This book review is reprinted with the permission of the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians
P.O. Box 21488, Portland, OR 97212
FAX:(503) 795-7320
e-mail: hanp@igc.apc.org

BOOK REVIEW:- STRAMONIUM
With an Introduction to Analysis by Cycles and Segments of the Materia Medica
by Paul Herscu, N.D.
Reviewed by Durr Elmore & Alice Duncan, editors

"We are at a turning point in homeopathy, moving from the materia medicas of the past to those of the future. In the past it was the symptom that was emphasized. In the future we will be looking with more interest at the ideas behind the symptoms. Why do these particular symptoms exist in the first place? Where do they come from? What do they lead to?"

"This book is my first complete description of the totality of a remedy. Among these pages you hopefully will find answers to why the Stramonium becomes fearful or develops violence and what it leads to next."

Ever since Paul Herscu's The Homeopathic Treatment of Children was published, in 1991, homeopathic treatment of current day children became much easier. The book has enriched and clarified our knowledge of eight major pediatric constitutional remedies- and its up-to-date materia medica is immensely practical. Dr. Herscu writes from his own observations and experience-and the information he gives is based on real cured cases. His work enlivens our perception of these remedies, and helps us recognize and differentiate between their individual pictures.

We have waited five years for this second book, Stramonium, to be completed-and, now that we have read it, can enthusiastically attest that it is worth the wait.

Why "A Whole Book on Stramonium?" A chapter with that title answers that question.

Herscu writes: "I came to see Stramonium as an encompassing remedy: one that, like a chameleon, could appear camouflaged as either a polychrest or nosode or as one of the mania remedies. A perfect set-up for confusion and incorrect prescribing."

This book is much more than a materia medica on Stramonium. It also serves as a blueprint and example for dear and comprehensive development of future homeopathic materia medicas, practice, and teaching. The approach is revolutionary- yet absolutely true to the principles and spirit of homeopathy.

The book is in two parts. Part One presents a new model and approach for understanding, studying, and practicing homeopathy. "We need to understand not just the symptoms of the illness, but more importantly, the way of being sick. How can we go about doing that?" Paul is searching for a way to tie together all of the homeopathic symptoms of a remedy ". . . because this kind of learning leads to understanding. Why should we settle for memorizing when we can understand?" A Herculean undertaking, yet we can see, in Stramonium, how such a way of thinking can both simplify and improve our work.

"How can we best see the message that the vital force is struggling so hard to show us? It is flashing the pathology of the whole patient at us, if only we could see it. Its message can be detected in every symptom of the patient. That is the genius of the vital force . . . If the vital force can say in a nutshell, 'This is it. This is the disease,' why can't we? What a help it would be if we could describe with a single statement every symptom that a remedy can produce or cure ... If there is only one disease, how do all the symptoms fit together? Not just most of the symptoms, not just the ones we selected, but all of the symptoms, the mental state, the sleep position, the food cravings and aversions, the common as well as the characteristic symptoms."

He offers such a statement for Stramonium: "Driven by confusion, fears, and vulnerability, Stramonium is engaged in an ongoing and violent battle between the unconscious and the conscious, between darkness and light, between succumbing to the death realm and yearning to exist in the life realm.

Herscu describes disease (and therefore the picture of each remedy) as a cycle composed of four to six fundamental segments, each segment being a theme or major element in the case. Every symptom of each particular remedy should fit into and exemplify the theme of one of its segments. "Each segment can be identified by a word or phrase, such as yearning for comfort, violent overreactions, etc." He gives examples of how to evaluate the symptoms: "Sensitivity to noise, aversion to touch, and fear of robbers-are these similar? Yes, they all represent fear of invasion. It is almost uncanny how much you can predict with this form of assessing. Not only can you predict symptoms you will find in the patient, but even symptoms you will find in the materia medica."

