When a homeopath has been in practice for a while, they continually make discoveries. At least I have.
Don’t get me wrong.
I learned great underpinning stuff studying classical homeopathy! But real-life situations aren’t always included in textbooks — in homeopathy or any profession, for that matter. It wasn't until I had been in practice for a long time that I was able to understand homeopathy and health more fully.
The sheer number of people I've worked with has allowed me to come up with answers I would otherwise have not been able to uncover.
There are foundational aphorisms in classical homeopathy. But nothing in life is consistent across the board. With so many different kinds of people in the world and thousands of various health conditions and illnesses those people can suffer, how could there be one rule that holds true for every person and every condition? It just can’t be!
And with experience in practice, we learn “exceptions” to these rules … modifications to previously held thoughts. This is what I look to impart to you.
Let me give you an example. I had a client who suffered from severe arthritis. Her pain was so severe, she could barely walk from her bedroom to her living room; she couldn’t unload her dishwasher; she could barely move. She was in so much pain, she spent much of the day asleep because her body was under siege.
I taught her about Rhus tox 1M, once a day.
Well, a friend who was studying classical homeopathy warned her, “My God! NO! You can’t take Rhus tox 1M once a day every day! You’ll prove it!!”
And that’s exactly what I would have thought when I was a young homeopath, too.
But after I had been in practice for a while, I learned differently. I realized when you use a medicine that works really well but suggest that the client use it for only a week, the condition generally returns when they stop using it.
Then they have to use the medicine again for another two weeks. Then stop it again. Then restart it. Stop. Start. Stop. Start.
After witnessing this pattern in dozens and dozens of clients, I realized, “What the heck are you doing, Joette? You’re making these poor people suffer between the times they were abstaining because you don’t have confidence in being able to use your medicines every single day for months?”
This was my problem, not the remedies’ problem. It was basically MY BAD!!
So, I changed my own adherence to a classical rule — a rule that need not apply.
In the ensuing years, I have learned clients automatically run out of their remedy. Maybe they just aren’t suffering as much, so they don’t rush out to the pharmacy to replenish. Or perhaps they travel and forget to pack it. But eventually, for one reason or another, they stop taking it.
Now I am confident enough in homeopathy to accept there’s no need for an arbitrary, across-the-board time limit on the remedy.
If their condition returns, then we know they’re not done with the remedy. They should stay the course. If the condition doesn’t return, then we know we’ve made a good headway.
I’ve changed my obedience to many other rules. I’ve come a long way from the rigidity of classical homeopathy because I have been in practice for so long and observed so much.
Discoveries are made continuously throughout a homeopath’s practice.
Take the Drs. Banerji, for instance. There are countless examples but let me give you just one: a discovery they made in their clinic in India while treating 1,200 patients a day over decades. I debated a bit about sharing this story, but it is so fascinating! It’s something you certainly won’t find in the textbooks!
The condition? Shoulder Bursitis.
Many joints contain a bursa sac filled with lubricating fluid to cushion the joint as it moves. Whether due to an injury or repetitive stress, this sac can become inflamed, resulting in a very painful and frustrating condition. Bursitis can also affect the knees, elbows and hips.
The first remedy we think of for bursitis (actually most shoulder pains) is Symphytum 200, taken twice daily until very much better.
But purely by chance — in one of those quirks of discovery that can only happen in a remarkably robust practice — the Banerjis discovered when bursitis affects the LEFT shoulder joint, a different remedy can actually work better!
How did they make this discovery?
A patient came into the clinic suffering from both syphilis and bursitis in the left shoulder. Dr. Prasanta Banerji prescribed Syphilinum for syphilis.
You’re getting ahead of me here, aren’t you?
Yes. After taking the Syphilinum, the patient’s left shoulder bursitis went away.
So, the next patient who presented with left-sided shoulder bursitis was also given Syphilinum. It worked again. And again. And again.
And a Banerji Protocol was born.
(And by the way, this difference between bursitis in the right or the left joint only applies to shoulders. Not knees. Not elbows. Just shoulders. That’s part of what’s so fascinating about this discovery!)
In this country, even for a left shoulder, we still generally try Symphytum 200 first, as it is an easier remedy to find. But if it doesn’t act, you now have a very memorable story of the alternative the Banerjis discovered.
Learn.
Learn all that you can. Take in the books. Absorb the texts. But realize that it is the practice of our craft time and again that truly informs us. Without it, it can be our “bad!” Remember the discoveries that historical homeopaths have made, and also ones being made today — possibly even as we speak. So never stop learning!
And of course, pass on the good news of homeopathy!
Warmly,
P.S. How do I do this, you ask? An inexpensive, effective, and fun way to learn how to use homeopathy is through a study group guided by my Gateway to Homeopathy I curriculum. It is the perfect place to begin or to brush up on your basic understanding.
If you want to delve into a subject more deeply, I offer in-depth courses on many issues. Here’s a great Course Selector to help you decide which course would be right for you. You will never regret learning more about homeopathy and taking greater control of your family’s health.
