Before "making" a definition, I think we need to "define the
definition"! That is -- what's its purpose, and who is the intended
audience? A technical definition intended for professionals will be
different from a general purpose definition intended for lay people,
policy making, etc.
Once we've defined the purpose, it becomes easier to know "how long we
want to take it"!
Shannon
Homeopathy
-
Soroush Ebrahimi
- Moderator
- Posts: 4510
- Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2002 11:00 pm
Re: Homeopathy
Pls see Ardavan's original post:
"Dear all,
Don't you think that the common definition of homeopathy needs to be edited?
This is what you see under the term homeopathy in Merriam-Webster:
'a system of medical practice that treats a disease especially by the
administration of minute doses of a remedy that would in healthy persons
produce symptoms similar to those of the disease'.
You find similar words in other dictionaries and encyclopedias."
So it is in a way a suggested replacement for the standard Dictionary entry.
Regards
Soroush
"Dear all,
Don't you think that the common definition of homeopathy needs to be edited?
This is what you see under the term homeopathy in Merriam-Webster:
'a system of medical practice that treats a disease especially by the
administration of minute doses of a remedy that would in healthy persons
produce symptoms similar to those of the disease'.
You find similar words in other dictionaries and encyclopedias."
So it is in a way a suggested replacement for the standard Dictionary entry.
Regards
Soroush
-
Ardavan Shahrdar
- Moderator
- Posts: 1277
- Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2000 10:00 pm
Re: Homeopathy
Dear all,
In one of my articles, Homeopathy - The Concept, I mentioned what I mean by the problem of definition of homeopathy and simillimum. I have brought it here. If you haven't read it, please read it before continuing our discussion. Then we can find a common definition for dictionaries, encyclopedias,...
You can also find the article at http://www.minutus.org/library/article_read.asp?id=454
Kind regards,
Ardavan
Homeopathy - The Concept
One of the false notions about homeopathy is considering the badly named 'homeopathic remedies' as the basic means by which the system of homeopathy is characterized. It may sound strange but I want to emphasize the fact that we should forget about the so called "homeopathic remedies" when defining homeopathy!
Since its birth, homeopathy has been under the attack of the opponents mainly because of the mysterious nature of the process of potentization. A deep concept was under question because of the controversial nature of one of its possible tools of application. If you go back through the history of homeopathy and understand why homeopathy works, you will find out that the basic principle of homeopathy is not necessarily dependant on the dynamized remedies to be realized.
Knowing the fact that Hahnemann did not potentize the herbal preparations at the beginning of introducing the principles of homeopathy is sufficient to exclude potentization as a necessary element in the system of homeopathy. It is worth noting that I am not criticizing the process of potentization. What I am emphasizing is the fact that when defining a system, we should have a clear distinction between the concept and the tools. When, nowadays, the whole concept of homeopathy becomes questionable merely because of the controversial nature of "homeopathic remedies", this clearly shows that the landmark of homeopathy exposed to the medical community is the tool and not the concept!
Unfortunately this error of definition has led to serious problems in the homeopathic community, too. The one who prescribes the potentized remedies is called 'homeopath'! This is disastrous. The so-called "homeopathic remedies" are just tools. You can apply them according to different principles homeopathic, allopathic, antipathic, no-principleopathic!, But not everything done with the remedies can be called 'homeopathy'. To me, it is as joking as considering washing the clothes with "dynamized remedies" as a homeopathic act!
Homeopathy can be done by several means, if you understand it. It can be done by a herbal preparation, by a potentized tincture, by verbal intervention, by music, by an infectious super-imposing state, by immuno-modulation, by an electromagnetic field, by intention,.... The important point is in understanding the concept and how homeopathy works.
"Similia Simillibus Curentur"? What does this really mean Is the explanation that a disease is cured when a remedy capable of inducing similar sign and symptoms in a healthy person is prescribed? enough? Usually the examples introduced in homeopathy introductory sessions are convincing but the tricky point is in the way the term "disease" is defined. In conventional medicine, 'disease' is a general term. It really means 'dis' + 'ease'. The term covers a wide range of definitions. Sometimes it is designated according to its sign and symptoms like syndromes, in some cases it has a pathological definition (like Multiple Sclerosis), in some cases according to the considered etiological factor (Streptococcal pharyngitis),? To understand what Hahnemann meant by curing a disease by a similar disease, we should first find out what Hahnemann's definition of disease was.
