Hello everyone
We just signed up to this chat forum and hope to share some interesting research with you all. My partner Grant Bentley is principal of the Victorian College of Classical Homoeopathy - we both teach and run private clinics and a student clinic as part of the college.
We were trained at VCCH and so have a very classical (constitutional - single remedy - totality of symptoms) approach to case taking and management. In the late 90's Grant did a lot of research on Hahnemann, Allen and Roberts in regard to their ideas and use of miasms. From this he developed a system where facial features are studied and classified - an objective foundation to our choice of remedy. In 2003 he published his book Appearance & Circumstance which outlines the theory of miasms and how to use facial features to determine remedy choices. There are seven miasms and each is colour coded to give them equal status in terms of behaviour and disposition to disease which has been the reality we have discovered in the clinic (psora is just as punchy as syphilis!)
The last few years have been really amazing for us in the clinic. Of course we still get really tough cases but since using facial analysis we have improved our constitutional rate of prescribing to an average of 80% over about 4 visits. A good result means the patient has increased energy and well being and their physical complaint is improving or gone (depends of course on how long and how deep the problem is - whether it is functional or structural). When the genetic base of the patient (facial analysis) is included in the prescription the results can occur very quickly because the totality has been completely included - as per Hahnemann's instructions. We expect and often see changes within the first two weeks.
What we also found (quite by accident) was that where people belong to the same genetic group (as determined by facial analysis) they have similar themes and circumstances in their lives. From clinical observation we now see that each of us is programmed from birth with our own special way of responding to stress and that there are seven different ways. Our remedies (we have classified quite a few now) also fall into these categories. And we have enjoyed discovering the varied application of polychrests - we mostly use polychrests.
We have a website (http://www.vcch.org/miasm.html) with some cases that show how we apply facial analysis. Grant is writing another book on the link between our lives and our miasm and we are preparing a second facial book that details all the features listed in Appearance & Circumstance.
If any of you have tried facial analysis and would like some queries answered or would just like to share their experiences we would love to hear from you. Like all aspects of homoeopathy it is an art in itself however most students become reasonably accurate after a few training sessions. It is terribly addictive and a visit to the movies will never be the same again!
Look forward to hearing from you
Louise
Louise Barton
College Administration
Victorian College of Classical Homoeopathy
3A/574 Whitehorse Rd
Mitcham
Victoria
Australia 3132
Phone - 613 9873 0567
Fax - 613 9787 5145
www.vcch.org
hom@vcch.org
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Miasms and facial analysis
Re: Miasms and facial analysis
Hello Louise,
a very interesting topic indeed.
I wonder, would you have any thoughts that you'd like to share about
the following case: a white caucasian woman of average height (around
5'4") and build, very healthy (and even attractive), but with an
obvious facial and body asymmetry. The left side of the body, from
head to toes, seems "undervedeloped" by comparison to the right side.
This applies even to the most minute details, such as eyelashes (they
are shorter on the left side) and even the eye colour (the left eye is
somewhat lighter than the right one).
After an extensive study I have concluded that I was very likely in
the presence of just a "touch" of the Russell-Silver syndrome, a very
rare genetic disease. (The symptoms that made me conclude that are
irrelevant at this time.)
The most interesting thing about this person may be the fact that not
only is her intelligence well above average, but she is almost
ambidextrous; and tests show that her brain usage is consistently an
almost perfect 50/50. In other words, both sides of the brain seem
equally developed.
There are no noticeable morbid symptoms (which doesn't necessarily
mean that there aren't any, of course), but still, I would be very
interested in any thoughts you - or any other list member - might have
regarding such an individual, in light of your theories and practical
experience.
Kind regards,
Arista
a very interesting topic indeed.
I wonder, would you have any thoughts that you'd like to share about
the following case: a white caucasian woman of average height (around
5'4") and build, very healthy (and even attractive), but with an
obvious facial and body asymmetry. The left side of the body, from
head to toes, seems "undervedeloped" by comparison to the right side.
This applies even to the most minute details, such as eyelashes (they
are shorter on the left side) and even the eye colour (the left eye is
somewhat lighter than the right one).
After an extensive study I have concluded that I was very likely in
the presence of just a "touch" of the Russell-Silver syndrome, a very
rare genetic disease. (The symptoms that made me conclude that are
irrelevant at this time.)
The most interesting thing about this person may be the fact that not
only is her intelligence well above average, but she is almost
ambidextrous; and tests show that her brain usage is consistently an
almost perfect 50/50. In other words, both sides of the brain seem
equally developed.
