HOMOEOPATHIC PSYCHIATRY


HOMOEOPATHIC PSYCHIATRY. Hahnemann was the first to stress the importance of mental symptoms and states in all sickness, either mental or physical, as well as to use them for the selection of the indicated remedy; and a century and a half of homoeopathic applications and trial by him and his disciples have confirmed the truth of the observations.


In the realm of mental healing homoeopathy excels all other known methods. This statement is necessarily true because it is impossible to divorce mental states from physical conditions; both are expression of the whole being or patient.

The homoeopathic approach to mental states of sickness is complete in its comprehensiveness, embracing not only mental,moral ,emotional and physical disturbances of the patient, but including his inherited background in the study also.

Hahnemann was the first to stress the importance of mental symptoms and states in all sickness, either mental or physical, as well as to use them for the selection of the indicated remedy; and a century and a half of homoeopathic applications and trial by him and his disciples have confirmed the truth of the observations.

Only in comparatively recent years has psychiatry been of any interest to the ranks of traditional medicine and even now it is relegated to a circle of one of the specialties. This group, however, is slowly coming around to the homoeopathic concept of sickness, recognizing the fact that mental disease is invariably associated with physical changes in physiology if not in abnormal anatomical changes of the body. Because mental distress is so intimately merged with physical states and conditions, it explains the reason for so many brilliant cures of obstinate forms of mental ailments by homoeopathy.

Hahnemann was one of the first to insist upon humane treatment for the insane. Where they were formerly restrained by; chains and in dungeons, he introduced methods of sunshine and healthy normal surroundings for the mentally sick.

He urged they be treated as normal people, thus dispelling all impressions of abnormality, also to surround them as far as possible with a healthy, useful environment. Thus he was one of the first to recognize the chemical changes which takes place in the blood stream under the influence of emotional and mental disturbances.

Because of such reactions it is apparent that the victims of mental disorders present the so-called vicious circle in medicine more marked than can be found under any other type of illness.

As physicians, most of us pay too little attention to mental and emotional symptoms as being great disturbing factors in the economy of the patient. We may prescribe the correct remedy, the proper diet, right hygiene and sanitation, bathing, sunshine, fresh air, regulated exercise, sufficient rest, etc., and still fail to cure some obstinate mental cases until we can teach them some semblance of mental control, called by psychiatrists mental hygiene.

By means of suggested methods we may help these people to control impulses of anger and hate and envy and fear, which well up and overwhelm them on the least provocation or from the least irritating instance. Of course, all irritating or exciting things and circumstances must be avoided as far as is possible until a more healthy, stable nerve habit can be established by the curative remedy plus all the aforementioned essential of treatment.

The proving of the homoeopathic materia present a complete array of mental symptoms and states corresponding to the picture of any mental aberration to be found in the realm of sickness, and because of this fact, the homoeopathic physician is better equipped than any other to cope successfully with all varieties of mental disorder. Also, his concept of sickness and his recognition of the close relationship of mental and physical illness which, taken as a whole , constitutes the patient, enhance the homoeopaths chance of cure in mental disease.

Some interesting observation of certain definite mental symptoms corresponding to certain definite diseases have been noted.

The often remarked cheerfulness and optimism associated with cases of pulmonary consumption is one, the over whelming fear and anxiety found in serious heart conditions also may be mentioned, and the nervous fears and unreasoning premonitions manifested in typical cases of neurasthenic is still another instance. All these may be termed characteristic diagnostic symptoms of diseases states. Such symptoms, even though they be mental, are not as valuable for prescribing purpose as are other more specific mental symptoms. They stand out as indicators of board general states and are valuable to than extent.

Kent, in his lectures on homoeopathic philosophy, makes some fine distinctions and grades in mental diseases. He regards an insanity of the will, that division of the mind relating to the love and desire nature, as being the most difficult to control or cure. Aur. met. is cited as the remedy most typical as an expression of such a state because of Aurums well known tendency to suicide in its profound mental depression.