Studying the first 70 aphorisms of Hahnemann's Organon clearly shows that he considered 'disease' as a dynamic quality. The way Hahnemann uses the term "disease" is not the one he himself condemns. You see that in some of its writings, he clearly uses disease terms such as smallpox, measles, mumps,.. and in some other parts he rejects the idea of terming different conditions as meaningless words. For Hahnemann, the term 'disease' as used in Organon, was the dynamic alteration in vital force worth naming when appearing in the same manner. So 'Multiple Sclerosis' can not be included in this dynamic definition of 'disease' as it is referred to presence of a pathological change in CNS. Not all the sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis have a similar basic dynamic alteration. Same is true regarding Diabetes Mellitus. DM is actually a name given to a group of sign and symptoms, paraclinical data,'Epidemic diseases can be considered as dynamic diseases as they run a similar course. That's why you see article names such as 'Cure and prevention of Scarlet Fever', 'Cause and prevention of Asiatic Cholera' in Hahnemann's writings and no sign of articles such as 'Cure of Diabetes Mellitus',...
Going back to the principle of "Similia Simillibus Curentur", now we understand that a patient, who namely suffers from Diabetes Mellitus, as defined in conventional medicine, should not be treated by a remedy capable of inducing Diabetes Mellitus in a healthy person. This patient actually suffers from a basic dynamic alteration which has led to clinical presentations conventionally called Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Considering the superficial sign and symptoms of DM is often misleading in unmasking the dynamic basic alteration of the patient. Usually the clinical presentation is a mixture of dynamic and static features obscuring and compensating the valuable leading points of the dynamic underlying disease. That's why we should first understand 'what is to be cured in a DM case' the underlying real dynamic disease and then refer to the principle of simillimum.
Same is true with Parkinson's disease. Lesions of the basal ganglia in the brain lead to Parkinsonism. These lesions may be secondary to an insidious hidden viral infection, a chemical poisoning, a trauma, a direct destruction of the basal ganglia nuclei by a probe. So the term Parkinson's disease does not refer to a distinct dynamic underlying quality and so is not a real disease. Actually some of the symptoms presented by the patient may be irreversible due to the static defects of the brain. Our mission as homeopaths in curing the patient is to understand the quality of the basic dynamic alteration which has led to such lesions. This is 'what is to be cured in disease' in this case and what is to be put in the formula of 'Similia Similibus Curentur'.
As you see, the principle of 'Simillimum' is something more than a mechanical matching of the symptoms. The symptoms presented by the patient do not directly show the quality of the underlying 'disease'. As mentioned clearly in my article 'Chronic Diseases ' The Effective Causal Complex?, what the patient presents is the result of a mixture of underlying dynamic, static and reactive patterns distorted by secondary defense mechanisms. In acute conditions, the dynamic underlying disease is clearly manifested but in chronic conditions it is masked in different degrees.
Actually what is done by a homeopath is discovering the masked 'real disease' and then pushing the patient to re-experience this "real disease" what was not resolved previously. So instead of defining the simillimum principle as a disease is cured when a remedy capable of inducing similar symptoms in a healthy person is prescribed, I prefer to say "The homeostasis is restored in a patient when he/she is helped to 're'experience the dynamic alteration once affected him/her. The simillimum principle lies deeply in this 're-experiencing'. When consciousness becomes resonant with the unconscious or semi-conscious unresolved state, adaptation and cure happens. The homeopath is the medium which facilitates this matching.
When the organism encounters an unknown or partially known stimulus, or the intensity of the stimulation is more than what is expected from the power of adaptability of the patient, or the patient is in a low state of energy, the patient cannot use its primary adaptive mechanism to maintain the homeostasis and, instead, uses the secondary defense mechanism to minimize the injury and to hide the original unresolved state. The secondary functions of vital force become activated to hide and minimize the injury. This persistent reaction of the organism to the underlying unresolved original state leads to formation and persistence of the chronic picture. This dynamic chronic pattern can be solved if the organism re-experiences the original state and uses its primary adaptive mechanism. Re-experiencing the original state leads to adaptation if the process does not cause a new shock and the patient has enough energy for adaptation adaptation to what he or she was once unable to adapt.
Consciousness is basically a formless entity. Creative process leads to manifestation of 'forms'. 'Forms' may come and go as creative features but when they are fixed they are considered as 'diseased states'. Ontologically, this is a universal truth applicable to our basic principles of consciousness and perception. When consciousness remembers the intolerable fixed form with enough energy and courage, the form is released and the free flow of consciousness is maintained. The healer is an artist who can facilitate this resonance.
The homeopathic intervention is the process in which the homeopath pushes the patient in the direction of this re-experiencing. Of course this direction is similar to the underlying unresolved 'form' principle of Simillimum. Actually the medicinal agents prescribed by homeopaths are not direct healing agents (remedies). They are actually disease inducing agents. The transient similar form induced by medicinal agents facilitates the above mentioned resonance.
