Structualism and the Plant Kingdom
Volume 1 covers the Monocots – it follows the APG System of Plant Classification.
The Project Home Page can be found at:
http://www.homeopathynowdatabase.co.uk/app/kingdom.html
The book can be ordered from:
http://www.minervabooks.co.uk/
Link : Join my discussions of the book on Facebook!
Warmly,
Steph (Author).
Lanthanides – clinical research project
Monday, 12 July 2010
Lanthanides – clinical research
Homeopathy resonates with our symptom picture
Homeopathy is a gentle, holistic system of healing. Homeopathy focuses on you as an individual, concentrating on treating your specific physical and emotional symptoms. To stimulate your body’s own healing process, a remedy closest to your individual symptom picture is prescribed.
Homeopathic remedies are a unique, potentised energy medicine, drawn from the plant, mineral and animal worlds. They work by resonating with your inner being and gently boost the immune system and the natural energy of the body.
The Mineral Kingdom resonates with Structure
Homeopathic remedies derived from the elements of the Periodic Table are needed when we feel something is lacking in the structure of our lives. This can become an issue when our circumstances suddenly change. Perhaps when we change our job or move house, or when someone we rely upon is no longer around. At these times of stress we often find a void open under our feet where there was once firm ground.
Final year research project – the Lanthanides
The Lanthanides Research Project is based on the work of Jan Scholten over the last decade. The emphasis of this group of “mineral” remedies is upon our inner world. The Lanthanides have been found to resonate with our sense of Self Reliance and Autonomy and improve our intuition and sensitivity to what is really essential in our own lives.
They can promote a sense of inner power which affects all aspects of our lives. This enables us to stand up for ourselves and make life-changing decisions without hesitation. We become more reflective, peaceful, calm and self-actualised.
Contact: If you live in the North West (Chester/Manchester/Mersyside) and would like to take part in this research project at reduced cost drop me a line.
Steph at herukanile@gmail.com
http://www.homeopathynowdatabase.co.uk.
Structural Homeopathy and the Lanthanides
Nowadays I’m looking at Homepathy from a post-structuralist point of view – Michel Foucault used the term épistémè to describe “the historical a priori that grounds knowledge within a particular epoch”. It’s wider than the idea of a paradigm, in that it includes fundamental assumptions and attitudes that are almost invisible to the people operating within its limits – a sort of ‘epistemological unconscious’ of an era.
Scholten, as a philosopher and scientist is introducing ideas that are, at the moment, beyond the épistémè of Classical Homeopathy. More specifically, the main difference is that his approach is nomothetic, that is, he identifies, classifies and maps the universal and common characteristics shared by everyone into logical dimensions, whereas classical Homeopathy is strongly ideographic, focusing entirely on the unique aspects of the individual, and any attempt at “chunking up” to see the big picture is still an anathema to many.
In fact each approach has its own advantages, which becomes clear when we compare the overlap and variation within the DSM categoires with the “Big Five” (Costa & McCrea, 2007), a statistical model of personality derived from factor analysis. The synonym clusters (of symptoms) used in the Plants Project (this author,2008) were derived through this methodology.
Historically, Dr. Rajan Sankarn, by sheer force of logic and personality challenged this ideographic approach in the 90’s and opened the way for some of us to think about the relationshps of states and remedies with a more scientific person centered approach.
Scholtens amazing work on the ‘Series’ of the periodic table explores the pathology and the prognosis of the more materialistic first tier vMemes, and even more significantly, his examination of the Lanthanides explores the inner spiritual development and the autonomy of the second tier. [Ref: Spiral Dynamics]
Hope you enjoy exploring this with me – and leave a few comments!
Warmly,
Steph.
*epistemology = study of the nature of knowledge.
All work 
Nowadays I’m looking at Homepathy from a post-structuralist point of view – Michel Foucault used the term épistémè to describe “the historical a priori that grounds knowledge within a particular epoch”. It’s wider than the idea of a paradigm, in that it includes fundamental assumptions and attitudes that are almost invisible to the people operating within its limits – a sort of ‘epistemological unconscious’ of an era.
