I'm interested in hearing others interpetation of the definition of mesmerism in the language of today...and whether they think it should be used along with homeopathic treatment or instead of, as it is explained in the Organon. Denise

Benny Hinn and Creflo Dollar are on television here every morning around 4 am. That alone can put me in a damned irritable mood for the rest of the day, so no, in it's MODERN usage I don't think it has a place alongside the Organon imo.

http://fakefaithhealers.com/Mesmer.htm

WOW Chris... my interest in this topic came after reading Aphorisms 288 thru 294 in Dudgeons translation of the 5th and 6th Organon... one quote: "I find it yet necessary to allude here to animal magnetism, as it is termed, or rather Mesmerism (as it should be called in deference to Mesmer, its first founder) which differs so much in nature from all other therepeutic agents. This curative force, often so stupidly denied and disdained for a century, acts in different ways. It is a marvellous, priceless gift of GOD to mankind by means of which the strong will of a well intentioned person upon a sick one by contact and even without this and even at some distance, can bring the vital energy of a healthy mesmeriser endowed with this power into another person dynamically (just as one of the poles of a powerful magnetic rod upon a bar of steel)"
I get the impression Hahnemann approves.... I was not interested in TV evangelists, or whatever... I really was thinking Mesmerism might equate to Healing Touch, or Qi Gong healing...and even laying on of hands in some cases... Hahnemann goes into significant detail on this subject, but I am not certain whether or not he means to keep the therapy seperate from homeopathic treatment.... Denise

Hi Denise,

I think Hahnemann was very perceptive and understanding about healing powers. After all, what is the power in homeopathic medicine, is it not an energy?

I agree with you, and I think it has its place. I'm not sure about his use of the the term mesmerism as in relation to the modern dictionary meaning of "hypnotism". I think this is inaccurate and where all the confusion starts.

I wouldn't be so quick to condemn Benny Hinn or Creflo Dollar either, due to another man's scepticism or lack of faith. I believe JEsus healed miracalously and that power is available to each of us today.

Suffice to say, I personally feel, what Hahnemann was talking about in those aphorisms was about real healing power. ALong with or separate from homeoapthy. HE did caution us against "negative mesmerism" however. How I wish he could have elaborated beyond just a few aphorisms. BUt I suppose, in the 19th century of simple, child like faith, people understood what he meant without need for elaboration.

Regards,
doctorleela

__________________
http://www.homeopathy2health.com

Mesmerism in the Organon

I found this site interesting as an introduction.

Hi,

Hahnemann was a great advocate of mesmerism. He said it could be useful in calming the bad effects of aggravations, even at a great distance from the person. Mesmer used the words 'animal magnetism' to describe the methodology, though that term has a quite different connotation today. Hypnotism is really a poor word to describe what it is, or how it works because it is so much more than that. The essential thing about its use is that it is carried out "through the powerful will of a well-intentioned individual". Not a money-making, theatrical venture of rock concert proportions, or taking advantage of people's vulnerability!

Negative mesmerism is not 'bad' mesmerism. It is applying rapid negative sweeps over the person, or over a particular area of the body in order to discharge a build up of energy. Massage therapists usually know all about this. Polarity therapists especially, work with the positive and negative forces in the body's energy field.

Leela, what do you find childlike and simple about the 19th Century?

Regards,
Chris

HI Chris - no confronatation here.
By child like faith, I mean in the Biblical sense. I mean the faith of the common man not adulterated with materialism, and great scientific ideas, thought and reasoning. NOt necessarily everyone in the 19th century though.

Thanks for a more detailed explanation on the idea of mesmerism.

__________________
http://www.homeopathy2health.com

JennyS,
Great reference!

I know nothing of hypnotism and did not even know that mesmerism is now considered the same... as I read these aphorisms I was struck by how accurately it decribed the healing touch that my sister does and the Qi Gong healing that I have studied and experienced....I have read the Organon in peices and as a whole many times....it always amazes me when I am struck by something of significance that somehow I missed in the past....somehow the comments on simple bathing had passed my attention until recently I began to wonder if Hahnemann thought we should not bathe.... I was happy to note this is not the case... Denise

Hallo everybody
Hahnemann with the term ‘’mesmerism’’ relates to strokes done alongside a limb, or the back in order to make the patient susceptible to the remedy, in cases where the well indicated remedy failed. It is not done under the direct term of healing, or like ‘’healers’’ around Ireland do it. The healers around here stroke in the aura, or lay hands on different parts speak something which sounds like a prayer, and then in some cases the disease disappears.
Interesting, also in this context, to read the proving of the magnet in the MMP.

And by the way—we all claim to treat according Hahnemann’s rules and principals and are not using one of his most important tools: The Symptomindex---

This Symptomindex was misinterpreted by Haehl as being a repertory, but in fact it is a Materia medica of the characteristic symptome re-eranged in reportorial fashion.
Since Hahnemanns times it was never published and was largely forgotten. I saw it years back when they opened the Institute in Stuttgart.
A colleque of mine is in the process of republishing the thing and everyone interested who has German can read more about it on: www.symptomenlexikon.de

As soon as I have a copy, I will report back.

__________________
Hans Weitbrecht
Consultant Homeopath

Han's
Where does your interpretation of memerism come from? It does not agree with even the one paragraph from the Organon that I posted earlier in this thread...if it is strictly stroking along side a limb, how can it be done from a distance?
Hahnemann calls it a 'curative force' and 'a priceless gift of God' that acts 'dynamically'....

Thanks for the other reference...as always,I'm interested in your resources.... Denise