Homeopathy Book Reviews

Homeopathy and Patterns in Mammals by Dr. Bhawish Joshi M.D. and Dr. Sachindra Joshi M.D.

Written by Vatsala Sperling

Homeopathy and Patterns in Mammals by Dr. Bhawish Joshi M.D. and Dr. Sachindra Joshi M.D. is reviewed by Vatsala Sperling

Publisher: Dr. Sachindra Joshi (HUF), Mumbai, India

Features: 536 Pages, paperback, full color, $ 90.00, First edition, 2016.

Reviewer: Vatsala Sperling MS, PhD, PDHom, CCH, RSHom (NA)

Homeopathy and Patterns in Mammals by Dr. Bhawish Joshi may16

When I held “Homeopathy and Patterns in Mammals” for the first time in my hand, my response was, thank goodness this book is here now. I felt the same till the very last page of the book. For homeopaths across the world who are reaching for new horizons in homeopathy, this book is the most awaited one so far.

The book release itself was a memorable event. The Joshis were giving a seminar in Hudson, NY. They had a case of the books fresh off the press and introduced it to the participants. Soon we lined up to get a copy and have it signed by the Dynamic Duo of homeopathy. The room grew still. We tore through the shrink wrap like eager children and sunk our teeth into the book that we had waited so eagerly for. Speaking from my personal experience, I can assure you that this book will become indispensable to you and you will find yourself referring to it on a daily basis in your practice. If you have not gotten a copy yet, do get one soon and perhaps you could even donate a copy to your local town or college library…let the good work and a good book spread wide and far and reach discerning readers.

Now the book itself – it is a 536 page, full color paperback. The cover shows a pair of white hands in the mudra of a classical Indian dancer. The shadow of this mudra, in black, however, clearly shows an animal with a magnificent antler. You get an idea about hidden animal patterns that you might encounter in humans.

The table of contents establishes clearly that this is a heavy duty, thoroughly researched and organized work, a text book and a reference book rolled into one.

If you are new to the Joshi’s work in homeopathy, please do read “The Concepts” chapter very thoroughly, word by word, and then let it all sink in. Think about it. Read it again till you can say, aha, it makes sense. Then you assimilate the information, familiarize yourself with what the Joshis are teaching and practicing so successfully. You will learn about how their practice evolved over the past two decades, and how they reviewed and learned from their old cases that had done OK on mineral and plant remedies but had stalled or hit a plateau till they found a remedy from the animal kingdom, gave it to the patients and witnessed a miraculous (for want of a better word) turn around in their patients. From their vast clinical experience, the Joshis understood that though minerals and plant remedies are needed by the patients in different stages in their life, and for treating different pathologies, a deep study of the patient’s inner personality and their way of moving through life and dealing with stressful circumstances invariably reveals a hidden animal pattern. The Joshis, in their busy practice in India as well as all over the world, have experienced this revelation firsthand. Those who have studied with the Joshis and are applying the Joshi’s method in their own practice with great success, are sure to attest to the veracity of this method. So, yes, study The Concepts as if your life depends on it.

No studying is complete if you do not get to learn about some cases and how the patients respond to the animal remedies. This need is fulfilled in the section on illustrative cases based on the Joshi’s approach. Seven illustrative cases are sprinkled liberally with comments and analysis by the Joshis that point clearly toward their logic in understanding the core patterns of the patients. They have also given clues about differentiating various patterns that appear similar in some aspects but have subtle as well as substantial differences.

“Animals in nature and their human reflections” is a very rich section. Over one hundred mammals have been described. Charts and tables throughout this section meticulously summarize the highly technical information presented in this section. For each animal, for e.g. bovidae family, there is further classification into subfamilies including a list of animals in each subfamily. The main characteristics of the bovidae are described and then we get to read about the homeopathic themes expressed by the bovidae. Further on we encounter finer differences and similarities between bovids and other mammals. Illustrative colors pictures of the mammals presented throughout this section bring the book to life. This section runs to 322 pages and helps elevating the gravitas and dignity of this book to the level of an indispensable reference book / text book that no student of homeopathy could live without. After reading through this section and assimilating its contents, you will know a sheep pattern hiding in a human and never confuse it with a goat or a tiger pattern. Your own detective work will become precise, logical and to the point.

The next brief section on “Mammal stages” is quite technical. The reader must get acquainted with the periodic table of minerals as well as the Joshi’s method of placing animals in rows and columns of the periodic table. Now, it will become easy to understand an expression like, ‘horse 3/5/5’. First digit 3 is baseline row for all mammals indicating the mammalian theme of dependence – independence. Second digit 5 is the dominant row of the family, the main features that define the family equidae is in row 5 of the periodic table. Third digit 5 indicates the fine features and characteristics that differentiate similar animals within the equidae family, for example, the difference between a horse and a donkey. Building upon a comprehensive understanding of rows and columns in the periodic table, and the Joshi’s method of placing animals in this table will help you codify each animal whose pattern you are able to discern in your practice. This is a unique and incomparable contribution Dr. Bhawisha and Dr. Sachindra Joshi have made to the advancement in homeopathy. In this section, as an added bonus, besides the numbers that describe an animal, you will also find its mineral counterpart.

At the very end of book, there is a tiny chapter on “The system of levels”. In my view this chapter gives a quick introduction to where the creative genius of the Joshis is heading in the future. They have presented a connection between chakras, seven levels of human development and how to locate an animal pattern in these seven levels. The idea is based on the Joshi’s method of case taking. The pattern of the patients can be plotted on the seven levels of development which also correspond to the seven rows of the periodic table. This grid of columns and rows is the same for plants, animals and minerals. As a result, once you are able to locate the level of development your patient is in, you can select a plant, mineral or animal remedy from this grid depending on the need of the patient. I call this brief chapter an icing on the cake.

Once you read this book and internalize its contents, I am confident that you will feel quite encouraged to dip your toes into the Joshi’s method and see your practice and your patients benefit enormously from it.  It is my hope that the Joshis will bring out many more books of this high standard, quality, depth and rich content and to that end I wish them good luck.

About the author

Vatsala Sperling

Vatsala Sperling, RSHom (NA), CCH, MS, PhD, PDHom was the Chief of Clinical Microbiology services at a children’s hospital in Chennai, India, when she published extensively and conducted research with WHO, Denmark. On moving to the USA, Vatsala pursued a 4½ year course in Homeopathy at Misha Norland’s school. She has authored twelve books including her latest, Colubrid Snake Remedies and Their Indication in Homeopathy Practice. Journals from US and abroad frequently publish Vatsala’s writings on spirituality, health, and homeopathy. Vatsala continues to study with several teachers and practices classical homeopathy. She has served on the board of directors of NASH and currently she serves as a volunteer with NCH. She can be reached via her website (www.Rochesterhomeopathy.com)

1 Comment

  • Hi Vatsala, Thank you for this thorough, systematic and heart-felt review. I have been hearing about the Joshis’ work and finally get it. Can’t wait to get hold of this book. They may have found their best ambassador yet in you.

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