination

of entire populations against a growing list of diseases,

with no end in sight.

The usual complications are resistant strains, super

infection with yeast and other fungi and/or chronic

serous otitis or Řglue earř Ŕ a common cause of

permanent deafness.

4 cases are presented:

1. C.Z., girl of 3 years with recurrent ear infections,

diagnosed by Otoscope. Since the age of 5 or 6

months, typically associated with colds of the

production of thick, green mucus requiring months

of antibiotics. No fever, mild earache. Irritable and

cranky as the cold ended. Teething was late,

painful and difficult.

Calcarea sulph.200 and two months later, best

winter ever with no ear infections and two light

colds that were quickly aborted with Calcarea

sulph.12c. A year later Pulsatilla over phone for

acute episode of wheezing. After a dose of Sulphur

200 for large quantities of chronic, thick greenish

yellow phlegm in her nose and throat, she never

came back. Five years later, upon telephonic

inquiry, she was in excellent health.

2. K.S. a boy of 16 months, with five courses of

antibiotics for ear infections. Perforation of ear

drum with discharge. Slow to nurse, fell behind in

gross motor development, considerable discomfort

with teething. Chronic diarrhea with the start of

antibiotics.

Sulphur 10M. A month later, diarrhea worsened

since a week after medicine. Tº 103ºF on the third

day and no more Řcoldř and ear infections.

Calcarea carbonica 10M. Two months later, had

made good progress developmentally. Had a brief

cold, which subsided with Calcarea carb 12. A

year later Sulphur 10M and no more problems in

the next 5 years. Belladonna was highly effective

for her acute illness.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 106

3. J.L., a girl of six, had frequent ear infections since

the age of five months. Mild acute episodes with

red cheeks, irritable mood. Vulnerable to changes

of weather. After Sulphur 10M, generalized rash

for several days, followed by buyont mood and

more lively energy. Strep-throat in the first follow

up was relieved by Pulsatilla 30X. Two months

later normal ears. Next winter, mild relapse.

Sulphur 10M. No problem in the next nine years.

4. L.P., a girl of ten months with four ear infections

already since the age of two months, when her

mother weaned her. A rash and unusually cranky

behavior on milk-based formula.

With Calcarea carb. 1M, and Chamomilla 30x

acutely. She did quite well with fewer colds and no

acute episodes. Agg. after teething and a booster

MMR.

Lycopodium 10M and then Sulphur 10M a month

later. She did well on infrequent doses of Sulphur

in the next 9 years with their parents separation,

relapse whenever she stayed with father, who let

her eat dairy products and gave her full quota of

vaccines and antibiotics.

4. A case of Aether: Birthing New Life

BURCH, Melisa (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

Five year old boy with undescended testis and

recent problems at school after he was reprimanded.

Terrified of school, clings, obsessive. Kicks when

upset. Sensitive to everything. Loves Nature and being

outside. Special relationship with Jesus and Angels.

His mother when discussing about his birth conveyed

the idea of blocked and trapped. The main feeling

elicited is feeling blocked and unable to finish things.

This and the symptom of seeing angels Ŕ indicated a

hydrocarbon and Aether fit the bill. Aether 200 for

mother and Aether 30 for the son.

The boy improved within three weeks of medicines.

Three months later a dose of 1M and testicles began to

descend and by the time of scheduled operation to the

surprise of both his parents and doctors they had

completely descended.

Over this period of time, mother also experienced

significant improvement with her menses, Migraines,

PMS, Heart palpitations, and began to make friends as

well.

8 months later, deterioration due to the negative

remarks of his grandmother and was diagnosed with

Touretteřs syndrome.

He had recurring nightmares about witches and

dangerous animals. Developed convulsions and

twitching. Aether 10M. He became worse. Next day

Aether 50M. It worked almost immediately.

Twitching and convulsions ceased rather rapidly and

quite dramatically.

He improved in the next seven months and then tics

relapsed. 50M repeated and no more symptoms in the

next 17 months. [Notwithstanding the fact that the

patient improved, this is not Hahnemannřs

Homeopathy but Rajan Sankaranřs. Where is the

ŘProvingř of Aether? = KSS.]

5. ŖI canřt Talkŗ Ŕ A case of Mental Confusion

OLSEN, Steve (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

46 year-old bachelor, shy, who could not speak at

all since few days. He was in a Christian study group

and they noticed that since few months he was having

more and more difficulty in reading and speaking

Helleborus 30, helped him for a day only.

Accompanying Pastor told that his parents gave him for

adoption and rejected him.

Baryta sulph, Alumina, Merc. vivus did not help

him. The author diagnosed this as severe sensorial

depression. Based on his proving of Taxus brevifolia, a

dose of 30 was given.

A week later, he was able to speak, think clearly

and his thoughts faster, able to record and understand.

Few more doses of Taxus 30, in the next year and then a

dose of 200. More sociable overall.

Proving symptoms of Taxus brevifolia:

Cloudy Detachment and Isolation

I feel separated from people, isolated, and

indifferent. A feeling of being detached, daydreaming.

(P1)

I just want to sit and observe. (P1)

Aversion to talk to people. I wish the customers of

my shop would go away. I think they are silly. (P2)

I feel that I am not in reality, like I am asleep in my

mind, a dreamy foggy feeling. My mind feels slow. I

want to sleep more, and be alone. (P2)

A major effort to pay attention to things. I zone out

in conversations. (P1)

My mind is in a haze, and I want to avoid things.

(P1)

Starting to feel the sleepiness again, mind fuzzy,

and a feeling of detachment. (P1)

I find I make dull responses at work, and I wanted

to go to sleep. I feel cloudy, foggy, and a misty feeling

in my mind. Things seem unclear. (P2)

I am still mentally sleepy, cloudy, and have foggy

feeling. (P2)

Two and a half-hours later noted a new symptom:

mind feels fuzy. Not able to engage completely in

conversation. (P1)

After third dose: headache continued, mental clarity

comes and goes. (P1)

Very hard to be self-reflective. (P1)

Of note was a feeling to want death to come, to

release me from the misery of this life. A sense that

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death was Ŗsweet and restful.ŗ A liberation as

expressed by the words of the swanřs Song: ŖOh death

come close mine eyes.ŗ Death feels like a sentimental

longing. It would be okay to die, to go to sleep and

never wake up.(P1)

Sleepy with Low Energy

Not enough energy to joke around. (P1)

I feel I could sleep all the time, or at any time. I

want to take more naps. (P1)

At supper I found myself nodding off to sleep. (P2)

Generally tired and more loss of energy. (P2)

I felt extremely sleepy when taking the remedy Ŕ

this is unusual for me. I kept wanting to nod off. Desire

to go to sleep while driving Ŕ I was generally more

tired. (P2)

All evening I am nodding off to sleep while

listening to a lecture. (P2)

Irritability With People

Aversion to have any demands. (P1)

I found I was not thinking nicely of people. People

were demanding too much and I didnřt want to answer

any questions. (P2)

My body feels uncomfortable. I donřt want to be

bothered by anything. (P1)

Depression

I feel a down mood, depressed,. Listless; the whole

world is too much. (P1)

Slowness of Mind

Summary of what I experienced:

While taking the remedy, 5 doses in all of the 30c, I

felt more withdrawn in general. I wanted to be left

alone, and to be quiet. My mind was in a fog, and my

thoughts were unclear. My responses were slow, dull,

and I wanted to sleep all the time. (P2)

Conclusion: Taxus brevifolia is a remedy that is often

needed for cases of severe sensorial depression. I have

used it for children and for adults who could never learn

to read. This is the first case I have used it for loss in

the ability to speak.

6. Handle Hay Fever with courage

Modern-Classical-Practical prescribing

The Methodology of Hay Fever Treatment

BANERJEA, Subrata. K. (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

Acute stage

Acute stage manifests sneezing, itching of the nose,

eyes, palate, profuse coryza etc. In this stage medicines

having pronounced action on main symptoms to give

immediate relief are given.

Gradually the Conventional Medication can be

withdrawn/deferred.

In drug dependent cases, where symptoms are

meager, organopathic remedies alleviate to certain

extent. After weaning off the drugs, uncontaminated

symptoms of natural disease will surface and enable

constitutional prescribing.

Indications for Ambrosia, Arundo, Linum

usitatissimum, Phleum pretense, Rosa damascene and

Skoorkum chuck are tabulated. Also for Allium cepa,

Ars. iod., Dulcamara, Lac-can, Sabadilla and Wyethia.

The chronic latent stage of Hay fever is generally a

manifestation of trimiasmatic with tubercular

preponderance and so treated by antimiasmatic

remedies.

7. A case of Aspergerřs Syndrome

SHANNON, Tim. (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

Joey, 5 years, diagnosed with Aspergerřs Syndrome

having difficult transitions, isolating himself from peers.

Biting, hitting and kicking, distractable attention span.

Fear of the dark. Contrary behavior, restless physically,

wetting his pants during the day.

Following Massimo MANGIALAVORIřs family

analysis Solanaceae was arrived at and Stramonium was

given. Some good response for some months. Case

was reconsidered was given Mandragora 30.

Three months later, amazing transition. He is calm,

not freaking out, sleeping well with no fear. Violence

much less. Another dose during relapse. In the next

one year few more doses during relapse and then a dose

of 200 and continues to do well.

8. Atopic Dermatitis in a young boy

TESSLER, Neil (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

A young Indo-Canadian man with unremitting

Eczema of face and body. Mistakes in speech, mild

retardation in the Autism spectrum with petit mal

Řabsencesř. Fear that brothers may hurt him. Kali

bromatum 1M brought a rapid and dramatic

amelioration of his Eczema.

Another case of severe Eczema in an Indo-

Canadian boy that two years of treatment failed to

improve. Intelligent yet underperforming at school. By

putting him on a single liquid nutritional product

containing essential fatty acids, whey protein isolate and

other nutrients, his Eczema disappeared in a week and

improved his stamina and school performance.

John, 10 months, with Eczema on face and limbs

and mild Asthma. Bloating and gas from dairy. Severe

itching at night. Drools in sleep. Irritable on waking.

Rhus tox 12 daily for 3 days. Skin appeared less

inflamed and no further improvement in the next one

year.

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Temper tantrums when he doesnřt get what he

wants. Based on the history of craving for sugar of his

father Saccharum album 200 was given and the Eczema

dwindled to about five percent of its original form.

Then two more doses of 1M and 10M in the next one

year.

9. Individualized homeopathic treatment of

dermatological complaints in a public outpatient

clinic

PRIVEN Silvia Waisse, JURJ Gheorghe,

THOMAZ Luciana Costa Lima, TIERNO Simone

Almeida, FILHO Walter Labonia, SOS Andrea &

De SOUZA Maria Felicidade (HOM. 98, 3/2009)

This study sought to assess the effectiveness of

individualized homeopathic treatment on

dermatological complaints in a public outpatient clinic.

Methods: Children and adults spontaneously seeking

for homeopathic treatment for dermatological

complaints were prescribed single individualized

remedies and followed up for a minimum of 3 months;

assessment was clinical and recorded graphically.

Results: Forty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria.

Outcomes were positive (59%); no effect (4%); drop-

out(37%), from which 6% was due to homeopathic

aggravation. No manifestations of suppression were

observed.

Conclusions: Outcome studies are useful to point out

to the effectiveness of individualized homeopathic

treatment in dermatological complaints. Outcomes

suggest that actions focusing on pathological categories

do not lead to homeopathic suppression.

10. Homeopathic treatment in resistant livedoid

vasculopathy: case report

PRIVEN Silvia Waisse, JURJ Gheorghe,

THOMAZ Luciana Costa Lima, TIERNO Simone

Almeida, FILHO WALTER Labonia & BRADIA

SOS Andrea (HOM. 98, 3/2009)

This paper describes the successful outcome of

homeopathic treatment in a case of resistant livedoid

vasculopathy (LV). LV is a rare disease characterized

by chronic recurrent and painful ulceration of the lower

limbs, frequently associated to atrophie blanche (AB),

probably due to procoagulant conditions. Most

literature reports single or very few cases; response to

treatment is difficult, even resistant. This patient

suffered LV for 7 years before seeking homeopathic

treatment; ulcers recurred frequently, at intervals less

than 3 months, in spite of continual use of

pentoxyfilline. Configuration of signs and symptoms

strongly pointed out to the prescription of homeopathic

remedy Sepia succus that promptly elicited significant

improvement of LV and the patientřs overall state (non

suppressive treatment). Considerations are made on the

value of single case reports and the reliability of

prescriptions grounded on consistent signs and

coherence among the manifold features of individual

disease.

11. When the diagnosis is Multiple Sclerosis….

Homeopathy offers Hope & Help

ROTHENBERG, Amy (HT. 29, 3/2009).

College student with MS stays active and healthy,

with ongoing support from her homeopath.

18 year-old Robin, diagnosed with M.S. having

numbness and weakness in her limbs and also interstitial

cystitis and troubling tics in and around her eyes Ŕ since

a year. Robinřs attitude towards her illness was

positive. She had put a fair amount of stress on herself

in being competitive academically and at sports.

History of Eczema and acne. All her symptoms

worse in warm weather. Felt best on a cool, crisp day.

Sensitive and anxious. Agaricus 30 Ŕ one dose and

suggested meditation and yoga classes.

Two months later, much better. Bladder symptoms

disappeared. Neurological symptoms also abated.

Five months later relapse. Agaricus 200. In the

next three years, a dose of Agaricus whenever there

were mild flare-ups. She decided upon important career

change. She took up nursing instead of medicine which

involves stress of longer academic program. This

reflected a deeper understanding of her sensitivities and

genetic inheritance and a healthy decision for her.

Researcher Roy SWANK, developed a balanced

diet that is low in animal and saturated fats. This

lessened the MS attacks or exacerbations.

www.swankmsdiet.org.

12. Homeopathic help for childhood growth Problems

GOLSHANI, Amber (HT. 29, 3/2009)

Bud, 6 year-old boy was suffering with Idiopathic

short stature (ISS) with no hormonal deficiency. The

treatment involves daily injections of growth hormones

for 4 Ŕ 6 years, costing around $18,000 to 36,000, rarely

covered by Insurance.

Large stool on alternate days, concerned about

cleanliness of hands. Strong sensitivity to bad odors,

but not bothered by his own odors. Dry, itchy cradle

cap in infancy. Hunger at 11a.m. Sulphur 200. Grown

taller by an inch in the next one month. Daily normal

stools. More acute sense of smell. Over the next year,

few more doses of 200 and a dose of 1M. Grown 3

inches taller. Sensitive to bad odors reduced.

William, toddler of 16 months had stopped growing

since a year. He enjoyed deliberately breaking things

and also throwing things. Stubborn. He slept with his

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 109

face buried in the pillow and rear end up in the air

Craving for eggs. Restless. Recently started banging

his head against walls. Tuberculinum 200. Gained 1¾

pounds and grown ¾ inch taller in the next one month.

He was mellower and less mischievous. Three months

later relapse and Tuberculinum 200 one dose and then 4

months later, a dose of 1M. In 9 months of treatment

he has grown 2¾ inches and gained 3 pounds.

13. The boy who stopped growing

KHANEJA, Seema (HT. 29, 3/2009)

9 month-old Joey, had not grown in the past 3

months and classified as Ŗfailure to thriveŗ (FTT). The

only possible stressor was his being in day care for few

hours on just few days a week since 2 months. He cried

while he was in day care and was clingy with mother at

home. Serious expression on his face. Hated sunlight.

Blisters on tongue. Had a severe diaper rash and

hydrocele which subsided on their own. Natrum

muriaticum 200. Few weeks later, had gained 1 pound

and grown ½ an inch, crying less and better in day care.

In the next few months, one more dose 200. Five

months later, night terrors, craving for cold drinks, ice.

Diaper rash returned. Again banging his head.

Medorrhinum 200. In the next three years no problems.

14. Secrets of a fitness expert …

Hereřs the best way to heal and prevent injuries, get

back in the game

THOMAS, Emlyn (HT. 29, 3/2009)

Twenty years ago, the author, while skiing in

Austria, injured his knee and damaged medial meniscus

and a tear in the ligament. Movements were painful.

Doctors recommended painkillers, pressure bandages

and crutches for 6 weeks. While bandaging the nurse

suggested Ruta graveolens, three tablets a day. Next

day pain stopped, pressure bandage stayed off, crutches

not used. Three days later started running gingerly and

was playing rugby in 2 weeks. Found a book on

Homeopathy and began a journey that has not yet

finished.

In his experience, Ruta aids the recovery of any

injury whether from trauma or overuse that involves

connective tissues like tendons, cartilage and

periosteum. Acts on all joints. Deep bruised sensation

and stiffness or lameness of the joint worse from cold,

lying, sitting and exertion and better from warmth are its

indications.

1. A rugby player with knee pain after every training

session and game. His physio gave a bleak

diagnosis suggesting surgery with uncertain

outcome. Ruta 30, 4 tablets b.d. for 2 days. Arnica

30 before and after training and playing. No more

pain and he went on to play for the England team

that won the world cup.

2. William 40, active mountaineer, rock climber and

skier. To keep fit, plays badminton once a week.

While stretching for a stroke, partial tear of tendo

achilles and was suggested restorative surgery with

a long recovery period. Arnica 200, 2 doses,

followed by Ruta o.d. for 3 days and then

Symphytum 30 o.d. for 7 days. In 6 weeks walking

without support, and in next four weeks returned to

full activity.

3. Lydia, early 40s, equestrian had a fall and fracture

of femur 3 months ago. Despite treatment bone

ends were not fusing. She reported she was well

otherwise. Arnica 200, 2 doses. Symphytum 30

o.d. for 14 days. Then again for 14 days after a

weekřs gap. Six weeks later, happily reported that

fracture was resolving and walking comfortably

and riding horses again.

Symphytum is useful for torn Achilles tendons, as

well as for meniscus damage and ligament tears in the

knee. It can also help with vertebral fractures,

degeneration of the spine and for trauma or blows to

eyeball and socket.

15. Hereřs help for Golfers, Racquet players and

Gardeners

Over use injuries and tendonitis

(HT. 29, 3/2009)

Tendonitis is often the result of over-using and

repeatedly stressing a joint. Common symptom is pain

around the elbow - toward the outside for tennis elbow Ŕ

when picking things up and toward the inside for golf

elbow when gripping things or shaking hands.

Arnica is a great preventive for intense overuse

injury. Lachesis, Nat.sulph., Rhus tox or Ruta might be

indicated in individual cases.

16. Thrills & Spills

CASTRO, Miranda (HT. 29, 4/2009)

Wonderful, exciting things can be stressful too!

Homeopathic remedy helped to set them back on an

even keel.

Rena was in labour for 12 long hours without

necessary dilatation of cervix with painful irregular

contractions. She was desperate for a natural childbirth.

She had been an exhilarated bundle of fun all day,

except during the painful contractions when she

shrieked. After Coffea 200, she calmed down and

relaxed. Back pain eased and regular contractions. In

an hour the cervix started softening and dilating and

delivered a healthy boy.

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Six year old Marjorie was sick with fever, chills

and sore throat. Lethargic just wanted to sit and close

down his eyes. For a week before there was too much

excitement for his 6

birthday. Had eaten lot of fast

foods, less hours of sleep. On the party day lot of candy

and cake.

After Nux vomica 30, he fell in to a deep sleep for 4

hours. Woke up and asked for a bowl of fruit salad.

After the second dose, brightened up, watched T.V. and

then slept for 12 hours woke up just fine next day.

14 year-old bubbly Emily was exhausted physically

and mentally after exerting much for her schoolřs

annual holiday musical and received tremendous

acclaim. Excitement kept her awake in the nights

leading up to the play and after that she couldnřt relax

Kali phosphoricum 30, 3 times a day for 2 days. By 2

day she was better and by third day, back to her

sparkles.

17. ŘTis the Season to Jolly!

Ailments from …joy?

JEROME, Ann. E. (HT. 29, 4/2009)

Joy is a form of excitement and may have

physiological repercussions such as accelerated pulse,

shallow breathing and elevated Blood pressure. These

can lead to problems in sensitive individuals or people

with underlying problems.

The indications for Aconite, Causticum, Coffea,

Crocus, Pulsatilla, Cyclamen are discussed.

18. Real food is Real Medicine

How Diet supports homeopathic treatment

Diabetic says goodbye to twice-daily insulin shots

and laundry list of drugs

DELANEY, Susan (HT. 29, 4/2009)

In our fast paced, modern-era, diet and lifestyle

issues have become increasingly complex. As a society,

we have grown fatter, sicker and more prone to a pill for

every ailment.

Homeopathic treatment Ŕ used in combination with

healthy lifestyle changes, a diet of real food and food

based nutritive supplements can be a powerful way for

practitioners to address the complex health problems

being seen in the clinic.

54 year-old deputy sheriff, Hanet Smith with her

diabetes and cholesterol spiraling out of control despite

numerous drugs and Insulin shots. She was also under

medication for high B.P., anxiety, depression and

gastric reflux.

She was sensitive, caring, feeling lonely and

unhappy in her marriage but lacked the strength and

determination to leave her husband. Weeps easily,

changeable moods. Worse in hot weather and sleeps

with open windows. Fatigue. Pulsatilla 1M with strict

dietary advice. Nothing made with flour, walking 20

minutes daily. Turn off T.V. for one month and instead

listen to radio or to music and read books or magazines

and nutritional supplements.

A week later, renewed energy and well-being and

no need of evening shot of Insulin.

Three weeks later, more dramatic improvement.

No need of even morning shot of Insulin. Blood

pressure returned to normal. Lost 10 pounds. No

gastric reflux. Now walking 30 Ŕ 40 minutes daily.

Six weeks later, depressed and lack of energy.

Pulsatilla 1M. Within three days feeling well.

Three months later, she had discontinued all her

Blood pressure, Cholesterol and diabetic medications

with the prescribing doctorsř blessings. In the next two

years her health has improved in many ways and lighter

by 30 pounds, on occasional doses of Pulsatilla.

The dramatic progress was clearly due to her

extreme compliance of recommendations along with the

support of homeopathic medicine.

Many unhealthy lifestyle patterns seem to be tied to

issues of self esteem and feelings of worthlessness and

despair. Why people try to change, they bump into

these emotions and they try to cover up, rather than to

deal with them. At these times, right homeopathic

remedy can do wonders to help in healing process Ŕ

improving a personřs outlook, giving them more

motivation and smoothing the way for positive lifestyle

changes. [Let all colleagues note this instead of seeking

an alternative medicine to Insulin = KSS].

19. You are what you Eat?!

Four stories of healing with diet and homeopathy:

Hypertension, Eczema, Liver disease, Arthritis

DOOLEY, Timothy (HT. 29, 4/2009)

Diet is the simplest way to purify the blood and

raise its vitality. A simple nutritional diet encourages

detoxification through the liver, kidneys and intestines.

The simple natural health modalities of diet and fasting

are not suppressive and often aid homeopathic

prescribing through the resolution of confusing

superficial symptoms.

Four cases are presented where diet and

homeopathic medicines resolved the problems.

20. Heading off the Misery of Migraines

After 40 years of suffering, this teacher gets her life

back!

ROTHENBERG, Amy (HT. 29, 4/2009)

Linda, 58 year-old teacher, was suffering with

migraines for more than 40 years Ŕ mostly

premenstrual, but worsened after menopause. Also mild

inflammation of joints, chronic constipation and

insomnia due to worry. Chilly and tends to sweat

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 111

easily. Difficulty in losing extra weight. Stressed with

difficult financial situation. Calcarea carbonica 12c

daily and herb Butterbur with Vitamin B complex. Six

weeks later, only once Migraine. Feeling good overall.

Sleeping better. No joint discomfort. Normal easy

bowel movements. Same treatment plan. Two months

later, no Migraines.

1. In the next several months, due to stress again

relapse. Calcarea carbonica 200. Two months

later, better overall.

Over the ensuing years, she made good progress

and especially during times of stress, benefitted from

additional doses.

21. Miracle for a Migraine Sufferer

No more trips to the ER, no more vomiting, no

more pain?

KRAFT, Andrea (HT. 29, 4/2009)

Becky, 26, Environmental consultant with Migraine

since 4 years. overwhelmed with stresses of work and

school. Migraines in the morning, even waking her.

Sudden sharp pain with waves of nausea and dehydrated

by vomiting every 2 weeks. Perfectionist, restless,

amel. by vigorous exercise. Cold & thirsty.

Arsenicum 30 one dose. Six weeks later no

Migraines. No irritability. Relapse 8 months later, due

to the use of vicks inhaler. Amel. by another dose of

Arsenicum 30. No more Migraines.

22. From Savage to Civil: A Dramatic Case of

Tarentula hispanica

ROBINSON Karl (AJHM. 101, 4/2008)

A case of a hyperactive child with behavior

disorder is presented. The patientřs characteristics Ŕ

hyperactivity, violent anger, destructiveness, cunning,

love of music, and feigning illness Ŕ all pointed to

Tarentula hispanica, which was prescribed in two 200C

doses. The transformative effect was profoundly

positive, demonstrating the powerful and incomparable

effects homeopathic medicine is capable of producing

in ADHD children.

23. Barberry and the Treatment of Sexual Trauma

LANGE Andrew (AJHM. 101, 4/2008)

(A chapter excerpted from his book entitled

Getting at the Root: Treating the Deepest Source

of Disease) Full article in Part II.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly in

response to past sexual abuse, is far more prevalent in

todayřs society than is commonly acknowledged. Many

patients suffering the consequences of such trauma,

particularly those presenting with genitourinary and/or

biliary (and arthritic, with wandering pains) symptoms

and who are prone to emotional suppression and

secretiveness, will find an impressive balm in Berberis

vulgaris. Many homeopaths are unaware of this

association; here Dr. LANGE makes his case for

considering Berberis a major remedy for this condition.

Two impressive cases are presented, one of multiple

personality disorder and another with presumed biliary

obstruction.

24. A Case of Severe Fibromyalgia and Gastroparesis

SALTZMAN Susanne (AJHM. 101, 4/2008)

A case of Fibromyalgia and Gastroparesis is

reported; the patient also had a history of having

suffered physical and sexual abuse as a child, leaving

her emotionally flat and distant. She had a Řfrozen,ř

staring expression that Dr. SALTZMAN has come to

realize after extensive clinical experience as consistent

with the remedy Papaver somniferum, especially when

the past history contains a frightful experience, be it an

abusive past or, as in the case of many children sheřs

seen, surgical trauma. Other Papaver somniferum

characteristics are a dissociated or numb state, mental

fogginess, high tolerance to pain, inordinate sleepiness.

25. Eine Rückschau über 20 Jahre Krebstherapie in

eigener Praxis und 10 Jahre in der Clinic Santa

Croce und Ausblicke in die Zukunft

(Looking back over 20 years own practice and 10

years in the Hospital at Santa Croce and look into

the future)

SPINEDI Dario (ZKH. 52, 3/2008)

Looking back at his past 20 years practice and since

10 years in the hospital at Santa Croce, with regard to

the treatment of Cancer, the author discusses 14 cases.

Dr. SPINEDI recalls the past (and some present

too) masters who have made great mark in

homeopathic treatment of Cancer Ŕ Eli JONES,

BURNETT, CLARKE COOPER, GRIMMER,

SCHLEGEL, CARLETON BARTHEL, Farook

MASTER, Drs. PAREEK and several others. The

following rules lead to success:

The Similie Rule

The proving on the Healthy

The preparation of high potencies

The discovery of the Q (50-millesimal) potency

Kentřs scale

The right technique of anamnesis

The exact dosage

The homeopathic aggravation

The second prescription

The long-term follow-up

These are the basis for cure of chronic ailments

including Cancer. Cancer is a special disease.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 112

Drs. PAREEK of Agra (India) run a Hospital where

Homeopathy is exclusively used and surgery where

needed is one of the best and the Pareeks are the most

experienced as far as Cancer is considered including the

most difficult cases. From them we learn of the use of

organotropic medicines often at the bed side in

advanced Cancer cases. The work at Santa Croce is

synthesis of the best from all over the world. We must

be grateful to all the masters whose fruits we now have

and we have to work to obtain the maximum results.

Fifteen cases are briefly given:

1. Ewing-Sarcoma of the left shoulder in a 23 year-old

man.

2. Malignant inoperable Coccyx teratoma with

multiple and Liver metastasis.

3. Inoperable Uterus Sarcoma

4. Inoperatble Liver Carcinoma in a one year-old child

5. Primary metastasizing Breast Carcinoma

6. Embryonal Testicle Carcinoma and mediastinal

Sarcoma

7. Breast Cancer

8. Prostate Cancer

9. Metastasising Melanoma Clark Level IV

10. Prostate Carcinoma operated, PT

b Gill Gleason Ŕ

Score 7.

11. Axillary Lymph Nodes Metastasis left, an occult

Primary Carcinoma in a young pregnant woman

12. Metastasizing Ovarian Carcinoma Figo III/IV, G III

13. Low malignant non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

14. Status after amputation of a Breast Cancer and high

doses Chemotherapy

15. Recurrence Rhabdomyosarcoma in a boy.

26. Von Bönninghausens Verschreibung Praxis

(Boenninghausenřs prescribing)

KUNKLE Luise (ZKH. 52, 4/2008)

The manner of treatment of Clemens von

BOENNINGHAUSEN have been recorded in his Case

Registers, well documented. These case journals are

available for study, in the Institute for history of

medicine of Robert Bosch Foundation, Stuttgart. On

www.bar-do.net some data have been published from

these journal by Luise KUNKLE. These data cover 50

journals studied by Ms. KUNKLE. They were selected

randomly, but they cover the entire period of practice of

BOENNINGHAUSEN.

This article describes her evaluation of his method

of prescribing. It shows that for the first few years, he

prescribed single remedies. From around 1833 he also

prescribed several remedies at a time to be taken at pre

determined intervals. Furthermore this article presents

details not so far published.

27. Die homöopathische Behandlung von

Hauterkrankungen - akutes pustulöses Ekzem bei

einem kind

(The homeopathic treatment of Skin diseases Ŕ

acute pustular Eczema in a child)

GEBNER Beatrix (ZKH. 52, 4/2008)

Presenting a case of Pustular Eczema in a 1½ year-

old girl, the author discusses important aspects of

homeopathic treatment of skin diseases; whether these

are typical Řskin remediesř, the evaluation of rubrics

concerning the skin and the relevant modalities.

Particular light is thrown on the dosology of Q-

potencies, the accompanying dietetics and the local

treatment of skin diseases.

28. Das Therapeutische Taschenbuch bei

Hauterkrankungen

(The Therapeutic Pocket Book in Skin Diseases)

HOLZAPFEL Klaus (ZKH. 52, 4/2008)

The author presents six(6) cases of skin diseases

which have been treated with the help of homeopathic

remedies chosen by working out with Boenninghausenřs

Therapeutic Pocket Book. The clarity of structure of

the Pocket Book and its closeness to remedy proving

makes it a valuable instrument of homeopathic

Practice. Selection of characteristics and complete

symptoms of the case are necessary.

The author has prescribed Q potencies (50

millesimal) by olfaction.

29. Ekzem Ŕ Arnica montana (Eczema Ŕ Arnica

montana)

WEGENER Andreas (ZKH. 52, 4/2008)

A 12 year-old girlřs Eczema was cured by Arnica

monatana. The decisive symptoms were her

indifference to the Eczema and the symmetrical

spreading of the eruption in both bends of elbow.

30. A case of Sciatica and Back pain

SHANNON, Tim (AJHM. 102, 1/2009)

A case of Sciatica and back pain is presented.

Based on several characteristic symptoms Ŕ jesting,

sinking in the epigastrium, dreams of unsuccessful

efforts, offended easily, clairvoyance, doubtfulness of

recovery Ŕ Stannum metallicum was prescribed with

good results. Stannum is a remedy characterized by

great weakness, especially of the chest and epigastrium;

the delusion that he has an incurable disease, is a

peculiar symptom of the remedy.

31. Scope of Homeopathy in ŖAutismŗ

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BASU Biswajit (HH. 33, 11/2008)

ŖTotality of the symptomsŗ with the perspective of

fundamental causes from individualistic approach

would be the sole means to treat every case according

to homeopathic approach to improve the quality of life

in such cases.

Autistic disorders may be considered as response to

abnormalities in the parents who are schizophrenic or

characteristically cold, detached and obsessive and have

significant aversion to conversation. Moreover, toxemia

during pregnancy, prolong labour, birth asphyxia is also

an important factor to be considered for development of

this disorder.

In order to improve all skills through and

behavioral therapy and psychotherapy must be applied.

In all cases collaboration and cooperation is essential

between trainer and parents, otherwise all effort will be

nullified.

32. My Clinical Experience in Paediatric Practice

DARYANI J.D. (HH. 33, 11/2008)

Many times it has been observed that medicines are

unnecessarily given by the parents even for minor

ailments of their children. It is forgotten that the

inherent immune response or vital force effectively acts

against disease and resotres health.

The medicines are prescribed on the basis of signs

and symptoms recorded in the Materia Medica. Others

are based on clinical observations.

Medicines given in paediatric cases are given.

33. What is impact of GMP (Good Manufacturing

Practices) on the Fast growing System of Medicine

Ŕ Homeopathy

VARMA, P.N. & VALAVAN, R.

(HH. 33, 11/2008)

Good Manufacturing Practice Ŕ A holistic

standardization procedure for production, storage and

drug delivery assures the high quality GMP ensures to

eliminate the failures due to substandard products.

Apart from physiciansř proper evaluation to choose

right remedy the standardized medicines will give

positive results.

Physicians and teaching professionals now come to

know of good manufacturing practices from the articles

published in magazines and literatures. They

understand its benefits to the system and the reception is

good. Higher homeopathic officials and physicians in

the government and other bodies have welcomed this

move, because they know that this will help renovating

and upgrading the system.

34. On Constitution, Inheritance and Relationship of

Remedies

KULKARNI Ajit (HH. 33, 11/2008)

At its most fundamental level, inheritance in

organisms occurs by means of discrete traits, called

genes.

Homeopathic constitutional approach proposes a

disease as arising out of physiological and

psychological life of a human being. It appeals to

investigate the individual as one single spectrum. It

includes genetics, heredity, growth, morphological

typology, archetypes, etc. The homeopathic

constitutional approach conforms to the teaching of

OSLER to ŖLook at life as a whole: study its

manifestations in order and disorder, in health and

disease.ŗ

By integrating the trinity of form, function and

structure of the various systems which the constitution

possesses, the multi-dimensional study of disease and

the personality of the individual are obtained in

Homeopathy.

Diagnosing the constitution and paying attention to

the warning signals in the form of feelings, sensations,

subjective and objective symptoms, modalities, body

language and pathological changes through different

stages will go a long way in pre-planning the strategies

and providing the preventative line of management.

The maternal stress during pregnancy has a

definitive influence and there is a scope of Homeopathy

to do some research.

Homeopathic Materia Medica, a product of highest

wisdom, is the most beneficial, fascinating and

comprehensive study of human beings. HAHNEMANN

tried to perceive the pathogenetic action of the remedy

at the human level, synchronizing mind, body, and

spirit. The remedy talks, vibrates, throbs and shows all

human emotions. The objective symptoms prescribing

method of finding the constitutional remedy of the

parents and using it for children may be rewarding.

Clinical examples are given.

Homeopathy opens up many avenues of

prescribing methods and in order to select a

homeopathic remedy, we need adequate and accurate

data. In many cases, especially the paediatric ones, we

donřt get the required data. By using the relations of

remedies through the inherited characters and by

studying the remedies as living human beings with their

stages and transitions, a practical tool can be developed

to help our otherwise difficult and unresolved cases.

35. Homeopathic Treatment of the Elderly …..Some

Cases

MASTER, J. FAROKH (HH. 34, 1/2009)

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 114

Illnesses commonly encountered in old age

Ischemic Heart Disease, Arthritis, Cancer, Blood

Pressure. Cerebro vascular Heart Disease, Depression,

Diabetes, Falls and injuries, Hearing Impairment,

Memory Impairment, Nutritional problems,

Osteoporosis, Parkinsonřs disease, Respiratory disease,

Bed sores, Insomnia, Prostate problem, Bladder

problem and Visual impairment.

Case 1: Elderly gentleman with Post-Traumatic Central

Hematoma. When he was travelling by bus due to

sudden brake his head banged against the body of the

bus. It was not a serious injury. Completely forgot what

happened to him. After 4 days became completely dull

with Headache and sleepiness. He was diabetic.

Family members attributed this to Chronic diabetes. A

Crocin was given. After 48 hrs. dullness increased with

irritability when spoken to. Any jar or noise will

aggravate his Headache. Was lying down. Cerebral

scan showed Hematoma on right temporal region 4.5 x

2.5ŗ measure. Fear of being admitted in the hospital.

Gelsemium M, 5 cup method at every few hours.

Within 5 weeks the Hematoma dissolved to ¼ the size.

After 3 months he was doing his normal job.

Case II: Angina pectoris. Share Market business. A

slump in the business. Worried about the future of the

business. Pain in his heart radiated to his left arm.

Perspiration during pain. He was hypertensive mildly.

Angina attack more on evenings. When the pain was

severe his face was pinched, tongue discoloured yellow

towards the base. His basic personality was a coward.

Avoids crowd. Rhus tox 1M. After 7 days free of

angina. Angiography after the attack. 80% block in

the left coronary. 60% block in right coronary.

Homeopathically treated for 5 years. After that no

Angina Pectoris attack.

Case III: Chronic Prostatic Induration. Sonography

showed a lot of retention post void in the bladder

(190ml). Passing urine painful, even after passing urge

remained. Day time 12-14 times. Night 5-6 times.

Known smoker, diabetic and hypertension. Urine

showed gravel, white sediments, about 5-10 pus cells.

Weight of Prostate gland 45gms. Sleepless nights.

Eryngium aquaticum 30, one teaspoonful 3 times a

day for 15 days. Ref. Margret TYLER.

36. A case of Hip Osteoarthritis

YUI Torako (HH. 34, 3/2009)

73 Year-old, female: the patientřs trauma in the

mind as well as the body was removed by Cyclamen

europaeum and Arnica Montana and then she became

clearer in realizing herself. Heaviness in the small of

her back, and she began to drag her feet around 1996.

1999 diagnosed as Hip Osteoarthritis of both sides.

2000 Hip replacement. 2001: Homeopathic medicines.

She could not lament sufficiently; could not depend

on her parents, had no shoulders to cry upon.

Anger and deep sorrow underlying: Concealing the

grief of Sisterřs and Fatherřs death.

22.12.2006: Treated and helped with Homeopathy X-

ray picture of regular check up in December said Ŗthat is

a miracle….staring at the picture,ŗ …. How could it

be?ŗ Cyclamen was given according to Dr. D.

GRANDGEORGE.

37. radaR

SOOD Manuj (HH. 34, 4/2009)

Nine month-old male child, with loose stools, 3-4

days ago pain in abdomen.

Stools: 10 - 12 times a day, mucous laid, painless.

Yellowish; continuous weeping preventing sleep.

Peculiar symptom tongue dry, little mucous,

brownish discoloration and fissured. Carbo veg. tongue

picture and persisting rocking according to Prakash

Vakil Module. Carbo vegetabilis 6, 3 doses relieved

the case almost entirely.

38. Thalassaemia

SINGH, Ajit (HH. 34, 4/2009)

Thalessaemia is an inherited disorder characterized

by abnormal production of haemoglobin.

Causes, Symptoms, Signs & Blood Picture,

Treatment, outlook, Possible complication, Prevention

and homeopathic medicines for it also the researches

done in Homeopathy.

39. Homöopathie and Transpersonale Psychotherapie

als integrative Behandlungsmodell

(Homeopathy and Psychotherapy as integratrive

treatment model)

SCHNEBEL Beata (AHZ. 253, 5/2008)

The author says that the synthesis of Homeopathy

and transpersonal Psychotherapy is an effective and

profound kind of treatment.

A Pulsatilla case is reported in which

Psychotherapy was also simultaneously applied. The

author opines that this model was quite useful.

40. Homöopathie und Naturheilverfahren Ŕ eine

sinnvolle Kombination am Beispiel des akuten

Harnwegsinfektes

(Homeopathy and Natural Healing Methods Ŕ a

meaningful combination for example an acute

Urinary tract infection)

SPAREBORG-NOLTE Anne & NOLTE Stephen

(AHZ. 253, 5/2008)

The authors say that homeopathic treatment of

acute urinary tract infection cannot often be treated

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successfully at first hand. The infection tends to

relapse Natural complementary medicine is suitable to

gain time and to ease the acute symptoms; the chances

in applying phytotherapy and physiotherapy are shown.

In the so-calld irritable bladder as a complex of

functional-vegetative-psychosomatic symptoms

Homeopathy Ŕ as a longterm constitutional treatment Ŕ

is the method of choice. [In our experience with

Urinary Tract infection Ŕ as with other complaints Ŕ

Homeopathy alone has been quite helpful; even in

relapsing types = KSS].

41. Die Behandlung des akuten Giftlanfalls

(The treatment of acute Gout)

BÜNDNER Martin (AHZ. 253, 5/2008)

This is a case of Chronic Gout in a 60 year-old

man, a homeopath who treated himself during a long

period which did not cure. The remedies were taken on

diagnostic basis.

Dr. BÜNDNER did a homeopathic anamnesis and

with the aid of the Therapeutic Pocket Book came to

Natrum muriaticum and it was given in Q6. There was

no appreciable progress.

Repertorisation with the Card Repertory by Bernd

von der Lieth pointed to Phosphorus. After study of the

remedy in JAHRřs Symptomen Kodex Phosphorus Q3

was given. The ŘGoutř attacks were changing place.

With the next attack the case was again re-examined

with Kent Repertory and Natrum carbonicum was given

in Q6. While he was improving, he came up with an

acute attack after a diatetic error. Therapeutic Pocket

Book was consulted for the presenting state and Nux

vomica Q6 was given; this did not help and so Thuja Q6

was given. There was relief, but again there was relapse

and so re-examined. Repertorisation with Kent and

Synthetic Repertories and Mercurius Q6 given.

Again an acute attack after sometime.

Repertorisation with Bernd van Lieth Card Repertory.

Careful study of the remedies that came up: Calc.,

Ferr., Lyc., and Sulph. Further study of the

Repertorisation and the remedies that came through.

Sulphur then Drosera, Croton tiglinum and that was the

last.

The article is long, well analysed with all

repertorial and Materia Medica comparison data etc. and

indicates how difficult it is to handle Gout. We should

bear in mind that the author is a well-experienced

homeopathy doctor and author of several books.

42. A case of Post-operative Neuralgia

MISTRY, D.E. & CHITALE Neeta

(CCR. 16, 2/2009)

49 year-old lady. Pin pricking sensation anytime 1-

2 minutes in upper and lateral part of thigh with pain in

groins, labor like after 11 p.m. till early morning. No

relief with painkillers. No sensation in her left sole.

Pain hip to sole more at night. Lumbar ache more on

left side off and on 2000. P.V. Bleeding, D&C.

Regular periods for a year relapse after 1½ years. Then

hormonal treatment. 2005 stopped hormonal treatment.

2006 Hysterectomy. Spinal anesthesia on 3.3.2006.

Next day loss of sensation. C.T. Scan detected, her

spinal cord abnormally long. MRI lumbar spine. 7.3.06

showed low lying spinal cord well defined hyper

intensity extending from TII to anus region. Spinal cord

contusion with haematoma. Bladder involvement.

Steroids for 5 days after surgery. Lost control of her

bladder and rectum with rise in B.P. Gradually control

of urine and blood returned.

Enjoys company. Grief of her parents death.

Better by consolation. Likes travel, sympathetic and

sensitive nature. Fear of robbers.

Patient is more than 50% better. The remedy

selection and application was according to Dr. Pritam

Singh Ghatoriya of U.K.

43. A case of Rhinorrhoea

MISTRY, D.E. & CHITALE Neeta

(CCR. 16, 2/2009)

35 year Bidi worker.

19.12.2008 CSF Rhinorrhoea

Discharge < bending forward and

backward. Thuja 1M.

21.12.2008 Pulsatilla 30, 200, M

31.12.2008 CSF Discharge increased

Calc.phos.30, Symphytum30 +

Pulsatilla 30

21.1.09 CSF Discharge 50% better

Above regimen continued

23.2.09 CSF Discharge 75% better.

Tuberculinum 30, 12 hourly.

14.3.09 No CSF Discharge. Continue above

regimen

15.4.09 Discharge totally stopped.

44. Summer of 2009

CHIMTHANAWALA Aadil

(CCR. 16, 2/2009)

Hyper ammonaemia in a New born.

7 day-old male Child: Vomiting, recurrent abdominal

colic and loose stools since 4 days. Stools loose, sour,

offensive, starled slightest touch, liver enlarged.

27.4.09: Mag. carb. 30, 3 hourly.

28.4.09: Mag. carb. 30 tds. Vitals stable. No vomiting

or colic.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 116

29.4.09: Mag. car . b.d. Started oral feed. Omit I.V.

Fluids.

30.4.09: No medicine. Started breast feed.

The results of the enzyme deficiency were normal.

Final diagnosis. Transcient Hyper ammonaemia of New

born.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. REPERTORY

1. Differentiation of Rubrics of Mind

BIDANI, Navneet (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

The author discusses about the understanding of the

meaning of rubrics in the successful selection of

remedy.

The best interpretations of rubrics come from

understanding the situation of a patient.

The next step is the use of the rubrics in a

metaphorical way, in an expanded sense one should

proceed from meaning to expressions.

One rubric may have a variety of expressions, so

we must have a thorough knowledge of how to

differentiate the rubrics.

Few examples of differentiation are given.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

V. PHARMACOLOGY

1. Hahnemannřs Coffee Spoons

ROTTLER, Gaby (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

HAHNEMANN mentioned exact measurements for

making his dilutions.

Hahnemannřs Apothekerlexicon, 1794 edition

gives.

1Pfund/libra = 12Unze/uncial

1uncia = 8 Quentchen/drachma

1drachma = 3 Skrupel

1 Skrupel = 20 Gran

One tablespoon/cochl = ½ ounce.

HAHNEMANN used the Nürnberger

Arzneigewicht for his Apothecary Lexicon:

1 Gram = 0.062 Gramm

1 Gram = 0.958 engl. (Troy) grain (Minim)

1 Gramm = 14.32 engl (Troy) grain

From Apothecary Lexicon (1793 edition)

1 glass (verre) : 4 Unzen (ounces)

1 tablespoon (cochl) : ½ Unze

1 sip (cyathus) : 2 Unzen

1 teaspoon (cochl. Pro thea) : ½Quentchen

------------------------------------------------------------

VI. VETERINARY

1. Cat fight

A horrid abscess and a remedy to remember

CASTRO, Mirando (HT. 29, 3/2009)

Noodle, 5 year-old cat had a large gash and

puncture wound on his ear which was swollen wihin a

day. Developed fever and was eating and drinking

little. Hepar sulph and then Silicea did not help.

Myristica sebifera 30 two doses hourly. Within an

hour of the second dose, started draining and thereafter

Noodle got up and snacked. Within few days healed

up.

Nito, 10 year old whippet (dog) was bitten in leg by

a cat and copious amounts of blood from the wound.

Calendula 30c mixed in water and applied over the

wound. The bleeding stopped immediately. Next day

the wound was bright red, but no swelling and pain but

she did not want to be alone and asked for much more

affection than usual. Hamamelis 30 and Phosphorus 30

in the dogřs water bowl. A day later, 50% of ulcer size

decreased and the rest turned purple. Arnica 30 and she

was running next day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

VII. RESEARCH

1. The homeopathic dilution: A new explanation

AMIN, Rahul, CHAKRABORTY, Biplab &

RAHAMAN, Farook (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

Plain water has different energy content than higher

potencies of homeopathic medicines since the noble

discovery by Master HAHNEMANN. In spite of that, a

big question has arisen in the so-called scientific world:

Is homeopathic medicine, a medicine or plain water?

Does the medicine act only from a placebo effect? The

Ŗscientific worldŗ has the fixed idea that the dilutions of

higher potency homeopathic medicine do not contain

any active ingredients. But here we demonstrate that

the higher potency homeopathic medicines are not

merely plain water; they are different from water and

also different from potency to potency, as well as

different medicines from one to the other.

INFERENCE

We can draw the following inferences:

(i) Mother tincture differs from water.

(ii) Water differs from the different potencies of a

crude substance.

(iii) Different potencies of a substance differ from

each other.

(iv) The same potencies, prepared from different

substances, differ from each other.

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2. Homeopathic treatment of minor aphthous ulcer: a

randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

MOUSAVI Fahimeh, MOJAVER Yalda Nozad,

ASADZADEH Mehdi & MIRZAZADEH Mustafa

(HOM. 98, 3/2009)

The objectives of this study were to clinically

determine the efficacy of individualized Homeopathy

in the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous ulceration

(MiRAU).

Design & intervention: A randomized, single blind,

placebo-controlled clinical trial of individualized

Homeopathy. One hundred patients with minor

aphthous ulcer were treated with individualized

homeopathic medicines or placebo and followed up for

6 days. Patients received two doses of individualized

homeopathic medicines in the 6C potency as oral liquid

at baseline and 12h later. Pain intensity and ulcer size

were recorded at baseline during and at the end of the

trial (mornings of days 4 and 6).

Result: All 100 patients completed treatment. Between

group differences for pain intensity and ulcer size were

statistically significant at day 4 and at day 6 (P<0.05).

No adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion: The results suggest that homeopathic

treatment is an effective and safe method in the

treatment of MiRAU. [Over several decades

homeopaths have been curing apthous ulcers as a

routine in their day today work. What is the purpose of

this Řresearchř? we have Řconcludedř years ago the

present Řconclusionř. Clearly Homeopathy far ahead.

Why bother with these useless Řresearchesř. Where is

British Homeopathy today? = KSS].

3. Immunomodulatory activity of Toxicondendron

pubescens in experimental models

PATIL CR., SALUNKHE PS., GAUSHAL MH.,

GADEKAR, AR., AGRAWAL, AM. & SURANA,

SJ. (HOM. 98, 3/2009)

Background: Toxicondendron pubescens is a botanical

name of Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus tox). This plant is

widely used in its homeopathically diluted form in the

treatment of inflammatory and edematous conditions.

In this study, various dilutions of Rhus tox including its

crude form have been evaluated for their effects on

immune response in the in vivo and in vitro

experimental models.

Methods: Rhus tox in the form of mother tincture,

6cH, 30cH, 200cH and 1000cH dilutions was tested

through in vivo models including sheep red blood cells

(SRBCs) induced cellular and humoral immune

response in C57/BL6 mice.

The effects of Rhus tox dilutions were also evaluated in

vitro on the functions of human polymorphonuclear

(PMN) cells such as phagocytosis and intracellular

killing of Candida albicans, chemotaxis, and reduction

of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye.

