Synopsis
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1996 Mar / Apr Vol V No 2.
Parinaz Humranwala.
This is the first issue of the European Journal of Classical Homoeopathy published under the guidance and editorship of George Vithoulkas for the propagation of classical Homoeopathy. In India, B Jain publishers shoulder the responsibility to reprint and circulate the journal in the Indian subcontinent and its neighbouring countries.
Vithoulkas in his editorial, announces that the foremost aim of this journal is to create a teaching forum in the hands of all classical Homoeopaths who have the desire and will to serve this science. In this issue G Vithoulkas begins a prologue on "Homoeopathy: Art or Science: What is the ideal mixture for an effective prescription?" The author deplores the artistic distortions that are injected into the main body of knowledge by the "imagination" and "projections" of some "teachers" of Homoeopathy. "Whenever such imagination plays a major role in the choosing of the remedy, interpretations seem to be more subjective, more numerous, of wide discrepancy and less scientific. Interpreting the sensations and feelings of a patient into something beyond their meaning and reality is a dangerous road for a Homoeopath to take", says George Vithoulkas and he fears that the long term damage done to Homoeopathy will be irreparable.
To what extent does our pathology shape our destiny - or even our genius? Dr. Zafiriou, the eminent consultant at the Athenian Centre of Homoeopathic Medicine, investigates this matter and asks some pertinent questions in this article, "How Freuds Arsenicum pathology was instrumental in his founding of Psycho- analysis".
Anhalonium a remedy not well known in revealed in detail. Anhalonium cases fall primarily into two categories: those who are on the spiritual path and tying to evolve, and those who have come out of the drug culture and are literally trying to survive. In both these groups you will meet pathology needing treatment with specific remedies, one of them being Anhalonium. The peculiarity of Anhalonium is that the involuntary visions, which are often quite colourful, do not frighten the individual. There is a flight of the imagination (an exaltation of fancies) as if the cerebral circulation had suddenly been tremendously activated, and the individual seems to slip into a world of visions and delusions. He has impression that he is merging with the environment, and he becomes confused about his identity. These overpowering visual illusions completely compromise his ability to function in the world. Fear, apprehension, dread of people and anthropophobia are other important features of this lesser known remedy.
How can Homoeopathy help a three year old child, born with one half of the brain missing and the other half damaged, thought G Vithoulkas when he prescribed for such a child in Bangalore during his visit in 1994. The child was a total vegetable with severe convulsive involuntary movements of the eyes with divergent strabismus of the right eye, a condition that was exaggerated in bright light. During the epileptic fits some twitching was apparent. Agaricus 30 in repeated doses was given. After nine months even after reducing his allopathic medication there were no epileptic attacks, she was able to sit by herself, stand without support and the strabismus stopped.
The rest of the issue comprises the Research section, cases and glances on Homoeopathy in Poland and Bulgaria. The section on Education throws light on The International Academy of Classical Homoeopathy in Alonissos Greece. All in all an educating issue which will be well accepted by the Indian Subcontinent.
"Homoeopathy in Bombay" is a fortnightly Bulletin by Homoeopathic study circle edited by Dr. Abhay Chheda. This bulletin endeavours to bring forth notes of the lectures conducted by Homoeopathic Study Circles and major seminars in Bombay. A detailed report with important views and suggestions are presented. This effort will be helpful for those who were unable to attend, and will certainly be helpful for those who attend seminars as they can now concentrate on listening instead of jotting down notes.
Influenza is a contagious acute disease caused by a virus and characterized by fever, prostration, aches and pains with inflammation of the respiratory mucous membrane. Among the drugs used often are Aconite, Ant-tart, Bryonia and Sulphur.
Nat-mur and Our Convulsive Age - by L R Twentyman portrays Nat-mur as the mirror of our age. During and after the Second World War, the late Dr. John Paterson was noticing, in the course of his work on bowel bacteria, that an increasing number of patients showed the organism Proteus in their stool cultures. Before the war Morgan had been the commonest organism, but Proteus became more and more common. Morgan Nosode and associated remedies were related to the Liver by John Paterson.
The Dysentery-co nosode he related to the heart and epigastric regions, Gaertner to the lungs and Proteus and its remedies, including Nat Mur find the basis of their action in the kidney and suprarenal system.