Scholten, as a philosopher and scientist is introducing ideas that are, at the moment, beyond the épistémè of Classical Homeopathy. More specifically, the main difference is that his approach is nomothetic, that is, he identifies, classifies and maps the universal and common characteristics shared by everyone into logical dimensions, whereas classical Homeopathy is strongly ideographic, focusing entirely on the unique aspects of the individual, and any attempt at “chunking up” to see the big picture is still an anathema to many.
In fact each approach has its own advantages, which becomes clear when we compare the overlap and variation within the DSM categoires with the “Big Five” (Costa & McCrea, 2007), a statistical model of personality derived from factor analysis. The synonym clusters (of symptoms) used in the Plants Project (this author,2008) were derived through this methodology.
Historically, Dr. Rajan Sankarn, by sheer force of logic and personality challenged this ideographic approach in the 90’s and opened the way for some of us to think about the relationshps of states and remedies with a more scientific person centered approach.
Scholtens amazing work on the ‘Series’ of the periodic table explores the pathology and the prognosis of the more materialistic first tier vMemes, and even more significantly, his examination of the Lanthanides explores the inner spiritual development and the autonomy of the second tier. [Ref: Spiral Dynamics]
Hope you enjoy exploring this with me – and leave a few comments!
Warmly,
Steph.
*epistemology = study of the nature of knowledge.
All work 
Relationships between the Scrophulaceae and the Ferrum Series
Digitalis.
In the mental sphere the patient is sad and depressed…
- Ailments, from debauchery; from grief. Lascivious, (lustful).
- Dipsomania, alcoholism.
- Despair. Anxiety. Cares. Conscientious +/- Anger, trifles, at.
- Delusions, light, incorporeal, he is (light=>floating).
- Reproaching himself. Delusions, wrong, he has done.
- Suspicious. Company, aversion to. Fear, people of. Escapes.
- Anguish, cardiac. Fear, suffocation, of, heart disease, in.
- Heat flushes climacteric. Heat flushes sexual excess after.
Therapeutics: Heart. Liver. Kidney. Sexual sphere.
Sensations: Stitching. Miasm: Sycotic.
DD: Stage… Suspicious => S12-S15; Outcast => S16-S17
DD: Series… Done wrong => Ferrums
DD: Elem….. People, aversion => Cupr; Persued => Zinc
DD: Salt…… Lascivious => Carbs Nitricum Flour ;
Comparitive Extraction:
Delusions – light, incorporeal, he is: Dig Zinc Plut-n.
Delusions – conscience; anxiety: DIG Zinc.
Death – presentiment of: Dig Zinc. Zinc-p.
Nymphomania – ORIG Dig GRAT Zinc Zinc-p
Sensation: Dig: Acute: Sudden Break of Connection.
Dis-connection (and holding-on) increases in Stages 12-15: i.e. Zn Ga Ge Ars. Could ALL the Scrophulaceae, from Rajan’s acute to leprotic states, are grouped around ONE Stage? Lets look for a pattern by considering Gratiola.
Gratiola.
Image: Haughty. Loquacious. Hates contradiction and will contradict you! Gratiola’s haughtiness is actually a reaction to the humiliation caused by pride of others.
- Loquacity, cheerful, exuberant.
- Nymphomania. Sexual desire-excessive.
- Anger, contradiction, from. Anger, violent.
- Loathing life. Aversion. Mistanthropy
Relations: Zinc or Germanium plus the Flouratum Salt.
DD: Stage… Outcast => S16-S17
DD: Series… Hides inefficiency => Ferrums
DD: Elem….. Contradicts => Germanium
DD: Salt…… Lascivious => Flouratum;
Comparitive Extraction:
Misanthropy : Grat Germ
Quarrelsome: Grat Dig Zinc Germ
Contradiction: Grat Nicc
Haughty: Grat Cupr
Sensation: Grat: Leprosy: Despised therefore no more Connection.
Gratiola (S14) like Digi (S12) is in the Ferrum Series – some of the Gratiola pathology is similar to Flour.
Ord. Lamiales, Fam. Verbenacea, Spp. Agnus Castus.
