The Bern Seminars by George Vithoulkas

The Bern Seminars by George Vithoulkas. 3rd revised ed. Edited by Suman Sambamurthy. International Academy of Classical Homeopathy; 2023. ISBN: 978-618-86575-0-2; 6 in × 9 in; quality paperback; 200 pages; 15 Euros. Available from: https://www.vithoulkas.com, https://www.vithoulkasbooks.gr.

When I was in India, studying there in different colleges, I had the occasion to visit various spiritual people, amongst whom was a yogi who supposedly possessed special powers. I went into the room where everyone was meditating, and except for the meditation itself I did not understand anything at all. Just as I was going to leave, the yogi called me back. He then told his secretary to give me some fruit, for which I thanked him, and his secretary said: “While you eat the fruit, make a wish and it will come true.” Well, that was in 1963 and, as I've said, I was just a student in college at the time. I took the fruit, and as I walked out of the ashram, I said: “I want to spread homeopathy all over the world,” and then I ate the fruit.”

–George Vithoulkas (p. 6)

This is by far, if one considers all aspects, the best book to come out of the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy (IACH; founded in 1995) and its leader, George Vithoulkas (1932–).¹

It is so well produced (the beige color paper and serif font are much appreciated by this reviewer) and feels so comfortable in the hand that one can hardly put it down at times. Similar superlatives can be used for the content as well. The bulk of the book consists of four video cases, which are discussed in great detail: Stein–Leventhal syndrome (44 pages), pneumonia (46 pages), cerebellitis (25 pages), and anxiety (35 pages).

The Bern Seminars were teaching seminars arranged by Swiss physician Beat Spring (1952–) in the 1980s. They were held in Bern, Switzerland, and, of course, led by Vithoulkas on two separate occasions. These lectures demonstrate how Vithoulkas takes a case and analyses the information in order to uncover the correct remedy, the simillimum. Equally importantly, if not more so, was his aim to show the effectiveness of classical homeopathy by conducting follow-ups as well.

There is a 7-page chapter on constitutional prescribing and two chapters devoted to the differential diagnosis of anxiety and self-confidence. The Appendix conveys information concerning Vithoulkas' school as well as his e-learning program in classical homeopathy. It is written by the IACH's director of studies, Maria Chorianopoulou, PhD. There is also a small index.

This edition of The Bern Seminars supersedes the previous ones and comes highly recommended.

Note

“Vithoulkas studied at the Bombay Homoeopathic Medical College in Vile Parle West (a western suburb of Mumbai) for 2 years, then he spent a year at the Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College with B.K. Bose, a direct pupil of Kent. Vithoulkas then moved to Madras where he completed his studies and was awarded the MIH (Member of the Institute of Homoeopathy)—the initials we see after his name.”

–Julian Winston, The Faces of Homoeopathy, p. 358

Vithoulkas founded his Athenian School of Homeopathic medicine in 1970 in Athens and started a series of seminars in 1980, which resulted in the establishment of the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy in Alonissos in 1995. Among the many awards that he received was the “Right Livelihood Award,” which he received during a ceremony held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1996. This award, often called “the alternative Nobel Prize,” was created by Jocob Von Uexhull in 1980 to “honor and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to urgent problems facing the world today.”

Vithoulkas has written many books and his Materia Medica Viva series is in its 13th volume (Kali ars. to Kreosotum).

Publication History

Article published online:
06 November 2024