Spectrum 2018 02 Reptiles

EDITORIAL

SPECTRUM OF HOMEOPATHY

Christa Gebhardt & Dr Jürgen Hansel

Chief editors

Dear Readers,

Since Constantin Hering spectacularly experimented on him-

self in 1828, the snake has exerted a particular fascination on

homeopaths. James Tyler Kent stated in his lectures on the

Bushmaster: “

Lachesis

is a frequently indicated remedy, and

one that you will need to study much in order to know how to

use.

Lachesis

seems to fit the whole human race, for the race is

pretty well filled up with snake as to disposition and character

and this venom only causes to appear that which is in man.” We

are familiar with the snake disposition not only from mythology

and biology, it is also a part of us and we can sense it in the

archaic depths of our reptile brain. This is where the specific

reaction patterns are stored, which together with the proving

symptoms can direct us to the prescription of a remedy from

the snakes and other reptiles.

Nowadays we can repertorise

Lachesis

and several other snake

toxins but we can only find many other reptile remedies after we

have mastered the typical reaction patterns and group character-

istics of the reptiles. In this issue of SPECTRUM we aim to bridge

the gap between the well-known remedies such as

Lachesis

Crotalus

Elaps

and the more exotic remedies, not just from

snakes but also lizards, crocodiles, or tortoises. To this end Jörg

Wichmann first clarifies the taxonomy of the highly variable

reptiles and Bhawisha Joshi summarizes the common homeo-

pathic characteristics of this heterogeneous remedy group. This

makes it easier to comprehend the classification of the reptiles

in the numerous case histories that follow.

A major contribution to this case collection comes from the

collective of ‘The Other Song’ academy in Mumbai. Using three

well-known snake poisons, Rajan Sankaran, Pratik Desai and

Rishi Vyas relate familiar snake themes to the classical materia

medica and the insights of the sensation method. Sankaran,

Meghna Shah and Sujit Chatterjee rely on this method, which

directly connects the patient’s inner experience with the bio-

logical characteristics of the remedy source, when prescribing a

remedy extracted from the shell of a turtle. The general reptile

themes initially help to assign sensations such as ‘naked and

unprotected’ or ‘shielded by a hard shell’ to the Testudines, not

the Molluscs. Vatsala Sperling illustrates the vulnerability of the

tortoises with a fascinating case of Testudo hermanni. Group

analysis also helps Sigrid Lindemann to differentiate lizard from

snake remedies for two hyperactive children. In both cases the

special affinity of the young patients to snakes and lizards in-

dicates the path to the remedy. Similarly, in Tali Levi’s case the

patient’s identification with an alligator is central.

Such prescriptions without a solid homeopathic basis in rem-

edy provings and clinical experience are initially hypothetical

and subject to speculative risk. On the other hand, successful

treatments as seen in the case histories of crocodile, lizard and

turtle remedies, can help to gradually expand our as yet lim-

ited knowledge about these reptile subgroups, also helping to

confirm the methodology. This is also true of the experiment

with the unconscious that helps Susan Sonz successfully treat a

severe case of post-traumatic stress syndrome with potentised

Salamander

. Although this case concerns an amphibian, not a

reptile, we didn’t want to deprive you of this fascinating story

from New York.

Like Sonz, Jayesh Shah presents his own approach, taking his

patient during the casetaking on a homeopathic journey of

healing with the aim of a direct transformation. This process

is then continued with a well-founded prescription of

Cenchris

contortrix

, one of the highly potent snake toxins that is used

in homeopathy for the most severe pathology. Whereas the

toxicology plays a key role here, as in the

Mamba

case by Béné-

dicte Echard, Susan Sonz’s case histories of the non-poisonous

constrictor snakes Python and Boa again rely on the sensation

method. Dinesh Chauhan continues to develop his case witness-

ing process, delving deep into the dream and imagination world

of his patient to find the appropriate snake remedy. Since this

path to the simile for animal remedies seems especially straight-

forward to follow and comprehend, it is particularly important

to proceed with great care. Hence the motto of this issue of

SPECTRUM: “Imitate it but precisely and carefully!”

EDITORIAL