Agnus Castus (Chaste tree, Monks Pepper!) – DD Ant Crud.
Image: Breakdown. An important remedy for the Sexual sphere when there is debility and depression, as in premature old age (perhaps caused by high-living). After feeling pretty special they begin to feel useless and therefore worthless. The sexual urge is lost.
Clarke: Great sadness with a fixed idea of approaching death. This fear is not of immediate death as with Aconite, but the patient thinks it is sure to come after a while, and there is no use in doing anything. The selected rubrics give some indication of the state …
- Ailments, from sexual excesses. Amativeness. Satyriasis.
- Coition averse to. Erections, wanting, desire with.
- Vivacious. Exhilaration, alternating with sadness. Sentimental. Wants to be quiet.
- Grief. Discontented with everything. Morose. Despair. Ideas, deficiency of.
- Delusions – body is lighter than air. Doubt if anything had existance.
- Delusions – he is worthless; of being nobody.
- Loathing life. Indifference to external things. Death desires. Suicidal, thoughts.
- DEATH -presentiment of -soon and that she cannot be helped; believes that she will die
Performance could be a major issue…
- Ailments, from anticipation, foreboding. Frightful/anxious dreams.
- Contemptuous, self, of. Confidence, want of self.
- Intolerant of contradiction.
- Discouraged, alternating with haughtiness.
- Ejaculation – scanty/quick/failing. Erections either incomplete or strong.
- Weakness from pollutions.
Some physical indications which confirm both Sycotic and Syphilitic miasms.
- Gonorrhea, suppressed (sycosis). Urethra: Discharge, gonorrhoeal.
- Sycosis. Syphilis. Mucus secretions yellow. Ulcers indolent.
- Menses, painful. Protracted.
- Nose, odors fish-brine; musk.
- Pain, benumbing. Pain, drawing, bones in. Pain, paralytic, joints in.
Therapeutics: Gonorrh�a. Ulcers.
Sensation: Corrosive itching. Stitching. Tearing (muscles).
Miasm: Sycosis. Syphilis.
DD: Stage… Loss: Discontented, Suicidal => S15
DD: Series… Loss of ideas or performance => Silver Series
DD: Elem….. Sentimental => Antimonium Crud (the sulphide)
DD: Salt…… Loss of Enjoyment => N2, O2; Relationships => Sulphur
Comment: Yet another Stage 15 Lamiales Remedy!
Reflection: In Dr. Rajans Gratiola case (Plants III) the Ferrum series is confirmed by loss of connection to society, i.e. to the village. However, several Digi (closely related to Grat) rubrics suggest that they are both morally and spiritually sensitive (Lamiales trait) and can therefore lose connection with their spirituality, which is clearly demonstrated in Dr. Rajans Veronica (Lamiales::Plantaginaceae) case in Plants II. This interpretation is born out by the info we have on Buddleah.
RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS – too occupied with religion: Dig ZINC stann
THOUGHTS; profound: Grat
This would suggest a different series althogether; a second reading of such a case could fit the Lanthanides. Is their search directed within? Is the issue (Series) self-determination or work?
Can we learn from Semantics and Semiotics?
Definitions
Structural Theorists regard language as a network of systematic relationships between semantic units. The basic semantic unit is a lexeme – which is the main dictionary definitions of each word. These lexemes naturally belong to a semantic field, which is an array of words having a similar meaning. The lexemes for the various sensations in Homeopathy form a semantic field. This logic can be seen in the construction of Roget’s Thesaurus (1852).
Alphabetic ordering of lexemes destroys semantic structure, as in the the Thesaurus and in the Repertory. To go further into semantic structure we need to describe how lexemes are related by meaning. The first attempt was Mirillis Thematic Repertory. Semantic structuralists recognise several paradigmatic relationships:
Synonymy – the relationship of “sameness” of meaning.
Hyponymy – the relationship of “inclusion” – Familes are included in Orders.
Antonymy – the relationship of “opposites” (which can be quite complex).
Incompatability – mutually exclusive groups or the same category.
