QUARTERLY HOMOEOPATHIC DIGEST
VOL. I . No. 2 September 1984.
CONTENTS
1. HOMOEOPATHY: A Clinical Science
by Jesse A Stoff, M.D.
2. MEDICINE: A discipline between
Art and Science by
Dr. Herbert Pietschmann
3. ACUTE MEDICINE
1. COMMUNICATIONS
from the JAIH
5. INCONTINENCE OF BOWELS
by Dr. H. Lennemann
6. A CASE OF CROHN’S DISEASE
by Dr. Hans Leers
7. SKIN SYMPTOMS OF
NUX VOMICA by Dr. G.V.Keller
8. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
9. AGNUS CASTUS
by Dr. Gerd-witte
10. TUMOR VIROLOGY
by Dr. Lionel Crawford
1. HOMOEOPATHY- A CLINICAL SCIENCE STOFF Jesse A (BHJ. 72, 3/1983)
In these misguided days of testing a specific homoeopathic remedy against a specific allopathic drug, it is important to take a step back and look at the question in its entirety. To gain an insight into homeopathy it is necessary to begin with a holistic image of being of man and that we suspend our dogma of western biological science.
The reductionistic approach taken by western medicine leads to a superficial description of the chemo-mechanical workings of cells, organs and body. Operations under purely chemo-mechanical assumptions has proven self-limiting because its own standard of research methods show that living physiological systems are not in chemical equilibrium but are maintained, while alive, in a steady state non-equilibrium metabolism. Western science fails to describe the mechanism whereby these living systems are maintained.
The biological organism is the comprehensive entity whose purpose (essence) exerts an influence on the operation of all or its various organs. The whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts.
The biotic sciences must, in other words, assess the state of the organism against a concept of the healthful operation of all its functions, the body’s operational principles. From the holistic perspective the major operational principle of life may be characterized as that creative energy which orders the entropic patterns of matters in accordance with its own rhythmic processes.
Every organ serves some function in the maintenance of the healthy operation of all activities in the organism. Every cell and every molecule has been permeated with the unified aims of the whole biological being. Working with man in a holistic way, we endeavour to understand the unfolding, circulation and balance of this creative energy within the microcosm that is each of us. An imbalance in the creative functional level (Hahnemann’s ‘vital force’) of man causes a skewing of the normal inter relationships and results in a state of disease. Illness once recognized and accounted for correctly, leads on to appropriate therapeutic measures.
Holistic physicians have realized that symptoms are merely the body’s best attempt at demonstrating and correcting a supersensible imbalance. Unless the imbalance is worked with on the plane from which it originates, and not just suppressed on the physical level with drugs ( drugs may be life saving but are rarely curative), a deeper, more severe illness will result.
The homoeopathic remedy thus being a rarefied therapeuticum, correctly applied, relates to the creative functional level of man and therefore has the potential to root out the cause and right the imbalance. This then raises the question of how to correctly apply the medicament. Hahnemann proclaimed “Similis similibus curentur”. Through his comprehensive philosophy of STEINER we can now begin to explain more accurately how potentized medicines act on the metaphysical energy system of man.
As homoeopathy is a clinical science, each problem that a patient presents with must be looked at in the context of the individual affected. Homoeopathy is more than any remedy, it is an approach. Any well designed research project must test within the sphere of that which is being tested. In the context of Homoeopathy, that means following patients over a period of time while they are appropriately treated and managed by the homoeopathic physician. The length of time necessary for follow-up would depend upon the type of illness and the remedies involved, as some are said to take longer than others to begin to work. Who can say that a patient’s good responses to a second remedy given was not because of the first remedy, although possibly showing ‘little’ physical evidence of a response, actually prepared the patient for the improvement ( one must obviously take into account the length of time a remedy is said to work for, once it is no longer given). Such problems as ‘proper clinical trials’ are not new to homœopathy; those who do not study the past are doomed to repeat its failure.
It is highly questionable scientific practice to dismiss a body of significant imperical evidence (such as homœopathy ) simply because the underlying philosophy, which rationally interprets such results, assumes foreign to those currently accepted.
2. MEDICINE-A DISIPLINE BETWEEN ART AND SCIENCE
Dr PIETSCHMANN Herbert,
(JAIH. 76, 3/1983)
1. INTRODUCTION; Today, there is again, considerable discussion as to how far medicine should make use of scientific methods and as to what should be regarded as “scientific” method. We are all agreed that medicine is one of the fields where specifically human aspects also have to be taken into account. We need to consider in detail how the concept of “science” has arisen, how it has evolved , and the advantages and disadvantages it has brought with regards to our way of thinking , actions and culture.
2. SCIENCE: Man finds himself facing two classes of questions: “Questions as to meaning of life , of existence” and “Questions as to the locus of existence” -- Nature and Spirit . “Locus of existence” relate to the natural world around us and also locus of our own self i.e. human body “Meaning of existence” call for individual, highly personal answers.
Science is the attempt to describe nature , in a generally valid way , so that the description has the same validity for every individual . It is an attempt doomed to failure from the fact that every civilization has developed its own “image of the world”, its own specific description of nature .
The reason for this failure is that spirit and matter , of meaning and locus of existence cannot be separated . The individual does not exist within nature merely as an animal , but , having conscious awareness , also as a unique , irreplaceable subject , different from all others . Every human being thus has his own image of the world .A definition of nature of universal validity is therefore an absolute impossibility .
