Volume 2: Organ - Conflict - Cure
With Homeopathy, Naturopathy and Exercises
The place where disease manifests within the organ system is deeply significant. This is the site of conflict, but where there is conflict there is also the opportunity for resolution – and in resolution lies cure.
The liver is the focus of the second volume in the series Organ – Conflict – Cure by Rosina Sonnenschmidt. The author shows us the energetic significance of the liver discussing its symbolism, the liver temperament and spiritual matters whilst outlining the place of the liver in the historical context of alchemy and its importance in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The issues associated with the liver are ‘acquired authority’ – the personal power that one develops in the course of one’s life – creativity, humour and drive. If the energy of the liver is suppressed, for example by low self-esteem, the result can be aggression and a wide variety of physical conditions ranging from rheumatism and diabetes to cirrhosis of the liver.
As well as providing detailed information about the structure, function and pathology of the liver, the author gives much invaluable practical advice on treating liver and gallbladder complaints based on her many years as a holistic therapist.
Areas covered include:
- nutrition
- deacidification and detoxification
- herbal remedies
- cleansing the liver and gallbladder
- homeopathy
- extensive section on homeopathic therapeutic remedies
Many schools of thought are drawn on throughout the book, the emphasis being on the miasmatic point of view. This is a comprehensive and fascinating book that deals with every aspect of the liver in an easily accessible style.
Reprinted with the permission of The Homoeopathic Links Journal, from their Winter 2010, Volume 23 edition. Reviewed by Jay Yasgur.
Rosina Sonnenschmidt is a noted German seminar leader, author and healer. Judging from the bibliography she has written at least ten books. Rosina spent time in India and thus the Indian and Chinese influences in her methodology: this eastern influence is evident throughout as figures of the Buddha and quotations appear almost on every page. She does liberally quote western healers as well:
"In homeopathy weakness of the liver is recognised by patterns of symptoms... Even if there is no apparent liver disease we can conclude that the liver is weakened from the existence of certain symptoms."- p3, Roger Morrison (Desktop Companion to Physical Pathology, p. 381).
This book, her first in English and part of the "Organ-Conflict-Cure Series," deals with liver and gallbladder issues. Several volumes are planned in this series each covering the subject by addressing the following themes: the organ system from a spiritual and physiological viewpoint; diseases associated with the organ; the mental and emotional issues of the organ system; organ-related conflicts and their resolution; miasmatic, therapeutic and constitutional homeopathy; nutritional advice and naturopathic therapies.
This work consists of six chapters: Liver Energy, Liver and Gallbladder Issues, Structure of the Liver, A Holistic View of Liver Function, Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder, and Holistic Liver and Gallbladder Therapies.
Since the material is "deep" one needs to approach it in a quiet and reflective manner. This will allow the reader to gain special insights. For example:
"And so we come to the final link in the network of relationships between liver - gallbladder - Jupiter - Mars - tongue - teeth - tin. The metal tin, (Lat: Stannum) reveals further aspects of the sphere of action of the liver and gallbladder. Anthroposophy, which has transformed the ancient knowledge of alchemy for our modern times, gives us valuable insights."
"In that it is soft and malleable on the outside and inside is moderately hard and keeps its shape, tin represents the counter process in Nature which the body can call upon for healing ........... tin can be used comprehensively to heal the regulation between opposing areas of strength in the body, which express themselves on the one hand as building, growth and swelling up and on the other as hardening and drying up"- p.25, Wm. Pelikan (Sieben Metalle, p. 86).
Review published in Spectrum of Homoepathy 1/2010, by Petra Wood.
Eastern and Western medicine meet in Rosina Sonneschmidt’s inspirational guide to “liver energy”; its complaints and its holistic treatment. Laugh your way to a healthy liver!
Those who are used to the therapeutic approaches of classic or Indian homoeopaths will have a very pleasant surprise: Rosina Sonnenschmidt‘s approach to organ pathology is wonderfully embracing and absolutely holistic.
The author has a colourful background in oriental studies and kinesiology amongst others, as well as her studies in homoeopathy. Added to that is her personal health history, which she shares with the reader. The result is a book that provides the deepest insights into the true meaning of the organ system of the liver and the gallbladder.
This book is a fascinating account of the role of the liver and gallbladder physiologically, energetically and spiritually. The author provides deep insights into the different aspects of these organs and how their dysfunction affects different aspects of the being. There are references to traditional Chinese medicine as well as to alchemical views, humours and miasms.
The spiritual and esoteric aspects are grounded with ‚real‘ physiology and diagrams of the actual physical structure of both organs. The author explains why pathology develops and what it means, in relation to the origin of tissues within foetal development. Again, the physical structure is linked with energy, meaning, and patterns. The author emphasizes that “spirit creates matter”.
The subtitle may seem unusual: “Acquired Authority”. The author explains that everybody is born with the natural authority that comes from the heart. However, how we come to acknowledge and live with this natural authority is a process of acquiring awareness of it, which, the author argues, happens through liver energy.
The liver is the organ of doing, of expression. This needs a healthy amount of aggression, tempered with authenticity. The author‘s chosen symbol for healthy liver energy is the Chinese God of Happiness, Hotei, commonly mistaken as the Laughing Buddha. Pictures of Hotei pop up throughout the book, giving it hope and a light-heartedness. Credit goes to the publisher who designed a beautiful book, with attractive colour graphics and pictures. It is bound to an extremely high quality, with a marker ribbon for convenience.
Included in the book are chapters on dietary suggestions for general support and naturopathic measures for removal of liver and gallstones. This is followed by several tables of herbal remedies and homoeopathic remedies. These lists are comprehensive but not very detailed, with one exception: Stannum, which the author regards as the one main remedy for liver and gallbladder. Other remedies are listed mostly for their clinical manifestations, which I found in strange conflict to the author‘s overall emphasis on energy and spirit. However, the lists provide useful pointers which will need to be differentiated and individualised from other sources.
The appendix offers sources for dietary supplements, unfortunately mostly aimed at the German market.
This book is volume two of a series of twelve books on organs and organ systems, originally written in German and hopefully awaiting translation. For some reason volume one has not been published in English yet, but I look forward to reading all of the series – they will make a truly holistic addition to my homeopathic bookshelf.
