53rd CONGRESS OF THE LIGA MEDICORUM HOMEOPATHICA INTERNATIONALIS

Amsterdam, the city of canals, leaning houses, and tulips,
all dressed up for the Queen's birthday, served as the beautiful setting for the
53rd Congress of the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis,
April 25-29, 1998.

Amsterdam at tulip time was the setting for the 53rd Congress of the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis which was held there 25-29 April 1998 at the RAI Congress Center. Our host organization, the Netherlands Homeopathic Medical Association (VHAN) celebrated its first centennial at the same time, marking it by a party, complete with a birthday cake provided by the Liga, at the Congress’ Welcome Reception Saturday 25 April at the historic West-Indisch Huis.

Dr. Sandra M. Chase, Liga President, wearing her other hat as President of the
American Institute of Homeopathy (1844) makes a congratulatory presentationon behalf
of the AIH to Dr. Dick Koster, President of the Dutch Homeopathic Physicians Association
(VHAN) on their centenary.

This Congress was an ambitious one, boasting presentations in the main forum as well as workshops, additional classes, and a Speakers’ Corner. “Homeopathy Opening Up,” an apt title for a Congress held in the Netherlands in the spring, was graced by an Opening Ceremony in which children gave individual yellow tulips to participants, as a costumed operatic student sang an aria from Carmen. The congress “opened up” in other ways in that pharmacists and veterinarians, as well as other homeopathic professionals, were invited to present and to have associated meetings.

Sunday 26 April 1998 was devoted to research topics, including presentations from Klaus Linde (Germany) on the meta-analysis of published homeopathic research, from Roel van Wijk and Fred A. C. Wiegant (Netherlands) on fundamental research on the similia principle using heat shock proteins in cultured mammalian cells, and from Peter Fisher (UK) on a review of homeopathic pathogenic trials (provings). Concurrently, there were satellite programs on Clinical Cases.

Veterinarians and pharmacists held satellite conferences on Monday 27 April while the main forum continued with topics devoted to statistical and clinical research. Two particularly interesting presentations that morning came from Annette Sneevliet (Netherlands) who showed video cases illustrating the global personal changes achieved in the successful treatment of patients, beyond the mere alteration of presenting symptoms, and from Massimo Mangialavori (Italy) who presented his experience expanding his thinking in case management from the use of polychrests to remedies in that same family, consideration of themes, and repetition of the constitutional remedy in acute processes. In the afternoon, Dr. Marianne Heger (Germany) presented interesting results in an international outcome study in which now LMHI General Secretary for Research Dr. David Riley (USA) was a co-director. Drs. Sanjeev Garg (India) and Alok Pareek (India) offered amazing presentations later in the afternoon’s main program on homeopathic treatment of brain tumors, and hepatic diseases, respectively.

Further topics on research appeared in Tuesday morning’s main forum, while the afternoon’s session was devoted to Primary Care. The VHAN had specifically invited Dutch family physicians to attend that session which included such topics as statistical analysis of GP and homeopathic GP practice [Henk Lamberts (Netherlands)] an overview of homeopathy’s capabilities in primary and secondary healthcare [David Spence (UK)], acute casuistry [Alfons Geukens (Belgium)], and Acute Case management in general practice [Willem van Nijnatten (Netherlands)]. Also on Tuesday there was a special meeting arising from a presentation offered at the 52nd Congress in Seattle in 1997 on a unifying matrix for clinical files.

Wednesday 29 April offered us morning sessions in the main room and a concurrent pharmacists' satellite session chaired by Liga General Secretary for Pharmacy Dr. Amarilys de Toledo Cesar (Brazil). Dr. David Reilly (Scotland) started the main program by giving us an overview of primary care physician education under the Glasgow model in which 45% elect to go on to higher training. This was followed by Dr. Catherine Gaucher (France) of Physicians Without Borders speaking on homeopathic education of third world populations and public health issues. Veterinarian Dr. Christopher Day (UK) spoke about the ramifications in man occasioned by antibiotic use in food animals and veterinarian Dr. Liesbeth de Sonnaville-Ellinger (Netherlands) reminded us to think of the mind even in our animals as she presented orthopedic cases in horses. Americans had a strong showing on that day, as Dr. Jonathan Shore showed a video case of Buteo, the hawk, and Dr. David Riley launched the afternoon’s discussions with a presentation on provings, their dynamics and methodology. Dr. Riley also chaired a Proving Meeting that day.

Homeopathic physician education meetings held at Congresses in Oaxaca, Capri, and Seattle were continued in Amsterdam, chaired by Liga General Secretary for Education Dr. Cesar Cremonini (Argentina).

