THE INTERNET REVOLUTION & HOMOEOPATHY

by Dr. Rajesh Shah

I am glad to put into your hands this issue which introduces, especially the Indian readers to the electronic breakthrough: The Internet. In brief, the internet, as typically described, is the network of networks of networks. It is indeed a gift of the electronic world, which allows easy, economic and quick communication amongst all those connected to the internet. (Currently, estimated 40 million people in over 80 countries are easily connected to each other in real sense.)

Out of the above huge number, there are only a handful of homoeopaths...We shall restrict our discussion on the Internet (Net) only in connection with homoeopathy.

The Scope of the Net:
Wide a detail article on the topic in this issue. In short, all the benefits of easy communicability can help us grow better and faster. Now, it is possible to refer to a wide range of old and new literature, without stepping out of your office. Now, it is possible to have an expert opinion of a homoeopath sitting in a remote corner of the world, within the time range of say a few hours to a few minutes. Now, it is possible to send and receive an article to /from any journal within few hours. Now, it is possible to chat, discuss, shout, and fight electronically (verbally, not physically..) over hot issues varying from potency selection to the latest hypothesis in the homoeopathic field. Now, it is possible to develop help-line for the up-coming practitioners, to help them solve their queries encountered by them in the early practice. Now, it is possible to organize teaching / learning events such as the seminars/conferences with more ease. Now it is possible to send the synopsis of any seminar to any person anywhere in the world, at a very small cost and without much effort. Now, it is possible to easily get united and connected with each other, as a world wide homoeopathic family. Now, it will be possible to search for articles for the journal to have timely publications ! Now, perhaps it will be possible to expect more literary contribution and untimely termination of journals will become less common, hopefully...Now, with the internet it is possible to have an extensive homoeopathic family without the boundaries. It is virtually possible to send across any message across the borders with just little finger exercise. And, much more.

The electronic era promises to enhance our growth by bringing the entire world ( of information) at our doorstep, the world is made a much smaller family.

On the Internet, where do we stand ?
As E. Galen points out in a separate article in this issue, we are yet far behind. We (the homoeopaths) are slow to climb on to the net. ( May be slowness is characteristic of our faculty..) A long way to go, from the very basic awareness about the internet to developing full fledged adequate number of web sites and servers, etc. It is a Herculean task to put the entire homoeopathic literature on-line. The good news is that some workers have already done remarkable work in this area. Their work must be appreciated.

Internet : As Challenge to homoeopaths :
Any scientific breakthrough brings with it challenge along with pleasure. When the internet makes a lots of things easy, it is up to us, how to make the best use of it. A great deal of alertness and a sense of responsibility alone can lead us to exploit the advantages of the Internet. Our strategy as to how best can we utilize the services to eventually heal the suffering humanity, has to be thoughtfully designed.   The new exciting task begins for all the homoeopathic institutions and hospitals to hook on to the net and be a part of the network......? The past of homoeopathy, in the form of all those hundreds of books require to be made truly available to every homoeopath. This is now possible. What is equally more important ( and also difficult) is to incorporate all those cases treated at various institutions over the years, as ready reference for the practitioners and the students. The cases with all the glorious success as well as .....? the failures. Just imagine, how wide the horizons would be for ....? the future homoeopaths, when the net will become more practicable for all, from Algeria to Zimbabwe...!

The future of homoeopathy could make a high jump if the latest communication technology will be used with generosity by the senior practitioners of today. I use the word generosity, because unless there is free flow of thoughts, sharing and experiences, hardly can anything help us grow.

More about the Internet:
I am quite aware that many readers must be still not getting what exactly is the internet. Please refer to some related information, press-articles on the subject. It is not within the scope of this journal to provide more of the technical information on the subject.

To achieve the best of the net in our profession, it is important that the homoeopathic institutions, colleges, study groups and research organizations participate actively and timely  by their contribution in the foundation of the edifice on which the future homoeopathy has to grow, and grow infinite.