Next he explains The Map of Hierarchy ("a predictable order of remedies that a patient may need over time"), grouping remedies into four phases, based on the depth of pathology inherent in the remedy. "It was by observing the process of healing that the Map of Hierarchy came to me, not from philosophical reflection or theorizing. In a way, it shows us Hering's Law operating on a larger scale, with whole remedies (instead of merely symptoms) moving in a direction either toward healing or toward deeper pathology." This map is a clear and practical aid in understanding the remedies, as well as in prescribing. Stramonium is a transition remedy in Phase 3, a remedy at a crossroads. 'In first and second phase remedies, the new brain, the reasoning brain, keeps everyday life in some kind of balance between the conscious and the unconscious. But, in the lower fourth phase remedies, the unconscious rules, and logic gives way to old-brain passions, such as hate, lust, and uncontrolled appetites. Standing at the mid-point, Stramonium acts as something of a doorway to the unconscious and to the remedies that are ruled by it."

Most remedies share symptoms with other remedies, and Herscu's model helps us decide which to choose: "What if you give a remedy that was needed earlier (a healthier remedy or a remedy of an earlier phase) to someone who needs a later phase remedy? By giving the earlier phase remedy you get rid of some of the symp- toms but fail to address the more serious symptoms ... the colds and bronchitis are gone and what is left? Intense anger and fear and violence ... Giving the remedy underneath suppressed the case." If a patient shares symptoms with remedies of different phases, he advises us to give the remedy of the deeper phase. This will lead to cure instead of suppression.

Part One of the book lays the foundation with a model for thought, and provides us with the map. Part Two enlarges our knowledge of this remedy so readers can more accurately understand and recognize Stramonium-in its details, and in its essence. From the cycle of Stramonium, to the fundamental segments of the remedy, to the polar states, we get to know this remedy. Herscu's initial descriptions of the Stramonium state provide a context in which to place the information given here. And, as in his first book, we learn from his experiences. "The Stramonium child is very fearful; he feels alone and vulnerable and thinks that he is going to be hurt. These fears drive him to act, but his actions overshoot, producing unintended consequences-he overreacts in a violent way. Having overreacted, he now has less energy and wants to close off to protect himself and his remaining energies. But again he overshoots and closes off too much, so that parts of him feel numb, parts of him feel dead. Now images of death, feelings of deadness, and feelings of being alone come up and confuse his experience of reality. The child's overall view of the world is warped, in that everything he experiences goes through this filter of confusion, which leads him again to more fear, self protection, overshooting, and then to becoming closed off again ...

"The emotional realm of Stramonium contains a number of states ... states such as fear, autism, introversion, and violence. But it is important to realize that a Stramonium child may not be violent, may not be introverted, may not be autistic-these states may simply be reactions or responses to fear, and, as such, may only last as long as the situation lasts, otherwise not playing a significant role in the child's life ... Any or all of the following responses might be seen at such times: violence, rage, and screaming; crying and depression; clinging to someone; ritualism, autism, and attempts at escape."

Useful differential materia medica is also provided: throughout the book we find comparisons between Stramonium and other remedies, from polychrests like Sulphur and Calcarea carbonica, to "fourth phase" remedies such as Hyoscyamus and Veratrum album.

The book includes an excellent discussion of children's attention difficulties and hyperactivity-exploring topics such as aggression, ritualistic or perseverative behavior, and poor impulse control. The final section is a thorough review-of-systems that relates specific symptoms from the mind and nervous system and throughout the body, and considers their expression of the theme and cycle of Stramonium.

Herscu's ideas are expressed in a gentle, accessible style-and the information offered is clear, insightful, and intelligent. This book is obviously the result of years of deep thought, and a true desire to solve the problems that still impede the learning and practice of homeopathy. Herscu understands the pressing need of homeopaths to be able to truly grasp the individual nature of our remedies and to recognize the various manifestations of their states-to have the skill to prescribe with accuracy, and thus be better able to help relieve the suffering of our patients.

Paul Herscu, N.D., DHANP, is the founder of the New England School of Homeopathy, and of the New England Journal of Homeopathy. He was insturmental in the resurgence of the HANP, and is a past board member. He practices in Enfield, Connecticut.

SIMILLIMUM / Fall 1996 Volume IX No. 3