By Richard Pitt

There are a number of factors to be considered when treating children. These considerations have both practical and philosophical implications for wider general practice. Successful treatment of children (and adults) has be prophylactic as well as initially curative.

1. Constitution: An understanding of the constitutional typology of the child is vital for successful treatment.

2. Fundamental Miasms: Miasmatic, inherited tendencies are the next most important thing to consider. These constitute 5 main miasms – Psora, Sycosis, Syphilis, Cancer and Tubercular.

3. Acquired Miasms: Certain other influences can be defined as a miasm. These are influences, both inherited and/or acquired, that leave a dynamic influence superimposed onto the constitution of the child.

4. Aetiology: Significant aetiological factors can be of great importance in understanding the remedies that may be needed. These aetiologies may be both physical and pyschological and can be inherited and/or acquired.

5. Acute treatment: Understanding how and when to treat acutely in children is important. It’s significance to the underlying constitution also needs to be understood.

By Dr Ifeoma Ikenzie

R.K. is a 50year old woman whose homeopathic care I have been working on since 1998. She was an art therapist who sustained a serious brain injury when a developmentally disabled client dropped a brick on her head from a second storey balcony. Subsequent to the injury she had memory loss and developed chronic intractable seizures. Her memory loss slowly improved over time but never returned to normal. But her seizures became worse over the years to the point of occurring almost everyday. She had been treated with numerous anticonvulsants with very little improvement and sought homeopathic treatment for the seizures. She also suffered from severe pelvic pain at ovulation and during her menses, which was felt to be due to large uterine fibroids. Between 1998 and 2004 I had prescribed  Helleborus, Oenanthe, Caulophyllum, Cimicifuga,and Zinc Metallicum, with no visible improvement in her seizures or her uterine pain.

A Book Review: Bitten in the Soul by Massimo Mangliavori and Hans Zwemke

By Richard Pitt

This book attempts to explore the world of spider remedies and to distinguish the differences between the following remedies: Tarentula hispanica (Spanish Tarentula), Mygale lasiodora (Black Cuban Spider), Aranea diadema (Papal Cross Spider), Theridion curassavicum ((Orange Spider), Lactrodectus mactans (Black Widow) and Buthus australis (Scorpion).

Many homeopaths are familiar with the work of Mangialavori and the inclusion of his research on the MacRepertory computer platform. He has stated in his work that it is crucial to study a substance from as many angles as possible, paying the most attention to the clinical effect of a remedy and exploring the cultural, historical, metaphorical and even mythological knowledge of a substance in order to gain a more complete understanding of it.

Brief Book Reviews by Richard Pitt

1.              Understanding Homeopathy, Homeopathic Understanding: Julian Carlyon

2.              Birds: Homeopathic Remedies form the Avian Realm: Jonathen Shore, Judy Schriebman and Anneke Hogeland.

3.              The World Traveller’s Manual of Homeopathy: Dr Colin Lessell

4.              The Homeopathic Treatment of Influenza: Sandra Perko

5.              The AIDS Miasm: Peter Fraser

6.              Homeopathy in Reflexive Perspective: Frans Maan

7.              Signatures, Miasms, AIDS: Misha Norland.

8.              The Second Simillimum: Peter Chappell

9.              The Sensation in Homeopathy: Rajan Sankaran

By Richard Pitt

  1. The Monster at the Door: Mike Davis.

2.              The Hidden Messages in Water: Masaru Emoto.

3.              The Measure of Our Days: Jerome Groopman MD

4.              Green Psychology: Ralph Metzner, Ph.D.

5.              The Antibiotic Paradox: Stuart B levy MD