The Homeopathic Compendium

Reviewing a book generally implies reading it from cover to cover. If I were to follow that rule, I would not be able to write a review for the next few years. I decided to sample paragraphs and chapters as I am not accessing an unknown territory: I was one of David Little's students years ago.

This is where I encountered a major problem with the Compendium: it is addictive! Starting to read somewhere, I found myself so engrossed that I kept reading until interrupted by a phone call or a wife call. One thing is for sure, readers and students will not fall asleep while using those books.

The Compendium is divided in six volumes.

Volume 1 deals with the history and the philosophy of homeopathy. It starts with a summary of the history of medicine in general, then of Hahnemann's life including the Paris years. It also deals with the double remedies issue, isopathy, the LM potencies and a history and description of different potentisers. The philosophy part reviews the biomedical model, the laws of healing as explained by Hahnemann as well as the approach to acute and chronic diseases and their prevention.

Volume 2 presents different repertories and the methodologies used by Hahnemann, Boenninghausen, Jahr, Kent and Boger. Those are, of course, essential for understanding the more modern repertories as they are based on those authors' work. It is akin to studying the embryology of repertorisation with each embryo being also a fully functional adult. Comparing C and LM potencies as well as discussing potency, dose, repetition and remedy reactions is in its right place, completed by some considerations about diet and other methods.

Volume 3 is centred upon Psora and the anti-Psoric remedies. Miasms are defined, but Psora is studied in great detail, followed by a review of the Kingdoms and a comparison between four major anti-Psoric remedies. There is also more on case management in light of what has been learned about Psora.

Volume 4 deals with the other miasms: sycosis, pseudo-psora aka tuberculinism, syphilis, vaccinosis, hepatitis, lymphosis, HIV/AIDS and cancer. It is interesting to consider the choices made and compare them with other ‘new’ miasms, but that is an immense subject to be dealt with on its own merits.

Volume 5 addresses Constitutions and Temperaments, how different practitioners see them, approach them, use them and how they see living beings in general and humans in particular. A vast choice of options! The Map of Consciousness deals with mental diseases and psychological types: this might become a subject of discussions and divisions if the reader is trained in any aspect of mental health, but that is the way we learn and progress, isn't it?

Volume 6 is the Materia Medica of 175 major (and some less major) remedies mostly studied from the mental, emotional and psychological aspect, with a spotlight on characteristic and useful physical concomitants, major sensations and modalities.

All this is based mostly on the writings and experiences of the elders of homeopathy as well as on David's own immense experience. Those are the genes of our practice; this is the genetic code of homeopathy in one single monumental piece of work. Like it or not, agree or disagree, following only the ancestors or being involved with more modern, esoteric or scientific methods, what we find in the Homeopathic Compendium is the foundation of homeopathy and of all its variations, modifications and deviations. It is mandatory reading for every person involved with homeopathy, from first year student to seasoned lecturer.

Thank you, David.