1/4/2017 Articlesonhomeopathyfrommasterhomeopathicpractitioners

CanadianAcademyofHomeopathy:TheCanadianAcademyofHomeopathyofferstraining,onlinecoursesandclassesinhomeopathythatisacclaimedworldwide.

AccessthenewCAH'swebsite

AnOpenLettertotheMembersandTrustees
oftheAmericanInstituteofHomeopathys
AndrSaine,ND,FCAH

IwouldliketothanktheAIHBoardofTrusteesforawardingmeanHonoraryMembership.

WhenDr.IreneSebastian,AIHPresident,calledmelastfalltoannouncetheBoard'srecentdecision,Iwaspleasedandsurprised,becauseasa
naturopathicphysician,Ihadneverexpectedtoreceivesuchanhonor.

Idiscoveredhomeopathyandnaturopathicmedicineonthesameday,andatonceIknewthatnaturopathicmedicinewouldbemyprofessionand
homeopathymyspecialty.

Inthefallof1976,IrequestedapplicationformsfromtheonlyschoolofnaturopathicmedicinetheninexistenceinNorthAmericatheNational
College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon. My father, who was an M.D. specializing in alternative medicine, thought that I
should first complete the chiropractic training I had already begun, and second, go to a regular medical school before pursuing any further a
careerinalternativemedicine,asmysisterandbrotherhadalreadydone.

However, when we discussed my decision with one of my father's friends, Dr. Leo Roy, M.D., N.D., he thought I was actually making the right
decisionsinceIwouldhaveauniqueopportunitytostudywithDr.JohnBastyr,NCNMcofounderandpresident,whomtheybothknewpersonally
andheldinhighesteem.

I knew very well that by choosing homeopathy as my specialty in medicine, I was inviting, likely for the rest of my life, derision and ostracism
fromthemoreorthodoxmedicalandscientificcircles.IalsoknewthatbychoosingtobecomeanaturopathicphysicianIwouldbeexcludedfrom
activemembershipinmanyprofessionalhomeopathicorganizations.

However,thecallwastoostrongandthepathtoocleartobequestioned.Dr.SamuelA.Joneshadexpressedthisprofoundconvictionofminein
hispoemthatappearsintheprefaceofhisbook,TheGroundsofaHomoeopath'sFaith:

Standforthetruththoughalltheworldderide,
Firmasarockthoughalltheworldignorethee:
Asthouarttruewhatneed'stthouaskbeside?
For a number of reasons, I decided to delay switching schools and to complete my chiropractic training. While studying the art and science of
physical medicine and manipulation, I delved into the study of nutrition and natural hygiene (the science of health), and began studying
homeopathyunderDr.JosephBonyun,whowasaKentianthirdgenerationhomeopath.Thoseamongotherthingshelpedmeresistalittlelonger
theverycompellingcallthattheNCNMpresidenthadmadeinthe1978collegeBulletinthatIhadreceivedfromtheregistrarduringthiswaiting
time:

WhatanexcitingtimetobeapartoftheNationalCollegeofNaturopathicMedicine!

It'sbeensaidthatnoarmyonEarthisaspowerfulasanideawhosetimehascome.Naturopathic
medicineissuchanidea,andnowisthetime.We'vestruggledforyearstokeepthesparkof
naturopathicmedicinealive,andnowthetorchofvismedicatrixnaturaeburnsbrightly,lightingthe
pathtotomorrow'shealthcare.

1978marksthebeginningofaneweraforNCNMaperiodofrapidchangeandgrowth,enablingusto
satisfytheeverincreasingdemandforphysicianstrainedinpreventivemedicineandnatural
therapeutics.

Ittakesaspecialkindofpersontomeetthechallengesofnaturopathiceducationandpracticeone
whoisdedicatedtotheserviceofothersthroughhealingandhealtheducation,rememberingalways
thatheorsheismerelyachannelforthehealingpowerofNature.Thatisthekindofstudentwehope
willfindaplaceatNCNM.

Thenewstruggleisreallyjustbeginning.IsincerelyhopethateveryonewhoreadsthisBulletinwill
findbothinformationandinspiration.Pleaseconsiderwaysinwhichyoucancontributetothenatural
healthcaremovement.Itmeansbetterhealthforall!

Yoursinhealth,
JohnB.Bastyr,N.D.(1)
SoonafterIgraduatedfromchiropracticcollegeandwasabouttoleaveforNCNM,Dr.RoytoldmetobesuretostudywithJohnBastyr,whomhe
consideredtobeoneofthegreatestphysiciansofourtime.WhenIarrivedoncampus,IwasdisappointedtolearnthatDr.Bastyrwasnolonger
teachingatthecollege.

