Dr. M.K. Sahani Redefines ‘Boger’s Legacy’: A New Gem in Homeopathy

In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of homoeopathic medicine, the exchange of knowledge and insights among experts plays a pivotal role in advancing the practice and understanding of this holistic healing art.

It is in this spirit of scholarly collaboration and continuous learning that we present a thoughtful and detailed review of “Boger’s Legacy & Augmenting the Synoptic Keys Repertory”.

The review by Dr. Mridul Kumar Sahani, a distinguished figure in the homoeopathic community, provides a comprehensive evaluation of Dr. Singhal’s work. Dr. Sahani’s profound understanding of homoeopathic principles, coupled with his extensive experience in both the academic and practical realms of this discipline, positions him ideally to offer an insightful critique of this new addition to homoeopathic literature.

About the Reviewer:

Dr. M.K. Sahani – a prominent figure in the field of homoeopathy, his academic journey is marked by an array of qualifications including B.Sc., D.H.M.S, M.D. (Hom), PGDHHM (Symbiosis), CCCR (Symbiosis), and a PhD from Maharashtra University of Health Science. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for a career filled with notable achievements and contributions to homoeopathy.

Dr. Sahani’s career is distinguished by his role as the first PhD holder in Homoeopathy in the State of Bihar. His expertise and leadership were further recognized in his service as the Former Chairman of the Education Committee at the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH-New Delhi) from 2012 to 2017. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in developing curriculum and educational regulations in Homoeopathy, which are now implemented in BHMS courses across India. His extensive service also includes a tenure of approximately 22 years as a Member of the Education Committee at the CCH-New Delhi.

Beyond his contributions to education, Dr. Sahani is an accomplished practitioner and researcher. He worked under Dr. B. Sahni, a recognized scientist and the discoverer of the ‘Transmission of Medicine Energy’ from a distance. He is the President of the Bihar Voluntary Health Association, serving his third term, and the Secretary of the Voluntary Health Association of India, in his second term. As the Chairman of the Research Institute of Sahni Drug Transmission & Homoeopathy and the Founder of the Society of Sahni Drug Transmission, Patna, Dr. Sahani has been instrumental in advancing the study and practice of homoeopathy.

Dr. Sahani’s scholarly contributions are further evidenced through his roles as the Post Graduate Coordinator and Professor & HoD at G.D. Memorial Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Patna. He is a member of the Academic Council at Homoeopathy University, Jaipur, and has served as a Chief Editor for various homoeopathic journals. His insights and expertise have also been recognized internationally, with invitations to present papers and lectures at numerous national and international conferences and seminars.

In addition to his academic and professional endeavors, Dr. Sahani has been honored with several national and international awards recognizing his excellence in homoeopathy. These accolades include the Kent Award by the Homoeopathic Medical Association of India, the Hahnemann National Award, and multiple Life Time Achievement Awards.

Dr. Sahani’s prolific career, marked by his dedication to education, research, and practice in homoeopathy, positions him as an esteemed authority and a visionary in the field. His review of “Boger’s Legacy & Augmenting the Synoptic Keys Repertory” by Dr. Anil Singhal, MD (Hom), comes from a place of deep understanding and expertise in homoeopathy, making it a valuable and insightful assessment of the work.

The Review:

BOOK REVIEW

BOGER’S LEGACY & AUGEMENTING THE SYNOPTIC KEYS REPERTORY

DR ANIL SINGHAL, MD (HOM)

PUBLISHED BY AXIS MEDIA AND PUBLISHING COMPANY INDIA

FIRST INDIAN EDITION

ISBN- 13:978-93-5967-3

PAGES: 214

PRICE – ₹500/-

Instinctive wishes for perfection keep one to dive into the treasure of natures among universal surrounding. Developing conscientiousness about the minute details makes one an acute observer who keeps on acquiring every detail and keep on updating himself. Dr. Cyrus Maxwell Boger put himself into the arena of homoeopathy with initial influence of his educationist father and later on big impact coming from Dr. Boenninghausen. Big impact of Homoeopathy is observed through his view as – “All sicknesses present two classes of manifestations; those by which they are determined or named, i.e., the diagnostic symptoms and those peculiar to individuals and cases, often seemingly having no bearing upon the illness, hence called idiosyncratic symptoms.”

Boger always emphasized on proper and detailed case taking and believed that this is the first and very important step to find the simillimum. He was strongly against giving undue importance to a single symptom even if the symptom might be a characteristic or keynote. In his own words, “It is far better to be able to see the general picture of the case and use the keynotes as a differentiating point, just as we would use a modality”. According to him, running after keynotes while paying scant attention to general picture of case spoils many cases and leads to polypharmacy.

Boger being an ardent follower of Dr. Boenninghausen he translated Boenninghausen’s repertory from Germany to English and called it A Systemic Alphabetic Repertory of Homoeopathic Remedies with his own additions which was published in 1900. Popularly known BBCR (Boger Boenninghausen Characteristic Repertory) became the magnum opus in the field of Homoeopathic Repertory. His clinical skill got preserved through his A Synoptic Key of the Materia Medica. Dr. Boger was also a prolific writer on the use of repertories who was at ease with both Kent’s and Boenninghausen’s school of philosophy. The construction and information’s based in Kent’s repertory also impressed him which helped to embark him on the mission of achieving and integration of the information present in these two repertories. Synoptic key is one such classical text of homeopathic literature that has seen many ups and downs.

Rising from student to an author Dr. Anil Singhal with constant updates coming from several stalwarts Dr. Jugal Kishore, Dr. Diwan Harish Chand, and Dr. DP Rastogi and others developed courage to be wise and dare to present BOGER LEGACY. Repertory can never be a static feature. History of repertory suggest that constant evolution remained as the part of Repertory. Need for updating by addition new medicines and rubrics are always required. Dr. Singhal with his vast experience and impacts of digital transformation enabled him to compile and suggest rubrics and medicine as an augmented aspect of Boger repertory. “Boger’s Legacy & Augmenting the Synoptic Key’s Repertory” by Dr. Anil Singhal is inspiring contribution to this ever-evolving field. Dr. Anil Singhal with his treasured knowledge and vast experience in Homoeopathy, has presented his work in a very systemic and effective way and it will be useful for both undergraduate and postgraduate students and practitioners as well. This book opens new dimensions for further exploration and data collection process which the practitioners may find to practice Homoeopathy as scientific research-oriented practice.

I congratulate Dr. Anil Singhal for presenting new gem to the profession.

(Dr. M. K. Sahani)

As we draw to a close on this insightful journey through the review of “Boger’s Legacy”, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Sahani for his meticulous and enlightening evaluation. His expertise and dedication to the field of homoeopathy have not only enriched this review but also underscore the collaborative spirit that drives the advancement of homoeopathic medicine.

To our esteemed readers, may this review and the book it discusses serve as a source of knowledge and inspiration in your pursuit of excellence in homoeopathy. The path of learning is endless, and each step taken on this journey contributes to the greater understanding and effectiveness of homoeopathic practice. We encourage you to embrace the insights and perspectives shared here, integrating them into your own practice and studies, and to continue exploring the rich depths of homoeopathic medicine.

Let us all continue to foster a spirit of inquiry, collaboration, and advancement in the field of homoeopathy, inspired by the works and wisdom of those who have dedicated their lives to its study and practice. Together, we can contribute to the growth and evolution of this holistic and compassionate approach to healing.

Dr. C.M. Boger's contributions deserve recognition. Share to enlighten!

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