Burning Question
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 Jul / Aug VOL 5 NO 4.
Please refer to the Readers' Page of Magnesium issue. A controversy has been raised about the non-institutionally trained Homoeopaths and whether articles and experiences of these practitioners should be published in a leading Journal like NJH. We invited comments from eminent persons and they are reproduced below to start the discussions on this topic.
View 1 : Dr Kumar M Dhawale writes: Dr M L Dhawale [his father] was born with a "Homoeopathic silver spoon in his mouth." His grandfather, a village school teacher, had built a considerable reputation, as a lay practitioner of Homoeopathy. The village folks paid for his services in kind and not in cash. It is doubtful whether he would have accepted any fees. The ethics of a school teacher would not have permitted it. The books and medicines were donated by the local Marwari businessmen and the investment was only in terms of time and effort and this received ample recognition. The cholera epidemic saw his clinic full while the govt allopathic dispensary was empty.
View 2 : THE SESHADRI PHENOMENON
Homoeopathy always interested lay persons, more than the medical profession. Many lay persons have rendered really good service to the ill by restoring them to health when qualified physicians had failed miserably in the job.
Boenninghausen was not a physician. but he made an outstanding contribution to Homoeopathy. He was logical to a fault! This irritated Dr Kent.
Mercenaries, qualified as well as unqualified, abound in all walks of life. Homoeopathy is no exception to the general rule. Quacks also sail in the same boat; we have the unqualified as well as the qualified ones; the latter more dangerous[?]
Is Homoeopathy so dangerous that we should prohibit its practice by those who have not gone to Homoeopathic medical college? The laws we have enacted is proof that we believe it to be so. Is the evidence conclusive? I doubt.
In the process, are we helping to kill Homoeopathy? We need to examine this issue a little more and in detail.
It should be possible for us to help this section of genuine Homoeopaths to become better in their field in which they have exhibited unusual interest. We have done the opposite: we have taken effective steps to block their charitable activity through legislative sanctions from principles and practice of Homoeopathy.
View 3 : Metamorphosis of a physician : [principles and practice of Homoeopathy by Dr. Hughes pg 555.]
We have to break down the rigid barrier of relevance - irrelevance and develop the attitude of flexibility and openness of mind which is essential if receptivity to new ideas is to be re-established.
View 4 : JRD Tata never went to a college - Should he have been banned from becoming a successful businessman?
View 5 :Albert Einstein - A student who was given up as hopeless. Should he have been banned from becoming a scientist?
View 6 :The most current example - Bill Gates was shy to the extreme- his mother even went to a counselor. Should he have been disallowed to explore the career in most advanced communication skills.
View 7 : Lay Homoeopaths Vis A Vis Qualified Homoeopaths
In order to judiciously address this topic, it is worthwhile to understand what do we mean by 'Lay" and 'Qualified " is a is eligibility to practice Homoeopathy. As we all know Homeopathy is an intimate admixture of Science and Philosophy of Nature. Its fundamentals constitutes its science whereas the artistic application of its basic tenets is directed by its philosophy.
Science is materialistic hence easy to conceive by even an average mind but Philosophy is dynamic and requires sufficient powers of imagination and comprehension.
Now coming to the point, history reveals that since the time of the master, many nonmedical intellectuals took up to Homoeopathy by accident. they not only practiced Homeopathy but ahs left unperishable impressions their contributions in the field of clinical application, for we qualified practitioners to use for eg. the Repertory of Dr Boenninghausa, who took up to Homeopathy by chance was acclaimed and used by the master himself. Drs Mary Evan, Trinks, Gross and others like them were not 'qualified' Homeopathic graduates but their contributions to this system are incredible and cannot be overlooked. Some of them have even played pivotal roles in casting this apparently looking hypothetical system into a scientific mode of drug therapeutics. Even in recent decades we have scholars like George Vitholkaus, Catherine Coulter, Dr M L Dhawale [though MD in medicine, was not intitutionally qualified Homeopath with DHMS or BHMS qualification.As far as I know, homoepathy came to vidarbha, about 80 years back at the behest of lay homeopaths at that time there were no colleges. It is these laymen who kept the Homeopathic lamp lit. Today we are enjoying the fruits of their labours.
Hence, I find no reason why so called institutionally qualified Homoeopathic graduates should object to the contributions by these dedicated philosophically oriented 'homoeopaths'
Hereunder, I enlist some of the prime qualities of Lay persons which have rendered them QUALIFIED to contribute their share-
a] Mental Maturity and Philosophical bent of mind
b] They are ethical, sincere and devoted to the purpose.
c] Non commercial intent
Of course the notable drawbacks are-
a] They lack the necessary knowledge of basic and clinical sciences etc.
b] Lack experience in treating patients and bedside training.
But, against this, the state of majority of qualified Homoeopaths is all the more heart breaking as a result of poor standards of Homoeopathic education. Practically every Homoeopathic college in our country is being controlled by first grade laymen sycotic touts. they simply utilize these institutions as money making machines.
Over and above this the students, who are taking admissions, come with an intention to become a "Doctor" and not a Homoeopath. So, for the, illexperienced teachers and poor standards of education is a blessing.
The lucky few who are doing true Homeopathy are the ones who have either a family background or has received training under a competent hand or had to himself burn midnight oil to perceive. Even I had to offer myself in totol at the feet of Dr JNK, for whatever I am today. From my own experience, I cans ay that no Homeopathic institution can claim to produce confident neophytes who can open their chambers and practise as Homeopath right from the first day.