However, one day, nine months into my training, Dr. Bastyr, who had by then become NCNM President Emeritus, came down from Seattle to
present an allschool threehour lecture on endocrinology. I knew right away that he was my man. After the lecture, I offered Dr. Bastyr my
father'sandDr.Roy'sbestwishes,andhisfacelituponhearingtheirnames.Iinvitedhimtogoforlunch,andthatwasthebeginningofalong
lastingfriendship.

http://www.homeopathy.ca/articles_det29.shtml 1/6
1/4/2017 Articlesonhomeopathyfrommasterhomeopathicpractitioners
Forthenextfourandhalfyears,IwouldregularlydriveuptoSeattleveryearlyonThursdaymorningstomeethimat8:30a.m.athisofficeat
73510thAvenueEonCapitolHill.AlldayIwouldshadowhimwithhispatients.Afterthelastpatientofthedayhadgone,wewouldusuallysit
andtalkinhisofficeuntillateintheevening.Verypatiently,hewouldanswerallmyquestions,particularlytheonesIhadabouthomeopathy.

OnthoseThursdaynights,IoftensleptathisofficeandearlythenextmorningpickedhimupathishomesteadinKent,Washington,anddrove
anothertwoandahalfhourssouthtoarriveatNCNMforthenineo'clockclass.Hewouldthenteachthereallday.Around5:30,Iwoulddrivehim
totheairporttocatchaflightbacktoSeattle.

Aswellasbeingfunny,Johnwasanexceptionallycapable,resourcefulandknowledgeablephysician,whopracticedmedicinefromthedepthof
hisheartandwithgreatwisdom.Allaround,hehadanimpressiverecord.Forinstance,asanobstetrician,hehadattendedover800homebirths
inhisfirsttwentyfiveyearsofpracticewithalmostnocomplications,andclosetohalfofthebabiesweredeliveredunderwater.Agreatnumber
ofhispatientscamejusttobetouchedbyhimbecausehewasgiftedwithanextraordinarypairofhands.

Hehadanimpressivememory,andanytimehewasasked,hecoulddrawtheKrebscyclewithouthesitation.Hewasasuperbdiagnosticianand
knew Cecil Textbook of Medicine almost by heart. Even after fifty years of practice, Dr. Bastyr kept abreast of new discoveries in science and
medicineandsubscribedtoScientificAmericanandScientificAmericanMedicine.Hisgreatmindwasalwaysonthewatchforanynewknowledge
that he could integrate into his comprehension of the whole, a habit which greatly explains his extraordinary, everready resourcefulness in his
dailypractice.

Headvisedhisstudentstoreadatleastonearticleaboutmedicineorstudyoneremedyeverynightbeforegoingtosleep,saying,"Eachremedy
hasitsownparticularcharacteristics.Youreadthemoverandover,andthenyouseesomethingyouneversawbefore."(2)Dr.B.fullyembodied
the first principle of medicine, which is Aude sapere, the battle cry of the Age of Enlightenment: Physician, dare to know, and become a true
philosopherandscientistbutaboveall,atrueartist.Constantinquiryisthewaytoknowledge.

He had an amazing knowledge of the materia medica and would prescribe with certainty and without, as a rule, having to refer to any books.
Once,ononeoftheselongdrivesdowntoPortland,Iwasconsultinghimaboutoneofmypatientswithepilepsy,whohadamongotherthingsa
greatlyenlargedandsoretesticle.Afterabriefdescriptionofthecase,heaskedmeinwhatpositionhistesticularpainwasworse.IsaidIdidn't
rememberwhetherIhadevenaskedthepatient,butIwouldphonehimoncewearrivedinPortland.Thepatienttoldmethat,byfar,itwasworse
inthesittingposition.WhenIgotbacktoJohnlateronthatmorning,hesaid,"LookupPulsatilla."AndPulsatillawasthecorrectremedy.Iwas
amazedhow,ofallthepatient'sconditionsandsymptoms,Johnhadhonedinonthetesticularproblemand,evenmore,onthepositionmodality
ofthepain,whichIhadlikelyconsideredtobeatoocommonsymptom,namelytesticularsorenessbeingworsefromthepressureoftheseator
pantswhilesitting.

OnoneoftheselateThursdayeveningsandsometimeaftermygraduationfromNCNM,thephonerangjustpast9p.m.ArerunofaCBS60
MinutesepisodethatfeaturedDr.BastyrhadjustfinishedairingineasternWashington,andamanfromWallaWallahadphonedDr.Bastyrtoask
ifhecouldseehiswifeassoonaspossible.SinceDr.BastyrwouldnotbepracticingagainuntilthefollowingTuesday,heaskedmeifIcouldsee
thepatientthemorningafternextatthecollegeclinicinPortland.

