Minutus

Dear Fran

People have always been after ‘short cuts’ and these often end in disasters! The use of Combos is nothing but short cuts by lazy people. It is effectively the allopathic use of potentised substances. Homeopathy is safe in well-trained and competent hands. The use of combos negates both of these aspects.
One marvels when one sits next to a superbly competent homeopath like our own Dr Ardavan Shahrdar (who ones Minutus) and observes how quickly he gets to the knob of the problem, repertorises and prescribes a single most effective remedy with superb marvellous results in a relatively short time. We should aim to know homeopathy like he does and then the thought of ever using a combo would never ever enter our minds.
In my mind the use of Combos is the one of the worst things that is happening and almost all of our ‘homeopathic pharmacies are guilty of jumping on this commercial band wagon without respect to the essence of homeopathy which is symptom similarity and the use of proven remedies.
Combos have not been proved, so their use is not homeopathy – it just spoils the name of homeopathy and has no regard for the long term well-being of the patient.

If they do help the patient, the prescriber would have no indication as to what the follow on remedy could be.
If I had a magic wand, I would stop their manufacture and prescription.
We have discussed this issue so many times before and I am surprised that it raises its ugly head every so often.
Best wishes

Soroush

PS I am in Tehran and have met up with Dr Shahrdar yesterday and the day before and I am pleased to report that both he and his lady wife are very well.

I will have some fantastic news for colleagues in about 2 weeks – WATCH THIS SPACE!
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 01 October 2014 22:40
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Minutus] 1st USA Ebola case in Texas
Hi Souroush,

I agree with your statements as well but the fact is that most complexes are being used by OTC consumers because they find they help a particular problem - usually a simple acute or to palliate a symptom. If they choose to do this, are they wrong? Should they be stopped? Or should we choose to live comfortably with complexes, ensuring everyone understands their limitations (including some flakey manufacturers) and the ideal of homeopathic treatment?

My serious concerns with complexes are:

1. Manufacturers are presenting them as true homeopathy
2. People are being led to believe they are excellent or appropriate for serious or chronic conditions
3. Instructions tell people to give / take them indefinitely - there is no advice or awareness of aggravations / provings
4. No distinction is made about palliation, suppression or cure.
5. They are being marketed / given repeatedly to infants / children by caring / desparate parents without any understanding of the above ... and to their discomfort (I have not seen suppression or long-term harm - just aggravations)

Unfortunately, with the exception of point 2, the same thing is happening with the single remedy so they're not complex-specific problems, more problems of practice, marketing, and education.

If we can correct those problems we will be doing well, including the true practice of homeopathy, as people will know the potentised substance works but in the case of chronic symptoms, only temporarily, so they should make haste to the professional homeopath. That has certainly been my experience of them. I just wish we could fix the numbered problems.

Fran.

Hi Soroush, I have written this between appointments so it is bound to be repetitive - apologies in advance.

I think we are talking about different things.
Yes, but I don't know that disaster always follows - just a waste of time and lack of long-term benefit.
My comments were regarding consumers - untrained people who buy off the shelf or online - rather than homeopaths, the vast majority of whom don't use combos as they generally make the task at hand harder rather than easier. Those who do go down the combo path don't stay in pure homeopathy for long because it doesn't bring the results they want.

Rather than being lazy, consumers are usually just desperate or ignorant of what homeopathy is, and are looking for something to help.
It is effectively the allopathic use of potentised substances.
Yes, and sometimes no. The approach in which a disease is targeted, rather than individualisation, is allopathic, and symptom suppression is allopathic, but sometimes the problem for which the combo is taken is nicely treated by something that was probably homeopathic in the bottle - but it is 'fingers-crossed' prescribing.
I have never seen anybody hurt by combos – just aggravations/proving effects. I know we have a lot of myths in this area. It's interesting to note that Hahnemann only spoke about suppression in relation to allopathic medicines - not potentised ones. From what I've seen, aggravating effects cause people to stop will before suppression takes place.

Have you seen problems?
I think this is a source of our misunderstanding. I don't know anyone who is truly a homeopath who treats by complexes – we all try to achieve the outcomes you describe with Dr Shahrdar.

