en:saine:drawing-line-homeopathy-or-no-homeopathy
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
|
en:saine:drawing-line-homeopathy-or-no-homeopathy [2013/10/23 06:16] legatum |
en:saine:drawing-line-homeopathy-or-no-homeopathy [2013/10/23 06:25] (current) legatum |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
| Hahnemann made his point very clearly regarding the use of any signatures. He said, "With all our senses together, employed with the utmost care, in the examination of a medicinal substance with regard to its external properties, do not give any, not even the slightest information respecting this most important of all secrets, the immaterial power possessed by natural substances to alter health of human beings." [(Hahnemann S. Examination of the common sources of the Materia Medica (1817), in The lesser writings of Samuel Hahnemann, edited and translated by R. E. Dudgeon. New York: William Radde, 1852: 672.)] | Hahnemann made his point very clearly regarding the use of any signatures. He said, "With all our senses together, employed with the utmost care, in the examination of a medicinal substance with regard to its external properties, do not give any, not even the slightest information respecting this most important of all secrets, the immaterial power possessed by natural substances to alter health of human beings." [(Hahnemann S. Examination of the common sources of the Materia Medica (1817), in The lesser writings of Samuel Hahnemann, edited and translated by R. E. Dudgeon. New York: William Radde, 1852: 672.)] | ||
| - | Second, Dr. Morrison says, "This is exactly the point made in our group letter. Hahnemann argued agait the superficial concept of using external signs as a basis for prescription. This is specifically not what we propose." [(Morrison R. Homeopathy Today 2002; 22 (4).)] I am sorry again to say that this is also absolutely incorrect. Hahnemann never argued against the value of "the superficial concept of external signs." To the contrary, he emphasized that allthat is perceptible by all the senses simply means everything that is perceptible. He couldn't have been clearer on this point. | + | Second, Dr. Morrison says, "This is exactly the point made in our group letter. Hahnemann argued against the superficial concept of using external signs as a basis for prescription. This is specifically not what we propose." [(Morrison R. Homeopathy Today 2002; 22 (4).)] I am sorry again to say that this is also absolutely incorrect. Hahnemann never argued against the value of "the superficial concept of external signs." To the contrary, he emphasized that all that is perceptible by all the senses simply means everything that is perceptible. He couldn't have been clearer on this point. |
| Hahnemann uses the same expression regarding examination of the patient. In Chronic Diseases, he urges examining the chronic disease "according to all the symptoms perceptible to the senses," [(Hahnemann S. The chronic diseases, their peculiar nature and their homœopathic cure. Translated by Louis Tafel. Vol. 1, Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel, 1896: 2.)] or as he explains further in the Organon, "the physician sees, hears, and observes with his other senses what is altered and peculiar in the patient, he writes everything down exactly" [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 84.)] that can be noticed about the patient, including "behaviors," [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 84.)] "his activities, his way of life, his habits," [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 5.)] "day-to-day activities, living habits, diet, domestic situation, and so on." [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 94.)] He concludes, "The totality of these perceptible signs represent the entire extent of the sickness; together they constitute its true and only conceivable form." [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 6.)] | Hahnemann uses the same expression regarding examination of the patient. In Chronic Diseases, he urges examining the chronic disease "according to all the symptoms perceptible to the senses," [(Hahnemann S. The chronic diseases, their peculiar nature and their homœopathic cure. Translated by Louis Tafel. Vol. 1, Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel, 1896: 2.)] or as he explains further in the Organon, "the physician sees, hears, and observes with his other senses what is altered and peculiar in the patient, he writes everything down exactly" [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 84.)] that can be noticed about the patient, including "behaviors," [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 84.)] "his activities, his way of life, his habits," [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 5.)] "day-to-day activities, living habits, diet, domestic situation, and so on." [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 94.)] He concludes, "The totality of these perceptible signs represent the entire extent of the sickness; together they constitute its true and only conceivable form." [(Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine, 6th ed. Translated by Jost Künzli, Alain Naudé and Peter Pendelton. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1982: paragraph 6.)] | ||
