C H A P T E R I V
Homeopaths work with manifested body symptoms that characterize good
health, or the lack of it. The homeopath depends on being able to interpret a
set of symptoms that are available when a person is in a state of disease, or
imbalance. These manifested symptoms are used as guidelines, to discover
remedies (medicines) that a patient's system needs, to return it to a state of
balance (health). After taking a detailed history of the patient's past and
current symptoms, the homeopath will consult repertories and Materia Medica
(portrayed next) to finish the patient's consultation. Such an evaluation will
take from one to three hours to complete.
Following is an analysis of the patient evaluation, along with the tools
and techniques personally changed and added to this
evaluation, creating an evaluation that additionally considers �drainage' of the
mental and physical toxins of the body. This �drainage' is accomplished before
giving the most indicated remedy to the patient.
Tools of the Homeopath
The Repertory Resource Books.
Kents' Repertory, contains a very precise listing on 1,531 pages of mental
and physical symptoms. The Repertory starts with a 100-page listing of mind
symptoms alone. Included in these mind symptoms are anxieties, fears, delusions,
apprehensions, dreams, and more. The book continues to list symptoms for other
parts of the body, starting with head symptoms, and proceeding down the body to
foot symptoms. The book provides a listing, besides each listed symptom, of the
most common homeopathic remedies for that particular symptom.
The homeopath then continues to examine other symptoms given them by the
patient, while keeping track of the remedies that are beginning to emerge. At
the end of the list of symptoms the homeopath will have a sizable list of
corresponding remedies. At this point they will choose the most indicated 10-20
remedies, open a Materia Medica and research each of the indicated remedies.
This will reduce the possibilities even further
The Materia Medica
Resource Books.
Just as there are many repertories there are also many authors of Materia
Medica. W. Boericke, M.D. has written a very popular one. These Materia Medica
contain a comprehensive listing of the remedies actions on various parts and
systems of the body. A process of elimination will occur as the homeopath reads
about each of the indicated remedies, and determines which of these remedies has
the most symptoms of the patient in question. This process allows the homeopath
to discover the best possible choice of remedies for the patient. The homeopath
is assured, on reading these descriptions, with the knowledge that each remedy
has been tested on thousands of healthy volunteers, and have been described in
the words of these volunteer provers.
Homeopathy's Rules Of Cure.
The rules of Homeopathy, and
its theories, have been working for more then
180 years. These human organism rules were first noticed by Dr.
Constantine Hering (1800- 1880). Hering is known for establishing
Hannemans' homeopathic
medicine in the United States. After much research and observation,
Hering
formulated the following rules, to guide the homeopath in his healing.
Rule One.
Healing takes place from the top of the body and proceeds downward. This
means that a person's headache, mental state etc., will improve before any
improvement will occur in lower parts of the body.
Rule Two.
The body will heal the most important organ first and continue to heal in
the direction of the least important organ..
Rule Three.
Healing occurs in the inner areas of the body first and than healing will
move outward to external parts of the body. This means that skin symptoms will
be the last to heal.
Rule Four.
Symptoms will disappear in reverse order. A person's problem today, will
be healed first, and then any suppressed problems from the past will come back
to be healed, in order of their suppression.
With these homeopathic rules as a guideline, the homeopath does not
acknowledge a difference between mental and physical illness. Instead they see
one, as having traits of the other. In treating a person, both are considered.
(Coulter 1972
Abstract Rules and Theories.
For comparison, it is noted that a traditional patient's �symptom
descriptions' are taken from them and entered into a different semantic system.
Into a set of abstract rules and theories that are fed back to them in a way
that they are not meant to understand. Ill persons have their sickness taken
from them, depriving the patient of words to discuss their problem. This leaves
them with the latest scientific measurements, and the doctors understanding of
what these measurements could mean. These become the guidelines to healing and
recommendations are, to take this or that drug, in order for your sick body to
come back within the normal range of scientific measurements. The patient
follows the doctor's findings-to be better . . . little is ever spoken about
cure.
Dr. Wallace Esterbrook, a former surgeon
and now a practicing psychiatrist shares:
We
doctors have a predilection for nouns in naming diseases--epilepsy,
measles, brain tumor . . . , and because these things "deserve" nouns as
names, then obviously they are things to us. If you take one of these
nouns- measles, and make it into a verb, then it becomes, "Mrs. Jones,
your little boy appears to be measling." Which opens both your mind and
hers to the concept of disease as a process. (Esterbrook on W.G.B.H
Television 1993)
We doctors have a predilection for nouns in naming diseases--epilepsy,
measles, brain tumor . . . , and because these things "deserve" nouns as
names, then obviously they are things to us. If you take one of these nouns-
measles, and make it into a verb, then it becomes, "Mrs. Jones, your little
boy appears to be measling." Which opens both your mind and hers to the concept
of disease as a process. (Esterbrook on W.G.B.H Television 1993)
Vital Force and Homeopathy
The term vital force,' used earlier, does not refer to, or subscribe
to, any ancient, mystical procedures. Vital force relates to the homeopaths'
respect for an unknown healing force. The humility of nature and its' workings
is always a reminder to the homeopath, not to make an attempt to �know it
all,' and too allow individual disease patterns to vary from person to
person.
