This book review is reprinted from The Homoeopath with permission from Nick Churchill of The Society of Homoeopaths.
The Homoeopathic
Treatment of Eczema
by Robin Logan
152 pp,
threadsewn paperback,
1998
Reviewed by
Miranda Castro
At last a book on homoeopathic therapeutics that takes the whole homoeopath into account!
I must admit that my heart sank a little when I saw the title - I am tired of books on homoeopathic therapeutics that lead the conscientious homeopath off track. And then my heart lifted when I saw who had authored it and I was not disappointed. This is not a recipe book - you cannot become an expert at curing eczema simply by dipping into this book. This is a serious study guide for those interested in treating people who have eczema. Robin explains the principles of constitutional, classical prescribing - succinctly and efficiently. This in itself is a tall order.
It is finely produced by Beaconsfield Publishers. I love seeing their books on my shelf in their trademark burgundy and navy blue and racing green colours. They are thoughtfully edited and their design is always pleasing. John Churchill (head honcho) has a knack of picking books that immediately become classics for the serious student of homoeopathy and the homoeopathic practitioner. This is one of those.
The Homoeopathic Treatment of Eczema describes the whole homoeopathic picture... as it relates to the treatment of eczema. Robin manages to convey the complexity of the homoeopathic process while at the same time breaking it down into many of its component parts in a way that is accessible.
The parts included are as follows:
A brief run down of the orthodox medical definitions of the various types of eczema and related skin conditions, as well as the conventional medical treatments. Some common rubrics are included here, although these are rather scanty in places. I particularly appreciated Robin's comments about collaborating with a patient's GP.
Case-taking of the eczematous patient. This chapter helps to focus the practitioner on the information needed to be able to go to the next step. It has useful advice for the student homoeopath and timely reminders for the experienced practitioner.
Case analysis. This chapter includes an invaluable discussion of characteristic symptoms as well as a wide range of cases to demonstrate the different types of patient and to encourage flexibility in analysis and remedy selection. The cases are mostly fairly brief and I felt somewhat envious of the clarity and simplicity of some of them.
Reasons for failure comes next and it is a short chapter that discusses some common scenarios with failed cases. Robin includes three of his own.
Case management logically follows, with advice about potency and aggravations as well as the practical management of the eruptions with external creams etc. This section is oddly brief and the adjunctive measures such as diet are addressed rather skimpily.
The last section of the book, and the largest (one third of the book), is taken up with a Materia Medica of forty-two remedies. Each one lists the characteristic symptoms of the skin and itch symptoms as well as a short list of characteristic mental and most useful general symptoms.
The pictures are keynote reminders and are well sketched. I was delighted to see a large number of so-called small remedies listed, with clear descriptions given. This is not a complete Materia Medica and I assume that those using it will not mistake of trying to fit their patient into one of the forty-two remedies listed. I can think of a couple of patients of my own whose eczema cleared up with remedies not given here. However, it is useful to have the strong symptoms listed in one place, and I will have to keep the hook to hand to refer to with future patients suffering from eczema!
The last few pages are given over to the doctrine of signatures and describe a whole remedy... not a remedy for eczema either... to remind the reader that the homoeopathic process is more than the sum of its parts. To finish by putting us back in touch with our art. How lovely.
Finally, this book has more indexes than you usually get, There are three in total: a general index, a remedy index and a separate index for rubrics. The first two work well but I couldn't make much sense of this last index (which masquerades as a mini-repertory). This may be the book's weakest point (a very small weakness considering its considerable overall strengths). It includes a few of the symptoms from the Materia Medica and some from remedies mentioned throughout the text, but is not complete.
The Homoeopathic Treatment of Eczema will be useful to students and practitioners alike. Robin's common sense is sprinkled throughout and, as an added bonus, his unique, characteristic and gentle touch shines through and makes it more than your average textbook. I can only hope that it sets a precedent for all future works on homoeopathic therapeutics.
The Homoeopath - Number 71
Autumn 1998