Loandbehold,whenIwasunlockingtheclinicdoorsthatSaturdaymorning,IsawanambulancewithWashingtonStatelicenseplatesbackingup
tothedoors.Anunconsciouswoman,whowasintermittentlyretchingandvomiting,wasrolledintothecliniconastretcher.Ilearnedthenthat
herhusbandhadbeentoldearlierthatweekthatshehadonlydaystolivesinceshewasinthelaststageofkidneyandheartfailure,andearlier
thatmorningshehadbeentakenofflifesupportattheWallaWallaGeneralHospital.Toputitmildly,Iwasgreatlysurprisedbytheseverityofthe
case!

After examining the patient, I called John to describe the case he had so kindly referred to me, and he calmly said that he would guide me
through it. He first suggested that I test her serum digoxin level, and, if it was high, to give her retention enemas of a potassium solution. Of
course,hewasrighton,forshehadaquitetoxiclevelofdigoxin,andunderhisguidanceeverythingranrelativelysmoothlyafterthat.Shewas
treated mainly with hydrotherapy and homeopathy, and, in about two weeks, our patient had sufficiently recovered to return home with her
greatlyrelievedandverythankfulhusband.

ForthenextfewChristmases,duringthetimeIremainedinOregon,thislovelycouplesentmethankyounoteswithpicturesofherandreports
thatshehadremainedingoodhealth.Someyearslater,whenIreturnedtoOregonforaconference,Ivisitedthecollegeandtheclinictoseemy
oldpalsand,inthewaitingroomIhappenedtomeetthepatient'shusband,whowasthereasapatienthimself.Hewasverypleasedtotellme
thathiswifehadremainedwelleversinceourlastcontact,aboutsixyearsearlier,andthatshewasactuallygardeningathomeonthatday.He
againthankedmeprofuselyforwhatIhaddone,whileIknewverywellthathewasinfactthankingmymentor,JohnBastyr,aswellasallthe
teachersofmyteachers.OnceIaskedJohnwhyhehadreferredadyingpersonwithkidneyandheartfailuretoarecentgraduate.Hesimply
saidwithawittysmilethatWallaWallawasclosertoPortlandthantoSeattle.Infact,hewasright,butonlybyatriflingtwentyfivemiles!

Dr. B. used to tell us never to forget that we were fourth in line from Lippe and fifth in line from Hahnemann, for he had learned homeopathy
directly from Dr. C. P. Bryant, a wellknown Seattle surgeon and obstetrician. Dr. Bryant was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in
Philadelphia,andwhenhiswifewasdying,hewaspersuadedbyherfamilytoconsultDr.WalterJames,Dr.AdolphLippe'smostdedicatedstudent
andcollaborator.Dr.Bryantwrote,"Feelingthatallhelpknowntomodernsciencehadbeengivenher,IwasprevailedupontocallinDr.Walter
James, a homeopathic physician of very high standing in Philadelphia. While this was most humiliating to me as an allopathic physician, I did it
solelytosatisfythedemandsofmywife'sfamily,notbecauseIfeltitwouldbeofanyavail.

"Dr.James,aftertakingacarefulhistoryaskedforathirdofaglassofwaterandaspoon.Heproceededtopourintothiswhatlookedtomelikea
fewgrainsofgranulatedsugar.Thisservedonlytofurthermyprejudice.However,Iwasdeterminedtoproceedwithhimforthesatisfactionof
thefamily.Therewasanimmediateresponseforthebetter.Feelingthattheseinfinitesimaldosescouldbeofnovalue,Idecidedtodiscontinue
thetreatmentinfavorofacontrol(placebo).Thepatienttookaturnfortheworse.ThisIrepeatedseveraltimesuntilthetruthofthevalueofthe
treatmentwasforceduponme.

"AtthispointIdecidedtoswallowmyprideandpayavisittotheHahnemannCollegeonBroadStreetinPhiladelphia.Thatdayismemorableto
measIrecallhowashamedIwastobeseenenteringthisbuilding.LookinghurriedlyinbothdirectionsIranupthestepsrapidlyintothecollege
building.IwastoldattheinformationdeskthatalectureonPulsatillawasinprogressanddecidedtolisten.Iheardthelecturerstatethatthis
remedy is of value in a blonde patient, blue eyes and of mild and yielding disposition. At that point it seemed obvious to me there could be no
foundationinsciencefortheprescribingbySimilia.

"IthendecidedtopayavisittoDr.WalterJamesinhisoffice.ThereIrequestedtheloanofabookonhomeopathicphilosophy.Afterbrowsing
throughitspagesIreturnedtoDr.Jameswiththestatementthatitwas'allGreektome.'Hereplied,'Thereisakeytotheintelligentreadingof
this book, but I wanted you to know that there is something in the great field of medical learning that was not given you at Jefferson Medical
College.'

http://www.homeopathy.ca/articles_det29.shtml 2/6
1/4/2017 Articlesonhomeopathyfrommasterhomeopathicpractitioners
"Dr.JamesthenofferedtogivemeinstructionbutaddedthathewasonlywillingtodothisifIwereinareceptivemoodforhewastoooldand
tootiredtoarguewithme.Iagreedtotheprogramandreceivedregularlecturesthreetimesweeklyduringthewintersof1906and1907.Not
onewordofinstructionwasgivenmeduringthisentiretimeinmateriamedica.Thewisdomofthis,inordertopreventanyargument,wasonly
realized by me later. The further he progressed in homeopathic philosophy, the more I realized that all of my misunderstanding of homeopathy
wasanswered,andthefulltruthofitssuperioritywasevident.

