This book review is reprinted with the permission of the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians
Hahnemann Revisited
by Luc De Schepper
Reviewed by Peter Morrell
Hahnemann Revisite& A Textbook of Classical Homeopathy for the Profes-
sional. Full of Life Publications, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
This new, large-format textbook is composed of three sections: "The
Foundations," "The Healing Process," and "The Chronic Miasms," divided
into 25 chapters and four appendices. It also contains 44 diagrams.
This is undoubtedly an important new textbook that is comprehensive, de-
tailed and authoritative. It provides the reader with a sound introductory
grounding in every aspect of homeopathy, apart from materia medica, although
it does give some brief guidance on that too. It is supplemented by detailed
information on case analysis [replete with numerous examples],
miasms, nosodes and the LM potencies. It is rounded off with a useful
bibliography and a "further reading" section.
This book gives a very clear and detailed exposition of some topics
only previously explored superficially, if at all, by other authors. It
therefore fills a much-needed gap in the literature. It is especially valuable
in its detailed treatment of the LM potencies, which will be welcomed by
all students. Though a much neglected area, considerable helpful advice
is given to the reader by Dr. Schepper, which draws on his extensive clinical
experience with this approach. It also has good sections on homeopathy
and cancer [chapter 24]; sample cases reviewed in depth [appendix 4]; homeopathy
and Traditional Chinese Medicine [appendix 5]; miasms (chapters 19-25];
bowel nosodes [chapter 18]; suppression [chapter 13]; how to learn materia
medica [chapters 10 and 11].
By its sheer scope and detail, the text recommends itself as one of
the best modern textbooks on the subject that is currently available. It
is written with great clarity and might be seen to comprise a modem version
of Kent's Lectures, Close's Lectures and Vithoulkas's Science of Homeopathy,
all rolled into one. Such a claim is not very far wide of the mark.
Indeed, if a student only purchased this book, a materia medica and a good
repertory, it is hard to see how they could not soon become an excellent
practitioner. Above all, it guides the reader to become an effective and
diligent practitioner.
Detailed study of the text provides the student with an excellent grounding in how to practice homeopathy and how to become a skilled and successful practitioner.
It is definitive, authoritative and comprehensive in scope, content,
and detail, providing also in places some sound historical perspectives,
against which to view certain aspects of the subject, for example, miasms
and nosodes. It is hard to find words to convey the richness, usefulness
and
clarity of the text.
Whichever other general text one compares it with, this book comes out
very favorably. I therefore, recommend it most highly as an extremely valuable
addition to the literature, for students and established practitioners
alike. People at every level of understanding can read this book and derive
some benefit from it. Regardless of one's level of experience, some profit
can be acquired from reading this book. It enriches one's understanding
and one's expertise. In some cases this enrichment will be very great.
In particular, the outstanding sections on miasms, nosodes, constitutions
and the L*M potencies, are extremely useful additions to the literature,
simply
because the information is not available elsewhere, and certainly not
in such a clear and detailed format. Complex and difficult topics are addressed
with clarity and energy. It is beautifully laid out and presented.
Along with established texts by such greats as Kent, Close and Roberts,
it seems certain that this book will quickly and easily establish itself
as a popular general textbook on homeopathy. It seems destined to become
a favorite in the colleges and to become a classic text in the field for
many years to come. Its detailed appraisal of many subjects is much
better than that found in some smaller texts.
We now come to some quotation material, which hopefully conveys the way each topic is examined in a new, original and elegant manner; the way little gems and insights are littered throughout the text; the way it is lavishly filled with examples at every turn, drawn from the author's personal experience; the way it is written, with great clarity, energy and detail, emphasizing key points in diagrammatic form or by use of bullet indents to summarize a topic.
"Virchow, the celebrated German anatomist and physiologist, said, 'If I could live my life over again, I would devote it to proving that germs seek their natural habitat - unhealthy tissue - rather than being the cause of unhealthy tissue."' [p. 18]
"Allopathic medicine has never tested remedies on healthy persons... before prescribing them for the sick. This is where Hahnemann's approach was revolutionary." [p. 32]
"Hahnemann took his discovery one step further... Mercury and Quinine...
were found to have even greater healing powers when potentised.. the curative
power of a remedy... is in inverse proportion to their material quantity;
and that their medicinal power can be enhanced [or developed in
an inert substance] by dilution and succussion or trituration." [pp.
