- Packed with cartoons, anecdotes, and homeopathic wisdom
- Covers almost 150 remedies
- An appealing repertory based on kvetches (complaints)
$25.00
HEYMISCHER HOMEOPATHY
By Chaim Yankel (aka Jerry Kantor, CCH, LicAc.)
Heymischer Homeopathy is an introduction to classical homeopathy disguised as a hilarious entertainment. Yiddish is colorful, exuberant and fun, so its expressions make memorable homeopathic signposts that are known as rubrics. Packed with cartoons, anecdotes, jokes, but also well researched medical information this “schmendrick’s” guide to remedying a spectrum of kvetches is warm, funny, yet occasionally deep: a unique health care resource that is also an irresistible gift book offering.
From the back cover:
Got bopkes? A pain in the kishkes? Afraid you may be going messhuge? Zay gezunt with homeopathy! Here find a reference, what himmel schikt (heaven sent) homeopaths call a Repertory. In heymischer (down home) fashion, Yiddish kvetches are matched with over 140 klapn zey aoys (knock them out!) remedies. Not to mention it will put a smile on your punim. Who know?
The Galitzianer, Chaim Yankel is nebbish a long-time student of the big macher Jerry Kantor. He schleps every day from his hovel in Hotzeplotz to his fancy schmancy office in Chelm where treating dybbuk possession, lok in kopf (hole in the head), and narishkeit (craziness) gives him naches (a warm prideful feeling).
Jerry Kantor, CCH, LicAc, is a highly skilled homeopath and acupuncturist who has written several important books on homeopathy (see “RELATED ITEMS”).
“This is a book I wish I had written myself, so that makes me a Kibbitzer (Saccarum officinalis). When I read it my mind was full of additions and how I could improve it with more entries so maybe I think I am a Maven (Sulphur). So let’s all buy a copy for our best friend and send the author some additions for the next edition like proper Nudniks: A Nudnik is a somebody, you ask them how they are, and they tell you – which I suppose applies to most of our patients, especially when they are on the phone. We do not want the author to go Mekhulle (bankrupt).”
Oy Vey – where do I start with this fascinating book I have been sent to review? Let’s try at the beginning. I was told to read the introduction carefully as it is the key to the whole book.
Now back to the book which is written in English! You will be pleased to hear that all the Yiddish words and phrases, that are interspersed with English, are translated in brackets. The introduction tells us about the difference between English and Yiddish and how colourful Yiddish is. There are words I know that really don’t have an English translation! I love the typical fable of the man that goes to his Rebbe (Rabbi) to ask for help and the explanation of it and how this is a parody of the Law of Similars. The author then describes Rubrics and the difference between large and small ones really descriptively. How a professional homeopath finds the correct remedy using Nat Mur and grief to show why the remedy might make the patient feel better is discussed. Potentization and Provings are touched on briefly.
“Heymischer Homeopathy focuses on and introduces homeopathic remedies for these frozen in places gripes.” The author is writing about such gripes as “I am going meshugeh (crazy)” and when I look up meshugeh, I find the remedies Hyoscyamus, Alumina and Phosphorus. The author then explains why these remedies have been chosen. There are 3 main sections: Chapter 1 concentrates on craziness states (Meshugass), Chapter 2, befuddlement states (Farmischt) and Chapter 3, states that spell trouble for the sufferer (Tsores).
The Chapters are full of humour and follow a pattern. Each Yiddish kvesch (complaint) is first described in English and also synonyms in Yiddish and English are given. Next comes possible homeopathic remedies followed by a description of why the person may need this remedy according to their complaint e.g Akshn- stubborn as a mule, Silica and Gallium, Dreykopf- a trickster, Cann I and Mercurius, Alter Kocker (I would say Alti Kaker as that is my dialect) an old fart, Carbo An and Polonium!!
Some of the complaints have amusing pen and ink cartoons bringing the Yiddish word even more alive as if it needed to be!! It’s not just the polychrest remedies that are suggested. For example, I found Amniotic Fluid and Luna suggested for a Luftmensch – an airhead, someone with his head in in the clouds. The Imponderables are mentioned and described as a group under Luftmensch.
It is a delightful “dipping into” book – not a reading all the way through one!!! It’s chock full of anecdotes. Looking at each Yiddish word or phrase and reading the remedies that have been associated with it gives a new insight into some of our well known remedies.
Overall I love this book. It will be well appreciated by any homeopath, (or their patients) who has a smattering knowledge of Yiddish.
Paperback
188 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0984678822
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