"During the two winters that I studied with Dr. James I had the pleasure and honor of visiting his many patients, many of whom were the most
outstandingcitizensofthecityofPhiladelphia.ThebrilliantcureshemadeweresosuperiortoanythingIhadseeninJeffersonMedicalCollege
hospitalthatmyconversionwascomplete.

"TheonlyinstructionevergivenmebyDr.JamesinmateriamedicawasamostscholarlylectureonAconite.Hegavethistomewithoutnotesand
it covered more than two hour's description. This will give you some conception of the magnitude of the mind of this great man, whom you all
knowservednineteenyearswithAdolphLippe.

"Finishinghisinstructioninthelatterpartof1907IinquiredofhimhowImightrepayhimfortheinvaluabletraininghehadgivenme.Hisreply
was,'Ifyounevermakeanyuseofhomeopathictreatmentotherthaninyourownfamily,itwillbethegreatestblessingthathasevercometo
you.'Hefurtheradded,'TheonlyrecompenseIwishisthatwhentheopportunitypresentsitselftoyoutopassthisknowledgeontoothers,Iwill
berepaid.'"(3)

In 1908, Dr. Bryant moved west to Seattle. He became one of the staunchest homeopaths of his time, and later became president of the
InternationalHahnemannianAssociation(IHA),theveryorganizationthatLippehadfirstconceivedand,tenyearslater,in1880,cofoundedfor
thepreservationandpromotionofgenuinehomeopathy.

Intheearly1930s,whenBryantwasheadsurgeonatGraceHospitalinSeattle,hetookaspeciallikingtoanewresident,whomhelatermade
hisfavoritesurgicalassistant,andtowhomhetaughtobstetrics.Healsotaughthimhomeopathyinprivatethreehoursessionsathishomeevery
Sunday morning. Bryant could not know that he was helping to change the course of naturopathic medicine forever by introducing genuine
homeopathytothemanwhowouldeventuallyleadthenaturopathicprofessiontowardnewhorizonsinthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury.

ThisnewresidentwasJohnBastyr.Afterhisveryfirstlessononmateriamedica,whichwasonSepiaoutofFarrington'sClinical Materia Medica,

Bryant'sfavoritemateriamedica,Johnwenttodothedeliveriesforhisfather,whowasapharmacistandrepresentativeofBoerickeandTafelin
Seattle. When John entered the pharmacy, his father asked him if he could do something for a young woman who was sitting crosslegged and
leaningoverthewoodstovethatwasinthemiddleofthepharmacy.IttooknotimefortheyoungJohntofindoutthatshewashavingbladder
troublewithbearingdownpains.HetoldusthathegaveherSepia,whichwashisveryfirsthomeopathicprescription.Theladycamebackthe
nextdaysaying,"Shecouldn'tbelieveit.Whateveryougavemewaslikeamiracle."Hesaidaftertellingthisstory,"Sothat'showIreallybegan
togetseriousabouthomeopathy."(4)

OnanotheroneoftheselateThursdayeveningswhenJohnwastellingmeabouthisbeginningsinhomeopathy,hepointedtoFarrington'sbook,
whichwasonashelfinhisoffice.ItwasBryant'sowncopy,whichJohnhadreceivedfromhim.Fullofannotationswritteninthemarginsofthe
pagesandoninterleavedscratchpapers,itcantodaybefoundintheFriedhelmKirchfeldRareBookCollectionoftheNCNMLibrary.

At NCNM, I studied homeopathy mainly under Drs. Robin Murphy and Steve Albin. It was always a great pleasure to sit and hear Robin tell us
storiesofincrediblerecoveriesandmanyoftheunusualintricaciesofhomeopathy.Robinmadethelearningofhomeopathyinterestingandlively.
Steve would come every week with a pile of his own cases that he would present in class, each one as interesting and inspiring as the next. I
received most of my clinical supervision from them and from Dr. Michael Traub, who was then completing his residency in homeopathy. I was
fortunatelypermittedtocompleteupto75percentofmy1,700plusrequiredhoursofexternshipbypracticinghomeopathyundersupervisionas
Iwasalreadyachiropractor.