A note of caution, in the recent times it has been observed that some enthusiastic young practitioners with hardly 5-10 years of professional standing, have started conducting seminars to advocate their own concepts without any convincing sanction from Organon and with the help of HiFi impressive techniques- a dangerous trend indeed.
Are these professionals not doing more harm to the system than the benign Laymen?
I am afraid, time is not very far when these very Homeopathic Graduates will pervert the entire Homeopathic world and covert the only rational mode of therapeutics into materialistic science just like what has happened in the West.
Hence, we must not behave like fanatics. We must permit any and every form of contribution, no matter what is the source but of course accept and publish them with an unprejudiced, strong, rationalized editorial comments at the end, keeping Hahnemann's Organon as the base.
NJH family will never favor the practice of Homoeopathy by those who are not registered with the Homeopathic medical council, as it is illegal but will never hesitate to learn from any source as far as it is Homoeopathic.
We strongly believe in the Upanishad "Let noble thoughts come from everywhere"
Dr Kasim Chimthana-Wala
View 9 :
As far as the articles in the NJH are concerned, any article, case record, if good, should be taken up for publishing. It does not at all matter whether the pudding is made by the diploma holder in Hotel Management or by an illiterate housewife. "The proof of the pudding lies in the eating."
I do not think that an expert Homeopath can be produced in our colleges, he becomes an expert only after leaving his academic subjects; ie years after reading pages after pages, burning the midnight oil.
Just by taking a degree or diploma, no one becomes an expert in the system. It is his ardent liking for the subject and the intense desire for study to become an expert that is making him a good Homoepath.
I have seen expert prescriptions of a single dose form layman and the 'worst of worst ' form BHMS The other day, I saw a prescription from a BHMS, for the viral fever: Rhus tox 200, Bryonia alb 200, Gels 200 abb to be alternated every two hourly." The patient became so worse after 3 days and later 3 doses of Eupatorium Per 1M given by me cured the patient quickly.
Dear Readers, please tell me honestly; WHO IS GUILTY? Only he lazy ones should be guilty and punishable.
Instead of blaming and accusing our own fellow professionals, let us utilize that time for studying Homoeopathy, for which at least one more rebirth is required.
Dr K J James
View 10 :
The doctors are trained in a particular system of medicine and after training get engaged in he business of treating the mankind in that particular system. For example a student of Homoeopathy is required to study Homeopathic Philosophy, Organon and consult various repertories when handling a case. And while taking a case he has to be careful and alert to take it with its minutest details. On the other hand allopathic system is based on to a great extent on subjective symptoms and pathological findings. In the similar fashion systems like Ayurveda , Yunani , Siddha etc, a different and divergent philosophy and Pharmacopoea is followed and practiced.
The articles/writings of such doctors cannot escape the influence of their respective
systems. An Allopath while prescribing Homoeopathic medicine is bound to dilute his
prescription and certainly cannot do justice with the patients. This trend is very much in
evidence these days which requires to be checked.
To curb any dilution and damage to the practice of pure and Hahnemanian
Homoeopathy , the articles to be published in a magazine like NJH must confine to the
writings of only such doctors who faithfully confess practicing true Homeopathy,
irrespective of the system they profess.
We must also strive to revive certain misconceptions in the minds of the public and the
practitioners about pure Homoepathy as also plead for and promote more and more
research work in Homoepathy and taking it to the doctors for the welfare and benefit of
suffering mankind.
Dr Dwarka Dass
View 11 :
Dr. Vashist from Secunderabad rushed in his note on 30/9/1997 and as a post script added the directive of the Apex court is timely and very correct. He says "I endorse the news that a practioner can only practice the science he has qualified in the above should not affect the NJH policy as any person can contribute his views thoughts and ideas.It is upto the Editorial Board and evaluate.If found helpful to homeopathy it should be printed. His qualification religion and nationality should not stand in the way.
Conclusion :
Editor : Indian Homoeopaths have started many courses for foreigners to train them in Homoeopathy, both in India & abroad. Most of these foreigners have come from diverse fields like housewives, cobblers, laymen. Today's leading light George Vithoulkas came from an Engineering background.
I went to USA for a few months and I saw some patients but as per their rules I was not qualified and could be sued for treating the patients.
In USA, Homoeopathy is practiced under the umbrella of chiropractic, family practice etc.
It is also true that you may find a brilliant lay practitioner and a dull qualified practitioner!
We should know as we receive hundreds of articles giving half a case and a follow up with no indication as to why a particular remedy was selected . And this from some trained Homoeopaths.
So NJH takes a decision that we will accept honorably anyone who is a registered practitioner, provided his study and knowledge appears through case-reporting.
Our own Editorial Board has Mr Gunavante, whose knowledge cannot be questioned and our author bank has similar people and also Allopathic MBBS doctors who contribute, so think deeply and give your opinion.The argument that if Lay Homoeopaths practice, they will elbow out or leave no room for qualified youngsters, also holds no water.There is enough space for all. Just as doctors grow in number so does the population. And, in the final analysis, one stands on one's merits and not on one's qualification. So think deeply and reach your own conclusions. And take your own actions.Most importantly "Lets Burn our Egos"
