The endocrine system and the chakras

published in The Journal of the Society of Homeopaths – summer 2010-issue 291

The following work by Len Marlow is based on his notes from lectures given by the late Martin Miles, in London from  1990-92. We are very much aware of the importance of the work of a master such as Martin, but also that much of what he has to say is drawing on his clinical experience and, during a lecture, cannot often be supported by written or other evidence. Nevertheless, there is a lot of learning and experience incorporated in the work and we believe that it should be available to our readers. Similarly, using connections to other therapies and philosophies, is not pure homeopathy. However, there is a strong tradition in our practice of being informed by other philosophies and we think it is what many readers would be interested by. Of course there are health warnings about suggestions made by lecturers but they are worth hearing about and adding to the breadth of knowledge.

Introduction – Len Marlow

Whenever a hormonal imbalance is present it is necessary to consider the entire endocrine system. The endocrine glands are not stand-alone producers of hormones but an intricately linked and balanced system. Using chemicals to act as feedback messengers. If one endocrine gland seems to be malfunctioning you can assume adjacent glands will also be affected. Although modern science have given names to these glands and their secretions the understanding of their importance dates back to early Hindu teaching through the system of chakras. The seven main charkas relate directly to the endocrine system.

The Seven Chakras and associated Endocrine Glands
Sahasrana	Crown Chakra	7th Chakra	Pineal gland
Ajna	Eye/Brow Chakra	6th Chakra	Pituitary gland
Vissudha	Throat Chakra	5th Chakra	Thyroid gland
Anahata	Heart Chakra	4th Chakra	Thymus gland
Manipura	Solar Plexus Chakra	3rd Chakra	Adrenal glands
Swadhisthana	Sacral Chakra	2nd Chakra	Ovaries and Prostate glands
Muladhara	Root/Base Chakra	1st Chakra

For all of this work we are indebted to Martin Miles for keeping the flame alive and encouraging his students to try it and, with practice, to be given an insight into how homeopathy works on this subtle energy level. Clearing not only disease in the client but in the world around them at the same time.

Martin was the first practitioner to encourage me to see prescribing as not being bound by medical models, to see that a person exists on many levels and is connected to everything, to realise there are no limits to the arena in which homeopathy can work. Martin would prescribe support remedies and remedies for the state of the client but would also see a need to prescribe on the space in which that person is existing. Here he particularly turned to the new age remedies. He was never insistent on how to prescribe these remedies but we were encouraged to “prescribe in threes”. With just this permission many practitioners have developed ways of accessing all sorts of modern conditions: Autism, Aids, Gulf war syndrome, drug toxicity, living without roots, absence of any spiritual connection.

So what follows are extracts from Martins lectures[1] and part of my journey to an understanding of this great gift from Martin. As he would say; please read, it may mean little to you now but you are going to need it and it will be there when you do. This article is much too short to cover his greater understanding of the pictures of the miasms, to develop in any depth the pictures of the gland remedies, to understand how to analyse a case from the charkas, to regain well being after long years of medical and other abuse so; I would encourage you all to pick up and cherish any notes or writings by Martin as they become available.

Martin’s introduction[2]

Homeopathy has a direct influence on these centres. So it is good to be as conscious as possible about them. Although one looks at them individually, they all work together as a group, and function or dysfunction together as a group; although there’s usually a dominant centre (as in the adrenal type of person, for instance).

In that way, homeopathy influences the endocrine glands and the charkas associated with them. The secretions of the endocrine glands are hormones. Modern science gives them boring names and makes them complex in the hope that you won’t understand them.

Thymus gland[3]

The thymus gland grows rapidly until the second year (of life). Then more slowly, and at puberty begins to regress. In adult life it is only a rudiment. Regression starts earlier in females than males.

…It is claimed that the thymus lost its value for man and mammals when their ancestors began to incubate their eggs within their body and ceased laying them, as birds do – reptiles with albumen and shells. That was the original function of the thymus gland. Pigeons, whose thymus glands have been removed, lay eggs without shells but if fed thymus lay normal eggs plus shells. …The thymus has been called the gland of precocity. It has also been named the gland of eternal youth, for its failure to regress at the proper time inhibits the maturing of the body.

When thymus is fed to a tadpole it remains a tadpole – it doesn’t metamorphose into a frog. In a book by Williams and Hogue “Our Fear Complexes”[4] it is stated that out of twenty executed criminals, all had persistent thymus glands.