NCNMlibraryprovidedanextraordinaryenvironmentforlearninghomeopathybecauseithadanimpressivecollectionofhomeopathicbooksand
journals. In late 1979, NCNM received the library of Dr. Alvin R. Hedges (18861979), an earlytwentiethcentury naturopathic physician who
practicedinMedford,Oregon.Hislibrarycontainedmostoftheclassicbooksinthehomeopathicliterature,andtheNCNMlibraryhadanalmost
complete series of the best homeopathic journals, including the Proceedings of the International Hahnemannian Association, the Organon, the
HomoeopathicPhysician,theMedicalAdvance,theAmericanHomeopathicReview,theHahnemannianMonthlyandtheHomoeopathicRecorder.

During the summer holidays, I would practice with my father in his clinic in Montreal where, with my sister, brother and five nurses, he treated
over150patientsaday,ofwhomthegreatmajorityweresufferingfromautoimmunediseases.Patientswouldstayattheclinicforonetothree
hoursadaytoreceivetreatment,inparticular,apitherapyandelectrotherapy.Inaddition,theywouldallreceivelifestylecounseling.Myfather,
Dr.JosephSaine,wasanextraordinarilycleverandcapableclinician,whowasrecognizedastheworldspecialistintheclinicaluseofbeevenom.
Healsouseduniqueandeffectivemethodsofelectrotherapy,suchasthebiocculartranscerebraliontophoresis,whichIbelievewasusedonlyby
him and today is used only at our clinic.(5) Physicians from all around the world came to learn his methods. The Walter Reed Army Institute of
Researchwasinterestedinmyfather'smethodsandconductedresearchtoverifysomeofthem,whichwerefoundtobehighlyeffective.(6,7,8),

Myteacher,Dr.RobinMurphy,spentmostofoneofthesesummerholidayssupervisingmeatmyfather'sclinic.Hewouldsitbesidemeandread
thenotesIwroteinEnglishofwhatthepatientsweresayinginFrench.IstillrememberthatthelastdaybeforereturningtoPortlandforclass,we
workedfromearlymorninguntillateintheevening,conductingclosetofiftyfollowups,thegreatmajorityofwhomweredoingverywell,even
thoughmostofthemweresufferingfromseriousconditions,suchasrheumatoidarthritis,ankylosingspondylitis,multiplesclerosisorcancer.(9)

Inhindsight,IrealizethatIcouldnothavehadabettereducationatthattimethanIreceivedatNCNM.ItwaslikeadreamcometruebecauseI
never had to go through orthodox medical training and learn the antithesis of what I wanted to practice. Instead, I bathed in a sea of totally
relevantknowledgeamongmanyoldtimerswhowerealinktothepioneersofourprofession.

Ineverwantedtostudyfortheprestigeofadegreeorposition,buttolearnasmuchasIcouldthatwouldenablemetohelpsickpeoplerecover
theirhealth.Clearly,becominganaturopathicphysicianhaspermittedmetobecomeabetter,wellroundphysicianbyputtingtheentirebookof
Natureatmydisposal,andinparticular,Ifoundmyselfinaveryrichenvironmentforlearninghomeopathy.

When I counsel young people, North Americans in particular, who want to achieve real mastery in homeopathy, I point out the dilemma that
SamuelJonesexpressedsoeloquentlyinhispoem.Attheendofthediscussion,Igenerallydirectthemtothenaturopathicmedicalcollegesthat
havethebestprogramsinhomeopathy,forthefollowingreasons:

1. I firmly believe they will have a much better chance to learn homeopathy thoroughly through a systematic fouryear undergraduate
trainingprogram.
2. They will receive direct clinical supervision, which is fundamental to any thorough homeopathic training, and which is, as a rule, not
possibleinthebetterNorthAmericanpostgraduateprogramsinhomeopathy.

http://www.homeopathy.ca/articles_det29.shtml 3/6
1/4/2017 Articlesonhomeopathyfrommasterhomeopathicpractitioners
3. Theywillalsolearnotherdisciplinesthatarenecessaryforbecomingwellroundedphysicians,andthat,asarule,areinaccessiblein
most other medical programs, such as clinical nutrition (par. 208), psychology and lifestyle counseling (par. 150), hydrotherapy (par.
291),electrotherapy(par.286287),manipulation(par.288289),naturalobstetricsandchildbirthathome,etc.
4. Theywillalsonothavetogothoughanunnecessaryantitheticaltraining,whichtheyhavenointentionofeverpracticing.

