THE 69TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF LIGA MEDICORUM HOMEOPATHICA INTERNATIONALIS AT PARIS: A REPORT

byDr Surender Kr. Verma and Dr Gyandas G. Wadhwani

Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) is an international association founded in 1925 at Rotterdam, under the terms of the Swiss Civil Law, with core motive of development and safeguarding of homeopathy worldwide and creating a link amongst licensed homeopathic doctors and societies and persons who are interested in homeopathy. In March 2013, the LMHI moved its statutory seat to Koethen in Germany. The LMHI is exclusively devoted to non-profit activities serving philanthropic benefits. Thousands of homeopathic doctors from nearly 70 countries enjoy its membership and patronage. The executive committee of the LMHI is at present presided over by Dr. Renzo Galassi. The association organizes every year since its inception, (except during World War II) a global annual medical conference.

This year, the 69th International Congress of LMHI was organized in the City of Light and of the Enlightenment, Paris, from 16 – 19 July 2014 with the general theme Homoeopathy on the move: Strategies and Levels of Healing.

Homœopathy has a long history in France as it was the last residence of our founder Master, Samuel Hahnemann. When Hahnemann moved to Paris in 1835, fifty homœopaths were already working in France. Parisian consultations of Antoine Petroz and Auguste-Paul Curie had great success. A friend of the master, Sebastian Guidi founded the Société homéopathique Lyonnaise in1832 which later became the Société homéopathique Gallicane.

Hahnemann’s residence in Paris at Rue de Milan

It is in France that François Guizot, Minister of Education of Louis-Philippe, uttered these words about formalising (or not) the Homœopathic Society of Paris, to which the Academy of Medicine was opposed, ‘If homœopathy is a chimera, it will fall by itself.’

Nearly 300 papers were received for presentation in the congress on various topics such as clinical research, epidemiology, clinical case studies, provings, doctrine and philosophy, history, medical specialties such as oncology, paediatrics, dermatology, gynecology, neurology, immunology etc.

On 16th July, there was a morning session on harmonization of drug proving guidelines of LMHI and European Committee of Homoeopathy (ECH). The session was coordinated by Ashley Ross, chair LMHI Provings Working group and Jean Pierre Jansen, coordinator ECH Subcommittee for Provings.

The famous Harpist Marielle Nordmann performed at the festive opening, later in the evening. She was accompanied by her orchestra members: Violin: Guillaume Fonatanarosa & Frédéric Dessus; Alto: Bertrand Causs; Violoncello: Anne Biragnet.

The lectures in the conference were spread out in 5 auditoriums of Palais de Congres. More than 900 participants attended the congress from five continents, which included nearly 64 from India. The Deputy Director and three Medical Officers from Directorate of Ayush, Govt of NCT of Delhi also presented papers.

Some of the participant homoeopathic doctors from India at the congress

The highlight of the conference was the presence of the living legend of homoeopathy, tireless traveler, outstanding communicator, a shepherd and propagator of good homeopathy, Dr Jacques Imberechts. Besides being a student of late Dr Pierre Schmidt, he has been a pioneer member of the LMHI as well as ECH. His most important lesson for all of the students/ practitioners of homoeopathy was, ‘look into the patient deeply, study him thoroughly, if you intend to cure’.

Dr Jacques Imberects (in centre)

On the conclusion of the congress, a ‘Hahnemann Tour’ was organised on the 20 July to visit and pay respects to the founder at his grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery.