Homeopathy is a gentle, holistic system that treats symptoms of illness with small doses of drugs known to produce similar symptoms. This process, which stimulates the body's own defenses, was originated 200 years ago by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, and now author Nikki Henriques reintroduces Hahnemann's work in "Release the Vital Force" - The Exact Science and art of Homeopathic patient examination. Unfolding like a detective story, Henriques' book explores how conscientiously following Hahnemann's original teaching improves the effectiveness of Homeopathy and it's chances of survival. Henriques shows the reader how Homeopaths should work, what to expect from a consultant, what the practitioner is searching for in order to select the correct remedy and dose, and why and how Homeopathy can conquer illness. Written for the layperson and the practitioner both, "Release the Vital Force" - The Exact Science and Art of Homeopathic Patient Examination is both entertaining and essential.
Reprinted with the permission of The Society of Homeopaths, from 'The Homeopath' magazine, Autumn 2009 edition:
Reviewed by Robert Bridge:
Release the Vital Force proclaims the cover title of Nikki Henriques' latest book; underneath, a man stands on a smouldering precipice, eyes lifted heavenwards, arms outstretched in a crucifixion pose, fluorescent and flaming rays in a spiral around him. For all the pitfalls of judging a book by its cover I think we can make a shrewd guess that this is going to be no cautious toe-dipping account of homeopathy and case-taking.
Indeed not. From the first words of the enthusiastic, if sometimes incomprehensible, preface and introduction it is quickly apparent that the British-born, American-based homeopath Nikki Henriques is a passionate evangelist of the classical canons of homeopathy: though there are brief forays into the early 20th century, through the works of Schmidt and Roberts, it is Hahnemann and Kent who dominate and indeed, through the inclusion of extended unmodified extracts, account at times for 80% or more of the written text. For the majority of the book Henriques settles into the role of providing skilful continuity between her quotations and here adopts a stylised impersonal language that, at times, makes it difficult to distinguish between her own writing and that of her sources. The effect of this is twofold: on one hand it gives the book an oddly scholastic and somewhat arid feel, reinforced by the choice of case examples which are exclusively drawn from Hahnemann and Kent; on the other hand there are times when putting Hahnemann and Kent into this context reminds us of how startlingly contemporary their writings can be.
In her sections on case analysis and potency it is clear that Henriques has no time for schools of thought that deviate from the Kentian constitutional model: her 'exact science' leaves no room for later heresy. So for students wanting a solid grounding in traditional case-gathering, and for practitioners befuddled by the multiplicity of contemporary approaches and eager for a back-to-basics approach, Henriques is unapologetically and reassuringly prescriptive.
For me the richness of this book lies in the moments when Henriques steps away from her didactic and rather remote voice, and speaks from her own experience: here her suggestions on enabling clients to safely discuss traumatic events, on the judicious use of 'silence', the reasons for resisting the temptation to intervene when a client becomes distressed. These observations in amongst other gems of clinical insight, shine through with a warmth and wisdom.