Homeopathy and Ultimate Indeterminacy
In stressing the ultimate lack of knowledge of the body's functioning,
physiologically and mentally, Homeopathy tends to show agreement with Jungian
analytical psychology and with theoretical physics. These disciplines both
accept the ultimate indeterminacy of the phenomena investigated, and call
for a symbolic "as If" approach to their understanding. (Coulter 1972, 10)
The following observations are made with the author's background of
having studied and worked with Naturopathic medicine; studies and philosophies
of Arica Institute; Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness; participation
in several Insight Training programs; training in Zen tradition; study of
macrobiotic disciplines; study of Iridology; and the experience of having
worked with more then six thousand clients.
Once the client arrives, an immediate observation
consists of
. . . Their posture Their movement Quality
of their voice Their physical appearance Brightness of their
eyes and if any spots are showing in the pupil The feeling of their
hand (moist, oily, dry, calloused) Personal opinions . . do they appear
to be suppressing anger or sadness? Subtle sensations, "as if" (as
if, bugs were crawling . . . )
All of the above are considered in the analysis
and overall treatment of a client.
Multiple observation perspectives.
By observing a client's particular postures and movements the homeopathic
observer may be able to determine if they are carrying burdening psychological
baggage. Posture may also reveal the client's level of confidence in themselves.
From these observations it can be determined what is needed to start the
actual evaluation (workup). The patient may be offered something to eat or
drink. Then the conversation to begin the search for symptomology can commence.
Determining the comfort level of the person in new surroundings is important,
along with paying attention to how they explain themselves. Observation continues
as the homeopath watches the patient sitting in their chair, and interprets
their body language.
Listening to the patient. By listening
to the person describe themselves and their symptoms, the homeopath obtains
information that will be researched in the materia medicas and repertories.
The homeopath is concerned about the many varied traits that make up the
whole person and will directly and indirectly elicit answers as to their
confidence, sadness, anger, etc. . . . When appropriate, they ask a question,
to delve deeper into the understanding of a concern, or symptom, and its
causal history. A recent example is that of a man that was being evaluated.
He was diagnosed (by traditional medicine) as having leukemia with only a
short period of life left. All during the homeopathic evaluation he was cracking
jokes and making light of his problem. This led to a quantum leap question
of, "had he ever been suicidal in his life?" Whereupon, he answered "yes."
His answer helped to discover suppressed events and grief that caused, or
supported his problem. A more obvious type of (symptom) is the whining type
of voice. This person may be asked, "Do you feel you have everything that
you need in your life, and if not, what's missing, what do you need?"
Up Front Evidence. On shaking hands
with a client detecting a sense of comfort with a new situation is possible.
It can also show their assurance or ambivalence with their being, by the
pressure of their grip. Through the feeling of their hand determination can
be made as to the condition of their heart and their kidneys (using macrobiotic
observational techniques). For example, the hand will be moist if they are
overworking the kidneys, and the hand will feel fat or bloated, if they overwork
the heart. Often this is just a temporary condition but, it is something
to be taken into consideration for use in a total workup.
Carrying the weight of the world.
If the person is carrying abundant physical baggage, such as books,
shopping-bag's etc., it may be a key to that the persons not feeling they
have enough, or are personally not good enough. As a result they have to
carry their baggage around as a support mechanism. This might lead to researching
remedies that include a mental feeling of lack'.
The starting place can be anywhere.
The actual work up will start at a place that will most likely be different
for each client. It may start by asking them to write out their information
on the front of an exam book. Or It might start by talking immediately about
their reason for the visit. Above all, it is made clear initially that there
is nothing they can say that will be judged as unimportant, ridiculous or
stupid.
Guiding the questions, not asking.
During the work-up a homeopath will purposefully not ask many
direct questions. Instead the homeopath will ask questions that guide the
patient in their answers. This is established to obtain information that
uses a patient's own words. Their own words are very important, because the
information contained in the materia medicas and the repertory books, are
words of healthy people (not symptoms obtained by traditional medicine's
ill patients, guinea pigs, rabbits, monkeys . . . ). These healthy people
are used as provers to test homeopathic medicines and have answered in their
own words what they experienced after taking a particular homeopathic remedy.
A person proving a remedy, states to the master prover, (In charge of collecting
symptoms), that they are feeling depressed, very talkative, and want to be
constantly busy. In addition, they suffer from a sore throat (on the left
side only), and experience the inability to wear shirts with tight collars,
along with other symptoms. The homeopath will use these symptoms to prescribe
the appropriate, similar remedy. From reading the homeopathic materia medicas
and repertory books, the substance described above (by its symptoms) is most
likely the medicine (remedy) �Lachesis'. The homeopath will be guided with
the knowledge that the particular substance being proven, taken in a crude
dose, or repeated frequently, can cause the above complaints. The homeopath
also knows that if a diluted form of Lachesis is taken, (a homeopathic dose)
balance will return to the patients' body. Therefore, the law of, �like cures
like.'
