Miasms and Nosodes Origins Diseases

Review

This book review is reprinted from Volume 104, Number 2 Summer 2011 Edition, with permission from American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine.

Reviewed by David Anerson, MD

I remember vividly the first time I read the Organon. I was finishing my second year of medical school and was rapidly becoming disillusioned. Medical science's reduction of human biology and suffering to mechanical models of disease did not match my own subjective experiences of life and nature. In the Organon I heard a voice speaking from a reality that resonated with how life touched me. Hahnemann's observations and assertions authenticated a reality that I had glimpsed and naively hoped to learn more about in medical school. It is a vast and profound reality that asks the visitor to develop subtle and potent perceptual abilities to experience an amazing dynamism of forces that form and reshape life. Louis Klein is an intrepid and humble explorer of the homeopathic reality. In his most recent book Miasms and Nosodes: Origins of Disease - Volume One Klein shares some of the discoveries he has made during over three decades of clinical practice and research. His observations enrich not only our knowledge of remedies and miasms, but also, perhaps even more importantly, they invite us to enhance and refine our senses so that we too can go beyond what we know and dare to see and know more of the splendor of what homeopathy reveals and heals.

Every emerging system of healing has its fundamental observations from which further application and elaboration by the researcher/clinician help to reveal, differentiate, and expand the effectiveness of that system. Within homeopathy Hahnemann gave us many helpful observations, but four are particularly central to the homeopathic reality. They are The Law of Similars, The Law of Cure, Minimum Dose (potentization), and the concept of Miasm or the role of infection in creating chronic disease. Each of these fundamental observations offers rich opportunities for both basic science and clinical research. In this book Klein has taken the previously diffuse and even ideologically defined concept of miasm and invigorated it with historical references, modern microbiology, allopathic sources, contemporary provings, and cured cases. The book is organized to take the reader progressively deeper into the phenomena created by the interaction between microorganisms and the human organism. Klein orients the reader to the current state of understanding of miasms in the chapter "History of Miasms in Homeopathy." He deftly and concisely describes the development of understanding from before Hahnemann to the present day, giving a well-grounded appreciation of the work of earlier homeopathic practioneers and more contemporary homeopaths. Indeed, one of the general strengths of this book is the use of references and citations at the end of each chapter.

Citing earlier contributors thoroughout the book, Klein honors the genius of Hahnemann and others that followed him who were able to synthesize empirical observations with energetic and vitalistic views and with the observations of the material science of the time. Klein contributes to this tradition of synthesis in the book's organization, references, descriptions and case examples. His synthesis injects a compelling, vibrant experience into both the general phenomena of the potent influence of infection on the human organism and the individual miasms that he presents. His elaboration invites the reader to open one's imagination to other infectious processes that might have profound effects. In his commentary on the Parasitic group of remedies he asks the reader to be open to the possibility of yet unutilized parasitic protozoa (roughly 10,000 species are available) in a clinical case that presents with parasitic qualities. Throughout the book Klein creates common themes for the various orders of bacteria that are discussed.

This five hundred page book will challenge both the well-experienced and novice homeopathic clinician to discard previous notions of a limited number of miasms and nosodes to consider the entire taxonomy of Bacterium and Protozoa. In this volume Klein addresses four orders of Bacterium (Burkholderiales, Clostridiales, Actinomycetales, and Enterobacteriales), and two Protozoic parasites (Plasmodium and Toxoplasmosis). Within each order both the miasm and the nosodes are described from integrated multiple sources and frequently illustrated by cured cases. He introduces common physical qualities and dispositional themes of the seemingly unrelated nosodes of Botulinum, Tetanotoxinum, and Clostridium perfrigens in a sketch that creates a coherent image and form. The Actinomycetales include both Corynebacterium and Mycobacterium. I found the discussion of Bacillinum and Tuberculinum bovis extremely revealing of both their historical and biological sources and their clinical differences.

The new nosode Johneinum made from Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is presented with the proving notes included. The emergence of this remedy illustrates Louis's synthetic acumen of taking contemporary allopathic research that implicated this bacterium in Crohn's Disease and creating a new remedy and nosode that holds the prospect of providing significant application in the treatment of devasting gastrointestinal disorders. The development of this remedy may serve as a critical template in the research of other disorders that are increasingly being linked with various infectious organisms (e.g., Helicobacter pylori and stomach ulcers), including viruses and prions.

When I finished reading volume one of Miasms and Nosodes, I began rereading it after a brief period of metabolizing the first reading. While I eagerly await the volume(s) that will follow this book, the material and perspectives offered in this book provide the reader with much to consider and absorb. As is often the case when I have opened further to a homeopathic reality, the week after finishing this book a young woman consulted me for a fifteen-year history of chronic pansinusitis. Her description of her symptoms and her passionate involvement with riding horses was a remarkable replica of Louis's description of the Hippozaeninum. The first follow-up has shown very positive results.

The German publishers of this book, Narayana Verlag, are to be congratulated for their editing, layout, and the binding quality of this hardbound book. Despite the advantages of a digitally-stored library, reading from a well-bound and printed book has its quiet delights. The print font, highlighting, and brightness tone and weight of the paper stock allow the reader to linger for long sessions of reading without visual fatigue.