The only reason homeopaths don't use complexes is that they are not as reliable or helpful as the single remedy. With the single remedy and the Law of Similars (I still think it's a natural law, John) we have a way of intelligently prescribing for the symptom complex before us and then analysing the response, and what should follow. That is lost with combo prescribing - it either works or it doesn't, may only relieve an acute manifestation, and provides no clear information on where to go next.
Could you have a misplaced fear? When I first graduated I firmly believed in all the horrors of complexes but then found that I was mainly jumping at shadows.

I think the availability complexes is largely keeping homeopathy alive today during very difficult times - for both practitioners and pharmacies. Consumers mostly say they help and so know that the skeptic groups are blowing a lot of hot air when they diss homeopathy. We just need better information and education.

A significant percentage of people have come to me through the use of complexes. In fact, except for family members brought in by the initial patient/client, I am struggling to think of one person in my practice who started their homoeopathic journey with the single remedy.

The mentality an opportunity for consumers these days is very different to what was happening at Hahnemann's time. He was trying to establish a new and wonderful system of medicine and was trying to prevent its corruption by practice is not based on sound principle - there was no "homoeopathic" consumer back then – homeopathy was all about doctors and patients. With the passage of time and the ready availability of combination remedies, many consumers find them helpful and want to use them as they see them as a safe alternative when they can't afford, can't access, or don't want to see a qualified homeopath. Should we tell them they can't do this or should we provide appropriate information and education. As said in an earlier email, most of the concerns we have about combination remedies are equally true for poorly prescribed single remedies.
Which is why they should never be promoted as homeopathy - this is part of the problem.
Very true.
You might have some angry consumers beating at your door.
There is still confusion about what it being discussed so I am pleased it raises its head from time to time. And I am pleased that this time, so far, it has been a friendly and worthwhile discussion.

Hahnemann's concerns are mostly different to those of today - he was dealing with doctors and what they were trying to do with his new system, we are mostly dealing with the marketing and consumer use of complexes. We can't just transfer his isolated statement about polypharmacy to everything is that is now happening. We have to look at complexes in today's light, look at how they are being used, and what the problems really are - and then work to address these.

My thoughts again, Fran.

Dear Fran

If you listen to the cases that an experienced homeopath like Sheilagh Creasy has had to deal with – rectifying the ‘mal-practise’ of short cutters, then you would think I don’t ever want to go there.
Best wishes

Soroush
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 02 October 2014 06:44
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Minutus] Combos - was 1st USA Ebola case in Texas
Hi Soroush, I have written this between appointments so it is bound to be repetitive - apologies in advance.

I think we are talking about different things.
Yes, but I don't know that disaster always follows - just a waste of time and lack of long-term benefit.
The use of Combos is nothing but short cuts by lazy people.
My comments were regarding consumers - untrained people who buy off the shelf or online - rather than homeopaths, the vast majority of whom don't use combos as they generally make the task at hand harder rather than easier. Those who do go down the combo path don't stay in pure homeopathy for long because it doesn't bring the results they want.

Rather than being lazy, consumers are usually just desperate or ignorant of what homeopathy is, and are looking for something to help.

It is effectively the allopathic use of potentised substances.
Yes, and sometimes no. The approach in which a disease is targeted, rather than individualisation, is allopathic, and symptom suppression is allopathic, but sometimes the problem for which the combo is taken is nicely treated by something that was probably homeopathic in the bottle - but it is 'fingers-crossed' prescribing.
Homeopathy is safe in well-trained and competent hands. The use of combos negates both of these aspects.
I have never seen anybody hurt by combos – just aggravations/proving effects. I know we have a lot of myths in this area. It's interesting to note that Hahnemann only spoke about suppression in relation to allopathic medicines - not potentised ones. From what I've seen, aggravating effects cause people to stop will before suppression takes place.

Have you seen problems?
One marvels when one sits next to a superbly competent homeopath like our own Dr Ardavan Shahrdar (who ones Minutus) and observes how quickly he gets to the knob of the problem, repertorises and prescribes a single most effective remedy with superb marvellous results in a relatively short time. We should aim to know homeopathy like he does and then the thought of ever using a combo would never ever enter our minds.
I think this is a source of our misunderstanding. I don't know anyone who is truly a homeopath who treats by complexes – we all try to achieve the outcomes you describe with Dr Shahrdar.