Throughout the day on Wednesday, there was held one of the several workshops that occurred during this unique 53rd Congress. This one entitled “Dialogue with Nature,” was led by Irene van Lippe-Biesterfeld (Netherlands) who is the sister to Netherlands’ Queen Beatrix.

Other highlights of the Congress included the half hour “Tune in Homeopathy” review from four Dutch homeopaths who carried us around the world with regional homeopathic remedies in amusing song. Their performance brought a standing ovation and cries of, "Encore, encore!"

The Congress Dinner was held at the Royal Tropical Museum which, serendipitously, had an exhibit on Shamanism at the time. The dinner was composed of four buffets from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, followed by dancing in the bar.

At the Royal Tropical Museum, three former presidents of the LMHI conversed on the occasion of the 53rd Congress of the Liga, held in Amsterdam in April 1998. From left to right: Dr. and Mrs. Cornelius Eenhorn (Netherlands), Dr. Sandra M. Chase (USA), and Dr. and Mrs. Henk Maas (Netherlands). This marked the conclusion of Dr. Chase's term as President of the Liga. [photo below left]

Congress Organizing Committee Chairman, Dr. Ton Nicolai and his wife, Ellie, who served on the Organizing Committee, join in the dancing that followed the Congress Dinner. [photo below right]

Music again figured in the closing ceremony as two accordionists played us out of the hall with “Tulpen uit Amsterdam” after which we toasted the Congress and each other with a typical Dutch orange liqueur.

Actions taken at the International Council Meeting on 25 April 1998

The International Council meeting got off to an auspicious start as we greeted National Vice Presidents from Estonia and Latvia, and representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. During the course of that Council Meeting, we accepted credentials for the election of new National Vice President's from Cuba, Greece, Italy, Slovakia, South Africa, and the USA.

The Liga Book Project, discussed in the October 1997 issue (Volume 3, Number 2, pp. 12-13) of The Liga Letter, was moved forward with the institution of the official application process. Discussions will be held between the Prime Vice President of the Liga, Dr. Carles Amengual (Spain), and the National Vice President for India, Dr. D. V. Chand, regarding the details of the implementation of this project.

The National LMHI Elections Proposal, which had been published as a draft in the March 1998 (Volume 4, Number 1, p. 11) issue of The Liga Letter was approved at this meeting.

The slide-illustrated results of The Liga Letter Readers' Survey [published in the March 1998 issue (Volume 4, Number 1, pp. 26-27)] were presented by Liga Letter Editor Dr. Sandra M. Chase (USA), to the International Council. Additionally, it was decided that The Liga Letter for this year will be translated into Portuguese with the support from the Liga of US $250.00 per issue for the cost of the translation. It will be offered for free to homeopathic Brazilian physicians for the year, leading up to the 54th LMHI Congress to be held in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil in October, 1999. The following are the currently known dates for subsequent LMHI Congresses:

1999 Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
2000 Budapest, Hungary
2001 Sibiu, Romania
2002 Moscow, Russia
2003 Vienna, Austria
2004 Buenos Aires, Argentina
2005 Berlin, Germany
2006 Lucerne, Switzerland
2007 Mexico

The meeting of the International Council was recessed until Monday, April 27, 1998, to allow time for the meeting of the Triennial General Assembly.

Actions taken at the Triennial General Assembly on 26 April 1998

LMHI President, Dr. Sandra M. Chase, gave the requisite report regarding the progress of the Liga since the last General Assembly held in March 1995 in New Delhi, India. Following the completion of this slide, illustrated report, the main topic of business was taken up which was the new Statutes and Procedures of the Liga.

After a discussion led by the officers of the Liga with comments from the Liga members in attendance at the General Assembly, a vote, by raising of hands, overwhelming approved the acceptance of the Statutes and Procedures with the proviso that certain matters, one relating to quorum and one relating to definition of membership, will be addressed by the legal counsel hired by the Liga Executive Officers to draw up these new constitutional documents.

Actions taken at the International Council Meeting on 27 April 1998

Outgoing Liga President, Dr. Sandra M. Chase (USA), bestows the Official Medallion of Office on the newly elected President Dr. Jacques Imberechts (Belgium) during the reconvened International Council Meeting, Monday, April 27, 1998.

The new Statutes and Procedures with the pertinent Articles, modified as mentioned above, will be distributed by mail to the International Council members in order to facilitate a vote on them at the next International Council Meeting in Brazil in October 1999.

Outgoing President Dr. Sandra M. Chase took the opportunity to express her gratitude to her fellow Executive Committee Officers, presenting each with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of his/her service. She also expressed her gratitude to each of her fellow Executive Team, presenting each of the three with an engraved moment of his service in his respective office.

The International Council Meeting concluded with the elections for the new Executive Committee 1998-2001. The new officers are as follows:

* Dr. Chase's position as Immediate Past President places her on the Executive Committee for another three year term.