As a reviewer I am charged with having an eye for flaws, deficiencies, and errors in the subject book. Describing any shortcomings of this book reveals more about my biases than about any real flaws. I would have liked to have more case examples. The referencing and footnoting could be improved by increasing the consistency of referencing various citations to better locate references at the end of sections. Both of these shortcomings are insignificant compared to the brilliance of the contribution this book makes to the homeopathic literature. I humbly predict that Miasms and Nosodes: Origins of Chronic Disease will find its place beside the classic books of homeopathic literature for future generations to study.

This book review is reprinted from Volume XXII Fall/Winter 2009 edition, with permission from Simillimum.

Reviewed by Melanie Grimes

Lou Klein's book on nosodes is a monumental work. In just over 500 pages, he tackles the entire field of nosodes. As Lou states in the opening introduction, "Homeopathy can treat the residual effects of infection even when the active agent is not present." He goes on to explain that chronic disease is associated with these infective agents. This is the reason he wrote the book and it is the reason this book makes a valuable contribution to homeopathic literature.

The book begins with an in-depth introduction to miasms, including the history of miasmatic understanding and how that has changed from the 1800's to the present, including up-to-date information from microbiology. A Classification Model for bacterial nosodes is presented. A thorough investigation into the Burkholderiales proteobacteria follows. This group includes Hippozaeninum and Pertussinum. Later chapters cover the Clostridiales, the Enterobacteriales (including the Bach Bowel Nosodes) and Parasitic Protozoa, which includes malaria and toxoplasmosis. The index of remedies discussed covers six pages.

Each chapter contains source information from materia medica and from the Center for Disease Control or other medical references. Lou also includes a Clinical Focus Guide for each remedy - with notes in the form of repertory (Mind and Disposition Focus; Physical Focus) and an extensive Commentary.

Miasms and Nosodes fills an important place in homeopathic literature. It is a one-stop shop for information on so-called "germs" and parasites. The information is presented in a highly accessible form, and will provide insights to homeopaths and healing to patients for generations to come.

This book review is reprinted from Volume 22, Winter 2009 edition, with permission from Homeopathic Links.

Reviewed by Harry van der Zee, MD, Netherlands

Miasms and Nosodes both represent topics in homeopathy that are of particular interest. Initially a homeopath will work with some of the better known nosodes and use them in the same way as any other remedy: a possible simillimum for a patient - e.g. "a Medorrhinum patient" or "a Sulphur patient".

If the derangement of health were a one-dimensional state asking for a single remedy response, homeopathy would be a lot more simple than reality shows. Even if the hypothesis to which some adhere, holds true, that one single remedy could solve everything for each and every patient, this remains a theoretical possibility that is often not attained as, for many reasons finding "the" simillimum is not always that simple and thus more remedies are needed to establish a cure.

In a multi-dimensional case the miasm theory becomes important and the use of nosodes or other disease-/miasm-specific remedies in handling the case are called for. As Louis Klein clearly shows in his book, he has mastered this aspect of case-management and by sharing his experience he offers others the opportunity to find new openings in "stuck" cases.

To be able to find a nosode, including the ones we have less experience with, as a next step in a treatment it is clear that the totality of symptoms will usually not be of help. So one needs to know what to look for, and for that this book is a great help.

The book starts with an interesting history of miasms in homeopathy showing how the concept and understanding of miasms has changed over time.

On each nosode the book starts with a description, a general commentary on the nosode and source notes. After that the author provides a Clinical Focus Guide, divided in two parts: 1) Mind and Disposition and 2) Physical Focus. This for me is the core of each chapter as it contains the condensed experience of the author.

Information from provings. published cases and other homeopathic sources is also included as are also cases by the author himself. In the case of Johneinum, notes of a proving conducted by the author are presented.

In the commentary on Malaria the author also goes beyond the individual symptoms of the malaria miasm and discusses its collective expression.

"Many of the personal feelings of hostility, persecution and even homicide (genocide) ... can be seen in a larger socio-political way. This is especially true where the individual or group needing help from remedies in this miasm are living in a town, society or country where they are being taken care of, but not allowed independence. This can be especially seen in refugees, principally those living in a refugee camp." (p. 468)

Of course besides the nosodes remedies belonging to the particular miasm are also listed.

Nosodes discussed in this volume 1 are: Burkholderiales (Hippozaeninum, Pertussinum), Clostridiales (Botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Tetanus), Corynebacterium (Diphterinum, Propionibacterium ames), Mycobacterium (Tubercular nosode remedies e.g. Kent, Bacillinum, Tuberculinum bovinum, Tuberculinum aviaire, Leprominium. ]ohneinum), Enterobacteriales (Bach bowel nosodes. Proteus, Colibacillinum, Eberthinum [Typhoid], Yersinia pestis, Yersinia enterocolitica. [and Rattus j), Parasitic protozoa (Malaria compound, Toxoplasmosis). More will follow in volume 2.

Conclusion: this book is a must for every homeopath who wants a deeper understanding of the state of patients and practical guidelines for case management beyond the first simillimum. Congratulations Louis, Homeopathy owes you!