The Actinides, when transformed into homeopathic potencies, are remedies of our times, where life seems to be speeding up and old established systems are falling apart. Being at the far end of the periodic table, with the inherent tendency to decay, the Actinides correspond to the approach of death, the release of the physical state, the transition from the material realm into the realm of energy. The states requiring Actinide remedies are powerfully charged. Actinides' patients can feel fragile and unstable, in a continuous state of chaos and threatened disintegration. Physically, there can be severe pathologies or malformations, often genetic. The person may feel like they are living in a wasteland, between life and death, as might in fact be the case. In this book, Margriet Plouvier-Suijs shares with us her extensive experience of the Actinide remedies. She has learned to recognise these states not only in their severe forms, but in their subtle earlier manifestations as well, so that we can learn to prescribe these remedies before someone becomes so disastrously ill. She has included cases from other colleagues as well, broadening our knowledge and experience of these remedies. I most sincerely hope that this book will help us to utilise not only the more familiar Actinide remedies, but to venture out and learn to apply the full spectrum of Actinides in our practices. From the Foreword by Deborah Collins Radioactive elements can destroy white blood cells, and it takes a similar energy to cure this affliction. This dark side cannot be ignored any longer. Pandora's box has been opened so that our only option is to enter fully, to discover the light at the end of this dark tunnel. Jeremy Sherr
Reprinted with the permission of The Society of Homeopaths. From 'The Homeopath' Journal, Winter 2012. Reviewed by Jackie McTaggart.
This book is a fabulous companion for all those homeopaths who have visited or immersed themselves in Jan Scholten's Element Theory. It is also a reference book for any homeopath who has had some experience prescribing Actinides already, or indeed for any homeopath who has had no prior experience with this group of remedies but has the enthusiasm to learn more. However, little attention has been paid to the overall breadth and depth of the periodic system for, as it says on the cover, the focus is almost exclusively on the final horizontal grouping of the periodic table - the last series.
In the opening chapter Plouvier-Suijs rekindles the notion that the periodic table is a map of human evolution which can be used by homeopaths as a system for healing. She has based her book on Scholten's group concept methodology. Here he left us with hints of possibilities and brief outlines of two of the most well known of the Actinides -Uranium and Plutonium - with no more attention paid to the rest of the lesser known elements in that series. It is a real tribute to Jan's work that the author has been able to successfully predict these remedy pictures from her knowledge, experience and understanding of the pattern. To me this is the real beauty of her work, for she has continued the exploration using a well-established methodology and proceeded to colour in these final missing and hidden treasures.
She begins by presenting an introductory account of the extremes and intensity of our contemporary era. She draws parallels with many of our patients who are presenting with extreme and intense symptomologies who are requiring remedies capable of healing at the deepest level of the human experience. Her opening chapter is a great reference point as this is where she clearly summarises the main themes of the Actinides - altruism; communication; wisdom; perception; overview; transparency; sensitivity; compassion; universal truth; trust; ripe old age. These are the building blocks for understanding that one of these remedies may be indicated and these themes are reiterated throughout the book.
While referencing each of the elements, Plouvier-Suijs also illustrates how the remedies can be differentiated by using the group analysis of the stage i.e. how the patient 'handles' life. The stages are the most difficult aspect of Scholten's work to portray through the written word as the most precise way of gleaning the stage, is from the language and our feeling of the patient. This is where the art and science of the periodic table truly merges. Through her presentation of several cases using this approach she has endeavoured to encourage the reader to explore this way of working.
She methodically introduces us to each of the elements we can access homeopathically (a few we cannot e.g. Einsteinium, Fermium, Nobelium) with background information on their history, material and medicinal usage. Some of her findings have been highlighted with reference to provings, most notably Actinides proved by J Sherr {Plutonium and Americium) and Dr Sujit Chatterjee (Uranium nitricum). It is also of special interest to myself that there are many references to physical symptoms and pathologies commonly seen in relation to this series. Some explanation of the combining elements with these radioactive remedies is also offered - if the pure metal is not indicated then differentiation between predominantly nitricum, aceticum, oxydatum or muriaticum is covered. Indeed, all the information is well set out, systematic and easy to access.
This book is a significant contribution to our library of remedies pertinent to our times. The Lanthanides series of metals ('The Secret Lanthanides' Scholten 2005) have proved to be a great resource for healing in the twenty first century and so now too the Actinide series of metals are a natural and complementary addition. As we know, everything has its time and place and the time and the place now feels ripe for these deep acting remedies to be brought into the light.
Reprinted with the permission of The Alliance of Registered Homeopaths. From the Journal 'Homeopathy in Practice', Autumn 2013 edition. Review by Ruth King-Sparke.
When I was offered the opportunity of doing a book review I jumped at the chance. Reading, a favourite pastime; homeopathy - my passion. Had I known about the content of the book, I may have avoided it! The Last Series refers to the last series of the periodic table - all the radioactive remedies.
Growing up in the 1970/80s I was always terrified of anything nuclear and still have very vivid memories of the public information films on what to do if a nuclear bomb dropped. So it was with some reluctance that I began to read - and, for a relatively short book (230 pages), it took me longer than it should have done, perhaps due to the 'heavy' content.
The Foreword by Deborah Collins was interesting, and the book includes a very good introduction to the information by Jeremy Sherr. Each element / remedy begins with a history of the element and how it came into existence, who had facilitated the process, and what unfortunate ends many of them met (eventually) as a result of their work!
The general aspects of each remedy picture are presented in detail and I personally would prefer this information to be more concise, perhaps in tabulated form.
The remedy is then introduced with a sub-element; for example Radium is presented as Rad brom. Then follow case examples and histories.
As I said before, I found the book 'heavy going' which may be due to the subject matter but, in places, it is evident that it was not written by someone with English as their first language, and I found myself re-reading sentences.
I also found it distracting that, when a piece of information needs to be repeated, the whole paragraph appears again rather than referring back to the first incidence; I often wondered: 'Didn't I just read that?'
However, I persevered, and the book came alive for me when I got to Californium 249 because the description of a friend / patient jumped off the page at me. She is another homeopath / healer who has given too much of herself to too many people and is herself 'scattered and fatigued'. (The author had also proved this remedy herself.)
So by the time I got to the end of the book I found that I wanted to go straight back to the beginning and start it again with renewed understanding and, this time, it would make much more sense. Margriet Plouvier-Suijs has put her heart and soul into this book and it is a real labour of love.
