Modern homeopathy is currently going through a renaissance. There are many strongly held opinions about which is the best, or the "truest" way to practice homeopathy. In the interim, homeopathic students have to decide what to study. One thing sadly overlooked is that our patients are our best teachers. When a patient is cured for the long haul with a particular remedy, they can tell us, reliably, what the most important issues are for that Rx, because they've been living it.

Since there are such a vast and growing group of remedies, it is impossible to know them all, so we'll use a "family" based grouping system. This methodology is based on Massimo Mangialavori's pioneering work. Massimo has been developing a sophisticated model of understanding patients with modern psychology, along with understanding our remedies using many world sources such as cured cases, mythology, psychology, legend, toxicology, along with homeopathic knowledge.

Another important point is that education is retained best when the format is interactive and clinically based. This is significant because homeopathy is not only about memorizing facts. There are many important skills to be learned if one is to prescribe and manage patients well.

Classroom & Learning Methodology:

In order for classroom education to generalize into clinical knowledge, it's important to simulate the clinical setting as much as possible. In addition, learning what most closely approximates the clinical setting helps to hone and develop the same skills necessary to help patients consistently in practice.

Therefore, the format of the class will be class work oriented. Students will be given the transcripts of cured cases to study - no remedy solution is given initially. Of course when in the clinic, we also don't yet know the Rx our patients need. This approach helps to challenge the student in the same way the clinical setting will. Of course in this instance, the student will have support to work through to a viable solution.

After fully analyzing the case together, we'll then talk about differentials and finally the Rx that worked. Talking about the Rx will then help us to expand to the family the Rx belongs to. In this way, students can learn with real cases how to recognize the important themes that can be seen in several Rxs in the same family or group.

Modern psychological theory and Homeopathy:

Homeopathy, as an art and science, is over 200 years old. It began before the advent of modern psychology. Integrating the two into a cohesive whole is essential to be effective and efficient in practice. Therefore, the class will also look at how modern psychology can be practically integrated into all aspects of homeopathy; understanding materia medica, and understanding patients. We'll be looking at developmental psychology and how archetypes play a role in understanding the substances our Rxs are derived from. Another important aspect is using a variety of psychological strategies in the case management process. Issues such as rapport building will be looked at thoroughly. Customizing case management relative to the ego of individual patients will be discussed in depth. These and many other psychological dynamics that apply to modern homeopathy will be covered.

The importance of Families of Rxs:

Several cured case examples of each family will be shown so students have the opportunity to see how the family manifests in different age groups and genders. For instance, when looking at Rxs from the sea, it can be helpful to see several examples of patients who have done well for the long term on Rxs from this family. For instance, by comparing the differences and similarities between sepia (cuttlefish) and Limulus (horse shoe crab), students can begin to grasp the individual Rxs and the themes of the entire family they both belong to. By learning the themes of the family of those Rxs derived from the sea, students can begin to recognize any sea Rx.

This is the great advantage of learning Rxs through their families instead of learning one remedy at a time - a process that can be very slow and inefficient. Each family can contain a great number of individual Rxs. For instance, there are hundreds of trees in the conifer family. By learning the main and reliable themes from patients cured with conifers, we can potentially begin to recognize all the conifers - with some practical limitations. By deeply studying animal, mineral, and plant Rxs in this way, a student can learn a very large and reliable materia medica relatively quickly. The best part of this is that the knowledge will come from actual cured cases, NOT theoretical knowledge alone.

Source of this class, Dr. Massimo Mangialavori:

All classes will be derived from Dr. Shannon's clinical experience coupled with the overview of Dr. Massimo Mangialavori. Massimo has endeavored to develop a method of understanding Rxs using families for more than 20 years. He has rigorously documented more than six thousand of his own long term cured cases.

His standard of a cure is that all major symptoms must be resolved with one Rx for at least two years. In addition, the Rx must also work for whatever acute arises in the course of treatment. Many of his cases have more than 5 or 10 years of follow-up - all using the same constitutional Rx. His web site is: http://www.mangialavori.com.

