Organon of the Medical Art

FOREWORD

By Jeremy Sherr

'Organon' contains the word OR, which in Hebrew means 'light.' In the beginning God made light which, endowed with life and truth, fertilized life with the seeds of source. In the medical world, Hahnemann's Organon represents this light. Here lies the organic origin, the creative core of true healing. Like rays of sunlight traveling to earth, Hahnemann's truth shines through the mists of time to illume our way, brighten our thoughts, and warm our hearts. It would not suffice to say that Hahnemann was ahead of his time for that would imply that one day he may be behind it. Like the true simillimum, Hahnemann's genius is timeless and his work is as relevant to all medical practices today as it was 200 years ago. Homeopathy stands firmly on his pillars of truth, which have been confirmed and potentized by daily experience. Universal law forms the basis of homeopathy. Becoming a homeopath does not depend on the study of materia medica. It is not defined by prescribing potentized remedies, nor is it reliant on remembering the repertory. It is the living and understanding of these laws which breathes truth and cure into our medical practice.

On first reading the Organon, I shared the initial frustration of many homeopaths. It seemed at once too simple, too complex, difficult to understand, or stating the obvious. Yet, as with a chest of treasures buried in the deep, careful investigation and diligent study expose jewels of wisdom. Each reading reveals new gems, pearls of truth on which we may base our art of arts. Like good wine, Hahnemann's teachings improve with time. It was recommended by the old homeopaths that the Organon be read twice yearly for the first fifty years of practice, and thenceforth once a year. As a teacher of homeopathy, I am regularly faced with many questions, most of which can be answered directly from the Organon. It seems as if Hahnemann experienced, analyzed and solved most issues facing the contemporary homeopath - from case-taking to epidemics, diet to second prescription, one-sided cases to obstacles. Provings and placebo, antipathy and antidote, mental illness and miasm - all are thoroughly discussed. This diversity has not led to complexity. The Organon is arranged in clear and well defined paragraphs, each linked to the next in a magnificent chain of logic. From the first paragraph's calling of love, to the second paragraph's ideal of cure, the path of reason spirals to the final discussions on alternative therapeutic approaches. This arrangement is not a linear one, but rather a wonderfully woven web of intricate meanings that encompasses the whole of medicine.

Furthermore, this monumental work is not a tome of somber seriousness. Sprinkled with wit and passion, graced by metaphor, augmented by anecdote, it is a joy to behold. Hahnemann does not allow the Organon to descend into a restricting doctrine; rather, he has created a flexible vessel into which we may expand our growing consciousness. To illustrate this we need only meditate on his principal prerequisite for successful case-taking: freedom from bias. Nonetheless, the Organon is not an easy book to grasp. Complex structure, long sentences, condensed concepts and the problems inherent in any translation have obscured the totality. This edition brings new clarity to Hahnemann's classic and timeless work.

When Wenda O'Reilly first discussed the project with me, I thought her keen mind and analytical thinking would be ideally suited for examining the structure of the Organon. I could not have foreseen how extensive and valuable the result would be. She has based her adaptation of the Organon upon the sound foundation of Steven Decker's definitive new translation. As in homeopathy, a translation should encompass both science and art-precise linguistics softened by the implication of meaning. Steven Decker has adhered closely to the source, finding words in English to capture the literal meaning of the German original as well as its larger meanings. In his precise rendering of Hahnemann's terminology, Decker has unveiled what was previously obscure.

Wenda O'Reilly's adaptation of Decker's translation brings further clarity to the text. Her division of the text into chapters and sections helps to delineate the inherent organization of Hahnemann's text, and her side-headings and editorial notes help to focus our thoughts. The addition of a comprehensive index and multilingual glossary provide the heretofore unavailable map and key for treasure hunting. Armed with insight, determination and enthusiasm, Wenda O'Reilly has produced the treatise that we have been waiting for since Hahnemann finished the final edition of his Organon. This new translation and adaptation of the Organon has been prepared with all the care and precision that it deserves, and it sheds new light on our high mission of restoring the sick to health.

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