Homeopathy - Medicine of the New Millennium

From the Book

Homeopathy is the branch of medicine which cures on the basis of similarity to the whole health condition of the patient, rather than by addressing symptoms in isolation.

In this revised and expanded edition, world-famous homeopath George Vithoulkas presents the historical scientific basis for the discipline in simple terms, and shows that homeopathy not only addresses the health of the whole person, but can succeed in treating many chronic conditions regarded as incurable by conventional medicine.

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Details

Homeopathy- Medicine of the New Millennium, by George Vithoulkas, was published in 2000.

In this book Vithoulkas presents the historical and scientific basis for homeopathy in simple terms. He shows how homeopathy effectively addresses the health of the whole person, and that it can succeed in treating many chronic conditions regarded as incurable by conventional medicine.

This work is an expanded and revised edition of Vithoulkas' Medicine of the New Man.

Chapters 1-9, 11 and 12 are unchanged.
Chapter 10: 'Does Homeopathy Work?' has been substantially rewritten including several new cured cases.
Chapter 13: 'Plans for the Future' has some changes as well.

Entirely new are the chapters:
'The Great Misunderstanding'
'What is the Alternative' and
'Revolutionary New Proposal'.

'The Great Misunderstanding' rejects the belief that advancements in conventional medicine have made everyone healthier. Vithoulkas claims that not even one chronic degenerative disease can be truly cured by the allopathic approach.

He also advocates an entirely different system for delivering health care which he outlines in 'What is the Alternative?'.

The chapter 'Revolutionary New Proposal' details how health care might be funded in order to make this alternative a reality.

In this new edition, the materia medica of Nux vomica, Lycopodium, Natrum muriaticum, and Phosphorus has been replaced by that of Alumina, Argentum nitricum, Aurum metallicum, Baryta carbonica, and Calcarea carbonica.

These remedy pictures are based on the author's extensive clinical experience and are taken from his Materia Medica Viva.

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Heritage

"The book is written with a threefold objective in mind:

1. To show that established medicine has failed in its mission to prevent and cure disease...

2. To present a new model of health and disease as a new paradigm for the science of medicine...

3. To point out that such therapeutic systems exist and are available today..."

Julian Winston writes:
Although the author apologizes for his "polemic or prejudiced manner" in asserting that all the modern diseases (AIDS, cancer, immune diseases) are caused by the use of modern drug therapies, the book tends to alienate all but the "true believer."

I was reading the book on a plane, and in the seat next to me was a physician who was interested in the title. I let him look at the book, and he was both offended at the assertion of blame and mystified by it.

No matter what its intent, the book is preaching to the converted and is not offered in a manner that would encourage those of the "medical establishment" to read further.

From:
The Heritage of Homoeopathic Literature
copyright 2001 by Julian Winston
Reprinted with the permission of the author

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Author

George Vithoulkas

(1932 -     )

George Vithoulkas was born in Athens, Greece in 1932. He started studying homeopathy in South Africa in 1960. He continued in India at different homeopathic colleges, receiving a diploma from the Indian Institute of Homeopathy in 1966.

Returning to Greece the following year, Vithoulkas started practicing homeopathy and teaching it to a small group of Greek medical doctors.

The therapeutic success of these first doctors so attracted the attention of others that the Athenian School of Homeopathic Medicine was established in 1970. The school, since re-named the Center of Homeopathic Medicine, is devoted exclusively to the teaching of MDs.

George Vithoulkas started teaching classical homeopathy in 1967. In 1971 the first Greek Homeopathic Society was established and a year later Vithoulkas started the Greek journal, Homeopathic Medicine.

In 1976, he organized the first International Homeopathic Seminars in Greece. Since then, international seminars have been held every year, attended by health professionals from all over the world.

In 1994, Vithoulkas opened the International Academy for Classical Homeopathy on the Greek island of Alonissos, its purpose being to provide post-graduate training for health practitioners from all over the world.

Currently, as the Director of the Athens Center, Vithoulkas heads a team of 30 doctors who practice homeopathy while they study under his supervision. He has established homeopathy in Greece as a science respected by the medical profession, and has also made his country one of the leading centers for homeopathy in the western world.

