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CONTINUING HOMŒOPATHIC MEDICAL EDUCATION SERVICES

QUARTERLY HOMŒOPATHIC DIGEST

VOL. XXX1, 3 & 4, 2014

Part I Current Literature Listing

______________________________________________________________________________

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

homœopathic 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. A brief introduction to Polarity Analysis

COOK, Daniel (AJHM. 105, 4/2012)

Polarity Analysis is a way of adding power to

Bӧnninghausen’s Therapeutic Pocket Book. Polarity

Analysis examines the fact that many remedies produce

polar opposite symptoms – such as aggravation and

amelioration from warmth; motion; thirst and

thirstlessness – but that only one of this pair is

characteristic of the remedy, while the other shows the

remedy’s breadth of action but not its character.

Polarity Analysis makes an additional search for all

existing repertory symptoms opposite to those chosen

for the analysis and shows whether the remedies

showing high in the repertorisation are better known for

this patient symptoms or instead of their opposites.

Using Polarity Analysis we distinguish character

from mere coverage.

For a remedy to be selected or strongly considered

in the case, its proven experience to produce symptoms

opposite to the patient’s symptoms should be low.

2. Organon §3 and Bӧnninghausen’s Method of

Generalization

FISCHER, Ulrich D. (AJHM. 105, 4/2012)

In the Organon 6th Edition, § 3 states the

importance of perceiving what is sick (morbid) in the

patient, and matching this to what is curative in

medicines. A safe and successful way to accomplish

this is the process of generalization. Generalization

brings together (inductive logic) similar and related

phenomena into groups, deduces their general

characteristics and states them in simple, comprehensive

forms. The generals, which include and are derived

from the particulars, are the most reliable basis of a

curative prescription. Most of the modalities of

Bӧnninghausen are general in their relations, i.e.,

characteristics deduced by a critical study of

particulars and verified in practice. A clinical case

demonstrates the advantages of Bӧnninghausen’s

method.

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

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II. MATERIA MEDICA

1. The Genius of the Remedy

SANKARAN, Rajan (AH. 18/2012)

C.M. Boger in his synoptic key has endeavoured to

make clear the general expression of each remedy

through an understanding of the essential points of the

“Symptom images”.

The Genius includes: Location, Pathology type,

Pace, General traits, Type of person, Exciting factors,

Body type, Personal and Family History, General

modalities, General sensation. These traits are not

separate, they are all expressions of the same core state.

They are fully inter-related.

Genius is a pattern of qualities that is unique to a

remedy.

In studying a case (or a remedy), you will find three

parallel and intertwining lines. These are symptoms

(characteristics), System (the Sensation and Miasm),

Genius (the general nature of the patient/remedy)

In trying to understand a patient we should pick up

the line which is most obvious in that case. It may be

any of these three if we follow this lead, the other two

lines will also become evident, we could

diagrammatically depict than as three points or sides of

a triangle.

To understand the genius, one has to go behind the

symptoms and see the nature of the complaints.

A case of anger and depression in a teenage girl is

analysed briefly into the rubrics –

 Fear of moral obliquity alternating with sexual

excitement

 Despair, religious, alternating with sexual

excitement

 Delusions, wrong, she has done

 Desires beautiful things, finery

 Ennui, boredom: entertainment ameliorates

 Finery, luxurious clothing, wants during sadness

A month after Lilium tigrinum she has been doing

well.

2. Disconnection: A Proving of Didelphis virginiana

(Blood of the North American opossum)

HUENECKE, Jason-Aeric (AH. 18/2012)

The blood of the Didelphis virginiana was

extracted from a male opossum that met an untimely

death. HUENECKE prepared upto 3c and then Helios

Homœopathy, Kent, UK prepared a range of potencies.

15 provers. All females, 30c potency, double blind

format.

3. Moral Panic: The British case and Its implications

for Homœopathy

FRIEDENFELS, Roxanne (AH. 18/2012)

An excellent and well researched article explaining

the reasons for recent attacks on Homœopathy.

Full article in Part II.

4. Rhythm, Flow and Unification: A Proving of

Samarium Cobaltum Magneticum

HUENECKE, Jasan-Aeric (AH. 18/2012)

The proving was done in North Western Academy

of Homœopathy in 2011. 17 Provers; 14 females and 3

males. 30c potency. Double blind. At the end a long

list of ‘rubrics’ to be added to the Repertory. [How can

we ‘add’ rubrics unless there has been

confirmation/verification of the symptoms in actual

cases? How dependable are these additions? Are they

are not arbitrary? = KSS].

5. The challenges of Diet in Modern Provings

HUENECKE, Jason-Aeric (AH. 18/2012)

The various guidelines of diet during the proving

are discussed.

The author asks the provers to pay attention to

those substances to which they are particularly sensitive.

It is interesting when those substances used with

regularity in daily life are altered or experienced as a

change of habit during the proving.

Our challenge is to see clearly how the

domestication of diet in our breakneck culture affects

us.

6. A Project to Perfect our Materia Medica

GYPSER, Klaus-Henning (AJHM. 105, 2/2012)

Homœopathic practitioners worldwide cannot make

use of all the proving and clinical symptoms of our

remedies because there is no complete collection of

them. Constantin Hering was the first to suggest

making such a compilation but did not realize his goal.

The daunting task has been taken up by the Glees

academy of Homœopathic Physicians under the

editorship of K.-H. Gypser, which began publishing the

first volumes of the “Materia Medica Revisa

Homœopathiae” (MMRH) in 2007 after 25 years of

preparation. The literature sources come from the

Academy’s library of about 9,000 volumes of

international homœopathic books and periodicals.

7. Aethusa cyanapium – Bestӓtigung zweier

Teilsymptome und einer ausgezeichneten

klinischen Beobachtung

(Aethusa cyanapium – Confirmation of a two part

Symptom and an excellent clinical observation)

ZWEMKE, Hans (ZKH. 55, 2/2011)

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Case Report of a 11 year-old boy, cured three times

by Aethusa of acute, partly febrile, gastrointestinal

complaints. The guiding symptom was sensation “as if

the stomach turned over”, as well as a “serious”

expression, a kind of “resignation”. VITHOULKAS

was the first to report exactly this state of disposition

clinically. We discuss the relevance of this disposition

against the psychological setting of the patient:

emotional distress after the separation of his parents

without being able to talk about it. We compare this

state of mind to that of SOCRATES and his chalice of

Hemlock, who recognized his paralysis fully

consciously. [Only in JAHR’s Symptomen Kodex, I

found this “something in the stomach turned over”; not

found in the GS, CLARKE = KSS.]

8. Hahnemanns Prüfungs protokolle

(Hahnemann’s Protocols for Proving)

LUCAE, Christian (ZKH. 56, 1/2012)

The Institute for history of medicine of Robert

Bosch Foundation, Stuttgart contains almost all the

records of HAHNEMANN, almost all the manuscripts.

There are manuscripts which are yet to be published

among these are some original proving protocols from

his time in Leipsic:

Richard HAEHL the HAHNEMANN biographer

has in 1920s mentioned of these unpublished Proving

Protocols.

A study of the bundle of manuscripts give

interesting material. The material in the Robert Bosch

in bundles is titled The Bound Manuscripts of Samuel

Hahnemann, pertaining to the years 1781-1833:

G1: Contained: Notes, letters sketches and

drawings and other contributions like a College

Note.

G2: Period presumably between 1785 and 1805. 78

pages both sides, contains the early – the first order

– excerpts of Symptoms from ‘Other sources’,

which are noted in Latin predominantly but

containing German and English observations.

Additional papers are also there in certain pages.

The medicines are in alphabetical order from

Anacardium ending with Zingiber. Then there are

entries under “ego” meaning symptoms observed

by Hahnemann himself in his Provings.

G3: Probably related to period from 1811 contains

42 (two sides) pages in German. These contain

notes on medicine Provings of Hahnemann and his

students. As in G2 here also there are “ego”, in

German “I”. Other Prover’s names are mentioned

(e.g. FRANZ, LANGHAMMER, etc.) probably

these are original Proving-Protocols which contain

HAHNEMANN’s additions obtained from his

interrogation of the Prover or dialogue with.

G4: File is titled Index of medicines in globules in

my homœopathic medicine case: 298 medicines

are in it some double, in different potencies. There

are medicines like Aristolochia, Filix mas, Lachesis

and others which until now have not been

associated with HAHNEMANN.

There are about 70 remedies whose Provings have

not been published according to Richard Haehl.

It will be seen that HAHNEMANN carefully

noticed and noted the symptoms throughout his life and

put it in his book properly edited in the light of his

experience. It will also be seen from these papers how

some symptoms found their place in the Materia Medica

after lapse of decades.

9. Der Wert klinischer Symptome für die Charektrist

einer Arzneimittels – Nach einem franzӧsischen

Artikel vom G.H.G. Jahr aus dem Journal de la-

societe Gallicane de medicine homêopathique von

1858/59

(The value of clinical symptoms for the

characteristic of a remedy – according to an article

of G.H.G. JAHR in a French Journal de la Société

Gallicane of Homœopathic Medicine 1858/59)

SOMMER, Illa (ZKH. 56, 1/2012)

There are different interpretations of Hahnemann’s

terms ‘Characteristics’ of a remedy GHG. JAHR

through his several years of close contact with

HAHNEMANN and understood him well gave notes on

this term. In a series of articles in the journal de la

société Gallicane he pointed out, that clinical experience

does not replace remedy proving, but helps completing

the knowledge of the remedies. He shows how analysis

of a Proving can contribute to a cleaner view of the

characteristic symptom of a remedy.

[Attention is drawn to the article “What does

Characteristic mean”? by Joseph ATTOMYR in QHD.

31, 1&2/2014]

10. “Wie oft hast du schon Laurocerases

Verordnet…?”

(How often have you prescribed Laurosersus?)

MINDER, Peter (ZKH. 56, 1/2012)

Laurocerasus is a rarely used medicine. This

article is in the light of a study of this remedy by a

group who were preparing a revised, reliable Materia

Medica.

Characteristics:

(Genius)

SUDDEN: Periodic, absetzend: recurring.

Localization: Inner head

Larynx

Chest

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Modalities

< afternoon, < AFTERNOON 14hrs.

< EVENING

<Motion, Walking

< stooping

>rubbing

> midday meal

> IN OPEN AIR

> scratching

Complaints/Sensations/Finding

PRESSURE

STITCHING, fine stitches, blunted senses

Burning

COLD, COLD FEELING

Itching

Itching, > scratching; after scratching burning

Special Characteristic

Peculiar Symptoms

Thinks, heart must be held in place by hand

Feel as if ice on the head; on the side; in the nape upto

the hip; wings of nose

Feel, as if wind blew over the forehead

Feel as if left head would as if something (brain) would

fall.

Sensation of Vermin; moving or flying off from the

forehead, spiders or flies on face, Crawling in face,

sensation of hair on cheeks, as if worm on bones

feet, ankle, movements as from flies and Vermin.

As if the tendons, sinews, too short, sensation, on the

back of head, in the shoulders

Sensation of being enlarged: as if the head was

widened, as if the eyeball was too large for the

space, as if a band was on the eyeball, everything

appears unusually large, as when the head of the

joint of the upper arms were too large, drinks

rolled, swallowing over the guellet noisy, into the

stomach.

SENSATION AS IF SOMETHING LARGE.

HEAVY IN THE STOMACH WOULD FALL

INTO BACK.

SUDDEN FAINTNESS, SUDDEN FALL BACK

Peculiar, localized modalities/Itching, Scratching

< midday meal, > after midday meal

<OPEN AIR, > IN OPEN AIR

<, movement, walking, > MOVEMENT,

WALKING

Peculiar localized, sides relationship:

Dynamic/Development: Direction/Extension:

Cause.

Right: abdomen; left, Head, Eyes, Mouth, Female

Genital; inside out (Head)

Peculiar parts/Organs

Frontal head

Chest bone

Peculiar localized complaints/Sensations/Findings

HEAVY

Tickling in Larynx

Peculiar localized accompanying complaints/specific

combined indications in different parts

Extending pressure – Pressure outward (K)

EXTENDING STITCHES – FORWARDS,

BACKWARDS

Pinching

Note: (e.g. unconnected a range)

Less symptoms of menses

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

III. THERAPEUTICS

1. Kasuistik einer sehr schnell geheilten Tetraplegie

(Case of a rapidly cured Tetraplagia)

SRINIVASAN, K.S. (ZKH. 55, 3/2011)

A 55 year old, male, doctor in medicine was struck

with Quadraplegia evidently. He was a restless person,

known tippler and had quarrel with his wife the

previous day and got suddenly struck with paralysis of

his legs then arms and unable to move. Physicians who

attended confirmed Guillain-Baare-Syndrome. The

patient was also homœopathy practitioner.

He was prescribed Nux vomica XM one dose. By

next day he began to improve. Later was put on Nux

vomica 6 for few days.

Remains well – review 2 years remains well. This

case indicate Hahnemann’s Law of direction Cure.

Even though thousands and thousands patients have

been cured over the past 200 years, the Hegemony

Medicine asks for ‘evidence’. The new slogan since last

few years is ‘evidence based’ medicine. There stands

before you the cured patient and he is well and remains

well. That is the most ‘telling evidence’ superior to

‘laboratory evidence’.

2. Lebererkrankungen (Liver Diseases)

HAGGENMÜLLER, George (ZKH. 55, 3/2011)

Homœopathy has its own rules in respect of clinical

conditions. For one, those who suffer from serious

disease demand rapid evaluation. We have also to treat

multi pharmacological cases and cases with paucity of

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symptoms. There are other constraints also like the fact

that Homœopathy has not been established in hospitals.

Under these circumstances the affected organs have to

be taken into consideration. BOGER’s and PHATAK’s

repertories are of great use in this case.

3. Was Hahnemann a True Scientist?

MORRELL, Peter (AH. 18/2012)

In this article, the author discusses the definition of

science and its components and reiterates that

Hahnemann proceeded to develop Homœopathy in a

completely scientific manner. [There have been several

articles in the past trying to label HAHNEMANN as a

‘scientist’. Where is the need to confirm it? And why a

‘true’? Why should we fight the so-called ‘scientific’

world to anoint HAHNEMANN as a scientist? When

we attempt to convince the ‘scientific’ world, it throws

out the claim blindly! They simply refuse. = KSS].

4. Obsessed with Death

SPERLING, Vatsala (AH. 18/2012)

Susan, 62 years with family history of Cancer and

Liver diseases. Shocked easily, oversensitive, with

thoughts of death most of the times. Fears of crowded

streets and to cross streets. Nightmares. Palpitations in

daytime; when agitated, afraid and shocked. Thirsty for

cold water. History of intense fevers in the past. The

case was analysed with Mac Repertory software and

complete 2008 Repertory. Aconitum napellus 1M.

Over the next few months she improved and became

alright with another dose six months later.

5. A case of Crohn’s Disease and Its Etiology

SPENCLEY, Samantha (AH. 18/2012)

38 year-old male with Crohn’s disease since 2005.

Appendisectomy did not relieve. Bowel resection in

2006, relieved pain for 2 years. Because of immerse

pain, he was advised immune suppressant drug.

The abdominal pain started after a car accident in

2005. In 2007, he lost his first child at 27 weeks

gestation and not able to get over it. Hay fever in the

past; Chicken pox at 5 years of age and Tonsillectomy

at 8 years. Offended easily severe pain. Vomiting

during pain. Agg. eating. Anger and guilt about the

accident. Bruxism.

Natrum muriaticum 200, one pellet dry, one dose.

A month later, no cramping, no vomiting,

No signs of being sick for the first time in years.

Complete evacuation of stool.

He took himself off his medications.

He took another dose due to the stress of exams and

miscarriage of wife.

Over the next 15 months, he took one dose,

whenever symptoms relapsed. The Hay fever

reappeared and subsided.

Another 7 months later daughter was born. Later

he lost his mother to a chronic disease and he needed

medicine. Natrum muriaticum has enabled him to make

great strides in his ability to deal with his losses.

6. Exploring Psychology and Forgiveness in

Homœopathic Treatment

SILVESTRI, Kenneth (AH. 18/2012)

The use of Psychology when integrated with

Homœopathy offers a larger framework to ascertain the

sensations and modalities that contextualize presenting

symptoms. Empathic dialogue and gentle probing take

the adage of the prejudiced observer to a new and

contemporary level given the modern stressors we

encounter each day. Illustrative case.

Leo, in mid twenties with extreme headache over 3

years since having a stomach virus. Anticipation.

Vomiting before or after eating. He was withdrawn,

compulsive and depressed. Had suicidal ideations and

was impatient. His presenting temperament was one of

suppressed anger which was strikingly different from

the sanguine artistic person that he had been prior to his

constant vomiting.

The first thing is to know what you feel so you can

allow empathy to produce a ‘non-denial’ of feelings.

Widening your lens creates perspective as to what is the

‘wrong’ that hurts you. This helps to avoid having your

persona being overtaken by your shadow side.

Within few psychotherapy sessions, he began to see

a wider perspective. He was given Bryonia 6c as a four-

ounce bottle of medicinal solution. After 8 succussions,

one teaspoon was to be diluted into four ounces of

water. One teaspoon twice a day for 5 days. His

headache subsided and vomiting lessened. Also felt a

strong sense of peace of mind.

He still had some compulsive tendencies and had

the fear of recurring. Natrum sulph. 6c. Within a week,

the vomiting totally subsided. Began to eat regularly

and more importantly felt that he had found his old self

and could be more social.

Indications for Aurum group, Ignatia, Nitricum

acidum, Natrum muriaticum, Phosphoric acid,

Staphysagria, Bryonia, Natrum sulphuricum are

discussed.

7. Kinderkonstitution (Children’s Constitution)

DORCSI, Matthias (ZKH. 55, 2/2011)

This article is based on a lecture of the late Dr.

Mathias DORCSI (1923 – 2001), on 26 Oct. 1995.

128

Dr. DORCSI said that when he was in the

Children’s Hospital in Vienna in 1950 as assistant

physician he was allotted a ward of small children

wherein children will be admitted and later discharged

and soon again admitted, so on. Almost all of them

suffered similar complaints: sicknesses of the nose-

throat region, with Tonsillitis, complaints of Lymph

system, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract down to

the stomach, intestinal disturbances, kidney and urinary

tract infection. These were all the disease states, not life

threatening, but were transitory and got out of. After 4-

6 weeks the children will again be brought in. These

diseases are reckoned only as constitutional.

The children whose parent had suffered from

similar complaint when young and more so if both

parents (father and mother) were so. In those days the

skin eruptions in those children were considered

“forties” which meant that the disease will be there for

40 days, 40 weeks or 40 years. The doctors knew they

could not do much, and the parents particularly the

grand parents had the patience with the child.

Nowadays Neurodermatitis is spoken about and

consequently the doctor become neurotic, the parents

neurotic and the children are neurotic!

Constitutional Therapy was planned in ailment like

these.

Constitution is a person’s inborn and acquired

mental-emotional – physical condition. Diathesis is the

inborn and acquired deficiencies of organs and system.

These have been discussed thoroughly.

An experienced, attentive, observant, gifted

physician will observe as the mother brings in the child,

see or note how ill or well the child is, angry or

pleasant, whether too ill or only very less ill, then find

whether hot or cold, well developed or not so, thin or

fat, etc., understand whether it is lithaemic lymphatic,

destructive etc.

8. A case of Parkinson-Plus Syndrome Resolved

Using the ‘Lost Art’ of Keynote Prescribing

WADHWANI, Gyandas,G. (AJHM. 105, 2/2012)

A 75 year-old man, diagnosed with Parkinson-plus

Syndrome was seen on 11th Oct. 2009. He was restless

and would not let go of someone’s hand, whether

sitting, standing or lying.

On this basis, Bismuthum in LM potencies starting

from LM1 was given and recorded over a period of 10

months. In Dec. 2009, (after LM3) he was able to speak

better and could stand with minimal support. Tremors

also decreased. After LM5 in Jan. 2010, he could stand

and sit straight, his speech clearer and further reduction

in tremors.

In July 2010, he sang an entire devotional song and

could even sing high notes. Tremors disappeared.

In August 2010, he passed away in sleep.

Dr. WADHWANI demonstrated the advantage of

Key-note prescribing, through this case.

9. Eye diseases from a Homœopathic Perspective

KONDROT, Edward (AJHM. 105, 3/2012)

There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence

of eye disease worldwide. Homœopathic principles not

only help us understand the reason for this increase but

also help us provide effective treatment. Homœopathic

practitioners should not avoid the treatment of chronic

eye disease but use homœopathic principles with

confidence.

This article is an important one as written by a

doctor practicing ophthalmology since 1977 and

Homœopathy since 1990.

10. Endometrial Polyp: A Case Cured by Homœopathy

ARORA, Saurav (AJHM. 105, 4/2012)

Endometrial polyps (EP) are masses of

endometrium in the uterine lumen which can appear

with differing morphology and size. A case of EP

treated with Lachesis, Sepia, and Sulphur in succession

and followed up for one year became asymptomatic and

radiographically normal. While a single case is not

sufficient to establish the effectiveness of Homœopathy

in EP, it is suggestive. Further studies are needed,

especially randomized trials.

11. A Cure of Psoriasis Using Frequent Homœopathic

Doses in Solution

DABHADE, Vijay (AJHM. 105, 4/2012)

Placing centesimal potencies in solution and

prescribing them frequently for chronic conditions is not

widely practiced. It can be superior to dry doses in

many cases, especially in certain skin diseases where a

persistent mild medicinal action is preferred to a strong

aggravation. By prescribing dissolved doses of

Staphysagria 200c, later Staphysagria LM 2, a long

standing case of Psoriasis was cured. This suggests that

centesimal potencies given frequently in solution,

followed by LM potencies, may be more efficacious,

prompt and gentle than treatment with dry doses.

12. Treating Metastatic Prostate Cancer with a

Combined Approach – Case Report

KURIAN, PJ. and PINTO, Roshan

(AJHM. 105, 4/2012)

Back ground: Prostatic carcinoma is considered to be

the second most common cancer in men and fifth most

common in the world. A novel observation was made

during the treatment of a patient with advanced

metastatic disease.

129

Methods & Observation: A patient suffering from

carcinoma of the prostate with distant metastases was

treated with several homœopathic remedies in addition

to conventional anti-cancer drugs. The course of the

disease was monitored by bone scans which showed

marked improvement.

Conclusion: This methodology i.e. integrative approach

appears to be promising in treatment of advanced

metastasized cancer. Further studies need to be

conducted to validate this approach.

13. Two G.I. Cases

COOK, Daniel (AJHM. 105, 4/2012)

Case 1: 22 year-old female awoke at 2.30a.m. and

vomited. Vomiting of clear fluid every 45-60 minutes

until 7.30 a.m. Arsenicum album 200 and no more

vomiting, but fever started in the evening. Sluggish, no

appetite, weak, nausea from sitting and better on

moving about. Analyzing with both Kent and

Bӧnninghausen repertories, Pulsatilla appeared in first

position with Rhus toxicodendron second. Pulsatilla

had higher polarity differential and six hours after a

dose of Pulsatilla 200, she had more energy, no nausea

and eating well.

Case 2: 6 year-old healthy girl on vacation ate fresh

rasp berries and blue berries without washing. Since

that night painless brown watery stools. 6 – 7 times per

day for nine days. Podophylum 200 one dose and no

diarrhea since stool pattern and form entirely back to

normal.

14. Die Wiener Schule der Homӧopathie: gestern,

heute und Morgen (The Vienna School of

Homœopathy: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow)

(ZKH. 55, 2/2011)

The Vienna School of Homœopathy according to

Dr. Mathias DORCSI presents a synthetic-

phenomenologic approach as a medicine focused on the

whole human being. Essential aspects are constitution

and diathesis as well as reliable indication and complete

local symptom. The Vienna School of Homœopathy is

easy to teach and to learn and most suitable for the

integration into modern medicine. The paper deals with

its history in Austria until 1989 and its practice in

Munich to the present. The history of a baby with

several handicaps with a following over more than 20

year demonstrates how Vienna School can be

successful, e.g. with the constitutional remedy Plumbum

metallicum and the reliable remedy Comocladi dentata.

15. Mӧglichkeiten und Grenzen der Homӧopathie in

der Behandlung Cerebraler Anfallsleiden – Drei

Kasuistiken mit Juvemiler myoklonischer Epilepsie

(Possibilities and limits in the treatment of Seizures

– Three cases with juvenile myoclonic Epilepsy)

RICHER, Day and HADULLA, Michael

(ZKH. 55, 3/2011)

Three cases, each different, of Juvenile myoclonic

cerebral seizures are presented.

All the three were treated taking into consideration

the Cause, the Constitution and Miasm.

16. Finding Balance – Homœopathy and the body-mind

connection

Answers for ulcers

BATRA, Mukesh (HT. 33, 1/2013)

For a long time, most conventional physicians

thought that stomach ulcers were psychosomatic

disorders, primarily triggered by stress. Then two

Australian physicians, Barry Marshall and Robin

Warren discovered Helicobacter pylori in 1982 and won

Nobel prize in 2005 for its role in gastritis and peptic

ulcer disease. Then antibiotics began to be used and

many became hale and hearty sooner than expected.

A new research found that 8 out of 10 infected

never get ulcers. This led some to investigate emotional

factors as the root of ulcer distress.

The Journal of the American Medical Association

featured studies showing that people who faced intense

life stresses were more prone to develop peptic ulcers in

the next two decades.

The Archives of Internal Medicine also reported

that the incidence of ulcers in people who were severely

stressed was twice that of those who did not have such

stress.

Epidemiological studies show that the incidence of

ulcers seemed to rise after natural disasters.

The American Journal of Gastroenterology

substantiates that a noticeable rise in bleeding gastric

ulcers were seen following natural calamities such as

earthquakes.

Though antibiotic therapy works for many, they

relapse down the road. So perhaps there is more to the

story of ulcers than a bacteria.

Two cases of painful ulcers, one treated by

Phosphorus and other by Nux vomica are given.

Indications for Arsenicum album, Kali

bichromicum, Mercurius corrosives, Mercurius

solubilis, Natrum phosphoricum, Nux vomica,

Pulsatilla, Arsenicum album and Arundo are given.

17. The Skinny on Sunburn

Natural remedies to soothe sizzled skin

LENNIHAN, Begabati (HT. 33, 2/2013)

130

Calendula, Urtica urens, Belladonna, Cantharis are

homœopathic Sunburn soothers.

Sol is a remedy made from Sunlight that can

sometimes reverse Sun damage.

Aloe vera gel will soothe the pain. Antioxidants

such as Vitamin C and E plus the carotenoid lycopene

can protect against Sunburns.

18. That Bites!

A Tale of Wilderness Survival

FALKNER, Douglas (HT. 33, 2/2013)

FALKNER, has years of experience as an

emergency medicine physician and now a homœopath

in private practice. In Aug. 2012, he was camping in

the remote Steen’s Mountain area in Oregon. His

neighbouring Camper’s dog was bitten by a rattle snake.

The dog was lying quiet, right side of face swollen

much, right eye completely shut, heavy drool hanging

from the side of his mouth. Exquisitely tender at the site

of the bite.

There was no antivenom available. Lachesis 30

and Cedron 30, dissolved in separate cups of water and

one spoon from each alternated at 5 mins. interval.

(Four doses in all). 30 minutes later, signs of

improvement. Waging his tail, right eye beginning to

open. Now alternating doses at 15 minutes interval.

One hour later, he stood up to greet me. Eye was half

visible. More animated. Pain significantly less – No

yelp when touched. Few more doses at night. Next

morning, no signs of sickness. Eyes wide open,

wagging tail. Eaten breakfast, drunk amounts of water

and was clearly well and thriving. The dosing

frequency was reduced and to stop in next 2 - 3 days.

19. Snakebite Survival Guide

First-aid and Homœopathy basics

FALKNER, Douglas (HT. 33, 2/2013)

The remedies to be considered for Snake bite

injuries: Aconite, Lachesis, Cedron, Ledum, Echinacea,

Arsenicum album, Hypericum perforatum, Carbo

vegetabilis.

20. Energy and Endurance for Marathons and Beyond

Secrets of the Super-athletes; a homœopath and

Veterans of 50 marathons tells all

LENNIHAN, Begabeti (HT. 33, 2/2013)

LENNIHAN ran her first Marathon at the age of 25

and completed 50 Marathons. Along with her father, a

Vascular Surgeon, who also ran Marathon, she explored

the world of homœopathic remedies, herbs and

supplements to help Marathon runners.

Homœopathy holds sway in trackside medical tents

of Marathons and Ultra-marathons. The whole medical

team – including conventional doctors and nurses,

Chiropractors, naturopaths and massage therapists use

Homœopathy as their first line of treatment for acute

illnesses.

A couple of pellets of Arnica 30c before a

Marathon or other intense workout can help prevent

muscle soreness and fatigue.

Sarcolactic acid seems to drive lactic acid out of

the muscles, protecting runners from that stiff and sore

feeling.

Ruta graveolens heals connective tissue such as

injury to a torn Achilles tendon or cruciate ligament

around the knee, Shin splints – tiny tears in the

protective covering of the shin bone, Plantar fascitis.

Calcarea flourica strengthens elastic tissue

anywhere in the body. Also has the ability to dissolve

calcaneal spurs. (Also Hekla lava)

Magnesia phosphorica for cramps during

prolonged exercise.

Silica to prevent sweating between toes causing

chafing.

Calendula helps to heal blisters after race.

Natrum mur. 6x can help to keep sodium in

balance. (If you can see white traces of salt where the

sweat has dried, you are losing lot of salt)

Carbo vegetabilis helps promote oxygenation.

Suprabha BECKJORD has run the Sri Chinmoy

Self – Transcendence 3100 mile race – 13 times. She

likes Homœopathy and Bryonia for joint pains worse

from jarring (like pounding the pavement) and also for

dryness of mucous membranes.

Arpan De ANGELO has run more than 300

Marathons. He used Thuja to get rid of a painful plantar

wart.

21. Personal Best

First time Marathoner meets her goal. Thanks,

Homœopathy!

RHO, Jacqueline (HT. 33, 2/2013)

Kay, in mid 40s, mother of two, was overweight

and wanted to run a Marathon with race 6 months away

she began her training, diet and nutrition. During long

runs she felt lonely and sad that centered on her

childhood. Natrum muriaticum 12c for a month and

then ‘as needed’. She felt lighter. Would weep for

hours and started eating rich foods. Pulsatilla 200

helped her.

Arnica 200, a dose before race day, on race day and

immediately after. She completed the race, injury free

and pain free.

22. Hospital Stay? Let Homœopathy ease your way

ROTHENBERG, Amy (HT. 33, 2/2013)

131

Diana was scheduled for hip replacement surgery

due to degeneration. High anxiety and terrified of the

upcoming procedure and stay in rehabilitation facility.

Chilly, sweaty and constipated. She wanted to take

control of the situation. Calcarea carbonica was her

constitutional remedy and helped her earlier. Another

dose lifted her fear and anxiety. She began to put things

in order at home, leave notes, pre-pay bills and pack for

her time away in an organized fashion.

Homœopathy is a helpful tool to use alongside

other medical and healing modalities. Homœopathy

treats whether at the first breath of life or the last, during

acute ailments and when the ravages of chronic disease

take their toll.

The author has used Homœopathy in the five

categories of hospital – related situations.

1. Adverse events of

diagnostic

work-ups – Veratrum album after

Lumbar puncture

Ignatia for bad news after Biopsy.

2. Severe trauma – Arnica in general and many other

remedies depending on their

moods/temperaments

3. Acute illness – Appendicitis, Pneumonia, sudden

Cardiac event

4. Elective or Planned procedures – Arnica 200 or 1M

an hour after the

patient is awake

from surgery and

again once a day

for 3 days.

5. Care for caregivers – Care givers easily succumb to

impact of worry,

stress of hospital

setting, disruption

of diet, and

exercise and sleep

habits. Cocculus

helps them.

23. Heart Trouble Lands 88 year-old in Hospital.

Homœopathy and Fibonacci dosing method helps

get my mother back on track

MOSS, Dale (HT. 33, 2/2013)

88 year-old mother of Dale MOSS with shortness

of breath for a good week or more was admitted in

hospital. Investigations revealed series of Pulmonary

emboli. After two days they discovered heart rate was

only 39 beats p.m. and finally diagnosed heart block.

Doctors wanted to implant a pacemaker. She had

headache after eating and drowsiness. Confusion.

Aversion to strangers. Fainting momentarily from

simple exertion. Indecisiveness. Baryta carbonica 5c.

Headache disappeared. 7c on next 2 days, 9c on next 3

days. Gained in strength and spirit and lost much

confusion. Each day she could walk little farther, faster,

and with more sureness of foot. Each day she became

more engaged with the world around her. Within five

days, she was strong enough to withstand implantation

of pacemaker and after ten days of hospital stay, she

returned home to recuperate.

After few weeks, she had fatigue, dizziness.

Exertion wore her out. She felt she could not get

enough oxygen and oppression in chest. Carbo veg. 6c

gave her temporary relief. On close analysis her

medication was the cause. Then change of and

reduction of her Blood pressure medication helped her a

lot. Phosphorus brought her back to normalcy, based

on exertion aggravation, weakened voice and slow

speech.

24. Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio

Harnessing natural laws to improve homœopathic

dosing

MOSS, Dale C. (HT. 33, 2/2013)

Dr. Joseph ROZENCWAIJ, a New Zealand

homœopath and natural medicine Doctor (Formerly a

Conventional MD and Specialist Surgeon) was curious

about the logic behind the various potency scales in

which homœopathic remedies are available and given.

He argues this is in linear fashion and yet straight lines

are rarely found in nature. Golden Ratio is an

expression of the most harmonious proportion between

width and length which is stated mathematically as

1:1.618. Golden ratio is found throughout nature and

has a special relationship with the Fibonacci sequence

of numbers (in which you add a number to its

predecessor to form the next number in the series – 0, 1,

1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 ….). The ratio between any two

successive Fibonacci numbers will be close to Golden

ratio.

Dr. ROZ found that homœopathic potencies when

given in Fibonacci sequence, built exponentially upon

each other to achieve excellent results. At the moment,

a true Fibonacci series of homœopathic potencies is

available only from Simillimum Pharmacy in

Wellington, NZ.

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

IV. PHARMACOLOGY

1. Causticum Hahnemanni – Welches Causticum?

(Causticum Hahnemanni – which Causticum?

HOLZAPFEL, Klaus (ZKH. 56, 1/2012)

The Proving of Causticum in Hahnemann’s

Chronic Diseases contains symptoms of two

chemically completely different primary substances.

132

One could be identified as a weak Caustic Potash

solution, whereas the other one, called Tincture Acris

Sine Kali, has upto nowadays not been investigated.

Yet it seems to be an antimonium-containing substance,

free of Potassium ions.

The proving symptoms of Tinctura acris are to be

found attached; a second attachment contains the

instruction to formulate the remedy.

Homœopathic laboratories are called upons to make

tincture acris s.k. available for homœopathic practice.

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

V. RESEARCH

1. Evidence Based Clinical Study of Homœopathic

Medicines in Patients with Benign Prostatic

Hyperplasia

GUPTA, Girish, et al. (AJHM. 105, 2/2012)

Background and Objectives: Benign Prostatic

Hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common condition in

elderly men and its incidence is age related. Although

clinical evidence of disease occurs less commonly,

symptoms of prostatic obstruction are also age related

and if untreated affect quality of life. No data

measuring clinical as well as laboratory, diagnostic

parameters in the treatment of BPH using homœopathic

medicine is yet available. This observational study on

BPH was conducted for this purpose, using twenty pre-

selected medicines.

Methods: A collaborative research study between

Central Council for Research in Homœopathy (CCRH),

New Delhi and Homœopathic Research Foundation,

Lucknow was planned. A total of 121 patients enrolled,

out of which 43 completed the study according to

protocol. Trial medicines selected on the basis of

principles of Homœopathy were prescribed and

International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS),

Ultrasonography, Uroflowmetry and Prostate Specific

Antigen (PSA) were assessed before and after

homœopathic treatment.

Results: After comparing pre and post treatment

results, the difference in mean values of IPSS, Prostate

weight, PSA and Average flow rates were found

statistically significant. Maximum Flow Rate and Post

Void Residual Urine (PVRU) were found improving but

statistically not significant. Lycopodium(n=15),

Pulsatilla (n=11), Sulphur (n=8) and Calcarea carb.

(n=3) were found to be most useful among twenty trial

medicines.

Conclusion: Results obtained from the study are

encouraging with findings that 93.0% of patients

improved clinically, and evidence of positive changes in

diagnostic parameters. A randomized controlled trial is

needed to further validate the usefulness of

homœopathic medicines. [There will be no end to the

RCTs. When 93% are positive, what more. Has there

been 100% in any test? = KSS].

2. Evaluation of Antiplasmodial Efficacy and safety

of Cinchona officinalis Against lethal Murine

Malaria Parasite

RAJAN, A. and BAGAI, U. (AJHM. 105, 2/2012)

Background: Homœopathic drugs have been acclaimed

for their efficacy, safety and low cost. Moreover, they

are already used by humans. Thus they could be

evaluated for their suitable candidature as potent

antimalarials. The present study has been designed to

evaluate the antiplasmodial efficacy of mother tincture

(ɸ) and different potencies (6c, 30c and 200c) of

Cinchona officinalis (China) in combating lethal murine

malaria

Method: Eight groups consisting of twelve BALB/c

mice each were administered oral doses of different

drugs and their antiplasmodial efficacies were evaluated

by Peter’s-4day test. The safety of drugs to the host was

monitored by biochemical and histological analysis of

liver and kidney for up to 4 weeks.

Results: Significant reduction in parasitaemika was

observed in experimental mice receiving China ɸ and

China 30c with 97.5% and 100% chemo suppression on

day 28 as compared to the infected control and placebo

control groups. The mean survival time (MST) of mice

was increased to 25.6±5.2.4 days (p<0.0005) and

26.8±1.2 days (p<0.0005) respectively compared to the

infected control group (8.8±5.2 days). However, the

mice treated with China 6c and China 200 c died

within 21 days die to infection. The safety of China ɸ

and China 30c to the host has also been confirmed by

liver (ALP and bilirubin) and kidney (blood urea

nitrogen and creatinine) function tests in serum of

treated mice and by histopathological studies.

Conclusion: The present study points towards safety

and antiplasmodial efficacy of China 30c against lethal

murine malaria in vivo.

3. Homœopathy as Systemic Adaptational

Nanomedicine: The Nanoparticle-Cross-

Adaptation-Sensitization Model

BELL, R. Iris (AJHM. 105, 3/2012)

This paper presents an overview of the

nanoparticle-cross-adaptation-sensitization (NPCAS)

model for homœopathic remedy actions in living

systems. The model builds upon an extensive

interdisciplinary scientific literature outside

conventional biomedicine. The way in which

homœopathic remedies are made, involving trituration

with or without succussion, is a type of top-down

133

mechanical manufacturing process for nanoparticles

(NPs, measuring <100 nanometers in diameter) of

source material. Chikramane et al (2010) documented

the presence of source nanoparticles in commercial

homœopathic remedies. NPs acquire unique biological,

chemical, electromagnetic, and quantum properties as a

function of their high ratio of surface area to volume.

Their ability to cross cell membranes and absorb other

materials onto their highly reactive surfaces makes them

excellent herb, nutriceutical drug, and vaccine delivery

vehicles with enhanced bio-availability. Nanoforms of

materials lower the dose needed even for conventional

medical applications. For homœopathic dosing, very

low doses of NPs can mobilize hermetic adaptational

mechanisms in complex living systems by serving as

novel, foreign stressors to stimulate beneficial

compensatory responses in the organism as a whole.

The organism’s adaptive responses grow and evolve

over time via nonlinear metaplastic and plastic

sensitization mechanisms in bodily cells across the

endogenous, self-organized network of the dynamical

living system. The primary pathways involve adaptive

reactions rather than direct pharmacological actions.

Taken together, the evidence-based NPCAS model

offers a testable, scientifically-grounded foundation for

advancing homœopathic clinical care and research.

4. Asthma on the Rise …

Evidence: Children with asthma breathe easier with

Homœopathy

JOHNSON, Christopher (HT. 33, 1/2013)

WHO estimates that 235 million people suffer

worldwide. Urban environments are strongly associated

with risk of Asthma and people are moving into these

areas in increasing numbers worldwide.

A survey on patients on asthma medications in the

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that

64% of adults experienced tachycardia, 60% had

jitteriness, 43% experienced shaky hands and 42% were

bothered by restlessness, children experienced similar

symptoms.

In an observational study, 30 children, aged 7 to 15

yrs, were diagnosed with asthma by a pulmonologist

and referred to paediatricians at the homœopathic clinic

of the National Research Centre in Cairo, part of the

Egyptian National Ministry of Scientific Research and

Technology Institutes.

Here they were treated with individualized

Homœopathy for 6 months – as an adjunct to their

conventional treatment. All children had been using

standard asthma medications regularly in the year

before the study, without any change in their asthma

severity.

Before treatment 53% had symptoms either daily or

throughout the day.

After treatment only 7% did.

Before treatment53% headed to use inhalers at least

once per day.

After treatment only 6% did. 90% of children

reduced their inhaler use.

90% of children were using rounds of

corticosteroids more than twice a year. After

homœopathic treatment only 10% used more than twice

a year.

The researches also ranked the overall severity of

each child’s asthma. Prior to Homœopathy 62% of

children had the most severe asthma; After 6 months of

Homœopathy only 7% did.

After homœopathic treatment, statistically

significant improvements in 5 or 6 lung function tests

were found as measured by a pediatric chest specialist.

The magnitude of these improvements was equal to

that observed with use of inhaled corticosteroids in

randomized, controlled trials.

After 6 months of homœopathic treatment, all

children were able to sleep normally, 90% of children

had no attacks of cough.

Homœopathic remedies used were all common

polychrests such as Phosphorus, Lycopodium,

Arsenicum album, etc. Most prescribed were Calcarea

carbonicum and Natrum muriaticum. Remedies were

administered as single doses in the 200c potency.

Additionally ‘respiratory remedies’ such as Antimonium

tartaricum, Drosera and Kali bichromicum were given

intermittently (in lower potencies up to 30c, daily) for

coughing episodes.

All told, 90% of children reduced their inhaler use.

Only a single adeverse event was observed during the

course of study: “The appearance of transient skin

papules which disappeared in 24 hrs…….after

improvement of asthma symptoms.”

5. How does Homœopathy work in the body?

New Model says, “electromagnetic resonance”

between remedy and Nervous System

JOHNSON, Christopher (HT. 33, 2/2013)

Researcher Iris BELL, MD and colleagues at the

University of Arizona propose that the interaction of

remedy nanoparticles with various systems in the body

initiate a cascade of events that move the body in the

direction of increased resilience and homeostasis.

Immunologist/researcher SHAHRAM SHAHABI

and his team at Urmia University in Iran also propose a

systemic, body-wide response to the remedy, but they

suggest the action is triggered instead by

electromagnetic signals from the remedy, which are

detected by the sensory nerves and then transmitted

from the brain through the body’s neural network.

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

134

VI. HISTORY

1. Die Medikation in der Praxis Friedricks von

Bӧnninghausen (The medication in the Practice of

Friedrich von Boenninghausen)

BASCHIN, Marion (ZKH. 55, 3/2011)

Friedrich von BOENNINGHAUSEN (1828 – 1910)

was the fourth son of the famous Clemens Maria Franz

von BOENNINGHAUSEN (1785 – 1864).

FRIEDRICH also like his father studied jurisprudence

first and then studied medicine. In 1862 he took up

practice in Münster and took up the Practice of his

father after he passed away. The Case Register of both

– Father and Son – are in the Institute for history of

medicine in the Robert Bosch Institute.

The history of Homœopathy does not mention

FRIEDRICH. However his Case Registers in the

Robert Bosch Institute History of Medicine has got

these Registers as well as those of his father Clemens

Maria FRANZ BOENNINGHAUSEN. There is a

wealth of knowledge.

Looking into the documents available, it is seen that

Friedrich used the 200th potency like his father, more

often. He followed a thorough Case taking.

Some further information like medicines frequently

used, etc. have been found. Further studies are required

and appear well worth.

2. Die Geschichte der Homӧopathie in der

Sovietisches Besatzungszone und der DDR

(The History of Homœopathy in the Soviet

occupied zone and the German Democratic

Republic)

NIERADE, Anne (ZKH. 56, 1/2012)

Hitherto Homœopathy in the GDR was unknown;

information on this was prohibited. As an

individualizing method, it was contradictory to the

GDR-immanent endeavours to control and influence

human development.

In contrast Homœopathy was historically anchored

in the population. Homœopaths worked as long as

possible, homœopathic self-medication and layman

therapy had a growing significance.

The feeling that the Health policy Homœopathy

would die away was belied. It was accepted as a

psycho-therapeutically effective and economical

placebo method (!)

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

VII. EDUCATION

1. Ten Immediate Challenges Facing Homœopathic

Education in the 21st Century

GRAY, Alastair; BAHONS (AJHM. 105, 3/2012)

Attracting students to Homœopathy and employing

teaching methods attuned to modern ways of learning

are crucial issues for our time. What tomorrow’s

homœopath needs, and what our teaching institutions

need to address, are discussed.

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

VIII. GENERAL

1. Hammerschlag und Eselsqurke – Herings

Reiseanekdote (Hammerblow and Squirting

Cucumber – Hering’s Travel Anecdote)

SOMMER, Ilka (ZKH. 55, 2/2011)

In his article “Reflections on Hypothesis and

Experiment, Miasms and Contagium, Pathogenesis and

Pathoexodus ….” In the Archiv für Homӧopathische

Heilkunst, 1833: 13 (2), HERING gave an anecdote.

This lengthy contribution was given several

misinterpretations and HERING had to remind the

readers that his satires, allegories are not to be taken

literally. A well known anecdote is to make it clear

with regard to its context and historical context; the

correct meaning has to be comprehended.

2. Forschende Praktiker? Fall documentation in der

homӧopathischen Praxis

(Researching Practitioner? Case documenting in

Homœopathy Practice)

KESSLER, Ulrike (ZKH. 55, 4/2011)

A small-scale, qualitative empiric study of case

documentation, was carried out with interview of twelve

experienced Practitioners. It was observed that

electronic patient record was not the standard with these

Practitioners. These Practitioners were also not

interested in quality improvement with these case

documentation or clinical audit. At the same time, it

became apparent how much importance the respondents

attached to the therapeutic relationship, at the expense

of structure and validity of the documentation. This left

questions as to how theories in Homœopathy are

developed and reassessed.

3. Public Speaking? Yes You Can!

Tips, tricks and advice for giving a good talk on

Homœopathy (or any important topic)

ROTHENBERG, Amy (HT. 33, 1/2013)

Anyone who practices or loves natural medicine

(including Homœopathy!) needs to stand up and

advocate for it.

Eighteen tips are given below how to both prepare

best for a talk and reduce anxiety before and during the

event.

135

The indications for Gelsemium, Argentum nitricum,

Lycopodium and Silica are given to ease anxiety.

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

XI. BOOKS

1. The Homœopathic Treatment of Depression and

anxiety and other mental and emotional

Problems, REICHENBERG-ULLMAN Judyth

and ULLMAN Robert. 2012. Hard cover 270

pages $32/- . ISBN: 978-3-943309-02-7,

Narayana Publishers German. Review by Laura

SHOLTZ. (AH. 18/2012).

“…. One should not be fooled by the simplicity of

the Ullmans’ writing. So much information is offered in

such an easy, palatable way that the reader, without any

inkling or forewarning that they are reading textbook

material on genetic disorders or chromosome

correlation, suddenly can understand explanations of the

serotonin connection to mental illness, or specific uses

of “Antidepressants, Anti-Anxiety Medications,

Antipsychotics and Mood stabilizer.”

“The Ullman have a sense of humor, ….

“The cases read like mini-mysteries ….

“The Homœopathic Treatment of Depression and

Anxiety is a delight to read. It fills a gap in

homœopathic literature and reflects the gentle wish of

its authors…”

2. Classical Homœopathy Evidence Based

Medicine, Vol.1: Case Studies, Long Term

Treatment, Theory; Erik van WOENSEL, 373

pages. $50. ISBN: 978-9-0787-4201-2 published

by Educated Centrum voor Homeopathie,

Netherlands. Review by Jay YASGUR (AH.

18/2012).

“..a stellar book of over fifty cases treated in the

classical manner. Van WOENSEL and George

VITHOULKAS are professional colleagues and

together wrote Levels of Health (2010) which is

considered Volume 2 of Vithoulkas’ seminal 1980

treatise, The Science of Homœopathy. His work is

divided into three sections: theoretical part, Case studies

and analysis of the cases “Many Chronic and acute

complaints are described:

….. This well-produced text is printed on buff-

colored paper, is sewn and wrapped (for durability) and

is set in a sans-serif font. ..It contains an eleven page

index…. If your preference is to sit with a master of

classical Homœopathy, Van Woensel’s book should be

added to your library.”

3. Concordant Reference – Complete Classic

Materia Medica by Frans Vermeulen 2011,

hardcover, 2074 pages $ 140.40. ISBN 978-2-

87491-020-3. B. Jain Archibel, SPRL. Belgium.

Review by Laura SHOLTZ. (AH. 18/2012):

“Frans Vermeulen’s original Concordant Materia

Medica, first published in 1994, has been one of my

favorite and most used Materia Medica for over

seventeen years. This new Concordant Reference, at

2074 pages is more than twice as long as Vermeulen’s

first, and is filled with updated information that every

Professional homœopath should have at his/her

fingertips. This is a mammoth work, covering 1209

remedies in depth, of which “…297…….had been

buried ….. virtually hidden ……. Rarely, if ever, used.”

What Frans Vermeulen has provided in this single book

is the compilation of 32 volumes of Materia Medica.

This is an astounding piece of work!

….. I definitely recommend buying Frans

Vermeulen’s Concordant, and hope that all professional

homœopaths are as delighted with it as I am ….”

4. Homœopathy for Plants. A practical guide for

Indoor, Balcony and Garden Plants with tips on

Dosage, use and choice of Potency by Christine

MAUTE. 2011, Hardcover, 158 pages, $34/-.

ISBN: 978-3-943309-21-8. Narayana Publishers.

Review by Laura SHOLTZ (AH. 18/2012):

“This is a beautiful book, worthy of being displayed

on anyone’s coffee table. ….. I had thought of treating

my plants with remedies many years ago, but I did it

haphazardly and never actually wrote down what

remedies I gave, how often I gave them or how the

plants responded; Christine Maute did exactly that, and

this book is the fine result.

…. This is a very useful, thoughtful, absolutely

gorgeous book, one that any gardener or homœopath

should be happy to own. My plants and I are grateful to

Christiane MAUTE. …..The knowledge of

Homœopathy is spreading out, growing wider and

reaching farther each day, just like healthy plants”.

5. Compass: a clearer Direction for Your Practice?

Homœopathic Practice Management Software

from Miranda CASTRO. www.compass4us.com .

Review by Kathy ZIMMERMAN. (AH.18/2012):

“An exciting find for me at the 2011 Joint

Homœopathic Conference in Alexandria, Virginia was

the Compass Homœopathic Software program.

Compass is a fully integrated practice management

software program designed for use on both Macs and

PCs. …. The intuitive nature of the program allows the

provider to choose from a preselected set of drop down

menus, thus maintaining detailed charting with the

ability to track and measure results. Compass is also

designed for ease and effectiveness of communication

with clients through letters and emails. …….. A

financial and business management system is built in,

with the ability to generate invoices, statements, and

136

keep track of expenses. ….. After using the program for

three months, I am defining my private practice much

more clearly as a business. …….”

6. Homӧopathie in der Krebstherapie

(Homœopathy in Cancer therapy), R. KӦDEL

Stuttgart: Hippokrates; 2009. 275S. €59.95

(German). Review Julia ALTSTAEDT. (ZKH. 55,

1/2011).

“Robert KӦDEL presents a thorough work on

Homœopathy in reference to Cancer Therapy. Much

essential and correct material required in Cancer

Therapy has been given and also the instructions and

hints from reliable sources. Practitioner with less

experience does not get much help. … but if we treat

Cancer we can learn much from it.”

7. Arzneifindung in der Homӧopathie

(Remedy selection in Homœopathy), LUCAE,

C.: Essen; KVC; 2010 106S. € 7.50 (German).

Review Julia ALTSTAEDT (ZKH. 55, 1/2011):

The book is brief and thorough on the technique of

finding remedy with reference to the three frequently

followed method of repertorisation in Homœopathy and

is addressed to the beginners and less experienced. The

Central point is Kent’s method which is clearly and well

dealt with examples of cases.”

8. Geschichte der Homӧopathie in Indien von ihrer

Einführung bei zur ersten offiziellen

Anerkennung 1937. Quellen und Studien zur

Homӧopathie-geschichte. Band 13

(History of Homœopathy in India from its

introduction to its first official recognition 1937.

Origin and Studies in history of Homœopathy –

Vol.13) DOLDAS, SVB, Stuttgart, Haug 2010.

Geb.253 S. Preis €69.95 (German) review

Christian LUCAE (ZKH. 55, 1/2011):

“….. A carefully researched work, in the

background of actual situation and the high value for

Homœopathy in India. Quite readable work. Many

chapters and appendixes are given a detail. A useful

book for anyone interested in research in history of

Homœopathy.”

9. Heilmittel für Tonsillitis, eitrige Angina,

Diphtherie, Boger C.M., (Cure of Tonsillitis,

septic sore throat, Diphtheria), Hamburg. Bernd

von der lieth Verlag für Homӧopathie; 2005. 2.

Aufl 34 S. kart. € 12. – (German) review Matthias

WISCHNER. (ZKH. 55, 1/2011):

Boger’s Text appeared first in 1920 in the

Homœopathie Rework under the title “Therapeutics of

Diphtheria, Tonsillitis and Septic Sore Throat, etc. Jens

Ahlbrecht has translated this in English; it is given in its

2nd revised edition by Bernd von der Lieth publisher ….

It is divided as a Repertory – and a Materia Medica part.

Modality with regard to swallowing has a high role. …

The Materia Medica contains 77 medicines with lesser

known remedies like Kalium permanganatum, Plumbum

iodatum . …The concept of the book is very interesting.

… The book makes it possible to got oriented easily

regarding therapy of inflammatory throat swellings

according to Homœopathy, quick… There are several

disagreements between the Materia Medica and

Repertory. These make its application difficult.”

10. Homӧopathie alles Gute für ihr Kind. Was Sie

und die Nature für ihr Kind tun kӧnnen

(Homœopathy – all good for your child. What

you and nature can do for your child),

SPARENBORG-NOLTE, A., NOLTE, S.H.,

Düsseldorf: Oberstebrink: 2011 geb. 309S.

€24.90. (Review by Christian LUCAE (German).

(ZKH. 55, 2/2011):

“Coming from Paediatric Psychiatrist for children

and a foreword by George VITHOULKAS, we thought

that it will be of great use. … However it is more of

basic theories in Paediatrics and Homœopathy and the

book may suit well as a introduction to homœopathic

Paediatrics. … Makes an interesting study and

Paediatricians will gain in studying this book.”

11. Homӧopathie bei ADHS Ein integrative

Therapiekonzept (Homœopathy in ADHS. An

integrated Therapy Concept), BONATH, T.

2. Erweitere Ausgabe. Buchendorf: Irl. 2010.

338S. geb. 46€(German) review Matthias

WISCHNER (ZKH. 55, 2/2011):

“This book is fantastic. Thomas BONATH

homœopathic Physician and Psychotherapist who has in

private Practice specialized in ADHS – Therapy

presenting in this book his integrative concept in

treating the concerned children and grown up. The

author depicts, differentiates, practice related,

sympathetic and humorously what are relevant to

ADHS: Criteria of diagnosis, differential diagnosis,

diagnostic materials, conservative treatment, excellently

readable tips for handling the patients – and naturally

homœopathic Therapy.

15 cases are described in the above mentioned 5

groups, Motor hyperactivity, Lack of concentration,

retardation, …. Every case is presented in engaging

manner. Selection of the remedy, differential diagnosis

are very instructive. That the book is in demand is no

wonder.

The Materia Medica covers 37 remedies; lesser

known remedies like Aranea ixobola, Musca domestica,

Saccharum album/raffinatum are also given. A

repertory brief, with the important modalities are added.

The rubrics has taken into consideration the work of the

137

well known Dr. Heiner FREI who has done much work

in regard to ADHS and its homœopathic treatment.

A fantastic book, recommended for every

practitioner who treats ADHS patients particularly”.

12. Der Neue Farrington – Klinische Materia

Medica – Vorlesungen zur Arzneimittellehre

und Differenzial diagnosen (The new

Farrington - Clinical Materia Medica –

Lectures on Materia Medica and differential

diagnosis), FARRINGTON, E.A., Neu bearbeitet

und übersetzt von Armin SEIDENDER.

Buchendorf: enl. 2010. 2, unverӓnderte Auflage,

100€ Seiten, geb 79.00 €. Review Mathias

WISCHNER. (ZKH. 55, 2/2011):

“The Clinical Materia Medica by Ernest Alber

FARRINGTON (1847 – 1885) was a standard literature

in Homœopathy ever since it was published. The book

contains 72 lectures the author gave in the Hahnemann

Medical College, divided into Chapters animal, nosode,

Plant and mineral substances. These divisions were

followed by Otto LEESER, and recently Rajan

SANKARAN and Jan SCHOLTEN.

This monumental work was translated and revised

by Armin SEIDENDER in 2007 and published it anew

in a 2nd edition in 2010. The translation is excellent.

Errors were corrected with reference to the primary

literature and has unusually provided a small glossary

also. Particularly of value is the newly made up indices

at the end of the book: 115 pages, remedies and their

themes; and further an index of the keywords and their

remedies (131 pages). Layout and binding very good.

Two volumes for a comfortable handling.

“…. To sum up a classic in homœopathic literature,

well translated and solidly done. With new terminology

and altered disease spectrums in many places in modern

term…… well recommended.”

13. Tier, Pflanze oder Mineral – wer lӧst den Fall?:

Wege zum homӧopathischen Simillimum

anhand von 50 Fallbeispielen. Ein Lern – und

Arbeitsbuch (Animal, Plants or mineral – which

helps the case? Path to homœopathic

Simillimum with regard to 50 case Examples. A

learning and workbook) LANG E. :

Buchendorf: Irl. 2009. 38, S., kart: 39€ review

by Mathias WISCHNER (ZKH. 55, 2/2011):

“The title is misleading. This has nothing to do

with Rajan SANKARAN’s “Kingdoms” methodology

Eva LANG has written on VITHOULKAS’ teaching,

also SCHOLTEN, CANDEGABE. SANKARAN’s

Case Analysis methods. ……. A learn and workbook

which follows more the methods VITHOULKAS and

experienced homœopaths.”

14. Homӧopathische Behandlung Multimorbider

Patienten. Sichere Arzneiwahl durch Polaritӓts

analyse und BӦNNINGHAUSEN-Method.

(Homœopathic Treatment of patients with multi

morbid states. Sure selection of the remedy by

polarity analysis by the Boenninghausen

method) FREI, H. Stuttgart: Haug 2011. 180S.

17 alb. 62 Tab. €59.9S. (German) review

Matthias WISCHNER (ZKH. 55, 2/2011):

“Heiner FREI in this book proceeds to teach how

his Polarity analysis will lead to a sure and certain

finding of the curative homœopathic remedy. The book

is rich with practical instructions and scales to measure

the results. Recommended strongly to everyone who is

keen to obtain sure successes in a workable manner.”

15. The Synergy in Homœopathy: An Integrated

Approach to Case-Taking and Analysis – Rajan

SANKARAN. Homeopathic Medical Publishers,

Mumbai – 2012, 297 pp., with Index of Remedies

ISBN: 978-93-80355-84-9. $70(US). Reviewed by

MOSKOWITZ, Richard (AJHM. 105, 3/2012)

“Reason for welcoming the book is its stated

intention of healing the old controversy that still

fractures our movement into two seemingly

irreconcilable camps, those who adhere to the time-

honored practices of HAHNEMANN and the great

master homœopaths of the past, and believe that

anything beyond the letter of what they taught must be

rejected as mere speculation, against those who provide

and make use of detailed information about groupings

of plant, animal, and mineral remedies that go well

beyond the traditional emphasis on individual remedies,

and about six additional miasms that Hahnemann

himself did not identify or recognize. In no small part,

this book is explicitly intended to reassure and even

appease his fundamentalist critics, even to the extent of

quoting from Andre Saine and George Vithoulkas

perhaps the fiercest of them, and thus acknowledging

them to be the great and dedicated homœopaths that

they have always been.

It is organized into six sections, each with

illustrative case material.

I have no doubt that Sankaran’s book will prove to

be of considerable practical value to classical

prescribers at every level of experience. To begin with,

I daresay it will persuade many unprejudiced readers

that his insights as to kingdoms, families, miasms, and

sensations are valid and useful additions to

understanding both their patients and the remedies that

can best help them. Beyond that, it offers an attractive

menu of techniques for using that depth to explore their

patients’ inner lives, and to recognize the unifying

features of their distress, rather than settle for a mere list

of symptoms having no apparent connection at all.

These are worthy goals that we all share,

138

fundamentalists and innovators alike; and as a beacon to

point the way, the book gives me good reason to expect

that it will help me and those of my colleagues who will

take the trouble to read it to achieve more consistent

results in the future.”

16. Dental Homœopathy, Vols. I – VII; Acute and

Chronic cases with limited Materia Medica.

PARSONS, Philip K. Review by YASGUR,

Jay(AJHM. 105, 4/2012).

“Dental Practitioner Philip K. PARSONS has

summarized his homœopathic practice in his seven

volumes book of cases. The format: 8.5 by 11 inch

Spiral soft-bound volumes. Each volume contains

a table of contents. A bibliography and Glossary is

included in each volume. Each Chapter is devoted

to a homœopathic medicine. In volume 6 there are

39 Chapters.

The cases and remedies in this book are arranged

alphabetically and represent actual cases that he has

treated over 27 years.

Orthodontic cases illustrate how homœopathic

medicines can actually improve the developing bone

structure of the mouth”.

Case 1: Aug. 10, 1990: Chief Complaint: Class 2

anterior open bite with tongue thrust.

Physical/General symptom: Freckles across nose; pain

right side of abdomen on waking, worse after eating and

at the seaside and from stool. Desires salads; fruits.

Stools smell sour. Anemia. Better from being outside.

Magnesia muriatica 200.

Sept. 11, 1994: He now has Class 1 normal bite with

no tongue thrust which was cured with Magnesia

muriatica.

Chief complaint: Involuntary urination at night which

usually occurs in the first part of sleep. Sepia 200.

(This follows Mag-mur.).

Case 4: Eleven year old female. Feb. 9, 1981, came for

dental fillings. She was whimpering and crying in a

mild manner and had a great deal of fear. She has

curvature of dorsal spine. Pulsatilla 30c. She stopped

crying instantly and allowed to place fillings in six

teeth. She had class 2, division 1 (back teeth are not

hitting right; the lower front teeth are behind the upper

front teeth and make contact with the soft tissue of the

hard palate) and advised her to consult an orthodontist.

Aug. 27, 1981: Patient came for Prophylaxis. Her bite

was normal and occlusion perfect. Curvature of the

spine also is better.

17. BӦNNINGHAUSEN, Cv: Das erste

Krankenjournal (1829 – 1830) Bearbeitet von Luise

Kunkle. Quellen und Studien zur

Homӧopathiegeschichte, Band 14, Herausgegeben

vom Institut für Geschichte der Medizin der Robert

Bosch Stiftung. Leiter: Prof. Dr. Robert Jütte.

Essen: KVC, 2011;€ 29, 80. (The first Case Register

(1829 – 1830) of Cv. Bœnninghausen) (German):

Review Klaus HOLZAPFEL (ZKH. 56, 1/2012).

“Herewith the 1st Case Register of Clemens von

Bœnninghausen, ….. noted for his thorough case

recording …. For one an essential reading and another

for an enjoyable to read book on Homœopathy

Anamnesis and treatment in the early period of Psora

theory.

It was two years after this Case Record that

Bœnninghausen published his first Repertory

(Systematic-Alphabetic Repertorium) of antipsoric

medicines in 1882 containing symptoms verified by

Bœnninghausen in his practice…..”

18. STEFANOVIC, A.: Didaktische Materia

Medica. Homӧopathische Arzneimittellehre unter

Herausstellung der Leit-und Kern-symptome

(Didactic Materia Medica of leading and Core

Symptoms)

Rupichteroth: Simillimum Verlag Homӧopathische

Literatur, Alexandar Stefanovic; 2011, geb., 1566 S.,

Preis € 125, - (German) review Christian Lucae.

“With the publication of this book the author has

bridged the gap between the brief, handy books and the

large several volume Encyclopaedia and covers all that

will be required for a regular use. We may compare

with Phatak, Boericke or Cowperthwaite …. In 1200

pages, and 180 remedies, weighing 800gm in Bible

paper and stable full open binding the book can be

carried comfortably. … The remaining 300 pages

cover Repertory.

… The book fulfils the need for a practice

convenient Materia Medica.”

19. GREGG, RR: Illustriertes Repertorium der

Schmerzerstreckungen in Brust, Seiten und Rücken,

Quellenorientiert ins Deutsche übertragen von Jens

Ahlbrecht

(Illustrated Repertory of Pain extensions in chest,

sides and back, according to source).