By studying exclusively from his successful cures, Massimo began to map out the fundamental themes and structures that belonged to each of the families, now numbering more than 20 families. Of course one person can't see everything to be known about each family. However, by studying 4 or more of his cases of each Rx, Massimo began to discern what the reliable pointers were for each individual Rx and their included family.

This form of homeopathic education is not only more precise, but it's also a great deal more enjoyable. Learning Rxs exclusively from dry provings, materia medica, and repertory can be tedious and hard to translate into practical knowledge. The idea of learning materia medica from living patients cured of the Rxs is something that was pioneered and developed by Massimo. This series of classes will borrow greatly from Massimo's knowledge, as it was the beginning source of Dr. Shannon's clinical knowledge.

Here are two in-depth interviews with Massimo that give a better understanding of his methods:

Interview with Massimo Mangialavori : American Homeopath - Heather Knox

Interview with Massimo - Nick Churchill

[ND CE'S APPLIED FOR]

Scope of this course of study & future classes:

There will be at least three full series of classes taught. Students can expect to walk away from each class having learned 2 to 3 families. Therefore, the entire series will cover from 6 to 9 families. The number of families taught will be relative to the natural pace of the class. In addition to learning Rxs and families, students will hone a great deal of other fundamental skills; case taking, case management, & posology (dosage). Another series of classes may be taught following the first three with a more advanced point of view.

The first session of the first class will begin with an introduction to this method of study, and then we'll start right off in learning families via cases. The first class will deeply cover several families that are commonly encountered in a modern practice; Kali's, Carbon's, Milks, Nightshades, Reptiles, etc.

Another very important skill-set that students will come away with, will be due to the fruits of their own class work - learning to recognize families from real cases. No one can tell students how to learn this. It is an internal endeavor that is individual to each student's learning style. Learning to recognize and analyze cases on the spot, with the patient in front of you, is an essential skill - one that is rarely taught. One of the best ways, perhaps the only way to learn this, is the in-depth study of cured cases. It is a realistic and essential goal for homeopathic students - to be able to recognize the living materia medica in the patients sitting across from them in real-time. This will save immeasurable time in practice.

In essence, this series of classes will empower students on two fronts; materia medica and grounded clinical skills. With both of these dynamics growing in students, they will learn to become independent thinkers. At first we start out by needing guidance. But eventually we must all develop our own style, our own best wisdom and knowledge. We all become better homeopaths when we learn to think for ourselves. This is especially true if we've acquired the fundamental knowledge that grounds our thinking first. This class will go a long way in helping students increase their success in treating patients. It will also greatly increase the enjoyment of having the privilege to practice this great healing art.

Schedule:

The first class of the series will be 11 weeks long. We'll meet one weeknight each week, for 3 hours. The first few sessions will include methodology. Then we'll begin working on cases. Each session will last approximately 3 months and will cover 2-3 homeopathic families, depending upon the pace of the class. Our first class will be Monday, January 7th 2008 , from 6:30 until 9:30pm. The class is appropriate for beginners as well as more advanced students.

Cost and Payment Details:

For those interested in the class, a $100 deposit is required ( $50 non-refundable) at the time of registration. The remainder is due on or before the 1st class. Payments may be made by PayPal or check. Credit card payments are available through PayPal with a $7 surcharge (details on the registration form). The registration deadline is December 31st, 2007.

The class will be held in the waiting room of Dr. Shannon's practice. Because it is an intimate setting with limited seating, participants must register with deposit by December 15th. Space will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

To download Registration Form (PDF), click here.
* Keep an eye on this web page as details about the class will be added as they develop*

Location & Time:

All classes will be held in the waiting room at Dr. Tim Shannon's Office: (just come in the front door - that'll put you in the waiting room).

Dr. Tim Shannon
4405 SE Division Street
Portland, OR 97206

To view or download Printable Brochure (PDF), click here.