Vol. 21 No. 4 September 2001

It was my wish to have more therapeutic hints in every issue, but that will have to be put off till the next issue. The two themes filling this Homœopathica are somewhat linked: What the prescriber must know and what the prescriber must avoid. The distinguished Canadian homœopath André Saine makes such good sense in answering an interviewer’s questions I feel giving him 4 pages is justified. You will notice he warns of dangers in the “portrait of a remedy” idea, especially when these pictures are painted by people given to flights of fantasy.

The Australian homœopath George Dimitriadis follows the same line in detail.

In Homœopathica of April 2001 Mary Glaisyer, who practises in Nelson, wrote saying she thought that Liston Bateson, in an earlier article, had been unnecessarily alarmist about possible dangers in giving the wrong medicine or giving a wrong potency. Liston Bateson has responded at some length, explaining why he feels many homœopathic prescribers are too cavalier, if not downright careless, in their choice of remedies and the instructions given.

And, to cap this off, reproduced here is an edited version of a report issued by the Health and Disability Commissioner following an investigation into a complaint made by a homœopath’s client. I know more detail of the case, but have confined the item to the official report’s identity-suppressed version. It should serve as a warning to both practitioners and to potential clients to be vigilant and make the best possible choices.

Bruce Barwell