I advise young graduates of naturopathic medical colleges who intend to specialize in homeopathy to continue their studies in an established
postgraduateprograminhomeopathyortodeveloptheirownpostgraduatestudyprogram.Fromtheclinicalpointofview,Iaskthemtospend
the first two years of their practice as if they were pursuing a residency program, but without having the burden of any of the timeconsuming
administrative and academic duties common to institutional residency programs. Instead, I suggest that they invest their energy, time and
attentioninassiduouslystudyingeverycaseanditscorrespondingmateriamedica,untiltheycanprescribewithcertainty,andthattheycommit
themselves to fully understanding the spirit and all the practical rules and intricacies of genuine homeopathy. On the whole, that is not very
different from the advice Hahnemann gave in 1835 to the French students of homeopathy he had met soon after his arrival in Paris: "And you,
studious French youth, who are not yet affected by the old errors, and who are endlessly seeking only the truth as you burn the midnight oil,
come to me! For I am imparting to you this much soughtafter truth, the divine revelation of a principle of eternal nature. It is to the results
already obtained that I am appealing in order to convince you but do not try to obtain such results yourselves until you have been assured of
successbyconscientiousandthoroughstudythen,likeme,youwillblessProvidencefortheimmensegiftthatithasbroughttheworldthrough
myhumbleperson,forIhavebeennothingbutafeebleinstrumentofitspower,beforewhichallmustbow."(10)

Ialsotellstudentsalwaystopayparticularattentiontoallthecausesofdiseaseandtolearnhowtopreventthemandhowbesttoremedytheir
effects, while I remind them what Pierre Schmidt would say to his students: "If you are only, you are not." In other words, if you only study
homeopathyyouwillneverbeagoodhomeopath.

One of the greatest lessons I learned from Dr. Bastyr is that Nature is generous and bountiful, and as physicians, it is our duty never to stop
learning in order to make the wisest and best use of its limitless resources. He would repeatedly tell us in the best spirit of the Hippocratic and
Hahnemanniantraditions,"Thereisalwayssomethingwecando,"eveninthemostdifficultcasesanddirestofcircumstances.

Aboveall,Bastyrwillberememberedasamanwithavisionwhoneverstoppedsearchingfortruthinhealthandmedicine,andwhobecamethe
torchbearer of an entire profession and inspired generations of young people to delve into the medicine of the future, "naturally," as he would
often say with his large and kind smile. He encouraged us never to stop learning and to constantly integrate new knowledge in an organized
manner.Hewantedustodevelopandsticktoaclear,coherentandpracticalphilosophyofhealth,disease,healingandmedicine.

In her book, Dr. John Bastyr: Philosophy and Practice Including Bastyr's Homeopathic Materia Medica, Melanie Grimes writes about her teacher
and doctor: "When I was a first year naturopathic student, eager to learn as much as I could, I approached Dr. B. asking for additional study
materials. He graciously offered to loan me some books and to talk with me after I finished reading. He loaned me his copy of Hahnemann's
Organon. After six months, I returned the book, not yet ready to take him up on his offer of discussing it. This book loan began a lifelong
trajectoryforme.IstillstraintocomprehendtheenormityofHahnemann'sprimaryvision.Inwritingthischapter[onhomeopathy],Imarveled
that of all the books in Bastyr's library, he chose this one to loan out. I venture to guess that this was not an individualized 'prescription,' but
ratherhistypicalresponsetostudents.IneverheardhimlectureontheOrganon,buthisgestureislouderthanwords.Hisjoyinhomeopathy
was spread to generations of students. He carried a link from Hahnemann to the present. He investigated new ideas but kept his focus on the
classical and most importantly, the treatments that brought about clinical success using the smallest doses to promote the most 'rapid, gentle,
permanentrestorationofhealth.'"(11)

Dr.StevenCowardwroteinhisreviewofGrimes'sbookinHomeopathyToday,"MelanieGrimes'bookisatributetoamanwhomsheobviously
greatlyadmiredandrightlyso.Dr.Bastyrwasatirelesshealer,teacher,lobbyist,student,andmore.Hesawpatientsallday,taughtclassesat
night,attendedtothebusinessofrunningaschool,lobbiedforhealthcarepolicy,andmaintainedahomestead.Hewaslargerthanlife."(12)

Dr.EvaUrbaniak,oneofBastyr'sformerpatientsandstudents,capturedthemaninthesefewwords:"Hewasamanofunsurpassedintegrity,
kindness,compassion,andintelligencebutmostimportantly,heembodiedthetruesenseoftheword'HEALER'"hestoodout"asanexemplary
physician."(13)

Dr. Bill Mitchell, cofounder of Bastyr University, wrote about his mentor twentysix years after having graduated from NCNM, expressing his
thanks "to Dr. John Bastyr, who selflessly shared his knowledge and experience with his students. In the practice of naturopathic medicine, he
was,simplythebest.Tothisday,itseemsthatwedigupmorememoriesofthosewonderfulyearswhenwehadtheprivilegeofbeingtaught
by Dr. Bastyr and some of the other truly great masters of naturopathic medicine. ... When one walked in to see him, the healing began
immediately.Dr.Bastyrwaswhatpuregoodnesswouldlooklikeifitcouldwalkontwolegs."(14)

ItisagreatpitythataphysicianofthecaliberofJohnBastyrcouldnothavebecomeamemberoftheAIHorIHA.PerhapstheIHAwouldnot
have folded in 1959 from lack of participating members, if it had had an infusion of new blood from bright, dynamic, capable and learned
physicians such as John Bastyr. I can easily picture doctors like John Bastyr presenting and discussing papers and cases in meetings with, for
example,HarveyFarrington,HerbertRoberts,RoyalHayesorElizabethWrightHubbard.