There are no noticeable morbid symptoms (which doesn't necessarily
mean that there aren't any, of course), but still, I would be very
interested in any thoughts you - or any other list member - might have
regarding such an individual, in light of your theories and practical
experience.
Kind regards,
Arista
Re: Miasms and facial analysis
on 4/23/06 11:47 AM, arista000 at Sempernova@gmail.com wrote:
Assymetrical morphology is typically syphilitic. Syphilinum and/or another
rx covering syphilitic taint will come up in the case -- sooner or later.
Left sidedness is likely important (cf lach).
Asymmetrical: butho-t (face)., calc-f (whole anatomy)., 3Lach (typically L
but could be either) crotalid snakes., 3Lyc (typically R but could be
either).,, 3Syph (face, organs, any body part).,
Butho-t is Buthotus tamulus The Indian red Scorpion
The word asymmetrical/asymmetry also turns up in Sarcolactic acid, Viscum
album, spongia, taxus brev, venus mercenaria, but this is regarding
doctrine of signatures structure of the source agent or plant.
Best
A
Assymetrical morphology is typically syphilitic. Syphilinum and/or another
rx covering syphilitic taint will come up in the case -- sooner or later.
Left sidedness is likely important (cf lach).
Asymmetrical: butho-t (face)., calc-f (whole anatomy)., 3Lach (typically L
but could be either) crotalid snakes., 3Lyc (typically R but could be
either).,, 3Syph (face, organs, any body part).,
Butho-t is Buthotus tamulus The Indian red Scorpion
The word asymmetrical/asymmetry also turns up in Sarcolactic acid, Viscum
album, spongia, taxus brev, venus mercenaria, but this is regarding
doctrine of signatures structure of the source agent or plant.
Best
A
Re: Miasms and facial analysis
Very useful indeed..
Thank you so much.
This individual offers an extremely interesting and complex case,
combining at least two taints (syphillitic and psoric).
I think it would be of interest to this group if I added the (other)
homeopathically relevant specifics pertinent to her.
I'll do that in a separate message. (And it'd have to be a very
lengthy one.)
Harvest Bounty
(just kidding..)
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, AH wrote:
another
later.
(typically L
Viscum
Thank you so much.
This individual offers an extremely interesting and complex case,
combining at least two taints (syphillitic and psoric).
I think it would be of interest to this group if I added the (other)
homeopathically relevant specifics pertinent to her.
I'll do that in a separate message. (And it'd have to be a very
lengthy one.)
Harvest Bounty
(just kidding..
)--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, AH wrote:
another
later.
(typically L
Viscum
Re: Miasms and facial analysis
Dear Arista
Your observations of your patient are very specific. And yes asymmetry of any type is a syphilitic indication - this has been in homoeopathic literature it seems for a while although we discovered it ourselves through observation of many faces and then read about it after!
When we analyse a face we look at a number of features - hairline, forehead shape, bridge shape, eyes, nose, mouth, lips, teeth, smile, chin, facial lines and ears. We haven't gone as far as eyelashes or colour of eyes. The main aspect of facial analysis is to look at the sum total of features and how the primary miasms - psora, sycosis and syphilis have impacted. Whichever miasm is dominant on the patients face will be the absolute indicator for the remedy required. Nearly everyone has each of the primary miasms showing to some degree on their face but one of the following will occur.
A primary miasm will be dominant (psora, sycosis or syphilis)
Two primary miasms will be of equal strength (psora + syphilis = tubercular, psora + sycosis = syco-psora and syphilis + sycosis = syco-syphilis)
Three primary miasms will be of equal strength (psora, sycosis and syphilis = cancer)
So ultimately there can only be seven miasms.
So with the patient you describe we would be interested in the asymmetry showing in the body but our final analyse would rest on facial features alone. It would be probably that they would be either syphilitic (60% or greater syphilitic features), syco-syphilitic (50% syphilitic features), tubercular (50% syphilitic features) or perhaps the cancer miasm (33% syphilitic features).
Facial analysis is fascinating but most of all it is amazingly accurate. We have found that the majority of cases respond very well to one of the polychrests. In face we are hesitant to go back to the "old" ways of essence - so many remedies have been discarded because they don't seem to fit the "essence" however when remedies are applied accurately to the totality of symptoms their essence becomes hazy. Remedies we only ever thought of as "acute" such as Belladonna, Veratrum and Aconite have yielded wonderful results in ordinary everyday "normal" patients - remedies we would never have chosen based on essence - even on reading the materia medica. But remedies that repertorised and matched the facial miasm so were given and with great response.