Are the potentized medicinal agents the only tools effective in inducing a transient 'form' As mentioned earlier, we do not necessarily need potentization for homeopathic intervention. If it was so, homeopathy was never born! Potentization, later, came to the world of homeopathy to optimize and deepen the dynamic effect of the remedies. It is not a necessary requirement in the 'concept'.
Do we necessarily need medicinal agents for homeopathic interventions Not necessarily! When a psychotherapist artistically leads a patient to re-experience the traumatic experience of the past, the process is acting like the primary action of a remedy. Here the cognitive therapy is the result of a homeopathic act. The pushing force is indirectly formed by therapeutic field of the therapist, the momentum induced in group therapy or the direct exposure of the unresolved state in a hypnotized state. It is surprising to see that the same initial aggravating phase may follow this exposure re-experiencing, feeling the released tension followed by free flow of energy.
Understanding the patient deeply may also trigger the homeopathic effect. When you look at an object, you push the dynamic nature of the object toward the subjective form you hold in your mind. When you focus on the underlying dynamic derangement of the patient, you are actually forcing a kind of primary action on the patient. The organism of the patient feels this primary action and is subconsciously forced to become resonant with the hidden unresolved state. This always happen during a sound casetaking and case analysis the effect depends on the purity of the observation and the energy level of the observer. That's why the placebo effect in homeopathic practice acts specifically and is far from the meaning of placebo in conventional medicine. Here, the placebo or even the casetaking session may act homeopathically.
Before opening our remedy box, we should first remember that our mission is the artistical act of homeopathy. Remedies are one of the tools; a part of the ritual. Any agent, action, ritual, can act like a homeopathic remedy. If we understand the mechanism of homeopathic cure, our minds will be open to new possibilities. Have a look at the following aphorism (#286) of Hahnemann's Organon.
The dynamic force of mineral magnets, electricity and galvanism act no less powerfully upon our life principle and they are not less homoeopathic than the properly so-called medicines which neutralize disease by taking them through the mouth, or by rubbing them on the skin or by olfaction. There may be diseases, especially diseases of sensibility and irritability, abnormal sensations, and involuntary muscular movements which may be cured by those means. But the more certain way of applying the last two as well as that of the so-called electro-magnetic machine lies still very much in the dark to make homoeopathic use of them. So far both electricity and Galvanism have been used only for palliation to the great damage of the sick. The positive, pure action of both upon the healthy human body have until the present time been but little tested.
Future may open new doors to provide specific stimulations for homeopathic interventions. Although at the time being the most effective specific tools are in our materia medica treasure, we may witness unbelievable means in the future.
If you clearly understand how homeopathy works, the real concept, you will see that it is so difficult to identify a clear border between different schools of medicine. Characterizing the schools by the types of the medicines is the easiest thing to do but as was discussed above this is just a superficial glance. The recent findings in medicine show that in many chronic diseases, the underlying cause is a viral infection. As an example, Epstein-Barr Virus is believed to be responsible in many cases of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Finding the link between chronic ailments and dynamic underlying entities such as viral infections is one of the wonderful outcomes of the new medical research.
One of the basic questions in this field is how a viral infection state changes to different dynamism responsible for chronic conditions in this case Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL). Immunological findings show that in a cancerous state, the balance between two sub-types of white blood cells (TH1 and TH2) is altered. In normal conditions, T Helper 1 cells are responsible in recognition of intracellular infections (such as viral infections). T Helper 2 cells are responsible in recognition of extracellular infections. When a patient suffers from infectious mononucleosis (IM) which a manifestation of infection by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the number of TH1 increases to combat the viral infection. So the ratio of TH1/TH2 is increased. The good outcome is that following this phase the organism attains its normal equilibrium and then the normal TH1/TH2 is again maintained.
Now, if because of the tricky nature of the virus itself or because of the result of carcinogens, body state, the ratio is reversed and instead of TH1, the number of TH2 is increased, the white blood cells become blind to intracellular infections and cannot trace the viral infection inside the cells. This will lead to persistence of the viral infection inside the cell which leads to transformations in gene expression and at last will lead to a cancerous state in this example, Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
The new generation of researches in the medical field is focused on how we can change the underlying immunological network to cure the related conditions. For example, in the case of Hodgkin?s Lymphoma (HL) it is now well understood that the problem is not the cancerous tissue but the undesired shifting in the immune plane which has led to the formation of lymphoma. And if we become able to correct this underlying shifting, HL will be cured. (Here you see the similar thought pattern in our analysis of chronic conditions in other expressions!).