Polheim: Verlag Ahlbrecht – Homӧopathische

Literatur; 2011, kart., €34,50 (ZKH. 56, 2/2012)

(German) review Christian LUCAE: “In so far as we

know, this is the first in the history of Medicine, that the

application of Medicine is taught with illustration”

wrote Rolin R. GREGG (1828 – 1886), The American

Homœopath in the Foreword to the original English

version of this booklet in 1879. This work appears to be

based on the Keynote method of H.N. GUERNSEY, ….

GREGG has written in the light of his experience in

treating lung diseases, giving the high importance to the

characteristic. ‘extending symptoms’. …There are 5

illustrated tables. …. Relevant to the illustrations,

Materia Medica of 135 remedies, are also given in

139

alphabetic order. … For this German Edition original

sources have been referred to …. Few cases are also

given…..”

20. BASCHIN, M.: Wer lӓsst sich von einem

Homӧopathen behandeln? Die Patientenes

Clemens Maria Franz von Bӧnninghausen (1785

– 1864)

(Who goes to a homœopath for treatment? The

patients of Clemens Maria Franz von

Bœnninghausen)

Medizin, Gesellschaft und Geschichte 37.

Stuttgart: Franz Steiner; 2010, 495 S., ISBN

978-3-515-09772-7, 68, 00 EUR, (German).

Review Mathias WISCHNER (ZKH. 56, 2/2012).

“This is a revised work of the author, of her

dissertation which places the patients at the centre:

Who and for what did one consult Boenninghausen?

Marion BASCHIN evaluated the Case Register

(110 Registers, 14,000 patients, concentrating on 57

Registers in time frames of 5 years, so that the total

collected medical work of the Baron from 1829 – 1864

are properly represented) … A good part of the work

pertain to social and Medicine-History …. Interesting

part with regard to Homœopathy practiced by

Boenninghausen. Between 5 – 11 patients consulted

Boenninghausen who were patients of Allopathy. It is

seen that 34% patients visited only once, 22.3% twice.

Only a third of the patients (31.3%) came for 4 or more

number of consultations….”

XII. News and Notes

I. ‘Doctors get lakhs to pose as faculty at MCI

CHECKS; Medical College knew about ‘surprise

inspection’ (Times of India, Chennai, dated 30 Nov.

2014). The above is the head line: “A senior doctor can

reportedly earn as much as Rs.5.6 lakh within a couple

of days just for a medical college inspection, and posing

as a faculty member. Inspections by teams from the

Medical Council of India (MCI) for increasing the

number of seats in a medical college, recurring its

recognition or establishing a new one have been the

subject of several court cases and CBI investigations for

more than a decade. Yet nothing seems to have

changed. A senior doctor narrated how he was recently

approached by a private medical college in Uttar

Pradesh and offered several lakhs to be on its faculty list

during an inspection.” Information leaks about the so-

called surprise inspection visit of the MCI to a particular

college, ‘fixing’ inspectors by selecting inspectors who

will write the find report to buying faculty residents and

patients to fulfill the criteria for getting recognition have

been resorted.

There are senior residents, Professors who are

willing to join these ‘gangs’ and ‘earn’ sumptuous

money.

[Personally, I have heard all these even ten years

ago. These are not ‘secrets’. Then came the arrest of

the ‘case’ of Dr. Ketan Desai, in 2010. The Case is still

on. Some colleges were also proceeded against in 2010

and what became of those ‘cases’ we do not know.

What sort of ‘doctors’ will come out of of these

spurious, deception in medical education, is any body’s

guess. = KSS]

II. Objective Monitoring of Response of

Homœopathic Medicines using Medical Analyser by

G.D. JINDAL, T.S. ANANTHAKRISHNAN, S.K.

KATARIA, VINEET SINHA, RAJESH KUMAR

JAIN, MOUSAMI A. NAIK Electronics Division,

BARC and ALAKA K. DESHPANDE Department

of Medicine, J.J. Hospital, MUMBAI.

This is a Report by a team of Scientists on the

experiment conducted in the Bhabha Atomic Research

Centre, Mumbai during 2004.

(The BARC report BARC/2004/E/021, Government of

India, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai – 400

085, 2004. India.)

Abstract: Electronics Division, Bhabha Atomic

Research Centre has developed a novel instrument,

called Medical Analyzer, for studying the time domain

variations in the physiological parameters such as heart

rate, respiration rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and

peripheral blood flow in upper extremities, in a quietly

lying down subject. In the past, heart rate and Blood

pressure variations have been studied all over the world

and it has been known that these variations are largely

contributed by the activity of autonomic nervous

system. The variations in the very low frequency

domain (0.001 to 0.04 Hz) have been attributed to the

activity of thermo-regulation, baro-reflex, rennin-

angiotensin, sympathetic nervous system or a

combination of these. The variations in the very low

frequency domain (0.04 Hz to 0.15Hz) are mainly

contributed by the sympathetic nervous system and

those in the high frequency range (0.15 Hz to 0.4 Hz) by

the para-sympathetic nervous system. These

observations have been verified by selective blockade of

para-sympathetic stimulation with the help of Glyco-

pyrrolate and complete autonomic blockade with the

help of propranolol as well as Glyco-pyrrolate, in

addition to several autonomic tests such as valsalva

manoeuvre, slow deep breathing, tilt table testing etc.

The Medical Analyzer developed at BARC is novel

in many respects such as (1) giving variations in large

number of physiological parameters instead of heart rate

140

or blood pressure alone, (2) deriving variability in four

parameters from just one signal i.e. thoracic impedance

cardiogram and so on. In addition the same hardware

with the help of different software packages can be used

to diagnose peripheral vascular occlusive diseases in out

patient departments and to monitor cardiac output

continuously in the intensive care units. We have used

this system to explore the possibility of disease

characterization in human subjects from variability of

heart rate, peripheral blood flow etc. in limited number

of subjects as a feasibility study, which has been

reported earlier. Encouraged by this study we wanted to

see whether homœopathic medicines in higher dilution

cause any significant change in the autonomic response

of the body.

As we know that homœopathic medicine of 12th or

higher potency does not contain even one atom or

molecule of the medicinal substance and still they are

being used with reasonable success to cure curable and

incurable diseases for the past 200 years or more. No

scientific study has conclusively evidenced significant

difference between the homœopathic medicines and the

pure solvent till today. Furthermore the efforts to record

changes caused by these medicines in physiological

parameters are also highly specific in nature and cannot

be reproduced on demand. Considering these

limitations we have recorded variability in heart rate and

peripheral blood flow in twenty-four unbiased control

subjects before and after the administration of

homœopathic medicine in 30, 1000 or 10000 potency.

It is observed that significant changes occur in

variability spectrum after the administration of the

homœopathic medicine. Also the changes observed are

different for different medicines.

These observations are important from the point of

view that they are recordable and reproducible and no

specificity is required in choosing the control subject or

the medicine. Secondly these changes are brought

about by the homœopathic preparation having no

material existence even at atomic or molecular level.

Lastly there is a scope to document specific autonomic

responses during systematic proving of the drug to act

as template during patient management. Thus the

Medical Analyzer system has a potential to act as a tool

for unfolding mystery of action of materialless

medicine, which is described in this report.

(From the BARC report BARC/2004/E/021,

Government of India, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,

Mumbai – 400 085, 2004. India.)

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

III. A Message from the President. A Profession of

Common Right. MUELLER, Manfred (AH.

18/2012).

Manfred MUELLER is a fourth generation lay

homœopath. His great grandfather was the president of

Swabian Homœopathic Layperson’s League in the

region of Swabia in Southwest Germany. In his tenth

year of practice, his mother presented him with a 1908

edition of Hering’s Domestic Physician, which she

herself had consulted often and was inherited from her

father.

Lay homœopaths – Non-physician practitioners

have prescribed for themselves, their families and

friends. Ever since the attorney Clemens MF von

BOENNINGHAUSEN, the priest GHG JAHR and the

artist Melanie D’HERVILY took up the practice of

Homœopathy, non-physician practitioners have left a

permanent Mark on Homœopathy.

Throughout history, “lay practitioners” gave up

their previous professions to dedicate their lives to

Homœopathy even if they did not receive a formal

medical education. [In so far as India is concerned – and

in several European Countries too, (I am told, like

Poland, Ukraine and others, Homœopathy has been

nurtured carefully during difficult days) - and there

were very good prescribers among the lay. But for

these dedicated lovers of Homœopathy who made no

money in that, later colleges could not have been

founded. This is fact.

In fact Dr. Mahendralal Sircar, the pioneer ‘doctor

Homœopath’ has spoken very highly of the so-called

‘lay homœopaths’. In fact Dr. Sircar’s teacher in

Homœopathy, was a ‘lay’. Give the lay their due =

KSS].

In North America today many of those who wish to

become full time professional homœopaths voluntarily

submit to independent peer evaluation of their

competency and of their adeherence to recognized

standards of homœopathic practice.

IV. NASH was created for those special individuals

(AH. 18/2012)

It is part of an age-old tradition since time

immemorial of healing by non-physicians – a Profession

of common right as opposed to one created by

privileges derived from statutes.

V. The Facts cannot be Denied” – A conversation

with Dr. Luc MONTAGNIER, HAYES, Deborah.

(AH. 18/2012).

The homœopathic community was honored to have

Dr. Luc MONTAGNIER as a speaker in the 2012 Joint

Annual Homœopathic Conference in Reston, VA. Dr.

MONTAGNIER was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2008

for his work in Physiology and Medicine. His recent

researches have shown that certain dilutions of bacterial

and Viral DNA sequences can emit low frequency

electromagnetic waves, which carry information about

141

DNA. Homœopaths will find it particularly interesting

that in order to produce the electromagnetic signal, the

diluted sample had to be succussed.

In his interaction with the author, he told that

Jacques BENVENISTE had difficulty as he was

working with biological systems. On the contrary we

are starting with measuring the signals of chemical

structures, which are developed in water, so we don’t

have difficulty in reproducing these structures. [The

inquisition which BENVENISTE suffered is due to

nothing but unscientific blind hatred of Homœopathy by

MADDO and other ‘scientists’. = KSS].

VI. Adoptational Nanomedicine and Hormesis

Homœopathic remedies as Nanoparticles and Low

Intensity systemic stressors

BELL, Iris; SCHWARTZ, Gary E; KOITHAN,

Mary (AH. 18/2012): The single largest scientific

challenge for Homœopathy is to provide a testable

model for the nature of homœopathic remedies and the

organism vide treatment responses that practitioners

routinely report.

This paper summarises an emerging model that

explains how homœopathic medicines act in living

systems. The core features of the model, which we have

termed adaptional or “hormetic” nanomedicine are that

(a) Homœopathic remedies are low dose of

nanoparticles (NP) of source material, not bulk

form drugs;

(b) The ways in which remedies interface with a living

human being, animal or plant involve activating

and modulating multiple interactive mechanisms of

adaptation to environmental stressors not direct

specific pharmacological actions on end organs of

the body; and

(c) The network nature of the complex living organism

under treatment, not the medicine itself, mediates

the pattern of remedy responses over time. [The

learned authors have given 161 references sources.

Even if we give a thousand ‘proofs’ those who are

prejudiced blindly will never accept. Over the past

years hundreds of proofs have been published.

They are all open, but the ‘scientific’ refuse to see.

Our colleagues are spending their valuable time in

producing ‘evidences’ instead of enriching further

the homœopathic therapeutics = KSS].

VII. Raising the Bar: Joint American Homœopathic

Conference 2012. BIRCH, Kate; DeMARAIS, Lisa.

(AH. 18/2012).

The conference was held at the Hyatt Regency

Reston Hotel, Reston, VA. The highlight was the

amazing presentation of Nobel Laureate Dr. Luc

MONTAGNIER, about high dilutions of HIV DNA

emit electromagnetic signals, which can be transmitted

to remote computers. These signals can then produce a

duplicate of the original viral DNA sequences using the

chemicals of polymerase chain Reaction.

Andre SAINE, presented numerous examples of

Homœopathy lowering morbidity and mortality in

epidemic diseases over the past two centuries.

Amy ROTHENBERG discussed Attention Disorder

related issues and the use of adjunctive therapies such as

cranial Osteopathy and the Feingold and GAPS diets.

Overview of two documentaries. Ananda

MOORE’s In Search of Evidence, on his work with

AIDS and his quest for Genus epidemicus in Tanzania.

Karen ALLEN talked on morning sickness.

Liz LALOR talked on five Psychological strategies

a person may take with respect to their illness: denial,

forsakenness, causation, depression and resignation.

Todd ROWE outlined the work done by the North

American Network of Homœopathic Educators in

creating standards for homœopathic proving.

Dr. Russel MALCOM, described the history,

development and nature of bowel nosodes. He

impressed their importance as both intercurrent and

stand alone remedies.

Rajan SANKARAN discussed Homœopathy’s

laboratory – using the right and left brain together: facts

and feelings, an unbeatable combination. He

emphasized the use of the “three legged stool” – the

genius of the remedy, the symptoms and the system.

VIII. It’s all in the Mind, really: The Theory of

Everything, which releases in India on January 16, is as

much about triumph over disability, as a defiant love

story: The Theory of Everything is a wonderful,

inspirational biopic on Stephen HAWKING, the

brilliant theoretical physicist, and Jane, his wife. The

film is as much a triumph over disability, as a defiant

love story that conquers debilitating Motor Neuron

disease. Struck by the disease at 21 years age and given

two years to live HAWKING goes on to become

Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of

Cambridge and author of several books, including A

Brief History of Time. The Film is due to release in

India in early January 2015.

Above all, The Theory of Everything underlines

the jaw-dropping personal self-confidence of a severely-

disabled man, who communicated mainly by blinking

his eyes. HAWKING divorces his devoted first wife,

Jane after 26 years of marriage and three children,

marries his nurse, and divorces again, as a senior citizen

at 64 – he is now 72! This extraordinary self-esteem

and courage is something most able-bodied people lack.

……. JANE’s love is unwavering, strongly buttressed

by religious faith. HAWKING is an atheist, seeking to

find a universal theory that explains everything in

existence, reconciling Quantum Mechanics with

EINSTEIN’s general relativity theory. HAWKING is

invited to be knighted by the Queen, he invites ex-wife

142

JANE to accompany him. …. [Several years ago, I

read HAWKING’s biography and I have never got over

the courage of the man. I have recommended to several

people when they felt down and out with some illnesses

and lack of confidences to read it. STEPHEN

HAWKING’s life one in millions. = KSS].

IX. Dr. Tarakeshwar JAIN illustrated the

importance of observation during case taking. It is

crucial to note the client’s gestures, the way s/he talks,

how s/he expresses feelings/ideas, how s/he behaves.

Presented several video cases of serious pathology

where the patient was unable to communicate and he

had only his observations upon which to prescribe. The

results and accuracy of the prescriptions were truly

amazing. (AH. 18/2012).

X. Beyond the Disaster – Homœopaths Without

Borders, NA 2012. SMITH, Suzanne. (AH. 18/2012).

Two years after a devastating earthquake in Haiti,

half a million victims still linger in 707 camps scattered

across the capital. Homœopaths without Borders

(HWB) provided critical care to thousands of affected

Haitians.

In Feb. 2012, Doug BROWN, Alyssa WOSTREL,

along with Holly MANOOGIAN held the first session

of a year – long “Homœopathy Fundamental Program

for Haiti”. Students include doctors, medical students,

nurses, midwives, pharmacists and community leaders.

Teaching methods are designed to be simple, clear,

precise and logical with particular protocols to include

local clinical needs such as Fever, respiratory infections,

diarrhea, endemic and epidemic diseases, etc.

Karen ALLEN, joined HOLLY in April and taught

students. Students work in study clubs to sharpen their

skills between seminars.

A 36 year old pregnant woman had been anemic

since giving birth. Also dizziness when walking and

felt weakness in legs. Sepia 30 and a bottle of Hyland’s

Bioplasma to support her and her nursing baby.

Another client, 70 years old women had pain at the

close of urination, frequent urge and takes long time for

the urine to start was cured with Sarasaparilla 30.

In Feb. and April, the HWB team travelled to a

clinic in the mountainside community of Lespinasse.

An elderly man in 70s, hit by a motorcycle with

bruising on right calf and infected lacerations of right

hand. He was given Arnica 30 and Pyrogenium 30.

Calendula cream topically.

The need is great, the work rewarding and the

results gratifying.

When you open your heart to what is beyond your

comfort zone, you become a better stronger person.

HWB, NA would like to thank all of the volunteers,

past present and future for contributing to the work of

HWB in Haiti and throughout the Americas. Special

thanks also to the homœopathic pharmacies that have

generously contributed to the effort. Visit:

homeopathswithoutborders-na.org.

XI. Reflections: Homœopathy Around the World.

EVANS, Gwyneth (AH. 18/2012).

In October 2012, a homœopathic conference titled

2012 and beyond: A Homœopathic odyssey held in

Brisbane, Australia.

The author presented a paper titled “Patient and

Practitioner – the Homœopathic odyssey”.

An odyssey is defined as “a long wandering, a

series of adventurous journeys usually marked by many

changes of fortune”.

Homœopathy has had its own journey over the past

two centuries and this article is a reflection on

Homœopathy around the world, viewed from the

privileged position as chairperson of the International

council for Homœopathy (ICH)

The ICH is an international organization created to

represent professional homœopaths and the practice of

Homœopathy around the world. The goal is to improve

the status of Homœopathy in every part of the world.

Recent survey covered the information about the

numbers of practicing members, student members and

schools or courses operating in each country. Other

questions covered the legality of practice, the

availability of remedies, whether the practice of

Homœopathy is covered by insurers and whether

Homœopathy is reimbursed by a national health care

system.

If we look into the future of Homœopathy, while

there is much to be done to educate ourselves, the public

and governments, we can know that we have in our

hands, hearts and minds an invaluable resource for

making a healthier world, one patient at a time.

[I searched this article for name Julian WINSTON who

did so much for Homœopathy – only next to HERING

in some ways, but did not find any mention. According

to the Homœopathy Today p.8, July/Aug. 2005, Julian

Winston “passed at home in the arms of his wife

Gwyneth Evans” (the author of this article) = KSS]

XII. Derailing the Vaccination Machine. GILRUTH,

Charlotte (AH. 18/2012).

Vermonters who believe in parent’s right to choose

or refuse vaccination for their children fought and

negated a bill S199 in Senate which eliminated the

philosophical exemption to vaccines.

The article explains in detail about the relentless

marketing plan of pharmaceutical industries in USA.

XIII. Expanding Awareness Through Study in India

TAEGAR, Oonagh (AH. 18/2012).

The author writes about her learning and

experience during a month-long advanced course with

143

The Other Song Academy in Mumbai with Dr. Rajan

SANKARAN.

The other song is purpose-designed to meet the

need for a quantum leap forward in homœopathic

awareness. Central to the purpose is the clinical set-up

of the academy. For the first half of each day Live

cases are beamed to a large screen, direct from the

Other Song Clinic three floors above the academy.

Then the case would be discussed. First our ideas, then

his understanding and answering questions.

Now Rajan SANKARAN teaches analysis of cases

using “the triangle”

 Symptoms: Traditional repertory, Materia

Medica and Provings

 System: Sensation data revealing Kingdom,

Family and Miasm

 Genius: The apex of the triangle. It includes a

broad range of solid data including

pathological general tendencies and sphere of

action

Dr. SANKARAN allows the case to unfold gently

and organically, following the patient, rather than

coaching or pushing.

Dr. Jayesh SHAH describes the Vital Force as a

torsion field with two polarities: one dark, contracting

and distressing; the other light, expanding and joyful.

He coaches the patient to focus more fully on their state,

which results in experiencing both the polarities, which

in many cases heals.

Dr. Ashok BORKAR focused on healing advanced

pathologies. He stresses the importance of using a

remedy that covers the location of the disease and the

type of pathology, as well as general state.

Shekar ALGUNDGI makes special use of

meditation with the patient prior to case taking which

almost invariably prepares the way for the sensation to

emerge in the case, regardless of the normal level of

experience of the patient [! = KSS].

Dinesh CHAUHAN gave deep insights into process

of case taking and the signposts along the way – the

phenomena that occur as one nears the centre of the case

and how best to respond to each stage.

XIV. Validated – The Swiss Government Report

on Homœopathy in Health Care SMITH, Suzanne J.

(AH. 18/2012).

In January 2011, the Swiss Federal Department of

Home Affairs ruled that as of 1st Jan. 2012,

Homœopathy will among others, be included in the

Swiss statutory health insurance and reimbursed for a

minimum of 6 years.

In 1998 Homœopathy was included in the Swiss

statutory health insurance and withdrawn in 2009. This

led to a referendum vote in 2009 when the great

majority of Swiss spoke out and voted in support of

integrating complementary medicines including

Homœopathy into the national health system.

XV. Patty Smith. In Memoriam VERSPOOR, Rudi

(AH. 18/2012).

PATTY born on 17 May 1954 in Plainfield, New

Jersey. The life long interest in Homœopathy began

when her husband was saved by Arnica and Hypericum.

As a co-ordinator for NCH she hosted many

conferences and seminars left for Canada in 1995. Ran

Canadian program of The British Institute of

Homœopathy. She always challenged her students to do

the best they could, often seeing potential that they

couldn’t yet see in themselves. The Hahnemann center

for Heilkunst opened in 1998, followed by the

Hahnemann College for Heilkunst (HCH) in 2001. Her

hobbies were photography and searching for the best

foods, desserts and cupcakes in the world.

XVI. In Memoriam: Diwan Harish Chand,

MBBS. YASGUR, Jay (AH. 18/2012).

Diwan Harish Chand (7.3.1924 to 13.12.2011) was

the doyen of Indian Homœopathy. A fellow of the

Faculty of Homœopathy since 1946 (from Royal

London Homœopathic Hospital). He has been president

of the LIGA from 1979 – 82. For some 50 years, he

was a member of every homœopathic committee of the

Indian Government.

It was due to the personal efforts of Dr. DIWAN

that the Govt. of India, brought about a postage stamp of

the Indian Pioneer in Homœopathy, Dr. Mahendralal

SIRCAR.

Dr. DIWAN was author of following books:

1. Iconography of Hahnemann – a Pilgrimage –

Indian Books & Periodicals, N. Delhi – 110

005, 2005.

2. Homœopathy in Geriatrics, National

Homœopathic Pharmacy, N. Delhi – 110 001,

1991.

3. A Compendium of Lectures on Homœopathy,

1950 – 1995 National Homœopathic

Pharmacy, N. Delhi – 110 001, 1995.

4. History of Homœopathy in India in the 19th

Century B. Jain Publishers, N. Delhi – 110

005, 2007.

XVII. In Memoriam: Dr. Abdur REHMAN.

YASGUR, Jay (AH. 18/2012).

Pakistani homœopathic physician Abdur REHMAN

died on April 4th 2012. He served as a professor at the

Homœopathic Medical Centre in Lahore, Pakistan and

became fluent in German (and French) so that he could

read Hahnemann in the original. This no doubt took his

writings to a higher level. His opus was the

Encyclopaedia of Remedy Relationships in

Homœopathy, first published in 1997, second edition in

144

2002, French edition in 1999 and German edition in

2002.

This very useful work puts together an incredible

amount of information from many sources and well

produced. [Personally, I was acquainted with Dr.

REHMANN, through my Quarterly Homœopathic

Digest of which he was a regular reader and liked it

very much. I have reviewed, his books mentioned

above in my QHD. He had also sent me a manuscript of

his next work on Trauma as a aetiology, asking for

further ideas and changes, additions, etc. Unfortunately

he passed away before it could be brought out. I fully

endorse YASGUR. Those like REHMAN appear very

rarely. May he rest in peace = KSS]

XVIII. In Memoriam: Glen Dupree DVM (July 21,

1956 – Feb. 27, 2013) LEBENSORGER, Mitzi (HT.

33, 2/2013).

Veterinarian Glen DUPREE of St. Francisville,

Louisiana was a passionate proponent of Homœopathy

and organic agriculture. Many farmers now use

Homœopathy as their first-line treatment for large

animal herds, thanks to Dr. DUPREE’s sharing wisdom,

via his website, webinars, teaching, mentorship and

writing.

In 2010, Dr. DUPREE wrote Homœopathy in

organic Livestock production.

“By encouraging sustainable organic agriculture

homœopaths set the stage for better therapeutic

responses in our patients”. He noted that 25 million

pounds of “preventive” antibiotics used annually in

conventional livestock production end up in our food

and water. He therefore urged homœopaths to get

involved in treating animals on organic farms. “We

have only to take advantage of what is being placed

before us to show the unequivocal power of

Homœopathy. I can see no greater opportunity for

Homœopathy today than the untapped potential within

the field of organic agriculture,” said Glen.

Let Dr. Dupree’s life inspire us to make this world

a better place – for all its creatures.

XIX. A bitter Pill for Docs, Pharma Companies,

Pradeep S. Mehta (Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, 6 Jan.

2015): Much has been in the recent past about much

unethical practices of doctors. Here one more: Many

doctors prescribe a particular brand of medicine for

personal gains. The Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical

Marketing Practice (UCPMP) does not cover

unnecessary diagnostic tests and surgeries. Medicines

constitute 72% of the healthcare costs in India. … The

most common and probably the most damaging

unethical practice by Pharma Companies from a

consumer’s point of view is the unholy nexus between

the Pharma industry and medical professionals that has

been debated world over for several years. [Recall the

arrest of Dr. K. DESAI of Indian Medical Council who

had made literally tons of money by unethical practices.

He is yet to be punished = KSS.] Last year the giant

Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) was fined by China for

bribing doctors, hospitals and government officers.

They were accused of spending $490 million! (Imagine

if this was spent by the GSK for bribing, the amount of

illegal profits they get. Pfizer was fined $2.3 billion in

2009. Pfizer pleaded guilty. In 2011 Merck agreed to

pay a five of $950 mn. for illegal promotion of the drug

VIOXX. Johnson & Johnson was fined $2.2 bn. This

was to promote prescription of Risperdal to elderly

people with Dementia.

In India the Scenario is worse. One Survey found

60% of the prescriptions were irrational.

Here we find a large proportion of patients are

diagnosed with hyper- hypo-thyroidism and

consequently much of tablets which are to be used for

‘life-time’. We understand that lab tests results also are

as ‘desired’ by the doctor.

[No wonder that the dominant Medicine is annoyed

with Homœopathy which has no place for mal practices.

With Homœopathy Lab tests are required to minimal,

and medicines cost are neglible; and it gives quicker,

safer, cheaper results = KSS].

XX. President’s Message. SEBASTIAN, Irene

(AJHM. 105, 2/2012).

Irene SEBASTIAN worked part time in a Federally

Qualified Health Center for 3 years in the aftermath of

Hurricane Katrina. The Medical Director was open

minded and allowed the use of homœopathic medicines

in the clinic. The stumbling block in the discussions

with the physicians was the lack of statistically

significant research studies.

[How does it matter – the so-called research studies.?

Homœopathy did good work in the clinic and it was

open for all to see. People got well. Where is the

block.? It is in the mind. = KSS].

An Indian website www.audesapere.in – gives

homœopathic research articles dividing into basic

categories. Each reference is linked to its abstract as

well. It is time to read it, understand and organize it.

So that we can share its value.

Basic Science Research

 Measurable physical effects of homœopathic

medicines (including differences between

medicines and between potencies)

 Measurable biological effects of homœopathic

medicines

 Theories about the mechanism of action

Clinical Research

 Meta-analyses of clinical research studies

145

 Clinical trials of one specific homœopathic

medicine (e.g., Arnica)-using an allopathic model

(all subjects receive the same remedy)

 Clinical trials of one particular diagnosis (e.g., mild

traumatic brain injury)-using a homœopathic model

(remedy selection is individualized)

 Epidemiological studies

 Preventive medicine clinical trials

 Longitudinal outcomes research

 Case Series

 Clinical research on animals

 Clinical research on plants

The above categories represent some, not

necessarily all, of the categories of research to be

considered. This first step of categorizing the studies

would be relatively easy. It would also be of great value

to link the references to their abstract and/or the

publication (as aude sapere has done). The second step

is to develop a slide-show presentation for each

casegroup. In the presentation, the highlights of the

studies with critical comments can be presented with

appropriate conclusions. Ultimately, it is this kind of

presentation to which our colleagues in the medical-

scientific community will be exposed, whether at a

Grand Rounds or at a conference. If AIH, as an

organization, can develop these presentations, all of our

members can make the presentations in their own

locale. If all of us can become familiar with these

research studies and learn to become comfortable with

these presentations, we can make a tremendous

difference.

An ongoing task would be to construct an annotated

bibliography of all these references. If each of the

references in our bibliography had an annotation

indicating the value of the research along with critical

comments, it would assist other readers in determining

quickly if this reference is one that he/she should read.

Each of us could contribute to this step. When you read

a research study, send some brief comments to the list

serve or to me directly (Sebastian.Irene@gmail.com).

With time, we will have annotations for many

references.

XXI. Report of the 66th Congress of the Liga

Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis. New

Delhi, India 1-4 Dec. 2011. HILTNER, Richard and

CHASE, Sandra M. (AJHM. 105, 2/2012).

2300 delegates from around the world participated

and 318 papers presented brief summary of the contents

of 66th Congress composed. Expansive description at

www.lmhint.net

The business meetings of the Liga Executive

Committee and of the International council preceded the

actual congress.

XXII. Notes on my visit to Dr. Vijayakar’s

Predictive Homœopathy Clinic in Mumbai.

SEBASTIAN, Irene (AJHM. 105, 3/2012).

Observing the work of Dr. Vijayakar has changed

my ideas about what is possible not only with

homœopathic medicine, but with medicine in general.

Significant changes in the facial features of children

with Down Syndrome along with improvement in

intelligence and behavior. Skull growth in a

microcephalic child, communicating his needs and

developed bladder and bowel control.

A case of Ankylosing Spondylitis, cured of his

disease and his HLA-B27 becoming negative. So many

cases of dramatic cures. He also cures cases of

hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and heart

diseases and explains the exact nature of the changes

taking place in laboratory values during the course of

their cure (in terms of Miasm moving from Syphilis or

Sycosis to Psora).

The second change in my perspective was an

increasing awareness of the possibility of the true

integration of homœopathic medicine with

contemporary medical science.

In tumors, his lectures on different types along with

their embryological origins and implications of case

taking. Meningioma, for examples derives from

connective tissue and thus he would inquire about an

injury to the neck or back rather than a mental –

emotional etiology.

In case of chronic Pancreatitis, the changes of

lipase of amylase values explained. Initially lipase was

36,000 and amylase 8000. Syco-syphilitic (due to

increase of lipase). With treatment lipase 111 and

amylase 155. (Higher amylase indicates an acute

inflammatory process) which indicates return to Psoric

Miasm.

Comparable explanations about expected changes

in the lab values for leukemia, systolic and diastolic

pressure and other diseases were given.

XXIII. Case Conference: 147th Annual Meeting of

the Homœopathic Medical Society of the State of

Pennsylvania (HMSSP) – March 17, 2012. CHASE,

Sandra. (AJHM. 105, 3/2012).

HMSSP, established in 1865, is the longest

continually meeting homœopathic medical society in the

United States.

The southern Homœopathic Medical Association

(SHMA) established in 1885 in New Orleans, LA and

officially incorporated in 1985 as a nonstock

corporation in Virginia, is a professional organization to

promote homœopathic medicine, advance homœopathic

education and safeguard homœopathic practice in the

Southern states. Since 2001, both SHMA and HMSSP

have joint meetings. 147th Annual Meeting was held in

Pennsylvania.

146

Joseph A.S. Mc Cahon, presented the case of

torsion of the uterus in the parturition of the mature

bovine. This case illustrated the importance of doing an

examination on the animal, not just relying on history.

Upon mechanical reduction, the progression of calving

was further facilitated by the use of Caulophylum 30.

Joyce HARMAN, expounded the topic “Laminitis,

The Equine Insulin Resistant Version of Cardio

Vascular Disease”.

First case – 19 year-old Appaloosa purebred gelding,

who displayed fat pads, on neck, grumpy

personality and lethargic disposition. It

responded to Thuja 200.

Second case – a 30 year old endurance racehorse Arab

gelding that was fearful and had an

elevated ACTH, which responded to

Arsenicum album in rising potencies from

200 to 10M.

David G. WEMBER presented many cases one of

which is a man with pallindromic rheumatism,

recurrent, with strong urine and history of Gout cured

by Benzoicum acidum. First he became better, then

symptoms shifted to left side and started resolving.

Thereafter episodes at greater intervals and less severe.

Richard Fischer, presented a case of tired, tense,

warm jaw muscles after a marital separation in a 46 year

old woman, Ignatia XM and 3 weeks later, clenching

better and could sleep without her night guard.

Another case of a 50 year-old orthodontist with left

temporal headache radiating to the left eye for 20 years.

After Spigelia 200, pain in eye was rare and no longer

pain in head while chewing.

Homœopathic pediatrician Ioana RAZI, presented a

case of family affected by the suicide of a daughter.

The family restless, unsettled, pacing and fearful.

Aconitum was helpful for all except father who found

her hanging for whom Stramonium helped.

Another situation revolved around the birth of a

baby to a young intellectual couple, the mother, a

professor, father pursuing higher studies. There was a 3

year old sister. Over the Christmas break, the mother

experienced an easy delivery, the three year old became

sick and father left for France and the baby developed

colic, screaming at night Aethusa to both daughter and

mother prompted a quick positive shift. Mother left

teaching to join husband in France.

Todd A. HOOVER discussed Lyme disease and its

stages of rash, large joint involvement and neurologic

and Cardiac symptoms. A case of 15 year-old girl with

a history of Lyme treated by antibiotics for 3 months.

Her acute phase had Rash, severe headache and high

fever. Belladonna 200. The headaches improved.

Another 44 year-old female diagnosed with chronic

Lyme disease. Progressive fatigue, twitching muscles,

urinary frequency and dizziness. Sleepless from

palpitations. Anxiety. Arg. nit. 200. Improved.

XXIV. Michael Reece, presented “LM Potency in

Homœopathic Practice” (AJHM. 105, 3/2012).

LM Potencies are particularly helpful for persons

with weak sensitive constitutions, those suffering with

chronic miasmatic disease as those as well as in

patient’s already using other medication. They act more

deeply and gently. Two cases helped by LM potencies

presented. In one case a 40 year-old female with

Asthma, hairloss, exhaustion and hypercholesterolemia.

Tuberculinum LM1 over a number of months cured. In

the second case an 8 year-old girl, diagnosed as ADHD

was treated with Tarentula hispanica LM1 over several

months, cured.

XXV. A Critique of Ernst’s critique and Request

for Replication of an Arnica study. President’s

Message, Irene SEBASTIAN. (AJHM. 105, 4/2012).

Dr. Edzard ERNST’s latest critique of

homœopathic research was published in skeptical

Inquirer 2012; 36(6):39-42. In all he focused on 11

publications from Berlin researchers. He was reluctant

to make any positive judgements about the three RCT’s

(Brinkhaus et al) which were extremely well designed

and which yielded some statistically significant results.

There is an unpublished study by Dr. Len TOROK,

who practiced as an orthopaedic surgeon for many years

and after his homœopathic study, he used Arnica

montana during surgery. He designed a study in which

he compared two group of patients.

The control group was comprised of patients who

had undergone a primary total knee replacement in the

year (1997) prior to the introduction of homœopathic

medicines into the hospital formularly.

The experimental group was comprised of patients

undergoing primary total knee replacement with the

peri-operative use of Arnica montana in a standard

dosing regimen.

In the experimental group, the average blood re-

infusion volume decreased by 74% when compared to

the control group and had reached a level of statistical

significance. This group also experienced less pain, less

swelling, quicker rehabilitation, shorter hospital stays,

less need for narcotics, and subsequently less nausea

and vomiting and urinary retention associated with

narcotics.

This protocol was used for 10 years by Dr. TOROK

till he retired from orthopedic surgery.

This unpublished work is brought to light with a

hope that Berlin researchers (or any other researchers)

will replicate his work.

XXVI. The Fifth European Congress for Integrative

Medicine (ECIM) 21-22 September 2012, Florence,

Italy. FRYE, Joyce (AJHM. 105, 4/2012).

147

The fifth ECIM drew 950 delegates from around

the world. The abstracts are listed in a special edition of

the European Journal of Integrative Medicine (Vol.4,

Supplement Issue, Sept. 2012) which lists 262 oral

presentations, 188 posters and 27 workshops.

XXVII. Reaching for New Horizons. Change and

anticipation. JEROME, Anne (HT. 33, 1/2013)

There are exciting developments at the growing

edge of Homœopathy, and it’s up to us to capture the

opportunities inherent in them.

Laboratory research is showing amazing results

with great promise. Clinical studies are also

demonstrating Homœopathy’s safety and effectiveness

in a variety of contexts. NCH remains active in the

integrative healthcare community and in discussions

about complementary and alternative modalities in the

U.S. healthcare system.

There has been attention from the mainstream

media too. The Dr.OZ show recently produced a very

favorable and accurate segment that NCH helped to

shape.

Sharon Stevenson, Executive Director is leaving

National Center for Homeopathy (NCH). The new

Executive Director is Alison TEITELBAUM.

XXVIII. Meet New NCH Executive Director Alison

TEITELBAUM, MS, MPH. (HT. 33, 1/2013).

Alison TEITELBAUM, MS, MPH, is a lifelong

advocate of improving public health and truly believes

that everyone has the right to a healthy and balanced

life. Over the course of her career, she is involved in

local, regional and national public health and

community education programs.

XXIX. In Gratitude to Sharon Stevenson

25+ years of service, leadership and devotion to

Homœopathy and NCH (HT. 33, 1/2013)

Ann E. JEROME; Dana ULLMAN, Sandra

M.CHASE, Todd ROWE, Gwyneth EVANS, Harry

SWOPE, Amy L. LANSKY, Christina CHAMBREAU,

Stephen MESSER, Roger MORRISON, Andre SAINE,

Lesley HESSELMANN, Amy ROTHENBERG,

Miranda CASTRO, Joe LILLARD, Jean HOAGLAND,

Nancy GAHLES, J.P. BORNEMAN, Mitzi

LEBENSORGER, Richard MOSKOWITZ have

expressed their gratitude to Sharon STEVENSON.

XXX. Homœopathy goes to OZ. GOLD, Peter

(HT. 33, 1/2013)

The Dr.OZ show is a popular TV medical show by

Dr. Mehmet OZ.. A segment on Homœopathy was

filmed on 22 January before a live audience. Dr. Lisa

SAMET was able to convey a rich array of accurate

information in a very short time. After this Dr. OZ

interviewed 3 MDs who urge Homœopathy in their

practice. This made available in their website with a

link to NCH website. Within hours NCH website and

Facebook page received more visits and downloads than

at any other time in its history.

XXXI. The joint American Homœopathic

Conference (JAHC) 2013 to be held in Virginia from

April 19 – 21, hosts the following speakers – Barbara

Lowe FISHER, Henny HEUDENS-MAST, Will

TAYLOR, Joette CALABRESE, Jerry KANTOR

and George DIMITRIADIS.

XXXII. Aging Spines Feel Young Again! Safe

successful homœopathic treatment for painful spinal

stenosis KATCHEN, Debra (HT. 3, 1/2013).

Aches and pains that limit a person’s mobility is

common in people above 60 years of age, due to

degenerative changes in the spine due to “wear and

tear” of Osteoarthritis. Conventional medical treatment

has little to offer.

Pain from spinal stenosis are lightning-like or

toothache like pains in their extremities that are worse

with movement and better with rest. Heaviness,

numbness or weakness in one or both legs. In worst

cases, people may have trouble with overall balance,

coordination, or bladder and bowel control.

This is a debilitating, progressive disease process

that leads to loss of mobility and consequently social

isolation and depression

MRIs of people with Stenosis showed lacey-

looking trabecular like composition of the bone spurs

seen under the microscope. This was in people with

spinal or foraminal stenosis. The author has thus

successfully treated nine cases of spinal stenosis with

Hekla lava 30 twice a day and Calcarea flourica 6x

once a day.

In one case, multiple areas of lumbar stenosis,

clearly visible in previous MRI’s were no longer there.

Two cases are presented. After several months, all

nine patients were pain-free and off all their pain

medications. (Full article in Part II).

XXXIII. Sweet Story. Spirited Schoolgirl saved by

homœopathic sugar. Love and remedies help her

overcomne abuse and ADHD to focus and flourish

LUEPKER, Ian (HT. 33, 1/2013)

7 year-old Loria had behavioural problems like

restlessness, inability to focus and listen in school,

attention seeking behaviours such as poking other

children with a pencil and ruining their ball games,

expressing indignant anger toward her peers. Craving

for sugar and junk food even real food. Loria’s early

childhood lacked security, safety and healthy

attachment, to say the least. Her birth parents used

148

alcohol and drugs regularly, and her mother used

amphetamines and alcohol throughout her pregnancy.

Loria was placed in a loving home with devoted

and caring foster parents. Loria craved sweets,

chocolates, and ‘junk’ food for interest in real food. She

has an enormous appetite and it’s amazing how much

she could eat. Yet she is thin.

Tarantula hispanica, Veratrum album, Kali

phosphoricum and Saccharum album were considered

for differentiation and Saccharum album (also

officinalis) LM6 was given.

5 months later: a radical turn around – she was not

bothering other kids. Less irritable with her siblings and

stopped poking. Calmer. No nightmares. To continue

LM6 for next 6 weeks.

6 weeks later: Had candy without ill effects.

Occasionally sucks fingers. Handwriting improved

much. To continue LM6.

6 weeks later: Not putting fingers in mouth. Better

about taking ‘no’ for an answer.

Two months later: LM7 as gluten and dairy seemed to

make her hyperactive.

Two months later: Doing much better and on weekly

twice dosing.

Seven months later: received ‘good citizen’ award at

school. No craving for sweets.

[See CLARKE = KSS.]

XXXIV. Granting of Hans-Walz-Price for research

work on Homœopathy History (ZKH. 56, 1/2012).

The above price of Euro 1500 for 2011 went to Dr.

Anne Neirade of Meissen. The Institute for History of

Medicine of the Robert Bosch Foundation since 2003

has been encouraging this.

Dr. Anne NIERADE, in her work, analysed the

history of Homœopathy in the Soviet Union occupied

GDR (1945 – 1989) [See P.9, in History column in this

QHD = KSS.]

XXXV. ADHD on the Rise? Or over-diagnosed and

over-medicated? (HT. 33, 1/2013) .

Nearly 10% of U.S. school children are diagnosed

with Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD), and doctor visits

for this condition rose 66% from 2000 to 2010. Why

the increase?

Growing awareness of ADHD is certainly a factor,

but some say the multibillion-dollar industry that has

grown up around the diagnosis has a lot to do with it.

Pharmaceutical companies now heavily market a broad

array of stimulant-based ADHD medications - many

said to be “new and improved” over earlier drugs, such

as Ritalin. Also, the definition of ADHD has been

broadened in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of

Mental Disorders, allowing more children to fit the

diagnosis.

ADHD is usually first noticed in the classroom

setting with kids who have difficulty focusing attention,

staying in their seats, organizing their time, and so on.

Some experts say that today’s schools have higher

expectations of children and lower tolerance for

immaturity or “kids being kids,” leading to more kids

being diagnosed. In fact, ADHD tends to be diagnosed

more often in the youngest children within a grade

level; so immaturity may sometimes be mislabeled as

ADD. Parents can feel pressure from teachers and even

other parents to put their children on conventional

ADHD drugs so the child will be “more manageable,”

perform better in academics, and keep up with their

peers.

Whatever the reasons for the increase in “ADHD

kids,” take heart: homœopathic professionals have a

great success record in helping such children to

flourish—while respecting and supporting their unique

individuality!

XXXVI. Summertime … and the NCH is active.

JEROME, Ann (HT. 33, 2/2013).

NCH is a voice for Homœopathy in an enormous

variety of area from the homœopathic community itself,

all the way out to the wider world. The NCH website is

an essential public face and outreach as well as a

tremendous resource for our members and is being

updated. A new logo will also be more visible. The e-

newsletter will also be more visible. The e-newsletter

will also get a fresh look. NCH will be celebrating its

40th anniversary this year.

XXXVII. Homœopathy in the News. Homœopathy

grows in the Persian Gulf. (HT. 33, 2/2013).

The practice of Homœopathy is growing in the

United Arab Emirates and also in Egypt, Algeria,

Morocco and around the Middle East and North Africa.

- Jan. 20,2013, The Gulf Today.

- Homœopathy helps Pete TOWNSHEND of the

who

Legendary star of The who, 67 year old guitarist

Pete TOWNSHEND, recommended Homœopathy to

David LETTERMAN on CBS TV’s. the late show with

David LETTERMAN, regarding his Tinnitus helped by

Homœopathy. - Nov. 20, 2012, You Tube.

Aetna honors black alternative medical

practitioners.

149

Insurance giant Aetna has issued a 2013 calendar

that honors complementary and alternative medicine

practitioners – specifically those of African – American

descent. One honoree is NCH member Ifeoma

IKENZE, M.D. who has incorporated 25 years of

Homœopathy into her medical practice.

- Feb. 14, 2013, Business wire.

www.aetnaafricanamericancalender.com/2013.

- Migraines in children decrease

An observational study conducted in 12 countries had

59 homœopathic physicians treat 168 children with

individualized homœopathic medicines. Migraine

symptoms were monitored for 3 months before and 3

months after treatment. The frequency, severity and

duration of migraine attacks decreased significantly

during the 3 month follow-up period.

- Aubrey, E., et al. The Journal of

Alternative and Complementary

medicine. Feb. 2013, 19(2): 119-

123

- Holistic hog farmer honoured.

In 1989, after Missouri hog farmer Russ KREMER

was gored by a boar, an antibiotic resistant infection

raged through his body. After 5 unsuccessful

antibiotics, a new one quelled the infection. Since then

he treats sick pigs with homœopathic remedies. He co-

founded The Ozark Mountain Pork Co-operative

(raising 65,000 pigs annually).

- April 5, 2013, Greenwire

April 18, 2013, Missourie Farmer

Today.

Cat allergy reduced with remedies.

A small study at the University of Johannesburg,

South Africa, found that homœopathically prepared Cat

saliva 9c and Histaminum 9c reduced Cat allergy.

- Naidoo P., Fellow J.

Homeopathy, 2013 Apr. 102 (2)

- Medical School hosts Homœopathy debate

On March 22, 2013, The University of Conneticut

School of Medicine hosted a debate – “Homœopathy:

Great Medicine or Dangerous Pseudoscience? –

between Andre SAINE, ND of Canadian Academy of

Homœopathy and Yale Neurologist Steven NOVELLA.

It lasted 2.5 hours.

XXXVIII. Karen ALLEN received “Defining our

Profession Award” from the Council for Homœopathic

Certification on its 20th Anniversary in 2010.

XXXIX. With the letters of Johannes FRANZ acquired

by the Institute for History of Medicine, the history of

Homœopathy in Greece more light is thrown on

Homœopathy in Greece.

FRANZ wrote the letter in 1832 to his fellow

student Emil BRAUN, before he became translator to

the King OTTOS I (1804 – 1851).

In his luggage he had a pack of Homœopathy

medicines. He was also responsible to spread

Homœopathy in Greece. Earlier only two physician

who worked in Greece during the Cholera epidemic

(1831) in Constantinople treated with Homœopathy,

were known to have been in Greece. FRANZ now

stands as the first who was in close contact with the

King. …until 1960 there were only a small number of

homœopathic doctors in Greece. Only with George

VITHOULKAS Homœopathy came to be wellknown all

over Greece.

(Mitteilungen, ZKH. 56, 2/2012)

XL. Those Yummy delicacies are laced with transfat

study: DC CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI, JULY

13. (Source: Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, 14 July,

2012).

Traditional sweets like Mysore pak, Halwa and

Thattai, sold even in some popular sweet stalls, have

unimaginable amounts of saturated fat and trans fat

content. Samples of these sweets were picked up by the

consumer association of India (CAI) a voluntary

organization, and tested in the National Accreditation

Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

(NABL).

The study proved that saturated fat content in them

was 20 times higher than the permissible level

prescribed by the international standards of nutrients.

And the total sugar content of the sweets exceeded 15

percent the normal level.

Mr. G. Santhanarajan, director of the foods said that

not only Pizza, Burger and other Western foods are junk

foods, but some traditional items also come under this

category.

Most of the savouries and sweets purchased have

high fat, sugar and trans fat content.

A 100 grams of Mysore pak should contain only 5

percent of saturated fat. But the samples which we

tested proved that almost all sweet shops make Mysore

pak with excess ghee or vanaspathi which contains 20

times excess saturated fat in it.

Regular intake of these sweets would result in

Diabetes, Hypertension and other serious health

problems.

Advertisements of food items for children should

be regulated, they said.

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

150

LIST OF JOURNALS

Full addresses of the Journals covered by this

Quarterly Homœopathic Digest are given below:

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

1. AH: The Journal of the North American Society of

Homeopaths, 1122 East Pike Street, #1122, Seattle,

WA 98122, USA.

2. AJHM: American Journal of Homeopathic

Medicine, formerly Journal of the American

Institute of Homeopathy (JAIH). 101 South

Whiting Street, Suite 16, Alexandria, VA 22304.

USA.

3. HH: Homœopathic Heritage, B. Jain Publishers

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

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

4. HOMEOPATHY: Formerly British Homeopathic

Journal (BHJ), Homeopathy, Faculty of

Homeopathy, 29 Park Street West, Luton,

Bedfordshire, LU13BE, UK.

5. HT: Homeopathy Today, National Center for

Homeopathy, 101 South Whiting Street, Suite 315,

ALEXANDRIA, VA. 22304, USA.

6. IJHDR: International Journal of High Dilution

Research, Romania.

7. MedGG: Medizin, Gesellschaft und Geschichte,

Institut für Geschichte der Medizin Robert Bosch

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

D-69121 HEIDELBERG, GERMANY.

8. THE HINDU: Newspaper, Chennai–600 002.

9. ZKH: Zeitschrift für Klassische Homöopathie,

Karl Stiftung, Straussweg 17, 70184

STUTTGART,

GERMANY.

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

(TAO TE CHING)

You can readily recognize the highest

virtuousness

because it never places itself on display.

You can readily recognize the lowest

virtuousness

because it is always announcing itself.

The highest virtue quietly serves universal

needs.

The lowest virtue actively strives for personal

success.

The highest morality serves common needs.

The lowest morality is self-serving.

True benevolence

acts without intention.

But when rituals go unheeded,

they are enforced with rolled-up sleeves.

Failing the Great Integrity, we resort to

virtuousness.

Failing virtuousness, we resort to moralizing.

Failing moralizing, we resort to dogma,

the most supercifical form of faith and loyalty,

and the nourishment for confusion.

Natural persons are attracted

to substance rather than form,

to the nutritious fruit rather than the enticing

flower,

to that which dwells deeply within,

rather than to that which clings superficially to

the surface.

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

151

PART II

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

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

1. Homeopathic treatment of malignant melanoma in

a dog

Introduction

Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm of melanocytes,

the cells that produce the skin and mucous membranes

pigment. Almost all oral melanomas in dogs are

malignant (Potter, 1992).

The tumor arises from melanocytes, which are

located between the basal cells of the epidermis at the

junction with or inside the dermis (Potter, 1992).

Melanoma is manifested by a fast-forming local

infiltrate, what frequently recurs, high probability of

metastasis to regional and pulmonary lymphatic nodes

(Potter, 1992; Howard, 1994).

Melanoma is most frequent in dogs older than nine,

especially black-colored ones and particularly Cocker

Spaniel. It is most frequent on lips and gums, palate,

oral mucous membrane and the upper part of the mouth

(Potter, 1992).

Treatment consists of surgical excision, radio and

chemotherapy, yet its efficiency is very low; survival

rates are 10% 1 year later (Potter, 1992; Howard, 1994).

The present article presents the case of a dog affected by

malignant melanoma, which was homeopathically

treated according to Hahnemann’s guidelines after two

suppressive surgical procedures.

Case report

Cocker Spaniel, nine year-old female dog, which

presented melanoma in the mouth and neck, was treated

with Phosphorus LM 6, 2 drops, qd, PO, for 10 days.

Initially, it had presented only one tumor in the mouth,

which was surgically removed. After surgery,

metastases appeared in the neck, which were removed,

as were regional lymphatic nodes. At the first

homeopathic consultation, tumors had come back, even

after a second surgery 3 months earlier. It also suffered

from hypothyroidism, increased appetite, always wanted

to be besides people or other animals and had sebaceous

cysts in several areas.

At age 3½, it had been performed surgery to

remove a breast tumor, no matter that it had already

given birth.

After 10 days of taking Phosphorus LM 6, the oral

melanoma was suppurating and the dog stopped eating.

Silicea CH 6 was prescribed, every 10 minutes, “plus

method”, for 1/2 hour, 2 days. As suppuration

improved, it was prescribed Silicea CH 12, 2 drops, qd,

PO, 7 days.

On the seventh day, suppuration reappeared, and it

was Homeopathic treatment of malignant melanoma in

a dog prescribed Silicea, CH 6, “plus” method, every 10

minutes, for 1 hour, bid, 1 day, followed by Silicea

CH12, 7 days.

Now the dog was itching in the anus, neck, below

anterior limbs; oral suppuration had stopped; yet

melanomas were still present. Silicea was prescribed,

CH 18, 2 drops, qd, PO, 3 days. 30 days later an

abdominal abscess was noticed, but owing to the

animal’s overall good condition, it wasn’t treated.

20 days later, the dog was apparently well,

melanomas were still present, yet smaller in size. Silicea

CH 30 was prescribed, 2 drops, qd, 5 days.

20 days later, the dog still was physically well and

tumors continued to decrease in size. It was prescribed

Silicea CH 12, 2 drops, single dose.

28 days later, the dog had itching eruptions at the

back, its hearing was better, sebaceous cysts were still

present, it was lazy to walk, itching in ears, but

melanomas in mouth and neck had completely

disappeared. It was prescribed Silicea CH 18, “plus”

method”, bid, 2 days.

14 days later, both otitis and skin were worse, it

was prescribed Calcarea carbonica CH12, 2 drops, bid.

40 days later the dog showed no symptoms at all, but for

the sebaceous cysts, it was thinner and more active. It

was prescribed Calcarea carbonica CH18, 2 drops, PO,

bid.

Discussion

Malignant melanoma is the most frequently

diagnosed oral tumor in dogs. Individuals with dark

pigmentation of the oral mucous membrane are at the

highest risk (HOWARD, 1994).

Conventional therapy – surgical excision, radio and

chemotherapy – shows poor results and the prognosis is

very reserved (POTTER, 1992, HOWARD, 1994).

When malignant melanoma recidivates,

conventional medicine offers no alternatives. According

152

to HOWARD (1994), malignant melanoma is the most

frequently found oral tumor; homeopathic treatment is

frequently sought after.

Hahnemann states in Organon’s section 80 that

cancer and neoplasms are forms of Psora, thus they

ought to be treated with antipsoric remedies.

In the present case, Phosphorus, Silicea and

Calcarea carbonica were prescribed as they all were

classified as antipsoric by Hahnemann.

Phosphorus was chosen as it covered the following

symptoms: apprehension when alone; sore tumor in the

inner side of the cheek; appetite increased and food

tastes normally; tumors in skin (Hahnemann, 1998b).

When the clinical picture changed 10 days later and a

suppurating process appeared, Silicea was selected as it

covered the following symptoms: swelling of sub

maxillary nodes; excessive hunger; large furuncle with

mild pain in the cheek; severe swelling of lower lip;

swelling of gums (Hahnemann, 1998b). HERING

showed that Silicea produces tumors in the mouth

Hering, 1994).

When Silicea exhausted its effect, Calcarea

carbonica was selected, as it covered the following

symptoms: heat inside ears; swelling of inner ear;

itching in hot, dry skin as if covered by salt and ashes;

eruption of red spots (HAHNEMANN, 1998b). In

Organon’s section 171, Hahnemann states that in Psora,

several different remedies might be needed in sequence,

provided each one is chosen according to the symptoms

that remain after the previous prescription.

In the present case, antipsoric remedies were

changed according to the changes of the symptoms.

This allowed for a full cure, not only of the melanomas,

but also of the skin and ear symptoms that appeared

after the elimination of the tumor.

Conclusion

The treatment of malignant melanoma in dogs may

be healed if performed according to Hahnemann’s

guidelines for the treatment of Psora.

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

2. The self-controlled studies in clinical homeopathic

research

GUIMARÃES VANESSA M. VALENTE

(IJHDR. 3, 9/2004)

Introduction

In the past decade, the medical and biological

sciences have experienced a new way of operating their

practice: the use of clinical trials’ outcomes for making

medical decisions and interventions. However, the

current methods of statistical inference are not

‘evidence-based’, but ‘error-based’. The misperception

that randomized clinical trials, preferably double-

blinded and placebo-controlled, give us objective and

scientific results is so widespread, with no questioning,

that has profoundly transformed how we think about the

process of science and the nature of scientific

arguments. The dissemination of the ‘P value fallacy’

(Goodman, 1999) converted a method with its

limitations into a panacea that almost eliminated our

ability to distinguish between statistical results and

scientific conclusions.

The weaknesses of the conventional research

methods, as well as their limitations to find expression

to reality in a binary logic (p<0,05 means that my

association is true, for example), have led to the

development of various alternative methodologies,

yielding new concepts, from the definition of

probability to the meaning of epidemiologic designs

(Struchiner, 2004). In this study, we discuss the use of

controls in Homœopathy and propose the use of the

subjects as their own controls, presenting some aspects

of three designs that already use this approach,

examining their potential for homeopathic clinical

research and reviewing proposals of statistical inference

and analysis.

The use of subjects as their own controls

The causal inference basic problem is the

impossibility of comparing the effect of the exposure

and the nonexposure, simultaneously, at the same

individual. In other words, we cannot determine, at the

same time, what is the effect of a drug or a placebo, at

the same person, since it is impossible to administer the

two interventions. Hence, there are two options:

examining several individuals at the same time, with

analyses of the exposure and the nonexposure in

different individuals (cases and controls); or evaluating

the same individual at two or more points in time. The

analysis of cases and controls at the same moment is the

predominant situation in clinical and epidemiologic

conventional research. We analysed three alternative

models, which follow the case-base paradigm: the case-

crossover and case-time-control studies, and the

selfcontrolled clinical trials. In these designs, each case

is its own control, analyzed at different points in time.

Epidemiologic researches begin with examinations

of cases. The case series often show the queries and

base future studies (Greenland, 1999). The use of

subjects as their own controls has been present in

scientific investigations since the beginning of clinical

studies. Recently, the analysis of the same individuals at

different points in time has been rescued by MacLure

(1991) and Suissa (1995). MacLure has introduced an

innovative epidemiological design (case-crossover), a

variation of the classical case-control strategy, for the

analysis of transient effects on the risk of acute illness

events. Suissa has proposed the case-time-control

design for the study of chronic exposures. In

153

Homeopathy, each subject is considered unique, with

peculiar responses and dynamics. The selection of other

people as controls substantially biases the analyses,

once the variables used for matching are insufficient to

express the supposed similarity among individuals.

Gender, age, smoking and physical inactivity, for

example, do not correspond to the measures used for the

prescription of homeopathic medicines. The actual

variables, characteristic and individual, make the cases

to be so distinct from potential controls that the search

for an appropriate control would be formidable, if not

impossible. This way, we have the confounding by

indication, in which the condition that determined that

therapeutics is so peculiar that it is, by itself, an

important predictor of the effect under study. This

makes practically unfeasible the use of other individuals

as controls. At the brink of a new paradigm, the designs

described here intend to coexist with other alternate

methodologies and to be a suitable model for clinical

homeopathic research.

The use of cases as their own controls removes

confounding from many unchangeable characteristics,

that means, uncontrollable and intrinsic properties of

each person, such as intelligence, genetics,

susceptibility. Moreover, the self matching designs are

more powerful from a statistical perspective and offer

savings in the sample size. The case-crossover design

was introduced in 1991 for examining the transient

effects of a brief exposure on the onset of an acute

outcome.

Such analyses can be completed with minimal

ethical worries, at low cost and are usually quick.

Common and rare outcomes can be tested, and the

clinical and statistical significance determined. They are

appropriate to rapidly fluctuating processes, such as

activity, emotion or pain (Redelmeier & Tibshirani,

1997). Each case corresponds to a stratum, and

contributes one case window and one or more control

windows. The case window is defined as the period just

preceding or during the event under study. The control

windows are periods of the same length as, and not

overlapping with, the case window, and provide an

estimate of the expected frequency of exposure for each

case. The case window and the control window derive

from the same person at different times (MacLure,

1991; Hernandéz-Dias et al.

In 1995, the case-time-control design was

proposed, very similar to the case-crossover, used,

however, to the study of chronic exposures. The time

trends in exposure are limitations to the results of self-

matching studies. Thus, the casetime-control design

includes an adjustment for time trend from the controls.

The self-controlled designs have some limitations.

The use of subjects as their own controls already adjusts

for fixed factors, but it does not account for the

variations over time. The adjustment for time trends in

the case-time-control studies is limited to the measured

variables, infrequentist analyses.

This adjustment may be imprecise for time trends

that vary over immeasurable variables. There is a

tendency to overstate the exposures in the current period

and to underestimate in the reference periods. The

model is based on the assumptions that the exposures

are independent and that there is no carryover effect

from one period to the other. There is, also, the selection

and the information bias, as in any case-control study.

The use of the subjects as their own controls has been

limited in clinical trials, for many reasons. One of them

is the ethical worry of allowing patients with placebo,

only, during the reference period (control window). This

is not possible in lots of situations under study (Louis et

al., 1984; Suissa, 1998; Greenland, 1996; Greenland,

1999; MacLure & Mittleman, 2000). This way, the

bidirectional studies may be an option to this limitation.

Statistical approaches

In order to make the self-controlled clinical trials

widespread, there is the urgent need for the

development of effect estimates that are free from bias

caused by time trends. MacLure (1991) proposes the

Mantel-Haenszel estimator of the rate ratio, with

confidence intervals for sparse data. Since that, other

choices have been used, like maximum likelihood

(Marshall & Jackson, 1993) and logistic regression

(Suissa, 1995). Recently, Navidi & Weinhandl (2002)

have compared four sampling schemes for case-

crossover designs, to evaluate which one would better

control for confounders that vary predictably with time.

The best scheme, according to this study, was the semi-

symmetric bi-directional. Other new methods for

achieving control of unmeasured confounding have

been studied, from more elaborate extensions of Poisson

regression to hierarchical modeling. It is also

fundamental the development of methods that can

handle exposures which occur concurrently and non-

independently.

It is also possible to use less orthodox statistical

approaches. The increasing power of computers is

bringing Bayesian methods to the fore. It allows

handling unknown heterogeneity sources or, at least, not

attributable to any specific variable (Struchiner, 2004),

dealing with the uncertainty. The proposal of the self-

controlled studies also allows the review of the

variables, going beyond the simple dichotomies,

searching for a deep understanding of the patient as

human being, once he will be compared only to himself.

The fuzzy logic handles this imprecision at the analysis

and the variables construction.

It works the concept of partial truth, where the

transition between sets is gradual, and not abrupt (Shaw

& Simões, 1999). The fuzzy sets theory is an important

154

tool for homeopathy, since it allows a more realistic

expression of events, exploring linguistic variables and

representing thoughts more similar to the human ones.

Ortega says (2004): “...we can group the uncertainties in

two groups: the variability, that comes from the

population heterogeneity or from the stocacity; and the

partial ignorance, from systematic measurement errors

(imprecision) or because we do not know part of the

considered process (subjectivity).” So, uncertainty due

to the future occurrence of some event is treated by

conventional probability. Imprecision occurring because

we do not have enough knowledge about the internal

structure of our object of study is dealt with diffuse

treatment (Oliveira Jr., 1999).

Conclusion

Researches in clinical homeopathy are often

criticized for the quality of their analyses (Jonas et al.,

2001), or for the use of clearly incompatible models. All

method involves some diminution of the reality under

study. For some situations, probably the people who are

best representative of the population base that produced

the cases are the cases themselves. The proposal of the

self-controlled studies in clinical homeopathic research

seams feasible from the theoretical point of view, in

order to use these models or to produce new ones from

this pattern. It allows the use of frequentist and

Bayesian statistical analysis. However, only the use can

prove its viability. Today, we need a clinical

epidemiology that moves beyond dichotomies. And it is

not only a matter of homeopathic needs. The reason is

scientific: our object of study demands it. There is a

requirement for searching strategies and methodologies

that may express the homeopathic paradigm, and this

will raise challenging questions, from the way of

approaching the patient to the methods for statistical

inference. It is also essential to acknowledge and

conceive of other possibilities rather than the

randomized clinical trials with frequentist statistical

analysis. Thereby, Homœopathy and the case-base

paradigm are occasion to debates and investigations,

through approaches that elicit Homœopathy’s

foundations, in search for its own episteme.

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

3. It Suffices to GiveVoice to Tradition Again

ROSENBAUM, Paulo (IJHDR. 5, 14/2006)

“Sincerity is communicative. We will not see

exactly what the artist saw; but the effort made to

unveil it compels us to imitate him.”

