Some More on Homoeopathy in Tanzania

I thought you might like to know a bit about the difference between taking a case here and in the UK. I have already said how it is much quicker, but this is because there is so much less to listen to. For example in the UK I can spend a long time listening to someone telling me about all their problems with friends, family, work etc. and their pains are often imprecise. Here you listen to someone, and despite their having heavy responsibilities for maintaining a family and so little money to do it with (there are none of the luxuries we take for granted like good clothes, entertainment and most of all GOOD FOOD) when we ask them what their nature is they almost invariably say happy. This is not leaping around dancing happy, this is more about contentment with their lot. Humbling.

In the chicken shed we saw a 75 year old man who was complaining of backache. Not surprising you might think, however he was still working... as a stone mason... because if he stopped working his grandchildren wouldn’t eat. Was he fed up or tired? no, but he would like to have less pain in his back.

In the Massai church we saw a young girl with an emaciated and staring baby. We prescribed for him then took her case. She has had a cough since childhood that is worse at night and she can sometimes vomit from it. There is no pain but thick yellow expectoration. That was it. She would like it if you could help her but there is no demand for help, no pleading in the eyes, just ‘this is how it is’. I feel very inadequate but there is no place for ego here so instead concentrate on doing my best. We all do.

In the Parish Church in Arusha we saw an AIDS patient who had done very well on a remedy called Dulcamara. There were about 4 sentences written in her case notes: she had pain in her legs, loss of appetite, numbness in the soles of her feet (a typical AIDS symptom) and a painful chest that was much worse in the cold wet weather. She had done well on the remedy but the chest symptoms, were beginning to return so we confirmed the aggravation in the cold wet and gave her a repeat dose. (Hooray for the wise homeopaths who have prescribed so well in the past – repeating a good remedy is so much easier).

SORRY - photos to come, but my Ace Photographers have gone out!