Starting Off: The 1st Steps… Before learning how to use the homeopathic medicines, it is important to understand what homeopathy is. Some good books provide a good, solid introduction to homeopathy. THE BEST INTRODUCTORY BOOKS ON HOMEOPATHY: * Discovering Homeopathy: Your Introduction to the Science and Art
Starting Off: The 1st Steps…
Before learning how to use the homeopathic medicines, it is important
to understand what homeopathy is. Some good books provide a good,
solid introduction to homeopathy.
THE BEST INTRODUCTORY BOOKS ON HOMEOPATHY:
* Discovering Homeopathy: Your Introduction to the Science
and Art of Homeopathic Medicine, Dana Ullman, MPH (foreword
by the Physician to the Queen of England. An overview of homeopathy,
the homeopathic viewpoint on specific diseases, history, and research.)
* Essential Homeopathy, by Dana Ullman, MPH (a
short introduction …only 112 pages)
* Homeopathy: The Great Riddle, by Richard Grossinger,
PhD (written by an anthropologist who describes homeopathy as
an important school of thought in medicine)
* Homeopathy: Beyond Flat Eart Medicine, Timothy
Dooley, MD, ND (a good short book on the homeopathic paradigm
to health and disease)
* The Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, Dana
Ullman, MPH (a good introductory book with lots of insight about
using homeopathy for a wide range of health problems)
* Resonance: The Homeopathic Point of View, Richard
Moskowitz, MD (This is an intelligent introduction to homeopathy.)
* Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy,
Amy Lansky, (An excellent, intelligent, and well-thought out overview
of homeopathy, along with a personal story of a woman whose child
is cured of autism with homeopathy)
Homeopathic Family Medicine
The most popular books in homeopathy are those that teach people
how to use these natural medicines to treat families. There are
some excellent homeopathic self-care books.
HOMEOPATHIC FAMILY MEDICINE BOOKS
* Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines,
by Stephen Cummings, MD, and Dana Ullman, MPH (America’s most
popular homeopathic family medicine book)
* The Complete Homeopathic Resource for Common Illnesses
by Dennis Chernin, MD, MPH (an excellent and very comprehensive
home care book–over 400 pages–and it comes with a beautifully-designed
CD-ROM that includes a mini-repertory, materia medica, and more.
Dr. Chernin has been a homeopath since the 1980s, and he is also
the public health director of two counties in Michigan)
* Homeopathy A-Z, Dana Ullman, MPH (This is a
truly beautifully illustrated book that people love!)
* Homeopathic Family Medicine, (an eBook) by
Dana Ullman, MPH (this ebook as an Acrobat file integrates family
medicine with evidence from scientific studies. See www.homeopathic.com
for more details, including six free sample chapters. You can
purchase a one-time download or a two-year subscription)
* Homeopathic Self-Care: The Quick and Easy Guide,
by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, MSW, and Robert Ullman, ND (an
excellent self-care book written by two highly respected naturopathic
homeopaths)
* The Homeopathic Emergency Guide, Thomas Kruzel,
ND (This book should be obtained after either of the above books
are purchased because it does not provide information on dose
or potency, but it does provide detailed information about more
remedies.)
* Homeopathic Medicine at Home, by Maesimund
Panos, MD, and Jane Heimlich (a good basic introduction to learning
to use a homeopathic medicine kit)
Specialized Self-Care
There are other practical homeopathic self-care books that cover
a more narrowly defined and specialized area of practice.
SPECIALIZED SELF-CARE BOOKS
* Everyday Homeopathy for Animals, Dr. Francis
Hunter, MRCVS, VetFFHom (an exceptional book with specific information
on how to treat dozens of different animals, as well as birds,
fish, reptiles, and even rats, mice, and turtles.)
