The Source in Homeopathy

Review

This book review is reprinted from Volume 3, 2010 Edition of Spectrum of Homeopathy with permission from Narayana Publishers .

Reviewed by Deborah Collins

Making use of the methods and maps of Rajan Sankaran and Jan Scholten, as well as her own background in science and spirituality, Irene Schlingensiepen-Brysch helps her patients to follow the "red thread" inwards towards the source remedy - an energy pattern from somewhere in the universe - thus uncovering the possibility to utilise with confidence remedies hitherto unknown and unproven.

Hahnemann vehemently opposed speculation with regard to the source of the patient's complaints, asking us to rely solely on the visible condition. After years of practice, during which he had encouraging success with acute diseases, the little or no success he had with chronic ailments prompted him to speculate on the existence of an underlying miasm, which maintained the state of illness in the patient. It seemed to him necessary to delve into that which was invisible; it was only much later that his speculations were validated by the science of microbiology. Meanwhile, we have learned of other "invisible" sources of chronic illness, such as genetics and psychological factors. In order to help our patients to heal, we require methods of coming in contact with these deep sources, these cellular memories, and bringing them to the light. These methods need to be highly accurate and specific for the person in question, tapping into the patients' inner wisdom and healing capacities, and avoiding speculation and guesswork.

A patient can take on the pattern of any imaginable source in nature, as an expression of his/her problem. In acute psychiatry, this is perhaps more evident than in our day to day life: a patient might describe himself as a 'sun god' or a 'deer', and his whole person can be overtaken by forces that seem inhuman. With the more 'adjusted' patients, these patterns are less easily visible and require prompting to unveil. Even on discovering the inner landscape of the patient, we are sometimes puzzled as to how to interpret it, for it does not always fit into the known categories or remedies that we have available. Despite the concerted efforts of homeopaths worldwide, relatively few of the endless possibilities for remedies have been proven and made available as remedies, and yet it is to these that we generally turn. Recent developments by Rajan Sankaran and Jan Scholten, in mapping the mineral kingdom and plant kingdoms, have made vastly more remedy choices possible. Irene Schlingensiepen-Brysch, with her previous scientific background and thorough study of these methods, has broadened this approach to allow, in principle, all patterns in nature to be recognized. The essence of 'geyser', for example, with its fragile structure and sporadic outbursts, can be found in rather shy, gentle women who from time to time experience phases of anger or irascibility, while avoiding conflict in general. It is not possible or necessary to memorize the characteristics of every possible remedy but it is possible to help our patients to reveal the source themselves, by relying on their innate wisdom, while they are gently guided inwards. In her book, "The Source in Homeopathy", Schlingensiepen-Brysch describes such a journey with her patients, carefully but surely following the track inwards towards the source - here defined as the substance from which the respective remedy for a patient is made. The footholds for each step are the irregularities in the patient's flow of speech and the words or phrases that are seemingly meaningless or out of context, since these originate from the unconscious. We are cautioned to stay alert from one second to the next in order to avoid speculation and to remain in constant contact with the patient. As one comes nearer to the source, the imagery becomes richer and more defined, and yet it usually leaves the prescriber in a state of perplexity, as though he/she has entered a hitherto unknown world. Here, the roles become reversed, for it is the patient who "knows" and the prescriber who knows nothing. One is asked to learn to simply endure this discomfort of "not knowing", for it is exactly at this point that the goal is nearest. By trusting this innate knowing of the patient, one can ask "where on earth or within the whole universe does something exist in exactly this fashion?" Often, surprisingly appropriate answers lead to the remedy or to its name. Not every patient is capable of such a journey, nor is it always necessary; it proves to be those with a certain self-awareness and an ability to listen within themselves, who are most able to move inward to their source remedy and name it. Sometimes, very old people and children have a direct access to the inner pictures of their source remedy.

The cases presented in this book are beautiful examples of the process of following the 'red thread' to the source. Sometimes, very severe pathologies, which one would assume to be incurable, end up being completely reversed, as in the case of an elderly man presenting with arthritis, a non-functioning intestinal tract, and the inability to retain any food. He had lost considerable weight, was extremely weak, and suffered from memory loss, but he launched into an account which finally led him to talk about 'counterfeiting money', creating coins from heavy brass (a mixture of copper, tin and lead). Although unknown as a remedy, Heavy Brass was made up for him and given in LM potencies, which first helped to reduce the nausea, then restored the function of his bowels, gradually alleviated his arthritis, and improved his memory. All three elements of brass are well-known in homeopathy but it required a different approach to elicit the information necessary for this unusual prescription.

Ten levels of case-taking are presented, similar to Rajan Sankaran's model, ranging from level one, the name of the complaint, through the basic emotions concerned, the inner experience, the body language, the source of the remedy, the energetic perception, the consciousness, and finally, to the unnameable. Here, one perceives the depth of philosophical and spiritual understanding brought to this work. Throughout the book, insights are given into the essence of various sources in nature, in such a way that they become living entities for us and thus more easily recognisable in our patients. The book culminates in "A short history of the long development of the universe", with striking examples of patients whose soul images represent the process of development and disintegration of the structures of the universe. This is the first book I have encountered which melds science and soul in such a way that both are enriched, and in which we, homeopaths, are invited to participate, in an ever deeper interaction with all of life. It is a book that excites and challenges; it is one of the most comprehensive, rigorous, and inspiring books I have read on homeopathy.

This book review is reprinted from Volume 23, Summer 2010 edition, with permission from Homeopathic Links.

