Announcing a New Online Digital Library of Primary Sources Unveiled at a Recent Conference

By Jamie Oskin, ND, DTBRm, DHANP

This past September 20-22, 2024, we hosted a groundbreaking new conference at Sonoran University in Tempe, Arizona, that was a collaborative project of the American Institute of Homœopathy (AIH), Homœopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians (HANP), Homœopathic Nurses Association (HNA), and Academy of Veterinary Homœopathy (AVH). It was available both in person and online. 

The theme of the conference was: 

Returning to Our Roots: Utilizing Primary Sources to apply Hahnemann’s methodology for consistently exceptional clinical outcomes.

This course highlighted and provided hands-on training in the composition and application of our primary source tools: the materia medica of Hahnemann and repertory (specifically Bönninghausen’s Therapeutic Pocketbook). It included practical case exercises for an enhanced learning experience, allowing immediate application and greatly improved clinical outcomes in attendees’ practice. (More information and conference video access can be purchased at https://homeopathyusa.org/2024-collaborative-conference/.)

We unveiled a new, open-access, digital online library at the conference, the HANP Dimitriadis Literature Collection. This collection comprises homœopathic and historical medical literature housed online at Sonoran University and funded by a generous Henry I Klopp Homeopathic Fund grant. 

HANP Dimitriadis Literature Collection Background: 

George Dimitriadis from the Hahnemann Institute Sydney spoke at the JAHC 2019 (Baltimore, Maryland). He gifted HANP a computer hard drive with approximately 500 gigabytes of data from homœopathic and old-school literature during this visit. This library contains approximately 90%+ of Hahnemann’s citations in the form of old-school toxicological reports. 

George Dimitriadis has spent the better part of the past 20 years collecting these facsimile PDF copies of original works as part of his research project to methodically update and correct errors in Hahnemann’s primary texts, which he has entitled Materia Medica Hahnemannica.¹ Initially, Dimitriadis started by collecting works with the slow and laborious process of scanning original books and journals the old-fashioned way after making trips across the globe to places like the Robert Bosch Institute (IGM) in Germany. As Google Books, Internet Archive, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Europeana Collections, and over twenty other online libraries became available, he could search the internet to find PDF copies of these primary sources. I have done this myself, sometimes spending two to three hours painstakingly searching online to find a source for a toxicological report cited by Hahnemann. Finding one of these sources evokes a sense of eureka! Our new open-access online library makes these sources available to our profession and at our fingertips for rapid literature research. 

After receiving this gift from Dimitriadis, the HANP board of directors spent several years considering making this resource accessible to the profession. After much deliberation, we partnered with Sonoran University because of its strong homœopathic educational program and its foundation as a naturopathic institution, a natural partnership for the HANP as a naturopathic organization. We felt it best if this resource were available at a university that could be the house of future research projects. Once partnered with Sonoran University, Dr. Elizabeth Rice, ND, DHANP, Chair of Homœopathy at the time, worked tirelessly to secure a grant from the Henry I Klopp Homeopathic Fund and further undertook all of the logistical work with the Sonoran University IT department to make this project come to life. One of our primary missions with this library is to make it accessible to the profession to see a Renaissance of research inspired by the easy and ready access to these primary source texts. 

Over and above an understanding of the processes in health and disease, a precise homœopathic prescription requires an accurate knowledge of substance effects and a sound familiarity with the tools available to facilitate their recollection in the clinical setting. 

At the conference, instruction was given on utilizing this fantastic tool, searching the library, and accessing this vital literature. In studying these historical reports, you will understand the construction of Hahnemann’s materia medica and, by extension, our profession’s original repertory, specifically, Bönninghausen’s Therapeutic Pocketbook. Instructive, real-life case histories were included to reinforce these concepts, and a hands-on, active learning workshop was held to practice skills utilizing the online library.

This unified and cohesive course prospectus was presented by a team of expert teachers, who have been highly trained after the methodology of Hahnemann and Bönninghausen, including a homœopathic veterinarian for our vet attendees. 

In a separate article in the AJHM (American Journal of Homœopathic Medicine), I presented an example from the literature of a toxicological report of Ipecacuanha to demonstrate the value of examining these primary source citations from Hahnemann to better understand substance effects as a method for studying materia medica. In that article, I also shared a clinical case effectively treated homœopathically with Ipecacuanha to demonstrate how studying these toxicological sources can improve clinical outcomes. Later, in another NDNR article, I will share another toxicology report with the Arsenicum album, followed by a case example utilizing this incredible resource. 

We hope that our collaborative conference at Sonoran University inspired a new generation of homœopaths to utilize the latest online library and create a revival of interest in source literature research that can be used for a wide variety of purposes such as personal study, group materia medica study groups, research to update and correct our materia medicæ sources, publications, future conferences on related topics, and much more. If you missed the conference but would like to view the video recordings, they are available for purchase online. Revenue generated from the conference and post-conference video recording sales go to support the non-profit organizations that helped create this collaborative project. 

Conference Testimonials:

“This conference represents the highest standard of homeopathic education currently available. Truly essential education for everyone who aspires to understand homeopathy from the ground up and experience the full potential of homeopathy’s effectiveness in clinical practice.” – Andrew Chambers, ND

“As a naturopathic doctor, I thought this conference was very enjoyable. It contained clinically relevant material and was medically focused. There were enough attendees so that the discussion and connection was lively, but not too big that it was exhausting or scattered. Location and convenience to amenities was outstanding. Looking forward to next year’s conference and hoping for same time of year and location!” – Leslie Cisar, ND

“This conference was of an extremely high quality with amazing speakers, a good venue, and quality food provided. There are few other opportunities like this to meet and learn from the very best and the brightest in Homoeopathy. There are fewer conferences still where each presentation is better than the last and builds upon those that came before it, showcasing a consistent, evidence based methodology to achieve success in practice” -Nicolas Figueredo, ND 

“What a wonderful collaborative gathering of like-minded individuals. So glad to have been there in person. The material shared was of the highest calibre, conjecture free and all referenced back to primary sources. This type of education enhances not only our knowledge but also our confidence in a clinical setting. The interactions with fellow attendees were inspirational and will most certainly keep me going over the coming months.” – Jacqualine Dimitriadis, DNutr (NSW), GrDHom(Syd), MLiRG (HISyd)

“Finally, a fantastic homoeopathy conference that we can be proud of! It was so refreshing to be surrounded by other professionals who respect and appreciate true homoeopathy. I hope this conference continues to occur regularly; it’s much needed for the profession. Kudos to everyone involved; thank you so much for all of your hard work in putting together such a wonderful conference!” – Miriam Wheeler, ND, DHANP

“If you prefer relying on reliable data in order to best help your patients this is the conference for you!” – Wendy Jensen, DVM

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References

Dimitriadis G.: Materia Medica Hahnemannica – A Compendium of Hahnemann’s Pharmacographic Record faithfully renewed with re-translations and corrections with reference to original sources, 2006, HISydney – This ongoing work remains unpublished.