I am a homeopath with a worldwide practice working with families and individuals via Zoom. I'm also a teacher and most importantly, a mom who raised my now-adult children depending on homeopathy over the last 31 years. I lived decades of my life with food intolerances, allergies, and chemical sensitivities until I was cured with homeopathy, so I understand pain, anxiety, and suffering. You may feel that your issues are more severe or different than anyone else’s, but I have seen it all in my practice and in my work in India. My opinion is that nothing has come close to the reproducible, safe and effective results that my clients, students and I have achieved with homeopathy.
Call today and learn how homeopathy might just be the missing piece in your health strategy.
Joette is not a physician and the relationship between Joette and her clients is not of prescriber and patient, but as educator and client. It is fully the client's choice whether or not to take advantage of the information Joette presents. Homeopathy doesn't "treat" an illness; it addresses the entire person as a matter of wholeness that is an educational process, not a medical one. Joette believes that the advice and diagnosis of a physician is often in order.
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The Author disclaims all liability for any loss or risk, personal or otherwise incurred as a consequence of use of any material in this article. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Judy, Pls turn people on to homeopathy. Send them to this free info. Thanks!
I dear joette
I love your blogs
My right shoulder is hurting I hv been taking rhus tox 30 for a month and rutaa30 but still hurting
Should I take rhus 1m syphillinum 0
What potency though
Thanks a lit
The potency is included in the article.
I can’t find the potency for Syphilinum either in the article. There’s potencies for the other two remedies mentioned in the article but not this one.
I can’t find the dosage, either. I signed up to get the recipe card and that only had the Symphytum on it. As my shoulder pain is left-sided I was especially interested in the Syphilinum. Thank you!
I don’t offer the dosage for it because it’s not the 1st line of defense in this situation and as I mentioned, is difficult to obtain without the guidance of a homeopath.
I urge you to read the article again and you’ll likely find what you’re looking for.
Symphitum or syphillinum??????
I believe if you read the article again, you’ll find your answer/s.
I have cured all cases of bursitis – knee, hip, elbow – with Camphora MT or as low a potency as available (2D), taken 3x daily. After 3 weeks, the bursitis was gone, even if had existed for years(in the hip joint).
Would that be Syphilinum 200 if the Symphytum 200 does not act for the left shoulder? Twice daily also?
Thanks so much for that – What potency of Syphilinum for the left shoulder?
Yes its clear from 6th edition of the Organon that Hahnemann said to use repeated doses of remedies – there was nothing classical about wait and watch, it was just an earlier version, as he refined things he went for repetition. Regards
Interesting readying, thanks. A couple of quick questions. Would symphytum also be a remedy to look at for ganglions? They are the bursa fluid leaking from the joint, although not necessary inflamed or painful.
Second question: When combining remedies do they necessarily have to be from the same company? I can’t always access from the same company so I have some Boiron, some Nelsons etc.
Pls check my blog using the word “ganglion” to find what you’re looking for.
And it matters not who manufactures the remedies.
Hiya Jo, its Andrea again. Just a question about this guided study group. I am a lone student, none of my friends are interested in homeopathy, can I pay the 47.00 dollars to access this course on my own. Your other courses intrigue me but being a carer, getting the minimum wage I can’t afford those prices yet, have to save up for them.
Any way if you could kindly let us know if we can take the study course alone please do.
Thanks again Andrea.
I’ll have Eileen in my office contact you so that you can join a group already forming. It’s always better for you to study with like-minded folks but if all else fails, you may study alone.
Dear Joette
Really enjoyed this article. I do not have anyone else nearby who would do this course with me and I am wondering if possible you could get Eileen in your office to contact me to see if I can join another group that might be forming too? Thank you and looking forward to reading more tips soon.
Rachel Williams
Certainly! Eileen will contact you shortly.
Will you be creating a recipe card for this article?
It’s up now.
Hi Joette, did you mean to include a downloadable remedy card for this post? Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge so freely here in your blog, and I am loving your courses too.
Try again. Sometimes there’s a delay.
I’m having trouble finding Syphilinum. Any suggestions of where to look for it? Amazons sells one from Urenus UK but I can’t get a sense for that how reliable that source is. Besides that, Washington and OHM don’t seem to carry it.
Try Helios in the UK.
Thank you!
Mrs. Calabrese,
May I ask, did you perhaps have this client with the severe arthritis before you spent time studying with the Banerji’s? I am trying to understand when you would use Rhus tox alone, instead of in combination with Symphytum. Are there some arthritis cases (not gouty), where you would choose Rhus tox alone?
Thank you very much.
My father has a pretty severe case of “popeye elbow” (bursitis in elbow). It is only causing mild pain, but is very swollen. Would you still recommend Symphytum? I was thinking Apis, for swelling, but it is not red or painful…
Would this remedy treat hip bursitis also?
Read the article carefully.