Printed in Greece, paperback, 306 pages.

From the cover: "About twenty-five percent of the physicians in the United States were homeopaths at the turn of the century. In The Science of Homeopathy, George Vithoulkas provides an objective and concise treatise of this approach, focusing upon the basic principles and clinical applications of' homeopathy. Through the integration of homeopathic and allopathic medicines, a true system of health care can evolve with an emphasis upon the individual as an integrated organism." -Kenneth R. Pelletier, PhD University of California School of Medicine. San Francisco.

Homeopathy, the "energy medicine," is a branch of medical science based on the principle that disease can be cured by strengthening the body's defense mechanism with substances selected for their energy-giving properties. In homeopathy, derived from the words "homeo" and "pathos," meaning "similar suffering," a cure is selected which, in its crude form, would produce in a healthy body the same symptoms found in a sick person suffering from the specific disease. But this crude substance, selected from herbs, minerals, or chemicals, is diluted and purified beyond the point of harm to its quintessential state of energy.

In contrast to traditional (allopathic) medicine, by which symptoms are treated with toxic drugs which weaken the body, homeopathic medicine aims to change the body's energy levels which lie at the root of disease. Founded in the nineteenth century by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, for whom Philadelphia's Hahnemann Hospital is named, the practice of homeopathy has, over the last ten years, experienced a resurgence of interest, as more and more enlightened doctors and patients discover the powers of natural curative energies. In The Science of Homeopathy, George Vithoulkas has compiled a clear and comprehensive text outlining both the theory and practice of this important medicine.

In Section One, "The Laws and Principles of Cure," Vithoulkas sets forth the principles of electrodynamic energy, the "vital force," predisposition to disease, and the selection of homeopathic remedies.

In Section Two, "Practical Application," he gives a detailed explanation of the methods of diagnosis, and the preparation, administration, and evaluation of homeopathic cures. Written in clear, concise language, with ample illustrations, references, and case studies, The Science of Homeopathy is an excellent reference for homeopathic physicians and an informative introduction for the interested lay person. George Vithoulkas, one of the world's leading practitioners and teachers of homeopathy, is the author of Homeopathy, Medicine of the New Man. Commentary The first "modern text." The author, with major structural help by Bill Gray, MD, pulls together the work of Hahnemann and the work of Kent. The homeopathy presented is derivative of the thinking of Kent and presents it in the light of "high potency" classical thinkers.

It was the book that served as the introduction to homeopathy for many professionals and shaped the thinking of a whole generation of prescribers. Reprinted in 1980 by Grove Press. Until this book, the only "modern" text was Roberts' Principles and Art of Cure. Vithoulkas' text served as an introduction to many of the newer homeopaths world-wide. It covered the whole range from the "philosophical" to the practical. But it was all seen through Vithoulkas' modeling, and subsequent generations were taught about the "stacking comes" of the "mental, emotional, and physical" and have been introduced to Vithoulkas' concept of "freedom" as a criteria in "health."

It is important to understand that although many of these ideas had their root in the work of Hering and Hahnemann, the "spin" is decidedly Kentian, with a more modern layer of spirituality applied to that. It grew out of the times of the late 60s and early 70s where many were looking for spiritual gurus in a world that had seemingly lost itself. The book spoke very directly to those of that generation. As useful as the book is one should remember that this is homeopathy through Vithoulkas' filters- NOT those of Hahnemann. This commentary is reprinted from The Heritage of Homoeopathic Literature with permission of the author Julian Winston