VOLUME 27 NUMBER 2 Similia
DECEMBER 2015 THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF HOMŒOPATHIC MEDICINE
PRINT POST APPROVED: 100018952 In this issue:
The Bali Project
A Personal Tour of Hobart's Homœopathic History
The Fish Knows Everything
Animal cases: Pacific Salmon
Hippocampus kuda - A Seahorse Case
New Medicines, New Perspectives: A Case of Octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)
Case of Ensis, the Razor Shell
Diving is safe - it gives me comfort. A case of Dolphin's Milk, Lac delphinum
What is Suppression?
The Homœopathic Proving of Naufragium Helvetia
The Lunar Cycles
'The Madness of Lighthouse Keepers', The Light Between Oceans
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 1
s i m i l i a s i m i l i b u s c u r e n t u rDecember 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Quality Holistic
Healthcare based on
Scientific Research
In the field of Nutritional and Natural We offer a range of advanced and Some features that make our range unique…
medicines, InterClinical Laboratories original supplements that are formulated
is one of Australia’s leading practitioner by a local and international team of • Advanced specialty formulations
aligned companies. skilled researchers, practitioners and • Natural, vegan-friendly formulas
technicians in the fields of complementary, • Extensive selection of elemental mineral
We aim to improve and make a difference herbal and nutritional medicine.
in people’s lives by delivering high quality formulations including specialty minerals,
and trusted healthcare solutions based on We pride ourselves on the purity of our such as copper, manganese, chromium and
scientific evidence. formulations, ensuring each product is molybdenum
created from high quality, bio-available, • Specialty multi-nutrient packs
InterClinical Laboratories has a passion for easily digested ingredients. • Synergistic formulas
health and our enthusiasm and belief in a • Evidence-based
natural, holistic approach to health inspires InterClinical Laboratories is an Australian • Optimum dosages, not mega-dosages
us to excellence in everything we do. owned company and all our natural, • Technical and advisory service from helpful
herbal and nutritional products are proudly and friendly InterClinical staff
We do not compromise our integrity or Australian made.
honesty and are committed to achieving
the highest possible standards personally,
professionally and as a business.
INT206
2 Advanced natural, nutritional and heSrbiaml foilrimau-laThtieoAnusstrrDaeleicaconemmJobumerrne2an0l 1od5fe—HdoVmboœlyuomPperaot2hf7iecNsMusmeidobicneirna2els
Contents
4 Editorial
SEMINAR
5 The Bali Project
HISTORY
8 A Personal Tour Of Hobart's Homœopathic History
Barbara Armstrong
A SHOAL OF CASES
11 The Fish Knows Everything
Anne Vervarcke
16 Animal cases: Pacific Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Camilla Sherr
20 Hippocampus kuda - A Seahorse Case
Joanne Greenland
25 New Medicines, New Perspectives:
A Case of Octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)
Keith Avedissian
28 Case of Ensis, the Razor Shell
Antonia Maks
32 Diving is safe - it gives me comfort
A case of Dolphin's Milk, Lac delphinum
Mike Andrews
PHILOSOPHY
34 What is Suppression?
Peter Morrell
PROVING
37 The Homœopathic Proving of Naufragium Helvetia
(The shipwreck of The Helvetia)
Mary English
CYCLES AND SURPRISES
42 The Lunar Cycles
Peter Fraser
45 ‘The Madness of Lighthouse Keepers’ Advertisers this month:
The Light Between Oceans 2 InterClinical
Mel Downing 10 AHA Conference
36 Simillimum
47 Book Reviews 42 Martin & Pleasance
51 Events Calendar
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 3
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
editorial
Silvery Harvest
This edition of Similia is dedicated to the rhythms and cycles of our
planet: symbolised by the relentless rocking of the waters, the spinning
of the Earth and grave eye of the ineluctable moon.
Published by the Peter Morrell writes about the effects of suppressing such rhythms
Australian Homœopathic Association and symptoms, making a strong case for ‘similars’ as the only curative
PO Box 7108 method of treatment.
Toowoomba South QLD 4350
www.homeopathyoz.org Peter Fraser hints at a completely different method of homœopathic analysis, utilising
Indexed by CINAHL knowledge of the mappa mundi (map of the world), astrological charts and the mappa caeli ~
the map of the heavens.
Editor
Jenni Tree Camilla Sherr’s set of cases and details of the proving of Salmon, connects to Peter Fraser’s
[email protected] with her analysis of the ‘earth, air, fire and water’ in a case. The articles and cases segue
together well. My idea was for us to be able to build up a ‘Sensation’ for ‘fish’ cases, which
Production Manager happens neatly in the article by Anne Vervarcke. At one point she mentions that in several
Cathy Nolan of her ‘fish medicine cases’, the patients had very sweaty hands. Camilla Sherr supports
[email protected] that in a Salmon case (I apologise for my inability to pronounce, or write, the Latin name of
the Salmon); while Jo Greenland’s Hippocampus patient confirms that there is some issue to
Publications Manager do with love in certain fish cases (Salmon and Hippocampus). We see how the theme of being
Judy Smyth under, or wrapped in, a blanket, appears in both the Ensis ensis case from Antonia Maks, and
[email protected] Jo Greenland’s Hippocampus case. Keith Avedissian, in an Eledone cirrhosa [Octopus] case, talks
about the pleasure of using new remedies and how they widen one’s vision. From this shoal
National Advertising Coordinator of fish cases we gain an overview and feeling for the language of the kingdom. You read it
Carolyn Graham here first!
[email protected]
I couldn’t produce this edition without exploring Mary English’s proving of Shipwreck!
Submissions: Initially disbelieving, I researched the history of the wreck and the proving. We have to
Articles and reviews are welcomed suspend our disbelief; keep an open mind.
and do not need to be commissioned.
Email to [email protected] Moved by reading The Light Between Oceans, and finding Mel Downing similarly stirred, I
asked her to treat the book as a case, suggest remedies, and give her thoughts. There follows
Deadlines: her illuminating understanding of the psoric split.
28th February and
31st August Barbara Armstrong, after the Hobart conference, took the opportunity to delve into
Tasmania’s early homœopathic history, and bring us her very satisfying findings.
Subscription Enquiries:
National Administrator As this is my penultimate edition, let me thank you all for being astute, accommodating
A.H.A. readers, exploring with me our oceans of homœopathy, uncovering new methods and
PO Box 7108 remedies; the ideas prevalent in the cold northlands; the teachers to follow, and the ideas to
Toowoomba South QLD 4350 put on the backburner for another season. I love the challenge of finding articles to interest
[email protected] you. Pick up your iPads and write too, of your own cases and experiences. You can do it.
Jenni Tree
Opinions expressed in Similia are not
necessarily those of the Editor or the
Association.
Copyright © 2015 Australian
Homœopathic Association. All
rights reserved. Contents may not
be reproduced in any media without
written permission of the relevant
author and the Editor.
Printing & distribution by
Rogue Print & Mail
7/421 Brunswick St
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
4 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
SEMINARS
The Bali Project 2015
The Bali Project was conceived by Australian • Dr. Christina Chambrea, DVM CVH
homœopaths Linlee Jordan, Nyema (Certified Veterinary Homœopath):
Hermiston, Jon Gamble, and Balinese Veterinary Homœopathy
homœopath Tjok Kerthyasa, in conjunction
with The Aurum Project. (Pictured above, • Jon Gamble, BA DO ND Adv Dip Hom:
right to left.) Endocrine Disorders
The emphasis of this seminar is about
utilising a rare opportunity to engage with • Linlee Jordan, RN MHlthScED BHom
colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere. By Dip Nut: Thriving in Practice Illustrated
learning from other practitioners’ years of Through Autism Cases
practice, the Bali Project’s aim is to increase
one’s working knowledge of homœopathy. • Dr. Nicola Coutinho, B.H.M.S (India) MD
The Bali Project is about expanding (Hom): Evidence Based Homœopathy in
knowledge, alleviating isolation, networking, bronchial asthma
strengthening and supporting practitioners –
and having fun! • Jane Lindsay, LicWSH RSHom:
‘Homœopathy by Numbers’ in the
Solomon Islands
The seminar week combines lectures, field The following are short descriptions from
trips and melting pots (sessions of open the Bali Project 2015 attendees, regarding the
exchange between practitioners on a specific presentations and experiences in Bali this
topic, sharing clinical insights, successes, to June.
increase clinical knowledge on that topic).
The Melting Pots were a huge success in both Introduction
2013 and 2015.
The island of Bali is magical. The smell
The Bali Project 2015 Speakers List of incense in the air, the smiling friendly
included: people, and the delicious food all combine
to make the experience of the Bali Project a
• Cilla Whatcott, HD RHom CCH: CEASE warm, lingering memory. Travelling from
Therapy the United States, getting to Bali is no easy
trick. Connecting flights from Minneapolis to
• Dr. Suriya Osman, MBBCh DRM MFHom: Los Angeles to Beijing, then Singapore and
Viral Miasms
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 5
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
finally to Denpasar took over 50 hours, all with a sense of cheering voices of latter often being treated with Bacillinum
passing through 13 time zones and the encouragement to the 150 dispensers in and the indicated medicine.
International Date Line. the six regions of the Solomon Islands. Gut health is the primary focus and the
bowel motions are the barometer. The
The ride from Denpasar to Ubud was Missionaries with a passion to preach GAPS diet is sometimes recommended
then quite harrowing as motor bikes, and heal first arrived in the Solomon’s along with the usual pre-biotics (Gum
four abreast, wove in and out of traffic, almost 100 years ago with a box of 36 Arabic / Sauerkraut) and pro-biotics
narrowly avoiding head on collisions medicines. In the 1970s and 80s Margaret (Kefir/Sauerkraut). We were reminded
while passing on winding roadways. Bartlett extended the kits to contain 51 that the healthy gut contains 600-1000
The locals didn’t seem the least upset, medicines. It is estimated that 40-80,000 strains of friendly bacteria and these are
nervous or irritated with the chaos! people are now being treated annually. best supported by pre-biotics. Family
When asked why there aren’t more conflicts, stress and over-work can set
accidents, our driver’s reply typified Jane spoke on her meetings with Joy, up conditions for childhood eczema and
the spirit of Bali. “We take care of each the main dispenser in Honiara (capital Dr. Suriya has found that the Emotional
other!” he said, with a broad smile. of the Solomon Islands). Joy has been Freedom Technique (EFT) can readily
Truly there is a distinct sense of being dispensing Homœopathy for 25 years, be taught to mothers, who enjoy each-
cared for in Bali. Polite greetings by seeing on occasion up to 70 people a others’ support during her group classes.
men and women in colourful sarongs, day. There was a sound understanding An interesting sequel to Dr. Suriya’s viral
offerings of fresh flowers placed outside of the main medicines and diversity of miasmic approach greeted my arrival
temples and homes, and the ever present their use. Ailments that these healers home - an invitation to a Hair Tissue
flow of water – in ponds, rice fields, and covered were as broad as they are in our Mineral Analysis seminar. The invitation
waterfalls – is enveloping and soothing. society. Women’s complaints, accidents, describes the on-going, sub-clinical effect
There is juxtaposition of old and new in coughs, earaches, fever, pneumonia and of another member of the herpes family,
Bali. Amid bare-chested artisans hand ‘belly run’ (diarrhoea), and more serious the Epstein Barr Virus. We are fortunate
sculpting new steps at the hotel, one of issues such as epilepsy and high blood to have the nosodes to address these
our drivers said, “Connect with me on pressure. viruses - and very blessed indeed to have
Facebook!” We thought he was kidding! the guidance of Dr. Suriya in the use of
2015 has managed to arrive in Bali, yet ‘The Water Medicine’ as it is called these nosodes.
Bali has maintained her lovely heritage locally is now being incorporated into
of art, spirituality and gentleness. I can’t the recommended training of community -Pauline Kalbfell, Homœopath
help but wonder when I might be called health workers in this country.
back. Homœopathy will also be included in Dr. Nicola Coutinho
midwifery training to aid reduction of
-Cilla Whatcott the infant mortality in the villages. The applause for Dr. Nicola Coutinho’s
charming presentation spontaneously
Jane Lindsay’s work on the Solomon This assimilation of homœopathy into burst forth well before Nyema could
Islands the community and medical society of begin her ‘thank you’ speech.
the Solomon Islands is wonderful. I find What was so special about Nicola’s
Jane’s inspiring account of how effective it a lovely thought that this may one day ‘Utility of Pulmonary Function Tests
and simple prescribing of homœopathy be the situation in other and our country for Evidence-Based Homœopathy in
came to the Solomon Islands and also. Bronchial Asthma’?
the minimal support since, left us
-Sally Moore, Homœopath WA
Dr. Suriya Osman’s Treatment with
Viral Miasms
It is no surprise that social media has
directed many ‘skin cases’ to Dr. Suriya
Osman. Her successful approach
includes treating the underlying viral
miasm. Based on the work of Dr.
Ardavan Shahrdar (author of ‘Materia
Virosa’, see: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Fzr1CJQ_Kws) Dr. Suriya
has found that certain types of eczema
respond to once weekly doses of the
combined Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1
& HSV-2) given in conjunction with the
indicated medicine.
A history of warts is also taken into
account and Dr. Suriya notes that
candida lurks behind Ringworm, the
6 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
• the study group represents a large yellow / golden chrysanthemums, New friendships forged and old
proportion of our patients blue hydrangeas, red hibiscus-like friendships reconnected imparting
flowers overflowing in readiness for the knowledge and skills, prescribing
• the research included various ceremonies later in the day. methodology and techniques inner
homœopaths each with their own wisdom revealing itself and unfolding,
unique prescribing styles. Low cloud enveloping the village and cleansing of the old and restoration
volcano, a coolness in the air and difficult of a deep internal peace at the holy
• the statistically analysed ‘highly to see ahead. As if shrouded in mystery waters; laughter at life and playing
significant’ changes in the Pulmonary creating an incredible anticipation of the games,visiting new sites, spice fields
Function tests of Bronchial Asthma imminent birth of a new day. Something and temples emotionally unpacking
patients were evident two weeks after extraordinary revealed, a sense of great the ‘busyness’ of life left far behind;
homœopathic treatment. excitement building inside me as if this stimulated to examine new ideas,
is the dawning of the very first day of a thoughts, concepts. Our final weekend
• This result will appeal to authorities new era of my life! at the foothills of Mt. Batur anda sunrise
that are genuinely interested in the walk to the rim of the volcano where we
welfare of their citizens and their The sun began to make its entrance shared a nourishing breakfast cooked in
public purse. The study in detail is at: through the cloud, a full moon still high the heat of the soil and following our
in the sky, minuscule shafts of light descent, a cleansing massage in the hot
• https://gergo-public.sharepoint.com/ immediately magnified by the water springs.
publications/Study.pdf of the lake to produce an incredible
ever-increasing beam of golden colour It is with sadness that I leave all this
-Pauline Kalbfell, Homœopath lighting up the whole area. The memory behind, and also great joy as I take with
of Nyema’s voice singing ‘Morning me the experiences, memories & peace /
Bali Last Day June 2015 Has Broken’ consumed me with piece of Bali! A heart felt thankyou to all
overwhelming thankfulness for what has at The Aurum Project who contributed
I woke very early and walked through been such a wonderful and insightful and coo rdinated such a special week
the main street of the town - Market Day! week at all levels the sharing of this art especially Nyema, Jon, Michael & Tjok in
The streets were packed with vendors and science of homœopathy. gratitude and in Homœopathy!
of fruit, vegetables, flowers and clothes,
a ‘holy day’ when items from the lower -Jane Lindsay
temple would be moved back up to
the higher temple. So many flowers
STOP PRESS - AHA joins 4Homeopathy Australasia
On 5th December 2015, a very special A big thank you goes to the members
and historical event occurred in Sydney, of Friends of Homoeopathy Australia
one that Friends of Homoeopathy who have worked so hard to bring this
Australia have been working towards for to fruition, in particular, David Levy,
over a year. Key organisations, including Celeste Salter, Kylie Turner and Gabrielle
manufacturers and associations from Brodie. And, everyone else that has been
Australia and New Zealand came involved over the last year. We would
together to form 4Homeopathy not have achieved this without you.
Australasia (4HA) - a group that will Here are the organisations that have
pool resources to promote and protect shown support for this initiative so far:
homeopathy within the region. The
group will work alongside 4H UK and • Australian Homœopathic Association
become a part of the findahomeopath.org • Australian Society of BioRegulatory
website and the Homeopathy Worked Medicine
for Me Facebook campaign. • Australian Traditional Medicine
As a result of this, Friends of Society Tamar Boas signing on behalf of AHA
Homoeopathy AU will become • Brauer Natural Medicine
4Homeopathy Australasia and a new • Martin & Pleasance Den Illing (NZHS), Peter Ochsenham (ASBRM & Brauer
website and Facebook page will be • New Zealand Council of Homeopaths Professional), Linlee Jordan (Aurum Project), Cathy
launched in the new year. • New Zealand Homoeopathic Society Nolan, Ben Rowe (Brauer), Peter Berryman (ATMS).
• Simillimum NZ Photo taken by - Gerry Dendrinos.
7
Tamar Boas has signed the • The Aurum Project
Memorandum of Understanding as Further updates will appear in future
representative of AHA and will be joined newsletters and bulletins.
by Judy Smyth to keep National Council
up to date. There is a lot of work ahead, Cathy Nolan
so stay tuned for more information. Vice Chair
4Homeopathy Australasia
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
HISTORY
A personal tour of Hobart’s
homœopathic history
- and the discovery of the consulting rooms of Drs Atherton and Benjafield
Barbara Armstrong, Introduction
Australia.
The Homœopathic Medicine Conference
Barbara Armstrong has qualifications in which was held in Hobart in October 2014
Medical Record Administration; a Graduate made special reference to Tasmania’s history
Diploma in Data Processing; and a in the use of homœopathy for the treatment of
Graduate Diploma in Library & Information its population. Prior to the Conference I had
Sciences. She has worked in the health taken several months to research and update
field for more than 26 years. Barbara has my knowledge of Tasmania’s homœopathic
lectured in medico-legal studies at various history, making many new discoveries in
homœopathic colleges, and has conducted the process. (1) While in Hobart, I conducted
several seminars on this topic for the a personal pilgrimage to various sites which
Australian Homœopathic Association. She had been used by Hobart’s pioneers - our
was the past National Administrator of the early practitioners and chemists.
AHA. Since her retirement, she has put her
energies into her love of genealogy and The Hobart Homœopathic Hospital
historical research. She has also established
Australia’s first and only website dedicated Outside the Anglesea Barracks I took the
to the history of homœopathy in Australia Davey Street bus to St John’s Hospital -
at www.historyofhomeopathy.com.au originally the Hobart Homœopathic Hospital.
The Homœopathic Hospital was established
in 1899 with Dr Harry Benjafield as one of Portrait of Dr George Harry Gibson as
its founders, along with Dr George Harry displayed in St John’s Hospital, Hobart
Gibson. The tour of the hospital, kindly
provided by Dr Philip Thomson, corrected (Photo courtesy of P. Torokfalvy)
my understanding of the layout and
orientation of the current hospital compared Gould’s Homœopathic Pharmacy
with the original photographs of the site. (The
old photo had been taken from the Cascade Naturally, my tour included visits to Gould’s
Road, not from the car park as I had first Pharmacy - both the current site at 73
thought.) Liverpool Street, and the original site at the
corner of Elizabeth and Brisbane Streets. Mr
In 1926 the Mayor of Hobart unveiled a Roger McLennan kindly showed me around
tablet to the memory of Dr Gibson and his the Liverpool Street location, which was
work, after Dr Gibson’s death in 1924. (2) It opened in 1914. There I saw the professional
was heart-warming to see that the plaque is shingle for Dr Gibson who had provided
still there, and in 1996 the Gibson Unit was consultations from the Pharmacy, as well as
opened by the Governor of Tasmania. other memorabilia from the early days of the
business.
Plaque in St John’s Hospital, Hobart Press for tincture preparation
(Photo courtesy of P. Torokfalvy) (Photo courtesy of P. Torokfalvy)
8 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Most people (and some National and Town Road (now Elizabeth Street). In his with the residence above. The layout and
State Government websites) mistakenly memoirs, Dr Benjafield stated: design was intended to help separate the
record Gould’s Pharmacy as being two activities and to prevent the spread
established by either Henry Thomas .... as the [previous] house was in the city, of illness.
Gould or Henry Styant Browne. and I always hated cities, I after five years of
However, during my research I residence here purchased a two acre block of Benjafield’s First Residence
discovered that the original business land in the suburbs and built [a house]. (5)
in Elizabeth Street (at that time called When Dr Benjafield arrived in Tasmania
‘The Homœopathic Pharmacy’) was in ‘The Willows’ in April 1873 he took over the practice of
fact established by Dr Harry Benjafield Dr Ebenezer Atherton.
in January 1878, several years before Mid-way between the city and New
the arrival of Gould or Browne. (3) Prior Town, it is a two-storey sandstone Dr Atherton had arrived in 1866 and was
to their arrival, Dr Benjafield hired Victorian mansion. On the opposite the first known qualified homœopath
managers to run the pharmacy side of side of the road he built two houses as to practise full-time in Tasmania. Dr
the business on his behalf. At the same quarters for his staff. Atherton first advertised his location
time that the pharmacy opened, Dr In addition to his desire to live away as ‘Mrs Wilson’s, 115 Macquarie Street,
Benjafield’s consulting room was re- from the city, a larger house was also Hobart’. (7) At ‘Central House’, four
located from his home to the pharmacy. required because of Dr Benjafield’s doors beyond Harrington Street, Mrs
Because the pharmacy arose out of Dr expanding family. Four children had Wilson provided board and residence
Benjafield’s pre-existing medical practice, been born at his previous residence. (One for gentlemen and families in ‘superior
and the medical practice of Dr Ebenezer infant died of pneumonia in 1879, just accommodation’. Dr Atherton only
Atherton before him, there was already prior to the move to the new house.) Six stayed there a short time, as in March
a large client base. This is reflected in the more children were born at The Willows. 1866 he moved to 82 Macquarie Street.
existing prescription books for the first According to newspaper reports at the It was described as being a ‘genteel
year of the pharmacy, which are held by time, the main house was designed with private residence’, part of Victoria Place
the State Library of Tasmania, showing large, lofty rooms, to secure abundant (or Victoria Terrace), five doors above
over a thousand family names and over fresh air throughout. One unusual Barrack Street. (8) It was here that Mrs
three and a half thousand homœopathic feature was the way the upper and lower Atherton gave birth to their first two
prescriptions. floors were separated. daughters. Dr Atherton continued to
practise from that location until he
In 1884 the Elizabeth Street building On entering the main hall from the front moved to Davey Street in April 1868. (9)
underwent a major redesign and door, one is struck by the absence of the It was this last residence that became Dr
upgrade under the direction of Dr staircase usually seen. At the end of the Benjafield’s home and consulting rooms
Benjafield. (4) A bust of Dr Hahnemann hall there are, however, glass doors, and on when Dr Atherton left Hobart in May
looked down on Hobart from a niche passing through them the staircase leading 1873 and moved to New South Wales.
on the first floor, in the corner of the to the second floor rooms is reached. The
building. That niche is now covered over advantage of this arrangement is at once Dr Atherton’s advertisement for the
by a large board and signage. apparent. When the glass doors at the sale of the Davey Street residence is
end of the hall are closed, the ground floor informative, as it not only lists the
The original site of The Homœopathic rooms are entirely separated from the rest number of rooms, but details of their
Pharmacy, cnr Elizabeth and Brisbane Streets of the house. There may be illness or fever contents. The list even included the
in the lower rooms, but the family can live titles of the paintings on the walls.
(Photo courtesy of P. Torokfalvy) in the upper ones, passing in and out of Key items for sale included ‘superior
the building by the staircase without ever household furniture, valuable pianoforte,
Benjafield’s Second Residence coming into contact with the poisoned air magnificent harmonium, carriage horses,
that may be in the ground floor apartments, buggy, silver-plated buggy harness,
One of the reasons why Dr Benjafield and vice versa. (6) patent chaff-cutter, milch cow, saddles
created the pharmacy and new The Willows was constructed to allow and bridles’. The house contained a
consulting rooms was because he had for a private hospital on the ground floor drawing room, dining room, hall, two
decided to move his home away from bedrooms, dressing room, a nursery,
the city of Hobart to the suburbs. The study, kitchen, and a consulting room.
new house was called ‘The Willows’ (10) (Note that there is no mention of there
(subsequently called ‘Mimosa’) on New being a bathroom, these being extremely
rare in private homes during this period
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine through to the 1890s. If a house had
a bathroom, this warranted a special
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2 mention in advertisements.)
