Book Review
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 May / Jun VOL VII NO 4.
Reviewed by
Dr Nina H Doshi
Title: Lotus Materia Medica - Homoeopahtic And Spagyric Medicine
Author: Robin Murphy ND
Published by: Lotus Star Academy, 538 Village Drive, Suite 4028. Pagosa Springs. Colorado USA 81147
Edition: 1st 1995
Pages:1876
Price:US $89 + Postage
Dr Robin Murphy, a well known Hom teacher and author of numerous books, including the best seller Hom medical repertory, presents the present extensive text akin to a modern Boericke. Over 1200 Hom, spagyric [plant alchemy] and herbal medicines are listed in alphabetical order from Abel-moschus to Zizia-aurea. Each remedy is reviewed in detail in the following scheme: names, pharmacy, folklore, medical, mind, clinical, anatomy, physiology, commentaries, comparisons, relationships and sources. The writing of Allen, Anshutz, Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Cooper, Hall, Hahnemann, Julian, Paracelsus, Phatak and Radamacher form the sources from which the remedy images are compiled, formatted and updated.(check MS) It is the most comprehensive single volume on Materia Medica currently available. I have not seen any other book also including Bach flower remedies.
The Lotus Materia Medica can prove to be a worthy complement to the medical repertory by the same author. This magnum opus is an invaluable practical guide neatly printed on fine Bible paper. It is well bound for durability and a must for every Homoeopath.
We do hope an Indian edition will be available shortly, as this price will prove to be forbidding to the average Indian reader.
An example of the detailed presentation of a remedy such as a rare remedy [Aurum-sulph] will give an indication of the worth of the text.
Aurum-sulphuratum [Gold Sulphide]
Pharmacy: Aur-s. Aurum-sulphuratum. Gold sulphide.
Historical dose: Trituration and all potencies.
Folklore: This valuable gold preparation has been used with success in Aurum-met cases with some Sulphur indications.
Planets: Sun, Moon.
Medical: Aurum-sulphuratum has been proved and following are the most striking symptoms:
- Constant nodding of head. Lancinations in occiput. Redness and swelling of nose, crusts, dry coryza, great insensitiveness to least contact.
- Sensitiveness to touch was observed in other parts. Inclined to vomit after eating. Bedwetting. Impotence. Lancinations in penis. Heaviness in genitals. Heat, Lancinations and itching of vulva. Swelling of the breasts, painful to touch, cracked nipples, sharp pain in point of nipples. Thick yellowish leucorrhoea, especially in morning.
- Staggering gait. Weariness. Frightful dreams: thieves etc.
- It has Induration and ulceration around the nose, lips and genitals with intense itching of skin. Parkinson's disease with constant nodding of the head.
- Mind: Desire for solitude. Disgust for life
- Clinical: Bedwetting. Goiter. Head, nodding. Impotence. Jaundice. Breasts disorders. Nightmare. Nose, swelling. Parkinson's disease. Pruritus vulvae. Staggering.
- Breasts: swelling of breasts, painful to touch. cracks on nipples
- Eyes: Redness of eyelids. Morning agglutination. Stye near outer canthus. Photophobia. Face- Cracked lips
- Female- Thick, yellowish leucorrhea, especially in the morning. Irregular menstruation. Sensitiveness of uterus to touch.
- Head- constant nodding of head. Continual rush of blood to head. Lancinations in occiput. Itching of scalp, worse night. Burning and smarting of scalp. Falling of hair.
- Heart- Palpitation when ascending a height
- Kidneys- Nocturnal bedwetting. Thick, yellow, red and sandy urine.
- Lungs: Nightly paroxysms of loud cough. Hard cough with scanty expectoration of pure blood. Suffocating attacks at night.
- Male-Frequent erections with desire for embrace, ceasing immediately. Impotence.
- Mouth -redness, swelling and bleeding of gums. Aphthae.
- Nose- redness and swelling of nose, crusts on nose, sensitiveness to least contact.
- Sleep- Troublesome frightful dreams of thieves or assassins.
- Stomach- Great thirst. Watery belching tasting of ingesta. Frequent hiccough. Very slow digestion. Throat- swelling of thyroid.