One of the new suggestions in treatment of EBV related HL is to somehow push the immune system to the posture it has in Infectious Mononucleosis. This means that we push the system to act the same way it acts acutely in the immune response against EBV. One of the scientists has proposed a new kind of vaccine capable of this immunostimulation! This is an absolute homeopathic action!!
Let's summarize the last 5 paragraphs. Hodgkin's Lymphoma is not the target of the real cure (HL is not the name for a real dynamic disease). The underlying immune shift caused by Epstein Barr Virus should be treated (So what is to be cured is the dynamic alteration caused by EBV). To cure the chronic dynamic alteration of EBV we should push the patient to its initial acute posture (Re-experiencing the original unresolved state). It can be predicted that the patient who suffers from HL may experience a kind of pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy,? as components of initial acute state when HL begins to disappear.
I do not want to lead you to reductionism but like a hologram, the truth shows itself everywhere, in any part of the whole. Think homeopathically, act homeopathically. Homeopathy is a philosophical system it is not a box of remedies.
The basic laws of chronicity and cure are universal in nature. You can even generalize them toward ontological discussions. Actually our perception of reality is fixed in a kind of chronic disease otherwise the space-time was not so firm. Now a question: can a kind of homeopathic 'act' release this entangled intolerable energy?!!
________________________________
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access , No Cost.
In one of my articles, Homeopathy - The Concept, I mentioned what I mean by the problem of definition of homeopathy and simillimum. I have brought it here. If you haven't read it, please read it before continuing our discussion. Then we can find a common definition for dictionaries, encyclopedias,...
You can also find the article at http://www.minutus.org/library/article_read.asp?id=454
Kind regards,
Ardavan
Homeopathy - The Concept
One of the false notions about homeopathy is considering the badly named 'homeopathic remedies' as the basic means by which the system of homeopathy is characterized. It may sound strange but I want to emphasize the fact that we should forget about the so called "homeopathic remedies" when defining homeopathy!
Since its birth, homeopathy has been under the attack of the opponents mainly because of the mysterious nature of the process of potentization. A deep concept was under question because of the controversial nature of one of its possible tools of application. If you go back through the history of homeopathy and understand why homeopathy works, you will find out that the basic principle of homeopathy is not necessarily dependant on the dynamized remedies to be realized.
Knowing the fact that Hahnemann did not potentize the herbal preparations at the beginning of introducing the principles of homeopathy is sufficient to exclude potentization as a necessary element in the system of homeopathy. It is worth noting that I am not criticizing the process of potentization. What I am emphasizing is the fact that when defining a system, we should have a clear distinction between the concept and the tools. When, nowadays, the whole concept of homeopathy becomes questionable merely because of the controversial nature of "homeopathic remedies", this clearly shows that the landmark of homeopathy exposed to the medical community is the tool and not the concept!
Unfortunately this error of definition has led to serious problems in the homeopathic community, too. The one who prescribes the potentized remedies is called 'homeopath'! This is disastrous. The so-called "homeopathic remedies" are just tools. You can apply them according to different principles homeopathic, allopathic, antipathic, no-principleopathic!, But not everything done with the remedies can be called 'homeopathy'. To me, it is as joking as considering washing the clothes with "dynamized remedies" as a homeopathic act!
Homeopathy can be done by several means, if you understand it. It can be done by a herbal preparation, by a potentized tincture, by verbal intervention, by music, by an infectious super-imposing state, by immuno-modulation, by an electromagnetic field, by intention,.... The important point is in understanding the concept and how homeopathy works.
"Similia Simillibus Curentur"? What does this really mean Is the explanation that a disease is cured when a remedy capable of inducing similar sign and symptoms in a healthy person is prescribed? enough? Usually the examples introduced in homeopathy introductory sessions are convincing but the tricky point is in the way the term "disease" is defined. In conventional medicine, 'disease' is a general term. It really means 'dis' + 'ease'. The term covers a wide range of definitions. Sometimes it is designated according to its sign and symptoms like syndromes, in some cases it has a pathological definition (like Multiple Sclerosis), in some cases according to the considered etiological factor (Streptococcal pharyngitis),? To understand what Hahnemann meant by curing a disease by a similar disease, we should first find out what Hahnemann's definition of disease was.