Results: Rhus tox was found to intensify SRBCs

induced antibody titer and delayed type hypersensitivity

response in mice. Even higher dilutions such as 200cH

and 1000cH were found to affect the immune response;

however, the crude form, mother tincture, 6cH and

30cH dilutions revealed more potent effects than the

200cH 1000cH dilutions.

In in vitro assays, all the dilutions exerted stimulation

of phagocytosis, candidacidal activity and chemotaxis

of human PMN cells. The NBT dye reduction assay

revealed that oxidative processes in the PMN cells are

accelerated in the presence of Rhus tox.

This study shows that Rhus tox possesses

immunostimulatory activity in its crude form as well as

in homeopathically diluted forms. These effects

appeared to be concentration dependent as higher

dilutions had less potent effects.

4. Effect of Mercurius solubilis on the bacteriological

response in the alveolitis process in rats

GONÇALVES DE ARAÚJO Flávia Regina,

BARBOSA DE CASTRO Célia Maria Machado,

SEVERO Maiara Santos, DINIZ Maria de Fátima,

VIANA Marcelo Tavares & EVÉNCIO Liriane

Baratella (HOM. 98, 3/2009)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the

bacteriological response in alveolitis in rats treated with

the homeopathic medicine Merc solubilis (Merc. Sol.)

12 cH.

Methods: The study was randomized and observer

blind. The animals were anesthetized and the upper

right incisor extracted resulting in alveolitis. Animals

were randomly assigned to groups (n = 18/group):

Water control, Alcohol and Merc sol.12 cH. These

groups were subsequently divided into 3 subgroups (n=

6/subgroup): Early Euthanasia (EE), Mid Euthanasia

(ME) and Late Euthanasia(LE), killed at the 6

, 15

and

21st days respectively. T

he perialveolar microbiota was collected by swab in

Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) for seeding and

bacterioscopy. After seeding, the Petri dishes were

incubated at 37ºC for 48 h.

Results: Quantitative and qualitative changes were

observed in the perialveolar microbiota when the groups

were compared. Water control and Alcohol control had

the highest counts of pathogenic bacteria, the

microbiotica of the Merc sol. Group remained closer to

normal.

Conclusions: Merc sol. 12 cH did not reduce bacterial

growth, but the microbiotica remained within the

parameters of normality, obtaining the best results at 21

days after treatment.

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5. A review of immunomodulators with reference to

Canova

SMIT E., OBERHOLZER HM., & PRETORIUS E.

(HOM. 98, 3/2009)

Immunomodulators are substances which modify

the immunity of an individual to favour a particular

immunological response. The immune response and the

function of the immune response regulation process are

described, with special reference to Cancer and

autoimmune disease. Homeopathy and its role in

immune regulation are discussed with special reference

to Canova

. Canova

is a homeopathic product

produced, according to the Hahnemannian homeopathic

method, in Brazil. Its role in Cancer, bone marrow and

haematopoiesis as well as macrophage and monocyte

activation is reviewed. Canova

seems to stabilize

platelet macrophology in human immunodeficiency

virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome

(HIV/AIDS).

The data suggest that the future of

immunomodulators and homeopathic products which

appear to have an effect on the immune response

requires a better understanding of the relative need for

immune activation versus immune modulation.

Homeopathic products specifically need more attention.

6. Inhibition of basophil activation by histamine: a

sensitive and reproducible model for the study of

the biological activity of high dilutions

SAINTE-LAUDY, J., & BELON, Ph.

(HOM. 98, 4/2009)

Background: At the beginning of this series of

experiments we were looking for a model based on the

use of purified commercially available compounds

based on a fully described and accepted

pharmacological model to study of the biological effect

of high dilutions. Negative feedback induced by

histamine, a major pro-inflammatory mediator, on

basophils and mast cells activation via an H2 receptor

me these criteria. The simplest way of measuring

basophil activation in the early 1980řs was the human

basophil activation test (HBDT).

Objectives: Our major goal was first to study the

biological effect of centesimal histamine dilutions

beyond the Avogadro limit, on the staining properties of

human basophils activated by an allergen extract

initially house dust mite, then an anti-IgE and N-formyl-

Met-Leu-Phe(fMLP). Technical development over the

25 years of our work led us to replace the manual

basophil counting by flow cytometry. The main

advantages were automation and observer

independence. Using this latter protocol our aim was to

confirm the existence of this phenomenon and to check

its specificity by testing, under the same conditions,

inactive analogues of histamine and histamine

antagonists. More recently, we developed an animal

model (mouse basophils) to study the effect of

histamine on histamine release.

Methods and results: For the HBDT model basophils

were obtained by sedimentation of human blood taken

on EDTA and stained with Alcian blue. Results were

expressed in percentage activation. Histamine dilutions

tested were freshly prepared in the lab by successive

centesimal dilutions and vortexing. Water controls were

prepared in the same way. For the flow cytometric

protocol basophils were first labeled by an anti-IgE

FITC (basophill marker) and an anti-CD 63 (basophil

activation marker). Results were expressed in

percentage CD63 positive basophils. Another flow

cytometric protocol has been developed more recently,

based on basophil labeling by anti-IgE FITC

(fluorescein isothiooocyanate) and anti-CD203 PE

(another human basophil activation marker). Results

were expressed in mean fluorescence intensity of the

CD203c positive population (MFI-CD203c) and an

activation index calculated by an algorithm. For the

mouse basophil model, histamine was measured

spectrofluorimetrically.

The main results obtained over 28 years of work

was the demonstration of a reproducible inhibition of

human basophil activation by high dilutions of

histamine, the effect peaks in the range of 15-17CH.

The effect was not significant when histamine was

replaced by histidine (a histamine precursor) or

cimetidine (histamine H2 receptor antagonist) was

added to the incubation medium. These results were

confirmed by flow cytometry. Using the latter

technique, we also showed that 4-Methyl histamine (H2

agonist) induced a similar effect, in contrast to 1-Methyl

histamine, an inactive histamine metabolite.

Using the mouse model, we showed that histamine

high dilutions, in the same range of dilutions, inhibited

histamine release.

Conclusions: Successively, using different models to

study of human and murine basophil activation, we

demonstrated that high dilutions of histamine, in the

range of 15-17CH induce a reproducible biological

effect. This phenomenon has been confirmed by a

multi-center study using HBDT model and by at least

three independent laboratories by flow cytometry. The

specificity of the observed effect was confirmed, versus

the water controls at the same dilution level by the

absence of biological activity of inactive compounds

such as histidine and 1-Methyl histamine and by the

reversibility of this effect in the presence of a histamine

receptor H2 antagonist.

7. Isopathic treatment effects of Arsenicum album

45x on wheat seedling growth Ŕ further

reproduction trials

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 119

LAHNSTEIN Lisa, BINDER Mascha,

THURNEYSEN André, FREI-ERB Martin, BETTI

Lucietta, PERUZZI Maurizio, HEUSSER Peter &

BAUMGARTNER Stephen (HOM. 98, 4/2009)

Background: Two experimental studies on wheat

preintoxicated with Arsenic trioxide yielded a

significant shoot growth increase after an isopathic

application of Ars-alb 45x. One independent

reproduction trial however, yielded an effect inversion:

wheat shoot growth was significantly decreased after

application of Ars-alb 45x.

Aims: In this study we investigated the role of three

potential confounding factors on the experimental

outcome: geographical location of the experiments,

influence of the main experimenter, and seed sensitivity

to Arsenic poisoning. Laboratory-internal

reproducibility was assessed by meta-analysis.

Material and Methods: Wheat poisoned with Arsenic

trioxide was cultivated in vitro in either Ars-alb 45x,

water 45x, or unpotentised water. Treatments were

blinded and randomized. Shoot length was measured

after 7 days. The stability of the experimental set-up

was assessed by systematic negative control (SNC)

experiments.

Results: The SNC experiments did not yield significant

differences between the three groups treated with

unpotentised water. Thus the experimental set-up

seemed to be stable. We did not observe any shoot

growth increase after a treatment with Ars-alb 45x in

any of the newly performed experiments. In contrast,

the meta-analysis of all 17 experiments performed

(including earlier experiments already published)

yielded a statistically significant shoot growth decrease

(-3.2%, p = 0.017) with isopathic Ars-alb 45x treatment.

This effect was quantitatively similar across all five

series of experiments.

Conclusions: Ultramolecular Ars-alb 45x led to

statistically significant specific effects in arsenic

poisoned wheat when investigated by two independent

working groups. Effect size and effect direction differ,

however. The investigated factors (geographical

location, experimenter, seed sensitivity to Arsenic

poisoning) did not seem to be responsible for the effect

inversion. Laboratory external reproducibility of basic

research into homeopathic potentisation remains a

difficult issue.

8. Assays of homeopathic remedies in rodent

behavioural and psychopathological models

BELLAVITE Paolo, MAGNANI Paolo,

MARZOTTO Marta & CONFORTI Anita

(HOM. 98, 4/2009)

The first part of this paper reviews the effects of

homeopathic remedies on several models of anxiety-

like behaviours developed and described in rodents.

The existing literature in this field comprises some

fifteen exploratory studies, often published in non-

indexed and non-peer-reviewed journals. Only a few

results have been confirmed by multiple laboratories,

and concern Ignatia, Gelsemium, Chamomilla (in

homeopathic dilutions/potencies). Nevertheless, there

are some interesting results pointing to the possible

efficacy of other remedies, and confirming a statistically

significant effect of high dilutions of neurotrophic

molecules and antibodies. In the second part of this

paper we report some recent results obtained in our

laboratory, testing Aconitum, Nux vomica, Belladonna,

Argentum nitricum, Tabacum (all 5CH potency) and

Gelsemium (5,7, 9 and 30CH potencies) on mice using

ethological models of behavior. The test was performed

using coded drugs and controls in double blind

(operations and calculations). After an initial screening

that showed all the tested remedies (except for

Belladonna) to have some effects on the behavioural

parameters (light-dark test and open-field test), but with

high experimental variability, we focused our study on

Gelsemium, and carried out two complete series of

experiments. The results showed that Gelsemium had

several effects on the exploratory behavior of mice,

which in some models were highly statistically

significant (p <0.001), in all the dilutions/dynamizations

used, but with complex differences according to the

experimental conditions and test performed. Finally,

some methodological issues of animal research in this

field of Homeopathy are discussed. The ŖGelsemium

modelŗ Ŕ encompassing experimental studies in vitro

and in vivo from different laboratories and with different

methods, including significant effects of its major active

principle gelsemine Ŕ may play a pivotal rule for

investigations on other homeopathic remedies.

9. Use of homeopathic preparations in experimental

studies with healthy plants

MAJEWSKY Vera, ARLT Sebastian, SHAH

Devika, SCHERR Claudia, JGER Tim, BETTI

Lucietta, TREBBI Grazia, BONAMIN Leoni,

KLOCKE Peter & BAUMGARTNER Stephan

(HOM. 98, 4/2009)

Background: The last comprehensive review of

experimental research on effects of homeopathic

treatments on plants was published in 1984, and lacked

formal predefined criteria to assess study quality. Since

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then several new studies with more advanced methods

have been published.

Objectives: To compile a review of the literature on

basic research in Homeopathy with healthy plants with

particular reference to studies investigating specific

effects of homeopathic remedies.

Methods: The literature search included English,

French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish

publications from 1920 to April 2009, using predefined

selection criteria. We included experiments with

healthy whole plants, seeds, plant parts and cells. The

outcomes had to be measured by established procedures

and statistically evaluated. We developed a Manuscript

Information Score (MIS) and included only publications

which provided enough information for proper

interpretation (MIS ≤ 5). A formalized Study Methods

Evaluation Procedure (SMEP) was used to evaluate

these studies, and the sub-group of studies with

adequate controls to identify specific effects.

Results: A total of 86 studies in 79 publications was

identified, 43 studies included statistics, 29 had MIS ≤

5, and 15 studies investigated the specificity of

homeopathic preparations. Specific effects of decimal,

centesimal and fifty millesimal potencies were found

including dilution levels far beyond the Avogadro

number. In consecutive series of potencies only some

of the tested potencies showed effects. There were

many individual studies with diverse methods and very

few reproduction trials.

Conclusions: Healthy plant models seem an useful

approach to investigate basic research questions about

the specificity of homeopathic preparations. More

investigations with more advanced methods are

recommended, especially in the sectors of potentisation

techniques, effective potency levels and conditions for

reproducibility. Systematic negative control

experiments should become a routine procedure to

control the stability of the experimental systems.

10. Use of homeopathic preparations in

phytopathological models and in field trials: a

critical review

BETTI Lucietta, TREBBI Grazia, MAJEWSKY

Vera, SCHERR Claudia, SHAH-ROSSI Devika,

JÄGER Tim & BAUMGARTNER Stephan

(HOM. 98, 4/2009)

Background: The literature on the applications of

Homeopathy for controlling plant diseases in both plant

pathological models and field trials was first reviewed

by Scofield in 1984. No other review on Homeopathy

in plant pathology has been published since though

much new research has subsequently been carried out

using more advanced methods.

Objectives: To conduct an up-to-date review of the

existing literature on basic research in Homeopathy

using phytopathological models and experiments in the

field.

Methods: A literature search was carried out on

publications from 1969 to 2009, for papers that reported

experiments on Homeopathy using phytopathological

models (in vitro and in planta) and field trials. The

selected papers were summarized and analysed on the

basis of a Manuscript Information Score (MIS) to

identify those that provided sufficient information for

proper interpretation (MIS ≤ 5). These were then

evaluated using a Study Methods Evaluation Procedure

(SMEP).

Results: A total of 44 publications on

phytopathological models were identified: 19 papers

with statistics, 6 studies with MIS ≤ 5. Publications on

field were 9, 6 with MIS ≤ 5. In general, significant and

reproducible effects with decimal and centesimal

potencies were found, including dilution levels beyond

the Avogadrořs number.

Conclusions: The prospects for homeopathic

treatments in agriculture are promising, but much more

experimentation is needed, especially at a field level,

and on potentisation techniques, effective potency levels

and conditions for reproducibility. Phytopathological

models may also develop into useful tools to answer

pharmaceutical questions. [You can go on and on in

never-ending experiments and in spite of all that still

remain skeptical. But in the meanwhile you can apply

Homeopathy in agriculture and reap the results =

KSS].

11. Mice as a model for Homeopathy research

KHUDA-BUKHSH RAHMAN Anisur

(HOM. 98, 4/2009)

Mice (Mus musculus) have been used as a model

for Homeopathy research in relation to cytotoxicity,

genotoxicity and carcinogenesis in our laboratory for

the last three decades. Initially, anti-radiation activities

of several potentized homeopathic drugs were tested

against suitable controls by taking into consideration

several cytogenetic endpoints. Subsequently, anti-

cytotoxic, anti-genotoxic and anti-oxidative stress

effects of some homeopathic drugs were tested against

several chemical toxic metalloids and metal compounds.

Modern techniques including Western blot,

immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, UV-

spectroscopy, HPLC, FTIR, NMR, RT-PCR etc were

deployed to understand the possible mechanisms and

pathways of action of potentized homeopathic drugs.

We hypothesise that one way by which potentized

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homeopathic drugs act is through regulatory action on

gene expression.

12. The rat in basic therapeutic research in

Homeopathy

WIJK van, R., CLAUSEN J. & ALBRECHT H.

(HOM. 98, 4/2009)

The Similia Principle, the basis of Homeopathy,

implies that substances initiating symptoms when

applied to healthy biological systems can be utilized as

remedies to treat a diseased system with similar

symptoms. Depending whether the remedy substance

was of the same type as the etiologic agent, treatment is

classified as either homologous or heterologous. The

intact rate is the biological system most utilized in basic

science homeopathic research. The Homeopathy

Basic Research experiments (HomBRex) database

(about 1300 experiments on model biological systems in

homeopathic research) was analyzed for homologous

and heterologous treatments of disease states of intact

rats. The relationship between the Similia Principle and

hormesis is discussed.

13. Reporting experiments in homeopathic basic

Research (REHBaR) Ŕ A detailed guideline for

authors

SCHRÖER Stock, ALBRECHT, H., BETTI, L.,

ENDLER, PC., LINDE, K., LÜDKE, R., MUSIAL,

F., WIJK, van, R., WITT, C. & BAUMGARTNER

(HOM. 98, 4/2009)

Background: Reporting experiments in basic research

in Homeopathy is an important issue as comprehensive

description of what exactly was done is required. So

far, there is no guideline for authors available, unlike

criteria catalogues common in clinical research.

Methods: A Delphi Process was conducted, including

a total of five rounds, three rounds of adjusting and

phrasing plus two consensus conferences. European

researchers who published experimental work within the

last five years were involved.

Results: A checklist of 23 items was obtained and

supplemented with detailed examples emphasizing what

each item implies. Background, objectives and possible

hypotheses should be given in the part Řintroductionř.

Special emphasis is put on the Řmaterials and methodsř

section, where a detailed description of chosen controls,

object of investigation, experimental setup. Replication,

parameters, intervention, allocation, blinding, and

statistical methods is required. The section Řresultsř

should present sufficient details on analysed data,

descriptive as well as inferential. Authors should

discuss their results and give an interpretation in the

context of current evidence.

Conclusion: A guideline for Reporting Experiments in

Homeopathic Basic Research (REHBaR) was compiled

to be applied by authors when preparing their

manuscripts, and to be used by scientific journals in the

reviewing process. Furthermore the guideline is a

commitment to a certain minimum quality level needed

in basic research, e.g. blinding and randomization.

Feedback is encouraged on applicability, strength and

limitations of the list to enable future revisions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

VIII. GENERAL

1. A link between the periodic table of elements and

the planets of our Solar system, with the help of

homeopathic medicine

AGGARWAL, Ameet (SIM. XXI, 2/2008)

This paper investigates the mental/emotional

properties of homeopathic remedies made of minerals

and elements, the emotional characteristic of the planets

in Astrology and explore how there may be a direct

correlation between the planets of our Solar system and

the periodic table.

2. Homeopathy in the public health system: a seven-

year observational study at Lucca Hospital (Italy)

ROSSI Elio, ENDRIZZI Cristina, PANOZZO

Maria Alessandra, BIANCHI Alba & MONICA Da

Frè (HOM. 98, 3/2009)

Objective: To evaluate the response to homeopathic

treatment in a public homeopathic clinic of all patients

attending between September 1998 until December

2005, and to analyze homeopathic practice.

Methods and setting: Longitudinal observational

study in a homeopathic clinic based in a public hospital

in Lucca, Italy. Data relating to patient details, clinical

diagnosis, remedy prescribed, potency of dosage,

prescription strategy and identification of the case as

acute-chronic-recurrent were analyzed. Clinical

response was assessed by the Glasgow Homeopathic

Hospital Outcome Score.

Results: Overall 74% of patients reported at least

moderate improvement. Outcomes were better with

longer treatment duration and younger age of patients.

Respiratory, followed by dermatological and

gastrointestinal pathologies responded best,

psychological problems relatively poorly.

Conclusions: Homeopathic therapy is associated with

improvement in a range of chronic and recurring

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pathologies. Certain characteristics of patient and

pathology influence the outcome.

3. Vibrant Health and Exceptional Smiles: the

wisdom of Traditional diets

Dr. Weston PRICEřs search for causes of disease

and dental decay

DELANY, Susan (HT. 29, 4/2009)

Dr. Weston A. PRICE was a practicing dentist in

Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1900s was dismayed and

confused by the dental deformities and frequent

infections in his young patients. Curious to discover

the causes, he left behind his lab and microscope and

began examining the cultures of the world as his

laboratory. For ten years he travelled to isolated parts

of globe investigating the diets and life styles of native

people and published a book in 1939, Nutrition and

Physical degeneration Ŕ A comparison of Primitive

and Modern Diets and their effects.

He concluded that health decline and tooth decay

began when foods of modern commerce Ŕ sugar, refined

grains, canned foods, pasteurized milk, and devitalized

and refined fats and oils Ŕ were introduced.

www.westonaprice.org.

4. Towards An Inclusive Legislative Model for the

Homeopathic Profession

ALLEN Karen, BUTEHORN Loretta,

HUENECKE Jason-Aeric, KEIZER Willa,

LENNIHAN Begabati, R.N., MATHIEU Brent.

OHANIAN Valerie, PITT Richard, ROWE Todd,

SCHOR Heid, TROTTA Deborah, VAUGHTERS

Lucy, PA-C, WILSON Joy, M.

(AJHM. 101, 4/2008)

Overview: The United States homeopathic community

in recent years has been troubled with conflict about the

best legislative models to adopt for the homeopathic

profession. Many models have been proposed which

range from freedom legislation to licensure models.

The debate has often centered around an either/or

philosophy rather than a both/and approach to this

issue.

Unfortunately, this issue has divided the

homeopathic community and led to much acrimonious

debate. It also has prevented the homeopathic

community from moving forward as an organized

profession and stifled its growth.

The hope in writing this article is to suggest an

inclusive model for the homeopathic profession that

will bridge the various Ŗcampsŗ and lead to a possible

solution to the debate. In this way, it is hoped that each

homeopathic professional can find a place within the

homeopathic community that they are comfortable

with, while respecting the needs and training of other

homeopathic practitioners. [For several decades

homeopaths have been fighting amongst themselves. It

is high time this is stopped and amicable ways are found

= KSS]

IX. BOOKS

I. Textbook of Veterinary Homeopathy. John

SAXTON and Peter G. REGORY. Beaconsfield

Publishers 2005, UK £27.00 Soft Cover, 312 pages,

ISBN 0-906584-57-4. Review by Paul HUGHES.

(HL. 20, 2/2007).

A fully comprehensive introduction written by

Veterinary Surgeons. Two main sections cover Theory

and Practice. Chapters on obtaining symptoms from

Observation and inquiry, Case taking, constitutional

prescribing, Miasms and Obstacles to cure. The section

on behavioural problems brings the text to life and

illustrates the primary importance of understanding the

disposition of the animal patient.

II. 111 Great Homeopaths. Edited and compiled

by Jay YASGUR. Von Hoy Publishers 2005, ISBN

1-866149-07-0. 300 pages 8.5″ X 11″. Soft cover

$23.95. Review by Ralf JEUTTER.

This book could also be called brief lives of 111

Great Homeopaths. Within few lines YASGUR

manages to convey the significance of each individualřs

life. For him greatness has centrally to do with

influence and other criteria is that the homeopath has to

be dead.

The lives unfold in front of us in alphabetical order.

Every page and life reveals something outstanding. The

translations in the book are poor. In limiting oneself to

111, the danger is in omissions.

Whether your interest in Homeopathy is oblique or

profound, this little book will stir you. ….ŗ.

III. Appearance and Circumstance Miasms, Facial

features and Homeopathy. Grant BENTLEY (HL.

20, 3/2007).

Pennon Publishing, AV - $55.00, 286 pages. ISBN 1-

877029-47-5 and

Homeopathic Facial Analysis companion volume to

Appearance and Circumstance. Grant BENTLEY ISBN

0646-46323-3; AV $69.00. Review by Margaret

NOLAN.

Every classical homeopath is looking for those

special symptoms, clues that will lead us to the

Similimum for the case. The method given is unique,

tried and tested over thousands of cases and it works!

Comprehensive bibliography is provided. The gems in

the bibliography have been reapplied and tested against

known miasmatic traits.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 123

Many photographs and sketches illustrate the effect

on the structural features of the face of the Psora,

Sycosis and Syphilis and their various combinations.

Information which determines the dominant or complex

Miasmřs expression is given by looking at each

individual feature in a face.

IV. Tumoren, ihre Ätiologie und Heilbarkeit. Aus

dem Amerikanischen von Heinz P. SCHEIDL

(Tumors, their aetiology and curability from the

American), GILCHRIST, T.G. Leer, Grundlagen

und Praxis: 2008: 220 S. kart Є38, - (German) review

Uwe FRIEDRICH (ZKH. 53, 1/2009).

ŖThe original American work has been translated,

annotated well and the cases given have also been

elaborated.

ŖJ.G. GILCHRIST lived 1842 to 1906. He was a

Surgeon and homeopath a position which made clear

about the possibilities and limits of the Medicine of

those days and Homeopathyřs role.

Ŗ… The author has drawn from the well known

personalities then Ŕ CLARKE, BURNETT, GRIMMER,

much hints useful in practice.

ŖThe booklet of GILCHRIST is for the homeopath

today who has access to later authors, is more of

historical relevance. …..Heinz P. SCHEIDEL has

however, has made a study of the cases presented in the

book, as appendix. This is the most valuable part of this

book.

ŖAll in all it is an interesting book particularly

because of the cases, and then it becomes a Řmustř for

the homeopathic Cancer treatment.ŗ

V. ANSCHUTZ, G.P.: Neue, Alte und

Vergessene Mittel, Übers und hrsg. v. R.von

SCHLIK (New, Old and Forgotten Remedies,

translated and published by R. von SCHLICK),

2007, 610 S. geb. Є68/- (German) review by Karin

JOCHENS-HOCHBAN (ZKH. 53, 1/2009): ŖA

collection of journal articles was made and published by

E.M. HALE under the title ŖNew Remediesŗ …. After

HALEřs death E.P. ANSHUTZ (1846-1918) took up

this work further and in 1900 published ŖNew, Old and

Forgotten Remediesŗ which went into a second edition

in 1917….ŗ

Ŗ…. The book is not a Materia Medica in the

Classical sense. Being a collection from various

sources it contains an informative, often curious

collection of Materia Medica……. All in all it is a

highly recommended book to every homeopathic

library.ŗ

VI. The Integrity of Homeopathy CREASY, S.,

München: Peter Irl; 2007. Brosch. 267 S., Є34/-

(English) review Klaus HOLZAPFEL (ZKH. 53,

1/2009):

The author has recorded in this book, her

experience of 48 years of homeopathic practice and

Teaching. The introduction tips Title ŖMiasms,

Philosophy and Practiceŗ indicates the importance of

her Practice based KENTřs Swedenborgian Philosophy;

ALLEN and Herbert ROBERTS and others teaching are

the basis. While HAHNEMANN spoke of 3 Miasms it

was extended to 4 by including Tuberculinum which is

seen as a mixture of Psora and Syphilis.

The author discusses with actual cases how the

miasmatic involvement was found and how prescription

based on that succeeded.

….. This book can be recommended only to those

who can do the artistic repertorisation of the case

examples.

…. Recommended to those who follow the

miasmatic teaching of KENT and ALLEN…..ŗ

VII. GROSS, G.W.: Das Verhalten der Mutter und

des Säuglings. In Auszügen zusammengestellt,

ergänzt mit gesichteten indikationen,

Krankengeschichten und Symptomen aus Buch Ŕ

und Zeitschriften veröfflentlichtungen der alten und

neueren Literatur und kritischen Anmerkungen von

Jurgen SEIPEL (The attitude of the mother and the

infant. Extracts collected, summarized, annotated

with analysed indications, Case Reports and

Symptoms from books and Journals publications old

and new Literature with critical comments by

Jürgen SEIPEL),

HAINBURGH, H.: Die Alte Schule Hahnbemann’s;

2007, 56. S. brosch. Є. 9, 80. Review by Klaus

HOLZAPFEL (German): ŖThis valuable homeopathic

ŘPocket Book for the Newly marriedř (as subtitled by

GROß); which first appeared in 1833 has now been

revised by SEIPEL. … Several extracts as from

ATTOMYR, BENNINGHAUSEN, BOGER,

GOULLON, GUERNSEY, HARTMANN, HERING

and KENT, KLUNKER, STAUFFER, YINGLING

have enlarged the value of this small book. … All in

all a very needed work for Homeopathy practice, more

for obstetricians.ŗ

X. OBITUARY

1. In Memorium

Melvyn, L. SMITH, MD. (1942-2009) (HT. 29,

3/2009)

Melvyn L. SMITH, MD of Sugar Land, Texas ,

homeopathic physician and co-founder of the Texas

Society of Homeopathy passed away on April 12 after

an illness. He had a PhD in Mathematics and then MD

from the University of Mississippi, later teaching at

Baylor college of Medicine. He loved Homeopathy.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 124

He obtained Diploma from British Institute of

Homeopathy in 1995. He was keenly interested in

classical Mythology and Metaphysics. He loved music

of all types. His motto, was: ŖLetřs make medicine

wiser and more lovingŗ.

2. In Memorium

Andy P. BORMETH (1960 Ŕ 2009)

BORNEMANN J.P. (HT. 29, 3/2009)

Andy P. Bormeth, who served as Executive

Director of The American Association of Homeopathic

Pharmacists and the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia

convention of the USA, passed away on July 19, 2009.

In 1991, he joined Boericke & Tafel (B & T) and

was with them for next 13 years when B & T closed in

2004, he founded Natural Pharmaceutical Consulting

Services and established an International client base.

As a Pharmacist and Pharmaceutical manufacturing

specialist, he applied his passion for excellence to every

project he undertook.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

XI. NEWS & NOTES

I. P. KASHYAP, Indian Shuttle Player, who was

taking part in the Commonwealth games, held in New

Delhi in Oct. 2010 had reached the stage when he was

competing for the bronze medal. KASHYAP was an

asthmatic and was on Inhaler. However, because of

WADA Rules he could not be given all his medicines.

ŖDuring tournaments, including the CWG, he did not

take his medicines and fought against it ….ŗ ŖWe were

worried because he was diagnosed to be in the second

stage of Asthma. And we thought he would not play

any more,ŗ his mother told, ŖEvery year we have to get

the Therapeutic Use Exemption Certificate from

WADA. We have to renew his certificate. He has to

undergo tests and produce medical certificates. It is

tough but we are used to it now,ŗ she said.

KASHYAP avoided his regular medicines and

played and beat the higher ranked Malaysian Mohmed

Hafiz and got the Bronze Medal.

[How Ŗabsolutely necessaryŗ is the Inhaler for the

Řasthmaticř]

II. Second thoughts about fluoride Ŕ New research

indicates that a cavity fighting treatment could be

risky if overused, by Dan FAGIN (Scientific American

India, Jan. 2008): Some recent studies suggest that over

consumption of fluoride can raise the risks of disorders

affecting teeth, bones, the brain and the Thyroid gland.

A 2006 Report by a Committee of National Research

Council recommended that the federal government

lower its current limit for Fluoride in drinking water

because of health risk to both children and adults.

Fluoride is in many foods, beverages and dental

products. The ubiquity of the cavity-fighting chemical

can result in overconsumption, particularly young

children.

Scientists have focused on Fluorideřs effects on

bone because of so much of the chemical is stored there.

Studies have shown that high doses of fluoride can

stimulate the proliferation of bone-building osteo-blast

cell, raising fears that the chemical may induce

malignant Tumors. Fluoride also appears to alter the

crystallize structure of bone, possibly increasing the risk

of fracture. [I recall that about 20 years ago Tooth

Pastes here in India were boasting of containing

Fluoride to Ŗfight tooth decayŗ. The Tooth Paste

vanished and there was no mention of fluoride. We

know that children have tendency to swallow some of

the tooth paste especially when it is tangy tasty. We do

not know how many children later became victims of

such fluoride consumption. And now a Tooth Paste is

aggressively campaigning that its Tooth Paste contains

Salt andtherefore it is great! = KSS.]

III. Guantánamo’s medical victims (Sub-

Editorial,The Hindu, Chennai, 31.12.2010)

The reputation of the United States will be

seriously damaged by its use of the anti-malarial drug

mefloquione, marketed as Lariam, on all detainees at

Guanmtánamo Bay. According to several studies, most

notably those published in the British Medical Journal

in 2001 and 2003, the drug causes severe

neuropsychological side-effects, including depression,

hallucinations, and homicidal and suicidal thoughts.

These are of a greater intensity than those caused by

other anti-malarials. Lariamřs manufacturers, Roche,

recorded suicidal side-effects in the 1990s, and even the

U.S. militaryřs procedures for treating its own personnel

prefer the use of other drugs. Medical staff at

Guantánamo assumed, however, that all detainees were

at risk of Malaria; they also claimed that 40% of the

Afghan population was infected, when the World Health

Organisationřs figure for 2002 was 13%. They did not

even test the detainees for Malaria in advance, and

administered doses of 1250 mg. which were five times

the normal prophylactic dose. Nor was there any prior

investigation for contraindicating conditions, which

include pre-existing post-traumatic stress disorder, and

anxiety.

The issue go beyond the comment by a U.S. army

public health physician that the use of mefloquine at

Guantánamo was an Ŗegregious malpractice.ŗ First, the

Bush administrationřs disregard of the scientific

evidence was consistent with its contempt for all

evidence that did not support its policies. Over lariam,

it ignored its own documents stating there was no risk

that Malaria would be reintroduced to Cuba by carriers

at Guantánamo; the good health island has been

malaria-free for half a century. Washington also

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 125

imposed a veil of secrecy. Military doctors who raised

doubts about mefloquine were ordered to remain silent,

and President Bush gave the Secretary of Health and

Human Services unprecedented authority to classify

information. Researchers at the Seton Hall School of

Law have concluded that by the governmentřs own

analysis, the use of mefloquine at Guantánamo may

have breached U.S. federal law and the U.N.

Convention Against Torture. Mr. BUSH decreed

furthermore that the Convention did not apply to

detainees in the ŘWar on Terror.ř His Deputy Secretary

of Defense, Paul Wolfowitz, ordered that the

requirement for informed consent could be waived

when Ŗmedical productsŗ were being developed for the

armed forces. The combination of secrecy and

mendacity strengthens the likelihood that at

Guantánamo the U.S. military engaged in medical

experimentation on captives. The modern history of

that practice is sheer evil. [So much the scientific

medicine which is a bane. I am surprised that in spite of

all these, there are homeopaths who want to join this

Řscientificř band wagon! If we do so Homeopathy will

no more be a Řblessedř business = KSS]

IV. Is it Homeopathy?

Setting the Record straight. PUNZO, Molly (HT.

29, 3/2009)

In June 2009, FDA issued a warning: letter about

Zicam, a nasal spray, labeled Ŗhomeopathicŗ, because

one of its ingredients is a highly dilute solution of Zinc

gluconate, that it may damage the sense of smell in

these who use it. Within days more anti-homeopathy

press coverage. NCH swung quickly into action and

filed detailed documented rebuttals to set the records

straight. Comprehensive information on Facebook and

on NCH website were posted. The network of members

helped to testify publicly the safety of Homeopathy.

It is essential that those who wish to maintain their

freedom to use Homeopathy to speak out, but not only

in its defense when it is attacked. To give Homeopathy

the credibility it deserves, people who have benefitted

from it need to say so, loudly and clearly and in as many

arenas as possible.

V. Rock Legend tells story of healing. (HT. 29,

3/2009).

Roger DALTREY 65, of the bond The Who spoke

at an event staged by Prince CHARLES. In 1981, his

eight month old son Jamie had an intestinal complaint

that left doctors baffled. He had inflamed guts and

bowels and doctors had been sticking cameras down his

gullet but got no where. A homeopath prescribed some

powders and within two weeks he was gaining weight

and came back to life.

- The Express (UK), May 14, 2009.

VI. Classical Homeopathy improves Psoriasis.

(HT. 29, 3/2009).

A multicenter study by researches at Charite

University in Berlin evaluated effects of Classical

homeopathic treatment in patients with Psoriasis. 45

doctors treated 82 adults over 2 years. the severity of

Psoriasis decreased and patient quality of life improved

markedly.

- Drug Law Weekly, May 26, 2009.

Journal of the European Academy of

Dermatology and Venereology 2009;

23(5) : 538-543).

VII. Tosanini helped by Homeopathy. (HT. 29,

3/2009).

During the 1931-32 season with New York

Philharmonic that the great conductor Arturo Toscanini

developed a problem with his right arm that threatened

to curtail his conducting career. American doctors

could do nothing to resolve the problem. Alberto

RINALDI, a homeopathic doctor in Italy managed to

cure him, restoring him to such good health that he fell

in love with the girl next door. Not surprisingly he

returned regularly, even conducting the town band on

occasion.

Irish Times, July 18, 2009.

VIII. According to a new National Center for Health

Statistics (NCHS) Survey, Americans spend 3.1 billion

dollars on Homeopathy or a little more than 9% of the

total spent on complementary and Alternative Medicine.

(HT. 29, 3/2009).

National Health Statistics reports; no.18,

HYATTSVILLE, M.D.: NCHS 2009.

IX. Mr. Lillard Goes to Washington. Homeopathic

company Honored at the White House by the President

& U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

COULTER, Catherine, R. (HT. 29, 3/2009).

During the week of May 16-23. 2009, the U.S.

SBA celebrated the achievements of 53 winners of the

State Small Business Person of the year awards. The

recipient of this award from the State of West Virginia

is Vice-President of NCH, Joe LILLARD, owner of

Washington Homeopathic Products.

In a speech before the Governor in June 2009, Joe

LILLARD offered a ŘVitalř statistic. According to

WHO, homeopathy is number two in the world, just

behind native herbal medicine. It is followed by

traditional oriental medicine and only then by allopathic

medicine in the fourth place.

X. The Myristca sebifera tree of Brazil, also known

as Viola sebifera, is one of the species at risk of

extinction from greenhouse gases. According to

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scientists, the entire range of these trees could face

extinction as early as 2050 Ŕ BBC News on Line Ŕ Jan.

7, 2004 (HT. 29, 3/2009). [We have already last source

of Sanicula aqua. We cannot afford Myristica serifera

also = KSS]

XI. Conference Report: Homeopathy for developing

countries. Amersfoort, The Netherlands Ŕ June 2009

QUIRK, Tina (HT. 29, 3/2009).

More than 100 dedicated homeopaths volunteering

their skills and knowledge, representing 25 countries

met to discuss the issues, challenges and

accomplishments of the various projects. The project

directors uniformly reported a collaborative working

environment with their local communities and

acceptance by the local people. Sustainability is the aim

of all the programs and responding to the desire of the

local people to learn Homeopathy is a key component.

After experiencing healing and well-being many

patients have gone on to study Homeopathy.

The atmosphere of the Conference was one of

sharing and made plans for future communication.

Group discussions planned for multi-centre research

studies and to co-operate in fund raising.

A Nepalese graduate inspired the participants by a

case of severe circulatory problems exacerbated by

smoking and alcoholism whose toes of one foot were

amputated due to gangrene, treated with Secale over 18

months, restored circulation to the other foot and

surgery was avoided.

India was represented by the Ministry of Health.

The tours was on promoting maternal and child health

care, increasing homeopathic treatment for this group

resulted in significant decrease in pre- and post natal

disorders. Honduras reported on a successful Public

Health study using Psorinum to treat parasitic Chagas

disease.

The Finlay Institute study of Leptospirosis

prevention in Cuba was most remarkable since it

involved administering the Nosode to 2-4 million

people in regions with normally high infection rates.

The result was a dramatic decrease in infection, even

lower than the rate for all of Cuba. The Institute, a

vaccine development center, is recommending

homeopathic prophylactis as a ŖMassive preventive,

especially useful in emergent diseases and epidemics,ŗ

and offering their facilities for homeopathic research.

[Go on ahead Cuba. Congratulations = KSS.]

XII. Edward CONWAY, a member of the NCH

Board of Directors, has designed the New NCH

website. Now members can comment on almost every

piece of content added to the site. Discussion group

among NCH members is a possibility. Members will

have the ability to have their own blogs and a

community blog where popular blog entries will be

displayed. A member directory is also provided.

www.NationalcenterforHomeopathy.org

(HT. 29, 4/2009)

XIII. In the November 2009 issue of O, The

Oprah Magazine, Dr. Mehmetřs Ozřs column, ŖFour

treatments for Headachesŗ he recommends that

Acupuncture and Homeopathy are worthy adjunct

therapies. (HT. 29, 4/2009)

XIV. Popular internet news and information

website, The Huffington Post, has added a regular

blog by Dana ULLMAN, homeopath. (HT. 29, 3/2009)

www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman

XV. Researches concluded that homeopathic doses

of Gelsemium positively influenced the emotional

responses of mice to novel environments, as

evidenced by an improvement in exploratory behavior

and decrease in fear. (HT. 29, 4/2009).

e-CAM online advance publication, 2009 Sept. 14

ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/nep 139v1.

XVI. In loving Memory. Allen C. NEISWANDER

(HT. 29, 3/2009)

Dr. Allen C. NEISWANDER, a pillar of

homeopathic community for more than 60 years,

passed away on October 8, 2009 at the age of 95 years.

XVII. Looking to the next Generations. President

Message. MERIZALDE, A. Bernardo (AJHM. 101,

4/2008).

On October 25-26, 2008, an extraordinary scientific

meeting and an AIH membership meeting was held to

discuss the logistics of a common areas of interest in the

teaching program which included five groups. (a)

curriculum design (b) curriculum content (c) teaching

delivery, developing of resources and quality assurance

(d) teaching team development. Collaboration, course

marketing and team communication (e) clinical training.

The strengths, weaknesses and opportunities that

could be present in our current situation were discussed

and summarized by each group Ŕ to strengthen the

organization and Homeopathy.

An interesting idea from some participants was that

we need not follow the rules of research of the

conventional establishment and noted how, with each

publication the goalpost is placed farther and farther

away. We may need to come up with our own valid

evaluation parameters and not play into the

conventional game plan. [We fully agree with this

idea. = KSS].

XVIII. Conference Report.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 127

Report to the USA on the 63

Congress of the

LMHI Oostende, Belgium. May 20 Ŕ 24, 2008.

Reported by Richard HILTNER. (AJHM. 101, 4/2008).

Michel Van WASENHOVEN gave the Keynote

address on the theme of Congress: Evidence Based

Homeopathy.

May 21: Christian BOIRON stressed that it is

important to adhere with oneřs ideals, yet be willing to

bend as more truth comes to light.

Ton NICOLAI stressed the importance of

Homeopathy associating with Complementary and

Alternative Medicine.

Giles CHAUFFERIN presented a study on the

ŖCost effectiveness of Homeopathyŗ.

Tarakeshwar JAIN presented his research on a

computer program called ŖKenboŗ.

Frederick SCHROYENS illustrated the ability of

computers to repertorise provings.

Carlo REZZANI introduced an important project

for the collection clinical data called CLI. FI. COL.

Frederique HONEGGER spoke on recurrent

vaginal yeast infections.

Nikcolae NAGHIU presented a study on Autism

and Asperger Syndrome involving 118 children from

1½ to 15 years-old. These children were followed for 6

Ŕ 24 months main parameters were examined:

Socialization, Language skills, Motor Function,

Cognitive Abilities and Self-Care. Eight children

showed remarkable improvement. The others

demonstrated improvement more slowly.

Francesco MACRI, from Italy presented a study on

Allergic Disorders in children.

Ana Paula MAIA described the results of a study

involving 279 children with Cerebral Palsy in Brazil. 57

of these patients were treated for aggressive behavioral

disturbances, with a history of injury, which were

treated effectively with Arnica, Natrum sulphuricum

and Phosphorus. Aggressive tendencies were treated

with Belladonna, Stramonium, Bufo rana, Hyoscyamus.

Jussara Diffini Santa MARIA found that children

treated with Homeopathy had fewer problems with

their oral health.

Luc UYTTENHOVE found that many with pain

from wisdom tooth eruption did well on Cheiranthus

cheiri. There was also evidence of effectiveness in

chronic conditions of boney structure loss with Heckla

lava and Silicea and low costs of Homeopathy.

Jean Pierre JANSEN did a pilot study to determine

if the placebo requirement for Provings were really

needed.

Houda ARJOUN developed a timely report on the

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) involving 20 infants

treated with Homeopathy and 20 infants with

conventional medicines. The study demonstrated the

efficacy.

Fabio BALOGNANI worked with Federal

Brazilian Homeopathic Clinic of Neurological and

Developmental Diseases (FBHCND) in treating 54

children with Muscular Dystrophy with homeopathic

medicines.

May 22: Peter FISHER gave a well outlined-paper on

ŖResearch in Homeopathyŗ. He reported Ŗall of the

four comprehensive reviews of randomized controlled

trials have concluded that, overall, Homeopathy

probably differs from placebo. [What does this mean?:

ŖProbably differs from Placebo?ŗ After so much of

Řresearchř. Every issue of the journal Homeopathy

(Journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy, England, Ed.

Peter FISHER) has been carrying mostly Řresearchř

articles; with all that this Řcondescendingř acceptance! I

am sure that we will never succeed in getting the

acceptance of Homeopathy by the Hegmony Medicine.

Really, do we need it? = KSS].

Veterinary studies were also presented covering

such disorders as:bovine subclinical mastitis, vaginal

leiomyoma, and cold intolerance enteritis in guinea

fowl.

Dentistry: German Dario BENITEZ found that Arnica,

and Naproxen were equally effective in relieving the

pain after extraction of tooth.

Gloria Andre FEIGHELSTEIN correlated dental

flourosis and constitutional fluoric homeopathic

characteristics.

Hilton TIBA spoke of treating temporomandibular

Joint Syndrome with homeopathic medicine.

Gustavo DOMINICI spoke of proving of Hydrogen

peroxidatum. This remedy has potential in the

treatment of Dementia or Alzheimerřs disease. The

results of the Proving is summarized: sluggishness.

Lex Rutten & Erik STOLPER discussed about

likelihood Ratio and the Bayesian algorithm in

determining the probability of homeopathic medicine

being effective for a patient.

Marie-Noelle ISSAUTIER spoke of animals

ingesting St. Johnřs Wort, developed skin eruptions

when exposed to sun.

Phillippe MARIJNEN designed a study with

Boiron by treating skin eruptions from sun exposure

with Hypericum with 85.7% improvement.

Thierry DUNGLER presented a study of flushes of

cheek not associated with menopause. 87% improved

with Sanguinaria canadensis 7CH for three months.

Gerhard HUBMAN uses mikcro-immunology (MI)

along with constitutional Homeopathy and

homotoxicology to treat Cancer patients.

D.P. RASTOGI, explored the concept of the time

tested Boenninghausen method of obtaining the correct

homeopathic medicine.

Maria Gloria Alcover LILLO examined a case of

depression as an example of the Mexican Schoolřs eight

principles of Hahnemannřs Organon of Medicine.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 128

These eight were systematized by the Mexican

School in the early 1900s and are as follows:

1. Vis Merdicatrix Natura: The healing force in the

patientřs own nature.

2. Pure Expermentation on a healthy individual.

3. Similia Similibus Curentur or Like cures Like.

4. Morbid Individuality states that every individual

suffers according to his/her own particular nature.

5. Individuality of the Remedy: every single natural

substance has own irreplaceable mode of action.

6. Vital Dynamism or the operative mode which

belongs to each living being.

7. Minimum Dose or the minimum specific imprint

required for a homeopathic stimulus.

8. The Individual Pathological Tendency or

Miasmatic Condition: the morbid constitutional

state whether inherited or acquired which is brought

about by the permanent, arbitrary and unnatural

suppression of acute illnesses, which is the forming

mechanism in all chronic illnesses.

Leon SCHEEPERS expanded on the proving of

Gallium aparine. The key symptoms: a feeling of

being a zombie; complete wrong sense of time:

headache; tiredness.

Jacques IMBERECHTS spoke on the proving of

Hecla lava which was carried out in different countries

from 2000 Ŕ 2008.

Jean Pierre JANSEN presented a paper on a Multi-

center, prospective, double blind proving on Potentilla

anserine (Silverweed) in 10 provers.

23 May

Rene HALM delivered a tribute to the famous Dr.

Madeleine BASTIDE, French professor of immunology

who explained high dilution homeopathic effects by a

scientific paradigm.

Christian ENDLER, discussed the results of a study

on the effect of Thyroxin 30x on frogs.

Louis REY discussed the specific physical effects

of ultra-high dilutions confirmed by experiments

measuring nuclear magnetic resonance, calorimeter and

electrical conductivity.

Lyudmil PEYCHEV presented a positive study on

ratsř learning and memory after long term treatment

with placebo, Anacardium orientale, Baryta carbonica,

Kali phosphoricum and Phosphoric acidum in 30CH

potencies.

Jan SCHOLTEN gave an all day seminar on 17

Lanthanides.

Joyce FRYE described a U.S. National Health

Interview Survey in 2002 of users of Homeopathy.

Purnima SHUKLA spoke of treatment of 288 cases

of breast lumps treated at a homeopathic research

center in India from 2000 to 2006.

Camila SIQUEIRA found that virus H3N2 effective

in 30CH potency in a 10% solution against the virus in

vitro.

Walter GLUECK gave a fascinating presentation

on the aspects of food as homeopathic healing agents;

Ŗin the kingdom of foods slumber still many treasures

yet to be discovered via provingŗ.

Sonia BADULICI presented a study of orthoergic

Dermatitis treated by Homeoplasmine (a patent drug).

Modesto ROCA delivered a report on 16 cases of

Prolactinomas with excellent results with Lac caninum

30 thrice weekly and constitutional medicine.

Marques ARPA described two impressive cases of

sepsis after trauma treated with Arnica montana. Both

of these patients were in the ICU and their chance of

surviving was considered extremely small. One was a

79 year-old woman who had abdominal trauma leading

to sepsis. She was given LM1→LM3 Arnica. The

other was a man 50 years old who developed sepsis

after a tooth extraction. He also was given LM1→LM3

Arnica. They both did very well.

A. and N.C. SUKUL related the differences

obtained in spectral patterns, position of peaks and

intensity of absorbance of potentized drugs from their

mother tinctures and their diluents.

Jean-Luc CHICHE observed 83% mothers were

helped with Actea racemosa 30 in cervical dystocia

after birth; they experienced relief within 30 minutes.

Aurelie COLAS stated positive results of Luteinum

(Progesterone) 15CH for Nausea in Pregnancy.

Carl Rudolf KLINKENBERG outlined 7 criteria

for verification of cured proving symptoms.

Anna PLA described proving of Salix frogilis

(Cracked Willow)

Claudio ARAUJO gave a beautiful lengthy

description of the essence of Anacardium orientalis.

Rinaldo octavio VARGAS gave a scholarly paper

on ŖMethod, Science & Medicineŗ describing various

philosophies in the conventional Cartesian approach

with the broader holistic view.

Karin LENGER gave what could be an historical

presentation on how homeopathic medicines work.

She stated that homeopathic potencies are photons

with different resonance frequencies.

Naoual BAUJEDAINI presented a study to prove

that Gelsemium mediates its analgesic and anxiolytic

effects by resulating the secretion of allopregnanolone.

Anisur RAHMAN Khuda-BUKSH delivered an

important comprehensive set of studies on a variety of

village people who were exposed to arsenic

contaminated drinking water. Arsenicum album 30, 200

or LM3 was given with quite convincing results. The

remedy not only helped in outward mobilization of

arsenic, but also deeply affected the hematological

system and had a multi-faceted action on physiological

and molecular levels of other systems as well.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 129

Leon SCHEEPERS, Maria GOOSENS, and Yves

FAINGNAERT suggested that the link between modern

science and the homeopathic miasmatic approach can

be made through Ŗepigeneticsŗ Ŕ hidden influences

upon the genes.

Carmen STURZA gave an important proving of

Yterbium nitricum. 13 provers were involved.

