Homeopathy Books

I'm a beginner in homeopathy and I really like this book. It's small and easy to carry with me when I travel. It has an alphabetical listing (materia medica) of the homeopathic remedies and another section which lists conditions. There is also a section on support therapies and essences. Color photographs on almost every page. It's quite thorough, a little thick (400 pages), but overall a great small size.

An excellent introduction to the use of homeopathic medicine for infants and children. Includes comments on vaccination for those interested in alternatives. I have found it very useful on many occasions and it has increased my confidence in looking after my family's health naturally. Well worth a read.

This book will leave all other Homeopathy books written about the Equine in the dust,
The care and detail in the writing translates into the most thorough Homeopathy book for
horses that you will find anywhere. Excellent detail throughout, well explained, and a top-notch
index which makes it easy to find a symptom in an emergency. Contains emergency section,
as well as pre and post-op remedies. So well done that a beginner can understand it but so detailed
that a Professional will find the rare and obscure disease or illness included. Kudos to Dr. Couzens
for the finest animal publication of its kind. If you are experienced in homeopathy this may also help you
with your Dog or Cat in such things as pre/post op, eye problems, skin problems, etc.
A Best Buy for the Money!

If you're a visual learner and new to homeopathy, this small investment makes a good first purchase. The first part of the book explains what homeopathy is, how it works, how it views symptoms and other background information. The last part, the short "materia medica," gives a summary of 15 different remedies. Each includes not only a clear synopsis of symptoms typical of the remedy, but great little pictures of a person who would fit the remedy, and the picture of the little herb or whatever the remedy was made of. Peppered throughout are little text boxes which include helpful things, like what to do for minor injuries.

From book's back cover:

"Putting it most simply, homeopathy is that branch of medicine whose methodology is based on the Principle of Similars (likes are cured by likes"). The homeopathic physician does not treat symptoms, but considers the symptoms the outward signs of the body's attempt to cure itself. He seeks to learn the underlying causes of the symptoms and even to aid them, by drug therapy, in their curative purging of the disease. The homeopathist considers the whole body and the personality of the patient when searching for a proper treatment, and in this respect homeopathy is akin to the holistic school of medicine.

Many people wit hseemingly hopeless chronic diseases are turning to homeopathy as their last chance. This has always been the case, and homeopathists have achieved some truly remarkable cures, considering the state of their patients when they finally came to them. But many reasonably healthy people are also turning to homeopathy as a way of maintaining health, and homeopathists are beginning to achieve the goal they have been pursuing for nearly 200 years - not the miracle cures of burnt-out cases, but the maintenance of true health and happiness through natural methods. In this book, the general secretary to the International Society for the Propagation of Homeopathy one of the acknowledged world masters of homeopathy [circa 1979], brings a message of hope and inspiration to the healthy as well as the ill."

This a is a wonderfully succinct book which sets forth the history, essence, and methodology of homeopathy. It is a very well written book, a delight to read. The book is well organized in 5 major sections. There is a very thorough overview of the precepts and tenets of the practice, its historical origins, a detailed and well covered biography of Samuel Hahnemann and a review of the politics of allopathy v. homeopathy. It is further embellished with copious annotations, an appendix with an actual case history and a very fine reference for homeopathic resources such as organizations, suppliers and other texts covering a variety of related topics. Call it a perfect Homeopathy 101 text if you will, the author makes a very even handed presentation of the material, including the politics of medicine as they have evolved in the USA over the past century. Any one who has a chronically sick friend or relative should read this book.

The short case histories reported by the author (who gathered a vast experience working for a wild birds rescue center) are so well written that they result moving and inspiring in themselves, beside a tool for understanding how holistic principles apply to dramatic emergencies. These examples say a lot about homeopathy, much more than any theory ever will. Many birds that would have been considered in desperate conditions for the usual vet practise, recovered completely. Make you think, and leave you wanting to learn more. No matter if you are an avid wild bird-watcher or a lover of cage softbills and parrots, it's likely that you'll read it two or three times, and reflect a lot about it. And will be more ready to face some possible bad incidents or diseases of your feathered friends, or of sick wild birds you happen to find.

This book is packed with information about the principles & practice of homeopathy as well as highly specific information about symptoms & potential homeopathic remedies. While it is tempting to do so - the book is not intended to be used as a "how to" manual where you can look up a symptom & apply the remedy.

As the title suggests, this book was written for people who have interest in homeopathy and athletics and dance, but its value stretches beyond helping the athletically-inclined to perform better and more safely. This is the first homeopathy book I have read that constrains homeopathy to a specialized area: as such, it has deepened my understanding of homeopathy in general because it applies homeopathy to another area that I know something about, athletics, and that almost functions as another rubric through which I have been able to learn about all phases of diagnosis and treatment. It will be useful to the coach, sports medicine professional, athlete or significant other to an athlete.

It is obvious that Thomas knows athletes due to his use of varied examples throughout. According to the book's bio, he was a Physical Education Officer for the Royal Air Force, where he rehabilitated injured athletes. He captained the RAF at rugby and has led numerous expeditions to hike major mountain ranges. He began using remedies in 1976 and subsequently trained as a homeopath. He now practices in North Wales.

One of the illuminating things about this book is that it broadens the homeopathic concept of "correcting an imbalance" in a person. For years, I have used homeopathy to neutralize illnesses. Here, the definition of an "out of balance" person includes healthy people who get injured or who want to remain in balance when they are pursuing challenging athletic activities.

This book is complete in itself. You can use it even if you have no experience with homeopathy. Thomas uses a methodical approach to introducing homeopathy, which I include here in some detail since so little information is available on amazon.com.