* Homeopathy for Epidemics, Eileen Nauman, DHM
(a good modern text for learning about the key medicines for present-day
viral agents and chemical threats)
* Emotional Healing with Homeopathy, Peter Chappell,
RSHom (an excellent book for laypeople or health professionals
who want to learn what homeopathy has to offer people who have
experienced various emotional traumas)
* Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy and Childbirth,
Richard Moskowitz, MD (the best book on the subject; it contains
a foreword by the authors of Our Bodies, Ourselves.)
* Sports and Exercise Injuries: Conventional, Homeopathic,
and Alternative Treatments, Stephen Subotnick, DPM, DC.
(This is a great clinical guidebook to treating sports injuries)
* Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing, Asa
Hershoff, ND, DC (This book covers sports injuries plus various
other types of musculoskeletal problems.)
* Prozac Free: Homeopathic Alternatives to Conventional
Drug Therapies. Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, MSW, and
Robert Ullman, ND. (This is an excellent book to learn about remedies
for anxiety and depressive states.)
* Whole Women Homeopathy, Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman,
ND, MSW, and Robert Ullman, ND (This is the best book on homeopathic
women’s health.)
* Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Small Doses for
Small Animals, by Donald Hamilton, DVM (This book is
the BEST book on treating cats and dogs.and this information CAN
be applied to treating other animals as well!)
Children’s Health Care
THE BEST BOOKS ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE:
* Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants,
by Dana Ullman, MPH (This is the best book on homeopathic pediatrics.)
* Ritalin-Free Kids, by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman,
ND, MSW, and Robert Ullman, ND (This is not primarily a how-to
book as it is a good book that describes why homeopathy is so
successful in treating these children and what medicines they
use to do so.)
* Rage-Free Kids, by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman,
ND, MSW and Robert Ullman, ND. (This is not primarily a how-to
book as it is a good book that describes why homeopathy is so
successful in treating these children and what medicines they
use to do so.)
* Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, by Janet
Zand, ND, Rachel Walton, RN, and Bob Rountree, MD (The strength
of this book is that it provide a great deal of information on
various natural medicines for children, including nutrition, supplements,
herbs, flower remedies, and homeopathy. The homeopathic sections
are a little weak, so we encourage that you supplement this book
with a book that specializes in homeopathic children’s health.)
* The Homeopathic Treatment of Children: Pediatric Constitutional
Types, by Paul Herscu, ND, DHANP (This is a great book
that discusses the nine leading homeopathic "constitutional"
types in children.)
* The Vaccine Guide, by Randall Neustaedter,
OMD (Although this is not a book on homeopathy, it is written
by a leading homeopath. This is the best book presently available
on the vaccination issue!)
HOMEOPATHIC THINKING
Homoeopathic Philosophy
It is also helpful to understand homeopathic philosophy, especially
if you want to understand homeopathy more seriously. The following
books are invaluable for understanding the different paradigm of
healing that homeopathy represents. See also the section on “homeopathic
methodology” to learn more about how to put homeopathy into
practice.
THE BEST BOOKS ON HOMEOPATHIC PHILOSOPHY:
* The Organon of the Healing Art, Samuel Hahnemann,
MD (This was the 1st book on homeopathy, written by its founder.
This edition is the newest and best translation of this seminal
book)
* Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy, James
Tyler Kent, MD (Written in 1900, this book sought to update Hahnemann’s
writings.
* The Science of Homeopathy, George Vithoulkas
(Written in the 1970s, this book further updated the writings
of Hahnemann and Kent.)
Books on the homeopathic methodology are similar to those on homeopathic
philosophy, though the former describe in greater detail how to
practice homeopathy.