Studying the first 70 aphorisms of Hahnemann's Organon clearly shows that he considered 'disease' as a dynamic quality. The way Hahnemann uses the term "disease" is not the one he himself condemns. You see that in some of its writings, he clearly uses disease terms such as smallpox, measles, mumps,.. and in some other parts he rejects the idea of terming different conditions as meaningless words. For Hahnemann, the term 'disease' as used in Organon, was the dynamic alteration in vital force worth naming when appearing in the same manner. So 'Multiple Sclerosis' can not be included in this dynamic definition of 'disease' as it is referred to presence of a pathological change in CNS. Not all the sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis have a similar basic dynamic alteration. Same is true regarding Diabetes Mellitus. DM is actually a name given to a group of sign and symptoms, paraclinical data,'Epidemic diseases can be considered as dynamic diseases as they run a similar course. That's why you see article names such as 'Cure and prevention of Scarlet Fever', 'Cause and prevention of Asiatic Cholera' in Hahnemann's writings and no sign of articles such as 'Cure of Diabetes Mellitus',...
Going back to the principle of "Similia Simillibus Curentur", now we understand that a patient, who namely suffers from Diabetes Mellitus, as defined in conventional medicine, should not be treated by a remedy capable of inducing Diabetes Mellitus in a healthy person. This patient actually suffers from a basic dynamic alteration which has led to clinical presentations conventionally called Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Considering the superficial sign and symptoms of DM is often misleading in unmasking the dynamic basic alteration of the patient. Usually the clinical presentation is a mixture of dynamic and static features obscuring and compensating the valuable leading points of the dynamic underlying disease. That's why we should first understand 'what is to be cured in a DM case' the underlying real dynamic disease and then refer to the principle of simillimum.
Same is true with Parkinson's disease. Lesions of the basal ganglia in the brain lead to Parkinsonism. These lesions may be secondary to an insidious hidden viral infection, a chemical poisoning, a trauma, a direct destruction of the basal ganglia nuclei by a probe. So the term Parkinson's disease does not refer to a distinct dynamic underlying quality and so is not a real disease. Actually some of the symptoms presented by the patient may be irreversible due to the static defects of the brain. Our mission as homeopaths in curing the patient is to understand the quality of the basic dynamic alteration which has led to such lesions. This is 'what is to be cured in disease' in this case and what is to be put in the formula of 'Similia Similibus Curentur'.
As you see, the principle of 'Simillimum' is something more than a mechanical matching of the symptoms. The symptoms presented by the patient do not directly show the quality of the underlying 'disease'. As mentioned clearly in my article 'Chronic Diseases ' The Effective Causal Complex?, what the patient presents is the result of a mixture of underlying dynamic, static and reactive patterns distorted by secondary defense mechanisms. In acute conditions, the dynamic underlying disease is clearly manifested but in chronic conditions it is masked in different degrees.
Actually what is done by a homeopath is discovering the masked 'real disease' and then pushing the patient to re-experience this "real disease" what was not resolved previously. So instead of defining the simillimum principle as a disease is cured when a remedy capable of inducing similar symptoms in a healthy person is prescribed, I prefer to say "The homeostasis is restored in a patient when he/she is helped to 're'experience the dynamic alteration once affected him/her. The simillimum principle lies deeply in this 're-experiencing'. When consciousness becomes resonant with the unconscious or semi-conscious unresolved state, adaptation and cure happens. The homeopath is the medium which facilitates this matching.
When the organism encounters an unknown or partially known stimulus, or the intensity of the stimulation is more than what is expected from the power of adaptability of the patient, or the patient is in a low state of energy, the patient cannot use its primary adaptive mechanism to maintain the homeostasis and, instead, uses the secondary defense mechanism to minimize the injury and to hide the original unresolved state. The secondary functions of vital force become activated to hide and minimize the injury. This persistent reaction of the organism to the underlying unresolved original state leads to formation and persistence of the chronic picture. This dynamic chronic pattern can be solved if the organism re-experiences the original state and uses its primary adaptive mechanism. Re-experiencing the original state leads to adaptation if the process does not cause a new shock and the patient has enough energy for adaptation adaptation to what he or she was once unable to adapt.
Consciousness is basically a formless entity. Creative process leads to manifestation of 'forms'. 'Forms' may come and go as creative features but when they are fixed they are considered as 'diseased states'. Ontologically, this is a universal truth applicable to our basic principles of consciousness and perception. When consciousness remembers the intolerable fixed form with enough energy and courage, the form is released and the free flow of consciousness is maintained. The healer is an artist who can facilitate this resonance.
The homeopathic intervention is the process in which the homeopath pushes the patient in the direction of this re-experiencing. Of course this direction is similar to the underlying unresolved 'form' principle of Simillimum. Actually the medicinal agents prescribed by homeopaths are not direct healing agents (remedies). They are actually disease inducing agents. The transient similar form induced by medicinal agents facilitates the above mentioned resonance.