Reviewed by Harry van der Zee, The Netherlands

In the alleviation of the vast width and depth of mankind's suffering, homeopathy is one of the most scientific systems of healing available today. Samuel Hahnemann established and developed a thorough methodology with clear practical guidelines based on an insightful philosophy.

Despite this, a scientific mindset is scarcely found in homeopathy. The very word "science" may even call up feelings of antipathy in many homeopaths because it is associated with the lack of recognition homeopathy has been treated with until today from evidence-based conventional medicine.

However, to attain a healthy balance in itself, and to move forward in its development, homeopathy sorely needs a cross-fertilization through inputs by scientists from other fields of knowledge and research, even those seemingly opposed to homeopathy such as conventional medicine, or disciplines operating ostensibly far outside the homeopathic domain.

And homeopathy needs homeopaths with an open scientific mind looking for answers to bold questions, instead of clinging to firmly-held beliefs.

Irene Schlingensiepen-Brysch is a scientist who used to work in a field very different from homeopathy; after becoming a homeopath she maintained her scientific attitude, striving to verify her results and looking for the Source and methodology behind successful prescriptions.

In Irene the left side of the brain unites with the right one, analysis meets synthesis, male reaches out to female and east meets west. Here are some expressions you will encounter in her writings to illustrate this: "following irregularity in free associations as expressed by the patient is an essential tool in case-taking"; "if the therapist is no longer able to follow the patient this indicates they are close to the Source."

This book describes Irene's journey to uncovering the Source of disease as well as the Source of healing and is the result of the alchemic process that has taken place inside her when she crossed the boundaries of the prevailing material paradigm to enter a new spiritual one. A variety of fascinating cases are offered as examples of how in case-taking the patient can be led or followed to start expressing the Source directly.

What then is this Source? First of all, in the context of homeopathic practice, the Source indicates the substance which may heal the patient when prepared homeopathically. At the same time this substance is defined by Irene as the Source of the talents an individual is meant to express in life. In this sense the simillimum is simultaneously the Source of healing and the Source from which the higher purpose of life is meant to unfold itself. What more exciting journey could a homeopath undertake than the one leading to the very Source of an individual's being?

Using 24 remedy pictures of cosmic origin such as Sol, Helium, Positronium, Meteorite, Brass, Volcano, Precious Stones, and Geyserthe author shows how we can accompany our patients on the journey into their unconscious and help them to name the Source of their remedy. This may even be a remedy that is so far unknown to homeopathy, yet which is nevertheless capable of bringing about profound healing, even in serious illness.

This carefully edited book published with hard cover and high printing quality I can recommend to any homeopath interested in exploring the boundaries of homeopathy.

This book review is reprinted from Volume 103, Number 2 Summer 2010 Edition, with permission from American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine.

Reviewed by Jay Yasgur, RPh, MSc

Dr. Schlingensiepen-Brysch's 'brand' of homeopathy is called 'source-based' and is described in this tome. Actually, like all books, it discusses far more than that. 'Source Based Homeopathy' means that the patient, through words, feelings, gestures, will tell you the exact remedy he or she needs. The patient is the 'source. '

Irene qualified in medicine at Bonn and Goettingen University and went on to gain a Ph.D. in cancer and brain research under Professor Otto Creutzfeld at the Goettingen Max Planck Institute. Here she shows, in a scholarly way, how she 'digs' out the source as witnessed in a dozen or so cases.

The first fifty pages are introductory, while the next section entitled 'Cases and Essence' (150 pages) introduce the reader to the practicalities of practice.

'Trapped in a Claw of Force' is the title of a case of osteoarthritis which was greatly helped by Petroleum 200, 1M and LM9.

"At this point the patient is offering an access to different kingdoms. In spite of the terms 'environment, gasoline, automobile, pollution' having already come up earlier during the case-taking as possible small hints to the mineral kingdom at unusual points, I once again neutrally offer up the word entrapped, which is very often and prominently found in the animal kingdom, or more rarely, in the inner images of a plant (e.g., Anacardiaceae). The aim of this question is that the classification into the right kingdom of the remedy is not undertaken too early and not by myself, but rather by the patient producing the decisive clarification with the use of her inner knowledge." [p. 170]

As Dr. S-Byrsch probes deeper, the patient's language evolves until her entrapped feeling is described as 'pincers' and 'like a well that is being directed into its channels, into pipes, so that we have drinking water. Mineral oil is pressed into pipelines; it can't flow where it wants to go..." It was this sort of language which led Irene to successfully prescribe Petroleum.

Other remedies discussed include Sol, Helium, Hydrogen, Positronium, Radium bromide, Plutonium nitrate, Meteorite, Granitum, Marble, Geyser, Lava, etc. At the end, she comments on case-taking:

"..The danger of (mis)guiding is real, in every approach.

"We can protect ourselves against this by attempting to stay entirely open to what the patient really tells us - at every single second. Until the very last moment of case-taking.

"As trivial as it sounds, this attempt to be completely open can be just as hard. The greatest difficulty in my experience lies in enduring our own bewilderment when we completely lose track of understanding the other's story.

"And yet this is the surest sign that the patient is approaching the description of the Source itself and is therefore adopting the language of its peculiarities ...

"And it is exactly this point in the case-taking which confirms that we are on the right track, that the goal lies right ahead. We merely have to remain in this zone of discomfort, this moment of our greatest bewilderment, and encourage the patient to continue probing right there. For this is where the greatest peculiarity of the story lies: right here, their very own Source can be stimulated to 'flow.'

"The interesting thing about this form of case-taking is that the patient, probably for the first time in the history of medicine, is the knowing one. The therapist is hopefully a learned one, but, if the case-taking is indeed successful, he remains the ignorant one, in the best sense, until the last moment." [p. 250]