Homeopathic Methodology
* Achieving and Maintaining the Simillimum: Strategies
for Case Management, Luc De Schepper, MD (a very useful
textbook for the serious student or practitioner on how to practice
classical Hahnemannian homeopathy)
* Hahnemann Revisited, Luc De Schepper, MD (a
very useful textbook for the serious student or practitioner on
how to practice classical Hahnemannian homeopathy)
* Homeopathic Methodology: Casetaking, Repertory, and
Case Analysis, by Todd Rowe, MD, CCH (Written by the
former President of the National Center for Homeopathy and a teacher
at the Hahnemann College of Homeopathy, this book provides a good
introduction to casetaking, repertorization, and case analysis)
* The Handbook of Homoeopathy, by Dr. Gerhard
Koehler
* Principles of Homeopathic Philosophy, by Margaret
Roy (Originally written as a textbook for those doing distance
learning, this is an excellent course in homeopathic thinking!)
* The Homeopathic Conversation, by Dr. Brian
Kaplan (This is the best book on homeopathic casetaking.)
* Potency in Homeopathic Prescribing, by Julie
Bernard (This is the best book on determining the dose and potency.)
* Hahnemann Revisited, Luc de Schepper, MD, PhD.
(This is an excellent book on homeopathic methodology, with some
emphasis on the use of LM potencies, Hahnemann’s last major contribution
to homeopathy.)
The Next Steps…
The History of Homeopathy
Homeopathic principles of healing pre-date Hippocrates and have
been utilized in many cultures throughout the world.
* Copeland’s Cure: Homeopathy
and the War Between Convetional & Alternative Medicine,
Natalie Robins (a fascinating history book with some emphasis
on Royal Copeland, MD, the homeopath and ophthalmological surgeon
who became the Senator from New York and who wrote the law that
empowered the FDA and that recognized homeopathic medicines as
legal).
* Divided Legacy (4 volumes),
Harris L. Coulter, PhD. (Individual volumes can be purchased separately!
This set of books represents a truly monumental body of analysis
of Western medical history told from a point of view that is critical
of the conventional "rational" Western model of medicine
and supportive of the "empirical" tradition in Western
medicine.
Volume I covers the period in medicine from Hippocrates to Parcelsus,
15th century;
Volume II covers European medicine from the 15th century to 1850;
Volume III covers American medicine from 1800 to 1915;
Volume IV covers 20th century medicine.)
* Vitalism: The History of Herbalism,
Homeopathy, and Flower Essences, by Matthew Wood (This
book provides biographies of various Western physicians and healers
who honored the vitalist tradition in philosophy and medicine.)
* A Homeopathic Love Story: The Story
of Samuel and Melanie Hahnemann, by Rima Handley, PhD.
(This is the true story of the founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann,
who at an age of 79, met his 2nd wife, who was a French artist,
intellectual, and feminist of 34 years of age.)
* The Faces of Homeopathy, by
Julian Winston. (This is a great hardback, fully illustrated book
of biographies of past and present leaders in homeopathy. A great
coffee table book!)
* The Faces of Homeopathy (video)
by Julian Winston (This is a video with highlights from the book.)
Homeopathic Research
Most people are not aware of the significant body of basic science
and clinical research in homeopathy. Whether you have a personal
interest in research, you will inevitably know others (friends,
family, or family physicians) who will ask you what “evidence”
is there that homeopathy works. The books listed below are very
important for this.
* The Emerging Science of Homeopathy: Complexity, Biodynamics,
and Nanopharmacology, by Paulo Bellavite, MD, and Andreas
Signorini, MD. (Written by a professor of pathology and a homeopathic
physician, this is the best book on homeopathic research. It was
recently updated in 2002. Make certain to read and appreciate
the two appendices.)
* Homeopathic Family Medicine (an eBook), by
Dana Ullman. (This eBook integrates the latest clinical research
in homeopathy with practical clinical information that is useful
to health and medical professionals as well as to consumers.)
* Classical Homeopathy, Michael Carlston, MD
(This book was published by a major conventional medical publisher,
and it is a well-referenced textbook that is a solid introduction
to the science and art of homeopathy.)