Meaning
The study of meaning takes us by degrees through the linguistic framework of the whole of a language (I have studied English, French and Sanskrit). Interpretation of meaning is further complicated by aspects that cannot be covered simply by the analysis of lexemes.
Prosodic Meaning – describes the emphasis placed on parts of the sentence; the way it is stressed.
Grammatical Meaning – Subject + Verb + Object (e.g. I go home) gives the semantic role.
Pragmatic Meaning – describes the function. Is it a statement of fact or an implied command?
Social Meaning – describes the roles of the participants e.g. polite or rude.
Propositional Meaning – an approach which describes and test the subject matter logically (is the statement a value judgement or a fact?).
To sum up the debate on meaning, Ludwig Wittgenstein wrote “The meaning of a word is its use in language”. Ogden and Richards observed that there is no direct relationship between words and things – the relationship only exists in our mind through and associated concept (Sassure – semiotics : signified + signifier=sign). O. & R. described the process as an “semiotic triangle” of Thought<>Symbol<>Referent. The difficulty lies in identifying the active concept. According to Jacques Derrida we have to deconstruct the expression and analyse all the hidden assumptions, preconceptions and even “myths” that are implied or inherited from the philosopical, cultural or political context.
Global Exceptions?
The interesting thing about Sanskrit is that it is the root of many languages and there is supposed to be a relationship between the name, the sound, and the form – hence the ‘magical’ chanting of Vedas by the Pandits.
So, in Sanskrit the word “Bound” carries/invokes the sensation?
This is opposite to the structuralist (Saussure) view – that there is no inherent relationship between that which carries the meaning – the signifier/symbol and its sign.
Conclusion
Semantics has difficulty in describing how language refers to the outside world. Real-world notions are indeterminate… Our images of a beauty spot may vary. You would have to visit that place! Words are not enough (a picture is worth a thousand words). Semantics therefore restricts its focus to the relationship of words within the framework of the language. Sankaran’s Levels should take us beyond the restrictions of Semantics into the world of feeling, sensation and energy.
Application
In homeopathy we are advised to use the patients own words and not to extrapolate or interpret. This is correct from the viewpoint of semantics – it is crucial to reject any distortion of meaning. But as we have seen the real meaning is an external referent – it is outside our immediate experience. So are we stuck? How are we to proceed? Osgood’s paper on The Measurement of Meaning (1957) focused on defining a conceptual semantic space. He produced a plot of species vs. ferocity which worked because the dimensions of meaning are quantifiable. Similarly in Homeopathy we use MOPMEC scores to define “vitality” (Sherr) and Stages to define Individuation and Autonomy (Scholten).
Its seems as if the signifier and the signified have a natural and obvious relationship. It more or less “goes without saying”. In fact the Stages are purely conceptual – it is merely a fabricated semiological system which conjures up its own “generic images” which will never actually be seen in practice. In Sassures model its “too obvious too mention” generic image is a further level of “signification“… connotation (Barthes, 1967).
The Validity of Abstraction
In Sankarans system of “Levels” the primary sign is the diagnostic name of the complaint. It is a fact. As soon as we start to consider the emotional aspects of the experience we are delving into the language of abstract and the conceptual. As we dig deeper into the realms of the personal the images become more unique. Even more so when we try to comprehend the experience at the level of imagination, delusion and energy.
How can we remain an unprejudiced observer and avoid interpretation and yet do good work in the realm of the inherently conceptual? What makes a move from denotation (the sign) to connotation possible is the store of knowledge we have about each remedy – its components and its gestalt which is a shared code which we can draw upon. These images can be drawn and refined from the literature and from our own clinical and personal repertoire. Their best use is not through computerised pattern matching – they should resonate with us conceptually and intuitively and ideally in the same way the remedy resonates with the client.
In Practice
The words the client uses are only the tip of the linguistic iceburg. We have to understand his experience. The words are the signs. Their connotation is deeper.
Similarly Sholtens and Sankarans keywords are the signs of the remedy state. The state, itself, the connotation is a deeper level of abstraction. Without abstract thinking we are left at Rogets level – scanning the dictionary (or repertory) for broken semantic fields.