If the homeopathic patient states the same symptoms as listed above, the
homeopath will add this remedy �Lachesis' to the list of possible remedies
that are being considered for this person, now. �Now,' is underscored
anticipating the same person returning years later and having new, or different,
symptoms.
The chart that follows lists several critical and
creative thinking concepts and compares these ideas with how the author,
as a homeopathic practitioner, uses them for a patient work-up,
evaluation.
Table 4.2 Personal Evaluation Techniques
Personal Empowerment: Costa pg 100
The homeopathic evaluation allows the patient insight into their disease/
imbalance. The depth and variety of questioning allow this to occur during
the interview. The evaluation is used as a foundation for the person to approach
treating themselves for future medical events.
Open to Being Wrong: Einstein pg 103
A Homeopath has to constantly reevaluate a patients symptoms, and only
use past problems as history. They view each new patient or complaint as
a new entity. The Homeopath treats a failure in finding the correct remedy
as an adventure and challenge.
Suspend Judgement Paul pg 99
Homeopathic goals are not to give a patient a medical diagnosis, a disease
label. Most Homeopaths will conduct their work-up/evaluation using a quite
room, pleasant music, soft lighting, perhaps light snacks, along with a casual
manner of dress, to convey the relaxed, nonjudgmental process.
Thrive on Incongruity Cornett pg 103
Homeopaths do not force the patients symptoms to fit a predetermined disease
category/name. They listen carefully and find the many incongruities of the
patients disease and use these as supporting evidence for the discovery of
the correct medicines. For example, if the patient needs the medication,
Arsenicum Album, then they would have a hot head and the rest of their body
would be chilly or cold. They may crave water or be totally thirst-less.
They would also be experiencing fear.
Conceptualize the Whole Paul pg 99
Homeopaths need to understand the entire person and all of the patients
symptoms will have importance. During the evaluation the patient's nutritional
habits are considered, along with their mind state (fears, anxieties, worries,
beliefs . . . ) along with their physical pains and discomforts.
Collaboration Reich pg 99
The Homeopath uses all available sources in their search for complaints
and patient symptoms. A collaborative environment prevails when a patient
describes his/her problems/symptoms, during which they are treated with respect
and equality. Homeopaths are also open to using orthodox medical tests and
advice from orthodox medical doctors when they feel that this collaboration
will be helpful to the patient.
Two Different Approaches
Classical Homeopathy.
Most orthodox homeopaths will give a remedy that has the majority of
outstanding characteristics of the patients symptoms and they will let that
remedy work until they need another dose. They know this approach as Classical
Homeopathy. However, it does create discharges and sometimes is even blocked
from working because of the lack of drainage remedies.
Drainage Homeopathy.
Another approach is to give remedies that will specifically antidote the
following from the system before giving the above classical remedy.
Aluminum: to antidote aluminum in the system
X-ray: to antidote the bad effects of excessive X-ray's to the organism.
Thuja: to antidote the residual effects of immunization shots.
Natrum Muriaticum: to antidote deep suppressed grief.
Nux Vomica: to antidote the bad effects of previous poisonings (alcohol,
food, drugs . )
After the administration of the drainage remedies,
the remedies that are indicated for the deeper complaints of the patient
will be given.
During the client's evaluation the homeopath does not have to ask questions
in exact order, but will be guided not to forget questioning in each category.
The homeopath will also keep in mind the rules of healing, listed at the
start of this chapter, when doing the work-up. Not listed, but to be considered
during the work-up (evaluation), are the many shades of generalities that
will accompany a symptom. For instance mind symptoms are considered the most
important symptoms and if a client complained about anxiety the homeopath
would want to determine the following generalities.
At what time of day?
Where in the body is anxiety located?
What ameliorates the anxiety? (Heat, walking, not thinking about it. .
. .)
What makes the anxiety worse?
When was the first occurrence?
Does the weather play a part? If so, what type of weather?
Are there accompanying physical symptoms?
Table 4.3 Evaluation Framework
MIND A-Z (Abandoned-Zest). What mind symptoms are observable, what can
be elicited by self or others, including records?
HEAD, Inner, outer Location of pain/sensations; do these extend to distant
areas. Inflammations?
EYES, vision Heaviness; discharges; distortions; eruptions;
inflammation; pain; photophobia; staring; spasms etc., vision blurred; colors;
distortions; etc.?
NOSE, smell, breathing Discharge; bleeding; obstruction; smell- acute,
lost. Pain; sensitivity; sneezing?
EARS, hearing Discharges; pulling or boring fingers into; eruptions;
sensitivity; ulceration; illusions; impairment?
MOUTH, taste tongue, teeth, gums Taste; putrid, sour, acrid, alkaline,
aromatic, astringent, bitter, chalky, cheesy, clammy, earthy, pasty, like
eggs, like food long eaten, rancid, sweet, salty, sawdust, slimy, smoky,
sour, sooty, soapy, straw-like, sulphur etc.