Guido MORTELMANS described some of the

symptoms of the proving of Insulinum humanum.

Michael TEUT discussed a proving on Galphinia

glauca.

Jamshed RANDARIA gave a good history of the

Bowel Nosodes. Proteus has many symptoms of anger

that would make one think also of Chamomilla, Hepar

sulph., Nux vomica, etc.

24 May: Roberto PETRUCCI delivered an excellent

presentation on the clinical verification of the proving of

Falcon Peregrinus Disciplinatus.

Leon SCHEEPERS discussed the Belgian proving

of Lobelia cardinalis.

P. SELDOVA, I.A. LENEVA, A.S.

LAPTITSKAYA offered more evidence of the

effectiveness of Oscillococcinum in protecting against

influenza and acute respiratory viral infections.

XIX. Randi’s Bluff Called: His Apparent

Misgivings Torpedo the Homeopathic Experiment

That Was Not to Be. George VITHOULKAS (AJHM.

102, 1/2009).

This article appears on the website of the

International Academy of Classical Homeopathy

(url:http://www.vithoulkas.com/content/view/92/114/lan

g.en/)

After George VITHOULKAS and affiliated parties

agree to conduct and organize a detailed clinical

experiment to prove Homeopathyřs efficacy in

response to the one million dollar prize offered by

James Randi, a series of suspicious delays and changing

requirements on the part of Mr. RANDI seriously

jeopardize the projectřs completion. In the course of

these impediments, Mr. RANDI seemed to take every

available opportunity to malign the credibility of

Professor VITHOULKAS and Homeopathy.

XX. Seminar Review: An Introduction to

Homeopathy & The Bowel Nosodes presented by

Dr.Russell MALCOLM. Reported by MOSKOWITZ,

Richard (AJHM. 102, 1/2009).

The 4 day Seminar was held at Westchester

Marriott Hotel, New York on 23-26, Oct. 2008. First

two days were taught by Dr. MALCOLM on

ŖIntroduction to Medical Homeopathyŗ with brief

segments by Dr. WHITMONT, as well as Susan

SALTZMAN, Jay BORNEMAN of Standard

Homeopathic and Bernando MERIZALDE.

The last two days were dedicated to Bowel

Nosodes. The micro ecology of intestinal flora were

discussed and their indications.

Bacillus no.7: Infection, overwork, drugs, antibiotics,

fatigue states, Arthritis, joints, musculoskeletal

symptoms.

Bacillus no.10: STDřs, opportunistic infections, dietary

fads and supplements, and overuse of OTC, herbal,

holistic, homeopathic, and naturopathic remedies.

Dysentere co.: drugs, antibiotics, infections, hay fever

and hyperimmune states, thyroid and endocrine

imbalance, chest pain, and local dysbiosis.

Fæcalis: poor diet, cancer, surgery, chemotherapy,

radiotherapy, post-operative stress, birth trauma, and

inherited dysbiosis.

Gaertner: infective, antibiotics, drugs, immune or

autoimmune disease (arthritis, malabsorption, IBD).

Morgan-Gaertner: drugs, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle,

food-borne bacterial toxins, chronic low-grade GI or

GU inflammation, menopause.

Morgan Pure: poor diet, infected food, drugs, steroids,

infection, alcohol, weaning, all systems.

Mutabile: emotional stress, drugs, herbal and

homeopathic remedies, laxatives, probiotics, UTIřs,

asthma, diverticulitis.

Proteus: persistent, unremitting stress, infections,

antibiotics, CNS, peripheral and autonomic nervous

system imbalance, fibrositis, musculoskeletal

symptoms, IBS; and

Sycotic Co: infections, URIřs, vaccines, antibiotics,

drugs, stress, catarrh (sinuses, UR tract) and

proliferative states, skin, body orifies, GI and GU tracts,

arthritis.

XXI. Docs prescribe discounted Vaccines. (Times

of India, Chennai dated 29.3.2010). In yet another

study, consultant paediatrician Dr. Yash PAUL from

Jaipur found that the difference between the MRP and

the price for doctors or chemists is very small for

Vaccines which are part of the National Immunisation

Programme. The huge discount of Rs.500-600 is only

for the newer vaccines. Dr. PAUL points out that

doctors would be tempted to administer newer

discounted vaccines which give them a huge profit

margin.

ŖIf the difference between the MRP and cost to the

doctors is equal or nominal, doctors may consider the

comparative merits of the vaccines instead,ŗ states Dr.

PAUL. He cites the example of the DPT vaccine,

recommended for universal immunization, which has an

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 130

MRP of Rs.15.50, and given to doctors at the discounted

price of Rs.12.50, a minimal difference, whereas the

MRP of DaPT, a modified newer version of DPT is

Rs.699 and the cost for doctors is Rs.595. In addition to

sending private letters to physicians, companies have

now started advertising the price of their vaccines to

doctors in medical journals. Chiron Panacea has placed

advertisements in paediatrics journals quoting the price

of the pentavalent vaccine ŘEasyfiveř at Rs.275 to the

doctor while its MRP is Rs.585. ŖWhile physicians will

incur some costs for the storage of vaccines the margin

of profit is still huge, and could be termed as

profiteering. Such high margins are difficult to find in

other professions or industries or in the case of other

goods,ŗ say Dr. LODHA and Dr. BHARGAVA.

The study concludes that such huge margins on

offer clearly indicate that the retail prices being paid by

parents and patients are highly inflated. ŖThe

companies can afford to sell their vaccines for far lower

prices without a loss in profitability,ŗ say Dr. LODHA

and Dr. BHARGAVA.

XXII. Ferozepur is the border district of Punjab

(India) with Pakistan is suffering from toxicity of

groundwater in over four dozen villages. An increasing

number of children require wheel chairs as they fall

victim to crippling disorders. There are children who

have lost their eyesight. Children also suffered from

Psoriasis, Mutilation of organs, Skeletal disorders,

Organ failures, Cancer, Mental disorientation, etc. the

Sutley river gets polluted by industrial effluents. This

water seeped into the ground in these villages. (The

Hindu, March 11, 2011).

XXIII. Even as questions are being raised about

whether the Swine flu scare was exaggerated to benefit

pharmaceutical companies, evidence has surfaced

showing that several members of the WorldHealth

Organization(WHO) Vaccine board, which pushed

countries to buy the H1N1vaccine, have had significant

financial ties with various pharmaceutical companies.

It was revealed that Prof…. a Finnish member of

the WHO board on Vaccines, ŘStrategic Advisory

Group of Experts (SAGE) received almost 6.3 million

Euros in 2009 for his Vaccine research Programme from

Vaccine manufacturer. SAGE advises WHO, Chief and

recommends which Vaccines and how much of it

member countries should purchase for the pandemic.

There are other Research Scientists who accepted

research grant from other manufacturers. Many of the

pharmaceutical companies with which the Vaccine

Board members had ties are also manufacturers of

Vaccines, including the H1N1 Vaccine. ….. (Times of

India, Chennai 13 Jan. 2010).

XXIV. Was H1N1 outbreak a false alarm? Rema

NAGARAJAN.

Many of the pharmaceutical companies with which

the vaccine board members had ties are also

manufacturers of vaccines, including the H1N1

vaccine. Members of SAGE are required to declare all

professional and financial interests, including funding

received from pharmaceutical companies ore

consultancies or other forms of professional engagement

with pharmaceutical companies.

The names and affiliations of members of SAGE

and of SAGE working groups are published on the

WHO website, together with meeting reports and

declarations of interest submitted by the experts.

Allegations of undeclared conflicts of interest are

taken very seriously by WHO, and are immediately

investigated,ŗ says the statement. However, there is no

such disclosure by these SAGE members on the WHO

website.

The accusation of Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, head of

health at the Council of Europe, that the Swine Flue

outbreak was a Řfalse pandemicř driven by drug

companies that made billions of dollars from creating a

worldwide scare has added fuel to this controversy.

Dr. Wodarg is quoted as saying: ŖThey have made

them squander tight healthcare resources for inefficient

vaccine strategies and needlessly exposed millions of

healthy people to the risk of unknown side-effects of

insufficiently tested vaccines.ŗ

Despite the huge pandemic scare created by the

WHO officials, less than 1% people infected with swine

flu died as the disease swept through the world. Several

European governments have admitted to being stuck

with a huge surplus of H1N1 vaccines worth millions.

The UK government has stated that it faced wasting

millions of pounds if it was unable to get out of the huge

orders for vaccines placed with the pharmaceutical giant

GSK. The UK is already reportedly considering selling

or giving away millions of doses. Several other

countries, including France, have already announced

plans to sell off their surplus vaccines.

Interestingly, in the UK, it had earlier been reported

that Sir Roy Anderson, a scientist who advised the UK

government on swine flue, also held a post on the board

of GSK, for which he was being paid £1,16,000

annually.

However, GSK claimed that he had declared his

commercial interests and had not attended any meetings

related to the purchase of drugs or vaccine for either the

government or GSK. (Times of India, 13 Jan. 2010).

XXV. An International group of experienced

homeopaths started a Delphi Project

(Documentation and Exchange of Lively and Pure

Homeopathic Information).

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 131

The aim is to collect good cases cured with a single

remedy in a database. The website is

http://www.delphi-project.com. Send an e-mail to

contact @delphi-project.com with the words Ŗadd to

mail listŗ in the subject heading. Just register and send

your best cases. Ose HEIN (HL. 20, 2/2007).

XXVI. Sun Sand and Sensation.

A report on the Goa seminar by Homeopathic

Research and Charities Group 2006. WILLIAMS,

Rebecca.

The main learning points were understanding the

case on the level of vital sensation and arriving at the

kingdom, then sub-kingdom and then the source. This

understanding has put a new emphasis on how we can

learn Materia Medica.

Some notes on energy picture of Sub-kingdom.

Insects are given and differentiated from Spider.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

LIST OF JOURNALS

Full addresses of the Journals covered by this

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest are given below:

--------------------------------------------------------

1. AHZ: Allgemeine Homöopathische Zeitung, Karl

F. Haug Verlag, Hüthig GmbH, im Weiher 10,

69121, HEIDELBERG, GERMANY.

2. AJHM: American Journal of Homeopathic

Medicine, formerly Journal of the American

Institute of Homeopathy (JAIH). 801 N. Fairfax

Street, Suite 306 Alexandria, VA 22314.

3. CCR.: Homeopathic Clinical Case Recorder, Dr.

Subhash Meher, Near Hotel Chanakya,

Anandrishiji Marg, Burudgaon Road,

AHMEDNAGAR-414001.

4. THE HINDU: Newspaper, Chennai Ŕ 600 002.

5 HH.: Homeopathic Heritage, B. Jain Publishers

Overseas, 1920, Street No.10, Chuna Mandi,

Paharganj, Post Box 5775, New Delhi - 110 055.

6. HL: Homeopathic Links, Homeopathic Research

& Charities, F/s, Saraswat Colony, Linking Road,

Santacruz (W), MUMBAI Ŕ 400 054.

7. HOM: Formerly British Homeopathic Journal

(BHJ), Homeopathy, Faculty of Homeopathy, 29

Park Street West, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU13BE,

UK.

8. HT: Homeopathy Today, National Center for

Homeopathy, 801, North Fairfax Street, Suite 306,

ALEXANDRIA, VA. 22314, USA.

9. IJHDR: International Journal of High Dilution

Resarch, Sibiu, Romania. Via Internet.

10. S & C: Science and Culture, Indian Science News

Association, 92, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road,

KOLKATA Ŕ 700 009.

11. Times of India: Newspaper, Chennai Ŕ 600 002.

12. ZKH: Zeitschrift für Klassische Homöopathie, Karl

F. Haug Verlag, Hüthig GmbH, Im Weiher 10, D-

69121 HEIDELBERG, GERMANY.

========================================

Vital disorder cannot be turned into order except by

something similar in quality to the Vital Force. It is

not similitude in quantity that we want, in weights and

measures, but it is similarity in quality in power, in

plane, that must be sought for. Medicines, therefore,

cannot affect the high and interior planes of the

physical economy unless they are raised to the plane

of similarity in quality.

The individual who needs Sulphur in the very highest

degrees may take Sulphur sufficient to move his

bowels, may rub it upon the skin, may wear it in his

stockings, can take Sulphur baths, all without effect

upon his disease. In that form the drug is not in

correspondence with his sickness, it does not affect

him in the same plane in which he is sick, and so it

cannot affect the cause and flow from these to the

circumference. - JTK

(From The American Homeopath, Vol.2/1995)

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 132

PART II

(This Section contains abstracts/extracts from selected articles; even the entire article in some case)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. For a rhetoric of the praxis

ROSENBAUM Paulo

(IJHDR V. 3, 6/2004)

ŖIf we stop giving the word 'similitude' the vague and

someway popular meaning that we took from the

beginning, if we try to precise the meaning of

'similitude' through a comparison with the 'identity',we

will conclude, I believe, that identity refers to the

geometric, and similitude to the vital.ŗ

Bergson

In one of these nights of insomnia to what every

one of us are submitted in atypical summers, we got

tempted to wander in Internet looking for what is being

produced on national and international homeopathic

literature. First of all was necessary to put filters against

all the things one can find under the keyword

"homeopathy". Experts in eluding, we opened the heart

and let us go through the flow of web labyrinth, the

most nighthawk and addictive habit that technology has

invented.

What was the balance of that insomnia? Apart from

a following day of doubtful performance, what was

found was an enormous variety of publications

dedicated to the practice. The crushing majority of

books and texts directs the public to easy prescription,

trying to demonstrate how simple it is to condense the

practice under a prescription shape.

We essayed two possible interpretations for the

phenomena: euphoria and depression. Euphoria for

those who think that simplicity is a result of the

reductionism. Depression for those who tried to

comprehend practice as a very difficult delivery Ŕ still

in the period of expulsion Ŕ of several generations of

Hahnemann's commentators.

And how did we get here? I mean, this is not a

secret, it doesn't happen only among laics. But what I

was wondering is: why the books of homeopathic theory

are condemned previously to failure? Have we reached

such a maturity grade that we can prescind theoretical

discussions? It's not like that. We are, by the way, very

far from it. Since there is not a finished science Ŕ once

the science is characterized precisely by the continuity

of the adjustment of its programs Ŕ homeopathy is not,

and should not be, exception to the norm. Work has just

begun; we still will have to feed lots of disorders and

stimulate our contradictions to elevate the tension of the

debate, guiding it to the field of the ideas.

The results? We don't know. We just think that this

is the only way out of the circular embroil that we

inherited. But, what about the practice? Doubtless,

homeopathic practice must be put back in debate. With

all the strength and radicality it deserves.

But in this case, we have to have a mass production

Ŕ I mean, to edit what has already been produced Ŕ what

is built practically. Especially in unicist practice. That's

why we emphasize, in our last edition, the case reports,

so rare in our area, editorially speaking. Because until

now there isn't, and there never was, a literature about

the practice of the theory.

Meanwhile we drowse, the gap between theory and

practice will keep on bothering homeopathy's students.

Or with the ghosts of unquestionable doctrines, or with

the absurd and traditional reductions.

Would be possible to create something really new?

What we desire is that the points of application of

the theory Ŕ so emphasized in the unicist courses, but

seldom enjoyed or demonstrated practically Ŕ are

justified. Because even the best courses don't allow that

homeopathy's students acquire clinical experience

necessary to ambulatorial spaces.

The truth is that only with a great effort of self-

education the student acquires experience and readiness

on homeopathic medicine. Lots of them give up here.

Others continue trusting in intuitions. Well, but

intuitions demand two previous requirements: very well

consolidated theory and techniques. Intuitions

complement, never guide. When they do it, they

sacrifice concepts. They're instincts, not intuitions.

Some could reason that this difficulty of passing

from theory to praxis is inherent to medicine and also

occurs in biomedicine's tradition. And it's not less true.

But there is a very important difference that deserves

attention: in these areas abound technical manuals, a

huge didactic and supporting material, besides a series

of technological instruments that allow that this turns to

be a less anguishing task, and, above all, less lonely.

What definitively doesn't happen in homeopathy.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 133

The homeopath has to comply on training literally in

rifts. Some dig cavities in their daily clinic. The

neophytes depend on patients that accept to migrate to

Homeopathy. Much of them experiment, timidly, in

spaces of public clinics and ambulatories, and private

medical services in which not always the attendance can

be semiotechnically appropriated. Maybe the proximity

of a medical residence in homeopathy, the expansion of

attendance and with new places and adequate conditions

to training the picture can be eased, even though it won't

be reversed. Homeopathy still needs to learn how to

settle its practice that is essentially ambulatorial, with

the reentering on hospital system; because previous

unplanned experiences produced frustration as well as

disservice to homeopathic movement.

And by the way, which is the true diagnostic? We

presume that under these circumstances there isn't

critical learning or density of supervised attendance.

This leads us to the conclusion that the beginner almost

always starts the clinic work in precarious conditions. I

mean, very precarious.

Since there aren't great masters anymore, the option

is to produce more didactic resources, directed to the

unicist, but not only to him. As a matter of fact, we need

to redefine unicism far beyond of what is called "classic

homeopathy"; it really can start to be all the

homeopathic technique, which goal is the vitalist focus

centered in the subject care.

We only know that maturity is always transitory.

There will be always a lot more to be written, rethought

and corrected. Let the scientific rigidity to overwhelm

the ones that consider themselves satisfied. We are the

ones who believe that audacity and creativity must

impregnate unstoppably the researchers. And, guess

what?, we still are very thirsty.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Homeopathy and its paradigms: semiotic, vitalistic

and fragmentary

ROSENBAUM Paulo

(IJHDR V. 2, 5, 2003)

G-d is in the particulars - Aby WARBURG

Each physician approaches his/her homeopathic

practice from definite assumptions and personal

expectations. These may be used to establish a kind of

Ŗpractitioners profilingŗ. There are those who are

satisfied with almost nothing and those who seek utter

perfection and still, those who are so much lacking in

curiosity that are blind to many central issues.

Unluckily, medical education trains practitioners to

focus on the control of anatomical damage. And we may

not forget a group that may be called Ŗhyperpragmaticŗ:

they are so convinced of apriori limitations to

Homeopathy, that they claim for themselves the right to

establish definite boundaries concerning what

Homeopathy may expect to treat. As a result,

Homeopathy is reduced to a structural positivity so

schematic that its true role becomes blurred. What all of

them have in common is the Ŗpractice of an agnostic

Homeopathyŗ.

In the face of their skepticism, it

becomes very difficult to find out if Homeopathy might

be truly held accountable for the results it claims.

No matter such considerations, itřs indisputable that

Homeopathy faces a crisis, although many of its

protagonists may not be aware of it. There is a small

seed of consensus, regarding the evident fact that

Homeopathy is consistently being institutionalized.

Indeed, we have advanced! Yet, we still need to answer

the question: in what direction? Only then weřll be able

to plan the next steps.

The homeopathic movement entered this century

carrying with it an internal crisis, that demands different

strategies from those employed in previous times. Not

merely an innovative and creative historiographical

approach, but an actual redefinition of our agenda. This

owes to the fact that this crisis reached existential

proportions, as most strangely, Homeopathy remained

impervious to the largest part of its contradictions. This

impasse was expected, it depends on a series of factors

that we arenřt able to discuss in this article for the sake

of brevity. Yet, one of them is easily perceptible: thereřs

a large number of different interpreters of

HAHNEMANNřS work.

Weřre tempted to ask: from all these interpreters,

which are trustworthy and which are merely reediting

favorite authors and ideas? We ask this even while we

know that the answer is actually irrelevant, as all of

them have a right to invoke HAHNEMANNřS

authority. Itřs a well known fact that HAHNEMANNřS

thought changed along time, so that different phases

may be described. Weřll focus on a different inquiry:

will the above mentioned impasse ever be overcome? It

demands multicentric collaboration, as autophagic

censorship and the false polarity between an excess of

tradition and the tentacles of acritical modernization

have prevailed until our own time.

Weřre afraid we havenřt yet grown up so much.

We live in a world surrounded by myths, so

strengthened by oral tradition, that it became almost

impossible to set a common ground for a single

Homeopathy. What we have, in fact, are several

different Ŗhomeopathiesŗ.

Expression suggested by Prof. Dr. José Ricardo Ayres.

Personal communication.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 134

What we need to establish is the epistemic

foundations of our perspective. This is the reason why

we decided to prioritize a definite practical approach:

Homeopathy as the Medicine of the Subject. We must

warn that this means much more than a mere revival of

long forgotten trends. To most practitioners, medical

anthropology may seem anachronic, especially when

confronted to the amazing development of basic

homeopathic research. To address issues such as

suffering as existential anxiety, to employ uncommon

symptoms as the basis of semiology, to understand the

subject in his/her permanent tension between

immanence and transcendence. Even worse when we

suggest that these are precisely the elements that ground

any therapeutic procedure. In short, to think of health as

a notion in permanent resignification.

Many believe that Homeopathy should be guided

by simple evidence, i.e. results. This isnřt wrong. What

we seek belongs to a completely different order of

inquiry: to make us understand as a different clinical

logic.

It may prove useful to shortly summarize the

epistemic rings that led Homeopathy to its present

situation. Weřll pick up the threads that were used to

knit Homeopathy as a Medicine of the Subject.

Symptoms in Homeopathy: Indexical

Historians tell that Medicine as a science began

with HIPPOCRATES. One of the reasons is that he

grounded his semiology on observation. Itřs known that

HIPPOCRATES profited from EMPEDOCLESř

suggestion to establish contrasts between the healthy

and the unhealthy, prioritizing symptoms and signals as

indexes that would modulate the first clinical histories.

Symptoms let us speak of things we have never

seen nor heard before. We cherish the learning of the

diagnostic and prognostic arts, initially as mere

Ŗhuntersŗ of mute hints that will allow us to dominate

our preys, and lately, by employing our cognitive,

sensitive and intuitive skills in order to build a clinical

knowledge from spoken hints. The nature of our

conjectural intellect has precisely the same roots.

In the clinical, as well in other kinds of inquiry, the

use of marginal data to interpret the phenomenic

network Ŕ that is to say, accessory hints and

adventitious symptoms Ŕ doesnřt mean that we may

establish a phenomenon without having actually

experienced it. We may not know beforehand how

something will be, if we havenřt seen it before.

HAHNEMANN was adamant concerning this and

sought to establish a medicine of experimental basis

precisely to escape from systematic apriorism, from a

medicine grounded on theories that took the subject out

of sight.

But medicine, precisely, was looking for a

knowledge built from accumulated experiences, that is

to say, to probe reality in order to find in it hints of non

directly experienced phenomena. The celebrated

aphorism that enunciated MORGAGNIřS goal,

Ŗknowing before seeingŗ couldnřt be more explicit. The

nature of Homeopathy doesnřt oppose this search for

the causes in order to predict their effects. The

application of the Law of Similars depends upon this

same causality. Yet, there is a significant difference:

HAHNEMANN wanted to actualize his empiricism

through a daily and individual agenda, where the

unexpected was decisive. Each single case may only be

known through its unpredictable contents, that are only

revealed here and now. There is certainly a method, but

it takes imprecision into account, itřs an inherent part of

it. One more ingredient in the eternal war between

Racionalists and Empiricists.

While MORGAGNI was amassing autopsies that

would allow him to propose an universal law Ŕ

symptoms are the slaves of anatomic injury Ŕ

HAHNEMANN was ready to relativize the value of that

law: concerning the subject, nothing may be perfectly

predicted, much less a priori prognosticated.

Italian semiotician Carlo GINZBURG

explains

that both historians and physicians equally depend upon

analogy to make inferences, and they usually grasp and

understand reality from indirect Ŕ indexical, conjectural

Ŕ data, which become actualized through immediate

experience and observation.

GINZBURG states that this is the reason why

neither history nor medicine were able to become

Galilean sciences. The experimental method that

required the mathematization of phenomena and their

linear reproducibility, couldnřt have its applicability

guaranteed in specific disciplines, specially those that

focus on unities rather than collections.

Shortly, as the positivity of science invokes

generalization in order to define universals, medicine

hopes Ŕ indeed, itřs forced Ŕ to accept the challenge of

knowing particulars. If the individuum est ineffable, we

may very well infer that itřs impossible to say

something about the individual. And if the historic event

of a human life is in fact an unicum, including

pathology, its record may only become Ŗscientificŗ

through a straining process of abstraction Ŕ

notwithstanding the fact that it will still have to deal

with the constitutive positivist features of the still

prevalent notion concerning science.

On the other hand, GINZBURG tells us that

FREUD only tangentially addressed this issue. The

father of Psychoanalysis was very interested in

Giovanni MORELLI, an Italian art critic. The latter Ŕ

also a physician Ŕ developed an original and successful

method to establish the authorship of paintings.

Personal communication from Prof. Dr. Madel T. Luz

SINAPIH, Rio de Janeiro, 2002.

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GINZBURG explains that MORELLI had no other tool

but his Ŗclinical intuitionŗ: Instead of paying attention to

the overall Ŗstyleŗ of the picture, he would pay close

attention to details, peripheral elements, traces and

vestiges that are usually concealed by generalizations.

This illustrates the semiotic or indexical epistemologic

model.

In the case of MORELLI, it meant to value details,

as abstracted from the almost absentminded observation

of the untrained eye: the shape of ears, anatomical

particularities of nails, microscopic reflexes of the light

on the eyes, the density of hair, facial gestures and

shadows.

FREUD made some notes on MORELLI,

suggesting that there was offered an element of

uncommon importance and poorly explored as a

methodologic tool. Shortly, the whole could only be

apprehended from the fragmentary web of its parts Ŕ we

suggest to call this model Ŗfragmentary paradigmŗ. In

an interpretative method grounded on vestiges, we must

not look for the most striking characteristics Ŕ as they

are the most easy to imitate Ŕ, but for the most revealing

peripheral traits. This is our cue to try to establish a

relationship between the indexical paradigm and the

discovery of the value of a symptomřs details, that is to

say, to understand particularities as a vestigial guide to

elucidate an actual totality.

Such marginal data, according to GINZBURG, are

the common ground of MORELLIřS, FREUDřS and

CONAN DOYLE/SHERLOCK HOLMESř methods.

All of them would concentrate on apparently superficial

signs, those that the common untrained eye canřt

perceive. Most regrettably, GINZBURG didnřt include

HAHNEMANN in this group. And he should have had,

as one of Hahnemannřs main contributions to medical

theory was the idea that a totality must be reconstructed

from apparently disconnected fragments.

When HAHNEMANN structured his system, he

didnřt restrict his interest to superficially perceptible

symptoms, but to all possible manifestations, including

the most intimate, such as dreams, personal ways of

feeling, all kind of subjective symptoms which he

included besides objective signs in his Materia Medica.

A new model of clinical history was thus developed,

one that dislodges nosos from its center Ŕ the core of

Western medicine.

A true revolution had been accomplished, the seed

of one of his main epistemologic ruptures had been

sown. HAHNEMANN rejects typologies of every kind

and demands to look for unpredictable symptoms. Why?

Perhaps he was aware of the little relevance of

symptoms when they are merely categorized as

manifestations of anatomic and clinical pictures.

Alternatively, perhaps he distrusted a therapeutics

guided by current semiology. HAHNEMANN

developed a first notion concerning unspecific

susceptibility, that would only be officially formulated

one century later. That is to say, he discovered the

semiologic and therapeutic importance of modalized

symptoms. He discovered the value of the unexpected,

of the a strange phenomenology of the unpredictable

features of natural diseases. No need to stress the

innovation this represented. And he made this

conception an integral part of his method. From these

guidelines, itřs immediately inferred that prescriptions

would never again be grounded on the predictable

semiology of each case. Pathognomonic symptoms of

disease may not be the only semiologic guide of

therapeutics. They would only have value if they were

colored by personal tones, the hues of idiosyncrasy.

HAHNEMANN listened very carefully, he wrote

down uncommon details Ŕ peripheral manifestations

that were usually neglected by physicians as Ŗtoo vague

and subjectiveŗ. Indeed, what is the use of individual

modalities in a medicine ruled by the name of diseases?

It needs to put a name to the disease Ŕ i.e. labyrinthitis:

what does it matter if during an acute crisis of vertigo,

the patient feels cold and compelled to incline to the

right side? What may be the relevance of his dreams of

falling from a height? Or Ŗecstasy during perspirationŗ,

Ŗdesire for lemons during headacheŗ, Ŗanxiety exactly at

5:00 p.m.ŗ. Subjective sensations merely distract the

attention of the clinician.

Although a few previous physicians had been

equally careful while recording their patientsř

symptoms, none was able to understand how to apply

this knowledge in actual practice.

A further step in medicine of the subject: the vitalist

hermeneutical model

All attempts to recover the subject pass necessarily

through a discussion of the deeper meanings of the

notions of science and technology. Why were we led to

the present excessive technicality in Medicine? We may

not forget to take into account its impressive social

penetration. Biomedicine itself hopes to include the

subject in its field (WHO, 1988).

Vitalism will always remain an object of inquiry

due to its close proximity to the issues highlighted by

homeopathic epistemology. We will address Vitalism

from a hermeneutic point of view, i.e. what is the text

and what is the context, what is the core of vitalist

propositions? How do these ideas connect with

Homeopathy as a Medicine of the Subject?

This mode of analysis should always include the

consideration of a totality, that is to say, it must take

into account a hermeneutic totality constituted by

isolated fragments of human suffering. This illustrates

the value of vitalist hermeneutics in Homeopathy.

Philosophical hermeneutics is one of the branches

of knowledge that more consistently systematizes the

problem of the subject. It address all features of the

human being, besides the problems of subjectivity and

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intersubjectivity Ŕ this is clearly enunciated in the

foundations of its particular language. The more we

give to technology the power to correct fragments of

dysfunction, the lesser will be the interpretative

dimension of medicine. That is to say, the more

medicine is grounded on evidence, the lesser the

involvement of hermeneutics in medical action. On the

other hand, there is a boundary to such auto-limitation

of the method

GADAMER illustrates this idea through the

allegory of ULYSSES. In his famous odyssey back

home, he would shun all external influences and

Ŗdeviationsŗ. This serves to show the limit imposed by

reason on itself and which erases fundamental human

issues. Hermeneutics, in this sense, helps to bring back

dignity into knowledge.

No matter how technological and sophisticated a

therapeutics, the patient impresses upon his doctor an

inexorable image. The physician is the receiver end of

human suffering, a whole range of transferential

relationships, he meets the eye of pain, and also of

relief. All these actually have an effect upon the medical

art, including therapeutic actions. Any single medical

facility is a witness to this fact: from hospital to private

offices, no matter whether the patient suffers from a

Neoplasm or a psycho-somatic disease. As long as

medicine is mediated by human interaction, the

interpreter will always be there.

The more Biomedicine gives its role of

decisionmaker to apriori data dependent upon

technology, the more it becomes estranged from the

individual reality of the patient and the world of

hermeneutics. Thus, the more medicine grounds itself in

evidence, the less hermeneutic it will be. On the other

hand, Homeopathy represents the opposite situation: the

Medicine of the Subject is particularized by its

interpretation of the vital trajectory of the subject.

Hence the patient-as-totality

is considered in his/her

historical framework, both retrospective and

prospective. Totality, in this context, means a

hermeneutic totality, i.e. a relational totality that finds a

practical application and allows us to define a specific

area of interest.

No single fact has meaning by and of itself: Ŗlocalŗ

symptoms, fevers, symptoms, syndromes, even a

clinical pathology, no matter if acute or chronic,

functional or anatomical, all are mere parts of a much

more complex context: the particular biography of the

sick individual.

Thus, we need to address the issue of language and

Speech.

As GADAMER wrote (1996):

ŖIn our century, the philosophical thought set

new steps when it realized that not only

reason and thought are at the center of

Philosophy, but language itself.ŗ

Words are the tools that enable communication in

areas such as mental health. Words are the elements that

awaken us to the importance of qualitative appraisals of

the patientsř lives. All this is essential if we are to

reevaluate the meanings of concepts such of care and

listening as the basic tools that promote self-

understanding. The recovery of narrative as an access

to suffering became a vital tool in medicine as a whole.

We precisely allude to a reality that may not be

merely synthesized as the mechanical application of the

scientific method of natural sciences to the human

object. Concerning human facts, this approach is

impossible, and what we should seek instead are the

paths that may lead to the validation of a practice that is

grounded on subjectivity, as is a vitalist-orientated

Homeopathy.

But, what does ŖVitalismŗ mean?

The term Vitalism refers to a particular way of

perceiving the world. It alludes to ethical aspects that

have been always present, and we, as modern

interpreters, need to approach from a hermeneutic

perspective. To grasp Vitalism in the context of its

values requires to analyze it in full detail. This is one of

the tasks to be performed in the future.

The hermeneutic approach allows us to see under a

new light all aspects of Homeopathy: symptoms, their

analysis, the interpretation of narratives and clinical

complaints, the objectivation of therapeutics in the

context of the doctor-patient relationship. As a result,

every case is an unique point of encounter between

doctors and patients.

Thus, hermeneutics isnřt merely an auxiliary

discipline, which supplies the methodological

framework to other sciences, but it points to the core of

philosophy, which isnřt exclusively the study of logical

thought, but a systematic pursue of the logic of

dialogue.

The Ŗfusionalŗ character of two subjectivities has a

deep impact in human relationships and all

philosophies. The tool that actualizes this task is

language:

ŖLanguage was thematized as a world of

signs whose model was supplied by the

scientific success of symbolic languages

developed by mathematics.ŗ (GADAMER,

1996)

Hermeneutic states that the only valid form of

knowledge is that which is built as natural sciences have

done. GADAMER affirms that Ŗtruthŗ isnřt necessarily

a synonym of Ŗmethodŗ.

Beyond future medicine:

the fragmentary model

We speak of what we know. Each signal gives us

meaning. We know because we speak.

What Homeopathy actually offers isnřt offered by

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any other known therapeutic system. We offer the

patient a very different kind of support. Neither itřs

better nor the only one concerned with what is truly

worthy of being healed. Its main virtue Ŕ and its

uniqueness Ŕ is rooted in two assumptions: normalcy

may not always imply the mere absence of symptoms

and the qualitative-analogic nature of its procedures.

Besides, we all know that each symptom conceals a

deeper meaning (meta-significance). This is translated

into practice by the notion that we shouldnřt seek to

merely extinguish symptoms, but to accurately

understand their partnership with the individual and

his/her personal representations. This constitutes a

specificity of our daily practice: to carefully appraise

symptoms and their particular meaning to each

individual.

What distinguishes us may well reside in the

creativeness deployed by patients to find personal

answers with the help of the prescribed remedy.

Empirical evidence is furnished by the infinite number

of patients complaining from unexplainable medical

syndromes that homeopaths worldwide successfully

treat every day, no matter the lack of a definite clinical

diagnosis. This is nothing but a faithful picture of the

clinical practice, and it would be very interesting to

accurately quantify it. On the other hand, against

superficial comparison to psychoanalysis, Homeopathy

doesnřt deal with the subconscious through words,

notwithstanding the fact that transference is an integral

part of any therapeutic setting. Our medium is different:

we apply drugs upon a vitality that has been

contaminated by obsessing metaphors

. Free of them, it

may devote itself to the foremost attribute of health,

epimeleia. That is to say, the homeopathic remedy

enables the subject to take true care of him/herself

A second extreme position is that which holds that

homeopathic remedies act through a modulation of the

immunologic system. This position is seriously flawed

as, besides the fact that it lacks sufficient empirical

support, we suspect that remedies act upon the

individual as a whole and not merely upon any

particular biological system. If this wasnřt the case, how

may we explain those personal adjectives that precisely

define a characteristic symptom Ŕ the leading factor in

Expression established by Charles MAURON to refer

to persistent subconscious contents, more often not

attributable to actual biographical events. They may be

revealed through the analysis of preferred words in the

individualřs speech as they appear during interviews,

writings, letters, drawings, etc.

Masi ELIZALDE had the same idea in mind when he

stated that besides the objectivation of metaphors, a

useful hint to verify if the patient is improving is to

check if he/she made time to study him/herself.

Personal communication, 2001.

the choice of the remedy? Full cures arenřt always

possible, nonetheless, the homeopathic remedy may

always elicit all-inclusive adaptations, a sort of creative

homeostases that each particular individual actualizes

according to his/her peculiarities. If Biomedicine isnřt

happy with this, it couldnřt matter less.

The main problem in our time is not to fight for

Biomedicineřs approval, but to evade the danger of

dogmatism. We must make our practice become a

continual task of self-criticism. Concerning our

students, we owe them a commitment to always strive to

afford Homeopathy more consistency; regarding our

patients, our foremost duty is to offer support, solidarity

and health.

Besides this, we still need to become aware that we

know many essential things that conventional doctors

ignore. This only increases our responsibility, as we are

in a blurred area of medical science that forces us to

probe deeper in the essential features of human health.

Medicine has been developing an ever-growing

trend in epidemiological studies that focus on the

equation protection versus risk. A second and more

recent approach, posits quality as the basic tool of

analysis. Nonetheless, a significant part of the

homeopathic community insists upon the mistaken

notion that Homeopathy will only be legitimated when

it meets the quantitative and measurable criteria of

Positivist science. It may only be rated as a naive

conception of progress, but it is dangerous, as it caters

to skepticism.

At the same time, as a kind of unexpected paradox,

many conventional doctors and a significant part of the

scientific community as a whole seem fascinated by the

operative methodology of qualitities implemented by

homeopaths in their clinical practice.

In a recent meeting with Jacques BENVENISTE,

we personally witnessed the extension of the skepticism

of basic researchers concerning the issues discussed in

this article. This made us aware that itřs urgent to find a

way to better express our doubts and needs to them. For

instance, we may show them that Unicist homeopathy

produces the kind of results that it effects, not by

grounding itself on primitive forms of organicism nor

by assuming a specific signal transmitted by each

remedy to the individual, but because it believes that a

well-defined medicinal signal awakens in the vitality its

ability to reinvent itself.

Hence, the inexorable dilemma: should we put

Philosophy at the head of the homeopathic movement?

Choices are very few. Perhaps the time has come to

appeal to a kind of pragmatism to defend Applied

philosophy. Medicine needs to rethink itself, and

Homeopathy has the right to make its voice heard in

this dialogue. We canřt ignore the problems created by

a technological reason indiscriminately applied to health

sciences. If we are to seek for more enlightened

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interlocutors, we need to give Homeopathy the

epistemological status it deserves.

On the other hand, a rigid and tyrannical

homeopathic doctrine is untenable: it doesnřt know how

to react to self-contradiction and it desperately clings to

repetition as the only available strategy. This when

doctrine should limit itself to the elucidation of the

constitutive referents of a method.

A psychoanalysis of the homeopathic movement

would immediately reveal that if a fraction of science

still reject us, itřs not only because we still donřt know

how to solve our statistical irregularities, but especially

because we never knew how to communicate our

epistemological foundations with the required level of

precision. We didnřt know how to build proper

alliances. We have never presented the guidelines of our

episteme as clear and distinct ideas. We still need to

elaborate more consistently the following question: or

we seek coherence by redirecting our energy to the

analysis of our unfitness as productive interlocutors, or

we yield to the force of the abstractions that

Biomedicine claimed as their methodological

exclusivity Ŕ now renamed as ŖEvidence Based

Medicineŗ Ŕ and we renounce to all higher expectations

and admit that Homeopathy is nothing but a neo-

pharmacology.

Indeed, there is a huge gap between the

expectation of a medicine that wants to make itself

understood as it actually is, and the hope of

Biomedicine that Homeopathy may come to correct

some mistaken views and formulate a more acceptable

epistemology. For instance, it may give up

individualization as its central tenet. We find this

frightful. What will become of a Homeopathy so

restricted? Precisely what part of homeopathic

positiveness would be so validated?

We need to learn how to serenely accept the

inherent imprecision of a model centered on the

individual. Each homeopath has to define his/her

position. Brazilian sociologist Madel LUZ most

pertinently reminds us that science is a form of

discourse. More specifically, a patchwork of discourses.

And the discourse that has historically backed us states

that Homeopathy, par excellence, is a form of medicine

that doesnřt limit itself to take the individual into

account, but that posits the subject as the only reason

behind its search for clinical approaches that privilege

quality and the singularities of each patient. Against all

exclusively quantitative epistemes Homeopathy seeks to

establish peculiar approaches to health and disease. The

subject, in his/her multiplicity of shapes, constitutions,

temperaments, inclinations, sensations, dispositions and

sensibilities is the matter of its own agenda. The

heterodox, unstable, ungraspable, unpredictable subject.

After all: what are idiosyncrasies? Unpredictable

reactions. Without idiosyncrasy, there would be no

susceptibility, as KENT taught, and there would be no

Homeopathy, as HAHNEMANN imagined it.

All this aims at a specific purpose: to admit an

actual degree of contradiction between the hope for

predictability and the actuality of Homeopathy as the

Medicine of the Subject. HAHNEMANN himself hoped

for a kind of mathematical Homeopathy.

But mathematization is impossible in medicine,

owing to the simple fact that it always deals with a

particular individual, which by definition is unique. The

individual canřt be studied as a collection. If it werenřt

for such Ŗsmallŗ detail, Homeopathy would have plenty

epistemological ammunition to make itself heard and

understood. It may very well announce: ŖWe cure such

and such diseasesŗ Ŕ the requirement of any Evidence

Based Medicine. Yet, when we establish certain basic

assumptions as the hardcore of the homeopathic

program of scientific research , we are forced to admit

that Homeopathy is an imprecise science. But this

doesnřt involve a lack of seriousness.

A diversity in methods and a plurality of voices is

essential to the formulation of a consistent homeopathic

epistemology. It must leave room for critical debate,

creative dialogue and intelligent polarities between

different ways of thinking and practicing Homeopathy.

But whomever may insist upon the need of

mathematization and statistical evidence, must bring

consistent and intersubjectively validated proof. This

hasnřt yet happened.

Homeopathy as the Medicine of the Subject is the

product of the continual work of generation after

generation of commentators of HAHNEMANNřS work.

A work that proved to be arduous, meticulous, where

nothing is automatically peremptory, nothing is

definitive. Homeopaths need to understand diversity

instead of fighting it. All homeopathic schools are

relevant, no matter if they attain or not the efficacy they

promise; they are all the product of different

interpretations of the method and none of them must

necessarily be better than the others. The history of

Homeopathy is rich in discoveries that Ŗovercameŗ all

previous assumptions. Moreover, its advancement may

be described as discontinuous, full of ups and downs.

What truly matters, is to keep open the doors to

dialogue.

For instance, the explanation of the action of

infinitesimal doses has never been so close to

fulfillment as in our days. Itřs a most expected moment:

Homeopathy will finally see its biological possibility

finally elucidated. Yet, the gap that separates

Homeopathy from its status as a Medicine of the

Subject will remain. After all, itřs adduced, all different

homeopathies reach similar results. We canřt help

wonder: same results concerning what? Different

homeopathies canřt produce similar results because they

focus on different features of human life. Homeopathy,

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as the Medicine of the Subject, is no medical

specialization. It mirrors its original identity, the search

for the original text that we call Ŗa subjectŗ in different

contexts and its therapeutic applicability through the use

of the verbal processes emanated from provings. It

recovers the central role of care and wholesomeness in

the treatment of patients, it leads us to the path of a

Narrative Based Medicine.

ŖIn asmuch as homeopathic physicians deal

with fragments (the provings), which donřt

make sense as totalities Ŕ as provings are

nothing but compilations from different

individuals Ŕ but must be included in a totality

Ŕ the patient, and the fact that most of these

fragments are mere links in the chain of a lost

unity Ŕ or at least, unarticulated Ŕ nothing

remains but to elaborate qualitative syntheses.

These consist in deliberate reductions that

allow us to make technique operative. The

record of the verbal processes compiled from

the provers, offers us all the needed parts to

compare with the expressions of patients.ŗ

We still donřt know how to make this model Ŕ that

may be called fragmentary paradigm Ŕ operative. We

work with semiologic fragments Ŕ obtained from both

provers and patients, yet when we seek to understand

the trajectory of the vital attitude of any particular

patient, we need to address an unified totality. That is to

say, from mere indexes we shift to the interpretation of

meanings. Do we know how to do it?

The answer is: through language.

Hence, we ought to think in the terms of a complex

epistemology, where the fragmentary paradigm serves

as the instrumental reason that allows us to make

operative the meanings of each individualřs personal

micro-environment. Micro-environment: a space where

meanings are grasped; built by Ŗsymbolic animalsŗ

according to Ernst Cassirerřs expression, from the

interaction between body, mind and environment.

Fragment of different individual idiosyncrasies Ŕ

compiled from the provings and applied into

therapeutics Ŕ will enable us to act upon the so-called

substantial composite, helping it to resignify its being-

in-the-world. In order to accomplish such goal, the

subject must be the master of him/herself, must be

concerned with him/herself: epimeleia (Foucault,). This

will be the next question we will discuss.

3. Dynamization

CÉSAR Amarilys de Toledo

(IJHDR. V. 2 Nº 5, 2003)

Changes in material substances, especially the

medicinal ones, through trituration with a

non-medicinal powder, or when dissolved

through agitation with a non-medicinal fluid,

are so incredible that verge upon the

miraculous, and it is most fortunate that the

discovery of such changes belongs to

Homeopathy.

HAHNEMANN, The Chronic Diseases

Introduction

Upon hearing the expression Ŗhomeopathic

remediesŗ, one of the first ideas that come to our minds

is Ŗvery dilutedŗ. If we know a little bit more, we may

also think Ŗthey are dynamizedŗ. But, what does

Ŗdynamizedŗ mean? How is dynamization done? How

are homeopathic remedies made?

ŖDynamizationŗ comprises the process of diluting

and agitating solutions. This constitutes one of

Homeopathyřs foundations and it was taught by

HAHNEMANN, who developed it by both logical

reflection and intuition, as he sought better ways to

apply the Law of Similars into practice.

Notwithstanding its essential role in the preparation

of homeopathic remedies, many practitioners still ignore

many aspects of it, and this is immediately perceived

through basic mistakes in the prescriptions they write. A

prescription is the written document that tells the

pharmacist what he/she should do, so it can leave no

room for doubts.

The present article may seem very basic, but it aims

precisely at reviewing all pharmaceutical aspects

essential to a right prescription, contributing thus to

better therapeutic results.

In order to accomplish our goal, we will discuss

pertinent literature and add our personal experience.

Terms

Many Brazilian sources employ the terms Ŗdiluting

and dynamizingŗ instead of Ŗdiluting and agitatingŗ. Itřs

true that whenever we agitate a previously diluted

solution we are finishing the process of dynamization.

This explains why the word Ŗdynamizationŗ - the final

result of the procedure - is used in the place of

Ŗagitationŗ. KEYNE states that in France,

Ŗdynamizationŗ is regarded a synonym of Ŗsuccussionŗ.

Although less employed, the fittest term is

Ŗpotentiationŗ, as itřs believed that the procedure

enhances the homeopathic action of the substance (1).

Rather than terms, itřs more important to accurately

characterize Hahnemannřs new procedure especially as

it represents the first procedure in history that involves a

dramatic reduction of the amount of medicinal matter in

the making of an active solution. Moreover, many

authors affirm that the more diluted the substance, the

more potent it becomes.

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Indeed, Ŗdynamizationŗ, from the Greek dynamis -

that HAHNEMANN himself employed Ŕ means Ŗforce,

potencyŗ (5, 12). Aurélio, the most authoritative

Portuguese language dictionary, defines Ŗdynamizationŗ

as Ŗaccording to Homeopathy, release of the therapeutic

energy of a remedy through dilution or diminution.ŗ

(12)

As the final product of the dynamizing process is

called a Ŗpotencyŗ, we are faced once again with the

idea that the increase in activity directly depends upon

the number of times that the double procedure dilution-

agitation has been performed. An analysis of actual

prescriptions shows that this is precisely the belief of

homeopathic practitioners: they usually begin

treatments by prescribing lower potencies and go on

prescribing ever higher potencies. Basic research data

suggest instead that the pharmacological activity of

drugs is better described by a sinusoid than by the

straight inclined line that translates the notion that Ŗthe

higher the potency, the more active the solutionŗ.

Homeopathic practitioners still refer to Ŗinefficient

potenciesŗ, which may well represent the empirical

proof of the research hypothesis mentioned above.

Thus, it would be very interesting to verify through

careful research protocols, what is the actual clinical

answer in relation to the variation of dynamizations (2,

3, 4).

Itřs a fact that clinical activity is induced by

dynamized solutions, diluted well above the Avogadro

limit; the first conclusion is that homeopathic

pharmacology plainly contradicts classical

pharmacology (dose-dependent effects), and this from

its beginnings, 200 years ago. After the initial shock, we

are tempted to deepen our knowledge concerning this

phenomenon. In order to do so, we will review data

concerning the different procedures of dilution and

agitation, the variables that may act on these procedures

and the dynamizing procedures employed since

Hahnemannřs time to the present.

Dilution

When HAHNEMANN first attempted to apply the

Law of Similars to the treatment of actual patients, he

immediately realized that he needed to prescribe very

small amounts of drugs as they produced symptoms by

themselves. Hence, he began to dilute substances in the

ratio of 1 part of active substance to 100 parts of diluent

vehicle. With this he had created the centesimals Ŕ now

called CHs, or Hahnemannian centesimals. The father

of Homeopathy mentions using water and alcohol,

probably to preserve solutions.

WINSTON explains that the original potencies

were designated by a small-case Ŗcŗ as the upper- case

letter ŖCŗ may easily be mistaken with the Greek digit

C=100. Many of the earliest prescribers named their

200c potencies as Ŗ2Cŗ (10).

By the end of his life, HAHNEMANN used

therapeutic solutions successively diluted 200 times,

always intercalating agitations, that he called

Ŗsuccussionsŗ (11).

Agitation

In The Chronic Diseases - thus, before the

Organonřs 6th edition - it is written:

Ŗ... Then, 1 grain is dissolved in equal parts of

water and alcohol and dynamized through 27

vials, with 2 succussions.ŗ (6)

Clearly, Hahnemann initially applied 2 succussions

to his dynamizations. Later, he experimented with 10

succussions and even more until after harsh criticism, he

realized that the increase in the number and strength of

succussions made unbearable the violence of the final

solutionřs effects. Finally, upon feeling the need of

prescribing even less amounts of drugs, he increased the

ratio of dilutions to more than 1:50,000 at each step of

the procedure, rating it as Ŗmy best method of

dynamizationŗ. At the same time, he increased the

number of succussions to 100.

As the procedure of Ŗdynamizingŗ comprises both

diluting and agitating, they are usually discussed

together. Yet we may separate them in order to

understand each of them more deeply. Dilution may be

manual Ŕ the vial is manually beaten against a semi-

rigid surface (it is told that Hahnemann used a leather-

covered book) or mechanical Ŕ when some appliance is

used. There are those that believe that our Ŗpersonal

energyŗ (an expression very difficult to define) in the

process of manual dilution may interfere in the final

result, hence mechanical procedures should be

preferred. To this, others answer that such Ŗpersonal

energyŗ, if it exists, may both positively or negatively

affect the outcome.

