Introduction to Homoeopathic Medicine (The Beaconsfield Homoeopathic Library)

260 Pages·1981·25.561 MB·English

by  Hamish W. Boyd

Dr Hamish Boyd
FRCPFFHom
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012
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INTRODUCTION
TO
HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Ofrelated interest, in
TheBeaconsfieldHomoeopathic Library
The Healing ArtofHomoeopathy
The Organon ofSamuel Hahnemann, freshly presented by
Dr E. C. Hamlyn, MB, ChB, MRCGP
110 pages, paperback, 1979
Homoeopathic Prescribing
Dr N. J. Pratt, MRCS, LRCP, MFHom
87 pages text, 78 blank pages interleaved, paperback, 1980
Materia Medica ofNewHomoeopathic Remedies
Dr O. A. Julian, Paris
637 pages, casebound, 1979
Homoeopathy in Practice
Dr D. M. Borland, MB, ChB, FFHom
Edited for publication by Dr Kathleen Priestman, LRCP, MRCS,
FFHom
Introduction
to
Homoeopathic
Medicine
Hamish W. Boyd
MB, ChB, FRCP(Glas), DCH, FFHom
Consultant Physician, Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital
BEACONSFIELD PUBLISHERS LTD
Beaconsfield, Bucks, England
Firstpublished in 1981
Reprinted 1982
This book is copyright under the Berne Convention. All rights are
reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study,
research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act
1956, nopartofthispublication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, electri-
cal, chemical, mechanical,optical, photocopying, recordingorotherwise,
without the prior permission ofthe copyright owner. Enquiries should be
addressed to the Publishers at 20 Chiltern Hills Road, Beaconsfield,
Bucks, HP9 1PL, England.
Hamish W.Boyd 1981
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
W
Boyd, Hamish
Introductiontohomoeopathicmedicine.-
(Beaconsfield homoeopathiclibrary; no. 4).
Homeopathy
1.
I.Title
615.5'32 RX71
ISBN 0-906584-05-1
Set, printed and bound inGreat Britain
in 10pointCAT. Times
by BillingandSons Limited,
Guildford, London,Oxford, Worcester
To my father, William E. Boyd, MA, MD,
a wise physician and a dedicated scientist.
Preface
For many years I have felt that we require a textbook ofhomoeopathic
medicine, which includes principles and Materia Medica in one
volume, and which sets down the procedure for case-taking and practi-
cal application ofremedies. I have attempted in this book to fill such a
need.
Apart from some case-taking illustrations, I have purposely omitted
descriptions of patients and clinical results, which are excellently
presented in books such as Margaret Tyler's Drug Pictures and Mar-
gery Blackie's The Patient not the Cure, and in the older volumes of
Kent, Clarke and Nash. This book is not an attempt to convince or
convert the sceptic, but to guide the interested doctor in his efforts to
understand the basic principles ofhomoeopathy, and to help him to put
these intopractice.
In spite of the tremendous advances in scientific knowledge, and
their application to our understanding of the workings of the human
body in health and disease, there are many who feel that the Art of
Medicine has largely disappeared. Suppressing or removing symptoms
does not necessarily constitute cure. Cure of a patient is restoring him
to a sense of well-being, physical, emotional and mental, which allows
him to contribute to the full in his own life and that of the community
in which he lives.
Many doctors are concerned about the treatment of their patients
with some of our present-day drugs. Other forms of treatment such as
hypnosis, acupuncture, herbalism, osteopathy or psychotherapy are
now being studied in a search for additional ways ofhelping people.
Homoeopathic medicine is attracting more and more attention from
patients and doctors alike, because they see in it a safe and effective
form oftreatment, which studies the person as a whole, with particular
emphasis on him as an individual. It is not a substitute for conventional
medicine, but a system of therapeutics, which enlarges and broadens
Preface vii
the physician's outlook, and in many situations finds a real cure not
possible with our usual drugs.
A good homoeopathic doctor should be a good physician first, and
then a knowledgeable homoeopath.
In many situations the patient or doctor is referred to as he or him.
This has been done for simplicity, and in most cases could equally well
apply tothe female sex.
A selection ofquestions for reflection and discussion are included at
the end ofthe book. These are largely drawn from questions used in the
Faculty of Homoeopathy examinations. I hope they will stimulate
further reading, and assist doctors who wish to study for this quali-
fication. A glossary of the terms used in homoeopathy is also given at
the end ofthebook, and may prove useful for reference.
I acknowledge with grateful thanks the help I have received from the
following persons: the late Dr D. M. Gibson, who gave me permission
to use parts ofhis booklets; Dr Margery Blackie, for all she has taught
me over the years, with her vivid descriptions ofpatients and remedies;
Dr R. A. F. Jack, for his help with Accident and Injury Remedies; and
Dr R. D. Calcott, for his help with Eye Remedies. I should also like to
express my appreciation of valuable comments and criticisms from
many colleagues on earlier drafts ofthe manuscript; in particular from
Dr Michael Jenkins, Dr George Burns, Dr Frank Johnson, Dr Anne
Clover, Dr Muir Gray and Dr Anne Bennett. I should also like to thank
Mrs J. D. MacDonald for her patience in repeatedly typing and re-
typing the text as alterations and new ideas were added; Mrs Brenda
Marshall for the care with which she copy-edited the final draft ofthe
manuscript; and John Churchill, my publisher, for guidance and
encouragement in preparing this book. We are also indebted to the
Scottish Homoeopathic Research and Educational Trust for financial
assistance towards publishing.
H.W.B.
Contents
Preface vi
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF HOMOEOPATHY
/ WhatisHomoeopathy? 1
The OriginsofHomoeopathy 6
Research 7
Reaction tohomoeopathy 8
WhatDoes Homoeopathy Offer? 11
Conditionswhereconventional treatment isessential 11
Surgery 11
Deficiencies 12
Severeinfections 12
Homoeopathy'sprincipal fieldsofaction 12
Firstaid and injury 12
Acuteinfectionsand respiratorydisease 13
Gastrointestinal illness 14
Rheumatism and arthritis 14
Headaches 14
Skinconditions 15
Genito-urinarydisease 15
Cardiovasculardisease 16
Psychosomaticillnessand anxietystates 16
The MateriaMedica 18
The remedypicture 19
Repertories 21
Case-TakingandDiagnosis 22
Acutecase-taking 23
Chroniccase-taking 23
Thecomplaintand present history 23
Onsetandcourseoftheillness 23