| Line 57: | Line 57: | ||
| - The occult properties of plants; first, those endowed with life, and second, those destitute of life; are indicated by resemblances; for all exhibit to man by their signatures and characteristisms, both their powers by which they can heal and in the diseases in which they are useful. Not only by their shapes, form and colours, but also by their actions and qualities, such as their retaining, or shedding their leaves. They indicate what kind of service they can render to man, and what are the particular members of his body, to which they are specially appropriate. [(Crollius O. Treatise of signatures of internal things. In Thompson CJS. Magic and healing. New York: Bell Publishing Company, 1989: 92.)] | - The occult properties of plants; first, those endowed with life, and second, those destitute of life; are indicated by resemblances; for all exhibit to man by their signatures and characteristisms, both their powers by which they can heal and in the diseases in which they are useful. Not only by their shapes, form and colours, but also by their actions and qualities, such as their retaining, or shedding their leaves. They indicate what kind of service they can render to man, and what are the particular members of his body, to which they are specially appropriate. [(Crollius O. Treatise of signatures of internal things. In Thompson CJS. Magic and healing. New York: Bell Publishing Company, 1989: 92.)] | ||
| - | Therefore, plants exuding gums were considered to be good for the treatment of purulent conditions, and the leaves of the poplar or quaking aspen were used for shaking palsy. In short, the peculiarities noted in the actions of plants were supposed to give hints as to their effects on the human body. Sterile plants such as fern, lettuce, and willow were believed to lead to sterility, while fecund plants weresaid to promote fertility. Evergreen trees and plants and those that lived long were supposed to increase bodily vigor and so induce longevity. Heliotrope and marigold were prescribed so that subjects might "learn their duty to their sovereign;" King Charles mentions that "the Marigold observes the Sun more than my subjects have done." [(Thompson CJS. Magic and healing. New York: Bell Publishing Company, 1989: 94-95.)] Goats, allegedly skilled in the choice of herbs, were said to never be afflicted with ophthalmia, due to their practice of browsing on certain plants that other animals refused, and so the liver and the gall of the goat were used in eye troubles. [(Thompson CJS. Magic and healing. New York: Bell Publishing Company, 1989: 118.)] | + | Therefore, plants exuding gums were considered to be good for the treatment of purulent conditions, and the leaves of the poplar or quaking aspen were used for shaking palsy. In short, the peculiarities noted in the actions of plants were supposed to give hints as to their effects on the human body. Sterile plants such as fern, lettuce, and willow were believed to lead to sterility, while fecund plants were said to promote fertility. Evergreen trees and plants and those that lived long were supposed to increase bodily vigor and so induce longevity. Heliotrope and marigold were prescribed so that subjects might "learn their duty to their sovereign;" King Charles mentions that "the Marigold observes the Sun more than my subjects have done." [(Thompson CJS. Magic and healing. New York: Bell Publishing Company, 1989: 94-95.)] Goats, allegedly skilled in the choice of herbs, were said to never be afflicted with ophthalmia, due to their practice of browsing on certain plants that other animals refused, and so the liver and the gall of the goat were used in eye troubles. [(Thompson CJS. Magic and healing. New York: Bell Publishing Company, 1989: 118.)] |
| - | All these concepts about signatures, which clearly include "actions and qualities" (or Dr. Morrison's "behaviors and habits") and more, are known to anyone familiar with the history of the doctrine of signatures. Hahnemann had all this in mind as he categorically rejected all speculations, including allsignatures, as a way to divine the inner healing properties of medicines, throughout nearly fifty years of teaching. On the other hand, this should not be confused with the fact that similitude can exist between the symptoms of the proving and the properties of the original source of medicines. The point, which needs to be made absolutely clear here, is that the attempt to guess the symptoms or indications for prescribing from the properties of the original substance is unreliable, unscientific and absolutely contrary to the homeopathic methodology. | + | All these concepts about signatures, which clearly include "actions and qualities" (or Dr. Morrison's "behaviors and habits") and more, are known to anyone familiar with the history of the doctrine of signatures. Hahnemann had all this in mind as he categorically rejected all speculations, including all signatures, as a way to divine the inner healing properties of medicines, throughout nearly fifty years of teaching. On the other hand, this should not be confused with the fact that similitude can exist between the symptoms of the proving and the properties of the original source of medicines. The point, which needs to be made absolutely clear here, is that the attempt to guess the symptoms or indications for prescribing from the properties of the original substance is unreliable, unscientific and absolutely contrary to the homeopathic methodology. |