The desire to live being the deepest rooted instinct in all animal creation, when that desire no; longer dominates the being, there is profound perversion in the deepest centers of consciousness and life. Perversion of the rational mind are graded next in importance and power. Delusions, illusions and impaired reasoning are states more amenable to cure and the Argentums, or silver remedies, are mentioned as typifying those states. Where the brain cells and centers are disturbed by toxic causes, remedies like Stramonium and the snake poisons are corresponding agents that may be needed.

Aberrations and disturbance of the memory, being less severe manifestations of mental disease, are related to the cortex of the mind. These memory disturbances are found along with declining physical conditions, the approach of old age being the most common instance in memory weakening, though there are temporary periods during the course of acute disease when these manifestations appear. For the most part these are more readily curable.

The suppression of deep physical constitutional manifestations often ultimate in mental abnormalities. Such apprehensions often follow palliative drugs and external applications of powerful salves and rays, such as ultra violet, x-rays, radium emanations in excessive dosage, together with a coal tar drug, and the constant injections of vaccines and serums both for treatment and prophylaxis. In some cases we may see natural methods of building up body resistance with increase of food,rest, fresh air and sunshine.

Dr. Kent mentions the fact that may tubercular patients cured by the natural method years later became insane. Such cases undoubtedly built up an increases of vital resistance without antidoting and overcoming the chronic toxins engendered by the evolution of the chronic disease which went on form less to more vital center of the economy to ultimate in some form of mental disease.

We are told by unquestioned authorities that no human beings escapes the tubercular infection, but that only ten out of a hundred die of tuberculosis; but every homoeopath knows that cancer, epilepsy and many forms of obscure mental disease occur in association with, or in sequence of tuberculosis in the individual or his family. Only protracted, painstaking, correct homoeopathic treatment can eradicate the deep seated, chronic, inherited soil conditions upon which these obstinate diseases grow and flourish.

To the nation, the rapid increase of mental disease is one of the outstanding problems, socially and economically, of the present time, and only some modified form of applied eugenics together with a widespread homoeopathic treatment of superior quality can solve that problem successfully.

Sanitation, hygiene, scientifically proper diet, fresh air, sunshine, regulated exercise and adequate rest will do much to improve health and modify disease, but only the magic power of the homoeopathic remedy can eradicate inherited dyscrasias flowing down through the generations. To the individual and his family no more pathetic or tragic misfortune can be envisioned than the wreck of the mind, whose handmaidens are sorrow and improvement.

Routine methods employed by the dominant school have proven dismal failures in restoring the majority of these unfortunates. High grade homoeopathic prescribing would restore at least 80 percent of the inmates of our insane asylums to a state of health and well being, thereby bringing joy to thousands with an enormous saving of the taxpayers money. Nothing in the annals of medicine ever accomplished such cures in mental disease as has homoeopathy.

No force in the world today holds so much of weal or woe, of wealth or poverty for humanity as the Hahnemannian doctrine. These beneficent doctrines have stood the acid test of ad century and half of malicious oppositions from a heartless, selfish, commercialized majority. And inspite of bigotry and unscrupulous misrepresentation it has continued to exist and grow, performing its miracles of cure and bringing joy to unnumbered thousands.

As time moves on, and true science expands its vision, the homoeopathic law with its with is developed philosophy will be increasingly recognized and used in ever widening circles to aid in the regeneration of mankind.

Allan D. Sutherland
Dr. Sutherland graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia and was editor of the Homeopathic Recorder and the Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy.
Allan D. Sutherland was born in Northfield, Vermont in 1897, delivered by the local homeopathic physician. The son of a Canadian Episcopalian minister, his father had arrived there to lead the local parish five years earlier and met his mother, who was the daughter of the president of the University of Norwich. Four years after Allan’s birth, ministerial work lead the family first to North Carolina and then to Connecticut a few years afterward.
Starting in 1920, Sutherland began his premedical studies and a year later, he began his medical education at Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia.
Sutherland graduated in 1925 and went on to intern at both Children’s Homeopathic Hospital and St. Luke’s Homeopathic Hospital. He then was appointed the chief resident at Children’s. With the conclusion of his residency and 2 years of clinical experience under his belt, Sutherland opened his own practice in Philadelphia while retaining a position at Children’s in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.
In 1928, Sutherland decided to set up practice in Brattleboro.