Other factor that may affect the outcome of the

agitation process may be classified as mechanical

(number of succussions, amplitude of the succussion

motion, intensity of the impact against the chosen

surface, weight of the vial) or physico-chemical (density

of the liquid, environmental temperature, atmospheric

composition inside the vial).

In the course of time, HAHNEMANN tested

different number of succussions (5, 6). There are no

available descriptions of the amplitude of each motion.

Concerning strength, he would rate them as Ŗstrongŗ,

but it wasnřt objectively measured. Finally,

HAHNEMANN established that the vial should be

filled to 2/3 of its capacity (5).

When describing the method of preparation of

remedies in the Organonřs 6th edition, HAHNEMANN

was very careful to precisely determine - through the

number of drops - a very small volume of the fluid to be

agitated (100 drops of strong alcohol, i.e. 2 ml). As he

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 141

had already established that the vialřs content couldnřt

be smaller than half of it, he established the standard use

of small vials, which would suffer a very strong power

of agitation, through Ŗ100 strong succussionsŗ. (5)

The agitated fluid is composed of a solution of

water and ethanol, its density varying from 0.8 to 1 g/l.

There are no descriptions of the possible influence of

temperature, but there are mentions to dynamizations

performed in nitrogen atmospheres. (7)

Even when he increased from 2 to 100 agitations,

HAHNEMANN would perform them manually.

Notwithstanding, since his time to the present, there was

always an interest to develop machines. Authors who

lived at the time of the Industrial Revolution wondered

what could be the highest possible potency that will still

keep pharmacological activity. Thus they experimented

ever increasing dynamizations, and tried to build

machines to help them in the process.

A trend was established to use 100 succussions

even in regular centesimals - it became the standard in

Brazil at the present time. This made pharmacists easily

develop repetitive strain injury. On the other hand, the

advancement of technology and the hope to set a

definite standard in the preparation of homeopathic

remedies, set forth a trend to use Ŗmechanic armsŗ.

Brazil has developed its own models. (8) Yet, it should

be taken into account that many homeopathic

practitioners consider that any deviation from

HAHNEMANNřS original procedures exclude the

remedy thus prepared from the category of

Ŗhahnemannianŗ.

In Europe, there were developed machines that

make vials vibrate, very similar to those employed in

odontologic offices to homogenize mixtures, such as

those fabricated by Belgian-based Labotics and sold in

the Northern hemisphere (Europe, United States,

Canada and Japan) (14).

So, when manual and mechanic agitations are

compared, so many variables interact that impede their

standardization.

LM Dynamizations

HAHNEMANN was very careful to set rules in

order that remedies should be reliable. He began by

extracting Ŕ exotic dried and native fresh Ŕ plants

through alcohol (tinctures); whenever succulent or fresh

plants were available, he would use their juice.

Probably, he realized that when he changed the solvent,

he would extract different fractions of the plant. From

Arabic physicians, he learnt how to triturate all kinds of

substances, no matter whether soluble or not, mineral,

vegetable and animal, dried or fresh, all was to be

triturated with lactose in a porcelain mortar.

... 1 drop of the juice and the same amount of

lactose, triturating until the millionth. Then 1

grain is dissolved in equal parts of water and

alcohol and dynamized through 27 vials, with

2 succussions. Experience shows me that the

juice seems to acquire more dynamization

when triturated.ŗ(6)

In such manner, diluting matter with the help of a

powder that he thought was inert and agitating by the

motion of the pestle, he was able to employ all kind of

substances as remedies. He was free from solubility

limitations and on the other hand, he obtained very

interesting results (ŖExperience shows me that the juice

seems to acquire more dynamization when trituratedŗ

(6)).

ŖIn order to obtain homogeneity in the

preparation of homeopathic remedies,

especially the antipsoric, at least in the form of

a powder, I advise to only reduce to the

millionth potency and prepare from it the

solutions and potencies as needed.ŗ (6)

After 3 triturations in the ratio 1:100 (lactose), the

obtained product was to be diluted in a low alcoholic

solution (0.06 g of powder in 500 drops of a solution

prepared from 4 parts of water and 1 part of Ŗstrongŗ

alcohol). From this solution, a new dilution (1 drop in

100 drops of Ŗstrong alcoholŗ), followed by 100 Ŗstrong

succussionsŗ, which were standardized as it was always

him who prepared them).

Non-hahnemannian dynamizations

Decimal

Itřs attributed to HERING the idea of diluting

substances in the ratio 1:10. WINSTON says that:

ŖIn 1833, HERING began to test dilutions in the

ratio 1:10. By the end of the decade, both

Samuel DUBS in the United States and

VEHSEMAYER in Germany, began to prepare

remedies in this scale. American potencies

were designated by an ŖXŗ, the Roman digit

for Ŗ10ŗ, while European potencies were

designated as ŖDŗ, from Ŗdecimalŗ - 3X or D3.ŗ

(10)

In our days, the use of decimal potencies is

widespread, especially in relation to the so-called

Ŗcomplexesŗ, mixtures of dynamizations, usually at low

potencies. As the ratio of dilution is much smaller, we

may understand why someone may prescribe a D1 -

which has no equivalence in the centesimal scale -, but

it is very hard to understand why someone may

prescribe a D60. No available data show that they are

more or less effective than centesimals. On the other

hand, mathematical equivalence is senseless, as there

are no molecules in so much diluted solutions.

Moreover, the absolute ban of scale equivalences

established by the FHBII reminds us that, precisely, its

first edition allowed such procedure. The first edition

recommended 10 succussions in the case of decimals

and 20 in the case of centesimals. The underlying idea

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was to establish an equivalence between the D4 (diluted

to 10 - 4, with 4 X 10 succussions = 40) and the C2

(also diluted to 10 -4, with 2 X 20 succussions = 40)

(12, 13). It seems proper to state that two solutions,

diluted a different number of times, in different ratios

and number of agitations - no matter that the final

number of agitations might be the same-, may not be

considered as equivalent concerning their therapeutic

properties before further research is thoroughly

conducted.

The stock of decimal potencies is much smaller

than centesimalsř in Brazilian pharmacies. Another

problem is the availability of basic pharmaceutical

forms: when there are mother tinctures available, it is

very easy to dynamize them by diluting them to 1% or

10%. But if the procedure needs trituration at its

beginning, there is no way how centesimals may be

changed into decimals, the only possible way is to

obtain the original substance, which usually it Řs not

easy. This is the reason why many pharmacies refuse to

fill decimal prescriptions.

The present trend, as suggested by the

pharmacopoea, is to perform the same number of

succussions - 100 - in every dilution, no matter their

scale.

It is thus possible that clinical results will become

more markedly different. Further research is needed to

verify this fact.

KORSAKOV

Contemporary of HAHNEMANN, KORSAKOV, a

Russian of noble descent, learned of Homeopathy after

being successfully treated by it. As a result, he became

interested in it and introduced it in his country. As every

pioneer, he needed to prepare his own remedies and

faced with the difficulty of travelling carrying a large

number of vials, he suggested to HAHNEMANN the

idea of using only one, that would be filled, agitated,

emptied and again filled. HAHNEMANN found the

idea interesting, but at the moment he was devoted to

different matters. KORSAKOV tested the remedies

prepared according to his new technique, obtaining

good results.

Remedies prepared according to Korsakov´s

method are diluted in the centesimal scale, yet its

precision may be lesser than Hahnemann´s original

methodřs. Few practitioners prescribe Korsakovian

potencies in Brazil and thus, few pharmacies fill such

prescriptions. Agitation is accomplished by 100 manual

or mechanic succussions.

Residue left after every emptying of the vial may be

weighed, this increases the methodřs precision, as it

shows that variations are very limited, perhaps very

similar to those inherent to HAHNEMANN´s method.

The main difference resides in the fact that that in

Hahnemannřs procedure, a fraction of a dynamized

SOLUTION is separated and poured in a new, clean

vial, containing 99 parts of inert hydroalcoholic

solution, while according to the Russianřs method, 99

parts of the inert hydroalcoholic solution are poured into

the same vial, which contains some residue of the

previous dynamization. This procedure has been

criticized as it involves a mixture of different

dynamizations, from the initial to the final one. Yet, if

we take into account that each addition of fresh

hydroalcoholic solution becomes homogeneized with

the residue, the remaining solution in the vial will suffer

a transformation rather than a mixture. Probably, the

fact that we donřt use new vials at each step, make the

final solutions so different from Hahnemannřs, that may

elicit very different clinical results.

In the 1960s, France imposed serious restrictions

that banned any potencies higher than CH30 but as an

offshoot of the creation of the European Union, a

Sympose on Korsakovian potencies in Paris permitted

the prescription of these potencies.

Jack HENDRICKXS, from Belgian-based Labotics,

built a mechanic dynamizer grounded on Korsakovřs

principle. After the vial is filled and agitated by 300 fast

small motions, air enters the vial, expelling the fluid;

only 1% of the original volume remains. The process is

repeated as required. The last step is a regular

hahnemannian dynamization in hydroalcoholic solution

(for preservation purposes), which is named according

the number of times that the vial was successively

filled-agitated-emptied. For instance, if this happened

200 times, the final solution will be called K200.

Although KORSAKOV established that the full

procedure must start from the original substance - and

this is still the practice in many countries - FHBII rules

that a Korsakovian dynamization must begin from a

CH30. Due to financial reasons, the same procedure

may be accomplished by employing 2000 liters of

purified water until reaching solutions that we called

Ŗ100,000Kŗ. It is noteworthy the use of purified water

instead of the traditional hydroalcoholic solution, as

mechanic procedures consume too much diluent. (12,

14).

New questions arise: besides the option between

manual and mechanic agitations, the use of water as

diluent will also alter the final solution? What is the

difference between a Korsakovian potency developed

from a CH30 and another that followed Korsakovřs

instructions from the beginning? The different

combinations of the solvent (water or hydroalcoholic

solution) and the initial substance (CH30 or raw matter)

will elicit different clinical results?

Dynamization machines and the fluxion

equipment used in Brazil

HAHNEMANN had already wondered ŖWhat is

the highest dilution that still shows activity?ŗ JAHR

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thought that ŖThe higher the dynamization, the stronger

the individualizing properties of a drugŗ. It was natural,

then, that several homeopaths would ask what may be

the effect of ever higher dynamizations. Children of the

Industrial Revolution, they sought mechanic procedures

to manufacture such potencies. Every single inventor

would strive to protect his invention through elaborate

explanations. SKINNER, for instance, wrote:

ŖIt may be said that high potencies arenřt what

they seem to be, because their method isnřt

Hahnemann´s. But this does not apply to

BOERICKEřS, JENICHENřS, DUNHAMřS,

LIPPEřS and my own, which are produced

according to a procedure that if HAHNEMANN

would be able to see, he would approve, as all

essential points are scrupulously observed and

actually improved and in less time, mistakes are

almost impossible, as so much perfect are the

methods employed.ŗ

DUNHAM was one of the first to mechanize the

procedure of dynamization. He believed that the use of

strong forces would elicit better results. He put 120 vials

at the end of a windmillřs wheel wooden blades, which

would generate an oscilating motion that made vials go

up and down 50 cm high. The force applied Ŕ

approximately half a ton - was much more stronger than

the one a human arm may effect. He used 125 beatings

at each step. His potencies, 200D (ŖDŗ from ŖDunhamŗ)

took one week to be ready and were prescribed by many

American doctors (15).

JENICHEN held succussion as the most important

stage of the process and he believed that every 12

succussions increased the potency of the solution in 1

degree. This was an original notion of his (15).

German-born BOERICKE migrated to the United

States, where he joined the bookseller Tafel. HERING

suggested both to sell remedies besides books.

BOERICKE eventually would graduate as a physician

and both established Boericke & Tafel´s laboratory. He

built a machine that made centesimal dilutions, agitated

5 times, 100 potencies per minute. (15)

Bernhardt FINCKE prepared potencies according to

different procedures. For instance, he would begin with

K30 and succuss them 180 times per minute. He

patented his method as Ŗfluxionŗ. He put a CH30 in a

30ml vial, and made a continual flux of water pass

through it. He believed that every 30 mL of water, the

potency would increase in 1 degree. When the desired

potency was reached, the vial would be emptied and

filled with alcohol, with 2 succussions. Besides

dynamizing merely by the passage of water through an

initial potency, he used tap water as he believed that Ŗa

30th has already been so much dynamized that it may

not be destroyed by any chemical nor physical agent, as

it possesses a different nature.ŗ (15)

WINSTON tells that ROBINSON, in 1941, alluded

to some apprehension in those that saw in Fincke´s

proposal Ŗa radical departure from all that was held as

indispensable in the process of dynamization. But, itřs a

fact that these machines became real and the their

clinical application seems uniformly satisfactory.ŗ (15)

SKINNER stated that once the vial was deeply

penetrated by the remedy, and assuming that the process

of attenuation is infinite, it would be impossible to

Ŗwash outŗ its medicinal properties through cold water,

but that its therapeutic power would be much increased

and that only heat would be able to break the chain, to

which he attributed spiritual power.

Believing that succussion was not important, he

prepared Sulphur beginning from a drop of tincture and

a 60mL vial, which he slowly filled with water. He

emptied it without any agitation and filled it again. After

repeating this procedure 1,000 times, he prescribed it to

a ŖSulphurŗ patient. He says that its effect was so

powerful, that it needed to be antidoted. He also

believed that his potencies Ŕ with Kentřs strong

approval Ŕ were truly hahnemannian.

SWAN would make water pass through a machine

full of holes, as a sprinkler, in order to Ŗ elicit a

perturbation much more violent than the succussionŗ.

Allen´s machine is unknown, but it started from a

Kentřs CM. It was used by Ehrhardt & Karl of Chicago,

to prepare potencies from DM to DMM (500,000 to

500,000,000). It seems that some of them are still in use.

Argentine pharmacist Arturo MÉNDEZ bought some of

these extremely high potencies and sold them to

Brazilian pharmacies. Hence, we may be even able to

find them in Brazil.

We should keep in mind that the scale of potencies

prescribed by Kent (30th, M, 10M, 50M, 100M, 500M

and MM) required mechanic dynamizers. Kent did nřt

know the Organonřs 6th edition and never heard of the

LMs.

WINSTON suggests that to better identify

dynamizations, we should call them by the name of the

substance, potency and method of preparation, besides

the name of the manufacturer of the machine, as it

appears in old references (e.g.: 1 paper of Belladonna

CM FINCKE; Bryonia alba 30 B&T; Baptisia 8 MM

SWAN; 1paper Sanicula 10M Tyrell).

As time went by, Homeopathy declined in the

United States. In Europe, until the 1960s, the French

would use mechanic machines to prepare higher

potencies. One of such machines was bought by the

Laboratório Homeoterápico. Arturo MÉNDEZ first saw

it there and afterwards he built one, which was bought

by Brazilians. This dynamizer, known as Lockřs model,

promotes a continual dilution of the initial substance,

with simultaneous agitation by blades. Argentinian

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visiting professors strongly recommended its use.

National models were developed later on.

MÉNDEZ stated that

ŖThe system is not perfect from a

hahnemannian point of view and it must not

be compared to it. Yet, its therapeutic worth

has been proved in practice, through its use by

Argentinian and Brazilian homeopathic

physicians. Clinical experience upon human

beings gave its positive verdict. The system is

valid.ŗ

As Continual Flux dynamizers began to be

produced in Brazil, they became available to a growing

number of pharmacies. Research conducted by the

ABFH (Brazilian Association of Homeopathic

Pharmacies) showed that several techniques were

employed to prepare potencies with a same machine:

empty chamber, full chamber and Ŗmicrodropsŗ

The

Manual of Technical Norms of the ABFH and the

second edition of the Brazilian Homeopathic

Pharmacopoea include several articles that try to

standardize techniques. The Pharmacopoea makes

financially impossible to dynamize very high potencies.

Brazilian pharmacies own potencies prepared very

differently - sometimes, the procedure is even unknown

-, bought in the country and abroad. The third edition of

the recently published ABFHřs Manual includes the

proposal voted at the last general meeting: use of 100

rotations per step and adoption of two criteria in the

calculation and use of the Continual Flux dynamizer:

change of solvent according to the volume of the

chamber up to the FC ..., and the use of the microdrop

technique from this potency on. This makes the

...potency less diluted than the previous one. It is the

consensus of most members of the ABFH, and it is still

unknown to physicians. (16, 17)

Whatever the technique, equipment or method

employed, we may say that the preparation of very high

potencies may only be accomplished through mechanic

dynamizers. It demands large amounts of purified water,

consequently, of electrical power, especially when water

is purified through distillation. The fact that the

Pharmacopoea rejects the use of the microdrop

technique - which actually diminishes material and

1 At the Congress of the International Homeopathical

Medical League, Rio de Janeiro, 1986, MÉNDEZ

presented a variation known as Ŗmicrodrop techniqueŗ,

where the initial volume of the potency is reduced, and

he would make all changes according to this new

volume, so that, changes are performed according to the

volume of dynamization initially added to the chamber.

This procedure allows to obtain very high potencies,

especially above MM.

energy consumption - may make high potencies less

available, notwithstanding the fact that their use has

increased in the last decades, especially by Kentian

homeopaths.

Discussion

We have reviewed several methods and scales of

dynamization. As none of them has been completely

abandoned, we may conclude that all of them may effect

clinical results. If it werenřt the case, we would have

already established their therapeutic inertia. Yet, we still

donřt know if any one of them is better than the others.

If neither dilution alone nor agitation alone

increase the effect of a substance, the Ŗmagicŗ only

appears when both procedures are performed together.

Letřs imagine a hypothetical situation: a CH30,

prepared according to Hahnemann´s traditional method.

We decide to further dilute it 1%: we expect that it will

lose Ŗstrengthŗ. But if we now agitate it 100 times, it

will recover its power. Now it became a CH31 and,

according to homeopathic principles, Ŗstrongerŗ than

before, when it was CH30. We may wonder, Ŗhow such

magic happened?ŗ When did the Ŗweakerŗ previous

solution became Ŗstrongerŗ? After completing 100

succussions? Canřt be: HAHNEMANN only used 2 to

10. We neither have standardized how these agitations

must be done. 100 succussions elicit stronger effects?

Does Ŗŗstrongerŗ equates to Ŗbetterŗ clinical results?

According to Hahnemann, it depends on each case.

Does the number Ŗ100ŗ has any special meaning? Or

may be it possible that changes continue to occur

indefinitely? According to the LM method, the remedy

is routinely prescribed in daily doses, always shaking

the vial 8 to 12 times before taking it. Thus, it would be

agitated 10 times X 10 days, 100 times before changing

the potency. This is the reason why we focus on the

number Ŗ100ŗ.

If now we were to try to understand the Ŗmagicŗ of

dynamizations prepared according to the method of

Continual Fluxion - where dilution and dynamization

are performed simultaneously -, such Ŗmagicŗ only

becomes perceptible after switching off the machine.

Dilutions made in different ratios and agitations varying

in time would produce different effects.

How are we to approach potentization

accomplished exclusively through dilution? Vieira

explains that in this case, agitation would be exclusively

represented by the brownian motion of particles. Once

again, the same question: what is more important, to

dilute or to agitate? Or both? Consecutively or

simultaneously? (18)

Madeleine BASTIDE, at a 2002 meeting in São

Paulo, mentioned the experiments conducted by

Oberbaum in Israel. He studied the healing properties of

Silicea in injuries produced by metallic earrings in mice.

Both the 30th and 200th potencies shown similar

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 145

results. This may contradict some assumptions of

clinical practitioners that state that patients react to

specific potencies of a remedy and not to all of them.

Anyway, it Řs useful to keep always in mind that

besides having to be reproducible, experimental

research must be very carefully appraised when

transferring its results from animals to human beings.

Several researchers are using a pool of neighboring

potencies instead of testing a few chosen potencies, as

they argue that the action of substances doesnřt follow

directly the raise in potency, but they seem to follow a

sort of Ŗsee-sawŗ curve. By using a mixture of 4 or 5

close potencies (e.g., a solution of the 28th, 29th, 30th,

31st and 32nd potencies instead of the 30th alone), it

would increase the probability of working with at least

one active potency.

Both Oberbaumřs and the poolřs results must make

us ponder on the limits of potencies. Yet, we have to

insist upon the fact that clinical results in humans are

more important than any experimental research, which

merely supply us data that must be controlled through

careful clinical observation.

BASTIDE also made some statements that seem

definite concerning dynamizations:

- they show dilution-dependent effect, which does

not equate to dose-dependent effect;

- their effect goes through glass, so that it may be

transmitted to or suppressed by electromagnetic fields.

BENVENISTE stated that potencies prepared by

different researchers -even with the help of mechanic

agitators - may elicit different results. In his own work,

he uses both traditional dynamizations and others

prepared by transmission through electromagnetic fields

into a sealed vial containing water. Besides this, by

transforming the action of a diluted substance into an

electromagnetic signal, it may be fed into computers. He

says that Ŗalthough the voice of a live singer isnřt the

same as her recorded voice, the latter faithfully

reproduces her voiceŗ. As such, it Řs possible to record

and transmit signals to faraway places. He predicts that

in the future it will be possible to retrieve from files

signals corresponding to the frequencies required for the

treatment of a particular individual. That is to say, we

will be able to expose water to such frequencies and

treat patients from afar.

This kind of thinking is disturbing. While many

homeopathic practitioners still think of doses as

amounts, many other imagine potencies as non

quantitative stimuli. Concerning the statement that

potenciesř effects get through glass, we wonder the

consequences for our stocks of remedies. Moreover,

how we will be able to guarantee the effectiveness of

potencies if they are subjected to the influence of

electromagnetic fields, ever more common in our

environment, arising from the use of computers, cell-

phones and electric and electronic appliances?

Dynamizations pose so many doubts. We havenřt

yet solved many questions of the past that future

possibilities are already in front of our eyes: traditional

dynamizations, electronic dynamizations, all with their

possible ramifications. Dynamized remedies, used

according to the Law of Similars, are active and may be

effective in therapeutics, with several advantages over

the remedies of classical pharmacology. If Homeopathy

is to develop in the future, we need to find the answers

for these questions now.

Conclusions

Thorough research shows that univocally,

dynamized solutions may be used, according to the Law

of Similar, in the treatment of both individuals and

populations, extending their scope of action from human

beings to animals, and perhaps even to plants. In the

present article, we have reviewed several aspects

concerning the preparation of homeopathic remedies, in

the hope that practitioners will be enlightened. Many

new ideas have been summarized in order to awaken

curiosity and interest, as further clinical and

pharmacological research is needed. We hope to

contribute to a better understanding of the process as itřs

basic for homeopathic professionals in general.

Jeremy COLLIER, quoted by W W ROBINSON,

stated:

We shouldnřt reject evident truths just because

we canřt answer all questions about them...

This evidently applies to a small group of

physicians that firmly maintains that there is

tremendous therapeutic power in the high

potencies. Lying in darkness, this idea is like a

slumbering giant, that needs to be awakened.ŗ

--------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Three Cases of Cancer Cured with The High Potencies

ALLEN, J.H. (HH. Vol. 8, 9/1983)

(1063) J.H.M., house carpenter, age 54, a

powerfully built man and of fine physique, called on me one

year ago; he was then suffering from la grippe, and on

examination I found the lower lobe of left lung

hepatized, which disappeared in about sixty days. He had

a family history of consumption and had had camp diarrhoea

while in the army; ever since that time he had been troubled

with a disease of the rectum.

Symptoms: Pain in the rectum a great part of the time, < at

night, severe itching in the evening, bleeding piles; every

now and then, when not troubled with the piles, had a thin

acrid and excoriating discharge. The tissues around the anus

very much thickened and inflamed; has pimply eruptions on

different parts of the body; skin loose dry and dirty

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 146

looking has had itch suppressed with Sulphur previous

to his entering the army in 1862.

Treatment: Sulphur cm. three powders to be taken four

hours apart, and to report in one week. At the end of that

time he reported rectum much better; the thickening

around anus has almost disappeared-itching better, though

it was very severe for the first three days after taking the

medicine, so much so that he thought he would have to call

on me for relief. Soon after the itching passed away he broke

out around the mouth with fever sores as he called them;

four days after they made their appearance they had

grown from small spots the size of a pea to large fungus-

looking growths the size of a hickory nut, five in number,

almost black in colour, and very nearly encircling the

mouth. The lower lip very much swollen, -infiltrated and

angry looking; there was no sign of ulceration or any

discharge, but a good deal of soreness and stiffness

preventing the closing of the mouth completely. Placebo

every four hours while awake, with instructions to report

if the sores on the lips grew worse.

At the end of two weeks he returned, the sores had entirely

disappeared, together with the rectum trouble. But he said

he had something new to show me this time; he complained

of a burning, sore spot on the centre of the lower lip. On

examination of the lip, I found a soft, vascular, itching,

burning spot, covered with a thin film in its center, edges

of the sore somewhat elevated, denuded of its

epithelium, bleeding at the slightest provocation; during

the day it had bled so profusely that he became alarmed at

it; the lip is very much infiltrated and congested, of a dark

red colour; he is constantly licking the sore lip as it is hot

dry and parched; has thirst for small quantities of water,

which is daily increasing; tongue coated white, dry and

parched looking, also, temperature elevated one and a

half degrees.

Treatment: Arsenicum cm. one powder, with no medi-

cine for one week, when he reported. I found a marked

improvement, temperature only one-half degree above the

normal, thirst better, no more haemorrhage from the lip,

though for three days after giving the medicine had to use

five or six handkerchiefs per day. At the end of the fourth

week I discharged him cured.

(1064) Mrs. A.B. aged 42, a widow for six years. Her

home is in Chicago, where she has been taking treatment for

nearly a year; she has had both old school and

homeopathic treatment; her case has been diagnosed as

cancer and that they could not cure her, but only prolong

life for a short time; having no relatives in Chicago, she

was invited here to live with a sister who called me in to

treat the case. On examination of the case I found an irregular-

shaped tumour, nodulated and very hard, except in one spot,

where it had begun to break down. It was lying between the

uterus and rectum, firmly attached to both organs and

about the size of a large orange. The rectum had already

begun to contract, which made an operation from the

bowels quite difficult and that only with copious injections

of water which was followed by a good deal of pain and

prostration. To complicate matters, five small but very

sensitive and painful haemorrhoidal tumours, situated

below the attachment of the tumour and posterior wall of

the rectum, only aided in complicating matters and

increasing the suffering of my patient. The family

history of my patient was good, had always been well up

to the time she was married, ten years ago; up to that time

had had no severe illness, that required the aid of a

physician. Soon after marriage she began to be troubled

with a very annoying leucorrhoea; after suffering with it

almost a year, she consulted a physician who prescribed

medicated injections per vagina, which undoubtedly

suppressed it, for it soon disappeared. From that time she

has never been a well day.

Treatment: Medorrhinum cm., one dose followed with

S.L. for one month. Soon after taking the medicine the

leucorrhoea returned, from which she suffered almost

everything, so acrid was it that it seemed to almost cauterize

any part that it came in contact with. The only relief that she

found was in tampooning the vagina and injecting frequently

into it quantities of tepid water. For ten days it confined her to

her bed, but it gradually cleared up and with it disappeared

her low spiritedness and despondency; she became less

nervous and began to get light hearted and happy again.

Again prescribed no medicine, and from that time the

tumour began gradually to disappear; at the end of the

second month the upper portion of the tumour or that portion

that was attached to the uterus had entirely disappeared and

had contracted down to a small nodule the size of a small

hens egg; it had ceased discharging, the odour had

disappeared together with the infiltration, nothing now

remained but this little nodule attached to the rectum.

The haemorrhoidal tumours had also disappeared and

most of the congestion. The bowels move naturally now, and

has suffered no pain for two weeks past, sleeps well and

appetite good, thinks she can soon go to work.

March 1

prescribed Aloe in cm. potency for a persistent

diarrhoea that came on every morning and lasted all

forenoon, then would disappear until next morning again; I

was in hopes this would disappear of itself; but it seemed to

be exhausting my patient, so I prescribed the Aloe, which

cleared it up nicely. Since that time she has had no more

medicine. April 1 st, on making an examination, I find the

tumour has entirely disappeared and my patient is well.

(1065) Mr. B.F. age 35; light complexion, blue eyes, and

of a mild disposition, follows farming and fruit-growing

as a business. Family history, consumption, two sisters

and an uncle died of that disease; one of his own children,

aged two years, died last summer of marasmus. Father and

mother both living and well now; but both are subject to

attacks of erysipelas about once a year. Previous to his

present trouble his health has generally been good.

As long as he remembers has had a wart on the left

cheek, near the angle of the mouth, about the size of a small

pea. It never gave him any trouble until last September,

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 147

when, for some unknown reason, it began to grow rapidly.

At the end of two months it had grown about one inch in

length, and as thick as the little finger, and had already

begun to ulcerate and discharge a thin, acrid and badly

smelling pus; occasionally it would bleed so profusely,

as to be somewhat alarming. It was during one of these

attacks that he called the attention of a physician to it, who

diagnosed it as a cancerous wart, and advised immediate

excision. Not satisfied with his decision he consulted two

others, who gave him similar advice, when he was advised

to consult me about it. On first seeing it I mistrusted

cancer, and on examination of it more carefully I came to

the conclusion it was; the ulceration had already-reached

the cheek, which was very much swollen, infiltrated and

angry, with a tendency of the tissues to contract around the

growth.

Treatment: From the character of the discharge which

was thin, watery and excoriating, the intense burning, the

constantly increasing thirst, and the nightly restlessness and

aggravation after midnight, I prescribed Arsenicum, two

powders in the cm. potency, with no medicine for one week;

at the end of one week he returned improved, the discharge had

nearly ceased, the inflammation lessened, thirst gone, and the

nightly restlessness much better; the growth had now

begun to contract at the base. At the end of the second week

it had so dried up that it looked as it was burnt; the

contraction had still gone on at the base, so that with a

slight touch it broke off close to cheek, and was

followed by a slight haemorrhage. Continued no medicine

and at the end of third week I discharged the case cured.

DISCUSSION

Dr. Carleton: I think these were three capital cures, but I

am a little uncertain about the diagnosis of the second case.

Dr. Wesselhoeft: I think the Medorrhinum case an

exceedingly instructive one. In its Homeopathic

pathology it is similar to a cure I reported

with Dulcamara several years ago. The disease arose

from a suppressed vaginal discharge, which I supposed

to be gonorrhoeal. The result was an ulcer in the rectum.

On account of an accidental cold I prescribed

Dulcamara. It brought back the uterine discharge and

cured the ulcer. On this account I suggested the reproving

of Dulcamara, especially on women, as there had been no

proving of this drug upon women.

Dr. J.H. Allen: The case had been treated by a good

Homeopathic physician, and I prescribed several times

without result. The suppressed discharge, with the fact that

soft Cancer not infrequently is produced by gonorrhoea, led

me to the remedy.

Dr. Carleton: It was not given to cure, but to reproduce a

suppressed discharge, and so clear the ground for a cure.

(Courtesy: Medical Advance, 1891)

Comments:

Now-a-days to call a case "Cancer" there must be

demonstration of the particular cells in a slide under

microscope, judged by an expert pathologist. Others

will be "Suspected Cases".

The case reports of Dr. J.H. Allen, perhaps the greatest

authority on Chronic Miasms in our system, are always

simple and instructive. (S.P.K.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

5. THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF

HOMEOPATHY MEETING, DENVER, 1894

(SIM. Vol.XXI, 2008)

When should the Organon be taught and how?

Dr DUDGEON.-The Organon being the best exposition

of the homeopathic system, should be carefully studied

by every one for himself and Its teachings accepted and

endorsed by every teacher of Homeopathy when they

are not inconsistent with the ascertained facts of modern

science.

Dr. HUGHES.-The teaching of the Organon does not

seem to me to belong to the chair of Materia Medica, but

rather to that of Theory and Practice of Medicine. From

this I would have it at some time in ever student's course,

read and critically commented on. I recommend Dr

Dudgeon's latest translation.

Dr. SKINNER.-The Organon, in my estimation, should

be studied from the very first. In fact, I do not believe it

possible for any man to have any sound conception of

what Homeopathy is until he thoroughly understands

and can take into his comprehension the vast and

important tenets and truths of the greatest work that ever

was published in Medicine, theoretically, doctrinally or

practically.

Dr. BLAKE.-The Organon should be assimilated late in

life probably.

Prof. MOHR.-The Organon should be studied during

the first year so effectually that its great or fundamental

principles will be indelibly fixed on the mind of the

student. In the classroom, in the clinic and at every

opportunity its practical rules should be brought to the

attention of the students, for they cannot be too often

repeated.

Prof. DEWEY.ŕThe Organon should be taught during

the second and third years of college course. And I

believe in each homeopathic college a separate chair

should be made for the Organon and Institutes of

Homeopathy. Of course much of it can be taught in

conjunction with lectures upon Materia Medica; but as it

contains the philosophy of Homeopathy it seems to me

that a separate chair for it is preferable, and it should be a

chair insisted on by the American Institute, with two

lectures a week at least.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 148

Prof. HINSDALE.ŕThe principles of homeopathy

should be taught to freshmen, well grounding them in

the philosophy of the theory of homeopathy. The

Organon can be taught by classroom readings,

preferably by seniors. Comments can be made as the

reading advances and papers prepared by the students

upon topics suggested by the author. The teaching of

this valuable book should be critical and impartial.

Adoration for Hahnemann should give place to

admiration for the truth to be taught.

Prof. McELWEE.-The Organon should be taught when

the student's mind is rested and fresh; consequently the

first thing in the morning, one or two paragraphs only at

a time, those paragraphs being read by the student, who

gives his idea of it, and then later, under the supervision

of the professor, discusses it before the class.

Prof. GILMAN.-The Organon should be taught early

and continually until it is mastered. It is the mother's

milk to the medical student. It should be taught as the

Bible is expoundedŕ text-by-text, and explained and

illustrated.

Prof. SNOW.-The Organon should be systematically

taught during the first year of college, as it is the

foundation work of Homeopathy. Frequent reference

should be made to it, however, during the whole three

years a occasion may demand. It should be committed

to memory as nearly as possible, so that its precepts may

remain always engraved on the mind.

Prof. MACK.-I do not use the Organon as a textbook. I

think that one can better teach Homeopathy without the

Organon as a textbook than with it.

Prof. COWPERTHWAITE.-The Organon should be

taught by a separate teacher. It has not fallen to my lot

to teach the Organon to any extent and I do not

consider myself a competent judge as to how it should

be taught My method is to take my old and much loved

copy which I held in my hand when I attended the

lectures by Dr. HERING, and which is profusely filled

with annotations, comments and underlinings according

to Dr. Hering's suggestions. From this book I talk to the

class, giving them HAHNEMANN ideas, Hering's

comments and my own views on each particular section

as we take it up.

Prof. WOODWARD.-The Organon should be taught to

beginners, not without judicious criticism.

Prof. ROYAL.-The Organon should be studied and

taught throughout the entire student's course.

Prof. LEONARD.-For six years I have tried to teach the

Organon in connection with Materia Medica and

therapeutics; but whether from my own inability to do it

well or from an incongruity of subjects, the results have

not been satisfactory. A critical analysis of the Organon

with an exposition of its essential parts before senior

students, seems to me to be part of the work of the chair

of Theory and Practice, and it is so taught in the

University of Minnesota.

Prof. EDGERTON.-The Organon should be taught to

first course students. A textbook should be gotten up

containing the essentials, and the student should commit

the same to memory and recite in class.

Prof. PRICE.-- In my opinion the Organon should be

taught from the chair of Institutes, first omitting the

psoric theory, dynamisation, primary and secondary

drug action, alternating drug effects, etc. There is too

much difference of opinion upon these subjects amongst

the best minds in our profession to make a belief in them

a point of vital necessity. Of course the chair of Materia

Medica and Therapeutics should teach the fundamental

principles of Homeopathy whether the Organon be

quoted or not.

Prof. CHEESEMAN.-The Organon should be taught

by at least two lectures each week during the entire

college course by a competent lecturer.

Prof. HAWKES.-The Organon should be taught from

the "cradle to the grave" of medicine. In my judgment it

should be taught as the good preacher teaches his

congregation: select a portion for a text (and each

section of the Organon is a sermon in itself) and

elaborate to the student and explain its philosophy. Then

make him explain it to me.

Prof. ALLEN, H. C.-The Organon should be taught

every year of the entire course and taught by one who

practices what he preaches. It is the foundation of our

system, and no student can ever practice Homeopathy

who does not know, and know most thoroughly, its

principles.

Prof. PEMBERTON DUDLEY-I hold to the view that

every student should, first of all be made acquainted

with the methodsŕperhaps in courtesy I would say

"principles"-on which unhomeopathic treatment is

applied to diseases and injuries by the various sects of

physicians, and that his induction into the mysteries of

Homeopathy should come later. I am quite sure that the

uncompromising adhesion to the homeopathic law

manifested by the "Homeopathic Fathers" was due to

the fact that they knew from both study and experience

all about allopathic methods and what these methods

could and could not do for their patients; and holding

this view it would naturally follow that the way to make

staunch as well as intelligent homeopathists is to make

them quite fully acquainted with the effects and defects

of the other modes of medical practice first of all.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 149

Having accomplished this we proceed as follows: We

endeavor to discover how the phenomenon known as

"cure" is to be investigated. (The allopath never

concerns himself on this matter save only as to the fact

of its occurrence and the nature of the agencies by

which it seems to be brought about. The phenomenon

does not present itself to his mind as at all requiring

investigation). This study forces us to the bedside as the

only place where our curative studies can be pursuedŕ

the only "Laboratory" where principle of cure can be

made known. Then having learned the reasonableness

and practicability of this method of finding out how to

find out cures for diseases, we turn to the Organon and

there discover that the author of that book has been

before us and has made the way plain for us. So we take

up point after point in the development of curative

science-- first reasoning it out as well as we can and

then turning to the book to find it all in Hahnemann's

own words. One of the things that our students discover

and often mention in this course is that the author of the

Organon was anything but the dreaming visionary he

has been so often represented to be. In these studies of

Homeopathy both the student and the teacher are

expected to have the open book before them. In last

winter's class of about eighty first-year men I have

counted over seventy copies of the Organon in the room

at one time, and all of them in use. We call it our

"Sunday School Class in the Organon."

Prof. MONROE.ŕ It is a question in my mind whether

the Organon should be taught during the student years;

that is systematically. It should be referred to by the

professor frequently, and the student should be taught

that he cannot regard himself as a well-rounded

homeopathic physician until he is familiar with the

Organon. To my mind, however, the book is not of

such a character as will admit of its being properly

digested during the rushing, cramming gallop that marks

the career of a student during his last year; and previous

to that time, he is not sufficiently far advanced to

comprehend it.

Dr. GRAMM.ŕ Hahnemann's Organon should be read

thoroughly by every student before entering a

homeopathic college, and there it should be used by the

regular professor of theory and practice as the

foundation and guide for his teachings during all the

four years. Every section should be properly read and

carefully explained, and its teachings as much as

possible illustrated by cases from actual practice from

beginning, to end.

Dr. PECK. Ŕ The Organon should be the first book

placed in the hands of a medical student. If he has not

sufficient sense and knowledge to understand and to

appreciate it he never can become a trustworthy

physician. The youth should be told to read it slowly

and deliberately, stopping at any (to him) obscure point,

or at any utterance that does not commend itself to his

sober judgment and refer it at once to his instructor for

their joint investigation.

Rarely will this happen a half dozen times. One or two

more rapid re-readings will do no harm.

Since many alleged homeopath physicians do not

provide their pupils this instruction it becomes

necessary for the college to teach the Institutes of

Medicine. These should be taught at the very beginning

instead of at the close of a course of study, for it is as

important that a doctor should know what he believes,

and why, as for the preacher, or any other man; and the

sooner he ascertains this the better. After a little talk on

HAHNEMANN and his times, display on the

blackboard or in other convenient manner singly and

successively the various propositions. As each is

exhibited ask the class if it accepts that assertion, then

call for reasons pro and con.

Dr. NIELSEN.-The Organon should be taught

especially to the advanced student, but by a competent

teacher and one able to read between the lines.

Dr. KRAFT.-The Organon, like the bible, should be

read through not less than once a year; its reading and

study should not cease with the medical man's

commencement exercises. During school-life it should

be listened to from the chair of therapeutics at least once

a week. Not read by the teacher but talked. The

professor of therapeutics should have naught to do with

Materia Medica; in him should be combined the present

highly ornamental chair of Organon, and the rare chair

of Institutes of Medicine. To him should be given the

duties of explaining the homeopathic law, the

therapeutical application of Materia Medica, the

Organon, and the potencies.

Dr. BOJANUS.- According to my opinion I should think

that the Organon should not be given before the end of

the third year of study and must be explained and

commented in a special course of lectures, and not

before the students have visited the homeopathic and the

lectures upon the Organon, the whole homeopathic

literature, with all its different tendencies, must be

passed in review and particular attention must be paid

that the youthful students should not prefer the literature

which has given itself the task of clothing homeopathic

therapeutics into a form more or less like allopathy.

Such compilations are a comfortable implement in the

hands of those who wish to convert science into a

milking cow; they are useful to establish a position and

keep their disciple in the broad way of the beaten track,

but this is preparing the ruin of Homeopathy.

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Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 150

6. The Children of Chernobyl and Cina

Chance or regularity?

VASILYEVA, L.G., ZAKHARCHENKO, G.A.

(BHJ. 81, 2/1992)

The authors have under their care fifty-four

children exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl

nuclear reactor disaster of 1986. The radiation exposure

and the most common pathologies are discussed.

Response to treatment, especially in terms of general

health was good. Cina was the most commonly

indicated medicine. The plant Artemisia cina is

traditionally associated with Chernobyl.

Introduction

Radiation has come to our land. There is no way of

eliminating it. Our generation and many generations to

come will have to live against the background of

radiation. The Chernobyl nuclear plant accident was the

most serious accident that has occurred during the

period of use of nuclear energy. The radiation affected

areas have been declared a zone of national calamity.

Following the Chernobyl accident a considerable

area has been contaminated by radioactive particles with

a complex isotope mix. The fall out during the first ten

days after the accident contained the largest quantity of

short-lived radioactive isotopes. Later, long-lived

isotopes came to the fore as a damaging factor. The

radio-activity expelled during the explosion of the

nuclear reactor was registered in all countries of the

Northern hemisphere and has increased background

radiation over a huge area of Europe. The radioactive

cloud brought only lightweight, volatile aerosols to

Europe. The heavier fall-out occurred on the territory of

the former USSR alone.

As a result of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima

and Nagasaki and massive scientific research into its

after-effects acute radiation sickness is well understood.

Its symptoms develop very rapidly and there can be no

doubt as to its connection with overdosage. On the

otherhand, no one had ever studied the after-effects of

small dose radiation exposure on the human body until

the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

In developing preventive measures in the social and

medical fields the focus of attention must be placed on

the children, since they represent that section of the

population that is most susceptible to the effects of

radiation and, at the same time, childrenřs health is

essential for the future health and welfare of the nation.

Study population

Beginning in 1990 our homeopathic centre has

been examining the children who suffered due to the

Chernobyl accident. The analysis of fifty-four medical

cases of children evacuated from the town of Pripyat (3-

6km from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant) is the

subject of this report.

The initial ejection of radionucliodes on the 26

April 1986 did not affect the town of Pripyat. The

subsequent expulsion of radionuclides from the

damaged reactor resulted in a discontinuity of the spatial

and temporal pattern of radiation spread in the town.

The contamination density in different areas of the town

prior to evacuation varied from 30 to 2,000mCurie/m

The inhalation influx was 10 to 700 mCurie/m

equivalent to a dosage absorbed by the thyroid gland of

20-1,400 rad.

The evacuation of the town had been completed by

14.00 hours on 27 April. Two hundred and thirty

families (836 individuals, including 372 children) were

moved to the city of Donetsk, 800km from Pripyat.

Beginning in 1990, some of these children have

been regularly examined by homeopathic doctors. At

present forty-six families with fifty-four children aged

between two and fifteen are regularly examined and

treated at our Centre.

Three children in two families were born after the

accident. One of them is a boy born eight months after

the accident. The other two are girls born in another

family two months and three years after the accident.

The assessment of their health and its time history

against the back-ground of homeopathic treatment is to

be presented in this paper.

In the very first days after the accident the

radionuclides were the major factor of the internal

irradiation for these children. Intake occurred via

respiratory organs as well as via biological food chains.

Pathology

According to present estimates the thyroid gland is

more susceptible to damage due to radiation exposure in

children than in adults. Besides, it must be also taken

into account that the outcome of the disease of the

thyroid gland is much more marked in children than in

adults.

The results of the initial medical examination of the

children evacuated from Pripyat did not point to any

obvious pathology. Four children had goiters with

increased blood levels of thyroid hormones, calcitonin

and parathormone in their blood. Six to twelve months

after the accident it was noted that the function of the

pituitary-thyroid axis and of the parathyroid gland had

become normal. The concentration of TSH (thyroid

stimulating hormone) was within normal limits (0.5-

4.5μg/l). But we should remember that only five years

have passed since the accident.

The most characteristic short-term effects on the

thyroid gland were as follows: increased metabolic rate,

decrease of immune function and changes in peripheral

blood thyroid hormone levels.

Longer term effects of the thyroid gland damage are

a steady disturbance of its function, growth of benign

and malignant tumours which, however, do not manifest

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 151

immediately. On average the tumours develop 20-25

years later in adults, and 10 years after the thyroid gland

has been exposed to radiation at a dose of 50 rad in

children.

Observation shows that the same individual dosage

in each specific case acts differently; a solid healthy

body is able to withstand a relatively high radiation load

while a weakened body with low reparative processes

may show the signs of pathological changes. The

concept of a strong and healthy body has an individual

character in Homeopathy and is connected with the

locus minoris.

There are no specific radiation-related diseases

caused by small dose exposure. One can only claim that

radiation exposure increases the risk of some common

diseases. Following the accident there has been an

increase in the number of cases of anaemia, throat and

nose disorders, diseases of lungs, gastric and intestinal

tract pathology, cerebral and vascular disorders, chronic

inflammatory and immune diseases.

The most frequent complaint among the children

attending for homeopathic treatment was frequent

upper respiratory tract infections present in 96%,

followed by chronic cholecystitis-cholangitis in 67%,

generalized lymphadenopathy in 54%, chronic

gastroduodenitis in 26%, chronic tonsillitis in 26% and

colitis in 22%.

The analysis of these observations shows that there

are no radiation-related diseases due to the effect of

small dosage but that irradiation stimulates some

diseases.

Some case histories

When analyzing the state of health of the children it

was found that eight of them had frequent nose bleeds.

A baby born eight months after the accident (the mother

had had four previous mis-carriages, so she refused an

abortion) had a relapsing haemangioma six times during

the next four years. It recurred each time in the same

place, in the lobe of the ear in the reflexogenous area of

the Řeyeř. After five operations (excision twice and

electrocoagulation three times) the eyesight had

noticeably deteriorated. There was no need for another

operation after treatment with Calcium phosphoricum

200 cH: the haemangioma vanished. Follow up is one

year, the observations continue.

Another baby was born into the same family three

years after the accident and at the age of two months

nephritis was detected. Calcarea carbonica 200 cH

contributed to the improvement of the general condition

and the normalization of urine tests.

A girl of five who was eleven months old at the

time of the accident developed an acute nephritis on the

fourth day after the accident which later became

chronic. Colchicum 200 cH at the age of five brought

about an aggravation: temperature up to 40ºC within

two days, cramps and polyuria. This was followed by

an improvement of general health condition and

normalization of urine tests. Follow up is five months.

The observation continues.

Results

The therapy decreased the frequency of occurrence

of upper respiratory tract infections by 72% and of

chronic tonsillitis by 18% within one year. The

incidence of cholecystitis-cholangitis decreased by 56%.

Complaints of headache became considerably less

frequent.

Many parents remarked on the superiority of

homeopathic treatment over the conventional treatment

that their children had taken earlier. The parents noted a

considerable improvement in general health, capacity

for work, appetite and sleep and disappearance of

asthenia.

We analysed the frequency of prescription of

homeopathic medicines. It turned out that the children

under observation were most frequently prescribed Cina

(46%), the second commonly used preparation was

Calcarea carbonica (24%), the third was Silicea (20%).

Last June we accompanied a group of the children

that had been under my observation on a holiday in the

Netherlands.

It was satisfying to note that the group of children

who had had Homeopathy adapted very well to the

change of weather and environment. On the contrary,

the children who had not had homeopathic treatment

frequently caught colds, many of them suffered a good

deal during the trip. We had to treat them for

hydradenitis, Respiratory diseases, Acute bronchitis,

Follicular quinsy and Dyskinesia of bile ducts.

Cina and Chernobyl

Cina Ŕ Wormwood Ŕ Artemisia cina, is known

locally as Chernobylnik, or simply Chernobyl in the

Ukraine. Wormwood is considered to be the herb that

ushers a human being into life, that consecrates the

source of life. Wormwood was considered to be

helpful during childbirth in Russia, the Caucasus and in

China. Moreover, this herb was supposed to be so

powerful that it could save from calamity not only an

individual but the whole country.

Chernobyl (Wormwood) helped my people in

fighting the epidemic of Cholera, in times of famine it

helped many to survive. Now the people need it again.

To honour this herb, the area of the Ukraine where

wormwood blossoms had been called Chernobyl but

later the word became a symbol of reproach to humanity

in the form of Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Why is this? Is it coincidence? Chance? But any

chance when repeated again and again becomes a

regularity. Then, may be, it is fate?

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7. Hahnemann's Psora in Light of Goethe's Science

Joel SHEPPERD (AJHM. 95, 4/2002-3)

Goethean science is experiential, wherein sensory

phenomena are primary; this approach parallels

Hahnemann's urging to focus upon the signs and

symptoms in patients as opposed to disease categories.

Hahnemann's depiction of Psora was the result of extensive

observation of disease signs and symptoms, and not mere

theorization. There is similarity between Hahnemann's

concept of Psora and the ur-phenomenon of Goethe, his

contemporary. The modern identification of various

microbes as pathogens does not refute the validity of the

theory of Psora, which condition precedes and might

predispose to such infections. Hahnemann's identification

of Psora and chronic diseases led to a significant deepening

and broadening of case taking strategies.

Introduction

The Nature of Chronic Diseases by HAHNEMANN is not

a work of theory. It should not be divided into the

"Theoretical Part" as subsequent translators have done.lt is a

work of "unremitting thought, indefatigable research,

faithful observation, and the most "accurate

experiments,"(1) said HAHNEMANN, and it occupied

him for at least eleven years before he wrote anything

about it.