Henri Bergson

 Versão em inglês de Rachel Rosemblum.

Recently, Prof. José Ricardo Ayres wrote that

homeopathy is not necessarily antagonistic to

hegemonic medicine, but it is as if Homœopathy

analyzes and investigates – thus, cares for – aspects not

valued in regular medical practice. Therefore, there is

not necessarily complementarity, but parallel paths that

may enter into dialogue. The reason why we could not

yet establish Homœopathy as a standard, although it has

been socially validated worldwide, is mystifying. Whith

may be the reason of such a curious historical

cyclothymia?

The issue of medicinal “proof ”: There is a huge

confusion between ignorance of the mechanism of

action of homeopathic remedies and the large empirical

evidence of its effectiveness. No one doubts a

mechanism of action exists, but nobody has been yet

able to expose it. Nevertheless, sooner or later, it will be

clear to everybody that the empirical evidence elicited

in a proving is not the same as the elicited by regular

drugs. I will not drill down on discrepancies, but they

are huge. Both in human subjects and animals, it is

possible to show the interference, the effectiveness of

the remedy and its biological plausibility. Real,

concrete, tangible. But we may never forget that we are

in the realm of idiosyncrasy: whenever the issue is non-

hegemonic medicines, it tends to awaken uncontrollable

passions in both defendants and accusers. A poor,

voided debate that hides the main agenda: which does

medical model fit to society? Where are the grants

needed to back research on different medical

rationalities?

Will a model not centered on nosologic diagnosis

survive?

Homeopathy, i.e. the medicine of the subject, seeks

to treat both the ill individual and illnesses in their

network of relations. To affirm that it does not treat

diseases, but exclusively the sick individual is

untenable. But the opposite assertion is equally

doubtful. To treat only diseases, subtracting from them

the being that provides context to disease itself is to fall

in the trap of technological emptiness. This seems to be

a contemporary paradox.

What is the meaning of the massive increase of

technology applied to diagnosis and treatment and the

pressure for more individualizing models of medical

care? One of the most controversial issues in

homeopathy is its epistemological model.

This issue, by the way, is seriously underrated by

homeopaths themselves. On one hand, the regular

current epistemological model does not take

homeopathic clinical practices into account; on the

other, Homœopathy is still in a kind of gap, unable to

find its own place: it is neither psychoanalysis nor a

pure bodily clinical approach. However, it can be a

medicine of the subject. The mission is to recover the

“artistic” dimension, wrongly but efficiently suffocated

155

by technology. There is an anthropologic dimension in

the process of becoming ill and recovering health that

has to be analyzed and accounted for – no matter if in

homeopathy, biomedicine, or other approaches. The real

division will be, from now on, between vitalistic and

non-vitalistic medical rationalities. Or, a progressive

tension between pragmatic reductionists and those who

believe human beings integrate and integrate themselves

in meaningful texts and contexts.

I believe, even at the risk of shocking purists, that

contemporary medicine should uphold once and for all

the third Hypocratic principle: when neither similar nor

contrary remedies cure, the convenient treatment is the

healing one. To decide, on a case-by-case ground what

will indeed benefit the patient at the lowest level of risk

as possible. To take always into consideration his/her

subjective status. To pay attention to the distance that

separates the latter from happiness. This would be a

medicine of the subject that most physicians would hope

for.

Why has homeopathy not became a culture yet?

As Prof. Madel T. Luz. warned, homeopathy could

never achieve institutionalization. Although causal

reasoning is no more admitted as the only possible tone,

the lack of organization of homeopaths and the

belligerence existing in the field are added to a

difficulty to obtain empirical proof for homeopathic

knowledge to construct a circular Procustian model,

which we have never left.

Different from psychoanalysis and other

approaches, Homœopathy did not become a part of the

cultural agenda, neither in the field of health – except as

an occasional reference and, in general, a depreciated

one – nor in correlated areas where it should have

entered into a dialogue. A low level of engagement in

research and the obvious difficulty to establish such

interlocution explain that kind of atavism, expressed as

a perpetual self-exile under the stereotypes well known

to all. Even in this case, it must be conceded that

prejudice has considerably decreased. Although we are

witnesses of re-editions of old-fashioned attacks,

homeopathy is nevertheless growing in Europe, in the

United States, in the Eastern countries and in South

America; it made inroads in universities. Perhaps, its

major modern conquest is its social neo-inclusion. A

direct fruit of this increase in demand was the success of

the recently-approved project “National Policy of

Integrative and Complementary Practices” by the

National Health Board, allowing for and projecting an

ancient dream: to bring practices such as acupuncture

and Homœopathy to the SUS (Unified Health System).

This dream goes beyond the availability of homeopathic

services; it will make feasible the continuous

sustainability of state-funded research. But we should

not be deluded, private companies will certainly enter

the homeopathic market and it must be confessed that

no one can foresee if this will represent a higher or a

lower risk than the myth of an industry that fights us.

Homœopaths should keep this conundrum in mind.

Perhaps our present alleged weakness will turn

into our new ace. Have you ever thought that one of the

major advantages of a brand-new medicine may be the

possibility of actually operationalizing

interdisciplinarity? Strenuously discussed but rarely

implemented, interdisciplinarity is, to Homœopathy –

that huge gray zone of science - , the method of work. In

order to provide care to the patient as a subject,

homeopathy necessarily must dialogue with

anthropology, psychology and conventional medicine.

And timely: Homœopathy has already incorporated this

performance to its practice. When discourse is

embraced, the subject returns to the scene. This is the

ace: to keep medicine as a contact between humans,

where the physician can also be a subject. Presently

emerging areas are medicine centered on the patient and

medicine based on narratives. But theirs are the grounds

we are already operating from: the story of the subject.

Through it that disease or illness may be understood.

Beyond pathography: in each contextualized biography.

The following dialectical self-understanding formula

might be proposed: the homeopathic proposal is well

beyond homeopathy itself. It implies the inclusion of

different values concerning health, care and treatment.

The secret is not to invent anything essentially new.

But it suffices to make tradition speak again.

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

4. Interpretative Theories about Ultra-Dilutions:

Supporting Evidences

BASTIDÉ Madeleine (IJHDR. 5, 16/2006)

The similia law is the specificity of homeopathy. It

is based on analogy of symptoms observed in proving

(healthy subject receiving the substance tested diluted

and succussed – dilution and succession serially or not)

and patient (who is cured by this substance in

homeopathic preparation). The main part of the

treatments uses high diluted remedies, sometimes

beyond the Avogadro-Ampere boarder. So, scientific

studies on the effects of high dilutions started with

homeopathic therapy. Without such an example, no

scientist could imagine to test such diluted substances

that theoretically contain no molecules. It has been

proved by therapeutic use that extremely diluted

solutions (even beyond Avogadro number) could have

biological effects.

This is a very controversial statement considered by

the scientific community as a scientific error. It looks

like an error because nobody is able to explain why and

how these high dilutions can be active. However,

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experiments investigating this phenomenon have been

performed by various scientists, most of them

attempting to prove the effects of homeopathy. Many

papers have been published in peer-reviewed scientific

journal as well on basic as clinical research. An analysis

of more than 300 papers on basic research in the field1

2 shows that 34 papers validate the pharmacological

effect of homeopathic high dilutions published in peer-

reviewed scientific journals. After examining 184

clinical trials in a meta-analysis, the Homeopathic

Medicine Research Group (HMRG) of the DG XII of

the European Commission3 conclusion was that research

in this field was valuable; another meta-analysis of

homeopathic clinical trials covering 89 trials (out of 185

studied) showed that the results were not compatible

with the hypothesis that the clinical effects observed

were completely due to placebo.4 Why not say that the

results were not due to placebo?

To discuss various theoretical approaches that may

bring some explicative elements to such an important

curing method, we will first show some results

published in peer-reviewed scientific publications to

illustrate our argumentation. These results concern only

ultra-high dilutions that theoretically contain no

molecules.

1- Specific results obtained by using ultra-high

dilutions

a- Experimental models using high dilutions of

endogenous molecules

We will first present models using high dilutions of

biological products designed by the term « endogenous

molecules ». Many experimental models have been

carried out with endogenous molecules, most of them

relevant to the immune system. Descriptions of an

immuno-modulatory activity of succussed dilutions of

thymulin were described.5 6 7 8 9 10 High dilutions of

bursin were able to replace the Bursa of Fabricius in

chickens operated during the embryonic life (3rd day)

and treated during the same period at 6th and 9th

day.11 12 13 Highly diluted histamine even placed in

sealed vials or the highly diluted antigen itself was

administered in isolated hearts of guinea pigs

immunized with ovalbumin induced significant

coronary flow variations.14 15 16 Thyroxin was

administered in highly diluted succussed solution (10-

30) to frogs at the end of the metamorphosis of the

tadpoles. The number of the two legged or four-legged

tadpole observed by Endler et al 17 18 19 20 was

significantly reduced in treated amphibians when

compared to the control (evaluated by climbing

activity). The observation was similar even though the

effect of the succussed dilution of thyroxin was

transmitted through an electronic device.

b- Experimental models based on the prevention of

intoxication by homeopathic high dilutions of the same

toxic substance (isotherapy). Observations were

processed using succussed high dilutions of the poison

itself before poisoning the organisms by the same one.

This may be observed either with a treatment before or

after poisoning: in the first case, the living organism is

in the situation of being informed of the danger. In the

second case, the process of natural defence is extended

by the high dilution treatment. A meta-analysis of serial

agitated dilutions in experimental toxicology has been

published.4

Examples of protection by succussed high dilutions

of heavy metals using 10-30 or 10-40 M of Cadmium,

Cis-Platinum 21 22 or mercury chloride23 were published.

No cross-reaction exists even though the organisms are

treated before with a poison very similar (i.e. two heavy

metals.)21. Moreover, when the “prevention” is

processed by using high dilutions of Cadmium and the

toxic effect is induced by Cis-Platinum, no protection

occurs but a contrary effect: the treated cells (LLCPK in

culture) dye in greater number than the cell-control.21.

The protective effect of Arsenicum album 30C against

arsenite trioxide has been demonstrated in mice24, 25 or

in plants.26, 27

Another model on neuroprotection using high

dilutions of glutamate of cultured rat neurons against

toxicity of 25microM of glutamate has been

published.28. However, this cross-reaction exists when

the protection is induced by molecular classic

concentrations.29 30 Taddei et al.31 studied the effect of

high dilutions of different teratogenic substances

administered before and after the teratogenic challenge

in mice. The results demonstrated the specificity of the

isotherapic treatment (identity between the first and

second stressor) as the best results preventing caffeine

teratogenic effects were obtained with coffea; however

the adenine did not protect against the adenine itself.

Doutremepuich et al.32 33 34 have shown in vivo and

in vitro that high dilutions of aspirin had a

thrombogenic effect whereas classical ponderal doses

have an anti-thrombogenic effect. The same principle of

experimentation was presented by Pongratz on plants by

using silver nitrate to stimulate the growth of wheat.35

In clinical trials based on the isotherapy with

homeopathic high dilution principle, contrary effects

were also observed: curative effects were published by

Reilly et al.36 when pollen hay-fever was treated by

Pollen 30CH while Aabel37 in a similar model with

birch pollen did not observe any curative effect but an

increase of the clinical manifestations.

c- Experimental models based on the stricto sensu

similia principle of Homœopathy

Experimental models based on the similia principle

exist but for practical reasons, few of them are

published. Two parameters are concerned: a scientific

experimentation needs to compare groups of animals

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(test group and control group). The similia principle is

based on the specific effect of homeopathy on each

individual, each one expressing its own symptoms. So it

is rather difficult to find groups needing the same

medicine except when the symptoms are very local. For

in stance, one of the local symptoms of the

homœopathic medicine Silicea is the decrease of

cicatrisation. To prove the efficacy of this remedy, local

lesions on ears of mice allowed demonstrate that Silicea

5 CH, 30CH and 200 CH increase the cicatrisation

process measured by image analysis of the hole induced

in the mouse ears.38 Another experimental model using

Silicea was performed studying its effects directly on

macrophages.39 Other models proved the activity of

homeopathic high dilutions of Apis or histamine on

allergic patients’ basophils.40 41 The effect of Arnica

30C was tested on sonicated mice protecting against

induced genotoxicity.42 A reduced genotoxicity was

observed in p-DAB induced hepatocarcinoma in mice

treated by Chelidonium 30 C or 200 C.43 Of course, all

the clinical trials used in veterinary medicine are a

useful demonstration of the activity of Homœopathy

and not a placebo effect.44

d- Physical studies of homeopathic high dilutions

The physical properties of high dilutions were also

studied. A high dilution is a solution of a material (pure

chemical or biological substance, vegetal or biological

extract etc...) serially diluted with “succussion” (strong

vertical agitation) between each dilution in a solvent,

classically water or ethanol (currently 60%). This is also

designed by “potentised dilutions”. The physical state of

the “potentised dilutions” was tested by NMR by

Demangeat et al.45 46 It seems that the succussed dilute

solution presents significant differences compared to the

succussed water control allowing the hypothesis of a

remaining modification related to the original molecule.

But no scientific repeatable study was really

performed.37 Two very recent papers demonstrate that

the physical state of the succussed homeopathic

solutions without any molecule is different from the

controls: it has been shown by thermoluminescence47

that differences exist but no explanation is given by the

author; this has been observed also by gas discharge48

with specific characteristics allowing to differentiate

four 30C remedies; these two analysis may involve a

link with electromagnetic parameters.

Two approaches may be proposed: the structural

one, inspired from the mechanistic paradigm,

demonstrating a conservative structure of the original

molecule printed in the solvent;49 50 51 and the second

one, that is based on the diffusion of “information”

carried from the succussed solution. This “information”

was transferred by Endler et al.20 or Van Wijk et al.30 as

an electromagnetic signal by mean of an input coil

linked to a filter and an amplifier.20 However, these

results are hard to repeat. The high dilution signal of

histamine transmitted to an isolated guinea-pig heart

was inhibited by a magnetic field.14 From all these

observations, it looks like electromagnetic parameters

do exist in the process of transmission.

2- Researches on the mechanism of action of

homeopathy

a-The qualities of classical experimental design

The concept of experimental method was introduced by

GALILEO GALILEI at the end of the XVIth century

and was perfectly presented by DESCARTES in the

first half of the XVIIth century. Subsequent

methodological criteria are universal and no one could

imagine that a modern scientific demonstration could

actually deny this proposition. In the context of classical

science, the following criteria are required: the

evaluation must be within an experimental design and

the observed effect must be measurable and

reproducible.

An experimental design construction is related to

the underlying theory: this may concern a very narrow

concept, for instance, is this molecule interacting with

this secondary messenger in this kind of cell? On the

other hand, this may concern to more general concepts.

The experimental design is built to check the hypothesis

itself according to empirical observations, through

deductive demonstrations, as proposed in experimental

methodology. It is necessary to create the model

according to the theory that will be validated or

invalidated.

Measurement depends on the existence of

technical; it is not an intrinsic property of the studied

object. For instance, before the existence of Geiger-

MÜLLER counter, nobody was able to measure the

radioactive effect, but radiation has existed since the

earth formation. When the measurement is possible,

statistics validate it as a confirmation of the quality of

the measurement. The appropriate test has to be chosen.

Reproducibility depends on the degree of isolation

of the studied phenomenon from its environment. The

more the phenomenon depends on environmental

parameters, the greater is the variability and the more

difficult the reproducibility. Of course, physico-

chemical models seem to be very independent and they

are easily reproducible; but biological effects observed

in living organisms interfere with many parameters:

temporal and environmental parameters are the best

known. To avoid such difficulties, biologists classically

study basic mechanisms by using in vitro models in

order to control the main part of environmental

conditions.

b- Particularities observed in high dilution research

Some particularities are observed in experimental

models using homeopathic high dilutions:

158

-Pharmacological effects of solutions in which

there is no more “substance”.

-Memory effect observed in clinical practice (the

first action is often different from the following one).

-Contrary effects according to the health condition

of the subject (the similia principle itself). This was

observed in some experimental models.5 6 8 9 10

-Contrary effects may be observed according to

environmental conditions, i.e. in allergic treatments by

birch pollen “Betula 30 CH’, in which the treated

patients showed more symptoms than the control;the

concomitant variations were increase of temperature and

pollen in the atmosphere.52 Another study performed on

irradiated mice demonstrated that the effect of high

dilutions of bursin / interleukin 3 /thymulin in total body

irradiated mice was protective in warm season but

increased the mortality of treated mice in cold

season.53 54

- Suppression of the current pharmacological

molecular effect when the treatment by the same

product in high dilution is associated.55

3- Working hypothesis and general theories applied

to Homœopathy

Provided active dilutions are molecule-free and

taking in account experimental observations, a working

hypothesis concerning mechanisms underlying the

effects of succussed highly diluted compounds is

necessary.

We will distinguish working hypothesis and the

general theories. The first may concern the transmission

of the effect of the homeopathic dilutions; the second is

more related to the three principles of homeopathy:

similarity, whole organism effect, curing operation.

Working hypothesis

Starting from observation of phenomena, working

hypothesis has to be formulated and the experimental

design of research has to be organized according to the

theory. For example, when a virologist tries to find the

pathogenic agent of a new infectious disease, he uses

the “pastorian concept” and organizes his experiments

according to the biological properties of the viruses. He

will avoid to seed viruses on mineral support because he

knows virus growth requires living cells; on the

contrary, bacteria may grow on adapted synthetic

medium.

A theory, on the other hand, should be more general

and may concern the conceptual framework of

reasoning.

Provided active dilutions are molecule-free and

taking in account the experimental observations

published in scientific papers (see above), a working

hypothesis concerning mechanisms underlying the

effects of highly diluted is necessary. We must remind

that Avogadro, physicist of the XVIIIth century and

contemporary of HAHNEMANN, proposed the

hypothesis (actually « Avogadro-Ampère» law), which

is a quantitative modern chemistry law that allows to

count the molecule number as molecule-gram (N=6,022

x 1023). This number indicates that a dilution higher

than 1023 does not contain any molecule. This boarder

is between homeopathic dilutions 10CH (10-20) and 12

CH (10-24) according to the molecular weight of the

diluted product.

As the dilution-succussion is a fundamental

modality to obtain pharmacologically active high

dilutions in homeopathy, we will distinguish this kind of

preparation even though they contain still molecules i.e.

diluted less than 10C (10-20M) from the unsuccussed

very low concentrations that we can find in classical

research: such as very low concentrations of pheromons

which act at the level of 10-16 M,56 or neuropeptides

introduced directly into the brain at 10-6 pg i.e. one

attogram,57 or kinds of catalytic effects of metal at

picomolar concentrations,58 or immunomediators59 and

neuropeptide activity on lymphocytes60 at 10-14 M. In

these cases, no comparison with the effects of succussed

high dilutions is available.

The papers presented above demonstrate

effectiveness of high dilutions starting from 9CH

homeopathic dilution (10-18g) and above. In these

experiments, the pharmacological effect cannot be

related to the presence of molecules. Our choice is to

discuss only about the “nonmolecular” activity

nevertheless low dilutions with remaining molecules

(4CH, 5 CH, 7 CH) are very commonly used in

Homœopathy according to the similia principle.

Choosing only non-molecular high dilution activity

will simplify the discussion as no reference to molecular

activity is possible. For that reason, we may suppress

the following molecular hypothesis such as cybernetic

regulation, rebound effect and self recovery30 that

claims a necessary strong molecular effect to stimulate

the “self recovery” as a function of time. This self-

recovery belongs to the “action-reaction” working

hypothesis. It is the reaction of the organism to

aggressions and self-recovery concerns the appropriate

auto-regulation and specific tools to reach a new

equilibrium. The forces it uses in order to find a new

balance are so strong that no non-molecular treatment is

able to provoke this. According to the same logic, the

“Arndt-Schultz law” or so-called “hormesis” cannot be

a help to understand the mechanism of homeopathic

high dilutions. It was shown that “high concentrations

inhibit growth, low concentrations increase growth.”61 62

This observation is very old and was also published by

Arndt and Schultz.63 It is verified for every type of

organism, but the results are obtained with

concentrations close to the toxic one. This is used in the

protective system so-called “mithridatization” in which

low doses of poison, taken every day, inhibit the

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poisoning effect by permanent production of inhibitory

compound such as heat shock proteins in the “action-

reaction” system.

The contrary effect obtained with lower dose of the

toxic substance and the application to the protective

effect is often proposed to explain homeopathy.64

However, the production of the contrary effect by

synthesis of defence molecules is related to the presence

of a real presence of molecular substance. This is not

observed when high dilutions of a toxic are

administered21 even though this treatment amplifies the

synthesis of defence molecules at the moment of the

poisoning. A cross reaction is observed in the molecular

model;65 in the high dilution treatment, opposite effects

may be observed, it means: the cross reaction increasing

the sensitivity of the pre-treated cells instead of

protecting them.21 22

Working hypothesis concern also effects of

electromagnetic fields, based on ideas as bioenergy,66 67

biofield68 or systemic memory resonance.69 It is a hard

work to analyse how electromagnetic fields could

operate precisely in the field of homeopathy: so many

parameters are concerned: frequency, wave shape,

intensity, origin and targets, etc. This part is always in

fringing science and much work has to be done.

Proposed theories

Some of the proposed theories seem to be very far

from the Homœopathy problematic. For instance,

deterministic chaos, or complexism, was suggested.70 71

The complexism is interesting when applied to

hierarchy of the symptoms in homeopathy, or to explain

the organization of the pathologies of a patient that

applies the teleological hypothesis to the interactions

between a subject and his pathologies. But in these

models, no operational phenomenon can explain the

curing effect of Homœopathy.

The most adapted theory seems to be the Lagache´s

theory on body information.7 72 73 74 75 76 It is really a new

paradigm: just as the mechanistic paradigm seizes the

material interactions between objects and the symbolic

paradigm assumes linguistic facts, Lagache introduces

the paradigm of corporeal signifiers by the body

information. It is based on the informative

communication of the body, not at a symbolic level. The

living organism is a complex structure able to exchange

information with the external world; information also

circulates in its internal world allowing exchanges at

every level: the living organism is an informed-

informing structure. Living beings communicate with

their world in a “non verbal” way. These exchanges

concern matter and energy. The concept of totality (one

principle of Homœopathy) emerges from this concept:

totality transcends the sum of interactions and sub-

systems. A new framework is necessary that is neither

cybernetic nor systemic.

The paradigm of the corporeal signifiers is based on

an analogical communication at the body level. The

living body operates as an open system; it is resonant

with the environmental events that have a sense for it.

This communication leads it to modify itself either in

the sense of the message by a passive mimesis (proving)

or in a differentiating regulation corresponding to the

beneficial remedy action. Lagache proposes that this

system functions as a relationship communication

between the "informative minimum system" including

the active molecule which will be the matrix of

information (“raw material and/or stock”), the sensitive

receiver able to read and treat this information (healthy

subject for proving or patient) and the mediation of

information which is represented by the succussed

homeopathic dilutions. Here the electromagnetic field

working hypotheses are interesting to explain how

information is transmitted. Information is not an object

but needs a carrier that could be electromagnetic waves.

Information exists only when exists a sensitive receiver.

This information (corporeal ignifiers) will be received

and treated by the organism if it has a sense for it. But

what is “read” by the body receiving corporeal

signifiers?

Analysing the published experimental models, we

have classified the effects of homeopathic high dilutions

in three categories: models with biological molecules,

models of isotherapy, models using the similia

principle. We must define how the organism will read

and treat each one through experimental demonstration.

Once again, exchange of information does not follow

the same logic as exchanges of objects.

The information of biological molecules produced

by the body is automatically recognized and is always

significant for the body when it is used in the logic of

the organism (physiological function). When the models

are built according to physiologic function, effects are

significant and reproducible.11 12 13

In the isotherapy models, the identity between the

substance used for the homeopathic high dilution and

the toxic must be perfect, or else contrary effects (or no

effect) are observed. A false information not understood

at the moment of the toxic effect shows no effect or the

misunderstanding provoke an adverse effect. The

phenomenon of information is instantaneous and

explains the immediate suppression of the

dexamethasone molecular by high dilution of the same

agent.55

The similia law is the specificity of homeopathy.

It is based on analogy of symptoms observed in

proving (healthy subject receiving the substance tested

diluted or not) and patient (who is cured by this

substance in homeopathic preparation). This precise

definition is very important to avoid confusion. So, it is

necessary to define the homeopathic symptoms. Charles

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Nicolle (Nobel Price 1929) discovered the “life and

death of the diseases” and identified the “unapparent

diseases” that do not show any symptoms but provoke

biological modifications such as antibodies (i.e. rubella,

toxoplasmosis). It means that the symptom is

independent from the biological signs. The symptom is

an expression of the subject when he is unable to treat

his pathology. The biological sign belongs to the

mechanistic world in the action-reaction system

(including the cybernetic one); the symptom is an

expression in the world of affect (impression-expression

system).

In Homœopathy, the interesting symptoms are

those in which the patient expresses his singularity

(idiosyncrasic symptoms). These symptoms are an

attempt to find an impossible answer. The analogical

communication allowed by the informative dilutions of

the remedy - that is able to provoke the similar

symptoms brings to the organism - the answer it is

looking for. Then, the body is able to recognize and

treat this information that helps the patient as a cathartic

phenomenon. This general theory could be an help to

understand what is Homœopathy.

We have to follow a very long road and we have to

do many experiments to find explanations to this

therapy. Whatever the working hypothesis that has to

be confirmed, we must always remind the three inter-

dependent principles of homeopathy that give its

specificity, and not only the mechanistic functions of

classical medicine. The challenge is to build new

experimental models keeping in mind the particularity.

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

5. Will there be room for a homeopathic culture?

ROSENBAUM Paulo (IJHDR. 5, 17/2006)

Homœopathy survives from its impasses. In a

dubious sense. Its permanence, even though defying,

paradoxically is due to the same impasses that threaten

to make it unfeasible. By sustaining old aporias, we

maintain a permanent internal tension and assure

polemics that, in a way, are producing the waves that

keep us in this historical come-and-go status quo. But

now this game starts to be threatening. While we were,

so to speak, a kind of "alternative joke of medicine",

tolerance enriched the scientific media sarcasm. But not

anymore, since we became much more competitive

now.

Let us move to other impasses. The first is its

concrete impossibility of becoming immediately a

strictu sensu discipline. This means that homeopathy

has still not gathered, or structured, enough elements to

be a rigorous matrix of organized knowledge. There is a

niche, although its contours are imprecise and have

blurred borders. It explains, even though it does not

justify, its permanent incapacity to penetrate and

establish itself in the academic institutional hardcore.

The second impasse is partially explainable by the

first: the difficulty of being translated as culture in the

health field. In the symbolic field, in the social

imaginary and in reality. According to Kurt Goldstein,

"The appropriate understanding of the phenomenon

'culture' can only be reached through the right

evaluation of what we call conscience and the

recognition of the specific peculiarities that the human

being acquires through the potentiality of having a

conscious experience". And which are the potentialities

developed with our experiences? It is exactly what

epidemiology and social health had been asking us.

What are the experiences we wish to share with the

scientific community? It is noteworthy to remark how

peripheral the integrative medicines still are, when we

consider the progress of their scientific status and their

hundreds of millions of users. By the way, they seem to

be much more tolerable because of the social support

received than by their performance in the academic

milieu.

The third and more complicated refers to the

difficulties that the first two impasses exert as a kind of

effect history: public popularity without strong

academic support intensifies its low credibility. A recent

example was an article in a wide-circulation magazine

that summoned therapists of several kinds to give their

opinion about dreams and declined the homeopaths. In

other words, this rationality is not adequately

represented in culture. "Take it easy, it is still too soon",

is said. But we have in front of our eyes the successful

example of Psychoanalysis. A painful fact is that the

low involvement of the newer generations, connected to

an amazing waste of opportunities like, e.g., the

acephalia that prevented the National Policy of

Complementary and Integrative Practices - even with

the necessary adjustments - to become something

beyond a judicial liability. It is much more than an

obvious reflection of inconfidence, which results in an

evident demobilization. The truth is that the

institutionalization of integrative practices is still a

taboo. As we know, the resistance touches several

aspects - that go from the epistemogical to the politic-

economic. We will add an ethic-pedagogical dimension

to the resistance.

If the integrative practices have social validation,

historical consistency and clinical and biological

plausibility, what would be the factors that actually

obstruct its institutionalization? The fundamental

inadequacy of these practices seems to be a difficulty to

link their epistemological model to current

epidemiological research designs, beyond the impasses

mentioned above. In fact, this is a problem and the

community, upon detecting it, reacts: it tries to build

161

bridges between epistemologies, using, e.g. resources of

emerging research, like the quail-quantitative approach.

But are we really doing everything possible? I do

not think so. We do not show, for example, with

enough radicality, the most original aspects of

homeopathy on the ideas about care, emancipation and

cure. Let us reinforce the idea that singularity is not just

a detail in method, that comprehension, solidarity and a

constant concern with care as a central item of

therapeutics are hard currency. And, certainly, we have

to dialogue with a significant part of epidemiology,

which sees integrative practices much more as a

problem in clinics than a legitimate object of study

within social health.

Above all, once the integrative practices have

feasible projects in almost all life sciences disciplines,

as a public health policy, the notion of effectivity may

move from an exclusively "productivist" analysis to a

perception of applied quality. Still, and I cannot tire of

asking: how many bad experiences of narrow adhesion

to the epidemiological designs, unsuited to a vitalistic

clinical logic, will be necessary until investments will

be applied to more lucid forms of research? Because

there is an active vitalism in the praxis. We should be

aware that the integration of different medical

rationalities to the simple working gear is a project

meant for defeat. It is necessary another kind of

pedagogy and advertisement. We can start right now. It

still depends on us.

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

6. Effect of the homeopathic remedies Arnica

montana and Staphisagria on the time of healing of

surgical wounds

ALECU,Adrian Alecu,Mariana MĂRCUS,Gabriela

Romeo Brezeanu e Adriana Cojocaru1

1

(IJHDR. 6, 20/2007)

Introduction

As stated an accompanying paper,1 our series of

studies aims to verify the clinical effects of Arnica

montana employed in homeopathic dilutions on trauma.

In the present study we sought to verify the effect of this

remedy on surgical wounds, specifically on the time of

healing.

On the other hand, in clinical practice it is also

frequent to employ another homeopathic remedy,

Staphisagria to promote the healing of surgical

wounds.2 Thus, in this study we also sought to very its

1

Universidade de Medicina e Farmácia, Târgu-Mures,

Romênia, doctoralecu@yahoo.com.

Tradução de Silvia Waisse Priven.

effect on the healing of surgical wounds, as well as to

compare it to the effects of Arnica montana.

Finally, it was sought to establish whether the

effects would vary when employing the remedies in the

dilutions 7CH and 30CH, as the former is below the

limit of the dispersion of matter (Avogadro’s number),

while the latter is above it, i.e. there would be no traces

of matter in this homeopathic preparation.

Materials and methods

75 Wistar rats were employed, weight 250-270

grams, distributed into 5 groups (n = 15). The animals

were subjected to the following surgical procedure.

First, they were sedated and anesthesized with ether.

The selected area was depilated and desinfected with

povidone iodine. A deep incision was performed on the

external side of the thigh following the femoral line

until the bone was exposed. Finally, the skin was

sutured with 3 separate stitches of non-absorbable silk

thread.

Immediately following surgery and then daily until

the healing of the wound, Group I (control) received a

placebo – sugar in water -;Group II received Arnica

montana 7CH, 1 globule dissolved in 1 ml of water;

Group III received Arnica montana 30CH, 1 globule

dissolved in 1 ml of water; Group IV received

Staphisagria 7CH, 1 globule dissolved in 1 ml of water

and Group V received Staphisagria 30CH, 1 globule

dissolved in 1 ml of water. All the solutions were given

through a gastric tube.

The length of the surgical wound was measured

very day; its clinical evolution was followed up and the

number of days required for complete healing was

recorded.

The study complied with the requirements of the

European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate

Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific

Purposes.3

Results

The number of days required for the complete

healing of the surgical wound in each group is presented

in Table 1.

Discussion and conclusions

The 4 groups that received homeopathic treatment,

independently of the remedy and dilution, presented a

significantly reduction in the number of days required

for the full healing of the surgical wound (15-16 days)

than the control group (20-23 days), p < 0.0001 (t-test).

The difference between the groups treated with Arnica

Montana and Staphisagria was not statistically

significant, nor the difference between the dilutions

7CH and 30CH.

Thus, the homeopathic remedies Arnica montana

and Staphisagria, in dilutions 7CH and 30CH,

immediately given after the surgical procedure were

162

associated to a significant reduction in the number of

days required for the full healing in the animals. Every

homœopathic Practitioner already knows this well and

that’s why Homœopathy in living = KSS].

This result, together with the one observed in the

accompanying paper, verified the effectiveness of the

homeopathic treatment with Arnica montana in surgical

and other kinds of trauma.

Tabela 1. Número de dias necessário para a cicatrização da incisão cirúrgica

n

Grupo 1

Grupo 2

Grupo 3

Grupo 4

Grupo 5

1

21

16

15

16

2

22

15

16

15

16

3

22

16

4

21

15

16

15

5

22

15

6

21

16

15

16

7

20

16

15

16

8

22

15

16

15

16

9

21

15

16

15

10

21

16

15

16

11

22

15

16

15

12

23

16

15

16

13

21

16

15

14

22

15

16

15

21

15

16

Média

21,5

15,5

15,7

15,5

15,6

Desvio

padrão

0,7

0,5

Referências bibliográficas

1. Alecu A, Alecu M, Cojocaru A, Brezeanu R. Efeito do

medicamento homeopático Arnica montana 7CH no

traumatismo mecânico. Cultura Homeopática 2007; 20, pp.

16-18.

2. Clarke JH. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica. New

Delhi: B. Jain; 2005.

3. European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate

Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific

Purposes, Strasbourg, 18.03.1986.

conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/123.htm.

163

7. Violent behavior patterns: possible

homeopathic remedies

BAROLLO Célia Regina; BIGNARDI Fernando

Antônio Cardoso et al. (IJHDR. 7, 22/2008)

Introduction

Violence is a pattern of human behavior

characterized by anger, frequently associated to actual

or potential physical aggression in order to obtain

something. "Violence results from the action or an

irresistible power in order to achieve an objective that

would not have been achieved without it"[1]. Masi

Elizalde [2] utilizes the terminology egolysis and

alterlysis to name miasmatic dynamics stages related to

auto (against oneself), hetero (against others) and eco

violence (against environment) [3].

Following a worldwide tendency, violence is also

increasing in Brazil. Although it is often attributed to

violent male outlaw teenagers [4-7], in fact a relatively

small number of youths commit a large part of crimes.

Violent behavior is not exclusive of socially

marginalized individuals and is not always related to

socioeconomic status [8, 9]. Children and teenagers, in

whom the mind and brain formative process is not yet

finished, have difficulty to consider the limits between

the real and virtual worlds, thus, beyond environmental

socioeconomic conditions, violence presented by the

media can act like a trigger in susceptible individuals to

promote violent behavior [10-12]. This fact is also

observed in clinical homeopathic practice, when

pathological stimuli and susceptibility are synergic.

Children and adolescents in violent settings may

exhibit patterns of violent behavior frequently

associated to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), with or

without Hyperactivity / Impulsiveness (ADHDI)

[13,14]. ADD, a neuropsychological disturbance that

alters the ability to concentrate in tasks and to control

impulses and motor activity has become the most

frequent health problems in children and one of the

main causes of learning disturbance and school failure.

It affects around 20% of children in school age and

attacks three times more males than females. It usually

begins before the age of 7, might continue throughout

adolescence to reach adulthood. On the other hand,

learning disturbance may be a risk factor for delinquent

behavior [15-17].

In the DSM-IV section devoted to Conduct

Disorder (CD, CID-10 312,8) and Oppositional Defiant

Disorder (ODD, CID-10 313.81) [18], there are listed

and classified the diagnostic criteria of behavioral

disturbs related to children and adolescents unlawful

acts [19]. They can be compared to the symptoms

contained in the homeopathic repertory [20] and related

to the symptoms of egolysis and alterlysis.

The standard treatment of these conditions uses

methylphenidate (Ritalin®) or amphetamine, which

may cause the same problems they are able to treat: lack

of attention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Moreover,

hyperactive children taking methylphenidate are at a

higher risk of developing an addiction. It may cause the

same devastating effects as prolonged use of cocaine

[21]. Thus, the search for alternative therapeutic options

is justified; homeopathy may be one of them.

An epidemics of violence?

Currently, an epidemics is defined as the incidence

in a short period of time of a large number of cases of a

disease. But, in a more comprehensive concept, it can

be defined as an abnormal situation in a community, a

potential severe event triggering social pressures that

must be answered by the sanitary authorities with the

highest urgency.

Epidemiology means the "study of the epidemics"

and is defined as the study of the distribution and

determinants of the states or events related to health in a

specific population. The application of these studies is

used to control health problems (Center for Disease

Center/Atlanta-USA). The epidemiology of infectious

diseases is still of highest importance, but together with

the perception that several factors contribute to the rise

of any one disease, epidemiologists are also

approaching chronic illnesses. As an area in constant

transformation [22] it is expanding into other fields of

knowledge like sociology and law. According to Barata

[23], the understanding of the process of health-illness

has improved with the emergence of social

epidemiology, which investigates the social

determinants of disease. Thus, some authors consider

violence as a modern epidemics, threatening

populations not only physically, but in its basic

institutions like the family and the work and school

environments [24-33].

Although violent behavior is associated to many

causes, including biological, metabolic, economic,

cultural and social conditions, family dynamics,

spiritual conditions, experienced trauma, etc., in many

cases the contact (“contagion”) with or by a violent

environment can awake in the susceptible this kind of

behavior, which would not occur in its absence, exactly

as in the case of infectious biological agents.

It may sound odd to speak of an “epidemics of

violence”, due to the current concept of epidemics,

usually associated to the occurrence of an acute

infectious disease involving "contagion/infection".

However, it is only a part of children and adolescents

living in violent environments who become "infected"

by violence - precisely those children susceptible to this

“contagion”. From a classic homeopathy point of view,

it could be spoken as an "energy contagion", as Kent

stated [34], or a change in the miasmatic dynamics [2].

164

The aim of this study is to define homeopathic

remedies useful in violent situations affecting children

and adolescents.

Materials and Methods

From the records of 12 children and adolescents

homeopathically treated for CD, ODD, ADD and

ADHDI [3,14,35,36] the peculiar and most

characteristic symptoms were extracted. The list was

completed with the diagnostic criteria for these same

disorders as described in DSM-IV transcribed into the

homeopathic repertory language.

All these symptoms were analyzed together [20,

37], as if they belonged to one only patient in order to

characterize the symptomatic image of the epidemics.

The resulting remedies were classified in decreasing

value of coverage, in order to compose a list of the

remedies that when tested on healthy human beings

showed a potential to elicit violent acts, so to be applied

by similarity to actual patients; 2) to facilitate the

differential diagnosis among them in real-time practice

and guide the search in the homeopathic materia medica

[38-45].

Results and discussion

The repertory analysis of the homeopathic

symptoms corresponding to ADHDI, CD and ODD is

presented in Table 1. The 25 remedies with the highest

potential to elicit the characteristic symptoms of these

disturbs on healthy individuals are: Aconitum napellus,

Agaricus, Anacardium orientale, Arsenicum album,

Belladona, Bufo rana, Calcarea carbonica, Causticum,

Chamomilla, Hepar sulphur, Hyosciamus niger,

Lachesis muta, Lycopodium clavatum, Mercurius, Nitric

acidum, Nux vomica, Opium, Phosphorus, Plumbum,

Staphisagria, Stramonium, Sulphur, Tarentula,

Veratrum album e Zincum.

Although some authors [46-49] have described

other remedies as violent, they were not included in our

list as they did not present a significant part of the

selected symptoms: Absinthum, Alcoholum, Aurum

metallicum, Luesinum, Platina and Sepia succus.

The compared Materia Medica of violent behavior

patterns is presented in Table 2.

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Freitas Jr V, Hubner V, et al. Efeito do

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do adoecer crônico, em uma comunidade carente,

alvo de programa social, na periferia da cidade de

São Paulo, no período de ago/2004 a mar/2006.

Proceedings of the XXVIII Congresso Brasileiro

de Homeopatia; 2006 Sep 03-07; Florianópolis,

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

Healing The Mind

(TAO TE CHING)

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

Academia confuses knowledge with knowing.

Most everyone applauds the memorization of

the 10,000 trivia.

Beware! These schooled addictions are not

just myths -

They are a form of mental illness.

Any fragment of the mind,

divorced from heart, spirit, human

community,

and from the primal reality of the universe,

is an abomination of the Great Integrity.

Let us prepare for the Great Integrity

By cleansing ourselves of all these cobwebs

Of cluttered fragments that paralyze the mind.

In this way we will function as our own

holistic physicians.

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

167

Table 2 - Compared Materia Medica for Patterns of Violent Behavior

Aconitum

napellus

Reading and attention disorders, with hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Fear of

death dominates everything and generates a basic state of anxiety, alertness,

sensory and emotional hypersensitivity. Panic sudden crisis, anxiety with high

nervous excitability, makes everything in a hurry, changes position constantly;

fear to leave or to stay in a room with many persons. “World is a dangerous place

where only disgraceful things happen takes place” (Masi Elizalde). Fear to be

injured, prudence, cowardice: his face express fear, predicts the day of his death,

anything frightens - disturbed by scare and fear; the child is mischievous and

afraid of darkness – night terror. In another extreme is audacious and courageous,

impetuous, quarrelsome, disobedient; angry, throws and breaks things, “self and

hetero aggression”, bites his own nails. Stammers, bites, contrary, oppositional

defiant. Enuresis. Sudden acute affections with violent beginning; aggravates

from wind.

Agaricus

muscarius

Reading, writing and language disorders; ADHD with impulsiveness. Great

instability, irritability and depression alternate. Choleric with himself and hetero-

aggression – threatening. He values especially physical force; does not accept

authority, takes it as arbitrariness; a child that presents himself as an adult (Masi

Elizalde). Cold, bloodthirsty behavior, worrier spirit; likes to be close to fire.

Involuntary movements of the muscles, tremors, choreic movements - nervous

tics. They like to dance, extreme need of dancing; megalomania, exaggerated

boldness, everything is exaggerated in him. Crises of spasmodic crying,

depressive state, and sorrow by the most trivial thing: joy is transformed into

suffering. Delay to talk and to walk (as in Calc.), due to slow brain development;

face has a foolish expression, like intoxicated; dumbness and physical and mental

lack of coordination; mind and sensorial look paralyzed. Aversion to be touched,

and to mental and physical work. Sensation as if ice needles in the skin, aching

sensation as stung. Very sensitive to coldness, worse from cold air.

Anacardium

orientale

Internal conflict is the central subject: division of will, tremendous indecision

between good and evil - two opposite wills, one allows and the other prohibits.

They are ambivalent, personality with two distinct sides: oscillates between

aggressiveness and dependence; feels aggressive and passive at the same time,

like strong and weak. Cannot make decisions concerning values and things to be

considered; indecision while choosing between good and bad (Masi Elizalde).

Religious delirium, with worry to save his soul; cruelty with impulse to kill,

little concern with others; impulse to attack with violent sexual language.

Olfactory and hearing hallucinations. He is easily offended. Infants and

temperamental youths or psychopaths, socially maladjusted, with unscrupulous

violent, contradictory and immediate demands; cruelty towards animals, sadism,

inhuman, merciless, malevolent, insults with swearwords - perversity. At the

same time, abandoned, despaired, imploring; nervous individuals, deadened,

weak, generally thin, chilly, a lot sensible to draughts. It is important for him to

show his importance for the others and the world; suffers from a deep complex of

inferiority, with sensation of isolation and of having been abandoned. Feels

strong internal rage due to his feeling of inferiority and dissatisfaction, leading

him to aggressive and cruel behavior when he feels insecure, only attacks when

in company or when his victims cannot defend themselves. Thus, he expresses

his sadistic and cruel side with feelings of superiority and pleasure. At the mirror,

he blames everybody, except himself. An important characteristic is the great

relief after eating; however, the symptoms come back and increase in intensity so

that the patient is forced to eat again, looking for relief.

Arsenicum

album

Anxious, fearful, restless, irritable, sensitive, easily angry. Changes constantly

from place to place, due to early morning anxiety attacks, he leaves the bed in the

middle of the night. Grasps people to feel secure. Fear of being alone, of

darkness; wakes up terrified and jumps out the bed, searches for someone to

speak with, hiding under his bed. Delusion with bugs in his bed and thieves in

168

the room, fear of thieves. Self-attack, beats his own head against the wall, attacks

others. Wicked, liar, jealous, perverse, steals things. ADD with hyperactivity,

behavior and oppositional defiant. Meticulous, collector, stingy. He wants

everything planned and ritualized. Fear of illness, emotionally impressed.

Language and speech disorders, stammer, nervous tics, enuresis and encopresis,

grinds the teeth. Hypersensitive to cold, chilly with desire of cold beverages.

Intolerant to smells and noises, perturbations by noises. Skin eruption alternating

with asthma, or asthma and diarrhea. Theme of responsibility regarding order

and law (Masi Elizalde).

Belladonna

Lively persons and amused when are well, but violent and frequently delirious

when sick; sensitive to draughts, especially on uncovering head; aggravate by

cutting hair. Unsuitable for mathematics, language disorder. ADHD with

impulsiveness, oppositional defiant. Fear of imaginary things: imagines ghosts,

horrible faces and several bugs; black animals, dogs, wolves. Tendency to bite,

spit, beat and tear things; attacks of laughter and grinds the teeth; tries to run

away from home. Desire to set on fire and steal. Abrupt and intense acute illness,

pains come suddenly, lasting indefinite time and cease suddenly. Affluence of

blood to head and face, with blush and heat, looking wild, mydriasis, arteries

pulsation. Enuresis, tics and grimaces. Aggravates by reproaches.

Bufo rana

It acts mainly on CNS and skin. Indicated for children with weak mind (idiocy or

oligofrenia), childish behavior, increased desire for masturbation, hands are

always touching genitals. Desires to be alone to practice masturbation, but fears

to stay alone. Irritable, with tendency to bite, bites his own tongue. Choleric

behavior, jumps off the bed and runs like a lunatic. Epilepsy, with convulsions

that begin during sleep. Laughs like a fool, cries and laughs easily. Does not

tolerate music or bright objects. Tendency to injure his own fingers. Desire of

alcoholic beverages. Lack of control of his sexuality, perverse practices and

addictions (Kent). Twists hands in anxiety, as something terrible is going to

happen.

Calcarea

carbonica

Fear is its main characteristic: of suffering, of hunger, of illness, of sad or

horrible stories. Prudent, does not take risks. He needs emotional and physical

stability in order to feel secure. When destabilized, agitates himself in a

disorganized way, goes into raptures, bites, spites at people, ready to kill.

Emotional, fear of everything, full of fantasies. Difficulty in psycho-motor

development and teething. Ashen, cold, soft, flaccid, lazy, wet. Slow, heavy,

tendency to obesity or weight loss. Aggravates by reproaches, fright, fear,

anticipation, rudeness and violence. ADD. Theme of secureness about his health

and future – lack of protection (Masi Elizalde).

Causticum

Compassionate towards others’ suffering feels himself in the place of others

because the same can happen to him. Total identification with the others’

situation, revolutionary due to compassion. Theme of lack of protection (Masi

Elizalde). Melancholic humor, despaired, by worry, sorrow, full of fears – stays

paralyzed; with crying, for the least cause. Prudent, avoids risks. Perturbations by

affliction or sorrow of long duration, by loss of sleep, nocturnal vigil, sudden

emotions, fear, fright, joy, rage. Unable to stay quiet, needs to move constantly,

but the movement does not relieve him. Unsuitable for mathematics, disturb of

language, ADHD with impulsiveness. May become defiant, liar, anarchist,

oppositional, with tendency to steal. Enuresis, encopresis and nervous tics.

Weight loss and ponderal stagnation, despite good appetite. Tendency to warts,

mainly around nails.

Matricaria

chamomilla

Hypersensitiveness of the nervous system, mainly regarding noises, pain and

people; bears nobody nearby; ill humor, dislikes being talked to, aversion to

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conversation, answers roughly ; irascible, he is never completely calm and in

peace; ameliorates by movement and has to be distracted all the time, irritable,

throws things, hauls the hair of the others, does not want to be touched, kicks;

angry, quarrelsome, oppositional defiant, impatient, wants many things and

becomes furious when something that he wants is not given to him, but when he

gets it, rejects it; he is never satisfied; is easily bored with things that were

desired, soon wants another one, is never satisfied with what is doing;

malevolent, ailments from anger; he gets worse along day till night, when

becomes unbearable; sleepy, but sleeplessness. Uncontrollable children, stops

breathing or starts a convulsion when in anger, beats his head against the wall.

The face is half red, half white in anger or fever. Difficult teething. Fear of wind.

Disturbs and difficulties to read, write and speak. ADHD with impulsiveness.

Nocturnal terror and enuresis. He cannot fulfill any physiological function

without suffering; feeling of being unfairly treated (Masi Elizalde).

Hepar

sulphuris

calcareum

Physical and mental hypersensitiveness (to touch, to pain - faints from pain);

anything irritates him, anger at trifles; speaks and drinks in a hurry,

hypochondriac, causeless anxiety. Defiant, angry, threatens with knives,

oppositional. Pyromaniac, extremely violent, destructive; cruelty with sadism

and satisfaction in front of other's suffering, but is kind to animals – Purity is his

theme (Masi Elizalde). Problems of speech, stammering, and enuresis. ADD with

impulsiveness, perverse impulses. Sensitive to cold air, needs to cover his face

even in hot climate; dislikes to be undressed. Even a small wound causes

suppuration. Ferocious anger and irrational impulsiveness make him a cold

blooded murderer that kills without remorse, even among those cheerful and

friendly ones; feels as if could kill someone with pleasure (Hering).

Hyosciamus

niger

Irritable, nervous, hysterical, jealous (its basic characteristic). Fright or intestinal

worms provoke convulsions. Agitation, jumps off his bed, tries to escape; tells

stories about imaginary deeds. Fear of being alone, of being poisoned, of being

bitten, of being sold, of taking away what has been given to him, distrustful of

some plots. Harmful effects of non corresponded love, with jealous and anger;

incoherent talk, tendency to laugh at everything, dizzy laughter. Lascivious

mania: impudently does not want to be covered, strips clothes, exposes his body;

sings obscene songs; goes naked to bed and exposes his genitals, handles

genitals. Disturbs of speech, stammering. ADHD with impulsiveness, behavior

disorder, oppositional defiant, savagery, ferocity. He bites, breaks everything,

injures himself on purpose. Enuresis, encopresis, tics, makes grimaces, acts as a

clown, ridiculous attitudes. Acute diseases with delirium and pale face.

Lachesis

muta

Jealous, envious, excessive reactions: bites, injures others, wants to be the center

of attention. Distrustful, resentful and vindictive, liar and manipulator. Chatters,

intense loquacity changing from one theme to another. Disposition to drink

alcoholic beverages and indolence, cheerlessness, frequent masturbation. Theme

of love and admiration, truth and lie (Masi Elizalde). He feels abandoned,

impressionable. Intuitive, precocious and lively children. High sensitiveness to

touch on his throat, stomach, abdomen; does not bear tight clothes on throat or

abdomen, they cause uneasiness. Awkward in hands and legs, errors speaking,

writing, put words on bad forms. All symptoms, especially mental, worst after

sleep or aggravation wakes him up from sleep.

Lycopodium

clavatum

Lack of confidence, social timidity, runs away from difficulties. Hypersensitive,

does mot bear jokes, is always right. Stubborn, resentful, always defensive,

dictatorial, desire of domination, selfish and provocative, but coward with

interested servility. Pleasant with stronger or superiors, hard with weaker and

inferior. Impressionable and scared by authority or reprehension. Intolerant to

contradiction, disobedient, opposition, jealous, violent rage with aggressiveness;

beats, preferentially, on the weaker. Violent rage, speaks swearwords, threats,

defiance, provokes. Proud, presumptuous, affected and looks down on others.

Weak children and too tired, lack of physical energy. Nervous tics, enuresis,

encopresis. Gastrointestinal symptoms, desire for sweets, chilly. Difficulty in

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learning, errors reading and writing, unfit for mathematics. Fear of darkness,

noises, ghosts or imaginary things. Theme of the father in his role of educator;

difficulties in relationship with his father (Masi Elizalde). Precocious children,

with appearance of older, early white hair.

Mercurius

solubilis

Problem in adaptation to the world: is resentful and socially marginalized,

transgressor, disrespectful, spites on the face of people, considers everybody as

enemy. Restlessness, agitation, awkward movements, quick speech, slow

answers. Intolerance to contradiction, angry attacks with violent impulses;

destructive and aggressive against himself and others, liable to become suicidal

or homicidal, with desire to kill with knife – can stab anyone, even his loved

relatives. Remorse and anxiety of conscience by his acts – feels guilty and is

suicidal. Needs to dominate others; propensity to gambling, drugs and alcohol.

Liar, false, aggressive, selfish, accentuated destructiveness (auto, hetero and

eco). Wants to modify or destroy nature to rebuild it better – Theme of

Perfection. Creativity: always inventing something better (Masi Elizalde). It is

one of the remedies characterized by anxiety and haste, but his haste is

unproductive, unlike Tarentula or Nux vomica that present an efficient and

productive activity. ADD with hyperactivity and impulsiveness, aggressiveness,

difficulty of understanding, memory and language - stammering. Hypersexual

excitability, with eroticism, lasciviousness, sexual crimes, rape. Constant desire

for change, journeys and to escape. Nervous affections after suppression of

secretions. Tendency to inflammation and ulceration in skin and mucous

membranes.

Nitric

acidum

Excessive physical irritability, impetuous, irritability by noises, irritable, out of

himself by nothing, with shivering. Is never cheerful or satisfied, runs away from

contact, aversion to be consoled, indifferent to the others, hard, without piety.

Opposition and does not hesitates to injure and to be rough. Irritated, stubborn,

hateful and vindictive; with inveterate habits, mischievous, impassioned with

apologies. Theme of justice and mercy - does not forgive and becomes

inexorable no matter what the others say (Masi Elizalde). Auto social

marginalization that leads him to be corrupt, disorderly, and delinquent conduct.

Conduct disorder and oppositional defiant. Enuresis and bites the nails. Tendency

to warts.

Nux

vomica

Physical, emotional and moral hypersensitiveness, also to noises, light,

contradiction, pain (faints from pain) – from any stimulus, with predominance of

aggressiveness, not measuring the consequences, unruly impulse. Irritable,

jealous children, defiant, prudent and zealous, inclined to be quarrelsome,

vindictive, mischievous, cruel, nervous and melancholic. They desire tranquility

and loneliness, do not bear to be interrupted; do not tolerate to be looked at.

Worries with family, although may be rough. Impatient, impetuous, insignificant

disorders are unbearable; desire to kill himself with a knife. Any innocent word

offends him, hypersensitive to hurt self esteem (injured honor) – out of himself,

redness and shivering; impressionable by all external stimuli; sympathetic.

Theme of justice, of right and wrong (Masi Elizalde). ADD with hyperactivity

and impulsiveness. Disorder of language, stammering. Grabs people, wants to

feel secure.

Opium

Mental excitability and agitation, exaltation of imagination and memory.

Neurosensorial hyper-excitability, startles by slight stimulus. In another phase

can be numbed and unfeeling. State of anesthesia or emotional and intellectual

excitement, with joy, boldness and sensation of invincibility. Aggravates from

fear or fright that paralyzes him. The emotional shock can trigger any illness or

reaction. Aggressiveness, crises of violent rage; liar (does not know what is true),

jealous, malicious, cruel, wild, bites, says swearwords, runs away, does not

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observe moral rules, aggravates from touch. Attacks of excessive laughter,

hysterical reactions, and sensation of having strong force, boldness, nocturnal

hyper-ideation. Indicated in autism and delirium. Enuresis, encopresis,

convulsions after fright or rage.

Phosphorus

Hypersensitive and vulnerable, with anxiety and fear of everything around him.

Creative, gifted, leader, affectionate. In the aggressive phase is agitated, violent,

and disobedient, does not accept orders, feels above the others. Proud, arrogant,

liable to wild, violent rage; strikes, spites, bites and says swearwords. Audacious,

impetuous, impertinent, insolent, quarrelsome. Impressionable, attracted to

clairvoyance, intuitive, and artistic things. Desire physical touch that ameliorates

(magnetism), want to be hold to feel secure. Sexual excitement and frequent

masturbation. Disobedient, ADD with hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Theme

of light, clarity, fraternity.

Plumbum

metallicum

Reading and speech disorders (loquacity / stammering), absentminded and

restless children, haste in acts and in answers, quarrelsome, irritable, attacks

himself (liable to stab himself) and others, lascivious, insolent and disrespectful,

disobedient, surpasses his limits, tendency to oppose and do prohibited things;

excited by risky activities and scandals, perverse and unfaithful. As compulsive

gamblers may put at risk belongings necessary to existence. Encopresis and

nervous tics; depressive, progressively more apathetic, paranoid (fear to be

murdered). Problem with prohibition; does not accept established limits by the

law, does not accept prohibitions (Masi Elizalde). Can be stuporous, slow in

expression with depressed cerebral functions, with loss of memory, especially for

words. Patients become weak and emaciated quickly and excessively when sick.

States of sclerosis, neurological disorders, paralysis and atrophies (important

action on spinal marrow), and tendency to present intestinal problems.

Staphisagria

Hypersensitive to the slightest mental or moral impressions; to slightest action or

innocent word offends him, hypersensitive to the injured self esteem (injured

honor), feels he is unjustly treated and that does not deserve what they do to

him. Great indignation regarding things done by other persons or even by

himself; afflicts himself with the consequences. Disorders by repressed rage,

with silent sorrow, or explosive rage throwing objects. Ill-humored children that

cry asking things and when receive them, sassy, move or throw away. Sensitive

to injustices suffered or imaginary, aggravates by reproach. If insulted, is too

dignified as to fight, controls rage and arrives at home ill, trembling and

exhausted; fear of losing self-control. Self-aggressive tendencies and to

masturbation. Theme of dignity and sexuality (Masi Elizalde). ADD with

impulsiveness and perturbations of conduct. Hypersensitive to injury.

Stramonium

Violent physical and intellectual agitation, intense loquacity. Irrational conduct,

exalted imagination, indifferent to pain. Sardonic, incoherent and incessant

laughter, prayer, pleads for, begs, squeaks, beats, bites, tears, scratches; does not

bear staying alone, worse in the dark and by loneliness. Hallucinations that

frighten the patient and tries to escape; imagines all sorts of things. The pupils

dilate when infant is reproached; reddish and hot face, with cold hands and feet;

circumscribed redness of the cheeks. Stammering. Convulsions. He curses, tears

the clothes, exhibits himself, desires sto be naked, conversation with angels.

Intolerance to contradiction, foolish or ridiculous gestures, spites on the face of

people, cries alternating with laughter, dizzy laughter and foolish behavior.

Hallucinations with mice, snakes and other animal, sees devils; confused

fantasies, nocturnal terror. Seizes people to feel secure. Attacks of rage and fury

alternating with depression and violent acts. Answers with irrelevances,

difficulty of concentration. Theme of trash (the plant grows in the trash).

Sulphur

Cheerful, jovial, funny, sociable, however impulsive, impatient and bungler.

Tired, especially at 11 o'clock, indolent, aversion to physical efforts. Mental

abstraction, ADD with impulsiveness and conduct disorder, tendency to

carelessness. Agitated, with difficulty of learning and disturbs of expressive

language. Encopresis, enuresis, grinds the teeth and bites his own nails. Theme of

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merit, judges-itself worthy of all honors and glory or that deserves nothing (Masi

Elizalde). Wants to be seized by people to feel secure. Lively, imaginative spirit,

impatience, however selfish and lazy.

Tarentula

hispanica

Physical and mental anxiety too intense, with great anxiety. Highly nervous

children, constant motion of the legs, arms, with incapacity to do anything;

contractions and starts of muscles. Does nott get keep quiet in any position;

needs to keep walking, although symptoms get worse. Hyperesthesia: the

slightest excitement irritates him and is followed by sorrow. Hysteria, with

extreme sexual excitement up to mania; tendency to masturbation and fondles

genitals. Sensitive to songs, dance, sings, excessive joy. Crises of violent rage

and does not want to be touched; pulls out clothes, exhibitionist and lascivious.

Aggressive, perverse, sly, destructive tendency. Disobedient, does not obey rules.

Aversion to colors red, green, yellow or black. Great hyperactivity, without

ADD, but with conduct disorder. Enuresis.

Veratrum

album

Always wants to be the first. Proud, extravagant, megalomaniac, liar, cheats,

despises others, insolent. Wants to be loved and accepted, embraces everybody.

Ambitious, employs any means to obtain what he desires. Aggravates by the loss

of objects. Theme of protection, of a position in the society, a high place; wants

to be next to the powerful to get protection (Masi Elizalde). Tendency to slander,

critic, rude and rough, beats the feet and does not admit contradiction. Conduct

disorder accentuated and oppositional defiant. Enuresis, encopresis, grinds the

teeth during sleep and bites nails. Nervous tics.

Zincum

metallicum

Patients with weak memory, aversion to work and to speak, lethargy and

melancholy, aversion to answer, repeats questions, reflects long before

answering. Apprehensive fear by an imaginary crime. Restless sleep and wakes

up frightened by nightmares. Patients with nervous and cerebral exhaustion, with

absence of vitality, anemia and debility. Depressive states and irritation of

nervous system, convulsions. Disorders by suppressed eruptions or discharges.

Incessant and violently restless in the lower limbs and feet, also during sleep.

General anxiety, with automatic motions of mouth, arms and hands (tics and

straight). Lasciviousness, with masturbation and great sexual excitement, fondles

genitals. Makes mistakes in written and spoken expression, distracted and

awkward, imprudent and hasty, quarrelsome, malicious. Encopresis and enuresis.

Problem with force and power, lack of strength to arrive to his goal and remains

in the middle of the way; problems in the knees, which are the center of power

(Masi Elizalde).

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POTENCY

(Dr. Margery Blackie, in CLASSICAL HOMŒOPATHY)

What is our teaching about potencies? That there are two schools, one high, the other low, and that

the inquirer should take his or her choice?

My modus operandi, working on what I understand to be Hahnemann’s teaching, is to give a high

potency (10M) of the remedy most similar to the reactions of the patient, taking into chief

consideration the mental and general symptoms, that is, the symptoms produced by the reaction of the

Vital Force. If there are only local and pathological symptoms I give what I think will help those, in

low potency (6c), till the Vital Force again is spurred to action, may be by some stress.

As a newly-qualified doctor I had the advantage of seeing the results of Sir John Weir and Dr.

Borland with high potencies, and also those of Dr. Wheeler, who used mostly low. I felt convinced

that there was a place for both high and low potencies, but the question was what was the place for

each?

Dr. Borland had studied under Dr. Kent, and then did a busy general practice for years. No one knew

more about the personalities of remedies than he did. He taught us to study our patients and to look at

them in terms of remedies; and when we studied remedies to think in terms of people. We residents

were all very keen, and when we came back from an evening at the theatre we would not discuss the

acting, but the remedies that the characters in the play were needing! No one was safe from our

homœopathic analysis.

Dr. Wheeler knew more about the theory and philosophy of Homœopathy than anyone else, and he

used to keep us spellbound with his reminiscences of Homœopathy and homœopaths as he had

breakfast with us, having already done the ward round at 8 a.m. It was on pure symptoms and

pathology that he prescribed, not on the personality. With him we saw nothing that compared with

the results of high potency prescribing in acute cases, but we did see results in chronic conditions; in

chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in old TB cases, and in arthritic joints.

To summarise: in chronic cases the high potencies should be tried. Old standing cases clear up and

patients are often surprised and delighted that something which has troubled them for a long time, and

which they have come to look upon as inevitable and never even mentioned, has cleared up too. A

medicine case of low potencies is also necessary in the home. Chamomilla at teething time, Aconite

when the child comes in from playing in a cold wind crying with earache, Spongia for the croupy

cough waking him in the night, Arnica for all the bumps and bruises – all these given immediately

will generally stop the trouble from developing.

Many old people today do more than they really should, and for the resulting tiredness, fretfulness,

aching limbs and increased rheumatism and so on, I find low potencies of Arnica, Chamomilla, Nux

vomica and Rhus tox., as well as others, quite invaluable in helping them to carry on, and in many

cases to feel surprisingly better. In cases where illness has left some more or less permanent tissue

damage, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiac conditions, emphysema, bronchiectasis and cancer, the

high potency indicated will make the patient feel much better; but they still have their pain and coughs

and local discomforts, and here I prescribe in low potency for the local condition.

In gardening terms I compare my high potency to a shower of rain, and my low potency to the

watering can that I must use occasionally on some corner of the garden in order to weather a critical

stage.

174

8. Decision making and semiotics:

A view in Homeopathy.

JURJ Gheorghe (IJHDR. 7, 23/2008)

Introduction: One of the main issues in homeopathy,

as well as in medicine as a whole, concerns the

grounds for the choice of therapeutic actions. Any

type of medicine, past, present and future, is grounded

on the possibility of effecting an intervention on the

state of health. This subject may be approached from

the perspective of problem-solving.

