The Child’s World

From the Book

METHODS AND TECHNIQUES

With source-based prescribing, homeopaths investigate the world of the source energy in patients. There is no one method to do this. There are only principles upon which each homeopath develops his or her own style.

Here are some hints and suggestions to assist in learning more about this method as it applies to children, and as a foundation for developing a personal style.

The child-centred view
Successful source-based prescribing naturally depends on skillful and accurate case taking. The only way to accomplish this is to look at the world from the patient's point of view – the child's view.

During the entire interview, case management and all times in between, you must step into the patient's world, leaving your world with all your ideas, analysis, interpretations and experiences completely behind. You become the 'unprejudiced observer' of which Hahnemann spoke.

You are going on a journey to a place you have not been before, with the patient, in this case the child, as your host and guide. We must have the skills to perceive what the child is experiencing from his perspective, with his language and choice of expression.

By looking at the world through the children's eyes, we come closer to perceiving how they are experiencing their world. It is in their personal experience that we will find the specific characteristics of the source altering their healthy state.

Observe everything with wonder and acceptance as the reality of that world. Accept and be with it.It is not enough for you to step into his world asking your questions and making your observations. You have to go one step further, setting aside your adult thoughts, concepts, analytical ability and experiences and completely accept the child's reality.

This concept and what needs to be done is built on the differences of the child's way of thinking and experiencing from adults. Suffice it to say, the more the homeopath can follow in the mental footsteps of his child patient, the more accurately he will perceive the source in the case. Keep this in mind with each case example.

You will be able to experience how the homeopath is allowing the child to show the direction the interview should take, through his movements, actions, facial expressions, interaction with others in the room and his symptoms.

Looking at the world from the patient's perception is not limited to children. It is the key to source-based prescribing for adults too. In fact, proficiency doing this for adults will make treating children that much easier and conversely, developing these skills while treating children will open up more possibilities for your adult patients.

More will be said about this important point in chapter six.

Following the leader
Homeopaths have all been trained to use their intelligence, analytical minds, memory and experience to solve their cases. Yet now the very last thing you want to do is try to make logical sense of what you are hearing.

As automatic and tempting as that may be, it should not be done. That would be pulling the patient's world into yours, evaluating it by your standards. Remember, you have left your world and are experiencing the patient's world.

He is the expert; only he knows what is reality; only he is living the energy of the source. It does not matter if their inner experience makes sense to you or not. To be successful you must step into his worldview and accept it as true for him. Follow his lead. Go where he takes you.

Compared to traditional methods, this 'going with the flow' method of case taking seems far too unstructured and unfocused ever to result in collecting enough pertinent information.

On first being introduced to these ideas, many homeopaths worry that they would end up lost in a morass of irrelevant, unrelated details. That can happen but only if the homeopath is not paying attention and understanding what is happening.

You must follow the patient's lead, but equally important is that you also pay close attention to everything that is happening, with the confidence that you know where you want to end – at the source.

I recall an experience similar to this I had while travelling in India. While visiting Mumbai, I was told of a place well worth seeing. The Banganga, a very large spring-fed water tank and temple built in 1127, is one of Mumbai's oldest surviving structures.

I hired a taxi to take me to this unique site. The taxi went deeper and deeper into the crowded recesses of the city, until the roads were so narrow and winding, we could barely pass unscathed. The dwellings became smaller and more rustic.

With each corner we passed, I became more perplexed about where the driver was taking me. Surely, such a significant, popular and sizable heritage site would not be located here where everything was so crowded.

There were barely any signs of city life. The surroundings just did not match whatI had expected to see. I had relied on the taxi driver to know how to get there. Where was I going? Just as I was feeling completely and irrevocably lost, the taxi could go no further and the driver motioned for me to get out and walk.

Wherein the world was I? I walked just a few meters, and suddenly I was at the top of the Banganga, its magnificent expanse of water opening up before me. It seemed to come out of nowhere and certainly where I had least expected it.

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Author

Linda Johnston

Dr. Linda Johnston has been an active member of the worldwide homeopathic community since the inception of her homeopathic practice.

After completing her medical training at the University of Washington, USA in 1979 and a period of family medicine, she started her own private practice in 1981.

Linda’s main focus has always been the clinical practice of homeopathy, which she continues to this day.

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Reviews

"This comprehensive book is beautifully written by a very experienced physician."
— Rajan Sankaran

"Dr. Johnston scientifically and artistically presents cases that bring the best of homeopathy to the forefront. "
— Divya Chhabra

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Contents

Acknowledgement -- ix
About the Author -- xi
1 Introduction -- 1
2 Traditional Approaches to Children's Cases -- 7
3 New Approaches to Children's Cases -- 19
4 Childhood Development -- 33
5 Methods and Techniques -- 77
6 The Source Revealed -- 109
7 Mother and Child -- 137
8 The Child's Environment -- 175
9 Parents -- 191
Index -- 203

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