Vitalism, the recognition that the physical body is animated by a vital life force, is the foundation of most natural healing therapies. The forefathers of alternative medicine discovered methods of healing the body by stimulating this life force. In Vitalism: The History of Herbalism, Homeopathy, and Flower Essences, Matthew Wood describes the theories, lives, and work of nine great physicians who laid the groundwork for natural medicine.
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"...Vitalism shows the continuity of independent thinking from which all progress springs, and should bolster the spirits of those who are still being persecuted for deviating from the 'party line.'"
—Irene Alleger
"Matthew Wood has written an outstanding book, with much to contribute to the herbal renaissance and the coming of age of holistic medicine. It is a unique and important look at the history of western medicine from the perspective of vitalism."
—David Hoffman
—Irene Alleger
"Matthew Wood has written an outstanding book, with much to contribute to the herbal renaissance and the coming of age of holistic medicine. It is a unique and important look at the history of western medicine from the perspective of vitalism."
—David Hoffman
About the Author
Matthew Wood is a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild, and has maintained a private practice as an herbalist for twenty years. He lives and practices at Sunnyfield Herb Farm in Minnetrista, Minnesota.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL SURVEY OF HERBALISM, AND SIMILAR PRACTICES,
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This review is from: Vitalism: The History of Herbalism, Homeopathy, and Flower Essences (Paperback)
Matthew Wood is a practicing herbalist and homeopath; in this book he gives sympathetic treatment of practices he terms "Vitalism" (defined as "the recognition that the physical body is animated by a vital life force"). Homeopathic practitioners are a particular focus of the book.This book provides a general history of herbalism and related practices, focusing primarily on seven figures: Paracelsus, Samuel Hahnemann (the founder of Homeopathy), Johann Gottfried Rademacher, Samuel Thomson (the "root doctor," known as the "father of herbalism"), James Tyler Kent (who developed the "philosophy" behind Homeopathy), James Compton Burnett, and Edward Bach (of "Flower essences" fame). Wood considers the Renaissance alchemist and physician Paracelsus to be the source for the "Law of Similars" principle, usually expressed as "Like treats like." Wood concludes the book with a chapter summarizing the "Vital Doctrines of Vitalist Medicine." This book contains a lot of historical information as well as current comments of relevance to those interested in herbalist and homeopathic methods.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating and useful recent history of alternative medicine,
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This review is from: Vitalism: The History of Herbalism, Homeopathy, and Flower Essences (Paperback)
Recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about how the practice of medicine got to be where it is today. Over the past two hundred years, it has not been altogether clear which is main stream medicine and what is alternative, and this book details how we got here and shows that the current state is due as much to politics as to science. Also, this book is very useful if you wish to know more about the different schools of homeopathy and their rather unintegrated views of best homeopathic prescription practices, such as one high dose vs. multiple low doses.This isn't a book for the lay person learning how to use homeopathy to treat himself and his family. The detailed writing got a bit plodding for me as the author gets into the details of the lives of the great figures of alternative medicine including Hahnemann, Rademacher, Samuel Thomsom, Kent and Bach. Vitalism: The History of Herbalism, Homeopathy, and Flower Essences is an incredibly useful resource for those familiar with the topic who wish to substantially deepen their understanding.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended,
By Aimee (Oregon) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Vitalism: The History of Herbalism, Homeopathy, and Flower Essences (Paperback)
I love this book. It is a history of many healing traditions and should be required reading for mainstream and alternative practitioners alike.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
For twenty centuries, the humoral medicine of Greek and Arabic physicians dominated medical practice in the Western world. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
chronic miasms, alchemical physicians, homeopathic literature, early eclectics, magical staff, homeopathic materia medica, salient symptoms, simple substance, cell salts, root doctor, healing crisis Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Paracelsus Werke, New York, Compton Burnett, Homoeopathic Philosophy, Samuel Thomson, Van Helmont, Edward Bach, Minor Writings, Samuel Hahnemann, James Tyler Kent, Lesser Writings, Eclectic Medical Institute, United States, Correspondence of Organs, Alva Curtis, Curability of Tumours, Eclectic Medical Publications, Eli Jones, John Henry Clarke, Madame Hahnemann, New Dehli, Study of the Simile, Diseases of the Spleen, John Scudder, John Uri Lloyd New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
For twenty centuries, the humoral medicine of Greek and Arabic physicians dominated medical practice in the Western world. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
chronic miasms, alchemical physicians, homeopathic literature, early eclectics, magical staff, homeopathic materia medica, salient symptoms, simple substance, cell salts, root doctor, healing crisis Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Paracelsus Werke, New York, Compton Burnett, Homoeopathic Philosophy, Samuel Thomson, Van Helmont, Edward Bach, Minor Writings, Samuel Hahnemann, James Tyler Kent, Lesser Writings, Eclectic Medical Institute, United States, Correspondence of Organs, Alva Curtis, Curability of Tumours, Eclectic Medical Publications, Eli Jones, John Henry Clarke, Madame Hahnemann, New Dehli, Study of the Simile, Diseases of the Spleen, John Scudder, John Uri Lloyd New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 49
books:
See all 49 books this book cites
1
book
cites this book:
- Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy by James Tyler Kent on 14 pages
- Study of the Simile in Medicine by L. Boyd on 5 pages
- Magic into Science: The Story of Paracelsus by Henry M. Pachter on 4 pages
- Organon of the Rational Art of Healing by Samuel Hahnemann on 4 pages
- Heaven and Hell (NW CENTURY EDITION) by EMANUEL SWEDENBORG on 4 pages
See all 49 books this book cites
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