Secondhand hardback published by Homoeopathic Medical Publishers, Mumbai April 2004.

First edition in very good condition. 

Review by Dr Sunila BHMS,MD(Hom) of Calicut, Kerala :

In this book will be found the provings of 6 rare remedies. They are:

Lapis lazuli, the blue stone: symbol for purity & rarity. In ancient times, it was as precious as gold. In Buddhist tradition it is the colour of the Medicine Buddha. It lowers blood pressure & is antispasmodic.

Lithium carbonicum

Ephedra sinica: supposedly the main ingredient of the ancient ecstatic power drink Soma called ‘Vine of immortality’ by Hindus.

Ginkgo biloba: Darwin called the Ginkgo tree a ‘living fossil’, in mythology Ginkgo is the ‘tree of life’ or in symbolim the leaf has been worshiped for centuries as a symbol of love.

Lignum aquilaria agallocha: very old wood of fumigation: the Bibilical wood Aloe or Eagle wood.

Cypraea eglantina (Cowrie snail): antique cultures attached supernatural powers to the Cowrie snail.

The proving of Anne Schadde & Dr. Juergen Hansel incorporated all the advancements in the proving method. The book is aptly named “Listening to Stone, Wood & Shell”.

They have given a study of the substance itself, its properties, its place in nature, its survival strategy, its reference in human history, its proving, summary& Repertory under each drug.

The proving symptoms are usually based on observations made by the provers and in some cases observations made by the supervisors about their provers.

Listening to stone, wood and shell will help us listen to our patients and give chance to prescribe the correct remedy. These provings may give us some idea about the healing power of these remedies.

Interestingly, they have chosen substances that are relatively silent in nature, static & seemingly inert. These provings, well done, well written &well arranged, will undoubtedly prove to be valuable tools in our practice.