As it is known, the notion of “health” –

together with its related semantic field: “disease”,

“illness”, “well-being”, “quality of life”, etc. – is

not univocal and is peculiar to different historical

and cultural settings. Notwithstanding, suffering

is somehow represented as a deviation regarding

a state both individually and culturally qualified

as “normal”.

Let us describe the problem in the simplest terms

as possible. It all begins when a person “does not feel

well”, “does not feel no longer able to”, “has this or

that”, “feels that something is wrong”. To his or her

own eyes, or to the eyes of people around, he or she

has a health problem. And it may be transferred to

another individual held as skilled to effect

interventions aiming to solve it, viz. a doctor.

What a doctor needs to make a proper decision?

It may be said: knowledge or clinical intuition; ability

to perform a thorough clinical history; competence to

ask appropriate complementary tests; clinical

experience… This list may continue indefinitely and

in the end we would probably have a “portrait of the

ideal doctor”, i.e. the addition of all qualifications

required to solve health problems. Nevertheless, such

a list does not seem to point out to the basis for a

doctor to define the patient’s problem in order to

effect an intervention.

Eventually, the problem may be formulated as a

problem of decision-making. Decision involves two

aspects: its goal – to heal, to relief, to care – and the

means to achieve it. However, before attempting to

answer the ultimate therapeutic question, “what to

do?”, we must stop to reflect on how this problem

first comes to the doctor.

The short answer: through signs. Patients

communicate their problems through signs. It is

through signs that it is perceptible that something is

different in them. It is through signs that a person

realizes that something is wrong with him or her. It is

through signs that people around realize that

something is happening to him or her. Signs, breaks in

space, in time, in the experience of continuity that,

more or less conventionally, is held as “normal”.

I- Medical action: What is processed between

patient and doctor?

Schematically, exchanges between patients and

doctors follow a general model:

1. Presence of the patient to the doctor

From the very moment a patient presents him or

herself to a doctor, it is established an interpersonal

relationship that is neither neutral nor generic but

predetermined by the fact that one is a “patient” and

the other a “doctor”, encompassing all corresponding

cultural conditionings and the expectations involved

in the act itself of entering into this kind of

relationship. In other words, the doctor – patient

relationship, from the very moment of its institution

carries a certain meaning and for this reason can

create meanings.

In semiotic terms, the sign /patient/ represents to

the doctor a concrete individual within a given

framework of expectations regarding possible

meanings and actions. Conversely, the sign /doctor/

does not represent to the patient a generic human

being, but an individual already carrying meaning,

together with the corresponding expectations. This is

the reason why their relationship is not neutral but is

oriented to a definite goal. That is to say, because it

evolves within a specific setting, this relationship

carries meaning from the very moment of its

institution. Each of the participants appears under a

definite sign to the other and, consequently, as a

sender of signs.

According to Roman Jakobson’s model, any

process of communication involves a message, a

sender and a receiver, channels of transmission, codes

and a context [1]. What are the particularities of

communication in medicine?

In the first place, the context within which it

evolves is particular, according to well defined

coordinates. Communication is processed within the

framework of so-called “medical consultation” whose

goal is to make a decision regarding the health of a

patient. Equally orientation-giving notions are e.g.

“diagnosis”, or in homeopathy “choice of a remedy”,

which exert an influence on the full semantic process

evolving in this particular setting. In other words, the

meaning of signs is pragmatically conditioned by

their usage. A sign, like e.g. /vomits water

immediately after it is warmed in the stomach/ has no

meaning to conventional medicine’s diagnostic

perspective, but it may be highly significant when

therapeutic decision is grounded on the search of a

remedy that elicits this same symptom on a healthy

individual, as it is the case of homeopathy.

Then, communication in a medical context

involves specific codes. Codes relate to 1) the way

how each of the participants assumes and signifies his

or her own condition; and 2) the way how each sign is

interpreted by each one of them.

As the patient – doctor is an already codified type

of relationship, it presupposes expectations in both

participants and a play of social roles. Some symbols,

as e.g. the white-coat or the stethoscope, are perceived

by the patient as signs of the doctor’s identity.

Locutions as “where does it hurt?” or actions like

175

stethoscope auscultation, following implicit codes,

become social rituals which together with the specific

goal of a medical consultation make this mode of

relationship singular. For instance, due to these codes

a patient “knows” that he or she must answer some

questions, needs to undress and be examined or that

he or she will be subjected to certain instrumental

procedures.

In fact, from the very moment a patient enters in

a doctor’s office he or she perceives signs functioning

as symbols – the presence of a person wearing a white

coat, medical instruments, examination table, etc. –

which confirm him or her in his or her role of

“patient”. Therefore, entering into this context means

to the patient the onset of the operation of codes

related to his or her own condition.

On the other hand, this entering into context

activates also in the doctor, in a mirror mode, a set of

roles, formally codified through the rulings of medical

ethics and informally, according to what he or she

“knows” that must and can be done.

Communication in this particularly codified

context does not deal with objective instances but

with attempts of objectivity by both participants. The

patient tries to speak of what he or she feels, what is

the matter with him or her, in a way already

presupposing some degree of objectivity, i.e. he or she

speaks of him or herself as of something he or she is

“seeing”, observing, an “object” of perception and

knowledge.

This objectivation is processed as a function of

what he or she wants or can say or believes it is

needed. What a patient tells is more or less

intentional: up to a certain point, he or she can choose

what to say and will tell what he or she wants or can.

However, the symptoms a patient tells have

multiple mediations, involving several levels of

translation, first intra- and then intersubjectively: 1)

translation of a sensorial stimulus into a perception,

“what he or she feels”; 2) interpretation of this

perception (signification), e.g. “headache”; 3)

translation of this intrasubjective sign into speech and

intersubjective communication.

That is to say, the narrative of the patient involves

the passage from a purely subjective feeling to its

signification to its linguistic expression in a more or

less intentional way; thus, it is conditioned by codes

modulating communication, both intra- and

intersubjectively. We are, therefore, facing a

succession of signs: what a patient feels is a sign;

when it is signified it creates another sign; when the

latter is verbally expressed, generates another one,

whereas what the doctor perceives is still another

different sign.

In all instances of signs above there is a Sign or

representamen , an Object or referent and an

Interpretant, according to C.S. Peirce’s

conceptualization. Although the intention of both

patient and doctor is to preserve the referent, the latter

changes continually, as a function of the interpretant,

i.e. the way someone interprets a sign.

The process relating a sign to an object through

an interpretant is a process of semiosis, involving: 1) a

given object or state of things; 2) represented by a

representamen; 3) the meaning of which may be

translated into an interpretant, i.e. another

representamen.

From this arises the possibility of continual and

polyvalent semiosis: each step in the semiotic process

brings a new set of signs and meanings, as in each

step a new interpretation opens the way to a new set

of signs. The limits of interpretation were a concern to

U. Eco [3].

Moreover, in all these levels code modulators are

involved: elements modifying the meaning of the

original feeling, its perception, awareness and

transmission within a given context and within a

relationship with another individual whose role is

already signified by the patient according to his or her

own codes. They are responsible for a certain fragility

and inconsistency in the patient’s narration of his or

her symptoms. This is especially evident in the case of

children: many youngsters express anxiety or anguish

through physical symptoms – “my belly aches”. There

is something that actually “aches” and according to

the child’s own system of signification, “it must be

somewhere”, thence in the “belly” or the “head” or

any other part of the body where what aches can be

defined.

On the one hand, there is a need to express an

actual suffering and, on the other, an interpretation

and communication of suffering in a given context,

according to pre-established implicit and explicit

codes.

The doctor will try to “see” what is happening to the

patient, to understand what is with him or her.

However, his or her own process of understanding is

not neutral, but guided by categories he or she already

posses and code modulators that are conditioning his

or her perception. On the one hand, he or she needs to

integrate the narrative of the patient with his or her

own observations while making judgments aiming to

answer questions related to the possibility of

intervening on the patient’s state of health, formulated

as a diagnosis.

2. Clinical investigation

The goal of a medical consultation is to collect

data fit to ground the performance of an action. For

this reason, it is necessary to discuss what such data

are and how they are sought for. As mentioned earlier,

these data are signs. Signs through which it is

interpreted that there is something irregular in the

patient, what is irregular and how irregular it is. To

the doctor, the patient represents two different

epistemological values: 1) as an “object” of study to

be known under some aspects; 2) as a subject to

communicate with. The aim of this particular

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communication is to investigate some meanings of

signs leading to representations fit to ground a

decision.

Thence, in a first stage the aim is to discover

certain signs related to the state of health to be later

confronted to some models in order to arrive to what

is known as diagnosis. Values are assigned to signs

according to certain mental images that allow to give

meaning to the actual signs offered by the patient.

However, “diagnosis” is nothing but another sign to

the doctor. In fact, it results from an interpretation of a

configuration of signs and it functions as a sign for

both decision and action.

Shortly, the doctor’s action involves cognition,

communication and decision: patients are “known” as

objects of study; a communicative relationship is

established, involving the exchange of signs and

messages; and a judgment is made regarding the state

of the patient in order to perform an action.

The possibility to give meaning to the signs of the

patient demands a previous education and learning,

specific to the medical culture the doctor belongs to

which precisely supplies him or her the models of

perception, representation, interpretation and

decision-making.

For all these reasons, clinical investigation is

neither naïve nor purely objective as it may be

thought, but it is conditioned by the factors that define

the doctor – patient relationship: 1) intersubjectivity, a

mode of relation where each individual participates

with all his or her conditionings or “prejudices”; 2) a

specific goal, i.e. the possibility to intervene on the

state of health of patients; 3) a framework of more or

less systematized rules and values.

II- Decision in medicine: a theory of action

1. Foundations

As all a patient offers a doctor are signs, as all a

doctor perceives in a patient are signs, sound

decision-making requires to take into account some

features that function as true foundations of decision-

making.

1.1 Consistency, reliability, verifiability

The signs considered in a given situation must

correspond to the reality of the patient, no matter if

subjective or objective. That is to say, the signs must

be reliable, i.e. must be as they are and in no other

way, and consistent, i.e. they must represent a given

reality.

The requirement of consistency is essential as, in

logical terms, it establishes the value of truth of the

premises whose articulation will lead to decision-

making. Decisions in medicine are the result of

arguments which can be logically valid but whose

value of truth depend on the truth of its premises.

Consistency is easier to establish in the case of

so-called (medical) objective signs than in so-called

subjective signs (namely symptoms), as in the latter a

direct confrontation to intrasubjective reality is

impossible. For this reason, such signs are inherently

imprecise and vaguely consistent.

Nevertheless, it may be established their

reliability within the framework of intrasubjective

reality: does the patient always refer this particular

feeling as a “burning”, or once he or she says it

“burns”, then “it is like stitches”, and then “throbs”,

etc.? Did this happen only once or several times? Is

this a continual, intermittent, sporadic condition, or

does it appear only under some specific

circumstances? and so on.

Consistency and reliability implicitly need a

grounding in verifiability: external in the case of

objective signs, where there is an external reference of

validation; internal in the case of subjective signs,

where there is the possibility of asserting whether

there is a constant relation between what the patient

says and what he or she feels.

It is worthy to insist on this notion: in the case of

subjective signs, adequateness to “objective” reality is

irrelevant. When a patient describes a feeling such as

e.g. “It seems to me that things around me have

become smaller”, what it matters is whether it is a

reliable narrative, i.e. whether he or she really

perceives things around as smaller.

In order to ascertain this, it must be sought its

constancy as a sign indicating internal reality. For

instance, through reiteration, “Every time I walk

between buildings I feel they are going to fall on me”.

In such cases, situational modulators have to be

sought for, e.g. “It is only when I am exceedingly

tired that I feel that the buildings will fall on me”.

Therefore, consistency and reliability cannot be

considered absolute but relative; their degree depends

on modulating factors that must be taken into account.

Such modulating factors depend on particular

idiosyncrasies which at times, from a semiotic point

of view, could become more significant than the

primary sign they are related to.

In other words, sign modulators may also become

signs. If a modulator, e.g. “always worsens in cold

weather” becomes sufficiently constant and verifiably

consistent and reliable, it may become an autonomous

sign, even if its referent corresponds to a particular

specific situation

1.2 Normativity

Any sign, e.g. “yellow color of the skin” may be

highly consistent as it is immediately perceptible.

However, it is not significant in a medical context in

the case of a Chinese person. For a sign to be

significant in a medical context [4], it must represent a

discontinuity regarding a certain norm.

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Here we have to deal with normative signs,

established by convention or habit, according to

which correlative signs are judged as more or less

“normal”. Signs in the medical context are signs

which express a discontinuity in the norm and at the

same time distribute as possible deviations from it. In

other words, for something to become a sign in the

medical context it must be “different”, “unusual”

regarding a reference criterion which operates as

normative sign for the receiver of the sign.

Around a normative sign, e.g. /normal color of

the skin/ other signs in the medical context appear

which are related to it. They might be distributed in a

gradual mode along increasing-decreasing gradients,

as e.g.: /pale/…/normal/…/congestive/. In this case, it

is a polar distribution, whereupon discrete signs

operate as poles regarding a normative sign.

According to M. Nadin, this may be expressed:

X:A→[0,1]

which means that the elements of the set A={a1, a2…

an}belong (fuzzily: a qualitative and quantitative mix)

to the set, with membership values ranging between 0

and 1 [5].

Signs in the medical context may also be

disposed as constellations around a normative sign;

here each of the observed signs represents a deviation

from the norm:

Therefore, although it seems that in medical

practice we perceive a certain sign, we deal, in fact,

with semiotic fields where a normative sign is the

central element, either implicitly – e.g. /normal color

of the skin/-, or explicitly, e.g. /normal values of

blood cholesterol/, /normal shape of the QRS complex

in the EKG/. That is to say, semiotic fields are

dynamic because inside them signs interrelate, and

from these interrelations arise their specific values.

Thence, it follows the axiological function of the

normative sign: it represents the central value of a

semiotic field around which all other signs are

appraised. This is not an abstract function and it

intervenes, indeed, any time a sign whatsoever is

perceived as having medical “value”. This value is

established precisely as a function in correlations with

both the normative sign and its entire corresponding

semiotic field. Thus, due to their axiological function,

normative signs operate as reference criteria in the

assessment of the signs perceived in a patient. It must

be remarked that normative signs are not given but are

culturally conditioned as a function of different

medical rationalities. That is to say, a certain sign

might be rated as normal or not according to a given

perspective. Moreover, its qualification as a sign in

the medical context itself may apply in one medical

rationality and do not apply in another, as e.g.

“sensitiveness to drafts of air”. The cultural

conditioning of signs may be explicit within the

frameworks of several medical rationalities but it may

also be implicit and exert a diffuse and imprecise

influence on the notion of “normality” employed by a

certain society. On the other hand, some cultural and

scientific acquisitions may change the ideas on

normality current in a given society, as well as some

signs may become signs in the medical context, as it

happened to ethnicity in the light of epidemiology,

and other signs may lose its “medical context”

qualification, as e.g. homosexuality.

Criteria of normality may be individual, as a

function of the variation of time, as e.g. “I always was

cold-blooded, but now I became hot-blooded”; may be

cultural, “all children like sweets, but my son only

eats salty food” or conventional, “the normal value of

total blood cholesterol is below 180mg% but mine is

250mg%”. These criteria are established in relation

with some axes and relations:

 Time-axis: “Before I was this, but now it is

that”; “I have fever only in the night”.

 Space-axis: “It aches here and extends

there”.

 Relation of the part to the whole: “warm

ears, but the face is cold”.

 Relation to the normative sign: “cyanotic

lips” (non /normal color of lips/).

Probably, the more significant mode of relation is

the one between an actual sign and its normative sign,

i.e. something is rated as “normal” or not. Indeed, all

other modes of relation depend on it. It must be

remarked that the elimination of certain signs from the

field of signification for being rated as “non

pathological” is restrictive and does not correspond to

concrete medical reality. Not every sign in the

medical context is necessarily “pathological”. Generic

signs such as /weakness/, /somnolence/ do not

indicate pathology but a state of the individual.

Another type of signs known as “constitutional”,

including the inherited ones, in some contexts, e.g.

genetic diseases may become signs in the medical

context as predispositions or elements of significant

configurations.

1.3 Configurations

Signs do not present themselves isolated but in

groups that represent the problems of the patient.

Isolated signs represent merely parts; the problems of

the patient as a whole are expressed as configurations

of signs, whose identification allows to define the

Yellow

Icteric

Brown NORMAL

Earthy purple

Bluish

Fiery red

cyanotic

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situation to be solved. Signs in the medical context

never appear isolated, although methodologically we

separate them from the continuum of the patient.

Each sign is associated to other signs in different

ways: through simultaneity, e.g. “nausea and

vomiting”; through contiguity, e.g. “vesicles on an

erythematous background”; through concomitancy,

“nausea during fever”; causality, “photophobia caused

by migraine”; succession, “nausea after fever”, and so

on. Therefore, a sign such as /facial paralysis/ may

appear “after exposure to cold, associated to

lachrymation, together with salivation in the corner of

the lips”. That is to say, it appears as a configuration

of signs which we isolate methodologically to

reintegrate them later in order to obtain an unitary

sign.

It may be objected that /facial paresia/ is not a

sign but a diagnosis, which is true. However, from a

semiotic perspective diagnostic names are signs, i.e.

“something which stands to somebody for something

in some respect or capacity” [6] Moreover, they are

configurational signs, with an univocal signification

or a range of significations.

On the other hand, when we speak of “one”

isolated sign, in most cases it is a complex sign as a

function of the axes and relations mentioned above.

Through the latter, a “simple” sign becomes qualified

and represents by itself a configuration whose totality

constitutes a sign. For instance, /headache/ will have a

time qualification, “in the morning”, a space

qualification, “on the left side of the forehead”, a

sensorial qualification, “burning”, a modal

qualification, “better when resting”, a causal

qualification, “after eating peanuts”, etc.

The more qualified a sign is, the higher its

indexical value, i.e. the more motivated it becomes,

the more determined by its referent it is and the more

significant it becomes. On the other hand, meaning

may appear precisely as a consequence of

configuration of signs, i.e. when appearing together,

signs may point out to a signification different to the

one they point separately.

Therefore, there is a relation between the

qualification of each singular sign and the

configurational group. Configuration makes a sign to

be perceived as more significant in a given condition,

with more “Prägnanz” in Gestalt psychology terms.

[7] On the other hand, a given sign, through its

qualifications, may bring a new perspective on the

totality of the configuration. For instance, in the sign

/sadness when the weather changes/, the main mark of

the sign, “sadness” is vaguely determined, whereas

the secondary and qualifying mark, “when the

weather changes” may open the path for a new

configuration, centered on the idea of “possible

modifications when the weather changes”. If we

found other main signs in the patient, e.g. /migraine/,

/pain in the joints/, /epistaxis/ presenting the same

secondary qualifying mark “change of weather”, this

qualification – in homeopathic terms, “modality”,

may become an autonomous sign by itself, and the

centre of a new configuration.

The aim in this dynamics of arrangements and

permutations of signs within configurations is to

achieve coherence.

1.4 Coherence

The more coherent a group of signs, i.e. the more

signs that seem disparate on the first sight are

interpreted as belonging to a same totality, the higher

our possibility to perform an unitary action.

Coherence is not immediately given but it is the result

of the reconstruction by the doctor of the signs

available to his or her perception and accomplished

through a principle of integration which I have called

principle of coherence. In homeopathy, it has been

known from its inception as “totality of symptoms”.

In fact, the principle of coherence operates in any

medical perspective: at a given moment, a certain

configuration of signs is chosen in order to establish a

diagnosis or as the foundation of medical action. The

doctor must reconstruct a presupposed irregular

reality from signs and do something “for the good of

the patient”. In other words, any medical action is the

consequence of a semiotic process of signification,

where signs and meanings are taken into account. As,

on the other hand, they are never isolated signs but

always configurations of signs, in last instance, what

will be signified is the configuration the doctor

perceives.

Whereas consistence, reliability and verifiability

are susceptible to analysis, coherence is a mental

operation of synthesis: coherence is not given but

must be constructed. It reconstitutes the analyzed

signs belonging to a totality. For this reason it is

essential to establish the levels of reference which

lead to the choice of a certain configuration of signs

instead of others, i.e. what signs are taken into

consideration by the doctor. If coherence is

established among certain pathological signs, we must

apply the normative sign of a disease. But we may

rather select signs considered the most significant of

an individual, therefore the principle in operation is

individuality instead of disease normativeness.

In more simple words: the doctor only finds the

coherence he or she is looking for, by selecting some

signs and excluding others. In no case all the signs of

a patient are taken into consideration but only those

that prefigure a certain coherence. For instance, in

order to establish the coherence of a diagnosis of

rheumatoid arthritis, there are selected /articular pain/,

/articular deformity/, some radiological signs and

eventually /rheumatoid factor/ in laboratory testing

whereas the coexisting /headache on the left side in

the morning/ is excluded. However, the latter may be

integrated in a coherent configuration when the aim is

to select a homeopathic remedy.

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2. Decision-making

From a given configuration of signs, the doctor

will formulate a hypothesis that later will be

confirmed or rejected. This requires a move to action:

once the problem of the patient was formulated in the

terms of consistency, reliability, verifiability,

normativeness, configurationality and coherence we

are able to decide what are the most appropriate

means to solve it. Nevertheless, it must be reminded

that decision is not limited to a single moment, but it

involves a series of decision moments which begins

the very moment a patient comes into medical

consultation.

Due to the importance of the final decision, the

partial, ongoing ones are frequently forgotten. Yet, the

final decision is the consequence of the series of

partial ones, which are made regarding each sign.

That is to say, from the universe of signs exchanged

in doctor – patient communication, some are selected

and some are excluded, which is a first level of

decision. In the selected ones, a decision is made

concerning the way they will be considered as a

function of configurations.

Decision-making is not a static and definitive

action but a dynamic process including all moments of

decision along the attempt to solve a problem. [8]

Moments of decision, therefore, are distributed

sequentially: each one is inserted in a certain context,

valued in a particular way which, by its turn,

determines a new set of signs to be taken into account.

The partial decision to minimize or exclude a given

sign, thus, will have an effect on the full process and

its result, the final decision.

On the other hand, as it deals with configurations

instead of isolated signs, the totality of the problems

exerts a pressure on the process of decision-making,

leading to actions that eventually may prove

themselves inadequate. Thus, in the evaluation of the

therapeutic process it may happen that results were

not as anticipated or that the original problem was not

fully solved. If so, the problem must be reappraised.

This reappraisal may lead to another

configuration, as it is also possible that signs initially

excluded reveal themselves as having, in fact, high

significance either in the same context, or in another

one. This is an instance of feed-back between decision

and outcome.

III- The specificity of semiotic processes in

homeopathy

Homeopathy, as medical rationality has well

defined and well known features. From a semiotic

point of view what matters is: 1) the type of signs

implicated in homeopathy and their possible

differences from the signs employed in conventional

medicine; 2) what the signification of such signs is

and what the codes leading to specific meanings are;

and 3) how meanings lead to specific decisions and

actions. From a pragmatic point of view, we still need

to address how to effect an intervention on the state of

health of the patient. Regarding this latter issue, there

is an immediate answer: “through dilutions of a given

substance prescribed according the principle of

therapeutic similarity”. Studies suggest that semiotic

processes may also be at the root of this action, but

this still requires further research and analysis [9, 10].

1. The specificity of signs in homeopathy

The ground of the specificity in the approach to

signs in homeopathy is its general view: from the

general to the individual [11]. To Homœopathy what

matters, and thus influences the perspective on signs,

is the individual. This has two immediate

consequences: 1) the signs are considered beyond

their direct relation to eventual diseases; 2) signs are

considered as long as they point out to the individual.

In Homœopathy, signs are qualified through

modulators so that they do not indicate so much

disease as the individual-in-disease. For this reason,

what matters in a “homeopathic sign” are its concrete,

particular qualifications in their own context.

The relation of a homeopathic to a normative sign

is doubly determined. On the one hand, the “sign of

disease” represents a variation regarding the

normative sign of “normality”. This is a path in

common with conventional medicine, which, however

stops here. On the other hand, the individual

“homeopathic” sign is a further deviation regarding

the sign typical of the disease, establishing, thus, a

new level of reference related to a new normative

sign. For instance, /yellow color of the skin/ is a

deviation from the normative sign /normal color of the

skin/ indicating possible pathology (jaundice).

/Yellow color of the skin in palms and soles

alternating with paleness/ associated to /deep linear

cracks/ is a qualification and particularization of the

generic sign /yellow color of the skin/ which now is

rated as normative sign and, thus, susceptible to

variation. In this example, variation is established via

localization and concomitancy with another sign. This

situation may be represented:

/s/N→/s/P

/s/P(N) →/s/H

where /s/=sign; N=normative; P=pathological;

H=homeopathic

That is to say, there is a “migration” in

normativeness, which in homeopathy is doubly

determined: on the one hand, normativeness regarding

pathology and, on the other a specific normativeness

regarding the “typical” pathological sign, arising from

the general categories of disease and that may be

called the “concept” of disease, in opposition to the

180

“atypicality” of concrete individual signs and

configurations. For the same reason, there is also an

implicit migration of the referent: from a general,

abstract category, abstracted from the actual case to

an individual category significant precisely due to the

concreteness of signs. Whereas a pathological sign

indicates a possible disease (/jaundice/), a

homeopathic sign, even when associated to pathology,

indicates the individual who in his or her concrete

experience “twists” and particularizes the pathological

sign.

As the final referent is no longer “disease” but the

individual, homeopathy takes into account non

pathological signs as well, which, nonetheless, are

significant as they signify the final referent. They are

signs that indicate “the individual as he or she is” and

in homeopathy they find the possibility to be

signified, precisely because it has a fitting

interpretative framework and codes able to signify

them.

For instance, character signs such as /haughty/,

/avaricious/, /fastidious/ are not pathological signs but

they open semiotic fields when the individual is made

the final referent. So-called homeopathic “general

signs” as /desire for sweets/ or /sensitiveness to

noises/ may also indicate this referent, as well as

physical signs perceived through the external senses,

such as /yellow color of the soles/ or /perspiration

smelling of cheese/. In fact, such symptoms may

become the most important as they indicate a “mode

of being”, a “reactive pattern” of the individual at the

expense of the set of “pathological” signs which are

unspecific and merely point to diseases.

2. The meaning of homeopathic signs

I believe that from the very beginning it is fitting

to establish a distinction between the meaning of a

single sign and the meaning of a configuration of

signs in medicine as a whole. In medicine, within the

range of possibilities related to the reference, as signs

are considered together and configure, their meaning

becomes restricted. It may be even suggested that the

full aim of the medical demarche is to effect such

restriction in order to achieve a meaning coherent

with decision and action. A single sign, no matter if

pathologic or homeopathic, opens a range of possible

significations: the task of the doctor is to restrict this

range into “something making sense”.

Restriction is achieved via three paths:

1) Qualification of the sign: modulation of

the sign according the axis and

relations mentioned above.

A generic sign as, e.g. /urticaria/ may thus

become /urticaria due to peanuts/ which leads to a

reduction in the semiotic field. This process is modal

and may be represented as:

A(a1, a2…an)→A(a1); A(a2);..A(an)

2) Inclusion of other signs: this means the

definition of possible configurations of

signs.

For instance, to /urticaria/ may be included /rhinitis/,

/eosinophilia/ and /aggravation in the open air/. Most

conventional medical diagnoses are made through the

addition of signs:

A, B, C = Xn

where Xn are the possible diagnoses

If, moreover, each sign is individually qualified,

A(a1), B(b3) , C(c15) = Xp

where Xp are the probable diagnoses, a more

restricted set than Xn

As the common place states, the job of the doctor

is similar to the detective’s, and one of his or her tasks

is to make a kind of “police portrait” including the

factors that affect the patient’s health. Indifferent from

the medical rationality or therapeutic practice

pursued, the doctor needs to identify this one idea

around which everything happening to the patient

acquires meaning.

In Homœopathy, e.g., the ultimate aim of the

whole semiotic process is to reach the image of a

certain remedy; this remedy is the axis around which

the full process of coherence is constructed, meaning

develops in relation to that image. What a

homeopathic doctor seeks through signs is to

“identify”, i.e. to “recognize” the most appropriate

medicine for the individual patient, according to the

codes available.

Ideally, the demarche of medical thought ought to

go from possibility to probability to certainty:

Xn→Xp→Xc

where Xc is certainty, to be followed by “thus, action

must be such”.

3) Intra-sign signification: a process mediated

by meanings originated in collateral sources,

other disciplines, such as e.g. genetics,

molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics,

psychology, sociology, etc.

As a function of them, signs in the medical

context may change in the course of time as their

connotative fields widen and their meanings become

more complex or more exact.

This process of extension and deepening of

meanings is not only the result of exclusively cultural

influences, but also personal factors. In a given

moment the patient may speak about or exhibit some

sensations or lesions, he or she considers as signs, but

omits or hides other sensations, that might be more

relevant from the doctor’s perspective. Equally the

doctor may signify and perceive signs that he or she

signified and perceived in a different way in the past

after a change in his or her own conceptual

181

framework. Signs in the medical context are never

semantically neutral neither to the doctor nor to the

patient. When the patient speaks, his or her narrative

is already conditioned and what the doctor hears or

observes is equally conditioned by the meaning he or

she is able to attribute. Moreover, the meaning of a

sign is never purely “objective”, but it is the almost

geometrical resultant of the whole assembly of

perception, cognition, signification and valorization of

both participants in the communication, patient and

doctor as well.

The restriction of the semantic field through the

three operations above has sense if it opens

possibilities to decide on interventions. The meaning

of a medical semiotic process is not only related to

some information on about “how the patient status is”

but is also related to the possibility to intervene (or

not) on it. A configuration leading e.g. to the

diagnosis (generic sign) of “persistent arterial duct”

must take into account the possibility or not of a

surgical intervention. Equally generic signs such as

/biliary lithiasis/ or /oligophrenia/ require a definite

attitude and thence a decision and an intervention.

In Homœopathy, a sign, no matter if pathological

or individual, always has a range of possible

meanings due to its presence in pathogenetic trials,

toxicological data or clinical verification. These three

sources of data compiled in the homeopathic Materia

Medica and repertories prefigure and give rise to a

field were signs might be found, i.e. they supply codes

for deciphering signs. Theses code are neither

complete nor definitive as every new experience with

a substance proves. On the other hand, the signs

included in the homeopathic Materia Medica and

repertories are referential signs, i.e. normative signs

within the specific field of possible signs resulting

from the interaction of human beings and substances.

Therefore, there is a third determination of the

homeopathic signs besides the two mentioned above:

relation to previous human experience. The

homeopathic materia medica and repertories, despite

their different forms and structure, are descriptions of

signs resulting from the experience of individuals in

contact with substances. Thence their quality of

references: a sign as, e.g. /frontal headache on

exposure to dry wind/ has already been experienced

by someone and the indication of a remedy depends

of this signifier being associated with certainty to a

signified, i.e. the corresponding remedy.

In this way, each and every homeopathic sign has

a double meaning: 1) a meaning related to totality, to

individuality (“the sign leads to the individual”); and

2) a meaning related to the possibility of pragmatic

signification, i.e. regarding a remedy with a similar

semiotic field , or a set of signs already experimented

and related in medical history (“the sign leads to the

remedy”).

3. Relation of homeopathic signs to decision-

making and action

As it was shown, homeopathic signs are linked to

certain meanings unrelated to the underlying disease

and, on the on the other hand, related to substances

able to awaken or heal them. Decision-making in

homeopathy – after all semantic considerations

regarding individuality and singularity – is directly

connected to homeopathic prescription, i.e. the

prescription of a remedy whose “image” (another

normative sign) suits best the “image” supplied by the

signs of the patient. In other words, homeopathic

decision-making is expressed in a prescription and

this is action to a homeopathic doctor.

From a theoretical point of view, here we have to

confront two images: the image of the “totality of

signs” of the patient and the image of the “totality of

signs” of a remedy. Although the expression “totality

of symptoms” traverses as a leitmotiv homeopathic

literature, it may be asked if it is something actually

accomplishable.

And the answer can only be an unqualified No!

No patient will ever present all the repertory

symptoms of, e.g. Sulphur (ca. 14,000 in repertory

Synthesis 9) and neither all the symptoms of a patient

will ever match exactly the symptoms of any remedy

(possible framework of reference) in the Materia

Medica.

Then, what is all about? It is about a set of

approximations and reductions which may be called

“semantic nuclei”. From a pragmatic point of view,

some “well individualized” signs of the patient are

selected and confronted with signs included in the

homeopathic Materia Medica and repertories as

characteristic of remedies. A configuration of signs

(the patient’s) is confronted to another configuration

of signs (the remedy’s): decision is the result of this

comparison.

However, each homeopathic practitioner has his

or her personal way of making this selection,

evaluation and signification of signs. One and the

same sign may be given different value by different

doctors [11]. Here the epistemological and pragmatic

beauty and fragility of homeopathy are fully revealed:

decision-making and action depend on the way a

doctor sees his or her patient. Whereas in one and the

same patient a homeopath may exclusively take into

account mental and general signs, another may focus

on mental and skin signs and, nevertheless, both will

write successful prescriptions. In last instance, what

matters is what the doctor perceives in the patient and

what he or she perceives is conditioned by his or her

personal view on homeopathy.

Does this mean that decision-making is arbitrary

or aleatory in homeopathy?

Yes, whenever the signs of the patient are pasted

together without any unifying criterion or when a

prescription is grounded on the criteria of

conventional medicine.

182

No, when decision-making is grounded on the

principle of coherence: on the coherence of signs that

appear together in the patient and that together

signify a remedy.

Bibliography

[1] Jakobson R. Linguistics and Poetics. In: Sebeok T,

editor. Style in Language. Cambridge: MIT Press;

1960: 350-377.

[2] Hooped J, editor. Peirce on signs. Chapell Hill:

University of North Carolina Press; 1991.

[3] Eco U. Limitele interpretarii. Bucureşti: Polirom;

2007.

[4] Jurj G. Signs in the medical context and the

semiotic codes: an introduction to medical semiotics.

Cultura Homeopática. 2007; 6(20): 32-36

[5] Nadin M. On the meaning of the visual: twelve

theses regarding the visual and its interpretation.

Semiotica. 1984; 52(3): 335-377.

[6] Peirce CS. The collected papers of C S Peirce.

Hartshorne CH, Weiss P, editors. Cambridge:

Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; 1958-

1966.

[7] Wertheimer M. Laws of organization in perceptual

forms. In: Ellis WD, editor. A sourcebook of Gestalt

psychology. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul; 1938.

[8] Greene H, Johnson, W, Lemcke D. Decision

making in medicine: An Algorithmic Approach. 2nd

ed. St Louis: Hardbound; 1998

[9] Bastide M. Interpretative theories about

ultradilutions: supporting evidences. Cultura

Homeopática. 2006; 5(16): 22-30.

[10] Bonamin LV. Dados experimentais que

fundamentam teorias interpretativas sobre

ultradiluições: tributo a Madeleine Bastide. Cultura

Homeopática. 2007; 6(21): 29-35.

[11] Jurj G. General, particular, individual în

homeopatie. Rev Roman Homeopatie. 2005, 25:

32-45.

[12] Brien S, Prescott P, Owen D, Lewith G. How do

homeopaths make decisions? An exploratory study of

inter-rater reliability and intuition in the decision

making process. Homeopathy. 2004; 93(3): 125-131.

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

9. MIASMS AND ARCHETYPES

TWENTYMAN R., Llewellyn

(The Hompathic Prestige, 9, 3/1993)

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

When I was foolish enough to accept your

invitation to contribute a paper to these proceedings, I

thought I knew what I wanted to say, but I am

certainly older and perhaps wiser now. Not only have

I become aware since then that everything that can be

said about the miasms, both complimentary and other-

wise, has already been said, but said much better that I

can possibly say it. So I have found myself in a

considerably more difficult situation than I bargained

for and, to make matters worse, far from home. It will

need, I am afraid, our combined endeavours, yours

and mine, if we are to rescue this situation from

disaster and come to any understanding.

Now, what I want to bring forward contains no

new ideas, no original contribution; I can, but will not

bore you by doing so, give chapter and verse and

authority for the ideas I shall use. All that I hope to

do, is open potentially a meeting place for discussion

between many different sides and approaches to the

problem of disease, sort of verbal clearing house for

people of different jargons to exchange their goods

and benefit each other and all of us. But I realize that

you will not all have had opportunity, or even

inclination, to become familiar with some of the ideas

I must bring forward, and so I throw myself as a

beggar on your proverbial hospitality, asking an

unprejudiced co-operation-in the task of

understanding each other.

I shall not endeavour to make a careful reasoned

presentation, I am sure that at least the different views

entertained about the Miasms are not unknown to you,

although you may not all have particularly studied the

question. There are many excellent contributions to

this task in our literature, not only the classics such as

Kent, Allen and Hahnemann, but nearer home, such

as Dr. Elizabeth Paterson’s. But were I to attempt to

present my case in scientific form we should need a

series of lectures. Life is short, and I am here, after

all, to provide an aperitif for lunch and, when all is

said and done, sheer science is, well, rather boring.

No, I rely on your intuitions to grasp pictorially

anything I have to say which is worth while. One

thing further in introduction-everything I shall say has

arisen in discussion with many colleagues. It is a

collective endeavour, and has in no way been a

private baby of my own.

Let us then plunge in medias res.

I do not think we can do better for a starting point

than take the contrast of the nerve tissue and blood

tissue in our bodies. And observing it with the

synthetic eyes of the homœopath, the naive childlike

eyes of the homœopath, eschewing the high-blown

theories of the scientists, what strikes our

unprejudiced intuition? The static pallor of the

nerves, the dynamic, scarlet pulsation of the blood.

The cells of the nerve system with little or no power

of renewal, those of the blood in constant death and

resurrection. The nerve epithelial tissues in reality a

protoplasmic syncytium; the blood and allied tissues,

fish-like cells, swimming in the ocean. We have the

feeling, the nerve is more dead, the blood teeming

more with the forces of life and growth. The relation

of these two tissues to our soul functions must be an

extreme contrast.

When we are frozen, petrified with fear, rooted to

the spot, as when seeing a ghost, we are overcome

with pallor, but our senses are alert, overwide awake,

183

but we cannot move. Does not our whole being

become nerve? Does not fear, sheer stark fright, turn

us altogether for a moment into nerve?

And when we are overcome with shame, and

cover ourselves with the blushes of embarrassment, as

did Adam and Eve with fig leaves, when the blood

rushes up over us and drowns us, are we not confused

and bewildered in our senses, and long to sink through

the floor, hide ourselves, rush from the room. Do we

not for a moment become altogether blood?

Fear and shame. Fear our experience before the

outer reality, shame our experience before the inner

reality. Between theses two experiences our life is

lived. They show us, to start with, how one can grasp

the idea of disease as being some normal process

occurring at a wrong time and place. Fear is the nerve

process overstepping its normal limits. Shame the

blood process drowning the whole being. Fear you

will experience at night, alone in the darkness of the

forest, your back to a tree, your breath held in

inspiration, your every sense alert to every sound and

movement. You will scarcely dare to move or even

breathe, alone in the darkness. Shame we experience

in fullness of day, faced with the consciousness of

inner failure or sin. The exposure of our inner

rottenness to inspection is unbearable, we must hide

it, or escape. The inner revelation of our own nature

is overwhelming.

To return for a moment to blood and nerves. The

blood carries the nutritional stream through the

organism, it is therefore rooted in the metabolism, in

the abdomen, in the belly, which, as the

psychoanalysts have shown, is the seat of our will,

and, as the old saying, “the bowels of his mercy

gushed forth”, tells us is the seat of sympathy and

love. These then are carried in the blood and wish to

pour themselves out, to bleed for one another, as the

saying is.

The nerves are rooted in the head. Here is the

seat of thought and senses. Here is intellect, that

which cuts and kills. Here is that which separates,

objectifies, hates, that is to say.

And if I may call once again the psychologists to

our aid, because I have warned you to risk the fancies

of intuition, what can they tell us? this-that we each

of us is a trinity. Woman, man and child. We each of

us is this Trinity. And, well, at least Groddeck would

teach us, if we would understand that our belly is

woman and unconscious and powerful, that our heads

are weak, male and conscious, and that the child in us

lives in our heart and lungs and in the dance of their

rhythms. That we think in our heads, feel in our

chest, and will in our belly.

There is a conflict between head and belly,

between past and future, and they play themselves out

in the dances of our heart and lungs, as the conflict of

Man and Woman is resolved in the child, and the past

and future in the present.

Let us, from what I have been saying, keep this in

mind, the correlation of nerve and fear, which is felt at

night, the correlation of blood and shame, which felt

by day, and, further, the correlation of fear and hate

and thinking, and that of shame and love and willing.

Let us bear it in mind, because I shall suggest that we

can find an entry into our inner sanctuary of the

syphilitic miasm through the study of nerve and fear,

and into the sanctuary of Sycosis through shame and

blood, and Syphilis has a nocturnal aggravation,

Sycosis a diurnal aggravation.

But before taking this up, I want to bring another

broad way of looking at it all to our aid. That is to

say, that all life functions are movements of

interiorization and exteriorization, centrifugal and

centripetal. Some processes work from within out,

others from outside in. The organism is a system of

polar functions which balance each other.

Embryology shows these movements, physiology

shows them. Pathology is merely a disturbance of

these movements. A few instances to portray my

meaning. The male genital function is clearly an

exteriorization, not only are the organs themselves

exteriorized, but the function is an excretional one.

The female organs are interiorized, and the pregnancy

process is an interiorization.

Feeding is an interiorization, the bowel action is

an exteriorization, with constipation a misplaced

tendency to interiorization.

Now, inflammation shows many signs of being a

centrifugal tendency. An abscess works to the surface

to discharge itself. The bowel is really a chronic

abscess, the stools the core of the boil, the mucous

membrane the wall of the abscess-an abscess in its

right place, a functional abscess. The male sex

function is clearly inflammatory.

Polar to inflammations are those process which

start on the surface and work in. Such processes are

tumours, cancers. The female sex function is a

tumour formation, the brain is a tumour, the polar

organ of the colon, hence we can well understand the

connection of the German word for thinking, denken,

with dung, and also the posture of Rodin’s statue of

The Thinker, and also perhaps the significance of the

bowel organisms as revealed by Dr. Paterson.

Now recall that cancers seldom or never erode

into centrifugally flowing arteries, they always spread

into the centripetally flowing veins and lymphatics,

whereas we all know the danger of erosion of arteries

in a abscesses and inflammation, particularly in

amputation. At the two poles of pathology stand

cancer and inflammation. In cancer a nerve process is

manifest, inflammation a blood process. Could we

say a cancer is an or repressed, right into the

unconscious, whereas inflammation is an organic

shame? A cancer is petrified, stony hard, we describe

it. An inflammation is pulsating and hot. You see, I

am suggesting that the nerves and head are the

interiorizing pole, and the belly and blood express the

exteriorizing tendency. It is true that the veins are

centripetal within this tendency, but even they have

the tendency to bleed. The very outer form of the

184

body indicates this. The head, spherical,

concentrating its forces inwards to the sella turcica, its

bones on the outside, arising as membrane bones,

sheets of bone, whereas the limbs represent the radial

structure of our trunk.

Starfish and sea urchins. Silica and Calcarea.

So now to draw this together for our immediate

purposes, blood and nerve, belly and head represent

constant tendencies in opposite directions toward

disease. These two tendencies must be constantly

rebalanced if we are to keep well. Health is nothing,

perfect cure is a chimera, but healing is a real process

which our art can help or hinder.

Now, whatbearing, if any, does all this have on

the question of the Miasms? When I was searching

out these lines of thought which I have been trying not

to make live to our mental vision, I was lucky to have

a conversation with Dr. Kenyon. And to him I owe

the suggestion that the whole tendency which I have

characterized as interiorization to him seems like the

Syphilitic type. That started it all.

So now, without prejudicing the issue as to

whether the Miasms of Syphilis and Sycosis are to the

identified with the diseases, the pathological entities,

of Syphilis and Gonorrhœa, let us just take up some of

the pathological details.

The essential lesion in Syphilis is an endarteritis.

That can, to me, be expressed as the nerve process

intruding right into its sphere of the blood circulation.

It is the tendency of the blood vessels to become

nerves. It is a hardening, dying process. The lesions

of Syphilis, like those of Cancer, are typified by

painlessness. Look at Charcot joint, with its

enormous destruction and new production of tissue,

and its painlessness, and contrast it with the

gonococcal joint, with its heat, exquisite pain and

tenderness. This latter is an inflammatory condition.

The blood process is active. The catarrhal conditions

of Sycosis, are they not an expression, for instance, in

the nose of turgescence? The nose, which is a sensory

organ, has a balanced condition of nerve and blood,

moves in the catarrhal conditions of sycosis towards a

dominance of the blood. Whereas in the rare atrophic

rhinitis it moves towards nerve and the syphilitic

remedies come in.

So we come to point that in our nerve and blood

systems we see two constant tendencies to disease or

illness of opposite type always at work in us. There

must be a constant healing reconciling process in us

too. And it must be in the rhythms of our organism

which we study so little. We see in our colon the

rhythms to peristalsis. There is the conflict between

the excretory and retentive tendencies, the

sympathetic and parasympathetic, the male and

female, and this conflict is balanced in the rhythms of

bowel action. There are the rhythms of sleeping and

waking, of breathing, of the pulse, all these rhythms in

every tissue and organ and cell are constantly playing

into each other, healing the conflict of sense and

metabolism in rhythmic dance. But these rhythms

into which our feeling enter so freely, get sluggish and

inert. They do not move quickly and feel balancing

each new strain. As our feelings are lazy and live in

habitual attitudes, or else dart superficially over

things, so congestions occur in our rhythmic

processes. Here we come to Dr. Paterson’s

conception of the relation of the Morgan nosode to

Psora. Congestion is the keynote; Psora, the most

profound of the miasms, what is it? Can we penetrate

its mystery, or come near at all to its inwardness? Is

it not the congenital sloth of feeling, the reluctance to

accept the eternal freshness of each new moment, the

cowardliness that seeks the illusion of safety and

security of the familiar, rather than the heroic

recreation of the present? Those blissful moments

which come to all of us when, over the stale turpitude

of things, there steals the freshness of the new,

awakening and renewing all. Could we but dare to

live in the spirit of such moments, Psora could not

touch us. Psora is the expression of our emotional

inertia, our common human unregenerateness. It

represents the failure of the very healing function

itself, the reconciling dance through which we are

united to the very cosmos itself. Is not Art, which

secretly induces us into these moments, the greatest of

all healers?

Now, there are three remedies standing

traditionally in the middle of the Materia Medica-all

three anti-psorics. I mean, of course, Sulphur,

Calcarea carbonica and Lycopodium. Now, if the

views I have been expressing are in any way useful or

even true in some way or other, Psora stands between

Syphilis and Sycosis as feelings stand between

thinking and willing. It leans on one hand towards

Syphilis, on the other towards Sycosis. Syphilis is

even one extreme limit, Sycosis the other of Psora.

Hate and Love, whose interplay are our feelings,

reach their limit in thinking and willing. Hate in the

cold objectifying thought which kills reality into

things, and love in the fulfillment of the creative deed.

So if there are three central anti-psorics we might

expect them to be related to Syphilis on the one hand,

to Sycosis on the other, and more centrally to Psora

itself. Lycopodium represents a great tendency to

explosion, to exteriorization. It is composed of

centres, the spores each anxious to explode radially in

all directions. Calcarea, by contrast represents a

centripetal tendency, it comes from the enveloping

oyster shell. And so the Lycopodium patient is an

intellectual, dried up, fearful and anxious, whereas the

Calcarea patient is sympathetic to a degree, their

bowels of mercy are ready to gush out, they are, with

their exudative diathesis, wet, not dried up. Is it

fanciful and no more to see Lycopodium pointing to

Syphilis, Calcarea to Sycosis? And Sulphur, the

mythological fire-bearer, to fan the flame of our

emotions to ecstatify them. Is not that the anti-psoric

par excellence?

185

Are ideas, Mr. President, just words, or are they

realities? This is the syphilitic question. The question

of the development of our thinking beyond the mere

word playing of today to the appreciation of meanings

and realities.

Are motives of group conscience, Ladies and

Gentlemen, fit grounds for our actions? This is the

Sycotic question. It is the question of the creative

deed expressing the freshly intuited goal and not mere

slavish obedience even to good causes.

Is it surprising that the Syphilitic, with his

exaggerated thinking, is ameliorated in the mountains

amongst the eagles soaring on the wings of thought.

Where else should his syphilis be healed? Or is it

surprising that the great ocean herself heals the

Sycotic. That ocean, from whose bosom we all

sprang and who can still speak to us so that we come

to know better our own personal unique aim and

meaning.

Disease, then, in the sense I am tying to speak

about it, points not only backwards to its origin, to the

opening of Pandora’s box or the expulsion from Eden

or to the birth trauma of the psychoanalysts, but

forwards. Every illness is a pregnancy of the

personality. Every illness should result in a new birth

of the personality, should deepen and enrich our

experience and expression of life. We should not

regard illness merely as an evil to be obliterated, but

as a challenge to the acceptance of a broader and

deeper intensity of life. Socrates was not ashamed to

compare his work to that of a Midwife, and I always

feel that we, as physicians should do the same. I do

not believe it is silly, but technically and most

scientifically true to speak of a patient being pregnant

with his higher self. I believe that we should

approach a patient with this sense in us. And I do not

see that we can reach a full understanding of the

Miasms if we shirk these issues, of which one can

only speak in metaphor. Nevertheless, in spite of all

its faults, the modern psychological movement has

this to its credit, that one can speak of myth and

symbol again. It has shown how myth and symbol are

psychologically true, and also physiologically true. It

enables us to speak even in scientific circles of these

issues, and has graciously confirmed the truth of fairy

stories.

Miasms are not things.

They pertain to the world of creative realities

which form our thoughts and also are discoverable

forming the phenomena. They are ideas, not the

abstract ideas but living visible ideas, arche-types.

Perhaps one should as well say they are symbols.

Now I am coming to the end. I have sought to

show in what sort of way I believe we can make these

ideas alive for us today. I have not aimed at this

merely as matter of history or merely for speculative

interests. To HAHNEMANN it obviously became a

matter of importance to deepen his insight into the

nature of disease. In his efforts to understand and get

the feel, so one says of the chronic sick, he evolved

this method. And surely to get the feel of a patient is

almost the most important thing. It is only when we

get the feel of something that we can do it well. And I

think in this great work of Hahnemann’s one can

detect his efforts to get the real feel of the problems of

chronic illness. One can, I think, feel how he grasps

the real nature of man in such a way as to know how

to heal him. What is more I think that the deepening

of insight won through these ideas of Syphilis,

Sycosis and Psora, allows him to follow the healing

process without getting lost or stuck.

Can we afford not to win this insight for our own

patients? Is it enough to choose blindly remedies

according to rule, when we can win to a veritable

insight into our actions? It is certainly better to

choose remedies according to a true rule than

according to no rule, but it is even better to have the

feel of the patient, and his disease and the remedy.

I believe that these miasms, these symbols or

archetypes, can act in our thoughts to open our

medical eyes, so that we can penetrate into the

problems of disease. And it is for this reason that I

have attempted to open this road to their

understanding. There is here, I believe a great field of

development awaiting, and a fulfillment of

Hahnemann’s high hopes and endeavours.

DISCUSSION

THE PRESIDENT: Some of the finest minds in

Homœopathy have concerned themselves with

attempts at classifying humanity in order to

understand its diseases, and we are glad to welcome

Dr. Twentyman among such as Allen, Grauvogl,

Kent, Boyd, Vannier and Teste.

I have enjoyed this beautiful paper immensely.

One can see that Dr. Twentyman has a deep

knowledge of Homœopathy, and also psychology - it

seems to me according to Jung. The combination will

bear valuable fruit. I appreciate his desire to get the

“feel of the patient”, and his assessment of the patient

as a living entity, not a collection of symptoms to be

repertorized. This is in line with Dr. Gibson Miller’s

work: he wrote of “that greatest general of them all”

meaning the subtle total personality of the drug

proving and the patient (e.g. China and Arg.nit.). He

instanced the suicidal promptings of China, “hidden,

shame faced and mixed with fear”, the disposition of

Arg. Nit. to cheat.

Dr. JOHN PATERSON: Mr. President, Ladies

and Gentlemen. As Dr. Twentyman was reading his

paper, I also was following a copy, but occasionally I

raised my eyes and looked around, and wondered if

any of the members of the Congress were under the

impression that they were attending an International

and not a National British Congress, since the speaker

in his opening remarks made claim to being a

foreigner in this part of the world, and I had some

doubts as to whether his language was being readily

understood by his audience.

186

Perhaps I may be allowed to summarize and

translate into more simple language the main points in

his paper before I make my comments.

First of all I want to offer an apology to Dr.

Twentyman. In the course of an earlier conversation

with him on the subject of this paper, he informed me

that he had no intention of reading a paper, he would

speak to the subject of the paper. Now having heard

the paper read, you will readily understand why I

begged him to put it into writing.

That was for my benefit as the opener of the

discussion, but my advantage has been his

disadvantage, because I know that there are many

points in his mind, which do not appear in the written

paper, and that he could only make reference to the

fact that he could give you chapter and verse for the

basis of many of the ideas he was putting forward.

For example, why did he start off with the

consideration of the nerve and blood tissues. From

my conversation with him, I may be able to give you

the clue, as we discussed the beginning of life as seen

in the circumstances of childbirth.

When a child is born into this world, what is its

first experience? It is a nerve stimulus from contact

with the outside world-nerve sensation-and

immediately following that the heart and circulation

sends the blood flooding to all parts. For the child,

life starts with these two functions of “Nerve” and

“Blood” –and that is the starting point of Dr.

Twentyman’s paper.

Briefly tabulating and comparing his remarks I

would put it thus:

NERVE TISSUES. Static, confined within a

rigid structure, with no power of regeneration, its

function is “sensory” and its chief emotion that of

petrifying fear.

BLOOD TISSUE. Dynamic, free and pulsating

throughout the body, capable of rapid regeneration, its

function is “metabolic” and its chief emotion

suffusing shame.

Here Dr. Twentyman would give you chapter and

verse for the newer conception that there are no such

things as “motor nerves” only “muscle sensory

nerves”.

Disease, he says, is a normal process occurring at

the wrong time or in the wrong place, and then he

goes on to the consideration of the polarity of life

processes, under the terms “Interiorization” and

“Exteriorization”. The terms may be rather strange

but the ideas implied regarding the direction of action

should be readily accepted by anyone acquainted with

the Hahnemannian philosophy regarding the nature of

Disease.

EXTERIORIZATION. In action centrifugal,

working from within outwards, excretory and

represented normally by the male function with its

turgescence of the organ tissues and final discharge.

Abnormally the same action takes place in

“inflammation” a working from with outwards, with

congestion of tissues and final discharge.

INTERIORIZATION. In action centripetal,

working inwards, secretory and represented normally

in female state of pregnancy by rapid proliferation of

tissue cells to form the embryo.

Abnormally the same action of proliferation,

working inwards, takes place in “malignancy” in

tumour formation.

According to this thesis, normal bowel movement

may be considered as a “chronic abscess”-action

occurring in the right place while a “boil” is an

abscess formation in the wrong place.

Dr. Twentyman in his paper makes a rather

startling statement, “the brain is the polar organ of the

colon”.

I know that he has chapter and verse for this, and

that certain authorities claim that the brain and

nervous system of the vertebrates is represented in the

insect by two ganglia, one on either side of its

primitive intestinal canal. In the course of

development these two ganglia multiply and close the

end of the canal which then becomes the brain and

spinal canal of the vertebrate.

Your brain is then “the polar organ of the colon”,

originating from the primitive intestinal canal of the

insect.

MIASMS. Working along these lines, Dr.

Twentyman has been able to present to us a newer

conception as to the nature of miasms from his study

of the interaction of the nerve and blood tissue.

In health there is a balance of action between

these tissues.

SYCOSIS. The nose is a highly sensitive organ-

nerve tissue, but should it become invaded and

congested by the blood, the clinical symptoms

resulting would be that of “congestion with the

sycotic miasm”.

PSORA. The skin is the primitive sense organ

and should it become over-ridden by the blood,

congestion with resulting eruption and itch it falls into

the Hahnemannian conception of Psora.

SYPHILIS. In Syphilis the nerve tissue invades

the blood tissues, as for example in Endarteritis, and

hardens the blood vessels and converts them into

nerve tissue.

Here one would recall the congestive catarrhal

condition of the nose seen in SYCOSIS, and compare

that with the dry atrophic rhinitis of Syphilis.

CANCER. Here we have an example of

INTERIORIZATION, of proliferation of cells and

tumour formation originating in the overflow of nerve

stimulus. The nerve tissue cannot regenerate itself,

but it can cause other tissues to do so, a regeneration

in the wrong place.

Dr. Twentyman therefore suggests that “cancer is

an organic fear”. So far I have been offering you my

interpretation and generally accepting the arguments

put forward, but now I find myself in disagreement

with Dr. Twentyman’s statement, “that miasms are

not things”.

187

If he means that miasms are only ideas in the

mind of the physician, I would remind him that there

is evidence now available to show that miasms may

be expressed in terms of bacteriology and

biochemistry. In practice they can be recognized

from the subjective and objective symptoms which

exist as realities in the patient, and it is for this reason

that I regards the miasms as of prime importance in

the diagnosis and treatment of disease, especially

chronic disease.

No one could make a study of the bowel flora in

relation to disease without being forced to consider

the Hahnemannian conception of the miasm as the

basis of chronic disease, and it was probably this

which induced Dr. Elizabeth Paterson to interest

herself in the subject and to present a paper under the

title, “The Chronic Miasms in Prescribing” (Scottish

Branch, Faculty – December, 1933).

In the course of stool examinations we found that

the Morgan bacillus could be isolated from a variety

of different diseases, as for example in Infantile

Eczema, Broncho – Pneumonia in children, digestive

disturbances in the adult, bilious vomiting, migraine,

cholecystitis, gall stone, renal stone and colic, and in

the malignant tumour of advancing years. If one

considers that the B. Morgan is pathogenic to each of

these so-called diseases, it must follow that there is

some relationship between these diseases, that they

must have a common factor, an underlying basic

disorder – a MIASM.

Unless the physician is able to recognize the type

of basic Miasm – the chronic disease, he will fail to

cure the acute phases – or diseases – even with the

well-selected similar remedy.

That was Hahnemann’s experience which led him

to the discovery and full recognition of the basic

miasms.

There is still much work to be done in the study

of these miasms and so I would disagree with Dr.

Twentyman’s opening remarks, “that everything that

can be said about miasms has already been said” and I

think you will agree with me, after listening to the

paper, that he has added considerably to our

knowledge as to the nature of the miasm with very

original ideas. I am sure you will wish to see this in

print for further study.

During these past weeks I have had colleagues

put the question to me, “but what is an archetype?”

And I must confess that I have not been able to

answer to my own satisfaction, not even with the

dictionary definition – “an original, a pattern”. I felt

that was not sufficient to cover what I felt was in the

mind of Dr. Twentyman. Just this morning I was

offered a more personal definition which fits the case.

It implies that an archetype is an architect or designer

who has the gift of “foresight” of “intuition” and is

able not only to produce an original plan to suit the

present need, but also to formulate it to meet the

development of the future.

I think on this definition I might call Dr.

Twentyman, an “archetype”, as also was Hahnemann,

and it may explain why in error I have in conversation

with colleagues about this paper, referred to

“Twentyman” as “Hahnemann”.

I have much pleasure in thanking Dr. Twentyman

for this very interesting paper, and to my colleagues

for inviting me to open the discussion.

Dr. FOUBISTER: I had the privilege of knowing

Dr. Twentyman’s ideas some time ago, and have

watched to see how they work out in actual practice.

It so happened that recently I have been using

Carcinosin on hereditary indications fairly often and

the confirmation of Dr. Twentyman’s theories seems

to be suggested by the surprising frequency with

which Carcinosin is followed by an inflammatory

reaction, a cold or tonsillitis coming on a few weeks

later. It is as if the life processes were diverted from a

tendency to interiorization to an exteriorization.

The association of shame with Sycosis is also

something which may be confirmed in practice. I do

not wish to give the impression that I have sufficient

evidence so refute or confirm Dr. Twentyman’s ideas,

but as a matter of interest, I asked the mothers of all

children who had apparently responded to

Medorrhinum over some months, and the sensitivity

to reprimand is so definite a feature of the vast

majority of such children that I find it a useful

confirmatory indication for Medorrhinum.

Dr. BENJAMIN thanked Dr. Twentyman for an

interesting paper beautifully delivered. Here is just

one of the many things I would like to ask him. Does

he believe that, as he quoted, the will originates in the

abdomen, the thinking in the head, and the feeling in

the chest-if that is the case, those symptoms we have

been accustomed to consider as general symptoms of

the patient become surely merely particulars.

Dr. TWENTYMAN: I have, of course, been

expressing myself in a sort of pictorial shorthand.

These things are not just specially distinct. Every cell

has its belly. It is the metabolic function of all the

cells together that constitutes the physiological belly.

This for the organism as a whole is centered in the

abdomen but spreads everywhere.

In the same way every cell has a little function of

sensibility left to it. The amoeba is the classical

example of indifferentiated omni-functioning but

every cell, even the most specialized, retains a

minimum of every function. So the “head” is the sum

total of sensibility of all the cells, the nervousness of

all the cells, it is centered but not localized in the

anatomical head.

In the same way the rhythms of all the cells find

their resultant in the pulse and breathing.

I am most grateful to Dr. Paterson for sponsoring

and interpreting my remarks. Actually he is

responsible for their ever being written and gave me

much encouragement in bringing it all to the point of

formulation. How far it was Dr. Paterson and how far

bottle of Hock that actually precipitated it into writing

188

I am not sure. But all the same I think he has

misunderstood me in my deliberately provocative

statement about Miasms not being things.

It would be a lengthy business to set about a

proper elucidation but to me Ideas, as I have said, are

not abstract. They are inherent in the reality, part of

which meets us through the senses but part through

our thinking. Thinking is the sense organ for the

ideas. Now I believe that Miasms belong to that

aspect of the totality which we perceive with our

thinking or our imagination, not with our senses. But

for me that does not make them less real, or objective.

On the contrary, it is the ideas which are causative,

formative and the Miasms are that which causes the

disturbance. The Miasms produce the metamorphosis

of the bowel flora. Psora is indicated by the Morgan

bacillus, it is not the Morgan bacillus. It causes the

Morgan bacillus to appear and not the Morgan

bacillus causes Psora.

The relation of the Idea to the sense phenomena

is different in the field or organic life to what it is in

the inorganic. The idea is incarcerated in the organic,

it is not merely in the mind of the observer. I must

refer you to Houston Stewart Chamberlian’s

magnificent lectures on Immortal Kent for a critical

exposition. But this is the crucial issue in what I

wanted to say.

THE PRESIDENT thanked Dr. Twentyman.

It is very interesting that the two paper have come

like this together and complement each other, I think

most beautifully. We have had many attempts at

grouping patients and grouping drugs. (1) The

homœopathic conception of miasms being due to

latent infection – that was developed by Dr. Margaret

Tyler and is based on the ideas of Hahnemann

himself.

And now we have miasms a la Twentyman,

based on psychical consideration, which are really

extensions of constitutional types.

Then we have the anthropometric classifications,

such as those of Draper, and of the French school,

with their carbonic, fluoric and phosphoric types; we

had a very interesting paper on those from Dr.

Quinton.

Then the family history helps one very much in

classifying the tendencies of the patient. I think

myself the family history comes to look more and

more as one gets older.

Borland’s grouping of types round 5 main drugs

in his very interesting pamphlet “Children’s Types”.

He classifies children under the Calcarea, the Baryta

carb., the Graphite, the Pulsatilla or the Arsenic

group of drugs.

Dr. Boyd’s grouping in emanometer research.

This sometimes differs from clinical groupings. Then

we have Dr. John Paterson’s suggestion, which I think

is a very interesting one, of psora being associated

with bacillary infection and sycosis with coccal

infection.

A doctor’s approach and make up will influence

his approach to patients, and his view of drugs. We

must attempt to individualize each patient and not

force any one into a preconceived mould. After all,

Dr. Twentyman will concede that between extremes

of blood and brain there are innumerable points along

a continuous variability.

Now I would like to close with one or two

quotations (Draper): “We can best define but not

explain the whole animal as being the life principle,

the spirit or psyche itself”.

“Man,” he says, “is an energy unit in action,

activated by basic instincts of preservation and

reproduction inherent in all his cells.”

“Man has so far failed to grasp his psychic

essence in tangible forms-it still eludes analysis and

cannot be presented as a chemical formula” (nor, I

would add, anatomically as residing in the

hypothalamus or pineal body or any one place).

HERICK says of the mind: “It is not something

that I have, it is something that I am, that I am doing,”

and Draper adds, “The mysterious mind is so many

sided and merges so intimately with every structural

part and bodily function and also with growth and

development of all bodily tissue as to render a full

grasp of its permeating omnipresence well high

impossible. It streams like an enzyme through every

cell of every organ and each and every function and

yet at the same time is a product of the special energy

of each and all of them”. You would almost think it

was Hahnemann in the Organon defining Vital Force.

