“To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn [sic] studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use but that [sic] is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.” 1
“The unprejudiced observer realizes the futility of metaphysical speculations that cannot be verified by experiment, and no matter how clever he is, he sees in any given case of disease only the disturbances of body and soul which are perceptible to the senses … “ 2
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the Winter 2023-4 issue of our journal!
The current journal has articles on cases, philosophy, and materia medica. Please note the emphasis that first of all the sources of our knowledge should be reliable and second of all our “wisdom,” as Bacon puts it, is “won by observation,” which should lead to weighing and considering how our knowledge can be applied clinically. For example, in the puzzle answer we come to appreciate an aspect of a remedy which, though used often enough, is not topmost in our minds for “trauma” or “tortured souls” so prevalent nowadays as a type of PTSD or depression presenting in, but certainly not limited to, refugee populations, soldiers, etc. How wonderful it would be if our field would be extensively utilized for trauma of this sort! Instead, the mental health resources available are scarce for forcibly displaced populations.3 We should not forget that our field is a “phenomenological” science based on careful observations and the use of the logic of induction from facts.4
The Materia Medica Pura Project from Dr. Andre Saine’s group has resulted in many updates to our materia medica and is the basis of the article by Dr. Tim Fior on the Iron salts. Please see their website for more information and if you would like to join the ongoing project.5
We also discuss the important issue of the effect of remedies and homeopathic suppression as described by Hahnemann.
We welcome your letters and comments to the editor!
Respectfully yours,
Alex Bekker, MD, ABIHM, FAIS
President, American Institute of Homeopathy
Editor, AJHM
Table of Contents
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