March-2019 - Contrasts between Homoeopathy in the U.K & India

1. Allen College of Homoeopathy
Newsletter
March 2019
Janet Banerjea R.S.Hom.
Joint Principal Allen College of Homoeopathy, Essex, England
“Sapiens”, 382, Baddow Road, Great Baddow,
Chelmsford, Essex CM2 9RA, England
Tel & Fax No. 44 (0) 1245 505859
allencollege@btconnect.com www.homoeopathy-course.com
Contrasts between Homoeopathy in the U.K & India
Having just returned from co - hosting the 2019 Bengal Allen Course in
Calcutta, once again I am struck by the huge differences in the practice in
England and in India. This article may seem like a rant, but after practising for
28 years and still defending my livelihood, I feel a little comparison is justified.
As a profession we are still asked questions and I have divided the answers,
according to my experience into U.K based responses and West Bengal
reactions, given that my own involvement in India, is in Calcutta.

2. What is a Homoeopath?
U.K West Bengal
A person who has trained for a
minimum of three years, probably at a
part time college.
A person who has skills in business
management, knowledge of disease,
some cases seen, possibly mostly
functional disorders, knowledge of
medicine, knowledge of application of
medicine, knowledge of dispensing,
listening and hearing skills. Is
frequently asked to justify their
profession and give a time frame for
the treatment. Is expected to wait
patiently for a patient who has decided
to try crystals and not cancelled the
appointment, to listen without
comment to patients’ stories about
pharmaceutical medicine and the
prescribers. To answer telephone
calls and re arrange appointments.
Reliable and professional. Attentive
and resourceful. Committed and
caring. Gives time and understanding.
Gives the appropriate prescription.
A person who has trained for a
minimum of five years, at a full-time
college endorsed by the Indian
Government.
In depth knowledge of disease,
including cadaver dissection and
observed severe pathology in
clinics attended; knowledge of
medicine, a recall of extensive
Materia Medica; knowledge of
application of medicine; know-ledge
of dispensing, listening and hearing
skills. Physically examine patients
and trained to give a diagnosis.
Reliable and professional.
Attentive and resourceful.
Committed and caring. Gives some
time.
Gives the appropriate single
prescription
The consultation:
U.K West Bengal
Time - up to one hour is given. Sincere
eye contact, listening, clarification, in a
quiet, private, clean space. Completed
symptoms with a life story is related,
highlighting possible causation of
symptoms, wrongs and regrets in life,
major events, head to foot,
generalities, hospital investigations,
home life style. Feelings, reactions,
temperament and fears are all
discussed.
Time - Up to ten minutes in a given
case. Sincere eye contact,
listening, clarification, in a small
space, the patient may bring a
number of family members along
too. Completed symptoms with
possible causation of symptoms,
head to foot, generalities, reads
results of hospital investigations.
Temperament and fears are all
discussed.

3. U.K West Bengal
Attractive, desirable premises
Attention giving.
Time giving, often the patient watches
the clock.
Professional conduct.
Professional insurance and mem-
bership of an appropriate body.
Successful work.
Title RSHom or H.M.A or other
professional body membership.
Attention giving.
The patients recognise that the fee
is for expertise, not time.
Professional conduct
Professional insurance and mem-
bership of an appropriate body.
Successful work, especially as the
competition is so fierce. The best
survive the best.
Title Dr. or Dr. M.D
Education:
U.K West Bengal
In the U.K the dedicated student has to
fund the course and commonly the
student is more mature and opting to
study as a second or third career. I
have observed that as a main or
second provider for the household, the
time it takes to build a practice takes
too long and the successful graduate
remains in the ‘day job’ and cannot
commit to the practice adequately.
After their initial enthusiasm and
investment often graduates give up.
This, in turn results in less experienced
homoeopaths. Sadly the earnings are
insufficient compared to the first
profession.
The Indian Government funds the
homoeopathic colleges and hospi-
tals, pays the salaries of the staff
and the three highest achieving
students fees are paid for in the 3rd
,
4th
and 5th
year. The three year
M.D post graduation course is
completely funded by the Indian
government and the students
receive a substantial stipend. The
curriculum is consistent throughout
the country, agreed and fixed by
the Central Government of India in
all the universities and colleges.
The students usually commence
the course at age eighteen, and
develop over the five or eight year
programme, they are often
employed in government hospitals
and build up proficiency before
opening their private practices,
meanwhile they are supported by
parents at home.