The location of the practice was
somewhere in Davey Street, but
where? At that time most newspaper
advertisements did not contain a street
number, and unlike other colonies,
Tasmania did not produce regular
9
post office directories. Even if a street Hobart Town. (13) Their business was on generation of ‘homœopathists’ -
number could be found, Hobart’s street the corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool practitioners and supporters of
numbering system had been altered at Streets on the side of the Elizabeth Street homœopathy - the above sites should be
least three times, so it would be very mall. This was often called ‘Walch’s on your personal tour of places to visit.
easy to identify the wrong house. What Corner’. As a result of this latest research, you
would be the house number in 2014? can now add the home and consulting
With so much demolition of Hobart’s old rooms of Drs Atherton and Benjafield at
buildings over time, did the residence Cannanore in Davey Street to your list.
still exist?
References
The Search
1. Armstrong, Barbara. A Brief History
My starting point was Dr Benjafield’s Walch’s Corner circa 1905 of Homœopathy in Tasmania. http://www.
obituary of 1917, which stated that (Image from The Biggest Family Album of historyofhomeopathy.com.au
he had purchased the practice of Dr 2. The Mercury. 24/9/1926
Atherton, and had resided in his house Australia, Museum Victoria) 3. The Mercury. 28/1/1878
in Davey Street ‘now occupied by Mrs 4. The Mercury. 4/9/1884
Charles Walch’. (11) I then found that, at Cannanore 5. Benjafield, Dr Harry. The Tasmanian.
that time, the house was 67 Davey Street. Hobart, Tasmania. January 30, 1914.
Later items gave the new street number Putting all the pieces of the puzzle 6. The Mercury. 24/4/1879
as number 97. together, I came to an amazing 7. The Mercury. 31/1/1866
realisation. When I was standing 8. The Mercury. 28/3/1866
Other advertisements for Dr Atherton outside the Anglesea Barracks waiting 9. The Mercury. 25/4/ 1868
stated that Sydney homœopath, Dr for the Davey Street bus to travel to 10. The Mercury. 20/5/1873
Le Gay Brereton, was attending to Dr St John’s Hospital, the old two-storey 11. The Mercury. 14/6/1917
Atherton’s practice at 59 Davey Street. (12) Victorian Regency residence across 12. The Mercury. 25/3/1872
the road, which I had admired so 13. Anonymous. Notes on Homœopathy.
A search for all references to people much, was in fact the building I was Hobart Town: The Mercury, Sept 1870 -
residing at numbers 59, 67, then 97 searching for! It was the building once August 1871.
Davey Street, provided a list of the used by Drs Atherton and Benjafield as
occupants and the changes of street their residence and consulting rooms. Homœopathy
number. I had originally assumed that Originally built around 1848 for Hobart
the Davey Street location would have merchant William Watchorn, the Strange, Rare & Peculiar
been closer to Hobart Town. However, residence passed through several hands
one advertisement mentioned that the before being owned by Atherton and 22-23 October
house was located opposite the Barracks, Benjafield in the 1860s and 1870s, and 2016 - Brisbane
which are a bit further away from the by the Walch family from the 1880s. It is Rydges - Southbank
centre of town. The real breakthrough now part of the Senior School Campus
came when I discovered that during of St Michael’s Collegiate School and no
the time that Charles Walch and his longer has its own street number.
family occupied the building, the house
was named ‘Cananore’ or ‘Cannanore’.
Charles Edward Walch was born at
Cannanore, Kerala, India.
Walch and Sons
The Walch family ran a stationery and Cannanore, 2015 Guest Speakers for 2016
bookselling business, trading as Walch (Photo courtesy of I. Kearsey) are confirmed.
and Sons. Charles joined the family
business as a partner in 1854. From Conclusion Dr Farokh Master &
1855 they advertised several new books The Dynamic Duo of homœopathy,
related to homœopathy. They also Hobart contains a wealth of sights (and Shachindra and Bhawisha Joshi
advertised regularly in The Mercury sites) for those who love Australia’s
newspaper as importers of homœopathic history and architecture. For today’s Full programme is available on
medicines for the public. the website
Walch & Sons were obviously very keen Registrations open in February
to promote homœopathy in Tasmania, Limited accommodation available at
as the monthly publication Notes on
Homœopathy (printed from September Rydges, so book early.
1870 to August 1871) stated that all www.homeopathyconference.com
communications were to be addressed to
the Editor, care of Messrs Walch & Sons, Please direct all enquiries to
[email protected]
10 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
a shoal of cases
The Fish Knows Everything
Anne Vervarcke, Belgium Abstract: Investigating the possible ‘Group Sensation’ for Fish within the greater scope of Sea Medicines.
Cases and thoughts.
Keywords: Water, floating, flying, doesn’t want to be seen, invisible, hide, weightless, withdrawing,
isolated, safe environment, gender roles, urticaria, milk intolerance. Aqua marina; Amphiprion ocellaris,
clown fish; Carassius auratus, goldfish.
Kingdom theory right-brain and left-brain information helped
me to understand these new medicines.
Anne Vervarcke studied art, oriental studies In analysing a homœopathic case, kingdom With this article hopefully the homœopathic
and anthropology, and later trained in theory has proven to be an invaluable help. community can benefit from the result.
classical homeopathy in Belgium and in the Instead of working from the bottom up,
Netherlands. adding all the symptoms in a repertorisation Fine-tuning
She established The Centre for Classical and choosing between the medicines that rank
Homeopathy (CKH) in Leuven, Belgium, highest, we can now analyse from the top When I wrote fine-tuning, I meant that, for
which organizes a five-year training downwards. We first distinguish the largest instance, not everybody who sounds at the first
course, a Master Class, seminars, and an group and then narrow down to subgroups consultation like a ‘Mineral’ needs a mineral
International Training. Anne served as and even smaller subgroups until we can medicine. My first division would be between
program creator, teacher, and director for define the group where the medicine we are a ‘second dimension’ or ‘third dimension’
15 years. She has also run a private clinic looking for belongs. Therefore, we use the substance. The second dimension is what I
since 1989. existing taxonomy from biology. It narrows consider the biosphere between the core of
Anne Vervarcke has developed her own the choice of the medicine down from literally the earth (an iron crystal) and the surface.
style of practice, the VA Method, based on thousands of possibilities to maybe a few It is the realm of ores and stones, chemical
her 25-years of accumulated teaching and dozen… and makes homœopathy manageable compounds, gemstones and the like. In fact,
practising experience, seminar attendance, again. pure elements are hardly ever found in nature.
and investigation in her private practice. To this category also belong the Monera and
The VA method is based on classical Sometimes though ‘Kingdoms’ risk becoming the Sarcodes. The third dimension is populated
homeopathy supplemented with the works alternative boxes for the ones we previously with plants and animals (and us) living on
of contemporary thinkers and insights from had. Maybe the medicine boxes in our mind the surface in 3D. As such, ‘Plant’ patients are
phenomenology and linguistics. were labelled: Familiar, Acutes, Weird, often confused with ‘Animal’ cases because
She gives international trainings and Favourite, Nosode, Can’t Even Pronounce, they share common characteristics (liveliness,
seminars, teaches in the CKH, and is the Specific, Bad Reputation, Never Heard of, complexity, communication, diversity,
author of nine books on homeopathy, Always works etc. We have to be careful not emotionality). Only a small percentage of
including The Charm of Homeopathy. to replace them by the labels Plants, Minerals, animals is carnivorous and will display what
Address: Klassiek Homeopaat/Classical Animals, Others. we sometimes consider real ‘animal traits’ like
Homeopath, Wasstraat 116, 9000 Gent Needless to say we exclude lots of medicines aggression, violence, competition, sexuality
Belgie this way, or squeeze all our patients into and killing.
Tel: +32 9 35 77 992 known materia medica and by doing so
Email: [email protected] deprive them of the medicine they require. Sea Creatures
Website:www.thewhiteroom.be The way our mind works, we simply don’t see
what we don’t know, or to turn it around: we Likewise not all Sea Creatures are the same,
therefore only see what we know. although they are habitually treated as one
group: obviously they have things in common,
For this reason I think it is both interesting and as they all live in the water. By the classical
helpful to extend our knowledge of groups and medicines we were able to discern some
family traits. We are constantly fine-tuning our common traits like the ones I extracted from
knowledge in these areas. This ‘fine tuning’ different sources and found to be the main
in my case was stimulated by the fact that, pointers: (listed in my schemes on RADAR/
using insight and intuition, I considered lots of OPUS)
medicines as yet unknown to me. Often there
was no homœopathic information about them Water, floating, flying, doesn’t want
whatsoever. Having a proper homœopathic to be seen, invisible, hide, weightless,
consultation with the patient and combining
11
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
withdrawing, isolated, safe Exploring his fears he said being disliked, even with my window shut; I can hear her
environment, gender roles, urticaria, disapproved of and what people thought about talking…. It is making me crazy; it’s like a
milk intolerance. him were his only fears. vicious circle I cannot get away from.
He dreams a kind of abstract dreams, with
These are the key words, expressed in one weird signs and shapes, in dark colours. I feel I’m being watched; talking
way or another in medicines from the sea. Everything moves and he stands still as if constantly about a person, as if that girl
floating. is in love with me. Why do they focus
A Sea Medicine par Excellence on me? Maybe because I come across as
Analysis: after two hours of consultation a crazy guy that doesn’t seem to find his
This Aqua marina case is an example of there seems to be just one theme: they are way, if everyone else is a white dot, I am
a ‘sea’ medicine case, solved by a very watching me. The idea is that people talk a black one. These ups and downs come in
pronounced keynote. about him because he is introverted and silent waves. (Hand gesture [HG] motion of a wave.)
in public, doesn’t know what to say or how
A 19-year-old boy comes for consultation, to behave. The more he feels the pressure to Although the patient seemed to improve
at the end of 2007, with the following behave spontaneously the less he is capable. last time, the problem is still quite intense.
complaint: He hears people talking about him in the He still hears voices and is harassed by
pub, feels the girl next door is keeping an eye thoughts of people watching him.
I want to feel better, in general, to be more on him and even at home they watch him.
myself, to like myself better. Lately, I am As we have no information of any kingdom, He received a dose of Aqua marina MK
not feeling very self-confident. the best procedure is to look in the rubric: and I did not hear from him until two
I let myself get too influenced with ‘Delusion, being watched’. The only medicine years later.
what others think and say… and I find that doesn’t belong to the plant or mineral
myself in a dilemma: should I be myself kingdom is Aqua Marina. Since we know During the annual Open Door of our
or should I be how people want me to the medicine to be like an intense Natrum Homœopathic school a man comes to me
be? It’s about my personality. I am an muriaticum, he gets a dose of Aqua marina and says: “I have to thank you because you
introvert. It’s kind of difficult…. (patient 200K helped my son so well.” He had to remind me
is almost crying) I want to feel more at whom he meant: it was so long ago and the
ease. I have been worrying … I play in a In the follow up two months later (2008) he boy didn’t come more than three times. The
band and in my town I’ve gained some claims to feel better, yet not all the way. father said he had an amazing change. The
notoriety, positive as well as negative. They keep on gossiping about me, but I psychotherapist who saw him at that time
All kinds of things are being said, people care less. People should take it the way it wanted to give antipsychotic drugs and said a
gossip. I have a strong suspicion that I am is. I‘m just not thinking about it. case like his couldn’t do without. But he never
being watched. Interestingly he had good dreams used any drug and his paranoia disappeared
…everything is going well. I get along without any additional therapy. His son
When I asked what he meant, he replied: well with everyone, everyone wants found peace in himself. He stopped using weed
People watching you, in public and in what’s best for me, they accept me and altogether; he is pleasant and calm again, and
private. At home they watch you. It is not it‘s mutual. I’m having conversations, feels good about himself. The father said: “We
a pleasant feeling. They look at you in like when I meet someone I know in the have our son back.”
a strange way: like the strange little boy street… When I run into someone, I find
that never says anything, that follows the it hard to start a conversation, not really This case shows how intense the feeling
group, never takes initiative, that isn’t as knowing what to say… They think I of being watched can be in Aqua marina,
excited and extrovert as the rest… am a strange person, they don’t really verging on psychosis. They don’t want to
I asked him if this wasn’t a result of being understand me. They don’t know how to be seen or known. As a matter of fact: it
‘famous ‘in his town? interact with me. Something is holding has the symptom ‘Delusion and Dreams,
them back from approaching me; the being spied on’, and, like Calcarea, ‘Fear
Those people don’t know me and I fear same that is holding me back. her condition will be observed.’ This
what they are thinking of me, because case had, not surprisingly, lots of Natrum
it shows that I am not being myself. I The Aqua marina 200K is repeated and I see muriaticum symptoms as well, but it lacks
care too much, I am afraid they’ll say him for a follow up four months later. the essence. It will be those polychrests
something bad about me. In short he is back to where he was at the first that make our minds go to Sea Creatures:
visit and he describes it even more clearly: the fact that the patient sounds like
There has been some serious gossiping; It’s as if I can really hear people talking. Sepia, Nat. mur. and Calcarea, all together,
I haven’t had a girlfriend for a long time. It’s quiet, but it’s as if I can hear the combined with the above mentioned Sea
Supposedly, I have perverted ideas. This neighbour’s voice. As if he’s saying to his creature Key words.
goes very deep. I am afraid to approach wife: ‘How did it happen that he’s not
a woman. When I was in university, they as self-confident as he used to be?’ The Let’s talk about Fish
heard me masturbate … the walls are so girl next door is always watching me.
thin. So that made me look like a pervert. Actually, I am not really sure if she is Because I have prescribed lesser or
And because I am famous, people spread doing so, maybe I hear her or think I hear unknown Fish Medicines, I thought it
the gossip. her. I think she’s really watching me, as if interesting to focus on this group and
she’s more occupied with me than with see if I could extract common themes or
My parents don’t understand; they don’t herself. I can hear her talking about me. symptoms from them. If we want to study
believe me. I tell them how I can hear It’s weird: she lives across the street and a group of medicines for which we don’t
voices of people talking about me. They have clear pointers as yet, how to begin?
think it is all in my head, I’m imagining
things. Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
12
Starting a research we are surprised there I’d expect a Fish to talk one way or is hidden. Noticing the strangeness is one
is more information available than first another about water, even dislike or fear half of the job; the ability to see patterns
thought. There are new provings, easily of water. In the same way I’d wait for is the other. In my teaching I use the
accessible on the internet and often we them to drop the word fish, whether it be image of dots: every ‘what is this?’ or
find overlooked classical provings. Cases an aversion, a fear, disgust, an allergy, a ‘this is remarkable’, is a dot and all we
are spread in the journals over the years. comparison or a dream. It doesn’t matter. have to do is connect up the dots to see
This all means: lots to read. The difficulty In almost all Fish cases Home is the pattern. It is saying the same thing
is to spot the group characteristics in all important, for the reason that it can be as spotting the SRP on all levels, because
this. the place to hide, for safety, a dislike to they spring from the same source, namely
go out; or a hobby to embellish the home the vital disturbance. (Also called the
We have extensive modern provings of place. That doesn’t mean they are stay- sensation level.) How to know for sure
Urolophus halleri (sting ray) Todd Rowe at-homes; some fish really like to travel the piece of information originates from
Lac delphinum (dolphin) Nancy Herrick but as we know we always ask: how and the vital level, or is common, reasonable,
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (salmon) where and why. Themes like wandering understandable, in proportion to the facts,
Jeremy Sherr. Erythrinus erythrinus (red around free floating, swimming, being logical, comprehensible on the level it
wolf fish) (fresh water fish) Joy Lucas, near the water etc. might come up. We all appears, is the work of the homœopath.
already in Burnett. Paracanthurus hepatus travel differently!
(blue tang) Louis Klein. Lepomis gibbosus First recognized Group Member
(pumpkinseed sunfish) Sally Williams In almost all the provings there were
and Patricia Maher. Clupea harengus themes of connections and disconnection. Sometimes the patient connects more and
(herring) Misha Norland. Ostracion We see those themes coming up very more with his state (which is impossible
cubicus (yellow box fish) Marty Begin regularly in modern provings, but on to hide anyway) and will by the end of
Carassius auratus (goldfish) Chetna the other hand, we know that the big Sea the interview almost give an evocation
Shukla. medicines like Natrum muriaticum and of the substance he needs. Homœopaths
Sepia have their specific problems with are utterly thrilled when this happens;
And in our Clarke’s Materia Medica we connections. Either they are reserved my colleague calls it her homœopathic
find: Gadus morhua (cod), Oleum jecoris (cod and shy, or suffer from the burden of ‘orgasms’.
liver oil), Trachinus draco (greater weever connection and love, or long for it but are
fish), Serum anguillae (eel) unable to open up. They are hard to miss, bring about great
Those are the provings studied to see if cures and are often presented in seminars.
common characteristics came up. Playfulness and creativity were other Usually they are the first representatives
themes that provings elicited. of a particular, so far unknown, group
Fish Themes On the physical plane, however odd it and because they are successful, other
may sound, fish have no legs, and this less obvious characteristics are also
From this material some themes sometimes reflects in our patients as a fear remembered by the homœopaths. In the
emerged. First of all we see the Animal of losing limbs in an accident, numbness long run all the cases that were missed
characteristics in most provings, in the legs, fear of legless creatures before will be recognised by their more
though rather subtly. Nevertheless, the (maybe snakes), dreams of having no legs understated characteristics.
competition (in its human expression or losing a leg. (Lac phoca [seal milk] also
often rather comparing than overt has dreams of having no legs: Dream: I didn’t select the obvious fish cases,
competition); anger with desire to kill or Woman in a wheelchair supplants me where the patient virtually said: ‘I am a
harm the other; fear of death, are often in my relationship; and, with feelings of fish’, because they are usually published
present. jealousy and a desire to smash her face and there is no need to repeat.
and call her a cripple, I wish my horse
I find in practice Fish cases are frequently would gallop over her.) In the same way, in the bird kingdom
confused with Bird cases. In the human Eagles and Falcons were easily
experience we can’t survive in the water, The mind often was affected, confusion recognized because of the violence
we’ll suffocate in a few minutes. I suppose everywhere, even to the point of dementia. expected in animal cases and the flying
that is why patients will express the Many neurological; skin and respiratory high and fast, while it took a while before
feeling of weightlessness as flying. If you symptoms came up, especially cough. Robins, Sparrows, Canaries and Jays
ask for a description they will talk about were noticed: in the Fish kingdom the
floating, being unlimited, weightless, But the core question remains, even with aggressive ones, like Sharks and Stingrays
while Bird patients will talk about those keywords: how to spot a fish? were identified first.
freedom, speed, being high and above I have to make a little excursion to I had an Electric Eel case, many years ago,
everything, moving, soaring. It’s a whole case taking here. We all know this is a a man who was extremely violent, cursing
different experience although the first sophisticated art, which requires a very and swearing although I don’t think he
words may be flying. developed sense for the unique, the never- actually beat up as many people as he
heard before, the ‘that–is–strange’, the threatened to.
They sometimes will talk about freedom remarkable in every person. If the patient
as well which only adds to the confusion had to wait three months to see you, A Stingray case with lots of machismo
but in Bird cases it is the main thing, travelled 200 km and then fills all the time wanted the ‘whole range of women’ at
the reason behind the reason, the final of the intake talking about his cat or a his disposal, but as soon as one wanted
answer, while in Fish it is but one of the swollen gland, that is where the medicine to stick around, he would literally break
themes.
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 13
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
through windows to escape from the other to see how he ticks and how far I times a year. She is still in homœopathic
room. can go…. I’ve been bullied or they told a treatment with a colleague who sees her
secret to somebody…. And nobody ever on a regular basis and usually repeats
A less obvious Fish came to my rescue…. when the patient complaints of minor
symptoms. The migraines have gone
Here’s a case of a 35-year-old single, Her fears: although she might occasionally suffer
childless woman, working as a designer. from a mild headache.
She comes in 2012 with migraine headaches, I don’t like to go in the water where there
with vomiting and photophobia, compelling are those little fish, swarming around my Another Fish
her to lie down quietly, not moving at all. legs… I don’t like ants swarming either.
She said: it feels restricting, not allowed to In the sea there are fish and jellyfish… Here’s another case I anticipated with
do anything, no freedom. The world goes those little fish come close against you… excitement as the medicine that had come to
on without me; I’m no longer part of it. it is the swarming I don’t like …. these mind after her ‘phone call, was quite unusual.
Crying makes it worse, I suppress it, try slippery animals around me… they
to think about nice things, like decorating fly here and there they are yucky… A 35-year-old community worker, married,
a house, a holiday. this slippery…. Yuk!… you can’t catch daughter twelve years old comes with sleeping
them…. They are just repulsive… and I problems. It takes her four hours to fall
I followed the idea that migraine prevents you don’t want them on my plate either…. asleep and she needs to watch TV or read
from decorating a house and I asked her about Anything you are sensitive to? before going to bed. This allows her to focus
it. on one thing instead of the 101 things that
When animals are hurt… people who go through her head otherwise. Sometimes
Put furniture in it, I like the creative act of hurt animals, I once saw my neighbour she goes to bed at dawn, when her husband
it, it is empty and you don’t have to take chasing my cat with a broom… when a wakes up. She can do with little sleep as long
anybody into account because I’m only cat has a broken leg I’ll feed it. Once I saw as she can sleep longer some mornings or at
imagining it, putting in the furniture I a clip of a whale being released by people the weekend. That is why she needs a job with
designed. and he was so grateful he jumped with flexible hours. Talking about her nature she
joy because he was free. This brings tears says:
She talked about having been burnt out: to my eyes…. When a bird fell out of the
At that time I worked in a company that nest, or bears are encaged, I’m upset… My daughter does ballet and I joined
was located in the same building where when they have no space and no freedom. her… we just had a general rehearsal…. I
I lived and I had a boss who didn’t take like challenges, adventure, new things; I
me seriously. Although it was a part-time Her dreams were quite violent, about biting like to be in front of groups. I love nature;
job, he claimed me all of the time, even people, causing deep wounds, being the I like to sit in my garden, especially when
for domestic work; I let him run over me. victim. the sun shines … this long winter with the
They harassed me, wanted to occupy my early darkness gives me the winter blues.
space as well; it ended in a fight. I was The thing she likes best: In my job I like to do my own thing; I
cheated but too tired and confused to need this freedom… I’m very happy I
do something about it. I was used and Creative things… painting, decorating, don’t have a 9 to 5 job.
abused and in the end I was so far gone I drawing; anything creative. What I would
lay in bed and couldn’t even move a leg. I really like is flying, anything with flying, I’m creative; I like to tinker… I wanted
was sick for six months! paragliding, in a balloon, parachute to join the army but failed my tests. Then
One of the reasons is I never learned to jumping. It must be great to be able to I went into social work for the same
defend myself. Character is something fly… you jump into the void and then you reasons: no 9 to 5; freedom, going out,
you own but I wasn’t raised in a normal are really floating ….soaring, you have adventure. I like to try new things: my
family, which provides safety and space and freedom… you are weightless first job was at an adventure camp with
security. I have no protection…. against when you can float…. When I’m creative a death ride, canoeing, rock climbing….
people who want to harm you or don’t I’m also weightless and floating… I have Now I dance ballet with my daughter and
respect you, like this boss. No security a swing in my room, my feet get off the joined modern ballet as well… For the
there. ground and I can float. Then my thoughts army I once went on a youth camp and
are free, I am in the flow, my creativity we had a week outdoors with parachute
About her family she tells: can go any direction… I feel timeless and jumping on the last day. It was great, such
happy. a feeling of freedom! I went camping with
My mother raised my sister and me difficult youngsters once, in wintertime
with iron hand…. We had to clean our Analysis: this case is much shortened in the snow, once it was -18C. After my
rooms, both apart… she’d beat us…. it for the article but the elements that daughter was born I stayed home for two
wasn’t a safe environment. We weren’t lead to the prescription of Carassius years and then found my current job with
allowed to play, no freedom, my youth auratusor (Goldfish) are all there: animal the caravan dwellers. I can organize my
was suffocating, no air…. Everything was characteristics, water, fish, home, job as I wish. I am free to visit the people,
forbidden, we had to walk on eggshells. creativity, floating, weightlessness and write my reports, and work longer or less
Father was absent but he didn’t protect us two examples of encaged animals, of that day, as long as I get my work done.
either. My sister rebelled when she was which the goldfish is the prototype in his I need the independence and the
16: yelling, fighting, crying. I was very small glass bowl. flexibility. In my job I need to be able to
suspicious, also towards people, very speak out, when I find something is not
closed…. I didn’t trust people but I’m The patient had a slow but remarkable working, I need to talk about it and I
working on it. I’m always watching the improvement in her mental/emotional
state and needed the medicine a few Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
14 December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
want it to change. I couldn’t work if this a baby; I used to faint at the doctors… I overall feeling of wellbeing and no ‘epileptic-
was not possible, I need to be able to say: don’t know for what reason then. I have like attacks’ so far…. We are still waiting for
‘This doesn’t work, this has to change’. Of it once or twice a year anyway; I can her to contact us in case of relapse.
course I try to say it in a decent way, not have it in the couch or at the neighbours’
snapping at or humiliating somebody. but with these medical explanations, I’ll A few more symptoms I noticed in a
When there is no openness to this, it surely have it. The worst thing about few Fish cases are a kind of ‘exaggerated
stops; I quit, like in my previous job. it is it takes three days… I feel sick, as state’, an intensity that is noticeable yet
after anaesthesia… That is in fact my we don’t know what to do with it. Two
I need to balance things… on the one only fear…. I’m not easily stressed or of my Fish cases (Electrophorus electricus
hand: ‘Let’s do silly’ but on the other nervous… with this parachute jump: this and Urolophus halerii) perspired so much,
hand, the daily work needs to be done. is totally safe. even in winter, that they virtually bathed
It’s a bit like structure with chaos. I wanted in their own sweat. From Salmon cases
to know a bit more about this ‘doing silly’. What do you like best? we know that infertility and strong
longing for babies are some of the
Now it is the dancing course. But with To sit at home in my garden…. I’m never main characteristics. One of my cases
me, it never ends there, I start to work alone there, my daughter is twelve and (of Stonefish) displayed a lot of drama
behind the scene as well, help the girls, there are always youngsters from the and a too-good-to-be-true attitude. We
announce the show, take the microphone, neighbourhood. It is my little place… we shouldn’t forget that many Animal
and ‘ladies and gentlemen, good evening’, built a playground and all the toys we cases are heavily compensated as it’s
I like that… Once I went to a show and designed and built ourselves. There is exceedingly hard to be human with an
in the public seats I felt lost… behind the a little pool and we built a terrace and a Animal experience inside.
scene you know this is going to happen dead ride and a fireplace. We also built
now and then this, and then we go on a carport with a big covered terrace on The question in compensated cases
scene, and act a bit crazy… that is what top of it. I start designing something always is ‘what requires such an attitude?’
