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This book review is reprinted from Volume 103, Number 4 Winter 2010 Edition, with permission from American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine. Liver and Gallbladder: Acquired Authority Narayana Publishers, 2009. Reviewed by Jay Yasgur, RPh, MSc Rosina Sonnenschmidt is a noted German seminar leader, author and healer. Judging from the bibliography, she has written at least ten books. Rosina's work clearly shows Indian (she spent time in India) and Chinese influences in her methodology: this eastern influence is evident through-out as figures of the Buddha and relevant quotations appear almost on every page. She does liberally quote western heal-ers as well: "In homeopathy, weakness of the liver is recognised by patterns of symptoms...Even if there is no apparent liver disease, we can conclude that the liver is weakened from the existence of certain symptoms."- p. 3, (from Desktop Companion to Physical Pathology by Roger Morrison, p. 381). This book, her first in English and part of the 'Organ-Conflict-Cure Series,' deals with liver and gallbladder issues. Several volumes are planned in this series, each covering the subject by addressing the following themes: the organ system from a spiritual and physiological viewpoint; diseases associated with the organ; the mental and emotional issues of the organ system; organ-related conflicts and their resolution; miasmatic, therapeutic and constitutional homeopathy; mjmrjonal advice and naturopathic therapies. This work consists of six chapters: Liver Energy, Liver and Gallbladder Issues, Structure of the Liver, A Holistic View of Liver Function, Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder and Holistic Liver and Gallbladder Therapies. Since the material is 'deep' one needs to approach it in a quiet and reflective manner. This will allow the reader to gain special insights. For example: "And so we come to the final link in the network of relationships between liver - gallbladder - Jupiter - Mars - tongue - teeth - tin. The metal tin, (Lat: Stannum) reveals further aspects of the sphere of action of the liver and gallbladder. Anthroposophy, which has transformed the ancient knowledge of alchemy for our modern times, gives us valuable insights: " 'In that it is soft and malleable on the outside and inside is moderately hard and keeps its shape, tin repre-sents the counter process in Nature which the body can call upon for healing ... tin can be used comprehensively to heal the regulation between opposing areas of strength in the body, which express themselves on the one hand as building, growth and swelling up and on the other as hardening and drying up.' "- p. 25 (from Sieben Metalle by Wm. Pelikan, p. 86) So, it appears that Sonnenschmidt has studied anthroposo-phy too. The Steinerian approach, while quite dense and 'uninviting,' holds many pearls. How does Rosina integrate homeopathy? Sonnenschmidt then goes into detail although in cookbook fashion, and mostly so in tabular form: Table 2: Liver Conditions and Remedies; Table 3: Selected Liver Remedies; Table 4: Remedies for Liver stones and Gallstones; Table 5: Ascites/Anasarca with Liver Involvement, and Table 6: Schuessler Tissue Salts for the Liver. There is little narrative weaving its way through the tables and little homeopathy discussed. Nonetheless there is useful material in this eight-een page section. If you've had little exposure to esoteric approaches to homeopathy, this well produced and beautiful book will nourish that budding side. All can gain some crucial insights from this work. About the Reviewer: Jay Yasgur is a pharmacist, author and member of the HPCUS (Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States). He is the author of "A Dictionary of Homeopathic Medical Terminology," 3rd Ed. He republished and edited two homeopathic classics: "Some Clinical Experiences of E. E. Case, M.D.," and "Homoeopathic Materia Medica for Nurses, " 2nd Ed. Along with Mr. C. Ellithorp, they produced "The Dunham Lectures of J. T. Kent'. Mr. Yasgur recently finished a three year project, "Cumulative Index to the Homoeopathic Physician." Jay has worked for Weleda Inc. and Humphreys Pharmacal. Aside from writing, Mr. Yasgur works part time in retail pharmacy where he blends homeopathy into his pharmacy practice. He lives in Tempe, AZ.
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