Vithoulkas' books, Homeopathy: Medicine of the New Man (Arco, New York, 1979), written for lay people, and The Science of Homeopathy (Grove Press, New York, 1980), for health professionals, have been translated into twenty languages and have had a profound influence upon the acceptance and practice of homeopathy worldwide.

His book, A New Model for Health and Disease, published in German and English in 1991, makes a fundamental critique of conventional allopathic medicine and sets out a new paradigm for the science of medicine.

He has been an international teacher of classical homeopathy for 20 years. In the year 1996, he was awarded the Alternative Nobel Prize for his work in the field of Classical Homeopathy.

From 1987-1991, in co-operation with the University of Namur in Belgium, he worked on creating and programming a highly sophisticated computer system, the V.E.S. (Vithoulkas Expert System) developed for the RADAR computer program. The VES has sold over 1,000 copies and has brought classical homeopathy within the reach of practitioners worldwide. Mr. Vithoulkas has also produced a series of video courses made from his lectures.

George Vithoulkas' overall vision is the establishment of homeopathy on a worldwide basis. A major goal in this vision is the foundation of homeopathic medical colleges in the USA and Europe where homeopathy can be taught at the highest level. Towards this end, a New York branch of the International Academy of Homeopathy has been established, classicalhomeopathy.com

At present Mr. Vithoulkas is writing a new homeopathic Materia Medica Viva, in 16 volumes, including contemporary knowledge and his own experience from the more than 150,000 cases treated at the Center in Athens. At present six volumes have been published.

George Vithoulkas continues to teach, both in Greece and internationally. As the practice of homeopathy becomes more widespread in many countries, Mr. Vithoulkas is seen to have made a major contribution to its establishment as a science that can substantially benefit human health and welfare.

Major Publications:

• Homeopathy - Medicine Of The New Man 1970
• Homeopathy - Medicine For The New Millenium
  Published in May 2000
  This is a new, expanded version of Medicine of the New Man
• The Science Of Homeopathy 1980
• Materia Medica Viva 9 volumes
• A New Model For Health And Disease
• Talks On Classical Homeopathy
• Essence Of Materia Medica
• Homeopathic Conference Esalen
  First edition in English 1980
• The Bern Seminar 1987
• The Celle Seminars 1992

Mr. Vithoulkas' website can be found at www.vithoulkas.com

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Reviews

From
THE BRITISH HOMEOPATHIC JOURNAL

This is a new, expanded edition of Vithoulkas' book 'Medicine of the New Man'. I have always considered the original book to be one of the finest introductions to homeopathy available.

My original copy is dated 1979, and it is a long time since I last looked at it, so I was very interested to read this new edition and to compare it with the former.

It is essentially the same book (Chapters I - 9, 1 1 and 12 are unchanged) but there are some changes, and some significant new additions making an extra 84 pages in all. Chapter 10: 'Does Homeopathy Work?' has been substantially rewritten including several new cured cases.

These cases, although anecdotal, are an extraordinary testament to what homeopathy can achieve in seemingly impossible situations.

Chapter 13: 'Plans for the Future' has some changes. Entirely new are the chapters: 'The Great Misunderstanding', 'What is the Alternative' and 'Revolutionary New Proposal'. 'The Great Misunderstanding' refers to the widely held belief that constant improvements in orthodox medical science have brought a better state of health to mankind.

Vithoulkas asserts that this is not so, and that not even one chronic degenerative disease can be truly cured by current orthodox therapeutics. He also asserts that no centralized health system can succeed and advocates an entirely different system for delivering health care which he outlines in the next chapter 'What is the Alternative?'

Crucial to this is much more research into alternative methods of treatment such as homeopathy, and provision of necessary funding to finance this. The chapter 'Revolutionary New Proposal' details how health care might be funded in order to make his vision a reality.

The original book contained detailed materia medica of four well known polychrests, Nux vomica, Lycopodium, Natrum muriaticum, and Phosphorus. In the new edition these have been replaced by Alumina, Argentum nitricum, Aurum metallicum, Ba ta carbonica, and Calearea carbonica.

These remedy pictures are much more detailed than the originals, and are based on the author's now much more extensive clinical experience. The book is worth buying for these remedy pictures alone. They are taken from Vithoulkas monumental work on homeopathic materia medica "Materia Medica Viva"which is being published in stages.

