Dear colleagues and friends,

We have the great pleasure to invite you to the 63^rd Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) Congress organized in Belgium to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the UNIO HOMOEOPATHICA BELGICA, the Belgian professional organization for medical homeopathy. This congress will take place in Oostende, the Queen of the seaside resorts.

Oostende is a cosmopolitan city with a rich historical past. Oostende is renowned for its splendid sands along the North Sea, its harbour and yacht-basin. Oostende was the home base of the famous painter Ensor and hosts one of Belgium 's best museums of modern art. Furthermore, the city is famous for its casino, its horse race track, its car-free shopping streets, its gastronomy and its nightlife.  No city on the Belgian coast has so much to offer.

The congress will take place in the congress centre "Kursaal", Monacoplein (www.kursaaloostende.be/newsite). The Kursaal is situated at the seaside and has been thoroughly refurbished. The result is an interesting mix of old and new, looks stylish and gives a very transparent impression thanks to the enormous windows, enabling the light and the magnificent view to pours in. In the "Kursaal" everything is under one roof: an impressive entry hall, 3 multi-functional meeting rooms, 1 auditorium, 1 meeting centre, 3 restaurants, 3 bars, 1 night club, 1 casino and even an underground car park for 340 cars. Belgium 's most renowned chef Pierre Wynants has lent his name and creativity to the "Kursaal". So you see, even after the congress, life is exciting at the "Kursaal".

Oostende is easily accessible by car (E40 and E17 motorways). There are direct connections by train with Oostende from the Belgian National Airport (Brussels ) and the TGV - Thalys - Eurostar stations. The train station is centrally located: the hotels, shopping street, "Kursaal" are all at walking distance.

Homeopathy has a long tradition in Belgium which started in the beginning of the 19^th century with Dr. Pierre Joseph De Moor (1787 - 1845) and G.H. Jahr (1801 - 1875). Dr. F.F. Quinn was the personal doctor of prince Leopold (later King of Belgium). He studied one year with Hahnemann and worked at the "Royal London Homeopathic Hospital " from 1849.

The topic of the congress is "Evidence Based Homeopathy: more than results of double blind studies" through overview of effective homeopathic methodologies and strategies which have stood the test of time. Presentations of provings, clinical cases, clinical studies, RCT's and pharmaco-epidemiological studies are priorities.

The main subject will be the verification of homeopathic symptoms which will allow us to improve our repertories and materia medica.

Other important topics are:

- Homeopathy and the food chain: an answer to the increasing pollution and calamities

- Pharmacology: quality and efficacy of homeopathic medication.

- Miscellaneous

- Satellite symposia on cosmetics, phytotherapy and food supplements.

Don't miss this event !

It will be exceptional in amplitude (5 conference rooms in parallel), in length (5 days), in speakers' prestige (many Professors from renowned universities), in worldwide attendance, in location (Queen of the Belgian coast).   

Study groups are already working on one of these topics all around the world.

Participation is fundamental to this 63^rd LMHI congress. Your input is of prime importance; join us by contacting our scientific committee: info@lmhi2008.org

This congress is unique also because the GIRI share this LMHI event. For the first time, the GIRI organises, in association with the LMHI, a one day conference just before the LMHI congress. The GIRI is an Independent and International Scientific Society, created in Monaco in 1986. Its aim is to bring together researchers working at Universities or research Institutes of different areas of knowledge - medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physics, agronomy, biology, etc. - and who performed basic or applied research on ultra-dilutions. The GIRI conferences look into on going research on this topic at Universities all over the world.

The support and attendance of the Queen Paola of Belgium is announced.

Several social events which are planned in the evening, in a relaxed atmosphere, will help to get to know each other better. For the gala dinner, the cocktail will be offered during the trip, using an old-timer train, from Oostende to Bruges . The dinner will be served in the Belfry (www.trabel.com/brugge-m-belfort.htm ).

Accompanying person tours will be organised. As examples a trip to Bruges and Flanders Fields (www.inflandersfields.be/default2.htm ) and a "Painters and art"- tour, visiting Delvaux and Permeke museum. As mentioned before, visiting the PMMK, a very famous museum of modern art is recommended.

Belgium is situated on the dividing line of two big cultures namely the Anglo-Saxon and the Latin one. In fact the dividing line goes transversely through Belgium ; we have the Flemish and the French speaking part. Furthermore, 80.000 people in the Eastern part of the country speak German. This makes Belgium a special country. Belgian people work hard on the one hand, but on the other hand they really like to enjoy life. Oostende is situated in the Flemish speaking part of Belgium .

It will be a great pleasure for us to welcome you at the 63^rd LMHI Congress in Oostende and the scientific committee, on behalf of all Belgian colleagues, looks forward meeting you and wish you unforgettable days in Oostende.

Michel Van Wassenhoven.

Organisation President of the Congress.