Homeopathy has evolved from a symptom-based to a systematic approach where each remedy is seen as a part of a group to which it belongs in nature, rather than as an individual entity. Each patient is guided to explore his innermost experience, or Sensation, where he speaks the language of nature. In order to recognize what language he is speaking, it becomes necessary to know the features of each kingdom and subkingdom in nature. For this purpose it becomes imperative to create a body of work that looks at the Materia Medica from a systematic point of view.
After elaborating on his kingdom idea and the Sensation level, Dr Rajan Sankaran has been consolidating these with a look into each kingdom. This work is the second of a trilogy on the various kingdoms, the first being An Insight into Plants and the third being Survival (on the animal kingdom). In the case of the Mineral Kingdom, the periodic table readily lends itself to the task of classification. Its seven rows and 18 columns can be understood, seen and experienced as stages of human development. Such an understanding leads us to prescribe new remedies with accuracy. Rajan's recent explorations into the rows, backed by several clinical cases, provings and research, have thrown new light on the Mineral Kingdom that makes it significantly easier to recognize the remedies in practice.
Please Note:- We hold the work of Rajan Sankaran in high regard and want to make as many of these important books available to our customers as is possible. Despite their cost, these books are supplied directly from India, and do not necessarily come to us in the best external condition. We apologise if this is the case, but the condition is outside of our control.
- Author: Rajan Sankaran
- ISBN: 9788190337885
- 1053 pages
- Published in 2008
- Printed in India (Inferior Quality)
Reprinted with the permission of The Society of Homeopaths (from "The Homeopath" Journal, Summer 2008). Reviewed by Jean Duckworth.
This two volume set by Sankaran follows work on the plant kingdom. He opens with acknowledgements to all who helped with the development of the ideas and books (there are chapters by Roger Morrison and Patricia Le Roux). The text starts with explanations of kingdoms in homeopathy, of minerals and of the 'mineral song'. I particularly liked the short chapter on 'mineral source words' and believe it will enhance my understanding of my patients.
As with all Rajan Sankaran's recent texts, there are ample case examples, including verbatim case histories, by way of illustration, which help with understanding both the remedy and methodology. As someone who appreciates his work, I was also interested in Roger
Morrison's hypothesis and aphorisms in the chapter on Miasms in the Mineral Kingdom, and will see if it has an application in my own practice. Another useful feature is that Sankaran looks beyond the minerals as they appear on the periodic table, he also classifies the minerals by their common substances, for example in his classification of carbon, he looks at the pure carbons, including Adamas, Carbo animalis, Carbo mineralis, Carbo umbra, Carbo vegetabilis and Graphites and then the acyclic carbon compounds such as Aceticum acidum, Carboneum dioxygenisatum, Citricum acidum and so on.
He then mentions the cyclic carbon compounds before moving on to the substances of organic origin, including Antipyrinum through to Terebinthina and finally to the synthetic drugs, which include Barbital, Heroinum, Phenobarbitalum, right through to Phlorizinum.
The work builds on that already completed by Jan Scholten and adds the further dimension of the Bombay school, a welcome addition to our knowledge of this kingdom.
There are two things that I felt would aid my use of the books: a schema, like the one already compiled on the plant kingdom which would enable me to see an overview rather than always having to search; and emboldened text in the index, whenever it relates to the main information about a remedy.
Other than these very minor points, this is not simply a replication of Jan Scholten's work; the book has something of value to everyone, and gives to those who use the Bombay or Sensation method, another way of accessing the mineral kingdom.
Reprinted with the permission of The Homeopathic Links Journal, volume 21, Winter 2008. Reviewed by Dr Joseph Rozencwajg, MD, PhD, NMD, New Zealand.
As he did with the plant kingdom in "An insight into Plants", Sankaran now studies the mineral kingdom, using the Table of Elements the way Scholten pioneered.
When I started reading this book, I was weary it would be a revamped copy of Scholten's work; and in a way it is, but with such a difference in presentation and explanation that it seems even I understood it.
It starts with a condensed and summarized study of the rows and columns that puts clear foundations to what is to follow. Then each row is considered, with each mineral described, as well as many salts, and often a clear explanation of their differences. As is usual with Sankaran's work, he uses rubrics from all the repertories to confirm his findings, showing, as Scholten did, that this way of looking at remedies is not a magical hat trick, but is grounded in the provings and practices of homeopaths; the way of looking at them though, is different.
With extensive cases to illustrate the remedies, interspersed with explanations as to how and why he arrived at that specific prescription, we have on top of a materia medica a nice collection of the use of the Sensation method and the use of gestures to get to the remedy.
That is where my personal problem resides: although I think I understand what Sankaran teaches, I could never apply his method of questioning to my patients: all I got was at best funny looks, and often "didn't ya hear what I just told ya, mate?" reactions; as for the use of gestures, I wonder how Rajan would treat Italian patients, or some very immobile Nordic patients?
Does that make his books useless? Certainly not! This approach has widened and expanded the understanding of many remedies. For example, reading that the Natrum patient expects things to be done without him or her asking and is distraught when it does not happen created the reaction "of course, how didn't 1 see that before!", and many more like that.
The book ends with tables that are a very good summary of the Kingdoms approach and the stage of life of each specific mineral.
Roger Morrison has included a chapter that attempts to classify minerals according to Sankaran's miasms, clearly pointing the difference between those we are certain about and those that need more investigations. A short chapter about metals in paediatric prescription by Patricia Le Roux is also included.
The practitioners who use Sankaran's methods will definitely need this book; those who don't will also need it for a deeper understanding of our remedies.
Another modern classic.
