One of the few things on which the late Julian Winston and I had a strong difference of opinion was our beliefs on what caused American homœopathy to go into rapid decline from the mid 1930s; he said it was the continued opposition of mainstream medicine and the closure of homœopathic teaching institutions, I said it was the ascendency of ultra-Kentian theory and practice and the tendency for homœopaths to act like a persecuted sect who believed they should have no dealings with outsiders. I came to the conclusion after observing a great drop in the standard of the homœopathic books and journals that occurred then, and I also thought the “persecution” theory did not hold up when chiropractic and osteopathy not only survived but flourished.
There is plenty of evidence that financial support from multimillionaires was withdrawn when homœopaths did not want to engage in properly set up trials or cooperate with university authorities. I fear that some elements in homœopathy are repeating the folly of the past and promoting theories and practices with little connection to homœopathy as it was understood by its founder, Samuel Hahnemann, and his circle.
A book reviewed in the last issue was a good example. What possible good can come from writing many pages on the karma of the miasms? Prescribing on speculations derived from study of the periodic table of elements is not homœopathy. Prescribing on the basis of newly-invented miasms like the ringworm miasm is not homœopathy. Prescribing exclusively on the basis of the patient’s perceived personality has never been a good idea, even when there seemed justification for it in provings; but prescribing in this fashion on remedies that have not been proven is quite ridiculous and quite definitely not homœopathy as the word is usually understood.
I am referring particularly to the bizarre beliefs of George Loukas, who is able to say such things as: “When the Aurum person intensely seeks appreciation in relationships, the remedy is Aurum sulfuratum natronatum. When the person intensely seeks appreciation from his own people, the people he is closed [sic] related to, then the remedy is Aurum sulfuratum kalinatrum. When an Aurum person, together with the need for appreciation feels an intense need for protection, safety, security then the remedy is Aurum sulfuratum calcareatrum. Aurum sulfuratum magnesiatum is about people who are trying to overcome the feeling of being an orphan via appreciation and creation.” I dread that before long a computer program will be written that allows a person to tick boxes beside descriptions of what they perceive as their personality and thus self-prescribe in the manner of Dr Loukas. The basic premise of homœopathy is that you find first the symptoms a remedy can produce; not find symptoms and then concoct a remedy to match.
You can read the Loukas views on the new Aurum salts at www.hpthy.com/materiamedica/loukas-aurum.asp. This stuff is not homœopathy - unless we develop a universally accepted new definition of homœopathy. It is not a harmless thing that can safely be regarded as part of acceptable homœopathy. It, and similar things, erode bona fide homœopathy and make it regarded in general as a laughing-stock.
Of course some elements of the commercial sector do a lot of harm to homœopathy, not only with extravagant claims for the advantages of mixed remedies but the means by which they may be administered. Years ago there were homœopathic weight-loss patches (medicated sticking plasters); I have also collected Healtheries’ Kidscare Infant Calm Blackcurrant Flavour Homœopathic Remedy (Passiflora mother tincture and Aconitum 6x, Belladonna 6x, Chamomilla 6x and 12x, preserved with hydroxybenzoates - these are the only named ingredients), and lollipops medicated with a mix of homœopathic remedies for feverish children. And just recently I became aware of a “homœopathic” migraine remedy you apply to your forehead from a container with a rollerball like underarm deodorant. Advertisements in Australia, and its distributor’s website, do not give its composition. “HeadOn” will be on sale in New Zealand pharmacies soon. These are ill omens for a good future for homœopathy.
Bruce Barwell