by Gill Graham.  BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) RSHom, DHMHS

The derivation of the word ‘Homeopathy’ (originally homoeopathy) comes from the Greek homoeo, meaning 'similar', and pathos, meaning 'suffering’. This leads on to the first principle which is ‘Similia Similbus Curentur,’ translated from the Latin as: ‘like cures like.’ This principle predates Hahnemann and in fact, goes back to ancient ayurvedic scripts. The idea/concept of ‘the law of similars’ had first been mentioned by Hippocrates (The Father of Medicine, 460-377 B.C.), then by P.A. Paracelsus (1493-1541) although Hahnemann was responsible for creating ‘Homeopathy’ as we now know it; a complete system of medicine.

Through much research and hands on practice, Hahnemann proved that a substance that can cause disease in a healthy person, can actively heal the same or similar disease in another. For example, Belladonna, a well known homeopathic remedy is used to treat high fevers, redness in the face and tongue. Were belladonna to be ingested in its raw form, the symptoms of the poisoning would be exactly this. Also, think of what happens when you are exposed to a raw onion.  Your eyes water and nose burns.  The homeopathic remedy allium cepa (made from onion) can relieve these symptoms, once again, treating ‘like with like.’

The task of the homeopath is to match the patients’ symptoms to the correct homeopathic remedy, specifically those that are characteristic to the patient. This is explained in aphorism 26 in the Organon, where Hahnemann states: ‘In the living organism a weaker, dynamic affection is permanently extinguished by a stronger one which although different in nature nevertheless, greatly resembles it in its expression.’

The simillimum is just that, totality; not partial, but a complete reflection of a state that is mentally, physically and spiritually in alignment with its subject.

This article is part of a five part series and following sections will elaborate on more principles. The first part can be found here.

To find a homeopath or find out more about homeopathy the website here has lots of information to share.

As we have spent April celebrating Hahnemann’s Birthday, and in turn Worldwide Homeopathy Awareness Week, it is fitting, in Hahnemann’s honour, to briefly focus on one of the key teachings in The Organon, that of striving to achieve the perfect mind/body balance.  Gill Graham.  BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) RSHom, DHMHS writes:

Coincidentally, (or maybe so synchronized) this has been a huge focus for me over the last few weeks, having been inadvertently put in situations that demand that it is addressed, with both patients and friends. It appears to be a state that many are seeking, but for whatever reason are unable to achieve.  As a homeopath and holistic practitioner covering many disciplines, I see it as fundamental to good health and wellbeing. Edward Whitmont in ‘Psyche and Substance’ states: ‘The mind is the epiphenomenon of the body, and the body is the epiphenomenon of the mind.  We operate as body-minds.  The body is the visibility of the soul, and the soul is the life of the body.’ In other words, we cannot separate the two, we are not a collection of parts, and should not be treated as such. One remedy to treat the totality of symptoms is optimum; ideally, the simillimum.

Hahnemann considers that disease is an imbalance in the Vital Force and that homeopathy works by stimulating the body’s own healing mechanisms.  Symptoms are natures way of indicating that something is ‘off kilter’ and needs to be healed. There are several references to this in the Organon: ‘In the state of health the spirit like vital force (dynamis) animating the material organism reigns in supreme sovereignty. It maintains the sensations and activities of all the parts of the living organism in a harmony that obliges wonderment (Aphorism 9.) When the body is in a state of ‘imbalance’ or flux the entire being is not in in harmony with itself, symptoms that appear are giving vital clues as to where the healing should be focused: ‘The physician has only to eliminate the totality of symptoms in order to remove simultaneously the inner alteration, the pathological untunement of the vital principle, thereby entirely removing and annihilating the disease itself,’ (Aphorism 21) suggesting harmony needs to be restored to the organism to achieve a perfect balance, contributing to radiant mental and physical health.

