Homeopathy Book Reviews

The Homoeopathic Compendium by David Little

Written by Joe Rozencwajg

Dr. Joe Rozencwajg reviews David Little’s 6 volume Homoeopathic Compendium.

Book Review by Joe Rozencwajg, NMD

The Homoeopathic Compendium by David Little

The Homoeopathic Compendium by David Little

 

Published y “Friends of Health” and David Little.

6 Volumes, 4500 pages

Available at

 

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 this 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 Homoeopathic Compendium by David Little is divided into 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 potentizers. 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 of 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, 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 of 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.

Editor’s Note: A lengthy excerpt from the Compendium appears in the July 2015 issue of Homeopathy for Everyone: https://hpathy.com/organon-philosophy/constitutional-medicine-constitution-and-terrain/

About the author

Joe Rozencwajg

Dr. Joseph (Joe) Rozencwajg, MD, PhD, NMD, OMD was born in Belgium in 1951. After medical school, he went on to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a surgeon. He subsequently learned Acupuncture, Homeopathy, TCM, Nutrition, Flower Remedies, Aromatherapy, Naturopathy, Reiki and other modalities. He has a PhD in Homeopathy and one in Natural Medical Sciences as well as a Doctorate in Naturopathy and one in Osteopathy. Dr. Joe lives in New Plymouth, New Zealand where he practices exclusively Natural Medicine at his clinic, Natura Medica Ltd. He developed a entirely new series of homeopathic potencies and is the author of numerous articles and the books :The Potency. Advanced Prescribing in Homeopathy, Homeopathy through the Chinese looking glass: Homeosiniatry revisited,. Dynamic Gemmotherapy and, Drainage, Detoxification and Organotherapy. His books are available from www.lulu.com Visit Dr. Rozencwajg at his website: www.naturamedica.co.nz

3 Comments

  • Nice Review Hpathy – It seems that David Little’s Homoeopathic Compendium cover all Homoeopathic related topics, I want to buy and read all volumes of this book, please suggest me from where should I buy these books, Also I want to know that should I start reading this book from volume one or suggest me any other sequence

    • Hi Sadhna,

      Please visit our website for more free chapters and excerpts.The Compendium is only available on our website . It is good to start at the beginning and go to the end. There are no rules one can always go ahead and read sections that interest you. The Compendium is also a comprehensive reference/manual that the reader will be referring back to. You can email me if you have any further queries.

      David Gittins Office Manager for Friends of Health
      email [email protected] Facebook http://www.facebook.com/hcompendium Visit http://www.friendsofhealth.com to read 5 free chapters and other excerpts adding up to over 300 pages of free material from The Homoeopathic Compendium by David Little.

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