Tongue; cracking, shape, discoloration, coating; bleeding etc.. Teeth;
decay, distortion, pain, elongation, grinding, sensitive. Gums; bleeding,
sensitive, pain etc.?
FACE & LIPS Eruptions; pain; distortion; bloating; cracked lips etc.
?
THROAT swallowing Inflammation; location, type of pain, sticking, sharp,
shooting, extends to...; craving cold or hot drinks, or applications?
CHEST Respiration Heaviness; pains; growth; palpitation; exaggerated; breathing; tension; numbness etc.?
ABDOMEN, upper and lower Cramping; bloating; coldness; heat; pain; etc.?
STOMACH, digestion Cramping; regurgitation; swelling; appetite; cravings
and aversions; gurgling; indigestion; nausea etc.?
BACK, upper, lower Pains; distortion; posture; injuries; cracking; cramps;
growths; weaknesses etc.?
EXTREMITIES, movement. Arms & legs-upper, lower. Knees and elbows.
Pains; injuries; awkwardness; coldness or heat; constrictions; convulsions;
cracking; cramps; discoloration; distortion; splitting of nails; emaciation;
heaviness etc.?
GENITALIA, sex, elimination. Eruptions; discharges; pains; misplacement.
Desire, excessive or lost. Various pains.
RECTUM, elimination. stool. Pains; eruptions; constipation; diarrhoea;
urging; prolapse; swelling; flatus; inactivity; involuntary; stool shape
and coating (mucus, blood) and color etc.?
TEMPERATURE, fever, chill Time of day; location; better by heat/ cold;
restlessness; hallucinations; fear; apprehensions; paroxysms
SKIN ,perspiration, dryness Eruptions; dryness/oiliness; location; itching;
blotches; elevations; ulcers etc.?
GENERALITIES, times, aggravations and ameliorations Despite the clients
symptoms it's important to know if their problem is worse, or better by-heat,
cold, pressure, light, sound, crowds, eating, and many other outside
influences.
Sensations As If.' Although a sensation is not the most important symptom,
often it will be a helpful key to understanding the entire image that will
arise from studying the symptoms as a complete picture. For instance a client
may state that their anxiety creates a sensation as if' they would have
to jump off a bridge. Or that, the anxiety is as if' they were being put
into a vise and squeezed. Homeopaths' have books written on sensations As
If' where they can research even these small details.
Times of occurrence. Several books have been written that set the times
of the persons malady. A person would mention that they wake up at 2 A.M.
and can not get back to sleep until 1. They have eaten, 2. They have gone
to the bathroom, 3. They meditate etc.. They may mention that their pains
start at a certain time and then go away quickly at yet another time.
Homeopathic Dilutions and Small Numbers Information
on minuteness, is investigated, as the attenuation's, or dilutions,
of homeopathic remedies are the enigmatic component of Homeopathy, and the
most frequently misunderstood area of homeopathic medicine. It's the author's
perception that the common lack of understanding of the minuteness of homeopathic
substances may come from the belief that for a medicine to work, it must
be observable under a microscope in its' original state. Further, its'
measurements must be within the realm of the current paradigm of measurements,
that it must be available for chemical testing, and at the very least, be
able to make a patient somewhat infirm, before they are well again.
Fortunately, many researchers are performing work with the homeopathic
micro- dilutions today, and are able to prove the existence and effectiveness
of the homeopathic dilutions. Dilutions that have been a mystery over the
past centuries, are now gaining credibility, owing to paradigm change and
newer and more sophisticated machinery. It's of significance that the remedies
have been successful over many centuries, despite researchers and practitioners
abilities to actually observe the medicines chemistry.
Infintismals and the results of their use, have supported Homeopathy for
the past 180 years of homeopathic success.
Medical Paradigm And Tiny Numbers.
Fortunately, paradigm change has occurred in medicine, and mathematics.
The following is an attempt to illustrate recent approaches of observing
large and small numbers. After reading the following, it will be easier to
apply the expert's thoughts and examples to the minute dilutions.
Was It Googol, or goo-goo? The reader is now introduced to a Googol.'
The young nephew of the American mathematician Edward Kosner invented the
term googol. This occurred when Kosner asked, his nephew, to make up a name
for a very large number. So today the Googol (perhaps Goo-goo in the original)
is the number one followed by 100 zero's.
It looks like this. . .
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
(Davis 1961).
One million. How big is that? What does one million (1,000,000) mean to most people? Winning the
Lottery? More then a thousand? Here are a few examples. If someone gives you
a dollar bill every two seconds, how long will it take for you to have one
million dollars?
The answer: 24 days, 24 hours a day.
A calendar one million years old, would read approximately Eighth Century
B.C..
Driving one million inches, a person will have traveled 16 miles,
Accepted numbers, in daily use.
The following professionals use other
magical, hard to conceptualize, numbers in their daily work. For instance,
the scientist estimates that the brain contains 10 to the 10th (1010)
cells or neurons, and is far more complex than any computer. If this number,
10 TO THE 10th is further represented by dots, that are 1/8th of an inch apart, the
dotted line would extend half way around the earth. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keep going. . . . . . .
