This book review is reprinted with the permission of the International Foundation for Homeopathy
PO Box 7
Edmonds, WA 98020
(206) 776-4147

Homeopathic Medicine in the Home - A Correspondence Course.
by Jonathan Breslow
Reviewed by Joe Lillard

I was asked to do a book review of Jonathan Breslow's correspondence course "Homeopathic Medicine in the Home." This came at a good time. I have been looking for a study guide that I could recommend to study groups in addition to the "Introductory Workbook in Homeopathy" by Richard Crews, M.D. This would be especially useful for groups that are isolated and/or don't have a trained homeopath or homeopathic educator to guide them. So, when this opportunity was presented, I decided to do more than read the course; I took it, as best as I could, with myself as the teacher.

The correspondence course itself costs $175.00, which is reasonable for those persons not involved in a study group or unable to attend courses anywhere. I think it is a solid ground rung on the ladder to higher homeopathic learning, and it is, also, well suited to those who simply need a good basic understanding for home use. I feel that, in a study group situation where there is someone who can answer questions, give examples, etc., this book would be a great teacher's guide.

The way the course works is as follows: The book, itself, is instructive, and in addition, it requires the student to use and thus become familiar with both Dr. Panos' Homeopathic Medicine at Home and Boericke's Materia Medica with Repertory in order to provide the answers to the course questions. These answers are then sent to Mr. Breslow.

Most students and study group members already have Panos and Boericke, so they could get cranking right away without a big cash outlay. Those new to homeopathy will soon see the value in buying Panos and Boericke regardless of whether or not they take or finish the course.

I found the book to be solid. I have written Mr. Breslow about some small changes that I thought would improve the book. His response to me was that we are essentially in agreement and that these suggestions, and others he has received, will be incorporated into future additions. I don't think the existing problem areas detract from the overall value of the book's content.

Mr. Breslow sells the book independent of the correspondence course. A study group could buy a copy and the leader could use it as the instructor's manual for a true "beginners course." There is a certificate of accomplishment, but it is only available to those taking the formal correspondence course. If an instructor in a study group was not too sure of his abilities, he could take the course, receive the certificate, and teach with more confidence.

I think it would be interesting, instructive, and fun for members of a study group to take the formal correspondence course as a unit, answering questions during the meeting and sending them to Mr. Breslow for review. This would be especially valuable if the study group did not really have a homeopathic educator/instructor. Mr. Breslow thinks this would work as long as he received only one set of answers from the group functioning as a unit. In this situation he feels he could only certify one person, not the whole group. He would be agreeable to working out a discount for a group of people taking the course, as long as separate answers came in so that he could tell the progress of each student.

My study group has two other instructors and I have passed my copy on to one of them. She thinks the book will definitely do for our fall beginners' course. We are also thinking of ways to use it for the more advanced students so that we can have a mixed class.

I am giving you a grass roots perspective. Please note that Drs. Panos, Henry Williams, Karl Robinson, Stephen King, and Theresa Salvadore think the book and correspondence course to be of merit. I think that persons completing this course could be certified as ready for the more advanced courses available through the IFH and the NCH. Mr. Breslow has submitted his course for certification by the Council on Homeopathic Education.

RESONANCE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1989