Practical Homeopathy [Paperback]

Vinton McCabe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2000

For the first time ever, glossaries of comprehensive symptoms and homeopathic remedies collected in one volume.

This definitive gude is raelly two books in one: an introduction to the study and practice of homeopathy and a detailed reference book of symptoms and remedies. Vinton McCabe, a longtime educator of homeopathy practicioners and laypersons, begins with a brief history of the art and discusses the underlying philosophy of homeopathy as contrasted with conventional medicine.
The bulk of the book is made up of well-organized, accessible sections covering such topics as symptoms for use in diagnosis, corrective measures for emergencies andother easily diagnosed complaints, and a detailed listing of sixty homeopathic remedies and their uses. Practical Homeopathy will appeal to newcomers to homeopathy as well as to enthusiasts.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The growth of public interest in homeopathy has inspired books intended to help the lay practitioner, such as the mother who wants to treat her child's mild cough at home. These books have been long on remedies but short on philosophy. Following up on his previous book, Homeopathy, Healing, and You (which presented the core philosophy and a handful of key remedies), McCabe's newest work again joins philosophy and pharmacy in a practical way. McCabe redefines the role of physicians, the nature of disease, and the use of medicine; articulates a thorough method of case-taking; and presents remedies three times (according to symptoms that indicate them, according to emergency situations, and separately as remedy "pictures"). As president of the Connecticut Homeopathic Association and a member of the faculty and board of the Hudson Valley School of Classical Homeopathy, McCabe brings two decades of training to this excellent, essential text. Highly recommended for all libraries.
-Elizabeth C. Stewart, Portland, ME
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An easy-to-read book that unravels the mysteries of homeopathy and makes it accessible to everyone." --Mark Grossman, O.D., author of Magic Eye: The 3-D Guide and An Encyclopedia of Natural Vision Care

"If you're looking for an engaging introduction to the principals and history of the homeopathic medical movement, then this is the book for you. Mr. McCabe has deftly distilled the genius of homeopathy into a work which, in the awesome scope of its implications, may hold many keys to future planetary wellness." --Peter D'Adamo, N.D. author of Eat Right 4 Your Type and editor emeritus of the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine

"McCabe is a passionate engaging advocate, and his account of his own successful homeopathic treatment makes his case hard for even skeptics to ignore." --Publishers Weekly

"In a world increasingly frustrated with the mechanics and depersonalization of Western medicine, Vinton McCabe offers us a glimpse into the future where East meets West." --Jason Elias, author of Five Elements of Healing, Healing Remedies, and Feminine Healing.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (February 9, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312206690
• ISBN-13: 978-0312206697
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #583,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Vinton McCabe's career in electronic media was knocked off course first by illness and then by his introduction to the healing modality that cured his illness--homeopathy. He became a student of homeopathic medicine three decades ago and in the years since has authored seven books on the topic, including the now-classic Practical Homeopathy and his personal favorite, The Healing Bouquet: Exploring Bach Flower Remedies. He also is the author of a growing number of publications on subjects related to holistic healing through the "Homeopathy in Thought and Action" series of McBooklets, a Kindle exclusive, which will be published in print form by Basic Health Publications.

McCabe is a past president of the Connecticut Homeopathic Association, a not-for-profit educational organization through which he trained lay persons and medical professionals alike in the philosophy and practice of homeopathic medicine. He has lectured extensively over the years, teaching at New York City's Open Center, the Learning Annex and New York Botanical Garden, in addition to the Omega Institute and Wainwright House, where he was part of the permanent faculty.

He is noted for his humor and for the clarity of his approach to his complex subject matter. About standard Western medicine, or allopathy, McCabe writes, "Western medicine is based upon the use of ever-stronger doses of allopathic drugs. And allopathic treatment with these drugs is the medical equivalent of running with scissors. It may seem like a good idea at the time, but it almost always ends in tears."

About homeopathic medicine, he writes, "So the homeopathic remedy is only a spark. A healing spark. A catalyst that can move the patient--and not just his symptoms--toward healing. Thus homeopathic treatment will leave the patient not just symptom-free (which is what allopathic treatment, at its most successful, has to offer), but actually stronger and healthier than before. It can do this because it works with and treats the whole person and refuses to zero in on a few choice symptoms. It does this because it recognizes first and foremost that those symptoms are there for a reason, and, secondly, that you cannot medically work on one part, on on one set of symptoms, without impacting the whole. But by working with the whole, you can radically change for the better the set of symptoms that is causing the patient's suffering."

In addition to his work with homeopathy, McCabe is an award-winning journalist, poet and playwright. He has produced television shows for PBS and has hosted his own talk radio show. He continues to be sought after as a guest on numerous radio and television shows. He is a published novelist, who, in addition to continuing to write on the subject of holistic healing, is hard at work on a second novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm So Glad This Book Came My Way!, March 28, 2000

By 

gilda (way out in the boons, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practical Homeopathy (Paperback)

Having read other books by Mr McCabe, I had high expectations of this one, and wasn't disappointed. In my search and study of alternative approaches to wellness, prevention and cure, I have often had difficulty finding material that was comprehensive AND interesting. This handbook is not only useful, its pleasant to read, and easily understood. In our home, we keep our copy of Practical Homeopathy handy on our reference shelf with our other wellness books, and have used it several times already! I highly recommend Practical Homeopathy, and believe you will find it as useful and engaging as we have. :)be Well!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful place to start -- and a good place to visit later on!, June 15, 2009

By 

JackieLL (Carmel, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practical Homeopathy (Paperback)

I really enjoy McCabe's books. He is knowledgeable and writes enjoyable, understandable, useful material. This book was the first book on homeopathy I ever read. I will admit that, at first, it was a bit baffling. I opened the book up, thumbed through it to get an overview...and saw the brief repertories and thought, "huh?" :)

So, many homeopathy books later, I can say that, of all the books I have, this is the one I refer to the most. What I initially perceived as an impenetrable mess (sorry, but it's true!) merely reflected the nature of homeopathy. It's complex stuff. To go too far and "make it simple" is to strip it of its essence and usefulness. Some books do that. McCabe's didn't. He strikes the right balance between simplicity (for the newer folks) with completeness (which is what a good homeopath aims for).

Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goes Deeper than Let Like Cure Like, September 4, 2010

By 

E.V. Debs (Waukegan, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practical Homeopathy (Paperback)

Having returned to Let Like Cure Like several times to put the pieces of my own profile into place, I was excited to see that this book provides just the kind of specificity I was looking for. Pinpointing common environmental factors as elemental as air or water, the reader can easily relate to McCabe's suggestions. The strength of his approach is his holistic approach rather than isolating certain factors. It's about how environment and the body are integrated that makes finding solutions plausible. With recent controversies about vaccines and their connections to chronic conditions and even genetic factors, this book is even more relevant now than when it was written. Above all, the reader will emerge with a more deliberate understanding of her/his own body and well being.