Further examples, include the chemical Thyroxin, which is produced naturally
by the thyroid gland. Used in research it can strongly influence the growth
of tadpoles. This occurs when one drop of Thyroxin is added to five million
drops of medium.
Acetyl chlorides, causes a drop in blood pressure when present
in proportion of one milligram to 500,000 gallons of blood.
Histamine, provokes
reactions in guinea pigs, in a dilution that is not detectable by micro-chemical
analysis.
Lysergic acid diethylamide (l.s.d.), in a quantity weighing only
1/200,000 of an ounce, is enough to create reactive hallucinations in the
human mind (Illich 1976).
Researcher, H. Junker, added various substances, attenuated to 10-27)
, to bacterial cultures, and found the growth of bacteria was affected.
In
addition, J. Paterson, when determining the Schick Test, to test for Diphtheria,
discovered that the test results changed from positive to negative. This
was accomplished by oral administration of Alum- precipitated toxoid in a
dilution of 10-60. Using the homeopathic remedy Diphtherininum, in a dilution
of 10-402 a reaction developed in yet another test (Illich 1976).
Even with these already excepted, large and minuscule numbers, many people
still have a problem in their understanding minuscule numbers with which
the homeopath works. Homeopathic remedies originate with dilutions of 10-30.
,which corresponds with, .000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,001. Homeopathic
dilutions have been extended as high as 10 to the -100,000M.
Comparing Orthodox Medicine
Orthodox medicine comes close to Homeopathy in their making chemicals
for immunization shots. However, that's as close as they get. For instance
in one year alone, 1978, the F.D.A. stated that one and one half million
people, about the entire population of Boston, Massachusetts, needed
hospitalization. Hospitalization because of drugs they had taken, on a doctor's
prescription, to cure their complaints. Thirty percent of these people were
further damaged by the therapy that they were given for the original mistakes
(Townsend, 1992).
All Drugs Have Symptoms.
All traditional drugs contain the possibilities of serious symptoms. These
symptoms may not occur until a year or two after the drug has been taken.
This often leads the doctor, and the patient, to believe that they are still
ill. From this they are given even more drugs. This drugging leads
to the death of an estimated 300,000 people a year
(Sullivan 1991). This figure is three times the population of Cambridge,
Massachusetts, dying every year.
Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes.
If a doctor gave a placebo to one hundred of his patients, ninety of them
would get better. And yet Holmes despised Homeopathy (Holmes in Illich 1976, 142)
Drug Manufacturers.
There are approximately 2500 drugs that are currently available to the
traditional physician. They are manufactured by 250 drug firms in the United
States alone. These drugs are cataloged in the Physicians' Desk Reference'.
Each of the manufacturing firms has an average of ten branches throughout
the world. As can be imagined large amounts of time and money are being invested,
and like any business, they must show a profit.
As an example, to promote
Valium, its' manufacturer (Hoffman and LaRouche) spent more then $200 million
dollars on advertising. In addition, they commissioned two hundred medical
doctors to write glowing testimonials, and scientific articles [sic], praising
their drug (Illich, 1976 66).
Forbes magazines', Annual Report of American Industry, showed that in
1984, the drug industry's median net profit was 10.6%, three times that of
other reported industries (Calafano 1986).
This same report, in January of
1993, states the median net profit was at 22.4% (Forbes Jan. 4. 1993).
Dangerous drugs and excessive profits. Speaking of expensive drugs, Former
Secretary Of U.S. Health Education and Welfare, Dr. Joseph A. Calafano cites
the drug Centoxin. The drug is used to treat infections that a patient acquires
as a result of a stay in a hospital. Its known to cause fatal toxic shock,
and is sold for $3,800 per dose. Again, it's given to treat an infection
that was accidentally acquired because of unsanitary conditions in their
hospital. (Calafano 1986).
The drug companies cannot make a profit if the American public is not
buying. However, the news is that they are buying, as never before. They
are purchasing and thereby creating the following statistics. Seventy seven
billion prescription pills, five billion of which are tranquilizers, are
being sold in the 1990's. This makes the U.S. the most drug dependent nation
in the world (Sullivan, 1991).
These are not encouraging figures if people are going to wake up, become
critical and creative in their thinking, recognize paradigm and the need
for paradigm change, and start taking responsibility. With the above consumption
figures the paradigm change message', won't even be heard, in a society
drugged out of awareness.
There are some remedies worse than the disease. (Publilius Syrus , 42
B.C. Oxford 1980, 402)
Drugs are a delusion. George Bernard Shaw in the Doctors Dilemma, (1913),
states, "Nature has provided . . . in the phagocytes . . . a natural means
of . . . destroying all disease germs. There is, at the bottom, only
one genuine scientific treatment for all disease and that is nature" (Shaw
in Townsend 1992, 52).