4. Respect is
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another
has to say.” – Bryant H. McGill
Now I return to what the homoeopath has to do to earn respect. The above
quotation is true for all health professionals and the homoeopath is trained to
particularly listen and hear and act upon relevant information.
83 …nothing but freedom from prejudice and sound senses, attention in
over serving
86…when the narrators have finished what they would say of their own
accord, the physician then reverts to each particular symptom and elicits
more precise information…
98 ..Now, as certainly as we should listen particularly to the patient’s
description of his sufferings..-Hahnemann
In the U.K several success stories and consequent respect may be followed
by a patient or two. In West Bengal several success stories will be followed
by a bus load (or two) of patients.
I have heard comments over the years, both from patients and students
which illustrate the lack of confidence and disappointment in the process.
One conversation I overheard declared, ‘We are taught not to touch ulcerative
colitis’. How disparaging towards homoeopathy is that attitude?
Respect from patients has to be earned, in Calcutta the homoeopaths have
the title ‘Doctor’, the backing of Central Government and each homoeopath
has depth of learning and experience to be truly confident, often in confined
‘chambers’ with the pressure of a very full waiting room. Patients know the
process and have confidence in the discipline.
Respect from patients in the U.K has to be on each individual practitioners’
merit, validation of a diploma and professional body membership and
reputation. In essence more of a struggle as many first appointments are
consumed by explaining the homoeopathic process. The follow up report of
improvement is then attributed to ‘coincidence’.

5. Finally
The Indian homoeopaths train for a longer period of time which includes a
period of hospital out - patient clinic duties, dissection of cadaver, and
extensive medical knowledge. This prepares the graduates to work in a rural
area, when a small surgical procedure may be required or a delivery attended
to. The depth of prescription is paramount, however there is not a lot of time
given for sympathy, empathy or compassion. The medicine has to do it all.
In West Bengal, the profundity of the process is in the correct application of a
single medicine.
It is a widely accepted concept that to be ‘heard’ or given attention is
therapeutic in itself and often the benefits our patients receive from
homoeopathy is attributed to the time spent with the patient. However, when
a patient is seen in West Bengal, often without the privacy desired by our U.K
patients, or the time given or the explanation or the lengthy case taking, the
single medicine does it all. No pseudo psychological explanations, or
passionate, defensive explanations about how or why homoeopathy works.
No complex or mixtures of singly proved medicines.
The U.K homoeopaths have the tools and to earn respect and trust, the
medicine needs to act.
I have seen many perplexed students and practitioners floundering in a
system that teaches such a variety of so-called methodologies, which change
as the years go by. To be truly successful, and give up the previous day job,
commitment to the art and science and stay with the solid Similia, Simplex,
Minimum dose.
Simply, a case well taken and a single well selected medicine will
ensure your practice thrives.
This article is written from the author’s own experience, learning from and
working alongside doctor homoeopaths in Calcutta. She has been travelling
back and forth from 1992, for many of those years three or four times. Her
busy practice in Chelmsford, Essex is testament to the comments above.
Anyone may choose to differ, the opinions are those of the author.
Dates for your diary:
A) Summer School, 2019: in England:
7 days of intensive exposure of Comparative Materia Medica & Clinical
Homoeopathy: 22nd June (Saturday) to 29th June (Saturday), 2019.
Classroom £680; Video link £580.
Recordings available for 2 months. Can attend individual days.

6. Details at:
http://www.homoeopathy-course.com/index.php/training-
courses/england-homoeopathy-training/7-day-summer-school
B) Post Graduate Modular Programme conducted from England: Can join
from any session: Classroom £850; Video link £750 for 1 year.
Recordings available for 3 weeks. Can attend individual days.
Details at:
http://www.homoeopathy-course.com/index.php/training-
courses/england-homoeopathy-training/post-graduate-course
C) Calcutta (India) Clinical Programme 2020:
2 Weeks Clinical Training where 160+ Live Cases will be demonstrated.
3rd February (Monday) to 17th February (Monday) 2020.
Calcutta Classroom £880.
Details at:
https://www.homoeopathy-course.com/courses/india
If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us.