‘Grassroots Homeopathy’ by Rowena J Ronson and Nigel Summerley

NS: An experienced homeopath I was talking to recently made an interesting comment about the current state of homeopathy. They said that the big mistake homeopathy made in modern times was to “put its head above the parapet”. It might have been much better, they said, for it to keep a low profile. Do you think there is anything in this?

RJR: Absolutely. I wish we were living back in the late 1970s and 1980s when we were deep in those grassroots. Those times now seem long past, don’t they? Our impassioned forefathers and mothers, spread the word empowering individuals and small groups of seekers hungry to question and learn. We are now on the edge of a whole new revolution in human consciousness and in these strange, rare and peculiar times, it seems the passion has somehow drifted from what is now, our profession. What do you think?

NS: Because I come from a media background, I think I was conditioned to think that if you discover something positive or amazing that not many people know about, then you should use publicity to spread the word. This seemed particularly important with regard to health. So I had always thought that one should push the benefits offered by homeopathy and bring it into the mainstream. Now I am not so sure.

RJR: I guess it depends on one’s view of mainstream? In my mind, mainstream is all about fashions and trends, and of course by their very nature, they come and they go – sometimes overnight. For me, homeopathy exists way beyond that. We have thousands of remedies, taken from the natural world of which we form a part. These natural cures cannot disappear and they possess their own voice. Those who are open to listening, will be able to hear them and will find them.

NS: By ‘bringing it into the mainstream’, I mean making more and more people aware of it and its benefits, to the extent that it becomes a real alternative to the monoculture of allopathy. You are right in that homeopathy and homeopathic remedies won’t disappear – but they may end up known only to a very few people. Is that acceptable to you?

RJR: I don’t think that homeopathy will ever have the potential to be seen as a real alternative to allopathy, We know all the reasons why in terms of funding and Big Pharma, but there are other reasons too. I think the best way to spread the word has always been through chattering mouths extolling its virtues. Those who need to find us will.

NS: Many will find homeopathy – whatever. But what about all those people who could benefit from it – but never will? I was drawn into – or put myself into – trying to publicise homeopathy and its potential benefits because I thought that was the right thing to do. But the argument of the practitioner I mentioned at the start seems to be that that was counterproductive – and led to a backlash. It would have been better to keep quiet. Do we have to settle for word of mouth and nothing more?

RJR: There is raising awareness… and raising awareness via the media. They are two very different things. Publicity through the media will always bring with it in its wake a predictable backlash, won’t it? What else other than word of mouth do you suggest. It has how humans spread the word for thousands of years…

NS: I am beginning to think that this argument re word of mouth being the best way of “spreading the word” is right. My fear is that the “mouth” of Big Pharma, the establishment and ignorance now seems to speak very loudly indeed. Sticking to “word of mouth” seems almost like giving in, but maybe it’s better to survive under the radar rather than be completely wiped out?

RJR: I don’t believe homeopathy will ever be wiped out. As long as one of us is practising somewhere, the flame is still burning. Our profession will ebb and flow, but it will never die out completely. As humans, we are connected to everything on the planet that is able to heal us. We know that we disrespect the planet from which we are made, but the healing intention will always be there. The remedy picture will always try to reveal itself when we are working with patients, so I believe our remedies will always do their best to be found.

NS: I think this is a very idealistic point of view – but a right one, I think. And perhaps an optimistic note on which to end… (and to end 2017!)