With Hahnemann and Draper I feel we should

think of the whole man really as a unity in constant

harmonious integrated action, and referable to

separate psyche and soma (as the word “psycho-

somatic” does). The homœopathist’s careful

consideration of the reactions of the mind in disease,

the relegation of “particular” symptoms to a lower

place as being secondary manifestations of a deeper

disorder, the use of one remedy for many different

disease-labels, and the firm belief that our derived

high potencies really do influence some vital process

at the heart of man-surely they are all in keeping with

this conception of Vital Force.

Finally, I shall conclude with a quotation from J.

Smut’s Holism and Evolution (p. 309): “So long as

disharmonies exist in the personality and conflicts

arise between different tendencies in it, so long the

personality will fall below its ideal of a pure

homogenous whole, that ideal will only be obtained

when, in the progress of personal development

harmony and internal peace have been secured.

“In the ideal man, the discords of ethical life will

be composed, because there will be harmonious

correlation of higher and lower; the harmony will be

the richer in proportion to the variety of elements

which have been conserved and will then combine to

produce it.

189

[Courtsey: The British Homœopathic Journal,

October, 1952]

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10. CRITICAL ANALYSIS IN MATERIA

MEDICA: Finding the Curative remedy by an

Analytical Procedure which approximates in

Accuracy

The Analytical work of the chemist

Dr. STEARNS, Guy Beckley

(The Homœopathic Prestige, 11, 1/1995)

Give a chemist a solution of unknown metallic

salts, and he will treat a portion of it with certain

reagents in order to precipitate one group of metals.

Other portions, treated by other reagents, will

precipitate other groups. These precipitates are

treated for the purpose of separating the different

metals from one another until the unknown solution is

resolved into all its component parts. This can be

done because he understands the law of chemical

attraction whereby elements form chemical unions,

and because he knows how all the elements react to

one another.

Chemistry is considered an exact science because

two or more men utilizing the same degree of skill

and care will arrive at identical results.

In medical science, nothing could be more

desirable than a method whereby the best therapeutic

measures could be selected with equal exactness.

What makes such a thing possible is a definite

law of relationship between human beings and the

materials which have therapeutic value, just as there is

a law of relationship between the elements in

chemistry.

Biology demonstrates a physiological law which

fulfills all the conditions for exact therapeutic

selection.

Viewed broadly, all living things have a certain

adaptability.

The cactus plant can be kept for months in a dry

closet and yet retain vitality enough to root, when put

in favourable surroundings.

A variety of fish exists which dries up in the mud

during the dry season, and regains its activity with the

return of water.

Man has a wide range of adaptability. He can

travel from the torrid zone to the polar region, and his

blood will register the same degree of temperature.

He can accustom himself to poisons so that what at

first would be a lethal amount causes him very little

harm. He can be infected by injurious germs and

develop a resistance against them so that they are

destroyed and thrown out of the body. These and

thousands of facts demonstrate the following law:

All life, within certain limits, has power to resist

destructive influences so as to maintain physical and

functional integrity. Each substance or condition

which affects life causes a reaction different from that

caused by every other substance or condition.

Here is a duplicate of what makes chemical

analysis possible.

In the place of the law of chemical attraction is

the law of vital reaction, and in the place of elements,

each of which has its own kind of behavior towards

the other elements, are the influences affecting life.

It is necessary only to study man in relation to

this law to develop an exact method of therapeutics.

In illness, the organism is in a state of reaction against

some adverse condition. If the power of reaction

great enough, the individual regains perfect health; if

insufficient, chronic illness or death results.

It is usual to consider the effect of an infection as

disease, and as something altogether different in

principle from the effect of a drug. But the reaction of

the organism against each has identical import. It is

the recoil of the elastic force we call life, back to its

normal tension, and is a curative effort.

To select, in accord with the law of reaction,

therapeutic measures for a case of illness, one should

first remove, as far as possible the causes of the

condition. The, surround the patient with conditions,

such as heat, cold, moisture, which are most

favourable to the particular reaction nature is

establishing; finally, select the drug which causes the

nearest similar reaction to that which is already

occurring in other words, the drug that causes

symptoms similar to those present in the patient.

From the standpoint of reason and logic, this

conclusion is inevitable. From the view point of

experience, the results prove the method. The

principle is as simple as the words that express it, but

the technique for selecting the curative remedy is as

exacting as that employed by the chemist.

Accurate knowledge of two factors must be

gained; one factor is the kind of reaction being

established in the patient’s organism, and the other is

the kind of reaction caused by each medicinal

substance. Most failure arise from inadequate

knowledge of these two factors. We cannot always

identify the drug that is causing a reaction by

observing only the most obvious results of that

reaction. Many drugs cause diarrhea, but the presence

of diarrhea alone is not sufficient data on which to

determine which drug caused it.

Accompanying the principal effects of the

reaction of a drug are alteration, conditions which

aggravate and ameliorate, as well as other symptoms,

e.g. in Bryonia, the reaction that causes the diarrhea is

worse in the morning, in hot weather, and from any

motion. In Arsenic the diarrhea is worse after eating

or drinking and is accompanied by weakness,

restlessness and thirst for small amounts at frequent

intervals. In Sulphur, the diarrhea is offensive, comes

on usually at 5 a.m., and the patient is apt to have

colic before the stools.

Thus, the facts which determine the choice

between one drug and another lie not in some specific

190

result like diarrhea, but in the sum total of functional

changes and modalities which accompany the

diarrhea. The diarrhea itself is important as an

indication, only if it is peculiar or different from that

caused by other drugs. The more peculiar a symptom,

the more apt it is to characterize the reaction of some

single drug, while the more common it is, the more it

characterizes the general reaction of a group of drugs.

When one is for some time under the influence of

a poisonous drug, pathological changes occur in the

tissues. The more profound the effect, the nearer this

change comes to complete death. Therefore, the

pathological changes in a disease are the least useful

indications for finding the curative remedy, as they

represent not reaction, but the last result of reaction.

At best, the diagnostic and pathological findings can

only suggest the type of reaction which is going on in

the patient, and this in turn can only suggest a type or

group of remedies.

It is not enough to be a good pathologist and

diagnostician; one must observe every peculiar

symptom that occurs in the sick, and every change

which occurs in relation to the body, as a whole, to its

surroundings. To make the analytical method

practical, certain definite rules must be followed.

Other wise, the points that determine the reaction

picture will often be missed.

The investigation must be exact and searching

along the following lines, and every point must be

recorded.

Get the patient’s own narrative, noting the

symptoms exactly as they are given and by

questioning bringing out all the conditions which

aggravate or ameliorate the symptoms, such as

position, motion, time of day. Note the character of

sensations, their location, if they are constant or

changeable, when they first appeared, and if there was

any definite cause for the appearance of the illness or

any of its manifestations. Get all the facts in

chronological order, not only for present illness, but

of every sickness the patient has had. Inquire

minutely into heredity, locations affected, colour of

affected parts, secretions. Having noted all symptoms

and modalities belonging to every part of the body,

take up the reactions of the body as a whole.

The questions should be put something like this:

Do you, regardless of any local symptoms, feel

better or worse at any time in the twenty-four hours or

at any season of the year? From heat or cold, open air

or close room, changes of weather dry or wet weather,

windy or storm weather, bathing, after sleeping, from

any position of the body, motion, jarring pressure or

touch? Ability or inability to perspire, aggravation or

amelioration from sweat? Condition of appetite,

cravings or aversions, relief or aggravations after

eating? Thirst? Character of menstruation. If worse

before, during or after menses? Acuteness of the

senses in general; sensitiveness? To pain, to light, to

sound? Character of sleep and dreams; side of body

affected?

And last, but not least, changes in the mental state

should be noted; such as irritability, restlessness,

sadness, hurry, loquacity, indifference, suspicion,

phobias, delusions, delirium, suicidal thoughts. Add to

the foregoing everything which the physical

examination, the microscope and other diagnostic

procedures reveal, and the case is ready for analysis.

If one is familiar with the reaction phenomena of

a large number of drugs, the data obtained as above

are often sufficient to enable him to find the curative

remedy. This is possible in the same way that it is

possible for the chemist to recognize some well

known substance by its physical appearance alone.

To make the analysis, select from the record the

most striking symptom and write from the repertory

the list of drugs that cause it. Take the next most

striking symptom and write the list of drugs common

to both. Usually a third characteristic can be taken

and the elimination carried still further. This will

leave but a comparatively small group of drugs,

among which the curative remedy can be found by

comparing the symptoms of each with those of the

patient.

A word as to peculiar symptoms. These are such

as are not diagnostic: thus, dryness of the mouth

without thirst is peculiar; movement of the alae nasi is

not unusual in Pneumonia, but when occurring in

other than respiratory conditions it is a striking

characteristic, marked indifference in one usually

enthusiastic would be a most useful mental

characteristic.

To illustrate the principal points and the methods

of analysis, a case is presented. The patient, a woman

of 38. Heredity not significant, childhood normal and

accompanied by usual children’s diseases. First

menstruation at 13. Menses always late and scanty.

At 31, a persistent cough, cured by going to the right

shoulder. Afterwards other joints became affected

and there was a well defined case of arthritis

deformans, affecting principally hand, wrist and

ankles. Diagnosis was based on characteristic

tendency to dislocation because of wasting of the

articular cartilages; urinary and other findings not

significant; could use hands but little and could

hobble with difficulty about half a block.

For analytical purposes the following facts were

obtained:

1. Sensitive and repressed.

2. Diffident even before a child or her husband.

3. Menstruation always late and scanty.

4. Sensitive to cold.

5. Aggravation by cold bath.

6. Craves sweets.

7. Aversion to fats.

8. Early waking (4.00 a.m.)

9. Better from exercise.

10. Position in sleep, on back with limbs

stretched out.

11. Had lost flesh.

191

12. Cough seven years ago, which was worse in

open air.

13. Worse after midnight.

14. Loose cough.

15. Expectoration, white, lumpy.

16. Parts affected, shoulders, hands, ankles feet.

17. Soreness of parts affected.

18. Weakness of parts affected.

19. Has lived in basement (dampness?).

Of those nineteen facts, those which are most

characteristic and which typify the patient’s reaction

as a whole, in contradistinction to any organ or part,

are Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10. Among symptoms

of the highest value are those affecting the menstrual

function, so “menstruation late and scanty” was taken

as a starting point. Twenty-two remedies commonly

affect the organism in that way as follows: Am. carb.,

CAUST., cocc., CON., cup., DULC., Ferrum,

GRAPH., hep., ign., KALI CARB., LACH., LYC.,

MAG. CARB., NAT. MUR., nux. mos., phos.,

PULS., sabad., SEP., sil., SUL.

Forty-three remedies cause sensitiveness, of

which eleven appear in the above list: Caust., cocc.,

kali carb., lach., lyc., NAT.MUR., phos., PULS.,

SEP., SIL., sul.

If the curative remedy has been proven, it must be

in this list. Comparing the remedies which cause the

remaining symptoms with this list, the following

appear. Desire for sweets; kali carb., LYC., nat. mur.,

sep., SUL.

Aversion to fats: Nat. mur., PULS., SEP., SUL.

Relief from motion: lyc., puls., SEP., sul.

Sleeps on back: Phos., PULS., sul.

Sulphur leads all the others, with Natrum mur.,

Pulsatilla and Sepia closely related. A study of the

Materia Medica showed Sulphur to correspond more

closely than any of the others and was given to the

patient. The first prescription was the 1M, Boericke

and Tafel, which was repeated after several weeks.

As improvement ceased, the higher dilution of

Skinner were used.

In a year, after five prescriptions had been made,

the patient was dancing the tango and in sixteen

months was climbing hills and walking all around the

country. The hands remained deformed, but the joints

lost their soreness and the strength returned. Twice

since, there has been a slight relapse, one of which

Sepia controlled and the other Hepar sulph.

[Courtesy: Homœopathic World, October, 1915].

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11. HERING’S LAW:

LAW, RULE OR DOGMA?

SAINE, Andre (SIM. VI, 4/1993)

Presented at the Second Annual Session of the

Homœopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians

in Seattle, Washington, April 16-17, 1988.

INTRODUCTION

In Homœopathy today, Hering’s law is widely

recognized as the second law of cure, the first law of

cure being similia similibus curantur, or like cures

like. Hering’s law pertains to the direction in which

the symptoms of the patient will disappear during a

cure under homœopathic treatment.

In his second lecture on homœopathic philosophy

given in 1900 to the Post-Graduate School of

Homœopathics, Kent said:

The cure must proceed from centre to

circumference. From centre to circumference is from

above downward, from within outwards, from more

important to less important organs, from the head to

the hands and feet.

Every homœopathic practitioner who understands

the art of healing, knows that the symptoms which go

off in these directions remain away permanently.

Moreover, he knows that symptoms which disappear

in the reverse order of their coming are removed

permanently. It is thus he knows that the patient did

not merely get well in spite of the treatment, but that

he was cured by the action of the remedy. If a

homœopathic physician goes to the bedside of a

patient and, upon observing the onset of the

symptoms and the course f the disease, sees that the

symptoms do not follow this order after his remedy,

he knows that he has had but little to do with the

course of things.1

Here Kent does not differentiate between acute

and chronic disease in the application of the law. It is

reasonable to assume that, because of the lack of

precision, he meant that all diseases, acute and

chronic, of venereal and non-venereal origin, would

disappear in the direction described above.

When first studying Homœopathy, I listened to

the teachers and read the “classic” modern works, and

assumed, like my fellow colleagues, that Hering’s

Law had been an irrefutable fact recognized by

Hering and the many succeeding generations of

homœopaths, and that all patients, acute and chronic,

without an exception, would, at all times, be cured in

the afore-mentioned directions under careful

homœopathic treatment.

Later, as a practitioner, I carefully applied myself

to putting the general homœopathic training I had

received to the test. Since then, I have been able to

substantiate most but not all of the rules, principles

and laws contained in the homœopathic theory

promulgated by several generations of homœopaths.

So far, however, I have been unable to

substantiate Hering’s law. Indeed, very rarely do I

see, for instance, in a patient with chronic

polyarthritis, the symptoms disappearing from the

head first and then to the hands and feet. More often,

192

the pain and other joint symptoms disappear in the

reverse order of their appearance, even if it is from

below upwards. In other words, if the arthritis

manifested itself, as may happen at times, first in the

knees and then in the ankles, the ankles would get

better before the knees.

Or in a patient affected by a complex of

essentially functional complaints such as fatigue,

anxiety, irritability, difficult digestion, joint pain and

acne, rarely would I see the disappearance of the

emotional disturbance first, then the poor digestion,

followed by the joint pain and, lastly, the acne. With

the simillimum most symptoms begin to improve

simultaneously and disappear in the reverse order of

their appearance, and not necessarily from above

downwards and from inside outwards. In fact it is not

uncommon that in such cases the acne, the last to have

appeared, will disappear readily and the emotional

state (the oldest symptom) will be the last to

completely disappear.

While treating a patient with an acute febrile

disease that had progressed in the first stage from

chills to fever, then to perspiration and lastly to

weakness, I would observe a rapid and gentle

recovery but without the patient re-experiencing the

perspiration, then the fever and lastly the chills.

While recovering from acute diseases under

homœopathic treatment, the patient does not re-

experience the original symptoms one by one in the

reverse order of their appearance. Many more

troublesome exceptions, similar to the above, could be

cited.

What was wrong with Hering’s law as quoted

above from Kent’s lecture on homœopathic

philosophy? Had I misunderstood the law?

According to Webster’s dictionary, a law is defined as

a sequence of events that occurs with unvarying

uniformity, whereas a rule permits exceptions, and a

dogma rests on opinion. Was this lack of

confirmation of the said law due to “suppressive”

homœopathic treatment as suggested by a number of

theoretical, and perhaps dogmatic, homœopaths? If

so, why had these so called “purists” not stood up and

proven that all their cured cases followed the said

law? To my knowledge this proof had not been

forthcoming. Was I the only practitioner in this

position?

I questioned teachers and colleagues, some with

many years of experience. Few could answer my

questions and none were able to substantiate from

their own experience that, without the shadow of a

doubt, Hering’s law was a true law of nature. It

seemed as if most were in the same situation as me;

even the supposed “purists” would, in private, discuss

the matter. It seemed that we had all experienced

classic cases of cure from above downwards, from

within outwards, from more to less important organs

and in the reverse order of appearance of symptoms,

but that these absolutely “perfect” cases were only

occasional. The majority of cured cases did not fulfill

all four criteria cited.

I decided to go back to the sources.

On the one hand, neither Kent, in his Lectures on

Homœopathic Philosophy of 1900, nor Stuart CLOSE,

in The Genius of Homœopathy of 1924, nor Herbert

Roberts, in The Principles and Art of Cure by

Homœopathy of 1936, refer to it, while discussing the

above law, as Hering’s law1-3 None of these three

authors makes any reference to Hering in their

lectures on the law of direction of cure. On the other

hand, Garth Boericke, in A compend of the Principles

of Homœopathy of 1929, refers to it as Hering’s rule

but not as a law.4

Confusing, isn’t it? Did Hering ever formulate a

law on the direction of cure? If he did so, was it a law

or a rule, and why was his name not clearly associated

with it? Why was the literature so ambiguous?

At this point, I realized that the sources had to be

explored further. The answers would all have to be

within the literature of the nineteenth century. After a

thorough examination of this literature I have so far

been unable to find any of Hering’s famous

contemporaries and close colleagues discussing or

making any reference to a law of direction of cure.

Writings of Boenninghausen, Jahr, Joslin, P.P. Wells,

Lippe, H.N. Guernsey, Dunham, E. A. Farrington,

H.C. Allen, Nash, etc., were all silent.

When Hering died in 1880, colleagues all over

the world assembled to pay tribute to the great

homœopath. His many accomplishments were

recalled. Strangely, none made any mention of a law

of direction of cure promulgated by Hering.5 Arthur

Eastman, a student who was close to Hering during

the venerable homœopath’s last three years, published

in 1917 a Life and Reminiscences of Dr. Constantine

Hering also without mention of a law pertaining to

direction of cure.6 Calvin Knerr, Hering’s son-in-law,

published in 1940, sixty years after Hering’s death,

the Life of Hering, a compilation of biographical

notes.7 Again no mention is made of the famous law.

Not only confusing, but also puzzling.

Obviously, the sources had to be explored further.

Here are the fruits of this exploration.

THE HISTORY RELATING TO THE

FORMULATION OF HERING’S LAW

A: Hahnemann – 1811

With the first publication of his Materia Medica

in 1811, Hahnemann inaugurated a new arrangement

of the symptoms: from above downwards, from inside

outwards, but also from the parts to the generals.

B: Hahnemann – 1828

In 1828, Hahnemann published his first

observations and theorics on chronic diseases.8 I

193

summarize here the points most pertinent to the

present discussion:

All diseases, acute and chronic of non-venereal

origin, come from the original malady, called Psora.

(page 7)

A skin eruption is the first manifestation of Psora.

(page 38).

The skin eruption acts as a substitute for the

internal Psora (page 11) and prevents the breaking out

of the internal disease. (page 13)

The more the skin eruption spreads the more it

keeps the internal manifestations of Psora latent.

(page 40)

But when the skin eruption is suppressed with an

external application or by other influences the latent

Psora goes unnoticed and its internal manifestation

increases. Then (page 12) “it originates a legion of

chronic diseases.” Incidentally, for Hahnemann, a

suppressed skin eruption is not driven into the body,

as it was popularly thought in his time, and even

today by most homœopaths; it is rather that the Vital

Force is compelled “to effect a transference of a

worse form of morbid action to other and more

important parts.” (Introduction to the Organon of

Medicine, p.62)9

Latent Psora, an abnormal susceptibility to

disease, will manifest itself as severe diseases after

exposure to stress (or, as he calls it, unfavorable

conditions of life), acute infections, trauma and

injuries, exhaustion from overworking, lack of fresh

air or exercise, frustration, grief, poor nutrition, etc.,

and by “incorrect and weakening Allopathic

treatment.” (page 48)

During the treatment of Chronic diseases of non-

venereal origin with antipsoric remedies, the last

symptoms are always the first to disappear, “but the

oldest ailments and those which have been most

constant and unchanged, among which are the local

ailments, are the last to give way.” (page 135)

If old symptoms return during an antipsoric

treatment, it means that the remedy is affecting Psora

at its roots and will do much for its thorough cure. If

a skin eruption appears during the treatment while all

other symptoms have so far improved, the end of the

treatment is close (page 135).

C: Hahnemann – 1833-43

In paragraphs 161 and 248 of the fifth and sixth

edition of the Organon of Medicine, of 1833 and

1843 respectively, Hahnemann says that in the

treatment of old and very old chronic disease,

aggravation of the original disease does not appear if

the remedy is accurately chosen and given in the

appropriate small doses, which are only gradually

increased. “When this is done, these exacerbations of

the original symptoms of the chronic disease can

appear only at the end of the treatment, when the cure

is complete or nearly complete.” The original

symptoms of a chronic disease should be the last to

aggravate or become more prominent before

disappearing.10

In paragraph 253 of the same work, the author

states that in all diseases, especially in quickly arising

(acute) ones, of all the signs that indicate a small

beginning of improvement (or aggravation) that are

not visible to everyone, the psychic condition of the

patient and his general demeanor are the most certain

and revealing.

In paragraph 225, Hahnemann states that some

psychic diseases are not the extension of physical

disease but, “instead, with only slight physical illness,

they arise and proceed from the psyche, from

persistent grief, resentment, anger, humiliation and

repeated exposure to fear and fright. In time such

psychic diseases often greatly harm the physical

health.” In other words, Hahnemann had recognized

the existence of psychosomatic diseases, those

diseases which progress from within outwards and

from above downwards.

This is the background that now leads us to

Hering, who, among all Hahnemann’s students, was

most similar to him. Like Hahnemann, Hering was a

true scientist who rigorously adopted the inductive

method in his scientific pursuits.

D: Hering – 1845

In 1845, Hering published, in the Preface to the

first American edition of Hahnemann’s Chronic

Diseases, an extract of an essay which was never

subsequently published elsewhere, entitled “Guide to

the Progressive Development of Homœopathy.” In

this essay, Hering writes:

Every homœopathic physician must have

observed that the improvement in pain takes place

from above downward; and in diseases, from within

outward. This is the reason why chronic diseases, if

they are thoroughly cured, always terminate in some

cutaneous eruption, which differs according to the

different constitutions of the patients.

The thorough cure of a widely ramified chronic

disease in the organism is indicated by the most

important organs being first relieved; the affection

passes off in the order in which the organs had been

affected, the more important being relieved first, the

less important next, and the skin last. (page 7)

Even the superficial observer will not fail in

recognizing this law of order.

This law of order which we have pointed out

above, accounts for numerous cutaneous eruptions

consequent upon homœopathic treatment, even where

they never had been seen before; it accounts for the

obstinacy with which many kinds of herpes and ulcers

remain upon the skin, whereas others are dissipated

like snow. Those which remain, do remain because

the internal disease is yet existing. … It lastly

accounts for one cutaneous affection being substituted

for another.11 (page 8)

194

Here Hering assumes that all chronic diseases (it

is likely that he is referring here to diseases of psoric

origin, i.e., non-venereal) progress from less to more

important organs and disappear in the reverse order.

This is compatible with Hahnemann’s theory that all

chronic diseases of non-veneral origin manifest

themselves first on the skin then internally.

E: Hering – 1865

It seems that Hering did not further elaborate on

this subject, at least in the American literature, until

twenty years later. In 1865, he published an article in

the first volume of The Hahnemannian Monthly

entitled “Hahnemann’s three rules concerning the

rank of symptoms.” Hering states in this article that:

The quintessence of Hahnemann’s doctrine is, to

give in all chronic diseases, i.e., such as progress from

without inwardly, from the less essential parts of our

body to the more essential, from the periphery to the

central organs, generally from below upwards – to

give in all such cases, by preference, such drugs as are

opposite in their direction, or way of action, such as

act from within outward, from up downward, from the

most essential organs to the less essential, from the

brain and the nerves outward and down to the most

outward and the lowest of all organs, to the skin. …

All the antipsoric drugs of Hahnemann have this

peculiarity as the most characteristic; the evolution of

their effects from within towards without. (page 6-7)

Hahnemann states, in his treatise on Chronic

Diseases, American translation p. 171: Symptoms

recently developed are the first to yield. Older

symptoms disappear last. Here we have one of

Hahnemann’s general observations, which like all of

them, is of endless value, a plain, practical rule and

of immense importance.

The above rule might also be expressed in the

following words: In diseases of long standing, where

the symptoms or groups of symptoms have befallen

the sick in a certain order, succeeding each other,

more and more being added from time to time to those

already existing, in such cases this order should be

reversed during the cure; the last ought to disappear

first and the first last. (page 7-8)13

It is very clear here that Hering makes no

mention of a law but rather of a rule, that the

symptoms ought to disappear in the reverse order of

their appearance during the homœopathic treatment of

patients with chronic disease of psoric origin, the

ones that progress from without inwardly, from less

important to more important organs and generally

from below upwards.

F. Hering – 1875

In 1875, Hering published the first volume of

Analytical Therapeutics of the Mind in which he

stated that (page 24) “only such patients remain well

and are really cured, who have been rid of their

symptoms in the reverse order of their

development.”14 Here Hering makes no mention of

the three other propositions regarding the direction of

cure: from above downwards, from within outwards

and from the more important to the less important

organs. Why? Were they considered now not to be

just as important in evaluating the direction of cure, as

had been stated in previous years?

In the same work, Hering also explains that he

adopted Hahnemann’s arrangement of the Materia

Medica (p.21): “First inner symptoms, then outer

ones. This order we have now uniformly preserved

throughout the whole work.” In explaining why he

adopted this arrangement he says: “The arrangement

as well as the style of printing, has the one object

especially in view, viz.: viz.: to make it as easy as

possible for the eye, and through the eye, for the mind

to find what is looked for.” He makes no mention of

this arrangement corresponding to a direction of cure,

as has been suggested by some homœopaths.

G: The Origin of the term “Hering’s Law”

As it seems never to have been mentioned in the

literature during Hering’s time, where does the term

“Hering’s Law” come from? The earliest mention I

have been able to find in the homœopathic literature

dates from 1911, in an article published by Kent in the

first volume of the Transactions of the Society of

Homœopathicians called “Correspondence of Organs,

and the Direction of Cure.” Kent writes:

Hering first introduced the Law of direction of

symptoms: from within out, from above downward, in

reverse order of their appearance. It does not occur in

Hahnemann’s writings. It is spoken of as Hering’s

Law. There is scarcely anything of this law in the

literature of Homœopathy, except the observation of

symptoms going from above to the extremities,

eruptions appearing on the skin and discharges from

the mucous membranes or ulcers appearing upon the

legs as internal symptoms disappear.

There is non-specific assertion in the literature

except as given in the lectures on philosophy at the

Post-Graduate School.15

It is reasonable to assume that Kent was the one

that officialized the term “Hering’s Law” and so

inadvertently popularized the concept of an already

existing, clear and precise law of direction of cure.

By using the name of Hering it is reasonable to say

that Kent thus created false and misleading historical

assumptions. Since H.C. Allen had died two years

previously (1909), the profession, at least in North

America, had no other leaders able to refute Kent and

defend the classic Hahnemannian tradition.

In this same article, Kent says that in the course

of treatment of a patient suffering with a psychic

disease of the will (problems of affections, grief,

anger, jealously, etc.), the heart or liver will be

affected as the treatment progresses. While in a

195

patient suffering from a mental disease (problems of

intellect), the stomach or the kidney will be affected

during appropriate homœopathic treatment. Were

these comments on the direction of cure and

correspondence of organs based on Kent’s impeccable

and meticulous observations or, rather, was he

formulating hypotheses? He does not explain further;

however he does mention, later in the same paper, that

“through familiarity with Swedenborg, I have found

the correspondence wrought out from the Word of

God harmonious with all I have learned in the past

thirty years. Familiarity with them aids in

determining the effect of prescriptions.”15

Nowhere was I able to find in the writings of

Kent, including a collection of not yet republished

lesser writings, any other mention of Hering’s law as

to the direction of cure.

Discussion and Conclusion

First let us briefly review the highlights of what

has so far been demonstrated:

-Between 1828 and 1843, Hahnemann enunciated

his theories of chronic diseases and described his

observations and rules about the progression and

resolution of these chronic diseases. One key point of

his theory is that a skin eruption is the first

manifestation of Psora, which is the source of all

chronic diseases of non-venereal origin. In chronic

disease the presenting symptoms of the patient

(“those ailments which have been most constant and

unchanged”) may aggravate and will disappear in the

reverse order of their appearance with the correct

antipsoric remedies in the correct posology. Possibly,

old symptoms may return during an antipsoric

treatment. In all diseases, if after a homœopathic

remedy the psychic symptoms are the first to improve

or aggravate, it is a most certain sign of curative

change. For Hahnemann this improvement from the

inside to the outside was not a law but rather a most

certain sign of curative change. Finally, not all

diseases progress from outside in, and certain diseases

(psychosomatic diseases) can progress from inside

out.

-In 1845, in a work never to be published, Hering

enunciated the original observations of Hahnemann as

a law of order. In this law he mentions essentially

four points, -that “the improvement in pain takes

place from above downward; and in diseases, from

within outward. … Chronic diseases if thoroughly

cured, always terminate in some cutaneous eruption,”

and, lastly, the “the thorough cure of a widely

ramified chronic disease in the organism is indicated

by the most important organs being first relieved; the

affection passes off in the order in which the organs

had been affected, the most important being relieved

first, the less important next, and the skin last.” As a

reader I do not clearly sense that Hering is officially

proclaiming the original observations of Hahnemann

as an absolute law but rather is stating that there is a

“law of order” during a curative process. I was

unable, also, to find Hering or any of his

contemporaries make any further reference to

Hering’s unpublished work or to a law of direction of

cure.

-In 1865, Hering described these observations not

as a law but as Hahnemann’s general observations or

as plain practical rules. Essentially he emphasizes

the proposition that the symptoms should disappear in

the reverse order of their appearance during the

treatment of patients with chronic psoric diseases.

-In 1875, Hering now discussed only one

proposition, - that the symptoms will disappear in the

reverse order of their appearance. The three other

propositions are now not mentioned at all.

-All the illustrious contemporaries of Hering

seem to remain silent on this point, at least according

to my review of the literature.

-In 1911, Kent, almost arbitrarily, calls the

original observations of Hahnemann, “Hering’s Law.”

-Subsequently, with Kent’s powerful influence,

most modern works and presentations of

Homœopathy begin to declare Hering’s Law as an

established fact and seem to assume that it has been

thoroughly verified, although no author from then

until now, to my knowledge, has so far been able to

substantiate what each is repeating from the other.

Here is one clear sign which indicates how profoundly

the homœopathic profession of today has been cut off

from its original and most essential sources. During

the years of its decline in the U.S.A., the profession

gradually slid into discontinuity with its original

foundations and started to rely more and more on a

neo-foundation dating back to the turn of the present

century. Each new generation of homœopaths has

readily accepted Hering’s Law as a perfect Law of

Cure and so unintentionally perpetuated a misleading

assumption. For students it is an attractive concept

but we clinicians must stand up and report our

observations even if they are contrary to the teachings

we have received.

From a review of the literature, it seems unlikely

that the law formulated by Kent in 1911 is a fair

representation of Hering’s overall understanding of

the direction of cure, and that neither Kent nor anyone

else has been able thus far to demonstrate clinically

that the original observations of Hahnemann in fact

constituted a perfect law of nature. But if we assume,

for a moment, that the law formulated by Kent is true,

would all symptoms then have to disappear, not only

in the reverse order of their appearance, but also from

above downwards, from within outwards and from

more important to less important organs?

Compliance with this law would require that all

diseases, to be curable, must proceed from outside

inwards, from below upwards and from less important

to more important organs. Many acute diseases and a

whole list of chronic diseases, such as psychosomatic

diseases and others that develop from within outwards

(for example, cases of arthritis followed by Psoriasis),

196

or diseases that develop from above downwards (as in

certain cases of polyarthritis), would then

theoretically be incurable. Or (since we know this not

to be the case) they are curable, but represent notable

exceptions to Kent’s formulation of a law of direction

of cure.

In many cases of chronic disease the direction

disappearance of symptoms will contradict at least

one of the four propositions. I assume we are all

agreed that the enunciation of a law must be based on

impeccable observations. A law, if it is to be called a

law, must explain all observable phenomena with

regard to the direction of cure. The use of limited, or

even selected, clinical phenomena to confirm a

supposed law is unacceptable. This, however, appears

to be the approach taken by certain homœopaths who,

in their attempts to defend “pure” Homœopathy,

subscribe to the position that if what is observed is

contrary to Hering’s Law, as formulated by Kent, then

this can only be due to poor prescribing, and that such

courses of treatment are suppressive at times,

palliative at best, and surely never curative. For them

what is wrong is not the law but, rather, the

prescription: “the simillimum was not given.”

Personally, I use, and can daily confirm, the

original observations of Hahnemann concerning the

direction of cure and have found them extremely

helpful in evaluating the evolution both of diseases

and of cure, but I have not been able to substantiate

the status of these observations as law, and have not

yet found a colleague with such substantiation. I use

them as plain, practical rules. I would resent it if, at

the end of my career, probably at a time when

Homœopathy had achieved a broad degree of

acceptance, a group of objective scientists clinically

investigated the validity of Hering’s Law and later

reported to the homœopathic community that there

were numerous exceptions not abiding to our

idealistic conception or dogma. The supposed law

would then become only “a plain, practical rule.”

Similarly, I would resent having a group of scientists

say that, for the last hundred or more years, the

homœopathic profession had been blindly erring in

assuming that Hering’s Law was an irrefutable fact.

Three of the plagues that have hindered the

growth of Homœopathy are dogmatism, idolatry and

diversion from the inductive method. In his last

address to the profession, in an article published in the

August 1880 issue of the North American Journal of

Homœopathy, Hering warned us that “if our school

ever gives up the strict inductive method of

Hahnemann we are lost, and deserve to be mentioned

only as a caricature in the history of medicine.”19 The

tendency within medicine to rationalize medical

practice has also constantly threatened Homœopathy.

Hahnemann, who had a thorough understanding of the

history of medicine, knew that the only sure way was

based upon the experimental method. Hering

demonstrated the same rigor. Unfortunately, we

cannot say the same of Kent.

At present, it seems appropriate to refer to these

observations as rules for the direction of cure. To

refer to these as Hahnemann’s or Hering’s rules may

further prolong the confusion. From my personal

experience, it appears that the four rules are not

applicable to all cases and also that there is a

hierarchy among them, i.e., that they do not have

equal value. The first indication that a disease is

being cured under homœopathic treatment is that the

presenting and reversible symptoms of the disease

will disappear in the reverse order of their appearance.

This confirms the observations pointed out

originally and plainly by Hahnemann in The Chronic

Diseases, and later by Hering in 1865 and 1875. This

means that during the treatment of patients suffering

with chronic diseases of non-venereal origin, and at

times also with acute diseases, the presenting

symptoms of the patient’s chronic disease (as opposed

to those symptoms resulting essentially from gross

errors of living) will disappear in the reverse order of

their appearance. Thus, presenting symptoms that

have developed in the order, A B C D E, seem

consistently to disappear in the order, E D C B A.

This rule seems to have supremacy over the other

three rules, that is, from more important to less

important organs, from within outwards and from

above downwards.

The word “presenting” is here emphasized in

order to state perfectly clearly that the symptoms that

will disappear in the reverse order of their appearance

are only the presenting symptoms, and that it is not at

all to be expected that every ailment experienced by

the patient in his past will again be re-experienced

under homœopathic treatment. In fact only a few of

these old symptoms and conditions will reappear

during any homœopathic treatment, and these are

usually the ones that have unmistakably, by whatever

influence, been suppressed. Beside antipathic

treatments that suppress both symptoms and the

normal functions of the organism (for example,

perspiration or menses), there are other measures that

cause suppression of symptoms: firstly, dissimilar

diseases, either natural or artificial secondly, external

influences like the cold, (e.g.: suppressed menses

from getting the feet wet); and thirdly, internal

influences that cause the person to suppress emotions

such as anger or grief.

This rule concerning cure in the reverse order of

appearance of the presenting and reversible symptoms

of the disease is the most important of the four as it is

observable in almost all cases. The importance of this

rule is well emphasized by Hering in 1865 when he

mentions that:

This rule enables the Hahnemannian artist not

only to cure the most obstinate chronic diseases, but

also to make a certain prognosis when discharging a

case, whether the patient will remain cured or whether

the disease will return, like a half-paid creditor, at the

first opportunity.13

197

The second most important (applicable) rule in

the hierarchy is that cure will proceed from more

important to less important organs. Third in

importance is the rule that cure will proceed from

within outwards. The fourth rule, least important and

least often observable, is that the cure will proceed

from above downwards. Hahnemann’s observation

that, of all the signs that indicate any small beginning

of improvement, the psychic condition of the patient

and his general demeanor are the most certain and

revealing, is to be seen as the source of the last three

rules. “The very beginning of improvement is

indicated by a sense of greater ease, composure,

mental freedom, higher spirits, and returning

naturalness.”10 This original observation by

Hahnemann (paragraph 253), which still holds, does

not contradict the first rule because the first sign of

improvement can be, and often is, different from the

symptom that may first disappear.

Consequent upon Hahnemann’s theory that all

diseases, acute and chronic, of non-venereal origin,

come from the original malady called psora and that

its first manifestation is a skin eruption, it would

follow that all cases of chronic disease must, to be

completely cured, develop a skin eruption. As it

appears impossible to prove this, it should be used at

best as a working hypothesis and not as a law. For a

law to maintain its status as law it must be

demonstrable without exception. In the preface to the

fourth volume of The Chronic Diseases Hahnemann

puts forwards clear opinion concerning the role of the

physician as theorist when he writes:

I furnished, indeed, a conjecture about it [on how

the cure of diseases is effected], but I did not desire to

call it an explanation, i.e., a definite explanation of the

modus operandi. Nor was this at all necessary, for it

is only incumbent upon us to cure similar symptoms

correctly and successfully, according to a law of

nature [similia similibus curantur] which is being

constantly confirmed; but not to boast with abstract

explanations, while we leave the patients uncured; for

that is all which so-called physicians have hitherto

accomplished.8

I would like to end this thesis with some pertinent

sentences from Constantine Hering. In 1879, in the

last two paragraphs to the preface of his last work,

The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica, he

writes:

It has been my rule through life never to accept

anything as true, unless it came as near mathematical

proof as possible in its domain of science; and, on the

other hand, never to reject anything as false unless

there was stronger proof of its falsity.

Some will say, “but so many things – a majority

of all observations – will thus remain between the two

undecided.” So they will; and can it be helped? It

can, but only by accumulating most careful

observations and contributing them to the general

fund of knowledge.20

And finally Hering wrote in 1845, in the preface

to Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases (page 9):

It is the duty of all of us to go farther in the

theory and practice of Homœopathy than Hahnemann

has done. We ought to seek the truth which is before

us and forsake the errors of the past.11

REFERENCES

1. Kent J.T. Lectures on Homœopathic

Philosophy. 2nd edition. Chicago: Ehrhart &

Karl, 1929.

2. Close S. The Genius of Homœopathy.

Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel, 1924.

3. Roberts H.A. The Principles and Art of Cure

by Homœopathy. 2nd revised edition.

Rustington: Health Science Press, 1942.

4. Boericke G.A. Compendium of the Principles

of Homœopathy for Students in Medicine.

Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel, 1929.

5. Raue C.G., Knerr C.B., Mohr C., editors. A

memorial of Constantine Hering.

Philadelphia: Press of Globe Printing House,

1884.

6. Eastman A.M. Life and Reminiscences of

Dr. Constantine Hering. Philadelphia:

Published by the family for private

circulation, 1917.

7. Knerr C.B. Life of Hering. Philadelphia:

The Magee Press, 1940.

8. Hahnemann S.C. The Chronic Diseases.

Translated by LF Tafel. Philadelphia:

Boericke & Tafel, 1896.

9. Hahnemann S.C. Organon of Medicine.

Translated by W. Boericke. Philadelphia:

Boericke & Tafel, 1922.

10. Hahnemann S.C. Organon of medicine.

Translated by J. Kunzli. Los Angeles: J.P.

Tarcher, 1982.

11. Hering C. Preface: Hahnemann S.C. The

Chronic Diseases. Translated by C.J.

Hempel. New York: William Radde, 1845.

12. Hering C. Preface: the first American

edition, Organon of Homœopathic Medicine.

New York: William Radde, 1836.

13. Hering C. Hahnemann’s Three Rules

Concerning the Rank of Symptoms.

Hahnemannian Monthly 1865; 1: 5-12/

14. Hering C. Analytical Therapeutics of the

Mind. Volume 1. Philadelphia: Boericke &

Tafel, 1875.

15. Kent J.T. Correspondence of Organs and

Direction of Cure. Trans. Soc.

Homœopathicians 1911; 1: 31-33.

16. Mastin J.M. Editorial. Critique 1908; 15:

277-278.

17. Mastin J.M. Editorial. Critique 1907; 14:

228-229.

18. Allen H.C. Timely and Valuable. Medical

Advance 1888; 21: 184.

198

19. Hering C. Apis. North American Journal of

Homœopathy 1880; 29: 29-35.

20. Hering C. The Guiding Symptoms of our

Materia Medica. Volume 1. Philadelphia:

The American Publishing Society, 1879.

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

12. Hering’s Law revisited

CURRIM, Ahmed (SIM. XVI, 1/2003)

In the Winter’ 1993 issue of Simillimum, Andre

Saine wrote an article: Hering’s Law: Law, Rule or

Dogma? He quotes JAMES TYLER KENT:

paragraph 7, Lecture II, Lectures on Homœopathic

philosophy wherein KENT makes a statement about

Hering’s Law.

KENT writes: “The first of man is his voluntary

and the second of man is his understanding, the last of

man is his outermost; from his center to his

circumference, to his organs, his skin, hair, nails, etc.

This being true, the cure must proceed from center to

circumference. From center to circumference is from

above downward, from within outwards, from more

important to less important organs, from the head to

the hands and feet. Every homœopathic practitioner

who understands the art of healing knows that the

symptoms which go off in these directions remain

away permanently. Moreover, he knows that

symptoms which disappear in the reverse order of

their coming are removed permanently. It is thus he

knows that the patient did not merely get well in spite

of the treatment, but that he was cured by the action of

the remedy.”

Hering’s Law is a guide that demonstrates to the

homœopathic physician whether or not his patient is getting better

under the chosen treatment. SAINE says, “So far I have been

unable to substantiate Hering’s Law.” He gives an example of

chronic Poly-arthritis wherein he rarely sees symptoms

disappearing from the head and then to the hands and feet. More

often, the pain and other joint symptoms disappear in the reverse

order of their appearance, even if it is from below upwards.

According to elementary logic, one would apply the

quantifier “or” which stands for “and/or” wherever there are

commas. Thus Hering’s Law is to be read:

“Diseases get well:

1. from within outwards and/or

2. above downwards and/or

3. in the reverse order of the appearance of

symptoms.”

In the language of logic these are “sufficient

conditions”, namely that whenever either one or more

of the three conditions stated after the words

“Diseases get well” are fulfilled then the statement

becomes true. The English language often leads to

paradoxes in mathematics and is unsuitable to logic as

was shown by several mathematicians (for example

RUSSELL, GOEDEL). In this second way of stating

Hering’s Law there is no discord with the law.

Hering’s Law does not say that the disease is not

getting well if the negation of even one of the

conditions is true. In the language of mathematical

logic the three conditions are not “necessary

conditions” when the statement “Diseases get well” is

true. What this means is that diseases getting well

does not imply that any one of the three conditions is

a true statement. In fact the patient may feel

internally better, namely more relaxed mentally etc.

and yet the ankles got better first. In which case

Hering’s Law is verified again, namely the sufficient

condition of the internal improvement holds and the

patient is better.

SAINE and perhaps most practitioners not familiar

with mathematical logic make this very common

mistake in which they get confused and think that

“sufficient conditions” are also “necessary

conditions”. Once we clarify the difference between

“necessary” conditions and “sufficient conditions” we

will be better able to read and understand statements

in the English language.

Furthermore in disease we are dealing with

biological phenomena. In this context, the word

“law” is not necessarily of the sharp exactness of

mathematical theorems and equations or the laws of

physics. Looking upon Hering’s Law as a lamp in

the darkness to show us the way is far more useful

than hair-splitting over the use of words such as law,

rule or dogma. In the case of Poly-arthritis cited the

patient that is getting better is in more cheerful spirits,

hence he is better in his Will. In the second case that

SAINE gives of a complex of functional complaints

wherein the simillimum improves most of the

complaints, is again a verification of Hering’s Law,

recognizing that the three conditions of Hering’s Law

are sufficient conditions with the quantifier and/or.

In the third case of recovery from acute febrile

disease and the patient not re-experiencing the

original symptoms there is still no violation of

Hering’s Law. The disease got well and the patient

did not have to fulfill any of the three conditions

posed after the words “Diseases get well”. Thus we

can be sure that if any of the three conditions hold

then the patient will get well. If the patient gets well

he does not have to pass through any of the conditions

of the statement.

SAINE further says that he has extensively

researched the homœopathic literature. “Writings of

BOENNINGHAUSEN, JAHR, JOSLIN, P.P.WELLS,

LIPPE, H.N.GUERNSEY, DUNHAM,

E.A.FARRINGTON, H.C.ALLEN, NASH etc. were

all silent.” This is false as the article of LIPPE

reproduced below shows that LIPPE was well aware

of this law. SAINE further attacks Kent’s reputation

on several points, and accuses KENT of being non-

scientific. I wish further to prove conclusively that

KENT, in fact, gave due credit to HERING whom

KENT greatly admired and named this law as

Hering’s Law.

First though let us see what HAHNEMANN

himself writes on page 119 of The Chronic Diseases:

199

“For if the symptoms occurring during the action

of the remedy have also occurred, if not in the last few

weeks, at least now and then some weeks before, or

some months before in a similar manner, then such

occurrences are merely a homœopathic excitation,

through the medicine, of some symptom not quite

unusual to this disease, of something which had

perhaps been more frequently troublesome before,

and they are a sign that this medicine acts deeply into

the very essence of this disease, and that consequently

it will be more effective in the future. The medicine,

therefore, should be allowed to continue and exhaust

its action undisturbed, without giving the least

medicinal substance between its doses.”

This speaks very directly and plainly to the same

principle later developed into one aspect of the

modern formulation of Hering’s Law: “In the reverse

order of the appearance of symptoms.”

The prince of prescribers, Adolph LIPPE himself

referred to this law of cure. In the journal “The

Organon” volume I, page 39 LIPPE has written an

article “Clinical Reflections”, the entire case is

reproduced here. (Bold face are my emphasis.)

CLINICAL REFLECTIONS.

By Ad. LIPPE, PHILADELPHIA.

The clinical experiment is our ultimate test. If we

violate any (even the least well-known) rules which

should always guide us in our therapeutics, we have

no right to expect that favorable success which is

promised us if we strictly apply these rules; and if this

is true, then it is also obvious that want of success

generally depends upon a violation of these rules, and

not, as is generally claimed, on the unreliability of

them. We propose to relate here a case in which some

of the strict rules for the proper application of our

Law of cure were inadvertently violated, and how the

discovery of this mistake led to a stricter application

of them, with the usual good results which must

necessarily follow the strictest homœopathic practice.

We shall first give a plain relation of the case, and

follow it with our comments.

Mrs.B. ……..age 45, had for many years suffered

from a very delicate and irritable stomach, from

cankrous sore mouth (cured by Phytolacca), all in

consequence of what is mis-termed scientific

treatment; she also had suffered from Hay-fever,

regularly returning- every year on the 16th of

September. Mrs. B. returned from Europe, after an

absence of several years, on the 26th July last; the

voyage had been a very unpleasant one; she had been

very sea-sick all the time. From the time she left

Liverpool till she was visited by me, on the 27th July,

she had taken literally no nourishment; broken ice was

the only thing that had passed her lips. I found her

sitting up, occasionally straining to vomit, very

weak, pulse 110 per minute; she complained of a

violent pain in occiput, with great heat, which she had

tried to relieve by applications of broken ice; urinary

secretions suppressed; mouth dry and hot; she had not

slept for a fortnight, and could not lie down on

account of a great nervousness, as she expressed it,

which compelled her to change her position and her

chair so very often; she wandered about all night from

chair to chair; taste very disagreeable, perfect

loathing of food, and for a few days had a watery,

very offensive, and black-looking diarrhea.

The choice of the remedy was easy enough; I gave

her one dose of Arsenicum album 50M (Fincke) on

her tongue of July 27th, 10 a.m.

July 28th: slept in her bed from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.,

then became nervous and restless, but says that she

feels better. No medicine.

July 29th: Has been in bed all night, slept, and no

return of the diarrhea; urinary secretions, re-

established; the hot water applications to her head

have very much relieved the pain; has taken some

milk-toast, and relished it; pulse below 90; is cheerful

and hopeful.

July 31st: Had a still better night, better in every

respect, but complains of severe pains in a bunion on

the left foot; it is much inflamed and stings (footnote

1). I gave her now one dose of Nitric acid CM

(Fincke).

August 1st: The bunion is less painful, otherwise

there is not much change perceptible.

August 2nd: Bunion, still improving, and August

3rd no more pain or inflammation in it. On the

evening of August 3rd, I was again summoned to see

her; found her (7 p.m.) quite ill; the diarrhea and

vomiting had returned with great violence; pulse over

110; the same headache as on the 27th also returned as

well as the great restlessness (footnote 2). Gave her

one dose of Arsenicum album CM (Fincke) dry on

her tongue. Found her better next day, and the

improvement continued; on the 6th of August

(footnote 3) her bunion began to pain her again as on

July 31st. Gave no medicine (footnote 4). The

improvement continued satisfactorily; when the 16th

of September came she had that night, about 1 a.m.,

some oppression of breathing, which reminded her of

the terrible asthmatic attacks she had years ago; she

had to sit up for half-an-hour. No medicine. She

fully recovered, and travelled for some weeks; had no

Hay-fever; really has had nothing to complain of

since; enjoys better health than she had for years.

Footnotes:

1) When the bunion appeared, no medicine

should have been given, because all the other

symptoms for which Arsenicum was clearly indicated

improved under its salutary action, clearly showing

that the effects of the dose administered was not yet

exhausted, and because this new symptom appearing

on a less vital part of the body; also showing a

moving downward of the disease did not indicate a

progress, but a descending diminution of the

disorder. Here were two important rules violated.

The remedy must be allowed to exhaust its effects

before another dose of the same remedy, or a new

remedy, shall be administered. If the appearance of

200

the painful bunion had demonstrated a progress of the

disorder, a new remedy indicated by this last

appearing symptom would have been in order; and,

above all, do we know that if a less vital organ

becomes affected, and if the symptoms move from

the center to the extremities, or from above

downwards, such symptoms do not indicate a

progress of the disorder, and therefore no new

remedy should be given and especially not if the

general or previous more serious condition of the

patient improves.

2) Nitric acid had removed the symptoms for

which it was given, viz., stinging pain in a bunion on

the left foot, but as soon as this symptom had

disappeared the first symptoms for which Arsenicum

had been beneficially administered returned with great

severity; this fact was a convincing evidence that the

bunion should have been left alone, and that the

improvement of the first symptoms would have most

likely continued if there had been no interference.

As a rule, the last appearing symptoms are of most

importance, and must guide us in the selection of the

next remedy, but it is obvious that we must first

determine whether such a new symptom or symptoms

require a new remedy. Our knowledge of Pathology

comes here to the rescue as well as other well-known

rules. If, for instance, in a case of Encephalitis, a

profuse secretion of pale urine appears, we know well

that we have a dangerous symptom added to the other

symptoms and that it must guide us in the selection of

a new remedy and must be promptly attended to; if

the same increased discharge of pale urine appears in

a case of Rheumatic fever, we would, look for a

diminution of all the former symptoms without giving

a new remedy.

If the symptoms of a patient begin on the

extremities, and if they improve, but symptoms

appear in internal organs, then it becomes necessary

to be guided by them in the prompt change of the

remedy; if the reverse occurs, no new remedy should

be administered. If the symptoms descend we may

safely wait and give no medicine, but if they ascend

every progress upwards shows us that we have not

yet conquered the disorder and reminds us of the

necessity of re-examining the sick and choose the

more similar remedy. In the case related the

symptoms left the internal organs, went to the

extremities and descended; it was therefore wrong

to interfere with the beneficial action of the former

remedy.

3) The previous symptoms returned, and the same

remedy in a higher potency again controlled them. A

higher potency was given following one of

Hahnemann’s important injunctions, given in his

Chronic Diseases, that the potency must be changed

if the same remedy has to be repeated in a given case.

Now again, after this remedy had acted very

beneficially for three days, there returned exactly the

same symptoms. There is still another lesson to be

learned from this case and that is that we should again

pay as much, nay more attention to the critical days

than did HIPPOCRATES of Cos.

There is open to progressive Homœopathy a very

large field. We must continue to develop the Healing

Art guided by the well-established fundamental

principles (the science) and the established rules (the

art) left us as a legacy by Samuel HAHNEMANN.

Forms of diseases have had their critical days, and as

HIPPOCRATES points it out very clearly, days for

medication and days for non-medication; the

Materialists of the common School of Medicine could

no more see the critical days and set them aside as

useless; they could of course not see them because

they so violently and blindly interfered with the

natural course of disease that these days could no

longer be observed.

When the sick were treated homœopathically and

this blind and violent interference gave way to a mild

and humane treatment, these old long-forgotten

critical days were again observed and whereby the

true Healer utilized. And when proving drugs for the

purpose of learning their sick-making and therefore

curative virtues, we again find this same periodicity of

the critical days. A well person exposed to a

contagion shows the infection after a certain lapse of

time; for three days generally the organism remains

undisturbed; then, or later, but invariably on an

uneven day, the disease develops itself.

A well person taking a single dose of a medicinal

substance (and why should he take more if he expects

a satisfactory proving?) will with rare exceptions,

depending on the character of a few sudden-acting

substance, like Glonoin, Camphora, etc., not feel any

disturbances in the organism before the third day

when the effect of this health-disturbing medicinal

substance begins, develops progressive symptoms,

and shows all its sick-making powers for a certain

length of time.

In the case here related we find an illustration of

these propositions; Arsenicum so clearly indicated in

the case caused, after three days, twice, the same new

symptom not known to belong to Arsenicum. When it

appeared the second time it was not interfered with

and disappeared with all the other symptoms

belonging to the case. To the thoughtful Healer these

observations present a number of questions. Shall we

add this new symptom (inflamed and stinging bunion)

to the pathogenesis of Arsenicum? Shall we wait in

each individual case for the exhaustive action of the

single dose? And if a single dose, as it is illustrated in

this case, can fully restore health, why should we give

repeated doses to the sick till we have ascertained it to

be necessary because the action of the single dose is

very soon exhausted? How can we bring the critical

days to guide us in our therapeutics?

4) The greatest and most important question

arising in a given case is whether a new remedy

should be administered, or the former one repeated, or

no medicine should be given and we should wait.

201

This is surely very often a perplexing question. In the

case here stated an error was committed, and we have

already dwelt on it; but in a great majority of cases

such an error is not so easily remedied. It will very

frequently happen that the disturbance created by this

erroneously-administered remedy interfering with the

action of a health-restoring and truly homœopathic

medicine, will be followed by a new combination of

symptoms not having any similarity with the first

symptoms observed and we then generally find a

grave case before us. This being so, the importance of

the question of medicine or no medicine becomes

apparent. When we are not quite certain whether the

dose before administered has exhausted its effects or

whether new symptoms presenting themselves and not

known to belong to the medicine then acting, are

indicating an improvement or a progress of the

disorder, then we should give the benefit to our doubt

and decide on no medicine. If the new symptoms

belong to the remedy administered, then it is evidently

acting beneficially, and we decide on no medicine.

In an epidemic of croup here, many years ago, the

children who always gave a hoarse barking cough in

the early morning hours, were comparatively well

during the day, but were attacked during the following

night with malignant membranous croup. When a

single dose of Belladonna was administered in the

morning they fully recovered; but at 4 p.m., a violent

fever, with headache and drowsiness, would set in.

When no medicine was given for these symptoms

characteristic of Belladonna, this fever would end by

6 or 7 p.m. in a perspiration and without any more

medicine the child would recover; when medicine was

given, and especially when Aconite was administered,

which from the absence of its characteristic

restlessness was unsuitable, then the child became

very ill, the membranous croup became fully

developed, and presented a very grave case. Such

cases were hard to manage. No medicine in this case

was the proper decision. Today, October 22nd, Mrs.

B., above referred to, reported herself unusually well.

She has not taken any medicine since the evening of

the 3rd of August.

It is completely clear that LIPPE uses words

almost identical to KENT: “If the symptoms move

from the center to the extremities, or from above

downwards, such symptoms do not indicate a progress

of the disorder, and therefore no new remedy should

be given, and especially not if the general or previous

more serious condition of the patient improves”.

Homœopaths have considered Hering’s Law as a

guide to point the way in helping to take their patients

to health when they are in rough and stormy seas. It

is only intellectual hair splitting to argue when a law

should be called a law in medicine. Perhaps the word

“law” in Hering’s Law was not a good choice; but it is

there now and many healers, even non-homœopathic

ones, use this as a guide to judge whether their

patients are getting better.

Eugene B. NASH (author of the famous Leaders

of Homœopathic Therapeutics) has quoted the same

case of LIPPE in his book, The Testimony of the

Clinic pages 144 to 148. On page 147, Nash says:

“HERING used to say that when a disease has

travelled from within outward it was all right, but

from without inward was wrong. We all know this is

eminently true in regard to eruptions on the skin. In

other words, if a disease moves from vital organs or

centers outward or downwards to the extremities it is

favorable. Let the remedy that has caused this act.”

So we have here a very experienced prescriber who

also tells us of his experience of the content of what

KENT calls “Hering’s law” which NASH has verified

as true.

Now KENT was really a scrupulously honest man

and examined his motivations. Since KENT had

learned so much from LIPPE it is very probable that

LIPPE often spoke of Hering’s teaching and that

LIPPE told his students of these observations that

HERING passed on to his students; but did not write

or publish them. KENT, in turn, used this teaching in

his work and decided to give honor to HERING by

naming these observations “Hering’s Law”.

It should be clear that the concepts of

“hypothesis”, “rule”, “law” were really well defined

when man dealt with the physical science such as

classical Physics: Newtonian Mechanics, Optics,

Electricity, Magnetism, etc. For example Newton’s

Law of Gravitation is unchangeable when applied to

large masses and large distances; but fails at the

atomic and subatomic levels. Shall we now change

the name of this law and refer to it as a “rule”? The

point is, that even in the strictest of scientific

disciplines, there are no absolutes. Man has to keep in

mind the context of reference.

Homœopaths should give up the ill-founded

antipathy towards homœopathic colleagues, past and

present. Such an attitude only prevents the

acquisition of knowledge. Attacking KENT will not

advance the cause of Homœopathy or the skill of

practitioners and students.

Similarly, harsh criticisms have been levelled by

some at Kent’s use of Swedenborg’s ideas in

homœopathic medicine. This is reminiscent of the

battles that existed between mathematicians in various

branches of mathematics. The pure logical

mathematicians bitterly criticized those

mathematicians who solved differential equations in a

“non-logical” way, for example by using analogies

from other branches of Mathematics or Physics. Yet

these very practical mathematicians arrived at

solutions solved the equations that the purely logical

ones had utterly failed to resolve.

Similarly if KENT used Swedenborg’s ideas to

arrive at a remedy and then verified that the remedy

fit the patient’s clinical condition and satisfied the

Law of Similars and cured the patient, then that

method, as unconventional as it may be and as

unfamiliar as it may be to some other homœopath’s

202

way of reasoning, has served a useful purpose, namely

that of opening the mind of the homœopathic

prescriber to helping his patient.

It may not satisfy the strict criteria of a rigid rule or

law. Man is perhaps too complex to always be fitted

under rigid laws. Undoubtedly we as prescribers feel

greatly elated to use the laws of Homœopathy in their

original formulations and establish cures. By being

open-minded we will find solutions to our patient’s

illnesses at strange times, for example after a good

night’s sleep or sometimes in a dream or sometimes

after meditating. Needless to say this is not a rule or

law. All we need is to have sincerity in our hearts and

a love to verify the Materia Medica handed down to

us by those who have been our honest colleagues.

References:

1. Clinical Reflections, by Ad. LIPPE, MD

The Organon A Quarterly Anglo-American

Journal of Homœopathic Medicine and

Progressive Collateral Science, Vol. I;

Liverpool, Adam Holden, 48 Church Street,

January 1878, pages 39 to 44.

2. NASH, E.B., MD: The Testimony of the

Clinic pages 144 to 149, Boericke and Tafel,

Philadelphia, 1911.

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

13. REDEVELOPING SUPPRESSED

DISCHARGES AND ERUPTIONS BY

HOMŒOPATHY

WRIGHT, Elizabeth (The Homœopathic

Recorder, October 1929)

The one sure way to know that the remedy which

you have chosen for a case was, indeed, the

SIMILLIMUM is to observance. To have your

remedy work from within outward, with amelioration

of the mental state and the patient’s general sense of

well being, is gratifying but it is not enough. Many

more or less similar remedies may induce

amelioration in this direction. To have improvement

following your dose go from above downward in

addition to from within outward is more reassuring,

but for full satisfaction you must see the distressing

symptoms disappearing, the most recent first, and the

recurrence of old ailments in the reverse order of their

coming. Even though all three of these laws of cure

of Hering’s be demonstrated you can still not claim to

have given the perfect SIMILLIMUM unless one

single dose suffices to produce a gradual and steady

improvement approaching nearer and nearer to

complete cure, as a line approaches infinity. Some of

our best prescribers claim that one dose of the perfect

SIMILLIMUM should, as they put it, unlock the door

and permit the Vital Force to progress to complete

recovery without further aid. This is the ideal and, in

some instances, feasible. In many cases, however,

inherited ill health and infringement of spiritual and

physical laws throughout the past life of the patient

may make this impossible and necessitate repetition

of the dose after a long interval on a higher potency

plane, or even one or more changes of remedy as the

case is unraveled.

Granted that the physician has the skill to find the

perfect SIMILLIMUM and that such a remedy as

really fits the case in hand has been proved and is

therefore accessible to the practitioner, what are the

factors which may prevent the complete cure? Can

the Vital Force be weakened so that it cannot fully

respond even to the perfect opportunity? Or is, as

some claim, the dynamis always equally Vital and

ready to leap to the task of cure as soon as the way is

cleared by the remedy? Or is it possible so to sap the

vitality by the wrong thinking and hygiene of years, if

not of generations, that the channel is clogged? A

second important factor in the equation of recovery, is

surely the pathological one, the degree to which the

tissues are maimed, whether by disease, or drugging

surgery. Other factors interfering with true cure are

the failure of the patient to regulate his thought and

life and the unwise interference of the physician after

the first correct prescription.

For any or all of the above reasons cases which

follow cannot be claimed to be true cures, but they are

given to illustrate the return of old suppressed

symptoms or the throwing out by the body of disease

products in the course of the action of the

homœopathic remedy,

CASE 1. Mrs. F., age 63, chief complaint, frequent

colds, Main symptoms: proud, self-contained,

melancholic temperament, warm-blooded, abnormally

fond of sweets, gouty family, sporadically painful

joints without modalities, very irritable recently,

especially in the late afternoon, went gray as a girl of

twenty, recurrent right-sided quinsy, good appetite but

can only eat a little at a time, bilious attacks every few

weeks with irritability, only relief is from hot drinks.

Physical examination and laboratory work practically

negative. Prescription: Lycopodium 200 one dose and

4 S.L., one every night and morning.

A fortnight later patient returned feeling much

more vigorous and showed me a dry scaly eruption on

both forearms and on the right palm which came out

on the third day after the dose. She admitted to

having had such a right-sided palmar eruption years

before which had been “cured” with zinc ointment. I

warned her against local applications, explained my

joy at the eruption returning and gave Placebo. The

rash cleared in another ten days. Two months later

(this was mid-winter) the patient reported no colds for

the first time in years at that season, no bilious

attacks, joint pains more frequent now in the lower

extremities rather than hands. General condition less

vigorous for the past two week or two. Prescription:

Lycopodium 1M. To my great interest a rash similar

to that following the first dose though less severe,

reappeared five days after the repetition of the

203

remedy. This cleared in two or three weeks. This

was over two years ago, during which time the patient

has had Lycopodium 10M, one dose, followed three

months later by Lycopodium 50M and five months

later Sulphur 10M, because of the appearance of

burning soles and palms at night and faintness at 11

a.m., with entire disappearance of the late afternoon

aggravation. Following the Sulphur she has needed

no medication for over a year until an acute coryza a

month ago. She has had no further eruptions, joint

trouble or appreciable symptoms of any kind.

Case 2: Miss B., age 54, chief complaint, eruption on

neck, face and scalp of right side, burning not itching,

shooting pains, screams if touched. This eruption,

vesicular at first, was a week old with slightly

enlarged right cervical glands.