Dr. Arnold Mandell, a San Diego, California, psychiatrist states:
The use of drugs to treat everything from anxiety to insomnia, to
schizophrenia itself has to be judged a failure. Few patients, if any, are
cured. the most violent manifestations of mental illness can be controlled,
but with what long term consequences, no one knows.
Dr. Mandell continues with,
One of the common drugs used for schizophrenia, actually makes the disorder
worse, and that Tricyclic antidepressants, increase the rate of mood cycling,
leading to long- term increases in the numbers of relapsing episodes. (Mandall
in Gleick 1987, 298)
Personal Change
The author was already quite involved in the research and study of herbs
and their medicinal uses, and was slowly being drawn to the study of Naturopathy.
Naturopathy is specific training in the nutrition, hygiene, and treatment
of the patient with diet, colonics, body massage, vitamin supplements and
Homeopathy. As the name implies, natural care for the body.
The author's thinking was, "Within the universe and in all that exists
in it, including all the named diseases, there must be some very simple answers
to these diseases and they must be available to the honest searcher.
" From
my understandings and readings of herbs and plants I recalled the following
example. The plant known as Rhus Toxidendron, (Poison Ivy), grows quite
successfully in many places. These are places where the unwary gardeners
are, or where children are at play. This is where they may discover the effects
of this shiny leafed renegade. The itching, soreness, welts on the skin and
tendency to spread easily are well known and hard to forget. Less known,
is the fact that in nature a plant called Jewel Weed, and another plant called
Burdock, grow in close proximity to the poison ivy plant. Both plants will
cure the familiar symptoms of ivy poisoning, by making an herbal tincture
out of them and applying it to the affected skin. Armed with this simple
awareness, I started my search for safe medicines, available from nature."
The author discovered Homeopathy first and later, as a Naturopath, specialized
in Homeopathy. Thirty years have elapsed, and more then six thousand clients
have been interviewed and treated by the author.
Out of that number, no one
has become ill from taking homeopathic medicines. Most patients recovered
from their complaints within a short period, usually less then three months.
This is demonstrated by a handful of case histories that are dispensed. Many
of the people in these case histories had been diagnosed and treated by
traditional medicine, before attempting the homeopathic approach. The names
have all been changed for confidentiality.
Homeopathic Case Histories.
Carol and her respiratory problems. Carol was 25 when she first had chest
infections that invariably turned into pneumonia or bronchitis. She complained
of being constantly on antibiotics, and of being well for only ten days out
of the month. She was in a vicious cycle of taking antibiotics. She kept
complaining to her doctors but they repeatedly told her that most of her
problems were caused by her mental state. The doctors had her hospitalized
as a psychotic, because of her many complaints and her general depression.
Her mother refused to accept the fact that Carol (then a child) was sick,
and so Carol reacted, by suppressing her complaints from her family, until
she started passing out during forced shopping trips. The patient stated
in her letter to me. . .
In fact often as a teenager, I was in so much pain that I went to bed
completely convinced that I would not wake up in the morning, I felt so sick--
I got as far as writing letters of goodbye but never told anyone of feeling
bad . . . In the space of an hour I can go from being jovial and full of
life too suicidal, and it still happens often. Today as an adult these infections
still ruin my life. I cannot hold a job. I cannot go to school . . . It may
seem amazing and irresponsible that I have hardly gone to doctors for the
last ten years for this, but I have found them unable to hear me, and generally
send me back to psychiatrists. (Patients' letter, 1970)
The author agreed to work with her, and did a three and 1/2 hour
evaluation, suggested some months worth of individualized remedies, and asked
her to return in four weeks. She didn't return however. A short note arrived
in the mail about three months later, and read:
I wanted to write and tell you of the miracle you have worked on my health
. . . About once a month I have a faint recurrence of infection, and I take
a 1/4 teaspoon of remedy, and no more illness. The bronchitis is completely
under control! My life is very, very different not to be on antibiotics all
the time, and I am supremely happy and forever grateful. Thank you very
much!
Two year old's seizures. Carla wrote me with her sons health report. Her
letter told of an acute problem she'd had with her 2-year-old
son.
When my son, Damon was about two years old he suddenly started having
choking seizures which lasted several minutes and then he would be fine.
One was so violent that I took him to the emergency ward of a hospital, thinking
something was stuck in his throat. They advised me to have him checked by
his pediatrician as there was nothing lodged in his throat.
She took him to the pediatrician she had used since Damon was born. This
doctor found what the emergency room did not.
. . . He diagnosed Damon as having a swollen epiglottis and told me that
it was sealing over his windpipe, obstructing his breathing and that it would
climax within the next 24 hours, at which point Damon would not be able to
breathe at all and there existed the possibility of performing a tracheotomy
should this happen.
The doctor suggested immediate antibiotics and hospitalization. Damon's
mother however, has always sought Western medicine diagnoses and then followed
it with alternative approaches to healing.
I attempted to get in touch with my acupuncturist but was unable to, and
then through a friend I got in touch with David Cleveland, who gave me two
remedies, (Arnica and Carbo Vegetabalis ) , to use for Damon if he had
more choking seizures during the night.
