Homeopathic Practice - Volume 2.

Review

This book review is reprinted with the permission of the International Foundation for Homeopathy

Review by Linda Johnston, MD

Alfons Geukens, M.D. and his Center for Classical Homeopathy, in Belgium, are once again taking the lead in the education and expansion of classical homeopathy. They have published the transcripts of Dr. Geukens' popular, and well-attended, video lecture series on materia medica. This is a significant addition of innovative and high-quality teaching material for those who are dedicated to becoming skilled classical homeopaths. His seminar series is a three year program, with three seminars each year. The entire course is a thorough, comprehensive survey of the, materia medica, repertory, and, as the name implies, "homeopathic practice."

Several years ago, Alfons Geukens began his lecture series for the Dutch speaking countries. The next year, he began a second complete course for the German speaking countries. The popularity of these seminars among European homeopaths has resulted in plans for additional series for the French and the Italians.

Drawing upon his extensive video library of cured cases, the seminar format includes presentation of video segments exemplifying specific remedies under study. Each session focuses on several major remedies and numerous smaller ones. Dr. Geukens presents up to one dozen video cases of the same remedy to point out graphically the similarities and differences that an individual remedy can assume. Each seminar is also sprinkled with rare and infrequently prescribed remedies.

Dr. Geukens uses the cases as a springboard for discussing remedies, methods of prescribing, and homeopathic philosophy. His comments on differential diagnosis and comparative materia medica highlight the symptoms that each case presents. Above all, it is a very practical course, emphasizing the clinical application of knowledge of materia medica and the repertory as well as the development of skills for precise observation.

Observations of patients, their statements and symptoms, are converted to rubrics, demonstrating a deeper, more thorough use of the repertory as a vital part of the homeopathic process. The student's confidence is increased through use of the repertory, and the many references to it, during the seminar and video presentations, because this reinforces the fact that the repertory is indeed the window to the understanding of the patient's remedy state.

I have been attending the course and I have completed five of the nine sessions. The quality of the information, and the quality of Alfons' teaching, have made an enormous difference in my practice. During the seminars, I have been furiously taking notes in an attempt to capture a portion of the wisdom, the clinical hints and repertory references, and the remedy descriptions which are presented. Now, the entire transcript of the proceedings is being published. The non-English speaking portions of the seminar have been translated into English. Although there are some syntax and grammatical errors, these are minor and do not detract from the flow and readability of the books.

Dialogue with the patients is written word-for-word, as are Dr. Geukens' elucidating commentaries. Being able to study his style of questioning and his method of inquiry is of great benefit. The dialogue between Dr. Geukens and the patient provides the opportunity to understand which remedies he is considering during the interview and how he questions the patient to reveal the information he wants. Each question, comment, and moment of the interview is focused on the goal of searching out the correct remedy. This "efficiency" of method is well worth emulating.

Volume One covers Calcarea carbonica, Ilypericum, Rhus toxicodendron, and Pulsatilla, offering a wide and varied selection of cases for each. Also presented are cases of Radium bromalum, Vipera, Elaps, Secale, Apiuat graveolens, and others. There are 50 cases in all, and 450 pages. One of the most fascinating cases is the story of Dr. Geukens' own daughter. At the age of 14, she was hit by an automobile and sustained serious, life-threatening injuries. Dr. Geukens and his daughter relate the story of how he prescribed for her from the time of the accident when she was in a coma, to the dramatic and successful restoration of her health. He used a total of nine different remedies, all carefully and meticulously prescribed during a very dangerous and potentially tragic situation.

Volume Two consists of 546 pages with 48 cases. These include thorough studies of Lycopodium, Sulphur, Bufo, and Phosphorus. Additional cases include Cyclamen, Sarsaparilla, Ratanhia, Agnus, Aranea, Cedron, and others. The study and case presentations of Bufo, alone, make this volume invaluable. Dr. Geukens demonstrates a keen understanding of this remedy, derived from a variety of cases. His cases include those of childhood eczema, epilepsy, and nervous tics - cases which might be expected, based on the common knowledge of Bufo as a neurologic and skin remedy. In addition, there are cases of a man with a panaritium, another with ulcers, and a woman with an inflammation, like a boil, in the region of the clavicle.

Future volumes will complete the course in the printed form. From my personal experience attending Dr. Geukens' seminars, as well as from having studied these books, I highly recommend both of the current volumes.

RESONANCE MARCH-APRIL 1990