Articles — Center for Homeopathy

Robert Whitaker Speaks

On the last day of March, an overflowing crowd heard Robert Whitaker speak at the Brattleboro public library.  A writer and journalist, Whitaker has researched various medical issues with a particular focus on mental health for 25 years.  He has written two books, the first, ‘Mad in America’, was a history of psychiatric treatment in the United States since colonial times, and the second, ‘Anatomy of an Epidemic’, detailed the rise of the use of psychotropic medications in treating the mentally ill over the last half century and the consequences thereof.

The latter book drew a great amount of attention, winning an award for investigative journalism in 2010 and also making its author something of a spokesperson for change in the way that the mentally ill are currently treated in the United States.

A Case of Diabetes

Harry (not his real name) is an Asian Indian man going on 80 who became my patient about a year ago.  Since he lives over 9,000 miles away, we have not actually ever met in person.  But on the suggestion of a relative who is also a patient of mine, he requested a consultation via Skype.

I was certainly happy to oblige and happier still that our Internet connection was quite clear – a better connection, in fact, than I get with some people Skyping from Vermont.    A diminutive man with a shaven head (think Ben Kingsley’s portrayal of Gandhi), Harry has a cheerful affect and brisk Indian English diction that enhanced our connection even further.

A Case of Rheumatoid Arthritis

When Miriam was a freshman in college, she became acutely ill at the end of the first semester and landed in the school infirmary for a week. Although there was no diagnosis and no antibiotic treatment, in retrospect the symptoms indicated it was probably strep throat. Miriam did get over it and went back to school.

Her illness had actually been the culmination of a turbulent year. As a senior in high school, she had developed full body hives that were treated with prednisone. Then, the summer before college, her boyfriend was paralyzed after breaking his neck. Even though she was soon off to college, Miriam was dedicated to helping him through the tragedy. She 'poured everything into giving him a lift' that first year away.

So what are Obstacles to Cure?

This is a term traditionally used to indicate anything in the diet or regimen that may disturb or extinguish the action of a homeopathic remedy. Samuel Hahnemann wrote an extensive footnote in his central work, The Organon of Medicine, in which he enumerated a large number of things he believed fell into this category. It includes many foods, drinks and spices such as salad, pork, ice cream, celery, coffee and most spices which are in common use today, though they no doubt were rarities in early 19th century German cuisine. Also included were things life wearing woolen clothes next to the skin, reading in a horizontal position, keeping late hours, mental and physical overexertion as well as a sedentary lifestyle.

Although not mentioned in this particular passage, it was a matter of course that other medications, be they allopathic, herbal or homeopathic (other than the one prescribed) be avoided

Two Cases of Whooping Cough

Little 7 year old Teddy was one miserable fellow when his mother brought him to the office on a hot summer afternoon. He had been suffering from pertussis or whooping cough for a number of weeks - and suffering was the operative word. Every hour he would have a very violent and loud fit of coughing. He would literally jump into the air with the force of the cough and, because Teddy felt like he was choking, he would desperately stomp his feet. Then the fit would end in a spasm of vomiting or retching.

If you've ever witnessed a bout of whooping cough, it can be pretty scary. In infants it can be dangerous because they actually can suffocate.

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