Homoeopathy

Dr Paschero was the revered founder of the Escuela Medica Homeopathica Argentina and a homoeopath of international stature. A classical homoeopath of the pure Kentian school he trained with Kent's immediate successor Dr Arthur Grimmer in Chicago. He possessed a level of insight and understanding of the classical method that has rarely been matched. He also brought to his work a keen knowledge of depth psychology which, blending perfectly with the classical principles, added considerably to the range and lucidity of his thought.

Paschero's prolific writings on all aspects of homoeopathy reveal his deep love and respect for humankind both in sickness and in health, and his commitment to the furthering of its potential to transcend its moral and physical limitations by means of the highest standards of homoeopathic treatment. They place him firmly within the finest humanistic tradition of medicine. 'Homoeopathy' comprises a selection of the best of his writings, spanning a long and highly productive career.

Beginning with a section on homoeopathic philosophy, the book explores the meaning and implications of the vitalistic outlook that underpins Hahnemann's and Kent's view of the nature and purpose of human life. The essential principles of homoeopathy are examined and elucidated in turn, including the Law of Cure, the chronic miasms, and the significance of the mental picture among the totality of symptoms.

This is followed by an in-depth look at clinical aspects such as case taking, finding the similimum and child psychology in homoeopathy, amply illustrated with examples drawn from the author's casebooks. The book concludes with a selection of essays on the materia medica, consolidating the remedy pictures that emerge in the previous section.

Review:

Knowledge, in all its aspects, brings our understanding to the fore. However you define excellence in prescribing, knowledge is always an essential ingredient. Who we are as a person is the most important factor in how we live our life, and thus also in how we practise as a homeopath. Pascheros 'Homoeopathy', a superb collection of his essays, weaves these insights, among many others, into the fabric of what homeopathy is, how it works and what it means to be a homeopath.
I have always looked only to Hahnemanns Organon and Kent's Lectures as that masterwork, whenever I needed to reinforce my footing in the ideas of homeopathy. The clarity of thought and uncompromising adherence to the principles of homeopathy in these books are always a sufficient and unswerving guide. I am delighted to say that now, after all these years, I have found another book to add to that duo Pascheros 'Homoeopathy'.
One basic principle discussed in many different ways is that of our grasp of the holistic perspective. The physician, no matter what therapeutics he employs, must be aware that every symptom is a part of the patients life context. Each symptom has a meaning to be unlocked, once a complete understanding has been gained of the pathological expression and behaviour of a unique and untold human life. If this seems self-evident, just recall how many homeopaths prescribe on isolated symptoms or give more than one remedy at a time. Paschero addresses the issue in his chapter Unicism and Pluralism. If there was ever a doubt in your mind on the matter, this will clarify the case for single remedy prescribing for you. Hahnemann established as a basic clinical principle the unity of the patients reaction, that is, the totality of symptoms that reflect the dynamic derangement. This very personal total symptom picture can never be the expression of an affected isolated organ or a disturbed localised function.
Furthermore, Paschero has the courage to state that prescribing on isolated symptoms rather than the dynamic totality, in addition to violating the fundamental tenets of homeopathy, can be suppressive and can cause great harm. Few single-remedy, constitutional prescribers take that logical step, despite its being so self-evident from the philosophy of homeopathy in the writings of Hahnemann.
Another of the many topics on which Paschero sheds light is his discussion on the deep, holistic, constitutional understanding of the patient. He states the issue beautifully: The unconscious tension we call instinct is the psychic expression of that emotional will, transmitting the requirements of cellular activity to the conscious awareness. That is why the organic will, the deep necessity that appears in the conscious ego as a motivation to act, is what best defines the nature of being and best summarises an individuals symptom picture. We all live the unconscious reality of our innermost being and this determines not only the complex mechanism of our will but also the energetic quality of the vital force that regulates our bodily functions.
There is the brilliant insight that the symptoms report that the patient gives us is clouded by the very illness we are trying to cure. The homeopath works with the symptoms that the patient translates though a compromised ego (self), 'falsified' by those very compromises, destined to defend it from his instincts. More than just hearing them, the homeopath must try to 'see' them and interpret them through, and in spite of, the patients ego. How can we bypass these distracting and illusionary symptoms and feelings to get to the real essence of the vital forces morbid disorder? The first step is to understand the workings of the personality, psyche and the healing process. Once more, the theme of knowledge and deep understanding is emphasised. Fortunately, much of that knowledge can be gained in this book.
The essays on materia medica deal mainly with some of the mental and general symptoms that he has found most interesting. Although these discussions are not as complete as in the fuller materia medicas, they draw on his vast experience and are therefore worthy of note. What I found particularly helpful, however, are the philosophical comments woven into these remedy discussions - for example, Localised reactions express the vital intention of the whole person. This reminds us of what Paschero so frequently emphasises in the earlier sections that physical symptoms are expressing exactly the same message as the mental state.
I have limited my comments to just a few samples of the authors writings to give you the flavour of this amazing book. It has been difficult to choose between the hundreds of quotable passages, wonderful insights and eloquent turns of phrase. Needless to add, I highly recommend it and expect that once you have read it you will find yourself rereading it over and over again like the other important classic works. Lastly, as a bibliophile, I would like to comment on the quality of the publication itself. As is customary from Beaconsfield Publishers, the book is beautiful and of high quality. The binding is solid, the paper is first-rate and the font is clear and easy on the eye to read.