I like… also talking to groups… I had a and my husband makes it… it is our The answer is: the opposite experience,
project once about Water and how to deal home… our space… when I sit there it which is the state of the patient. In animal
with it in a sustainable way…. For people is sheer enjoyment…. The sun, the being cases the issues are: fear to be killed or
I don’t know… outdoors, there is liveliness around the desire to kill, threat, danger, violence,
house and it is peaceful. The first part of fight, competition and so on. As most of
You should see me dancing... I’m not the garden is mine and the second my our patients are too civilized to openly
good at it at all but I enjoy… I worried a husband’s: there are the vegetables, the threaten or kill their competitors in
bit they were going to dismiss me because rabbits, the chickens and my part is with order to survive, these will be expressed
I’m so clumsy but as they didn’t and I the playground and the pool… you can by comparing oneself to others in all
had the opportunity to act a bit crazy, I’ll go in there but when I really want to have domains of life: who is better, faster,
try again next year. It makes me happy, a swim I can go to the neighbours’. They richer, more beautiful, more successful,
cheerful, I’m doing silly things together have a real swimming pool. We have stronger, healthier. The unconscious need
with my daughter, we are behind the known each other literally all our lives. is to position oneself all of the time in a
scene, and it makes life fun. hierarchy because in animal cases there is
Analysis: The Fish themes are not so never an equal relationship. One is either
I’m crazy about England, this is my much in the front but nevertheless powerful or dominated, either victim or
kind of holiday: going into nature, no present: freedom, do my thing my aggressor, either winner or loser. Only
thinking….. into the meadows, there are way, challenges, adventure, flexibility, one can be the best, and in a fight one
hills and sheep, you can cross the fields, playfulness, creativity, nice home, nature, has to back down, one way or another.
going here, looking there. After half an structure in chaos. Her chief complaint, There is no win-win in animal cases! This
hour on a beach I want to go away, doing the sleeping problems are way less makes it clear why life can be difficult
something… with a speedboat in Canada serious than her epileptic-like attacks. and complicated, and why the need to
whale spotting, this was more my thing. Though they are provoked by medical compensate is so great.
When asked if she had any fears, she replies: stories or interventions, they can come at
Doctors! Anything medical…. I regularly any time and it takes her about three days (Many other compensated cases belong
get epileptic-like attacks and they are to recover. to the Plant kingdom but for different
provoked by long-winded medical reasons; it’s their great sensitivity that
stories… for instance when you’ve Rx: Amphiprion ocellaris 1M, the clown they try to manage in that way.)
broken your leg and you start telling me fish (better known as Nemo). It would have
the details, I get warm and cold. Or an been very difficult to come up with this I’m sure there are still many things to
operation, when they start explaining… medicine without my flash of insight. On the explore and learn about such a vast group
or even my doctor, when I have other hand we benefit from this case to learn as Fish with its 32,000 species, making
something, he can say: it’s the ‘flu, but I about this particular fish. it the largest groups of vertebrates.
can’t bear to hear details… I’d get warm However, that‘s no reason for despair, but
and cold and faint and it is as if I get an The patient reported half a year later that, to rather to keep studying!
epileptic fit. I am anxious when people her own surprise her sleeping pattern was
start telling, afraid I’ll faint, people who much better, it took her but a short while to The link below leads to a list of Fish
know me don’t do this because they know fall asleep. This had never happened in her Medicines. http://www.provings.info/en/
I‘ll be on the floor. I’ve had it since I was whole life, as the time it took to fall asleep had index.html
became longer over the years. She also had an
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 15
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Animal cases: Pacific Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Camilla Sherr, FSHom. Abstract: two cases that illustrate the use of Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, (Pacific Salmon) interwoven
PCH, Tanzania with pertinent excerpts from the proving.
Keywords: hormones, miscarriage, menses, soul mate, love, grief, marriage, foreigner, going home, not
Camilla Sherr, FSHom, PCH graduated belonging, lost, direction, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, Pacific Salmon.
from the Finnish Institute of Homœopathy
in 1994. She practised for two years and Case 1 the last person, 'you don't look Somali', never
then moved to England to attend the belonging. My sisters all look Somali and
Dynamis School of post-graduate studies. Case taken: 8/8/14 speak Somali; I can't speak it, I understand
Camilla has taught the full Dynamis it. The problem is not knowing where I belong, no
course in Finland and has also lectured This is a case of a Tanzanian woman who is country... Canada is mostly it; I am the woman
in the UK, Israel, Honduras, USA, Malta, 42 years old. I am today because of the years spent there. I
Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria, Kenya, don't know where to live, should I stay here
Tanzania and Swaziland. In 1997 she "I've had two miscarriages, both at around or maybe move back to Canada?
spent three months teaching local doctors six weeks. My husband has three kids from
and practising in the poor barrios of a previous marriage, so he isn't bothered I married a really nice guy, I fell in love with
Honduras. too much, but the problem is the pressure of him during the miscarriage, sometimes you
Camilla has participated in many of society; we've been married two years; people are not sure... I didn't really marry for love.
the Dynamis provings and has edited around me are saying all the time: 'time time He was safe and convenient. He never puts
‘Dynamic Provings Volume 2’. She has time!!' pressure on me. I do love kids, I adore them. My
published articles in European and niece is very mean to me, flips, rubs my nose
American journals. She is the Co-Founder I used to travel the world, never thought in not having children.
and Director of 'Homeopathy for Health about kids and getting married, should I have
in Africa' and has been living in Tanzania done it earlier? Did I wait too long? Second- Menses are not good; 21 days, cramps, heavy.
since 2009 treating people who live with guessing myself.
HIV/AIDS with homeopathy. HHA runs a
homeopathic volunteering program as I'm working a lot; we are building a new I was 13 when I got my first period.
well as an internship program in Tanzania. house.
She is the Mother of Ike (16), Noga (10) Pains from shoulder all the way to the foot,
and Amy (8). In high school I thought I was pregnant, I was on the hip, shooting pains going down, for
[email protected] hoping to be! He was that boy friend, the big years, on the right side. Got hit by a baseball in
www.homeopathyforhealthinafrica.org love at that time. the forehead years ago.
16 I'm the manager of a hotel of 180 rooms, 500 Wrist joint painful right side.
staff.
Appetite is very good/// love sweets, I love
It belongs to my sister; we are Somali fish/// I love it in Zanzibar!! I indulge, calamari
and when I was a child everything was and prawns and fish. I love carrots. I put on
nationalised (lost all property and money). weight very easily.
We emigrated to Canada; we were born and
raised here; I was twelve. My brother got a I used to dream: I'm falling from a tree or from
sponsorship; then dad died, and my mum top of a mountain, I can't come back down.
moved back to Tanzania. She didn’t like it Dream of failing to do something.
in Canada; my mum now has died, that's
why I came back, it was my responsibility; Fear failure/// Negative energy gets to me.
now I'm lost... my husband is Zanzibarian. I'm afraid to live a little since my mum died,
He just moved here. I didn’t want to move playing it safe; I think twice before doing
to Zanzibar, I'm tired of fighting; he finally anything. I think I'm safe here, comfortable;
moved here. I know I can do this, but no energy to start
afresh.
I was daddy's girl, I didn't have my mum; Vertigo a lot, three years ago, when forgetting
I had to raise myself, I'm trying to find my to eat.
own place in the world. I'm torn, I grew up in
Canada, high school, university, then came I'm a workaholic.
here, I was a stranger, I was always picked on,
called names, I'm also Somali, I was always Rough stomach if I'm going through a rough
time: pains, constipation.
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
UTI from sharing toilets. Dream of driving in a car with my Travel
grandmother around town, looking for a
Skin: a problem. My whole body was house for her. Travel in all forms was a big theme
itching; stopped eating at the hotel, helps, during the proving, and has been
no eruptions >showering. In a dream I was trying to find my home, confirmed again and again clinically.
knocking on people's doors.
What difference do I make? Not doing Feeling really excited for others going off
anything good in life. Looking for a way home was a definite travelling.
theme; being lost, finding the way;
Rx: Oncorhynchus tshawytscha 12C daily where is home? People were getting Dream of a journey on hovercraft, feeling
for a month very anxious about real home versus of unease about being above the water.
spiritual home, and the whereabouts of Travelling in a strong wind, unable to land on
I have made the key words or concepts both. A patient kept repeating: all that the first attempt, circled to the left and landed
in italics - Oncorhynchus tshawytscha or matters is home; it's the only thing that is OK.
Salmon is a well-known medicine for important. He worked on a water-project
infertility and hormonal problems. I can and had travelled the world, always My flatmate said to me: For somebody
state with confidence that we have cured moving, never settling down, wanting to who hasn’t got any money you seem to be
every kind of fertility and hormonal return home, but when there, unable to travelling a hell of a lot. You should write a
problem with this medicine; infertility, settle down, and moving again. book on how you do it!
low sperm counts, sperm swimming in
circles, menses too long, too short, too Some provers were walking literally Other small symptoms confirmed the
heavy, too scanty, too painful, too dark, in circles, not being able to walk in a medicine: desire for fish and seafood,
clotted, too light, with all types of odour straight line; others just got lost. and a funny one of carrots. I have never
and consistency. Also leucorrhoea of all eaten so many carrots in my life as I did
types. It's a great medicine for polycystic As I was walking I suddenly had a compelling during the proving of salmon.
ovaries and for endometriosis. Three of urge to walk a full circle. Then I had to do it
the provers of Salmon had babies, one again; in the middle of a normal walk I felt 18/12/14 follow-up
of them being infertile and trying to my head was leaning to the left and then I
conceive for fifteen years. repeatedly walked a circle and then continued I'm doing very well. I sleep well; I am in
normally. a good mood. I feel I now know where
In this case the emotional theme of I belong; it's not an issue anymore. I
finding one's place is the key issue. Wanting to walk fast in straight lines. want to stay where I am; I'm happy
Who am I: not Tanzanian, not Somali, where I am. At work I'm able to say no,
not Canadian, not Zanzibarian? Where Of course the ones who would usually I put down boundaries, I work less. I
should I live? Where do I belong? Of get lost, were finding their way in a new don't care what people say anymore.
being a stranger everywhere, never way that was making them very happy: Appetite is more balanced, I eat less and
belonging. I have lost weight. I have a lot of energy.
Improved sense of direction. Intuition and Not so hung up about the issue with
Salmon leaves its home river and swims sense of direction working well. I find woods having children anymore. If it happens it
downstream (Dreams of being on top of a I hadn’t walked in for a few years. Enjoy happens. Very happy with my husband.
mountain, of falling), enters the sea and walking in twilight and love the smells and
swims thousands of kilometres, making sounds of the quiet woods. Periods were strange at first, now they
a huge circle, and finally returning home have normalised, no cramps, bleeding is
to spawn. This was reflected in the case I lived in London for the duration of less heavy. Stomach ~ no problems. Fear
of being uprooted to go and live in the proving and for a year or so after. I of failure ~ I haven't thought about it. I'm
Canada, of 'traveling the world' and then usually have an in-built map in my head, opening a new cafe. It has been a long
returning home to have babies. Only I never lose my way. London however, is time dream. Shoulder and wrist pains
where is home? a total mystery to me to this day. I don't gone. I have stopped trying to please my
know where anything is, and I swear sister and niece.
Home, lost, direction it's because of this fish. I can't tell you
how many patients I have helped with Eight months later still doing well.
In the Dynamis School during the this medicine, who have walked into the
Salmon year we were over 40 students. clinic apologising profusely for being
About half were from overseas and, late, because of driving around and
perhaps as a result of the proving, many around on roundabouts, totally lost and
returned home. Home to NZ, Australia, not being able to find the clinic.
Scotland, South Africa, Ireland,
Luxembourg, America. Salmon, the fish, has phenomenal sense
of direction and an absolute knowledge
Many provers had dreams of looking for of where its home is. It swims from its
homes, or returning to old homes: home river into the sea and travels for
thousands of miles in a circle, before
Feeling in the dream was that I was searching returning home.
for a place to put down roots, a home and
with someone special.
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 17
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Case 2 I don't want babies, not in this world, such a I do not love water, I never feel the need to
scary place to have children. get in, I always get bitten by something,
Date: 9/1/14 jellyfish, step on urchins but rivers I like,
Living in Tanzania? It doesn't feel so this is cosy, if I see the bottom it's ok, I
Female born 1982 foreign to me here. (She is American.) grew up in Florida, always on the beach.
My problems started five or six years Appetite is good, too good. I love salty I have issues about love; it didn’t work
ago, soooo tired, they gave me stuff for and sour. out, re-thunk the whole thing about
adrenals. Moody, irritable. love; used to think of love as a high, a
My dad is a recovering alcoholic, he was roller-coaster, now realise its friendship,
Hands and feet really sweaty all the time, a problem; my parents divorced when I no rollercoaster, steady marriage,
always damp, clammy, always very was fifteen; mum caused some problems relationship; from sixteen to 28 I always
moist! too, they didn’t live up to my problems, dated people who were really wrong for
my relationship with God; dad stopped me.
Skin: rosacea five or six years ago, can being a Jehovah's witness; FEAR; of my
see capillaries, dry, itchy, red bumps; got mum's discipline, fear of dad; fear of I get migraines. They started nine
off gluten which helped. displeasing; but not a bad childhood. months ago: if husband gives me a
massage I'm ok, ice-pick-headaches,
Eyebrows peeling, dandruff, very scaly, Fears of losing my husband, of death, of so much pain; come and go, come and
flaky. anything, being unliked; I like to please go.
people, I'm afraid of doing something
Knees back of, and elbows are very itchy. that God wouldn't like; of a robbery. Rx: Oncor 18C daily
When I was younger I was really scared,
I put on weight very easily, my arms keep woke up crying; in real life I was robbed In this case one can see the circle of four
getting larger, waist stays the same size. with a knife, really scared, crying... elements (earth, fire, water, air) very
clearly; the case is on the earth-water
I used to have parasites and worms, I walk everywhere. axis. Crying, sweating, fish, rivers,
tonsillitis all the time, stopped my job. period issues versus dry, scaly skin and
I love to teach, I love doing curriculums. desire for salt.
I can cry just like that, since my periods
started I've been like that, very emotional, I used to dance; five or six years ago I Love is a big issue with Oncor. Finding
very sensitive. stopped; it used to be so big, now I've a soul mate and true love are high on
stopped, used to play violin; now I love the priority list. In this case the patient
After starting birth control, I went from cooking to make someone happy. doesn't want to have children due to the
size six to twelve in six months, now off unsafe world we live in. In the proving
of it; made my menses worse, four to I love fish.
five days, really heavy for first two days,
cramping, have to stay home.
18 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
people wanted to look after neglected or I can follow the path and oneness without Dream of jumping from high places, but,
orphaned children. relying on another person to show me the unusually, not scared. Enjoyed it because I
way. was gliding down.
Soul mate, true love, sweet grief
Time was limited but I wanted to climb a
Awoke feeling wonderful, as if I've just fallen hill, mountain. Climbing vertical shaft with
in love. daughter who was whingeing she has no
direction.
The secret of life is love; all that matters is
love. When on top of a hill thought what a
wonderful feeling it would be to glide down
Feel I want to get engaged and married. the mountain.
Sudden deep belief and conviction that I 13/2/14 Follow-up
would find my soul mate, or life partner.
Energy much better, breast size gone
Deep longing for soul mate, with deep Marriage down one size, lost weight, energy
umbilical ache. Deep, heavy, old stuff, past definitely better, no more naps, body
lifetimes, unfinished business. Dream: I was getting married and I’d found feels better, back better. I can't say when
Dream of having a lover and falling in love. my soul mate and was very happy. I last cried...
Dreams of love like my soul mate. Dream: I had decided to get married and
I found my soul mate. was overjoyed. My father said he doesn’t Husband: She is the happiest I've ever
I was in a between state, half in a dream, half understand, he thought I had sworn not to seen her; even other people commenting,
somewhere else. I was asking questions and ever get married and I said: Yes, but this is I've never seen her so happy.
somebody from a higher place was answering different, this is the right man!
them. The only answer I can remember was Dreamt about a wedding. No need for massages; no migraines, no
to the question of what's the meaning of life, Dream: A friend getting married and moving headaches.
it's love. to a new home in Australia.
Dream: Wedding rings. They were huge and Hands less sweaty.
This yearning for love had a lot of floating in the air.
sadness in it, of missed opportunities, of Skin broke out really badly, scab
not finding the one, of losing the one: Up-down in ear, behind ear, very flaky, now
better.
Dream of a lady with chronic love
disappointment:. Fears: for a few weeks I wasn't scared
at all at night; now at night a bit more;
Told hormonal reason for being unwell, was The salmon is born up-river and has walking around is fine.
not, had almost forgotten about love, that’s quite a ride swimming down the river:
why I'm sick. Period normal, not a lot of blood, not a
Going up a mountain and watching whole lot of pain, much better.
Deep yearning, empty feeling, feel hollow cars and trucks coming down the mountain
inside, such a deep hunger but not for food; doing loop-the-loops and aerobatics in snow Rx: Oncor 18C continue
for something greater, for the other half of me, and ice. We were worried about getting back
which feels stuck or lost in time and space. to work on time. This patient did extremely well on Oncor
Deep, deep sorrow. And then I question what for over a year.
would happen if I ever merged with that other We kept riding in a land rover down and up
half - what would there be then? - The cycle hilly roads. Naturally each case reflects on some
would continue and separation would follow. issues of the medicine and for a full
We were three stories high and I drove the remedy picture you can study the
I now feel ready to join my soul mate. van out of the window and splashed into a proving from www.dynamis.edu/
swimming pool. provings
Tearful talk of deep love and soul mate and
recognizing my own strengths and knowing
Similia needs your inspiration
The Editorial and Production team of Jenni Tree and Cathy Nolan invite you to submit articles to Similia.
For Guidelines, refer to www.homeopathyoz.org, or email Jenni if you would like advice or discussion.
We are planning the next issue around your interpretation of
Dynamic Homœopathy - June 2016
and invite your contributions in cases, materia medica, indigenous provings, analysis systems, acute and constitutional prescribing,
difficult cases, philosophy, history or serendipity.
Deadline: 28 February 2016 Please send articles to: [email protected]
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 19
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Hippocampus kuda
A Seahorse Case
Joanne Greenland, Abstract: A case of Hippocampus kuda (Seahorse), demonstrating the themes of the sea creature
Australia medicines and the sub-themes of the seahorse. Prior to knowledge of this remedy, other sea creature
medicines, such as Sepia, may have been prescribed for this case. Whilst this may have achieved
Joanne has a full time homœopathic satisfactory results, it would likely have led to prescribing different polycrests and multiple prescribing.
clinic working in Victoria, Australia. Her Prescribing Hippocampus kuda in the first instance completed the case beautifully without requiring
approach to case taking centers on further prescription, not only eliminating the patient’s depression and her inability to go back to work,
taking a detailed case, exposing the but also supporting her ability to make positive life choices.
common thread of all aspects of the case Keywords: Hippocampus kuda, seahorse, sea animals, animal kingdom, hiding, gender stereotypes,
and aiming to restore each individual running away, seeking freedom, escape, feeling drugged, floating sensation, androgyny.
to full health. She has traveled to India
7 times - studying with the Bombay Notes on the casetaking Not having someone to share things with is
Medical Group of homœopaths, in
particular Rajan Sankaran and Dinesh I have written this case up in the manner that horrible.
Chauhan, and recently attended the the patient spoke, which was somewhat jerky
HRI (Homœopathic Research Institute) and more like a list of facts than the telling Well-meaning people say I should be over this
international research conference in of a story, especially at the start. The parts by now but I just am not. I am not sure I will
Rome as well as Jan Scholten’s master ever get over it. Why should I?
class on Wonderful Plants in Utrecht
consolidating and diversifying her years of in italics depict the kingdom, in this case: sea ……………… pause
research and study. Joanne has a history animals. He brought out the best in me.
of nursing with 20 years as a midwife. HG – hand gesture. H- homœopath. P –
She is a member of AROH (Australian
Register of Homœopaths), AHA (Australian patient. No one else understands how special it is to
Homœopathic Association, Victoria
chapter – presently is the President of Case: have achieved what I have achieved.
this group), Vic/Tas representative for
the National office of AHA, WISH (World 58-year-old woman presents with severe I lost the person who understood me – who
Institute of Sensation Homœopathy), depression late 2008. was happy for me to be me – who encouraged
The Homœopathy Action Trust (a UK me to be the best I can be no matter what that
Initiation advocating One Vision One Voice
for Homœopathy World wide). Joanne She starts her dialogue without much looked like.
has taught contemporary methods of
homœopathy at The Victorian College prompting. ……………… pause
of Classical Homœopathy. She has also
presented papers at National conferences. I am unable to get out of bed – I only want to Mum died when I was 17 – kidney failure.
Having recently completed her masters read love stories. Mills and Boon – sometimes
through the University of Central
Lancashire investigating: five a day. Not long before this I was expelled from
An Examination Of The Basis Of The
Conflict Between Orthodox Medicine And ……………… pause Catholic college for kissing a boy and was
Homœopathy sent home. How ridiculous. In some ways it
An investigation into the views of
orthodox medical professionals regarding I am miserable. was good as I had a few months with mum
the practice of homœopathy practice
in Australia exploring solutions to the ……………… pause and then I nursed her before she died. I had
problem. been in boarding school so long I hardly
Joanne is now exploring the option to do
further research at PhD level looking at the I have no children by choice. knew her so it was good to get some time
validity of the ‘law of similars’.
