Book Review: Clinical Therapeutics of Homeopathic Medicine
Reviewed by Debbie Lamb, CCH
Book written by Richard Pitt
Lalibela Publishing, 2025, 381 pages, paperback
ISBN 978-1-0687011-2-2
Drawing from his extensive experience as a homeopath, educator, and global health advocate who has worked with clinics throughout Africa, Richard Pitt developed this handy therapeutic guide that can be used in clinical situations anywhere in the world. Designed to have useful information at one’s fingertips, the book includes concise descriptions and thematic comparisons of the primary therapeutic remedies recommended for acute and chronic conditions, as well as an abridged repertory based on Kent’s Mind and Generalities section and Boger’s repertory of ameliorations and aggravations.
The material for this book was originally included in Pitt’s earlier work, Therapeutic Guide & Thematic Materia Medica of Homeopathic Medicine published in 2024. The Thematic Materia Medica section of the original book has now been published separately as Volume 1, with plans to publish more materia medica in future volumes. The layout and design of these books are very similar, and dividing the material into smaller portions offers further convenience for the reader.
Following a lengthy Introduction, Clinical Therapeutics of Homeopathic Medicine is divided into 12 chapters:
The Introduction gives valuable information about differentiating between acute and chronic cases, the direction of cure, understanding susceptibility, considering miasmatic influences, case analysis, navigating the repertory, and posology.
Chapter 1 is a review of case taking protocols and includes a checklist of things to know about a case.
Chapter 2 discusses case analysis and evaluation techniques including a summary of 22 reactions to a remedy based on Vithoulkas’ book The Science of Homeopathy. Next is a summary of considerations for the 2nd prescription and case management.
Chapter 3 contains clinical therapeutics for many physical conditions. Starting with Abdomen pains and concluding with Weakness, the conditions are arranged alphabetically and include suggested remedies and their symptoms. Some of the modern conditions listed are Chronic Fatigue, Crohn’s Disease, Diabetes, Lyme Disease, and Shingles. Common ailments like Asthma, Back Conditions, Pneumonia, Pain and Inflammation, Acne, Constipation, and Teething Pain can be found in this chapter.
Chapter 4 covers Mental and Emotional states.
Chapter 5 contains therapeutics for acute issues like injuries, accidents, and trauma.
Chapter 6 covers Female Conditions, including pregnancy and birth.
Chapter 7 lists Infectious and Tropical conditions and includes detailed descriptions of fevers and flus such as Influenza, Malaria, Typhoid, and Covid-19.
Chapter 8 gives helpful information about treating children, as well as discussions about constitutional remedies and miasms.
Chapter 9 contains a fascinating comparative thematic materia medica with the main keynotes and themes of over 40 important remedies, which are compared with other remedies that share similar themes. Three stages of remedy development – intrinsic, compensated, or decompensated - are identified based on the three primary miasms – psora, sycosis, and syphilitic. Remedies are introduced in alphabetical order and include comparisons with other remedies based on themes.
Chapter 10 lists remedies alphabetically from Aconite to Xanthoxyllum along with the specific conditions in which they are found useful, key symptoms of the remedy, and several remedies to compare.
Chapter 11 contains indications for some unusual and specific remedies, for example, Azadirachta indica (neem tree) and Siphonochilus aethiopicus (a type of wild ginger). Element based remedies like Germanium and Plutonium nitricum are discussed, as well as bowel nosodes.
Chapter 12 is a mini repertory.
The book ends with a helpful Index that lists the subsections of each chapter with page numbers for easy reference.
Clinical Therapeutics of Homeopathic Medicine is a wonderful reference book that would benefit every professional homeopath and student of homeopathy who seeks to review and deepen their understanding of homeopathic remedies for acute and chronic conditions.
Debbie Lamb, CCH, BFRP, is a homeopathy educator. As a graduate of Homeopathy School International, she now enjoys working with students of HSI as Support Faculty. She also is a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner and assists students in the Bach International Education Program. When she isn't working with clients or students, she enjoys making soap, feeding feral cats, walking wooded paths, and taking pictures of her grandchildren. Website: homeopathy4ewe.com.