33-4]
"It is well known that many homeopaths oppose vaccination across the board... Land]... that these diseases had already declined, due to improvements in sanitation and public health, at the same rate in countries which never had mandatory vaccinations and those that have." [p. 46]
"Remedies such as Carcinosin and Staphysagria [which complement each
other] should always be in the differential diagnosis for children with
emotional or physical symptoms due to authoritarian and domineering
parents." [p. 135]
A superb diagram on page 148 shows how a typical Calcarea carbonica child can change at age two to become a Lycopodium, Phosphorus or Sulphur type and then at puberty to change again. This is a very useful and insightful approach to materia medica and viewing the case, as well as the diagram being a good way to illustrate this idea.
The whole chapter on constitutions is superb and not only diseases, constitutional types, layers of remedies, but also a rare modem discussion of the "Hippocratic Temperaments" is given, which is a treat. It also gives remedy links for the temperaments, and links them also to the five elements of TCM and the acupuncture meridians. This is original and enlightening material.
"While the humors literally represented fluids thought to circulate
in the body, metaphorically each became associated with a prevailing emotion:
blood with joy, called the sanguine temperament [from the Latin sanguis,
blood]; phlegm with worry and contemplative calm, the phlegmatic
temperament; yellow bile with anger, called the bilious temperament;
and black bile with sadness, called the melancholic temperament ... equilibrium
of the humors and moods was necessary for health..." LP. 156]
"Unlike allopathic drugs, which must be given with extreme caution during pregnancy, remedies are ideal treatments for the pregnant woman." [p. 202]
Regarding suppression, we read: "The stronger the suppressive treatments, the more the internal symptoms will be aroused. This should be a lesson to the practitioner and patient alike not to mix allopathic and homcopathic prescriptions." [p. 2521
"Surgical removal of polyps, hemorrhoids, fistulae, and inflamed tonsils, adenoids and appendixes should be postponed until homeopathy has been given a chance to heal them, which it often does." [p. 2561
"Since allopathic medicine and homeopathy are based on opposite laws, the homeopath's task is made more difficult [not impossible] through continued drug suppression. The homeopath has to battle constantly against heavy odds to demonstrate the superiority of homeopathy." [p. 271]
"...homeopathy is superior to allopathy because the material doses of
allopathic drugs have a pathogenic action. They produce new symptoms, euphemistically
called side-effects ... they compel a defensive or eliminative reaction
which exhausts the already weakened Vital Force. The ma-
terial dose is a toxic dose." [pp. 309-1 01
The book contains many insights about nosodes and miasms: "The Medorrhinum person, for example, loves parties, 'sex, drugs and rock'n'roll,' and staying out late at night in the darkness." [p. 321 ]
"Tuberculinum also has a particular indication which the other nosodes do not share: when symptoms are constantly changing and well-selected remedies do not help..." [p. 321 ]
An excellent "spider diagram" on page 326 summarizes the general approach
to use of nosodes, where lack of symptoms, family history or "never well
since" conspire to spoil a case from the traditional angle or where well-indicated
remedies fail to act for long. He also has some useful
comments to make about the Bowel Nosodes, used so often in English
homeopathy.
"...bowel nosodes can produce miracles in tenacious, difficult cases.
But always use the similar remedy first unless you absolutely cannot find
it.... using a bowel nosode ... [really I has moved these cases along.
I have found them most helpful for eczema, asthma, enuresis, and anticipation
anxiety, in that order." [p. 345]
"Hahnemann also mentions that pregnancy is an ideal time to treat the mother with an antipsoric remedy, because the woman's increased sensitivity makes her internal psora manifest more plainly." [p. 375]
"Tbe sycotic infant, if hom full term, may have a fleshy appearance,
but instead of the natural bright flesh colour, the skin has a pale yellow
cast... its extremities are thin and weak, and the abdomen may be enlarged.
These babies have a great tendency to nasal and intestinal catarrh."
[p. 394]
... homeopaths avoid tonsillectomies through careful prescribing, to avoid depriving the child of these valuable immune-system glands. Homeopaths would also rather see the child catching all the childhood diseases instead of having a multiplicity of vaccinations, in which foreign substances are injected into the bloodstream. Childhood illnesses boost the Vital Force rather than lowering it." [p. 438]
"The following remedies have been found so effective for cancers in specific areas that they can almost be prescribed by the location of the tumor: Graphites for cancer in cicatrices; Phosphorus for hepatic and pancreatic cancer; Omithogalum [Star of Bethlehem] for cancer of stomach and cecum; center of action is the pylorus." [p. 444]
The only criticism I can make of the entire text is that it lacks an index, which is probably made up for by the excellent table of contents at the front. This probably gives sufficient detail for most users to find a topic.
Simillimum
Volme XIII Issue 2
Fall 2000