LM oder Q Potenzen
http://www.nesh.com/articles-on-homeopathy/
Vergleich: Siehe: Mitteln + Einnahme
Meine Erfahrung:
Zupassung von LM oder Q Potenzen ist sehr schwer.
Kostspielig und Zeit raubend ist es auch.
[John Morgan M.R.Pharm. S., R.S. Hom/Helios Pharmacy]
DOSE, DILUTION and the LM POTENCIES
Hahnemann completed the 5th edition of the Organon in 1833 and
the 6th edition by the end of 1841. He wrote a letter dated 20th
February, 1842, to Schwabe, his publisher
in Dusseldorf saying that ' I have now after 18 months of work finished
the 6th edition of my Organon, the most nearly perfect of all.'
After stating his preference as to type and paper he asked Schwabe if he would
publish it, but before the negotiations were completed Hahnemann died on 2nd
July 1843. His wife Melanie was pressed by Boenninghausen, Hering and other
students of Hahnemann to publish the document after his death, but she would
not release the manuscript either because of a desire to protect his name or
because of her desire for money! Although most writers favour Melanie's avarice
as the cause of the delay, this is unlikely, as the manuscript was not
released, even though she was over 80 when she died, and her greed was thus
left unsatisfied. Hahnemann described her as his best ever student and her deep
love for him surely withheld the manuscript to deny his critics the opportunity
of judging the 6th edition even more eccentric than the 5th.
It was only released to the world, after translation, in 1921 when Richard
Haehl procured the manuscript from Hahnemann's ancestors by which time there
had been a great establishment of homopathy by J.T. Kent and those who
followed him. It is ironic that Kent, such a devoted follower of his master,
should have only had the fifth edition, and not the 'most nearly perfect of
all' on which to base his teaching. Had the 6th edition been available to him,
the whole evolution of homopathy would surely have been different.
Kent's contribution to the development of the high potencies established
an extension to remedy preparation based on the guidelines given by Hahnemann
in the 5th edition (published in 1833), namely the centessimal potency scale.
By 1921, 5 years after Kent's death, America and Europe were well established
in decimal and centessimal remedy philosophy so the discovery, in the 6th
edition, of a new method of potentising remedies, the LM (= Q) potencies, did
not, at the time, start a revolution towards their use.
In fact it was a further 33 years, in 1954, that Dr. Pierre Schmidt of
Geneva published essays about his experiences using the LM scale. Since then
only a few have carried the flame in Europe and India, but recently the
worldwide growth of homopathy has started to look again at the
LM potencies which Hahnemann describes, in a footnote to § 270 as being
"the most powerful and at the same time mildest in action i.e. as the most
perfected"
The evolution of the preparation and application of Hahnemann's remedies
passed through several phases. His early use of remedies (from 1784) were small
crude doses, of
the drug, in powder or tincture form given according to the homopathic
principle. There were side effects (the poisonous remedies such as Ars., and
the desire to eliminate these toxic effects led him to develop, in 1815, the
method of trituration and subsequent liquid dilution and succussion, we know as
the centessimal potencies.
From 1815 he used potentised remedies for the toxic and insoluble inert
materials such as Silica, Carb-v. etc. and dosed directly with drops of the
less poisonous mother tinctures such as Bry., Puls., Rhus-t.. By 1834 he was
using all his remedies in a potentised form, giving the appropriate potency and
the minimum dose (i.e. quantity)
of his medicines to patients by means of the smallest sugar granules
available.
These so-called 'pellet' dosages are described in Chronic Diseases p151
as 'the finest, of the size of poppy-seeds, of which about 200 (more or less)
weigh a grain' and just
one of these tiny granules, given dry on the tongue, remained
Hahnemann's standard solid dose right up to 1837.
It seems that the evolution of his remedy preparation was fuelled by the
desire to create, not only, a highly dynamised remedy but also to give it in
the smallest dose (quantity) possible to effect a curative response.
Hahnemann's writings clearly show that he differentiates between the
level of potency and smallness of the dose i.e. the quantity given.
For example,
Organon 5th edition (1833) §276 "A medicine, even though
it may be homopathically suited to the case, does harm in every dose that is
too large, the more harm the larger the dose, and by the magnitude of the dose
it does more harm the greater its homopathicity and the higher the potency
selected".
Organon 5th Edition (1833) § 246 footnote "Now, in cases
where he was convinced of the correctness of his choice of the homopathic
medicine, in order to obtain more benefit for the patient that he was able to
get hitherto from prescribing a single small dose, the idea often naturally
struck him to increase the dose ....... and, for instance, in place of giving a
single very minute globule moistened with the medicine in the highest
dynamization, to administer six, seven or eight of them at once, and even a
half or a whole drop. But the result was almost always less favourable than it
should have been; it was often actually unfavourable, often even very bad - an
injury that, in a patient so treated, it is difficult to repair.
