This book review is reprinted with the permission of the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians
HOMEOPATHY FOR
MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALING
Asa Hershoff, ND, DC
302 pages
plus index. $20
Reviewed by Durr Elmore
One beautiful aspect of Homeopathy is its versatility. Homeopathy is effective for all types of healing. Many people are introduced to homeopathy's efficacy by treating first aid or trauma situations. Others use homeopathic remedies in treating acute illness. Those practitioners with a deeper understanding of the homeopathys' principles excel in treating chronic diseases. Amongst this group, a small number of homeopaths look closely at miasms, discovering a way to treat ailments related to past and present complaints, and in effect are treating future (unborn) generations.
Dr. Asa Hershoff has written an excellent book designed for practitioners of the healing arts who specialize in treating musculoskeletal complaints-chiropractors, physiatrists, massage therapists, some osteopaths, and other's who work primarily with physical medicine. It is clearly written to introduce homeopathy to these practitioners, and is presented in a well organized manner with a user-friendly appearance. The graphics and layout of this book are wonderful. Many line drawings are effectively used to show areas of a remedies action and focus.
In the Introduction, Dr. Hershoff writes, "Homeopathy has a remarkable record for treating and curing musculoskeletal conditions .... The present book is an attempt to gather and consolidate this wealth of knowledge and practical guidance and to present it in a highly accessible form."
This book is designed for those with little or no knowledge of homeopathy. The first 70 pages present a relevant introduction to homeopathy and its principles. Using plain language and clear illustrations, Dr. Hershoff places types of care on a continuum, with the extremes being matter and energy. Homeopathy, of course, is at the energy end of the spectrum. Health and disease, and the life force, are discussed.
The infinitesimal dose and law of similars are presented, with a chapter introducing the concept of constitutional prescribing. The emphasis of this book, however, is on therapeutic or clinical prescribing.
The second section is called Condition Charts, giving a brief therapeutic guide of the most commonly indicated remedies for specific conditions (trauma, cervical spine, thoracic spine, low back pain, extremities, arthritis and headache.
The next section, Materia Medica, covers 120 pages and sixty-one remedies. Characteristics of each remedy are clearly presented and illustrated. The last section is a brief therapeutic guide, like a mini-repertory, listing remedies prominent in treating certain areas of the body and conditions, such as tennis elbow, arthritis of the hip, etc.
The only critique I will make of this book is I wish Dr. Hershoff had placed more emphasis on the power of homeopathy in treating all types of chronic diseases, and the necessity for a great deal of experience and education on the part of the homeopath in successfully doing this. If those new to homeopathy do not achieve success in their prescriptions, they should be encouraged to refer these patients to experienced homeopaths. Most of the conditions in this book are, after all, chronic (arthritis, sciatica, headaches, etc.). Granted, good results can be obtained by novices in the homeopathic treatment of trauma and acute injuries, but, unfortunately, treating chronic conditions usually requires a constitutional rather than a lesional approach.
In summary, Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing is an important book, introducing homeopathy to health professionals, and is clearly written and well designed. This is a book for health practitioners without knowledge of homeopathy, as well as those who already use homeopathic remedies but are not real homeopaths. Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing is a well-written, well-designed text that should place homeopathy 'on the map', making homeopathy understandable and usable to many practitioners.
SIMILLIMUM / Summer 1998
Volume XI No. 2