This centre, the thymus gland and the heart chakras, is the centre of true rebirth from ordinary dull humanity to seership. It is blocked in virtually everybody. The ingredient that compounds this situation is inoculation. There is no straight antidote for inoculation (don’t think you can wipe the board clean with a remedy or two, it’s not possible). Constitutional treatment is required for a period of time, sometimes even years.

The inoculation remedies are, however, very helpful. In a recently vaccinated child (i.e. within the last few days) SILICA 10M is very helpful. The child will be ill for 7-10 days….. Another helpful prescription can be THYMUS GLAND 6x, for 10 days, followed by the constitutional remedy (individually selected). THYMUS GLAND 6x is also useful for longer term vaccinosis and can be used by adults – any age, any time – although the gland itself almost completely shuts down at adolescence….. Inoculation compounds the tubercular miasm. It is one of the reason (inoculated) tubercular patients are difficult to treat – you have to “hit ‘em hard” with remedies to get a reaction.

The remedy most associated with the heart and thymus gland is NATRUM MUR. Other remedies are SYPHILINUM, TUBERCULINUM, AURUM and CARCINOSEN.

Therapeutic note: THYMUS GLAND given as drainage in case of prostate dysfunction[5].

Prescribing notes[6]

It’s interesting that the syphilitic miasm looks like NATRUM MURIATICUM, because NATRUM MURIATICUM is the principal remedy for the Heart Centre.

Note: The Victorian age was the age of syphilis, with the masked balls, hiding behind a mask. In that way it is hard to differentiate between NATRUM MUR and SYPHILINUM. One builds walls and hides away, the other hides behind a mask. Both are indicated at this centre and understanding the timing of the individual’s healing process is helped by understanding the processes of this centre.

Martin talk many times of “remedies in threes” and I have observed how THYMUS GLAND is followed by THUJA is followed by TUBERCULINUM. Depending on the case, these remedies may appear in this pattern with inter-current remedies over months, may be given on consecutive days or even in one day. Potencies may ascend (THYMUS GLAND 30, THUJA 200 and TUBERCULINUM 1M) or descend. The pace and needs of the case will dictate. AYAHUASCA 10M may be given to open the brow centre followed by THYMUS GLAND 30 for the heart and then the individual’s remedy. Therapeutically in chemotherapy AYAHUASCA 10M, SYPHILINUM and THYMUS GLAND (individually or combined) reduce sickness and nausea.

So what order do you prescribe in? If you prescribe in the right order, you get a better job done. If wrong, it works but it doesn’t clear properly. Use medium potencies – 30’s – they are repeatable. The only way to clear the Thymus centre of its syphilitic-tubercular miasm is over a long period of time using 30’s, medium potencies. You have to use your intuition. There’s no set time gaps, information, special books to read – no one to tell you – you have to work it out for yourself.

…Giving the “wrong” remedy doesn’t do anyone any harm. If there’s no affinity it goes straight through….30c potencies do the work we want to do on this centre.

Thymus gland and development[7]

When an enlarged thymus is present in a newborn baby, the starting process of breathing may be exceedingly prolonged and (a) difficult matter (blue babies – CARBO VEGITALIS). …

The secretion from the thymus gland controls muscular metabolism in some definite way during the period of childhood. It particularly influences the outer part of the adrenal cortex, the pineal gland, the thyroid gland and the prostate gland – so from the heart centre its influence radiates upwards and downwards. Children nursed on human milk have greater vitality than those brought up on the milk of animals, because animal ether is not permanently absorbed by the thymus gland as is human ether.

The thymus is ruled by Venus and the Moon. Venus impinging upon the thymus gland begins to awaken response and puts the individual in touch with the higher realms of the desire world.

The Moon is also a feminine planet; she is the cosmic mother and influences growth. There is also a close connection between the thymus gland and the spleen, and between the thymus gland and bones and growth of bones. These two factors would further suggest the already observed connection between inoculation and leukaemia.

