Miasms of the New Millennium: New Insights into the Ten Miasms

This book is based on Rajan Sankaran's concept of miasm. The goal of this book is ‘to communicate the important aspects of each miasm and to bring these ideas to life […] through clinical cases’. On more than 500 pages, the authors have achieved their goal, though homeopathic practitioners who do not follow the sensation method may be left slightly bewildered at times.

The first chapter covers the historical evolution of the concept of miasms, from Hahnemann (of course!) over the decades of hesitating acceptance (or not) of this seemingly outlandish concept, to the work by Ortega and Vithoulkas, then culminating (according to the authors) with Sankaran. The authors ask valid questions of Hahnemann's writings; for example, can remedies cover more than one miasm? (which, they conclude, is not possible); and suggest that Hahnemann left his followers in a confusion that has only recently been clarified through the work by Sankaran.

The bulk of this book is dedicated to each of the 10 miasms separately. The sequence is taken as suggested by Sankaran: acute, typhoid, malarial, ringworm, psoric, sycotic, cancer, tubercular, leprosy and syphilitic. An AIDS miasm, as suggested by other homeopaths (e.g., Misha Norland, Peter Fraser or Richard Pitt) is not mentioned.

There is no explanation about this sequence of the miasms and no specific reference to literature. Indeed, throughout the book the authors refer to Sankaran but do hardly provide any specific reference to literature.

Each miasm is explained from its historical-pathological context. The themes of the miasm are elaborated and a list of confirmatory physical and general symptoms follows. The differential diagnosis between the particular miasm and the other miasms, as well as the differentiation to the three kingdoms, I enjoyed most. Personally I found that these differentiations brought the (sometimes subtle) differences very much to light.

The miasm is then presented through patient language and cases, subdivided (if applicable) into mineral, plant and animal kingdoms. It is often not clear whether the quotes from patients were taken before the miasmatic remedy was prescribed or after the remedy had acted. Observational notes about the patients are rare and a lot of emphasis is placed on the use of words. As a non-sensation practitioner, I found some of the points of analysis rather interpreted, occasionally even judgemental. However, I understand that it may well be the dry nature of paper cases that do not necessarily convey the energetic exchanges that occur during a homeopathic consultation.

This book concludes with a chapter on the relationship between various miasms and kingdoms, followed by lists of remedies as assigned to each miasm and an index.

Comparable to Dr. Morrison's Desktop Companion, the layout of this book is clearer and access of information as a reference book is easier, helped by page headers, lists and titles. There is a solid feel to this book with a heavier than maybe normal paper weight—not light to carry but durable.