Book Review
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2000 Jan / Feb VOL II NO 1.
Reviewed By
Dr Sumit Chatterjee
Title: Universal Mineral Materia Medica
Author : Dr Ramesh D Jain
Co-Author : Dr Smita P Trivedi
Published By: Dinak Prakashan, Jain Homoeopathic Pharmacy, 2nd Gaothan Lane,
Opp P O, Andheri(W) Mumbai 400 058.
Edition: Jan 2000 1st
Price: 400
Pages: 596
The UMMM is a comprehensive book classifying drugs of the mineral kingdom according to the periodic table, so as to allow a comparative study. Another such book was of Scholten's which too was reviewed in the NJH last year.
The minerals of a particular group or series show a similarity in their physical and chemical properties. They also show a graded similarity in their symptomatology from the Homeopathic standpoint. First a brief introduction about the PT, then the Homoeopathic study of the characteristic features of the minerals according to their Groups are presented; eg Group 1A consists of Lithium, Natrum, Kalium, Rubidium, Cesium and Francium).
This Series 1-7 has been studied under the following heads:
Constitutional miasm, sphere of action, depth and direction of action, thermal modality, sensitivity and susceptibility, mind, potency and remedy relationship.
First the common features of the Group, then each mineral individually and then its salts.
Thus a full study of the drug is undertaken from the physio-chemical and physio-pahtological point of view. Many clinically proved drugs and new preparations have also been recommended. At the end are illustrative clinical cases.
The get-up also is impressive- hard-bound jacket, on art paper and fairly accurate printing.
Clinicians, research workers and pharmacologists would all benefit from this book
Dr SM Gunavante adds:
This unique book with a foreword by Dr. Anil Bhatia is capable of taking the Homoeopathic Professional to new heights of success, if one takes full advantage of its systematic arrangement of remedies following the periodic table.
The well rounded study of each remedy can be seen from the following excerpts from the description of CALCAREA (p.129); Introduction: Calcium (Ca) is a form giving and form maintaining bio-colloid ... Calcium oxide (quick lime),... Calcium Hydroxide (slaked lime) .... Calcium chloride ... Gypsum used for plaster of paris. Calcium nitrate a coagulant.... Calcium Carbonate.... Calcium Phosphate present in animal bones.... Calcium carbide.... Normal Value: sources: milk, cheese .....
Patho-Physiology: cations are very important in regulation of neuro-muscular irritability and hormonal control .....Calcium activates a number of enzymes.....Blood: (a) Ca stimulates activation of clotting factors (b) It increases motility and phagocytic activity of granulocytes .... (c) it stimulates lymph glands and the thymus .... Heart: Ca increases contraction of cardiac muscle during systolic phase; bradycardia, finally heart stands still... Common medicines of Calcarea group....
Common Indications: Ailments from: Direction of action....miasm...constitution...Pain and inflammation...sphere of action....Tongue, taste and discharges....Depth of action .... pH reaction....Thermal; Modality:....Sensibility and susceptibility (reactivity).... Reversible or irreversible changes.....Electro-magnetic forces.... Food habits.... MIND....
Modalities & Remedy Relationship. The author has rendered a distinct service for the progress of Homoeopathy by including PATHO-PHYSIOLOGY in the prescriptive Totality. This is fully in accordance with Aphorisms 106 and 192 in which Hahnemann has emphasized that "the whole pathogenetic effects of medicines must be known, i e all the morbid symptoms and alteration in health...to form a complete picture of the disease, to find a remedy corresponding to the totality of symptoms of the patient.
This book is replete with serious and chronic cases cured with the remedies given. Witness: A case of Ischaemic Heart Disease with extreme myocardial Infarction with bifascicular block with CCF with diabetes mellitus. (p.308). Hyperthyroidism (p.175-Baryta-iod). Dentition Diarrhoea with hyper pyrexia with acetonuria (Mag-ph 6x-p.177). Diabetes mellitus with enteritis obliterans (Silicea - p 420). Five cases of Selenium (pp.537-539).
I feel the study and application of its teachings in practice of Homoeopathy would help Homoeopaths to achieve success and prevent cases from going into Allopathic hands.
A repertorial index on the lines of the Title headings and Guiding Indications of remedies would facilitate its use.
S M GUNAVANTE, Member of the Editorial Board, NJH