Children and childhood diseases[8]

We know it’s good for them to have these diseases, That they throw off their miasms’ with these diseases. If the child is inoculated and still has these diseases, they don’t fully release it. After the child has the disease, give the nosode of the miasm that belonged to the disease – not the nosode of the disease itself:

• Cancer whooping cough, glandular fever
• Syphilis chicken pox, scarlet fever
• Sycosis mumps
• Psora measles

Heavy catarrh, glue ear, tonsillitis, continuous colds, flus, weakness are due to inoculations and the tubercular miasm (also syphilitic because this is hidden). You have to use your intuition.

Note: From this work with Martin I have found that inoculation pushes the child into the sycotic miasm, which has the nature of fixed ideas and rigidity. So sycotic remedies are first needed and then there is a move towards tubercular remedies. This supports the work Sheila Creasey[9] did on tuberculinum that suggested that THUJA often precedes any prescription of TUBERCULINUM.

Syphilitic miasm and thymus gland[10]

Look at the syphilitic remedies and you get a picture of how really weird and peculiar they are. Not so much the nosode SYPHILINUM – there’s virtually no information on it (because its hidden!) but MERCURIES, KALI IOD, AURUM, PHYTOLACCA.  Be careful how you prescribe MERCURY because wrongly prescribed can confuse the picture and often sends the patient away (quite common for MERCURY patients). Martin recognises MERCURY very much on its proliferation of physical generals (not physical particulars) – things like oedema and sweating, processes of decomposition generally get running through the body. Because of its nature, it’s not always possible to exactly locate the MECURY mentality first, but if you can get those physical generals …. Along with the modalities, it’s an easy remedy to spot.

The thymus gland and thyroid gland are both devastated by radiation so before prescribing SYPHILINUM prescribe PLUTONIUM 30.

Pituitary gland[11]

One of the two centres in the head. The seat of the mind. The master gland of all glands, blueprint of all you have been and all you will be. Your destiny is here, all diseases enter the physical body through this centre.

To Hindus it is Ajna, the two petalled lotus, and Shiva lives here. In the West, Mercury lives here, the communicator, Hermes, the messenger of the gods. The realm of thought and reason. It is at this point that you are able to make contact with your spirit and its requirements through focusing the mind. That still small voice in the background that no-one takes notice of.

Some patients have no symptoms – withheld or give little away, not in their body or don’t know who they are – CARCINOSEN 50M, after one week (the) principal miasm appears and this is what needs to be treated. Prescribe the miasm and the remedy picture will ensue.

Remedies for this centre: CALCAREA CARBONICA, BARYTA CARBONICA.

TUBERCULINUM and CARCINOSEN are also very good. BELLIS PERENNIS acts like sunshine on this gland. One of the tendencies of this gland is to be: Dosy, slow, sweaty (and) put on weight.

Afflictions result in loss of memory. If this gland and the pineal gland function as they should they will resist all disease – including cancer. It is at this centre that you have control over (your)selves. You can decide to be happy, optimistic and sunny and reach goals without failing or be miserable and depressed and resentful. This is point of choice. If (you are) happy and optimistic the body is not so subject to disease.

Fibroids are result of out of control brain. Quieten the brain and turn on to optimistic subjects.

TUBERCULINUM and MEDORRHINUM – keep to 30 and repeat over long period of time: nosode/remedy/nosode/remedy

CALCAREA CARBONICA very useful. Prescribe 10M and repeat four times a year.

Heavy periods and bits of tissue come away.

Connection with throat centre: what you think is what you speak. THUJA is indicated here. Remedies made from flowers (like the brain at the end of the spine – a blossom on a stalk). Particularly orange flowers –  CALENDULA and LILIUM TIGRINUM.

(Therapeutic:) BELLIS PERENNIS (10M) used to induce pregnancy.

Works in unison with the thyroid and thymus glands and the heart centre.

• Thyroid more in women – leads to fibroids
• Thymus more in men – leads to heart disease and prostate problems later in life.

Working on one helps the others as well as itself.

Use THYROID GLAND 3x in women and THYMUS GLAND 6x or 3x in men to cleanse from inoculation. Do not give thyroid to a pregnant woman. THYROID GLAND is useful in old age (again low potencies or even LM).

The three aspects of the pituitary[12]

The pituitary has two lobes: ….. The anterior lobe influences the growth and reproductive organs. …(and) has much to do with the calcium metabolism, bone formation and production of teeth. All problems reflected in those people requiring calcium remedies: CALCAREA CARBONICA, CALCAREA PHOSPHATE and CALCAREA FLUORATA. It also especially affects the thyroid gland, the cortex of the supra-renal and the islet tissues in the pancreas.