Are the potentized medicinal agents the only tools effective in inducing a transient 'form' As mentioned earlier, we do not necessarily need potentization for homeopathic intervention. If it was so, homeopathy was never born! Potentization, later, came to the world of homeopathy to optimize and deepen the dynamic effect of the remedies. It is not a necessary requirement in the 'concept'.
Do we necessarily need medicinal agents for homeopathic interventions Not necessarily! When a psychotherapist artistically leads a patient to re-experience the traumatic experience of the past, the process is acting like the primary action of a remedy. Here the cognitive therapy is the result of a homeopathic act. The pushing force is indirectly formed by therapeutic field of the therapist, the momentum induced in group therapy or the direct exposure of the unresolved state in a hypnotized state. It is surprising to see that the same initial aggravating phase may follow this exposure re-experiencing, feeling the released tension followed by free flow of energy.
Understanding the patient deeply may also trigger the homeopathic effect. When you look at an object, you push the dynamic nature of the object toward the subjective form you hold in your mind. When you focus on the underlying dynamic derangement of the patient, you are actually forcing a kind of primary action on the patient. The organism of the patient feels this primary action and is subconsciously forced to become resonant with the hidden unresolved state. This always happen during a sound casetaking and case analysis the effect depends on the purity of the observation and the energy level of the observer. That's why the placebo effect in homeopathic practice acts specifically and is far from the meaning of placebo in conventional medicine. Here, the placebo or even the casetaking session may act homeopathically.
Before opening our remedy box, we should first remember that our mission is the artistical act of homeopathy. Remedies are one of the tools; a part of the ritual. Any agent, action, ritual, can act like a homeopathic remedy. If we understand the mechanism of homeopathic cure, our minds will be open to new possibilities. Have a look at the following aphorism (#286) of Hahnemann's Organon.
The dynamic force of mineral magnets, electricity and galvanism act no less powerfully upon our life principle and they are not less homoeopathic than the properly so-called medicines which neutralize disease by taking them through the mouth, or by rubbing them on the skin or by olfaction. There may be diseases, especially diseases of sensibility and irritability, abnormal sensations, and involuntary muscular movements which may be cured by those means. But the more certain way of applying the last two as well as that of the so-called electro-magnetic machine lies still very much in the dark to make homoeopathic use of them. So far both electricity and Galvanism have been used only for palliation to the great damage of the sick. The positive, pure action of both upon the healthy human body have until the present time been but little tested.
Future may open new doors to provide specific stimulations for homeopathic interventions. Although at the time being the most effective specific tools are in our materia medica treasure, we may witness unbelievable means in the future.
If you clearly understand how homeopathy works, the real concept, you will see that it is so difficult to identify a clear border between different schools of medicine. Characterizing the schools by the types of the medicines is the easiest thing to do but as was discussed above this is just a superficial glance. The recent findings in medicine show that in many chronic diseases, the underlying cause is a viral infection. As an example, Epstein-Barr Virus is believed to be responsible in many cases of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Finding the link between chronic ailments and dynamic underlying entities such as viral infections is one of the wonderful outcomes of the new medical research.
One of the basic questions in this field is how a viral infection state changes to different dynamism responsible for chronic conditions in this case Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL). Immunological findings show that in a cancerous state, the balance between two sub-types of white blood cells (TH1 and TH2) is altered. In normal conditions, T Helper 1 cells are responsible in recognition of intracellular infections (such as viral infections). T Helper 2 cells are responsible in recognition of extracellular infections. When a patient suffers from infectious mononucleosis (IM) which a manifestation of infection by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the number of TH1 increases to combat the viral infection. So the ratio of TH1/TH2 is increased. The good outcome is that following this phase the organism attains its normal equilibrium and then the normal TH1/TH2 is again maintained.
Now, if because of the tricky nature of the virus itself or because of the result of carcinogens, body state, the ratio is reversed and instead of TH1, the number of TH2 is increased, the white blood cells become blind to intracellular infections and cannot trace the viral infection inside the cells. This will lead to persistence of the viral infection inside the cell which leads to transformations in gene expression and at last will lead to a cancerous state in this example, Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
The new generation of researches in the medical field is focused on how we can change the underlying immunological network to cure the related conditions. For example, in the case of Hodgkin?s Lymphoma (HL) it is now well understood that the problem is not the cancerous tissue but the undesired shifting in the immune plane which has led to the formation of lymphoma. And if we become able to correct this underlying shifting, HL will be cured. (Here you see the similar thought pattern in our analysis of chronic conditions in other expressions!).
One of the new suggestions in treatment of EBV related HL is to somehow push the immune system to the posture it has in Infectious Mononucleosis. This means that we push the system to act the same way it acts acutely in the immune response against EBV. One of the scientists has proposed a new kind of vaccine capable of this immunostimulation! This is an absolute homeopathic action!!