* Homeopathy: Science or Myth, Bill Gray, MD
(This is a good book on research, though it only refers to and
discusses those experiments that showed that homeopathy worked;
it doesn’t discuss the various studies that didn’t
show an effect.)
* Homoeopathic Science and Modern Medicine, by
Dr. Harris Coulter (This is an excellent review of homeopathic
science prior to 1980.)
Constitutional Types: Homeopathic "Bodymind"
Personalities
After learning the basics of homeopathy, some people love to study
various homeopathic medicines as a way of finding their own and
their friends’ constitutional medicine. Although it is not recommended
one self-prescribe a constitutional medicine, it is still a useful
exercise. The process of reading about the various typologies
and of finding the appropriate one is a mixture of detective work,
self-discovery, rational analysis, and intuitive assessment.
* A Homeopathic Guide to Partnership and Compatibility,
Liz Lalor (a truly fascinating book that describes 19 key remedy
and their bodymind personalities and then what remedy-types are
personally compatible with others)
* Homeopathic Psychology, Philip Bailey, MD (This
book is an excellent review of the personality of 34 leading homeopathic
medicines.)
* Psyche and Substance: Essays on Homeopathy in the Light
of Jungian Psychology, Edward C. Whitmont, MD. (This
is a truly brilliant book written by a Jungian psychiatrist and
homeopath who provides insight into the cosmology of homeopathy
as well as insights into 10 leading homeopathic medicines.)
* The Soul of Remedies, Rajan Sankaran (Written
by one of the most respected homeopaths in the world, this book
summarizes the essence of 100 remedies in one or two pages each.)
* Emotional Healing with Homeopathy, by Peter
Chappel, RSHom (This newly updated edition of an invaluable book
for homeopaths and patients.)
* Prozac Free: Homeopathic Alternatives to Conventional
Drug Therapies. Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, MSW, and
Robert Ullman, ND. (This book provides insights into constitutional
types as well as important medicines for acute anxiety and depressive
states.)
* Dreams, Symbols, and Homeopathy: Archetypal Dimensions
of Healing. Jane Cicchetti, RSHom, CCH (This is a brilliant
book that integrates Jungian psychology and homeopathy.)
* Homeopathic Remedies for Life Stages, Didier
Grandgeorge, MD. (This French pediatrician and classical homeopath
provides great insights into the important remedies at the varying
stages of life.)
* The Spirit of Homeopathic Medicines: Essential Insights
to 300 Remedies. Didier Grandgeorge, MD (This book provides
brief but lucid insights into 300 medicines.)
* The Homeopathic Treatment of Children: Pediatric Constitutional
Types, Paul Herscu, ND. (This book describes the 9 leading
pediatric constitutional types.)
Materia Medica
"Materia media" are Latin words that mean "materials
of medicine," that is, the various medicines used in homeopathy
from the plant, mineral, animal, or chemical kingdoms. Homeopathic
medicines are listed in Latin so that homeopaths (and patients)
can be precise with the exact source of the medicinal substance.
There are hundreds of homeopathic materia medica, and there are
different styles in which they are written and organized. Since
materia medicas are full of detailed information about a medicine,
it is necessary to study each medicine in a systematic way so that
you can retain as much information about it as possible. Each person
develops his or her own systematic way to study the materia medica.
One common method is to summarize the key mental and physical general
symptoms along with the characteristic physical symptoms on
an index card or a sheet of paper. In general, students of homeopathy
learn the medicine more effectively when they try to memorize key
features of the medicine and when they get a deep feeling about
it. Some people make up mnemonic devices. Others may meditate on
a medicine’s characteristics. Some people even make drawings of
the person who would typically need this medicine. And some people
dramatize this medicine in a short play. It’s good to encourage
study group members to discuss a medicine without the use of their
notes, and ultimately to check with notes only when someone questions
the accuracy of a symptom or at the end of the discussion.
