Harmony in Health and Disharmony in Disease

Life Unfolding in the Periodic Table, Traditional Tales and the Yi Jing by Gillian Scott Zukovskis

Over the years, various methods and processes have been developed to identify the pathogenetic action of the homoeopathic medicines and to logically evaluate them so that the processes of matching symptomatology of the drug with that of the patients become faster, systematic and easier. One such process is combining study of homoeopathic Materia Medica with elemental chemistry to come up with group characteristics, row characteristics and then combining the two to form individual drug characteristics.

To break down complexity of nature, there is an innate human tendency for pattern-seeking. This book attempts combined knowledge from diverse fields to create patterns in drug pictures. Such a study not only enhances understanding of the drug but it also enables the practitioner to reasonably predict the course of action of disease and how the medicine can modify it in an individual.

This book ‘Life Unfolding in the Periodic Table, Traditional Tales and Yi Jing’ is an exhaustive scholarly work, which synthesises homoeopathic understanding of drugs pictures, human psychology, Chinese philosophy of Yi Jing with the study of elements of the Periodic Table.

There is an attempt to break down the myriad of human nature into patterns and the pathogenetic properties of elemental drugs into groups to simplify the process of matching the two patterns. Dr Jan Scholten and Dr Rajan Sankaran are well-known proponents of this field. For each elemental group, the characteristics starting from conception to birth to all stages of life are conceptualised as archetype summaries. The application of Yin Yang characteristics applied to each of the series in the Periodic Table alternating between masculine and feminine characters creating hexagrams adds on to the principles given by homoeopathic practitioners like Dr Jan Scholten and Dr Rajan Sankaran.

This book takes these drug pictures further by combining Chinese philosophies and fiction from English literature to develop hexagrams. Each hexagram has a diagram composed of two trigram sets of three lines, with particular combinations of broken and unbroken line and the Chinese character derived from it, translation of the hexagram name, key ideas, polarities, rows, myths or narratives associated (give with examples from English classical literature). This is followed by the homoeopathic analysis of different authorities to develop a Materia Medica of the drug. Small inputs from conventional science and differentials from other hexagrams are given to complete each picture.

The philosophical presumptions are difficult to comprehend in the absence of background understanding of all of these philosophies, although the author has tried his best to explain these. These require multiple readings and cannot be grasped fully easily by new readers. However, it opens paths for newer understandings.

This work in two volumes ([Figs. 1] [2] [3]) gives remedy pictures of first 64 elements of the Periodic Table, from hydrogen (element 1) to gadolinium (element 64), dual affinities last seven, that is, hexagrams 58 to 64, and these are further applied to elements 2 to 78. Volume 1 of this book gives the background philosophies and how these hexagrams are derived at. Hexagram archetypes have been detailed for hydrogen series, carbon series, silicon series, iron series, silver series, lanthanide series, gold series and uranium/actinide series. Volume 2 of this book gives these hexagram archetypes for 64 elements. Both volumes are replete with multiple pictures and diagrams that add to the text. Colours in the table make these archetypes more comprehensible.

This book is meant only for those interested in extensive studies on the elements and how these govern the characteristics and psychology in an individual. The work is too detailed and can be made more crisp by doing away with repetitions.

Fig. 1 Life Unfolding in the Periodic Table, Traditional Tales, and the Yi Jing. Part One, Parallel Ancient & Modern Perspectives by Gillian Scott Zukovskis, May 2023.

Fig. 2 Life Unfolding in the Periodic Table, Traditional Tales, and the Yi Jing. Part Two, Archetypes for Hexagrams & Elements by Gillian Scott Zukovskis, May 2023.

Fig. 3 Life Unfolding in the Periodic Table, Traditional Tales, and the Yi Jing. Shorter Version for Homeopaths by Gillian Scott Zukovskis, May 2023.

This book is colourful, intriguing but is not for faint hearted. It is a scholarly work, meant for scholarly reading. It is, however, important that over the years these philosophical constructs are put into actual practice and are validated on mathematical models.

Please refer to [Supplementary Material] (available in the online version) for Life Unfolding Book Guide.

Publication History

Article published online:
30 June 2023