Abstract thinking produces Generic Themes – but the ultimate level of abstraction is the experience itself. Wittgenstein proposed that a basic sentence has three parts – two objects and a relationship between them:
[a]-[R]-[b]
Jan Scholten asserts that this is exactly the way we should break down a symptom …
[Subject] – [verb] – [object]
[It] – [happened to] – [me]
So all we really need to describe an experience is a theme for the subject, one for the action and one for the object. This applies equally to the experience and to the description of the remedy.
Differential Diagnostics depends on two aspects of the process:
– How we handle [It] [Subjective][Stage x Series]
– How our reaction to it is expressed [Objective][Salt]
Example 1 [Stage x Series]: Ord Lamiales, Fam Oleaceae, Spp Chionanthus: A nervous, hypochondriacal and pessimistic state, with apathy and a desire to be alone. Quarrels agg.
- Ailments from quarrels. Irritability. Indifference.
DD: Stage… Indifference => S14 <> S16.
DD: Series… Quarrelsome => Ferrums series.
DD: Elem…. Anxious > confirms Stannum.
Example 2, [Salt]: If I lose my Mum and grieve you might think Mum is the subject of the grief and prescribe a Muriaticum. The actual process [How I handle it] is that I become hard. Subject and Object can swap round…
“I am hardened to my grief about Mom” [hardened=subject. grief about Mum=object]
The process [subject][how it is expressed] is my hardening. The Salt is a Flouratum.
A new section of my Plant Kingdom Database uses some of these ideas: [Go][Click on Lamiales]
Ref: Repertory of the Elements by Jan Scholten.
Palladium
Third Chakra
Development: Autonomy. Individualty. Will. Self-Esteem. Power.
Blocks: Glamour. Rejection and criticism. Secrets.
The Miasm (Sycotic) – The sycotic person will show off – glamorous looks, recognition, and so on are very important. They crave attention all the time and keep thier faults to themselves and hide their feelings. They are stiff because they want to stay in control of their emotions. They want things to be fixed so they focus on details and classifications. It can lead to dogma and pedantry. Doubts and anxieties (psora) are exaggerated and overdone. (Ref: George Loukas).
Palladium is so typical: I lack confidence sometimes so I feel insecure. I’v got to be perfect so I must to hide my mistakes. If I’m appreciated I don’t need to hide my mistakes. Thinking that, “My way is best” can lead to rigidity and fixed ideas.
The Autonomous Self
Big Mind – Vivacious and Idealistic: I’m it! I’m there! I’v worked for this. It feels great. I’m wonderful. Perfect. A success.
Big Heart – I deserve admiration: I need some sort of approval and encouragement. I’m not really appreciated.
The Powerful Self
Energised – I must please: I have high expectations which make me a bit anxious. I reassure myself by being focused, directed, in control of every detail, so enjoy the show – It’s all for your benefit so don’t criticise or insult me.
Depleted – Collapse after the performance: I made a mistake. My plan didn’t work. I’v lost control of things and I’m feeling weak, lonely and sad. Am I still good enough? What can I do now to get their attention?
Rubrics:
* Ailments – mortification/wounded honour/being offended/egotism.
* Delusions – abused/criticized/insulted/neglected/tall/enlarged.
* MIND – HAUGHTY – wounded self-esteem; wishes to be flattered
* MIND – CONFIDENCE – want of self-confidence
* MIND – DICTATORIAL
Conclusion: The Power remedies of the Lanthanide and Gold Series all affect Sycotic aspects of the 3rd chakra? Hmmm … most of these are normally considered Syphilitic remedies.
So consider Gadolinium – also Stage 10, and (from a 3rd chakra perspective) it seems to be complimentary to Palladium – Jan says they give you an impression of being self-satisfied or even haughty. Balance and Control are very important to them and can lead to rigidity. Its anxiety vs. self-esteem again. We are back in ‘Sycotic’ territory!
Refs:
Leela D’Souza
Chakras
Conan the Samarium
Jan Scholten says that the experience of Samarium is extreme pressure and heaviness. They have to force their way through life. They have amazing inner strength, and they will put incredible pressure on themselves to get things done. Their own expectations are the driving force. Their forceful attitude to life might be expressed as ….