The book is organized into 3 main sections:

*Homeopathy, A Basic Outline

Ch 1, Towards a Speedy Recovery: overall homeopathy primer, with sports examples. Includes comments about using homeopathy in conjunction with other treatments.
Ch 2, Homeopathy in Practice: background on the athletic patient, including physical and mental symptoms. Also references for older athletes. Choosing remedies and learning to use remedies in a methodical and practical way.
Ch 3, Principles of Homeopathic Treatment: more on homeopathy, dosages, provings, treating the specific injury or the whole person.
Ch 4, Homeopathic Symptomology: this chapter is excellent for overall learning. Thomas gives the best process for diagnosis that I've yet come across. It's very methodical and applicable to homeopathy in general. He illustrates the importance of the description of the pain, which shows you how to use the Materia Medica much better. You'll learn to differentiate between a tearing pain and a throbbing pain and how that can help you to choose the right remedy. A doable list of questions to ask.
Ch 5, Managing Homeopathic Treatment: more on remedies, prescriptions, dose frequency, changing symptoms. Excellent examples for dancers and athletes of several types and ages.

*Applying Homeopathy

Ch 6, Traumatic Injury and First Aid: you'll learn about administering remedies in different ways that are widely applicable. I was grateful for this chapter when I spained my ankle on Christmas evening (2nd/3rd degree) while playing in the snow. I followed his advice, and was on my feet three days later. My wife, who has seen numerous injuries professionally, was amazed at my recovery. Thanks to this book, I avoided spoiling the holiday (for us and medical people) by foregoing a trip to the emergency room. He includes any injury you can think of: fractures; muscle tears; older players; after old injuries; unconscious players (he was a rugby player, after all ;-). The "After Old Injuries" part is especially fascinating. He explains and gives examples of athletes who injured themselves years before and how these injuries don't really heal, how they manifest themselves later on and how to treat them.

Ch 7; Overuse Injuries and Conditions: how to manage athletic performance; anxiety and fatigue; the effects of long-term activity; managing performance through high-stress events like tournaments; pain as a signal; warning signs and (of course) remedies for over-exertion.

Ch 8, Local Treatment for Specific Injuries: the foot; the ankle; the leg; the knee; thigh, hip and groin injuries; genital injuries; shoulder injuries; arm, elbow, wrist and hand; back and neck; the cervical spine; head injuries. Again, Thomas, while focusing on specific injuries, gives examples of how to treat the whole person. For example, a leg injury, even though it is the immediate complaint, may be secondary to a wider imbalance in the athlete, so he gives you a broad perspective. However, this chapter is extremely useful and specific.

Ch 9, Treating Common Conditions: a wide range, these "conditions" affect athletes' performance. A selected list: alcohol (hangovers); altitude; anxiety; asthma; athlete's foot; blisters; burns; common cold; confidence (lack of); cramps; diarrhea (food poisoning); flying; hangover; hay fever; headache; ingrown toenail; nerves (pre-preformance); tinea cruris/pedis (jock itch); warts; wounds.

Ch 10, Descriptions of Remedies (Materia Medica): this is notable because the descriptions are all focused on athletics, which enables someone experienced with homeopathy to learn the remedies more completely.

*Advanced Uses of Homeopathy

Ch 11, Susceptibility to Injury: this is illuminating and enlightening. A select list: predisposition to injury covers how a person's constitution predisposes him/her to certain types of injuries; psychological factors; treating the potential for injury; results of injury; treating the whole person.

Ch 12, Enhanced Performance: using remedies to avoid injuries. By definition, athletics and training are about pushing oneself to higher limits. Another way to look at it is trying to find different levels in which one can be in balance. However, training always has the potential to get one off balance. This chapter recognizes the inherent tension in athletics and teaches the reader to use remedies to help maintain balance while challenging oneself. This was illuminating to me in seeing homeopathy in a wider context than treating "illness." Think of it as "proactive homeopathy."

Ch 13, Other Complementary Therapies and Techniques: how to use homeopathy in conjunction with other techniques. A select list: acupuncture/acupressure; osteopathy; chiropractice; Qi Gong; reflexology; Alexander Technique; hypnotherapy.

Appendices: homeopathic suppliers and organizations; homeopathic first aid kit; further reading. There are also remedy and general indices.

In sum, Thomas offers a practical approach to using homeopathy to enhance the well-being of patients, loved ones or yourself. There are too many useful pointers to mention, but here are some highlights:

*Using Arnica in contact sports by putting one tablet in a water bottle. Also useful when the athlete is returning after injury.
*Special focus on dance.
*Several examples of different types and genders of athletes: top performance, middle age, recreational.
*Thomas describes three phases of treatment, with remedies for each phase.
*In-depth diagnostic case shows how to use the Materia Medica's sections methodically to find the right remedy.
*Addresses the emotional and physical aspects of athletic performance and injuries in a practical way. Offers a rich description of what injury means to an athlete, from emotional and physical perspectives.
*Offers homeopathic treatment advice for specific injuries while addressing the whole person.

This is a "must have" book on classical homoeopathy for anyone studying the subject. The very first book I purchased on homoeopathy. First written in 1945, Dr. Dorothy Shepherd, tells of her experiences during W.W.I with surgery, and in her own practice and how she had used homoeopathic remedies. She covers first aid treatment of such topics as treatment of wounds, hemorrhage, burns, scalds, aches and pains. She also discusses potency and give specific "rules" for giving a remedy. She has written several other wonderfully informative books, however, this one I consider a must have.