Contact: ……………… pause with her before she died.
West Gippsland Natural Therapies
Tel: 0419567389 My partner of 19 years – died of lymphoma/ ……………… pause
20
leukaemia – 22 months ago. My partner and I were a team – when I
I am still so upset about the loss of my partner stressed about something he talked me down,
– I just want to run away. calmed me down.
I am not good by myself. He gave me validation.
I get so depressed and just want to hide under Now I have suicidal thoughts and there is no
the blanket. one to help me look at things differently.
I don’t want to deal with it. I want to be happy – to have a reason to keep
going.
I am so lonely and I feel worse around other I’m just a periphery I am not a part of
people. someone’s life.
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
……………… pause A dried up old girl – no life, no love, no ……………… pause
joy.
I don’t like family. Family use you. My partner never expected any of that
When my mother died I was expected to So sick of other people telling me what to do. from me – he cooked – that was great. If
look after my four brothers and father. I he expected me to iron we would fight –
had been in boarding school and knew Everyone wants some part of me. but it didn’t last long – 19 years together
nothing about running a household and and he got to understand she just doesn’t
I was dumped into it. I tried hard but they All these people come into my life and muck iron….
kept complaining; my ironing was bad; my me up.
cooking worse, my housework even worse – ……………… pause
always complaints always telling me I wasn’t Everyone wants some of me.
good enough. I wasn’t born to be a housewife. So I bolted – I ran away from my family.
I am split.
I was so over responsible very quickly in Then my partner died and I wanted to
those first few months, taking care of my I need to be in control bolt as well.
father and brothers. I hated it. Why was
it my job? I stay in bed longer and longer because I Dad said I was just a useless girl – not
want to be by myself. like one of the boys – I was more capable
It felt like a f…. door hitting my back. than all those boys put together but don’t
Go away – when I say leave – go – but make me cook, clean and iron – I was not
The family were such a burden – I they don’t. made for that.
moved interstate to get away from them.
I have highs and lows. And now I have no energy – my partner
It was overwhelming – they wanted is gone and I am tired – everyone has
me to be their mother – I was a young, ……………… pause taken anything I had – I have nothing – no
innocent, naïve little 17 year old girl energy left.
wanting to go out and experience the I was expelled from school, expelled
world, not wipe their backsides. from home and expelled from my job. ……………… pause
They were at you at you at you. It is as if they cut your guts out and left a I am ambitious – never satiated – always
big hole. pushing for bigger and better.
Biting you.
……………… pause Working in a man’s industry means I have
Sucking out your blood. to be better than them – and I am a lot of
Dad tried to control me – ‘you will not the time. – I get the work – but it is hard
Somehow I had to be responsible for leave the house’ – ‘you will not talk to work you have to push.
everyone else’s happiness – what about others’.
mine? Dad told me I could be a weather girl –
I am never going to fit in again. how rude – how insulting – that is what
They considered me weak if I just couldn’t he thinks of woman - that is all he thinks
do it. How was I supposed to have learnt I just don’t fit. I am not what people of me – he doesn’t know what I am
how to do it? Why would I have wanted expect me to be. capable of – he thinks I am just a useless
to? woman when I am as good if not better
Square peg in a round hole. than his boys.
There was no space for me – I didn’t fit in.
I am isolated. Why do men feel the need to put you
I built a spider’s web around me. down – treat you so badly?
I feel inconsolable.
I couldn’t get out. I have tried to fit in so many times in life
I go to bed with Mills and Boon love but I just don’t fit in.
Finally I ran away – moved to another stories and lose myself in them – it is my
state so they couldn’t get me. safe place. I dreamt I was swimming with sharks – I
would never do that - I hate deep water.
I wanted to experience life and all its ……………… pause
possible excitements not be someone’s I got a fright when I was a child – I got
f…. house keeper. My family abused me – they didn’t realise I out of my depth. I panicked. There was
just didn’t fit in – I didn’t want to live life no bottom.
Then I met my partner. their way.
She goes into a trance-like state as she
He chased me - I didn’t want a Do this - do that – they chastised me remembers the experience……….
relationship – I didn’t want to be – abused me – if I didn’t do what they
somebody’s mother –he had kids – they wanted. It was black and cold – there were
wanted me to love them like a mother – I horrible things in the water and I
don’t have it to give – get off my back- it My brother had a car accident and I was thought I could die. I couldn’t save
is just not a role I want - just because I expected to look after him – I did if for a myself. It was slimy and claustrophobic.
am a woman doesn’t mean I want to be while but then he took advantage of it – I Black green and slippery. I couldn’t
a mother. wasn’t his mother – I didn’t want this breathe. I couldn’t get out. I felt like
role. I am not responsible for him. He vomiting. So much slime all around me. I
I can’t just give and give -it runs out. went and got himself drunk – he wrote couldn’t shake it off. I was sucked down
They really did wear me out. himself off - why is it my responsibility into the black depths. It was very scary.
to look after him? – because I am the
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine only girl. I don’t want to be a girl – I 21
don’t work like other girls. I am not
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2 maternal. I don’t play that role.
……………………. Long pause When you panic you don’t make a good Floating around freely as I feel like.
decision.
H: tell me about being different – not You are not male or female.
fitting in… When you are calm – then things happen
– something will save you. I need to be You just float – just there hanging
P: it is because I am a woman there are calm about all of this. around.
things expected of me.
I feel light blue – I don’t feel my heart Like the little girl going down (when she
I don’t want to do things because I am a just my lungs – I can let all the panic out thought she was drowning).
woman – I want to do things because I of my lungs.
love them, they excite me, I am good at it Suspended animation.
and I want to do it. HG – she lets out deep breaths.
Disengaging of the brain.
These roles given us by gender really get When you breathe you disengage ……………… pause
to me. your brain – let it breathe – you can’t
make a wrong decision if your brain is This is why I made conscious decisions
……………………. Long pause disengaged. – I don’t want children – I don’t want to
be a wife – to clean, cook, iron, basically
H: what is the experience? She reflects about what she is saying – be a servant – I found out what that was
feeling a little confused. like when my mother died – I did not
P: It is like that dream – almost as if I am want that – I wanted freedom and to live
on drugs – being in cold water – it chills This is really weird. my life.
me to my core.
H: Reassures her to continue. ……………… pause
I feel cold, calculated and slow.
P: If your brain is not disengaged you I have a painful fistula – it aches and
Everything around me slows down. jump in too quickly. You don’t have it pains, pains, pains me – it is hurting
enough information and you regret it now.
It feels like I am being clinical. later. But when you are disengaged you
get more information – you are more Spasms open when I go to the toilet.
It feels like indigestion – ice cubes – like I rational. You remain calm and cool
am sitting in a freezer. and decision-making is easy - listening It is objecting strongly to something
without putting you in the decision
She reflects about what she is saying – makes for good decisions. You are able Treatment: Hippocampus kuda (Seahorse)
feeling a little confused - I am speaking to make a decision without your impact, 200C
weirdly here it does not make sense. without your emotion, without your
wants and needs. Follow up one month later
……………… pause
It is no longer about me. I have been good.
H: reassured her and asked her to
continue. ……………… pause I have been working again.
P: I am not panicking in this experience – I love water. I have decided with or without you
the cards are actually in my head. I know (partner) I can be happy.
I need to do this and then this and then I don’t like it deep.
this. I feel really happy with it all.
Deep water is dangerous – I don’t like it
My brain is analytical. when it is over your head. I am sleeping better, getting daily
exercise. Eating better.
My guts are toiling.
Bowels – no pain – much better.
I shouldn’t allow these emotions. ……………… pause
Stools soft, perfect, easy to pass.
I shouldn’t allow this drama. You have to stay absolutely removed.
Had a sad and distressing dream but I
I feel like a clinical person without No emotion. cannot remember what it was about.
emotion. Just a functioning cyborg (just a body).
Mechanical. Some days I take breakfast back to bed
If I panic that would be the wrong Living matter and cells. and read for awhile – but I am able to
decision. Nothing can hurt you. get up – not the need to read five books
You’re not really there. in one day. It is snuggly there in my
When my heart pounds I cannot think. own little world – but I can get up and
function now.
I don’t make rational decisions when my
heart is pounding.
There is not enough blood flow – because There is no pain. I am ready for change.
of stress – to make a good cognitive There is no motion – just suspended in I am ready to alter the patterns of my life.
decision. the water.
Treatment Hippocampus kuda (Seahorse)
In panic you don’t have the power of Like suspended animation. 200c
reason.
Coppers shoot people when they don’t No effort.
think. No up and no down – no sideways.
22 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Follow up one month later I have been working and it is good. It mineral patient will see the problem as
feels like a new start – shaking off the a lack within themselves. The animal
Had a few injuries, had a splinter; old. kingdom patient wants to fight back.
stubbed my toe; fell over and bruised Along with feelings of being victimised
my rib; nearly cut my left finger off – but I am much more connected to myself. or restricted by a set of circumstances or
coped with it all. Able to get into life again – it is all good another person, there is also a sense of
– I am happy. the loss of one’s freedom to be oneself
Got a job – hated it, had to be too and express oneself. This case clearly
masculine – I am sick of being masculine. Eating well, sleeping well – opportunities represented a person needing a remedy
with work keep popping up. from the animal kingdom.
Why do you have to act like a man to be
in charge? After several follow ups I discovered Having established which kingdom
that this patient had quite an extensive the patient fits into, we then need to
I have decided that I can be in charge seahorse collection. determine the sub-kingdom. I chose the
without acting like that. I have been sea creatures, not only because of the
awful and I want to use my femininity to Follow up two years later patient’s association with water, her
get ahead now not my balls. dreams of water and her past history
I did not really need to come out – I am of nearly drowning and how deeply
Why is it the strongest one has control – still doing well – I missed our chats and that impacted her, but also because
sick of being a woman in a man’s world. connection so I thought it would be good the animals from the sea creatures’
to have a catch up and a tune up. I don’t sub-kingdom express a need to hide
I am finding my femininity for the first really feel like I need a tune up - but that (camouflage, submerge) or protect
time. The little girl in me. is my excuse for being here. I know if I themselves (shell). In the sea creature
get stuck in bed again what to do – for sub-kingdom there is the experience of
Almost like a material coming over now I am busy and happy most of the restriction and suffocation; the theme of
me – I am switching from masculine to time. Still no partner, but I have sold my female rebellion against male dominance
feminine. marital home and bought another one – I and, as many of the young are left to
have moved on. I am enjoying life. survive without parents, the theme
I walk differently. I talk differently. I feel of independence and freedom. These
it like a cloak. I received a text message six months ago patients feel heavy, weighed down and
completely out of the blue – eight years tied up by responsibility and guilt; the
I felt the split between man and woman after the first consultation. sea animal patient yearns for fun and
in my last job lightness, freedom and open spaces. Sea
“Hello my dear. Well here I am. My first animals often use hiding as a defence
Male – authoritarian, swearing, power. day at work with a new, big promotion. mechanism. There are often gender
I have a new title and it feels so good to issues, especially in relation to rape and
I have been pushed into a man’s world. say. I am feeling so good. I just wanted gender roles. Each individual remedy
to thank you for getting me back here. I within the group expresses one or more
I have never felt girly. am now living for myself and it is such a of these conflicts strongly.
good feeling……”
Treatment: Hippocampus kuda (Seahorse) This case beautifully expresses the
200c Analysis: According to my themes of both the sea creatures as
understanding of the sensation method well as the individual notes of the
Follow up six months later of prescribing, one of the initial tasks Hipoocampus kuda.
for the practitioner is to determine the
Feel blah. No energy. What the f… is the appropriate kingdom for the patient; Hippocampus kuda ~ Seahorse
point? animal, plant or mineral. In this case
I identified the patient as requiring a Notes taken from a presentation by Divya
I have no vision. remedy from the animal kingdom and Chhabra on the sea animals delivered in
I have highlighted some of the animal Byron Bay, 2008
I had been going so well – allowing kingdom themes from the case in italics.
myself to develop how I want to develop Animal kingdom patients exhibit themes Themes of Sea horse ~ Hippocampus
– being more me, but I am slipping back around survival, competition, victim / kuda
into that power hungry, dictatorial pig I aggressor, predator versus prey, attack
used to be. I want the nice, soft pleasant and defence. Each animal within the Seahorse is the drug-like remedy
person back again. I want more of the kingdom has its own pattern. When within this family; carefree, joyous and
medicine you have been giving me – it taking the case of a person who requires floating, with an experience bordering
makes me feel great and motivated and I an animal remedy, the communication on ecstasy and exhilaration. Within this
sleep better and I just know what is right between the patient and the practitioner remedy we see rules overturned with
for me. is often lively and interactive. The person gay abandon as the female ‘lets go’ of
needing an animal remedy may discuss guilt, responsibility and the inherently
Treatment: Hippocampus kuda (Seahorse) areas of conflict, as in this case, whereas programmed motherly instincts, handing
200c a patient requiring a plant remedy may over child rearing responsibilities
discuss their reaction to a situation, for entirely to the male. The male however is
Follow up one month later example how hurt they were, and the
I am back. I feel really good – I am out
walking.
Dreams all good – I am working, busy
happy, nothing scary.
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 23
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
now restricted to a home ground where They claim a piece of seabed and stay in Hippocampus kuda. Nautilus floats
he holds fast while the female floats as there. relatively still in the ocean water in a
free as she fancies. similar fashion to the seahorse, but it has
They camouflage themselves with chambers containing water, which it fills
In the proving, feelings emerged of being colour, brightening upon the appearance to lower itself in the water and forcefully
small, weak, vulnerable yet maintaining of their mate. ejects out to create jet propulsion – this
balance in panic situations and calmly behaviour was not demonstrated so
accepting what is to happen. Gender The seahorse does form a social much in this case.
conflict took an intriguing turn with the attachment with its mate, who visits
provers expressing concern for women daily. Firstly the kingdom became clear, and
being taken for granted, having to do then the sub-kingdom showed itself.
all the work, bear children and also be The female inserts the eggs into the Within the subgroup of the sea creatures
raped, violated and used. A hatred of male’s pouch. He fertilises and incubates Hippocampus kuda became obvious due
and aversion to men was expressed. No them. She visits daily. After six weeks he to:
change, no evolution is possible without gives birth to hundreds of babies, few of
risk and the prover asks who made which survive. Issues with the role of parenting
these rules? And in complete rebellion
says, “I will not be heavy/ bogged down Themes established through the proving: Desire for freedom
by guilt and responsibility but will be
free and open and assert my right to Isolation and solitude: as if a blanket has Desire to hide under a blanket
my own space.” Fixed ideas need to be covered the day. Desire for solitude.
rejected: “We have to bend for survival,” Drug sensation
said a prover. Feeling of being trapped, Euphoria and intoxicated sensation
unjustly accused, being told what to as a state of well being. Freedom to be Floating around freely
do, and freedom being restricted were oneself.
the issues that emerged. The male/ References
female commitment was reaffirmed Alternating states: alone or together;
by two provers, and yet the dreams of dependence to independence. Chhabra D., 2008: The seahorse, seminar
men (father and husband) having an notes Sensational Homeopathy 2008,
extramarital affair expressed unresolved Dreams of transformation, colour, spirit. Byron Bay, pp. 10-12, The Remedy
conflict. Oneness, love, openness, Room, Australia.
laughing, teasing, exhilaration a desire to Dreaming of water and ocean, dogs and
experience life despite its up and downs dead relatives. Evans J., 2009: Sea Remedies, Emryss
was a common thread. Publishers, The Netherlands.
Differential diagnosis:
In the proving by Susan Sonz, the Sankaran R. & Baldota S., 2008: Survival,
following points are identified: Many of the sea creature remedies could the mollusk - Homoeopathic Medical
have been selected for this patient. Publishers, India.
Males lead a solitary existence; they do Sepia bolts from her stresses, as did this
not swim in shoals. patient, and like many sea creatures Sonz S.: Hippocampus kuda – the
has the weighed-down sensation. Sepia seahorse – available from www.
can also suspend, glide and hover, homeopathycourses.com or
which rings true for this case, but the www.provings.info/pruefungen/
strong theme of gender role reversal hippocampus%20en.pdf
is not as well known in Sepia as it is
24 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
New Medicines, New Perspectives:
A Case of Octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)
Keith Avedissian, Australia Abstract: New medicines together with novel methods of analysis provide fresh opportunities in
prescribing. In this article I present a case that required Octopus, involving the use of Sankaran’s
Sensation method to arrive at the prescription.
Keywords: new medicines, clinical pictures, medicine images, up and down, taken by surprise, floating,
in my head, soft voluptuous, protective, mollusc, Octopus, Eledone cirrhosa, leprosy miasm.
Keith has been in practice since 1986. In The Pleasure of New Medicines medicine in their symptom picture; where
the early nineties he studied in Mumbai the patient experiences the full medicine
with Sankaran and has since incorporated One of the pleasures in learning a new symptomatology (and these patients are like
his ideas into his practice. He enjoys medicine is how it opens up new possibilities our hypersensitive provers who demonstrate
bringing together the traditional materia for our cases. Knowing a new medicine the clear picture of the medicine in their
medica with the newer ideas of Sankaran provides the space in our mind to notice proving symptoms). But there are many cases
and Scholten. Keith has lectured in symptoms that we previously would have where the medicine is needed yet presents
homœopathy, presented practitioner missed. To be open to new possibilities we only ‘glimpses’ in the case because the patient
seminars, mentors post-graduate have to be open enough to receive them. This is not fully aware to describe the symptoms,
homœopaths and has had many articles is what I find when I have studied a new or the practitioner is not aware of the
published in Homeopathic Links and medicine: suddenly I am more aware of clues medicine or how to elicit its symptoms from
Similia Journal over the years. given by the patient that might lead me to use the patient.
Contact: 9th Floor, 60 Pitt Street, Sydney, them.
phone: 0412 231 332. It means then, when using these medicines
[email protected] You know that feeling when you have in cases where the details are not so clear, we
something new, like a new outfit, a new car are being placed in one of those prescribing
etc. and suddenly you notice that everyone dilemmas. “Do I go with what is safe – a
(it seems that way) seems to have the same Polychrest, but doesn’t really fit the case
outfit or drives the same car! The fact is there properly, or go with one of these newer
are no more of those people with your outfit; medicines, as there are clues that suggest it
it is that you are just more sensitive to those might be indicated?” A pleasant dilemma I
who might be wearing it. The same goes with might say, as I like the thought of seeing a
our medicines. Knowing certain symptoms, new medicine present itself and, (those who
expressions, or states, puts us in a position know me would understand) which path I
to ‘see’ them, when previously we would would most likely take.
not have paid much attention, or if we had,
wouldn’t have known what to have done Because we can’t plan to have cases that are
with them. certain medicines, or medicines that we only
know, we need to be open to the possibility
The trouble though in using a ‘new’ medicine, of something new…So these are challenging
especially one where there is not much of and exciting times, as a practitioner faced
a proving to guide you in its use, is the with patients who require medicines that go
challenge it poses in its clinical application. beyond the usual ‘Polychrest’.
We have only the suggestions of its use,
primarily from its clinical picture, through the With that in mind, here is such a case:
cases of others. Seeing cases helps to provide
a framework on which to build a prescription, Case
but this is fluid (if you pardon the aquatic
pun), i.e. not every case of that medicine has First seen 9th August 2013
the same symptoms or captures the totality
of that medicine. So gradually over time we Female, aged in her early forties.
collect a number of cases to help build the
‘medicine’s image’. Occupation: voice-over artist.
There are of course those cases that HG = hand gesture
‘typify’ or reflect the ‘archetype’ for that
Presenting complaint: Depression.
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 25
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
She starts by telling me she has not been she says that, “If you open your soul, Dream: in childhood: running along a
focussed on her own health for the last you become vulnerable on stage”, “being laneway and someone is chasing me. A
four to five years because the focus has stabbed by criticism – having to smile as very internalised feeling (HG – indicates
been on the kids. She says there has been though it’s OK”. She enjoys her voice- crawling gesture) gets when sick in
a lot of stuff going on. over work as she enjoys taking on the childhood.
role of another persona.
She has been in therapy for the last 25 I realise that I’m an ant in a giant
years on and off. She has used dope daily She describes her throat as her weak universe. I inhabit a body that is huge,
for the last two years to cope with her point, as it is something that she relies on big and puffy, round, like the Michelin
feelings, until about a week ago when because of her work. man – soft voluptuous, soft, round,
she decided to stop using it. Now she is marshmallowy. I feel this big aura
starting to struggle and finding it hard Menses: her flow is variable, heavy, and, around me, with a yellow glow (HG),
to cope with feelings of being depressed “takes me by surprise”. Pain in the past, which is protective around me, nothing
again. She has been using dope since she for the first two days; crippling, “as if can touch me, hurt me”.
was nineteen. a hook is inside me and pulling down
(HG), it makes you double over, twisting Rx: Eledone cirrhosa (Curled Octopus)
She had a period of living in Melbourne (HG), it’s a centralised ball of pain (HG), 200C once per day for four days.
when her first son was two, and felt very inside the lower abdomen, radiating out
isolated there. (HG), down the legs. It makes me feel Analysis:
weak. I have to have sure footing, or I
Her mother died when her son was two become wobbly, drains me of everything What stood out for me are the words
months old. She describes her mother (HG)”. Asked the opposite: I am strong that I have highlighted. Many times
as the matriarch of the family. Her and aggressive. I have to attack it (HG), patients will use words, expressions and
family is not close. She describes them as if going down a mountain skiing. As hand gestures that might seem random
as dysfunctional, but on the surface very I felt powerless, vulnerable. It is scary, and not very significant, but when seen
respectable. Her mother made life hell I have no power, I don’t have much as part of the bigger picture, i.e. in the
for her father. Her mother had three control and that is weakness. context of the whole case, a pattern
kids when her first husband died. She seems to emerge. This is what happened
then remarried. When she was pregnant I can become vague, “can you just watch with this case. So as this case unfolded, I
with this patient, she found out that her me because I’m not there”. Not being was intrigued by the way she described
second husband was sexually abusing aware of what’s around you (HG) is her experiences and the background
her fourteen-year-old sister. It was never scary. It’s as if I’m just floating, numb, story of her life.
talked about. This patient only found calm, happy, completely ambivalent,
out fifteen years ago and was very I’m completely in my head, just floating There were no issues about her capacity
angry. She says, “It is still eating me”. along, not connected with reality. to deal with her problems (Mineral
Her mother knew about it but didn’t do kingdom) or specific sensitivities
anything. She never felt loved or wanted, Vulnerable means: don’t like feeling, it running through the case (Plant
her parents were never close. The sexual makes me feel scary. kingdom). What stood out were
abuse is still kept a secret between many references to feeling powerless,
mother, father and stepsister. “Mother was nasty, and would attack me vulnerable, being attacked or ripped
verbally/emotionally. She could rip you apart as well as the need to defend,
Two years ago a very close friend died, apart, as though cutting me off at the attack and retaliate suggesting her state
two years after her mother. This was knees, and being thrown aside so that I reflected themes of the Animal kingdom.
very upsetting; she couldn’t sleep unless would have to rebuild myself.”
she was stoned. “I don’t know why I She has a tragic family history that hides
can’t deal with death, it’s so unfair”. She “Mother was like a pit bull terrier, grab a dark secret, this is how she has coped
starts to weep; she hasn’t dealt with this you by the throat…she would fire a with her problem – keep it secret, no one
death very well. She feels as though she poison arrow, what she would say goes knows about this part of her family life.
has let her friend down, as she hasn’t to your heart; I’m sensitive. I pick up We can see this pattern repeating, as she
been there for her friend’s kids, as she nuances of sarcasm.” doesn’t like to show her emotions, even
feels as though she will burst into tears with her best friend who has now died.
and doesn’t want to. She keeps it all to “I can be an angry person. Something
herself. pushes my button and I can go ballistic. Again, there is no closeness with the
I am capable of road rage. If I see family; she doesn’t feel loved or wanted,
In 2000 she was diagnosed with someone endanger other’s lives, I’ll stop and has an underlying feeling of being
depression after being assaulted on her the car and get out, I don’t care if they isolated (these elements could suggest
way home from work and placed on are a six-foot Maori (she is short), I’ll the leprosy miasm).
antidepressants for one year. follow them and tell them. I’m nice until
you cross the line, and then I’ll bury you. Sankaran in his work, ‘Survival: the
She has a family history of mental illness: I’m a sucker for people who have been Mollusc’, provides a framework to
mother with depression, sister with taken advantage of.” consider using these medicines in
psychiatric problems. practice. Again, as there are no clear
She enjoys kickboxing and uses it to proving details for some of these
She says that mentally she is up and let out her feelings of not being able to medicines, we only have his model and
down. When talking about her work, defend, attack or retaliate in her daily the few cases provided to fill some of the
life. gaps.