These days we tend to regard the size of a dose of a centessimal remedy
as irrelevant. One tablet or ten tablets taken as one dose still only gives one
dose of the potency, doesn't it? But there are unanswered questions. For
example, why do we not nowadays extensively see remedies causing 'more harm the
larger the dose'? After all, the average dose from a tablet used today is
approximately 50x the dose of Hahnemann's small granule. Also how far can a
remedy be diluted before the remedy is inactive? If we dissolve a tablet in a
bath of water will a teaspoonful dose have the same effect as taking the tablet
itself? Why should olfaction
of a remedy be more suitable to sensitives? Is this because they take in a
smaller quantity of vapour or tablet dust? And how far does the vial have to be
from the nose before the dose is inactive? As we shall see management of cases
using the LM scale is based on the quantity of medicine the patient takes. Its
as if Hahnemann takes it for granted that we all understand the importance of
quantity, as well as potency, when administering a remedy, but this seems
almost a revolutionary new concept to us as we rarely consider this factor when
using both low and high potency centessimal remedies.
Another interesting
concept, which H. consistently refers to, is the ability of an increased number
of succussions to continually strengthen or intensify the potency without
further dilution.
In the 5th edition we find the following footnote to §270
"In order to
maintain a fixed and measured standard for developing the power of liquid
medicines, multiplied experience and careful observation have led me to adopt
two succussions for each phial, in preference to the greater number formerly
employed (by which the medicines were too highly potentised).
There are, however, homeopathists who carry about with them on their
visits to patients the homopathic medicines in the fluid state, and who yet
assert that they do not become more highly potentised in the course of time,
but they thereby show their want of ability to observe correctly. I dissolved a
grain of soda in half an ounce of water mixed with alcohol in a phial, which
was thereby filled two-thirds full, and shook this solution continuously for
half an hour, and this fluid was in potency and energy equal to the thirtieth
development of power."
It is more likely that,
rather than an increase in potency level itself, the large number of
succussions produce a lateral intensification or energising of the solution
within the confines of the dilution factor - a concept upheld by the LM method.
If there was not a 'ceiling' to potency level then serial dilution would not be
needed to make a remedy, one could simply shake any dilution for different
lengths of time as in the example given above. Also the lower potencies are
very limited by the physical molecular presence of the remedy so it is impossible
to make a 30c if there is material presence as potencies above 12c have no
molecules of the original substance left.
The question remains,
however, as to when a potency level is actually reached and how many
succussions are needed to reach it and also whether different dilution factors
need different amounts. For example if one succussion will turn a 29c into a
30c then extra succussions will simply intensify on the 30c level. If more
shakes are needed then a gradual increase in potency occurs until a saturation
point arrives and presumably only intensification takes place. In the sixth
edition Hahnemann describes the daily succussion of the LM solutions as
'altering and slightly increasing the degree of potency' §248 suggesting a
gradual almost exponential curve of increasing potency which never actually
reaches the next degree until a further dilution step is taken.
Hahnemann's thoughts are shown in the following extracts,
Materia Medica Pura
(1827) p46 ....... we must act with moderation in order to avoid increasing the
powers of the medicines to an undue extent by such trituration. A drop of
Drosera in the 30th dilution succussed with 20 strokes of the arm at
each dilution, given as a dose to a child suffering from whooping-cough,
endangers life, whereas, if the dilution phials are succussed only twice,
a globule the size of a poppy seed moistened with the last dilution
cures it readily.
Organon 6th Edition (1842) § 270 footnote ......with so small
diluting medium as 100 to 1 of the medicine, if many succussions by means of a
powerful machine are forced into it, medicines are then developed which,
especially in the higher degrees of dynamisation, act almost immediately, but
with furious even dangerous, violence, especially in weakly patients, without having
a lasting, mild reaction of the vital principle.
On the subject of
repetition of a centessimal dose of the same potency Hahnemann shows an
important change of mind between the 2 editions. In the 5th edition §246
footnote he advocates that" ...... a single dose of a well selected
homopathic medicine should always be allowed first to fully extend its action
before a new medicine is given or the same one repeated.", then continues
in this long footnote to give details of certain chronic and serious acute
conditions when it is actually necessary to repeat the dose several times to
effect a cure, although he advises caution as " he has frequently
experienced no advantage, but most frequently, decided disadvantage"
Whereas in the 6th
edition the re-written §246 dismisses the above as " all my experience
permitted me to say at the time.." and that his research of the previous
five years had wholly solved the difficulties of repetition.
§247 clearly states his renewed
position
"It is impractical
to repeat the same unchanged dose of a remedy once, not to mention its frequent
repetition (and at short intervals in order not to delay the cure). The vital
principle does not accept such unchanged doses without resistance, that is,
without other symptoms of the medicine to manifest themselves than those
similar to the disease to be cured, because the former dose has already
accomplished the expected change in the vital principle and a second
dynamically wholly similar, unchanged dose of the same medicine no longer
finds, therefore, the same conditions of the vital force. The patient may
indeed be made sick in another way by receiving other such unchanged doses,
even sicker than he was, for now only those symptoms of the given remedy remain
active which were not homopathic to the original disease, hence no step
towards cure can follow, only a true aggravation of the condition of the
patient."
After many years of continued experimentation, Hahnemann published new
procedures, which solved some of the problems of dose and repetition. They
formed the basis of the LM method, which was to follow after another five years
painstaking work.
