In Memoriam: Robin Murphy, ND

Jay Yasgur, RPh

 

 

Dr. Murphy was a naturopathic physician who conducted countless well-attended homeopathic seminars and wrote popular materia medicae and repertories.

 

Known and appreciated by legions of homeopathic students, practitioners and clients for his relaxed yet authoritative lecturing style, Robin succumbed to COVID-19 in November this year. He crossed the threshold at the age of 71.

 

Dr. Murphy discovered homeopathy during his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI). As some of you may know, there was a homeopathic medical school at this university many years ago (until around 1920) which contained a vast number of homeopathic books and journals. During his library visits Robin happened to come across this collection which piqued his interest and, despite his being an autodidact, evolved into a decision to commence formal, academic study of the subject in 1976 at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM; currently known as National University of Natural Medicine).

 

Robin became so accomplished in his mastery of the subject that ,after graduating in 1980, he remained at his alma mater teaching homeotherapeutics until 1984. During that time he was also an instructor of homeopathy at Bastyr University, a naturopathic medical school located in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Murphy taught it all, repertory, materia medica, case taking, posology, and subsequently transitioned into a career as a seminar educator in 1983.

 

Paul Herscu, ND, shared this recollection:

 

“I have one story to share that was personal to me, a sort of direction-of-my-life story. I had been studying and practicing homeopathy in NYC in the early 80’s, and then had attended the 1982 National Center for Homeopathy’s professional course in Millersville, PA. While interviewing the different doctors there, I settled on the ND program as most consistent with the type of practice Hahnemann described. I started studying at NCNM in the fall of 1982.

 

“At that time classical homeopathy was not accepted as the main form of practice there, and in general I felt rather uncommitted toward the program. Previously I had considered going to regular medical school during my educational search path and was still open to going that route, and then practicing homeopathy.

 

“It was then that I met and befriended Robin Murphy, who was practicing classical homeopathy there. I confided my frustration to him and, since he was aware of my prior understanding of homeopathy, he suggested that on weekends I teach and see patients at his satellite clinic. I began to see patients at his clinic during my first year. He gave me total autonomy, which I very much appreciated.

 

“He also helped start a study group for a half-dozen ND students who wanted to study classical homeopathy at the school.

 

“That opportunity of seeing patients again was a lifesaver for me, watching the workings of the homeopathic remedy, reminding me why I was in school. It buoyed me, and I continued on until my graduation in 1986. In very real and practical terms I am a naturopath who practices homeopathy rather than a medical doctor practicing homeopathy because of this act of kindness from Robin, which I will not forget.”

 

Robin’s masterful opus, a 1979 homeopathic research project he undertook while in naturopathic school, was a 368-page, 34-chapter, 5.5” x 8” rather crudely put-together book entitled Homeopathic Medicine and Cancer: the Philosophy and Clinical Experiences of Dr. A.H. Grimmer, M.D. (revised 1983). It is still in-print and available for sale from his website (https://www.lotushealthinstitute.com) as a better-produced spiral-bound volume.

 

Murphy wrote a number of other books, many of which became quite popular in the homeopathic community. His Lotus Materia Medica (1995) … “Contains the history, folklore, planetary signs, and therapeutic uses of 1,200 remedies. Condensed from many other sources, it includes spagyric uses—where the leftover from the tincture process after the liquid is extracted is burned to an ash, triturated, and re-introduced to the preparation. Re-issued as the Homeopathic Remedy Guide, 2000.”–Julian Winston (The Heritage of Homoeopathic Literature, p. 44).

 

He compiled his Homeopathic Medical Repertory (1993) by re-working the Complete Repertory and placing it into an alphabetical order:

 

“Contains modern terminology and diagnostic rubrics. There are many additions, but they are of unknown value since no ‘source’ key is included, making it impossible to differentiate which remedies came from Kent, which were added in the Complete, and which are Murphy’s additions … In the experience of some, the arrangement makes it so easy to find possible rubrics that the need to search for, perhaps, a more inclusive one is obviated by the ease of finding the first. The result is that in the hands of a beginner or inexperienced person, rubrics are found which are ‘close enough’ but not necessarily the most precise rubric needed for a successful prescription. Although the arrangement of the Kent work might seem confusing, constant use of it inculcates a sense of exactness in rubric selection which is obviated by an alphabetical arrangement.”–Julian Winston, (ibid, p. 76).

 

 

“In 1986 Mitzi Lebensorger and I visited Robin in Boerne, Texas, where he was living and working at the time. After our visit, the three of us suggested that the Guadalupe River Ranch in Boerne be the next location for the NCH Summer School. The idea was presented to the NCH Board of Directors and was accepted and in the summer of 1987 it was held there. (This was during Jackie Wilson’s tenure as Dean of the program in 1986 and 1987.)

 

“I had heard that the reason Joe Lillard of Homeopathy Works and Jim Klemmer of Natural Health Supply started using bullet boxes for remedy kits originated from Robin, who had discovered that Erhart and Karl [Chicago homeopathic pharmacy] had previously used them to package their kits. Robin went to Haiti after the earthquake in 2010 with Homeopaths Without Borders to teach folks there how to use Homeopathic Remedy Kits.

 

“I had the privilege of introducing Robin and his presentation at the NCH meeting in Colorado in 2016.”

 

Dr. Murphy continued to update his Homeopathic Clinical Repertory (1990; 2nd 1993; 3rd 2005), and circa 2018, it became MetaRepertory (4th 2021). This 2021 version was revised in order to complement the 2020 edition of his materia medica, Nature’s Materia Medica. This work started out as Lotus Materia Medica and went through a number of editions before finally becoming Nature’s Materia Medica (4th 2020). Other works include Keynotes of Materia Medica, Case Analysis and Prescribing Techniques. This brief summation is by no means a complete sequencing or listing of his published works.

