George Vithoulkas
Encyclopedia
George Vithoulkas is a teacher and practitioner of homeopathy
.
He studied homeopathy in South Africa
and received a diploma in homeopathy from the Indian Institute of Homeopathy in 1966. Upon receiving his diploma, he returned to Greece
where he practiced and began teaching classical homeopathy to medical doctors at what eventually became the Center of Homeopathic Medicine in Athens. In 1972, Vithoulkas started a Greek homeopathic journal, Homeopathic Medicine. In 1976, he organized the first of an annual series of International Homeopathic Seminars. In 1994, he opened the International Academy for Classical Homeopathy on Alonissos
, which provides post-graduate training for homeopaths.
Vithoulkas has authored a number of books on homeopathy, two of which, Homeopathy: Medicine of the New Man and The Science of Homeopathy have been translated extensively, and is currently writing Materia Medica Viva, a homeopathic materia medica
or reference work on homeopathic remedies, to reach 16 volumes when finished. In addition to his books, he has published numerous articles in homeopathic journals and has developed an expert system
for homeopaths to use in choosing remedies for their patients.
Vithoulkas was a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award
in 1996.
He has been described as "the maestro of classical homeopathy" by Robin Shohet; Lyle Morgan says he is "widely considered to be the greatest living homeopathic theorist"; and Scott Shannon calls him a "contemporary master of homeopathy." Paul Ekins credited Vithoulkas with the revival of the credibility of homeopathy.
His biography has been published in the book Georgos Vithoulkas Der Meister-Homöopath Biographie und Fälle by the journalist Peter Clotten and the homeopath Susan Pfeifer who studied at his International Academy for Classical Homeopathy.
In 1978, Anthony Campbell, then a consultant physician at The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, reviewed The Science of Homoeopathy. He criticised Vithoulkas for substituting assertion for hard evidence and constructing an almost meaningless argument on the basis of a dubious theory of disease. He described rhetoric put forward by Vithoulkas (in presenting the argument that "allopathic drugging" is harmful and must be avoided) as including a thoroughly irresponsible statement which could mislead an unfortunate layman into refusing orthodox treatment, mentioning Vithoulkas' claim, "in the course of an argument designed to show that 'allopathic drugging' is harmful and must be avoided", that syphilis
, when treated with antibiotics, would have the early stages suppressed, but would go on to the secondary and tertiary stages. However, he felt the book also provided a good, if dogmatic, description of the principles and practice of "classical" homoeopathy. In response, Vithoulkas quoted various medical studies he claimed supported his assertion that penicillin
"may suppress primary syphilis while failing to prevent the insidious development of a tertiary stage, especially as manifested in psychosis." This claim conflicts with other scientific studies, which indicate that penicillin treatment produces a complete cure of syphilis in more than 90% of cases.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
.
He studied homeopathy in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and received a diploma in homeopathy from the Indian Institute of Homeopathy in 1966. Upon receiving his diploma, he returned to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
where he practiced and began teaching classical homeopathy to medical doctors at what eventually became the Center of Homeopathic Medicine in Athens. In 1972, Vithoulkas started a Greek homeopathic journal, Homeopathic Medicine. In 1976, he organized the first of an annual series of International Homeopathic Seminars. In 1994, he opened the International Academy for Classical Homeopathy on Alonissos
Alonissos
Alonnisos , also transliterated as Alonissos or Alonisos, is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. After Skiathos and Skopelos it is the third member of the Northern Sporades. It is 3 km E of the island of Skopelos...
, which provides post-graduate training for homeopaths.
Vithoulkas has authored a number of books on homeopathy, two of which, Homeopathy: Medicine of the New Man and The Science of Homeopathy have been translated extensively, and is currently writing Materia Medica Viva, a homeopathic materia medica
Homeopathic Materia Medica
Homeopathic Materia Medica are encyclopedia of materials which may be used to prepare homeopathic medicines. They list the materials along with details of the provings which establish the symptoms and conditions for which they are claimed to be suitable...
or reference work on homeopathic remedies, to reach 16 volumes when finished. In addition to his books, he has published numerous articles in homeopathic journals and has developed an expert system
Expert system
In artificial intelligence, an expert system is a computer system that emulates the decision-making ability of a human expert. Expert systems are designed to solve complex problems by reasoning about knowledge, like an expert, and not by following the procedure of a developer as is the case in...
for homeopaths to use in choosing remedies for their patients.
Vithoulkas was a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
in 1996.
Praise and criticism
According to Vithoulkas's citation from the Right Livelihood award, his books "have had a profound influence upon the acceptance and practice of homeopathy worldwide."He has been described as "the maestro of classical homeopathy" by Robin Shohet; Lyle Morgan says he is "widely considered to be the greatest living homeopathic theorist"; and Scott Shannon calls him a "contemporary master of homeopathy." Paul Ekins credited Vithoulkas with the revival of the credibility of homeopathy.
His biography has been published in the book Georgos Vithoulkas Der Meister-Homöopath Biographie und Fälle by the journalist Peter Clotten and the homeopath Susan Pfeifer who studied at his International Academy for Classical Homeopathy.
In 1978, Anthony Campbell, then a consultant physician at The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, reviewed The Science of Homoeopathy. He criticised Vithoulkas for substituting assertion for hard evidence and constructing an almost meaningless argument on the basis of a dubious theory of disease. He described rhetoric put forward by Vithoulkas (in presenting the argument that "allopathic drugging" is harmful and must be avoided) as including a thoroughly irresponsible statement which could mislead an unfortunate layman into refusing orthodox treatment, mentioning Vithoulkas' claim, "in the course of an argument designed to show that 'allopathic drugging' is harmful and must be avoided", that syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
, when treated with antibiotics, would have the early stages suppressed, but would go on to the secondary and tertiary stages. However, he felt the book also provided a good, if dogmatic, description of the principles and practice of "classical" homoeopathy. In response, Vithoulkas quoted various medical studies he claimed supported his assertion that penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
"may suppress primary syphilis while failing to prevent the insidious development of a tertiary stage, especially as manifested in psychosis." This claim conflicts with other scientific studies, which indicate that penicillin treatment produces a complete cure of syphilis in more than 90% of cases.
Selected works
- Homeopathy: Medicine of the New Man (New York: Arco, 1979)
- The Science of Homeopathy (New York: Grove Press, 1980)
- A New Model for Health and Disease (North Atlantic Books, 1992)
- Homeopathy: Medicine for the New Millennium (IACH, 2000)
- Materia Medica Viva (IACH, 2000- ) 12 volumes completed to date, 16 planned
External links
- Vithoulkas' web site
- Biography on Right Livelihood Award website
- An interview with George Vithoulkas
- Materia Medica Viva Review from the British Homoeopathic Journal (1993)
- Homeopathy -Medicine for the New Millennium Review from the British Homoeopathic Journal (2001)
- Vithoulkas criticizes the "signatures" approach to homeopathy (video)
- "Interview: George Vithoulkas on Homoeopathy, by Dr. Rajesh Shah" published in Homoeopahty Times, 1994