One of the main features of Vithoulkas' writings on materia medica is how he details stages of development of pathology from the beginning, right through to the end stage at the mental, emotional and physical levels. His ability to do this is based on detailed observation of many thousands of cases. This level of detail brings many new insights and it is one of the main reasons that I was first attracted to him as a teacher.

So far I have been writing for those who have already read the original edition of 'Medicine of the New Man'. For those who have not read it I will outline the contents of the book as a whole.

It is an excellent introduction to the basic principles of homeopathy which is suitable for the general public and students alike. The explanations are clear, concise and articulate, and expresses particularly the classical homeopathic view.

He begins with an introduction to Hahnemann and the Law of Similars and follows with chapters on 'The Vital Force', 'The Dynamic Plane' and 'Predisposition to Disease' with reference to the appropriate paragraphs from the Organon.

He continues with a chapter on 'The Homeopathic Interview' where he describes the procedure of case taking giving a delightful example of one of JT Kent's cases. He follows this with a theoretical case of influenza describing a series of pertinent remedies with differential diagnosis.

The next chapter, 'The Patient's Responsibility' is an unusual and welcome subject in a book of this nature.

Here Vithoulkas outlines the patient's role in the homeopathic interview and treatment. He writes 'Homeopathy is a powerful and effective therapy, but it also demands a great deal from the patient.

One doesn't get something for nothing. The patient must learn to observe areas of life which are ordinarily ignored by most people, and this observation must be done objectively and dispassionately.'

He goes on to give details as to how this may be accomplished, pointing out the various pitfalls. He also underlines the need for patience as homeopathic prescriptions are always designed to bring about cure of the entire organism, not merely momentary relief of specific symptoms.

The goal of harmonious functioning on all levels may take weeks, months or even years. Cure is dependent upon the strength of the patient's vital force, history of severe illness particularly if treated with orthodox drugs, hereditary factors and the history of poor diet, lack of exercise and drug or alcohol abuse.

He then describes interfering factors which could influence the effect of the medicine including dental treatment and coffee. He also includes a short paragraph on the handling and storage of medicines.

He finishes the chapter with a description of remedy aggravations or healing crisis. This is a practical chapter for patients.

The following chapters are of equal interest to patients. In 'Does Homeopathy Work?' Vithoulkas gives a number of case examples from his 40 y in practice and in the next two chapters describes the homeopathic understanding of the process of cure in an easily digestible manner.

In conclusion, this is an excellent update of a previously excellent book which has done much to promote homeopathy. Its clarity and simplicity of style would make it a welcome addition to any practitioner's bookshelf.

Peter Fisher
British Homeopathic Journal
Volume 90, Number 3, July 2001
Reprinted with permission from the Faculty of Homeopaths

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Contents

Foreword to the Twenty-Sixth Edition -- i-iii
Foreword to the First Edition -- v-vii

Ch.1 - Coming of the New Millennium -- 1-4
Ch.2 - Samuel Hahnemann and the Law of Similars -- 5-14
Ch.3 - Preparation of Homeopathic Medicines -- 15-19
Ch.4 - The Vital Force -- 20-23
Ch.5 - The Dynamic or Subtle Plane -- 24-28
Ch.6 - Predisposition to Disease -- 29-41
Ch.7 - The Homeopathic Interview -- 42-48
Ch.8 - A Sample Case: Influenza -- 49-62
Ch.9 - The Patient's Responsibility -- 63-69
Ch.10 - Does Homeopathy Work? -- 70-88
Ch.11 - How Cure Occurs -- 89-94
Ch.12 - More Laws of Cure -- 95-99
Ch.13 - Plans for the Future -- 100-105
Ch.14 - Promise for the 21st Century -- 106-111
Ch.15 - The Great Misunderstanding -- 112-115
Ch.16 - What is the Alternative? -- 116-119

Appendix 1 - Five Remedy Pictures -- 120-
Alumina -- 121-129
Argentum Nitricum -- 130-146
Aurum Metallicum -- 147-167
Baryta Carbonica -- 168-189
Calcarea Carbonica -- 190-221

Appendix 2 - A Revolutionary Proposal for National Health Policies -- 222-230
Bibliography -- 231-234

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