One of the challenges facing Homeopathy today is for it to

maintain its scientific method. Hahnemann's original

observations are not dogma; that is, not opinions based on

authority. His experience is not theory derived from

speculation and hypothesis. His principles are the result of

experience and rigorous experiments that may be verified

by repetition.

HAHNEMANN does not outline the format for how he

organizes his scientific descriptions, but only describes the

results. This situation is similar to that of a new reader

interpreting a typical research article in a modern scientific

medical journal. If that person does not know the unstated

architecture of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), he

would think that modem science is close-minded with

narrow interests, concerned with trivia, uses twisted math-

ematical statistics in obscure ways, and is written in a foreign

language. Similarly, if Hahnemann's organized scientific

writings are not placed in a context, there is no perspective by

which to view their validity.

Modern authors who critique mainstream science describe

an alternative and complementary way of science, which is

labeled Goethean Science.(2) Homeopathy is a good

example of Goethe's method applied to medicine, and

Hahnemann's writings follow the similar rigorous format

described by GOETHE. It is useful to bring GOETHE into

the discussion because he writes much more about why he

does science, and he explains in greater detail how he goes

about his science.

An increased understanding of Hahnemann's unstated

organized methods, and a wider perspective of the consistent

technique followed by HAHNEMANN reveal the science

in his major works. Each generation of homeopathic

students must grapple with the basic concepts of

Homeopathy such as the law of similars, the life force, the

small dose, using one medicine at a time, and psoric

chronic disease. All of these scientific realizations about

health and disease grow out of Hahnemann's unprejudiced

observations, repeated experience and pure experiments.

Historical Context

HAHNEMANN is not just an isolated historical genius of

the past; his works are the thorough development of an

established way of science, which he applied to a new

method of medical treatment. HAHNEMANN is part of an

important wellspring of scientific thought that has

continued unbroken through 200 years. (3) Hahnemann

developed his experimental method of Homeopathy in the

context of the German culture of his time. The person who

most influences and represents that culture is Goethe.

Mostly known for his literature and poetry Goethe

considered his work in natural science as his most

important endeavor. Goethe's way of science and

Hahnemann's method are parallel. GOETHE said about

himself, "... receive I herewith the concise confession of

faith of a Hahnemannian disciple." (4) In his literary work,

"Faust," part 2,scene 87, is the quote:"To like things like,

whatever one may ail, there's certain help." There is no

evidence that the two ever communicated with each other

directly (5), but Goethe approved of HAHNEMANN

because they both followed the same underlying method

of natural science.

Goethe's method states that the sensory phenomena are

primary. They are not secondary manifestations of some

objective reality underlying them. Present mainstream

science relies mostly on observations that can be measured

or quantified, such as temperatures, lengths, distances, and

ignores qualities of experience such as pain or taste.

Goethean science is a way of staying with direct

experiential contact. lt is a way of attention so that the

observed sensory phenomena are understood only in terms

of themselves. They are not to be reduced to theories, and

nothing is to be added from the outside.

GOETHE describes three stages in observing phenomena:

1. The empirical phenomena are what everyone finds in

nature by random observation.

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2. The scientific phenomena are produced under

controlled circumstances and conditions.

3. The pure phenomena or Ur-phenomena are the result

of the observations and experiments, excluding the

accidental, untangling the complicated, and grasping the

underlying unity.(6)

Applied to Hahnemann's Homeopathy this is the same

process as accurately gathering the totality of the signs

and symptoms of disease and not reducing those whole

phenomena to a disease name or disease category,

Hahnemann's scientific method does not insert any

theories or categories between the facts of the case and the

facts of the Materia Medica. The pure totalities of the

subjective, objective and circumstantial symptoms are

themselves the final and decisive organic phenomena.

Their Scientific Method

Further comparisons can be shown between Goethe's

method and Hahnemann's method.

"The true healing art is in its nature a pure science of

experience, and can and must rest on clear facts and on

the sensible phenomena... Knowledge of the disease to be

treated, knowledge of the effects of the medicines, and

how the ascertained effects of the medicines are to be

employed for the removal of diseases, all this experience

alone teaches adequately In the pure science of

experience.. .merely speculative reason can consequently

have no voice; there when it acts alone, it degenerates

into empty speculation and phantasy and produces only

hazardous hypotheses... by their very nature must be self

deception and falsehood"(7) (HAHNEMANN).

"We find that many would prefer to dismiss phenomena

with a general theoretical precept or a quick explanation

without taking the trouble to study them in detail and

achieve a knowledge of the whole over a longer time.

Content without method leads to phantasy... All

hypothesis get in the way of.. .the urge to look again, to

contemplate the objects, the phenomena in question, from

all angles... Let us not seek for something behind the

phenomenaŕthey themselves are the theory"(8)

(GOETHE).

"Poetic fancy, fantastic wit and speculation, must for the

time be suspended, and all overstrained reasoning, forced

interpretation and tendency to explain things away must

be suppressed. The duty of the observer is only to take

notice of the phenomena and their course... This capacity

of observing accurately is never quite an innate faculty; it

must be chiefly acquired by practice...the necessary cool-

ness, calmness and firmness of judgment must be

preserved, together with a constant distrust of our own

powers of apprehension"(9) (HAHNEMANN).

"Thus we can never be too careful in our efforts to avoid

drawing premature conclusions from experiments or using

them directly as proof to bear out some theory. For here at

this pass, this transition from empirical evidence to

judgment, cognition to application, all the inner enemies of

humanity lie in wait: imagination which sweeps us away on

its wings before we know our feet have left the ground;

impatience; haste; self satisfaction; rigidity; formalistic

thought; prejudice; ease; frivolity; ficklenessŕthis whole

throng and its retinue. Here they lie in ambush and surprise

not only the active observer but also the contemplative one

who appears safe from all passion"(10) (GOETHE).

These examples help to show that HAHNEMANN and

Goethe shared a common method of science. Any

interpretation of Hahnemann's writing must be placed in

this historical and cultural framework to help clarify its

application in today's practice.

Chronic Disease

Homeopathy cured people's acute illnesses better than

other methods, but people often remained with continued

ailments, and Hahnemann wondered why. He defined

what he discovered as "chronic disease." The word

"chronic" did not mean only a length of time; it meant that

such diseases would "never pass away of themselves"

even in "the most robust constitution, nor by the soundest

regimen and diet." (11) This is unlike acute diseases

which run their course with a" crisis from the organism, so

that man then is wont to entirely recover from them and,

indeed, in a short time, unless he be killed by them." (12)

Chronic disease was disease not cured by the life force on

its own.

Miasmatic Disease

HAHNEMANN also called disease "Miasmatic."The word

"Miasm" was in common usage at that time, perhaps as the

word "germ" would be now. It conveyed a general meaning

of "polluting exhalations" or "stigma on the organism."(13)

For Hahnemann, Miasm was a disease that was

infectious; and each Miasm had its own recognizable

natural history. There were "acute Miasms" (14) like

Measles or Scarlet fever, "half-acute (sub-acute) Miasms" (15)

Rabies, which had no skin eruption, or "fixed

Miasms"(16) like Whooping cough.

In addition, HAHNEMANN discovered the Chronic

Miasms, and he defines them in a very specific way

according to their infectious nature:

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First, the infection takes place in one single moment (17) by

a touch to the general epidermis. (18)

Second, the moment that the infection takes effect, it is no

longer local. It cannot be washed off or cut off. Nothing is

visible, and the Miasma immediately communicates itself

invisibly and dynamically to the rest of the living

organism.(19)

Third, only when the whole organism is transformed by the

Miasmatic disease, does the itch eruption break forth to

alleviate the internal malady (20)

This process of infection by Miasm is the same for acute

diseases and chronic disease so far, unless; fourth, the skin

eruptions are driven away (erroneously called "driving the

itch into the body"),(21) then the innumerable chronic

diseases develop depending on body constitution and

external circumstances.

Hahnemann described three chronic, Miasmatic diseases,

not out of speculation and theory, but from his experience

with European patients. He named the three chronic

Miasmatic diseases as Syphilitic, Sycotic and Psoric

diseases. The first two are venereal in origin and described

in detail by HAHNEMANN in Chronic Diseases.

Psora

HAHNEMANN traces the written history of Psora to

Moses' time 3600 years ago.(22) The word "Psora" was

commonly used in Hahnemann's time. However,

HAHNEMANN gives the word a specific definition and

description. Psora means "the itch" and is derived from the

Hebrew "tsorat" meaning a groove, a fault, a pollution, and

a stigmaŕoften applied to Leprosy. (23) Hahnemann traces

a word in "Leviticus," chapter l3,which was translated into

a Greek word that was translated as "Psora." What

HAHNEMANN labels as Psora was historically called

"malignant itch," scabies jugis, lichen, tetter, herpes, and

leprosy. (24)

While describing the implications of Psora,

HAHNEMANN uses synonyms for Psora such as "the Itch

disease," (25) the internal itch disease with or without its

skin eruption,(26) itch sickness,(27) itch Miasm, (28) itch

malady. (29) Hahnemann further characterizes Psora as

universal mother of chronic diseases," (30) "the oldest and

most hydra-headed of all the chronic Miasmatic diseases,"

(31) "the nearly innumerable symptoms of which form but

one whole.. . and to be medicinally treated as the parts of

one and the same disease.. ."(32)

In the "Glossary" of the Organon edited by OřREILLY, Psora

is called "the root" of most chronic diseases, and a collective

disease: "it's entire and complete image can only be

obtained by gathering together the symptoms of a very

large number of patients, who appear to be suffering from

many, essentially different chronic maladies." (33) (See

paragraph 103 of the Organon).

ORTEGA mentions that Psora was considered merely a

philosophic hypothesis about Miasms. Ortega prefers terms

that describe Psora as "a modification of the vital

dynamism leading to a creation of a special state called

susceptibility. He calls the psoric Miasm a dynamic

diathesis or dyscrasia on the terrain or constitution of an

individual. (34)

HAEHL calls Psora "a disease or disposition to disease,

hereditary from generation to generation for thousands of

years and it is the fostering soil for every possible diseased

condition.. .The individual physical constitution is the

varying factor...HAHNEMANN knew about the cause of

scabiesŕthe itch miteŕSarcoptes hominisŕand did not

confuse it with Psora." (35)

J. Henry ALLEN considered Psora an etiological

structure,"the cause or the basic element in every-thing

known as sickness."(36) (See paragraph 80 of the

Organon).

These descriptions tend to make Psora a theory rather than

reflect the actual observations that HAHNEMANN

recorded. How can Psora be the fundamental cause of

disease, a disease, a disposition to disease, innumerable

diseases, a collective disease, or the ancestor of chronic

diseases all at the same time? How can "an astonishing

number of ailments, apparently having no connection with

one another: (37) all be Psora?

Ur-Malady

Further clarification of Psora can be achieved by

introducing the "ur-disease" or "ur-malady." Even before

HAHNEMANN defined Psora as "chronic" and

"Miasmatic," he named it as the Ur-Uebel in German.(38)

Quoting page 6 in Chronic Disease,".. .the original malady

[Ur-Uebel) sought for must be also of a Miasmatic, chronic

nature..."(39) The terms "Miasm" and "chronic" and "Psora"

have been described, but Ur-Uebel has not been clarified,

but may be so in light of Goethe's scientific method. On

page xix of the newest translation of the Organon,the

editors introduce translation problems. The meaning of the

German word Uebel may be "illness" or "evil," and

HAHNEMANN uses it quite commonly (40) Even more

problematic is the use of the word "Ur-Uebel."

TAFEL variously translates Ur-Uebel as "original disease"

(page 5),"primitive malady" (page 6), "original

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malady"(page 6 & 78).(41) HAEHL translates Ur-Uebel as

"original evil." (42) ORTEGA uses the phrase "primitive evil."

(43) Steven DECKER translates Ur-Uebel as "arch malady"

and "original malady" (44) A German dictionary uses words

such as "origin,""source," "primitive,""prototype,""primal,"

"archetype" for Ur. To contain all the meanings the prefix

Ur will remain untranslated.

After so many years of careful observations, it was the ur-

malady that HAHNEMANN discovered, and which

described the nature of non-venereal chronic disease. The

ur-malady is more than an ancestor disease with a history,

more than a causative agent, more than an internalized itch-

eruption. It is more than chronic, more than Miasmatic

and more than the name Psora. It is the medical disease

equivalent of Goethe's ur-phenomenon. "The ur-

phenomenon is the final precipitate of all experiences and

experiments from which it can never be isolated. Rather it

reveals itself in a constant succession of manifestations."

(45)

"By means of constant comparison, contrast, simplification

and recompilation, Goethe is able to represent these

apparently isolated facts as different moments of single

dynamic phenomenon. The resulting super experiment and

super phenomenon represent a natural whole that has been

discovered by prudent experimentation." (46)

"The ur-phenomenon is not so much a single, objectified

phenomenon, conceived at a high level of abstraction; as it is

a rubric for a naturally unified sequence of experiments

and phenomenon... intended to unify the phenomena.. .Ur-

phenomenon elaborates and articulates the principle of

unity of these events; it is an explicit constitution of the type,

not as matter for theoretical proof, nor as an abstract

concept, but in the form of phenomena made as concrete,

as full of content as possible... trying to give scientific

articulation, expression and understanding of the field under

investigation."(47)

"Samuel HAHNEMANN was not only a physician at war

with the medical practices of his time, he was also a great

experimental scientist. He observed and collected his

observations until gradually a pattern showed

itself...observation alone is not sufficient. lt must be

coupled with right relating, relating in right order until we

arrive in the Goethean sense at the idea, the underlying

principle or pattern of a thingŕ the ur-phenomenon."(48)

The ur-malady is not an abstract concept arrived at by a

process of merely selecting out the common elements of a

group of phenomena. lt is not a general blueprint on which

forms are variations.The ur-malady of Hahnemann is not an

ideal disease concept, but a real disease. This real disease,

however, manifests differently in every single person. The ur-

malady of Psora is not a predisposition to disease, it is the

disease. Each person, though, has a unique predisposition to

an expression of the psoric Miasm. Psora is not a collection

of diseases like some gathering together of related items.

Psora is a dynamic, generative transformation of chronic

disease with individual form in each person.

Homeopaths who speak German say that Ur is a common

prefix meaning "old" or "original" and has no further

connotation. However, Hahnemann speaks of eliminating the

ur-malady in the present, not of curing the historic disease.

The ur-malady is the original chronic Miasmatic disease,

but it is also current chronic disease of humanity "whose

great extent is shown in the new occurents emerging from

time to time." (49)

The Ur-Uebel has certainly produced evil consequences for

humankind, but it is of no practical homeopathic value to

label it the original evil or original sin as is mentioned by

Kent.(50)

Psoric disease is not a theoretical hypothesis. lt is an

observed chronic disease with innumerable manifestations.

Each transformation of Psora is united by a common

inherent principle of natural history namely that it is

chronic, as defined by Hahnemann, and Miasmatic as

defined by Hahnemann. Since Psora is a real and a

practical concept, then it can be used to understand present

day events in medicine.

Psora and Allopathic Chronic Disease.

How can we resolve the conflict between the observed

scientific knowledge of today with Hahnemann's

observations of chronic Miasms? For example, herpes is

now related to a virus. Tinea is related to a fungus, and

scabies is related to a mite. Venereal warts are not related to

Neisseria gonorrhoeae but to papilloma virus infections.

These "facts" seem to contradict Hahnemann's description

of the Miasmatic chronic diseases. But the identity of Psora

is not dependent on these new facts.

First of all, HAHNEMANN recognized the significance of

microorganisms. He described cholera as an infection by"

an enormously increased brood of these excessively minute,

invisible, living creatures so inimical to human life..."(51)

Second; the identification of a microorganism, or nearly

microscopic organism in a person with an infection does

not make it the cause. The disease is a process of response

by the host organism. Bacteria and fungi are not the

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diseases; they are living organisms in their own right and

exist with their own self-contained processes independent

of the health status of a human organism. They are always

present in human bodies, even when there is no disease. In

a normal person there are 100 quadrillion bacteria and

only 10 quadrillion normal cells. (52) To assign certain

microorganisms as a cause of disease is to ignore most of

the other processes that effect disease response. such as

body constitution, lifestyle, hygiene, nutrition, sanitary

conditions, the life force, and the external maintaining

causes.

Third, it is not meaningful to "reduce" the whole person

phenomenon of disease at the macro level to one of its

parts at the micro-phenomenon level such as bacteria. The

whole-person disease is the fundamental occurrence, not

the fragmented parts. Similarly, it is not meaningful to

ascribe causes to the so-called chronic disease names. Gout

is not caused by uric acid. Asthma is not caused by

inflammation and bronchospasm. The pathology and

physiology findings in tissues are results, not causes of the

disease processes. The assignment of cause in mainstream

medicine removes attention from dynamic wholes and

dehumanizes life processes into reduced fragments that

are materially manipulated. In every day homeopathic

practice, the knowledge of the exact pathogen in a urinary

tract infection does not lead to homeopathic cures. The

knowledge of the presence of inflammation does not help

find the homeopathic remedy for asthma. These facts are

not significant to homeopaths now, and they would not

have been significant to Hahnemann in his description of

psoric disease.

Fourth, the observations about Psora have lead to

homeopathic treatment that can have salutary effects. That

is, it works. How does it work? HAHNEMANN said, "To

make the possibility of this process in some way

intelligible, the not improbable assumption serves, that an

antipsoric remedy selected.. .could effectuate.. .finally a

cure, probably, only by means of a sort of infection with a

very similar medicinal disease which overpowers the

original disease by a process of nature itself." (53) The

remedies act by imitating "a sort of infection," and since all

remedies work by the same process and homeopaths see

cures in chronic disease, then all psoric chronic diseases

have a single unifying nature. Cancers, seizure, arthritis, etc.

are unified by their Miasmatic (infectious) nature.

Fifth, Psora is meaningful as an explanation of the

wholeness of the phenomenon of chronic disease because

it has a distinct definition of Miasmatic and a specific

definition of chronic, and it shows the unity of the natural

history of the development and manifestation of

continued disease.

A remedy like Pulsatilla can be used for Eczema or

Rheumatoid arthritis or seizure disorder. This would not be

possible unless there was an underlying unifying

description that connected these different pathologies. This

observed wholeness has been named Psora.

AIDS as an Example

How can a dynamic, infectious, Miasmatic process be

responsible for so many different named diseases? In our

generation we have a malady that illustrates the answer.

HIV was first identified as a separate entity in 1981.The virus

implicated with AIDS is a retrovirus. "The viral DNA must be

integrated into the DNA of a host cell chromosome...{it}

never comes out of the chromosome. Once the provirus is

integrated into the host cell's DNA, several things can

happen. Sometimes the provirus simply remains in a latent

state and replicates when the DNA of the host cell replicates.

In other cases, the provirus becomes transcribed and

produces new viruses, which may infect adjacent cells. The

provirus can also convert the host cell into a tumor cell..

.some viral infections result in changes in host cell's

functions with no visible changes in the infected cells. For

example, if a virus changes the production level of a

hormone, the cells normally affected by that hormone will

not function properly (54) Not only does a virus infect a

cell, it transforms the cell. If the cell is in the lung, perhaps

Pneumonia will result. If the cell is destroyed in the

pancreas, perhaps diabetes will result. Not only does the so-

called virus transform the cell, the change can be inherited

by the next generation.

From one virus, infections are possible, hormones are

imbalanced, cancers grow and genetic disease begins.

This one retrovirus results in opportunistic infections also.

Fungi, like Candida appear. Tuberculosis bacteria multiply

more easily. Protozoa manifest as Toxoplasmosis or as

Cryptosporidium. Other viruses such as Herpes or

Cytomegalo viruses easily overwhelm the immune system.

Conventional medicine insists that one virus causes all

these diseases to appear.

When HAHNEMANN carefully and repeatedly observed

that a dynamic infectious Miasmatic process set in motion

the development of chronic disease, he was about two

centuries ahead of his time.

AIDS further illustrates another observation by

Hahnemann. Namely, there are no spontaneously new

diseases, only new ways of expressing the original Psora.

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The retrovirus supposedly implicated with AIDS is not

new."HIV has been floating around America and Africa for

more than a hundred years. Some researchers say the virus

may even have been present for nearly a millennium.

Almost every group infected by AIDS has been exposed to

an unhealthy variety of immune suppressors long before

HIV became the virus in vogue at medical labs.. ."(55) The

immune destroying agents include heroin, cocaine, nitrates,

semen, malnutrition, amoebas, bacteria, viruses, antibiotics,

blood transfusions, poverty, anorexia, Syphilis,

Malaria.

HAHNEMANN says that chronic diseases come to

expression depending on "the various bodily constitutions of

individual men differing from one another in their domiciles,

their climatic peculiarities, their upbringing; habits,

occupations, mode of life and of diet, and moulded by

varying somatic and psychic relations." (55)

A Note on Psorinum

HAHNEMANN proved the nosode Psorinum, but it was

difficult to prove on healthy people, since so many people

had Psora. Psorinum was not a special medicine to "clear

the case" or "antidote a Miasm." HAHNEMANN mentions

no such concepts."Psorinum should not be given for Psora

or psoric diathesis, but like every other remedy, upon a strict

individualizationŕthe totality of the symptoms..." (57)

A Word on Case Taking

Many of the routine procedures in current homeopathic

practice did not begin until after Hahnemann's

explanations of chronic disease. lt was no longer enough to

question the patient about current symptoms. Instead the

homeopath "must endeavor to search out first the whole

state of the patient, the internal cause as far as it is

remembered, the maintaining cause of his malady; his mode

of life, his quality as to mind, spirit and body together with

all his symptoms (according to the directions in the

'Organon'),and then he should carefully find...a remedy

covering in similarity, as far as possible, all these factors, or at

least the most striking and peculiar ones..."(58) Never

before was a doctor called upon to be so thorough. In

current times most homeopathic practices are filled with

patients with chronic diseases and we take this style of case

taking for granted, but it originally grew out of Hahnemann's

understanding of Psora as a disease of the whole person,

whose past symptoms are potentially as important as

current symptoms.

HAHNEMANN also emphasized higher potencies in

chronic diseases:".. .nothing will go wrong if the doses

(were it possible) are given even smaller than I myself have

prescribed them. They can hardly be given too small..."

(59) And the doctor should, "...allow each dose to act its full

time."(60) This advice on how to cure Psora was new from

Hahnemann's understanding of chronic disease.

HAHNEMANN was also unique in his treatment of psoric

disease with his insistence on "a strict, homeopathic diet and

mode of living.. ."(61),so much so that his opponents

claimed his cures were only from lifestyle treatments.

Hahnemann devotes several pages to what articles to eat,

what to avoid:"moderation in all things, even in harmless

ones, is the chief duty of the chronic patient." (62)

Hahnemann is also specific about what life habits a patient

with chronic disease must follow, including exercise, bathing,

sexuality and entertainment." (63)

EPISTEMOLOGY

Hahnemann's understanding of chronic disease and Psora

enriches the principles and methodology of homeopathic

medicine. HAHNEMANN has developed an explicit

epistemology or system of knowledge so that results can

be repeated consistently and new observations can be

externally validated. Definitions of concepts, statement of

principles and methods of application are expressly

stated.

They are:

1. The chronic dynamic disease is treatable by the

simillimum. Medicines are found by provings on healthy

people.The correct remedy is chosen by the totality of

symptoms.The characteristic symptoms of each individual

with disease are unique and include past and present

manifestations.

2. The optimum dose of medicine is a potentized dose

that may need repetition.

3. The single remedy can be found for all the signs,

symptoms and chronic disease manifestations in each person

at a given moment in time.

4. Do not palliate the expression of symptoms in

dynamic conditions with methods other than

homeopathic.

5. Diet and life regimen must be managed to stop

external causes.

If this method of science is not followed, it is not the practice

of homeopathic medicine. If some other method is used, it

should be called by some other name.

References

1 Hahnemann,S.Nature of Chronic Diseases. p5. New

Delhi: Jain Publishing Co.

2 Seamon,D,Zajonc, A. Goethe's Way of Science, p.xi.

Albany: SUNY Press 1998.

3 Amrine, F Goethe in the History of Science, Vol. 29.

p. 1. Peter Lang Publishing 1995.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 158

4 Haehl,R.Samuel Hahnemann:His Life & Work.

p. 113.New Delhi: B.Jain Publishers 1972.

5 Twentyman, R. The Science and Art of Healing, p.55.

Worcester: Billings & Sons Ltd 1989.

6 Miller, D, ed. Goethe; The Collected Works, Scientific

Studies, Volume 12. p. 25. Princeton: Princeton -

University Press 1995.

7 Dudgeon, RE., trans. Organon of Medicine by Samuell Hahnemann, pp.viii-ix. Philadelphia:

Boericke&Tafel l901.

8 Naydler, J.Goethe on Science, p.9I.Edinburgh:

Floris Books 1996.

9 Dudgeon, RE, trans. Materia Medica Para Vol II by

Samuel Hahnemann, p.40. London:

Hahnemann Publishing Society 1881.

10 Goethe, J. Goethe's Botanical Writings, p.223. Ox Bow Press 1989.

11 Decker, S, trans. Chronic Diseases by Samuel

Hahnemann, para 71.Web site:

file:///El/ StevenDeckerWebsite/ChronicDiseases 1998.

12 Ibid, para 279.

13 Roberts, HA. The Principles & Art of Cure by

Homeopathy, p. 183. England: Health Science Press 1942.

14 Deckers, para 272.

15 Ibid., para 274.

16 Ibid., para 989.

17 Ibid. para270.

18 Ibid., para 294.

19 Hahnemann, S.p.38.

20 Ibid., p.38.

21 Ibid.,p.17.

22 Roberts, HA. pp. 183-185.

23 Saine,A.The oldest origin of the word Psora is from

the Sanskrit Psen meaning itch or itchiness as related

to Scabies. It is Psora in Greek and Psora in Latin and

both meant the same as in Sanskrit.The expression of

antipsoric treatment dates as early as 1783." (personal

communication, 1/02/02).

24 Hahnemann,S.plO.

25 Ibid., p9.

26 Ibid, p7.

27 Decker,S.para 390.

28 Ibid., para 292.

29 Ibid, para 885.

30 Ibid para90.

31 Ibid para 74.

32. Hahnemann,S.p.8.

33. O'Reilly, WB, ed. Organon of the Medical Art by

34. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, p.341 .

Redmond: Birdcage Books 1997.

34. Ortega, PS.Notes on the Miasms, pp.58-60. New

Delhi: National Homoeopathic Pharmacy 1980.

35 Haehl, R. pp. 143-145.

36 Ortega,PS.p.61.

37 Haehl,R.p.l45.

38 Decker.S.para 56,58,59.

39 Hahnemann,S.p..6.

40 O'Reilly,WB.p.xix.

41 Hahnemann, S. pp.6 & 78. 42Haehl,R.p.l38.

43 Ortega, PS. p.29.

44 Decker.S.para 56,58,67,822 and in O'Reilly WB.

pp.32,33,34.

45 Stephenson, RH.p.42. Goethe's Conception of

Knowledge and Science. Columbia University Press

1995.

46 Sepper, DL. p. 70. Goethe Contra Newton. Cam-

bridge University Press 1988.

47 Ibid., pp. 175-178.

48 Brieger, .."Methodological Obstacles in

Homeopaathic Research." BHJ 1961,50:241.

49 Decker, S. para 56.

50 Kent, JT. p. 137. Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy.

New Delhi:B.Jain Publishers 1974.

51 Dudgeon, RE,ed.p.758. The Lesser Writings of

Samuel Hahnemann. New Delhi: B.Jain Publishers

1987.

52 Nikiforuk, A. p.4. The Fourth Horseman. New York:

W Evans & Company, Inc. 1991.

53. Hahnemann, S. p. 125.

54 Torrtora,GJ,Funke,BR,Case,CL.pp.339-342.

Microbiology: An Introduction.

Redwood City: The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing

Company Inc. 1989.

55 Nikiforuk, A. p. 165.

56 Hahnemann, S. p.l06.

57 Tyler, ML. p.672. Homeopathic Drug Pictures.

England: Health Science Press 1975.

58 Hahnemann, S. p. 121.

59 Ibid., p.l20.

60 Ibid., p.121.

61 Ibid., p.107.

62 Ibid.,p.112.

63 Ibid., pp. 107-8.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reclaiming the Meaning of Miasm

SHEPPERD Joel (AJHM. 98, 1/2005)

The purpose of this article is to reaffirm the original

meaning of Miasms and chronic disease in the face of so

many different interpretations. The modern homeopath

needs an updated frame of reference for the description of

chronic Miasmatic disease. An analogy will be made

between the naming of chronic Miasms and the naming of

clouds. A few current interpretations of Miasms will be

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 159

mentioned and compared to the original observations of

chronic diseases.

Introduction

We need to re-establish what HAHNEMANN actually says

about Miasms and chronic disease. We read and translate

the actual words of HAHNEMANN concerning chronic

disease, but interpretations differ. The 21

century

homeopath needs a fresh framework by which to grasp

the import of the original chronic Miasms. One way to

do this is by an analogy from another branch of science.

The impact of the naming of the chronic Miasms in

Homeopathy compares well to the impact of the naming

of the clouds in meteorology.

Naming constant change

Limitless, endless shapes in the sky, known as clouds, were

named and suddenly clarified by Luke HOWARD in 1803.

He gave a lecture in London and said, "1 have purposely

avoided mixing in difficult and doubtful explanations with

what is only, after all, a simple descriptive arrangement."(l)

He described, not explained, the basic cloud forms. He gave

Latin names to cumulus (heap), stratus (layer), and cirrus

(curl) clouds and some others.(2) Why did his

observations and names catch on when no one else in

poetry or science had succeeded over the centuries?

On the one hand is the romantic who insists that Nature

shows a limitless freedom to go about her endless re-

inventions and is not bound by mechanisms and order. On

the other extreme is the reductionistic science that arranges

Nature into physical categories defined by measurable

components like density and velocity. Luke HOWARD

constructed a descriptive solution to account for previously

intangible phenomena. He did not try to describe clouds as

symbols of the imagination; nor did he isolate clouds into a

fixed order. He revealed the mobile order that clarified

their identity.

Clouds are easily seen as dynamicŕconstantly

changingŕbut recognizable in basic forms, originally

named cirrus, stratus, cumulus, but with endless

transitional and combination shapes.

The chronic Miasms are dynamic processes. The pure form

of eachŕpsoric, syphilitic, and sycoticŕ is described with

specific signs and symptoms, but there are endless

manifestations of each, often in combinations.

Luke HOWARD called his lecture "On the Modification of

Clouds..."(3) The modern meteorologist says that Howard

meant to say that he classified clouds.(4) He meant no such

thing. To classify is something an outsider, a so-called

objective observer does to the clouds. This type of scientist

imposes his will onto nature. He makes clouds fit into his

theoretical scheme.

Another observer, who is without pre-judgment, who is

exact, careful, and practiced, becomes part of the clouds; he

immerses himself in the clouds. His observations are true

and pure descriptions of the clouds as they actually are

within themselves. His descriptions are so correct that they

require no further explanations to be recognizable. The

description is the explanation. These dynamic descriptions

are summarized in convenient shorthand; they are named

cirrus, stratus and cumulus. Clouds constantly change shape,

but their basic forms as named can be recognized.

So also, chronic Miasms are exactly described after years of

experience and observation. The symptoms are recorded

one by one. and the names Psora, Sycosis and Syphilis are

shorthand for the descriptions of the Miasmatic process.

Chronic Miasms are not static disease entities. They are

direct perceptions of actual experiences. They are not

names derived from a theoretical or imagined concept. Nor

are they names derived from common pathologies.

Hahnemann states in explicit terms the natural history of

chronic diseases. An observable process, the Miasmatic

process unifies the process of constant change in diseases.

The names of the clouds (or chronic Miasms) do not

identify each cloud (or disease) itself, but their common

disposition to change. These names define not a solid,

stable thing, but a series of metamorphoses. This scientific

account of clouds (or Miasms) is true to a dynamic, rather

than fixed, view of the world.

Modifications, not classifications

A nature governed by mutability and transience is

incompatible with the mainstream analytical "scientific mind

that gives formal classifications to inchoate shapes and

processes."(5) The tendency in human thinking is to take

the description of the modification of clouds (or chronic

Miasms) and make them into a uniform classification and

nomenclature. In this way of thinking, the clouds are

arranged according to common characteristics such as

radiative properties, height, polarization or density. Only

the measurable properties are considered. If this way of

thinking is extended to Homeopathy, chronic Miasms are

redefined by dysfunctional physiology, such as

dysmolecular, dysapoptotic and dysprolif-erative

reactional modes.(6) These properties are all biochemical

reactions that can be analyzed and measured.

The World Meteorological Organization has the authority to

classify clouds. There are Family, Genus, Species and

Variety of clouds. For example, a High, Cirrus, Castellanus,

Duplicatus cloud.(7) One enthusiast observer of clouds

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says,"Few students of clouds will feel satisfied that this

elaboration serves any good purpose...Clouds are not

biological species which reproduce themselves almost

identically. They are all different, and an infinite and

continuous variation is possible." (8) The same is true of

chronic diseases. The psoric Miasm description shows the

relationships and modifications between webs of individual

cases of disease rather than describing a fixed type. Psora is

a descriptive name of dynamic modifications of unlimited

manifestations. It is not a static category. It includes the

disease and the natural history of the disease in one

definition.

Just as Luke HOWARD emphasized that his descriptions

were modifications of clouds, so does HAHNEMANN

specifically say that the many appearances of Psora are

modifications of Psora, not different Miasms:"...Varieties in

the mode of living...give to the psoric diseases so many

modifications (Modifikationen).. .more varied remedies

are needed for the extirpation of all these modifications of

psora (Psora-Modifikationen)." (9)

As time goes on, clouds are named into more and more

classifications. The new categories try to freeze-frame

morphing; the aim is to obliterate the dynamic quality and

replace it with easier to isolate and understand motionless

entities. It is as if the change and movement of clouds is

insignificant. The same tendency exists in homeopathic

circles. The dynamic pattern of psora is ignored in favor of

static categories.

The globalized population mostly shows an inter-

connectedness of Miasms in each person. Practitioners in

the history of Homeopathy increase the number of chronic

Miasms to 4 or 10 or more to fit this clinical experience.

The new Miasms so named seem based on pathology or

disease names like"the tubercular Miasm,""the cancer

Miasm,"or "the cholera Miasm.ŗ This is old-fashioned

traditional thinking of names of diseases. Instead of

constantly making up new Miasms, it is more dynamic to

suggest that each chronically sick person has his own

unique expression of chronic Miasm, and that each person

may need any remedy.

Miasmatic disease as an entity

Clouds are now classified as if they are static,frozen, stable

forms; as if they are taken out of the sky and isolated and

dissected according to weight, height, ice content, opacity,

etc. This gives classification an illusory quantifiable

exactness, but this is not a cloud.

In Homeopathy, a disease or Miasm is not considered an

entity or a thing. In general, a disease is not a thing. If a

cancerous tumor is removed from a person and placed on a

pathology table, the bunch of cells and tissues is not a

disease. It is only a disease when it is a functioning part in

the person and when that part upsets the person's health.

Even if a microorganism like Pseudomonas is isolated from a

sick person, it is not the disease. Pseudomonas is a life form

in its own right with its own genetics and biochemistry It

may play a necessary role in the disease development, but

it is not the disease. The causative agent, the dynamic

contagion effect, does not explain the chronic Miasm. It is

only one step in the process of the chronic disease

development. In modern biomedical thinking.one part of the

disease, either the pathological tissue or the microorganism,

has become the disease. The disease process is reduced or

oversimplified to a thing.

Can the whole living process of disease be built from its

parts? Can Humpty Dumpty of nursery rhyme fame be put

back together again? It is an unproven assumption that

disease can be fully understood from adding up basic

building blocks. If any hypothesis about Miasms starts with

this unexamined assumption as a given, the theory will

never adequately explain Miasms. The Miasm is not a

separate entity. The Miasm is dynamic description of the

whole. The disease and the person are the same entityŕ

the same whole. The Miasm is an untunement of the

whole living form.

Primal cloud, primal disease

As soon as GOETHE read Luke Howard's essays on the

clouds, he became an inspired supporter. He saw

Howard's science as a moment of pure and untrammeled

observation. HOWARD had revealed the true forms of the

unlimited wholeness of clouds.(lO) GOETHE wrote in

praise of Howard's accomplishment, and invoked the name

of a cloud deity from the literature of India.(ll) The name

of the cloud god is Camarupa and means "the wearer of

shapes at will."(12) A Sanskrit website transliterates the word

as KamarUpa and differentiates it from the word

Kaamaruupa (meaning"in the form of lust").(13)

Camarupa is the single, original, primal ancestor cloud.

This unity passes into one form after the other, each

distinct and recognizable, but each a part of the one

perpetual cloud. The primal cloud is like the primal disease

(Ur-Uebel), the original disease or ur-malady of

Hahnemann.(14) The ancestor disease does not evolve in

the modern Darwinian sense, but varies limitlessly. It

expresses itself in a unique disease in each sick person, but

it is part of the whole ur-malady.

The description of the modification of clouds and the

description of the natural history of Miasmatic chronic

disease unveil the same dynamic principle in nature. It is

the same principle of constant change arising from a few

basic original forms. In all of dynamic Nature, there are

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found a few basic shaping forces. The clouds, the wind, the

sea, the sands of the desert ever change, but we still

recognize the basic form. Hahnemann recognized this

principle of dynamic transformation in the chronic

diseases.

The mythologies around the world have shape changers or

shape-shifter personalities to represent this truth of Nature.

In Greek literature, there is Proteus, for instance. He is a sea-

god who can change his shape at will. The word Proteus

means "first" or "primitive." So Proteus is the first form of sea

matter which successively changes shape and continually

creates the sea.(15) In the Odyssey, HOMER relates the

usefulness of Proteus:"It is hard for a mortal man to bend an

immortal to his will...Summon up your strength and

courage and hold him fast there despite his struggles and

his endeavours to elude you. He will seek to foil you by

taking the shape of every creature.. .capture him. Then he

will tell you.. ."(16) Capture the true meaning of the cloud

god Camarupa and Proteus and Hahnemann's ur-malady to

understand the workings of Nature in the clouds, in the sea

and in chronic disease.

The shape shifting forces of nature reveal the ur-malady as

"always past yet still present, always transformed yet still

transforming, always transcended yet never

superseded."(17) Nature is not governed by a fixed order,

but by mutability and disposition to change. However,

Nature is not boundless freedom or randomness. Nature is

not known by arbitrary or whimsical imagining.

Phantasies made up in the mind are like seeing animal or

human shapes in the formlessness of the clouds. They are

not real; they do not last; they are not useful.

Luke HOWARD recorded careful observations for years

before he constructed a descriptive solution to account

for intangible phenomena.(18) Hahnemann also observed

exact signs and symptoms of chronic disease for years,

fixing on particulars as the route to the discovery of general

principles of nature. This is the inductive method.

HAHNEMANN did not discover material diseases. He did

not theorize about styles of energy in chronic disease. He

gave a name to things nameless and a visibility to the previ-

ously unknowable. For the first time,chronic disease was not

just a punctuated series of acute diseases or long lasting

disease; chronic disease could now be comprehended.

Goethe composed verses in honor of HOWARD, and I

think one verse applies to HAHNEMANN as well: "That

which no hand can reach , no hand can clasp, He first

has gained, first held with mental grasp. Defined the

doubtful, fixed its limit-line; and named it fitly. - Be the

honor thine!"(19)

The Historic Word Miasm

The word "Miasma" was a common word of Hah-

nemann's .time; maybe like the word germ or microbe

would be today. It was from a Greek word meaning "to

pollute." It referred to "an infectious atmosphere"(20)

around a sick person as well as , "noxious vapour rising

from putrescent organic matter, marshland,

etc."(21)"Doctors were not ready to inculpate bacteria or

germs, and fevers were diagnoses by themselves...and in

the early 19

century subscribed to the Miasma theory of

infections."(22) The word "Miasm" was common in

Hahnemann's medical language by the time he wrote his

first edition of the Organon in 1810. He described "a

miasmatic disorder" (p. 12) that was "infectious" (p. 19)

and a "morbid exhalation."(23) There was no acute

Miasm and no chronic Miasm. All Miasms were acute

and contagious at that time in Hahnemann's writing.

There was, however,"chronic disease." Chronic disease

was "long-standing" (p. 14) and "commonly originates,

at least partly, in the harmful influences of

diet...occupation, household surroundings,etc." (p. 39,

p. 93). Chronic disease could be natural or

artificial.(24) Chronic Miasmatic disease would not be

written about until 1828.

All Miasmatic diseases, both acute and chronic, have

three important moments in the course of the illness:

1) Time of infection (Ansteckung)ŕtakes

place in one momentŕ"dynamically

communicates" to the whole.

2) Whole organism penetrated (pervaded)

(imbued) with infectious disease within.

3) Outbreak of the external malady when the

disease is throughout the whole organism.

Only in chronic Miasms, the infections do not die out of

themselves.(25)

All Miasms, acute and chronic, are defined by

Hahnemann as "dynamic contagion."(26) The word

Miasm is not defined as a disease or a tendency to

disease. It is a term that includes:

• Definitionŕdynamic contagion

• Originŕcontact with the skin

• Processŕwhole organism change

• Manifestationsŕexternal, and then internal

Hahnemann's Miasms do not explain the mechanistic

causes of chronic disease, such as microorganisms, but

describe the whole diseased person's process of illness.

The word Miasm was not and is not the key in

understanding what makes chronic Miasmatic disease

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 162

chronic. A Miasm becomes chronic when it cannot be

cured by the person's own healing mechanisms. The

predisposition to disease is influenced by diet, lifestyle,

environment, inheritance and life events, but a dynamic

contagion process is required for the chronic Miasm.

1 prefer the English word "contagion" to the word

"infection" to define Hahnemann's Miasm. The word

contagion comes from a word meaning "to touch." (27)

The word "infection" comes from a word meaning "to

stain or taint." (28)

Acute diseases and acute Miasms

A disease is acute if it is a rapid process that runs its

course more or less quickly (§72). (29) HAHNEMANN

further elaborates acute disease by the differences in

their observed natural history:

• Acute febrile diseases affect individuals through

exciting causes such as fatigue, becoming chilled

or psychological upsets (§73).

• Sporadic disease affects many by the same upset

(§73).

• Epidemic disease affects many people at the same

time.

• Acute Miasms recur in the same infectious

manner and are known by a traditional name,

such as small pox, cholera (§73).

Chronic diseases and chronic Miasms

A natural chronic disease arises from a chronic Miasm

by dynamic contagion (§72,§78):

• A chronic disease is not a true, natural chronic

disease if it is caused by bad lifestyle,such as bad

food, bad drink or bad air (§77).

• A natural chronic disease arises from a Miasm

(§78).

• A natural chronic disease is dynamicŕa non-

material, non-mechanical power or energy or force

which can produce action or alter conditions (§11).

• An artificial chronic disease is produced by

allopathic medicinal substances (§29,§74, §146). If

the original, natural chronic disease in a person is

replaced by a disease caused by allopathic treatment;

for example, Penicillin disease or Cortisone disease,

this is an artificial chronic disease. It is not another

Miasm. It is a transformation of the original

Miasm.(30)

Mechanisms of Miasms

Pity the poor innocent homeopaths who have no

mechanism to nourish their needy minds. All they can

do is rigorously and accurately apply the law of healing

and watch in wonderment as healing takes place.

However, don't worry. It's pathology; no, it's physics to

the rescue.

Is the accuracy of the observation of Miasm dependent

on a mechanism? Why should we start with the

assumptions of modern biomedicine and work

backwards to explain Miasms? If modern medicine is

so knowledgeable.why aren't the chronic diseases truly

cured instead of just palliated? What does modern

medicine not understand about disease that the Miasm

observation so carefully reveals?

We should emphasize Hahnemann's observations more

than ever rather than consider his results as

anachronistic. We should not view his data as less good

than modern data. His is pure observation and it is

exactly right. What does HAHNEMANN bring to the

definition of chronic disease? Chronic disease is an

observable process, not a theory in abstraction.

HAHNEMANN sees through the ongoing disease pro-

cess connecting acute disease, life events and family

histories. A chronic disease is not one disease, but a

dynamic process. Seeing Miasms is seeing the unity of

process in chronic disease, not the one cause of one

disease.

It is no longer considered revolutionary when we take a case

and include the totality of the past symptoms, the totality of

the family symptoms and the totality of the current

symptoms. This radical way of seeing the unitary whole of

chronic disease is due to HAHNEMANN. One

pharmacological principle, the Law of Similars, allows the

healing of so many diverse named diseases because

HAHNEMANN saw the unitary whole of chronic

disease.

The term Miasm is not "outdated."(31) Instead, it is still

ahead of its time when it is defined as a process of dynamic

contagion. Modern science has barely begun to investigate

biodynamics applying modern physics and chaos theory.

The academic homeopath should experiment with the

questions, "Does chronic disease start on the skin and does

it require an exchange of actual material?"

Biochemistry, microbiology and pathology accumulate facts

in specialty areas of knowledge. These facts are not the

disease. Disease is a dynamic expression. Measured material

changes are only secondary results and occur "after the

fact.ŗ These facts are of misleading practical use. No

biochemical basis can substantiate Homeopathy or

Miasms. Modern biomedicine should take off its

microscopes and see whole people and whole disease

processes.

When modern homeopathic authors complain about the

"narrow limitations and errors of the psora concept,"(32)

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they are only seeing with the distorted lens of mainstream

science. The names of the Miasms can cause ridicule only

if they undergo contortions to fit into the limited paradigm

of modern biomedicine. Instead, the Miasms must be

defined within the integral truth of Homeopathy. Do not

accept the rightness of the mainstream assumptions and

belief systems. Their way is not the only way to possess real

knowledge about disease.

Acknowledgements

Gregory Vlamis deserves many thanks for his material

.assistance and research for this article

References

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Farrar, Straus and Giroux;2001. p.47.

2. URL:http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Flagstaff/

science/clouds/htm [1 of 2 screens] [cited 2004 Jun9]

3. Hamblyn R,p.359.

4. URL:http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Flagstaff/

science/clouds/htm [1 of 2]

5. Williams JR. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers; 1998. p. 118.

6. Montfort-Cabello H.Chronic diseases: what are they?

How are they inherited? Homeop;2004:88-93.

7. Lynch DK, Sassen K, Stephens G, editors. Cirrus.

Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2002. p.6-7.

8. Scorer R. Clouds of the World. Harrisburg:

Stackpole Books; 1972. p.18,7.

9. Hahnemann S. The chronic diseases. Kent:

Homoeopathic Book Service; 1998. p.144.

10. Hamblyn R,p.290.

11. Roychowdury KC. Kalidasa's imagery in the

meghaduta. Calcutta: University of Burdwan; 1991.

p.14,16.

12. Williams JR, p. 118.

13. IITS-ŕCologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon [cited 2004

Jun 23]. URL:http://www.uni-koeIn.de/cgi-

bin/Sfgate. See kA4ma-rUpa.

14. Shepperd J. Hahnemann's psora in light of s"

Goethe's science. AJHM 2002-3; Vol.95, No.4:202-10.

15. The Deities of Sea. [cited 2004 Aug 4]. [4 of

6screens].

URL:http://wwwarchaeonia.com/religion/deities/sea

deities.htm

16. Proteus, [cited 2004 Aug 4]. [1 of 5 screens].

Available from: URL:http://wwwtheoi.com/

Kronos/Proteus.html

17. Pelton RD. The trickster in West Africa. Berkeley:

University of California Press; 1989. p.232-3.

18. Hamblyn R, p. 260.

19. Scott DFS, editor. Luke Howard. York: William

Sessions Limited; 1976. p.26.

20. The London medical dictionary. Philadelphia:

Mitchell,Ames, and White; 1819. Miasma; p.987.

21. Oxford English dictionary online, [cited 2004 Jul 24].

Miasma;Available from: URL:http://

dictionary.oed.com/cgi/display_main/

22. Satya-Murti S. Kelvin. JAMA 2004;Vol.292,No.l2:1494.

23. Wheeler CE, translator. Organon of the rational art of

healing by Samuel Hahnemann. London: J.M.&

Sons,Ltd.; 1913. p.119.

24. Ibid.,p.l4.

25. O'Reilly WB,editor. Organon of the medical art by

Samuel Hahnemann. Redmond (Washington):

Birdcage Books; 1996. §72.

26. Ibid.,§72.

27. The new shorter oxford English Dictionary.

Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1993. Contagion;

p.491.

28. Ibid., Infection; p. 1360.

29. O'Reilly WB. p. 118.

30. Hahnemann S. The nature of chronic disease, p. 104.

31. Bellavite R Miasms and modern pathology. Homeop

2004;93:65-6.

32. Ibid.,p.66.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fractal-Like Nature of Miasms

SHEPPERD Joel (AJHM. 98, 4/2005)

Introduction

Homeopaths generally interpret the chronic Miasms

in one of two broad ways. One way is the physical

explanation. Physical explanations are variously based on

facts of biochemistry or the pathology of infectious

diseases, or on mechanisms derived from modern physics.

The second way is the interpretation of metaphysics.

Homeopaths relying on metaphysical concepts invoke

religious beliefs, philosophical worldviews, and

psychological assumptions to understand the meaning of

chronic disease.

The original description of chronic diseases did not rely on

the material physical method or on the theoretical

metaphysical method. This paper will consider the physical

interpretations of Miasms; another paper discusses the

metaphysical models.

Pathology .classifications do not explain Miasms. Physics

does not clarify the meaning of Miasms.. No quantitative

mathematics adequately formulates the Miasms. However,

the very modern field of fractal mathematics has qualitative

and descriptive aspects that help to create a metaphor and a

model for conceptualizing chronic Miasms. From

our~current perspective, at the beginning of the twenty-first

century we see that Hahnemannřs method is

phenomenological; that is, he bases all observations on

concrete sensory perception of real diseases in real people

without adding any pre-judgments. His results, based on

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 164

this phenomena-centered science, remain revolutionary.

He sees natural chronic disease as a dynamic,

contagious process that continually transforms from

person to person and environment to environment. The

ongoing modifications of the Miasms contain a living unity

that allows one law of pharmacology, the law of similar, to treat

them all.

The Physical Miasms

Those homeopaths still thinking within the paradigm of

mainstream biomedicine consider Miasms as disease names

or pathological entities. For these homeopaths, specific

disease categories have specific causes like viruses or

bacteria, and each different cause produces a different

abnormal physiology. The physical interpretation of

Miasms assumes that .a physical mechanism explains

chronic disease. This is a misinterpretation of Hahnemann's

Miasms. Modern medicine's basic knowledge obscures the

original definition of chronic Miasms so much that any

new explanation of the meaning of Miasms based on

mechanisms can never be correct. Mainstream science

tries to answer the question, "How do Miasms produce

disease." One current homeopathic researcher divides the

chronic Miasms into three physiological "reactional modes."