Science as we know it in the western world from the time of Galileo is a radically new approach in which the two opposites , “individual” and “general” , are combined in synthesis . Galileo established a new criterion for truth : Truth was only what ( in principle) everyone could test for himself and see to be true. The means used for this was the experiment.
The completely new element brought in by Galileo had to not so much with method as such , but rather with truth and authority
Galileo’s method is useful ONLY for establishing a general concept of nature . Laws of nature can never give an answer to questions as to the meaning of existence.
Galileo’s approach was so radical that at first it was impossible to bring it to realization. Very soon natural science , initiated to get rid of false authority , itself became such an authority , presuming to decide on the basis of theoretical considerations what could be accepted as fact in nature .
To sum up , let me stress once more that science is always wrongly used if it is not based on experiment , but decisions as to the factuality of phenomena are attempted on the basis of theoretical consideration .Any thing that gives repeatable results open to examination that do not depend on the individual experimenter with extraneous factors eliminated to give a sufficiently clear picture counts as scientific data , irrespective of whether there is a theory to account for it. fitting the data into a construct of theories is
presumption and not a criterion in the sciences .
3. ART: Artistic activity will always be the activity of a particular individual . Science tries to analyse relationship of man to the things round him,whereas art always aims for the direct relationship from person to person . Scientific methods and scientific finds can be studied and learned , whilst artistic skills have to be acquired by practice.
To sum up this point , let me repeat that for the present purpose I should like to consider art as an activity concerned with individual, personal qualities that focusses on the individual in his uniqueness.
4. MEDICINE: In his book entitled Vom sinne des Erkrankens ( on the meaning of falling ill) Friedrich Weinreb has written: “Science can explain man, analyse , measure and treat him , yet
At the same time man withdraws from science into a causal sphere where nothing can be measured and determined , where he cannot be treated ,but perhaps be loved and given trust , where aspiration and devotion are all that counts . Man is both these things , not just the one or the others .”
These words make it very clear that medicines can not do without either of those two domains , and that a physician who wishes to take his patient seriously as a human being has to achieve a synthesis in his action of what at first sight seem incompatible claims .
The greater the number of different methods of healing that compete with one another , the sooner will it be possible for medicine as a science to create a space for freedom , for and within itself , and the greater will also be the freedom the patient .has in choosing the physician or the method of treatment he wants .
Why is it then so difficult to apply such a concept in practice . This is due to a certain defensiveness , an attitude that is all too human . I think this helps us to understand why established medicine has built walls around itself to keep out all new approaches - - even if it does not excuse it .
We must be careful not to go to the opposite extreme . We cannot do without scientific method , but science must never be taken as the theoretical or even anathematizing an alternative method adheres to the criteria of verifiability , reproducibility and isolatability as for as the phenomena are concerned .
With regard to medicine recognition must be given to the fact that there are different method of treatment , and that every patient is regarded as an individual person as well as representing the whole of mankind , that he shall never be seen just as a means , but always also as his very own end in himself . Physician and patient are given the responsibility and freedom to decide on a particular method in every concrete case, putting aside neither the marvellous medical science has brought , nor the still much more marvelous human relationship between the sufferer and the one who comes to his aid .
ACUTE MEDICINE
CASE 1: A 32 year old woman was having 3rd child at home . First 2 children were born in hospital the pregnency was complicated by Crohn’s disease . Now that Crohn’s disease was in remission her pregnancy was healthy and happy . There was much preparation by way of good nutrition , vitamin supplements ,prenatal care and birth classes . Last examine , one week ago she was dilated to 3 cm . ; cervix 50% effaced and quit relaxed .
During her 39th week of gestation, amniotic sac broke at 5.30 a.m. Fluid clear of meconium no odor . No uterine contractions nor any extra vaginal / cervical pressure . On examination at 8.30 a.m. all assessments were same as her last prenatal examination. Fetal Heart rate was 135 beats per minute. She had eaten a good breakfast and slept well the night before.
I was called at 12 midnight ; her contractions had been 10mts , apart since 10p.m. I arrived at 12.45 a.m. and found very excited in anticipation of the birth , She had dilated to 4 cm; She approached with BP cuff ,stethoscope getascope , gloves and KY jelly and demanded “check me”. She was quite despondent to find her measurements the same with the exception of a -1 station for the baby ’s head with 100% effacement . She told me she had been crying . “I never cry . It upsets me to cry . My husband couldn ’ t believe I was crying .’’ She also said “ I want this to be over.”
She was very tired and was driven to pace heavily . By 6 a.m. no change . She had no thirst and was chilly ; yet when I placed my hand on her abdomen she said , “oh” that feels better .Leave your hand there . Put your other hand on my stomach.” She was pale, weepy and despondent fretful and fidgety. She had a sore uterus and so was experiencing more rectal pressure than was appropriate for the station of the head Pulsatilla 200.
Following the remedy, she was able to go to bed for her real rest since the onset of labor. Also began to sip water . By 7.50 a.m . was 9 cm. dilated. At 8.30 a.m. she was very exhausted and called out “How come my contractions are not as strong as they were?” . On examn . I found that her dilation had regressed to 7 cm . I suggested a hot shower to help refresh her . Her response was , “I just don’t have the energy to do anything . I just wish I could sleep”.
She was how having nausea with each contraction as well as flushing . She felt and began to eat ice chips after each contraction . I felt her uterine inertia was due to extreme exhaustion. Her uterus seemed too weak to develop normal contractions . Caulophyllum 500 at 8.50 a.m .