 

In an email conversation (November 27, 2021) naturopathic physician Durr Elmore, commented:

 

“Robin was my first teacher. That was back in about 1982 after I graduated from chiropractic school and started studying naturopathy at NCNM. I remember him as a very good teacher, especially of materia medica; he made homeopathy come alive for us.”

 

“Dr Murphy, one of my early teachers, imbued every single class he gave with his passion and brilliance, and I was still his student watching videos up until weeks before his death. His materia medicas and repertories will always be amazing references for me in my practice, for my surrounding family to whom I have gifted the books, and for my clients who have the same passion for homeopathy as Robin Murphy.” – Dr. vet. med. Dee Blanco

 

“I attended one of his very early weekend seminars; it was fun and interesting. He spoke about ancient Egyptian medicine, Native American medicine and homeopathy and connected  them in a very nice way. I do remember him having a fun and interesting way of lecturing. I liked his sense of humor and his choice of topics. May he rest in peace.” – Jennifer Cunningham

 

As you may know, Dr. Murphy’s lectures not only contained homeopathic material but material of a related and often esoteric nature. To illustrate this, I offer a quote from an interview which Elaine Lewis conducted as published in the December 2010 issue of ‘Hpathy Ezine,’ (on-line journal https://hpathy.com): “Aesclepius is the Greek god of medicine. Before Hahnemann became a homeopath, he said the highest form of medicine was achieved by the Greeks and Egyptians 2500 years before his time, and then he explains it this way: they had Aesclepius in balance!

 

“Aesclepius had two daughters— Panacea and Hygea—and this reflects to me the whole condition of homeopathy today. Panacea was the daughter who did nothing but find cures for people; so, she’s sitting around waiting for diseases to happen so she can cure them. But Aesclepius had another daughter named Hygea, whose only goal in life was to prevent disease! So, to have “Aesclepius in Balance” means 50% of our work should be treating disease and the other 50% should be in preventing disease! And that’s where homeopathy’s the weakest—there’s very little promotion of diet, exercise, a philosophy about life, approaches to staying healthy and so on; so, homeopathy, to me, is the greatest natural system of medicine that I’ve found in 40 years of research, but people don’t know that after Hahnemann gave up [regular] medicine, he began following a French naturalist named Mousseau. So, for twentysome years, Hahnemann gave tonics, wrote papers on vinegar, on charcoal, on using brandy as medicine, camphor and all this stuff, plus diet and fresh air and exercise; he was using home remedies before he became a homeopath.” – Robin Murphy, ND.

“Robin had the ability to make Homeopathy available to anyone, medical or layperson; his practical approach to the use of the remedies was key to his approach to wellness and medicine in general; his role in the resurgence of the use of Homeopathy in our alternative medicine world is, and will be, without question of benefit to generations now and to come. He will be missed by all he touched in so many ways.” – Jim Klemmer

 

“I had the pleasure of studying with Robin when he taught homeopathy at Bastyr University. Robin was a wonderfully descriptive teacher, and after studying with him I became devoted to homeopathy.

 

“In 1984, while I was still a student at the University, my first wife became fatally ill with a carcinoma of the lung. I called Robin who was in the process of moving from Portland, Oregon to Florida, and he deviated from his trip to come to our house in Petaluma, Californa and take my wife’s homeopathic case. I will always be grateful to Robin.” – Richard Mann ND. DHANP

 

Lastly, I offer another quote of Robin’s, the final few lines from the introduction to his opus. Perhaps they are equally apropos now as they were then:

 

– Homeopathic Medicine and Cancer, pp. 7,8. Robin Murphy, ND.

 

It is a rare occurrence when such a confluence of gifts appears in one individual. Let us be grateful that Dr. Murphy arrived on the scene when he did and pray that others of equal caliber continue to arise to stimulate an equally great interest in our beloved art.

 

Many thinks to those who submitted their comments.

 

 

Dearest Dr. Robin Murphy,

 

Even though I have never had the fortune of meeting you in person, your loss has left me with a heartache that surpasses my mind. I heard your soulful and wise voice for countless years. You weren’t just a digital voice or ink on paper; you were a gentle guide. You are a powerful source of light amid darkness. You are my greatest teacher!

 

You, dear soul, awakened the dormant healer within thousands … You were and are the catalyst that has helped heal the suffering of many whose lives we have touched and continue to touch.

 

We heard you when you spoke like a roaring river, asking us to help carry your message of healing to others in need, but now that you have joined the silent ocean, your message will continue to vibrate outward from within us, akin to the powerful yet humble remedies you taught us about.

 

Some of us were blessed with a momentary glimpse at your tall peak of healing wisdom. Others will never witness the magnitude of the mountain they were standing next to, because you, my friend, were either too close or too far away … Yet, free of any attachments, your teachings will live on in the endless cosmos, regardless.

 

Dear precious friend, your light will not be put out by your physical demise. For those who are grieving for you, the Friend reminds us that grief has no meaning when hearts are close – no goodbyes necessary.

 

Like the Persian poet and mystic Rumi says, “Death has nothing to do with going away. The sun sets. The moon sets. But they are not gone.” You were and continue to be a sun for many souls whom you blessed on this Earth.

 

Pass happily, my dear friend, your message will rise again in a different form, maybe as an echo of the name of a remedy in a healer’s mind or as a potentized grain of sugar in the body of a dear one.

 

Sharum Sharif, ND