This book review is reprinted from the New England Journal of Homeopathy with the permission of Amy Rothenberg, ND, DHANP.
New England School of Homeopathy
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The Classical Homeopathic Lectures of Vassilis Ghegas M.D., Volumes A-C
Vassilis Ghegas, M.D., & Fons Vandenberghe, M.D.
Published by Homeo-Study V.Z.W., Belgium
Reviewed by Paul Mittman, N.D., D.H.A.N.P.

These volumes chronicle Dr. Ghegas's on going Holland lectures dating back to 1987. Unlike the many available transcripts of European seminars, The Classical Homeopathic Lectures of Vassilis Ghegas represents the painstaking efforts of Dr. Fons Vandenberghe to combine lecture transcriptions with his own notes, organize them, then reference nearly every piece of information in Kent's Repertory, and finally submit the text to Dr. Ghegas for final approval. The result is an information-filled book that will occupy and delight serious students of homeopathy.

The books are written in outline form, with one to four paragraphs of text following each heading. The goal of the books is to condense the best parts of the seminars into a quick reference. Unfortunately, in order to make the information accessible and easily comprehended, the writing becomes a bit dry. After all, in outline form, it is not possible to keep Dr. Ghegas's humorous and exciting lecture style.

Since I like to sample before I buy, here's a taste of what is on the menu. Lets start with the contents:

Volume A
Essences (detailed and lengthy descriptions of remedies ): Natrum muriaticum, Natrum sulphuricum and Sulphur. Remedies and their characteristic symptoms in acute diseases: common cold, tonsillitis, whooping cough, gastritis, cystitis, colitis, diarrhea, allergic rhinitis, headache.
Remedies for skin disorders, facial acne, and cancer.
Tips
Cases

Volume B
Essences: Staphysagria, Ignatia, Natrum carbonicum, Nitricum acidum, Sulphuricum acidum, Silica, Phosphoricum acidum, Sepia and Muriatic acid.
Remedies and their characteristic symptoms in seminal emissions, hemorrhoids, trigeminal neuralgia, sciatica.
Characteristic symptoms of: Natrum phosphoricum, Flouric acid, Lac caninum, Acetic acid, Benzoic acid.
Newborns and babies.
Stramonium children.
Cases

Volume C
Children's remedies: Hyoscyamus, Veratrum album, Medorrhinum, Causticum, Staphisagria, Natrum muriaticum, Natrum sulphuricum, Cina, Lachesis, Calcarea carbonica, Calcarea phosphorica, Tuberculinum, Mancinella, Aurum, Sulphur, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Chamomilla, Rheum, Baryta carbonica, Graphites, Iodum, China officinalis, Bufo, Origanum.
Essences: Arsenicum album, Petroleum, Ranunculus bulbosus, Plumbum.
Very brief descriptions of small remedies: Bovista, Digitalis, Ptelea, Comocladea dentata.
Remedies and their characteristic symptoms in skin disorders and vertigo.
Cases

In the materia medica chapters, the central idea, similar to Vithoulkas's essence of the remedy is first presented. Often the central idea is a phrase or sentence which gives it more breadth. For example, the central idea of Arsenicum album is the Strong Tendency for Self Preservation, the central idea of Natrum muriaticum is Injury on the Emotional Plane, the central idea of Natrum sulphuricum is Injury on the Physical Plane. Discussion of the central idea permeates each section of the chapter.

Each remedy is discussed on the mental, emotional, and physical levels. Illnesses and their indications for the remedy are very detailed and often include differentials on the condition or a special symptom. The chapter ends with comparisons to other remedies, complementary remedies, and cautions and strategies regarding dosage and repetition of the remedy. While these chapters are not complete catalogs of materia medica, the information is eminently useful.

The Therapeutic Tips contain some real gems. While some are found interspersed throughout the text, an entire section is devoted to them in the last chapter. Here are some examples:

* In cases of varicose ulcerations, think of Arsenicum album, Lachesis and Carduus marianus. Carduus marianus shows liver cirrhosis with varicose ulcerations on the bone and thus a swelling of the foot.

* Patients who pull out their hair: think of Ignatia and Aurum.

* Ammonium carbonicum is a remedy that is often mentioned 3rd degree in the repertory but seldom works in practice.

* The remedies with the strongest anticipation are Argentum nitricum, Gelsemium and Lycopodium.

* Remedies who suffer from exposure to the sun, in order of priority: Natrum carbonicum, Glonoinum, Natrum muriaticum, Pulsatilla, Sulphur.

* With an apparent Natrum muriaticum or Pulsatilla who likes fat: leave Natrum muriaticum and look for another remedy.

* Paralysis of the bladder in older people: think of Arsenicum album.

* Carbo vegetabilis: the asthma is better after eructations. Pothos: the asthma is better after stool.

* Strongest remedies for photophobia are: Belladonna, Graphites, Natrum sulphuricum.

In the chapters entitled Remedies and their Characteristic Symptoms (in various diseases), Dr. Ghegas refers to a priority which a given symptom confers to a certain remedy. Let me illustrate from a section in the chapter on tonsillitis:

With tonsillitis, as always in homeopathy, pay attention to priority symptoms and to the most striking, strongest symptoms.

In tonsillitis, when the patient has offensive breath:
1st- Mercurius
2nd- Nitricum acidum
3rd- Hepar sulphuris

To further differentiate:
with a lot of salivation during steep: first of all: Mercurius.

- with the feeling as if a fish bone in the throat: Hepar sulphuris, as well as Nitricum acidum.
- If the patient is extremely chilly, Hepar sulphuris should score higher.
- If the breathing is offensive and the patient stinks, more points to Nitricum acidum.

The case presentations clearly provide us with Dr. Ghegas's analysis and rationale for the prescription. Unfortunately, since many of the cases were taken live at the seminar there is often no follow-up. Another criticism is the book's sometimes awkward use of the English language. However, considering that the lecture was given in English by a Greek to a Belgian taking notes in Dutch, and the notes were then translated back to English, the book reads remarkably well.

The Classical Homeopathic Lectures of Vassilis Ghegas should be seen as an encyclopedia of homeopathy. The collection consists of 12 volumes, however there are only three currently translated into English (with three volumes being translated each year). These books are not complete materia medicas, and yet they contain vast amounts of clinically verified, user-friendly information. I have found them to be tremendous learning tools in my own studies. I hope you will too.

Paul Mittman, N.D., D.H.A.N.P., graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1985, where he completed a two-year residency in family practice. Dr. Mittman currently practices in Enfield, Connecticut, specializing in homeopathy. He completed the NESH course in 1991, and is currently participating in the 18-month Level 3 NESH course.

New England Journal of Homeopathy Volume 2 Number 3
Summer / Fall 1993