Dr Rajan Sankaran is at the forefront of the evolution of the "Kingdom approach" in Homoeopathy. This is a new way of case taking with an emphasis on going to the sensation level in the patient where one can hear the language of the source. Concurrently, a parallel approach evolved to study the homoeopathic Materia Medica in terms of kingdoms and then to see how each individual remedy reflects the qualities of its natural order. All this has resulted in an exponential expansion of the homoeopathic horizon.
Used increasingly by practitioners, this new approach called for a body of work that could be referred to once the patient has expressed his deepest sensation. Needed were books that presented the Materia Medica with the kingdom approach i.e. a look at the various natural Orders, their common qualities in nature, the sub-divisions, the recognition of the alert or the source words of each order and then how to differentiate further. Dr Sankaran has already presented the profession with his "An Insight Into Plants" (three Volumes) and then his experiences with the mineral kingdom in the two volumes of "Structure".
The exploration of the animal kingdom will be laid out in several volumes of the Survival series. This series is co-authored by Dr Sudhir Baldota, assisted by many editors, and has contributions from several homoeopaths experienced in the "Sensation method".
"Mollusca" is the first of this series. Within are described the qualities of Mollusca in nature, three of its sub-divisions - Bivalvia (oysters, clams...), Gastropoda (limpets, snails...) and Ce-phalopoda (octopuses, cuttle fish...) and expressions in the human being. Each of these is described with source words, proving information and clinical cases so as to see the whole map and thus make it easy to recognize it in clinical practice.
- Author: Rajan Sankaran
- ISBN: 9788190631648
- 453 pages
- Paperback
- Published in 2008
- Printed in India (so could be of inferior quality)
Reprinted with the permission of The Society of Homeopaths (from "The Homeopath" Journal, Summer 2009). Reviewed by Alison Fixsen.
Survival is a collaborative project between Rajan Sankaran and Sudhir Baldota, with varied contributions from Anna" Schadde, Peter Tumminello, Anne Wirtz, Linda Johnson, Dinesh Chauhan, Antonia de Souza and others.
A departure from more recent books by Sankaran, the focus here is entirely on one phylum, the Mollusca, taken from his unique homeopathic perspective and the first of a promised series. After a forward by Anne Schadde, we are given a clear and relatively concise explanation of the case taking approach according to kingdom classification, and how to recognise the 'animal song' through carefully observing, recording and translating the renditions of our patients. This is followed by an introduction to the Mollusca, with examples of 'expressions' of these species, which come to light in a patient's case.
The underlying rationale for studying and considering classification in this way is that 'sources closely related to one another in the natural world express similar sensations'.
This is a very interesting account of an aspect of marine biology, with systematic thorough background research into the classes and subclasses of the Mollusca. We are treated to a journey into the life of Bivalvia, Gastropodia, Cephalopoda, and a general summary of the classes. This uniquely combines with clear illustrations of cases in which the sensation method was successfully applied.
The use of key words and expressions in bold type links the animal physiology with symptoms from homeopathic provings, and those which emerged empirically through real expressions and gestures made by patients. We are shown how the global and local symptoms of a kingdom connect and how the animal experience is expressed through a human voice.
There are case examples from various homeopaths, followed by an explanation of important words, phrases and rubrics, and their association with the group and subgroup under consideration. One drawback for researching topics further, is the absence of referencing or bibliography, although acknowledgment is paid in the text; this should not deter teachers, homeopaths and students from using this book, as it is one of the best of its type. Students unfamiliar with the method will probably find this book more useful if they first study previous books including Sensation Refined, containing a more extensive explanation of this way of working and thinking. The clarity of writing makes this accessible to students at all levels, who will be delighted to gain new understanding of classical remedies such as Calcarea carbonica and Sepia and an introduction to new provings of remedies including Pearl Immersion, Cowrie Shell and Nautilus.
In recent years a range of books has been published focusing on the study of remedies according to kingdom classification. This book is a very useful addition to the genre.
Reprinted with the permission of The ARH, from 'Homeopathy in Practice' Journal, Summer 2009 edition. Reviewed by Theresa Partington BRCP.
In a departure from the usual style the Mollusc book is presented as a colourful paperback with glossy pages and loads of pictures. It starts with the now-customary introduction to the Sankaran style of case-taking with special emphasis on recognising the Animal Song. The keys to this are survival, attack / defence, victim / aggressor, communication, sexuality, attractiveness and multiplicity of sensations (unlike the fixed plant sensation with its opposite). Above all the sensation is a process rather than a fixed state.
The history, structure and function of Molluscs in general form the, next chapter, with associated key phrases that will appear in Mollusc cases. These include isolated, confined, caged (relating to experiences within the shell), hammered, pierced, swallowed, high and dry (relating to threats from without), floating, anchoring, sinking, pulled down (relating to lifecycle and habitat). There are eight different classes of Molluscs around these days and the book considers just three of them: Bivalvia, Gastropoda and Cephalopoda. As before, the detailed biology of each class is spelt out, followed by expressions that one might logically hear or see in the relevant patient. The pattern is repeated with a small selection of creatures within each class. Some have been proved already and the provings are examined to see if the key phrases are evident and to add to the symptom picture; many have not been proved; some have cases in the Sankaran style attached, most have not.
Thus the bivalve class is represented by Conchiolinum (mother-of-pearl), Tumminello's Pear, Venus mercenaria (the clam) and Pecten jacobaeus (the scallop). A meditative proving of a pearl from the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis pearl) is also referred to. Expressions of 'mussel' are deduced just from the mussel's story and are unsubstantiated by any cases or provings.
There are many creatures for which we have established pictures among the Gastropod class notably the Helix family and Murex purpurea, but there is a new-ish proving of cowry shell (Cypraea eglantine) written up with a case. Expressions in the 'Gastropod', patient may include 'coiled', 'spiral', 'slime', 'moist', 'squirt', 'suck', 'barb', 'flake off, 'dry out'.
The granny of the Cephalopoda, in homeopathic terms, is Sepia, of course, but Nautilus has been proved and there are cases illustrating both. The squid family has lots of deduced phrases but no provings or proper cases. Octopus has a case based on the biology but there are no provings. Iridescence, expansion, contraction, flaccid, spurt and expel are some the Cephalopoda expressions.
Sankaran and Baldota have addressed a very small number of creatures in just three classes of Mollusc, adding a bit of insight into a couple of well-known remedies and information from a few new provings The book is well written and interesting, contains charts, lists and comparisons galore and there are gems (pearls?) within it - but 60% of it is general zoology (Wikipedia stuff). At this rate you will need to build a library extension before the animal kingdom has been fully exploited by the Mumbai publishing machine - and take out a second mortgage while you are at it! As the years go by Sankaran seems to provide less and less value for money although I am sure some would regard me as a complete Philistine for saying so!