One systematic way to learn about a medicine in a study group is
to discuss its most characteristic symptoms first. Afterwards, there
should be discussion of the psychological symptoms, then noteworthy
physical general symptoms, then noteworthy physical symptoms, and
finally, the less characteristic symptoms. When discussing the physical
symptoms, it is helpful to talk about them in the order of head
to toe.
INTRODUCTORY MATERIA MEDICA
The following are the materia medica to consider getting first:
* Pocket Manual of Materia Medica with Repertory,
William Boericke, MD
* First Materia Medica, Margaret Roy, RSHomKEYNOTE MATERIA MEDICA
* Studies of Homoeopathic Remedies, Dr. D.M.
Gibson (Written in the 1960s, this semi-modern book provides an
excellent overview of 100 remedies)
* Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms,
by Roger Morrison, MD (This modern textbook is used by almost
all of the homeopathic schools as an important way to learn the
leading features of 300 or so medicines.)
* The New Synoptic One, Volume I Frans Vermeulen
(Written in the 1990s, this work synthesizes many homeopathic
masters, and as such it is many materia medica in one.)
* Synoptic Materia Medica, Volume II, Frans Vermeulen
(Written in the late 1990s, this is the best materia medica of
the new and little known medicines.)
* Keynotes of the Materia Medica, H.C. Allen,
MD
* Materia Medica of Homeopathic Remedies, Dr.
S. Phatak
* Nash’s Expanded Work, (including "Leaders"),
E.B. Nash, MD
* Materia Poetica, by Sylvia Chatroux, MD (This
is a book of poems that well describe the key physical and psychological
traits of the leading remedies used in homeopathy. This is not
just a book of poems, it is FULL of practical insights about these
medicines!)PROFESSIONAL LEVEL MATERIA MEDICA
(see also materia medica on "constitutional types")
* Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica,
James Tyler Kent, MD (a classic)
* Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, (3
volumes), John Clarke, MD (a classic with lots of details)
* Concordant Materia Medica, Frans Vermeulen
(This is one of the leading materia medica textbooks.)
* Prisma: The Arcana of Materia Medica Illuminated,
Frans Vermeulen (This book brings our medicines to life by describing
the nature, behavior, chemistry, applications in medicine or technology,
history, and folklore.)
* Drug Pictures, Margaret Tyler, MD (This book
is a classic. The author synthesizes the thoughts and experiences
of the original classical homeopaths.)
* Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica (10 volumes),
Constantine Hering, MD (This is an enormous body of information
and experience.)
* Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica (12 volumes),
Timothy Allen, MD (This is an enormous body of information and
experience.)
* Homeopathic Remedy Guide, Robin Murphy, ND
(This is an almost 2,000 page reference book that includes many
little known medicines.)
* Encyclopedia of Homeopathic Pharmacopeia (3 volumes),
by Dr. P.N. Verma (This book is a pharmacopeia, which means that
it describes the specific substance used as a medicine, how to
identify it, when it exists or grows, what part is used, and microscopic
and macroscopic information about it.
* The Sensations of Homeopathy, Rajan Sankaran
(a brilliant new materia medica that links families of medicines
with miasms, and it gives new insights about KEY features of many
medicines)MATERIA MEDICA OF NEW MEDICINES
* Synoptic Materia Medica, volume II, Frans
Vermeulen (Written in the late 1990s, this is the best materia
medica of the new and little known medicines.)
* Animal Minds, Human Voices, Nancy Herrick,
PA (7 new provings of animal remedies, including horse, wolf,
elephant, butterfly, rat, dolphin, and dinosaur bone)
* Sacred Plants, Human Voices, Nancy Herrick,
PA (new provings into plants used in ritual, including peyote,
ayahuasca, ginseng, lotus, mandragora)
* Provings 1 & 2, by Paul Herscu, ND, DHAND
(This is a compilation of the BEST articles ever written on homeopathic
drug provings. Volume 1 includes a proving of alcohol.)
Pages: 1 2
Dana Ullman