Let's summarize the last 5 paragraphs. Hodgkin's Lymphoma is not the target of the real cure (HL is not the name for a real dynamic disease). The underlying immune shift caused by Epstein Barr Virus should be treated (So what is to be cured is the dynamic alteration caused by EBV). To cure the chronic dynamic alteration of EBV we should push the patient to its initial acute posture (Re-experiencing the original unresolved state). It can be predicted that the patient who suffers from HL may experience a kind of pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy,? as components of initial acute state when HL begins to disappear.
I do not want to lead you to reductionism but like a hologram, the truth shows itself everywhere, in any part of the whole. Think homeopathically, act homeopathically. Homeopathy is a philosophical system it is not a box of remedies.
The basic laws of chronicity and cure are universal in nature. You can even generalize them toward ontological discussions. Actually our perception of reality is fixed in a kind of chronic disease otherwise the space-time was not so firm. Now a question: can a kind of homeopathic 'act' release this entangled intolerable energy?!!
________________________________
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access , No Cost.
-
Fran Sheffield
- Posts: 676
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:00 pm
Re: Homeopathy
I think the definition has to somehow include recognition of the underpinning natural law, the law of similars, as we call it.
This law deals with the relationship of similars. When we explore these relationships fully, we find that similars produce similars (as across provers in a proving), similars treat similars (which is what we mostly think of when we think of homeopathy treating ill-health), and similars prevent similars (as in our use of substances for the prevention of epidemic diseases, though prevention is not confined to these alone).
If we do not realise this fullness, which is still "homeopathy" (translated as "similar suffering") we only partially understand or define it.
--
Kind regards,
Fran Sheffield
Homeopathy Plus! (Information - Education - Treatment)
http://www.homeopathyplus.com.au
Do No Harm Initiative (Homeopathic Immunisation)
http://www.d-n-h.org
This law deals with the relationship of similars. When we explore these relationships fully, we find that similars produce similars (as across provers in a proving), similars treat similars (which is what we mostly think of when we think of homeopathy treating ill-health), and similars prevent similars (as in our use of substances for the prevention of epidemic diseases, though prevention is not confined to these alone).
If we do not realise this fullness, which is still "homeopathy" (translated as "similar suffering") we only partially understand or define it.
--
Kind regards,
Fran Sheffield
Homeopathy Plus! (Information - Education - Treatment)
http://www.homeopathyplus.com.au
Do No Harm Initiative (Homeopathic Immunisation)
http://www.d-n-h.org
-
Luise Kunkle
- Posts: 1180
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:00 pm
Re: Homeopathy
My definition would be:
Homeopathy is a method of healing which was founded by Samuel
Hahnemann. Its main principles are that all life is governed by
dynamic forces and that like cures like. It therefore uses for
treatment methods that are chosen for their potential to address the
a. m. dynamic properties, in most cases dynamized (potentized)
substances in minimum doses, but also e. g. herbs, psychotherapie and
many other approaches. They all are selected to conform to the
principle of similarity to symptoms they can cause in healthy people.
Regards
Luise
--
One thought to all who, free of doubt,
So definitely know what's true:
2 and 2 is 22 -
and 2 times 2 is 2:-)
==========> ICQ yinyang 96391801 <==========
Homeopathy is a method of healing which was founded by Samuel
Hahnemann. Its main principles are that all life is governed by
dynamic forces and that like cures like. It therefore uses for
treatment methods that are chosen for their potential to address the
a. m. dynamic properties, in most cases dynamized (potentized)
substances in minimum doses, but also e. g. herbs, psychotherapie and
many other approaches. They all are selected to conform to the
principle of similarity to symptoms they can cause in healthy people.
Regards
Luise
--
One thought to all who, free of doubt,
So definitely know what's true:
2 and 2 is 22 -
and 2 times 2 is 2:-)
==========> ICQ yinyang 96391801 <==========
-
Jean Doherty
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 10:00 pm
Re: Homeopathy
A chance to reply to Guardian article, Jean
Begin forwarded message:
01/06/09 23:35
To: science@guardian.co.uk
cc:
Subject: Homeopathy
Begin forwarded message:
01/06/09 23:35
To: science@guardian.co.uk
cc:
Subject: Homeopathy
-
Ardavan Shahrdar
- Moderator
- Posts: 1277
- Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2000 10:00 pm
Re: Homeopathy
Dear all,
Consider an imaginary case which is not actually imaginary if you have had a long experience in a pediatric section.