That evening my husband and I, under
Dr. Smiths and David Cleveland's careful instructions, kept constant watch
over Damon as he slept. His breathing was labored but he slept through until
3 a.m. in the morning when he suddenly awoke, reached out for me and cried
"mommy" and fell back against the bed.
He was having great difficulty in
breathing. I had a moment of great indecision to wake my husband and get
Damon into the car and take him to the nearest hospital, less then a ten
minute drive away or run to the kitchen for the homeopathic remedies that
had been prepared earlier for such an emergency.
I decided that the remedies
were closest and administered them to Damon's mouth . . . He stirred when
the first dose of Arnica was administered, gasped and started to cry. With
his gasp and cry his breath returned. Soon his breathing was normal, after
repeated doses of the two remedies, he was calm and fell into a deep sleep.
His breathing was not as labored as before. This was the last attack Damon
had, and he has not suffered from this again. Damon has been better since
that evening that I administered the remedies, and he is now five years old, and
has had no recurrence.
Keinbach's Disease & a University Professor,
Professor Janet sent this letter
in 1990.
Herewith is my account of my Kienbachs's disease episode. In the early
spring of 1987 I sprained my wrist (right wrist); it was splinted, but the
pain continued with considerable severity throughout the summer and into
the autumn.
X-rays on several occasions revealed no break, but some evidence
of Kienbach's disease: the deprivation of blood to a small wrist bone, resulting
in its slow death. Harvard Community Health Plan, (a local Health maintenance
organization), referred me to their excellent orthopedic hand and wrist
specialist.
He confirmed the Kienbach's diagnosis after additional nuclear
scans and an M.R.I. scan, Keinbach's can sometimes be controlled through
an operation, facilitating the blood flow to the affected bone, but my
configuration was not appropriate for such treatment.
Finally, frustration with pain and with the stupefying effects of pain
killers, led me to seek advice with David Cleveland who had cured my migraines
some years before. After some weeks of remedies from David Cleveland, they
scheduled me for another M.R.I' scan (Magnetic resonance imaging, costing
about $2,000. per session). I had not informed Dr. Smith of my alternative
treatment.
The technicians and Dr. Smith were surprised to find the evidence of
Kienbach's -- a shadow indicating a dead or dying bone-- considerably diminished.
The pain had diminished to the point of vanishing altogether.
Dr. Smith was
quite baffled, but cheered; he said my wrist was not "normal" and that we
should "keep an eye on it," but that for the time being it seemed fine--which
it was. Since then I have had no recurrence of pain. My only caution involves
tennis: I wear a small wrist brace to protect the bone against undo shocks.
So far, so good: a happy ending (patient letter, 1984).
Fourteen year old's progressive
blindness.
Craig was fifteen and came from a large family,
and when it meant Craig's coming to Cambridge to see me, the entire family
arrived to support him.
The condition he was suffering from was a form of
retinitis. The surgeon had told the boy that he would be blind in both eyes
within six weeks and that even surgery would not be helpful and perhaps even
dangerous to do. So it was with this ultimatum that I evaluated his case
and gave him the first set of remedies.
It really wasn't until after the
second set of Homeopathic remedies that the results came in and in his surgeon's own
words.
"I have never seen this happen before. All of the mucous built up behind
the eye, causing the separation, is gone."
One interesting symptom of Craig's case was that he was very apathetic
to what was happening in his life.
Of interest also, were two other persons
that I have seen with retinitis. Both of them displayed apathy as a mind
state. Using apathy' as one of the outstanding 'mind symptoms' for these people,
I was able to find remedies that fit Craig.
Craig still has his eyesight
today and is using it now in college (from files, 1987).
The folk singer's tumor. At age 28, she came to see me with a diagnosed
tumor on her vocal cords. The doctors wanted to operate on it immediately,
at great risk to her singing career of course. She had two visits about a
week apart, during which the tumor was shrunk, disappearing totally within
some months time. ( 2011- I heard her on radio, this week, and she was singing her new song very beautifully).
Gangrenous leg of 23 year old. She told me that she was in Mexico buying
and selling drugs, with her boyfriend, when the panel truck they were riding
in turned over, pinning her leg under a part of the truck.
Her parents paid
to have her flown to a Californian Hospital where her leg became infected
and became continually worse.
When this occurred the parents (local politicians)
had her flown to a well known Boston hospital.
She laid in the second hospital bed for
another couple weeks, with no improvement, while continuing to take massive
amounts of antibiotic drugs.
Her girlfriend (a current patient), after learning
that the doctors wanted to amputate her entire left leg called me, and asked
if I would help. I responded with "She wasn't a patient of mine." Her girlfriend,
however, was forceful enough to convince me.
I decided to do what I could,
after all the girl was only 23. I saw her twice, each time suggesting different
treatments for her infection.
Her hospital doctors' saw an immediate change
in her blood count, and it became day to day healing after that. She walked
out of the hospital, using crutches, three weeks later, with her
leg!
