Introduction


GUSTAVUS A. ALMFELT, gave the introduction about the Basic principles of homeopathy and disussed several questions on matter- energy, health – disease and basic rules to practice homeopathy….


BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HOMOEOPATHY by GUSTAVUS A. ALMFELT, M.D

The primary object of this course of lessons was to better acquaint the members of the Homoeopathic Laymen’s League of New York with the basic principles on which the homoeopathic school of medicine was founded.

However, as these Principles cannot well be understood and appreciated without some knowledge of the finer forces in nature, the author thought it advisable to add a preliminary review study of the general principles and laws operative in nature, including a short study of life and man; hence this course became more comprehensive than originally was intended.

Life and man may seem mysterious and a difficult problem to solve when studied purely from a biological or chemical or physical standpoint; but they are not only intensely interesting but also understandable when studied from the aspect of being an intelligent and perfect manifestation of the creative activity of the infinite creative principle of the universe or- God.

The average person, even an educated one knows very little about himself and his relation to nature and to the laws which govern his body in health and in sickness, hence he becomes frightened and confused when ill and does not know what to do. In his search for advice and relief he naturally turns to those possessing special education and training in the treatment and care of the sick. Due to the fact that no two people are exactly alike in biochemical constitutions, in temperament, or in physical and mental development and thinking, it is natural that each person turns to the systems of medicine or treatment he thinks best suited to his individual need. To meet this demand various schools of medicine and systems of physical and metaphysical treatment have grown up amongst us; and so we have medicinal, physical and metaphysical schools and systems of treatment. All of these may be useful within their own sphere of activity, and all have merits and some cures to their credit but so many failures; hence none has the right to dominate the entire field of healing and say; “I, alone am right, theorist of you are all wrong and have no right to treat and care for sick people.”

Applying the American democratic principles of freedom in pursuit of health and happiness to this subject, it follows that no school of medicine or healing should have the exclusive right to dominate4e the entire field of therapeutics, particularly a none of them is infallible.

They all should have thee right to develop themselves along the lines of their own basic principles and methods of treatment, providing these principles are based on laws in nature and not antagonistic to the physical, psychological and psychological welfare of the human being, and meet the needs of the various groups of patients and variety of disease manifestations of the body and mind of man.

In the field of medicinal therapeutics thee Homoeopathic school of medicine fills an important and unique place that cannot well be supplanted by any other system of medicine of treatment. Unfortunately a state of lamentable ignorance and misinformation exists about this unexcelled system of medicine. Most people think of it as a weak or mild harmless medicine without any medicinal power of ability to relieve pain or to cure illness and disease.

Even the physicians and followers of the homoeopathic school know little about its fundamental basic principles and do less in explaining them to the public. For this reason much logic information and sound relational instructions are needed to bring the basic principles of this grand and benevolent system of medicine to the attention of suffering humanity.

These lessons represent an unpretentious effort in this direction. They are not perfect or complete: much more could have been said or added to them, but they are sound in principle and logic. The author has not followed a beaten path or depended on quotations from books and authors in his instructing and reasoning and many of the answers and definitions may not comply with popular scientific conceptions of some of these matters. His main object has been to make the subject simple and understandable for the average layman and yet retrain the fundamental principles of the subject he is teaching. The author does not think it necessary for a teacher or a writer to follow a beaten path or to use the same expressions and phrases that others have used in studying and discussing a subject along as he has a rational conception of the fundamental principles of the subject, has a sound base for his reasoning and uses correct logic.

In man’s attempt to understand himself, his relation to nature and phenomenon of life he has made many mistakes even so- called scientific ones. This is excusable as long as he admits his mistakes and is willing to profit by them. Man’s reasoning is not infallible, he is only a student; and physical science represents only the conclusion of repeatedly observed phenomena under similar conditions, hence the chances are that the conclusions may be incorrect and misleading. What we call science today may have to be revised tomorrow. For this reason no school of science or group of men have the right to assume absolute authority and control in matters pertaining to life and the laws which govern man and his relation to nature in health and in sickness. The only authority in this field of study and practice should be the great universal laws of nature; and so far man has only a fragmentary knowledge of the nature and operation of these laws. For the sake of brevity and clearness of statement, the author has employed the question and answer method in this course of lessons.

Physical matter and energy. Planes of matter, and the finer forces in nature.

Life energies, and the conversion of inorganic matter into living vegetable cells, tissues and structures.

What is the most important thought to bear in mind when studying Nature and its finer energies and forces?

The important thought to bear in mind is that the entire universe is one great immense unit originating from one source, that of primary energy of the “primordial substance”, dominated by a constructive and benevolent creative principle and governed by harmonious immutable laws. There is only one source, one power, one purpose and one unit: but this immense unit is split up into innumerable smaller compact and independent units: all bound together by thee same principles, that of manifesting the supreme, creative activity of the infinite creative principle of thee universe.

How do these principles affect our study of nature and its laws in relation to man and life?

Very profoundly. Every activity and phenomenon on earth is governed by the same principles and laws, including that of man and life. All our sciences, whether physical, medical, mental or psychological, must be governed by these universal principles, otherwise they will be of no benefit to man and serve no useful purpose.

What is physical matter?

Physical matter is basically primary energy in a state of condensation or a gradual consolidation, in which the vibratory activity has been gradually lowered until the substance becomes condensed and reaches the physical plane of consistency.

What is primary energy?

Primary energy is that infinitely fine vibrating ever-active scintillating primordial substance filling all space, out of which and from which all was made that is made or created.

What is the conceivable “modus operandi” used in converting primary energy into physical matter.

The projection of a creative impulse into primary energy bearing a definite image of the size, shape and consistency of a physical body will slowly and gradually change the vibratory activity in primary energy until it reaches the consistency of ether; and by continuing the image projection into the realm of ether the protons and electrons take shape. From these the atoms are formed, the atoms form into molecules, and the molecules into physical compounds and bodies. The explanation is theoretically correct from the standpoint of the creative aspect; but man in his present state of evolution and unfoldment may not be able to produce physical matter by projecting a thought bearing the shape and form of a solid body into primary energy.

In matter fixed, stable and unchangeable?

Matter is apparently stable and fixed, but it is subject to the action of external and internal forces and can be broken up and apparently destroyed. From these elements and remnants new and different shapes, consistencies, compounds and bodies are formed, hence matter is not stable or fixed.

How many planes or states of matter are there on earth?

Three, the mineral or inorganic, the vegetable and the animal planes. These are also called the three kingdoms of matter, the inorganic, thee vegetable and the animal kingdoms.

What is the basic plane of physical matter?

The basic plane is the inorganic or the mineral kingdom, a state in which no life activity is present.

In what forms does matter exist on the inorganic plane? In the forms of gases, liquids and solids.

Gustavus A. Almfelt
Gustavus A. Almfelt, MD