Celebrating 25 Years of Homœopathic Links

Some two years ago, I exchanged with Harry van der Zee my idea that homeopaths should share their views before publication. Copublishing is a standard procedure in science – yet not so much so in homeopathy. He thought it a nice idea, but he figured it might be hard to realise. Homeopaths, he added, prefer to think and work independently. But, I replied, wouldnʼt their conclusions become more precise and comprehensive were homeopaths to discuss their findings before publication? They would have collected their findings, exchanged their ideas, compared their opinions and finally have published together. My wise friend did not want to argue with me and did not say much more.

Almost a year ago, he invited me to be guest editor for the very issue you are now holding in your hands. He suggested inviting papers from colleagues who had participated in the 20th anniversary Links conference in Heidelberg in 2007. Five years later, a redefinition of the position of homeopathy could be made.

So, my wise friend gave me the opportunity to promote my own idea. While inviting all those experienced teachers and homeopathic healing artists, I could ask them not only to participate in this Celebration Issue, but also to exchange their ideas before publication. They could express what topic they were interested in and invite others to join them. To my great joy, the idea was accepted. Not by everyone, but by some. (My dear friend, you are right: homeopaths tend to work and think independently. I look at it positively – it is a great gift that they are capable of doing so.) Finally, in this issue we read a great number of superb papers. I am very grateful to all of you for sharing your experience with the community. You even respected the deadline, which is always a nuisance!

Extra thanks go to those who plunged straight into cold water. Interested in similar topics, as became clear during the initial circulars, and without knowing each other, they took the risk. They started to exchange their ideas and finally published jointly. Every opinion has been respected and, as I was told, the whole has become more than the sum of its parts would have been.

This could be one more way to link homeopaths. I like it. What about you?

Franz Swoboda, Guest Editor