Forthefollowingreasons,Ibelievethattobetterensureastrongerandmoredynamicmembershipandaricherfuture,thetimehascomeforthe
AIHtoseriouslyreconsideritspolicyofexcludingnaturopathicphysiciansfromactivemembership:

1. TheNorthAmericanphysicianswhohavetakenthebestandmostdirectroutetobecomingwellroundedphysicianswhilespecializingin
homeopathyarethenaturopathicphysicians.
2. ManyofthenaturopathicphysicianswhohavespecializedinhomeopathyareamongitsleadersintheNorthAmerica.
3. Thedemandfornaturopathicphysiciansandthenumberofaccreditednaturopathicmedicalcollegeshavebeengrowingcontinuallyin
thelastfewdecades,andislikelytodosoformanydecadestocome.
4. Naturopathicphysicianscanpracticehomeopathylegallyinallthejurisdictionsthatregulatenaturopathicmedicinebecauseitispartof
theirstandardsofpracticeexceptinafewjurisdictions,thatisnotcaseforMDs.
5. NaturopathicmedicineisbeingregulatedbyanincreasingnumberofgovernmentsinNorthAmerica(itiscurrentlyregulatedintwenty
Americanstatesandterritories,andwillverysoonberegulatedinsevenofthetenCanadianprovinces).
6. Orthodoxmedicaltrainingisbecomingmoredemandingandhermeticandisthereforenotconducivetotheacceptanceofhomeopathy.
Moreover,themajorityofnewlygraduatedMDshavelargedebtsandhavebeendepletedofmuchoftheircapacitytopursueanother
discipline,especiallyoneasdemandingasgenuinehomeopathy.
7. Foroverhalfacentury,noundergraduateorgraduateprograminhomeopathyhasbeenofferedtomedicalstudentsordoctorsinthe
medicalschoolsofNorthAmerica.
8. ThenumberofnewAIHmembershasbeenneedlesslylowformanydecades.

http://www.homeopathy.ca/articles_det29.shtml 4/6
1/4/2017 Articlesonhomeopathyfrommasterhomeopathicpractitioners
The first two of these points should be sufficient reasons to invite your naturopathic colleagues who hold a license to practice naturopathic
medicine in any North American jurisdiction or have graduated from an accredited naturopathic medical college to join the ranks of active
membershipintheAIH.Sinceonlygraduatesofaccreditednaturopathicmedicalcollegescanwritenational,stateandprovincialexamsinorder
tobelicensed,theAIHwouldbeopeningitsdooronlytoverywelleducatedphysicians.Letusrecognizethattimeshavechangedandthatnewly
trainedandcominggenerationsofallopathicphysicianswouldnotlikelybeabletofoundorevenperhapsmaintainadeeplyinspiredmovement
liketheonethatledtothecreationoftheAIH.

SuchaunionofforceswouldgreatlypromotethegrowthandstrengthofhomeopathyinNorthAmerica,agoalnotunlikethatoftheAIH,which
wasformedfor"thebenefittobederivedfromamutualcultivationoftheartbythevariousmembersofourschool."

Finally,IwouldsuggestthatmembersoftheAIHencouragestudentswhoareinterestedinhomeopathytofirstbecomenaturopathicphysicians,
becausetheyhaveamuchgreateropportunitytofulfillthedefinitionoftheidealphysicianfromthetruestHahnemannianperspective.

Yourstruly,
AndrSaine,N.D.

P.S. I would like to take this opportunity to invite serious, capable and experienced physicians to join the Materia Medica Pura Project (MMPP),
which my friend Dr. Tim Fior has mentioned in his tribute.(16) We need more dedicated coworkers from every part of the world to index our
journals, develop remedy monographs and become permanent editors of our project. Please do not hesitate to contact the coordinator of the
MMPP,Dr.RaduanKhalil:mmppdrkhalil@gmx.de.

P.P.S. Following this open letter, the matter was discussed among the Trustees of the AIH and its members were asked to vote on a motion on
whethertoacceptnaturopathicphysicianstofullmemberships.