26
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Some language in this case that reflected She felt more motivated and a bit more with her problems, emotionally stronger
the Molluscs: present, rather than the vague feelings and clearer in the head. She again wants
she was experiencing before. to see how she will fare.
Soft, voluptuous, marshmallowy, isolated,
floating along, up and down, not connected. Since there was some improvement, the I contact her three months later to see
medicine was repeated. how she is, and she continues to cope
More specifically which Mollusc? From better in dealing with her life. She will
the patient’s highlighted words given Follow up: two years later – 15th May contact me in the future if she needs
above: The idea of floating, up and 2015. further support.
down; sucker; radiating out; it takes
me by surprise; being cut off at the After the last dose, she made a huge In summary, a huge shift in the way
knees and I have to rebuild myself; I’m improvement. Her depression gradually this patient felt using a ‘small’ or little
completely in my head; crawling along; lifted and she felt more empowered to known remedy. This has been where I
the Michelin man – soft, voluptuous, cope with life. Because of that, at the have found using Sankaran’s Sensation
round, protective, nothing can touch time she didn’t feel the need to have any method helpful: in cases that seem to
me, hurt me; she enjoys taking on the more treatment. give descriptions that seem ‘gibberish’
role of another persona and the ability to but in fact ARE really symptoms of
hide and conceal oneself, brought me to It is only now that some symptoms have materia medica that they are expressing.
Octopus. started to return that she seeks more This would have been missed if I weren’t
treatment. open to consider them. And this I find
Some key features of the Octopus exciting as it opens to a sea (pardon the
outlined from Sankaran’s book include: She is now feeling fogginess, memory pun!) of so many more materia medica
loss, emotional, shutting down possibilities.
They have a large head, a soft body with connections (HG) with other people.
tentacles equipped that have suction She feels stuck. She wakes with horrible It doesn’t mean to say that all cases need
rings at the tips that shoot out; they thoughts about what is wrong. She to be approached in this way. But when
crawl along the ocean floor; they are is crying daily. She is going through presented with a case that doesn’t seem
good at disguising themselves; they are marriage problems, questioning whether to fit the reportorial mould, this method
aggressive hunters and predators; when to stay or not. provides an alternative prescribing
discovered are caught by surprise; a method that I have found to be really
tentacle may be cut off during a fight and Rx: Eledone cirrhosa 200C repeated. helpful.
has the ability to grow back. Octopus is
also listed under the Leprosy miasm. Follow-up two weeks later Reference:
For all the above reasons she was given Still emotional, but fogginess much Sankaran, R. and Baldota, S. (2008),
Octopus. better. Energy better. Survival: the Mollusc, Homeopathic
Medical Publishers, India
Follow up two weeks later: Rx: Eledone cirrhosa 1M once per day
for three days.
She felt some slight improvement, less
depressed and not as weepy as before. After this, she phones later to say that
she is feeling much better. She feels as
though she is in a better place to deal
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 27
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Case of Ensis, the Razor Shell
Antonia Maks, UK. Abstract: How an off-the-cuff remark can lead one from a known medicine to a new and unknown
medicine or make the jump from Calcarea carbonica to a new shell remedy, Ensis, the Razorblade shell.
Antonia Maks. Graduated from the Keywords: molluscs; hiding; sand, likes to put feet in; beach; up/down; head, boring into things;
College of Classical Homoeopathy, touching/holding on with feet, Calcarea carbonica
Tiverton, UK in 1990 and completed
a one-year postgraduate course in Birth history pneumonia and we went on to Tuberculinum
Advanced Clinical Homoeopathy in 1993. 1M which she had on and off for almost a year.
She then worked from 1990 to 1994 in This is the case of a girl, P, who I first saw in
the College's Student Clinic, supervising April 2002, one month after she was born. It When she was one month short of her fourth
case taking and teaching. Since 1994, was a second pregnancy, described as normal, birthday in February 2006, her mother phoned
she's been in private practice in Exeter, although the mother said that she did not that P. had ‘a sore fanny and spots on her inner
Devon where she runs a reduced fee gain a lot of weight. The mother reported that thighs’. She had taken her to the NHS Walk
Children's Clinic for low income families. she was very frightened during the labour; In Centre, where they said it was not thrush
She is a founding member of South West ameliorated by Opium 10M. and not impetigo and they had put her on
Homeopathic Group; and, since, 1986, Canesten cream (an antifungal). She had also
has been a member of the Society of Baby was born at home with length and “scaly skin on the back of her knees and a spot
Homeopaths. weight on 25th centile (ie. one centile below under her eye”.
average). She had an Apgar score of 10.
28 I repeated the remedy on which she had
From birth P. had opthalmia neonatorum done well for a year, Tuberculinum 1M (even
(R. eye ) for which an antibiotic cream was though the materia medica does not list skin
given. It did not clear up, and, after eighteen problems in the genital area under Tub, but,
days it spread to the left eye. When she also à la Kent, I do not change a remedy if the
developed a cough at two weeks old which symptom picture changes, but only if the
did not go, her mother brought her in for a remedy stops working). However, there was
consultation when she was four weeks old. no improvement and the next day mother took
her to the GP for antibiotics and the GP said
She was given all her childhood vaccinations, she thought it was a staph and strep infection.
starting at five months old. In spite of the antibiotics over the next two
days the skin stayed “completely raw, she is
Family medical history: Cancer and more rashy, also on thighs and knees and she
alcoholism on both sides of the immediate has a couple of spots on her face.”
family, also family history of strokes,
depression, MS. So I told them to come in for a complete
consultation.
Prescribing history before Ensis: First 2½
years Lueticum (opthalmia neonatorum and Case taken 24-02-2006
family medical history formed the main basis
for the prescription. And, as long as a remedy Mum complains P. is tired. She falls asleep on
works I do not change it, even when the the settee watching TV at lunchtime; unusual
symptom picture changes. [Kent]), starting for her.
with a 30C and working up to 1M. In that time
1M was a glass ceiling for me and so I did not Her rash is better after two antibiotics. They
go up to 10M etc. Instead I changed medicine discovered that P. had worms and the mother
and she had once Calcarea phosphoricum, (based says that this is what started the whole thing
on my thoughts that she was a Calcarea and off. They have given her anti-worm medication
on symptoms of white stool and a tendency to (and also to the rest of the family). She tells me
masturbation); my locum prescribed Pulsatilla now that they also had worms weeks earlier,
once, (very clingy to parents especially just after Christmas, and they also all had
mother) and as neither worked, after that I anti-worm medication then. (Later on in the
went back to Lueticum 30C, given sporadically consultation she will remember that they all
over the next two years. Then she had also had worms and medication in the summer
of 2004 and 2005.)
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
She says that Tuberculinum 1M had a good I ask about food likes and dislikes. P. likes Obs: by this time I have no idea: there is
effect on P.’s mood but not on the rash. peas, raw carrots, broccoli, (Calcarea), a lot of Calc carb there but there are things
I have a look at the rash which is along chips but not mashed potatoes and she which do not fit with that remedy, like
the labia, into the perineum and slightly likes her food separated (Tuberculinum). the aversion to eggs, and she moves more,
around the anus. There are also spots on She loves tomato sauce (Ferrum), does and walked earlier and more easily than
the lower part of the buttocks, back of the not like sandwiches but likes rice cakes, my experience has shown me to expect
thighs (left much worse than right) and crackers and breadsticks, dry things. from a Calcarea carbonica. There are bits of
mons veneris and groin (right marginally She will eat fish fingers and Marmite. Sulphur, but she is not a Sulphur (she likes
worse than left). It reminds me of Calcarea She likes ice cream and sorbet, yoghurt to be covered up, she does not trample
and Medorrhinum rashes in babies. To a bit, apples and oranges, also ok with over the toys, there is no heat coming
begin with she had one spot on her face, pasta, but no milk and no eggs. She loves from the top of her head), or even a Calc
now there are a few under the right eye chocolate. She does not like meat, except sulph, they behave and play differently in
and one on the left chin. sausages and bacon and will not eat a my consulting room.
roast dinner. She likes tuna, will not eat
Obs: P. does not want to talk and initially puddings, likes pies and is not into tasting Thoughts:
she did not want to come in; she looked or trying new things.
shy. Did not like me looking at her. Usually when I am confronted with
(Lueticum, Calcarea.) Obs: all this time she has been playing a confused picture like that I think of
quietly, and now she does kick a toy, just nosodes, but the most confusing nosode
She sits next to her mother on the settee, a bit. picture of all, the one that looks like a lot
very close (Lueticum, Silica.) In my practice of things but never like itself, Lueticum, I
most cases of Lueticum go on into Sulphur Case: I ask what makes her angry and have already given.
and Sulphur is a threadworm remedy mother says, “Not getting her own way!”
(Kent Repertory). But she does not behave When I ask what she does then I am told It is now clear why she is not a
like a Sulphur. She does not go from toy she sticks her bottom lip out and sulks or Tuberculinum and she also does not
to toy, and she carefully steps around hides behind the curtains in the dining present a Medorrhinum picture (fear
them ~ like Calc (see Paul Herscu, The room, or she can hit and kick a bit but she of animals; she did not mind having
Homeopathic Treatment of Children) does not shout. Shouting is a happy thing her nappy changed while lying on her
not a cross thing. I ask what she wants if back; she covers up in bed; there is
Mother says she had a temperature a she is upset, and the answer is cuddles! no real problems with strokes, heart
week before it all started, but it only They also give Rescue Remedy, for or reproductive organs in the family
lasted 24 hours. At home she has been instance when she was terrified by seeing history).
lying on the sofa and has fallen asleep a the film Nanny McPhee in the cinema.
couple of times. Her appetite is nothing She did not sleep that night, she had to Case:
unusual for her; she is not good at eating sleep with her mother. She was terrified
at mealtimes and snacks the whole time. of Nanny McPhee and the horrible When I say to mother that 80% of the
She does not drink much and when she medicine. Mother remarks that she is very picture is Calc carb but the rest does
does, she likes to drink out of a baby calm here in the consulting room; she can not fit, and I think she is another shell
cup, with a lid on. Her sleep now that be fiery. And when she has a lot of sugary perhaps, one that is hiding, perhaps in
she has the rash is terrible, but otherwise things she can flare up. For instance when the sand, mother says, “Oh you mean
she sleeps for eleven to twelve hours. On she had banana after Smarties, or when like a razor shell?” Then she tells me that
occasion she sleeps for one hour in the she had green icing. P. likes sand and the beach: she wants to
day, since she has been ill. take her shoes off on the sand, even in
She is definitely a mummy’s girl but goes winter. But she is frightened of the sea.
Obs: here she is now sitting on her happily off to nursery and playgroup and So I thought, why not try? I had collected
mother’s lap and eating yoghurt. When toddler gym. She is very cuddly and loves limpets and razor shells a year earlier and
she has finished she quietly joins her coming in to bed with her parents. When had them potentized for another case,
sister and the toy box on the floor of my she is in bed with mum she is touching where I prescribed limpet in the end.
room. and holding on to mum especially with
her feet! Rx: Ensis ensis 30C night morning night,
Mother says P. is a morning person, and three pills in reserve and I asked
instantly awake, very lively, eats a She is terrified of animals, cats and dogs; the mother to let me know when they
big breakfast and does not want eggs. she wants to touch them but actually she repeated the remedy.
(Sulphur) P. is very given to thinking is quite scared. She loves books. She keeps
what age people are, talking also a lot the bedcovers on, up to her chin and I did not hear anything for nearly four
about babies and about breastfeeding sucks her fingers to go to sleep. She loves months.
(Phosphorus). I ask how she is about being hiding, underneath the blankets, inside
interrupted when she is doing something things, behind curtains. I asked if, when Phone call 22-06-2006
and mum says that changing from one she is upset, it is easy to make her talk,
activity to another is really difficult. and mother says no, it is not. P. has had a snotty cold for over a week
(Calcarea) She says she got rashy, bumpy now, so a week ago her mother repeated
arms, right <than left and that she has had She wants to be fed, she likes baby things. the Ensis ensis 30C night morning night.
a bit of a rash on her cheeks ever since she Babies ok .... dummies. She got a bit better but now the phlegmy
was a little baby. cough is coming back.
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine Rx: Ensis ensis 30C once daily for five
days and five pills in reserve.
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
29
However the mother only picked up the <<<< for swimming, but now no sign of a Menarche August 2015 (13.5 years old),
remedy on the 27th, five days after the rash. next menses four weeks later. They were
phone call and by that time she did not Rx: wait, if the rash comes back and does easy.
want to give it any more as P. was OK, not go away by itself,repeat Ensis ensis
with only a tiny bit of the cough left and 30C bds for five days. She is still preferring to snack, rather
she was very happy in herself. than have regular mealtimes. Mum says
Phone call 26-6-2009 in the evening: P. got that at the evening meal P. always gets
Phone call 19-12-2006: P. is coughing. The another stomach bug but not the rash. up immediately after eating and before
whole family has had some sort of virus, the rest of the family have finished their
but P. cannot shift her cough. Been OK for Mum giving Ensis ensis 30C. meal to go to the toilet for a stool. P. Is
last six months but in last six weeks been Phone call 27-6-2009: Has a tiny bit of too embarrassed to describe the stool (“i
very tired. Mum cannot find the reserve a rash, but it is going away again. She don’t know!”) Mother says, “She never
remedy and cannot remember if she has is fine at night, sleeps well She got in sits down; she’s always jumping up and
given it to P. the car yesterday and almost threw up. down, popping up and down”. Mother
This morning she is lying on the settee, has not noticed any further dislike about
Rx: Ensis ensis 30C once daily for max has done that for the past two days but being interrupted; she still concentrates
five days and five pills in reserve. is better in herself today. Had a lot of on what she is doing though.
tummy pains, this morning her stomach
Phone call 27-12-2006: She is fine, (read: abdomen) is hurting a little bit, and No more rashes since the last remedy.
mood definitely much better and cough she had a piece of toast and orange juice. She has a paper round in the morning,
improving. is happy at school, friendships are going
Phone call 11-6-2009: Since the 2nd May Rx: Rescue remedy, a few sips hourly well and is not stressed by schoolwork.
P. has had a rash on her back, hips, thighs, and phone today at 5pm. Mother did not She is playing a lot of netball and really
hands, etc. but nothing above her neck. phone and did not consult me again until likes it. She is doing fine.
She is going bananas with the itch and the March 2014!
GP says it is scabies. Everyone has been REMEDY COMPARISON Calc carb and
treated with the GP’s prescription but P. At the time of writing this, P. is still taking Ensis:
is not better, so now the GP says it is an Ensis ensis 30C, very occasionally. (The picture of Calcarea carbonicum is
allergic rash and has given anti-histamine. At one point it stopped working, I went mainly based on Paul Herscu, my main
Since then the rash is not itching, but to the 200C, and when that did not work clinical refernce book in this case. )
it is still there. Then the anti-histamine I gave the HPV Gardasil 10M,1M, 200C,
stopped working and she was given 30C as she had not been well since the Mind: Questions about the unknown,
Piriton so she can sleep at night. ‘cervical cancer jab’. the nature of things, life. Able to play
patiently with one object for a long time.
Rx: Ensis ensis 30C bds for five or seven After that I gave Ensis ensis 200C, which Touches and plays with all things in
days, wait five days after stopping and did not work, but when I went back to the order to categorise them. ( I have several
phone 20-6-2009, unless they need to talk 30C it did. boxes with toys in my consulting room,
to me before. an invaluable tool when observing
Phone call 20-6-2009: The rash has gone! Update on 25 -10-2015 (by telephone) children during a consultation.) Inflexible
Because it was so itchy and painful the and obstinate. Will have tantrums to
mother gave the GP’s cream and pills as P. is no longer suffering from watery eyes be allowed to finish tasks; obstinate if
well on the 11th and 12th June. By the or hay fever. She is not suffering from lots interrupted. May sustain a tantrum for
morning of 13th the rash had gone from of coughs and colds and nasal catarrh. a long time. Desires structure. Strong
her back where it was worse, but it was character. Wilfulness, have minds of
still on her legs and feet. By 13th in the Since the last remedy she has only once their own. Many fears; the dark, animals,
afternoon it was not itchy any more. Then come to her parents’ bedroom in the nightmares, scary stories. Clingy during
she played in the garden and a new rash night. She still likes being outdoors. illness.
came on on her chest, so mother put the
doctor’s cream on and her chest got bad
and also her left arm. So she continued
the remedy and by 15th the rash on
chest and left arm had gone and the rash
appeared only on back of her calves. She
had her last Ensis ensis 30C on the 15th.
Since then she had no other rashes.
On 15th mother had a stomach bug and
vomited and by the evening P. had it
too, for 48 hours vomiting and a high
temperature (which mother had not
measured). On 18th she had a swimming
party. Previously, the skin rash had been
30 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Physicals: Frequent upper respiratory sexually dormant in summer. They can to play on a sandy beach, even in winter,
tract infections, with a lot of mucus. live up to ten years. but is frightened of the sea
Runny nose, even when healthy. Colds
often extend to the eyes, giving rise My tentative ideas about specific Ensis P. seems to need the medicine Ensis twice
to mucus. Lachrymal canal problems. symptoms: a year.
Diarrhoea accompanies many conditions.
Skin rashes. Tiredness. Baby/toddler: likes to bore head into References:
things, pillows, sofa, parents’ bodies.
All the above are in her case, but Kent, James Tyler, Lectures on
observing her playing with the toys in More and quicker movement than in a Homoeopathic Philosophy 1985, B. Jain
my consulting room, and I had observed Calc child, from very young, jumping up Publishers, New Dehli-110055, India,
children play for many years there, I was and down, when playing, eating, sitting, ISBN 81-7021-037-2
not happy with Calc: she moved around and even in their choice of sport (netball!)
to much too quickly: something did not Herscu, Paul, N.D., The Homeopathic
fit. Hence my remark to her mother about There is an ‘up down’ theme in the Treatment of Children, Pediatric
Calcarea and the subsequent trying out of movement or the way it is described. Constitutional Types, 1991, North Atlantic
Ensis. Books, Berkeley, California, USA, ISBN
Ensis is very reactive to changes in 1-55643-090-6
Biological information about Ensis temperature or environment, immediately
species from Wikipedia coming up or going down into the sand. Wikipedia
CLASSIFICATION: Animalia; phylum: The need for stool immediately after https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensis
mollusca; class: bivalvia; order: veneroida; eating (Ensis is a syphon feeder, one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensis_ensis
family: pharidae; genus: ensis; species: syphon taking nutrient water in and the www.arkive.org>Species>Invertebrates-
not clear in this case as I picked up a piece of other expelling it). marine
shell from Exmouth beach in Devon, UK. It is
likely to be Ensis ensis (15 cm long) or Ensis Maybe more watery than mucousy
arcuatus (up to 23 cm long) symptoms connected to the eyes (but like
Calc, rightsided).
DISTRIBUTION: Sandy beaches of North
and North West Europe Maybe slimmer than Calc , including the
mother’s pregnancy with her, when she
did not gain much weight.
Ensis is an edible syphon feeder: not a Desire to hide, behind curtains, Ensis shoals on beach
hunter but a prey animal. Waders and underneath blankets and covers and to
birds of the littoral predate it. hide when upset. Touching and holding
onto a parent, especially with feet. Like to
The shell is fragile and easily damaged. be covered up in bed, to the chin. Like to
See the photo for description. suck fingers - perhaps they like to behave
like a baby, play with baby things. Likes
HABITAT: under sand or sediment on
exposed beaches, close to the extreme low
watermark. It digs down into the sand in
six stages: alignment of foot, hydraulic
inflation of foot, extension of foot down
into the sand, anchoring, deflation of foot
which pulls the animal down into the
sand, anchoring and squirting of water
down into the sand, and removing loose
sand from its path. It can dig down deep.
On the surface its presence is revealed
by a key-shaped depression in the sand
made by the two syphons, and visible at
low tide.
They are very sensitive to changes in the
environment, (salinity, temperature) and
will emerge from their burrows if salt or
brine is poured in.
REPRODUCTION:
Sexual reproduction is highly Ensis syphons
synchronous, srating in winter and with
consecutive spawning in winter and
spring. The spawn lives for a month in
the plankton, before settling. They are
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 31
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Diving is safe - it gives me comfort
A case of Dolphin’s milk, Lac delphinum
Mike Andrews DSH Abstract: A case of back pain, connected to caring for a disabled child.
RSHom, England Keywords: Lac delphinum. Back pain, hay fever, hyperactivity, in a bubble.
Mike Andrews DSH RSHom graduated from The patient presents with a back problem. Always been independent, had my own
Misha Norland's School of Homeopathy She is a lively, highly active woman, nanny money, a scholarship.
(UK) in 1990 and has taught at many UK to a disabled child, to whom she feels a
homeopathic colleges. Mike has clinics in sense of attachment and responsibility. She [Observed: wave-like gesture.] Pushing it a bit.
Shropshire and via Skype. He has recently creates a “bubble” around herself and is
written a book Homeopathy and Autism happy in it: “I don’t do attachment.” Her I’m a diver as well, mad about diving.
Spectrum Disorder: a guide for practitioners passion in life is swimming and diving,
and families (Singing Dragon 2014). particularly swimming with dolphins. Went to Hawaii to swim with the dolphins;
Email: it changed my life.
[email protected] Nancy Herrick published her proving of
Telephone 0044 1588 660793 dolphin’s milk, Lac delphinum, in 19951. Feeling of being under water, experiencing
20 years later it is probably well-used. It the water.
was of course quite an easy case to spot
as the source word 2 was used so freely. Would like to live by the sea. [Observed:
My comments and observations are in wave-like gesture.]
italics and the patient’s language has been
preserved in the case notes that follow. Full of their energy, wanted that feeling,
very calming, soothing, healing.
First consultation 11.11.03
Diving is safe, gives me comfort.
Woman 28, single, nanny to disabled child
for three years. A lively woman of athletic Going to the London Aquarium looking at
build with a loud voice. Referred by an the fish tanks, gives me comfort.
osteopath who has treated her for six
months. Loved being under water, made me feel
safe; this is great, don’t want to come up.
L3 and L43 rubbing nerve, pain on sitting
down, soreness for last six months. Stopped eating fish since diving.
[Causation: lifting a disabled child in her job as Avoid being with people since Hawaii;
a nanny.] don’t want to listen to that bad energy.
Sharp pain in one spot, hurts to turn in bed. I have a bubble around me, and am happy
Taking painkillers. in it.
[Observed wearing a dolphin necklace.] Last relationship ended three years ago,
had a termination: he did not support me.
Swim a lot, restless - going, going, going;
run all over the place, can’t sit down relax. Cried in church, begged for forgiveness.
Work all day 8-6, then gym for two hours, Now don’t do attachment [Observation:
not tired; work 7-10 days no break, fine. circular gesture with finger].
I was a hyperactive child; naughty, my Had a stalker for two and a half years,
mum said. Need to do something, not just wanted to kill him; not got that anymore.
sit.
I can live; I’m fine, not got problems like
Aged 12- 21 was a professional athlete. other people – boyfriends cheating on them.
Stopped athletics after an injury.
Now I’m very calm about it.
Child that I look after is now seven: I could
hurt myself from lifting her. Back is a lesson…maybe time to change.
Pain because very attached to the child for
If I hurt myself again what will happen? whom I am a nanny. Frustrated with back
pain because I can’t move, swim.
I volunteer one day a week at a school; you
can help them. Fears: snakes, caterpillars; love sharks,
everything that is in the water.