Crohns' disease and Mandy. Mandy was suffering from Crohns' Disease and
was having continual bleeding and pains in her abdomen. This bleeding stopped
within three days of taking the Homeopathic remedies and the pains in the abdominal area
left shortly afterward. She had been suffering from her condition for more
then seven years. Later, she confided in me, that the change in her condition
occurred much to the amazement of her doctor.
Vanessa suffered from a neurological condition. Vanessa, needed to be
in the best of possible health for her many clients. Yet, after contracting
a virus she was unable to lift her head up anymore. Because of pain and weakness,
she had to allow her head to lean heavily toward the right shoulder. In less
then a month after taking the remedies there was improvement and after visiting
her recently, she was found to have completely recovered from her
condition.
. . . We will stop talking about "well-behaved cancers" and "weak viruses"
and look at people who are fighting these illnesses. (Siegel 1986 VI.)
Ongoing Research in Homeopathy
If the supposed seeker after truth is not willing to seek truth where
it is to be found, namely in experience, then he may leave it undiscovered;
he cannot find it in the multiplication tables. (Samuel Hahnemann, 1825 in
Haehl 1970, 418)
The possibility for
great paradigm change exists. The next chapter for mankind will examine the reluctance
to accept paradigm change, as it is occurring in health care. It states that
society needs to take those leaps of understanding that will develop a society
that has matured enough to take command of this coming age. Homeopathy is
shown as part of the paradigm shift that is already occurring.
Each man, here below, works according to the gifts and strength Providence
has given him, and it is only before the fallible tribunal of man that degrees
of merit are acknowledged, not so before that of God: God owes me nothing,
but I owe him much--yes, everything. (Hahnemanns' dying words to his wife,
in Dudgeon 1854 introduction )
The thesis has shown that Homeopathy is a tried, non-evasive approach
to curing the entire person. How Homeopathy is accomplished and the tools
that the homeopath uses are discussed at length. Confusion about several
points of Homeopathy, such as minute doses, are compared and contrasted for
understanding. The remedies are shown as being non-toxic because of the minute
dilutions.
For background, the life of the founder of Homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann,
is brought out to show the turmoil that usually accompanies a society caught
up in the need for critical and creative thinking and paradigm change. This
background also develops Hahnemann as a key player in to medical paradigm
change of his days. Hahnemann is presented as a very educated medical doctor,
that chose to quit, rather than continue on with the medical treatments of
his day. This allowed him the reflective space that he would need to develop
his understanding of a new medicine.
The chapter on critical and creative thinking describes what it is and
how many experts characterize it. The Chapter shows connections between Homeopathy
and C.C.T. Many followers of Homeopathy are acknowledged to discover people
that had used their own C.C.T. to search for, and use Homeopathy for their
personal problems.
The thesis intends to demonstrate that the practice of Homeopathy uses
critical and creative thinking skills, strategies, and techniques to allow
the patient to explain their symptoms.
In addition, the paper considers what
the homeopath does with those symptoms to make his analysis, and finally
to make a determination of a correct remedy for the patient.
Many current experts are quoted to support Homeopathy as a medicine that
can easily stand alone, or work in cooperation with the areas of orthodox
medicine that have been successful.
Current research is underway throughout the world proving the actions
of Homeopathic remedies. Clinics like the new Homeopathic Hospital in Moscow
(1987) have opened. Homeopathic medicine has also been added to the training
received at the University of Arizona. In addition, medical schools are once
more including lectures in Homeopathic medicine, such as the University of
California's School of Medicine, in San Francisco, and the Department of
Psychiatry at Duke University, in North Carolina (Ullmann 1988).
Dr. Gerber, mentioned earlier, is a former orthodox doctor, now practicing
Homeopathy. He shares the following about his friend, also a former orthodox
practitioner.
My friend Dr. Greg Manteuffel, told me how his dissatisfaction with
conventional medicine led him to explore other forms of treatment and finally
apprentice himself to a Homeopath in Chicago. My friend told me he was more
successful in treating people since his conversion; he was also much happier,
had better rapport with patients, and for the first time in his life, really
enjoyed practicing medicine. He felt he was able to stimulate genuine healing
in sick people, whereas before he had just suppressed symptoms, often by
plying patients with toxic drugs and using methods he now considered more
harmful than beneficial. (Gerber 1988, 359)
Finally, in the spirit of paradigm change, the following web address gives
many links to Homeopathy throughout the world, along with newsletters that
can be joined. The internet web site can be found at
http://www.dungeon.com/home/cam/homeo.html.
It's appropriate to end a work where 'I' was frequently referred to, with
a quote by Moore and Franklin, from the author's friend and teacher, John
Roger's book.
"It is a mistake for a sculptor or a painter to speak or write very often
about his job," said Henry Moore. "It releases tension needed for his work.
Keep the tension-the passion--within. Express it in deeds--in actions--not
in words."
Ben Franklin agreed with this, too: "Proclaim not all thou knowest,
all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou can'st." [sic] (Rogers 1991,
419)
THE HOMEOPATHIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
� 1997 ,2011 David
Cleveland
