Concordant Materia Medica
by Frans Vermeulen
a review by Dr. Durr Elmore
Taken from Simillimum
Spring 1995, Volume VIII No. 1
The Concordant Materia Medica by Frans Vermeulen is a valuable addition to the homeopathic literature. This work is a thorough compilation and amalgamation of symptoms taken from several important materia medicae. Dr. Vermeulen is a prominent Dutch homeopath, and is the author of the highly-regarded Synoptic Medica Medica, published in 1992.
With the Concordant Materia Medica, he set out to create a comprehensive one volume handbook of materia medica, using Boericke's Materia Medica as a starting point. He added symptoms from the following books:
- T.F. Allen: A Primer of Materia Medica for Practitioners
- C. Hering: Guiding Symptoms
- C.M. Boger: A Synoptic Key of the Materia Medica
- A.C. Cowperthwaite: A Text-Book of Materia Medica and Therapeutics
- A. von Lippe: Key Notes & Red Line Symptoms of Materia Medica
- Pulford: Homeopathic Materia Medica of Graphic Drug Pictures and Clinical Comments
- J.H. Clarke: A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
- J.T. Kent: Repertory of the Homeopathic Materia Medica
- F. Vermeulen: Synoptic Materia Medica
The Concordant Materia Medica is something like Boericke's Materia Medica extended and expanded, with corrections. It is a valuable compilation from the above works. He has given us their combined essential information, and repetition is avoided. The preface begins with a quote from Boericke, "This book contains the maximum number of reliable Materia medica facts in the minimum space." Vermeulen writes:
"Given the number of good materia medicae available, I feel it is time that the maximum number of reliable symptoms was extended, without resulting in an extra meter of book space on every homeopath's bookshelf.
"With this aim — the compilation of a complete but portable Materia Medica — I began by asking myself which authors I should include… Experience shows that many Materia Medicas are almost identical, although there is no objection to this as long as they complement each other and provide nuances and complete symptoms… Completeness is not a question of quantity, of more symptoms per remedy, but of quality, of a detailed examination of each symptom…
"Having gone through 3,807 pages of text written by the seven authors below, as well as Clark's Dictionary and Kent's Repertory, I was finally left with the repetition-free symptoms that are contained in the pages of the Concordant Materia Medica."
Vermeulen has indeed created a work of great utility and portability. This materia medica covers over 800 remedies. By combining the strengths of the various authors, he presents a volume without repetition, yet thorough. For example, eight different Aurums are included, five Barytas, fourteen Calcareas, ten Ferrums, thirteen Kalis, nine Mercuries, and eight Zincums.
The index lists remedies in two ways. Remedies unabbreviated and in all capitals refer to the description of the remedy itself. If these remedies are mentioned elsewhere in the book, they are listed in the same index by their abbreviation and are not capitalized. This shows the reader at a glance where to go study the remedy description, and where to find it in other parts of the materia medica (usually in remedy relationships).
Each rubric begins with Boerickes' symptoms, supplemented and/or elaborated with symptoms described by other authors. Each addition is given a number, so the reader knows exactly where the symptom originated.
The last four headings, Modalities, Conditions, Relations and Causation do not begin with Boericke. All Phatak's modalities are included and supplemented from other authors. Modalities begin with a summary listing of conditions that aggravate and ameliorate. This is followed by information from Clarke, giving details of the previous modalities.
Conditions refers to susceptibilities, describing the type person most likely to need the remedy.
Relations is derived from Clarke. It gives a differential diagnosis between the remedy in question and other remedies, plus information regarding complimentary remedies, antidotes, etc.
The final rubric, Causation, is derived from Clarke, with some additions from other authors.
Gradation is by three values: plain text, italics, and all capitals. In the Preface Vermeulen carefully explains how he arrived at his schema for gradations.
Vermeulen has added two new sections to the materia medica schema. A Respiratory rubric includes information about respiration, cough and expectoration. The rubric Heart contains symptoms related to the heart and circulation.
Each remedy begins with the rubric Characteristics, akin to the first section of Boericke. This section contains the general and typical local and general symptoms of the remedy.
The book begins with a clearly written Preface, of which I have summarized above. This is followed by abbreviations of remedies, an index, and 1,018 pages of text, from Abies canadensis to Zizia.
The cover, paper and binding of the Concordant are of top quality. The cover is dark green with title and print in gold. This book has a good look and feel.
The only fault I can find in the Concordant Materia Medica is the omission of materia medica of more modern remedies. I believe the usefulness of the book would be enhanced by the addition of a few remedies that have been well proven in recent years, and are being successfully used by many homeopaths today — remedies such as Folliculinum, Hydrogen, Scorpion, Granite, Lac humanum, Leprominium, Penicillinum.
The layout of this book is excellent. Remedies are easy to find, both via index and on the pages. I would have liked to see a bit more blank space on the pages to allow room for writing in additional symptoms. Although it only recently arrived, I find myself using the Concordant constantly.
Frans Vermeulen has brought out a beautiful and very useful book — a book that should become a homeopathic classic. It is an ideal book to consult during the interview. It is perfect for travel, because so much is offered, so many remedies covered, in one medium-sized book. Frans Vermeulen is to be commended.
I highly recommend the Concordant Materia Medica to all homeopaths.
