Human Potential

I have been in Colorado for a few days, visiting a close friend.  I have been preparing for a talk I give in Madison 10:00am on Friday.  The talk, addressing human potential, will discuss medicine and classical homeopathy from this vantage point. 

The dawn, or perhaps rebirth, of alternative medicine in North America came in the 1970s.  The 1960s, with its emphasis on new avenues of consciousness, represented a deep shift in our spiritual landscape.  Reflecting this shift, alternative medicines addressing body and mind at once began to arise.  That small stream has now become a large river, which I joined in the 1990s. 

I opened my practice in Madison exactly seven years ago, and perhaps the timing of this talk is fitting, because it will be rich in the symbolism of 7.  In the biblical story God took seven days to create; the 7th day he rested, not for the purpose of rest in itself, but to allow the emergence of a higher order from the preceding chaos.  Following this deeper meaning of 7 in my own way, I will sum up what it has taken seven hard-fought years to figure out. 

Why make the choice to set aside my medical training to practice classical homeopathy?  Thinking back on it, it was out a certain devotion I had to my beliefs about human potential.  What I learned in medical school fell short, and I had to break off on my own.  Classical homeopathy is the most immaterial of medicines.  As people say, “there is nothing there” because the process of dilution is so extreme.  If a homeopathic remedy has therapeutic activity, does this not affect our understanding of what it means to be human and human potential?   I believe it must.   

For those in the area who want to attend the talk, it is in Room 421 of the DOT Hill Farms State Office Building at 4802 Sheboygan Ave. from 10:00 until noon.  There is free public parking in a lot next to the building (not the first lot you will see if you come from Segoe, which is employee only, but on the west side of the building).  All visitors must sign in at the reception area in the main lobby and get a visitor pass.  Say you are there for the EAPA meeting (Employee Assistance Professionals Association).  Then take the elevator up to 4th floor.

Comments

[Pam Pappas MD]

Dr. Branch,

Thank you for another fruitful piece. However, I think you have not really set aside your medical training in order to practice classical homeopathy . . . instead, your medical training has helped you prepare for what you are now doing. If I remember correctly, medical school is 4 years, and a family medicine residency is 3 years . . . adding up to, let's see . . . 7. :-) It seems that magical number shows up yet again for you.

May your talk go well on Friday. Wish I could be there to hear it.

Be well,
Pam