Principles and Practice of Homeopathy: the Therapeutic and Healing Process

David Owen
Churchill Livingstone Elsevier: Oxford, UK, 2007
Price: £39.99, ISBN 13 978-0-443-10089-5

David Owen is to be congratulated on his superlative book on Homeopathy. It is a joy to read such an eloquent and thought provoking text. It comes with rave reviews and is recommended for practitioners and students in homeopathy as well as students of other forms of complementary medicine, healthcare professionals and researchers. I would propose it as essential reading for all of us in these troubled times.

The book is the antithesis to the dry Principles and Practice of Medicine textbook that accompanied my years as a clinical medical student. And in a way that resonates with the situation in which we now find ourselves as a profession, hounded by the “Scientific Inquisition”. To improve standards of patient care, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) was established some years back. Although the rationale is commendable, NICE and the evidence-based medicine movement have encouraged a “one size fits all” recipe book mentality towards patient care. In this analogy, homeopathy represents “haute couture” in Medicine!

Homeopathy is both art and science; it embraces the true meaning of holistic Medicine. Due to misinterpretation of Descartes' Meditations there is a deep schism in modern Medicine between mind and body. Homeopathy embraces both as different aspects of the human condition and explores the realm of spirit, soul and purpose. Homeopathy can be practised on many levels and many conflicts have arisen, for example, between proponents of the unicist and pluralist methods. By exploring the models of health and of healing, David Owen is able to develop understanding and commonality between the various approaches. To be successful in prescribing one has to be able to use all available tools and approaches. Owen brings together the different schools of homeopathy. No single approach is advocated or promoted, all have equal merit and the choice of method depends on the individual case. Each method is described clearly and concisely. There are extensive references to each chapter, aiding further study.

The book is divided into six sections covering aspects of the healing process. Some chapters are by experts in the field: Jeremy Sherr writes on Provings, Davis Lilley on miasms, Peter Gregory on veterinary prescribing, Tony Pinkus gives the pharmacy perspective, Phil Edmonds discusses software, Misha Norland explains Signatures, Iris Bell tackles research and Helen Beaumont and Maggie Curley the Sankaran method. Although a multi-author text, it reads fluently as the writing styles are synchronised.

There is a strong bias to discussing the more challenging situations, which test the homeopathic practitioner to his/her limits. Owen supports the reader through the process of unravelling the most complex of cases and brings structure to the process. He addresses the patient–practitioner relationship in all its guises, and introduces complex psychodynamic models in an uncomplicated and understandable way.

This is a book which poses many questions to the reader; only by constantly questioning our views on health, disease and healing can we become truly adept in our profession. Serious introspection is a necessary part of becoming a healed healer. The process may be uncomfortable at times as we deconstruct our familiar world, but the rewards are immense. With due humility, Owen does not claim to have all the answers. But he asks the questions of himself and fellow seekers on the path of life. He is a strong mentor and a source of inspiration.

Homoeopathic philosophy may seem like “theorising” to the sceptic. They forget that hypotheses underlie new models of science. Einstein had to question Newton's theories of gravity in order to evolve relativity, and quantum physics is constantly evolving thanks to other great thinkers who challenge the accepted “facts”. No one fully understands the fundamentals – what causes us to live and die, what creates ease and dis-ease. Even Pasteur recognised it was the soil, not the germ itself that causes sickness. But currently it is only holistic medicine truly embraces that concept. Conventional Medicine's answer to MRSA and Clostridium difficile, which arose from the injudicious and inappropriate use of antibiotics, is newer and stronger antibiotics, no thought is given to the ‘soil’.

Only a shift in the medical paradigm can heal this situation, and in the interim we are subjected to ridicule for our understanding that mind and body are one. How ironic that the very same insult of “theorising” that Hahnemann threw at the medical establishment of his day should be used against us today.

The joy of homeopathy is that there is always more to learn, to understand. It is not a static field, which, once mastered the practitioner can stagnate into complacency. This book fuelled my enthusiasm for the profession. It will have a treasured place on my bookshelf and will be re-read many times.