Obituary Philippe Picard (23 February 1939–20 January 2021)

Philippe Picard (23 February 1939–20 January 2021)

Photo credits Boiron Co.

Philippe Picard, whose sense of humour and administrative acumen helped bridge many a gap between homeopathic and non-homeopathic colleagues, departed this sphere during the first month of 2021.

Philippe-Marie-Michel Picard (23 February 1939–20 January 2021) was a man with a broad and infectious smile who did much to popularise homeopathy in his native France and later, during his 11 year (1990–2001) sojourn in Canada, his adopted second home. Philippe conducted a private practice in Paris (1966–1981) and in Charente (1981–1990) and, in 1986, became involved with Boiron-France becoming the Director of Homeopathic Laboratories. Philippe also possessed a keen interest in Chinese energy medicine, acupuncture and the works of Auguste Weihe, Jr. (1840–1896).

He was affectionately known as ‘Dr. PP’ by his cadre of Boiron-Canada employees who were fortunate enough to enjoy his many stories and partake of his warm, positive personality. It was said that his knowledge was so varied that he could hold court on just about any subject. During this overseas assignment as Medical Director of Boiron-Canada, he produced one of his most enduring works, Le Guide canadien de l'automedication homeopathique (1994; The Canadian Guide to Homeopathic Self-medication, 1995). Louise Martineau, Nghia Truong and Susan Schutta made contributions to this popular book. Picard felt that the most important goal of this work is to ensure every person be responsible for his own health and health choices.

During his stay in Canada, he created the formulae for the Boiron combination products Camilia and Cocyntal. Picard gave homeopathic lectures to the faculty of pharmacy at the University of Laval (Quebec City).

Dr. PP also wrote Un medecin homeopathe vous conseille (1975), Approfondissement et Synthese de l'homeopathie (1977), L'Homeopathie du pharmacien (1984), Le Medecin, le Malade et l'Homeopathie (with Michel Aubin; 1980, 2nd edition 1982; this work was translated into English in 1983 by Pat and Robin Campbell), Sachez être malade pour bien guérir (1979), Comment se soigner bien par l'homéopathie (1987), Conseiller l'homeopathie (1990; 2nd edition 1998) and Se soigner seul sans peur: les pouvoirs de l'homeopathie (1991). This last work was a bestseller and somewhat encyclopaedic in its scope.

Dr. Picard completed his medical studies in 1966 from the faculty of Paris and defended his medical thesis, ‘Les Dysmenorrhees de la jeune fille et l'homeopatherapie’, under the direction of Dr. Léa de Mattos (1908–1989), a noted woman homeopath and Brazilian native who emigrated to France. Picard was a student of Dr. Denis Demarque (1915–1999), one of that country's great homeopaths who, by the way, helped to disseminate homeopathy in Brazil. Picard shared a close friendship with Dr. Michel Aubin (1927–1985). Aubin along with Demarque and the Boiron brothers founded, in 1972, Centre d'etudes et de documentation homeopathiques (CEDH; its name changed, in 1994, to Centre d'enseignement et de developpement de l'homeopathie). Picard taught at the Canadian branch of this educational centre. It was in the early 1960s that he began his homeopathic studies and then, in 1972, became involved as a lecturer within the CEDH and later assumed responsibilities for planning and designing that organisation's seminars. From 1976 to 1977, he was secretary of the French Homeopathic Society and, in 1978, helped to found the Samuel Hahnemann International College.

As one can imagine, his passing leaves a vacuum, most difficult to fill.

A student of Denis Demarque, inseparable from his friend Dr. Michel Aubin, who passed away prematurely, he made a major contribution to the democratization of homeopathy among health professionals and patients. (Dr. Christophe Garnier)

I wish to acknowledge Christophe Garnier and Marie-Laure Protière and her associates at Boiron-Canada Inc. for their kind assistance in providing material for this obituary.

Publication History

Article published online:
31 December 2021

• Bibliography

• Picard's remembrance, ‘Hommage à Philippe Picard (1939–2021) entretien sur l’homéopathie et la médecine chinoise,' written by Dr. Jean-Claude Dubois, may be found in La Revue d'Homéopathie (12:3, September, 2021, pp. 172–177).
• Dictionnaire des auteurs d'ouvrages d'homéopathie en langue française (2003; Drs. Alain Sarembaud and Olivier Rabanes).