Episode 25: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh with Ciara Corcoran and Dr. Anthony de Pontes

Gold, frankincense and myrrh have been valued for thousands of years, but what can their history tell us about their place in natural medicine and homeopathy? In this Christmas episode of the Homeopathy247 Podcast, Mary Greensmith is joined by Dr. Anthony de Pontes and Ciara Corcoran for a relaxed exploration of these three famous gifts. Together, they look at their historical significance, traditional medicinal uses and some of the ways they appear within homeopathic materia medica. Gold and Aurum The conversation begins with gold, known in homeopathy as Aurum. Ciara discusses the emotional themes traditionally associated with the Aurum remedy picture, including heaviness, hopelessness, responsibility and a feeling of having fallen from a previously strong position. She also talks about some of the physical characteristics found in the materia medica, including certain headache and bone pain descriptions. Mary and Ciara explore why the symbolism of gold can make the remedy picture easier to remember. The History of Frankincense Frankincense has been used for thousands of years as incense, perfume and within traditional medicine. Anthony discusses Boswellia, the plant source of frankincense, from a herbal perspective and describes its traditional use in relation to inflammation and joint discomfort. The conversation also touches on the long history of frankincense in religious ceremonies and ancient Egyptian practices. Exploring Myrrh Myrrh has an equally long history. Anthony discusses some of the emotional themes he associates with myrrh in his own work, while Mary explores its traditional reputation as a substance used for cleansing and preservation. They also discuss its historical use in ancient Egypt, Syria, Palestine and the Roman world. Medicine, Symbolism and History One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is how history, symbolism and materia medica can overlap. Gold represents value and kingship. Frankincense has long been connected with ceremony and scent. Myrrh has associations with preservation, suffering and death. Looking at these wider stories can provide another way to remember and understand substances used within homeopathy and other traditional systems. You Never Stop Learning Homeopathy Mary, Anthony and Ciara finish by discussing something every homeopathy student eventually discovers: there is simply too much materia medica to memorise everything. Books, repertories and reference materials remain an important part of practice. Rather than trying to remember every detail, they encourage people to enjoy the ongoing process of learning. Key Takeaways Gold, frankincense and myrrh have long histories in medicine and culture. Aurum is the homeopathic preparation traditionally associated with gold. Ciara discusses heaviness and hopelessness within the Aurum remedy picture. Frankincense is also known as Boswellia and has a history of herbal use. Myrrh has been used historically in ceremonial and medicinal traditions. Symbolism can provide another way to remember remedy characteristics. Homeopathy draws on substances from many different sources. Materia medica is something practitioners continue studying throughout their careers.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel and be updated with our latest episodes. You can also subscribe to our podcast channels available on your favourite podcast listening app below: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homeopathy247-podcast/id1628767810 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39rjXAReQ33hGceW1E50dk Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/homeopathy247-podcast Follow us on our social media accounts: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeopathy247/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeopathy247/ You can also visit our website at https://homeopathy247.com/