We hope to share so much more with everyone through our website. We only do chronic cases and have a number of successful cases every week so will attempt to write them up for you over time.
best wishes
Louise
Louise Barton
College Administration
Victorian College of Classical Homoeopathy
3A/574 Whitehorse Rd
Mitcham
Victoria
Australia 3132
Phone - 613 9873 0567
Fax - 613 9787 5145
www.vcch.org
hom@vcch.org
From: "AH" andyh@mcn.org
Date: Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:53pm(PDT)
Subject: Re: Miasms and facial analysis
on 4/23/06 11:47 AM, arista000 at Sempernova@gmail.com wrote:
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Your observations of your patient are very specific. And yes asymmetry of any type is a syphilitic indication - this has been in homoeopathic literature it seems for a while although we discovered it ourselves through observation of many faces and then read about it after!
When we analyse a face we look at a number of features - hairline, forehead shape, bridge shape, eyes, nose, mouth, lips, teeth, smile, chin, facial lines and ears. We haven't gone as far as eyelashes or colour of eyes. The main aspect of facial analysis is to look at the sum total of features and how the primary miasms - psora, sycosis and syphilis have impacted. Whichever miasm is dominant on the patients face will be the absolute indicator for the remedy required. Nearly everyone has each of the primary miasms showing to some degree on their face but one of the following will occur.
A primary miasm will be dominant (psora, sycosis or syphilis)
Two primary miasms will be of equal strength (psora + syphilis = tubercular, psora + sycosis = syco-psora and syphilis + sycosis = syco-syphilis)
Three primary miasms will be of equal strength (psora, sycosis and syphilis = cancer)
So ultimately there can only be seven miasms.
So with the patient you describe we would be interested in the asymmetry showing in the body but our final analyse would rest on facial features alone. It would be probably that they would be either syphilitic (60% or greater syphilitic features), syco-syphilitic (50% syphilitic features), tubercular (50% syphilitic features) or perhaps the cancer miasm (33% syphilitic features).
Facial analysis is fascinating but most of all it is amazingly accurate. We have found that the majority of cases respond very well to one of the polychrests. In face we are hesitant to go back to the "old" ways of essence - so many remedies have been discarded because they don't seem to fit the "essence" however when remedies are applied accurately to the totality of symptoms their essence becomes hazy. Remedies we only ever thought of as "acute" such as Belladonna, Veratrum and Aconite have yielded wonderful results in ordinary everyday "normal" patients - remedies we would never have chosen based on essence - even on reading the materia medica. But remedies that repertorised and matched the facial miasm so were given and with great response.
We hope to share so much more with everyone through our website. We only do chronic cases and have a number of successful cases every week so will attempt to write them up for you over time.
best wishes
Louise
Louise Barton
College Administration
Victorian College of Classical Homoeopathy
3A/574 Whitehorse Rd
Mitcham
Victoria
Australia 3132
Phone - 613 9873 0567
Fax - 613 9787 5145
www.vcch.org
hom@vcch.org
From: "AH" andyh@mcn.org
Date: Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:53pm(PDT)
Subject: Re: Miasms and facial analysis
on 4/23/06 11:47 AM, arista000 at Sempernova@gmail.com wrote:
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Miasms and facial analysis
Louise,
I hope someday you guys can publish a materia medica based on facial
analysis. It sounds extremely interestiing. My sister and I have been trying
to put together a similar project with facial analysis (but more oriented
towards common denominators of each of the remedies per se, not the miasms),
but we're not nearly as advanced in our data collection as you are now,
since we only came up with the idea a couple of months ago. However, it
makes me very happy that someone has put it into practice successfully.
(As a curiosity, from our observations, we can say that most of the people
who work in real estate in this specific area of the US share almost
identical facial features and proportions!)
Best wishes,
Caro.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I hope someday you guys can publish a materia medica based on facial
analysis. It sounds extremely interestiing. My sister and I have been trying
to put together a similar project with facial analysis (but more oriented
towards common denominators of each of the remedies per se, not the miasms),
but we're not nearly as advanced in our data collection as you are now,
since we only came up with the idea a couple of months ago. However, it
makes me very happy that someone has put it into practice successfully.
(As a curiosity, from our observations, we can say that most of the people
who work in real estate in this specific area of the US share almost
identical facial features and proportions!)
Best wishes,
Caro.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]