The only reason homeopaths don't use complexes is that they are not as reliable or helpful as the single remedy. With the single remedy and the Law of Similars (I still think it's a natural law, John) we have a way of intelligently prescribing for the symptom complex before us and then analysing the response, and what should follow. That is lost with combo prescribing - it either works or it doesn't, may only relieve an acute manifestation, and provides no clear information on where to go next.
In my mind the use of Combos is the one of the worst things that is happening and almost all of our ‘homeopathic pharmacies are guilty of jumping on this commercial band wagon without respect to the essence of homeopathy which is symptom similarity and the use of proven remedies.
Could you have a misplaced fear? When I first graduated I firmly believed in all the horrors of complexes but then found that I was mainly jumping at shadows.

I think the availability complexes is largely keeping homeopathy alive today during very difficult times - for both practitioners and pharmacies. Consumers mostly say they help and so know that the skeptic groups are blowing a lot of hot air when they diss homeopathy. We just need better information and education.

A significant percentage of people have come to me through the use of complexes. In fact, except for family members brought in by the initial patient/client, I am struggling to think of one person in my practice who started their homoeopathic journey with the single remedy.

The mentality an opportunity for consumers these days is very different to what was happening at Hahnemann's time. He was trying to establish a new and wonderful system of medicine and was trying to prevent its corruption by practice is not based on sound principle - there was no "homoeopathic" consumer back then – homeopathy was all about doctors and patients. With the passage of time and the ready availability of combination remedies, many consumers find them helpful and want to use them as they see them as a safe alternative when they can't afford, can't access, or don't want to see a qualified homeopath. Should we tell them they can't do this or should we provide appropriate information and education. As said in an earlier email, most of the concerns we have about combination remedies are equally true for poorly prescribed single remedies.
Combos have not been proved, so their use is not homeopathy – it just spoils the name of homeopathy and has no regard for the long term well-being of the patient.
Which is why they should never be promoted as homeopathy - this is part of the problem.
If they do help the patient, the prescriber would have no indication as to what the follow on remedy could be.
Very true.
If I had a magic wand, I would stop their manufacture and prescription.
You might have some angry consumers beating at your door.
We have discussed this issue so many times before and I am surprised that it raises its ugly head every so often.
There is still confusion about what it being discussed so I am pleased it raises its head from time to time. And I am pleased that this time, so far, it has been a friendly and worthwhile discussion.

Hahnemann's concerns are mostly different to those of today - he was dealing with doctors and what they were trying to do with his new system, we are mostly dealing with the marketing and consumer use of complexes. We can't just transfer his isolated statement about polypharmacy to everything is that is now happening. We have to look at complexes in today's light, look at how they are being used, and what the problems really are - and then work to address these.

My thoughts again, Fran.
Best wishes

Soroush

PS I am in Tehran and have met up with Dr Shahrdar yesterday and the day before and I am pleased to report that both he and his lady wife are very well.

I will have some fantastic news for colleagues in about 2 weeks – WATCH THIS SPACE!
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 01 October 2014 22:40
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Minutus] 1st USA Ebola case in Texas
Hi Souroush,

I agree with your statements as well but the fact is that most complexes are being used by OTC consumers because they find they help a particular problem - usually a simple acute or to palliate a symptom. If they choose to do this, are they wrong? Should they be stopped? Or should we choose to live comfortably with complexes, ensuring everyone understands their limitations (including some flakey manufacturers) and the ideal of homeopathic treatment?

My serious concerns with complexes are:

1. Manufacturers are presenting them as true homeopathy
2. People are being led to believe they are excellent or appropriate for serious or chronic conditions
3. Instructions tell people to give / take them indefinitely - there is no advice or awareness of aggravations / provings
4. No distinction is made about palliation, suppression or cure.
5. They are being marketed / given repeatedly to infants / children by caring / desparate parents without any understanding of the above ... and to their discomfort (I have not seen suppression or long-term harm - just aggravations)

Unfortunately, with the exception of point 2, the same thing is happening with the single remedy so they're not complex-specific problems, more problems of practice, marketing, and education.

If we can correct those problems we will be doing well, including the true practice of homeopathy, as people will know the potentised substance works but in the case of chronic symptoms, only temporarily, so they should make haste to the professional homeopath. That has certainly been my experience of them. I just wish we could fix the numbered problems.

Fran.