By Eileen Nauman – Wed, Dec 11, 2013
The Doctrine of Signatures (DOS) has been known since ancient times. Paracelsus said, “You bring together the same anatomy of the herb and the same anatomy of the origin–and that is the beginning.” Of course Paracelsus was one of the foundational blocks that helped Samuel Hahnemann create Homeopathy.
What is Doctrine of Signatures?
Hahnemann said “Nature has provided (by Divine Providence) the means for mankind to cure all its ills and it is for man to seek out these means”
However Hahnemann was lukewarm, at best, about DOS. One must take into account that historically speaking, in Hahneman’s day, herbalists had little else to go by to figure out WHAT a herb was good for. The only way was by word of mouth and sparsely written herbal lore.
Hahnemann didn’t like this method. Because of this he created a better mousetrap. He created Homeopathy and along with it Provings to bring us detailed and specific information by testing a substance on healthy volunteers rather than relying on what one could summise about a plant, visually speaking.
That was then — this is now. DOS has long been known and practiced among the Native people of North America.
I hope that homeopaths will join our seminar, reserve judgement, and become observers, just as they do during a case-taking sesion.
So what do I mean by DOS?
It is the study of a plant (or any organic substance) using its various parts. Selected examples follow on the next page.
Color of plant
This can provide general hints as to its use. For example red or reddish plants indicates a potential use in circulatory problems. An example is Burdock (Rumex crispus) with deep red stems and red veins moving into the base of the leaves as well. This plant is useful in such conditions as anemia, tiredness, fatigure and other blood related issues.
Color of flower
This tells us much. It relates to the metaphysical concept of Chakras. Each chakra has a colour associated with it and each chakra has specific areas of application. When one looks at the colour of flowers of a plant or bush or mineral or tree, that colour has correspondence with a given chakra in a person’s body and can stimulate it for healing purposes.
Type of leaves
The width of a leaf tells us a lot. The more narrow a leaf the more specific action or area this plant can help us with. Take Eupatorium Perfoliatum and know that is has a very narrow leaf — and think how you use this plant. The arrangement and surface of leaves also reveal much valuable information.
There are many such items, for example the Roots, Anthers, Stamens and Ovaries that all reveal the application of plants.
And exactly the same approach can be applied to Minerals and Animals!
By Eileen Nauman
Eileen Nauman, D.H.M. (UK), EMT-B, a classically trained homeopath for over 30 years, was trained by the President of the British Institute of Homeopathy, a consultant to The Royal Family. In addition to being on the faculty of that institute, she is also on the core faculty of the Desert Institute of Classical Homeopathy in Phoenix, Arizona.
Moderator and owner of The Medicine Garden, an internet web site that includes alternative medicine and an active mailing list, she teaches beginning homeopathy to people who want to use this medicine to help themselves, their families, and their pets.
Eileen has lectured around the world on various topics, including alternative medicine techniques, classical homeopathy, emergency medicine, and flower and gem essences, as well as other forms of energy medicine. She is the author of more than sixty books.