Book Review
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 May / Jun VOL 5 NO 3.
Reviewed by
Dr S M Gunvante
Title : THE SOUL OF REMEDIES
Author : Dr Ranjan Sankaran
Pages : 241-24x16 cm:
Price : 250
This is a unique book of Materia Medica in that is does not follow the beaten track of presenting symptomatology of remedies taken from other books even of Masters. The inestimable value of the remedies presented here, as guides in the practice of a Homoeopath, lies in the fact that, in author's own words, "The material presented here has been observed and confirmed in my own practice; it is the material I am sure of. I have not included remedies of which I have little experience or knowledge. I have attempted to convey the innermost feeling or the basic delusion of the remedy while connecting the situation, source, miasm and kingdom. The rubrics and physical symptoms cited are the ones which I have observed repeatedly. And often used to confirm the remedy prescribed. These idea have helped me in my clinical practice and I wish to share them with the profession ".
Dr Sankaran adds, "There is a common misconception that I stress mental and emotional symptoms to the exclusion of physical symptoms. This is not my misconception. If I often seem to speak exclusively of the mental/emotional state, it is because understanding this requires some degree of insight into the patient as well as into the remedy and it is more difficult than noting physical symptoms. Nonethelsess, in practice, I give a lot of importance to physical symptoms, to the meaning of pathology and to the modalities which have to be matched with those of the remedy. Giving a remedy on a vague idea of the mental picture.... is risky and certainly not one that I follow or recommend."
The Introduction itself provides masterly guidance on how remedies should be studied and applied in practice. The book covers 100 remedies. Each remedy starts with general comments on its peculiar characteristics [sometimes illustrated with a case] followed by Rubrics [from Synthetic, Complete, Kent's or Phatak's repertories] Where appropriate, peculiar physical symptoms [found useful by the author] have also been added seperately.
The author emphasises 'This book is meant for those who have read "The Spirit of Homoeopathy" and "The substance of Homoeopathy" because it is these earlier works that most fully express my understanding of the Organon and Materia Medica. Without an understanding of my ideas on such things as case-taking, classification of remedies according to kingdom, miasms, etc. this book will not be of much benefit. This book may be used as an adjunct to the previous works, but not as a substitute.' In fact, the book is a coping stone [consummation] to the earlier works.
It will be seen from the foregoing that the entire book is a valuable gift to the profession in that 'The Rubrics and symtoms mentioned are those I see as the main rubrics of the remedy and which I use for confirming the remedy.'
So, need I stress that there is a book which, giving as it does symptoms of 100 remedies which have been clinically confirmed again and again in his own practice by a meticulous thinker and analyst will repay invariable reference before one prescribes what one thinks to be the simillimum. This reviewer has experienced this benefit and I feel it is 'MUST READ' for one who is keen to serve his patients efficiently, and give them the best that Homoeopathy offers.