A newborn from the very beginning does not tolerate nursing. It is now the second day. Milk comes back when fed. The infant does not seem to be in a good condition. There is a profuse salivation with drooling. He coughs and sneezes and you see a cyanotic turn in his face. The infant is restless. On touch, body seems cold with prominent sweating on head.
How do you analyze this case homeopathically? What are the valuable sign and symptoms? Which remedy do you prescribe?
Regards,
Ardavan Shahrdar
Sent from my iPad
Consider an imaginary case which is not actually imaginary if you have had a long experience in a pediatric section.
A newborn from the very beginning does not tolerate nursing. It is now the second day. Milk comes back when fed. The infant does not seem to be in a good condition. There is a profuse salivation with drooling. He coughs and sneezes and you see a cyanotic turn in his face. The infant is restless. On touch, body seems cold with prominent sweating on head.
How do you analyze this case homeopathically? What are the valuable sign and symptoms? Which remedy do you prescribe?
Regards,
Ardavan Shahrdar
Sent from my iPad
Re: Homeopathy
Just a thinking
It looks a respiratory problem, may be an attack of pneumonia or a viral attack of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Homeopathically we can select the following symptoms;
1. Mouth Salivation
2. General Cyanosis OR we can take Skin Discoloration Bluish
3. Icy coldness of the body
4. Perspiration head on
Coughing sneezing are complete or they are just common and Vomiting milk is also common in newborn.
Carb-v looks a good similimum both as homeopathically and looking for the virus.
Regards,
________________________________
From: Ardavan Shahrdar
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2012 1:49 PM
Subject: [Minutus] Homeopathy
Dear all,
Consider an imaginary case which is not actually imaginary if you have had a long experience in a pediatric section.
A newborn from the very beginning does not tolerate nursing. It is now the second day. Milk comes back when fed. The infant does not seem to be in a good condition. There is a profuse salivation with drooling. He coughs and sneezes and you see a cyanotic turn in his face. The infant is restless. On touch, body seems cold with prominent sweating on head.
How do you analyze this case homeopathically? What are the valuable sign and symptoms? Which remedy do you prescribe?
Regards,
Ardavan Shahrdar
Sent from my iPad
It looks a respiratory problem, may be an attack of pneumonia or a viral attack of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Homeopathically we can select the following symptoms;
1. Mouth Salivation
2. General Cyanosis OR we can take Skin Discoloration Bluish
3. Icy coldness of the body
4. Perspiration head on
Coughing sneezing are complete or they are just common and Vomiting milk is also common in newborn.
Carb-v looks a good similimum both as homeopathically and looking for the virus.
Regards,
________________________________
From: Ardavan Shahrdar
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2012 1:49 PM
Subject: [Minutus] Homeopathy
Dear all,
Consider an imaginary case which is not actually imaginary if you have had a long experience in a pediatric section.
A newborn from the very beginning does not tolerate nursing. It is now the second day. Milk comes back when fed. The infant does not seem to be in a good condition. There is a profuse salivation with drooling. He coughs and sneezes and you see a cyanotic turn in his face. The infant is restless. On touch, body seems cold with prominent sweating on head.
How do you analyze this case homeopathically? What are the valuable sign and symptoms? Which remedy do you prescribe?
Regards,
Ardavan Shahrdar
Sent from my iPad
-
Fran Sheffield
- Posts: 676
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:00 pm
Re: Homeopathy
I would want to be ruling out a physical problem such as oesophageal stricture.
If this was present, the salivation, drooling, coughing and sneezing would only be of diagnostic importance and of limited value for making a prescription. The remaining symptoms would then be important for a homeopathic prescription even though surgery would still be needed.
If there was no atresia, then the other symptoms would be of much greater importance.
Kind Regards,
Fran Sheffield
If this was present, the salivation, drooling, coughing and sneezing would only be of diagnostic importance and of limited value for making a prescription. The remaining symptoms would then be important for a homeopathic prescription even though surgery would still be needed.
If there was no atresia, then the other symptoms would be of much greater importance.
Kind Regards,
Fran Sheffield
-
Fran Sheffield
- Posts: 676
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:00 pm
Re: Homeopathy
Oops, meant oesophageal atresia rather than stricture - though this also may be a possibility.
The cyanosis may also be present from a fistula between the oesophagus and trachea.
If this was so you would be looking more at the cyanosis remedies that relate to aspiration or pneumonia rather than the cardiac remedies.
Kind Regards,
Fran Sheffield
The cyanosis may also be present from a fistula between the oesophagus and trachea.
If this was so you would be looking more at the cyanosis remedies that relate to aspiration or pneumonia rather than the cardiac remedies.
Kind Regards,
Fran Sheffield