The dysmolecular mode is for Psora; the dysapoptotic mode

is Syphilitic; and the abnormal physiological reaction

called dysproliferative should explain Sycosis.(1) These

physiological reactions cannot distinguish the chronic

Miasms from each other because these mechanisms all

work together virtually all the time, and they occur in most

every named disease.

The words Sycosis, Syphilis and Psora do not refer to

specific diseases. Sycosis does not mean gonorrhea.

Hahnemann says,".. .the other common gonorrheas seem not

to penetrate the whole organism but only to locally stimulate

the urinary organs." (2) These gonorrheas are acute Miasms

and the figwart-disease is the chronic Miasm. In modern

medicine, warts are involved with viruses, and a bacterium

is found with gonorrhea. It is a reductive oversimplification

to say that Sycosis is caused by gonorrhea.

In medical school, I was taught that Syphilis was "the great

imitator." It could appear like many other diseases. It is only

when the chancre is still present that it can be treated easily

with a Mercurius remedy, as if it were a single disease. Psora

includes many disease names such as tetter, leprosy, tinea,

lichen, herpes, erysipelas, as well as scabies. (3) The names of

the chronic Miasms are not the names of a causatiye agent,

but a descriptive name of a disease-making dynamic

process.

Each new discovery in modern science motivates

homeopaths to incorporate the new knowledge into

theories of how homeopathy works. Whether it is the facts

of bacteriology brought to bear on the cause of Miasms or

immunology used to explain the vital force, each newest

thing promises to shed new light on homeopathy but no

theory has so far been satisfactory.

The current newest thing is quantum physics and the concept

is "entanglement." What image does this metaphor produce

in the mind? To be entangled is to be all mixed up in

something, or to be part of a mess. In more neutral

language, it is complex, non-linear interactions. In quantum

physics, it is a word meant to stand for the special

mathematics of sub-atomic physics. The author hopes that

quantum entanglement relationships better explain how

homeopathy works compared to the previous deterministic,

cause and effect mechanisms. (4) (5)

In this new model each particle in the universe is related all

the time and instantly. Since all the parts are acting together,

it is considered a holistic model. However, this is not a holism

with the living organism at the center of the whole. Instead,

this model is just another mechanistic metaphor where all

the pieces are now waves or oscillations, and all the

vibrating interactions of the parts add up to a whole. In this

theory, knowing all the parts is more important than starting

with a meaningful, irreducible whole. For instance, the

interaction of the remedy with the practitioner receives

equal status to the interaction between the patient and the

practitioner. One interaction may require a more complex

mathematical number than the other, but all of the

entanglements must be reduced to an algebra. A

mathematical formula to explain homeopathy is the goal.

All the concrete, sensory phenomena disappear into an ab-

stract idea in the mind somewhere outside time and space.

These theoretical musings create another world beyond the

direct sensory world, and so are not much different from

metaphysics.

The same author says, "Miasms could be described as

propensities for disease in the present as a result of patterns

of susceptibility laid down in the past.. ."(6) This is not

the description of chronic Miasms detailed by

HAHNEMANN. Miasms are dynamic contagions. They

start with contact,, permeate the whole being in a dynamic

way and then manifest as signs and symptoms of the whole

person.(7) Every manifestation is unique depending on the

person's constitution (genetics), lifestyle, environment and

occurrences in life. Miasms are not a theory or idea or

potential state of being, but a dynamic disease process

expressed according to propensities. If each homeopath

starts with a different definition "of Miasms, there can be no

practical progress in understanding Miasms.

Why a Fractal Model for Miasms

Instead of quantum physics, I think fractals are more

appropriate to model thinking about Miasms. Fractals are

not so reductionistic and mechanistic as pathology,

microbiology or sub-atomic physics. Fractals allow one to

see chronic Miasms as wholes with the many modifications

of the whole. Fractals are not nearly as metaphysical as

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subtle bodies or spiritual vibrations. Fractal thinking can

portray the wondrous diversity of Miasms without assigning

a purpose for it. Fractals do not explain reasons for Miasms

but describe genuine experiences. Scientific explanations of

how it works are of little importance, and I see little value

in attempting one,"(8) says HAHNEMANN. Fractals

illustrate what Miasms are by example, and reveal by

description.

A metaphor between fractals and the natural chronic

Miasms helps to clarify the significance of the unity of

Miasms. A previous paper (9) compared the endless

variations of the chronic diseases to the constant

transformations of the clouds: the original whole or ur-

malady is expressed over and over again. The shape of

clouds is fractal. Clouds "are the most uniform fractal

objects on the planet."(10) I propose that the fractal model

shows how each person's unique expressions of

Miasmatic disease can be part of the whole chronic

Miasm.

Fractals Defined

Fractal geometry describes the shapes found in, nature;

most show an irregular pattern, but the irregularities are

regularly repeated. Mountain ranges have peaks within

peaks; a tree has branches of branches; cumulus clouds

are puffs made of puffs. The roughness of a coastline

looks similar when viewed close up or when viewed at a

distance. The shapes of nature show simplicities in the

complexity. The human body also is filled with fractal

structures. "The pattern of branches along the bronchus is a

reiteration of the pattern of airway branches along the

smallest bronchioles. Similar images of reiterated

branching patterns in the body are revealed in the arterial

and venous blood vessels and peripheral nervous

system."(11) See Figure 1 and Figure 2.

The mathematician Benoit MANDELBROT coined the

word "fractal" in 1975 as a label for irregular and self-

similar shapes. It comes from a Latin word that means "to

break," to create irregular fragments and "fractional."(12)

Mathematically, repeating "operations" of additions and

multiplications produces fractals. The result of the first

operation is used as the input for the next operation, and so

on. All the operations use the same math formula for a given

fractal; however, the operations must be repeated

millions of times so that all the points finally connect

together to reveal the image. This requires a computer.

Mandelbrot regrets that most scientists only want to use

the strict definition of fractals as mathematical. He says,

"For me, the most important instrument of thought is the

eye. It sees similarities before a formula has been

created to identify them."(13) Fractals allow an

appreciation of the qualities of nature, like openness and

changeability rather than just the quantifiable measures,

like length and time. Mathematics strictly defines actual

fractals; so we cannot really say that Miasms are

fractals. If we use the descriptive, qualitative definitions

of fractal, then we can call chronic Miasms "fractal-

like."

Physical Space and Disease Space

Nature's physical objects exist in a three-dimensional space.

Heights, width, length, along with the variable of time are

the quantitative variables that represent physical space in

geometry. The form or shape of chronic Miasms does not

exist in physical space. It exists in a many dimensional

Ŗdisease space." Each symptom is a qualitative dimension.

All the dimensions are added together to generate a

Ŗshapeŗ of the disease. The shape of the disease changes

with time. For example, we can track the "intensity of pain"

as one dimension of the disease; the "location of pain" as

another variable; and "sensations of pain" as another

symptom dimension. If there were fifty symptoms, there

would be fifty dimensions in our disease space graph. when

all the graphed symptoms are added together to form the

disease space, it is a complex form, but it is not random.

The totality of symptoms does not create a picture by chance.

An untuned, but dynamic living whole organism creates the

symptom picture.

The shape or form of disease is fractal because: "We are

fractal. Our lungs, our circulatory system, our brains are like

trees. They are fractal structures."(14) These convoluted,

repetitive structures allow for the maximum physiological

interchange of materials in a minimum of three-

dimensional volume. "The body structure of all of natures

animals are fractal, and so too is their behaviour.. .Our heart

beats seem regular and rhythmic, but when the structure of

the timing is examined in fine detail, it is revealed to be

slightly fractal...[which] reduces the wear and tear on the

heart dramatically...If the beats were regular, the stresses on

the heart would be the same on every beat." (15)

"The receptor molecules on the surfaces of

all viruses and bacteria are fractal." (16) "The ragged,

expanding boundaries of forest fires are as fractal as a

coastline. In an orchard, disease also progresses like a fire,

and scientists have used their knowledge of fractals to figure

out how many trees should be randomly excluded from an

orchard's rows to prevent disease from spreading."(17)

Since nature's forms are so fractal and nature's functions

follow a fractal process, then the form and process of

chronic Miasms should also be qualitatively fractal.

The modern microbiology and pathology models of

Miasms do not include a framework of disease that is self-

similar and irregularly variable like a fractal. Pathology

assumes fixed behavior of diseases. The named diseases

are supposed to have self-same behaviors over and over.

They are defined as having the same general symptoms

in common. In homeopathy, we do not use this theory of

pathology. Instead, we observe that the provings of remedies

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are not the same in different people, but only similar. In

homeopathy, there are no fixed provings, no fixed diseases and

no fixed types. Disease is a dynamic, changing process.

On the other hand, disease is not a random attack, which

chooses people through chance. The variations of disease

show a repeating nature like a fractal, defined by organizing

processes that are experimentally observable. If every new

disease had new, random behavior, then it could be free from

the processes of the previous disease and would not have

to respond to the law of similars.

Components of Fractal Disease

Five factors describe qualitatively the mathematical

operations of fractals.(18)

Recursion means that the results or output of the

mathematics becomes the input for the next equation. This

is like the concept that explains homeostasis. The present

behavior depends on the past behavior in a recurrent

system. In chronic Miasms, the new disease results from

transmission of the old disease. The output giver of the first

disease becomes the input of the second disease expression

in the receiver. The new disease is not the same disease; it

is not a repetition of a disease; it is not the name of the mi-

croorganism. It is a modification of past disease, a similar

transformation of the first disease.

The first chronic Miasmatic disease was the singular

ancestor disease (ur-malady). The descent of Miasmatic

disease or evolution of chronic disease is by recursion

from the ur-malady. This evolution of Miasma is not like

Darwinian evolution is not a one dimensional historical

evolution where disease adapts by climbing up or down the

cliff of survival. It is a flowing dynamic evolution that

spreads out from a holistic center in a field of forces like

ripples from a stone thrown in a river.

Scaling is when "the degree of irregularity remains constant

over different scales."(19) Fractal scaling is universal in living

shapes. The branching of a botanical tree is just as irregular

for the large branches as for the small branches. The fractal

vascular tree of the human body human body has at least

thirty bifurcations or levels of branching (20); each scale of

size is as complex as the previous. In disease, scaling

would not refer to complexities related to size, but to time

scaling. Whether the Miasm is acute or chronic, it is a

process involving the whole person. The symptoms may be

just as numerous, just as intense or just as unique in old

new disease.

Dimension refers to a quantitative measure of how complex or

intricate the shape is. For example, if one neuron has fewer

branching dendrites than another does, it has less fractal

dimension. When a neuron loses branching, it is considered

less healthy.(21) Dimension could be a qualitative measure

of how sick a person is. A well person would have the ability

to adapt and constantly adjust to stimuli: so his

"symptomsŗ might be many but are transient and minor. A

chronically sick person has a relatively limited number of

static symptoms from which he cannot escape. He

would have a lower fractal dimension of health.

Fractals are self-similar. Most natural structures show

similar patterns at different sizes. A small section of bowel

looks similar to a larger section. They are not the same, but

similar. The use of the word "similars" in fractal language

has caught the attention of several homeopaths. (22) We

have explored the similar resonance pattern of untunement

of disease with the smaller but similar resonance of the

remedy.

The mathematical concept of infinity is part of the

definition of fractals because fractals describe a process

without end in a confined space. The length of a ragged

coastline would be become longer and longer as the ruler

to measure it becomes smaller and smaller. "In the mind's

eye, a fractal is a way of seeing infinity." (23) In disease

space, we see infinity in the dimension of time. Disease is

forever changing jn the physical body/mind. Psora manifests

endless modifications in each person and over many

generations. The variations of chronic Miasms have never

ended so far, and will never end as long as living forms

decay and die.

The Tree of Psora

The fractal shape of living forms reveals an organizing

structure hidden among the complication of shapes. For

instance, in a real tree,"All twigs possess lines which work

toward the central point of the tree," says Leonardo da Vinci.

(24) . If there is an intrinsic continuity in a natural form, then

there is a real wholeness. There are no random or

accidental forms in a living whole. The convolutions of the

brain follow an inherent arrangement. The blood vessels of

the body do not develop chaotically, but with self-similar

patterns.

Darwinian evolution models often use an "evolutionary tree"

as an illustration. This is a misleading analogy Darwin

"maintained that evolution has no direction...Organisms

become better adapted to their local environments, and that

is all.. ."(25) Evolution is arbitrary planless and accidental.

Figure 4 is a rendering of Darwin's own sketch of the con-

nection between species. The evolutionary tree has artificial

branches with no coherent pattern. It is just a bunch of points

in historical space connected by lines. This is not the nature

of a botanical tree that has a coherent organization and

development.

In contrast, I propose that the tree of chronic Miasmatic

disease is a unitary whole with fractal-like characteristics.

The trunk is the ur-malady which is named psora. The

branches are modifications a consistent dynamic process.

The organizing center of the Miasmatic process is always the

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same process of contact with dynamic contagion,

pervasion of the malady in the whole organism, and the

subsequent manifestation of signs and symptoms. This

process yields complex variations in each person, or

complex shapes in disease space, but each disease

expression is a fractal, self-similar expression of the dynamic

Miasm. An example of a branch of the psoric tree is Figure

5.(26)

Fractal Parts and Whole Miasms

The fractal metaphor points out that the whole chronic

Miasm is expressed over and over. The individual

expressions of disease are self-similar because they repeat the

similar process of a dynamic contagion. The disease

expression is recursive because it depends on another

person's disease to begin. Chronic Miasms are infinite

because there is no end to disease. The fractal-like forms

of the expression of the disease in each person are united by

a unity of the chronic Miasm.

Each self-similar part of the whole is like "a chip off the old

block."(27) The block of wood is the original ancestor

disease. When the axe of life cuts a new disease, that chip

has the same components as the original block, but it is a

different shape and a different size. Each chip is similar but

not the same; each chip is part of the whole. The new

chips do not evolve; they are modifications of the unity. The

single chips are not part of a blueprint that plans each part.

Each chip is unique and not just another repetitive part of a

static Universal type. Nature's laws of disease are not rigid,

predetermined or preset concepts like archetypes, but

dynamic flexible principles always changing within its

wholeness.

In summary fractals show:

• Dynamic change, flow, constant modificationŕnot

stability no fixed categories

• A larger wholeness in the different expressionsŕ not a

type, not uniformity

• Diversity, expansiveness, unlimited modifications

• Simplicity of process in unlimited complexity of

modifications.

The images of fractals add a new dimension to the

description of each person's chronic Miasm. We can use a

new vocabulary to formulate new ways of thinking about

chronic disease. Fractal-like concepts show new patterns in

nature and new meanings in chronic Miasms.

Acknowledgements

I thank Gregory VLAMIS for the library work needed to find

the sources for this paper.

References

1. Montfort-Cabello H. Chronic diseases: what are they?

How are they inherited? Homeop 2004:88- 93.

2. Hahnemann S. The chronic diseases. British edition.

Sittingbourne (UK): Homoeopathic Book Service;

1998. p.83, footnote

3. Ibid. p.10

4. Milgrom LR. Patient-practitioner-remedy (PPR)

entanglement. Part 6. Miasms revisited. Homeop 2004;

93:154-8.

5. Milgrom LR. Patient-practitioner-remedy (PPR)

entanglement. Part 1: a qualitative, non-local metaphor

for homeopathy based on quantum theory Homeop

2002; 91:23948.

6. Ibid.

7. Hahnemann S. p.33.

8. Kunzli J, Naude A, Pendleton P, translators. Organon of

medicine by Samuel Hahnemann. Los Angeles: J.R.

Tarcher, Inc.; 1982. p.29.

9. Shepperd, J. Reclaiming the meaning of Miasm

AJHM 2005;Vol 98 No 1:53-58.

10. Lesmoir-Gordon N, Rood W, Edney R. Introducing

fractal geometry. Cambridge (UK): Icon Books,

Ltd.;2000. p.101.

11. Lipton B. Evolution by BITS and pieces: an introduction

to fractal evolution. 2001 [cited 2005 Jan 19]: [8

screens]. Available from:URL:http://www

brucelipton.com/fractal.php

12. Briggs J. Fractals: the patterns of chaos. New York:

Simon & Schuster; 1992. p.61.

13. Ibid. p.71.

14. H.Lesmoir-GordonN. p.108.

15. Ibid.,p.120.

16. Ibid.,p.115.

17. Briggs J. p.69.

18. Eglash R. African fractals. New Brunswick: Rutgers

University Press; 1999. pp. 17-19.

19. GleickJ. Chaos. New York: Viking; 1987. p.98.

20. Ibid.,p. 110.

21. Shepperd J. Chaos theory: Implications for ho-

meopathy JAIH 1994;87:22-29.

22. Shepperd J. The language of chaos theory

and complexity applied to homeopathy AJHM

2003;96;3:202-207.

23. Gleick J. p.98.

24. Mandelbrot B. The fractal geometry of nature. New

York: WH. Freeman and Company; 1983. p. 156.

25. Hall T. Fractal evolution; a template for post-Darwinian

evolutionary science 2003 [cited 2005 Jan19]: [ 11

screens]. Available from: URL: http://www.

geocities.com/~gaiachurch/bonedead.html

26. Hahnemann S. pp. 143-144.

27. Jackson W Heavens fractal net. Bloomington (IN):

Indiana University Press; 2004. p.29.

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Figure 1: Lung Segments

Figure 2: Vascular Tree

--------------------------------------------------------

10. A Difficult Case of Fibromyalgia, Anxiety and

Costochondritis

OLSEN Steve (SIM. VI, 1/1993)

This paper was presented in New York at the

George VITHOULKAS Seminar April 26, 1992.

R.A.V., 37-year-old female

February 6, 1991

Rose presented herself as a considerate, positive,

and optimistic person but desperate for an ansewer to

her ailment.

Eight years ago (June 1983) Rose had undergone

breast reduction surgery. After the surgery an

inflammation spread through the soft tissues of the chest

wall and into the muscles of the back. Since then she

has had inflammation of the chest wall (3) with sore

Ŗtrigger pointsŗ in the chest area (3). Six or seven times

a month there are episodes of great soreness in the chest

area with pain radiating down the left arm (2); the chest

is very sore to touch (3) at these times. ŖSome days I

feel crippled with this pain.ŗ These symptoms have

been diagnosed as costochondritis and she takes anti-

inflammatory drugs which Ŗdonřt really help much.ŗ

The inflammation in the back has been diagnosed as

fibromyalgia or fibromyositis; it is very painful to touch

(3) and pressure (3).

Since the breast reduction there is pain in the

incisions (2), which is worse from damp weather (2).

Also, there are muscle spasms in the chest area at times

(3), and episodes of oppression in the chest, Ŗas if

someone was pressing their boot into my chest or there

was an elephant sitting on my chestŗ (3).

Over the past seven years she has been to many

doctors, but none has been able to help beyond giving

the standard anti-inflammatory drugs. She is not overly

bitter at people or at the doctor who operated on her, but

she is very frustrated that she is not well.

She has a positive attitude most of the time. ŖI am

a warm loving person and will do anything for anyone.

I will get angry if my inlaws are late for a lunch

appointment. I am aggravated when my husband wonřt

say anything. I am angry if I go out of my way to do

something for someone and they donřt say thank you.ŗ

She did not fight with her sister and is not overly

competitive. ŖI am sensitive and romantic (1). I will

forgive but never forget (2). I was really angry at a

friend who did not send me a thank you-card; I was

hurt, upset, a kind of resentment.ŗ

Red blotches on the neck area come and go. Blood

pressure elevated (190/100) and she takes some blood

pressure medication.

Heavy flow of menses (2), clotted (2), nausea

before menses (2), legs Ŗpumpŗ before menses (2). ŖI

am irritable and bitchy (3) before my menses. My

moods change suddenly at this time and it is hard to

control the irritability. Since this surgery I am not the

same person.ŗ

ŖI canřt go on holiday because I may wake up with

this pain in my chest; then I have the feeling I am

having a heart attack. Often I have made my husband to

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 169

take me to the emergency to see if my heart is okay. It

always is okay but the feeling that it is a heart attack

overwhelms me.ŗ

Painful to lean forword (2) and canřt sleep on her

stomach because it feels as though, Ŗeverything is

falling forword.ŗ The pains seem to build up through

the day (2), and the neck muscles are often tight (2).

Since January: headaches (3) and a sense of

pressure in the head (2); the back of the neck is tight (2).

Headaches are worse from light, and better from cool air

(1). Can waken in the morning with a headache. Used

to suffer from migraines years ago before the breast

surgery.

ŖI like everything perfect at home (2), like a show

room; I am very neat and a perfectionist (2). I will go

out of my way to do things for people.ŗ

Often wakes up feeling Ŗcrackedŗ in the breast

bone. The chest is often Ŗhot to touch.ŗ ŖCrushingŗ

pain in the chest at times.

Aggravation by the heat in general (2), can lie in

the sun. cold hands and feet (2), but in general tolerates

cold.

Pain in the calves (2), aching (2), can awaken her at

night.

Gall bladder removed after son was born in 1982.

She has three sisters; no rivalry. She is close to her

parents; sheřs popular with friends. She was married at

age twenty. After her son was born they had a very

hard time; her husband was out of work, and she

worried and became depressed (2). She put on a front

that everything was all okay. Then the next June she

had the breast surgery. She likes to socialize and talk.

She used to get heat rashes under her breasts. She is

aggravated by tight clothing about her neck (1). Sheřs

not overly jealous or envious. Her pre-menstrual anger

becomes better when menses start (2). Sexual energy is

normal. She is allergic to cats; her eyes swell (2) and

itch (2).

She has not slept through the night in a long time;

i.e. wakes with pain in the chest often.

Things bother her (2), she can panic (2), then go

home and cry (2).

She desires salt; has no food aversions.

She fears bridges (2) and dreams of bridges. She

also fears having a heart attack (3).

Assessment: Chronic inflammation following surgery.

Rx: Lachesis 200c one dose.

March 14, 1991.

Overall I had a pretty good month. No chest pain

but the pain in the left arm at times as if it is being

squeezed.ŗ She had one bad day of left arm pain, and a

terrible backache before menses (2). Less irritable

before menses. Headaches are much better. The first

night after taking the remedy woke up at 4 a.m. with

nausea and cramping.

Assessment: Possible correct remedy.

Rx: Lachesis not repeated.

March 16, 1991.

ŖLast night I woke up with terrible oppression in

the chest, as if a huge weight on it, crushing pain (3),

went to the hospital because ŖI was convinced I was

having a heart attack.ŗ ŖE.K.G. was normal, and blood

tests normal. Most of the chest wall symptoms have

returned since then. Drained feeling again, waking at 4

a.m. the last two nights and canřt get back to sleep.

Assessment: Possible correct remedy.

Rx: None.

April 3, 1991.

Symptoms continue to relapse. Hard to breathe

with the chest pain (2). Pain in the gall bladder scars,

worse cold damp weather. ŖThe pain in the chest wall is

pressing outward (3). ŖThe oppression in the chest is

worse from inspiration (2) and the air is not all going

in.ŗ Headache from sun in the face, and a pins-and-

needles sensation in the head. Sensations of being

choked. Headaches are still better, less back pain before

menses, eyes sensitive to light (2), even on cloudy days.

Tenderness of the abdomen to pressure (2). Generally

feels better in the open air. Crying now in the

interview. ŖI am tired of the pain.ŗ Thirsty (2) in

general. Constipation, and fissures in the past.

Assessment: Lachesis was incorrect.

Rx: Ranunculus bulbous 200c one dose.

May 21, 1991.

Grinding teeth in the night (2). No crushing pain in

the chest for a month, but knows the problem is still

there. ŖI have a sensation of something scratching

under the sternum.ŗ The legs have stopped pumping.

Sleeping a little better, vitality a little better in general.

Feels as if she is at a dead-end in her life. ŖI donřt know

what I want; there is no excitement, not enough

changes, what is there to look foreword to, there is

nothing to show for my life; my job is not fulfilling, I

have lost all my friends, and I have not made any new

ones. I donřt know if I love my husband any more,

there is no more magic in the relationship, I am tired of

making social dinners for people; I want people to do

nice things for me. I want everything just perfect.ŗ

June 6, 1991.

Heavy pain in the chest again (3), more muscle

pains and spasms, her head gets tight like a vise or band

about the occiput. Irritable, and Ŗcrankyŗ (2). ŖMy body

really warm (2), and I am sensitive to heatŗ(2).

Assessment: Remedy incorrect.

Rx: Bacillinum 30c every two days for 14 days.

June 11, 1991.

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Not much better, ŖI have had a few bad weeks. The

scars have been aching a lot lately. Hard to get to sleep

again, pumping in the legs again. I feel really bruised in

the sternum.ŗ Cranky before and after menses (2).

Pains from the chest seem to extend into the muscles of

the neck (2). Craving for salads (2). Problems sleeping

(2), waking every thirty to forty-five minutes, very

difficult to get back to sleep.

Assessment: Possible correct remedy.

Rx: Continue Bacillinum 30c.

In August I tried some doses of Elaps 30c but this

had no effect either.

September 9, 1991.

I had taken this case to Alonissos with me and after

the course on how to use the RADAR and the

Vithoulkas Expert System, I studied it once again. I

did the following repertorization at that time:

1. External throat Ŕ clothing agg.

2. General Ŕ injuries (including blows, bruises,

falls) Ŕ operation, - disorders from. (Qualified

as a causation, using the # symbol)

3. Sleep Ŕ waking Ŕ frequent.

4. Chest Ŕ oppression

The regular flat repertorization produced the

following result:

Apis, Naja, Acon., Staph., Arn.,Carbo-v., Nux-v.,

Merc., Verat., Chin., Nit-ac/. Rhus-t., Zinc., Kali-s., Op.,

Berb., Croc., Led., Ph-ac., Raph., Ruta., Sul-ac., Sep.,

Bell., Kali-c., Lach., Agar., Ambr., Arg-n., Caust., All-

c., Camph., Lact., Sars, Carb-an., Chel., Ferr-p., Mill.,

Croc-c., Cact., Chrot-h., Elaps., Glon., Kali-bi., Stront-

c., Tarent., Calend., Calc-p., Calc., Phos., Puls., Sulph

as the 51

remedy.

The Vithoulkas Expert System produced the

following result:

Sulph., Calend., Naja., Arn., Stront-c., Apis., Bell-p.

It made a suggestion to study the Materia Medica of

Calendula.

I did not study the Materia Medica of Calendula

and gave Arnica instead first as a 30c dose, and later in

the 200c dose.

December 19, 1991.

In general, not much better. The pain in her chest

has been almost constant. ŖI have to just give in and cry

because the pain is so bad.ŗ

Locally applied heat helps the pain in the chest (2).

At this time, like so many other times in the past, I

felt I was at an impasse. I was very frustrated with what

seemed like an impossible case to solve. The patient,

after ten months, was also ready to give up. In her favor

was the fact that she was not a person so easily

discouraged or embittered easily, as I have seen Natrum

carbonicum to be. I looked at the last repertorization

done in September and then the hint of Calendula

sparked some interest and then, Ŗeureka!ŗ

On further questioning I found out that the whole

problem of the inflammation in her chest started with

pains in the scars after the operation. Then her blood

pressure increased. The scars were slow to heal(2),

became infected and the scar under the left breast even

opened up and had to be re-sutured. There has been

chronic pain in this area ever since.

When the pains come they: Ŗmake me feel irritable

(2), tired (2), and I want to sleep (2), basically I am just

dragging my assŗ (2).

I asked, ŖDo you ever feel like something bad is

going to happen?ŗ

She replied, ŖEver since the operation I have felt

like something bad would happen, like I would have a

heart attack, my children would be in an accident, or I

would collapse for no reason. I would therefore teach

my children what to do if something happened to me or

them.ŗ

CALENDULA

BOERICKE says of Calendula: Ŗ…Useful for open

wounds, parts that will not heal, ulcers…. Promotes

healthy granulation and rapid healing by first

intension…. Pain is excessive and out of all proportion

to injury. GREAT DISPOSITION TO TAKE COLD,

ESPECIALLY IN DAMP WEATHER ….

CLARKE, in his Dictionary of Materia Medica,

page 366-367: Ŗ…Irritability; easily frightened; great

tendency to start, nervousness… worse from cloudy

weather…. THERE WAS SUCH A FEELING AS IF

SOME OVERWHELMING CALAMITY WAS

HOVERING OVER ME AS TO BE ALMOST

UNBEARABLE [my emphasis]. Rheumatic drawing

pains, only during motion. The wounds become raw

and inflamed, is painful in the morning as if beaten,

with stinging as if the wound would suppurate ….ŗ

My mind was prejudiced for a long time from

thinking of Calendula in this case because I thought of

Calendula for only minor cuts or scrapes, not long

standing chronic problems.

March 11, 1992.

Has taken two doses of Calendula 200c, ŖI have

been feeling a lot better in general (2). When I first

took the Calendula the scars on my chest became more

achy, sore, with a pulling sensation. The they began to

itch, which lasted for two weeks. Now I feel better.

There are still some sore spots on the chest wall if I

press on them. The pain in the arm is seventy percent

better. There is still a scratching and tingling behind the

breast bone.ŗ

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Cluster headaches for a month. Much less fear that

something bad is going to happen.

I gave some low doses of Lachesis. Some of the

chest symptoms started to return. Then I went back and

gave Calendula 200c again.

It is now a year since the Calendula was given and

she has only needed the occasional dose. She considers

herself ninety percent cured.

I feel that if it were not for the expert system, I

would not have considered using Calendula in this case

because a regular flat repertorization indicated

Calendula as the forty-sixth choice. This is not where

one would normally look for a brilliant idea. The

reason the ŖExpert Systemŗ was able to indicate

Calendula so highly was because the symptom:

GENERAL Ŕ INJURIES (including blows, bruises,

falls) Ŕ operation, - disorders from,ŗ was entered as a

causation, which means the computer gave it a very

high priority as a symptom, as my mind should, since

the whole problem started after surgery.

Since this breakthrough I have had other cases of

long standing chronic problems helped dramatically

with Calendula. In this second case the Calendula has

not only helped the chronic scar pain, inflammation in

the chest wall (in this case the operation was breast

augmentation with silicone implants), chronic

fibromyalgia in the legs, (she could barely walk when

she came to see me; one week later she went dancing),

scar pain, chronic headaches, anxiety attacks, seizures,

sleep disorder, (ŖFor the first time in years I can sleep

through the night!ŗ), but also her bulimia (ŖI no longer

binge eat and have lost eight pounds in two weeksŗ).

BOERICKE mentions bulimia as a symptom for

Calendula.

In a third case a patient had undergone many

surgeries for the problems. Each surgery brought on

more symptoms, in which another surgery would

attempt to correct. When I saw her the chief complaint

was of extreme pain in the ankles, as if they had been

Ŗchopped off.ŗ This was a continuing pain that

prevented sleep, and kept her in constant agony. The

confirming symptom of Calendula in this case was a

sensation of oppression, and/or a weight in the chest.

I also have had a case of costochondritis with this

sensation in the chest cured with Calendula even though

there was no history of surgery.

I am now in the process of finding all those cases of

Ŗailments Ŕ injuries Ŕ operations Ŕ disorders fromŗ cases

which I did not help and am now considering the idea of

Calendula.

The symptoms that can be added to the repertory

for Calendula are:

Mind, fear, happen something will (1)

Mind, mildness (1)

Chest, oppression (2)

Chest, heat, sensation of (1).

Chest, inflammation, joints, costochrondritis (2).

Chest, swollen, sensation of (1).

Chest, heavy, sensation of (1).

Chest, inflammation, muscles (1).

Generalities, injuries, operations, disorders from

(3).

Generalities, pain, muscles, surgery from (3).

Generalities, fibromyalgia, fibromyositis (2).

Extremities, inflammation, muscles, surgery from

(3).

Extremities, pain, legs, prevents walking (1).

Stomach, appetite, increased, night (1).

Skin, pain, from scars (2).

Thank you again to all those people who helped

create the expert system for RADAR, and I hope the

process can continue because I still have a certain

percentage of uncured cases.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

11. A PEDIATRIC BEHAVIOR DISORDER

TRAUB Michael (SIM. Vol. VI, 2/1993)

Initial Visit: March 3, 1989

A 17 month old boy presents with a tendency to

Asthma. Twice he has developed bronchospasm with

mild expiratory wheezing when he had upper

respiratory infections in the past. His last episode of

wheezing occurred with no other symptoms. He has

been given Alupent for the broncospasm.

He has a history of recurrent otitis media and upper

respiratory infections after exposure to wind (2) and

being in the ocean (2). These had been treated with

Amoxicillin until the last bout of otitis, at which time

his mother called me and I prescribed Pulsatilla over

the phone.

He whines a lot, even when not teething.

Lamenting (2). His mother gives him Chamomilla for

teething.

He has a diaper rash (1) which is aggravated from

apple juice. He has a history of recurrent candidiasis,

on his penis and around his scrotum, which has been

treated with Nystatin cream. He has had impetigo. He

has pimples on his upper arms.

He has been drinking cowřs milk for the past two

months.

His maternal uncle has Asthma. His father had hay

fever and Asthma; he died in a car accident last year

when the boy was 11 months old. His father was a

smoker, as is his baby-sitter.

He has had DTP x 4 and TOPV x 3 with no bad

reactions.

Scalp gets sweaty when he sleeps. Uncovers in

bed. Wakes from 12-1 am.

Chubby.

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Dislikes having dirty or messy hands. He is a

messy eater; he flings his food and pours his drinks out.

He throws things when angry, and gets even more angry

when he is told, ŖNoŗ (2).

Laughs a lot. He makes himself laugh. Entertains

himself well. Becoming more independent.

Rides a skateboard and balances on it!

Desires bananas (1), popcorn with parmesan

cheese, salty crackers (2).

Loves to bathe, but hates having his ears washed.

Likes to be outdoors, in the wind. He loves his cat.

Likes to play with mechanical toys. He likes to

roughhouse.

Physical Examination: The chest and ears are clear. The

exam was unremarkable except for a mild, diffuse

erythematous eruption in the diaper region, and a

popular eruption on the lateral aspect of his upper arms

(follicular hyperkeratosis or keratosis pilaris).

Case Analysis and Differential Discussion:

Assessment: He has an inherited allergic tendency

(father and maternal uncle both had Asthma). The

introduction of cowřs milk may have exacerbated his

tendency to respiratory and ear infections. Consider

Sulphur, Calcarea, Lycopodium, Tuberculinum,

Medorrhinum:

Sulphur, Calcarea carbonica, and Lycopodium all

have aggravation from wind, moaning, sweaty head, and

aversion to bathing. Sulphur, Calcarea and

Medorrhinum all can uncover in bed and have diaper

rashes. Sulphur has aversion to getting their ears

washed, messiness, and can dislike having dirty hands.

They are interested in mechanical things. They have a

humorous personality. They may wake up in the middle

of the night. Riding a skateboard at the age of 17

months is something a Sulphur infant might do. They

can be fearless and adventurous.

Calcarea carbonica, Tuberculinum and

Medorrhinum have desire for salty things. Calcarea

can be whiny. It would be uncharacteristic of Calcarea

to ride a skateboard at 17 months. They tend to be

slower in their developmental stages.

Tuberculinum are aggravated by dairy products,

have a family history of Asthma and hay fever, and

have Asthma with respiratory infections. Tuberculinum

does not like cats, whereas Medorrhinum may love cats.

Lycopodium is the only remedy under consideration

with anger from contradiction.

I chose Sulphur because of the preponderance of

Sulphur characteristics, the history of suppressed

eruption followed by Asthma, the association of Asthma

with respiratory infections, the rashes, and impetigo.

Sulphur covers the chief complaint (Asthma), the

totality, and is well confirmed by keynotes and general

symptoms. It addresses the case on a miasmatic level as

well, taking into account both the inherited

predisposition to Asthma and the acquired influence

from suppressive medical treatment.

Plan: Sulphur 200c, one dose.

October 30, 1989 (8 months later)

He has had Asthma for the past week. Worse from

6 pm Ŕ 3.30 am (3).

Cool, clammy perspiration (3).

Frightful dreams (3). He yells and screams in his

sleep and wakes up fearful (3).

Lacrymation of his right eye (1).

Tachycardia for the past two days (3).

Always thirsty (2).

Physical Examination: Audible wheezing and

tachypnea are present. Afebrile. Auscultation of the

chest revealed moderate high-pitched expiratory

wheezing bilaterally, respiratory rate of 60 and heart

rate of 120; otherwise unremarkable.

Analysis and Differential Discussion:

Assessment: Relapse. Acute asthmatic episode. The

mother did not bring the child in for a routine follow-up,

making assessment of the Sulphur prescription difficult.

Was Sulphur antidoted? Was it not the simillimum?

Consider Arsenicum album, Lycopodium, Pulsatilla,

Sulphur, Nux vomica, Phosphorus, Calcarea,

Hyoscyamus, Zincum.

Arsenicum has all the symptoms of the chief

complaint in bold type in the repertory, plus the

thirstiness.

Pulsatilla and Sulphur have the Asthma worse at

night, the tachycardia, shrieking during sleep, fear on

waking, and frightful dreams, but not the clammy

perspiration.

Lycopodium and Calcarea do not have Asthma

worse at night. Lycopodium wakes with fear but

Calcarea does not.

Nux vomica has the Asthma worse at night, cold

and clammy perspiration, fear on waking and

tachycardia.

Phosphorus has all the symptoms except fear on

waking and the lacrymation.

Zincum has all the symptoms except the

lacrymation.

Hyoscyamus has the peculiar symptom of

lacrymation from the right eye, but neither the Asthma

worse at night, nor the shrieking, nor the waking with

fear.

None of the above remedies cover the totality and

chief complaint well. Pulsatilla and Sulphur come the

closest, but the better choice is Arsenicum with its

strong indications for the chief complaint.

Plan: Arsenicum album 1M, one dose.

November 1, 1989 (the next day)

He is irritable (3), angry (3), having temper tantrums.

He is sensitive to touch (3), refuses to be touched (3).

Obstinate (3).

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The Asthma is better, though he still has some

congestion.

His eyelids look puffy. Seems and (2), alternating

with mania (2).

Capricious.

Woke up last night frequently between 1-3 am. In

the morning he had difficulty waking up (2).

Finicky about solid foods, prefers liquids (1).

No fears.

Assessment: Arsenicum is acting. He had no frightful

dreams or fear on waking but he is angry, oversensitive,

and obstinate. Consider Nux vomica.

Plan: Wait.

March 16, 1990 (4½months later)

He has been very angry when contradicted (2), for

three days. He is striking, pinching, scratching (2) and

biting himself (2).

Irritable if wakened (2).

Moans (1) and talks (1) during his sleep.

Dreams of fighting (1).

Restless in bed, uncovers, in the early morning (2).

Grinds his teeth.

Fussy eater. Desires popcorn (2), salty (2), potato

chips (2).

He has been stammering for three weeks.

Loving (2) at times. He has a Jekyll and Hyde

personality.

Desires company (1). If mother is paying attention

to someone else, he will edge his way in. very

protective and possessive of mother, jealousy (1).

No Asthma.

Analysis and Differential Discussion:

Assessment: Something has happened that has

caused a behavior disorder. Sulphur is no longer his

constitutional remedy, and perhaps was not, as initially

thought, the simillimum, although he has not had any

more Asthma since the one episode on 10.30.89.

Consider Lycopodium, Nux vomica, Stramonium,

Tuberculinum, Medorrhinum.

Lycopodium, Nux vomica and Stramonium share

many of the symptoms, but Lycopodium covers the

totality better than these other remedies, and it has the

keynote of waking with irritability and the peculiar

symptom of dreams of fighting. Nux vomica and

Stramonium have stammering. Stramonium alone has

moaning during sleep.

One would expect to see more fearfulness in a

Lycopodium, Stramonium, Medorrhinum or even in a

Tuberculinum case. Of course the Jekyll and Hyde

characterization is suggestive of Medorrhinum. The

biting and self-punishing behavior can be strong in

Medorrhinum and Tuberculinum. They both have

desire for salty things. Tuberculinum can be irritable

on waking, will hit others, and has a capricious appetite;

however, none of the other distinctive Tuberculinum

food desires are present. With the history of Asthma,

recurrent otitis and respiratory infections, Tuberculinum

must be considered a strong second choice after

Lycopodium.

Plan: Lycopodium 1M, one dose.

March 19, 1991 (one year later)

He has been getting in trouble at preschool, hitting

other kids without provocation (2). He repeatedly

punched a kid on his back, very hard, for no reason

yesterday. He hit another boy on the head with his

sleeping mat. He refused to eat any lunch. When his

teacher sent him to his mat, he pounded on the cabinet.

Makes profane gestures (1).

Moaning and talking in his sleep (3). He yells

ŖNo,ŗ ŖDonřt,ŗ ŖI want it,ŗ ŖStop.ŗ Dreams of fighting

(3).

Restless in bed, uncovers (3). Comes and gets in

bed with his mother. Restless in her bed, too.

Occasional enuresis (1).

Obstinate (2).

Appetite is capricious (2).

He wakes up quickly, alert.

The last remedy prescribed, Lycopodium, may have

been of some benefit. He no longer wakes up angry.

But his mother is unsure. She has given him numerous

acute remedies during the past year since he took the

Lycopodium 1M.

Analysis and Differential Discussion:

Assessment: Behavior disorder. Assessment is difficult

due to the lack of follow-up, along with the mother

giving remedies to the child without consulting me.

Consider Lycopodium, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus,

Veratrum album, Stramonium, Tuberculinum.

Lycopodium covers all the selected symptoms

except jumping out of bed and capricious appetite. It

may have acted before, and may be worth repeating

before trying something else. He no longer wakes

irritable, but this may go against giving Lycopodium at

this time. However, the development of enuresis would

be consistent with the Lycopodium pathology.

Belladonna covers all the selected symptoms

except disobedience, and figured strongly in the case a

year ago, also. However, the chronic Belladonna state

is seen in more serious mental pathology, such as

delirium and hallucinations. The person becomes

extremely strong and frightening. This case contains

neither physical symptoms nor generals for Belladonna.

Hyoscyamus covers most of the totality but the

characteristic Ŗdirtyŗ or sexual nature of the remedy is

lacking in this case, save for the obscene gestures.

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Similarly, Veratrum album is strongly indicated for

rudeness, insolence, abusiveness, and striking, but the

characteristic intellectual precocity is missing, as are

any other confirmatory symptoms.

Stramonium and Tuberculinum remain

considerations for the same reasons as before, and both

have enuresis as well.

Plan: Lycopodium 10M, one dose.

June 21, 1991 (3 months later)

He remains unchanged.

Assessment: Lycopodium is incorrect. The suggestions

for both Tuberculinum and Stramonium remain in this

case. After reading the cases presented by Ananda

Zaren in the Proceedings of the 1990 IFH Case

Conference, I considered Gallic acid. The patient is

abusive, needs to be watched, needs company, has

restlessness and screaming during his sleep, many

dreams, and leaves his bed to get into his motherřs.

Onset of sleep problems was after his father was killed.

Plan: Gallic acid 1M, one dose.

July 7, 1991 (2 weeks later)

He is sleeping all night long, quietly, no grunting or

yelling, no restlessness. No enuresis.

He is eating more, less picky.

He is able to handle situations without being

aggressive. He is not violent, rude or abusive.

Assessment: Gallic acid is acting beautifully. This is

probably the remedy he needed in the initial case. If I

had known the remedy at that time, his symptoms of

waking at night and of anger from contradiction, and the

history of his fatherřs death, may have keyed me in to it.

If I had then probed further, other symptoms might have

been uncovered to confirm Gallic acid. Instead, the

pathology progressed.

Plan: Wait.

Materia Medica of Gallic acid

Gallic acid is a small remedy in our Materia

Medicas and repertories. CLARKE states in his

Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica:

Wild delirium at night. Very restless. Jumps out of

bed. Sweats profusely. Extremely fearful to be alone.

Insists on constantly being watched. Is exceedingly

rude and abuses everyone, even his best friends.

Jealous of his nurse and curses everyone who speaks to

her.

There are only nine listings for Gallic acid in

Kentřs Repertory:

Cursing

Jealousy

Jumping, bed, out of

Rudeness

Speech, babbling, strange

Head, pain, pain in neck, with

Nose, roughness inside, posterior nares

Rectum, hemorrhoids, large

Rectum, pain, soreness

The RADAR synthesized repertory and additions

has 13 listings besides those in Kent:

Abusive, insulting

Delirium

Delirium, bed, escapes, springs up suddenly from

Delirium, wild, night

Desires, full of, watched, to be

Fear, apprehension, dread, solitude of

Irritability

Restlessness, night

Convulsions, clonic, epileptiform, absences,

petitmal

Haemorrhage

Weakness, enervation

Dreams, amorous

Dreams, many

Further to this list ANANDA ZAREN has

suggested adding Gallic acid to the following rubrics,

from her experience:

Violence

Fear of the dark

Fear of ghosts

Desire for smoked food

Aversion to herring (she states she has seen this

aversion 27 times)

Perspiration, profuse

She has also seen fear of bees in three cases cured

with Gallic acid. This is an interesting example of the

doctrine of signatures, such as we often see in

Homeopathy, for Gallic acid is a constituent of the

substance that forms a cocoon, a Ŗgall: or Ŗoak apple,ŗ

around the egg of a wasp to protect it as it grows. The

wasp deposits an ovum on a leaf. Something in the egg

causes the leaf to secrete a substance containing Gallic

acid. Ananda comments on how the animal and

vegetable kingdom work together to produce this

substance which combines Ŗthe violence of the wasp

and the protection of the leaf.ŗ Violent individuals who

require this medicine also have strong needs for

protection, company and attention, due to their fear of

being alone.

From the cases she has treated with Gallic acid,

Ananda has discovered that there is very often an

etiology of sudden abandonment or separation from

the primary care person. This can occur from illness,

injury, death, divorce, the birth of a younger sibling, or

change of occupation. Such an etiology is not at all

uncommon, and this may be why Ananda has found that

Gallic acid is not in fact a small remedy, but one which

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 175

we, in ignorance, have missed many times possibly

before coming to know the remedy better.

In the case I am presenting, the sudden loss of his

father caused this young boy, in my analysis, to insist on

constantly being watched by his mother; to experience

many disturbing dreams, and to act out his feelings in

abusive and violent behavior. This is what I perceive to

be the essence of GALLIC ACID: the sudden loss of a

care-giver which precipitates a fear of being alone,

sleep disorder, and violence. I would suggest that we

consider adding Gallic acid to the rubric, in Kentřs

Repertory, ŖForsaken feeling,ŗ and to the rubric, in the

Synthetic Repertory, ŖAilments from death of parents

or friends.ŗ The only other remedy in this rubric which

has this combination of symptoms is Stramonium.

Stramonium may be the remedy which is closest to

Gallic acid, although Tuberculinum and Lycopodium

have many similarities as well. The substrate from

which the STRAMONIUM state emerges is frequently

fright, fever or brain injury, and the characteristic

combination is that of violence with fear or

aggravation from darkness. In TUBERCULINUM

the causation is more often genetic, or miasmatic,

although it can also be illness or overwork. The

combination of traits seen in Tuberculinum are a

contradictory and demanding nature, dissatisfaction,

obstinacy, selfishness, and irritability. I do not have a

succinct concept of the terrain from which

LYCOPODIUM’s cowardice seems to be a

compensation for that fear which, in this remedy, is

combined with bossiness. Keep these distinctions in

mind as we further discuss Gallic acid and its

differentiation.

I want to acknowledge both Ananda Zaren, for

vastly adding to our understanding and utilization of

this remedy, and Paul Herscu, for developing our

comprehension of Tuberculinum, Lycopodium and

the other constitutional types he describes in his

book The Homeopathic Treatment of Children.

Ananda states that in her experience the fear of

being alone is usually the first symptom to arise. A

young child will feel abandoned, for example, if the

mother goes to work, and from then on, will never let

the mother out of sight and will insist on being

constantly watched. Adult Gallic acid patients arrange

to live and work constantly with people so that they are

never alone. In distinction from Stramonium, the fear of

being alone is not only at night but every minute of the

day. Fear of being alone can also be found in

Lycopodium or the retarded Tuberculinum child. They

feel something bad may happen to them if a parent is

not nearby. Lycopodium children may also wish to be

alone, yet feel afraid, as the keynote states: ŖAversion to

company yet dreads being alone.ŗ Lycopodium and

Pulsatilla children can follow their parents around the

house like Gallic acid, but may be satisfied with

knowing where the parents are, if not in the same room,

whereas Gallic acid children must know that they are

being watched. Pulsatilla’s fear is that of abandonment,

like Gallic acid. A Natrum muriaticum child may

follow the parents around to make sure that the parents

are all right.

Lycopodium children often want a parent to turn on

their bedroom light and check their room before going

to bed. Lycopodium and Pulsatilla babies may start to

cry as soon as the lights are switched off and the parent

leaves the room.

Gallic acid infants will kick their feet when being

diapered. In young children, the sleep disturbance of

Gallic acid takes the form of restlessness, with kicking

and moaning, and especially the need to be physically

close to one of their parents. They may finally collapse

and fall asleep in their own bed, but they may also

require the parent to lie down with them, and, when they

wake up later, will get into the parentřs bed when they

find they are alone. We could interpret this restlessness,

kicking moaning as a ploy to get attention so that they

do not have to be alone. When they sleep it is not deep,

as if always, even subconsciously, on guard against

being left alone. Their dreams may be disturbing,

though they do not wake up wild-eyed and frightened

from nightmares like Stramonium.

Stramonium and Pulsatilla will be comforted by a

night light and the presence of someone else in the

bedroom, though not necessarily in the same bed. Like

Tuberculinum, Gallic acid patients can have profuse

night sweats, but the sleep of Tuberculinum has several

other distinctive keynotes: difficulty falling asleep due

to physical or mental restlessness; enuresis during deep

sleep; bruxism; and, like Lycopodium, irritability on

waking. Lycopodium children often need a light on and

the presence of someone else in the room for protection,

similar to Gallic acid. However, Lycopodiums sleep on

their right side or abdomen and usually remain covered,

unlike the restless Gallic acid. Lycopodium is also in

bold in Kentřs Repertory for Ŗlaughing during sleepŗ

(Stramonium is in italics).

As the pathology develops in Gallic acid, we see

the development of violence. When playing with other

children, they are the leaders, and they want to be the

center of attention. They demand to be first they have

to win and be the best, and will cheat at games and at

school to achieve this. They may steal things and deny

their culpability. They get other kids stirred up and

defensive. They will instigate a fight but claim

someone else started it.

Their abuse is focused on others, theyare not self-

destructive like Tuberculinum (head-banging) or

Medorrhinum. The problems they cause at school may

lead to notes from the teacher complaining to the

parents, or to suspension.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 176

The desire for smoked food (which can often be hot

dogs) is found in Tuberculinum as well as in Gallic

acid. Eight of Anandařs cases have exhibited

compulsive behavior in which they touch and smell

things, like Syphilinum. She has often observed tongue-

lapping and saliva bubbling from the mouth during

talking. They speak loudly, even when not angry, and

frequently grimace.