Rudolf Steiner the founder of anthroposophy was responsible for finding mistletoe which had distinct carcinostatic and cytostatic effectiveness. Mistletoe activates the immunological defence mechanism by increasing phagocytosis, activating leukopoiesis and stimulating the thymus and spleen. What none of the well known cytostatic agents achieved had been attained by the mistletoe extract called Iscador. Rita Leroi reports a few cases to stress of the efficacy of Iscador therapy.
Geriatrics is a point of view, a philosophy, as well as a medical speciality. The prostate gland which serves man faithfully until about the sixth decade of life has an aging process which causes many major and minor physiological problems. Allen Neiswander suggests Nux-vom, Bell, Chimaphila, Pipsissewa, Staphysagria, Gelsemium as remedies for Prostate problems. Alkalinity is a problem with prostate trouble because it provides a very suitable environment for the growth of bacteria and allows precipitation of phosphates. The way to keep the urine acidic is to drink cranberry lemon juice diluted with equal amount of water and taken unsweetened. When this regimen is followed the alkaline-acid reaction of the urine can change from 8.0 to 6.0 overnight, recommends Frederic Schmidt.
Dr. J N Kanjilals article "Is Hahnemann outdated by the modern developments in therapeutics? concludes that Hahnemann is not at all outdated; his date seems yet to begin.
This is the inaugural issue of "Health News Letter" a journal of Centre of Homoeopathic Cure edited by Dr. Arup Bhattacharya.
Dr. Verman Coleman opines that iatrogenesis is a major cause of illness in modern society.
The journey of human life is a wonderful miracle beginning with the stage of conception and ending at death. In this series The Human Miracle the editor plans to give the unique features, known to science of today, of each stage of development during the journey from birth to death. Dr. Bhattacharya and Dr. Sule begin from fertilization and go on to explain weekly developing movement patterns in the fetus.
The physiology of Blood Pressure and the stages of Malaria with different species of Plasmodium are explained.
According to Dr. William Ellis milk is a contributing factor in constipation, chronic fatigue, arthritis, headaches, muscle cramps, obesity, allergies and heart problems. Is garlic-the health panacea? discusses the editor giving details about its chemistry.
Many times, that which we inherit is either taken for granted or called "classical". Such is the case for many of the contributions of Johan Rademacher. Although he himself was a contemporary of Hahnemann, Rademacher developed his system of pragmatic medicine independently of Homoeopathy.
Instead, he utilized a mode of prescribing inspired by Paracelsus. However, the result was so compatible that many Homoeopaths today make use of the concepts of genus epidemicus, organ remedies, and other implications of his work, without appreciating their source. The background discussion, in The Legacy of Rademacher" is presented by Jerome Whitney as an aid towards understanding the nature of the relationship of the pragmatic anti-theoretical Rademacher to his esoteric and pragmatic mentor.
A case of a lady in her mid-forties who had a dominating father and later a flippant boss. She was the second child of her mother with innumerable half sisters and brothers. A brother she was close to, was shot in an accident when she was 23. She was panic-stricken with palpitations and too frightened to sleep. She had many fears - including the fear of illness, the dark, sudden noises, poverty, old age, of making mistakes and going wrong. Food cravings - bread, butter, pasta, salt and chocolates. Her much older sister was killed when she was found to be pregnant at 16 years; her father stabbed her to death, for dishonoring the family. Her father died when she was 13 and as soon as she was old enough, she had sex with everyone in sight and had three abortions from the age of 17 to 23. She was sympathetic and loved admiration. The author, Peter Chappell gave her Phosphorus and later Tuberculinum but it could not help the panic situation in her mind. Previously she dreamt that she was driving a car without brakes. The feeling brought out was fear of being non-existent any minute. Aconite prescribed in LM potency eased her mental state.
