Desktop Companion to Physical Pathology

This companion book to Desktop Guide is a systematic reference to the management, repertory analysis and differential diagnosis of remedies in over 50 common pathologies seen by homeopaths. It is intended for use by practicing homeopaths.

• Author: Roger Morrison
• ISBN: 9780963536822
• 605 pages
• Hardback
• Published in 1998
• Printed in United States

• View PDF

Reprinted with the permission of The Society of Homeopaths, from 'The Homeopath' Journal, Autumn 1998 edition. Reviewed by Francis Treuherz.

Here it is, the long awaited Desktop Companion to Phys­ical Pathology, the compan­ion volume to Roger Morrison's Desktop Guide to Materia Medica. Morrison states like Clarke and others before him that he wanted this information all in one place and the only way to have it was to write it down himself. He covers a wide range of conditions loosely grouped into six chapters, Head and Neck, Chest, Di­gestions, Urogenital, Periph­eral Organs and Systemic Conditions.

In his introduction the author writes that a main concern is that its purpose and the information con­tained in the book would be misconstrued and misused. Homoeopathy is an art and a science which must always aim to cure the patient on the deepest level. In this aim often it is the deepest inner conflicts and frustrations of our patients which lead us to the correct remedy. The prac­titioner must always consider the whole person.

Yet we all know that there are times when in person and on the telephone, (and lately by email!) we are confronted with a partial case. Or we need some minute clue from the pathology in order to discover a suitable remedy which will fit the rest of the case. Or we just wish to study some area of pathology and see what remedies are common. Until now we had mainly 19th century volumes like Lilienthal.

Roger Morrison has done us all a great service. Not only has he been to Greece and learned the language in order to study with Vithoulkas and Ghegas. Not only has he worked for twenty years in California. He has written up the fruits of his clinical experience in many areas. Each section has a lengthy introduction with an account from the homeopathic coal face about patient management, coping with allopathic medication - the medicines are often listed as a hierarchy of allopathic medication - and a myriad of therapeutic tips. These are as useful as the materia medica summaries, as whether in private or NHS work most of our patients will be taking, or have taken recently, some conventional medical drugs and want to take less of them.

There are also some naturopathic tips. These are very useful but not a primary or comprehensive resource. May I suggest Murray and Pizzorno's large paperback The Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine.

Some of us were educated to be arrogant about the role of the GP and conventional services. We may have a different philosophy of heal­ing but our puny single-hand­ed service for usually ambulant patients has its limitations, sometimes in the severity of pathology brought to us at a late stage in the illness by a fearful patient, some times in the severity of the medication, and other reasons. In this area, the possible need for referral to conventional services, Roger Morrison is cautious. But if he, as an experienced medical doctor in the USA, has to watch his back against quack busters, litigants, and allopathic colleagues, let us learn from him and apply his advice according to our local practicalities with humility, rather than condemn him for his caution.

As far as I can see all that is missing is the index to the main subjects, which I have made myself for readers to copy, and an index to reme­dies, which is desirable but would take me far too long as he covers many remedies. For example Nitric acid has a summary in seventeen differ­ent sections. A remedy index should be made and posted on our networks.

Abdominal Pain 243, Allergy 43, Arrhymia 172, Arthritis Acute 324, Arthritis Chronic (Degenerative) 347, Arthritis Rheumatoid 333, Asthma 145, back pain & Sciatica 356, Bell's Palsy 583, Celluli­tis 468, Concussion 402, Conjunctivitis 27, Convulsive 591. Cough 99, Cough Croup 123, Cough Pertussis 126, Cough Uncomplicated 108, Diarrhoea 227, Fever 519, Heart 1 71, Heart Angina 181, Heart Arrhythmia 1 72, Heart Degeneration 190, Hemor­rhoids 271, Influenza 509, Injuries Bruises 369, Injuries Burns 381, Injuries Fractures 379, Injuries Sprains 375, Injuries Sunstroke 296, Inju­ries Wounds 385, Injury Spinal 399, Kidney Stones 295, Liver Disorders 255, Multiple Sclerosis 572, Otitis Media 31, Parkinson's 603, Pharyngitis 71, Pneumonia 133, Prostate Conditions 303, Sinusitis 53, Skin Abscess 177 Skin Acne 471, Skin Cracking 427, Skin Eczema 407, Skin Fungal 465, Skin Herpes-Genital 453, Skin Herpes-Simple 446, Skin Herpes-Zoster 441, Skin Impetigo 460, Skin Poison Oak 435, Skin Psoriasis 416, Skin Urticaria 429, Skin Vitili­go 491, Skin Warts 486, Stomach Pain 217, Surgical Trauma 391, Tendonitis 331, Thyroid conditions 83, Tics Cramps Twitches 586, Tonsil­litis 71, Tooth Pain 61, Uri­nary Tract Infections 281, Uterine Haemorrhage 311, Vertigo 495.

A particularly useful part of each section are rubrics to look for in the repertory. They are more accessible than Eizayaga's Repertory Algo­rithms, a publication not much studied in the UK. They point the neophyte in the right direction. Although not cited I think they must be from Roger van Zandvoort's Complete Repertory.

Of course in the brief time I have had this volume I have not read all 605 pages. But I have had it by me for a week and used it frequently. I have found it in the main reliable, and where I am familiar with the area, it confirms my own experience. I have learned from it. I have noted some remedies omitted in some sections. The thyroid section places remedies for hypo-and hyper- together, and there are other small points which could be improved. This book does not cover the whole of human ills, for ex­ample gynaecology is largely missing. But this does not detract from it. I look forward to a second volume and to a computer version as soon as possible. This is indeed a companion for all our desktops.