The final state of Gallic acid is a delirium,

smashing things, being rude to everybody, jealous and

cursing. They become completely manic, rolling the

head from side to side, biting, kicking, and becoming

wildly delirious at night. At this stage they may be

confused with Hyoscyamus: sudden, intense anger,

profane cursing, obscene gestures, jealous, demoniacal,

obsessive, wanting to be watched. Ultimately, they

become violently insane, like Stramonium, but it does

not occur only at night and there is no wildness in their

eyes.

On the physical level, Gallic acid is a medicine

similar to Tannic acid, the major constituent in galls,

which has historically been used as an astringent, both

botanically and homeopathically. Gallic acid was used

as a local application to stop hemorrhage. The

description of the mental state of Gallic acid we read in

Clarkeřs Dictionary is taken from a patient who took

massive doses for an aneurysm.

CLARKE also writes of a case in which the use of

an ointment containing gallic acid, or the insertion of a

tannin suppository for hemorrhoids, caused an attack of

Urticaria and Asthma. This, CLARKE stated, Ŗis

sufficient to show that Gallic acid is truly homeopathic

to pulmonary cases, in which it has been largely used by

the old school as well as the new.ŗ It was used in

Tuberculosis for pulmonary hemorrhage and night

sweats. It was used for menorrhagia, epistaxis,

hematuria, hemophilia, and hemorrhoids. Other than

being indicated for respiratory conditions and various

hemorrhages, the physical symptoms of Gallic acid

listed in Clarkeřs and Boerickeřs Materia Medicas are

varied and, until we have further proving and cured

symptoms, without any other unifying theme.

October 18, 1991 (4½ months later)

He does not want to be sociable. He has been

easily irritated for the past two weeks. He told some

kids at preschool that they could not pretend to play

with guns. They did not listen to him and he began

pushing them. His teacher told him to stop, and he

looked her right in the eyes and pummeled another kid

on his neck. Defiant (2). The teacher wrote his mother

a note describing all this, saying, ŖI canřt let him keep

hurting other children.ŗ

Rude, abusive, insulting (2). He likes to be obscene

(1). He urinates on his brother (1).

He will not leave his mother alone (3). He comes

and searches for her when she is in another room in the

house. He needs someone to play with. He rarely plays

or reads alone. Desire for company (3). Desires sausage

(2), eggs, rice (2), tacos, constantly asks for sweets (3),

chicken, fish.

Averse to spicy (2).

Enuresis (1).

Moaning in his sleep (2).

Assessment: Relapse. Consider Hyoscyamus due to the

obscenity and urinating on this brother.

Plan: Gallic acid 1M, one dose.

October 27, 1991 (9 days later)

No rudeness or abusiveness.

He says, ŖLook how good Iřm being.ŗ Iřm having

fun.ŗ He needs to tell his mother he is being good,

doing better. No enuresis. Sleeping quietly.

Assessment: Gallic acid acting.

Plan: Wait.

November 26, 1991 (1 month later)

ŖGive me my medicine,ŗ he says. I ask why he

needs medicine. ŖIřm waking my mom up at night.ŗ

Comes in to her bed. Gradually worsening over the past

two weeks. Twice a night he gets up, usually around

midnight, 2 am or 4 am.

His mother gave him Arsenicum 200c last week for

Asthma (mother still frequently prescribes remedies

from her home kit).

Moaning, yelling at somebody during sleep (2),

rolling around in bed (2).

Wet his pants twice at school during nap time.

Had impetigo on right elbow last week. Treated

topically with Golden seal. Two small red papules now

on his left arm.

Red perianal rash for the past day. Sore (2).

No aggressiveness. Doing well in school. Can

write ŖFISH.ŗ

Constantly wants motherřs attention (3). Sheřs

worn out. Thatřs when it dawns on her that he needs

this remedy. When sheřs so exhausted, she thinks,

ŖWait a minute, I donřt have to be like this!ŗ

Wants to be with mom, go places with her, lie

down with her, get in bed with her (3). Restful in

motherřs bed. She takes him back to his bed.

Wants to stay up longer in the evening, be around

mother and her boyfriend.

Fear of going to sleep and having bad dream. Fear

of monsters (1), dark (1).

Pimples on cheeks (keratosis pilaris).

Impatient (2). (He has said Ŗgive me my

medicine!ŗ three times by now).

Fabricates stories, has incredible imagination. 75%

of his stories are untrue.

Shares well.

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Desires sweets (3), ripe, skinned apples (2). Picky

eater.

Assessment: Relapse. Remedy may not be holding due

to motherřs acute prescriptions. Needs higher potency

but unavailable from U.S. sources. New symptom

characteristic of Gallic acid :: red perianal rash and

soreness. This is also a return of an old symptom, as is

the impetigo. The Gallic acid layer has been partially

removed, and the underlying original constitutional state

of Sulphur may be reappearing.

Plan: Gallic acid 1M, one dose.

December 18, 1991 (3 weeks later)

No improvement.

Assessment: Needs higher potency. Still unable to

acquire Gallic acid 10M.

Plan: From the Gallic acid 1M, I prepared and

administered Gallic acid 1001, one dose, in water.

January 24, 1992 (5 weeks later)

His mother says he is much better. ŖA different kid

than before this remedy was given. Much more

livable.ŗ

Sleeping all night. No yelling or screaming in his

sleep.

No enuresis.

Using Ŗbaby talkŗ for three weeks.

Fear of spiders (2).

Desires sweets (2).

Went to dentist. Has 3 cavities. Brother 2 years

older has none.

Assessment: Gallic acid 1001 is acting. The Ŗbaby

talkŗ may be the return of an old symptom, returning to

the state he was in as a toddler when the Gallic acid

layer was added. Gallic acid also has babbling speech

and strange speech. Also consider Tuberculinum

because of the dental caries and the family history of

Asthma.

Plan: Wait.

Much of the information on Gallic acid is taken

from ANANDA ZARENřs ŖTwo Cases of Pediatric

Behavior Disorderŗ, Proceedings of the 1990

Professional Case Conference, IFH, 2366 Eastlake

Avenue E., Seattle, WA 98102. This excellent

presentation, and in fact all presentations at the IFH and

HANP Case Conferences, serve to greatly extend our

knowledge of Materia Medica and understanding of

Homeopathy. This case is a prime example of the

effectiveness of sharing our knowledge through

seminars and publications.

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12. A Proving of Flor De Piedra*

(Lophophytum leandri)

RAESIDE, J.R.

(The Layman Speaks, Vol. XXIII, 4/1970)

This is a professional report. We place it in The

Layman Speaks for the light it throws on the

homeopathic type of remedy testing (proving). The

purpose is to ascertain the full scope of the remedy. The

usual drug testing is to see how it affects a given illness.

Homeopaths prove remedies on voluntary provers who

are in good health. Ordinary medicine tests drugs on

the sick. ŔEd.

In June 1965, Dr. Willmar SCHWABE of Germany

requested our assistance in testing the effect of a South

American plant called Flor de Piedra. It was not until

the autumn of 1966 that we were able to begin a proving

with the help of nine missionary students and two

doctors (seven men and four women).

A great deal of work had already been done by Drs.

SCHWABE, HERZ, AND FREIWALD, and this had

been published and sent to us. Dr. SCHWABE

considered the plant to be of medicinal value, especially

in the treatment of Thyroid enlargement.

We had a disappointingly small number of provers

on this occasion, which contributed to the relatively

poor collection of symptoms. The method adopted was

our customary one of recent years, viz.:

First November 1966 Flor de Piedra 8 provers

term 6x

Second

Term February 1967 Flor de Piedra 10 provers

Third

Term May 1967 Flor de Piedra 10 provers

12c

This means that we had twenty-eight proving terms,

or twenty-eight separate two-week experiments with

powders night and morning. There were no controls,

due to our small numbers. Most symptoms turned up in

the second and third terms. Two provers had to stop Ŕ

one man because of fluttering of the heart and headache

on 12c, and one woman because of headache also while

on 12c.

Natural History

Lophophytum mirabile was first described by

Schott and Endlicher in 1832, while Lophophytum

leandri was described by Eichler in 1869. They are

very similar species of the Lophophytae and differ only

From The British Homeopathic Journal, Vol. LVIII,

No.4, October 1969.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 178

in minor details of the efflorescence. The plant

collected by Dr. SCHWABE was named Lophophytum

leandri. Other species of the genus are L. bolivianum

and L. Weddelii.

The Lophophytae belong to the Natural Order of

Balanophoraceae, all of which grow in tropical or

subtropical mountainous regions of Asia and South

America, up to an altitude of 10,000 feet. The genus

Lophophytae all inhabit tropical South America,

especially Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and

Argentina.

The plant is a chlorophyll-free parasite which

grows on the roots of certain trees, especially the

Leguminosae. It grows almost entirely immersed in the

soil at the root of the tree, with only the flower or

inflorescence rising up like a long pine cone; sharp,

erect brownish scales conceal the reddish male flower.

It resembles a stone as it lies in the earth, hence its name

Ŕ the stone flower. Having no proper stem or leaves, it

is more like a fungus.

Pharmacological investigations showed that it

contains acids, resin, glucose, albumen and mucilage,

and Dr. SCHWABE mentions a tannin of catechu, leuco

anthocyanidine substances and a small amount of

bromine and iodine, probably in the form of organic

compounds.

The natives of South America use the plant as a

medicine for a variety of ailments, all of them very

vague Ŕ as is usual in herbal medicine. Catarrhal

jaundice and Ŗinsufficient bileŗ are mentioned by one

author, and Dr. SCHWABE reported its use in digestive

disturbances, liver disease, epilepsy, rickets and

malignant conditions.

Review of the Proving

Compared with other drugs which have been

investigated by us in recent years, this one showed a

relative lack both of symptoms and of decided effect on

any one organ or system.

The mental symptoms were most prominent, but

the changes were those which we record with almost

every drug. (It should at this point be stated that we

have a different team of provers every year.) The

stimulating effect of Flor de Piedra was more

noticeable, and the secondary depression of mind and

mood was less pronounced. Several students felt Ŗhighŗ

after only two days of 6x, with mind alert, bright and

happy. Very few had a reactive depression with slow,

confused or muddled mind.

Headaches Ŕ which usually feature prominently in

any of our experiments Ŕ were even more marked than

usual with the Ŗstone flowerŗ. It was because of

headache that two of our students had to discontinue

their efforts. No. 2 was a 28-year-old man who had had

a thyroid operation for a simple goiter. His father,

brother and sister had all had goiter operations of some

kind. During his third trial in May 1967 on the 12c, he

developed headache after four days. By the twelfth day

his head felt bursting, with developed headache after

four days. By the twelfth day his head felt bursting,

with terrific pain all night in the right frontal region

spreading to the spine, accompanied by singing in the

ear, and fluttering fibrillation of his heart, all of which

kept him awake!

No. 4, a woman of 27 years, had to give up after six

days on the 12c because of frontal headache, thick head

and difficulty in concentrating.

Two other provers had migraine headache with

visual disturbances.

Six students had symptoms in the throat, such as

sore throat, with pains stabbing in the neck glands, and a

feeling of a lump in the throat. These symptoms are

slightly suggestive of thyroid conditions, but one cannot

say more than that.

The same number of provers had disturbances of

the gastro-intestinal system, mainly nausea and

abdominal pains.

Skin symptoms figure prominently in this proving.

Seven of the eleven had something to report, and the

most interesting comment was Ŗa throbbing itch on the

soles of the feetŗ which is a most peculiar sensation.

Apart from the above there were few important or

noteworthy symptoms. Two had heart reactions Ŕ one

as mentioned was quite severe; three had disturbed

menstruation Ŕ early or late, tending to be more painful

and more profuse. There were very few limb sensations

recorded, which is unusual. Six had sleep disturbance

with dreams, and a few suffered from great fatigue or

tiredness.

Comparison with the German Proving

The original paper on Flor de Piedra by

SCHWABE and HERZ (1964) contained useful

information derived from their therapeutic trials as well

as their proving.

ŖFor the time being, conditions were not yet given

for a drug proving on healthy subjects. Orientation was

therefore sought by carrying out a therapeutic trial with

Flor de Piedra D6 and D4. The patients included were

those with liver disease, chiefly slight liver damage due

to previous Hepatitis or of toxic origin, i.e. the

indications were those already established by use of the

drug in popular medicine. Quite early we noted rapid

subjective improvement, though this was not objectively

confirmed, to begin with, by serum lability tests,

electrophoresis, enzyme activity studies etc.

ŖIt was also observed that the remedy did well in

cases of stubborn travel sickness, and also ameliorated

the feeling of sickness in patients who did not tolerate

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 179

Digitalis. This is probably again connected with the

hepatic action of the remedy.

ŖSoon another, completely new indication attracted

attention. A 70-year-old woman with liver disease who

had been given the remedy for six to eight weeks in

relatively high dosage (D6), told her doctor (Dr.

Uhrmacher of Waldniel) that a nodular goiter which she

had had for fifty years and which had never before

responded to treatment, was getting noticeably smaller.

The improvement was so remarkable that it could hardly

be regarded as accidental, and this led to the treatment

of various forms of goiter, first on a small scale and

later with large numbers. At first the impression was

gained that hard nodular goiters responded best. But

further use of the remedy, by now for over two years,

has shown that parenchymatous and to a lesser degree

juvenile goiter also responded well. Results from

different regions of West Germany and also various

areas in the lower Alps have varied considerably, but

the average dosage for euthyreotic goiters may be said

to be 10 to 25 drops of the D6 t.d.s. Ŕ more rarely 10

drops of the D4 t.d.s. Goitres with hyperthyreotic

symptoms demand higher potencies, as the D6 will

occasionally produce an initial aggravation in such

cases. In most cases, improvement is first noted during

the second week of treatment, and consists in a

lessening of the sensation of pressure and at the same

time softening of the goiter; as a rule, a measurable

reduction in the diameter of the neck may not be

expected before the fourth week of treatment. Several

cases of substernal goiter, who had already been put

down for surgery, could be sufficiently controlled with

Flor de Piedra on its own. It seems reasonable to

assume that the effect on goiters is due to the iodine and

bromine content of the drug which is in the order of

magnitude of D5.

ŖThe third main indication is for various forms of

cardiovascular disorder, particularly coronary

insufficiency and the status following myocardial

infarction. A detailed report on this is given elsewhere.

ŖA few other indications, so far based only on

individual observations, suggest that Flor de Piedra

undoubtedly has an even wider range of action, but they

still require further confirmation.

ŖFrom 21 January to 21 February 1964, i.e. after

the clinical trials already described, we did a small drug

proving on healthy subjects. Sixteen provers took part,

ten female and six male. The dosage was uniform

throughtout, 10 drops twice daily, on rising in the

morning and on going to bed at night. This number of

drops was well tolerated by all, and in no case did it

become necessary to interrupt or stop the proving.

ŖAn initial clinical examination showed no special

organic pathological findings in any of the sixteen

provers. Earlier illnesses and any existing dispositions

for diseases were recorded when the histories were

taken. Flor de Piedra D6, D4, D3 and D2 were each

proved for a week at a time, with placebo weeks

interspersed, and neither the provers nor the physician

conducting the proving knowing which was which.

Any changes in their condition were daily recorded by

the provers themselves. Serological studies, such as

Weltmannřs coagulation band, the Takata reaction,

thymol turbidity and electrophoresis, were carried out

before and twice during the proving, to try and get an

objective assessment as well.

ŖThe symptoms obtained in the course of this

proving are given below, arranged according to the

organic system and with the number of times they

occurred given in brackets. We are aware that this

cannot be a complete list, but it is hoped that it will

provide the stimulus for a proving of the remedy on a

wider basis.

ŖResults of a proving with Flor de Piedra

General: Nausea and retching (3), queer

sensation in the stomach (1), great

thirst (4), sweating heavily (3),

remarkable tiredness (1, after D6),

increased activity (4, after D2 and

D3), sensation of heat (1), dizziness

with tendency to fall to the left (1).

Head: Left frontal headache (2), left

temporal headache (3), with

amelioration in open air (1), headache

increasing towards evening (2), head

feels hot and heat flushes (2), some

loss of visual power (2).

Mouth, nose,

Throat: Dryness of nose (4), dryness of oral

mucosa (2), compulsive swallowing

and clearing of throat (3).

Neck: Sensation of pressure on thyroid gland

(1).

Heart and

Lungs: Constructive sensation in

chest,stronger on right than left (1),

palpitations (1), slight irritating cough

(2).

Abdomen: General feeling of tension and fullness

in the stomach (7), sensation of

pressure around girdle area (1),

pressure of underwear is found

unpleasant (1), sensation of pressure

in epigastrium (1), pressure pains in

right lower abdomen (1), pain below

right costal arch (1), much flatus (3),

stools assume grayish colour (1),

stools light browny-yellow (1), slight

diarrhea in the daytime (4), difficult

stools (1, after D2), heartburn (2).

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Extremities and On lifting right arm slight pain under

Spine right scapula(1), Painful drawing and

formication left arm and left hand (1),

persistent drawing and pain in left

upper arm, better from warmth (2),

sensation of heaviness in legs (1),

drawing sensation in right thigh down

to calf and heel (1), right foot slightly

swollen and sensitive to pressure (1).

Lower

Abdominal

Organs: increased diuresis (2), period very

heavy and five days late (1).

Skin: Itching ears (5), marked itching of

scalp (4), itching on arms (2),

generalized itching (1), itching anus

(1), slight itching around girdle line

(1), itching eruption in the face (2).ŗ

It is interesting to note a complete absence of

mental symptoms in this German proving, whereas ours

had quite marked mentals. The points of similarity are:

first the general lack of clear-cut definite symptoms in

any organ or system. Secondly, a general

correspondence in head and abdominal symptoms.

Thirdly the skin manifestations, especially itching,

occur in both, although in different anatomical

locations.

Dr. SCHWABE also sent us an interesting report

published by Dr. Elisabeth FREIWALD, who tested

Flor de Piedra over a period of two years on 190

patients with various diseases. Her list included ten

cases of thyrotoxicosis who responded well to the

remedy which was administered by mouth in 3x-3x

potencies. The reaction of simple goiters was less

noticeable and improvement lasted only as long as the

remedy was being administered; when it was

discontinued there was a relapse. In a group of seventy-

one patients with liver and gall bladder diseases, sixty-

six improved under treatment with Flor de Piedra. This

time the remedy was given by mouth, 4x-6x, or an i.v.

injection of the 6x two or three times a week.

Various other diseases were treated with observable

benefit, including coronary Ischemia,

Myocarditis,

Psoriasis

and Eczema.

Discussion

In many respects this was an unsatisfactory

proving, as no clear picture evolved from the reports of

the small number of students, and no organ or system

could clearly be seen to be affected, not in our proving

nor in the German one. Flor de Piedra does not appear

to be a poisonous plant, which may account for its lack

of effect on our volunteers.

It is another remedy which Homeopathy has taken

from native herbalism and, as with Esponijilla, the

chief indications for its use were derived from the native

use of the plant as a healing herb. Certainly it is

interesting to see the chance effect on the goiter which

Dr. SCHWABE noted in his therapeutic trials. Also it is

most interesting to study the extensive trials on the sick

which Dr. FREIWALD carried out, as this gave some

definite therapeutic indications for the use of Flor de

Piedra. Of course, this is not a method of investigation

which we employ in this country, but perhaps we should

re-think our methods of trying new remedies.

So far we have had only limited clinical trials with

Flor de Piedra on a few cases of toxic and simple

goiters, without any evidence that is has been beneficial.

This brings one again to the need for an active body of

experimenters who would be willing to try all new

drugs in their practices and to report results in due

course. Thus some kind of clinical verification can

follow what otherwise might remain merely theoretical

research into the effects of drugs.

We would like to thank Dr. W. SCHWABE and his

helpers for initiating this drug proving. Also to thank

Messrs. A. Nelson & Co. for the supply of powders, and

the Lawson Tait Trust for the payment of provers.

Flor de Piedra Ŕ The Proving Symptoms

Mind Felt very well all day (second day on 6x)

Mind bright (second day on 12c)

Very alert mind (second day on 12c), but

difficult to concentrate (tenth day)

Mind feels full all day, restless but happy

Felt jumpy and Ŗon edgeŗ

Mind thick, difficult to concentrate and study

Slow, muddled and depressed

Stupid feeling in the head, confused

Head Bursting headache, < afternoon, <occiput or

frontal, spreads from the neck (had to stop

proving)

Dull frontal headache over eyes, < a.m.

Throbbing frontal headache all day, < evening

with nausea

Frontal headache or on temples, < right, > open

Splitting pain in centre of the brain, with

disturbed vision in centre of field and zigzags

at sides

Migraine headache with blurred vision

Eyes Heavy eyes

Bloodshot eye

Stye on right lower lid

Pressure pain in orbit from reading

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 181

Face Face flushed in a.m.

Spots on face

Nose Running nose and nasal catarrh

Sneezing attacks

Mouth Dry mouth and lips, with peculiar taste in

mouth

Not much sense of taste or smell

Ulcers on tongue, lip, and mouth

Cold sores on lip

Throat Raw, dry, sore throat

Sore throat in evening

Dry, burning throat on waking

Lump in the back of the throat

Sharp stabbing pains in throat or neck, < a.m.

Larynx Hoarse voice

Slight soreness of larynx

Chest Dry, hacking cough

ache in chest, < movement, < deep breathing

Heart Fluttering of heart while lying in bed

Pain over the heart region

Stomach Travel sickness with loss of appetite and

and Constipation

Abdomen Sinking feeling in stomach with great hunger

Nausea and diarrhea

Abdominal pain and diarrhea in a.m.

Abdomen hard, with discomfort after meals,

and constipation

Wakened at 2 a.m. with abdominal pain >

bowel opening

Uro-

genital Frequency and pain passing urine

M.P. early, more profuse and painful

Greenish vaginal discharge

Extre-

mities Sharp pain in left knee, < walking

Ache in left elbow

Ache in toe joints

Cold feet

Sleep Restless sleep Ŕ hot in bed

Sleepy and yawning by day

Dreams disturb sleep

Skin Throbbing itch on sole of left foot

Soles of feet itch and throb

Itching on back of head and neck

Itching of both legs

Itching of red patch on back of hand

Spots on thigh and lower limbs

Rash on back of neck

Perspiration

Gene- Very tired, esp. in a.m.

rals Fatigue

Tiredness and ache all over

Important Symptoms

Mind 9 provers

Head 10 provers

Throat 6 provers

Skin 7 provers

REFERENCES

SCHWABE, W., and HERZ, W. ŖFlor de Piedraŗ,

Allgemeine Homöopathische Zeitung, 209, No.5, 228-

32. May 1964.

FREIWALD, Elisabeth. ŖTherapeutische Erfahrungen

mit Flor de Piedraŗ, Allgemeine Homöopathische

Zeitung, 209, No.5, 232-6. May 1964.

1. Ischaemia: Local deficiency of blood or of red

blood corpuscles, due mainly to contraction of

blood vessels.

2. Myocarditis: Inflammation of the muscular tissue

of the heart.

3. Psoriasis: Inflammatory skin disease developing

reddish patches covered with whitish scales.

4. Eczema: An acute or chronic non-contagious

inflammatory disease of the skin.

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13. Science & Homeopathy:

Has Science Become ŘOne True Religionř?

CASSAM Amir (The Homeopath, 77/2000)

Abstract: The present paper describes the authoritarian

nature of modern science, especially since the Second

World War, and attempts to refute the negative claims

made about Homeopathy by an important segment of

the medico-scientific establishment, in the light of the

works of Paul FEYERABEND, Thomas KUHN and

Ashish NANDY. At the same time, in view of its

relevance to the subject matter, Karl Popperřs

conclusions on the criterion of the scientific status of a

theory, and responses of some of his major critics are

also discussed.

Introduction: For homeopaths with a materialistically

oriented positivist worldview, there is always a worry

about using medicines which lack Řany reasonable

physical model to explain the action of high dilutionsř

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(1) on human beings and other living creatures. This

problem probably is not of great importance to

homeopaths with a religiously oriented spiritualist

worldview, inclined towards Kentian metaphysics. In

order to appreciate the determination with which

homeopathic research workser are pursuing this thorny

problem, one only has to witness the spate of books that

have been published within last decade or more, that are

devoted to explaining the phenomenon of hgher

dilutions in terms of the parameters laid down by the

scientific establishment. To give one reviewed in just

one issue of British Homeopathic Journal (1), the

first two devoted to explaining scientifically the

ŘExperimental Aspectsř and the ŘFundamental Aspectsř

respectively of the ŘTheory of High Dilutions.ř(1). The

third book reviewed contains twenty three full papers by

the International Research Group on the same subject.

Nevertheless, most classical homeopaths continue to

use potencies beyond the Avogadro number Ŕ whether

they use lower potencies of over 12c or higher potencies

of 200c and over, is immaterial to the present argument

Ŕ for which there is so far no universally accepted

physical model within the shared paradigm of

commitment to the rules and standards laid down by the

scientific community. This apparent contradiction

between what they intellectually value (a materialist

worldview) and what they practice as classical

homeopaths, then becomes a source of some

embarrassment for them among their non-homeopathic

peer group, besides causing considerable theoretical

tension within at least some of the more philosophically

inclined therapists. This paper is an attempt to resolve

this dilemma.

Similarities between Copernican and Hahnemannian

revolutions

Those homeopaths who have read Paul

Feyerabendřs iconoclastic masterpiece Against Method

(1975), which describes the development of the

Copernican cosmology, would be surprised at the close

resemblance between that and the development of

Hahnemannian Homeopathy. Both started with a

strong belief that ran counter to contemporary reason

and contemporary experience. In both cases, the belief

spread and found support in other beliefs. In the case of

GALILEO, in an equally unreasonable (at the time)

belief in law of inertia and the telescope (2). In the case

of HAHNEMANN, in an equally unreasonable (at the

time) theories of potentisation, vitalism and Miasms.

Eventually, Copernican cosmology became part of the

scientific worldview. On the other hand,

Hahnemannian Homeopathy found the opposition from

an entrenched medico-scientific establishment allied

with a pharmaceutical lobby, very much harder to deal

with.

Hegemony of science

In my previous paper, I criticized Kentian

metaphysics using the twin concepts of Řrational

scientific methodř and Řrational insightř as my support

(3). In the present paper, by extensively using Paul

Feyerabendřs various works and also the works of

Thomas KUHN and Ashish NANDY, I will try to show

that this rationally based scientific method had itself Ŕ

since at least the end of the Second World War Ŕ

become deeply flawed. It has degenerated into ŘOne

True Religionř as alleged by Paul Feyerabend: p. 307

(2) or what Herbert MARCUSE might have described

as Řirrationality rationalityř: p.115 (4) or Řrationalised

irrationalityř as suggested by Phillip NICHOLLS: p.273

(5). Indeed, even outside the medical field, a whole

generation of consumers of science has been so

brainwashed Řon the purity of scientific texts that they,

even when practicing Homeopathy or palmistry or even

when growing sacred tuft of hair or going on a

pilgrimage, have to justify themselves on scientific

groundsř p.106 (4). So much has modern science

become part of the Řglobal establishmentř that even Řall

organized faiths were seeking endorsement from

scienceř p. 106 (4). Indeed, science has replaced

religion as the dominant ideology. From a different

perspective but emphasizing the same charge, Brian

Rotman, in his review of Margaret Wertheimřs

Pythagoras’ Trousers in the TLS (6), comments that

one of the two major interests of the author of the book

was to Řtrace the rise of physics in Western culture as a

religiously inspired enterpriseř (my emphasis) and that

she referred to physics as Řthe Catholic Church of

Scienceř.

Kuhn’s paradigm and revolutionary science

Thomas Kuhnřs The Structure of Scientific

Revolutions has been aptly described by Clark

GLYMOUR and quoted in Philosophy of Science as

Řvery likely the most influential work on the philosophy

of science that has been written in this centuryř (7).

Following his innovative distinction between Řnormalř

and Řrevolutionaryř science each representing a different

paradigm, this paper wants to argue that Homeopathy

represents a Řrevolutionaryř break from Řnormalř

science, within an important branch of medicine.

Kuhnřs definition of Řparadigmsř is: Řuniversally

recognized scientific achievements that for a time

provide model problems and solutions to a community

of practitionersř p.2(8). At the same time, he attacks the

Řcumulativeř notions of scientific advance. According

to him, the more carefully the historians of science

study, Ř…say, Aristotelian dynamics, phlogistic

chemistry, or caloric thermo-dynamics, the more certain

they feel that those once current views of nature were,

as a whole, neither less scientific or more the product of

human idiosyncrasy than those current todayř p.2(8).

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KUHN argues that scientific activity falls into two

distinct types: normal science and extraordinary or

revolutionary science. During periods of normal

science, scientists take for granted the major theories of

their day. Their aim is to see whether they can solve

problems by using accepted theories in conjunctions

with other assumptions and models. On the other hand,

ŘScientific revolutions are here taken to be those non-

cumulative developmental episodes in which an older

paradigm is replaced in whole or in part by an

incompatible new oneř. They Řare inaugurated by a

growing sense …. That an existing paradigm has ceased

to function adequately in the exploration of an aspect of

nature to which that paradigm itself had previously led

the wayř. The examples of this are not only Řmajor

paradigm changes, like those attributable to Copernicus

and Lavoisier, but also for the far smaller ones

associated with the assimilation of a new sort of

phenomenon, like oxygen or X-raysř. (The Nature and

Necessity of Scientific Revolutions pp. 91-109 (8) p.86

(7)).

End of science’s liberating phase

In the 17

, 18

and even the 19

century science

was a liberating force. One of the reasons for this was

that science then was one of many competing

ideologies, when the state had not yet declared itself in

its favour. But with the development of science

especially after the Second World War, ŘThe very same

enterprise that once gave man the ideas and strength to

free himself from the fears and prejudices of a

tyrannical religion now turns into a slave of its interestsř

p.75 (9). Even an otherwise innovative work such as

Fitjof Caprařs defence of the holistic approach is marred

by his inability to see through the shallow positivist

philosophical foundation of many of the

pronouncements of the scientific establishment when he

writes that all scientific theories are approximations to

the true nature of reality and that Řscientists construct a

sequence of limited and approximate theories, or

Řm,odelsř, each more accurate than the previous one….ř

P.93 (10). I propose to discuss my response to the

concept of Řrational scientific methodř under four

headings.

Scientific research parameters

At the present time, the randomized double-blind

clinical trial has become the sole basis of verifying and

passing the judgement on the efficacy or otherwise of

medicines or treatment under investigation. So much so

that the double-blind technique has become Řan

indispensable passport to future medical legitimacyř

p.225 (5). The essence of Homeopathy as described by

Brieger and quoted by Phillip A. Nichollsř is the

treatment of the individual with a remedy the

symptomatology of which corresponds to that of the

patient. So there is no one drug. A placebo control

does not make senseř p.225 (5). ŘMoreover, the double-

blind technique to control for placebo effect eliminates

the holistic thrust of homeopathic therapyř p.225 (5).

In the most recent original paper on a double blind,

placebo-controlled trial on homeopathic treatment of

migraine, in order to explain the Řconflictingř results

obtained, the authors write that one of the reasons might

be because ŘControlled clinical studies with

Homeopathy are difficult as one must take especially

the individualizing principle in parallel with the strict

scientific study proceduresř(11). For this and other

reasons discussed by them, the authors conclude that

they are Řof the opinion that the result of this study does

not justify the conclusion that Homeopathy is

ineffective in prevention of Migraineř (11). The reason

for this reluctance to question the legitimacy of the

double-blind method as applied to testing the

effectiveness or otherwise of Homeopathy, is that as

yet there is no other method of testing devised that has

proved acceptable to the medico-scientific community.

The randomized double-blind method additionally

allows the application of the Popperian falsification

criterion. If therefore one rejects the double-blind

method, then in the absence of any other acceptable

method of testing, Homeopathy could not be falsified.

Then, following Karl Popperřs criterion of scientific

legitimacy, Homeopathy would not qualify as a

science.

There are two responses to this. The first one is, as

I will try to argue later on, that the falsifiability theory

itself is deeply flawed. The second one is that,

according to Michael EVANS, one of the key factors in

making the double-blind method the sole basis for

evaluating the effectiveness of medicines in general and

homeopathic medicines in particular, was the

publication of a paper in the late 1940s by Beecher

entitled ŘThe Powerful Placeboř. Michael EVANS has

argued in his paper that the work of Gunver Kienle has

cast serious doubt on the size and the effectiveness of

the placebo effect. ŘIf this is true the main reason for

randomized double blind trials falls away …ř (12). As

against this, in his excellent and thought-provoking

Blackie Memorial Lecture: 1999, G. IVES contends that

Řplacebo effect is a powerful phenomenon …ř (13). He

gives the example of a study running two parallel trials

of the tranquillising drug Meprobamate against placebo.

But one was run by a physician who believed in the

value of this medicine to treat anxiety. The other one

was run by a physician who did not. Otherwise both

trials were carried out strictly double blind. Yet despite

this strict double blind parameter, the result of the

former trial was statistically positive; whereas the result

of the latter trial was negative! This study seems to

suggest that even if one puts aside Michael Evanřs

contention that the placebo effect is highly overvalued,

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the results of the two trials indicate that the double blind

method, allegedly designed to filter out the placebo

effect, was unable to do so in these two trials.

Benveniste’s research on the ‘Memory of Water’ and

its aftermath

Secondly, I would like to refer to the controversy

surrounding the concept of the ŘMemory of Waterř, with

particular reference to the research works carried out by

BEVENISTE and his associates. Let me therefore

recapitulate the way in which BENVENISTE and his

colleagues were treated by some in the scientific

establishment, particularly by Natureřs Editor, for

expressing radical biological theories. This particular

incident was described as the Řcommando raidř by

Michel SCHIFF, author of The Memory of Water

(14). From the opposite side, it was described as Řthe

Nature fiascoř by Anthony CAMPBELL (15). In the

review of The Memory of Water in the Times

Literary Supplement (16) the reviewer tells the readers

what he believes happened. ŘThe raiding party [visiting

the laboratory site] consisted of Nature’s Editor, John

MADDOX, a magician James RANDI and Walter

STEWART, an expert on statistical funding.

After a few days of observation and interference,

the team, containing not a single expert in the science

in question, concluded that the many years of the work

of BENVENISTE and his colleagues had been a waste

of time. To a great fanfare, the conclusions were

published in the journal. Not long afterwards, RANDI

could be heard on television telling the world that since

it was impossible for absent molecules to have influence

on anything, the experiments must have been nonsense.

Thus, in the view of the team, the scientific method was

vindicatedř [my emphasis] (16).

There is no doubt that part of the blame for this

Řfiascoř lies very much at the door of BENVENISTE

himself. According to Peter FISHER, the Editor of the

British Homeopathic Journal, to some extent

BENVENISTE Řask[ed] for itř by insisting that Nature

should publish his work, and when refused, signing up

to this very unusual deal whereby they inspected his lab

just after the research had been published. He also

points out that two independent attempts by research

workers favourable to Homeopathy failed to replicate

his results. He further comments that in view of the fact

that no independent group has been able to reproduce

Benvenisteřs result, the position of the scientific

establishment was in fact true, even if the way in which

this conclusion was reached, and the polemic

surrounding it, were inappropriate to science. Referring

to the Benvenisteřs experiment in a recent research

article in the British Homeopathic Journal, the Editor

of the journal points out that even ŘSome of

Benvenisteřs key collaborators have tacitly conceded

that these results were irreproducible while insisting

that related experiments do give valid and reproducible

resultsř (17). On the other hand, he writes, Řthe results

of a study recently published in the journal

Inflammation Research may mark the beginning of a

resolution to the so-called ŘBenveniste affairř. It now

seems that Řthe Benveniste affair may yet have a happy

endingř(17).

But the primary allegation by the author of The

Memory of Water about the Řperverseř attitude

displayed by the medico-scientific community in

general remains unaffected by this revelation. Indeed, it

seems to be tacitly admitted by Peter FISHER when he

comments that the way in which the scientific

establishment reached the conclusion that

BENVENISTE was wrong, was inappropriate to

science. It has to be admitted, however, that this charge

does not apply to the whole of the Řmedico-scientific

communityř. This will become even more clear when I

discuss below the charge of ŘSecret Societyř leveled

against the Royal Society by none other than the Editor

of the Lancet in a recent issue of the TLS. First of all,

it is important to note that the description of the

MADDOX visit quoted earlier came from the review of

the book in the TLS, and not by SCHIFF himself.

This Řperverseř attitude of part of the establishment

is further corroborated by the comment by Lionel

MILGROM in The Independent of 19 March 1999.

The comment was included in his review, entitled ŘThe

memory of moleculesř, of the talk given by Jacques

BENVENISTE to a packed scientific audience at the

Cambridge University on 10 March 1999. Lionel

Milgromřs accusation was that it was the stubborn

refusal by the establishment to countenance new radical

thinking simply because it went against Řthe accepted

Řlock-and-keyř principle which states that molecules

must be in contact and structurally match, before

information can be exchangedř. Such thinking, he went

on, had Řdominated the biological sciences for more

than four decades, and is itself rooted in the views of the

century French philosopher Réné DESCARTESř

(18). Although the referees Řcould not find fault in

Benvenisteřs experimental procedures, they could not

understand his results. How, they asked, can a

biological system respond to an antigen when no

molecules of it can be detected in solution?ř (18).

For the purpose of my present paper, this indeed is

the crux of the matter. This is of course not to say that

the replications of the research claims by

BENVENISTE and his group are not important. It was

no doubt a major error of judgement on Benvenisteřs

part to raise such great hopes in the homeopathic

community only for them to be dashed by the

irreproducibility of his results, even by those research

workers favourably inclined towards Homeopathy.

However, the point I am trying to make is that when

faced with the mind of a research worker who is

unfavourably inclined towards Homeopathy in general,

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and therefore is already biased against finding a

response in a biological system to an antigen Řwhen no

molecules of it can be detected in the solutionř, there is

always the possibility of such a bias spilling over into

the experiments. G. IVES in his Blackie Memorial

Lecture, referring to Michel Schiffřs Řdelightful little

bookř, expresses similar misgivings. ŘIt is trueř, he says

Řthat there can be problems with such replication when

the researcher who attempts to do so is hostile to the

subject under studyř (13).

Genetically modified potatoes

A third example of authoritarianism in science,

this time not directly connected with Homeopathy, is

revealed in the Time Literary Supplement by none

other than the Editor of one of the most prestigious

scientific medical journals. He castigates that most

prestigious of scientific establishments the Royal

Society for using its tremendous authority to prevent the

debate on genetically modified food. Writing the TLS

of 17 December 1999, Richard HORTON, the Editor of

the Lancet, refers to the Royal Society as the ŘSecret

Societyř that had Řturned its conservatism into strength

by making it the cornerstone of a robust corporate

imageř. According to his research, at the moment there

are twenty-one industry-sponsored fellowships entered

into by the Royal Society with private industry. This

partnership with the private companies and trusts,

according to the Editor, Řsits oddly with the Royal

Society claim to Řits unique combination of scientific

authority and independence from vested interestŗ (19).

This forms the important background for the support

given to the genetically modified food industry by the

Royal Society. The excuse given by the Royal Society

for their rejection of the research claim by Arpad

Pusztai that genetically modified potatoes harmed

laboratory rats was ostensibly because Arpad Pusztai

had breached the Řfundamental scientific rule…. That

scientists must not report results of their research to the

public before those findings have been presented to their

peers either at a scientific meeting or in the pages of a

scholarly journalř. According to Richard HORTON,

this Řseems like a gagging clause and it isř. ŘAt another

level, the rule imposes a tight constraint on what is

deemed acceptable scienceř (19). As far as Arpad

PUSZTAI was concerned, he saw dangerous vested

economic forces at work and this needed to be exposed

quickly. ŘIt would have taken a minimum of a year to

publish itř, he wrote, and believed that the commercial

pressures might have prevented his work from ever

being published. But the Řultimate testř of Řscientific

credibilityř for the Royal Society was the peer review

and Pusztai had committed the cardinal sin of going

public on ITVřs World in Action without first

obtaining the approval of his peers. As the result of his

action, Arpad Pusztai lost his job, his research

programme was stopped and his data were confiscated.

Instead of supporting and welcoming the Lancet’s

initiative in promoting the debate on genetically

modified foods once the Pusztai and Ewen data were

published, Ŗthe Royal Society issued a press release

headed ŘRoyal Society rejects latest claims in Lancet on

GM potatoesŗ (19).

This, incidentally, brings to mind an issue of a

similar nature described by Paul FEYERABEND,

which it might not be inappropriate to recall at this state,

perhaps as a small digression, in order to re-emphasise

the authoritarian manner in which the scientific

establishment dealt with any view it considered

irrational. He is describing the ŘStatement of 186

Leading Scientistsř against astrology which appeared in

the September/October 1975 issue of The Humanist.

ŘNext come 186 signatures of astronomers, physicists,

mathematicians, philosophers and individuals with

unspecified professions, eighteen Nobel Prize winners

among them … When a representative of the BBC

wanted to interview some of the Nobel Prize winners

they declined with the remark that they never studied

astrology and had no idea of its details’ [my

emphasis] (9) p.91. Paul FEYERABEND then goes on

to compare this statement with Malleus Maleficarum,

Řthe outstanding textbook on witchcraftř, published in

1484 by the Roman Catholic Church. It dealt with the

subject of witchcraft in great detail being divided into

Řphenomena, aetiology, legal aspects, theological

aspects of witchcraft… Of course, in the end only one

of the offered explanations is accepted, but the

alternatives are discussed and so one can judge the

arguments that lead to their elimination… Even the

theology is pluralistic, heretical views are not passed

over in silence, nor are they ridiculed; they are

described, examined, and removed by arguments’

[my emphasis] p.92 (9). ŘBoth the Pope and Ř186

leading scientistsř deplore the increasing popularity of

what they think are disreputable views. But what a

difference in literacy and scholarship!ř p.92 (9).

Contrary to the claim made by these scientists that

astrology was dealt a deathblow when Copernicus

replaced the Ptolemaic system, even Kepler, one of the

foremost Copernicans, defended astrology against its

opponents and Řused new discoveries to improve

astrologyř. This is mentioned Řnot to defend astrology

as it is practiced now by the great majority of

astrologersř p.96 (9). Indeed, I would go one step

further and agree with KUHN, LAKATOS and

THAGARD that astrology is no longer a science

however it is practiced. According to THAGARD, it

has now become a pseudoscience not because it cannot

be falsified but because Řit has been less progressive

than alternative theories over a long period of timeř and

because Řthe community of practitioners makes little

attempt to develop the theory towards solution of the

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problems…ř (20). Of course, KUHN and LAKATOS

have different reasons for calling it a pseudoscience.

But none of their reasons have anything to do with the

absence of falsifiability.

Crude empiricism

The fourth and final response refers to the use of

crude empiricist argument by Anthony CAMPBELL

such as Řthe Vital Force cannot be seen or weighed; it

cannot be detected by the senses or with instruments. It

remains a theoretical construct and is no more

accessible to scientific investigation than is the soul or

the etherř (21). I have already dealt with this particular

pronouncement by Anthony CAMPBELL in my earlier

paper. It is important to note that I was referring to

crude empiricism as formulated by Anthony

CAMPBELL and not to empiricism itself, which is a

very much broader concept. Hahnemannřs ŘVital Forceř

is justified empirically as long as the existence of this

Vital force is the best explanation available of what

can be detected by the senses.

What is science?

So, what is science? In his Science in a Free

Society p. 73 (9), published a few years after his

Against Method, Paul FEYERABEND replied, Řthis

has not one answer but many. Every school in

philosophy of science gives a different account of what

science is and how it worksř. But in his Farewell to

Reason, published in 1987 p.24 (22), he defined what it

was widely supposed to be. It was Řan inquiry that aims

at objectivity, uses observation (experiment) and

compelling reasons to establish its results and is guided

by well defined and logically accepted rulesř. He then

goes on to demolish this supposed definition. ŘI shall

argue that neither values, nor facts, nor methods can

support the claim that science and science-based

technologies … overrule all other enterprises…ř p.24

(22). To his own question, ŘWhat is great about

science?ř he replied, ŘThe excellence of science is

assumed; it is not argued forř p.73 (9).

According to FEYERABEND, historical research

confirmed that there was not a single method in science

that was absolutely binding. ŘWe find then, that there is

not a single rule, however plausible and however firmly

grounded in epistemology, that is not violated at some

time or otherř p. 98 (9). This was not because of

insufficient knowledge or inattention. These violations

were absolutely essential for Řprogressř. Indeed, crucial

developments Řsuch as the invention of atomism in

antiquity, the Copernican revolution, the rise of modern

atomism (kinetic theory; dispersion theory;

stereochemistry; quantum theory), the gradual

emergence of the wave theory of light, occurred only

because some thinkers decided not to be bound by

certain obvious methodological rules, or because they

unwittingly broke themř [.99 (9) and p.23 (2). There

were circumstances when it was advisable not only to

ignore the rules but also to adopt their opposites.

Karl Popper and his major critics

This brings me to Karl POPPER and his criterion of

what constitutes science. This was briefly alluded to

earlier on when I discussed the double-blind method. In

view of the importance the medico-scientific

community still attaches to his formulation and also to

its relevance to my subject matter, I will try to show

below that his influence among the major philosophers

of science has been seriously exaggerated in non-

philosophical circles. Reviewing in TLS the

posthumous publication of Karl Popperřs two works,

David Papineau, the Professor of Philosophy of Science

at Kingřs College London, wrote that Karl Popperřs

analysis of science Řdoes not stand up to examination.ř

(23). He then quotes the Australian philosopher of

science, David Stove, saying in his book that ŘPopperřs

official doctrine is that we never have any reason to

believe that any scientific theory is true, but his non-

standard usage often serves to obscure this from the less

than fully attentive readerř (24). Professor Papineau

goes on to comment about Popper, ŘHowever, there is

room to doubt whether this standing will long outlast

him. Indeed, it is already becoming difficult to

understand exactly how Popper acquired his renownř

(23).

Let us therefore consider what exactly that was

which made him so renowned during his lifetime. It

was primarily his definition of what constituted science.

Karl POPPER summed up his conclusions on the

Řcriterion of the scientific status’ by claiming that it

was Řfalsifiability or refutability or testabilityř (25).

He clarified his falsifiability theory by referring to some

of the theories of ADLER and FREUD. It turned out,

according to him, Řthat the theories in question were

compatible with the most divergent human behavior, so

that it was practically impossible to describe any human

behavior that might not be claimed to be a verification

of these theoriesř (25). Therefore every Řgenuine test of

a theory is an attempt to falsify it, or refute itř (25). If a

theory cannot be falsified or refuted then it is not a

genuine scientific theory. One of Thomas KUHNřS

main criticisms of Karl POPPER was that his account of

Science does not fit the history of science. Giving the

example of Copernican revolution, KUHN suggested

that Řold theory [PTELOMYřs geocentric theory] was

replaced by the new theory [COPERNICUSřs

heliocentric theory] before the old theory was refuted.

For example, GALILEOřs telescopic observation of the

phases of Venus, the moons of Jupiter and the motion of

sunspots were made at least sixty years after the

publication of Copernicusřs Des Revolutionibus (1543)

… Arguably, PTOLEMYřs theory [in which the earth is

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 187

stationary at the centre of the universe] was decisively

refuted only when NEWTONřs theory of mechanics and

gravity was accepted. [Newtonřs Principia was

published in 1687]ř (7). According to KUHN, no

theory replaced before it ceased to support a puzzle-

solving tradition. ŘHardly anyone thought that

Ptolemyřs theory had been severely tested and found

irreparably wanting. Here again, Kuhn argues, Popperřs

account of science does not fit the history of science.

There is more to science and being scientific than

falsifiability and testingř (7). Besides serious

reservation expressed by these three philosophers, I will

briefly mention criticisms of Karl Popperřs falsifiability

theory by one further major philosopher of science.

Imre Lakatos, in his paper entitled ŘScience and

Pseudoscienceř, writes, ŘContrary to POPPER, the

difference [between science and pseudoscience] cannot

be that some are still unrefuted. When Newton

published his Principia it was common knowledge that

it could not properly explain even the motion of the

moon; in fact, lunar motion refuted Newtonř (26).

Homeopathy as a new paradigm

Going back to FEYERABEND, there are no set

methods or rules. This the lesson Homeopathy has to

learn. Homeopathy, I suggest, represents a new

paradigm that came about not by a process of accretion

to the gradually built-up core of medical scientific

knowledge, but by a revolutionary break from it. This

was what HAHNEMANN did, whether he consciously

realized it or not. The fundamental principle of

Homeopathy as proposed by HAHNEMANN was

ŘSimilia Similibus Curenturř. Although this principle

was not new, it was exactly the opposite to the views

held by the scientific establishment of his time and

indeed of our time as well. Secondly, the idea that

increasing dilution combined with succussion increased

the efficacy of a medicine instead of decreasing it

(Arndt-Schultz law) was also a revolutionary departure

from the views held then and which are even more

strongly held today. But the most revolutionary break

with the scientific medical establishment was the

assertion by Hahnemannřs Homeopathy that increasing

the dilution beyond the stage when not a single

molecule of medicine was left in the solution, raised the

efficacy of the medicine even further. This was of

decisive importance. Homeopaths, even those with

medical qualifications from regular medical schools

who went along with this claim, were looked upon with

derision and even accused of practicing medical

quackery by their orthodox medical colleagues. At the

time of HAHNEMANN however, science was still in its

transitional stage to becoming the dominant ideology. It

had not yet become ossified into a dogma. Also, the

state and science were still separate and there was at

least some room for genuine debate between two

opposite views. In its modern reactionary stage

however, those who do not agree with its dogma, are

branded Ŕ as in the case of homeopathic medical

practitioners Ŕ as charlatans or worse.

This break with the scientific medical establishment

since the time of HAHNEMANN then became

associated with major developments in the theory of

classical Homeopathy such as the theory of vitalism, a

theory very much akin to the theory of Qui of

Traditional Chinese Medicine and the theories of

potentisation and Miasm. Together, they formed a new

gestalt.

Copernican revolution

Kuhn in his The Structure of Scientific

Revolutions and FEYERABEND in his masterpiece

against Method together Řput the cat among the

philosophical pigeonsř (27). Describing how the

Copernican revolution came about, Paul

FEYERABEND asserted that it came about by pushing

aside, without making the least attempt to refute, all

the facts supported by Ptolemaic and Aristotelian theory

of knowledge that were the ruling theories of the time.