Hahnemann’s’ language and turn of phrase can at times be confusing and complicated to those who are new to homeopathy, and given that the first editions of The Organon were written in the last half of the 19^th century, this is to be expected. Fundamentally he is suggesting that for perfect health the body needs perfect balance. Yesterday, this was brought to my attention in a very simple way.  I was at a yoga class where we were all attempting ‘tree pose’ (Vrksasana.) It has to be said, there are certain poses that I have difficulty in mastering, this is one of them. I started to wobble, desperately trying to concentrate on a key spot, unable stop my mind wandering; the more I thought about it, the wobblier I became. I became distracted by the others who all seemed to be balanced, focused and ‘perfect.’  Eventually the inevitable happened and I fell; the predicted imbalance had become self fulfilling, I imagined I would fall, therefore, I did. In reflection after the class, I realized that to have the perfect equilibrium, it was not just about balancing on one leg with my foot up the other, it was a state of being in total alignment with myself, mind and body. Similarly, imagine a ballet dancer and see her posture as she moves gracefully across a stage.

It is balance that allows her to create beauty in her moves, her mind is calm and focussed.  She requires not only physical strength but alignment and discipline and a strong mental focus and a belief that she will not stumble. Were she not balanced, the performance would be unstable, shaky, volatile and inconstant.  Any state of equilibrium requires total harmony of the mind and body, fluctuations need to be addressed and brought back into line. The objective of giving the simillimum (the homeopathic remedy covering all aspects of a patient) is to achieve what Hahnemann termed ‘the harmony that obliges wonderment.’

In referring back to my tree pose, balance had more to do with my mind than my body.  A chaotic mind makes for an unsteady pose (do not forget, in homeopathy, the mind is top of the hierarchy of symptoms.) On my next attempt, at a subsequent class, having realised the connection, I found that breathing correctly, focussing and visualising myself as someone deeply grounded in her roots, like a tree that can flourish because of this stability allowed me to be centred and calm, and less aware of the perceived perfection of others and more concerned with achieving my own level of composure and equilibrium. This is once more similar to seeing everyone as unique in homeopathy; there is not one remedy that fits all; individualisation is key.

What follows is a poem I recently wrote for one of my friends who has been diagnosed with cancer.  I was in the Dutch Antilles at the time, by the sea when she told me the news. Shocked and sad I was driven to write, the ultimate in therapy for me; and in doing so recognised the ever flowing tides of the sea are characteristic of the ebb and flow of life and of the fluctuating mind body changes we all experience. True health is true equilibrium and as stated here ‘a divine homeostasis,’ the ultimate goal of homeopathic treatment.

Life is a series of waves

The ebb and flow lifting us up knocking us down devastating, cruel

But we are vibrant, alive when we are raised to the sky balanced precariously on the crest of a wave

Joyous, exulted, super human

Then we surf, riding high some day’s others, floating gently with no great flux

This is the calm, the equilibrium

The unforgiving, unpredictable waves sweep us off our feet we lose our balance and crash,

unceremoniously to the ground

floundering in the unfamiliar weaving our way through the tides to breathe to stand, wishing we were the solid rocks standing majestic, but hard, brittle they do not move, boring, static, impenetrable

We are flesh, blood, bone, brain and heart - thinking, loving, hating

We are capable of vibrancy, ecstasy, joy despair and disgust

The ocean inevitably calms and serenity returns

A deeper, more meaningful calm

A divine homoeostasis

Your holy fragile humanity has been nourished the tumultuous waves have been ridden.

Flourish now, as you will.

Balance; what we as homeopaths strive for in our patients; the waves are like the symptoms, warning us of tumultuous times, but ebbing and flowing as we address the totality.  Life is not meant to be an everlasting calm ocean, but by riding the tempestuous waves, and addressing and hopefully correcting the route cause, the depth of our being; our very essence becomes magnificent in its serenity and equilibrium.

As ever, go to:  www.findahomeopath.uk. for advice and to find a homeopath in your area.

 



 

 

 

 

 

4Homeopathy launches their new, free app in time for UK Homeopathy Awareness Week (10-16th April).

A new digital platform to enable the public to find a registered homeopath, get information on homeopathy and find out about commonly used homeopathic medicines.

Head over the the app store and download! Do spread the word to others, friends, patients and family and let them enjoy the benefits of information at their fingertips.



 

You can find out more about homeopathy at www.findahomeopath.org