Feel anxious if staying in a friend’s house;
wake up restless.
32 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Dream about my friends, about Analysis of follow up feeling, responsibility for disabled
dolphins, being under water, flying. children, the comfort from films of
Dramatic improvement in back, which dolphins and whales, separation/
Watery eyes in the summer and in the lasted 20+ days, symptoms now detached, swimming desire5 and
wind. returning, so repeated medicine, Lac better, Mind – Expansive (= too
delphinum 200C single dose. demonstrative)6.
Dolphin music is very soothing.
Telephone follow up 19.11.03 The patient mentioned, “feel anxious
Sleep with cuddly toys [Question: what if staying in a friend’s house; wake
toys?] A dolphin. Fine, back not sore at all up restless”. This was not pursued;
however there is a rubric: Sleep - semi
Analysis Long term follow up: conscious - hears everything; under
which Lac delphinum is listed. Note
One of the most striking aspects of the 13.1.04 Lac delphinum 1M for emotional the patient’s aversion to fish but
case to me was her statement ‘diving is problems in response to family events. sometimes craving raw meat [seek
safe, gives me comfort’ which seemed further clinical confirmation]. Calmness
to represent the central feeling of Lac 24.2.04 Much better, calmer in myself despite danger; can have the polarity of
delphinum: ‘in danger I feel peaceful after a few days. Sees need for less ‘constant, unnamed threat all around’.
inside: she is surrounded by danger yet responsibility for her charge, as this The patient was stalked for two years,
she feels calm’ (Herrick). The medicine drains her, worry too much about and mentions it in passing at the time
also has ‘Lot of rubrics around the idea child. Menses more regular last few of the consultation, although she states
of responsibility /caring for children in months – had not been quite right since she feels “calm about it”.
a protective way’ (Herrick). Of course a termination three years ago. Lots of
there were all the clues of the talk of spots, like teens again. Linda Gwillim7 compares Lac delphinum
dolphins, the cuddly dolphin, dolphin with Amniotic fluid. Both medicine
necklace and how much being under 4.5.04 Very spaced out, otherworldly types could express as children
water or at the London Aquarium after trip to Hawaii to swim with jumping in at the deep end of a
comforted her. dolphins. Hard to adjust to reality. Not swimming pool and staying under
to be around people so much, people water. The provers of Amniotic fluid
Rubrics talking about their stuff. [The proving could swim under water and stay
included: Spacey, floating feeling ….. not under. However she states that grief
If the case were to be repertorised participating.] Swimming very good, is more marked in Amniotic fluid than
rubrics might include: Mind – diving down, holding breath seventy- in Lac delphinum. ‘Delusion: no need to
independent; Mind – restlessness foot free dive. Content under the water. breathe. Can breathe under water.’8
– children, in; Mind – tranquillity;
Dreams – water; Generals – Seaside; at Prescribed Lac delphinum 1M Previously published in the
the – amel; Eye - lachrymation - wind Homeopath 24:3 p85 Andrews, M.
agg; Back – pain - sitting after; Back – 22.6.04 Medicine really helped coping (2007) “Diving is safe; it gives me
pain – turning bed; in. with energy, get on with it, not stuck. comfort” A case of Dolphin’s Milk. It
Hay fever fine one day only – in has been edited for Similia.
Remedies the past used to treat acutely with
remedies. (Endnotes)
Possible remedies would include Rhus
toxicodendron and Natrum muriaticum, Prescription: Wait. 1 N. Herrick Animal Mind, Human
amongst others. I note that Louis Klein4 Voices: Provings of Eight New Animal
includes Natrum muriaticum along 21.12.04 Back worse sitting this last Remedies
with Pulsatilla, Carcinosin, Folliculinum, month. Last six weeks collapsing 2 D. Chhabra Dragonfly Seminar May
Medorrhinum, Staphysagria and the emotionally. 2005
Umbelliferae family in his list of 3 Vertebra, osteopathic reference
remedies that Lac delphinum can be Need dolphins to save me; watching 4 L. Klein Clinical Focus Guide to
mistaken for. more Blue Planet DVD to get my mind Homeopathic Remedies pp148-153
off this world. Nearly finished massage Luminos Homeopathy Courses Ltd
Prescription: Lac delphinum 200C single course, doing volunteer massage work. 2003
dose Stiff pain: back better for swimming. 5 E. Van Woensel Radar Keynotes
Version 4 – Characteristics and
Follow ups 17.11.03 -19.12.03 Prescription: Lac delphinum 1M Peculiarities. A Materia Medica Compiled
Archibel 2004
Back only stiff, not sharp pain. Can sit 7.6.05 Back painful again – Lac 6 F. Schroyens Synthesis 9th Edition
for longer but worse the last few days. delphinum 1M. Archibel 2005
7 L. Gwillim ‘Exploring the Spectrum’
Turning in bed is ok. Still can’t sit for Final thoughts personal seminar notes Society of
a long time, no ‘ouch pain’: still tense Homeopaths Annual Conference, Keele
muscles. The patient has continued to do well. September 2015
She has made life changes, and is now 8 M. Assilem Matridonal Remedies of
Sudden big improvement in my working mainly as a masseur, and the Humanum Family, Helios Pharmacy
concern over abandoning disabled working less as nanny to the disabled 2009
child. child. Her back problems are not cured,
but she is certainly symptom-free for
Met someone, he is a diver, he teaches long periods of time with less need for
disabled children to dive. frequent repetition of medicine, which
also helps on an emotional level.
Dreams dolphins, clear water,
swimming. No watery eyes. Other aspects of the medicine were
emphasised over time: the spaced-out
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 33
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
PHILOSOPHY
What is Suppression?
Peter Morrell, UK. Abstract: this short piece explores the homœopathic concept of suppression and attempts to create an
outline of where the idea comes from and what it involves, with examples drawn from Hahnemann and
others.
Keywords: suppression, allopathy, palliation, strong doses, mixed drugs, disease, disorder, vital force,
Hering’s law
The concept of suppression sits at the 5. The use of contrary drugs in material
Peter Morrell graduated in Zoology at very heart of homœopathy. Although doses, can palliate and relieve symptoms
Leeds University (UK), has taught Biology
for many years and was a part-time suppression is a concept, a theory, yet it but this is never a cure
homeopath throughout the 1980s. He
completed an MPhil thesis on the history derives almost entirely from observation 6. Carefully observed longitudinal
of British homeopathy in 1998 and has and experience. It derives partly from studies reveal that the ebb and flow of
written many articles on the history of Hahnemann’s observations of what diseases small groups of localised symptoms
homeopathy and the life of Hahnemann are and how they behave and partly from is merely an effect of the repeated use
since the mid-1990s, which have been the holistic concept of disease that flows of suppressive and palliative drugs in
published in the USA, the UK, Sweden, both from the provings and from the clinical material doses that temporarily oppose
Brazil, Italy, Romania, and Australia. Apart use of remedies that most closely match the the symptoms
from writing, he teaches Biology on a part- symptom totality of the patient’s condition.
time basis at three colleges in the English
Midlands. The usefulness of the suppression concept 7. In other words, such suppressions leave
My postal address is: 12 Burton Court
Burton Square STAFFORD Staffordshire is also repeatedly confirmed through an internal ‘residue,’ or deeper cause
UK
observation and experience. For example, from which symptoms reappear
suppression is often held to mean the 8. Immaterially small doses of
pushing inwards of a locus of sickness from homœopathic drugs remove symptoms
a peripheral area of the body to a more without leaving any residue, i.e. true
serious internal layer. In this scenario the cure
original sickness has not been cured but
merely pushed inwards. Homœopaths 9. The true disease is the underlying,
believe this happens when an inappropriate internal and invisible disorder that
treatment is used i.e. when an allopathic throws up symptom clusters from time
drug in crude dose has palliated the original to time
condition. 10. The true cause of sickness is an internal
These observations homœopaths make about derangement of the life force which
sickness can be used to form a coherent manifests itself as signs and symptoms
narrative upon which rests the suppression 11. This internal derangement permeates
idea. These observations underpinning the whole organism and is expressed in
suppression can be laid out as a series of the totality of symptoms
aphorisms in the following manner:
12. Drugs in material doses have no power
1. Sickness is not, as it appears to be, a to cure the internal derangement, acting
localised affair only to relieve and suppress some
2. A small group of named symptoms is symptoms
not a disease 13. Homœopathic drugs in minute doses
3. The repeated ebb and flow of small can and do remove the internal
groups of localised symptoms (an derangement and so the symptoms
apparent disease) is not the true sickness cease without residue
4. The removal of small groups of 14. Clean and pure cases of sickness (e.g. in
symptoms is not a cure as allopaths children) respond swiftly and smoothly
believe to the most similar homœopathic
medicine
34 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
15. Quick and easy cases are always in nature as it does not address the must be fundamentally non-curative,
those where no allopathic drugs or sickness totality of the person; it is thus palliative and suppressive because
vaccines have been used a form of palliation. This in itself can be ‘similars medicine’ is the only means of
deemed as an explanation for Hering’s true cure.
16. Moderately easy cases are those Law.
where few allopathic drugs have Hahnemann’s view of allopathy was
been used in their lifetime Scattered throughout his writings, that any medical system based on
Hahnemann analyses every aspect strong doses of mixed drugs and
17. The most difficult cases are always of orthodox medicine. And this based mostly on contraries (opposing
those that have received allopathic analysis is augmented throughout symptoms) must inevitably only at
drugging repeated many times over by his observations and experiences. best alleviate and relieve symptoms
many years He repeatedly denounces allopathic (palliate), but would be incapable of
treatment using mixed antipathic removing the deeper, internal cause of
18. In this way, modern cases drugs administered in strong doses for sickness—the dynamic derangement
reveal exactly the same patterns localised diseases or symptom clusters. of the organism—at its root. He had
that Hahnemann and the early He denounces them precisely because reached this conclusion from his
homœopaths observed such treatments are fundamentally own detailed research of the medical
non-curative and at best only give literature, from his observations of
19. Study of modern cases entirely temporary alleviation of the worst contemporary medical practice and
confirms our beliefs about the symptoms. from his own experiments.
nature of suppression, palliation
and true cure Regarding suppression, he states: “All Throughout his writings, Hahnemann
pure experience, however, and all accurate repeatedly mounts a well-informed and
20. Modern cases entirely confirm our research convince us that persistent penetrating analysis on the nature of
understanding of the holistic nature symptoms of disease are far from being disease and how medical practitioners
of sickness (symptom totality) and removed and annihilated by opposite of the orthodox school have treated it
the internal derangement of the symptoms of medicines (as in the antipathic, over the centuries. And the conclusions
life force: of manifest effects and of enantiopathic or palliative method), that, he reaches are predictably damning.
their hidden cause on the contrary, after transient, apparent Finally, in his last Organon editions,
alleviation, they break forth again, only he exposes and rejects outright
21. Each individual case of sickness is with increased intensity, and become the absurdity of all materialistic
uniquely marked by its peculiar manifestly aggravated.” (Organon, §23) interpretations of sickness and the
idiosyncrasies found only in that He laments “the inefficacy of the treatment therapeutic futility of employing
patient by contraries,” (Dudgeon, p.49) and drugs in crude dosage. As a more
alludes to the dangers of using strong compelling alternative, he then lays out
22. Therefore the allopathic notion of antipathic drugs because “a stronger an uncompromising and stunningly
named diseases as broad categories dose of the remedy…necessitates giving vitalistic appraisal of the nature of the
of symptoms is a fabrication ever increasing quantities of the palliative,” organism in sickness and in health.
(Organon, §60) but this merely
These maxims can be seen to form a suppresses the sickness, bringing “In all such cases, they think they have
totality, a holistic philosophy if you limited and transient relief and comfort annihilated the evil, triumphed over the
will, which explains and underpins to the sick, but never “a permanent and disease, and performed a rational treatment
the concept of suppression. It means perfect cure.” (Organon, §61) directed against the cause. But mark what
that any group of sickness symptoms follows. New forms of diseases, which
that are removed using crude doses of Having shown to his own satisfaction infallibly manifest themselves sooner or
contrary drugs, can be judged to have that allopathy truly is rooted in later, and which, when they appear, are
been suppressed and that the symptoms contraries and palliation, and therefore taken for fresh maladies, being always worse
will tend to recur from time to time in suppression, Hahnemann wished to than the primitive affection evidently refute
as they have not been cured in the distinguish it very clearly from his new the theories of the old school. These ought to
deeper sense, but merely suppressed. system based on similars. Therefore, the undeceive them, and prove that the evil has
Homœopaths also contend that, during basis of this renaming of mainstream an immaterial cause, the deeper concealed
treatment, the return of such old medicine as allopathy was an attempt because its origin is dynamic, and it cannot
symptoms, or their shifting from centre on his part to clarify this distinction be destroyed but by dynamic power.”
to periphery, or vital to less vital areas between the two. In doing so, he was (Hering Organon, p.33)
of the body, are not only positive signs also able to highlight an important
of improvement but confirm the view point: that allopathy is non-curative, Hahnemann clearly states that, “the
that the original disease was not cured palliative and suppressive because it causes of disease cannot possibly be
but suppressed by former inappropriate uses contrary drugs in strong doses to material, since the least foreign substance
treatments. This is often referred to as oppose the symptoms of sickness, and introduced into the blood-vessels, however
‘Hering’s Law.’ that this is an inevitable consequence of mild it may appear to us, is suddenly
adopting that position. In other words, repulsed by the vital power, as a poison; or,
Another key point concerns localised Hahnemann was proposing that any where this does not take place, death itself
symptoms. Hahnemann (and most medical system not based on similars ensues. Even when the smallest foreign
homœopaths since) regarded the
allopathic treatment of localised
symptoms as always being suppressive
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 35
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
particle chances to insinuate itself into Some homœopaths not only regard One who thinks from the material,
any of the sensitive parts, the principle suppression solely in terms of the thinks disease is drawn in from
of life which is spread throughout our effects of allopathic palliation with without, but it is drawn out from
interior, does not rest until it has procured drugs that oppose symptoms, but within.
the expulsion of this body, by pain, fever, also contend that even using the
suppuration, or gangrene.” (Hering wrong homœopathic remedy can act That which we call disease, is but a
Organon, pp.34-35) suppressively if it is given in a case change in the Vital Force expressed by
for too long, especially if it is given the totality of the symptoms.
And he adds: too often, for too long and/or in high
potency. Similarly, homœopathic And it is easy to believe that Kent
“There does not exist a single disease that remedies applied for a local set of was merely launching into one of his
can have a material principle for its cause. symptoms instead of the sickness Swedenborg rants here. However,
On the contrary, all of them are solely totality can also be regarded as apart from his ideas about potency,
and always the special result of an actual non-curative and suppressive. Any a hierarchy of degrees and octaves-
and dynamic derangement in the state of treatment that changes a case might -which do come from Swedenborg--
health.” (Hering Organon, p.38) turn out to be suppressive rather almost all his homœopathic philosophy
than curative. This might then be can be traced back to Hahnemann and
“However, the old school of medicine, aware termed homœopathic suppression. his 5th Organon. It is heartening to know
that it was more consistent with reason Homœopaths need to keep the danger that everything he says about the vital
to pursue a straightforward path than of this possibility in mind. force and sickness causation comes
attempt a circuitous one,… still imagined straight from Hahnemann; they so often
they could arrest disease by a removal of Having imputed that the causes of speak with one voice.
the supposed morbid material cause. In sickness are derangements in the vital
the theoretic researches after the image force, Hahnemann then contends Sources
which they were to form to themselves that only substances that have been
of the disease, as well as in their pursuit elevated to a suitably rarefied or Robert E Dudgeon, Lectures on the
of the curative indication, it was almost ‘spiritualised’ plane (potentised) can in Theory and Practice of Homœopathy,
impossible for them to divest themselves truth be imagined to impact beneficially London & Manchester: Henry Turner &
of this idea of materiality, or be induced to upon it and so remove these invisible Co, 1853
consider the nature not only of material but derangements. He also proposes that
spiritual organism, as being so potent in the therapeutic properties of a drug Samuel Hahnemann, The Organon of
itself that the changes in its sensations and must be similar to the disease it treats, Medicine, combined 5th/6th Edition,
vital movements (which are called diseases) and not different from it. Truly curative Translated by R.E. Dudgeon, and edited
are principally, and almost solely, the medicines, he contends, must be by William Boericke, Philadelphia:
result of dynamic influence, and could not employed on the basis of similarity with Boericke & Tafel, 1893
be produced by any other cause.” (Hering the sickness totality and not used for
Organon, p.39) localized symptoms. C. Hering (Ed), Hahnemann’s Organon
of Homœopathic Medicine, 3rd American
“The diseases of man are not caused by He further contends that by employing Edition, New York: Wm Radde, 1849
any substance, any acridity, that is to palliative and non-curative methods, i.e.
say, any disease-matter, but that they are using contrary mixed drugs and given James T Kent, New Remedies, Clinical
solely spirit-like (dynamic) derangements in strong doses for ‘local diseases,’ the Cases, Lesser Writings, Aphorisms and
of the spirit-like power (the vital force) that inevitable result of such woeful and Precepts, Chicago: Ehrhart & Karl, 1926
animates the human body.” (Organon, p.7) damaging practices is the suppression
of the disease locus inwards from less
Conclusions vital to more vital areas and thus in
the longer term an overall increase in
Hahnemann explains suppression as the sickness is created, and not a reduction.
inevitable result of palliative allopathic Furthermore, he suggests that the type
treatment with strong doses of crude of sickness so created by this palliative
drugs that are inappropriate for the ‘juggling of symptoms’ becomes
sickness in question, often administered progressively more serious with
in mixtures and in strong dose and too time and the more it is administered.
often applied to an imputed (imaginary) This in essence is what he means by
localised disorder. In other words, suppression. One is reminded here of
they are too powerful, of unknown what Kent says:
therapeutic properties and administered
on the basis of spurious concepts of Susceptibility exists in the Vital Force,
sickness and cure. He is then led to also and not in the tissues
critique palliative treatments on the
basis that they impinge detrimentally We do not take disease through our
on the vital force, which, in his view, bodies but through the Vital Force.
permeates the entire organism and from
which, in his view, good health flows.
36 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Proving
The Homœopathic Proving of Naufragium Helvetia
(The shipwreck of The Helvetia)
Mary L English DSH, UK. Abstract: The proving of timbers from the shipwreck of The Helvetia in 1887, released symptoms that,
115 years later, evoked an unexpected and accurate rendering of events on the homœopathic plane.
Keywords: Homœopathic provings, water-based proving, homœopathic medicine made from a
shipwreck’s timbers, Naufragium Helvetia, coryza, nocturia, night time urination, sensation of stuckness,
hindered, unable to reach destination.
Mary English was born in London and Why? 115 years. I decided to take a small portion of
educated in Switzerland at the American the hull of the boat to make a proving and I
International School of Zurich. She comes The Homeopathic provings of remedies are, sent it to John Lee at Ainsworths Pharmacy:
from a large family and is one of five as Jeremy Sherr tells us: “... the pillars upon he made it up to a 30c. I then organised the
children. She is an Author, Astrologer and which homeopathic practice stands. Without proving and researched the actual wreck.
Homeopath. accurate provings all prescribing indications I took one dose of the remedy myself a month
In 2001 Mary gained a Diploma in are bound to be vague guesses at best, and pure before the proving started, just in case it held
Homeopathy and, as well as helping fiction at worst. There is no other way to predict any deep corners...........and have remained
clients with their spiritual development, the effect of any given substance as a remedy with ‘stuck’ ever since.
she is also qualified to help them with any degree of accuracy, and the use of signature,
health issues. She is editor of the Travelling toxicology or fancy ideas cannot approximate the In writing up the proving notes I felt I was
Homeopaths Collective’s Newsletter and precise knowledge gained by a thorough proving.” releasing the energy of the proving, the sense
past editor of The Student Homeopath. In of stuckness.
her homeopathic practice she helps clients 1
with a wide range of health issues.
Mary is a member of the Society of Authors My love affair with provings started in my
and The Federation of Holistic Therapists. final years at homœopathy college at The
She is also the author of 14 Astrology books School of Homeopathy when I discovered
and A Little at a Time, Homeopathy for that actually taking a substance, when I
You and Those You Love published by Ayni wasn’t ill and didn’t need a remedy, would
Books and on sale from 27th November still ‘do’ something.
2015.
This strange discovery then prompted me
to want to recreate that weird sensation of Rhossilli Bay
‘discovering a remedy’ myself.
Since 1999 I have conducted eight provings Proving
and I still love/hate the process today.
There were seven provers:
I love the energies brought out from some prover 1: male poet
inanimate substance and hate the eons of time prover 2: female charity worker in the
it takes to collate, write-up, extract and make Gambia
sense of the provers’ journals and findings, prover 3: female retired
but when the proving is completed....ahh, prover 4: female artist
there is nothing to replace that wonderful prover 5: male homeopath
feeling of accomplishment and the knowledge prover 6: female flower healer
that this remedy might help someone’s prover 7: male poet
symptoms and recovery.
My major concern was to see if the provers
The Helvetia on the Gower Peninsula picked up anything at all about the sea or
ships. I suppose in this instance I was putting
This proving was the result of my son and Homeopathy to the test. I conducted the
I coming across the wreck of a ship, The proving during the anniversary of the sinking
Helvetia, while walking on The Gower (which happened on the 31st Oct 1887) from
Peninsula, on the South Coast of Wales in the
summer of 2002.
On the beach at Rhossilli Bay is the wreck of
The Helvetia, which has lain there for over
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 37
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Monday 28th October-Sunday 3rd feelings of being blocked, physically as was just as difficult.”
November 2002 well as emotionally. P2 “Kept quiet in the court, but was
frustrated by the day’s events, not
All the provers took five doses of 30c One prover had a ‘blocked and runny being able to collect our authentication
over five days and either took it first nose’, another felt ‘over-stuffed’ from and marriage certificates and all the
thing in the morning or last thing at eating too much; their thinking was discussions in the one language I
night. Saturday and Sunday no remedy blocked: ‘can’t concentrate’, ‘things not struggle to understand: Wolof (Wolof
was taken. None of the provers had any making sense’; speech was even blocked: is the language spoken in the Gambia
idea what the remedy was made from. ‘tongue tied’; their work was blocked: where this prover lives).
This was a completely ‘blind’ proving. ‘procrastination’ and ‘uninspired’ in
their creativity. Their emotions took Being blocked came out in other ways
Summary of the words of the provers a hammering: ‘heart not in it’, ‘cruel’, too. This prover has to work in retail to
‘impassioned observer’, ‘automaton’, supplement her income and it’s not what
I needn’t have worried about the provers ‘rankled’, ‘moody’, ‘peeved’, ‘mardy’, she wants to do: in this example she
coming out with relative symptoms. ‘indifferent’, ‘frustrated’ and ‘impatient’. blocks out the words of her ‘controller’:
All of them expressed watery words: P4 ‘Friday 1st November - ‘Slept well,
‘washed out’, ‘bloated’, ‘sinking under It even went as far as being physically sorry still no dreams. Getting in to work.
water’, ‘drained’, ‘bubbly tummy’, blocked, which I found the most Loads of traffic. Hard day. Worked at
‘tearful’; and their symptoms were surprising: the shop. Area Controller at me to work
expressed through the watery parts of P7 “I was late, because I kept getting more Saturdays, closing later now, open
the body: ‘runny nose’, ‘fluent, clear blocked by impassable vehicles; diggers Sundays! Time I got home I was quite
coryza both nostrils’, ‘sore eyes’, ‘weeing etc.” down about it. But J helped, it’s only
in the night’, ‘sore fanny’. P3 “- the weather was awful - so gave a job. Found it difficult to concentrate
up trying to get to Watford - traffic a when Controller was talking to me,
One prover even had a strange nightmare, total gridlock - turned round suppose I’ve heard it all before’.
experience while he was in a cafe: and came home.”