Review by Dr Patricia Haas, Homeopathic Links

• Author: Tomas Pablo Paschero
• ISBN: 9780906584415
• 251 pages
• Paperback
• Published in 2000
• Printed in United Kingdom

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Reprinted with the permission of The Society of Homeopaths, (from 'The Homeopath' Journal, Spring 2001 edition). Reviewed by Francis Treuherz.

This is the book l wish I had on my desk when I was a student, and one we all need to read from time to time when our enthusiasm for homeopathy wanes, and we are wondering about the latest speculative guru. Paschero is down to earth and practical, yet on a higher plane of philosophy than most. He writes of homeopathy as a formative process for him, of the development of Hahnemannian ideas of chronic disease, and seeing remedies as constitutional types. But is readable rather than dry; not only the style, but also each essay is self contained and short enough to hold the reader's attention.

The book is divided into 3 main parts which he calls Doctrine with 9 chapters, Clinical Aspects (7 chapters) and Materia Medica of 14 remedies plus 3 essays on materia medica. This book is of such quality that it is hard to pick out the best. I have chosen one chapter for the journal so that you can have a taste of the style. The second choice would have been Finding the Similimum, rejected only on the grounds of length. This contains an exposition of how to analyse and repertorise a case, with some stunning examples. It solves the question which bothers so many of us, which rubrics to choose.

The materia medica begins with an essay on how to study remedies, to read many sources of which he gives examples. He mentions the character and feel of a remedy and then proceeds to produce some wonderful vignettes as examples of what he means. Often there is something new for me like the extra sensory perceptions and dowsing abilities of Lachesis, or the boasting of Phosphorus.

This translation from the Spanish of the Argentine by Katherine Masfs reads as if it was an original, perhaps also because Paschero had studied the American classics and knows our style. Paschero was born in 1904, and in 1934 travelled to the USA where he met and studied with various homeo­pathic physicians, including William Griggs, Eugene Underhill, Julia Minerva Green, Elizabeth Wright Hubbard, Guy Beckley Stearns and AH Grimmer. Some of these illustrious teachers had studied with Kent, most were members of the International Hahnemannian Association, all kept the homeopathic flag waving after the main colleges closed. Paschero was lucky in that he had an apprenticeship with Grimmer. He then returned home and became himself a teacher and leader of the profession in his own land. This book is the culmination of his work over 5 decades, first published in 1983. What we have here is a transfusion of what we have learned to call classical pre­scribing methods, published as another modern classic text.