In his essay The Essayer Galileo went so far as to

admit to his critic that not even Copernicus himself

could refute the Aristotelian view. As FEYERABEND

remarked, Galileo Řneither points to new facts which

offer inductive support to the idea of the moving earth,

nor does he mention any observations that would refute

the geocentric point of view…ř p.102 (2). It was the

invention of telescope, according to Galileo, Řwith its

superior and better sense than natural and common

senseř p.103 (2), that enabled him to be so enthusiastic

about the Copernican system. But the fact that the new

telescope gave reasonably accurate images of

terrestrial objects only confirmed the Aristotelian

theory of knowledge (which was being challenged both

by Copernicus and Galileo). According to the

Aristotelian theory of knowledge, the reasonably

accurate images of terrestrial objects when viewed with

a telescope appeared so because our senses were already

acquainted with the close appearance of these terrestrial

objects and were therefore able to perceive them even

more distinctly with a telescope. But the moon or the

stars were not known from close by. ŘHence, we cannot

in their case use our memory for separating the

contributions of the telescope and those which came

from the object itselfř p.122 (2). This point was brought

forcefully home when Galileo tried to demonstrate the

superiority of the telescope to twenty-four professors of

all faculties. The Řover-excitedř pupil of Kepler named

Horky commented,ř…I tested the instrument of

Galileořs in a thousand ways, both on things here below

and on those above. Below it works wonderfully; in

the heavens it deceives one… I have as witnesses most

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 188

excellent men and noble doctors…abd all have admitted

the instrument to deceive …ř p.123 (2).

Conclusion

The reason for this long discussion about the

telescope is to emphasise that GALILEOřs faith in his

new invention of telescope to rescue him and the

Copernican system from the established Aristotelian

theory of knowledge proved to be Řmetaphysicalř. Yet

the Copernican system, which was Řirrationalř at the

time, triumphed. To put it in another way, it was

because the Řmetaphysicalř views of COPERNICUS

were allowed to have their own way that Copernicanism

and other Řrationalř views exist today. Let me therefore

conclude with FEYERABEND that there is not a single

scientific method or a piece or research which

guarantees that it is scientific and therefore trustworthy

p.98 (9). Those who are involved in homeopathic and

similar research should ponder on the liberating

implication of Feyerabendřs revolutionary departure

from the stifling and petrified prescription of the cruder

form of positivism among non-philosophers. It is time

they rebelled against the methodological and ideological

straitjacket imposed on homeopathic and on all non-

orthodox researches by the medico-scientific

establishment. I have shown earlier when reviewing

The Memory of Water Řcontroversyř that even while

accepting the research parameters imposed by the

establishment, Benvenisteřs research still could not

break through the wall of scientific prejudice and

censorship. Plank, whose unorthodox ideas were the

starting point of quantum physics, believed that

opponents of new ideas would never convert and accept

new ideas. They only became accepted, if at all, when

the opponents of new ideas gradually died out. The

author of The Memory of Water, on the other hand,

wants to challenge this pessimistic view. He concludes

his book by writing,ř..[1] would like to stress that the

most important part of my testimony bears not on the

memory of water per se but on the refusal of scientists

to examine evidence that could shatter their current

beliefs. In other words, I did not write this book to

praise the memory of water but to bury scientific

dogmatismř p.120 (14). The only way out, I suggest, is

to follow Galileořs example. ŘThat is why he was

Feyerabendřs hero. Some imagination of Galilean

proportion might come in handy todayř (27).

In the chapter entitled ŘScience, Authoritarianism

and Cultureř, Ashish NANDY writes that we can take

courage to note that the main civilizational problem is

not with the so-called irrational traditions Řbut with the

way of thinking associated with the modern concept of

rationality …ř p.106 (5). Under modern science the

means used to define goals have ultimately become

goals. ŘUltimately, intelligence and knowledge are poor

Ŕ in fact dangerous Ŕ substitutes for intellect and

wisdomř p.125 (4).

References

1. Br. Hom. J., January 1999; 88: 37 Ŕ 40

2. Feyerabend P. Against Method, GB: Verso

Edition 1978.

3. Cassam A. ŘWas Kent a Hahnemannian?ř Br.

Hom. J., April 1999; 88: 78-83.

4. Nandy A. Traditions, Tyranny and Utopias,

Delhi: Oxford University Press 1987.

5. Nicholls AN. Homeopathy and Medical

Profession, USA: Croom Hel Lted 1988.

6. Rotman B. ŘItřs a manřs universeř, TLS, 16

February 1996: 30.

7. Curd M. & Clover JA Philosophy of Science, New

York/London: WW Norton & Co 1998 33-39 and

83-85.

8. Kuhn TS. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions,

Chicago & London: The University of Chicago

Press 1962 and 1978.

9. FEYERABEND P. Science in a Free Society, GB:

Verso 1982.

10. CAPRA F. The Turning Point, London: Flamingo

1983.

11. Br. Hom. J. January 2000 89: 4-7.

12. EVANS M. ŘScientific research and

anthroposophical medicineř July 1999: 6-8.

13. G. IVES ŘHomeopathy versus orthodoxy Ŕ the

current state of playř, Br. Hom. J. January 2000 89:

17-25.

14. SCHIFF M. The Memory of Water: Homeopathy

and the Battle of ideas in the New Science,

London: Thorsons, 1995.

15. CAMPBELL A. ŘThe memory of water:

Homeopathy and the battle of ideas in the new

scienceř, Br. Hom. J. 85: 180-181.

16. COLLINS H. ŖWrit in waterř, TLS, 8 November

1996: 31

17. FISHER P. ŘThe end of Benveniste affair?ř, Br.

Hom. J., 88: 186-187.

18. MILGROM L. ŘThe memory of moleculesř, The

Independent, 19 March 1999.

19. HORTON R. ŘSecret societyř, TLS, 17 December

1999: 8-9.

20. THAGARD, PR Proceedings of the Philosophy of

Science Association Vol. 1, 1978: 223-234.

21. CAMBELL A. ŘTwo faces of Homeopathyř, Br.

Hom. J. 1985 74: 1-10.

22. FEYERABEND P. Farewell to Reason, UK:

Verso/NLB 1987.

23. PAPINEAU D. ŘOpen society, closed thinkersř,

TLS, 23 June 1995: 4-5.

24. STOVE D. ŘPopper and afterř, TLS, 1 July 1983.

25. POPPER K. Science: Conjectures and Refutations,

London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1963: 33 - 39.

26. LAKATOS I. Philosophic Papers Vol.1.

Cambridge University Press, 1977: 1 Ŕ 7

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 189

27. PICKERING A. ŘScience Warriors and enemies of

reasonř, TLS, 1 August 1997: 8-9.

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14. Adrenaline chloride and a Miraculous Escape from

the Jaws of Death

SINGE SR., Translated by CHULKI, RS.

(The Homeopath, 77/2000)

It was Monday 20 December 1999, and the time

was exactly 1.30pm. I was in my dispensary and all of a

sudden I heard someone crying. ŘDoctor, please come

urgentlyř. The person who called me for an emergency

medical treatment was horror-stricken, and panic was

writ large on his pale face. There was a deep sorrow in

his trembling voice.

As his house was nearby, I hurriedly stepped

towards it, thinking that here was a case of urgent

clinical aid. The door of his house was ajar, and when I

peeped in, to my great shock and surprise I saw his

young wife, who was pregnant, in a pool of blood. The

floor was smeared with oozing blood and the stinking

smell of it made me shudder for a few seconds. I was

nonplussed. It took me a few minutes to know what had

actually happened. Two to three litres of blood were

streaming forth and all persons were eagerly awaiting

for my arrival and treatment also.

As a doctor, I know well that no doctor is a god, but

he can do whatever is humanly or medically possible.

During such an emergency I was ready to help save the

life of the bleeding patient. Meanwhile I requested one

to prepare a bed ready for her. By that time, the

husband had gone out in search of a lady doctor.

At that risky moment it struck me to administer

such a medicine that would stop the bleeding first. I

dashed to my house and brought Geranium maculatum

LM 1, and poured ten drops of it into the mouth of the

patient. In my habitual way I told others that she would

be alright within a few minutes. There was no

Gynaecologist, no lady doctor, and no trained midwife

to rescue the patient from the impending fatal condition.

Soon the neighbouring women who were aghast had

gathered to help her at the moment of untimely delivery.

Some women removed the clotted blood that had

spread, and others were trying to solace her. But I was

impatiently waiting outside the house with some men to

know the patientřs condition.

I was all the while pondering over as to why this

bleeding took place. In Homeopathy, treatment

depends on knowing the cause first. At that time an

experienced Muslim midwife came and told me, ŘSee,

Sir, she was trying to lift a big water-filled pot. At that

time, naturally a great pressure was exerted on her belly

and uterusř.

At this juncture, a loud cry was heard from within.

Somebody shouted, ŘPlease Doctor, come Doctorř. It

was the voice of some woman who was near the patient.

Anticipating this emergency condition I was ready with

Adrenaline chloride 6x, a homeopathic medicine of St.

George Pharmacy, Mangalore.

Immediately I went inside. The patientřs face had

become bluish. The spit in her mouth had become

sticky. The eyes had rolled up, her face was deathly

pale. The body was cold, the pulse thread. I thought

that it was the last moment of her life. Even then I

struggled to put the Adrenaline powder into her mouth.

Others helped me to separate her tightly closed jaws. I

placed one grain of powder under her tongue.

Luckily the effective medicine worked wonders

quickly. She began to breathe slowly. Her eyes became

normal with usual luster and the dry mouth became wet

within a few minutes. Things went on well, surprising

all who were watching the magic-show of life and

death. Blood circulation became normal and the rays of

hope shone on her pale face. Certainly, she was out of

danger now. Some heaved a sigh of relief and others

smiled in their pleasant surprise.

ŘWhen the blood in the capillaries becomes

stagnant and the body becomes bluish, Adrenaline

chloride stimulates the blood vessels and sets right the

blood circulation. It mixes with the blood at once and

functions miraculously. Whenever there is bleeding in

the nose, throat, liver, placenta etc, and when the blood

begins to clot or when there is danger on account of

improper and irregular blood circulation in the body,

Adrenaline works very efficiently and proves to be very

usefulř

When the patient comes out from danger, when

there is uterine bleeding still, give Sepia 200c. This is

what Dr. JN SINGHAL suggests.

Knowing this

treatment I put a drop of it into her mouth. By this time

a vehicle was brought to take the patient to the hospital

in Bijapur. There the patient was admitted for delivery

under a Gynaecologist. The ultrasound test showed the

lifeless condition of the baby. The amniotic fluid which

protects the baby had leaked out from the amniotic sac.

Nothing could save the baby when the montherřs life

itself was in great danger.

When the motherřs blood was examined it was

found that Hbs were less than 4.6%. as the patient

needed blood urgently it was brought from the blood

bank. Because of the timely blood supply, safe delivery

took place within one hour. To increase the percentage

of Hbs, another packet of blood was given the very next

day. The patient was taken home on Wednesday 23

, in

the morning, when she was completely alright and

normal.

Thank God, now she is in good health. I am very,

very grateful to Adrenaline chloride that had saved the

patient from the terrible grip of death.

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 190

Homeopathic Materia Medica, p.14, W.

BOERICKE

Quick Bedside Prescriber, Pregnancy bleeding,

p.381, JN. SINGHAL.

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15. Cantharis 200c may induce expression of small

heat shock-like proteins in Adhatoda vasica leaves

SUKUL, C. Nirmal; MONDAL Sandhimita &

SUKUL Soma (Nee Chunari)

(S & C., 76 (11-12)/2010)

Abstract-: Cantharis 200c, a homeopathic drug used

for the treatment of burns, was diluted 1:500 with

distilled water and applied on the leaf of Adhatoda

vasica. The treatment induced expression of small heat

shock like proteins in the plant. Heat shock to a leaf

through hot water at 58° C in another plant induced

similar proteins in the plant. Pre-treatment with

Cantharis 200c followed by hot water (58° C) treatment

of another plant showed no heat shock proteins in that

plant. It is thought that homeopathic potencies may act

on an organism through the expression of new proteins.

Homeopathic potencies above 12c are too dilute to

contain any drug molecules. However, potentized

homeopathic drugs have been known to act on man,

animals and plants. But the way the potentized drugs

act on the living system is not known. There are

suggestions that the potencies may act through the

expression of genes

. Heat shock and its homeopathic

remedy Cantharis can be used to study the expression of

heat shock proteins (hsps) in an organism

. In an

earlier study Sukul et al reported that potentized Cina,

while reducing root-knot nematode infestation of cow

pea, altered the protein profile of the leaves of the plant

with the expression of a new protein. In the present

study we want to see whether Cantharis 200c could

induce hsps in a medicinal plant Adhatoda vasica Nees.

(family Acanthaceae) known as 'Basaka'. Leaves of this

plant have therapeutic effect on bronchitis. They have

also insecticidal properties. Leaves contain an alkaloid

vasicine and an essential oil

.This plant has been selected

because their leaves are not easily susceptible to insect

attack or infection with pathogens which may induce

hsps. Cantharis is a homeopathic drug used for the

treatment of burns. It is prepared from an extract of the

beetle, Lytta vesicatoria (family Meloidae).Heat-shock

proteins are found in all organisms, have different

molecular weights and expressed due to heat-shock and

other environmental stresses

.Heat shock, while inducing

synthesis of heat shock proteins, decreases the synthesis

of normal cellular proteins

7-8

Materials and Methods : Treatment of plants : In

large fenced experimental garden of the Botany

department a small colony of A.vasica plants has been

maintained. We selected six tufts of plants, each

containing four-five shoots with an average height of

one meter. No manure or irrigation was applied to the

colony. The six selected clusters were about one meter

apart from each other and used in the following way:

cluster I untreated and unstressed, cluster II untreated

and stressed by heat shock, cluster III pretreated with

90% ethanol two days before harvesting of the leaves,

clusters IV pretreated with Cantharis 200c two days

before harvesting, cluster V pretreated with Cantharis

200C one hour before harvesting and cluster VI

pretreated with Cantharis 200C two days before stress

by heat hock and harvesting of leaves. The liquid drug

or its medium 90% ethanol was mixed with sterile

distilled water in the proportion of 1:500 v/v and applied

by absorbent cotton on an area of one cm diameter on

both sides of a mature leaf in its middle part by gentle

touch for 10 sec

. The absorbent cotton bud was just

saturated with the drug solution. Two days later on

mature leaf each from clusters II and VI was dipped

entirely into hot water at 58° C in a glass beaker for 5

min. In case of cluster VI heat treatment was given to a

leaf different from the Cantharis treated one but of the

same shoot.

Protein extraction and separation : One hour after

heat treatment mature leaves of all the six clusters were

harvested. Heat or drug treated leaves were left

untouched but others of the same shoot were harvested.

Leaves wet washed in distilled water, dried in shade for

15 min, the middle ribs removed, cut into pieces and

homogenized in a mixer with Tris buffer at pH 7.5

containing 2- marcaptoethanol, EDTA (ethylene diamine

tetraacetic acid), PVPP (polyvinyl polypyrrolidone).The

mixture was centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 10 min at 4 °

. Supernatant of each sample from each cluster rich

in leaf proteins was kept at -30 ° C. Each sample was

further diluted with Tris buffer 1:1, and 1ml of this

diluted sample was injected into the column Superdex

75071. Protein separation was done by Fast Protein

Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) using the mobile phase

of Tris buffer with a flow rate lml/min at 25

C and UV

detector fixed at an wave length of 280 nm. The

instrument used was of GE Health Care, AKtapurifier

model 10. Leaf extract supernatant and buffer were

filtered through Millipore filter (45 nm) to remove any

suspended particles before chromatography. A sample

of 6 marker proteins (peq GOLD prestained protein

Marker III) was separated by FPLC. The

chromatograms were monitored and printed. The

experiment was repeated twice with similar results. The

results of the second experiment are reported here. In

order to ensure reproducibility of results the

experimental part concerning heat stress and Cantharis

treatment was repeated thrice in two different places and

two different seasons (32 ±2, 30±2 ° C).

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 191

Results : Heat stressed and untreated plants (cluster II,

Figure lb) show a group of new proteins within the

range of-retention time of 20 to 21.9 min as compared

to the unstressed and untreated control (cluster I, Figure

1a). Unstressed but Cantharis treated plants (cluster IV

&V) show similar groups of proteins of almost the same

peak height and retention period (Figures 2b, 3 a) as in

heat stressed but untreated plants (cluster II, Figure lb).

Treatment with 90% ethanol does not show this new

protein peak (Figure 2a). However, stressed but

Cantharis treated group (cluster VI, Figure 3b) shows

similarity with unstressed and untreated group (cluster I,

Fig 1a) in the absence of the new proteins found in the

stressed but untreated group (cluster II, Figure lb).

Moreover, the protein peak at retention time around 40-

42 is reduced in most of the stressed and Cantharis

treated groups as compared to the same in unstressed

and untreated group or ethanol treated group. Marker

proteins in the FPLC show a peak at a retention time of

19.61 min for carbonic anhydrase. Its molecular weight

is 34kDa. Heat or Cantharis induced protein is less than

this weight. Heat-stressed leaves showed marked

shriveling and dried up in one day.

Discussion : This Work has demonstrated

homeopathic potency such as Cantharis 200c, has a

specific effect

the expression of heat shock-like proteins in just

one hour. However, pretreatment with Cantharis

200c has led to

the total repression of the same proteins in heat stressed

plants. This study has further confirmed our earlier

observation where treatment with Cina 30c resulted in

the expression of a new protein in

cow pea leaves

. In both

cases leaves, other than treated

ones, showed this effect. It is

thought that the potentized drug first comes in contact

with the integral membrane proteins of the plasma

membrane and alters the conformation of the proteins in

the small application site. The effect is propagated

globally affecting the global molecular network(GMN)

of proteins in the whole plants

. Homeopathic potencies

can alter conformation visa-vis function of proteins

10U

Cell membranes organize cellular processes including

protein synthesis and energy transduction in

mitochondria and chloroplasts

. This work shows that a

homeopathic remedy for a disease can produce the

symptoms of the same disease in a healthy organism at

the molecular level with specificity.

Heat shock proteins observed in the present study

appear to be less than 30 kDa and obviously belong to

small Hsps found in higher plants

. Small Hsps

constitute the most abundant and diverse group of

proteins synthesized in response to heat stress. They

bind to regions of unfolded polypeptides preventing

inappropriate aggregation

612

. The synthesis of small

Hsps is maximum at temperatures that are just below

lethal

. In the present study a leaf was dipped in very

hot (58 °C) water. Plants pretreated with Cantharis and

then heat-stressed did not show heat-shock proteins

(Figure 3b) because these proteins were bound to other

proteins following heat shock

. Transcription is

mediated and regulated by protein-QNA interactions.

RNA polymerases bind to DNA and start transcription at

sites called promoters. Expression of genes is modulated

by regulatory proteins which influence the interaction

between RNA polymerase and the promoter. Repressors

bind to specific sites on the DNA, and this binding is

regulated by a molecular signal '

. The present study

shows that Cantharis 200c does the same thing as heat -

stress in inducing the expression of heat shock proteins

in the plant observed. The two stimuli are different but

the response is the same.

Acknowledgements

We thank the Asiatic Society, Kolkata for providing

financial support to the work described here. We also

thank the Director, Bose Institute, Kolkata for providing

instrumentation facilities. A special word of thanks to

Mr. Samir Mukherjee of Bose Institute for the help in

the operation of the instrument.

Department of Botany Visva-Bharati University Santiniketan-731235, West

Bengal, India

E-mail : ncsukul@rediffmail.com

nirmal@sukulhomeopathy.com

Received : 16 April, 2010 Revised : 2 August, 2010

N.C. Sukul and A. Sukul, High dilution effects: physical and

biochemical basis. Khiwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, l-

38 (2004).

A. R .Khuda-Buksh, Mol. cell. Biochem. 253 : 339-345 (1997)

N. C .Sukul and A .Sukul, Environ. Ecol. 27 : 71-77 (2009).

N .C Sukul, R. K. Singh, S. Sukul(Chunari) and A Sukul, Sci

and cult 75 : 291-293 (2009).

U. Singh, A.M Wadhwani and B.M Jhori, Dictionary of

economic plants in India. Indian Council of Agriculture

Research, New Delhi: 7 (1983).

Jagadis Bose, Reprinted in Sci and Cult 75 : 169-175 (2009).

I. Neta-Sharir., T.Isaacron, S. Luries and D Weiss, Plant cell

17 : 1829-1838 (2005).

E. Vierling, Annu. Rev. Plant. Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 42 :

579-620 (1991).

D. A .Parsell and S Lindquist, Annu. Rev. Genet. 11 : 437-496

(1993).

J. M.Walker, Protein structure, purification, characterization

and function analysis, in: K. Wilson and 1. Walker, (eds),

Principles and techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology.

edn. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 349-404 (2006).

N.C .Sukul, A. De, A. Sukul and S. P. Sinhababu, in vitro.

Homeopathy 91 : 217-220 (2002).

N.C. Sukul, S .Datta and S.P. Sinhababu. Sci &Cult 73 : 173-

175 (2007).

D.L. Nelson and M.M. Cox. Lehninzer Principles of

Biochemistry, 3

edn. Macmillan Worth Publishers, USA 197,

389, 1074-1076 (2000).

E. R. Waters. Genetics 141 : 785-795 (1995).

N. A. Ledesma, S. Kawabata and N. Sugiyama, Biologia

Plantarum 48 : 73-79 (2004).

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Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 192

16. Barberry and the Treatment of Sexual Trauma

LANGE Andrew (AJHM. 101, 4/2008)

(A chapter excerpted from his book entitled

Getting at the Root: Treating the Deepest Source

of Disease)

ŖWe must describe the other half of man in order

that the physician may understand him as a whole.

Although this aspect is invisible, it may be seen in

the light of nature. It is the same when we hear a

bell on a dark night. We cannot see it, and yet we

see the work of the bell; that is, we hear it, for

every work has a light in which it can be seen. Do

not be downcast that all things are not clear as day,

but consider how secretive God is. And when we

learn something, we discover that we erroneously

call the invisible things invisible, for all works

teach us that they have a cause. We see the work

visibly before our eyes, and once we have

investigated its author, that is also visible to us.ŗ

PARACELSUS

In each person is a secret, sometimes long

forgotten, that they hide even from themselves.

Likewise, in every medicine are healing properties

which correspond to our ills yet are often disregarded.

To call attention to what is unseen and reveal its nature

is the basis of the Law of Similars. It is a matter of

respecting the subtle properties of life, the wisdom of

the infinitesimal, those processes that are beyond the

scope of our senses. There is no way to fully know the

patient or the medicines; we are led by clues and

associations. We make inferences and determine from

past experience our conclusions and best judgment.

When we study a person or their corresponding

medicine, it as if we are looking at a jewel through

different facets, trying to see its inner workings from the

outside. Most of the facets are invisible to us or are

clouded over. Because we try to find one facet that is

visible to our perception, that fits our limited

knowledge, each of us inevitably has a different

interpretation of the situation. Itřs difficult to come

from the inside, to understand the healing function. The

light of nature is a natural phenomenon. It is

everywhere.

It is much as we might try to understand a close

friend. There are so many people walking down the

street, yet we recognize our friend by their walk or that

funny hat they wear that we never really liked, or by any

of those things that make up an individual.

It is the same with our petty judgments and gossip.

Our opinions are based on one-sided interpretations.

We see only the results of othersř behavior and hear

only innuendoes of misperceived actions. If we are to

have compassion for others, we must look at the

underlying history of othersř actions. Perhaps the

reason for that individual being such a creep is that

some of the most important people in their lives treated

them the same way. May be they were beaten down,

made to feel like no one could ever love them or that

they were to blame for something horrible that

happened to them. It becomes a self-fulfilling

prophecy. Those who have been abused look for some

way to escape from the blame they inflict upon

themselves. They wonder, if they had done something

differently, would it have happened?

The Unstated Origins of Disease

We need to see behind the mask. It demands being

aware of how to communicate in a way that doesnřt

threaten others. Behind our defenses is the repressed

desire for love and appreciation. Our anger is often

misdirected towards the innocent, hiding the fears and

hurts. Our sadness is unexpressed, tears well up at a sad

movie when the soundtrack triggers our emotions, but

we are often incapable of responding honestly in human

encounters.

This sociopathology we see around us arises from

the chain of inhumanity that repeats itself from the

imprints of past generations. When Sigmund FREUD

introduced his trauma theory, it was so unacceptable to

the medical society of his time that he was forced to

couch it in symbolic rather than direct terms as the

Oedipal complex. If we were only aware of the extent

of abuse and trauma, we would be in constant pain at

the shocking pervasiveness of evil that exists in our

society. In recent years more and more information has

been accumulating about the depth and breadth of this

problem. Sexual abuse is being reported and studied

with increasing frequency. Recent studies suggest that

as many as one in three women and one in five men

have been sexually abused. This sickness in our society

is not being adequatetly addressed, either by the legal

system itself or by our communities.

Many sexual abuse situations are cases of incest.

What is the definition of incest? Incest can be defined

as any sexual abuse of a child by a relative or other

person in a position of trust and authority over the child.

It is the violation of the child where he or sheŗlives,ŗ

literally or metaphorically. A child molested by a

stranger can run home for help and comfort. A victim

of incest cannot.

Incest and other abuse victims also suffer from

post-traumatic stress disorder. This is the same disorder

that has been identified in war veterans and victims of

torture. The symptoms include, but are not limited to,

amnesia, nightmares and flashbacks. People who have

post-traumatic stress disorder may Ŗleave their bodiesŗ

during the abuse, and they may dissociate for decades,

long after the abuse ends. Most sexual abuse victims

have sexual problems as adults and many have eating

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 193

disorders. There is a distinct inability to nourish or be

nourished.

Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that most of the

people who have suffered abuse have been threatened in

their lives and told to not say anything. So the suffering

lies hidden in secrets.

Secrets of Barberry: The Holy Thorn

Berberis vulgaris, or barberry, is a bushy shrub that

grows to a height of three to eight feet. The stem

woods, pith, bark, and flowers are yellow. Berberis is

the Arabic name of the fruit, signifying a shell because

the leaves are glossy like the inside of an oyster shell.

The Italians call it the Ŗholy thornŗ because it is thought

to have formed part of the crown of thorns made for

Christ. Cows, sheep and goats eat the shrub; horses and

swine refuse it, and birds seldom touch the fruit because

of its acidity.

Gerard, in The Herbal or General History of

Plants, speaks of Berberis as being useful against hot

burnings and choleric fevers, allaying the heat of the

blood and liver. He mentions the fruits and berries as an

antidote for hot flashes, the Ŗbloody fluxŗ or dysentery,

and any superfluous bleeding.

Dr. HESSE, one of the early German homeopaths,

proved Berberis vulgaris, and published his findings in

the Journal for Materia Medica in 1834. The first

translations appeared in Jahrřs Manual, which was

published in English in 1834. James Tyler KENT, MD,

one of the most influential homeopathic physicians,

who developed psychological descriptions for clinical

applications of medicines at the turn of the century,

states that few of the mental states of Berberis are

known. For the most part, the use of Berberis has been

limited to acute prescribing for kidney infections and

gallstone colic.

It was through clinical experience that I was able to

discover the range of action of this wonderful medicine.

A forty-seven year-old woman came to my office

complaining of sinus problems that had begun after she

found out her brother had an incurable disease. He

subsequently died of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

at age 37. At first she only spoke of her presenting

symptoms, but soon, as I let her know that her history

was important to me, she described her experiences of

multiple personality, which sheřd had since childhood.

Her disorder was misdiagnosed until later life. At 30,

she was diagnosed as manic-depressive, and put on

lithium. Her other brother also had a diagnosis of

multiple personality disorder and was alcoholic. She

was a recovering marijuana Ŗaddict.ŗ She had quit

coffee, which she felt suppressed her feelings. Finally,

she revealed a critical piece of her story, she had been

beaten at 16 months and she suspected that her father

sexually molested her. During her teens he was

sexually aggressive towards her.

She had been fearful since her brotherřs death a

year earlier, and had been unable to do her work. She

felt a combination of anxiety and insecurity. She felt

scared in grocery stores. She said she was pessimistic

and cranky. She didnřt get angry easily, because she

was afraid sheřd get really angry if she did. ŖPoor me,ŗ

she said to herself. She always kept secrets from

people. In fact, during our conversation, she stopped

and asked if it was alright to talk about this, because the

psychiatrist who had originally diagnosed her had told

her it was better not to mention it to anyone, because

they wouldnřt understand. She told me it was the first

time she had shared her story since then.

She had four separate personalities. Susan was

younger and maintained the knowledge of early

traumas. Danny appeared only when things were going

well. Sharon was the original personality and didnřt

know of the others. Terra was the first split from Diana.

A month earlier, she suddenly felt extremely cold.

She had a sinus infection that had been chronic for two

years. It was diagnosed as a staphylococcal infection.

She had a creamy yellow nasal discharge, but no head

pain. A bronchial cough remained since she quit

smoking. She had chronic kidney and bladder

infections, with an urging to urinate and heavy burning

before urination. Yet her urine tests were negative.

For me chronic recurrent urinary symptoms are a

red flag. Often symptoms can be a natural defense in

areas where we feel we have been violated. There were

pains in her abdomen (presumably from the bladder)

and in her back behind the kidneys. Her menses were

normal. She had low blood pressure and body

temperature. She craved sweets, oranges, and bananas,

as a child she ate ice. She was plagued by chronic

constipation.

Her food cravings told me more about her

metabolism. She slept on her stomach, never on her

back, showing how she protected herself at night.

Perhaps no one else really listened to her before. I

asked questions only to allow her to clarify and release

as much as possible, to let her know that what she had

to tell was important, that I cared about her and what

she said.

She was the single parent of a seven year-old

daughter. She said her Ŗhysteric bodyŗ reacted to

emotions, yet she didnřt remember having sex. Her

sexual experiences remained coalesced in the memory

of a separate personality.

I chose Berberis vulgaris as an initial prescription

in this case, because it is one of the main remedies for

chronic kidney and bladder infections and the associated

pains. It is also listed as a minor remedy under sinus

infections. Interestingly, Dr. Marjorie Blackie, Queen

Elizabethřs former family physician, mentions it as

being useful in Ŗcontradictory, changeable personality.ŗ

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The case had many elements of what Hahnemann

descriped as the sycotic Miasm. The miasms are a

theory of chronic disease in homoeopathy in which the

chronic effects of a suppressed or incompletely treated

disease are realed to subsequent syndrome. For example

the sequelae of gonorrhea might include the common

symptoms of Reiterřs syndrome-urinary inflammation

(urethritis), eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) and

Arthritis.

Some of the patterns associated with the sequelae

of Gonorrhea can also include Sinus infection,

Allergies, and a Psychological state of secretiveness. I

certainly considered giving her Medorrhinum, which is

a specific remedy for the sycotic or gonorrheal Miasm.

She did have the classic cravings for oranges and a

history of eating ice, which corresponded to the

symptomology of Medorrhinum. She even slept on her

abdomen, which is also a characteristic symptom to

indicate Medorrhinum. But I may have led the

interview too much, asking for symptoms confirming a

well-known medicine. I felt if she required

Medorrhinum, she would express more excessive

sexuality, rather than inhibition.

I also thought of Thuja occidentalis, the Arbor vitae

tree, for this case. Thuja has many of the characteristics

of Medorrhinum. Its profile incorporates the

psychological state secretiveness and it is one of the

main medicines in the treatment of the abused. The

secretiveness of Thuja originates more from a feeling of

insecurity and worthlessness. The patients feel the need

to fit in and hide their pasts. In Thuja patients you get

the feeling that there isnřt much to this person; they

seem too ordinary, complacent and depressed.

Medorrhinum is the opposite. The secretiveness is more

an expression of a truer darkness, of people whose

behavior challenges morality and who relish their ability

to shock and offend othersř conservatism.

However I was not satisfied with Thuja or any other

commonly prescribed medicine. I had come to the

conclusion that Berberis is very close to Thuja in its

symptomology.

I finally gave Berberis because of its exact

correspondence to this patientřs physical symptomology

and some insights I have attained into its psychological

states that I will discuss later. After all, in

Homeopathy, it doesnřt quite work to look up multiple

personalities and come up with some simple solution. It

takes some digging to understand why and what put this

person in that state.

The two week follow-up took me by surprise. The

physical aspects of her case had largely resolved, in

particular the bladder and kidney pain, as well as the

sinusitis. However the most remarkable aspect of her

response was a noticeable integration of several of the

personalities and a subsequent re-emergence of the

personality that represented her original split, Terra.

Terra was the aspect of herself that she described as

whole, the predecessor of her lost self.

Six weeks after her initial visit the integration of

her personality continued to progress. By this visit she

had only conscious dialogues with Terra, rather than

missing periods of time in which she was unconsciously

dominated. She continued to do well, without any

repetition of the remedy. I then referred her to a

psychologist who specialized in the field of multiple

personalities.

In another case, a 38 year-old woman visited me

complaining of internal hemorrhoids with excessive

bleeding. She had pain in the rectum, which was worse

when sitting. Four months earlier she passed a cup of

blood with her stool for a couple of days. This recurred

at thanksgiving, which she associated with eating meat.

Twelve years ago she had kidney and bladder

infections and was coughing up blood, though I never

found out why.

She was a lovely woman, and her voice was so

quiet, I almost had to strain to understand her. She said

she suffered from depression. Her family was abusive

when she was growing up. Her mother had been

hospitalized for a nervous breakdown. She stated she

was raised as an only child after age five when her

brother joined the navy. She had Asthma between ages

five and twelve. She gained weight until age twelve.

Her father was alcoholic and violent. He left when she

was twelve.

She was raped repeatedly between the ages of seven

and ten by a family Ŗfriend.ŗ

She was withdrawn, and had been a recluse for the

past year. She tended to hold in her anger and she felt

bitter. She felt heat rising to her head, at which time she

felt as if she were going to have a stroke. She cried a

lot, although she did not cry during her labor. She felt

apathetic.

Ten days earlier she began coughing up blood after

being exposed to the cold. She felt cold in general. She

felt heat in her left breast and liver. Her menses were

irregular.

She had been sexually active since 18. She was

unable to have an orgasm until she left her first

husband, and then had six affairs after her marriage

ended. At that time she had ravenous appetite for sex

and was attracted to abusive men. In the past several

years she had no sexual desire. She feared that her

daughter would die and she would be left alone. Her

hands trembled visibly. She had anxiety attacks and

heart palpitations. I gave her Mercurius corrosivus.

Mercurius, indicated for her bleeding hemorrhoids,

is also known in Homeopathy as a medicine for

extremely closed individuals, who hold the mysteries of

their lives inside.

Twelve days later she returned. She was sleeping

through the night, and her palpitations had ended. The

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coughing had stopped. Her bowel movements were

normal. The stool was normal without any pain. The

heat in her liver was not as intense and the heat in her

breast was almost gone. Her rectum still hurt when she

sat, but not as badly. The night sweats were gone. She

felt her mental state was unchanged. I felt this was a

good response; so I allowed the medicine to continue its

action.

Three days later she returned with pain below her

sternum, which was reduced by lying on her back. Her

eyes had begun oozing yellow mucous two days earlier,

and were bloodshot. There was no longer blood in her

stool. She got occasional nausea, but wasnřt

regurgitating. She was chilly and her skin was

jaundiced.

I had to differentiate the cause of the jaundice. In

this case because of localized pain upon palpation of the

gallbladder, I determined that the colic pain and

jaundice occurred from a bile duct obstruction.

The question for me here was, what was the effect

of the Mercurius? There were no changes in the mental

state; so the prescription may have had an acute effect

without affecting the chronic state. Or perhaps it was

acting superficially, suppressing the underlying chronic

condition temporarily and leading to a crisis. Or was

this some sort of healing crisis? Was the liver

obstruction an attempt by the body to eliminate toxins,

which were overwhelming its capacity?

These are kinds of the questions we must ask

ourselves at every follow-up, even when a crisis isnřt

occurring. What is the effect of the prescription, not

only regarding the chief complaint, but also on the

whole life of the person? How does the effect of the

medicine upon its intended target of symptoms relate to

its effect on the myriad of unexpressed symptoms?

In this situation I prescribed Berberis in the

botanical tincture. This may seem confusing to some.

Homeopaths tend to pride themselves on the use of

potentized substances rather than crude extractions. For

me, Homeopathy isnřt just about the potentization of

medicines, it is about understanding how to prescribe.

Any substance, whether pharmaceutical, botanical or

from any source can be applied by the law of contraries

to control physiology, or by the Law of Similars to

catalyze healing.

The question of dosage concerns both the subtle

properties of matter and also the toxicological side-

effects of improper use of crude substances. All matter

has its subtle effects. A homeopathic dose or a

botanical tincture can carry its effects. But the purpose

of homeopathic and alchemical preparations of

substances has been to remove the dross of a

substanceřs gross action and accentuate its more subtle

and powerful systematic action.

So, in giving the tincture, I may have focused the

prescription at a physiological situation, but because I

was prescribing homeopathically, I understood that

deeper effects of Berberis might take effect.

Soon after taking the Berberis tincture the patientřs

jaundice and pain subsided. Within the next month her

friends noticed an entire change had occurred in her life.

She was able to overcome her depression and

withdrawal, and had made plans to start a new business.

Her way of seeing her world had shifted. This is what

we seek in treatment. This change in life tells us we

have been able to reach a deeper level of healing. We

have affected the root.

Berberis vulgaris is a medicine for the secret

wound inside. We all contain separate personalities

within us. In cases where there has been severe

physical or sexual abuse, as is the case in all multiple

personality disorder patients, the split becomes too great

and normal conscious activities can coalesce under the

direction of unconscious aspects of the subpersonalities.

The first case led me to examine the cases where I

had prescribed Berberis previously, particularly in the

cases of chronic vaginitis and urinary tract infections.

As I discovered that many of these cases had histories of

sexual abuse, I came to the conclusion that these

physical symptoms might be acting as a defense

mechanism for the emotional wounds of the patient. I

hypothesized that Berberis might indeed treat the

deeper wounds, of which the physical aspects were only

a manifestation. Since my initial presentation of these

ideas at a conference in 1992, they have been

consistently confirmed.

The essence of the wound that requires Berberis is

a secret that remains hidden even to the patients

themselves. The medicine combines the symptomology

of urogenital inflammation, suppression of emotions,

and secretiveness. It lies somewhere between the

symptomologies of two other medicines, Staphysagria,

the anger lies close to the surface manifesting as

trembling and quivering of the voice. In Berberis, the

origins are often no longer accessible to the conscious

mind. They lie quiescent, coalesced in a conflict that

creates fatigue, withdrawal, and psychosomatic

expressions of pain and discomfort. The pain itself is

not clear. It wanders, radiating in different directions

from the kidney, liver joints and sexual organs.

The mental state is described in the first

homeopathic text translated into English, Jahr’s

Manual, published in 1848: ŖMental languor, with

difficulty to collect oneřs thoughts … Indifferent, sad

mood. Calm, sometimes even apathetic. Striking

melancholy, and irresistible want of disposition to talk,

with silent longing of a spiritual nature. Disposition to

weep. One feels vexed and even tired of life. Anxious

mood, with great fearfulness and tendency to start.

Great anguish and uneasiness.ŗ

It is listed in the Materia Medica under Agony,

desire for death; Instability of ideas; Indifference and

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 196

Insanity. BARTHEL, a modern author, lists Berberis

under Ailments from suppressed sexual desire;

Enjoyment absent (during sexual activity); Aversion to

coition; Orgasm delayed; Generally worse during and

after coition; and Premature aging.

Constantine HERING, the father of American

Homeopathy, wrote of Berberis: Ŗ[It has] suppressed

desire with long delayed thrill, and frequent cutting and

stitching in parts during coition. Complete want of

pleasurable sensations during coition. Coition is

painful. Indicated in Ovarian disease.ŗ

E.A. FARRINGTON mentions in his Clinical

Materia Medica of 1887, its usefulness in

inflammation of the peritoneum that lines the cavity of

the abdomen, also known as peritonitis and metritis,

which is inflammation of the uterus lining. It is

interesting to observe how early the homeopathic

physicians were far ahead of their time in being able to

objectively deal with sexuality and understand its

importance in human health and function. Though they

held that ethical behavior was an important aspect of a

healthy inner state, their ability to describe the

consequences of sexual diseases was coupled with a

realistic observation of human sexual experience.

The physical characteristics of Berberis vulgaris

are well documented. A modern author and good

friend, Matthew WOOD notes:

Ŗ(The pulse is described) in some patients as Řfull,

hard, and rapid.ř These are usually the more recent

cases where there are symptoms of fullness and heat:

swollen, hot, red tissues. In the more chronic patients

the pulse is more likely to be low, wiry and rapid; the

face is pallid, with sunken eyes surrounded by blue or

blackish circles, puffy underneath. In most of the cases

I have seen, the tongue was red, especially along the

edges, sometimes with yellow coating in the middle,

and often with red protuberances.ŗ

Besides the chronic urinary tract and liver

disorders, Berberis is known for treating Hemorrhoids

and anal fistulas, rheumatic problems with wandering

pains, and general fatigue or adrenal exhaustion.

Berberis vulgaris is in the same botanical family as

Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) and Oregon Grape

(Berberis aquifolium or Mahonia). They all contain

high concentrations of Berberine, which is a botanical

active ingredient used for its antibiotic properties.

While such mechanical properties of Berberis are a

virtue, we see through developing our understanding of

the individual plant nature, that we can develop a deeper

understanding of the true healing properties of our

medicines.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

=================================

ŖAs our Institutions are, so are our

people. As the teacher is, so are our

students. We see these truths demonstrated

every day, as we study the internal workings

of our medical Institutions, and we meet

with the finished product of their teaching,

in the form of the yearly out-put of

graduates. In a brief period of time we see

the effect of the Alna Meter upon the people

with whom our graduates come into contact

Ŕ Ŗas our Institutions are, so are our

people.ŗ

We can only teach the people that

which we are taught. We heal our patients

as we are taught to heal them. The fount

and source is our sea-level Ŕ we seldom rise

higher.

….. The younger man of our Profession

stand greatly in need of acquaintance with

Hahnemannřs teachings and precepts so

wonderfully laid down in his Organon of

Medicine (yet so difficult for many to

understand), in order to apply the law of

cure ….ŗ

- Preface, J.H. Allenřs, The

Chronic Miasms….

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 197

PART III

(While Part II features articles from other journals, Part III contains the editorřs own contribution and other original

articles.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOOK SHELF

1. Materia Medica Revisa Homoeopathiae Ŕ Cina –

von Peter MINDER. Klaus Henning GYPSER

(Hrsg.), Wunnibald Gypser Verlag, Glees 2010.

(German).

This Monograp is on Artemisia Cina first proved by

HAHNEMANN and published in Vol. I of the Materia

Medica Pura with 300 symptoms. In General Practice

most colleagues seem to have thought of this remedy

with reference to Ŗwormsŗ and we seldom read cases in

which it has been used for several other conditions

listed out in the MMP Ŕ may be sometimes in anger in

children.

However, in the course of time, much clinical

experience have accumulated. These are lying

scattered in different journals.

In the Monograph under review all these have been

collected and we find 890 symptoms. Several of these

have to be noted in the relevant rubrics and the inter-

leaved Materia Medica, for example Nose tip: cold.

It may not be out of place to point out to a very

interesting article in the British Homeopathic

Journal, Vol. 81, 1992 (pp.75 Ŕ 77) titled ŖThe children

of Chernobyl and Cinaŗ by L.G. VASILYEVA and

G.A. ZAKARCHENKO. The ŖChernobyl Nuclear

Reactor Disasterŗ happened in 1986. As a consequence

of exposure to radiation there have been pathologies.

The authors have said that in the 54 children under their

care who were exposed to the radiation, they found

Cina as the most often needed in these cases and it gave

good results. It has also been mentioned that the

ŘWormwoodř Artemisia Cina, is known locally as

ŘChernobylinkř, or simply Chernobyl in the Ukraine.

ŖWormwood was also considered to be helpful during

childbirth in Russia, the Caucasus and in China.

Moreover, this herb was supposed to be so powerful that

it could save from calamity not only an individual but

the whole country. Chernobyl (wormwood) helped my

people in fighting the epidemic of Cholera, in times of

famine it helped many to survive. To honour this herb,

the area of the Ukraine where Wormwood blossom, had

been called Chernobyl … Later the word became a

symbol of reproach to humanity in the form of

Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Why is this? Is it

coincidence? Chance? But any chance when repeated

again and again becomes a regularity. Then, may be, it

is fate?ŗ

For the common complaints of these children Ŕ

upper respiratory tract infections, Chronic tonsillitis

Cholecystitis Ŕ Cholangitis, Headache Ŕ Cina was

prescribed in 46% of the cases, Calcarea carbonica

24%, Silicea is 20%; over-all health of these children

were very good.

I hope that homeopaths would be enthused Ŕ if

such a stimulation is necessary at all to some Ŕ to study

these Monographs and cure more persons. After all that

is the ŘCallingř of a homeopath.

K.S. SRINIVASAN.

2. Materia Medica Revisa Homöopathiae, Lac

caninum, von Dominik MÜLLER, Hrsg. Klaus-

Henning GYPSER, Wunnibald Gypser Verlag,

2008. ISBN 978-3-940940-04-09.

This monograph is in the series of revision of the

Materia Medica in the light of reliable sources, thus

correcting errors in the literature extant and, make it as a

reliable tool in the hands of the Classical Homeopathy

Practitioner:

Lac caninum - Dogřs milk

First Proving - Swan, S.

The exact source from which the milk was obtained

and the manner of preparation of the medicine has not

been given in any of the ŘProvingř Records. [However

Julian WINSTON has given in his Faces of

Homeopathy says that the milk was obtained from the

Cocker spaniel owned by Mrs. BAYARD, Ŗbecause of

its affection for human race is unusually strongŗ=KSS]

Duration of action : 725 days.

The interesting history of this great remedy is

briefly sketched. We have only a brief Introduction in

H.C. ALLENřs Nosodes. In this Monograph we have

more interesting and reliable information. One of the

earliest Provers was Dr. Laura Morgan who began the

Proving in 1871. Dr. Laura proved Lac caninum in CM

potency, and symptoms were observed for the following

eighteen months!

Dr. Dominik MÜLLER says that in the course of

the ŘRevisionř of Materia Medica of Lac caninum it

Quarterly Homeopathic Digest, Vol. XXVII, 3 & 4, 2010. For Private circulation only 198

was observed, as indeed in several instances, how

significance of clinical symptoms and the Proving

symptoms have been valued. The Guiding Symptoms

in respect of Lac caninum is full of clinical symptoms.

Dr. GYPSER has pointed out (Introduction to

ŘMateria Medica Revisa Homöopathiaeř series) how

important it is to discriminate between the Proving

symptoms and the purely Clinical Symptoms and

evaluation of the Clinical Symptoms. This is possible

only by accessing the Proving Symptoms. It is possible

that many failures occur because of applying unverified

or improper entries in the Repertories.

A very carefully researched and compiled

Monograph after carefully studying and sifting through

more than 125 sources! Laudable work; to be used in

day to day Practice.

K.S. SRINIVASAN.

3. Ein homöopathisches Patientennetzwerk

im Herzogtum Anhalt-Bernburg. (A

homoeopathic Patients Network in the Dukedom

Anhalt-Bernburg) BUSCHE Jens (Karl E Haug

Verlag, Stuttgart, 2008 (German).

This is 11

book in the Quellen und Studien zur

Homöopathiegeschichte Series which is brought out by

the Institute for History of Medicine of the Robert

Bosch Foundation, Stuttgart with Dr Robert JÜTTE as

the Director of the Institute

This book covers the family of KERSTEN and his

near relations during the years 1831 Ŕ 1835, when

Samuel HAHNEMANN was practicing in Koethen.

The study is in 7 chapters.

The 1

chapter is Introduction.

The 2

Chapter describes HAHNEMANNřs daily

Practices during his period in Koethen. During the

period, he brought out new Editions of his basic

textbooks and Materia Medica and Chronic Diseases.

It was from Koethen that in 1831 he gave out to the

world through several publication on prevention as well

as cure of the Cholera Epidemic.

The third Chapter gives the biographical details of

the family of KERSTEN.

The dietetic instructions of HAHNEMANN during

his treatment are discussed in chapter 4. Here are

discussed fresh air, light, walking in the open, food, etc.

The instructions HAHNEMANN gave his patients

through his several letters are also studied here.

Sixth Chapter is titled ŖHomeopathic Foreign

therapiesŗ by Chamber President BRAUN and Dr. med.

WÜRZLER of the family of KERSTEN

The seventh Chapter is a Summary.

There is a detailed Annexe containing the key to the

abbreviations used by HAHNEMANN, latin references,

details of the personalities named in the book,

chronology of prescriptions, dietetic questions as well as

other related remarks in respect of each of the family of

KERSTEN.

The book is not only of historic interest but also

discusses the problems presented by the patients and

how HAHNEMANN managed them.

K.S.SRINIVASAN.

========================================

Anecdote No. IV.

I was speaking with Dr. SIRCAR one day when a man came to

his place and interviewed him. He piteously entreated him to come

over to his residence and see his son who was very ill.

As Dr. SIRCAR had been in indifferent health at that time, he

could not go. The father of the patient wanted to know from him

whether his son Dr. Amrita Lal SIRCAR, L.M.S., F.C.S. would prove

to be a fit one for the purpose.

Dr. SIRCAR instantly replied that he could not say one way or

the other; he could not place implicit reliance upon his own

prescriptions in some cases even and so it would not be possible for

him to recommend his son simply on the ground of his being his own

son. He advised the gentleman to exercise his own judgment in the

matter of selection of a physician for his sonřs illness.

Dr. SIRCAR never, on any occasion, tried to push forward the

claims and merit of his own son who happened to be one of the

leading and learned homeopaths of the city. Dr. SIRCAR possessed

such a transparent, clean and pure conscience that he always acted up

to its dictates.

This call of conscience always dominated over him and led him

to perform his every-day duties and responsibilities as a busy medical

practitioner and as an over-worked public man.

Anecdote No. V.

Many patients flocked to his house daily for his professional

advice when he gave up active practice on account of illness.

However, he was not so very ill as to be unable to prescribe, but he

made it a habit and principle not to see any case at that time.

One day a rich Marwari came to his place and asked him to

examine his son and prescribe a suitable medicine. He told Dr.

SIRCAR that he would gladly pay him Rs.1000/- only for that dayřs

prescription. My readers would be surprised to hear that no amount

of persuation could induce Dr. SIRCAR to accede to his request on

the ground of his fixed principle. He told the Marwari gentleman that

his tempting offer would not act as an incentive to forget and to

violate his fixed principle. The principal ground of his refusal was

that, as a physician, he had many moral duties to observe for the

welfare of his patient which he would not be in a position to do for the

Marwari gentlemanřs son. And moreover he would be bound by the

rules of ethics to prescribe for a poor patient as well if he would break

his principle and yield in favour of the gentleman mentioned above.

[From ŖLife of Dr. Mahendra Lal SIRCARŗ, by S.C. GHOSE]

==================================================