Although I have a lot of homeopathy books and most of them are intended for practitioners, the books listed below are some of my favorites for anyone who is new to homeopathy or wants to improve their remedy selection skills for common acute ailments such as coughs and colds. Read on to find out why I like these books so much and why I think you will too.
1. Homeopathy: Start Here by Ann Jerome
Ann Jerome is a homeopath, and in her book, she provides a general overview of homeopathy, its medicines and the philosophy behind it. She also includes a compilation of over 30 success stories of homeopathy in cases of strep throat, concussion, emotional trauma, arthritis, asthma, celiac disease, eczema and psoriasis, infertility, fear, epilepsy, autism, and more. The stories will certainly test your understanding and the limits of your belief, but every homeopath has success stories like these.
2. The Natural Medicine Guide for Travel & Home by Richard Pitt
Richard Pitt is a homeopath and avid traveler around the world, hence the usefulness of this book for home prescribers and travelers that never leave home without a remedy kit and handy resource. The book is nearly pocket sized for easy traveling too! It’s organized by categories of conditions, including accidents, injuries and traumas, digestive conditions, common infections, colds and coughs, female conditions, skin conditions, bladder and kidney conditions, tropical diseases, and more. He lists common ailments you might experience, such as burns, influenza, food poisoning, conjunctivitis, cystitis, and poison ivy and then discusses homeopathic care as well as remedies to consider for each of the ailments. If you’re a home prescriber or traveler and want to be prepared for all of the possibilities, then this book is for you.
3. Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy by Amy Lansky, PhD
Amy Lansky is a computer scientist who became a homeopath when her son Max was cured of autism with homeopathy. In addition to her personal testimony and the path to cure for her son, Amy covers some of the history of homeopathy and its principles, as well as the science of homeopathy and corresponding research. Her book is easy to read. She covers information in a way that helps you make sense of homeopathy without feeling like you’re reading a textbook. Her son’s story will leave you feeling hopeful and inspired. She shares additional success stories of Alzheimer’s disease, migraines, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, anxiety, coma, chronic fatigue, and more.
4. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook by Miranda Castro
I would be remiss if I didn’t include this book by Miranda Castro, which likely already sits on the shelf of most home prescribers given its usefulness. If you’re ready to begin home prescribing for common acute ailments for yourself or your family, this is the resource to have. Like most other authors, she reviews the history and philosophy of homeopathy (notice a theme yet? yes, the history and philosophy are that important). But, the bulk of the book is a materia medica and repertory.
A materia medica is a compilation of common remedies and the symptoms they cover. It is not an exhaustive list of symptoms, but rather keynotes that you will most likely see in someone if the remedy is indicated. That is what makes this book so useful for a home prescriber: there is just enough information for each remedy to be helpful but not overwhelming.
A repertory is a compilation of symptoms and the corresponding remedies that cover that symptom, allowing you to quickly locate which remedies may be helpful for your situation so you can then turn to the materia medica to explore them further as possible considerations. Most people can be successful home prescribers for common ailments with the help of this book, but don’t hesitate to seek the care of a classical homeopath or licensed medical provider.
5. Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby’s First Year by Miranda Castro
As if one book was not enough, Miranda Castro has a second book that is just as useful. This book is aimed at pregnant women, mothers and young children, but if this describes you, this is a great resource. Miranda looks more closely at issues arising during pregnancy, birth and postpartum and how they can be supported homeopathically. She also covers common issues arising in infants, including thrush, diaper rash, and teething. Like her other book, it includes a repertory and materia medica. If you or someone you know is expecting, this book would make a great addition to their book shelf!
There are so many homeopathy books to choose from that it can be hard to know what would be the most useful. This short list of resources is enough to get started if you’re new to homeopathy or you want to enhance your remedy selection skills as a home prescriber. And, if you’re wanting to learn more about whether homeopathy can help you with your chronic symptoms, schedule a free introductory call with me at Hope and Healing Homeopathy.