Dr. Irene Sebastion wrote in her Presisent's Message in the Autumn 2014 number of American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine, "The other
excitingnewsforA.l.H.isthedecisiontochangeourBylawssothatnaturopathswhohavegraduatedfromanaccreditednaturopathicschooland
arelicensedinoneoftheStatesoftheU.S.arenoweligibletobecomeActiveMembersofA.l.H.ThischangeinBylawsoccurredinresponsetoa
request by A.l.H. Honorary Member Andre Saine, ND., FCAH. Many A.l.H. members have recognized the contributions of the naturopathic
community to the practice of homeopathic medicine for many yearssome of us, including myself, have been trained in homeopathic medicine
and/orgreatlyinfluencedbyDr.Saineandotherwellknownnaturopaths.Wegreallyvaluethemedicaltrainingincludingtheabilitytodiagnose
and to do physical exams that naturopaths receive during their 4year naturopathic education, and we appreciate their understanding of the
practiceofhomeopathicmedicineasacompletemedicalsystem.Weacknowledgeandrespecttheiradditionaltraininginnutritionwhichmostof
us who attended allopathic medical schools did not have the opportunity to receive. We believe that by working more closely together, and by
recognizing the unique gifts that we bring from our respective traditions, all of us will be enriched in our common pursuit of the promotion of
homeopathicmedicine.Wewelcomeenthusiasticallytheintegrationofnaturopathsintoourassociationineveryway."(17)

(1)NationalCollegeofNaturopathicMedicineBulletin19781980.Portland,Oregon.
(2)GrimesM.Dr.JohnBastyr:PhilosophyandPracticeIncludingBastyr'sHomeopathicMateriaMedica.AltheaBookCompany,2005,35.(Thesecondeditionwill
soonbeavailableatwww.melaniegrimes.com)
(3)BryantCP.WhyIbecameaconverttohomoeopathyfromtheallopathicschoolofpractice.HomoeopathicRecorder194257:377380
(4)KirchfeldF,BoyleW.NatureDoctors:PioneersinNaturopathicMedicine.Portland:MedicinaBiologica,1994,304.
(5)Biocculartranscerebraliontophoresiswasdevelopedaround1920byGeorgesBourguignon,M.D.,D.Sc.,whowasaneurologistandneurophysiologistanda
memberoftheFrenchAcademyofMedicine.Toreadmoreabouttheextraordinarypotentialofthissimpletherapeuticmodalitysee:
http://www.homeopathy.ca/pdf/BTI.pdf
(6)VickJA,MehlmanB,BrooksRB.Effectofbeevenomandmelittinonplasmacortisolintheunanesthetizedmonkey.Toxicon197210:581586.
(7)VickJA,WarrenGB,BrooksRB.Theeffectsofwholebeevenomoncageactivityandplasmacortisollevelsinthearthriticdog.Inflammation19751:167
174.
(8)SaineJ.Theeffectivenessofbeevenominthetreatmentofarthritis.ProceedingsoftheNorthAmericanApiotherapySociety19781:2532.
(9)Twoamazingcases(cases2and3)thatwereseenduringthesummerrecessof1981werepublishedinthefollowingpaper:SaineA.Theessentialroleof
homeopathyinwholistichealthcare:casereports.NCNMReview198119823(2)920.Thispapercanbeaccessedat
http://homeopathy.ca/articles_det28.shtml.
(10)HahnemannS.Allocution.BibliothqueHomoeopathique18366:2931.
(11)GrimesM.Dr.JohnBastyr:PhilosophyandPracticeIncludingBastyr'sHomeopathicMateriaMedica.AltheaBookCompany,2005,53.(Thesecondedition
shouldsoonbeavailableatwww.melaniegrimes.com)
(12)CowardS.ReviewofDr.JohnBastyr:PhilosophyandPracticebyMelanieJ.Grimes,RSHom(NA),CCH.HomeopathyToday2006(April):42.
(13)UrbaniakE.Dr.JohnBastyr:Biographyofahealer.http://www.docevaonline.com/articles/drbastyr.html.AccessedMarch12,2014.
(14)MitchellWA.PlantMedicineinPractice:UsingtheTeachingsofJohnBastyr.Edinburgh:ChurchillLivingstone,2003.
(15)Minutesofthesessionsof1844and1845.TransactionsoftheAmericanInstituteofHomoeopathy18461:3.
(16)FiorT.AIHHonoraryMembershipawardedtoAndrSaine,N.D.AmericanJournalofHomeopathicMedicine2013106:144145.
(17)SebastianI.AIHreceivesthreeyearendowmentfromTxOptions,andwelcomesnaturopathsasAIHmembers.AmericanJournalofHomeopathicMedicine
2014107:113.

Returntothewebsite

Topofthepage
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,commentsorsuggestions,contactus|(514)2796629

TheCanadianAcademyofHomeopathy
1173boul.duMontRoyal,Outremont(Qubec)CanadaH2V2H6
Phone:(514)2796629|Fax:(514)2790111

RegisterorbuyonlinewithsecureSSLcertificate.

Allrightsreserved/Copyright2017CanadianAcademyofHomeopathy
Producedbymaudstonge.com.

http://www.homeopathy.ca/articles_det29.shtml 5/6
1/4/2017 Articlesonhomeopathyfrommasterhomeopathicpractitioners

http://www.homeopathy.ca/articles_det29.shtml 6/6