Me and You - Spectrum of Homeopathy 02/2017
The Remedies of the Asteraceae Family
This edition of SPECTRUM on the homeopathic treatment of trauma is at the same time a materia medica of the Asteraceae. No other remedy family is so closely associated by homeopaths with the theme of injury. Internal and external injuries can have lifelong traumatic effects: SPECTRUM provides answers to the question of how to come to terms with such experiences and integrate them. Our renowned authors have explored the action spectrum of the Asteraceae, presenting both some familiar remedies and some new ones from the big family commonly known as the asters, daisies or sunflowers.
Willi Neuhold offers a clear structural framework for the Asteraceae: with the inner experience of the Asteraceae according to the sensation method and its miasmatic classification according to Sankaran, he provides a practical grid for the precise mapping of the individual remedies. A number of homeopaths – including Annegret Gärtner, Sigrid Lindemann, and the pediatrician Andreas Richter – indicate some alternatives to the Asteraceae, such as the Solanaceae. In Andreas Richter's article on the remedy picture and stress cycle of Bellis perennis, we also learn something about modern trauma treatment and the problem of retraumatization. Jürgen Weiland's article about a deeply disturbed youngster from his pediatric practice shows how important and healing this can be, including when working with parents.
Jan Scholten's new methodology is also highlighted in this edition of SPECTRUM. He explains in detail how to find the remedy according to his new periodic table of plants so that even those who are not fully up-to-speed with his latest ideas in “Wonderful Plants” can still follow his logic. Clarification of Scholten's thinking is offered by both Resie Moonen and Martin Jakob, who analyze their cases in accordance with Scholten's new approach. With his customary shrewd wit, Franz Swoboda shows how to “crack” Scholten's plant code for uncommon remedies. An original graphic from Jan Scholten's new book is provided, showing the taxonomic overview of the plant world.
Renate Paschmanns and Guy Payen present case histories showing the deep soul of the well-known remedy Arnica, which is also capable of healing profound layers of trauma. Declan Hammond's painfully acquired empathy enables him to accept patients who have experienced the worse thing that can happen to a parent – the death of their child. His description of what he went through and the loving way in which he deals with patients in the same predicament is very moving.
The astonishing thing, however, is that all these cases have a good ending. Ulrich Welte's fruitful and entertaining overview of the genus Cichorium also repeatedly poses the question “to be or not to be,” which surprisingly often results in a happy ending thanks to homeopathy, despite the pain experienced along the way in each individual case.
This issue of SPECTRUM will surprise its readers because it offers an abundance of new findings and discoveries about the very well-known remedies such as Natrium (Sodium), Sulphur or Phosphorus. Many elements and compounds of the Silica series have already been examined by Hahnemann and used successfully to this day in homeopathic practice. However, astonishing new perspectives are revealed when these polychrests are considered systematically, theatrically or on the level of sensation in addition to the Materia medica. Our authors analyse the remedies of the 3rd series on the basis of the Periodic Table of Elements, which have been translated into human developmental periods, phases and stages by Jan Scholten.
“Me and You” is the comprehensive theme of the 3rd series. According to Jan Scholten, the Silica series corresponds to the life phase of a teenager with the main theme of relationships within the family and with friends. In addition to the body-oriented “I” of the Carbon series, in the 3rd series we come into contact and communication with another person who we want to like us, who we love or who we hate. The position that we assume within a relationship and the feeling of belonging to a group, characterise the respective level in the development with regard to the other person. In his analysis, Scholten writes about these phases of the Silica series and shows parallels to the plant world, as Martin Jakob explains in greater detail in his article.
With his case examples on the salts ranging from Natrium (Sodium) to Sulphur, Markus Kuntosch provides an overview on the development of the relationship theme. This spectrum becomes especially clear when we – like Renate Paschmanns – consider the two poles of Natrium (Sodium) and Argon.
Homeopaths who work according to Rajan Sankaran place a different accent on the systematics in the Silicia series. In terms of developmental psychology, Sankaran sees the 3rd series in the preschool age, which is when the child begins to make independent decisions. The topic is also “Me and You” here, but the focus is on developing the identity. Bhawisha Joshi demonstrates this in her overview article and contributes her ideas of an organising periodic system that also applies to the plant and animal world.
The process of finding an identity is concentrated in the statement of “I want to be like you” for Natrium (Sodium) (Jörg Wichmann / Angelika Bolte) and “I am not you” for Phosphorus (Rajan Sankaran). This allows us to understand the elements of the Silicia series in a new way: Dinesh Chauhan does this for Nat-mur., Tali Levi for Nat-s., Bob Blair for Mag-s., Ose Hein for the other magnesium salts and Wyka Feige for the compound of magnesium and silica in soapstone. The identity question of “Who am I?” also receives some completely new, surprising aspects in Ulrike Schuller-Schreib’s exciting study of aluminium: even in its unclear position within the periodic system, Alumina’s well-known confusion about an individual’s identity becomes evident.
SPECTRUM also offers a very special new feature. For the first time, Andreas Holling has published his Dimensions Model of the Periodic System. Andreas has spent years in the development, polishing, testing and use in practice of his Dimensions Model of the Periodic System. This has resulted in the inclusion of the sensation level of the minerals, for the first time.
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"Genuine enrichment
The way in which we are introduced to the 3rd series of the Periodic System enables even homeopaths who have not previously worked with series and stages to have a very good entry point. Case examples intensify what has been learned and deeper insights are provided for the well-known remedies.
Novices will want to become familiar with this method. Those who are advanced can read very good specialist articles."
Christiane Seidler
