ISBN:- 9781365387814
Copyright : Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD and Natura Medica Ltd (Standard Copyright Licence)
Edition: Fourth Edition
Published: 09 September 2016
Language:- English
Pages:-782
File Format : PDF
File Size :12.05 MB
Price: £23.95 (excl. VAT)
“This is the fourth edition of “Dynamic Gemmotherapy”. It has become much more than a textbook of Gemmotherapic medicine: it goes “Beyond Gemmotherapy”. The Materia Medica of fifty-five herbal remedies prepared according to gemmotherapic pharmacology has been much enlarged and encompasses multiple therapies that have used any of the plants. The Repertory has been enriched with indications that were separated by narrow scopes of practice and are now combined.
This review is based on the PDF format of the book, although there is a Hard copy in two volumes at £36.33 (excl. VAT) also from Lulu at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-joe-rozencwajgnmd/dynamic-gemmotherapy-beyond-gemmotherapy-volume-1/paperback/product-22858061.html
This book begins with pages containing the various books Dr Joe – as he likes to be called- has written up to now, plus the courses he runs. The contents page starts on page 12. On page 15 we get the Forward of why he has expanded the 3rd edition Gemmotherapy book to this 4th Edition, which really is explained by its title of Beyond Gemmotherapy! He explains how he used to give just the Gemmos for specific indications but then went on to potentise them to his Fibonacci Series (see his book on this).He is using the F series alongside the Gemmo remedy and found that not only did the current complaint go away faster than expected but other issues the patient had also disappeared and what remained was an easily perceived core issue. He has also expanded the indications of the Gemmo remedies by being inclusive of other complementary practices.
I am always thankful when an author tells me how to use their book, and this we get on page 19. We are told that each remedy has its Materia Medica BUT he has “listed every possible clinically proven use of each remedy in any form by any type of practice”. This is the “Beyond” part in the book title. This includes research for the therapeutics possibilities of the plant’s use in, for example, in Aromatherapy, Ayurvedic medicine, Homeopathy, Chinese Medicine and Japanese Kampo Herbalism.
Next we get an introduction to gemmotherapy, which is really important for homeopaths who may not have even heard of the word. I am one up on this as I have been taking 3 gemmos as they are fondly called, for a few months with some improvement, shown by photographic evidence, for a long standing condition! It is understandable that when I mention gemmotherapy to people they always assume I am talking about remedies made from gemstones, rather than remedies made from mostly the buds of plants. Gemmotherapy can be combined with any other modalities or given on its own, therefore it is a useful support for homeopaths.
This is new stuff compared to homeopathy! It appears to have been started in earnest by Pol Henry, a Belgian Medical Doctor in 1970 when he published his findings on the use of extracts from buds, rootlets, young shoots and the inner bark of roots. His book had the subtitle of “therapy through vegetal embryonic extracts”. The fact that Pol Henry was from Belgium explains Dr Joe’s interest as he is from Belgium originally. (I was privileged to edit a small autobiographical book he wrote about his younger years.)
We now get detail of plant biology explaining what parts of the plant are made into tincture and why. These parts are the meristems. The description is accompanied by lots of informative sketches in full colour. As an ex biology teacher I love the detail and easy to understand explanations. Now Auxins I remember but Gibberellins I have never heard of before. Both have been trialled in human cancer we are told. They are both growth regulators. I like the way that all references to research are given in full at the place they are discussed, rather than having to turn to the back of the book for them.
Each remedy has its own therapeutic properties selected on the individual needs of each patient. I have now found out why the concentrates I have been buying are relatively expensive compared with herbal tinctures. The buds and young shoots etc. can only be collected in Spring and need to be collected conservatively, otherwise the plant may die. This makes it a renewable source. The product is prepared by maceration in a mix of water, alcohol and glycerine. The product is potentised into a 1x or used neat as the concentrate which is how I am taking mine.
There are now 55 gemmo remedies of which 5 are newly introduced ones. One of these is Calluna Vulgaris –Heather. A few years ago when I was reading through herbal literature in my search for a cure for interstitial cystitis, I came across this remedy. I searched high and low but was unable to find the herbal tincture anywhere. As it happened, Helios had a homeopathic potency of it which I used and this did the trick after only a few doses in a low potency. Now that I know I can get hold of Calluna as a gemmo, I will keep it around.
Page 57 is where the Materia Medica of these remedies begins but there is a preface which begins with “You need to understand this before you read further, so do not skip!” I am not going to give the secret away for this but it was an interesting read along with suggestions of not giving Gemmos to animals as they may be toxic to them especially to those who are only carnivores.
Next is a section on posology for both the 1x (1D) and the concentrates which is what I am taking. It is possible to overdose. The remedies are used separately, although more than one can be taken but not combined. I am taking 3 at different times of the day. Dr Joe prescribed them for me and I am doing as I am told! There is a section Frequently Prescribed Combinations which has been included not because Dr Joe approves of this but because this is what some other therapists are doing.
Each of the 55 plants is now described beginning with a beautiful picture of all the parts of the plant. The therapeutics are explained clearly, along with how it is used by other therapies such as aromatherapy, herbal, Bach flower and homeopathy as well as Ayurveda and TCM when relevant. This is followed by the Gemmotherapy indications. At the end of each remedy we are given information on recent publications and research about it.
Reading these remedies I saw some very useful homeopathic MM for small remedies I knew nothing about.
After the MM is a very useful section on new indications for these Gemmos. This section needs to be combined somehow with the activities of the Gemmos given on page 42. But Aha, all becomes clear when I start reading the section entitled “Suggested Therapeutic Applications”. These are suggestions based on clinical experience. He suggests how these indications should be used. There are separate sections for paediatrics, geriatrics, mental and psychiatric and other conditions. I was pleased to find that there is an alphabetical Repertory near the end of the book. There are more “Very Important” notes to be read before the Repertory section. Some remedies have (x), (k), (nr), (h) written by them but other than seeing what the (x) means I can’t find a key to the others. For those who wish to know, Dr Joe tells me x = experimental, k = kampo, nr =new remedy, h = homeopathy. I also have to say that it would be much easier if this book had page numbers for each of the remedies as I found it very difficult to find the ones I am taking as I wanted to read all about them!
In the Conclusion we are told exactly what I feel about this book in that we now have another tool in our toolbox to help our patients with. This can be stand alone or in combination with other therapies. To finish this mammoth work there is a short Bio of Dr Joe’s life and how he came to be doing Natural Medicine as opposed to his original career as a Surgeon.
With his usual humour we are told that no plants were harmed in the writing of this book except “a high consumption of Camillia Sinensis in the form of Earl Grey Green Tea!!”
So who should get this book? The answer to that is anyone, as a standalone Gemmo therapist, or anyone practising a complementary therapy. As Dr Joe said to me once, there are only 55 remedies compared to homeopathy and so it is easy to learn them all. I make no comment!