Diagnosis: Cervical herpes zoster. Prescription:

Rananculus bulbosus 1M and Placebo, one every two

hours. I then took her chronic case. She was a pallid,

repressed, sentimental little woman with dark hair and

eyes mildly chilly, brooding temperament, very averse

to consolation, history and nape all her life which

would come on in the late forenoon, worse before

menses which had been early and scanty, liked to be

alone, right-sided complaints always headache before

thunder storms, timid about robbers, dislikes salt

strongly, history of spots of Eczema on the right hand

years ago with cracks in the skin of the knuckles,

consciousness of beating of the heart worse lying

down, with sensation as though the heart turned over,

frequent panicky sensations in the pit of stomach,

light headed in the morning. Physical examination

showed poor nutrition above the waist, good below,

occasional extra systoles, blood pressure 168 over 90,

otherwise negative. Prescription: Natrum mur. 1M

and Placebo. Returned one month later feeling much

better; only one slight throbbing headache since dose,

heart no longer skipping. Marked eczema of right

palm which she said had returned a week after the

dose and eczematous patch below the right clavicle.

Placebo. Eczema remained out four months and

cleared spontaneously; blood pressure on several

occasions between 130 and 138 over 80. Severe

headache ten months after first dose of Natrum mur.

throbbing, right-sided at 11 a.m., occasioned Natrum

mur. 1M and Placebo. This was five months ago, no

symptoms since.

Case 3. Mrs. Y., age 48, chief complaint: utter

indifference to, and disgust with husband and children

increasing during past two years, knows it is

groundless but cannot help it, has been suicidal,

depression worse before menses, accompanied with

swearing which she cannot keep from doing, says she

has lost her sense of humor. Two children living, four

miscarriages at third month; terrible headaches as

often as twice a week, right frontal, better from

motion and pressure, especially from walking in the

air; psoriasis of the scalp and face for eight years (has

been partially removed with local ointments); red tip

of nose, ten years’ duration; menses early, scanty,

dark, used to be membranous, pain as if everything

inside her were being pushed out, relief when flow

comes, terrible depression ten days before period,

uncontrollable; lowest ebb from four to five p.m.;

warm blooded; early waking; does not crave sweets;

history of kidney pain several years ago, severe

backache, worse before thunder storms; foot-sweat in

childhood, which stiffened her stockings, odor bad,

“relieved” by foot powders. Patient was narrow flat

build. Physical examination, showed old cervical

lacerations, haemorrhoids, slight facial psoriasis, bad

teeth. Prescription, Sepia 200 and Placebo

(Lycopodium, Lachesis and Sulphur also repertorized

high). One week later patient returned jubilant saying

that her family sent me a vote of thanks. Her husband

later told me that in that one week family peace was

restored, as it had not been in several years. Psoriasis

quite red and angry looking, patient declared she was

feeling much better mentally and more vigorous

physically but now had a foul green lumpy

leucorrhoea. Questioning brought out that she had

such a discharge at eighteen which had been stopped

by douches, and again two or three years ago after her

last miscarriage when it had been checked by local

painting and douching, since which time her mental

symptoms had come on. I explained the danger of

suppressing it and gave Placebo. Six weeks later

patient said she had but one headache of any severity

since beginning treatment, and her period had been

much more normal without the desire to swear,

although the odor was worse. As the general mental

state was again somewhat depressed gave Sepia 1M

and Placebo. This was in December 1928. By

January the leucorrhoea had changed to a slight

yellow, odorless discharge, periods still early but

otherwise normal. Since that time I have seen the

patient regularly once a fortnight and she has been

steadily better. She has had one attack of kidney pain,

like one years ago and a mild attack of the flu but

there has been no further medication of any kind

except Placebo. Her psoriasis has practically cleared

on the face, come out and cleared again on the

forearms and there are now a few patches on the

abdomen. The childhood foot-sweat has not returned

but I am waiting for it.

These cases are samples of what the single

remedy, even in the hands of a beginner, will do

towards ridding the patient of disease, by reproducing

suppressed eruptions and discharges.

BOSTON, MASS.

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

DISCUSSION

DR. GRIMMER: The Book says, “A little child shall

lead them”. I think the “little child” has shown us

veterans the way. We know these things are true; we

have experienced them all, and yet we all slip; it is

204

just such things as these that keep us from slipping.

Fine, Dr. Wright!

Dr. HEINBACH: We don’t have the backbone to

stand by it.

Dr. GRIMMER: Not the backbone. It is just we

think we can find a shorter cut. We are rushed and

don’t take the time to do it.

DR. ALLEN: I want to warn the husbands here not to

go home and give their wives Sepia. I learned a few

years ago that Sepia was a wonderful remedy for a flat

wart. Mrs. Allen has a large flat wart on her cheek.

She had been wanting me to fulgurate it. I avoided

that. About a month ago I gave her Sepia. 1M. the

wart was some smaller, but she had a violent psoriasis

on her feet. I am in trouble.

DR. FARRINGTON: Mr. Chairman, it seems to me

that we ought to have at least one paper like this at

every one of our meetings. It is the kind of a paper

that does not appeal to the majority of homœopaths

because they feel that suppression and this matter of

bringing out an eruption on the skin is the bunk;

nevertheless, we know that it is an absolute fact and

that in some cases a cure cannot be established as

permanent until the old symptoms return. This is

especially true of asthmatic conditions. Long ago I

stopped asking patients who appeared in the office

complaining of Asthma, “Did you ever have the

itch?” I say. “When did you have the itch”?

Many years ago I treated a little girl of six years

who had caught cold and was wheezing and rattling.

She set up in bed like some old woman with Asthma.

I went through my usual formula: “When did this

child have an eruption?” Her mother said, Well,

when she was two years old, and strange to say, she

has had these attacks since then”. I said “She will

never be well until eruption comes back. I will give

her a remedy now that will help this, and then you can

bring her in later”. I gave her Ipecac. Which

immediately relieved the acute attack, but I did not

see the little girl until two or three months afterwards

when she had another attack. I repeated the Ipecac. In

four or five days time a slight eruption appeared over

the face and chest. The child never had another

attack.

DR. BOGER: When there is an eruption all over the

body which the patient can’t endure, then you will

find out whether you are a prescriber or whether you

are not. If you homœopathic enough to resist doing

anything until it runs itself out, then you are an artist.

That holds not only in regard to eruption on the body,

but also in regard to bad leucorrhoeas that we

establish in women. For that woman to wait until the

leucorrhoea drains out those tubes and reduces the

hypertrophy it requires a good deal of patience,

sometimes on your part, as well as the patient’s, and I

will counsel that when you come to your part, as well

as the patient’s, and I will counsel that when you

come to that point, possibly a pretty low potency may

help you out. I have seen Ignatia 7 to 8 for instance,

do some wonderful work where it had been given

high previously.

It is more a question of mental and physical

endurance, endurance all the way around, attachment

to your physician and confidence in him. You all

have to meet these situations and buck up to them and

stay with them. You have got to keep them out of the

hands of a man who will spread a salve, or something

else on and finish the job in a few months or the

patient will be finished.

DR. ROYAL: I am very glad I came in time to hear

this paper. I had been out in the hall there a little

while talking with my good friend Boger and Dr.

Chase. He has taken occasion to rap me for a good

many years because I use pathological symptoms to

help me out. Dr. Wright never said anything about

the pathological symptoms by that name, but she told

about a peculiar kind of a rash and peculiar

appearance and changes in tissue which to me means

pathology. So while she didn’t say anything about

pathology, it was full of it to me. Thank you, Dr.

Wright.

I want to illustrate again the disappearance of

discharge and the evil effects. Ten or fifteen years

ago, on a warm day like this, a girl came into my

private office and handed me a paper with a name on

it. Following her was a woman with a heavy veil over

her face, and behind her a man, her husband. I asked

what I could do for her. The husband took up the

thread there. He said, “We came up here because we

heard that you are a homœopathic physician and that

you didn’t believe in local applications. Our

physician has always been an old school physician. I

am a pharmacist myself, so that I know what has been

given. In my drug store at Newton, thirty miles away,

I keep some homœopathic remedies. I don’t want you

to tell me what you give.”

He had a little idea of suggestion. He had no

faith in them, and he didn’t want to put his unbelief

into his wife’s mind. So I said, as I usually do, “What

may I do for you”? to the woman. She drew up her

veil. Her face was so covered with an elevation that I

never saw its like. I could hardly call it an eruption.

Her physician, an old school physician, had called it

lupus, an aggravation of what she had for some

twenty years. She was a sight to see. Then I began to

say, “Tell me all about it”. In the first place, I took

her family history and I found that this lupus had

developed soon after she was born. They called it a

birthmark, but her physician said it was lupus. About

nine months before, as I remember, she had been she

was through menstruating, but she was not. At any

rate, she was going to risk it, and she went in bathing.

The water was cold. She never had menstruating

since. About six weeks after these some ointment tht

205

would put them away for a while, and then they

would return. Finally, his local applications didn’t do

any good and they spread. The next symptoms is

what attracted my attention the most and probably led

to my remedy. She kept coughing. I got my mirror

and had open her mouth and on the vocal cords I think

there were half a dozen little papillae that if they in

her throat and they kept her coughing and coughing.

You know what the remedy was, of course. I didn’t

tell the man. It isn’t necessary to tell you. I gave her

one dose of Thuja 1M.

Now for the results. I can’t get these results in a

week or two or three, and sometimes not in a month.

I haven’t the ability, somehow. But about six weeks

afterwards, she began to menstruate, the first she had

menstruated in some seven or eight months. Next,

these things in the throat disappeared, and then

afterwards the face began to clear up. They wrote

about it, and came up several times. After that, all

disappeared. There was no repetition.

She came up one day and said, “Now, doctor,

these are all gone. Here is my old scar that is left, but

Frank(her husband) says it isn’t as large as. I said,

“All right, here is some medicine”. I gave her

Placebo. I said, “I think that will pass away”. In

about four or five months she came up again. She

said, “I have no trouble with my cough and my

menses are regular, but I wish I could get rid of that

scar”. I gave her the second dose of Thuja and I

guess it took six months, but it nearly all disappeared.

14. Extracts from THE HOMŒOPATHIC

RECORDER, 1929 – “POINTERS” (Jan.

1929).

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

Finally an incapacitated, chronic case and a

realization of utter inability to accomplish anything

suggested a homœopathic consultation. This resulted

in the astonishing phenomena of a swift and

marvelous precision in determining a medicine and an

equally astonishing and effective recovery. What

revelation in just this! A white, emaciated young

woman worn by lack of sleep and nervous irritation

had been invalided many months and for several

weeks, had been lying partly on the side with the left

thigh partly flexed, becoming each week more

sensitive and helpless in body and will. With his

usual preciseness Dr. Case walked up and placed his

finger lightly over the left ovary with the result that

students of Lachesis know. A brief story, a few

pertinent questions, a powder on the tongue and

plenty of S.L. for the writer’s benefit as well as the

patient’s – a never – failing determination to learn the

marvelous method – so we are still at it.

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

In case of failing right heart where the patients are

warm study Ammonium carbonicum. – G.

BOERICKE.

Veronica follows Chelidonium well. – G.E. DIENST.

As a diphtheria prophylactic think of Carbolicum

acidum, 30x night and morning for three days or

tincture, one drop in one-half glass of water and take

one teaspoonful night and morning for three days. –

G. DIENST.

In obstinate cases of sterility study Natrum carb. – E.

WRIGHT.

Among the antidotes of mercury, especially where the

mercurialization has taken an excitable form, consider

Nitricum acidum. – C.M. BOGER.

After serums Anthracinum, Psorinum or Sulphur are

often indicated. – C.M. BOGER.

In hardening of the coronary arteries as well as in

general decompensation where pathology

overshadows symptoms, try Crataegus, one drop of

tincture night and morning. – C.M. BOGER.

In my experience Phosphorus is more often indicated

for the after effect of serums than any other remedy. –

R. HAYES.

Don’t put your remedy bottles where they are exposed

to sunlight. Ordinary heat does not affect them as the

sun’s rays do. Try to get amber bottles for them. –

C.M. BOGER.

If you give your patient insulin enough to replace the

body deficiency, you discourage the Vital Force.

Give the indicated remedy. – E. UNDERHILL, jr.

Think of Arnica for recurrent boils. – H.B. BLUNT.

Where the tenderness in a perforated wound is worse

than the appearance would suggest, think of Hyper.

rather than Led.

J.H. CLARKE.

FAGO. is useful in congestive headache as well as

Bell., Glon., Nux., or Sep. It also has a yellow

leucorrhoea worse at rest. – E. ANSCHUTZ.

It is useful to remember that Aeth.ant., is a

combination of antimony, mercury and sulphur. – A.

STIEGELE.

Kerosene will take out calendula cerate stains. – E.

WRIGHT.

Try practicing for a week sometimes, without using

your twenty pet remedies. – R.E.S. HAYES.

206

In organic diseases where there is much pathology,

use the lower potencies. – C.M. BOGER.

It is suggested that Sulphur is the active principle of

insulin.

(Feb. 1929)

STAPHYSAGRIA is a splendid remedy for injuries to

sexual organs. - C.M. BOGER.

In cases of heart disease with fibrillation Lycopus

merits study. - R.E.S. HAYES.

Asthma is frequently cured by the antisycotics such as

Med., Nat. sulph., Sep., Sil., and Thuja, Psor., vies

with these. As palliatives I find most useful Ars.,

Bry., Carb. veg., Ipec., and Spong. – E.

UNDERHILL, Jr.

One of the great key-notes of Phosphorus is soreness

as if a boil were coming, behind the two upper incisor

teeth. – C.M. BOGER.

In differentiating two fairly similar chronic remedies

let the latest manifestations plus the mental state to be

the deciding factors. – C.M. BOGER.

Use powdered vegetable charcoal as a nightly local

application around the teeth in pyorrhea. -

E.WRIGHT.

In cases of paralysis after novocaine think of Coca.,

Phos., or Plb.. –C.M. BOGER.

Calc. flour. will sometimes reduce fibrous tonsils in

adults. Calc.iod. also shrinks tonsils. – C.M.

BOGER.

It is interesting to know that Lapis albus consists of

Calc. 15 parts, Fluor 55 parts, Sil. 15 parts, and water

15 parts – E. HALE.

(March 1929)

After the salvarsan the SIMILLIMUM is often the

antidote – C.M. BOGER.

In any complicated chronic case the recent symptoms

are the deciding ones. You must cure your case in

layers, removing the top, i.e. the last layer first. –

B.C. WOODBURY.

You can often avoid an aggravation from high

potency by giving it in three doses two hours apart. –

C.M. BOGER.

In menorrhagia of thick, black blood in women with

very irregular menses Nux moschata may be

indicated. – L.VANNIER.

For constipation before and during menses,

accompanied by cold feet, try Silica. – L.VANNIER.

Conium has cardiac pain during dysmenorrhoea. – L.

VANNIER.

(In fact it is the only medicine given and in thick caps.

in Kent Repertory – see p.850).

Obscuration of vision with noises in the ears as an

accompaniment of overabundant menses makes one

think of Trillium. – L. VANNIER.

Cimicifuga has pain beneath the breasts especially at

the menopause. – E. WRIGHT.

Urticarial itching better by perspiring calls for Rhus

tox. – H.C. ALLEN.

Entire inability to sweat characterizes Graphites and

Hepar as well as Alumina. – H.C. ALLEN.

In rectal fistulae Calc., Caust., Sil., and Sulph. are

most useful. – J. JAHR.

In nocturnal paroxysms of epilepsy or chorea

Calcarea is valuable especially after Sulphur. –

J.JAHR.

Crocus is suitable in chorea or convulsions with

laughing, especially when attacks alternate with

whooping cough. – J. JAHR.

Patients appear to get up a tolerance for remedies. A

complementary remedy will sometimes keep the

patient from going stale. – R.E.S. HAYES.

Varying remedies or dropping back in your potency of

the same remedy, i.e. 50M to 40M, will likewise help

to increase your patient is reactibility. – J.C.

BURNETT.

In left hemicranias with cutting pain into the ear,

worse from coffee, better combing the hair, Formica

is suitable – J.C. KING.

(April 1929)

I find that high potencies followed by lower ones act

especially well in YOUNG, vital adults. – R.E.S.

HAYES.

Aconite and Phos. think much of fine clothes. – H.

MARTIN.

When a cold in winter starts with photophobia

aggravated by the snow and the coryza is running but

the nose feels stuffy and the continual sneezing does

not relieve, think of Ars. – C. DUNHAM.

207

Ammon. carb. is not a remedy for the strong-minded

but for those who are easily impressed and

hypersensitive to the contacts of other minds; the

spiritual chameleon would profit by a dose. – E.

WRIGHT.

In violent contraction of the anus after stool, think of

Stront. carb. as well as Lach. and Nit. ac. – W.H.

ROBERTS.

Strophanthus hispidus has a recurrent urticaria. It

helps with the craving for alcohol, like Ars., Caps.,

and Nux [and Sulph. and Aven. sat. – Ed.] – W.H.

ROBERTS.

Try using the high potencies, especially of nosodes

and serums, as local applications – A. NEBEL.

It is not an indication for Tub. when the well selected

remedy fails to ACT. When the remedy has acted,

and the constitution of the case shows a tendency to

break down, if well selected remedies don’t HOLD

because of vital weakness then it is that this remedy

sometimes fits in. – C. DUNHAM.

In cases of breast tumor in addition to Con., Phyt.,

Sulph., and whatever remedy is the constitutional

one, if there are symptoms enough to lead you to it,

study Lac caninum. It has served me well. – L.M.

STANTON.

Platina is haughty, Lyc. is imperious, but do not

forget that Ipecac. is contemptuous. He despises not

only the chef but everyone and everything, and grows

stout on it! – E. WRIGHT.

There is one grand rule to observe in all cases acute or

chronic and it is this: NO SYMPTOMS, NO

MEDICINE. – J.H. CLARKE.

Prescribe Sabina if milk tastes bitter; Sang. if sugar

tastes bitter; Iod. If plums taste bitter; Ars. if water

tastes bitter, and Puls. if bread tastes bitter. – D.N.

DEY.

Plumbum will help in epistaxis with convulsions or

colic relieved by arching backward or colic

alternating with pain in the joints. – D.N. DEY.

In case of anxiety: worse on ascending, prescribe

Nit.ac., after washing the feet Nat. carb. , after taking

acids Sulph., during anger Sep., on closing the eyes

Carb. veg., after sexual intercourse Sep., on thinking

of coition (in a woman) Kreos., on hearing of cruelty

Calc. carb., on hearing music Nat.carb., when reading

Mag.mur., when shaving Calad. From smoking

tobacco Petr, and after urination Dig. – D.N. DEY.

It is my experience that Puls., symptoms occur and

are relieved Puls, as frequently in the Nux type of

patient as they do in any other, also that Nux is almost

as frequently indicated in Puls. types as it is in Nux

types. – W.H. FREEMAN.

Let those who cannot sleep eat a couple of lumps of

sugar or better still lie over on the abdomen. – G.

MITTLER.

A hernia which has slipped down into the sack will

often go back of itself on the application of a hot bran

poultice. – H. BORKENHAGEN.

I have found the application of the fresh yellow juice

of a stalk of Chelidonium to warts several times a day

to be most effective in removing them. – A.

STEGLICH.

Petroleum and Olive oil equal parts is as effective for

head lice as Sabadilla-vinegar. – S.K.

Storm neuroses, particularly at the onset of storms,

will often yield to Rhod. –K.L.

In nocturnal enuresis in children, think of Kali phos.

or Sabal serrulata as well as the more usual remedies

(such as Rhus., Sep., Caust., etc. – Ed.) – F.K.

In enlargement of the right ovary with pain in the

right pectoral region and cough, think of Apis. L.

VANNIER.

Colch. has piercing or drawing pains in the ovary,

obliging one to bend double, with great agitation. – L.

VANNIER.

Violent headache coming on only when straining at

stool suggests Iridium. – W.H. ROBERTS.

Where pain in the limbs is aggravated after meals and

you can get no other symptoms, think of Indigo.

There may be accompanying cough with epistaxis. –

W.H. ROBERTS.

(May 1929)

In nine cases out of ten when acute appendicitis

comes on with a rush I have found it calls for

Belladonna. – F.E. GLADWIN.

It has been my experience that I get much quicker as

well as better results with high potencies 10M and

50M, than I do with 200ths. – F.E.GLADWIN.

Gels. is rarely found of benefit in superficial

affections of the eye but is especially adapted to

diseases of the fundus and paralysis of the nerves. -

In croup without fever think of Kali bi., or Brom., the

latter especially if there is cyanosis. – G.E.

DUNHAM.

208

In post-operative hiccough worse at midnight, with

involuntary urination look up. Hyos. – G.E.

DUNHAM.

Thuja softens hard tissue. Think of it in cases of

hypertrophied horny toe nails. – G.E. DUNHAM.

Merc. i.r. has intense frontal headache above the eyes,

in the turbinates and in the facial bones, so that he

holds his face in his hands and groans; usually

accompanied by catarrhal troubles. – B. ROY.

For the sensation as if the head were enlarged think of

Arg. nit., Bov., cor.rub., Dulc., Glon., Lachn.,

Merc.i.r., Nat.mur., Nux vom., Plat., Ther. – B.ROY.

Patients who are made sick by the odor of paint may

be relieved by cutting an onion in half and place it in

the newly painted room. It will absorb the paint odor

in a few hours. – N. CHOUDHURI.

If a cork is too large, cut out a section from the

tapered end, squeeze the parts together, and it will slip

in quite easily. Corks may be made watertight by

being immersed in oil for a few minutes. – N.

CHOUDHURI.

Tea stains can be removed with dry salt. (This makes

one wonder about Nat.mur. as a remedy in tea hearts,

and the amount of salt in the diet of a SEL. Patient,

SEL. Being a great remedy for aggravation from tea.

– Ed.) – N. CHOUDHURI.

Silica has augmented menses with repeated

paroxysms of glacial coldness throughout the body. –

L. VANNIER.

For after pains following delivery, with bruised

sensation of the uterus, try Arnica. – L. VANNIER.

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

(June, 1929)

Agaricus muscarius I have found to be of great value

in cases of twitching of the eyelids. – A. CROSS.

For the excessive weakness which follows the ‘flu’

this year I have had great success with Tuberculinum

avaire 30X - J.S. PUGH.

Tuberculinum aviaire 30x has served me better than

any remedy in the long-lasting prostration after the

“flu”. – H.D. BAKER.

Be on the watch for serious aggravation after the use

of Bach nosodes, even as low as the 15th potency. I

have had a number of grave ones. – H.B. BAKER.

In retained placenta without symptoms Sepia after

abortion and Pulsatilla after labor are highly

recommended . – W.A. YINGLING.

In pains which increase with the establishment of the

menstrual flow think of Tuberculinum (as well as

Cimicifuga) – W. BOERICKE.

Hypericum leads in coccygeal nerve pain due to a fall

on the tip of the spine. – B.C. WOODBURY.

For persistent nerve pain in amputated stumps without

deciding symptoms try Allium cepa – B.C.

WOODBURY.

For nausea of pregnancy aggravated by the sight and

smell of food you will rarely need look beyond

Ipecac, Sepia or Symphoricarpus – B.C.

WOODBURY.

Thuja has a circle of dark, beady warts around the

neck. – B.C. WOODBURY.

When Silica gives out in caries of the ear, switch to

Lapis albus (Silico-fluoride of Calcium). – H.

BELLOWS.

In rheumatism, which is worse every third day, China

may be the remedy – E.B. NASH.

In headache, frontal or behind the eyes, coming at the

beginning of every motion, worse closing the eyes,

Theridion will help – B. ROY.

When milk tastes sour think of Nux vomica. – D.N.

DEY.

Alumen has intestinal haemorrhages (for instance in

typhoid) with big clots and much weakness but

without much pain. – J. LATHOUD.

Lept. virg. has foetid stools, black as tar, mixed with

brighter blood and mucus, with marked prostration. –

J. LATHOUD.

Where dark venous haemorrhage from intestines is

accompanied with great abdominal pain, it may be

Hamamelis – J. LATHOUD.

In intestinal haemorrhage with extreme tympanites,

with red tongue which is smooth, shiny and without

papillae, Tereb. is indicated. – J. LATHOUD.

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

(July, 1929)

After antitoxin Carbolicum acidum may be indicated.

– J. HUTCHINSON.

High potencies will not palliate incurable cases, you

must use the low. – C.M. BOGER.

209

Patients needing Graphites are coarse; emaciated

early, then obese; their eczema is worse by warmth;

they have herpes with irregular menses. – G.

DUNHAM.

Hepar is the most sensitive patient in our Materia

Medica. – G. DUNHAM.

For nervous weakness after the flu, Cyprepedium. For

vital depression after any long illness Scutellarta. –

J.H. CLARKE.

In headache Plat. follows Bell. well. It has alternating

mental and physical symptoms. Headache worse

evening, lying on left side, gradual increase and

decrease as if board on the forehead, things look

small, better in the air. – B. ROY.

Boletus laricis, dragging, burning pain in liver,

especially right lobe, with jaundice and burning pain

in spleen. – I. CHHABRA.

Hiccough during pregnancy, Cyclamen. – I.

CHHBRA.

Ipecac. often helps with the morphine habit. – I.

CHHBRA.

For dreams of serpents think of Ran. s. as well as Lac.

c. – I. CHHABRA.

Psoriasis, dermatitis and other affections of skin,

characterized by intense dryness, intense burning,

intense itching and profuse desquamation, worse

nights, preventing sleep, better rubbing and especially

better warm bathing, worse on exposed surfaces: Rhus

venenata. – H.C. SCHMIDT.

I want to mention one case of a young man diagnosed

catatonic aetiology, toxemia, cleared up speedily on

Nitric acid 10M (Kent). “Epistaxis, bright red,

induced by crying” was the peculiar deciding

symptom. – V.T. CARR.

(Aug. 1929)

I am afraid of the 1M potency of Phosphorus as it

gives terrific aggravation. The mental state of a

patient should be quieted after a remedy. In my hands

Phos. 1M produces an unfavorable excitement. –

C.M. BOGER.

Pulsatilla has puffiness over the eyes as well as Kali

carb. – C.M. BOGER.

If PHOS. doesn’t hold, study KALI PHOS or CALC.

PHOS – C.M. BOGER.

Birth marks are due to the syphilitic miasm. I have

best results with Calc. fl., Fl. ac. and Thuja – J.W.

WAFFENSMITH.

Calendula contains organic iodine. – G.B.

STEARNS.

Hepar sulph., is invaluable in corneal ulcers. – G.B.

STEARNS.

Ear discharges usually yield to one of the following

five remedies: Puls., Ferr., Phos., Merc., Hep., Sil. –

G.B. STEARNS.

Potassium in radio-active. The potassium salts are

diggers. They are much deeper acting than the natrum

salts. – C.M. BOGER.

Syphilitic heart disease has responded to Malic acid.-

A.H. GRIMMER.

In evaluating the symptoms of any case before

repertorizing start with something CERTAIN. – A.H.

GRIMMER.

Study Naphthalene in whooping cough. – H.S.

WEAVER.

Medorrhinum is my most useful remedy in the

vomiting of pregnancy. – C.M. BOGER.

Most keynotes are representative of a general in a

case, which explains their importance. – A.H.

GRIMMER.

Vipera has marked aggravation, letting the affected

limb hang down. – H.A. ROBERTS.

Allium cepa has other uses than coryza, i.e., run-

arounds with pain up the arm, nerve pain in amputated

stumps, and places on the feet where the skin has been

rubbed off by shoes. – G.B. STEARNS.

Don’t forget Tabacum in angina pectoris. – C.M.

BOGER.

When Sulph. cannot be repeated study Sulph. iod. –

J.H. KRICHBAUM.

Puls. will empty the majority of pus tubes. – C.M.

BOGER.

In angina pectoris with great anxiety think of

Aconitum ferox. – C.M. BOGER.

Iodum has power over exudates that do not clear up,

although it is dry as a board in the stages of

consolidation. – G.B. STEARNS.

Veratrum viride is often neglected in renal colic. –

C.M. BOGER.

When there is marked trembling of the lower jaw in

pneumonia think of Sulphur. – G.B. STEARNS.

210

(Sept. 1929)

The “free running salt” now widely advertised

contains Mag. carb. and is therefore constipating – E.

UNDERHILL, Jr.

Psorinum has periodic headaches, preceded by or

associated with very putrid stools. – E. UNDERHILL,

Jr.

Cases of ill effects of the Schick test where no other

remedy is clearly indicated often run to Lac. can. Its

relation to this condition is similar to that of Thuja

through the results of vaccination. – H.A. ROBERTS.

Phyto. has been called the vegetable Mercury and

should be remembered in connection with Mercurius

in Tonsillitis. Its key-notes are better by cold drinks,

pain up to the ear on swallowing, tendency to bite the

gums. – E. UNDERHILL, Jr.

Medorrhinum is as frequently indicated as any

remedy in paediatrics. – E. UNDERHILL, Jr.

Insulin cases often respond to Arsenicum. – E.

UNDERHILL, Jr.

When the case changes every time you go and the

symptoms imitate a different remedy at each visit

think of Tub. – E. UNDERHILL, Jr.

In regulating your patients’ diets advise a small

variety of any one meal but a large one in the course

of a week. – E.UNDERHILL, Jr.

In my experience Psorinum is often indicated after

Pyrogen. – E. UNDERHILL, Jr.

Hypericum applied locally will ease bunions where

the nerves are pressed on. – G. STEVENS.

For sciatica with atrophy Ol. Jec., Plb., Kali phos.,

(for instance in infantile paralysis). – A.H.

GRIMMER.

Pain in coccyx after a fall may be Hyper. or it may be

Staph. – G.B. STEARNS.

Chloroform has the symptom as if the gall-bladder

would burst. – M. POWELL.

Cholestorenum has great power according to H.C.

ALLEN over the pain of Liver Cancer. – W.

YINGLING.

In kidney pain neglected remediesare Lith. tart. and

Ocim. ca. (right). – A.H. GRIMMER.

Polygonum persicaria and Thlaspi bursa pastoris

have power in kidney stones. – A.H. GRIMMER.

When a remedy cannot be determined or those chosen

fail in gall-stone colic Hydras. tinc. 5 drops q. 15ml.

will relieve. – Dr. KNOTT.

Asaf. relieves the excruciating pain of old ulcers if

the symptoms agree. – G.B. STEARNS.

Mag. iod. has cardiac pain in arteriosclerosis. – G.B.

STEARNS.

In intestinal obstruction with peristaltic colic think of

Stannum rather than Coloc. – G.B. STEARNS.

Echi. will help restore secondary anemias and given

high helps the chronic effect of peritonitis even many

years after. – A.H. GRIMMER.

Phos. is one of our best antidotes to radium. It is also

useful after x-ray although Fluoric acid is better. –

G.B. STEARNS.

Streptococcic infections such as septic endocarditis

yield to such remedies as Ars., Phos., and Rhus. and

the snake poisons whereas the staphylococcic

infections yield more to Hep. or Sulph. – G.B.

STEARNS.

In bloody expectoration especially after abuse of

Phos., Tereb., comes in. – G.B. STEARNS.

Aconitum napellus – (In your next Acon. Cold try a

single dose of the cc or 1m instead of the tr., 1x., 2x.,

or 3x.). Restlessness and agonized tossing about are

said to be essential to an Acon., case; all the

headaches are accompanied by this distress clinically.

Useless in Pneumonia after exudation has taken place.

Acute symptoms occurring during a chronic disease

often call for Acon. The patients requiring Acon.in

cardiac troubles must lie on the back. The Acon.

Fever is sthenic and rarely remits. Is valuable in the

chilly as well as in the febrile stage preceding the

development of many eruptions and lesions, but when

the preliminary storm has passed and the lesion has

become established, the picture changes from Acon. to

some other remedy. Elephants are said to eat Acon.

with impunity. When the Simillimum it will cure

cases of great chronicity, e.g., cases of indurated

glands. Tension, both mental and physical,

characterize Acon. It has been said that as

perspiration takes place Acon. should be discontinued.

The Acon. patient comes down quickly and recovers

quickly. Complaints from the extreme cold of winter

or the extreme heat of summer; or the lung and brain

complaints of winter and the bowel inflammations

and the stomach disorders of summer. The pains are

knife-like, cutting, stabbing, stinging with screaming.

When the fear remains after fright, compare, with

Opium. The symptoms of Acon. show distinctly on

the face, and on the face mostly, like Antimonium tart.

211

One cheek red, the other pale, with anxiety and

chilliness always indicates Acon. One of the most

comforting remedies for toothache; put a drop on

cotton and put it in the hollow tooth. Nothing tastes

bitter enough. One of our best remedies for retention

of urine in the new-born; from shock; or in children

from cold with crying and restlessness; in retention, of

the mother, after labor, also Causticum. The

convulsions arrested by Acon. do not rest on a chronic

constitutional base, but from shock or fright and are of

recent origin, as in the puerperal state. The neuralgias

cured result from cold, are of recent origin and are

accompanied by numbness and tingling. Acute

glossitis with dry mouth; (with salivation, Mercurius).

The febrile pulse of Acon. is hard, full and rapid.

Acts promptly in neuralgia, especially of the upper

limbs, with numbness as if the blood did not circulate

in them freely, from suddenly checked perspiration.

Again, the Acon. fever is sthenic in type and while the

evening aggravation is decided it is for the most part

not remittent and is of no use in malarial or septic

poisoning. – A. PULFORD.

-----------

Not very rarely, however, the life-force rebels rather

than to allow several doses of Sulphur, given at

intervals….., quietly to act upon itself, thought the

same might be ever so useful for the chronis evil, and

shows this antagonism by producing, during the

treatment of the invalid, a few though mild Sulphur

symptoms. Then it is sometimes adviseable to give a

dose of Nux vom. X Degrees, and allow this to act for

eight to twelve days, so that nature may be induced to

allow the Sulphur in continued doses to act again

quietly and with the greatest possible benefit. In

suitable cases, Puls. X Degrees may be preferred. –

Samuel HAHNEMANN, 1833.

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

(OCTOBER, 1929)

If your patient is oversensitive to remedies from over

prescribing study Teucreum marum verum. – A.H.

GRIMMER.

In earache complicating measles, with thick tongue,

loose bowels and sweating think of Merc. dulc. – J.W.

KRICHBAUM.

In Syph. heart pain goes from base to apex; in Med.

From apex to base. – J.W. KRICHBAUM.

For headache which is the acute effect of heat stroke

Glon. For the chronic effect Nat. carb. – A.H.

GRIMMER.

In headache from suppressed diarrhea study Podo. –

A.H. GRIMMER.

In right eye headache with disturbance of vision and

sore vomiting sturdy Iris. – A.H. GRIMMER.

In violent hatreds in men consider Fluoric acid. It is

often to men what Sepia is to women. A keynote is

“scolds without being angry”. – J.W. KRICHBAUM.

Zinc. sulph. is a grand remedy in an old person’s

home; it has cured pterygium. – G.B. STEARNS.

String warts on the eyelids often need Staph. – F.E.

GLADWIN.

Zinc. iod. Has spasmodic bursting sensation in the

heart with dyspnoea. – G.B. STEARNS.

Rhus has volvulus of the intestines. – A.H.G.

Bapt. feels better than it looks and Lach. looks better

than it feels. – G.B. STEARNS.

Anac. has wounds of the tendons. – G.B. STEARNS.

There is more to Arn. Than most think; Iritis, bee

stings, profusely suppurating compound fractures,

abortion, mastitis, and orchitis yield when the

symptoms agree. – G.B. STEARNS.

Cineraria in ruptured eyeball and Asar. in eye injury

are not to be forgotten. – G.B. STEARNS.

Kali iod. has burning feet and sinking in the stomach

at 11 a.m., relieved by food, and resembles Sulph. in

the 30th potency. – A.H.G.

Alumina sil. should not be forgotten in chronic

neuritis. – J.T. KENT.

My big “5” in obstetrical haemorrhage are, Mill.,

Phos., Nit.ac., Sec., Sabina. – J.W. KRICHBAUM.

Only one remedy has the typical symptoms of normal

labor: Cupr., it often helps to give a dose of the 200 in

normal labor. If they are restless Cupr. ars., is better

– J.W.K.

Caul. is a sheet anchor in complicated labors: rigid

os, delayed labor, spasms of pain without progress,

head pushes down and recedes. – J.W.K.

Cimic. Leads in false labor pains with rigors and

chills in the first stage. – J.W.K.

In rheumatism without swelling think of Iodum. –

A.H. GRIMMER.

Don’t forget Ars. sulph. flav. In rheumatism. – A.H.G.

212

Merc. sol. contains traces of Nit. ac. and sodium and

is better in acute work, whereas Merc. viv. suits the

chronic. – A.H.G.

Hahnemann says acute t.b.c. almost always needs Kali

carb. at some stage. – A.H. GRIMMER.

Sarracenia (pitcher plant) is a valuable prophylactic

against smallpox. – J.H. CLARKE.

As antidotes of the coal tars which have been used to

suppress headaches Carbo veg. is effective, or Mag.

phos. if the suppression has brought on neuralgia. –

J.T. KENT.

If too many different homœopathic remedies have

mixed your case, Sepia may straighten it. – J.T.

KENT.

Teucr. scorod. is useful in glands and adenoids and a

wonder in t.b.c. – A.H. GRIMMER.

Fraxinus americanus (ash) and Aur. kali mur. are

great remedies in fibroids. - A.H. GRIMMER.

Abies canadensis: For women with uterine troubles,

with chilly sensations and great craving for meat,

pickles, radishes, turnips, artichokes and other coarse

food. – A. PULFORD.

Abies nigra: sense of undigested hard boiled egg, or

of something knotted up in the stomach; dyspepsia

from tea or tobacco. – A. PULFORD.

Abrotanum: Emaciation most marked in lower limbs.

In metastasis; also when Hepar sulph. fails in

furnuculosis; or when Aconite or Bry. fail in pleurisy.

Oozing of blood and moisture from the navel of the

new born. Is especially suited to the affections of

little boys. When one disease changes into another.

When mumps shift to the testes and Carbo veg. and

Puls., seemingly indicated, fail. When suddenly

checked diarrhoeas are followed by piles or

rheumatism. Better when bowels are loose, like

Zincum met. and Nat. sulph., reverse of Calc.carb. –

A. PULFORD.

Acalypha: Has cured many obstinate haemoptysis

cases after other remedies failed; severe fits of cough

followed by spiting of blood; expectoration of pure

blood morning, and dark clotted blood evenings. – A.

PULFORD.

Acetic acid: Diabetes with or without sugar in urine,

great thirst, weakness, pallor and emaciation. Pale,

sickly people, should be given in anaemia or nursing

women. Is similar to Apis and Arsenicum alb. but has

a greater preponderance of gastric symptoms than

either. An antidote to anaesthetic vapors; a finger

dipped in vinegar and rubbed within the lips antidotes

the fumes of charcoal. Equal parts of vinegar and hot

water make a refreshing sponge bath for many

conditions of fever, with or without perspiration.

General emaciation with waxy skin, anasarca, and

sweat. Membranous croup with bright red face and

perspiration. – A. PULFORD.

(NOVEMBER, 1929)

Digitalis in homœopathic potency is the best antidote

to the depressant effects of the coal tar drugs on the

heart. – A.H. GRIMMER.

Do not forget Stannum in frontal sinus conditions

where the pain rises slowly to a peak and talls

gradually. – B.C. WOODBURY.

Sometimes the peculiarity of a ready is seen in the

gross pathology with such distinct characterization

that there is no mistaking its identity. Such an

instance is the enlarged tonsils, acute or chronic,

which are shaped by the pressure of the surrounding

tissues so that they are flat-sided in various shapes

with sharpened edges. This local peculiarity shows an

Echinacea patient, as the more general symptoms will

prove. – R.E.S. HAYES.

Black warts, Thuja. – R.E.S. HAYES.

Finger warts, Kali c.; if red, Calcarea carb. – B.C.

WOODBURY.

(DECEMBER 1929)

Some few score years ago we started out with a

trunkful of conceit and a hand bag of ability to

practice Homœopathy. The trunk also contained

Allen’s Handbook of Materia Medica and Raue’s

Special Pathology and Therapeutic Hints (we were

especially conscious of the hints), and as to the

handbag, about all the genuine coin that was the

visible and unmistakable fact that, if you could find

the right remedy the patient was bound to improve no

matter what his complaint might be. This seemed to

be an instance of law in the natural world and perhaps

somewhere beyond for all we knew. Anyhow, with

this indisputable evidence it seemed that this great

power of cause and effect should be at the fingertips

and in daily use. Therefore the two books and conceit

aforementioned.

We had made a few hints – somehow or other – an

emaciated brunette with ashy, sunken features, a

leaden burden of marital disappointment and a

tapeworm was so rapidly being restored to color, flesh

and hope in a week after Bac. 200th one dose, that it

would have been hard to tell which of us was the

more astonished.

A woman in labor had a transverse presentation and

of course “nothing doing”. We went out on a trip

213

(four footed in those days) for something, leaving her

hot, sweaty, restless and with some Puls. 200. When

we returned “it was all over”.

One of the most brilliant, or rather we should say

restful, cures of those days was of a baby girl who

shrieked most amazingly three to five hours daily or

nightly, as it happened, before evacuating some hard,

dry faeces. We remember, too, that the child was

pale, sweaty about the head, flushed face and head

when yelling was badly excoriated. The brilliance

and restfulness were much intensified because they

did not appear until three or four weeks had elapsed

when we happened, just happened, you know, to give

a prescription of Borax 1M. what if the Borax was

the twenty-sixth in line! That didn’t stop the cure

when it got started. Our regret was that we did not

begin at Aconite and got on down instead of skipping

all around; we might have reached Borax sooner. We

had no repertory in those days but we knew that the

right remedy would cure that girl – and we proved it;

the fact that twenty-five remedies had failed proved it

all the more.

We were very proud when fame called us to a town

twenty miles away or so. An old gentleman had a

lone spot like psoriasis just above the center of his

forehead, a thick, finely textured, powdery crust as

white as snow. It had not changed or been added to in

many years except when a doctor got it off somehow

after which it immediately came back. It was about

the size of fifty-cent piece. Two visits were all we

could make for one prescription of Sulphur 1M left

the skin perfectly clean. I remember that the old

gentleman was ruddy, active and wore flannels in hot

weather.

The worse case of cramps that I have ever seen

occurred in my practice during those days. An elderly

woman had cramps in the legs habitually at night.

When I called I found one of the legs simply one great

haematoma from a severe cramp the night previous.

Cupr. met. 6x for a few days cured her cramps

entirely.

An old man had a dreadful time from frequent and

irresistible urging to urinate. Both urine and faeces

would pass at once. I remember how he would stand

tremulous and tottering, so that he would have to be

guided as he walked. The effect of Bar. carb. was

most remarkable. He straightened up and went about

normally for two years or so.

Little by little the big bottles came down off the shelf

leaving more and more space for the 30ths, 100ths,

and 200ths., mostly. The Handbook was a pretty big

affair, one hand hardly enough for it, and it was big in

mystery as well as bulk. If it was in any other cause

we might be ashamed to till how we used to stare at

the pages with some patient in mind and a lump in the

throat – the idea at such an age! But we knew that

marvelous thing, vital reaction, lay in these remedies.

We had seen it in people’s countenances too many

times and somehow, hung to it until a repertory came

to the rescue. Progress was easier after that.

There is one point running through this, viz.: that if

one will persist in finding his own way and in making

a way of his own through the maze of Materia Medica

and the difficulties of prescribing the work will

become easier all the time and the range of usefulness

larger and larger. – R.E.S. HAYES.

Aconite in external inflammations (as well as internal)

with lancinating pains, fever and erethism; irritable,

sedentary persons; aggravated at night. – W.T.

HELMUTH.

Arnica: opposite of Aconite; low grade inflammations

with low vitality, secondary inflammatory processes.

– W.T. HELMUTH.

Arsenicum : acute or chronic inflammations with a

high degree of the general sensitive sphere involved,

more or less paralysis of the local parts, threatening

gangrene. – W.T. HELMUTH.

Belladonna: what Aconite is to fever, Bell. is to

inflamed local parts. The more delicate the inflamed

organ or tissues the more suitable this remedy; local

redness, swelling, burning heat, throbbing; gangrene,

either dry or moist. – W.T. HELMUTH.

Bryonia: local inflammation with flying, darting pains

with chilliness, the inflamed part tense, hot, rather

pale, stinging during motion or contact; aggravated at

night. – W.T. HELMUTH.

Camphora: general or local inflammation with weak,

soft pulse and shriveled, flaccid skin. – W.T.

HELMUTH.

China: asthenic or passive inflammation with

relaxation, pasty appearance and deficiency of heat. –

W.T. HELMUTH.

The above remedies in inflammation are expressed in

part as the author viewed them. He warns of the

impropriety of depending on these scant symptoms

only. They are to be considered simply as his

personal hints which attract attention to a certain

remedy. – W.T. HELMUTH.

Syphilinum and Medorrhinum appear to be

complimentary more often than other nosodes. –

R.E.S. HAYES.

One type of Calcarea renalis phosphatis patient is

mothy, almost mossy, sallow, dull, hungry looking,

relaxed, gaunt . – R.E.S. HAYES.

214

More black warts cured with Thuja. – R.E.S. HAYES.

We do not use the various iodides enough. – J.A.

WILSON.

When functional vomiting has gone longer than

necessary and one does not desire to prescribe a

remedy directly, sips of Sarasaparilla may give relief.

Select a brand with the minimum of sweetness. –

R.E.S. HAYES.

Euphorbia for erysipelas with high fever, involvement

of the naso-pharyngeal mucous membrane, with a

tendency to suppuration, and burning. – MAU.

Tarantula will cure severe cough relieved by smoking

when the symptoms agree. – H.E. MAYNARD.

Belladonna is useful in severe cervical adenitis which

is going bad; the results are astonishing. – H.E.

MAYNARD.

Merc. cor. Is useful in the serious kidney troubles of

pregnancy. – H.E. MAYNARD.

Ilex ag. should be tried in grippe of the bronchial

type, especially in uric acid diathesis. – O. LEESER.

Menstrual sore throats; ovarian pain relieved by the

flow (Lach., Zinc.); swollen painful breasts before and

after menses (Con., Calc., Phos.), worse from the

least jar, must be supported on walking, points to Lac

caninum. – H. DUPART.

Painful dorsal spine makes one think of Lac caninum

as well as Sil., Phos., Agar., Cimic.- H. DUPART.

In the “thymic asthma of children” Calc. carb. is

often indicated and if the child is constipated Tarax.

may follow. – M. ROUY.

Asthma in children subject to cold with sneezing

before each asthmatic crisis responds to Sabad. – M.

ROUY.

Aralia has asthma when the patient cannot sit down.

Grindelia dares not go to sleep for fear of asthma. –

M. ROUY.

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

15. Is Homœopathy an Effective Cancer

Treatment?

MUELLER, Manfred (AH. 18/2012)

Introduction: In a 2007 research review1 entitled The

Evidence: Scientific Studies on Homeopathic Cancer

Treatment published in The American Homeopath

we concluded:

“Homœopathic drugs have proven biological

action in cancer; in vitro and in vivo; in animals and

humans; in the lower, as well as in the higher

potencies. Cancer patients are faced with a life-and-

death decision when choosing their treatment. Since

most conventional treatments continue to be

associated with severe adverse and sometimes fatal

effects, while Homœopathy has been found to be free

from such effects, it would seem plausible and

worthwhile, even urgent, to step up the research on,

and even the provision of, homœopathic treatment of

cancer and other diseases.”

For the present paper we have reviewed articles

on homœopathic cancer treatment published during

the last five years in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Homœopathic cancer treatment has great

promise, given the exceptional safety of the treatment

and the relatively frequent observation of beneficial

clinical effects.2 However, in our last view we had

noted a remarkable confusion among researchers on

key concepts in Homœopathy and we attributed this to

editorial control. We also commented on the fact that

virtually all studies of homœopathic cancer treatment

are in reality investigating the effects of high potency

drugs, not the efficacy of homœopathic treatment.

This should be kept in mind when reading the present

review.

Difficulties with Homœopathic Cancer Research

Within a month of the publication of our previous

review, professor Edzard Ernst published an article3

that lamented the serious lack of randomized

controlled trials (RCTs) on homœopathic treatment,

noting that “all of the existing RCTs are in the realm

of cancer palliation and supportive care.” The paucity

of RCTs in Homœopathic cancer research is indeed

troublesome. However it has a perfectly reasonable

explanation that does not warrant Homœopathy-

bashing. In our last review we already commented on

Ernst’s and other researchers’ peculiar attitude,

downplaying homœopathic research published in

peer-reviewed scientific journals that support the

position cited above.

Ernst began his article with defamatory remarks

on Homœopathy and homœopathic practitioners. He

went on to describe homœopathic “potencies” as

dilutions above the Avogadro limit. (We discussed in

detail the distinction between potentization and

ordinary dilution in our review). Ernst failed to

mention the fact that worldwide only about 25% of

homœopathic potencies prescribed exceed the

Avogadro limit.4 Yet he extended his criticisms of

Homœopathy automatically to the other 75%. He also

failed to report on mounting scientific data showing

the positive effects these potencies have in biological

systems, including in humans. His predictable

conclusion in the article was the “implausibility” of

Homœopathy and of homœopathic cancer treatment.

Aside from the biased views espoused by the

hired guns against CAM5 there are substantial reasons

215

why human trials in homœopathic cancer research are

rare. Clinical studies of cancer treatment with

“unproven” therapies such as Homœopathy are

expensive and are fraught with legal obstacles. In the

United States, more than 30 states have enacted laws

that severely restrict the use of unproven therapies in

cancer.6 Institutional review boards face great

pressure to assure the safety of their subjects and

rarely approve clinical experimentation on cancer

patients administering “unproven therapies” such as

only homœopathic treatment.

Meanwhile, government and professional

organizations continue to endorse chemotherapy

drugs, radiation and surgery as the sole “approved

treatment” of cancer. This is surprising considering

the significant potential harm and relative low

efficacy of these treatments.7 Because of legal

concerns the majority of trials on homœopathic cancer

treatment are conducted in the laboratory examining

the effect of homœopathic drugs in vitro on cell lines,

or in vivo by administering them to laboratory

animals with induced cancers.8 This---not

“implausibility” – explains the relative paucity of

randomized controlled clinical trials in homœopathic

cancer treatment.

Best Case Series Program

Homœopathic treatment of Cancer is so effective

that this fact can no longer be hidden from the public.

More and more patients around the world are

choosing homœopathic treatment,8-27 either

complementary to, as an alternative to conventional

therapy. Studies have shown that when homœopathic

remedies and attempt to treat themselves or their

families even without proper training.28 In India

where Homœopathy is a medical therapy sanctioned

by the government, clinics report2 thousands of

Cancer patients are regularly being treated with

Homœopathy and around one fifth are reported to

have complete recession of tumors and other

improvements under homœopathic treatment.

One of these clinics2 has been conducting case

studies that led to the publication of their treatment

results. In 2008 researches2 at the PBH Research

Foundation (PBHRF) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India,

published their findings from several case reports on

treatment of lung and esophageal carcinoma patients

they had submitted more than a decade earlier to the

National Cancer Institute (NCI) Best Case Series

(BCS) Program for review. The reports contained

records including pathology reports for 14 patients

with malignant tumors treated according to Banerji’s

protocol until there was complete regression of the

tumors.

The Banerji protocol deviates from the strictly

homœopathic method in giving preference to

homœopathic drugs that have shown efficacy in

significant numbers of clinical cases and in state of

the art evidence-based research for a given condition

diagnosed by current medical technology28 rather than

on strict individualization of symptom similarity as is

the case in classical homœopathic prescribing.

However, this approach could be justified in the case

of cancer because of the relative lack of symptoms

and the severity of the disorder, according to standard

homœopathic theory.29 Conditions like cancer and

tumors that are characterized by a paucity of

symptoms were classified among the “one-sided

disorders” by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of

Homœopathy. A previous study Pathak et al.30 had

found efficacy for the Banerji protocol in the

treatment of patients suffering from glioma.

Since 1991, the NCI has had a process for

evaluating data from complementary and alternative

medicine (CAM) practitioners that involves the same

rigorous methods used in evaluating treatment

responses with conventional medicine. This process,

called the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Best Case

Series (BCS) Program, provides an independent

review of medical records, medical imaging and

pathology materials from patients treated with

unconventional cancer therapies.31 The Office of

Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine

(OCCAM) was established in October 1998 in order

to coordinate and enhance the activities of the NCI in

the arena of CAM. The Practice Assessment Program

within OCCAM currently manages the NCI BCS

Program.32, 33 Through this program, staff from

OCCAM work with CAM practitioners to identify

appropriate, well-documented cases. The primary

goal of this program is to obtain and review sufficient

information to determine if NCI-initiated research on

a specific intervention is warranted.

According to the article by Banerji et al.2 the

protocol for conducting this study was approved by

the NCI Special Studies institutional review board and

an application for approval of the project has been

submitted to the Indian Council for Medical Research.

Four of the cases submitted had independent

confirmation of the diagnosis and radiographic

response and were accepted as sufficient information

for the NCI to initiate further investigation.

Research on Homeopathic Potencies

One recent unusual method to demonstrate effects

of potentized drugs was demonstrated in a 2010

study.34 Professor Dr. Wilfried Dimpfel from the

Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany,

showed that the impact of low-dosed (potentized)

drugs can be observed on an EEG. Using one of the

homœopathic drugs produced by the pharmaceutical

company Heel as an example, he measured brain

waves with the help of an electroencephalogram

(EEG) to characterize the impact of the homœopathic

drug. He examined its effects, compared it to other

medications and created a differentiated profile.

While this is the first time that an EEG has been used

to demonstrate the effect from homœopathic drugs,

Bell et al. had already used an EEG35 to identify

216

homœopathic patients she called “excellent

responders” to homœopathic treatment.

Habitual attacks on Homœopathy because of the

use of some homœopathic drugs in dilutions so high

that “nothing remained of the starting materials” may

soon be a thing of the past. Chikramane et al.36 of the

Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute

of Technology, Mumbai, Adi Shankaracharya Marg,

Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India studied extreme

homœopathic dilutions from a nanoparticulate

perspective. Homœopathic drugs in high potencies

such as 30c and 200c involve huge dilution factors

(1060 and 10400 respectively), which are many orders

of magnitude greater than Avogadro’s number, so that

theoretically there should be no measurable remnants

of the starting materials.

The researchers claimed that no hypothesis which

predicts the retention of properties of starting

materials had so far been proposed nor had any

physical entity been shown to exist in these high

potency medicines. Using market samples of metal-

derived medicines from reputable manufacturers, they

demonstrated for the first time by Transmission

Electron Microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction and

chemical analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma-

Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), the

presence of physical entities retained in the form of

nanoparticles of the starting metals and their

aggregates in these extreme dilutions.

Low Dose Therapy for Advanced Cancers

The use of low doses of drugs is not such a far-

fetched concept as it might appear. In fact, according

to Jahangir Satti37 at the Department of Radiation

Oncology, Albany Medical Center, in Albany, New

York, it is on the rise around the world in the fight

against serious diseases such as advanced cancers. In

an article, Satti talked about a global trend towards an

emerging low-dose therapy for advanced cancers—a

clear departure from the conventional use of

maximum dose protocol. In analyzing the various

approaches Satti found the small dose of the

prescribed drug is frequently administered in a

continuous fashion, at regular intervals (metronomic

therapy), either as a standard treatment or as a

maintenance therapy for a long time. He cautioned,

however, that the new treatment method lacks any

clear standard for drug doses, dose fractionation,

repetition, frequency and duration of a treatment

course for an individual patient.

In his paper Satti reviewed literature about

metronomic therapy and discussed hormesis; both

phenomena occur in low dose ranges. Hormesis is the

observation that toxins in low doses can protect

against harmful doses of the same toxin. Satti called

for better mathematical models, computer

simulations, process optimization and clinical trials to

fully exploit the potential of low dose metronomic

therapy to cure chronic and complicated diseases, and

for the development of protocols to standardize

metronomic dosimetry in order to answer age old

questions related to the dose, hormesis and

Homœopathy. He concluded that this new low-dose

metronomic therapy will have far reaching effects in

curing chronic diseases throughout the world.

Anti-cancer Effects of Homœopathic Drugs in

Laboratory Animals and Cell Cultures.

At the Amala Research Center, Kerala, India,

Kumar et al.38 examined the anti-cancer and inhibitory

effects of several potentized homœopathic remedies.

The researchers used N-nitrosodier41hylamine

(NDEA) in rats to induce hepatocellular carcinoma

(HCC), a difficult form of cancer to treat, along with

elevated liver marker enzymes. Additionally they

induced sarcomas in mice with 3-methylcholanthrene.

They then administered concomitantly four remedies

commonly used in the homœopathic treatment of

cancer; Ruta graveolens, Hydrastis canadensis,

Lycopodium clavatum and Thuja occidentalis in 200c

potency. Homœopathic literature shows that

homœopathic physicians had observed clinical effects

in cancer of the liver from some of these remedies

(with the exception of Ruta graveolens). The

researchers also tested Ruta graveolens 200c and

Phosphorus 1M – a homœopathic drug that can be

used for sarcoma----in the 3-methylcholanthrene

treated mice. Placebo was given to control groups.

Preethi et al39 of the same group had previously

tested Ruta graveolens 200c and the methanolic

extract of Ruta graveolens. Preethi found it possessed

antitumor activity against tumor cell induced ascites

as well as solid tumors in mice, including Dalton’s

Lymphoma ascites and Ehrlich carcinoma ascites.

Pathak et al.30 showed in 2005 that Ruta graveolens

6c selectively induced cancer cell death in brain

cancer cells and produced instability of telomeres.

Sur et al.40 had previously found Lycopodium

clavatum in potency to be hepatoprotective against

CC14 induced liver damage. Biswas et al.41 in 2004

and Pathak et al.42 in 2006 found that administration

of Chelidonium majus and Lycopodium clavatum

inhibited carcinogenesis induced by azo dye in rat

liver.

The investigators in Kumar et al. (2007) found

that the potentized homœopathic drugs retarded tumor

growth and significantly reduced the elevated marker

enzyme levels as revealed by morphological,

biochemical and histopathological evaluation. Out of

the four drugs studied, Ruta graveolens 200c showed

maximum inhibition of liver tumor development.

Ruta graveolens 200c and Phosphorus 1M reduced

the incidence of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced

sarcomas and also increased the life span of mice

harboring the tumors. The authors concluded that

homœopathic drugs, at “ultra low doses, may be able

to decrease tumor induction by carcinogen

administration.”

One might further conclude that treatment with

these homœopathic remedies could potentially be

217

useful in preventing the development of liver

carcinoma and sarcoma in humans exposed to

carcinogens such as those used in this study.

In another trial, Amala researchers Sunila et al.43

reported on their investigations of the antitumor and

antimetastatic activity of selected homœopathic

medicines against transplanted tumors in mice. They

found that Ruta graveolens 200c and Hydrastis

Canadensis 200c significantly increased the lifespan

of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma and Dalton’s

Lymphoma Ascites induced tumor-bearing animals.

Moreover they found 95.6% and 95.8% reduction of

solid tumor volume in Ruta graveolens 200c and

Hydrastis canadensis 200c treated animals on the 31st

day after tumor inoculation. Hydrastis Canadensis

1M given orally significantly inhibited the growth of

developed solid tumors produced by DLA cells and

increased the lifespan of tumor-bearing animals.

Some 9 out of 15 animals with developed tumors

were tumor free after treatment with Hydrastis

Canadensis 1M.

The investigators also found significant anti-

metastatic activity in B16-F10 melanoma-bearing

animals treated with Thuja accidentalis 1M, Hydrastis

canadensis 1M and Lycopodium clavatum 1M. This

was evident from the inhibilition of lung tumor nodule

formation, morphological and histopathological

analysis of the lung and decreased levels of gamma-

GT in serum, a cellular marker of proliferation. These

findings support other observations that homœopathic

preparations of Ruta graveolens and Hydrastis

canadensis have significant antitumor activity.

According to the authors, “this gives biochemical

evidence for the effectiveness of homœopathic

medicines in inhibiting metastasis.”

A further trial44 by that group (Sunila et al. 2009)

evaluated the cytotoxic activity of 30c and 200c

potencies of ten dynamized medicines against

Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites, Ehrlich’s Ascotes

Carcinoma, lung fibroblast (L929) and Chinese

Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines and compared

activity with their mother tinctures during short-term

and long-term cell culture. They also evaluated the

effect of dynamized medicines showed significant

cytotoxicity to cells during short and long-term

incubation. A potentiated alcohol control did not

produce any cytotoxicity at the concentrations

studied.

The researchers concluded that “dynamized

medicines inhibit CHO cell colony formation and

thymidine uptake in L929 cells” and Thuja

occidentalis, Hydrastis canadensis and Carcinosinum

in high potency “induce apoptosis in DLA cells.”

They showed that Carcinosinum induced the

expression of p53 (a tumor-suppressor protein) while

Thuja occidentalis produced characteristic laddering

pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA.

According to the authors, these results indicate that

dynamized medicines possess cytotoxic as well as

apoptosis-inducing properties.

Preethi et al.45 (2008) presented evidence on the

genotoxic and clastogenic potential of an extract of

Ruta graveolens and Ruta graveolens 200c. The

scientists noted various types of chromosomal

aberrations were in bone marrow cells after treatment.

The percentage of abnormal cells in the extract

administered group was between 21% and 31%

depending on body weight. The value for the Ruta

graveolens200c treated group was also elevated to

23% as compared to 3% for untreated animals. In

addition, bone marrow cells had a higher incidence of

micronuclei induction when treated with the extract

and with Ruta graveolens 200c for 30 days.

Administration of the extract over a period of 30 days

also resulted in damage to cellular DNA as evidenced

by significant comet formation of the bone marrow

cells increased from 4.5 to 50.2 after treatment with

the extract. Administration of Ruta graveolens 200c

for 5 consecutive days increased the tail moment to

11.7. The researchers concluded that Ruta graveolens

extract and Ruta graveolens200c may induce

genotoxicity in animals.

Preethi et al.46 studied the action of Ruta

graveolens 200c, Carcinosinum 200c, Hydrastis

canadensis 200c, Thuja occidentalis 200c, and Thuja

occidentalis 1M for their ability to induce apoptosis as

seen by morphology, DNA laddering, expression of

genes related to apoptosis, and TUNEL assay. They

also measured the effect of homœopathic medicines

on apoptosis by microarray analysis and compared the

activity of Ruta graveolens 200c with that of the

mother tincture.

Ruta graveolens 200c produced morphological

changes in the Dalton’s lymphoma ascites tumor cells

and induced DNA laddering. Carcinosinum 200c

increased apoptotic gene p53 and Ruta graveolens

200c decreased anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2.

Administration of potentiated homœopathic drugs to

tumor-bearing mice induced TUNEL-positive cells in

the tumor, showing increased apoptosis of tumor

cells. Microarray analysis of cells treated with

homœopathic drugs indicated that many enzymes

related to apoptosis were increased by homœopathic

drugs. The researchers concluded that apoptosis is

one of the mechanisms of tumor reduction of

homœopathic drugs. According to the scientists a

comparison of potentized drugs with their mother

tincture indicated that the potentized drugs have

biological activity similar to that of their mother

tincture in spite of ultra-dilution.

Banerjee et al.,47 of the Kalyani group at the

Cytogenerics and Molecular Biology Laboratory,

University of Kalyani, India, examined the efficacy of

the homœopathic drug Chelidonium majus 30c and

200c in ameliorating experimentally induced hepatic

tumors and hepatotoxicity in rats. They randomized

rats into six sub-groups: negative control + ErOH

group: Chelidonium majus 30c; Chelidonium majus

200c. They sacrificed the rats at day 30, 60, 90 and

120; and evaluated various toxicity biomarkers and

218

pathological parameters, as well as employing gelatin

zymography for determination of metalloproteinase

activity and Western blot of p53 and Bcl-2 proteins.

All analyses were observer blind.

The researchers found that chronic feeding of p-

dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and

Phenobarbital (PB) elevated the levels of aspartate

aminotransferase (AST), alanine amenotransferase

(ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate

dehydrogenase (LDH), triglyceride, cholesterol,

creatinine and bilirubin and lowered the levels of

glutathione (GSH), glucose-6-phosphate

dehydrogenase (G-6PD), catalase and HDL-

Cholesterol. There were statistically significant

modulations of these parameters in the treated

animals, compared to positive controls. In both

treated groups, there was down-regulation of

metalloproteinases, p53 and Bcl-2 proteins compared

to over-expression in the positive control groups. The

researchers found that both potencies of Chelidonium

majus exhibited anti-tumor and anti-oxidative stress

potential against artificially induced hepatic tumors

and hepato-toxicity in rats. They concluded that more

studies are warranted.

Bhattacharyya et al.48 of the Kalyani group

investigated an encapsulated plant extract of

Gelsemium sempervirens poly (lactide-co-glycolide)

nanoparticles’ capability to enhance cellular uptake

and increase bioactivity. The group had previously

demonstrated anticancer activity of crude EEGs

(ethanolic extract of Gelsemium sempervirens) by in

vitro studies on human HeLa cells. The analysis

revealed that encapsulated counterpart in inducing

apoptosis of A375 cells (human malignant

melanoma). The authors concluded that the non-toxic

nano-extract had greater potential as an anticancer

agent than the crude extract.