P1 “...when paying I drop a penny, P6 “Took the Tube and got the wrong Background to the shipwreck
for a brief moment I see it fall in slow branch of the Northern Line!!!”
motion, like it’s sinking under water, I P5 “Excessive problems getting to work. I quote from ‘Gower Coast Shipwrecks’
want to ask the cafe staff, ‘Wow! Did you Trains broke down; buses broke down, by Carl Smith and other sources:
see that?’” but coupled with this were traffic congestion. Whichever route I took ‘In the days before the telegraph,
38 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
telephone and radio, many vessels were but the wind ‘went round to the west’ I have included as full an account as
wrecked unknown to more than a few on and at 5.30pm she broke free and drove possible of the actual sinking of the
the shore. onto the beach where her remains still Helvetia because, as you will see, a lot of
lie. what happened then, happened to my
The imperilled crew required immediate provers.
assistance from onlookers; it would be A local man purchased the hulk
hours before the rescue services (such as intending to recover its valuable copper The sense of nearly being at the
existed) could be alerted, by which time sheathing that protected the hull from destination, of being knocked off course
it may have been too late to save either attack by shipworm, the Toredo mollusc. but still being hopeful of recovery, of
life or property. Misfortune again intervened, however, then having to give in to the ‘elements’
when the wreck settled into the sand so and finally of being run aground, run
.......the Gower coast was totally without quickly that he was unable to salvage the ashore, wrecked.
a lifeboat service and rescue depended metal.
on the shipwrecked’s own efforts, or What was also interesting just before,
the initiative and courage of those who Approximately 500 tons of cargo was, during, and soon after the proving,
were prepared to launch a boat from the however, salvaged from the wreck and were the headlines involving ships and
shore.’ auctioned. The salvage vessel, Cambria, shipwrecks.
lost its anchor during the salvage, and in
On the beach at Rhossili Bay in The trying to retrieve it, six men drowned. During a proving, one’s attention is
Gower Peninsula, South Wales lays the always drawn to the events connected
wreck of The Helvetia. The Helvetia was More than 115 years later you can still with the substance. A bit like when
an oak-built barque, a sailing ship, from see the hull of the ship embedded in the you’re trying to get pregnant, all you
Horten in Norway. It had sailed from beach at Rhossili and this is what I found ‘see’ is other pregnant women. Maybe
Campbelton, New Brunswick on the east in the summer of 2002. one’s consciousness allows one to ‘be
coast of Canada and contained a cargo connected’ to the source of the substance
of 500 tons of timber. The captain was a and understand it better. What I find
chap named Stevenson. fascinating is that sometimes provers
are drawn to ‘connect’ with the proving
On the night of Monday 31st of October substance, even if they don’t consciously
1887 the ship, on it’s journey to Swansea, ‘know’ what the substance is. During the
reached Mumbles Head, only five miles proving of Stanton Drew Stone Circle of
or so from its destination. The captain the twelve provers, four of them actually
ordered for ‘signals to be burnt’ so that a visited the site during the proving weeks!
pilot could guide them on the last leg of
their voyage into the harbour. However, BEFORE
a ‘fresh breeze’ sprang up from the South
East and they couldn’t make it to shore 26th September
as the wind was blowing against him, so Joola Ferry Disaster
they had to stay where they were in the A Sengegalese state-run ferry, The Joola,
channel. sank off the coast of The Gambia, a
former British colony, on 26th September
By 8am on Tuesday the vessel had been Remains of the Helvetia with over 700 people on board. About 30
blown back to The Helwick Sands, a passengers and crew were rescued after
good ten miles away from the harbour the Joola overturned.
and then the wind changed again,
this time blowing South west, in gale Wed October 9th
conditions, which would effectively send Stranded Queen rescued on freezing river.
the ship back out to sea. The Helvetia was The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh
now having difficulty staying put and were rescued when their boat broke
was drifting towards the shore. Then the down in freezing temperatures on
current drove her over the bank, she lost Winnipeg’s Red River during her visit to
part of her deck load and ran aground Canada.
past Worm’s Head and was anchored in
Rhossilli Bay. Tues Oct 22nd
Vietnamese divers have finished
At low tide the Helvetia got stuck into Remains of the Helvetia recovering more than 50,000 ceramic
the sand and the ‘Life saving apparatus’ objects including bowls, vases, plates
(LSA) was called for by the coastguard. and cups from an ancient shipwreck
One man was brought ashore by the off the country’s central coast. The
‘breeches buoy’ (a lifebuoy running objects, thought to be from the early
along rope over sea with canvas breeches 17th century, still need to be dated and
for the user’s legs) and the rest came identified by archaeologists.
ashore in their boats. The ship was
secured with heavy chains and cables 39
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Wed Oct 23rd cold, low thirst, headaches and nocturia This prover had an element of water that
Canada’s Martel wins Booker Prize.
Yann Martel wrote a winning novel The (urination in the night). shouldn’t have been there:
Life of Pi, about a boy brought up in an
Indian zoo. When their family moves to P2: ‘Wed 30th October 6.20am. Started P2: ‘Dreamt of walking up many stairs
live in Canada, their boat is shipwrecked sneezing about five minutes after taking with a friend to look for the right office;
and Pi finds himself on a raft with a pill; got small headache, but didn’t last have instructions to look for a red button
hyena, an orang-utan, a zebra and a long. (Don’t often have headaches).’ with writing on but there were lots of
Bengal tiger. P2: ‘Sat 2nd November 4.55am....... doors, with lots of red buttons. Lots of
noticed I have the habit of going to the people inside the offices, doing lots of
DURING toilet in the middle of the night, these paperwork. Waited in the hallway for a
past few nights.’ friend. When we got to the bottom there
Mon 28th October P2: ‘Sun 3rd November 5.45am. Awoke, was a deep water, instead of ground and
Holed warship gets piggyback home. extremely cold, noticed change of people were talking about mortgages,
A crippled high-tec British warship the temperature and felt dizzy walking to and what good deals they got in different
HMS Nottingham, holed on rocks near a toilet. Have heavy head cold, blocked jobs and countries. I listened silently, but
remote Tasman Sea island three months and runny nose.’ not happy about people’s hints that I’d
ago, is set to leave Australia today for a P3: ‘Sat 2nd November. Slept badly, was eventually have to get a mortgage?!!’
six-week ride home on a heavy-lift ship
back. cold in the night.’ This prover had lots of water and sea
P5: ‘Tues 29th October 8am fluent coryza, dreams.
Tues Oct 29th clear both nostrils. Coughing 10-10.40
Quebec diver says he’ll go to UN to push for
sale of shipwreck items. small white phlegm. Mild headache P6: ‘I am cleaning the fridge, using lots
Philip Beaudry said he plans to go to the
next UNESCO meeting in Dec to argue L temple (on and off all day) Hot & of water and I remember being in a bad
Canada is not justified in blocking him
from selling objects he recovered from feverish in evening, gland swelling in mood.’
Canada’s worst shipwreck in 1914.
neck from 4-9. Slept (in my overcoat) 6.00 ‘Another about cleansing: I am in the
AFTER - 7.15.’ bathroom of my grandmother’s house,
P6: ‘Tues 29th October. At 21.00 feel where we spent every holiday as
Tues Nov 19th, 2002 sneezy, it does not feel like a cold but children and teenagers. A very big house
Massive pollution feared as oil spill more like a kind of allergy. It goes after in a village. A piece seems to be missing
tanker sinks off Spain. a while.’ from the shower. Someone has used it
P6: ‘Wed 30th October. 7.00 Woke up, for the WC pipe. I find this very strange
Tues 5th Dec I’ve got a bit of a runny nose, just a little so take the shower piece to put back in
Singapore slick as ships collide. bit.’ the shower tap but for some reason it is
P6: ‘Thurs 31st October. 11.30 Began to now inside the WC.
Sat 14th Dec feel tired and headachy, fluish??’
Ship sinks after Channel collision
(Norwegian car-carrier). P1: ‘Thurs 31st October. 8.30am I wake There is an Indian girl with me who
The following article cleverly sums up up feeling OK but a little snotty!’ is worried about catching an infection
the theme of the proving of ‘Shipwreck’:
Friday 13th Dec 2002 P7: ‘Tues 30th Oct I woke in the night for if she gets it. I put my hand down the
“Author Cussler, master of sea adventures,
to retire. a wee.’ WC and get it and realise it looks like
After three decades of spinning tales
about lost ships and sunken treasures, ‘Thurs 31st Oct I woke up in the night for a semiprecious gem (a bit like rose
Clive Cussler, author of best-selling
adventure books ‘Raise the Titanic’ and a wee.’ quartz) with a hole in it (for the water I
‘Night Probe!’ is tired and plans to quit.
71-yr-old Cussler said in an interview: ‘Fri 1st Nov I woke up in the night for a suppose).’
“The imagination is still working, but
the drive is just gone. I can’t explain wee. ‘I am swimming in the sea. I remember
it. I guess (after) 35 years of this stuff. ‘Sat 2nd Nov Took 5th and final pill a big rock on the right, open sea. There
.........I’m tired of it.” 2 before bed last night. I woke up in the are two divers around as well, looking
night for a wee.’ for something. It surprises me to see the
Physical symptoms ..........after he’d finished the pills this big masks on their faces; they seem old-
didn’t happen again. fashioned to me. The water is clean but
As this proving only lasted a week, the
physical symptoms are mostly acute The Provers’ Dreams not crystal clear. I decide I do not want to
and centre on cold-like feelings, feeling know that is beneath for the moment.’
40 As is sometimes the case in provings, the This prover combined a dream and a
dreams said a lot. physical symptom on the second day:
This prover dreamt what other provers P7: ‘I woke up in the night for a wee. I
actually had happen; he couldn’t reach was dreaming something about being
his destination. outside in the British semi-countryside
with girls and there were ditches and
P1: ‘I dreamt of taking a bus journey moisture.’
and missing my stop and having to get More dreams of water:
off at a terminus I didn’t know. Another P3: ‘Had a very weird dream
passenger had done the same and it took about a strange complex of living
us a long time to find where we were accommodation. Made up of old Middle-
and how to get back.’
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
eastern type houses, all sandstone and Aqua marina as things start to move, so alternating
stone floors with no doors but arches Shipwreck with Carcinosin over a period
dividing the rooms, and also derelict Mind: concentration difficult of time and also taking Shipwreck when
houses and very smart ones all together. Mind discouraged they get into an entrenched position
There was a funny swimming pool that Nose, obstruction, stopped sensation again have helped hugely through
roared like the sea.’ a very painful and disabling back
Silica condition, very much with psychological
The silly thing about doing a proving, causation.”
is finding out afterwards why things Mind: concentration difficult
happened the way they did. The Helvetia, Mind, discouraged “They said the word ‘stuck’ twice in the
on her journey to Swansea, had started Mind, late, always first two sentences, then later on said
in Canada ..........but what threw me Mind, Mood changeable something had happened that ‘sucked
completely was re-reading the provers’ Mind, postponing everything to next day all my confidence out of me’ and ‘taking
dreams and finding this: Nose, obstruction, stopped sensation it all on board’ ..... which were nautical-
Nose, stopped sensation with coryza sounding, ship-sinking type of words.
P3: ‘Tuesday , 29th October... ‘then we Bladder, urination, frequent, night After Shipwreck they’re now happy
were in a street and we were hiding in their work, (they were suffering
from Canadian Mounties behind a Cuprum: from depression and I wrote to their
wall! Then, N (her husband) got on a psychiatrist asking for a reduction in
bus which drove through a different Mind: concentration difficult anti-depressants) and they’re working
restaurant (her previous dream was Mind, discouraged for a publisher that produced.....wait for
about a restaurant) and it came out of Mind, Mood changeable it....a book about secret beaches!”
the back of the restaurant and N dived Nose, obstruction, stopped sensation
into a swimming pool from the top of Bladder, urination, frequent, night “I have used it with a patient when she
the bus. The swimming pool was a very has felt uninspired with her Art.”
large bathtub and there was another man It is interesting that none of these
sitting in it. We were all talking together remedies completely covers the This is my main use for this medicine
with another man who had a net tied proving symptoms, showing that here now, to unblock patients who feel they
around his tongue!!’ is a substance, giving voice to its own are unable to reach their destination; are
particular essence, the voice of the stopped or blocked in some way.
Another prover picked up where the shipwreck of the Helvetia.
boat ended up, in Wales.......... Other photos taken by the author.
Having had a dose of this remedy
P7: ‘Thursday 31st October...’Dreamt of myself, and observing how I felt References
being with the same girl (as in previous compared to the provers, the feeling is of
dream) in an airport Waiting Lounge for not being able to start /complete/ enjoy 1. The Dynamics and Methodology of
Welsh speakers; they were not talking things. The sensations are wholly of Homeopathic Provings, Jeremy Sherr, 1994,
to each other, and although it wasn’t being blocked............... Dynamis Books, Malvern, UK
overt, it was probably because the girl
and I (English speakers) were there that ...........and I hereby release those 2. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/
they weren’t being friendly towards each feelings!!! author-cussler-master-of-sea-adventures-
other.’ to-retire.aspx?pageID=438&n=author-
Use of the medicine cussler-master-of-sea-adventures-to-
Not only did he dream about Wales, but retire-2003-01-11
also this happened: Extracts and comments from positive
‘Had to visit a customer after work. cases, from more than one homœopath:
Couldn’t find the house - pissed off. I
tuned into BBC Radio Wales and felt “One particular patient has a habit of
great comfort - ‘cos I don’t want to hear bedding down in stuck places as soon
English people.’
Comparison with other homœopathic
medicines
The ship was built of oak, sheathed in
copper, and was carrying oak.
It has lain in sand for 115 years, subject
to twice daily inundations in seawater.
Therefore, taking rubrics suggested by
the provings, I repertorised and looked
for:
Quercus – no rubrics (Quercus has Photo: Lapsus Kalamari:
‘heaviness’ and ‘responsibilities’) ://www.flickr.com/photos/7382107@N04/1551957757/in/photostream/
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 41
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
cycles and surprises
The Lunar Cycles
Peter Fraser, UK Abstract: The way in which lunar cycles are useful in certain types of homœopathic analysis.
Keywords: Mappa mundi; Mappa Caeli: Hero’s Journey; Moon; lunar cycles;
Peter Fraser was a bookseller and publisher
before discovering homœopathy. His work Mappa Mundi The life story that corresponds to the lunar
on many provings of new remedies led to cycle is the Hero’s Journey, where every
an interest in contemporary disease which The Mappa Mundi is a way of looking at step forward on the journey is followed by a
resulted in his book The AIDS Miasm. cases and homœopathic medicines in terms period of reflection and consolidation, and
Having taught in many parts of the world of the major solar cycles and the classical of preparation for the next stage. The lunar
he realized there was a need for basic and mediæval Humours and Elements. It cycles relate strongly to many aspects of life
introductions to many of the concepts used was developed by the Israeli homœopath in general and specific aspects of human
in homœopathy, which this series aims to Joseph Reves and popularised by Jeremy life. There are many ways in which the
fill. He is the Director of the Institute of Sherr, David Mundy and especially Misha lunar cycles are found in life, these can be
Homoeopathy and practises in Bristol and Norland. A virtually identical system was found described in the excellent work, Moon
London. developed independently by David Lillie in Rhythms in Nature1 by Klaus-Peter Endres
South Africa. The system is extremely useful and Wolfgang Schad. Several of these effects
42 in working out where, in the cycle of their relate to fertility and reproduction. There
life, a patient is having difficulty, and so are traditional rules on the planting and
what homœopathic medicines might be best harvesting of crops according to the phases
indicated. of the moon, and in animal husbandry
certain activities, especially those involving
I have always found the Mappa Mundi blood and bleeding, should be conducted at
extremely useful in clarifying what are specific times in the lunar cycle. In human
the relevant issues and symptoms in a life the most obvious correspondence is with
complicated case. the menstrual cycle, which involves both
fertility and blood.
As someone who has explored astrology,
it always intrigued me that there was no Mental health is also linked to the lunar
relationship between the cycles of the Mappa cycle with manic aspects accentuated at the
Mundi and those of the zodiac. The quality full moon and depressive aspects more likely
of the zodiac that does not match is the to be found at the new moon.
alternation between active, expansive and
masculine energy and passive, consolidating The Moon and Medicine
and feminine energy. This pattern of ebb
and flow is tidal in nature and relates to the In terms of selecting homœopathic
lunar cycles in the same way that the Mappa medicines there are many different ways
Mundi relates to the solar cycles. in which symptoms and homœopathic
medicines correspond to the phases of the
The life story that corresponds to the solar moon. Calcarea is perhaps the medicine most
cycle is the Wheel of Fortune, the inexorable influenced by the moon; traditionally oysters
rise and the inevitable fall. should be harvested at the full moon. It has a
clear connection to Cancer in the zodiac, the
Mappa Caeli and Lunar Cycles sign ruled by the moon, and it is the Crab’s
energy of safety, withdrawal and the home
The Mappa Caeli is a way of combining that is represented by the moon energy.
and explaining a number of aspects of the
Lunar-related cycles. It corresponds to the Sulphur is the medicine that most actively
Mappa Mundi in the way that a Terrestrial connects the Earth and the Heavens and so is
Globe corresponds to a Celestial Globe. extremely susceptible to all astral influences,
Like the Mappa Mundi it is a useful tool in not least those of the moon. Pulsatilla is a
understanding where a patient is on their medicine of flow and the most important
journey and so which aspects of the case mediator of flow is the moon, so it is not
are important and which homœopathic
medicines have similar concerns.
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
surprising that it is influenced by the The Moon and Miasms world of adventure. Through the hero’s
lunar cycle. experience in this other world he or she
There is an old comparison of the gains knowledge and power and crosses
Phosphorus is perhaps the most miasms and the times of day to the through Libra back into the real world
sensitive medicine we have and so is Sailor, the Prostitute and the Policeman. bringing that knowledge and power as a
undoubtedly open to the influence of The Sycotic Sailor works in the day boon and gift to be shared by everyone.
the moon. However, the most important and is worse for it; at night he has The stages of the Journey alternate
physical expression of that openness fun and obscurity and so is better for between active ones, where there is
is haemorrhage and it is this aspect it. The Syphilitic Prostitute works at a need to do something, and passive
of blood and bleeding that reinforces night when danger is increased and so ones where the need is for reflection
Phosphorus’s correspondence with is worse then. During the day she can and the consolidation of what has
moon. rest and is safer in the daylight and so been experienced so that it can become
is better then. The Psoric Policeman’s something that has been learnt.
Sepia and Silica are both connected work is particularly dangerous and
to the moon through its influence difficult at night and he is definitely The state that we call disease is often
on activity and energy. Sepia’s worse then but he has to work all hours a place of stuckness, of not being able
susceptibility is to torpor and lack of and there is little amelioration in the to move on in our life, to continue
activity. It needs active stimulation. daytime. with the Journey which we have not
Some of the phases of the moon chosen but which has chosen us. This
encourage beneficial activity, while A different version of the same story is most likely to be found in one of the
others encourage the torpor that is so can be applied to the tidal cycle. At the passive, consolidating, stages of the
difficult for patients needing Sepia. In high tide the ships come into port; as Journey where we are unable to accept
Silica the situation is similar but the the tide ebbs, the sailors crowd the pubs something that we have experienced, or
lack of energy is the main difficulty. and brothels and enjoy themselves and feel that we are unable to face the next
The waxing and full moons offer extra so are better. The prostitutes, however, and necessary step.
energy while the waning and new have to work and feel worse. As the
moons seem to suck it away. A strong tide reaches its low point and begins Characteristic Symptoms
lunar connection in a Silica case might to flood, the sailors return, hung over,
also be an indication for Silica marina to their ships and have to prepare it Looking at a case in terms of at what
as the sea is always more closely for departure on the high tide. The stage the patient is stuck is helpful in
connected to the moon than is the earth. prostitutes on the other hand can take that it indicates where the important
In Arsenicum and Rhus tox it is perhaps some well-earned rest and so feel symptoms of the patient’s disease
the fact that the moon is the ruler of the better. The policeman has to deal with are to be found. We know that what
night and so of their times of greatest exuberant sailors when they arrive but we are looking for in a case is the
aggravation that causes the modalities. has as much trouble with them when totality of symptoms, but we do
they are far from sober and reluctant to not always understand that it is the
It is interesting that it would seem that return to work. Some understanding of totality of characteristic symptom that is
the influence of the moon is not through this tidal process can be useful in seeing important. Symptoms are characteristic,
the obvious one of the light that it the miasmatic influences in a case. and therefore important, if they are
provides. Antimonium crudum is well characteristic of the patient, if they are
known for the importance of moonlight The Hero’s Journey through the zodiac characteristic in the disease or if they
in its picture, but it is not found in any are characteristic in their nature.
of the moon phase rubrics. It can be Although it is useful to understand a
seen from the above that though moon person’s astrological chart in that it will Common Symptoms
modalities can be used fruitfully in highlight some of the susceptibilities
repertorisation, they are almost all of of the patient, and so help to find Symptoms that are common in the
a suitable size and completeness; in their indicated medicine, the zodiac named disease, common for the patient
differentiation, it is the nature of the is also a cycle and being able to assess or common in general are not a useful
connection to the lunar cycle that is where on that cycle the patient is stuck part of the disease picture. There are
most useful in finding the best indicated is extremely useful in finding the also symptoms that the patient has
medicine. medicine. Perhaps the most productive experienced in the past and may still be
way of looking at the zodiac cycle is experiencing, which are not part of the
The diurnal expression of the lunar through its correspondence with the current disease state. If we understand
cycle is found in the operation of the story of the Hero’s Journey as outlined the stage of the journey we can see more
tides. We are a littoral species and by Joseph Campbell in works such as clearly what symptoms are congruent
the vast majority of our cities and of The Hero with a Thousand Faces2. With with being stuck at that stage and so
our population is to be found on the some minor adjustments the Hero’s part of the patient’s current disease
tidal shores of oceans, seas or rivers. Journey can be seen to correspond picture.
Although most of us now ignore the with the pattern of the zodiac. The
pattern of the tides, they were once the Journey starts in a place of stasis in There is a number of other systems that
most important regulator on the lives of the real world that corresponds to the help us see this more clearly: Miasms
many people. Capricorn state. It moves through Aries and the Mappa Mundi are particularly
and crosses into another very different useful and the more of them that
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 43
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
are used, the clearer the totality of When a person is in a healthy state The Mappa Caeli is a way of combining
characteristic symptoms will become. these aspects will be well integrated and explaining a number of aspects of
into the Self and the figures will play the Lunar-related cycles and using them
Another way in which the Hero’s a less important role in their life. In to clarify the patient’s disease picture.
Journey is useful is in the way it shows an unhealthy state the archetypes It is one of many systems that make
which archetypal figures are important will become more significant and will finding the indicated medicine a little
to the patient. The Self projects several appear more forcefully in their history bit easier and more certain, for those
figures that reflect aspects of itself that as well as in their story of the Journey. who use it.
are not fully integrated. The persona Recognition of these figures is helpful
represents aspects of character that they both in understanding where on the Mappa Caeli, in the series Using Maps
admire but which they may not feel Journey the patient may be stuck and and Systems in Homœopathy, will be
they possess. The persona archetype is more directly in choosing a medicine. published by Winter Press later this
found in a person’s story in the form autumn.
of figures they venerate and would The figures that dominate a story and
like to emulate; they often appear which recur as different people with the (Endnotes)
as mentors and gurus. The shadow same character over and over indicate
represents the other side of this, the a serious imbalance in the patient’s Self 1 Moon Rhythms in Nature, Klaus-Peter
aspects of character that the person and can help in indicating a medicine. A Endres, Wolfgang Schad, Floris Books,
feels are unacceptable or reprehensible story that involves a number of shadow UK, 2002.
and which they fear they may have; figures, people that have bullied or
these are found in the story in the form attacked them, is likely to be Syphilitic 2 The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph
of enemies and nemeses. The Animus in nature and to require a medicine like Campbell, New World Library, 2012.
(male) and Anima (female) are the Lachesis. A story where persona figures
aspects that have a strongly gendered are more dominant, people who have
nature. On the whole the aspects that helped them and whom they admire,
are the same gender are much better is more likely to be Psoric in nature
integrated and are found as part of the and a medicine like Calcarea might
Self, while the other-gendered aspects be indicated. A story that has many
are more difficult and tend to form a Animus characters, father figures, lovers
more definite archetypal figure. These and partners, might indicate a medicine
are often found in the story in the like Pulsatilla and may be Sycotic in
figures of parents, lovers and partners. nature.
