The creation of Synthesis
So often it’s the innocent decisions, the coincidences, and those strange little synchronicities that shape reality. The unusual story behind how Frederik Schroyens created Synthesis is no different. Below are a few pieces of the puzzle that, once they fell into place, opened the path to a groundbreaking tool in the history of homeopathy:
- Frederik Schroyens became interested in studying homeopathy after his medical degree (1977)
- By chance he became the constitutive President of the largest Flemish education center for homeopathy, VSU (1981)
- Professor Jean Fichefet (Namur, Belgium) decided to give homeopathy a chance for the lingering health issues of his son
- Dr. Alex Jacques (Wépion, Belgium) succeeded curing Professor Fichefet’s son in a convincing way
- Professor Fichefet wanted to give something back to homeopathy by creating a software tool to assist homeopathic prescribing (Radar, 1983)
- Professor Fichefet invited Frederik Schroyens, being one of the main homeopathic educators, to advise him on this development
- Later on, Professor Fichefet asked Frederik Schroyens to create a homeopathic database, which Frederik Schroyens called Synthesis (1985)
- Ever since the first version in 1987, Frederik Schroyens has continued to nurture his life’s work as its creator, author and editor throughout
The full, untold story
The above story of the beginning is often quoted when describing the digitalization of homeopathy.
Several publications have delved deeper into this anecdotal beginning of Synthesis.
- Frederik Schroyens’ lecture at the LMHI World Congress in Utrecht (May 15, 2025) offers a 20-minute bird’s-eye overview on the creation and development of Synthesis
- Eugénie Krüger (Homeopathy Hangout, Australia) recorded a more extensive version of the Synthesis story: “40 years of renovating repertory and repertorization”, an interview on September 4, 2025.
- At last, there is the 2022 interview, where Marco Spiezia (Zeus) asked Frederik Schroyens why he chose homeopathy in the first place and how he began the creation of Synthesis.
Introduction to the 2022 interview
Through pertinent questions - such as how Synthesis started, what it was like to publish the first printed edition, the hardest challenge he had to overcome, and what he was most proud of - Frederik Schroyens was encouraged to share the story behind its development.
The interview then shifts focus to the creation of Synthesis Adonis, the newest edition (2022).
To offer yet another way to explore all about the creation of Synthesis, this part of the interview’s text has been transcribed.
At last, as a teaser, here is the excerpt explaining the quote in the page title:
Frederik Schroyens: And, yeah, the thing that changed is that I got so much absorbed and intrigued and fascinated by the study of homeopathy that I did not pick up studying acupuncture, chiropraxy, gemmotherapy and all these other things.
FS: So I was in fact ... I got stuck in homeopathy because of the experience in London with Dr. Blackie and all the other people.
Marco Spiezia: And thank God you did, I may add, otherwise we wouldn't have Synthesis.
FS: What'd you say?
MS: I said: ”And thank God you did because otherwise we wouldn't have Synthesis today.”
FS: Yeah, I would have been an eclectic therapist as Kent wrote. I would be, have been an eclectic.