Bhattacharjee et al.49 examined whether the

homœopatbic (potentized) drugs Natrum sulphuricum

and Carcinosinum prevent azo dye-induced

hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. They asked whether

Carcinosinum 200c (Car-200) could provide

additional ameliorative effect, if used intermittently

with Natrum sulphuricum 30c (Nat sulph-30) against

hepatocarcinogenesis induced by chronic feeding of

p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and

Phenobarbital (PB) in mice. They divided the mice

randomly into seven sub-groups: (i) normal untreated;

(ii) normal + succussed alcohol; (iii) p-DAB (0.06%)

+ PB (0.05%); (iv) p-DAB + PB + succussed alcohol,

(v) p-DAB + PB + Nat sulph-30, (vi) p-DAB + PB +

Car-200, and (vii) p-DAB + PB + Nat sulph-30 + Car-

200.

The researchers sacrificed the animals at 30, 60,

90 and 120 days for assessment of genotoxicity

through cytogenetic end-points like chromosome

aberrations, micronuclei, mitotic index and sperm

head anomaly and cytotoxicity through an assay of

widely accepted biomarkers and pathophysiological

parameters. Additionally, they conducted electron

microscopic studies and gelatin zymography for

matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the livers at 90

and 120 days.

The results showed that administration of Natrum

sulphuricum 30c alone and in combination with

Carcinosinum 200c reduced the liver tumors with

positive ultrastructural changes and in MMP

expression, genotoxic parameters, lipid peroxidation,

gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate de-hydrogenase,

blood glucose, bilirubin, creatinine, urea and

increased GSH, glucose-6-phosphate de-hydrogenasc,

super-oxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase

activities and hemoglobin, cholesterol, and albumin

levels. They concluded that intermittent use of

Carcinosinum 200c along with Natrum sulphuricum

30c yielded additional benefit against genotoxicity,

cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress

induced by the carcinogens during

hepatocarcinogenesis, confirming observations by

homœopathic clinicians.

Another trial by this group, Pathak et al.50 found

supportive evidence for the anti-cancer potential of

homœopathic medicine against hepatocarcinogenesis

in mice. They examined if Lycopodium clavatum

200c (Lyco-200), a homœopathic drug commonly

used for the treatment of liver Cancer, has

demonstrable anti-cancer activities in mice while they

are chronically fed carcinogens, p-

dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and

Phenobarbital (PB) to induce liver cancer.

The investigators chronically fed mice in five

different groups for varying periods of time; group I:

normal diet; group II: normal diet + alcohol 200;

group III: p-DAB + PB; group IV: p-DAB + PB +

alcohol); group V: p-DAB + PB + Lyco-200. They

sacrificed the mice at day 7, 15, 30, 60 or 120, and

assessed the following parameters: cytogenetic

endpoints like chromosome aberrations, micronuclei,

mitotic index and sperm-head anomaly; toxicity

biomarkers like acid and alkaline phosphatases,

alanine and aspartate amino transferase, glutathione

reductase, succinate dehydrogenase and catalase

activities lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione

content.

Additionally, the scientists made scans and

transmission electron microscopic analyses of liver

tissues at day 90 and 120, and immune-detection of

p53 protein and performed gelatin zymography for

matrix metalloproteinases in liver tissue.

Furthermore, they conducted studies on blood

glucose, hemoglobin and cholesterol, estradiol,

testosterone and cortisol, and lymphocyte and hepatic

cell viabilities. They analyzed physical properties of

Lyco-200 and potentized alcohol 200 by using

methods such as UV, Fourier Transform Infrared

Spectroscopy (FTIR), Fluorescence Spectroscopy,

1H-NMR and 13C-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic

Resonance Spectroscopy).

The scientists found that Lycopodium clavatum

200c reduced cytogenetic damages yielding positive

219

modulations of all biochemical, pathological and

other risk factors, cell viability and expression of p53

protein and matrix metalloproteinases as compared to

controls. The recommended that studies be conducted

on other mammals to further investigate the potential

of Lycopodium clavatum 200c in liver cancer.

Crude ethanolic extract of Thuja occidentalis

(Cupressaceae) is used as homœopathic mother

tincture to treat various ailments, particularly moles

and certain cancerous tumors. It is also used in

various other systems of traditional medicine for the

treatment of cancer.

A trial by Biswas et al.51 of the Kalyani group

tested the anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing

properties of Thuja occidentalis and a thujone-rich

fraction (TRF) separated from it. They evaluated the

drugs for their possible anti-cancer potentials in the

malignant melanoma cell line A375. On initial trial

by S-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, both Thuja

occidentalis mother tincture and TRF showed

maximum cytotoxic effect on the A375 cell line while

the other three principal fractions separated by

chromatography had negligible or no such effect.

They characterized and subjected TRF further assays

to determine its anti-proliferative and apoptotic

properties. TRF had a molecular formula of

C10H16O and a molecular weight of 152.

Exposure of TRF of Thuja occidentalis to A375

cells in vitro showed more cytotoxic, anti-

proliferative and apoptotic effects as compared with

the mother tincture, but had minimal growth

inhibitory responses when exposed to normal cells

(peripheral blood mononuclear cell). Furthermore,

both Thuja occidentalis and TRF caused a significant

decrease in cell viability, induced inter-nucleosomal

DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial transmembrane

potential collapse, increase in ROS generation, and

release of cytochrome c and caspase-3 activation, all

of which are closely related to the induction of

apoptosis in A375 cells. TRF showed and matched all

the anti-cancer responses of the mother tincture of

Thuja occidentalis and could be the main bio-active

fraction. The authors concluded that the use of Thuja

occidentalis extract against tumors in traditional

medicines as well as in Homœopathy has, therefore, a

scientific basis.

Khuda-Bukhsh et al.52 of the Kalyani group in

collaboration with Dr. Bellon of Boiron Laboratories,

tested the hypothesis that suitable modulations of

signal proteins could be one of the possible pathways

of action of a highly diluted homœopathic drug,

Secale cornutum 30c (Sec cor 30). It could

successfully combat DMBA + croton oil induced skin

papilloma in mice as evidenced by histological,

cytogenetical, immunofluorescence, ELISA and

immunoblot findings. The analysis of several signal

proteins and pro-apoptotic proteins revealed that

Secale cornutum 30c-fed mice, as revealed from

cytogenetic and Comet assays, and changes in

histological features of skin papilloma. The study

showed anti-cancer potential of Secale cornutum 30c

against skin papilloma. According to the authors, this

study also supports the hypothesis that potentized

homœopathic drugs act at gene regulatory level.

Polygala senega is extensively used in traditional

systems of medicine against various lung diseases

including cancer. In homœopathic clinical practice it

has been used primarily for the treatment of pleurisy,

hemoptysis, and occasionally for lung cancer.

Paul et al.53 from the Kalyani group tested the

anticancer potentials of ethanolic extract of roots of

Polygala senega (Senega) in a mammalian model,

treating mice, in vivo, chronically with benzo [a]

pyrene and in vitro using lung adenocarcinoma cell

line (A549). They deployed various parameters like

cell viability assay, chromatin condensation studies

with Hoechst 333258 staining, and maintained

suitable controls. To gain an understanding of the

possible signal trasduction pathways, they studied

expression of various signal proteins such as aryl

hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), cytochrome P450

(CYP1A1), Bcl-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen

(PCNA), Bax and caspase-3. Additionally, they

made reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction

analysis of AhR, p53, PCNA and β-actin

(housekeepint) genes. They conducted immune-

histochemical localization of PCNA proteins in vivo.

Feeding the root extract of Polygala senega to mice

(at the rate of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg by weight)

chronically treated with the carcinogen (50 mg/Kg bw

dissolved in olive oil) showed positive modulation in

expression of signal proteins.

The scientists observed up-regulation of apoptotic

signals such as p53, capse-3 and Bax, and down-

regulation of AhR, cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1), Bcl-

2 and PCNA. The addition of the root extract of

Polygala senega (at doses of 50 μg and 100 μg) into

culture medium containing A549 cells induced

recovery of decreased cell viability and increased

chromatin fragmentation (apoptosis). Therefore,

according to the authors, the results of both in vivo

and in vitro studies scientifically validate the

potential use of Polygala senega as an anticancer

agent, particularly against lung cancer, and provide

important information potentially helpful in drug

design.

In addition to proving efficacy for certain cancer

drugs, homœopathic cancer research can additionally

help answer controversial questions remaining in

clinical debate. The question whether two remedies

administered in alternation can show additional

benefits over only one remedy has been hotly debated

among homœopathic clinicians. The following study

found additional benefit when both remedies were

used.

Bhattacharjee et al54 evaluated whether

potentized Cholesterinum (Chol) intermittently used

with another homœopathic remedy, Natrum

sulphuricum (Nat-sulph) can provide additional

benefits in combating hepatotoxicity generated by

220

chronic feeding of carcinogens, p-

dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and

Phenobarbital (PB). They categorized mice into sub-

groups: Group 1: normal untreated; Group 2: normal

+ alcohol “vehicle” (Alc); Group 3: 0.06% p-DAB +

0.05%PB; Group 4: p-DAB + Alc; Group 5: p-DAB +

PB + Nat sulph-30; Group 6: p-DAB + PB + Chol-

200; Group 7: p-DAB + PB + Nat sulph-30 + Chol-

200; Group 8: p-DAB + PB + Nat sulph 200; Group

9: p-DAB + PB + Nat sulph-200 + Chol-200. They

assessed hepatotoxicity through biomarkers like

aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and

ALT), acid and alkaline phosphatases (AcP and

AlkP), reduced glutathione content (GSH), glucose 6-

phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), gamma glutamyl

transferase (GGT), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and

analysis of lipid peroxidation (LPO) at 30, 60, 90 and

120 days and assayed anti-oxidant biomarkers like

superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT),

glutathione reductase (GR). They conducted electron

microscopic studies (scanning and transmission) and

gelatin zymography for matrix metalloproteinases

were conducted in liver. Increased activities of AST,

ALT, AcP, AlkP, GGT, LDH and LPO and decreased

activities of G6PD, SOD, CAT, GR and GSH were

positively modulated in intoxicated drug fed mice of

Groups 5 through 9, but changes were more

appreciable in Groups 7 and 9. Thus, combined

homœopathic therapy provided additional benefits in

combating hepatotoxicity.

Chatterjee et al.55 studied the clinical efficacy of

an alternative cancer treatment “Psorinum Therapy”

in treating stomach, gall bladder, pancreatic and liver

cancers. The study was observational, open level and

single arm. The participants’ eligibility criteria

included histopathology/cytopathology confirmation

of malignancy, inoperable tumor, and no prior

chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The primary

outcome measures of the study were (i) to assess the

radiological tumor response and (ii) to find out how

many participants survived at least 1 year, 2 years, 3

years, 4 years and finally 5 years after the beginning

of the study considering each type of cancer. The

researchers administered Psorinum 6x orally to all

participants up to 0.02 ml/Kg body weight as a single

dose in empty stomach per day for 2 years along with

allopathic and homœopathic supportive care. 158

participants (42 of stomach, 40 of gall bladder, 44 of

pancreatic, 32 of liver) were included in the final

analysis of the study. Complete tumor response

occurred in 28 (17.72%) cases and partial tumor

response occurred in 56 (35.44%) cases. The

researchers concluded that double-blind randomized

controlled clinical trials should be conducted for

further scientific exploration of this alternative cancer

treatment.

Frenkel etal.,56 in a collaboration of researchers at

the Integrative Medicine Program, Department of

Molecular Pathology, and the Department of

Melanoma Medical Oncology, at The University of

Texas M D Anderson Cancer center, in Houston,

Texas, studied four high potencies of homœopathic

drugs commonly used in homœopathic practice for

cancers (Carcinosinum, Phytolacca decandra,

Conium maculatum and Thuja occidentalis) for

cytotoxic effects against two human breast

adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-

231) and a cell line derived from immortalized normal

human mammary epithelial cells (HMLE). Also

collaborating were researchers from the PBH

Research Foundation whose clinical protocol

incorporates these four homœopathic drugs in breast

cancer treatment.

The Human group found the drugs exerted

preferential cytotoxic effects against the two breast

cancer cell lines, causing cell cycle delay/arrest and

apoptosis. These effects were accompanied by altered

expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins,

including down-regulation of phosphorylated Rb and

up-regulation of the CDK inhibitor p27, which

according to the authors were likely responsible for

the cell cycle delay/arrest as well as induction of the

apoptotic cascade that manifested in the activation of

caspase 7 and cleavage of PARP in the treated cells.

The authors concluded that their “findings

demonstrate biological activity of homœopathic

products when presented at ultra-diluted doses.”

The authors note that the patients who come to M

D Anderson’s Integrative Medicine Clinic already use

Homœopathy or have a marked interest in integrating

this treatment with their conventional therapies

because the agents have no toxicity and are easy to

use. They also report a growing interest in the Banerji

protocol among patients at their clinic, even citing this

fact as the impetus for the present study. This

collaboration between researchers and clinicians

shows that increasing treatment success in

Homœopathy can lead to additional research activity.

Should the research yield significant positive results,

it in turn can attract more patients to homœopathic

therapy as well as stimulate further research.

The researchers concluded that their findings

should encourage further preclinical and animal

investigation of these remedies as preventive and/or

therapeutic treatments for breast cancer. In a review

of homœopathic cancer research57 Dr. Frenkel notes

that “the positive reports from the few laboratory

experiments in cancer models that are mentioned in

this review are indeed noteworthy. Appropriate

clinical trials are still needed to investigate the use of

Homœopathy in cancer care.”

This conclusion implies that research is expected

to show what the author has already admitted to be the

case, that patients choose Homœopathy, sometimes in

addition and sometimes instead of conventional

cancer treatment. This confirms our conclusion

during this review, that the interest in Homœopathy

for cancer care is driven by patients, not by

researchers.

221

Melanoma is a particularly deadly form of cancer

and the most rapidly expanding cancer in terms of

worldwide incidence. Chemotherapeutic approaches

to treat melanoma have shown relatively low efficacy.

Among the numerous agents tested on melanoma,

cytokines have attracted much attention over recent

decades, in particular interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha).

However, previous studies58 have found homœopathic

drugs to be effective in the treatment of melanoma.

Pascual-Carpe et al.59 of the Department of

Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Murcia University, in

Murcia, Spain, analyzed the effects of INF-alpha and

Lymphomyosot, a combination homœopathic remedy,

administered individually or in combination, on the

growth of B16F10 melanoma transplanted in

C57BL/6J mice. The scientists performed two

experiments using 72 young male mice treated with 1

x 10(6) B16F10 cells and with phosphate-buffered

saline (I), INF-alpha(II) Lymphomyosot (III), and both

INF-alpha and Lymphomyosot (IV). The researchers

performed subsequent morphological and

immunohistochemical studies. All treatments

produced a reduction in tumor weight with significant

differences in those treated with INF-alpha and

Lymphomyosot. INF-alpha reduced the cell

proliferation index and the spread of inflammatory

infiltrates and produced an increase in the extent of

intratumoral necrosis. An antitumor effect was

demonstrated by both agents as was the cytotoxicity

of INF-alpha and the immune response-stimulating

effect of Lymphomyosot.

Guimarāes et al.59 of the Laboratόrio de Pesquisa

em Células Inflamatόrias e Neoplάsicas, tested a

Brazilian complex homœopathic medication (CHM),

used as an immune modulator, that has been

recommended for patients with depressed immune

systems. They studied the interaction of mouse

lymph node lymphocytes, co-cultured in vitro with

macrophages in the presence or absence of the CHM,

with B16F10 melanoma cells.

They found that lymphocytes co-cultured with

macrophages in the presence of the CHM had greater

anti-melanoma activity, reducing melanoma cell

density and increasing the number of lysed tumor

cells. There was also a higher proportion of activated

(CD25+) lymphocytes with increased viability.

Overall, lymphocytes activated by treatment

destroyed growing cancer cells more effectively than

control lymphocytes.

They concluded that a co-culture of macrophages

with lymphocytes in the presence of the CHM

enhanced the anti-cancer performance of lymphocytes

against a very aggressive lineage of melanoma cells.

These results suggest that non-toxic therapies using

CHMs are a promising alternative approach to the

treatment of melanomas. In addition, according to the

authors of the study, they are attractive combination-

therapy candidates, which may enhance the efficacy

of conventional medicines by improving the immune

response against tumor cells.

Guimarάes et al., researchers from the same

Laboratόrio de Pesquisa em Células Inflamatόrias e

Neoplάsicas Depto de Biologia Celular, Setor de

Ciências Biolόgicas, and from the Federal University

of Paranά, in Curitiba, Brazil and from the Cell

Biology Unit (CBU), Institut Pasteur de Montevideo

(IPMon), Uruguay, described the in vitro inhibition of

B16F10 cells invasion and the in vitro anti metastatic

potential after treatment with a homœopathic drug by

inhalation in the B16F10 lung metastasis model.

Previous studies60 in mice had demonstrated that a

high diluted complex of the homœopathic drug

Calcarea carbonica (M8) stimulated the tumoricidal

response of activated lymphocytes against B16F10

melanoma cells in vitro. In the present trial they

found that M8 had at least two functions, as inhibitor

of cancer cell adhesion and invasion and as perlecan

expression antagonist, which have a strong correlation

with several metastatic, angiogenic and invasive

factors in melanoma tumors. The authors concluded

that this medication is a promising complementary

non-toxic therapy candidate, which may enhance the

efficacy of conventional medicines by improving the

immune response against tumor cells or even inducing

direct dormancy in malignances.

Benkendorff et al.61 at the School of Biological

Sciences, Flinders University, in Adelaide, Australia

evaluated the in vitro bioactivity of egg mass extracts

of the Australian muricid Dicathais orbita, in

comparison to the homœopathic remedy Murex

pupurea, against human carcinoma and lymphoma

cells. The Murex remedy showed little biological

activity against the majority of cell lines tested. In

contrast, the Dicathais orbita egg extracts

significantly decreased cell viability in the majority of

carcinoma cell lines. Flow cytometry revealed these

extracts induce necrosis in HT29 colorectal cancer

cells, whereas apoptosis was induced in Jurkat cells.

According to the authors these findings highlight the

bio-medical potential of Muricidae extracts in the

development of a natural therapy for the treatment of

neoplastic tumors and lymphomas.

Smit et al.62 researchers at the Department of

Anatomy, University of Pretoria, South Africa,

reviewed immunomodulators with reference to the

homœopathic product Canova. Immunomodulators

are substances which modify the immunity of an

individual to favor a particular immunological

response. The researchers described immune

response and the function of the immune response

regulation process the special reference to cancer and

autoimmune disease. Canova is a homœopathic

product produced, “according to the Hahnemannian

homœopathic method,” in Brazil. The article

reviewed its role in cancer, bone marrow and

hematopoiesis as well as macrophage and monocyte

activation Canova seemed to stabilize platelet

morphology in human immunodeficiency

virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome

(HIV/AIDS). The data suggested that the future of

222

immunomodulators and homœopathic 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. The authors concluded that

homœopathic products specifically need more

attention by researchers.

Mikhvetadze et al.63 investigated if different

agents had any effect on ion transport of Ca2+ in

tumor cells (Erlich’s carcinomas). The researchers

used various agents---ionizing radiation, the antitumor

preparation vinkristin and a homœopathic drug – to

stimulate Phosphoric acid diluted at 10-14. They

found that small doses of radiation always had a

stimulating effect on ion transport even in

combination with vinkristin, which separately always

depressed it. Both, separately and in any

combination, stimulated Phosphoric acid, and always

reinforced trans-membrane ion transport. They

suggest a hypothesis on the participation of Ca2+ in

the process of repairing tumor cells. At increasing

Ca2+ concentrations in the environment a trans-

membrane transport of this ion induces strengthening

of adhesive properties of the cell. However, it is

known that in tumors these properties are normally

decreased. Apparently, in this case two contrary

processes----strengthening and decrease of adhesive

properties take place pointing to the fact that

reparative forces in tumor process had developed.

Riede64 reported about a novel approach to tumor

therapy with Amanita phalloides (death cap

mushroom) for the treatment of leukemia, i.e. the

stabilization of B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia.

The article explained the rationale for this treatment

as follows: molecular events that cause tumor

formation up-regulate a number of HOX genes, called

switch genes coding for RNA polymerase II

transcription factors. Thus, in tumor cells, RNA

polymerase II is more active than in other somatic

cells. Amanita phalloides contains amanitin, capable

of inhibiting RNA polymerase II. Partial inhibition

with amanitin influences tumor cell---but not normal

cell---activity.

The scientists gave various homœopathic

dilutions beginning with the second decimal potency

of Amanita phaloides, to a patient with leukemia

while monitoring the leukemic cell count. They

found that while the former duplication time of

leukemic cells was 21 months, within a period of 21

months the cell count was stabilized to around

10(5)/μL. No leukemia-associated symptoms, liver

damage, or continuous erythrocyte deprivation

occurred. The report concluded that this novel

approach to tumor therapy shows high potential to

provide a gentle medical treatment.

Research Methodologies and Mechanism of Action

According to a review65 by Professor A R Khuda-

Bukhsh, his group of researchers has used mice as a

model for homœopathic research in relation to cyto-

toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenesis in their

laboratory for the last three decades. Initially, they

tested anti-radiation activities of several potentized

homœopathic drugs against suitable controls by taking

into consideration several cytogenetic endpoints.

Subsequently, they tested anti-cytotoxic, anti-

genotoxic and anti-oxidative stress effects of some

homœopathic drugs against several chemical toxic

metalloids and metal compounds. They then

deployed modern techniques including Western blot,

immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, UV-

spectroscopy, HPLC, FTIR, NMR, RT-PCR, etc. to

understand the possible mechanisms and pathways of

action of potentized homœopathic drugs. Khuda-

Bukhsh has proposed that one way by which

potentized homœopathic drugs act is through

regulatory action on gene expression.

Bonamin et al.66 of the Laboratory of Cellular and

Molecular Biology, University Paulista, Brazil,

conducted a systematic review of the animal models

used in studies of high dilutions to analyze the

methodological quality of papers and reported results,

and to highlight key conceptual aspects of high

dilution to suggest clues concerning putative

mechanisms of action.

The researchers identified papers for inclusion

systematically from the Pubmed-Medline database,

using “homœopathy” and “animal” as keywords.

They included only original full papers in English

published between January 1999 and June 2009,

reviews, scientific reports, theses, older papers, papers

extracted from Medline using similar keywords, and

they also considered, for discussion only, papers

about mixed commercial formulas and books. They

identified 31 papers describing 33 experiments for the

main analysis from a total of 89 items cited.

Systematic analysis of the selected papers yielded

evidence of some important intrinsic features of high

dilution studies performed in animal models: a)

methodological quality was generally adequate, some

aspects could be improved; b) convergence between

results and Materia Medica is seen in some studies,

pointing to the possibility of a systematic study of the

Similia principle, c) both isopathic and Similia models

seem useful to understand some complex biological

phenomena, such as parasite-host interactions, d) the

effects of high dilutions seem to stimulate restoration

of a “stable state,” as seen in several experimental

models from both descriptive and mathematical points

of view.

Homœopathic Treatment For Adverse Effects

From Conventional Cancer Therapy

Kassab et al.67 of the Royal London

Homœopathic Hospital examined the effectiveness

and safety of homœopathic drugs to prevent or treat

adverse effects of cancer treatments. They report that

homœopathic medicines are used by patients with

cancer, often alongside conventional treatment.

Conventional cancer treatments can cause

223

considerable morbidity, and one of the reasons

patients use homœopathic medicines is to help

counter the adverse effects.

The study’s selection criteria were randomized

controlled trials (RCTs) of homœopathic drugs in

participants with a clinical or histological diagnosis of

cancer where the intervention was aimed at

preventing or treating symptoms associated with

cancer treatments. All age groups, and all stages of

disease were included. Two review authors

independently assessed studies for inclusion and two

review authors extracted data. Three review authors

independently assessed trial quality using Delphi List

and the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing

risk of bias. Disagreements were resolved by

consensus. Where available, data were extracted for

analysis.

Eight controlled trials (seven placebo-controlled

and one trial against an active treatment) with a total

of 664 participants met the inclusion criteria. Three

studied adverse effects of radiotherapy, three studied

adverse effects of chemo-therapy and two studied

menopausal symptoms associated with breast cancer

treatment. Two studies with low risk of bias

demonstrated benefit: one with 254 participants

demonstrated superiority of topical calendula over

trolamine (a topical agent not containing

corticosteroids) for prevention of radiotherapy-

induced dermatitis, and another with 32 participants

demonstrated superiority of Traumeel S (a proprietary

complex homœopathic medicine) over placebo as a

mouthwash for chemotherapy-induced stomatitis.

Two other studies reported positive results, although

the risk of bias was unclear, and four further studies

reported negative results. No serious adverse effects

or interactions were reported attributable to the

homœopathic medicines used.

The authors concluded that their review had

found preliminary data in support of the efficacy of

topical Calendula officinalis tincture for prophylaxis

of acute dermatitis during radiotherapy and Traumeel

S mouthwash in the treatment of chemotherapy-

induced stomatitis, however they stated that the trials

needed replicating. In addition, they deduced from

the data that there is no convincing evidence for the

efficacy of homœopathic drugs for other adverse

effects of cancer treatments and that further research

is required.

Amala scientists, Sunila et al.68 examined the

effects of Thuja occidentalis against damage induced

by gamma radiation. Ionizing radiation is toxic to

organisms since it induces deleterious structural

changes in essential macromolecules. Agents that

protect normal tissues against radiation damage can

increase patients tolerance to radiotherapy. Several

synthetic compounds have been found to provide

good radiation protection in experimental animals, but

their clinical utility is limited by their expensive cost

and their toxicity on repeated administration. Drugs

such as amifostine produce side effects such as

nausea, vomiting, and hypotension. Therefore, there

is a need to find nontoxic and less expensive drugs for

clinical radioprotection.

The trial showed a protective effect from an

alcoholic extract of Thuja occidentalis in animals

exposed to radiation. Whole-body exposure of Swiss

albino mice to γ-rays (6 Gy) reduced the total white

blood cell count to 1900 cells/mm3 on the third day,

which was elevated to 2050 cells/mm3 by the

administration of alcoholic extract of Thuja

occidentalis (5mg/dose/animal, intraperitoneally). Six

animals from each group were killed after 2, 7, and 11

days of irradiation to detect the bone marrow

cellularity and radiation-induced toxicity. The

number of bone marrow cells and α-esterase positive

cells in control animals after 11 days was reduced to

12.2 x 106 cells/femur and α-esterase positive cells

were 940/4000 cells, a nearly normal level. Thuja

occidentalis reduced the elevated levels of GPT and

alkaline phosphatase in liver and serum after

irradiation. Lipid peroxidation levels were also

lowered in the irradiated animals treated with Thuja

occidentalis.

Hot flushes are common in women with a history

of breast cancer. Hormonal therapies are known to

reduce these symptoms but are not recommended in

women with a history of breast cancer due to their

potential adverse effects. The efficacy of non-

hormonal therapies is still considered uncertain.

To assess the efficacy of non-hormonal therapies

in reducing hot flushes in women with a history of

breast cancer, Rada et al.69 searched the Cochrane

Breast Cancer due to their potential adverse effects.

The efficacy of non-hormonal therapies is still

considered uncertain.

To assess the efficacy of non-hormonal therapies

in inducing hot flushes in women with a history of

breast cancer, Rada et al.69 searched the Cochrane

Breast Cancer Group Specialised Register,

CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE,

EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL, PsycINFO (August

2008) and WHO ICTRP Search Portal. They hand

searched reference lists of reviews and included

articles, reviewed conference proceedings and

contacted experts. They included randomized

controlled trials (RCTs) comparing non-hormonal

therapies with placebo or no therapy for reducing hot

flushes in women with a history of breast cancer.

Two authors independently selected potentially

relevant studies, decided upon their inclusion and

extracted data on participant characteristics,

interventions, outcomes and the risk of bias of

included studies.

Sixteen RCTs met inclusion criteria. The

researchers included six studies on selective serotonin

(SSRI) and serotonin-norepinephrine (SNRI) reuptake

inhibitors, two on clonidine, one on gabapentin, two

each on relaxation therapy and Homœopathy, and one

each on vitamin E, magnetic devices and acupuncture.

The risk of bias of most studies was rated as low or

224

moderate. Data on continuous outcomes were

presented inconsistently among studies, which

precluded the possibility of pooling the results. Three

pharmacological treatments (SSRIUs and SNRIs,

clonidine and gabapentin) reduced the number and

severity of hot flushes. One study assessing vitamin E

did not show any beneficial effect. One of two

studies on relaxation therapy showed a significant

benefit. None of the other non-pharmacological

therapies showed a significant benefit. Side-effects

were inconsistently reported. Clonidine, SSRs and

SNRIs, gabapentin and relaxation therapy showed a

mild to moderate effect on reducing hot flushes in

women with a history of breast cancer.

Orellana Alvarekkis et al.70 of the Center of

Obstetrics and Gynecology, at Ginesia, Providencia,

in Santiago de Chile, Chile, published a series of case

reports to conduct a clinical evaluation of a complex

homœopathic injection therapy in the management of

pain in patients after breast cancer treatment.

According to the authors, in breast cancer patients,

post-treatment pain often appears after several months

and strongly impairs health-related quality of life.

Conventional methods of pain reduction (including

procaine injections) are often ineffective. Injection

therapy with Traumeel (Heel GmbH, Baden-Baden,

Germany), a combination drug with analgesic

properties used in homotoxicology---a method

deriving from Homœopathy---for treatment of pain

and inflammation associated with trauma, was

proposed for pain relief after breast cancer treatment.

Nine patients still suffering from a high level of

pain after breast cancer therapy despite use of

postoperative treatment with conventional analgesics

were invited to participate. A Traumeel and procaine

injection was administered once a week for three to

ten sessions. The level of pain was assessed by a pain

score and physical and psychological status by a

questionnaire before and directly after injection and

again at follow-up visits after three and six months.

After the last injection, all patients experienced a

marked reduction of their level of pain on average

from 7.6 ± 1.4 points on a scale from 1 to 10 points.

After a follow-up observational phase of three and 6

months, pain score ratings increased slightly again in

some patients but remained consistently low in others.

In any case, the ratings of pain levels did not reach the

values assessed before the start of Traumeel

injections. Similarly, health-related quality of life

improved with this injection therapy. The perception

of pain relief with Traumeel injection was high in

eight of nine patients, reflecting on overall perceived

positive outcome and tolerability of this treatment.

The authors concluded that the case series represents a

first encouraging approach to using this complex

homœopathic injection for pain relief in breast cancer

patients.

Rostock M, et al.71 at the Tumor Biology Center

at Albert Ludwig’s University Freiburg, Germany,

conducted a prospective observational study with

cancer patients to find out whether homœopathic care

was of benefit for cancer patients as a complementary

treatment. They studied two differently treated

cohorts: one cohort with patients under

complementary homœopathic treatment (HG; n =

259), and one cohort with conventionally treated

cancer patients (CG; n = 380). For a direct

comparison, matched pairs of patients with the same

tumor entity and comparable prognosis were to be

formed. The main outcome parameter was: change

of quality of life (FACT-G, FACIT-Sp) after 3

months. Secondary outcome parameters were----

change of quality of life (FACT-G, FACIT-Sp) after a

year, as well as impairment by fatigue (MFI) and by

anxiety and depression (HADS). The investigators

observed an improvement of quality of life as well as

a tendency of fatigue symptoms to decrease in cancer

patients under complementary homœopathic

treatment. They concluded it would take considerably

larger samples to find matched pairs suitable for

comparison in order to establish a definite causal

relationship between these effects and homœopathic

treatment.

Following surgery for carcinoma of the breast,

patients receive local radiotherapy. This can cause

itching, which may be severe, in the area irradiated.

The affected skin usually is dry, rough and red.

Schlappack et al.72 at the Department of

Radiotherapy and Radiobiology, at the University of

Vienna, Austria, studied homœopathic treatment of

radiation-induced itching in breast cancer patients.

Twenty-five patients were treated homœopathically

for radiation-induced itching. Fourteen patients

developed itching during their course of post-

operative radiation at 27 days median (range: 14-40

days). Eleven patients experienced itching in the

radiation field after completion of treatment (median

21 days) after the end of their radiation treatment.

The patients received a single dose of an individually

selected homœopathic medicine in 30c potency in the

clinic, on the basis of repertorization. Patients were

asked to record a visual analogue scale (VAS) before

prescription of the homœopathic medicine and at

follow-up. Patients were evaluated at median 3 days

(range: 1-27 days) after administration of the

homœopathic drug.

In total, 14 of 25 patients (56%) responded to the

first medicine. Nine patients had a second medicine:

seven responded. Altogether 21 of 25 (84%) patients

were successfully treated. The following remedies

were employed successfully: Fluoricum acidum 9/13,

Rhus toxicodendron 3/5, Causticum 2/3, Ignatia

amara 2/2, Psorinum 2/2, Gamma-ray 2/2 and Kali

bichromicum 1/1. The VAS measurements before and

after homœopathic treatment showed a reduction of

the median value of 64mm (range: 20-100mm) to

34mm (median; range:0-84mm). According to the

authors, homœopathic treatment of radiation-induced

itching appears quite successful. The most frequently

indicated and most frequently effective medicine was

225

Fluoricum acidum. They call for a new approach

that allows greater understanding of the patient as a

whole in the short time available in a busy clinic.

Conclusion

Laboratory studies in vitro and in vivo show that

homœopathic drug, in addition to having the capacity

to reduce the size of tumors and to induce apoptosis,

can induce protective and restorative effects.

Additionally homœopathic treatment has shown

effects when used as a complementary therapy for the

effects of conventional cancer treatment. This

confirms observations from our own clinical

experience as well as that of others that when suitable

remedies are selected according to individual

indications as well as according to pathology and to

cell-line indications and administered in the

appropriate doses according to the standard principles

of homœopathic posology, homœopathic treatment of

cancer can be a highly effective therapy for all kinds

of cancers and leukemia as well as for the harmful

side effects of conventional treatment. More research

is needed to corroborate these clinical observations.

Homœopathy over almost two decades of its

existence has developed more than four hundred

remedies for cancer treatment. Only a small fraction

have been subjected to scientific study so far. More

homœopathic remedies need to be studied to establish

if they have any significant action in cancer.

Undoubtedly the next big step in homœopathic cancer

research must be multiple comprehensive double-

blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical

trials. To assess the effect of homœopathic treatment

in clinical settings, volunteer adult patients who prefer

to try homœopathic treatment instead of conventional

therapy could be recruited, especially in cases for

which no conventional therapy has been shown to be

effective.

Many of the researchers conducting studies---

cited here but not discussed---on the growing interest

in homœopathic cancer treatment have observed that

patients are driving the demand for access to

homœopathic and other alternative modes of cancer

treatment. So long as existing cancer treatment is

fraught with danger and low efficacy, it is urgent that

the research on and the provision of quality

homœopathic cancer treatment be made available for

those who wish to try it.

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

16. Moral Panic: The British case and Its

implications for Homœopathy

FRIEDENFELS, Roxanne (AH. 18/2012)

Though the British government reaffirmed the

public’s right to be treated homœopathically by the

National Health System (NHS) in 2010, the attack on

Homœopathy in Great Britain should continue to

concern homœopaths the world over. I will discuss

this attack as being what sociologists call “a moral

panic.” “Moral panics are a condition, episode,

person or group of persons (who) become defined as a

threat to societal values and interests” (Cohen p.9).

there is a sense that, “something should be done”

about the evildoers and their behavior (Goode and

Ben-Yehuda p.31). While Homœopathy might not

appear to be a likely target for a moral panic, this

paper will show that homœopaths have been cast as

unethical agents, or “folk devils,” causing harm to

British society. These accusations are not, however,

specific to Britain and in the age of the internet, they

are being broadcast the world over. Thus, they must

concern all those who support Homœopathy and

indeed all who support the public’s right to choose the

health care they want. As Critcher notes, “In an

increasingly globalized world, moral panics in

different countries cannot remain independent of each

other. Some panics may even be exported from one

country to another” (p.14). Beneath the assertions

about the immorality of Homœopathy, however,

appear to be interests threatened by troubles within

orthodox medicine itself and by problems in the

British National Health Service (NHS).

Homœopathy in Great Britain before the panic

Homœopathy prior to the attack had been an

accepted part of the NHS. A 1986 survey in the

British Medical Journal showed that 42% of doctors

referred patients for homœopathic treatment (Dana

Ullman, “Homeopathy: A Condensed History of

229

Homeopathy” Discovering Homeopathy: Medicine for

the 21st Century). A 1990 survey of British

pharmacists found that 55% of them considered

homœopathic medicines “useful.” In 1992, the

British Pharmaceutical Association concluded by a

large majority that pharmacists should promote

homœopathic remedies. In 1993, the British Medical

Association (BMA) published a book entitled

Complementary Medicine, New Approaches to Good

Practice. At the beginning of the new millennium,

the House of Lords reported that 17% of the public

used Homœopathy (Dana Ullman, “Homœopathic

Medicine: Europe’s #1 Alternative” Huffington Post).

Thus, Homœopathy had the support of pharmacists

and many medical doctors in the BMA and it was

used by a substantial minority of the public. Yet this

apparent acceptance was soon to come under attack,

as the vulnerabilities of the orthodox medical system

became more obvious.

Biomedicine in the new millennium

The immediate period before the panic was a time

of significant negative publicity for the

pharmaceutical industry and, by extension, for the

orthodox medical community generally. Crossley

notes that when an elite (in this case, the biomedical

community, due to the biomedical dominance of

medicine) is attacked it becomes, or at least is

perceived to be more vulnerable. “Political

opportunity increases” (p.35) for its opponents. Some

members of the biomedical community perceived that

they must act, and deflect attention from their

vulnerabilities. What if the NHS cut some of their

services?

The special position of the pharmaceutical

companies in the UK is of note. The pharmaceutical

industry is the third most profitable industry there

(after tourism and finance). According to the 2004-

2005 House of Commons Health Committee report on

the pharmaceutical industry, general practitioners

alone wrote about 650 million prescriptions in 2003,

which is 13.1 prescriptions per person (p.7). Though

the industry is described in the report as “world class

and a jewel in the crown of the UK economy,” (p.3)

the report also makes clear it is a troubled industry in

some ways. Sir Richard Sykes is quoted in both the

introduction and the conclusion:

“Today the industry has got a very bad name.

that is very unfortunate for an industry that we should

….be supporting. I think there have to be some very

big changes” (pp.6 & 101).

The 2004-2005 House of Commons report

reveals the national government’s concern about the

“unsafe use of drugs” and the “medicalisation of

society” (p.4). It considers the pharmaceutical

industry to be the main, though not the only, cause of

these problems. Shepherd’s article “The Death of the

Magic Pill” came out soon after the report, and thus

helped make iatrogenic deaths a major issue for the

public.

The House of Commons report also notes that,

“too many articles (in medical journals) do not present

an objective assessment of the merits of a medicine”

owning to pharmaceutical industry influence (p.53).

the quote refers to orthodox drugs, but the comment is

telling nonetheless in its implications for the 2005

Lancet articles on Homœopathy and the resulting

moral panic. In the chain of biomedical

interdependency, medical journals like The Lancet

depend on advertising from the pharmaceutical

companies for a substantial amount of their income

(Smith). Astrid notes that the pharmaceutical industry

“contributes to journals’ profits through reprint

orders, sponsored subscriptions or supplements, and

display advertising” (p.1346). Both biomedical drug

companies and journals would stand to lose

significant revenues were the use of some forms of

CAM (complementary and alternative medicine)

treatment, including Homœopathy, to significantly

increase.

The House of commons report also states that,

“the Government, like the MHRA (Medicines and

Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency), has tended

to assume that all is for the best. It states that there is

no better alternative system” (p.5). The authors of the

report agreed that the basic pharmaceutical system

should be left in place, though they nonetheless had

numerous suggestions for reform.

Thus, by 2005 concerns about safety problems to

biomedical drugs had damaged the reputation of

pharmaceutical companies. The Lancet and other

medical journals were increasingly dependent on

these companies for their advertising revenue, and the

government and public were becoming aware of this

lack of independence and its possible negative effects

on medical journal articles. The NHS faced a fiscal

crisis, and some of the biomedical majority in the

NHS sought to withdraw NHS funds for

Homœopathy. At the same time, integrated medicine,

including Homœopathy, was gaining in popularity.

The threats to conventional care and the biomedical

perspective were rising. Enormous material interests

were threatened, but for believers in the biomedical

model, moral interests were at stake as well.

Why Homœopathy? The homœopathic threat to

biomedicine in the 21st century.

So why Homœopathy? It is appropriate to look at

two levels. The first concerns Homœopathy as a

general threat to biomedicine. The second concerns

the reasons why the UK was the place of attack.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries,

Homœopathy appeared to be up and coming in

Europe and Great Britain indicated that 80% of recent

medical school graduates wanted training in

Homœopathy, acupuncture, or hypnosis. A survey in

1990 found that 40% of the French public had used

homœopathic remedies; 39% of French doctors had

prescribed them. Furthermore, “the sales of

homœopathic and anthroposophical medicines grew

230

by 60% between 1995 and 2005, from 590 million

euros in 1995 to 775 million euros in 2001 and to 930

million euros in 2005.” Dana Ullman suggests that

the growing popularity of Homœopathy accounts for

the current attacks against it (“Homœopathic

Medicine: Europe’s #1 Alternative”).

Not only was the popularity of Homœopathy

strong in Europe, the unpublished 2005 World Health

Organization report on Homœopathy found it to be

the second most popular medical modality in the

World (“WHO Report on Homœopathy was

Suppressed”). Since it is based on a different theory

than biomedicine, and has “unpatented and

unpatentable” (and hence less profitable) medicines,

Homœopathy was an obvious target. It was, and is,

“sufficiently significant to attack” (Crossley, p.160).

The Lancet chose to do exactly that, and published a

critique of the draft WHO report, saying it was too

positive toward Homœopathy (“Critics Slam WHO

Report on Homœopathy”).

Orthodox pharmaceutical companies have an

enormous interest in orthodox medicine maintaining

its hegemony in the healthcare world. They are

hugely profitable and employ millions of people.

Biomedical drugs, even generics, are considerably

more expensive than homœopathic remedies. They

would appear to face a particular threat from

Homœopathy. Increasing use of Homœopathy would

be to the detriment of these companies. Similarly,

orthodox practitioners are heavily invested in the

continuation of treatment through biomedical drugs

and surgery. They have been trained in those methods

of treatment, and significant growth in homœopathic

treatment threatens (at least in the longer run) their

livelihoods.

In the UK, the attack against Homœopathy

occurred at a time when the NHS had diminishing

resources for the care of the British population. A

series of White Papers making recommendations for

NHS improvements were published in the years prior

to the moral panic, suggesting that treatment choice

be increased. Since more and more people were

choosing to be treated by CAM, the orthodox medical

community faced growing pressures. The shortage of

funds, competition from treatments with high patient

satisfaction (Luff & Thomas), and anxieties about the

future of orthodox medicine led to the attack on

Homœopathy. The homœopathic community did not

have sufficient organization and unity to wage an

adequate counter attack. David Tredinnick, a member

of the House of Commons, said that when primary

care trusts faced a fiscal crisis, Homœopathy appeared

to be a “soft target.” CAM services, he said, “are the

easiest therapy to cut” (“Homœopathic Hospitals”).

The fiscal challenges of the NHS led the biomedical

community to reaffirm its support of biomedicine, and

increasingly to disavow various types of CAM

treatment.

Furthermore, there appears to be concern that

research has found, that the homœopathic medications

do have an effect that is more than a placebo effect. It

could be argued that this concern is exactly what

motivated the 2005 Lancet “meta-analysis” article

covering eight unidentified Homœopathy studies

(they were later revealed). Since there were at least

six “comprehensive reviews” from 1991 to 2005

which showed that “Homœopathy has a positive and

specific effect greater than placebo” (Van

Wassenhoven, p.29) and these meta-analyses

concluded there was enough evidence of efficacy to

suggest there should be “further study” of

Homœopathy, the article by Shang et al might have

been intended to cut off further debate. Certainly the

title of the accompanying editorial, “The End of

Homœopathy,” would suggest that to be the case.

As homœopaths know, a variety of scientific

studies have explored the possible reasons for why

homœopathic medications might be more efficacious

than placebo. For example, in 1988 Jacques

Benveniste proposed in Nature, “the most influential

of all scientific journals” (Schiff, p.1) that water can

retain a “memory” of solute particles even after

dilution to the point where no molecules of the

original substance remain in the water. Schiff writes

that responses to the article were “very violent” (p.2).

homœopathic remedies are prepared using minute

amounts of various substances succussed in water,

and the “memory of water” might be a partial

explanation of why homœopathic remedies could be

efficacious. Despite more positive than negative

trials, Nature editors declared that the research was

invalid (Schiff).

The highly negative response to the research of

Benveniste, who prior to his “memory of water”

research, had been “one of the few French biologists

to be considered as a possible candidate for the Nobel

Prize” (Schiff, p.97), may have been politically

motivated. Scientists are an intellectual, creative

community, but they are also an interest group. Ideas

and studies which seriously challenge the scientific

status quo are often not welcome. Research that does

not fit the accepted scientific paradigm may take some

time to be incorporated into the paradigm or may be

suppressed entirely (Martin). If it is recognized that

Homœopathy does have an effect beyond placebo,

then homœopaths, government healthcare officials

and managed care corporate executives could use this

knowledge to justify continued or increased

homœopathic inclusion into national healthcare

systems or reimbursement through insurance plans in

the U.S. As noted above, the increased competition

would likely not be welcomed by members of the

orthodox medical community.

But the concern goes beyond competition. Schiff

says that:

“The memory of water has acted on scientists

like a red flag… imagine that Benveniste and a

few others should happen to be right about the

memory of water. The revolution would not

simply be scientific, it could also become

231

cultural. Should Benveniste eventually be proved

right, then homœopathic doctors and their clients

who used such ‘folk remedies’ would be

vindicated and the scientific authorities who have

frequently discounted them would look a little

foolish. The idea of so disastrous a situation is

enough to make scientists shudder as well as

those who believe in them” (p.116).

Thus, Homœopathy is not only a threat to the

livelihoods of the biomedical community, it is also a

threat to their social standing and belief systems.

Moral accusations from the biomedical community

The following statement from the 2005 Lancet

editorial is telling: “It is the attitudes of patients and

providers that engender alternative-therapy seeking

behaviours which create a greater threat to

conventional care----and patients’ welfare---than do

spurious arguments of putative benefits from absurd

dilutions” (“The End of Homœopathy” p.690,

emphasis mine). The statement first asserts that

orthodox medicine itself is at risk. It then suggests

that biomedicine is in patients’ best interests;

Homœopathy will harm the health and wellbeing of

patients because it is ineffective. Furthermore, the

risks emanate from the patients and providers who

unwisely choose homœopathic and/or other types of

alternative care. Thus, the concern is not only for

patients’ well-being, but for biomedicine as the

system of medicine best able to ensure patient health.

A later (2007) Lancet article by Ben Goldacre, a

medical doctor who is also a Guardian columnist,

gives a more thorough explanation of the alleged

immorality of Homœopathy. In his view, the

continuance of Homœopathy creates a number of

moral and social dilemmas. He suggests that

homœopathic medicines are “inert,” and

pharmaceutically harmless. They are nonetheless

“unethical” from his perspective because he thinks

they damage the doctor-patient relationship, which

ideally includes an informed patient. Goldacre asserts

that seriously ill homœopathic patients may not seek,

or may discontinue, orthodox medical treatment and

die unnecessarily. He also suggests that homœopathic

practitioners undermine public health campaigns,

including orthodox preventative efforts such as

vaccination. Homœopaths also, according to the

article, weaken “the public understanding of what it

means to have an evidence base for a treatment” and

may foster misunderstandings of science among an

already poorly informed public. Finally, Goldacre

suggests that homœopaths have been unwilling to

engage in debate with orthodox physicians or to

supply them with information about the homœopathic

curriculum taught in universities and (with other types

of alternative health practitioners) “lack a culture of

critical self-appraisal.” In sum, the article asserts that

homœopathic treatment may harm its clients and the

general populace. It makes a moral case that

Homœopathy is a social problem, and suggests that

the time has come for physicians to be clear with their

patients that Homœopathy is not a beneficial

treatment.

Similarly, Professor Michael Baum, an oncologist

active in the anti-homœopathy campaign, commented

in The Lancet that prescribing placebos (of which

Homœopathy is an example, in his view) is “unethical

and patronizing” (Samarasekera, p.1678).

Even the scientific testing of Homœopathy has

been labeled unethical. David Gorski wrote that

“scientifically implausible” medicine should be

“relegated to the back of the line for testing, if it’s

tested at all …. It’s matter of resource prioritization.”

He further suggested that testing should be done only

on adults because of the “potential risks.” This

echoes the general trend in orthodox medicine, where

testing is done on adults (children subsequently

receive the medications which have been tested on

adults). Gorski also questions a homœopathic study

in which children in Third World countries were the

subjects.

In may 2007, Professor Baum declared that

“Homœopathy is worse than witchcraft” (Maxwell),

and called for an end to the funding of Homœopathy

by the NHS.

Some members of the biomedical community

were further upset by a homœopathic HIV/AIDS

symposium occurring in December 2007. Professor

Baum indicated concern about the symposium,

commenting that, “People say Homœopathy cannot

do any harm but when it is being promoted for HIV

then there is a serious problem” (Samarasekera,

p.1677).

A 2009 article in the Journal of Medical Ethics

echoes many of the above criticisms, and adds others,

arguing that “Homœopathy is where the harm is”

because:

1. Patients opt for homœopathic treatment rather

than needed mainstream medical treatment and

then suffer or die unnecessarily.

2. The NHS has limited resources and should not

spend on an “unproven” treatment since “every

penny counts.”

3. Homœopathy involves deceiving the patient

because it is only “placebo”.

4. Homœopathy will weaken patient confidence in

the NHS and “in science and medicine more

generally.”

5. Funding Homœopathy “distracts attention from

the fact that there are other complementary

therapies that are efficacious.”

The article concludes that NHS funding for

homœopathic practice should be withdrawn and the

public should be educated about “the lack of an

evidence base for Homœopathy” (Shaw, p.130-131).

The attacks on Homœopathy have continued:

Edzard Ernst, the first university chair of

complementary medicine in Britain and oft-cited anti-

232

homœopathy campaigner, wrote a Guardian article

appearing November 8, 2011, entitled “Alternative

Medicine Remains an Ethics-Free Zone” in which

Homœopathy figures prominently as a “disproven”

and “un-ethical” treatment “not supported by the

evidence.”

The above accusations that homœopaths are

unethical and even engaged in witchcraft suggest an

effort by the biomedical community and sympathetic

journalists to paint homœopaths as “folk devils” at

fault for a moral lapse in society. Moral entrepreneurs

from the biomedical community, such as Edzard Ernst

and the media, seek to build a fence between the

orthodox treatments they deem efficacious and

“unproven” and “unethical” CAM treatments, of

which Homœopathy has become the prime example.

Such extreme invective, disproportionate to any actual

threat posed by Homœopathy, which is generally

considered to be very safe, suggests that “emotion

rules over reason” and the moral entrepreneurs are

responding to a sense of threat in an irrational way.

Moral panics, this one included, are “anti-intellectual”

and “characterized by … religious fervor” (McRobbie

and Thornton, p.270). Given the number of studies

that find Homœopathy to be effective in treating a

variety of conditions, a rational and scientific

response would be to call for further study while

allowing continued payment for Homœopathy in the

NHS. In contrast, the response of many in the

biomedical community is “in excess of what can be

justified by any objective measure of the threat”

(Critcher, p.26).

Thus, the immediate period before the 2005

Lancet article was something of a public relations

disaster for the orthodox medical community.

Specifically, the House of Commons report on the

pharmaceutical industry and the Shepherd article on

iatrogenic illness and death that followed shortly after,

were not good for the image of the industry or for

biomedicine generally. The imminent (and then

suppressed) release of the 2005 World Health

Organization (WHO) report on Homœopathy likely

added to the sense of peril felt by the orthodox

medical community, even though the report indicated

that orthodox medical care had retained its

dominance.

Homœopathy appears to have become threatening

enough to biomedicine for concerned members of the

orthodox medical community to respond “suddenly”

and vociferously, after a period of fairly quiet

coexistence with Homœopathy in the United

Kingdom. Coburn and Willis said that: “medicine is

now attempting to protect its own privileged position

from external attack” (p.384). The NHS was in fiscal

crisis, a situation that continues, and the biomedical

community was fighting to maximize its access to

NHS resources. Fomenting a moral panic was a way

to protect the privileges of the biomedical community.

Comments from the biomedical community about

homœopathy’s safety may be an effort, in part, to

deflect concern about the safety of orthodox drugs

(Shepherd) and technology. It is likely also an

attempt to deal with deep anxieties about the future of

biomedicine and the NHS.

The moral panic: 2005-

On August 27, 2005, leading British medical

journal The Lancet published a flawed research article

by Shang, et al, which concluded that homœopathic

medications are ineffective in treating illness. In the

same issue, it published an accompanying editorial

entitled “The End of Homœopathy,” urging

physicians to “be bold and honest with their patients

about Homœopathy’s lack of benefit, and with

themselves about the failings of modern medicine to

address patients’ needs for personalized care” (p.690).

In a third piece in that issue, The Lancet responded

negatively to the 2005 WHO draft report on

Homœopathy, which reported that Homœopathy’s

usefulness. (A subsequent, technical WHO report,

“Safety Issues in the Preparation Homœopathic

Remedies” came out in 2010). The publication of the

Lancet articles at the end of summer, a slow time for

news, resulted in accusations that its editors wanted to

ensure thorough media coverage of the articles and

have a maximum negative effect on Homœopathy. It

must be noted that The Lancet, by its own admission,

owes much to the orthodox pharmaceutical industry.

A 2002 Lancet article recognizes that there is, “a

symbiotic relation between medical journals and the

pharmaceutical industry,” and further says, “both

industries profit from each other, but it is a relation

that generates unease and is open to abuse” (p.1346).

That comment may indeed have been prescient, given

their publication of the flawed Shang et al, research in

2005.

The research article was thoroughly criticized by

many homœopaths (see Aickin; Bell; Fisher,

“Homœopathy and The Lancet”; Fisher, “Scientific

Research on Homœopathic Medicine”; and the letters

in “The Homœopathy Debate”). Some critics noted

that it did not meet the QUOROM (Quality of

Reporting of Meta-Analyses of Randomised

Controlled Trials) criteria for a meta-analysis (Fisher,

“Homœopathy and The Lancet”; Fisher, “Scientific

Research on Homœopathic Medicine”). The Lancet

itself published the QUOROM guidelines in 1999, but

the 2005 “meta-analysis” examined only eight studies,

none of which were identified (they were later

revealed). Critics also attacked the editorial and the

article on the draft WHO report (Fisher,

“Homœopathy and The Lancet”). The global media,

however, reported widely on the Lancet articles

(Jaroff; Fisher, “Homœopathy and The Lancet”), but

said very little about the rebuttals.

Ongoing NHS fiscal difficulties and outright

NHS financial crisis by 2005 constitute part of the

reason for the moral panic of anti-homœopathy forces.

From 2005-2008 primary care trusts struggled to pay

for increases in staff and compensation for all groups.

233

“Some hospital and primary care trusts delayed

treatment as far as they could … Others closed wards

and delayed payments even to partner organizations in

health or social care” (Rivett pp.51-52). In this fiscal

environment, the relatively small amounts of money

spent on Homœopathy in the NHS became an issue.

Homœopaths such as Dr. Bob Lockridge, former

president of the Faculty of Homœopathy, asserted that

a “devious” anti-homœopathy campaign was

occurring, with activists “going to public meetings,

infiltrating them not with local people, and attempting

to persuade primary care trusts to not purchase

Homœopathy.” He also suggested that The Lancet

and other publications were participating in the

campaign (Jolly). In 2007 a group of “eminent

doctors” signed a letter asking the NHS to stop

providing funds for Homœopathy. A 2009 article

published by the Journal of Medical Ethics argued

that even if Homœopathy is inexpensive, it is

“unproven” and “the NHS has only finite resources …

every penny counts.” (Shaw p.130, emphasis mine)

By January 2008, more than one quarter of the

NHS primary care trusts had either cut funding for

homœopathic treatment or discontinued funding it

altogether. The Tunbridge Wells Homœopathic

Hospital was closed in 2009, as referrals dropped.

The Royal London Homœopathic Hospital also

reported a substantial drop in homœopathic referrals

and was renamed the Royal London Hospital for

Integrated Medicine in September 2010, indicating

less emphasis on Homœopathy. Counting the latter,

there are now only three homœopathic hospitals in

Great Britain (British Homœopathic Association),

whereas once there were 14 (Mclean).

A 2009 report from the Commons Science and

Technology Committee concluded that no evidence

showed that Homœopathy is better than placebo. The

report was signed by a small handful of MPS and

recommended that the government no longer fund

NHS Homœopathy (Kapalan).

In 2010, a leading member of the British Medical

Association called Homœopathy “witchcraft” and

called for an end to all NHS funding for its practice

(“Homœopathy Remains on NHS”).

Despite these efforts against Homœopathy, on

July 26, 2010, the British government emphatically

indicated its support for continued funding for NHS

Homœopathy. A spokes person from the Department

of Health said, “We believe in patients being able to

make informed choices about their treatments, and in

a clinician being able to prescribe the treatment they

feel most appropriate in particular circumstances”

(“Homœopathy Remains on NHS”).

Nevertheless, actions against Homœopathy

continue. A protest was held in January 2010 in

Liverpool in which demonstrators took “overdoses” of

homœopathic remedies (“Sceptics Stage Homœopathy

‘Overdose’”). Moral panic is ongoing. There is no

calm commitment to further testing of the world’s

second most popular medicine. Rather, moral

entrepreneurs and much of the media continue to

assert that the public will be harmed by homœopathic

treatment and that it is witchcraft. Choice of

treatment, a key principle of the 2002 planned NHS

reforms (“Delivering the NHS Plan”), is limited and

the orthodox medical establishment protects the

status quo.

Discussion: Medicine and power

After a period of calm coexistence in the NHS,

biomedical supporters in Great Britain began an

intensive attack on Homœopathy in 2005. It has been

partially successful, as can be seen in the discussion

of the moral panic that ensued. The 2010

reaffirmation of the British government for funding

NHS Homœopathy was a positive development, but

the anti-homœopathic forces are continuing their

attacks. The reasons go beyond the differing

principles and philosophies of bio-medicine and

Homœopathy. Those differences have existed for

hundreds of years. The questions are, “Why now?”

and “Why Britain?” The concurrence of growing

homœopathic success, with Homœopathy being the

second most used medical modality worldwide

(“WHO Recognition for Homœopathy”), with the

exposure of flaws in biomedical treatment is one key

to understanding recent campaigns against

Homœopathy, of which the British case is only one

example. Furthermore, biomedicine in Britain by

2005 faced specific challenges and embarrassments,

not least being the fiscal struggles of the NHS, the

2004-2005 House of Commons report on the

pharmaceutical industry which expressed concern

about the unsafe use of drugs, and emerging evidence

of iatrogenic deaths from orthodox medication.

Biomedical supporters in Great Britain are attempting

to protect their interests and to restore “moral

boundaries,” arguing that Homœopathy is unethical,

in part because they believe it has no more effect than

placebo. They also charge that patients might seek

homœopathic treatment instead of “more efficacious”

medicine, and consequently put their health in

jeopardy. Some have gone so far as to call

homœopathy “withcraft” (Maxwell; “Homœopathy

Remains on NHS”). The moral panic and attack have

occurred despite substantial support for Homœopathy

from the pharmaceutical industry and medical doctors

in the period prior to 2005. No doubt some

biomedical supporters really did change their minds

about Homœopathy, helped along by the flawed

Shang et al. Lancet article (Aickin; Bell; Fisher,

“Homœopathy and The Lancet”; Fisher, “Scientific

Research on Homœopathic Medicine”; and the letters

in “The Homœopathy Debate”) and strong arguments

from anti-homœopathy leaders such as Edzard Ernst,

a “professor of complementary medicine,” who earlier

in his life had been a Homœopathy supporter.

The British moral panic around Homœopathy

may suggest that the old status quo cannot be

reinstated; perhaps the biomedical hegemony is

234 
© Quarterly Homœopathic Digest, Vol. XXX1, 3 & 4, 2014.  Private Circulation only.            
 
ending.  An attempt to restore “moral boundaries” can 
be  a  sign  that  “profound  change  is  taking  place” 
(Goode  and  Ben-Yehuda,  p.182),  in  this  case  a 
gradual  acceptance  of  Homœopathy.    On  the  other 
hand,  biomedical  supporters  have  successfully 
suppressed other healing modalities in the past, and in 
this case have harmed homœopathic practice in Great 
Britain, even if it is still part of the NHS.  The strategy 
of the anti-homœopathic  forces  appears to  be  “death 
by  a  thousand  cuts,”  and  their  campaign  against 
Homœopathy is continuing. 
  A moral panic can be stopped or minimized by a 
number of factors, including effective organization by 
the besieged group, and media and elite disagreement 
about the danger of the alleged threat (Critcher, p.11).  
a  strong  counter  campaign  by  homœopathic 
supporters would help ensure that Homœopathy is not 
“the  easiest  therapy  to  cut”  and  “a  soft  target” 
(“Homœopathic Hospitals”), as Homœopathy in Great 
Britain  has  been  in  this  period.    To  counter  the 
charges  of  unethical  practice  and  witchcraft, 
homœopaths  must  continually  get  their  views  before 
the  public  through  a  variety  of  meaqns,  including 
savvy  use  of  various  media.  They  must  lobby  the 
NHS  and  work  with  homœopathic  professional 
organizations  to  counter  false  accusations  and 
increase the availability of homœopathic treatment.  It 
is important to engage opposition forces to ensure that 
homœopathic perspectives are available to the public 
and media.  Just as accusations from those fomenting 
the  moral  panic  are  available  the  world  over  to 
everyone  with  Internet  access,  current  information 
and  counter  argument  from  the  international 
homœopathic community must be widely obtainable. 
 
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Astrid,  James.    “Medicines,  Society,  and  Industry.”  
The Lancet  360. 9343 (2002): 1346+. 
Bell, Iris.  “All Evidence is Equal, but Some Evidence 
is  More  Equal  than  Others:  Can  Logic  Prevail 
over  Emotion  in  the  Homœopathy  Debate?”  
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====================================== 
 
17.  A Project to Perfect our Materia Medica  
  GYPSER, Klaus-Henning  (AJHM. 105, 2/2012) 
 
Editor’s Note: For nearly a century the highest aim of 
homœopathic  study  was  proficiency  with  the  Kent 
Repertory.    It  was  felt  that  in  this  book,  one  of  the 
greatest geniuses of Homœopathy included everything 
necessary  and  placed  it  in  logical  order.    Once  we 
understood this book, our success would be unbroken.  
Thousands  of  homœopaths  learned  English  just  so 
they could use this work. 
  In the last thirty years it has become apparent that 
this Repertory does not solve all cases.  At first this 
cast  doubt  on  the  prescriber’s  expertise  with  the 
Repertory, but now we know that the Kent Repertory 
has limitations.  This has thrown Homœopathy into a 
period  of  reassessment,  re-discovery,  and  revision.  
The  German-speaking countries are  leading the  way 
in  a  thorough  study  of  original  sources,  up  to  and 
including  Hahnemkann’s  case-books,  to  determine 
whether certain symptoms have entered our literature 
‘through  the  back  door’  and  are  now  accepted,  and 
routinely passed along from edition to edition of our 
repertories,  when  we  have  no  known  proving  or 
convincing case to support them.  Problems also occur 
in flawed translations from German to English, and in 
rubrics  formed  by  uniting  and  compressing  related 
symptoms – so as to keep the Repertory to a practical, 
publishable length – with the result that the remedies 
in  a  given  rubric  correspond  to  a  spectrum  of 

236

meanings, not just one, when they are traced back to

their original sources. Moreover, the arrangement of

the Kent Repertory ranks the Location of a symptom

over its Modality and Feeling, which are placed

dependent to it (contrast Bӧnninghausen’s

Therapeutic Pocketbook). This is a brilliant

arrangement, but will not suit every case.

Can every symptom in our literature be verified?

Can we have a Materia Medica purified of error,

approximation, and individual interpretation and

judgment (I refer to Hahnemann’s decision in the

margins of a chronic case being treated by Natrum

muriaticum to include the patient’s 10 a.m.

aggravations as a symptom in his ‘Chronic Diseases,’

or his inclusion of another patient’s yellow saddle

across the nose as a symptom of Sepia?) as opposed to

the ongoing effort by a number of homœopathic teams

to strengthen the Repertory by adding new rubrics and

sub-rubrics, and placing more remedies in existing

rubrics to make them ‘more complete’ (usually with

cured symptoms reported in the post- 1900 literature

or ‘confirmed’ in contemporary practices) in an effort

to make sure that current rubrics are correct. It

undertakes a full-scale literature search to determine

the origin, basis, and validity of their entries. When

such a search has access to journals and languages

that the compilers of the Kent ‘Repertory’ had no

knowledge of, it can also discover many new

symptoms to add to a remedy’s profile, all having the

same solid inclusion criteria.