| This should also not be confused with the post hoc associations sometimes made by lecturers on materia medica between the symptoms of the proving and characteristic features of the original substances. At best, these post hoc associations make studying the materia medica quaint and colorful, but should never be confused with a priori postulations used for prescribing accordingly to the doctrine of signatures. The admittance of the doctrine of signatures into homeopathy defended by the cosigners is not only a vain attempt at falsification of history but, even more grave, a misrepresentation of homeopathy. | This should also not be confused with the post hoc associations sometimes made by lecturers on materia medica between the symptoms of the proving and characteristic features of the original substances. At best, these post hoc associations make studying the materia medica quaint and colorful, but should never be confused with a priori postulations used for prescribing accordingly to the doctrine of signatures. The admittance of the doctrine of signatures into homeopathy defended by the cosigners is not only a vain attempt at falsification of history but, even more grave, a misrepresentation of homeopathy. | ||
| Line 78: | Line 78: | ||
| A most clear demonstration can be found in the speculative materia medica of Jan Scholten as reported recently in Homeopathic Links: | A most clear demonstration can be found in the speculative materia medica of Jan Scholten as reported recently in Homeopathic Links: | ||
| - | * Recently Jan has been investigating the Lanthanides, elements 58 through 71. These elements extend the Gold series by 14 elements, they all have an aspect from stage 3 Lanthanum, thus they seem to fill a gap between the silver and gold series. Based on his understanding of the periodic table and guided by the physical properties of these substances, Scholten explained how he is building his knowledge of these new remedies. He used physical and mythological data as well as meditation proving information to extrapolate the first layer of his understanding, then as more provings are done and cases present themselves the remedy pictures slowly become more solid.In the Lanthanides the general theme is one of having to use creativity. Scholten draws a parallel between the series of tasks given to Hercules and the learning that occurs in the stages of the Lanthanides series. Hercules had to perform an increasingly arduous series of tasks alone in order to gain his freedom. His work benefited the greater good not by design but as byproduct. In the remedies we see the themes of working hard and working alone. People are good at what they do and they like to work alone. [(Hogeland ACH. Five days of learning in Holland. Homeopathic Links, Winter 2001; 14 (4): 248.)] | + | * Recently Jan has been investigating the Lanthanides, elements 58 through 71. These elements extend the Gold series by 14 elements, they all have an aspect from stage 3 Lanthanum, thus they seem to fill a gap between the silver and gold series. Based on his understanding of the periodic table and guided by the physical properties of these substances, Scholten explained how he is building his knowledge of these new remedies. He used physical and mythological data as well as meditation proving information to extrapolate the first layer of his understanding, then as more provings are done and cases present themselves the remedy pictures slowly become more solid. In the Lanthanides the general theme is one of having to use creativity. Scholten draws a parallel between the series of tasks given to Hercules and the learning that occurs in the stages of the Lanthanides series. Hercules had to perform an increasingly arduous series of tasks alone in order to gain his freedom. His work benefited the greater good not by design but as by-product. In the remedies we see the themes of working hard and working alone. People are good at what they do and they like to work alone. [(Hogeland ACH. Five days of learning in Holland. Homeopathic Links, Winter 2001; 14 (4): 248.)] |
| Obviously, such a materia medica has nothing to do with the strict inductive method of Hahnemann. Another example from Scholten demonstrates that besides developing themes from signatures, the end result has little to do with the original proving, as in his description of Ferrum metallicum: | Obviously, such a materia medica has nothing to do with the strict inductive method of Hahnemann. Another example from Scholten demonstrates that besides developing themes from signatures, the end result has little to do with the original proving, as in his description of Ferrum metallicum: | ||
en/saine/drawing-line-homeopathy-or-no-homeopathy.1382508964.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/10/23 06:16 by legatum
Page Tools
Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
