Kreative Homoeopathie

Gesammelte Veroeffentlichungen von Antonie Peppler

268 pages, CKH Verlag

Euro 49

ISBN 3-933219-03 5

Reviewed by Ralf Jeutter, Ph.D.

UK

In order to do justice to this book it has to be put into a wider context. At the moment there are two dominant methodologies (one more so than the other), which are both identified with homeopathy. As methods they are diametrically opposed to each other (although in practice there might be some overlaps). One method makes assumptions about substances on the basis of their botanical family relationships or similarities in their chemical make-ups, and tests these assumptions in clinical practice. This is an empirical method, which, if we can believe the many success stories, yields good results. No provings are strictly needed in this method, since the results are gleaned from successfully treated patients. This is the deductive method.

The other method insists that we cannot know anything about a substance until we have tested it fully on healthy people. The foundation for this method is the proving. Relationships to other substances (of all kingdoms) are only made after the gathering of data. This is the inductive method.

These approaches are not just theoretical concepts, but inform directly the way we practice. The second approach will form a totality (a ‘form’ on which to prescribe on) by arranging the individual parts according to their importance (the selection and hierarchy of symptoms is the interpretation). The first approach, on the other hand, adds a second layer of interpretation by giving ‘meaning’ to the individual parts. This is usually done by establishing correspondences with other disciplines, e.g. symbolism, depth psychology, mythology etc. This approach, unfortunately, has all too often the tendency to only look for confirmation of its own contentions/assumptions, and ignores what does not fit. The book under review belongs clearly to the first category. Therefore, depending on where you stand, you will either find this book stimulating or irritating.

The book is a collection of articles, which cover a wide range of topics, e.g. classical versus creative homoeopathy; psychological meaning of the miasms; therapy for man and earth; the hyperactive child; homoeopathy and sexuality; homoeopathic treatment of rape victims; ageing from a homoeopathic perspective; an article on allergies, etc.

The German author Antonie Peppler works with assumptions which are put forward as certainties, e.g. all matter is a symbolic expression of spirit; all symbolic expressions are meaningful; all meanings are easy to establish. Anthroposophy helps her to make connections between the external form and the internal nature of any given phenomenon, and psychotherapy informs her thinking that only by acting out consciously that which has been lodged in our subconscious, can we resolve the disease state. Homoeopathic remedies are understood as messages, which do exactly that.

These are the theoretical foundations on which A. Poppler’s thinking rests. This enables her in practice to establish connections between for example miasms, homoeopathic remedies, diseases and their respective ‘meanings’. Psora, for example, stands for loss of individuality and isolation. Syphilis symbolises the lust for life, which is not allowed to be. (p.57)

The psychological meaning of Ant.Crud. for example is that ‘polarity is cruel; not to want to have anything to do with the harsh life.’(113) The individual Ant.Crud. symptom ‘idiocy, picking feathers from the bedding’ is interpreted as ‘desire for the lightness of life.’ (p.113)

The meaning of Fluoric Acid is ‘the chemistry is not right, not being able to live and let live.’ (p.172)

Also individual symptoms are interpreted in this one-dimensional fashion. Pulsatilla’s ‘stretching before urinating’ means that ‘he wants to first own up to his real size/height before getting involved emotionally.’ ‘Thirstlessness with nearly all complaints’ means ‘emotions are not admitted.’ (76/77)

The troublesome aspect with this sort of thinking is that the author parades it with complete certainty. As homeopaths we sometimes get exasperated with the blinkered attitude of our allopathic colleagues. Here we find the same kind of unshakable conviction, but in the guise of ‘creativity’. One more example (and they are endless) may suffice: ‘Children, which were born in a relationship crisis, are certainlyKali Carb. children.’ (my highlight – R.J.) (173)

Symbolic thinking is by definition polyvalent as compared with the scientific and logical endeavour, which tries to limit meaning by defining things narrowly. To now reduce symbolic thinking to one meaning is like choosing the worst of the two worlds.

Since the remedies are often reduced to one meaning or theme one will find many different meanings and themes in one patient. A.Peppler follows her own logic here by giving a remedy for each theme at the same time, e.g. Calc.Carb., Cham., Ign., Nat.Mur., Sil., Nat.Sulf., Puls., Sulf.ac., Cicuta, Phos.Ac., Ars.Alb., Arg.Nit., Alum.,Brom. All given in 50M potency, twice daily for 14 days or longer. All of which she claims, is Hahnemannian.

The essays are individually written articles without mentioning their date of publication. Therefore, some of her pronouncements seem strangely dated, e.g. the ‘witch-hunt’ against a creative form of homeopathy by those rigid dogmatists. It seems to me that the ‘creative’ homeopaths are having a field day at the moment. It also means that there are unnecessary repetitions, which appear like riding her hobby horse, e.g. doctrine of signatures regarding Pulsatilla appears in three different articles.

The book is edited without an independent editorial board, which shows not only in the content, but also in the many typing errors (even the word ‘alchemy’ is misspelled), and often the syntax is very clumsy.

At Euro 50 the book is expensive, and in my opinion it does not add anything, neither to the creative kind of homeopathy nor to any other type.