Of several such efforts occurring today, the one

led by Dr. Klaus-Henning Gypser is the most

advanced. It is described in this paper.

It was the great Constantin Hering (1800-1880)

who founded the AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF

HOMOEOPATHY in 1844. He did this for one major

reason, and that was the revision of the Materia

Medica. Why did that seem necessary to him in an

early stage of Homœopathy more than one and a half

centuries ago? Because even in those days with a

very limited number of proving and clinical

experiences no practitioner had access to all the data

being brought forth in Homœopathy. Clinical

symptoms available from case-histories and proving

were spread over a vast number of monographs and

periodicals. There was no central work for the

practitioner that contained everything.

Can you imagine the situation of today? Later

about that – we will proceed step by step in

chronological order.

What was available regarding primary source

material on Materia Medica in 1844? The term

“primary source material” refers to the very first

publication of proving as well as of clinical

symptoms. The latter are called secondary, and to

give an example for these we could mention the

Synoptic Key of Boger, the Lectures on Materia

Medica by Dunham, Farrington or Kent, the Key-

notes of Allen, Guernsey or Nash, the Comparative

Materia Medica of Gross or Roberts, and many

others. Of course all of them have their place in

Homœopathy: they are valuable for the student, for

acquiring a basic knowledge of Materia Medica, and

to the advanced prescriber for a synopsis of

characteristic symptoms of the various remedies.

In regard to the revised Materia Medica we

always refer to primary sources. Going back to the

time of Hering in 1844 – what primary sources were

available to him? Regarding monographs, we find

Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura first published

200 years ago, his Chronic Diseases, and the Materia

Medica Pura of Hartlaub (1895 – 1939) and Trinks

(1800 – 1868) in three volumes. Additionally,

periodicals containing provings and clinical cases

were in circulation. The earliest of these with their

initial publishing dates were:

 In Germany the “Archives of the Homœopathic

Healing Art” (1822),

 In Italy the “Effemeridi di Medicina Omiopatica”

(1829)

 In France the “Journal de la Médecine

Homoéopathique” (1833),

 In the United States the “Correspondenzblatt” in

German language and the “American Journal of

Homœopathy” (both in 1835)

By 1844 almost 50 different periodicals were

distributed in various countries. Some were continued

for only a few years but others for 20 years or more,

having 200 to more than 500 pages annually. As all

of them contained a large number of proving and

clinical observations, Hering was facing the following

problems:

1. No practitioner had access to all these works.

2. Even if a physician had most of them in his

library he would have had to consult many of

these works for even one patient, because many

remedies had more than one proving.

3. Nobody could gather and use clinical

confirmation or pure clinical symptoms, because

they were hidden in thousands of reported clinical

cases. And even if one attempted the immense

effort to find these clinical symptoms for even

one remedy in all the available periodicals, these

periodicals often lacked proper indexes. So this

undertaking was impossible.

Therefore HERING decided:

 To collect everything from primary sources as

mentioned before,

 To arrange the symptoms properly, and

 To publish everything in many volumes for the

use of the practitioner.

Hering failed to accomplish his aims just as T.F.

Allen (1837 – 1902) did when he founded the

MATERIA MEDICA ASSOCIATION together with one of

the Wesselhoeft’s in 1889 for the purpose of revising

the Materia Medica. Of course both Hering and Allen

published a collection of ten volumes each: The

Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica (1870 –

1891) and The Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia

237

Medica (1875 – 1879). Unfortunately both have their

disadvantages:

1. They were already incomplete even in the year of

publication regarding included proving;

2. Both have mistakes in regard to translation;

3. The Guiding Symptoms contains short-cuts of the

proving symptoms resulting in many mistakes;

4. The Encyclopaedia is lacking clinical

experiences.

So what is the present position of Homœopathy

concerning its Materia Medica? Is there a

fundamental difference for the practitioner of

Hering’s time versus today? No there is not, in spite

of many more publications and even in spite of many

different software systems. The number of

homœopathic periodicals worldwide increased from

about 50 in 1844 to more than 700 nowadays. They

include hundreds of thousands of clinical cases and

many proving as well. Furthermore a great number of

books containing proving and clinical cases have been

published. Who can make use of all that information

and have quick access to it in daily practice? No one.

Why not? Because no practitioner has at his

disposal a library covering all this. And even if he

did, how could he find the proper information

immediately to solve a case at hand? One could reply

pointing to the different software programs available.

Of course they can assist well when one has unlimited

time to study; an extensive search through the

included books and periodicals can be done to find the

original symptoms. But in daily practice? In the

office or clinic one must have the required symptoms

available at once. Therefore a properly arranged

extensive standard work of our Materia Medica is

required. It has to include all reliable proving and

clinical symptoms published worldwide from the

beginnings of Homœopathy until the present time.

This work was begun by the late Georg von

Keller (1919 – 2003) of Tübingen, Germany. He

collected a large homœopathic library and started to

extract all proving and clinical symptoms of a certain

remedy from monographs and periodicals. Of course

he used primary source material only, because all

secondary materials contain short-cuts, omissions,

alterations and mistakes. The first monograph he

published was on Kreosote in 1973. Thirteen more

monographs followed until 1987 – finishing with

Kalium carbonicum, a work of 523 pages.

As a student of Keller, beginning in 1978, I

learned all about his procedure of research and

compilation. I contributed with a two-year project to

list all the homœopathic journals worldwide from the

beginnings of Homœopathy until the present time.

This was published under the title Bibliotheca

Homœopathica in 1984. The idea was to establish an

overview of the periodicals that had to be checked for

proving and clinical cases. By doing so the planned

revsion of our Materia Medica would be

comprehensive and all-inclusive.

In the following years four main steps were

taken:

1. To build up a homœopathic library having direct

access to all necessary sources. To my own

collection were added the collections of Keller,

Ellithorp (1946-2004) and P.S. Krishnamurty. At

present it totals about 9,000 volumes.

2. To develop a proper scheme of arrangement of

the symptoms, a system for references and a lay-

out for print.

3. To index monographs and periodicals with the

names of remedies for the purpose of localizing

required proving and case-histories.

4. To verify the accuracy of this procedure to index

and arrange the collected symptoms. The drug

chosen for this was Dulcamara being of middle

size. By the way, this remedy was probably the

first homœopathically prescribed drug in India –

in 1839, for the cure of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of

Lahore by Johann Martin Honigberger (1795 –

1869).

The first public announcement of this Materia

Medica revision project was done 20 years ago at the

LIGA CONGRESS in Cologne, Germany, in my paper

entitled “The State of the Homœopathic Materia

Medica.” Making the international homœopathic

community aware of the problems of our tools and

how this affected daily practice was difficult. In those

days the belief in the infallibility of our instruments

was great. One even had the impression that virtually

no one considered the question whether there might

be mistakes in our repertories leading to wrong

prescriptions. But anybody who follows the advice of

Hahnemann properly should not rely exclusively upon

repertories for prescriptions but compare the

symptoms of the patient carefully with the primary

text of proving or clinical symptoms. To cite from

Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases (p.121):

“With great consciousness […] the

Homœopath […] should investigate first the

whole state of the patient […] and then he

should carefully find out in the work on

Chronic Diseases as well as in the work on

Materia Medica Pura a remedy covering in

similarity […] and for this purpose he

should not be satisfied with any of the

existing repertories – a carelessness only too

frequent; for these books are only intended

to give light hints as to one or another

remedy that might be selected but they can

never excuse him from doing primary

research. He who does not take the trouble

of treading this path in all [..] diseases,

[…]but contents himself with the vague

hints of the repertories in the choice of a

remedy […] does not deserve the

honourable title of a genuine Homœopath,

but is rather to be called a bungler.”

238

Here we have to remember Hahnemann’s aim of

therapy: he was in great despair concerning the state of

traditional medicine because with its instruments it

was impossible in any given case to predict the result.

The uncertainty of old school treatment affected

Hahnemann deeply and finally led him to the

discovery of Homœopathy. Regardless of all opinions

and theories in the end, one has to find the remedy

covering the patient’s symptoms as exactly as

possible. Therefore the practitioner has to rely upon

tools being as reliable as possible.

The project of the revision of the homœopathic

Materia Medica is being realized at the GLEES

ACADEMY OF HOMŒOPATHIC PHYSICIANS. This

institution is also dedicated to the post-graduate

teachings of Homœopathy for beginners and advanced

students. Drawing mainly from this group, about

twenty colleagues are executing this project.

The main intentions of the MMRH are:

 To collect all proving symptoms of each remedy

from primary sources.

 To arrange them properly so that a search finds

them easily.

 To extract and compile all bonafide clinical

symptoms from published case-histories, and

designate them as such by the use of brackets. To

publish a monograph for each remedy.

 To avoid errors – a problem that plagues many

current standard works of Homœopathy.

The steps that have been done and are to be done

for each remedy are the following:

1. A listing was made containing mainly those

remedies included in Bӧnninghausen’s

Therapeutic Pocket Book or having a good

ranking in the author’s statistics of successfully

prescribed remedies in his clinic. By doing so we

arrived at a group of about 120 remedies. These

120 remedies account for about ninety-five per

cent of prescriptions in an average clinic. This is

the first group of remedies to be tackled, studied,

and revised in the first step of the project. Each

co-worker is free to choose the remedy he wants.

2. In the library of the ACADEMY several assistants

collect the source material. They have to check a

great many indexes for each remedy to locate all

its proving and clinical cases. These primary

publications are photocopied, affixed with

bibliographic references and collected in a

document file – one for each remedy. Depending

upon the remedy this procedure requires many

weeks or even months. Finally the document file

is handed over to the colleague who selected that

remedy for revision.

3. Every colleague has been provided with the

software specially written for our project.

Furthermore he received an introduction on how

to put the symptoms into the data base. At the

same time colleagues get continuous support by e-

mail or telephone as most of them live in

Germany.

4. When completed, proof-reading is done three

times – by the colleague who put in the data, by

another colleague, and finally by myself. Then it

goes to press.

Generally one volume is dedicated to one

remedy. Occasionally two remedies are put into

one volume if each of them consists of only a

small number of symptoms.

The arrangement of the symptoms follows the

tradition of the head to toe scheme. It starts with

mind, which is followed by sensorium, internal

and external head, and it ends with sweat, fever

and pulse. Many chapters gave subdivisions such

as internal head being further divided into brain,

sides, forehead, temples, vertex and occiput.

The symptoms in each chapter or sub-chapter

are alphabetically arranged and numbered in

sequence. In this way symptoms can be easily

located using the marginal list of numbers counted

in groups of five which is the way Hahnemann

numbered symptoms in Materia Medica Pura and

Chronic Diseases.

Each symptom has abbreviated bibliographic

references. In this way every symptom will show

its precise source in the literature.

Symptoms of clinical origin are bracketed.

Consequently the practitioner can make his

decision as to which class of symptom – proving

or clinical – he was to base his prescription on.

In the second part of each monograph an

extensive bibliography points to the literature

used and that which has been considered but not

used with comments.

To give an idea of the number of symptoms

of certain remedies: Agaricus – 2,257 (three times

the number in Chronic Diseases); Causticum

3,355 (more than double that in Chronic

Diseases); Mezereum – 1,854 (three times the

number in Chronic Diseases).

At present twenty-eight remedy monographs

have been published with a total number of

34,564 symptoms. Twenty-one more are in active

preparation at this time. Simultaneously a

handbook is being composed which divides every

symptom into its elements, using the idea of a

complete system. This will become a new

repertory which is in outline form currently. It

will be published when the first step is completed,

that is when the first 120 remedy monographs are

finished. After that the second step will proceed

by taking in hand an additional 120 remedies of

somewhat less importance, and so on.

One day the revised Materia Medica will also be

available as software program fulfilling the

requirements of our age.

Summarizing it can be said: The revised Materia

Medica includes all accessible and reliable symptoms

239

from proving, toxicological sources and clinical cases

found in the international homœopathic literature from

the beginning of Homœopathy until today. The

arrangement of the symptoms serves the needs of the

practitioner, and precise bibliographic references will

allow checking every entry. This compilation can

grow as the homœopathic Materia Medica grows.

This standard work can be used for further

elaborations concerning special repertories or Materiae

Medicae. Up to now the work is only available in

German. But the author is confident the international

homœopathic community can one day participate to

produce a translated English edition.

I wish to thank the Family-Ernst-Wendt-

Foundation of Germany for supporting the revision,

and to Dr. Daniel Cook for reading the manuscript and

making suggestions.

Endnotes

1. This article follows the paper presented at 66th

LMHI in Delhi, India in December 2011 under the

title,”The Revision of Our Materia Medica.”

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

18. Eye diseases from a Homœopathic Perspective

KONDROT, Edward (AJHM. 105, 3/2012)

According to the American Academy of

Ophthalmology, age-related eye disease including

cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-

related macular degeneration are expected to

dramatically increase from 28 million today to 43

million by the year 2020. The Archives of

Ophthalmology published a study in the year 2003

looking at 10,500 patients. In this study, the age-

related macular degeneration increased 27.1%

between 1991 and 1999. The prevalence of diabetic

retinopathy among persons with diabetes increased

17.4% . why is this happening? Can homœopathic

laws explain this increase?

The normal eye consists of the cornea, the

anterior segment, the lens, the vitreous cavity, and the

retina and macula. Light passes through the cornea,

then enters the anterior segment, passes through the

lens, and then is focused on the macula, which is a

highly-developed area of the retina consisting

primarily of cones for the focus and discrimination of

detail.

Macular Degeneration

Symptoms of macular degeneration include loss

of central vision, which is painless and usually mild.

Central blind spots, also called scotomas, usually

occur late and sometimes become severe. Symptoms

are usually bilateral. Findings on eye examination

include pigment changes, hyperpigment, and

depigmented changes in the retina, drusen, which are

like tiny warts, which are accumulation of waste

products, and areas of chorio-retinal atrophy. One of

the common methods for evaluating macular

degeneration is grid testing. The patient is instructed

to look at a graph paper or grid and document any

areas of distortion, such as wavy lines or distorted

lines or gaps in certain areas of the graph.

Glaucoma

This study also looked at glaucoma. Primary

open-angle glaucoma has increased by 13.8%. The

percentage of glaucoma suspects has increased from

6.5%, and the percentage of narrow-angle glaucoma

has increased by 2.7%. Primary open-angle glaucoma

is a condition where there is a blockage of the outflow

of aqueous fluid, which results in an increase in

intraocular pressure. This causes a decrease in

circulation to the optic nerve, which results in death of

this very delicate neurological tissue.

In making the diagnosis of glaucoma, usually

there is an elevated eye pressure, although not always.

There is a condition called low-tension glaucoma. In

addition you need visual field changes, which consist

of loss of peripheral vision, and also changes in the

optic nerve.

Suppression

I’d like to address suppression as an explanation

for the increase in eye disease. This presentation is to

show how conventional treatments are causing

suppression, and homœopathic principles can explain

this increase in eye disease.

Why is there an increase in eye disease? There

has been a decline in nutrition, increased use of

preservatives, chemicals, and genetically-modified

organisms (GMO) in our diet, plus heavy metal

poisoning. A recent article reported that lead and

cadmium levels accumulate in human ocular tissue,

particularly in the retinal pigment epithelium and

choroid, and these heavy metals may be linked to an

increase in degenerative disorders.

The biggest contributor to eye disease, I believe,

is the pharmaceutical industry. The largest

contributing cause to the increase of all eye disease is

suppression produced by modern medicines.

Here are some examples of suppression:

 Antibiotics for conjunctivitis

 Treatment of chronic blepharitis

 Steroid eye drops

 Cataract surgery

 Laser surgery and injections for retinal

disease

I’d like to address each of these items in more

detail.

The most commonly prescribed drugs to treat

infection and inflammation in all eye diseases are

steroids. Many side effects are listed for steroids.

Some of the side effects or the results of

suppression from using steroid eye drops:

 There can be an increase in intraocular

pressure, sometimes leading to glaucoma.

 Steroid eye drops can cause cataracts

240

 Infections

 Herpes simplex

 Corneal ulcers

Antibiotic suppression can cause:

 Overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms,

including fungi

 May retard corneal wound healing

 Cause the development of punctuate keratitis

or areas of dry spot on the cornea

 Erythema or redness

 Increase in lacrimation or watering

 Edema or swelling

 Lid itching

Glaucoma eye drops can particularly be

suppressive when used to lower the intraocular

pressure. Glaucoma medications suppress the natural

production of aqueous humor, which is essential in

transporting oxygen and nutrients to the eye.

Does the risk of macular degeneration increase

after cataract surgery? Data from three major

population-based studies were pooled. The odds of

having macular degeneration were found to be 1.7

times higher after cataract surgery than without

cataract surgery. Once again this is not due to

complications of surgery, but due to surgical

suppression.

There are three levels of pathology in relationship

to the eye, and each layer of the eye represents the

disease going deeper. The superficial areas of the eye

are the conjunctiva and cornea. The iris and the

choroid are the middle, vascular layers, and the retina

and optic nerve are the deepest, neurological layers.

Many cases of eye pathology are poorly

represented in the Materia Medica and Repertory.

Since the eye is derived from the neuro-ectoderm, the

skin section of the repertory has important value.

Symptoms associated with certain organs, such as the

liver, can also be valuable in searching for a remedy.

Emotional states must also be looked at when

searching for the simillimum, and also use of the

Generalities chapter in the repertory.

There’s a strong history of Homœopathy in

ophthalmology. The New York Ophthalmic Hospital

was a homœopathic hospital in 1852 and it was under

homœopathic management until 1867. In 1931 it

treated over 31,000 patients. The College of New

York Ophthalmic Hospital was also under

homœopathic management from 1878 to 1939. They

even offered post-graduate courses in homœopathic

ophthalmology.

The American Homeopathic Ophthalmology and

Otology Society existed from 1877, and was still in

existence in 1941. It conducted a drug proving, a

665-page reproving of Belladonna in 1906. There

existed a Homeopathic Eye, Ear, and Throat Journal,

and also the Journal of Ophthalmology, Otology, and

Laryngology.

Some standard homœopathic works on

ophthalmology that I like are Homœopathic

Therapeutics in Ophthalmology, published in 1916 by

John L. Moffat, M.D., and also Ophthalmic Diseases

and Therapeutics, published in 1872 by A.B. Norton,

M.D. Dr. Norton published an article on “The

Homœopathic Treatment of Incipient Senile Cataract,

with Tabulated Results of 100 Cases.” This was

published in the North American Journal of

Homeopathy in 1891. It was a retrospective study of

295 patients, whose charts were reviewed, plus 100

current patients who had been under treatment for at

lerast three months. The results were that under

homœopathic treatment there was an improvement in

vision in 58% of the cases, and no change in 42% of

the cases. This was remarkable, since cataracts do not

improve over time.

The top three remedies in Norton’s study were:

Causticum – used in 64 out of 100 patients

Calcarea phosphorica – used in 15 out of

100

Sepia - used in 9 out of 100

Case 1

A 57-year-old radiologist presented with a history

of sudden onset of blindness in the left eye. He was

very loquacious with a pressured –type speech. He

got mad very easily and he couldn’t tolerate rudeness.

He also had the peculiar symptom that the vision was

better in a dark room and worse in the light.

Medical history is positive for a five-year history

of insulin-dependent diabetes.

Physical exam revealed vision of 20/40 in the

right eye and bare light perception in the left eye.

There was no afferent papillary light defect. This

papillary abnormality would indicate damage to the

optic nerve. The left pupil was slightly larger than the

right. In the fundus in the back of his eye, there was

marked retinal ischemia with a classic cherry red spot

in the center, which is diagnostic for a central retinal

artery occlusion.

He was given Bothrops 12C twice a day, with a

complete return of his vision in three days, and he was

doing well two years later.

“This remedy, together with Lachesis, Arnica,

Latrodectus mactans and Lycopodium should be our

main remedies for coping with the first hours

following heart infarcts and brain thrombosis.

Amaurosis is a strong symptom. Day blindness – can

scarcely see her way after sunrise.” This is a quote by

George Vithoulkas.

Case 2

A 78-year-old female with macular degeneration,

cataracts, and a severe balance problem. Her vision

was very dim and she had trouble reading and

dancing. She also had vertigo and ringing in her ears.

She was so weak that her arms and legs shook.

An important aspect of her life was ballroom

dancing. She particularly liked ballroom dancing

241

because of its provocative nature. Her sexual drive

was never very high.

Physical exam revealed 20/300 in her right eye,

with scarcely the ability to read the big E on the eye

chart, and 3/100 in the left eye, which indicated that

she was able to see the largest letters on the eye chart

at the distance of 3 feet. She had advanced cataracts

in both eyes. On funduscopic examination she had

myopic degeneration with atrophic changes in her

retina.

According to A.B. Norton in his article, “The

Homœopathic Treatment of Incipient Senile

Cataract,” Sepia is the number one remedy to think of

in females with advanced cataracts. She was given

Sepia LM1.

On her eight-month follow-up she could read the

menu. There had been a seventy percent

improvement of her vision. Street signs were

becoming clearer and the colors were more vivid. No

more dizziness or vertigo. She was stronger and more

confident in walking. She had no more ringing in her

ears, and her vision had now improved to 20/200 in

both eyes. An additional note: she resumed her

ballroom dancing.

My Top Twelve Remedies for the Eye

I reviewed all of my charts from 1990 and did a

computerized search on the top twelve homœopathic

remedies that I used in my eye practice.

 Arnica Montana

 Aconitum napellus

 Belladonna

 Euphrasia

 Mercurius solubilis

 Phosphorus

 Rhus toxicodendron

 Ruta graveolens

 Symphytum

 Silica

 Staphysagria

 Sulphur

Arnica

Arnica is the number one remedy for trauma, and

also it’s the first remedy to think of for ocular trauma.

I also have found it to be very successful for the

treatment of a subconjunctival hemorrhage. A

subconjunctival hemorrhage is bleeding under the

conjunctiva which produces a marked redness of the

eye with very little pain and discomfort.

Ecchymosis from coughing

It’s also a remedy to think of for retinal

hemorrhage.

A characteristic of Arnica is that there’s

inflammation and pain, aggravated by heat.

Aconitum

Aconitum is the homœopathic remedy to think

of when conjunctivitis from a cold dry wind or

reflection of the snow presents.

Ultraviolet light producing keratitis from snow

blindness.

Interestingly, I have found that Aconite is a very

good remedy for post-excimer laser inflammation.

The excimer laser is an ultraviolet laser which is now

being used in refractive surgery, the Lasik operation,

and refractive keratoplasty. I have had good success

using Aconite postoperatively in these cases.

Inflammation from injury. Of course the

differential is Symphytum. Symphytum, Arnica, and

Aconite are the three big remedies for inflammation

after injury.

The characteristic of Aconite is that there tends

to be profuse watering from the eye.

Photophobia from sunlight.

Of course we always have to look at loss of

vision after fright, anxiety, very cold or hot weather.

Belladonna

Belladonna is a big remedy for the sudden onset

of inflammation. Characteristically the pupils are

dilated and sluggish.

I’ve also found it to be very valuable in elevation

of intraocular pressure in glaucoma, especially for

acute angle closure glaucoma where there is a very

rapid onset of an elevation of intraocular pressure.

It is also a remedy I think of for retinal

congestion, where you have venous stasis retinopathy,

where the venous system is blocked in the eye.

Typically you get an appearance of marked

congestion of the retina with bleeding.

Think of this remedy for optic neuritis and iritis,

especially when of a sudden onset.

Characteristically there’s flushed face and ocular

proptosis, which is bulging of the eye.

Photophobia.

Euphrasia

Euphrasia or Eyebright is an extremely valuable

remedy for inflammation, primarily of the cornea and

conjunctiva.

There’s a constant acrid lacrimation, aggravated

from wind, similar to Pulsatilla. Remember, a

differential with Euphrasia and Allium cepa is that in

Euphrasia there is an acrid lacrimation from the eyes

and a bland discharge from the nose.

Burning, swelling, and sticking together of the

eyelids. Margins itching and burning.

There is also a foreign body sensation in the eye.

There is a thick acrid discharge, differentiating

this remedy from Mercurius which has a thin

discharge.

Photophobia.

Mercurius

The characteristic of Mercurius is that every cold

settles in the eye.

The upper lid is thick and red.

There are also thin acrid discharges.

242

Mercurius is a valuable remedy in cases of

chronic blepharitis or inflammation of the eyelid.

Vascular keratitis.

Kerato-iritis, retinitis, choroiditis, and optic

neuritis

Tearing and burning pains are not limited to the

eye, but can extend to the forehead.

A characteristic Mercurius symptom is that the

eye pain is much worse at night, like all syphilitic

remedies.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is highly ranked in the homœopathic

literature for glaucoma.

Characteristically in Phosphorus there are lights

and hallucinations of vision. Any time the patient

presents with an eye problem and there are symptoms

of lights, hallucination of vision, seeing colored

objects, particularly objects like red floaters,

Phosphorus should be in the differential.

Hemeralopia – day blindness.

Hyperemia of the retina, choroid, optic nerve.

Of course, Phosphorus is one of the important

remedies for retinal hemorrhage.

Atrophy and paralysis of the optic nerve.

Diabetic retinopathy.

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla is useful for conjunctivitis and

allergies, especially when there tends to be a

yellowish-green discharge, bland and profuse.

Burning and itching, rubbing ameliorates.

Pain and itching ameliorated by cold application,

like Sulphur.

It is also an important remedy, along with Silica,

for obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct.

It is also an important remedy for styes, along

with Staphysagria.

Rhus toxicodendron

Characteristically the lids are inflamed,

agglutinated and swollen.

Upon opening the lids, tears or pus gush outward.

A.B. Norton, in his textbook, describes a case of

endophthalmitis following cataract surgery.

Endophthalmitis is a severe ocular infection which

encompasses the whole eye. In Norton’s patient the

eye was filled with pus, and he was treated with Rhus

toxicodendron successfully. This occurred during the

time when antibiotics were not being used to treat

infections.

It is a remedy to think of in orbital cellulitis and

panophthalmitis or endophthalmitis.

Suppurative conditions.

Ruta graveolens

Ruta is a big remedy for ailments from straining

the eye, especially from fine work and exertion of

vision. Now with so many people using computers

and smart phones and straining their eyes with close

work, Ruta should prove a very valuable remedy in

treating these problems.

There tends to be a sensation of stiffness of the

eye muscles.

Conjunctivitis, pain and heat, as if the eyes were

on fire.

Disturbances in accommodation, or the ability to

focus. The remedy Physostigma also has this

disturbance of accommodation.

Silica

Silica, along with Pulsatilla, is the remedy to

consider for inflammation and obstruction of the

nasolacrimal duct.

I have had success using Silica in infants with

nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Typically, when this

diagnosis is made the pediatrician will consider

waiting for three months, and, if there is no resolution

in the nasolacrimal duct obstruction, a surgical

procedure will be performed in which a small wire

probe is placed the lacrimal duct to open the duct.

Silica should be a remedy to consider as the first line

of treatment of this condition.

Also Silica is a good homœopathic remedy for

the treatment of styes, especially styes that are very

hard and longstanding.

Characteristic of the Silica patient is a great

sensitivity to cold, especially in the head.

It’s also a remedy for ulcers and abscesses of the

cornea.

Wounds that heal slowly. I’ve used this after

cataract surgery and other ocular surgical procedures

in which the incision heals very slowly.

Symphytum

Symphytum is also called Arnica of the eye,

given that it has proven an important remedy for eye

injuries.

It’s a big remedy related to injury to the eye.

There’s a desire to rub the eye after an injury.

Pain after an injury with soreness.

I looked at my cases and I looked in the

homœopathic literature to try to differentiate Arnica

from Symphytum. There seemed to be one keynote----

if a cataract develops after an injury to the eye,

Symphytum the preferred remedy.

Staphysagria

Staphysagria is a remedy along with Silica for

styes. In my patients successfully treated for styes

with Staphysagria, there has always been a history of

indignation, which is consistent with the remedy’s

well-known association with ailments from

indignation.

Photophobia.

Iritis.

Lacerated or incised wounds.

I have used this also for surgical cases which heal

very slowly. Years ago we did a surgical procedure

call radial keratotomy in which incisions were made

243

in the cornea to flatten the cornea. When I was doing

these procedures of radial keratotomy, I found that

when complications developed or when the cases

healed slowly that Staphysagria was the indicated

remedy.

Sulphur

Conjunctivitis with sensation of “sand in the

eyes.”

Like Pulsatilla, it’s ameliorated with cold

compresses.

It’s a very important remedy for blepharitis. The

margins of the eye are red.

Iritis.

Purulent discharge. Agglutination in the morning

on waking.

Disturbance of vision before headache.

In conclusion, Homœopathy can be a very

successful modality for the treatment of ocular

disorders. I feel very strongly that the increase in eye

disease is related to suppression. As homœopathic

practitioners we have to be aware of suppression as a

causation of ocular disease. We can be confident

using homœopathic remedies to treat these eye

disorders.

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

19. Research Updates

FRYE, Joyce (AJHM. 105, 3/2012)

As a former surgeon interested in strategies for

perioperative care, I was delighted to see the July,

2012 issue of Homeopathy, which contains two

studies on wound healing. But first, a personal

anecdote: in December, 2011, my friend and

colleague who is herself a nurse and Reiki

practitioner, had neurosurgery for an acoustic

neuroma. Acoustic neuromas are actually

schwannomas located on the 8th cranial nerve, which

carries fibers for both hearing and balance.

Neurosurgery is typically carried out by both a

neurosurgeon who enters the skull and an ENT who

manages the nerve resection, and it requires six to

eight hours in the operating room. The surgery almost

always results in unilateral deafness, but the greater

challenges in the immediate post-operative recovery

period arise from vertigo and balance issues and from

symptoms of Bell’s palsy consequent to disturbance

and swelling around the adjacent 7th (facial) cranial

nerve, which for some patients never completely

resolve.

For my colleague, a single post-operative dose of

Nux vomica took care of anesthesia-related nausea,

and she took Arnica montana 30c and Hypericum

perforatum 30c bid for several weeks thereafter.

Additionally, I provided cranial osteopathy

immediately post-op and twice on the following day.

By the morning Post-op Day 1, the surgeons were

beginning to shake their heads in amazement at the

speed of her recovery. There was minimal bruising

around the incision, and on Day 2 she was ambulating

in the hallways without dizziness, to be eventually

discharged one day earlier than anticipated, on Day 4.

She returned to a full work schedule after four weeks.

Her only facial nerve symptom---inability to

completely close the ipsilateral eye---completely

resolved by six weeks post-op.

A few months later, the world’s most extensive

facial transplant was carried out at our institution

(http://abcnews.go.com/Health/doctors-perform

extensive-face-transplant/story?id=16013394). My

nurse colleague, now status post acoustic neuroma

surgery, was put in charge of the patient’s post-

operative integrative medicine care. Initially, there

was severe swelling---blood and lymphatic vessels all

had to connect. The nerves for facial movement,

tongue movement, speech and smell all had to

connect in order to have any semblance of normal

function. Our Integrative Medicine Center Director,

Dr. Brian Berman, and I independently suggested

Arnica and Hypericum. The plastic surgeon was

open to their use, but the transplant team was

concerned about interaction with immunosuppressive

drugs; so they were not allowed. Happily, with the

help of Reiki, acupressure and numerous other

therapies, the patient is making an excellent recovery.

But we have to wonder whether it might have been

speed up a bit. These latest publications, while not

addressing the interaction concern, at least begin to

provide more than anecdotal support for their use.

In “Homœopathic treatment for peripheral nerve

regeneration: an experimental study in a rat sciatic

nerve transection model” (Rahim Mohammadi,

Keyvan Amini, Sahar Charehsaz, July 2012 (Vol.

101, No.3, pages 141-146), the authors studied the

effect of Hypericum 30c on healing following sciatic

nerve transaction by comparing three groups (n=54)

of Wistar rats after surgery. The first (labeled

‘Sham’) had the left sciatic nerve exposed through a

gluteal muscle incision that was sutured after

homeostasis. In the second group (labeled ‘Sil’), the

left sciatic nerve was exposed the same way, and

transected proximal to the tibioperoneal bifurcation

where a 7mm segment was excised, leaving a gap of

about 10 mm due to retraction of the nerve ends. The

proximal and distal stumps were each inserted 2 mm

into a silicone conduit and sutured in place leaving a

10-mm gap between the stumps. They received three

oral drops of physiological saline as control treatment

twice daily for 1 week. The third group (‘Sil/Hyp’)

was treated the same as the second except that they

received three oral drops of a prepared stock solution

of Hypericum 30c (Weleda, UK Ltd, Ilkeston,

Derbyshire DE7 8DR) twice daily for one week.

Outcome measures at four, eight, and twelve

weeks after surgery included functional assessment of

nerve regeneration;’ muscle mass (gastrocnemius)

measurement; histological preparation and

244

quantitative morphometric studies; and

immunohistochemical analysis of the myelin sheath.

In every outcome the Sil/Hyp group did significantly

better than the Sil group. In the Sil/Hyp group at

twelve weeks, gastrocnemius diameter was

comparable to Sham. Mean diameter of axons in

Sil/Hyp approached Sham and was significantly

greater than Sil with the most rapid increase appearing

between four and eight weeks. The study provides a

solid basis for nerve regeneration after transaction

when the ends are fixed in a silicone tube. Further

study will be needed to assess how generalizable the

finding is to other types of nerve injury.

In “Effects of microcurrent application alone or

in combination with topical Hypericum perforatum L.

and Arnica montana L. on surgically induced wound

healing Wistar rats.” (Fabiene CB Castro, Amanda

Magre, Ricardo Cherpinski, Paulo M Zelante, Lia MG

Nerves, Marcelo AM Esquisatto, Fernanda AS

Mendonc, and Glaucia MT Santpos, July 2012 (Vol.

101, No.3, pages 147-153), a full-thickness skin

incision was made on the backs of seven groups of

Wistar rats (n=63) following anesthesia, depilation,

and local asepsis. The wounds were left open to

monitor healing for comparison of seven

interventions: (1) simulated intervention (control); (2)

topical application of gel; (3) microcurrent

application; (4) topical application of gel containing

Hypericum; (5) topical application of Hypericum gel

and microcurrent; (6) topical application of gel

containing Arnica; (7) topical application of Arnica

gel and microcurrent. A transcutaneous electrical

stimulator (Physiotonus Microcurrent, Bioset, Rio

Claro, Sao Paulo, Brazil) was used for microcurrent

electrical stimulation. The device was set to 10 mA/2

min and a frequency of 0.3 Hz and applied for two

minutes. Topical Hypericum and Arnica treatment

was with “about 20mg of the gel formulation”. All

treatments were started 24h after surgical intervention

and continued daily for ten days. The gel obtained

from a compounding pharmacy consisted of 10%

Natrosol, 0.2% Nipagin, 5% propylene glycol, and

water qsp. Three animals from each group were

sacrificed at two, six, and ten days in order to analyze

the incised region for tissue area repair area (mm2),

total number of cells (fibroblasts and inflammatory

cells [n/104 mm2]), number of newly formed blood

vessels (n/104 mm2), quantification of birefringence

collagen fibers in the repair area (%), and thickness of

the regenerating epithelium (mm).

The various outcome parameters were not

affected equally by the interventions. In no case was

gel alone superior to control. At ten days, for

epithelial thickness, all six interventions appeared

somewhat better than control, but were not

statistically significant or substantially different from

each other. For both number of cells and collagen

fibers, microcurrent with or without medicated gel

was best with no apparent added benefit from gel.

For newly formed vessels, the combination of

microcurrent with Arnica gel than microcurrent alone

and substantially better than Arnica alone. For tissue

repair area, microcurrent, Arnica gel, and Hypericum

gel appear better than control or unmedicated gel, but

the largest repair area occurs with the combination of

microcurrent with either Arnica gel or Hypericum gel.

The authors suggest that the improved tissue area

repair with the combination of microcurrent with

Arnica or Hypericum medicated gel is the result of

“iontophoresis, a noninvasive technique, in which

low-intensity electrical currents contribute to increase

the level of tissue penetration of therapeutic

substances”. Unfortunately, they did not include a

study arm including unmedicated gel with

microcurrent; so it is impossible to know whether the

improved outcome might have come from

enhancement of the microcurrent effect rather than

from iontophoresis, especially as there was no

difference between the Arnica or Hypericum with

microcurrent groups. They also suggest that the

failure to see improvements in the tissue repair

outcomes is probably due to low concentrations of the

medications in the formulation used and recommend

future studies with mother tincture; however, they do

not tell us what concentrations were actually used.

Sadly, at the end of the day, this study tells us more

about the role of microcurrent for wound healing than

about Homœopathy, although the Arnica with

microcurrent outcome for new vessel formation is

encouraging.

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20. Organon §3 and Bӧnninghausen’s method

Generalisation

FISCHER, D. Ulrich, (AJHM. 105, 4/2012)

Introduction:

Summarizing the most essential elements of the

homœopathic therapeutic method, §3 of the Organon

(6th Edition) can be considered the “Heart of the

Organon.” In the first lines of this paragraph

Hahnemann demands that the physician should

“perceive what is to be cured in diseases, that is to

say, in every individual case of disease….” And a

few lines later he insists on adapting “according to

clearly defined principles, what is curative in

medicines to what he has discovered undoubtedly

morbid in the patient..” This includes not only the

decision whether homœopathic treatment is right for

the condition (vs. the indication for surgery, etc.), but

also the need for a diagnosis – to understand the

nature of the disease to be cured – and to clearly

differentiate between the symptoms of the disease

itself and those of the non-morbid individuality of the

patient. We also have to recognize if we are treating

an acute disease, a chronic disease or an acute

aggravation of a chronic disease; and we should be

careful not to prescribe for the side effects of

conventional medicines.

245

Hahnemann urges us to treat sick people. He

clearly says to treat only “deviations from the former

healthy state of the now diseased individual…”

Organon, 6th Ed., §6). It means we treat everything

which currently forms a lack for the patient, all that

hinders him to realize his goals. In acquiring the

picture of the disease, we are to orient ourselves to

perceiving what is “undoubtedly morbid in the

patient.”

Hahnemann wants us to consider the totality of

the disease, meaning the symptoms, mental,

emotional and physical, that reflect the patient as an

individual.

Finally we consider all those symptoms as,

“undoubtedly morbid in the patient” which

characterize the patient as a whole, this means his

general symptoms.

Definition of Inductive Logic

“The inductive method in logic requires (1) exact

observation; (2) correct interpretation of the

observed facts with a view to understanding them in

relation to each other and to their causes; (3) rational

explanation of the facts by referring them to their real

cause or law; and (4) scientific construction by

putting the facts in such co-ordination that the system

reached shall agree with the reality.” (Funk and

Wagnall’s Standard Dictionary)

The Logic of Homœopathy

Homœopathy is based upon inductive

philosophy. Its first requirement is that the premises

must be true, the result of accurate, valid observation

of facts.

The examination of a patient or a prover, the

analysis of all the symptoms derived from such an

examination, the classification of symptoms, the

selection of the remedy and the diagnosis of the

disease are all properly conducted under the rules and

methods of applied logic.

In the examination of a patient, the principles of

inductive logic lead the examiner first to gather all the

facts of a case and to complete each symptom by

careful inquiry into its origin, its exciting or

occasioning cause or causes, its history and duration,

its relations to other symptoms and its modalities or

modifying circumstances and conditions.

Logic then, by the processes of analysis,

synthesis, comparison and generalization makes it

possible to determine the relative value and

importance, from the prescriber’s standpoint, of every

symptom. That way it will be possible to discover

“characteristic symptoms,” which are of great

importance in the study of the case.

Characteristic Symptoms

Characteristic symptoms are general symptoms,

or generalizations, inferred or deduced from particular

symptoms by the logical process of generalizing.

Considering the symptoms of Pulsatilla, for

example, we find that they agree in all being worse in

a warm room or better in the open air. “Aggravation

in a warm room” therefore is a “characteristic,” or a

“general” of Pulsatilla. These terms are used to

describe or epitomize those peculiar features which

characterize the patient as an individual; facts that are

true of the case as a whole, or of a number of the

particular symptoms of the case, considered as a

group. In other words “characteristics” are the

individualizing factors of a case or remedy. They are

the points which enable us to differentiate between

similar cases and remedies. After deducing the

general features of a given case or remedy and

logically grouping them, thus determining its

individuality, we are in a position to compare it with

other similar, related remedies or cases for

classification, selection of the curative remedy, or any

other purpose.

Individualization

“The practical work of the prescriber in

constructing the totality or case and selecting the

remedy is governed throughout by the logical

principle of individualization.” (S. Close, Lectures on

Homœopathy) It includes:

1. The examination of the patient. This must be

conducted in such a manner as to bring out all the

facts of the case. Each symptoms, as far as

possible must be rendered complete in the three

elements of locality, sensation and modality.

2. The examination of the symptom-record of the

patient, or the “”study of the case.” This must be

made in such a manner as to determine what

symptoms represent that which is curable by

medication, under the Law of Similars; in other

words, to determine, in each particular case,

which perceptible, individual and characteristic

symptoms have a counterpart in the Materia

Medica. A prescription can only be made upon

those symptoms which have their counterpart or

similar in the Materia Medica.

3. The examination of the Materia Medica, by

means of indexes, repertories, etc., for the

purpose of discovering that remedy which, in its

symptomatology, is most similar to the symptoms

of the individual patient during his sickness.

The Art of Generalizing

“Analysis, comparison, classification, and

generalization are the logical processes, by means of

which the homœopathic artist accomplishes his

purpose, which is the individualization of his case and

the selection of the similar remedy thereby.” (S.

Close, Lectures on Homœopathy)

Of these processes, generalization is perhaps the

most important. The generals, which include and are

derived from the particulars, constitute the only

reliable basis of a curative prescription. Generalizing,

246

therefore, is one of the most important functions

performed by the homœopathic prescriber in selecting

the curative medicine.

General Symptoms

Besides the classical general symptoms, such as

the manner of sleeping, peculiar or unusual positions

assumed during sleep or disease, character of dreams

or conditions of aggravation and amelioration

applying to the case as a whole, or the patient himself,

nearly all mental symptoms are generals because

mental states can only be expressed in general terms

and express the man himself and not merely some part

or organ.

An emotion or a passion such as anger, grief or

jealousy, is a complex state of consciousness. The

process by which we become aware of the resulting

concrete emotion and give it a name, is essentially a

generalization, subconsciously performed. For this

reason mental symptoms, when they appear

undoubtedly in the record of a case, are always of the

highest rank as material for the final generalization

and completion of the totality upon which the

prescription is based.

Grading and Grouping

“Upon correct generalizing depends all successful

work as a homœopathic prescriber. Mere mechanical

comparison of one particular symptom with another is

but little better than “pathological prescribing.” (S.

Close, Lectures on Homœopathy)

Thus the statement that the Pulsatilla case is

aggravated in a close or warm room is a

generalization drawn from the observation of

particular symptoms in numerous cases, both in

proving and clinically. The same is true of nearly

every condition of aggravation and amelioration

contained in Bӧnninghausen’s Repertory, which is

one of the greatest sources of analysis, comparison

and generalization in our literature. Experience has

shown that most of these conditions or modalities of

Bӧnninghausen are general in their relations. The

attempt to limit the application of the modality to the

particular symptoms with which they were first

observed has not led to success in prescribing.

Bӧnninghausen followed strictly the inductive

method.

Of these modalities he wrote: “All of these

indications are so trustworthy, and have been verified

by such manifold experiences, that hardly any others

can equal them in rank. But the most valuable fact

respecting them is this: That this characteristic is not

confined to one or another symptom, but like a red

thread it runs through all the morbid symptoms of a

given remedy, which are associated with any kind of

pain whatever, or even with a sensation of discomfort,

and hence it is available for both internal and external

symptoms of the most varied character.” In other

words, they are generals, characteristics, deduced by a

critical study of particulars and verified in practice.

Generalizing for Repertory

In using repertories, notably Bӧnninghausen’s

Therapeutic Pocket Book, we constantly generalize.

We bring together and correlate the partial,

disconnected statements of the patient into complete

and rounded wholes which may, perhaps, be

characterized by a single word corresponding to a

rubric in the repertory. Let us take, for example, the

symptom “maliciousness,” classified by

Bӧnninghausen under the general heading “Mind.”

At first glance this would seem to be a particular

symptom, but a little reflection will show it to be a

generalization, drawn from a number of observations

of symptoms or behavioural problems like insidious,

malevolent, gloating, disgraceful, shameless,

meanness, vexatious, nasty, talking bad about others,

causing damage to others, being unfaithful to others,

etc. All these single aspects observed in the conduct

or behavior of the patient allow the generalization

“maliciousness.” All those symptoms which

characterize the patient in his totality are the most

interesting for selecting the adequate homœopathic

remedy.

Rarely will a patient state, or even admit on being

directly questioned, that he is malicious. If he is so, it

will be deduced by the discerning physician from a

number of facts, learned directly by the inductive

process. The same is true of a great number of mental

states. We become aware of them in the course of our

careful observation and study of the case, by piecing

together detached bits of evidence.

Reviewing and summarizing

We find that the inductive method in science is

cumulative and evolutionary. It eliminates every

element of speculation and deals only with established

facts. It takes nothing for granted where data are

concerned. It ignores no fact, no matter how trifling it

may seem. It confines its operations strictly within

the limits of the subject directly in hand. Its

deductions are always direct, never indirect. It never

makes an inference or deduction from a process of

reasoning, or from theoretical grounds, but always

from carefully observed facts. A generalization made

according to the principles of inductive logic stands in

direct and logical relation with the data from which it

is drawn and includes them in their essential features.

Conclusion

A safe and successful way to accomplish

Hahnemann’s statements in § 3 is the process of

generalization. The generals, which include and are

derived from the particulars, constitute the only

reliable basis of a curative prescription. This

important fact was defined by Bӧnninghausen in his

Repertory. Most of the modalities of Bӧnninghausen

are general in their relations, i.e., they are

characteristics deduced by a critical study of

particulars and verified in practice. Therefore

247

Bӧnninghausen’s procedures provide us with the most

secure way of practice in our daily work.

Clinical case

Male, 63 years old, with recurrent arrhythmia

despite cardiac ablation surgery. Essential details

from his medical history:

 Migraine since 1987

 Prostate Cancer 2003; Status post Transvesical

Prostatectomy

 Chronic low back pain since 2005

 Tachyarrhythmia with paroxysmal atrial

fibrillation Sept. 2005 (after a severe conflict in

his marriage);

 Status post electrical cardioversion Sept. 2005

 Transient Ischemic Attack with hemianopsia on

the left side for 30 minutes Oct. 2006

 Tachyarrhythmia absoluta with paroxysmal atrial

fibrillation May 2007; 2nd electrical cardioversion

May 2007

 Tachyarrhythmia absoluta with paroxysmal atrial

fibrillation July 2007; 3rd electrical cardioversion

July 2007 Catheter ablation Dec 2007

Present complaints

Despite several electrical cardioversions and anti-

arrhythmic therapies, the attacks of arrhythmia have

repeatedly recurred, more frequently since 2005, with

the following sensations: sensation of palpitations,

irregular heart beat, a general sensation of anxiety or

threat, dyspnea, weakness, and pressure in the heart

region. At around this same time he developed a

sensation of weakness in the prostatic area as well as

in the lower back region. He could not give a

concrete description of the lower back pain. All

complaints, even the migraine, aggravate after

excitement, mortification, humiliation, anger, in the

heat of the sun, from warmth and from physical

exertion. Everything improves when lying down and

in the open air.

He often feels depressed, is extremely sensitive

and feels easily offended; sticks to old hurtful

experiences. Argues with himself in his thoughts;

self-talk about himself and his family. He is a

melancholic, unforgiving, restless, irritable and

suspicious person. Guilty feelings towards his family.

For the past two years he feels generally weak

and empty.

Thrombosis prophylaxis with phenprocoumon

(Marcumar) since 2006. The patient stopped the

thrombosis prophylaxis a few weeks before his first

appointment with me. He is not willing to continue

allopathic treatments.

Case Analysis using the Bӧnninghausen Method

Main symptom:

a. Localization:

 Heart, region of heart

b. Sensations:

 Irregular heart beat, palpitations, intermittent

and rapid heart beat

 Feeling of weakness and pressure

c. Modalities:

 Worse from physical exertion

 Worse from excitements, mortifications,

humiliation and anger

 Worse from the heat of the sun and generally

in warm environments

 Better from open air

 Better while lying down

d. Concomitants:

 Irritable, melancholic and depressed

 General feeling of emptiness

 Sense of threat, anxiety

 A feeling of weakness in the prostatic area

and the lower back

Therapy

Natrum chloratum [the precise scientific name

for Natrum muriaticum – Ed.] Q 3, 6, 9 and 12 – each

potency over 4 weeks, then stepping up to the next

higher potency according to Hahnemann’s instruction

in Organon 6th Edition § 248, dissolved in water, 1

spoon every day in the morning (Zinsser

pharmaceutical company). Under the treatment with

Natrium muriaticum the patient stopped having

attacks of arrhythmia, regained his energy and became

much more relaxed, with a better integration in his

family and profession.

References

Brugger, W.: Philosophisches Wӧrterbuch

(“Dictionary of Philosophy”) Herder Verlag, 1976.

Boenninghausen, C.: Therapeutisches Taschenbuch

(“Therapeutic Pocketbook”), Sonntag Verlag, 2000

Boenninghausen, C.: Kleine medizinische Schriften

(“Lesser Writings”) Arkana Verlag, 1984

Close, S.: Lectures and Essays on Homeopathic

Philosophy, Haren and Brother, Calcutta, 1959.

Hahnemann, S.: Organon der Heilkunst, 6. Aufl.,

Hippokrates Verlag, 1953.

Hahnemann, S.: Die Chronischen Krankheiten

(“Chronic Diseases”), Haug Verlag, 1979.

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

21. Aging Spines Feel Young Again

KATCHEN, Debra (HT. 33, 1/2013)

Aches and pains that limit a person’s mobility---

these are the kinds of complaints I hear daily in my

busy family practice, especially from people in their

60s and older. I do my best to help each patient, but

some cases are more difficult than others, especially

when the culprit is degenerative changes in the spine

that accompany the “wear and tear” osteoarthritis of

aging. This degenerative process can also be

248

accelerated in younger people who’ve experienced

repetitive trauma to their spines, perhaps from sports,

work, or other injuries.

Conventional medical treatment has little to offer

people suffering the effects of degenerative spinal

changes. That’s why I’m eager to share with you a

homœopathic treatment method that I have been using

successfully with patients for the past four or five

years. But first, here’s a little background on the

problem.

Wear and tear on the spine

Between each bone (vertebra) in the spinal

column is a natural cushion (intervertebral disc) that

absorbs shock and gives our spines the ability to bend.

Over time, these discs lose moisture and flatten out,

causing the joint spaces between the vertebrae to

decrease. This is one reason why people tend to get

shorter with age.

As discs get thinner and lose their ability to

cushion, friction of bone on bone can occur. This

results in the body trying to heal itself by adding extra

bone to the damaged areas. Such bony growths on the

vertebrae are common and may go unnoticed, unless

they grow into the spinal canal and press on the spinal

cord, or they grow into the nerve-root canals (i.e.,

“foraminal canals”) on either side of the vertebrae and

press on the nerves. The narrowing of these canals is

known as “stenosis” (spinal stenosis or foraminal

stenosis). Bulging discs, vertebral fractures,

thickened ligaments, and related conditions can

further narrow these passageways in which the spinal

cord and nerve roots travel.

Stenosis symptoms

Pain from stenosis can come on gradually or

suddenly and be constant or intermittent. Although

the problem is in the spinal column, the symptoms are

felt mostly in the arms or legs, depending on which

nerves or what parts of the spinal cord are getting

compressed. Sufferers complain of lightning-like or

toothache-like pains in their extremities that are worse

with movement and better with rest.

They may feel heaviness, numbness, or weakness

in one or both legs that gets worse when they walk,

and they often have to sit for several minutes before

the symptoms subside. Interestingly, they will tell

you they can walk for much greater distances in a

shopping center if they push a cart and are slightly

hunched over it (this temporarily relieves pressure in

the spinal canal). When stenosis is in the cervical

spine (neck), people may complain of tingling or

electrical-shock sensations down the spine or into the

arms and hands.

In the worst cases, people may have trouble with

overall balance, coordination, or bladder and bowel

control. They can even develop paraplegia or

quadriplegia from acute spinal cord compression (a

neurosurgical emergency); for this reason, anyone

with stenosis should be monitored by a physician,

preferably in consultation with specialists. This is a

debilitating, progressive disease process that leads to

loss of mobility and, consequently, social isolation

and depression.

How is it treated?

Doctors don’t typically diagnose spinal/foraminal

stenosis based on a physical exam alone, since

nothing much out of the ordinary will be detected.

Rather, they turn to X-ray, MRI, or CT scans to

confirm symptoms that a patient reports.

(Conversely, not everyone who is found to have

stenosis via imaging scans will experience symptoms,

however.)

Conventional medical treatments incluce rest,

postural awareness and physical therapy, anti-

inflmmatory medications, narcotics, nerve stabilizers,

and steroid spinal injections. None of these treat the

disease process----only the symptoms. And the

medications don’t do a great job with the symptoms

either; at best they just dull the pain because as long

as the bone spur is still there pressing on the nerve,

the pain doesn’t go away.

Surgery to relieve the bone pressure on the nerve

(laminectomy) by shaving off some of the bone or

other tissues is the next option, after conservative

measures have been exhausted. Sometimes this is

followed by spinal fusion surgery---fusing a few

vertebrae together to create more stability in the spine

following a laminectomy.

In fact, lumbar stenosis is the most common

reason for spinal surgery in patients 65 and older, and

surgery is helpful in properly selected people----

usually those who have limited disease and well-

defined levels of stenosis. In extensive stenosis,

however, surgery may be too complicated and

therefore contraindicated. Many older people with

stenosis will be poor candidates for surgery because

of other health conditions, such as osteoporosis,

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or heart

problems. Finally, although surgery may fix the

current problem, it likely won’t fix it for good because

the process of vertebral degeneration tends to

continue.

First attempts at treatment

On average, in my 20 years of family practice I

have seen about 10 patients a year suffering with

significant spinal or foraminal stenosis. By the time

they come to me, they usually have been diagnosed

and are being treated conventionally for their

symptoms, with limited results.

For a number of years, I tried homœopathic

treatment to address the spinal stenosis symptoms of

these patients. A review of the literature does not

indicate any specific homœopathic remedies for this

condition, so I repertorized the individual patient’s

stenosis symptoms and gave the indicated remedy.

Trials of Hypericum for those with sharp, lancinating

or electric-like nerve pains were not successful. A

249

few patients who felt achy and better from warmth

improved mildly after taking Ruta graveolens, but

their sickening, deep pain remained. I thought the

remedy Bellis perennis held promise for some

patients, as it fit their clinical picture of rheumatism in

old laborers who are worse from exertion and lifting;

but, alas, the remedy had no effect on their pain.

None of these patients came to me specifically for

homœopathic treatment, so I did not treat them

constitutionally; however, I did notice a Calcarea

carbonica constitutional symptom picture in most of

these fine people. That is, most had worked very hard

physically in their lives, had a tendency to be

overweight, had a tendency to “exostoses” (i.e., bone

spurs), were susceptible to cold temperatures, had

arthritic deformities, and were tired from a short walk.

Perhaps I should have treated them constitutionally,

but the nature of my busy family practice along with

the physical, eroding, painful quality of their

degenerative disease forced me to think less

constitutionally …

Ah-ha!

The remedy that would ultimately relieve my

stenosis patients came to me as an “ah-ha” moment.

While pondering the degenerative process in the

spinal vertebrae and the proliferation of bone spurs

that leads to stenosis, I consulted my homœopathic

repertory for the rubric that describes bony growths---

“exostoses.” A small handful of remedies were listed,

which I researched in Hering’s Guiding Symptoms of

Our Materia Medica and other homœopathic texts.

One remedy stood out---Hekla lava*, prepared from

the ash and volcanic rock that erupted from Mount

Hekla in Iceland in the 1800s. It came into use as a

homœopathic remedy after English physician, J. Garth

Wilkinson (1812-1899), reported that sheep, cows,

and horses grazing on volcanic ash covered slopes

near Mt. Hekla were growing huge bony swellings on

their jawbones, shin-bones, and thighbones, and

sometimes dying as a result. On post-mortem

examination, these exostoses were found to be

relatively soft, crumbly, and riddled with holes. This

gave homœopaths the idea to prepare a remedy from

the volcanic ash, and they began to report clinical

success using potentized Hekla lava to help people

with dental and gum illnesses, jaw deformities, and

bone diseases.

A light bulb went off in my brain as I read this.

Having begun my career in pathology, I have

examined many diseased bones under the microscope.

The description of the bony growths on the animals in

Iceland reminded me of the lacey-looking, trabecular-

like composition of the bone spurs I’d seen under the

microscope at the Manhattan Bone Institute---as well

as on the MRIs of people with spinal or foraminal

stenosis. It was in that moment that I knew that Hekla

lava was the remedy that could help people who

suffer from debilitating stenosis.

A trial of Hekla

I asked some of my stenosis patients to dissolve

one pellet of Hekla lava 30c in a six-ounce glass of

water and take a one-teaspoon dose of this mixture

twice a day (no stirring or shaking between doses

needed). They were to refrigerate it between doses

and, when the glass was empty, to start the process

again. (I chose this water dosing method because,

according to Hahnemann, it is more effective than the

common way of taking dry pellets.)

First reports from these patients gave me reason

for cautious optimism… Yes, after a few months of

treatment, they were experiencing some improvement

in their pains! But they still had a long way to go…

The progress was positive but much slower than what

I had hoped for. Was there anything I could do to

improve my prescription?

Add the tissue salt

In researching remedies known to address bone

spurs, I had also considered Calcarea fluorica

(prepared from Calcium fluoride, and occurring

naturally as the mineral fluorite). This remedy has a

long record of use in addressing many conditions,

including bony growths, bone tumors, and joint

enlargements. It is also one of the 12 “Tissue

Salts”—homœopathic mineral remedies that German

physician W.H. Schüssler was a pathologist who

examined the make-up of the body and identified 12

mineral salts he found to be present in every human

tissue.** Because human bones contain calcium

fluoride (among other compounds), Schüssler found

that he could help people with bone problems by

supplementing them with minute doses of this mineral

salt, using homœopathically prepared Calcarea

fluorica in low potency (e.g., 3X, 6X, or 12X).

I had ultimately chosen Hekla lava over Calcarea

fluorica as the homœopathic remedy for my stenosis

patients because it better fit the description of the type

of bone spurs and because its indications were mostly

physical—which matched the very physical nature of

stenosis symptoms. But since I wasn’t completely

satisfied with treatment results, I decided to

supplement the daily Hekla lava 30c prescription with

a “tissue salt” to support healing in the manner of

Schüssler. So I asked my stenosis patients to also

take Calcarea fluorica 6x, 4 tablets under the tongue,

once a day. This seemed to be the “missing link”

because within days adding this tissue salt to their

regimen, patients began reporting substantially less

pain. Below are two case examples.

Janet: homebound and isolated

Eighty-four-year-old Janet came to see me for

help with depression. She had been widowed for the

past 6 years, and before that, she had cared for her

paraplegic husband for 20 years.

“For three years now, I’ve spent most of my time

in a chair near the picture window,” she told me,

“because if I get up and move around for even a little

while, I get these horrible pains.” She described them

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as toothache-like, deep pains in both legs. The pains

first started coming on whenever she did housework

or went out with friends… so she began to do fewer

of these activities and more chair-sitting.

“I felt very sad after my husband died, for sure …

but, to be honest, I also felt a bit of relief … it was

hard to see Howard so ill. And it was hard on me

taking care of him all those years—constantly lifting

him to transfer from the bed to the wheelchair, and so

on.” With the onset of Janet’s own pain and mobility

problems, however, her mood grew increasingly

depressed as she realized she was largely homebound

and cut off from activities and social connections.

Janet had been to several medical centers where

she’d been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis, and

she brought the MRI reports to show me. She had

been treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and mild

narcotics. “I eventually stopped all that because the

drugs weren’t really helping, and they just seemed to

be making me more down in the dumps and foggy in

the brain,” she said. Desperate for help, Janet had

consulted a couple of different neurosurgeons.

Although they thought she was healthy enough for

surgery (which is often not the case for an 84-year-

old), they refused to operate because Janet’s spinal

stenosis was at too many levels in the spinal canal and

would have required extensive surgery with an

uncertain outcome.

Homœopathy for Janet’s stenosis

Although Janet’s depression was certainly

colored by grief over the loss of her husband, I

believed the sustaining cause was the terrible pain

from spinal stenosis that had severely limited her

activities and left her isolated at home. So I asked

Janet to take Hekla lava 30c twice a day and Calcarea

fluorica 6x once day, in the manner described earlier.

Three weeks later, Janet called to report real

improvement in the stenosis pain. “At first I was

noticing that I could do more around the house,” she

told me, “and then after a few weeks, I decided to

venture out for groceries for the first time in a long

time—instead of paying to have them delivered. Not

only did I get to the store okay, but I was able to last

much longer than usual! The pains weren’t as bad,

and they didn’t come as often.”

By the end of the first month of homœopathic

treatment, Janet was occasionally forgetting to take

her remedy doses because the pain wasn’t limiting her

every move. She began to go out and visit friends

again, and she wasn’t so worried that pain would

interrupt her visits.

By the end of three months of homœopathic

treatment, Janet’s stenosis pains had decreased in

intensity and frequency so much that she began taking

the homœopathic remedies only when she felt she

needed them---specifically when the pain would start

up after sustained activity.

Stenosis pain gone?!

Six months after the start of treatment, Janet

stopped the remedies completely because she was

essentially pain-free! She went back for an MRI the

following month----and the neurosurgeons who read it

were puzzled by the fact that the multiple areas of

lumbar stenosis, clearly visible in previous imaging

studies, were no longer there!

Janet was extremely grateful to be back in action

again. Later that year, she sold her house and made

plans to move to another city where her daughter was

opening a new business. On her last visit to my

practice, I remember the joy in her face as she turned

to wave good-bye----smiling and ready to start her

new life. Two years later when I checked in on Janet,

she was still completely free of the deep stenosis

pains.

Stephanie: Lightning strikes

Stephanie, age 64, had suffered with severe left-

sided neck and arm pain for five years before coming

to see me. “It feels like lightning is striking!” she

said. “The pain travels down my shoulder into my

arm and hand really fast and gives me a terrible jolt.”

It was especially triggered when she turned her head,

when she drove, or when she did even very light

housekeeping. She had always enjoyed her annual

drive to Texas each winter from Illinois, but she had

had to give that up the last few years because of her

condition.

Stephanie had already seen several specialists and

been diagnosed with cervical foraminal stenosis;

specifically, severe narrowing of the nerve-root canals

of the vertebrae in her neck, which was pinching her

nerves. Her MRIs also showed degenerative changes

in her spine in multiple places. Stephanie had been

treated with anti-inflammatory medication, muscle

relaxants, physical therapy, neck traction, and

narcotics, but her pains were intractable. So she had

stopped all those treatments before coming to my

office and had decreased all her activities, in an effort

to reduce the excruciating pain.

A number of neurosurgeons had recommended

surgery, but Stephanie was not interested. After

examining her and reviewing her MRIs, I thought that

with the severity of her stenosis, her relatively young

age, and her otherwise good health, perhaps the

surgeons were correct and surgery would be

Stephbanie’s best bet. But Stephanie wanted to avoid

surgery at all costs, so I decided to see if we could

help her with Homœopathy.

Driving and cleaning again!

Stephanie began taking Hekla lava 30c twice a

day and Calcarea fluorica 6X once a day. After just

one month of homœopathic treatment, much to her

amazement (and mine!), Stephanie could clean her

house and make short driving trips around town

without much pain. After the second month of

homœopathic treatment, she was working in her

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garden “almost as if everything was back to normal.”

In the third month of treatment, Stephanie’s pain

worsened while cleaning her house, especially when

she hyper-extended her neck while emptying

cupboards. So I suggested she reduce the activities in

which she was hyper-extending her neck but keep

taking her daily homœopathic remedies. By the end

of her fourth month of treatment Stephanie found that

she could go back to cleaning in all positions, even

with a hyper-extended neck, and she did not have

pain. Over the fifth and sixth months of treatment,

she gradually became almost completely pain-free and

was back to diving and gardening. She had cut back

on how frequently she was taking the homœopathic

remedies at this point, as she was having few if any

problems with shoulder and arm pain. About 11

months into homœopathic treatment, she completely

stopped taking the remedies, as she no longer needed

them.

A treatment that lasts

Two years later (and three years after her

homœopathic treatment began), I checked in with

Stephanie to find out how she was doing. “I’m

completely fine!” she laughed. “No more lightning

pains---what a relief!” Her only complaint? “Well,

last week I was lifting 40-pound bags of limestone

and soil to spruce up my garden for spring, and now

my neck feels a little stiff…. But I think it’s just

regular muscle soreness---it’s already starting to feel

better.” Later in the fall of that year, Stephanie called

me with the happy report that she would soon be

making her annual drive to Texas for the winter.