1. Posterior lobe:

1. • Raises the blood pressure
   • Stimulates the muscles
   • Stimulates digestion
   • Regulates the water flow from the kidneys

Over-activity of the posterior lobe has different effects in different age groups:

Child Overgrowth and early sexual maturity

Rapid and debilitating growth such as in phosphoric remedies (PHOSPHOROUS and PHOSPHORIC ACID)

Can see: pituitary giants, pituitary dwarfs, pituitary eunuchs (produced by under-activity)

Adult Over-activity: bones grow at their extremities (can’t grow any longer) = Acromegaly.

Spade-like fingers tips, hands and feet become coarse, facial changes, head and face square-ish, jaw becomes heavy and square, skin thickened, (head) seems too large for body.

Under-activity: produces the opposite. They put on a lot of fat, inversion of sexual function, drowsiness, dry skin, hair loss, mentally dull. (Like Calc-Carb picture).

Personality: Over-secretion – accompanied by intense living, like Arsenicum when well (live fast, intensively, cover a lot more ground than other people in the same time). Courage, initiative and forcefulness of character. The centre of idealism and truth. Often find people who are idealistic or altruistic are highly motivated, have the courage of their own convictions and forethought. Arsenicum has more forethought than anyone else – that’s when talking about the general run of humanity.

Under-activity produces lassitude, timidity and failure. So – the pituitary is the success centre.

Inability to maintain effort is a sign of insufficiency of this gland. So, if you can’t sustain the effort required to do something, to realise the conclusion of a task, you’ve got a problem here. Butterfly brain, flit, phosphorous-like, enthusiasms here and there which die out. Leaving life cluttered with unfinished tasks. (A Calc-Carb would never have got started at all!)

Associated more with sycosis – NATRUM SULPH, MEDORRHINUM, THUJA – governs water going to kidneys and peristalsis in alimentary canal. Disabilities with heart and kidneys that are to do with fluids tend to be sycotic – it is a watery miasm.

2. Anterior lobe:

Tubercular/psoric

3. Cleft between the lobes:

Syphilitic – link between thought and action – OPIUM, HELLIBORUS, BUFO

So destruction in people takes place in the cleft. SYPHILINUM is the first remedy to heal link. You have to perceive the intention, as patient reports nothing. All divulged from the detail. Patients indulge in self-destruction and self-denial and are non co-operative, e.g. sweet and sugar binges or too much alcohol. All drugs only act to delay karma, they have to go there in the end. Forces around patient  which are intended to see patient fail – (you should) continue to work to see they succeed.

Remedies CANNABIS INDICA, ARSENICUM ALB, MANGANUM and SULPHUR.

This centre records your dreams. If you don’t remember them the centre is blocked. It is the centre to which we retreat – our inner cave where we seek solace. Children live here and observe and assimilate. We retreat here after shock and trauma.

Any trauma, especially in childhood, will cause us to retreat into this cave for safety. As a result the thyroid, thymus and sex glands go out of balance. Growth and development becomes diffused and ineffective. The base chakra becomes completely lost.

Afterwards Martin Miles[13]

Outward disease is a sign of inner error; yet people parade their diseases like medals. There’s a gap, a defective memory- but when we practise homeopathy, we seek to close that gap. Every time you take a history from a closed patient, trace backwards in as much detail to get the pattern of error lying in the past which has produced the manifestation of now.

It is possible to use homeopathic remedies as a very effective force of healing on the knowledge of the endocrine glands alone. These glands and their secretions are called the chemistry of the soul. They certainly have a direct effect upon the person. The whole manifestation of being, size, shape, colour, are very much governed by the action of the endocrine glands. So, increasing your knowledge, from experience, and that will give you understanding, and in understanding you will grow into something greater than you are now. And that’s one of the ways knowledge of homeopathy is such a great instrument

This article has been taken directly from Martin’s work, with only a few of my own comments. My hope is that it will encourage many of you to work in this area of homeopathy. The success of this work would be a fitting tribute to Martin’s life.

Martin Miles 29 August 1947 – 27 September 2007[14]

 

Sources:
28 Oct 1991 Friends Meeting House, Blackheath. More on thymus gland
14 Oct 1991 Friends Meeting House, Blackheath. Points arising on thymus gland