The issue of homeoprophylaxis, the preventative side of the law of similars and admirably advanced by Burnett, has generally been ignored within the homeopathic community. The clearest modern proponent of the use of similars in prevention is an Australian homeopath, Isaac Golden, whose Vaccination? A Review of Risks and Alternatives discusses his extensive experience with homeopathic doses of the vaccine nosodes. Golden has been challenged homeopaths who argue that one should only treat for the disease condition or, possibly, when there is an epidemic.

This argument seems to be the result of confusion over prevention and cure. Burnett saw homeopathy as a system of cure using similars, and homeoprophylaxis as a system of disease prevention using similars. He saw each as valid in its own sphere. He also noted that Hahnemann used Belladonna preventatively for scarlet fever as well as curatively.

Constitutional Susceptibility to Vaccination Shock

One aspect of homeopathy and vaccination shock not well represented in homeopathic literature is constitutional susceptibility in addition to miasmic susceptibility. I am not sure to what extent writings exist on this issue, but I have noticed in my own practice that certain constitutional types are more likely to become ill following vaccination. These are the ones that are more likely to die from vaccination or be severely brain-damaged.

My experience suggests that Sulphur, Pulsatilla, Silicea, and to a lesser degree Calcarea children are most likely to come in with chronic ear infections, eczema, asthma, and various personality disorders which are linked to childhood vaccination. The same goes for adults with these constitutions. It would be interesting to know if others have made the same observations. In treating for the vaccination shock, significant improvements are noted in their health and symptomatology. Pulsatilla and Silicea are related to the sycotic miasm and, thus, the susceptibility seems logical. It is less clear in the case of Sulphur and Calcarea, although Roberts and Kent consider Calcarea an anti-sycotic remedy.

To some degree we all have Sulphur within us, it being the ultimate polychrest and the main remedy of the most fundamental miasm, psora. Without psora, there can be no disease. Sulphur represents, then, the fact that we all have susceptibilities, that is, the ability to react to disease agents. Sulphur individuals represent a greater ability to react to vaccination when this strong psoric base is coupled with a strong sycotic base. This is the case in North America, an observation made early on by J.H. Allen in his book on miasms. In cases where I know the child's constitution is susceptible – regardless of the strength of the sycotic miasm – I more strongly warn parents of the risk of any further vaccination.

In conclusion, the theory and practice of homeopathy teaches us that the current approach to prevention, involving the injection of material doses of live or attenuated viral material, along with various chemicals, has consequences not only for short-term health, but more significantly, for long-term health. The issue of vaccination has been consistently addressed by homeopaths and needs to be more consistently taught in homeopathic schools, and discussed in organizations and journals. We also need to be better acquainted with homeoprophylaxis, a treatment unknown to many homeopaths and derided by some.