44 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
‘The Madness of Lighthouse Keepers’
The Light Between Oceans
Mel Downing, UK Introductory abstract
Lighthouses are amazing things. They are beacons of hope in a turbulent ocean, standing between land
and sea, between life and death. Lighthouse keepers would say they are called; that it is a vocation
rather than a job. Through the example of one especially powerful novel I want to look at how we walk
this fine line on which the lighthouse stands. The Psoric split of being an incarnate being means the
choices we are compelled to make are rarely black and white. Many we make never feel truly right.
“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” – Hamlet, Shakespeare
Keywords: Mother, Sea, Lighthouse, Grief, Loss, Guilt, Psora, Natrum Muriaticum, Phosphorus, Mercurius
solubilis
Mel runs a busy homœopathic practice from I was lucky enough to have grown up in a as mapmakers of our own lives, needing to
home in North Nottinghamshire, UK. Along bookshop. This has left me with a passion for define the otherness of everything, splitting
with her passion for books she satisfies her books that borders on addiction. I still love the divine. “The same labelling obsession caused
craving for the sea with long beach walks being read to and devour audio books, which cartographers to split this body of water into two
with her dog, Scooby. accompany journeys in my car. This desire oceans, even though it is impossible to touch an
www.meldowning.com to listen to stories is an ancient part of who exact point at which their currents begin to differ.
we are as humans. Until relatively recently Splitting. Labelling. Seeking out otherness.”
that was the only way to pass information.
Stories connect us with the primitive element Every lighthouse emits its own signature
of who we are at our deepest core. They are light. A warning to wayward sailors so
analogies, a way of hearing a form of our they can plot a safe course. This signature
truth without being blinded by it. No wonder light could be our silver bullet medicine
we are all children at heart when invited to or even just the right medicine at the right
listen to a ripping yarn. time in helping us through life’s trials and
tribulations. Who hasn’t experienced the
A book that could have been written to soothing balm of Natrum muriaticum when
teach homeopathic philosophy is, ‘The Light nursing the grief of separation from a loved
Between Oceans’ by M L Steadman. I defy one?
anyone to read it and not feel torn. Your heart
pulls with the desire to make everything The book is set just after World War One.
‘right’ whilst knowing there is no such thing It centres round the lives of the two main
here. Few books have stayed with me to the characters Tom and Isabel. Tom has fought
extent this one has and I recommend it to and survived The Great War, coming home to
everyone. find his estranged mother dead. Not wishing
to return to his former life, he takes a job as
This book is about the difficulties we face the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, and
in this world of duality. How our ego- marries Isabel.
driven illusion of separateness compels us
to make difficult decisions where there is no Our happy couple, the makings of an
tangible right answer. How our true state of elemental salt, take their lives to the middle of
oneness is overshadowed by this world of the ocean to man the lighthouse. Their deep
division. It is about grief, loss, guilt, secrets, love, raising their potency, hopes resolution
disappointment, hope, love and betrayal. All will come in the form of a child. Sadly this is
things close to our hearts. thwarted three times. Then, one day, the gods
smile on them and literally bring them a baby.
The book’s fictitious Lighthouse stands
literally between two oceans on Janus Rock This is where the split really shows itself.
at a manmade division between two oceans How can something so beautifully fortuitous
off the West coast of Australia, the two-faced be wrong? A baby who needs care and a
Roman God, Janus, representing gateways, mother who needs a baby to love. Who
doors, beginnings and endings. Here we are could judge the keeping of that shipwrecked
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 45
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
baby as a bad decision? It’s a heartfelt source of so much pain over and over In this story Lucy is the light between
act driven by a man’s love for his wife, again. oceans just as the lighthouse is on so
along with a deep need to right some many levels for each character. Our
wrongs in the world. At this point, “The Tom struggles with Isabel’s need to lighthouse may be a well-chosen
line between the ocean and the sky became identify and name the places on the medicine, or the correctly matched story
harder to judge, as the light faltered second island. His feeling is that it’s all one. “I’ve at the right time. It brings us hope that
by second.” never thought of it as being separate places. if we look carefully and are vigilant we
It’s all just Janus to me.... Something in him will be guided. We will be given signals
Tom makes a decision to try and remedy was saddened at the dissection of the island, along the way to show us the where to
the pain his wife has suffered through the splitting off into the good and the bad, the take care and where to steer clear.
miscarriage, to enable her to fill with safe and the dangerous. He preferred to think
the love of a child and do some good of it as a whole.... His job was to just take Homœopathic prescribing is analogy.
to balance the traumas of war. Life is care of it.” We give someone a form of their truth,
rarely that simple, nor is each decision. similar enough to be effective, yet not so
As Ralph, the boatman, says “Right and The lead role of Natrum muriaticum goes close as to be too painful. Homœopathic
wrong can be like bloody snakes; so tangled all the way through the female characters treatment doesn’t need to be in tablet,
up that you can’t tell which is which until in the book, even to the end where, “The powder or liquid form. It’s about
you’ve shot ‘em both, and then it’s too late.” salt. You can never get rid of the salt. It eats mirroring back someone’s state in a
away like a cancer if you don’t watch it”. way they can easily receive it. Maybe
As this story unfurls it becomes clear Unresolved grief and sadness will do we should all tell more stories to our
that one seemingly good deed has that to a person. patients as well as prescribe remedies.
longstanding repercussions that will
wreck many people’s lives including Each character is driven to madness from The message of hope is strong here.
those of Tom and Isabel. As we know, their situation. Was it grief at the loss of Hope to help us carry on when things
the path to hell is paved with good his wife that did for the old lighthouse seem too bleak to breathe. Hope that love
intentions. However, I defy any reader keeper, or the mercury he had to handle? will be there for us, even if not in the
of this book to stand in our protagonist’s form we think we want or need. Hope
place and not feel torn with indecision, From the tenet of the book I see it as that there is an answer, and we have all
and to want things to have worked out grief. Yet Tom makes a good case for we need. A homœopathic approach can
differently for everyone. a dose of Mercurius solubilis, with the provide that hope if we are discerning
feeling of being surrounded by enemies enough to be watchful for our signature
Mothering and the great mother ocean whilst playing his part in the war. He light.
are central to the story’s theme. Tom couples this with his chosen isolation
suffered the lack of a mother, and and the toxicity of the contents of the References
this theme is revisited through many lantern. His chosen role as keeper of the
characters – either the loss of a mother or light helps avenge his survivor’s guilt, Steadman, M. L., P.2012, The Light
the loss of children. A great circle of need living along with the lighthouse where Between Oceans, Transworld Publishers,
and lack feeding off each other. “Their isolation saves the whole continent UK
from isolation.”
The whole of this book is a heart- Vermeulen, Frans, P.1997, Concordant
wrenching proving of Natrum Tom often feels, “he has no edges”. His Materia Medica, Emryss bv Publishers,
muriaticum, filled with grief, loss, experience of grief is so profound he Haarlem, The Netherlands
betrayal against a backdrop of lost understands it “didn’t take a war to
mothers and blighted attempts at push you over the edge.” He sees Isabel Vermeulen, Frans, P.2002, Prisma, Emryss
mothering. It shows a mother’s unravelling after each stillbirth in bv Publishers, Haarlem, The Netherlands
abandonment of her child, multiple mercury’s terms too, “Quicksilver,
miscarriages, the deep loss of children, fascinating, but impossible to predict. It
along with hope and the joy of children could bear the ton of a glass in the light,
found. If you listen closely you can hear but try to put your finger on a drop of it,
echoes of Peter Pan’s lost boys. and it would race away in any direction.”
This other medicine state seems like an
Grief touches every character in the book effective subplot to the main Natrum
but is no less painful each time a wave muriaticum story here.
of it passes over the reader. The need
to connect and make a true salt is so Lucy is the archetypal Phosphorus; the
powerful for us. Our drive is to join and clue is in the name. The angel in the
feel whole again, ‘to seek out otherness’. darkness of their lives, appears as if a gift
Our fall from the divine oneness shows from the sea, spared by the mermaids.
itself as a deep-seated need to join and Her sunny disposition truly brings the
feel whole again. The true delusion we light back to the lighthouse on Janus.
hold is that we are separate in the first Sadly there is a fall for this angel too as
place, leading to attachment, followed the story unfolds: the hard lessons of
by the ultimate breaking away that is the being an earthbound being.
46 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
Book Margriet Plouvier-Suijs has utilized both
Reviews her clinical experience and learning from
colleagues, including Chaim Rosenthal’s
themes in relation to potency and Rajan
Sankaran’s levels, to draw together an
interesting and applicable reasoning
for potency selection, regardless of the
potency range you have access to.
This book would be a great read for
students wishing to know more about
potency selection and for those seeking
out a system to base potency selection
on.
(In particular cases, I have found this a
most useful guide to potency selection,
after trialling it for about two years. Ed)
About Potencies from this. As she states early on, she
“learned a lot from making ‘mistakes’,
Author: Margriet but to learn from making mistakes you
Plouvier-Suijs have to make them…..”
Emryss Publishers, These mistakes and prescriptions give Quick Book of Minerals
The Netherlands a lovely, honest description, showing
students and experienced homœopaths Drs. Bhawisha & Shachindra Joshi
ISBN: 978 90 76189 48 2 alike that it’s okay to fail sometimes, in
the knowledge that it does indeed aid ISBN 978-93-5126-176-6
Paperback. 97pages growth for both practitioner and patient.
$(USD) 35.00
Price: €13.95
Reviewed by: Fiona Provan BHSc Hom
Reviewer: Sandra Venables Interestingly, early on in the book, when Brisbane, QLD, Australia
discussing frequency of dose, Margriet
One of the enduring questions at almost Plouvier-Suijs states that she does apply This compendium is a preview of a
any homœopathic seminar I’ve attended a system, but it is not a strict system forthcoming book summarising the
has always been, ‘What potency did you and varies according to each individual, Joshis’ conclusions deduced from their
prescribe, and why?’ something I resonated with, and may joint clinical work over recent years. As
reassure students of the necessity to an Australian homœopath, I have been
It seems that, for homœopaths, a make decisions based on the individual an avid follower of the Joshis’ work
major area of uncertainty is in potency rather than a strict system. since 2007, attending many of their
selection, no matter what is written in the webinars and seminars both in India and
Organon, either the 4th, 5th or 6th editions! The levels describe a range of potencies in Australia. It has been interesting for
from 3X through to 500M, aligning the me to follow the evolution of their work
Margriet Plouvier-Suijs has written a short different dilutions, decimal, centesimal and I am grateful to them for the effort
book looking to address this uncertainty and 50 millesimal within the differing involved in collating their work into
that appears to annoy homœopaths and levels. The foreword by Martin Dicke, what is disguised as a fairly simple 79
students regularly. Pharmacist of the Hahnemann Apotheek page format for us to digest.
Pharmacy, Heiloo, Holland, also
Within this book Margriet Plouvier- discusses the difference in potencies My initial reaction after a quick skim,
Suijs has attributed characteristic words utilized in homœopathy and clarifies the was that they now perceive that
or language to specific potencies. Each difference in labelling between C and K everyone has an animal pattern if probed
of these levels is then outlined giving potencies, as well as between Q and LM. deeply enough, and the Joshis have
clinical case overviews of the symptom perceived that an animal pattern can
presentation, the prescription and an The description of the potencies allows heal individuals to a much deeper level
analysis of that prescription and the the student to fully understand the and to a broader extent. This put me off
outcome post prescription. She has differences between potency ranges and a little and surprised me, as we all are
very honestly also given details of how they may relate, thus aiding the aware of the amazing benefits of the
prescriptions that didn’t work at one student to better utilise the potencies many plant and mineral remedies in our
potency, or medicine choice, but did available to them in a clinical situation.
work well at another, and her learning 47
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
homœopathic history, but it also the focus was not on one kingdom but are the soft unprotected molluscs
intrigued me to the extent that I was involving all of them. My understanding and row two minerals with the issues
eager to take a more in-depth look. The is that the Joshis’ conclusions are that, of vulnerability, dependence and
Joshis can back themselves up with depending on the current focus a person suffocation; while the crustaceans and
a long clinical history of successful may present; i.e. clearly with a mineral turtles compare to that of the issues of
outcomes (one of which was an amazing or a plant focus at the time, then that is safety and security of row four of the
healing response to Lac Lupinum within what should be prescribed. It is when mineral kingdom with the desire to
my own family) so I was relieved to you are seeing a confusing pattern that protect themselves under a hard shell-
discover that I had nothing to worry reflects aspects of mineral, plant and like structure. Thus if the patient is
about; the other kingdoms most animal within the case, that you are giving you patterns using language to
definitely still have their place! likely dealing with the deeper pattern describe their situation such as “I clam
of an animal remedy. They also believe up”, “I put a shell around myself” or “I
It does help though to explain how that if you were to probe deep enough am very shy; I like to stay home which
many times in my case-taking I have you will find that every case has, at the prevents me from developing myself or
experienced the recognition that the heart of it, an animal essence; but, if the my career,” then you are seeing the clear
pattern reflected to me by the patient current focus is only showing you the mineral pattern of this language which
has significant similarities to remedies aspects that need addressing at this time is irrelevant with respect to the language
of more than one kingdom. The Indian of plant or mineral, then that is what is describing animal characteristics.
response that comes to mind is “What to needed for the current focus. I gather Whereas if the language reflects the
do?” with a little sideways shake of the that this is the intelligence of the vital shell and clamming up as a means of
head. force only asking for what it needs to protection from attack and I like to stay
deal with now and if you were to give home so that I don’t have to deal with
Thinking outside of the box is the ability an animal remedy at this time when it people who want something from me,
to let go of fixed ideas and allowing is asking for a plant or mineral remedy, then we clearly need an animal remedy.
ourselves to observe what else might be, then it is not going to deal with the The difficulty arises when they describe
rather than just accepting that we don’t current focus despite the patterns being the problem using aspects of all the
have all the answers. This development similar. kingdoms and you can’t tell if it is the
of evolutionary concepts is where the sensitivity of the plant or the structural
Joshis seem to excel and in turn offer us I guess this works both ways as I recall issues of the mineral or the survival
possible solutions. a patient who expressed a beautiful issues of the animal as they all seem to
pattern of Sepia in every way and did be strongly evident in different parts of
Their concepts, when understood beautifully on it for a number of years. their lives. One moment you are sure it
fully, means that the patient may need When she came back to see me many is a plant energy and then they describe
remedies over time reflecting different years later the pattern seemed the same something that is very mineral and then
kingdoms; but that they all reflect a and I re-prescribed Sepia including another situation creates the animal
similar energy pattern. It is usual for reviewing potency but without achieving experience.
the patient to express a particular the same great response. I retook the
pattern throughout Life, but at times case and decided that the issues now If you were seeing aspects of these
showing different emphasis (kingdom) were actually clearly only reflecting patterns in the case, you can refer to
and intensity (miasm) depending the mineral kingdom rather than the information they have compiled from
on the circumstances at the time. An previous survival issues and chose years of observations in their practice to
example might be a patient reflecting Natrum muriaticum partly based on the the ready reckoner style table showing
the issues of tight, bound, suffocating well-known complementary aspect the correspondences they have made
which could reflect the Hamamelidae to Sepia in addition to the hurt issues between animals and the periodic
plant family or the mineral Nitrogen surrounding a relationship breakup. table. It was interesting to note that
or the snakes of the animal kingdom. There was some improvement but I still this does not necessarily reflect that a
Sometimes it is clear that the issue is of wasn’t convinced. The research in this complete zoological family corresponds
one particular kingdom but the dilemma book (had I had it at the time) could have to a particular row as shown with the
many times was when the patient gave helped me to pursue the concept that the domestic cat of the Felinae family in row
aspects reflecting all the kingdoms and remedy I was looking for was maybe in three, while the rest of the wild cats are
we were left to try and decide which row two, not row three, reflecting the in row five. This is reflected many times
kingdom was most strongly evident. similarity of the prevailing pattern being throughout the chart with mammals
This I put down to the fact that I wasn’t one of vulnerability and dependence, distributed over rows three, four, five
able to perceive the case well enough to more so than the ego/ identity/ and six depending on aspects such as
understand which kingdom was most relationship issues of row three. size, and whether they are predator or
suitable. In theory it always sounds easy prey.
to differentiate the kingdoms but nothing With this concept in mind the Quick
is that simple or else we would all have a Book explores examples of Minerals Overall the Joshis have compiled many
much higher success rate. and Animals providing comparisons years of research for our benefit into
of patterns reflected across these two a short book managing to get their
I perceive that this latest work from kingdoms. Easily identifiable examples concepts over the line and also with
the Joshis would recommend choosing of similar mineral and animal patterns a very affordable price tag. In time I
an animal remedy in this situation if
48 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
believe they intend to provide us with Following this, there is ten-page list cure from a homœopathic point of view.
a similar work on the corresponding of rubrics, which a homœopath might Andrews makes the salient point that
attributes of the Plant and Animal use in analysing a case of ASD. Here I the highly stressed family dynamics
kingdom. I am aware of others outside feel the author has perhaps been a little that the child lives in, can be seen as
India who are also working on similar disingenuous. He presents the list as an obstacle to cure in some cases. Thus
concepts reflecting the rising of information for parents, but it is far too far the chapter is more of interest to
conscious awareness where similar detailed for that, and is, in fact, a useful parents than to homœopaths. The latter
thought processes occur at the same time tool for homœopaths repertorising cases half of the chapter deals with Andrews’
in unconnected locations. of ASD. method of taking the case, and here
homœopaths will find more to interest
Homeopathy and Autism The third chapter presents homœopaths them. He covers his experience in
Spectrum Disorder from around the world who have case taking with autistic children, and
experience in treating ASD, and emphasises the importance of observing,
Mike Andrews summarises their approaches. This particularly when the child has little
chapter will surely be reassuring to verbal interaction with the homœopath.
Publisher: Singing Dragon parents, as it presents the treatment of Andrews makes efforts to ensure the
ASD as highly successful when in the child, and not the parent, answers his
Paperback; 200 pages; cost: $36.95 hands of experienced homœopaths. As questions, and will accept body gestures
a homœopath I found the breadth of as answers, as well as responses to
Reviewed by Philip Bailey different approaches of interest, from simple commands.
constitutional through routine protocols,
Every experienced homœopath has faced to treatment based on the precipitating Miasms of the New Millennium:
the challenge of treating a child with cause. This chapter includes a section on
autism. There are several challenging the work of Israeli homœopath Danny New Insight into the Ten Miasms
aspects to such cases. First of all there Dushan Ron, who has developed a Dr. Nancy Herrick and Dr. Roger
is the fact that the patient is a child mixed candida species medicine which Morrison
with a serious mental disorder, whose he says is usually effective in reducing Publisher: Hahnemann Clinic
parents are naturally very concerned. the severity of ASD symptoms. Publishing, USA
Secondly, the child is often challenged Hardback; 531pp
when it comes to communicating with The fourth chapter presents the author’s ISBN: 0963586850
the homœopath, and may simply hide interviews with several of these €59.50
during the consultation. And thirdly, homœopaths. He asks them about their Reviewed by Joanne Greenland
it can be challenging to translate the methodology, their successes, and their In recent times, homœopathic theory
observed symptoms into familiar rubrics opinions about the causation of ASD. has been through a phenomenal growth
in the repertory. I found this chapter quite repetitive, spurt. We have been introduced to
but once again I am sure it will be new and ever-evolving systems and
This book is aimed at a wide audience, both reassuring and very interesting methodologies of practice that purport
including parents of Autism Spectrum to parents of children with ASD. to offer practitioners more efficient and
Disorder (ASD) children, homœopaths These two chapters present a pretty reliable ways to arrive at the sought-
and other practitioners. It thus attempts convincing case for the use of a three- after homœopathic simillimum. Many of
to achieve many different goals, and pronged approach to treating Autism these new ideas relate to miasm theory.
succeeds in some areas more than others. Spectrum Disorder, including dietary In Nancy Herrick and Roger Morrison’s
modification, behaviour modification new book, Miasms of the New Millennium,
Andrews’ book is an excellent and homœopathy. some of these new ideas are collated
introduction to homœopathy for parents and explored, providing practitioners
of ASD children. It begins with a Chapter 5 presents an overview of with a useful reference to understand
thorough, but not too lengthy, summary homœopathy and how it can be used
of the main features of ASD, including to treat ASD. This is clearly directed at
theories of causation. Andrews takes parents, not homœopaths. It gives a good
a balanced look at the latter, and does summary of what to expect from seeing
not lay too much emphasis on any one a homœopath, and some illustrative
causative factor, such as vaccination or case histories. Once again these histories
genetics. emphasise homœopathic success stories,
and will be of much interest to parents.
Chapter 6 is titled ‘Autism or Autisming’.
It presents the author’s approach when
treating children with ASD, on the
basis that Autism is a disease process,
amenable to healing intervention, rather
than a fixed disorder. It also gives
some observations about causal events,
maintaining causes and obstacles to
Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine 49
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
and incorporate the miasms, which acute, and moving deeper towards their good work available about the miasm
are fundamental to the practice of syphilitic presentation. The disease theory, this book provides by far the
homœopathy, into their practice. from which each miasm is derived is most comprehensive description of the
described and the themes of each miasm application of miasm theory in practice.
Hahnemann first explored the concept of are explored in detail to provide a clear
miasms 200 years ago in his book Chronic picture of how each presents in the For homœopathy to continue to be
Diseases. Hahnemann developed this clinical situation. There is a differential recognised as a plausible medicine,
theory in response to his observation diagnosis between the miasms and the homœopaths need to continue to
that, whilst highly effective in treating remedies found within each miasm, and broaden their knowledge and improve
acute illness, homœopathic treatment each miasm is described in its animal, their performance. The extensive
appeared to return inconsistent and plant and mineral nosode presentation, knowledge of the authors of this book
often short-lived results for patients illustrated with convincing case saves the reader countless hours of
with chronic disease. After many years examples. research, bringing them up to scratch
of research, Hahnemann concluded that with one of the important key points
it was vital to look at the whole picture Structurally, the book is well set out. A Hahnemann established for successful
of the disease state rather than just the complete index makes the book user- homœopathic prescribing in one highly
presenting symptoms, leading him friendly and the way the information accessible read. I strongly recommend it.
to develop miasm theory. It was this is presented deems the book equally
understanding that enabled Hahnemann suitable for a quick reference or a Chapter 9 gives a brief materia medica of
to achieve consistent results in treating detailed study. Easy and enjoyable to common homœopathic medicines used
chronic illness as well as acute, and read, the text will be of most value to in ASD. These are too brief to be useful
it is this knowledge that enables those who are new to miasm theory. For to the homœopath, but will be of interest
homœopaths to make deep change the experienced practitioner who is well to parents. They do, of course, encourage
in their patients’ states, an outcome versed in miasm theory, this text may parents to treat their own children,
of treatment that is perhaps uniquely not present much new information but which is presumably not the author’s
afforded by homœopathy as opposed to the clarity of its presentation will provide intention.
other forms of medicine. a good refresher and consolidator of
knowledge. Regardless of the system of For homœopaths there are some sections
Herrick and Morrison bring the theory homœopathy you use you will find this that are useful, especially the rubrics
of miasms to life, charting the evolution book helpful. list, but much will already be familiar.
of miasm theory and its reemergence. Andrews frequently refers to the CEASE
Whilst they explore both old and new This book describes the rightful place method, but unfortunately does not give
approaches to understanding miasm of the miasm theory in practice, a detailed description of what it entails,
theory, their work is predominantly diagnosis and treatment; as Herrick it being beyond the scope of the book. In
focused on the current work of Rajan and Morrison state, “miasms are a all, this is a very useful and informative
Sankaran who has expanded on tool: when the description helps, we book for parents of children with
Hahnemann’s work. The bulk of the use them….. It is a matter of utilising Autism Spectrum Disorder. It provides
text concentrates on describing the whatever the case offers.” Although a detailed and well-written overview of
ten miasms as defined by Sankaran, this work is not complete (Herrick the condition and how homœopathy can
enabling the reader to grasp the essence and Morrison acknowledge that it is a be used to treat it.
of each one. The miasms are presented work in progress), and there is other
in their sequential order beginning with
50 Similia - The Australian Journal of Homœopathic Medicine
December 2015—Volume 27 Number 2
The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Similia Dec 15 Final
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search