“You just have to get on with it”.
“Lets get it done. Whatever it takes.”
“Nothings gonna bring me down”.
A typical Samarium dream is of driving at great speed trying to keep the car on the straight and narrow.
They still feel that they have lots to do and that they will go far. The reward for their struggle is independence and autonomy.
They have to get over, round or through every obstruction. Opposition is felt as harsh criticism, in fact it can seem like everyone’s a critic. Its easy to criticise, but much harder to DO!
Provings often give a mixed bag of results. In Clinical trials the remedy is judged to be suitable for the person, which means they will be sensitive to it and their reactions will be good indicators of its therapeutic role. One person who took part in an early proving seems to have experienced the expected result with Samarium, which is a Stage 8 Lanthanide (autonomy/power) Remedy:
“I feel self-confident and assertive. The sensation is that I am who I am.“
Various others described feelings of “hindrances” or of “breaking boundaries” which are, in general, typical of Stage 8 – the theme of “pushing through”.
Lutetium
Lutetium has suffered so much that there is nothing left. The connection to this world is crumbling and or broken. They are dissociated and dysfunctional. They dont want or need anything the world has to offer, they are alone but they don’t care. Its a state beyond desire, without hope. The “emotional body” isnt flat – its dead.
Its one stage from the Autistic-like states of the Halogens and it looks a bit like some of the Bird Remedies – the captive ones, for sure. They still have a sense of playfulnes and humour – but it arises from their own distance from the world and its clarity and wisdom are pervaded by nostalgia and emptiness.
Image: Think of a survivor stumbling around the sterile war-torn landscape of Judgement Day.
Holmium
In the Lanthanide Series we’re talking about the power to assert our autonomy.
What’s coming though in spades with Holmium is a sense of previously subdued Power coming to light – and subsequently the Wisdom of learning to deploy Power moraly and responsibly.
The power, once awakend can manifest as anger – and old anger turns to resentment. The repressed feelings come out as a rage against the machine… Its exact expression depends on the Salt:
In Holmium Oxy there is anger at injustice and a sense of being wronged.
In Holmiun Nit the anger could be caused by feeling second best. Like Nux-v they want the best – they put themselves first and are assertive, expansive and want to be admired. They dont want rules or limits.
In Holmium Phos the anger or frustration is caused by betrayal by friends and loss of contact. Phosphoricums define themeselves by these boundaries and fear loosing them. This is comparable to the spacey, boundless, gaseous state of the Nitricums (perhpas expressed in the ‘polarity’ Nitrogenium delusion – everything is meaningless). Phos wants to be earthed to some degree.
Im Holmium Mur the anger is about the grief from deeper relationships – broken trust, neglect or loss of security.
Without wisdom and compassion power gives you the ruthlessness of a dictator, which is traditionally associated with Mercury, in Stage 12 of the Gold Series, the realm of external power. Meurcury feels suspicious and threatened. Thalium, next to mercury in Stage 13 of the Gold Series, trys to hold on to his power by being stubborn and dogmatic. He needs to be stubborn and irritable to get his own way because he has almost lost faith in himself and, more importantly, his strength . He eventually withdraws into himself.
Similarly the pathological Holmium (also Stage 13) has lost faith in his inner self – his own being and is also on the back foot. The remedy brings back some of this lost power.
Looking at my own life I can see a contiunuum of very closely related states that goes:
Dysprosium -> Holmium -> Erbium.
Dysprosium, at Stage 12, feels independent but under constant attack. They are brave people who challenge the world with new ideals. Sometimes they can get such a battering that they feel like giving up. That point – giving up the fight – marks the transition to the next stage Holmium, where they can no longer preserve their autonomy and have to take a step back. This is felt as a heavy deafeat. Hence the bitterness.
In Erbium, (Stage 14) they have really lost the fight. They feel powerless. After that comes the despair of Thulium (Stage 15) a state so dark it would frighten you to even read about it! Beyond that lies dissociation and ultimately – madness 🙂
Refs: “Elements” (blue book) and “Secret Lanthanides”.
Plant & Chemical Homeopathy 