Sponges are considered to be the first multicellular animals; their fossils have been traced back to the pre-combrain era, 650 million years ago. They are highly resistant to destruction and therefore extinction. Resistance is a key word in the study of the Homoeopathic remedy Spongia. A detailed study of Spongia corresponding with its doctrine of signature is given by Jo Evans. Sponges are a bunch of cells, aggregated together, with some cells, the collar cells, acting as feeding cells; but there is virtually no communication between the different parts of the body. In addition, the body form is not constant, and if you pulled a sponge apart, each part would continue to live and grow. Another signature is revealed in the sponges organs of respiration: its many pores and their inner structures, which also serve as its organs of reproduction and digestive system. Spongia experiences suffocative spells during menses, asthma with absent menses, hunger and palpitation of the heart before menses. A look under the rubric Respiration difficult in the Kents repertory shows that Spongia is the only block type remedy for difficult respiration during menses. Under the same rubric we find Iodum, Sulphur, and Calc-carb. Spongia also has difficult respiration with suppressed menses. Spongias cough is better from eating and drinking. The affinity with the heart if reflected anatomically in the sponges collar cell with its beating flagellum, pumping the water through the Sponges inhalant pores so that it can extract oxygen and nutrients. The sponge breathers by moving water in and out of its pores. The respiratory system in spongia is congested, with a feeling of exhaustion, heaviness, swelling and dryness of the passage.
Sanicula-acqua is potentised mineral spring water from the Sanicula source Ottawa, Illinois. An anti-psoric and polychrest of great potential, especially in the treatment of children, that is often overlooked in favour of better known remedies with very similar symptom pictures. Two cases of eczema reported are cured with this remedy. Sanicula contains Nat-mur, Calc-mur, Mag-mur, Calc-carb, Nat-brom, Ferrum-carb, Nat-iod, Silicea and traces of Borax, LIthium-carb, Nat-phos. If a childs picture seems to look like a combination of Silicea and Calc-phos or like Cal-carb but with the wrong temperatures modalities think of Sanicula.
Natrum-phos is a remedy "too closed for Phosphorus, too fearful for Nat-mur." Nat-phos is a lot like Nat-mur. However the former tell us their story in a very open and easy way. They are more tactile and physically affectionate and desirous of company than we might expect.
Dr Shore conducted a series of "dream provings" of two spiders - Latrodectus - mactans and Atrax robustus. The provings of Latrodectus revealed such themes as: being an outcast, one who is suddenly rejected by the group; a psychic sensitivity in general and a specific sensitivity to danger; anarchy and revolution. The themes apparent are: Life and Death; the outcast; Deceit and Crime, Intrigue a nd Politics.
Two cases of Ambra-grisea are presented. In one case the factors central to the remedy choice were the specific etiology of a loss of ones relative coupled with leukoplakia, rectal haemorrhage, and a shy, timid personality. The other case displayed the following symptoms which led to the prescription of Ambra-grisea - ailments from a reversal of fortune. Fear of poverty, anxiety aggravated by
thinking about it, asthma worse from emotion or excitement. Ambra may display breathing problems due to slight causes, anxiety, anything unusual. Ambra individuals may become embittered by fate and feel powerless to defend themselves against the vicissitudes of life.
Dr. Ahmed Currim offers us a sampling of another of his recent projects - the publication of several previously unpublished lectures given by Dr. James Tyler Kent.
The three sets of lectures complied by the author will be published as one book within the year by Hahnemann International Institute of Homoeopathic Documentation.
A case report describes a patient with Ludwigs Angina. The patient previously developed an allergic skin reaction to antibiotic treatment. As an alternative, he requested Homoeopathic treatment. Within 24 hours his septic fever decreased to normal, while the submandibular swelling transformed into a hemispherical infiltration at the angle of the mandible. From the infiltration a serosanguinous liquid oozed through a drainage hole without surgical intervention for about ten days. The swelling disappeared completely and the patient recovered without any sequelae. Remedies used were Lachesis, Echinacea, Myristica, Hepar-sulph and Anthraxinum.
The bowel microflora in the adult are highly variable. These bacteria serve many important functions - infection resistance, immune system "priming", nutrient production, enzyme augmentation, substance detoxification. Detection of a particular bacterium in an individual does not imply abnormality as such organisms are often transitory "visitors" to the gut. This, basing a prescription of a bowel nosode upon stool bacteriological studies would be inaccurate. Their prescription can only reliably be predicated upon clinical symptomatology explains Henry Williams in his article on Bowel Nosodes - A Re-look.
The rest of the issue entails reports, book reviews and clinical snapshots.
