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Achieving and Maintaining the Simillimum:
 


It is impossible in a short review to do full justice to all that Dr Luc covers in this long and comprehensive book, which gives clear sources from the Organon, Chronic Diseases and other classical works.

Chapters 1-2 give a learned account of the nature of homeopathy, beginning with chapter one, Similar and Dissimilar Diseases, then chapter two. Primary and Secondary Action.

Chapters 3-5 illustrate potency selection and how Hahnemann developed it over the Organon, Edition 4 (ch 3), Edition 5 !ch 4), Organon 6 !ch 5). These chapters are scholarly and will especially appeal to those of academic bent, not least medical doctors anxious to verify the scientific validity of homeopathy.

Chapter six deals with 'accessory symptoms', i.e. those appearing as part of the reaction to a remedy and how to interpret them, including an interpretation of aggravations. Dr Luc distinguishes between the effects of the similimum and a simile [a partially homeopathic remedy), and discussion includes 'sensitive'patients and complex cases. This chapter also offers good advice on how to treat various reactions, aggravations and changing symptom pictures both in acute and chronic states.
For example:

to give the chronic remedy in an acute crisis is a grave mistake because it runs the risk of disrupting the natural symptom pattern and: during an acute crisis the remedy of choice is the-acute 'iniercurrent'/that remedy indicated by the acute state.

Dr Luc emphasises the importance of knowing 'acute to chronic' relationships, saying that it is not always necessary to prescribe a chronic after an acute unless it is heavily indicated and needed.

Dr Luc's advice on the second prescription - famously the most critical, and where most mistakes are made - is essential understanding, especially his explanation of the difference between the reaction after a similimum and a simile, and on why and how long to wait"

Chapter seven deals with suppression.

Chapter eight, Modern Myths and Misconceptions, is close to my heart. Here, Dr Luc refutes arguments which try to justify various alternative uses of potencies outside the principles of homeopathy.

Chapter nine deals with obstacles to cure and maintaining causes, including difficult patients and how to handle them It also comments on homeopaths with the wrong motives and attitude Dr Luc gives six principles required to establish the state of the 'unprejudiced observer': Sympathy, objectivity, discipline, concentration, patience and concern with the mastery of their art.

Dr Luc gives sound guidance on diet and lifestyle. He also considers the question of antidoting remedies, concluding that the probability of antidote depends on the following factors: Vitality, sensitivity (general and specific], quantity and frequency of contact, and the accuracy of the prescription. This is a particularly valuable chapter.

An acute mtercurrent is the remedy indicated by an acute disease which comes on during chronic treatment, and chapter ten deals with various kinds of acutes Some homeopaths prescribe the chronic remedy for acutes even when the

This book is a milestone in the teaching of foundations of homeopathy acute picture is different from the chronic, and Dr Luc convincingly shows the folly of this, with references from Hahnemann and Von Bonmnghausen

Chapter 11 gives an introduction to rrosodes, their origin and development and shows how chronic mtercurrent remedies can be used to treat 'miasmatic blocks, suppression and obstacles to cure', 'that an indicated remedy is always preferred over the nosode', and that „ nosodes are truly curative only when they are administered, based on the totality of the characteristic symptoms like any other remedy. He also discusses how to use nosodes as chronic intercurrents, how to identify and remove a blockage, and when a nosode is appropriate. The casual use of nosodes confuses many cases, and Dr Luc explains how a nosode prescribed after two or three failed remedies often cures because it was the indicated remedy from the start, and that blockage theory is often used as an easy way out.

He gives ten situations when a nosode may be correctly prescribed, and I was pleased to see that these carefully argued cases correspond to the pages on this subject in my own textbook (Homoeopathy Principles and Practice, 2001). There is a valuable description of Carcinosm with a comparison with Medorrhinum, then a similar description of Streptococcinum. with several excellent illustrative cases.

In chapter 12, The Second Prescription and the Management of Chronic Diseases he explores the discussion of chronic intercurrents and nosodes with possible scenarios following a first prescription.

Chapter 13 concerns relationships of remedies: complementary, related, and cycles (series or triads).

In part 3, Management Enquiries, Dr Luc poses and answers a variety of questions likely to come up in practice, drawing on the teaching given in chapters ten to 13. Part 4 gives clinical case studies illustrating issues raised previously.

Part 5 is a fascinating account of Hah-nemann's Paris Casebooks. Here is an important quotation:
The idea that Hahnemann s private practice was completely different from his published works is a mistake derived from not understanding his methods in a practical sense, nor how they evolved over the years Due to this misunderstanding, some claim that what he practised in private was different from what he preached in public, and therefore we don't need to follow the Organon. Others have used such misunderstandings to rationalise using combination remedies, alternating remedies, and frequently changing prescriptions.

Dr Luc often refers to frequent changes as 'intercurrents', prescribed hurriedly to cover any remaining symptoms where the first prescription was doing well and waiting would probably have seen a complete cure, or eventually, a clear and stable new remedy picture. To combat this tendency, I myself reverted to using Farnngton's definition of 'intercurrent' as being required only in patients who show a lack of reaction to indicated remedies.

This book is a milestone in the teaching of foundations of homeopathy. In fact, it is three books in one. I am particularly grateful to Dr Luc for his clear use of the terms "acute and chronic" intercurrents. I can strongly recommend this book to all who are 'concerned with the mastery of their art'.

Ernest Roberts