This first breakthrough comes in 1837 when the chapter in Chronic
Diseases called 'Concerning the technical part of Homopathy' describes the new
plussing method for administering centessimal potencies. He is lead to changes
of the dosing of remedies because the " variety among patients as to their
irritability, age, spiritual and bodily development necessitate a great variety
in their treatment and administration to them of the doses of
medicines". Hahnemann felt that
the 'single dose and wait' philosophy left too long a period of inaction and
the speed of cure often too slow as the practitioner could do nothing but wait
for the remedy to complete it curative curve. Also, from his many comments
about violent reactions to remedies, the sensitive patients he saw were
producing undesirable aggravations, which he constantly sought to escape from.
He firstly introduces the greater beneficial effects of administering
remedies always in liquid form, the reason for this being that the medicine
" comes in contact with a much larger surface of sensitive nerves
responsive to the medicinal action" (5th edition §286) and because of this
the effect of the remedy increases. One of the granules of high dynamisation
(he refers mostly to the 30c) is dissolved in 7-20 tablespoons of water with a
little alcohol added. The patient then takes, directly from the bottle, a
tablespoon of the liquid (a teaspoon or coffee-spoon ful for children) two,
four or six hourly for acutes, daily or every other day for chronics. The
choice of how many tablespoons to make the solution with depends on how much of
the granule is required in each tablespoon dose i.e. 1/7th granule (7
tablespoons) - 1/20th (20 tablespoons), as well as for how many days the remedy
is to be given. The differing amount of solution to be made up gives
flexibility for each patients needs and infers that the remedy action is
different (weaker) in its 'intensity' the more diluted the original granule
becomes. Additionally, before each dose is taken " a slight change in the
degree of dynamisation is effected if the bottle, containing the solution of
one or more pellets, is merely well shaken five or six times, every time before
taking it Thus each days dosage remains homopathic to the case as the slight
increase in the health of the vital force is matched with the slight increase
in potency caused by the five or six shakes of the bottle. The regular stimulus
of the remedy, which is homopathic both in pathogenesis and potency, is the
key to the speedier cure.
The same chapter in Chronic Diseases highlights this thus " In
taking one and the same medicine repeatedly (which is indispensable to secure
the cure of a serious chronic disease), if the dose is in every case varied and
modified only a little in its degree of dynamisation, then the vital force of
the patient will calmly, and as it were willingly receive the same medicine
even at brief intervals very many times in succession with the best results,
every time increasing the well-being of the patient."
Another method for dosing "careful patients is also suggested in
the same chapter whereby the pellet is dissolved in 200 (approx.8ml), 300
(12ml) or 400 drops (16ml) of a 50% brandy solution, depending on whether it is
to be weaker or stronger, and one, two, three or several drops, according to
the irritability of the patient, are dropped into a cup containing a tablespoon
of water. This well stirred then taken all as one dose or only half is taken if
"special care is necessary The 'stock' bottle is shaken as suggested in
the method above.
So here we have as example of reducing the dose further by using drops
rather than tablespoons so as to not over stimulate the sensitive or 'careful'
patient. I.e. the smaller the quantity of the pellet received in the dose the
less its undesirable effects. There is an optimum dosage, which suits each
patient as the diluting weakens the potency so it doesn't overstimulate. The
optimum dose individual for each case is the smallest amount needed for a
gentle but certain remedial effect. These are also the principles on which the
LM method is based.
Lastly Hahnemann paves the way for the final step, into his most perfect
method, with a famous paragraph concerning the number of succussions given to
the vial when preparing centessimal remedies. The homopathic Pharmacopoeias
officially advocate ten succussions as the number to use when preparing C
potencies, but I believe they have missed a small point when interpreting
Hahnemanns reasons for change. In Chronic Diseases we are told that when
giving remedies in solid form i.e. granules or powders dry on the tongue,
Hahnemann found that remedies prepared with more than two shakes were too
strong so stayed with two strokes for consistency; but " during the last
years since I have been giving every dose of medicine in a solution, divided
over fifteen, twenty or thirty days and even more, no potentising in an
attenuating vial is found too strong, and again I use ten strokes. In other words as long as the dose is in
liquid form, and can be regulated as to the optimum size and repetition, then
no matter how many succussions are used to prepare the original remedy it will
not be too much for the patient. This also confirms the idea that the intense
action of a highly succussed remedy is diminished by dilution.
THE LM POTENCIES
From 1837-1843, as far
as is known, all Hahnemann's administration of remedies was done in liquid form
using variations on the above themes. The final development to create a more
highly dynamised remedy was the change of the dilution factor from 1:100 to
1:50,000. The 3c trituration powder (details of the preparation of this are in
§270) is the starting point for the preparation of the LM scale because all
remedies are soluble in water at this point; so any remedy can be utilised even
the insoluble materials such as Carb-v., Aur-met. etc. A grain in weight
(0.06gm) of this powder is dissolved in 500 drops (30ml) of 20% alcohol making
a 1:500 dilution of the 0.06gm of 3c, and one drop of this solution is then
further diluted in 99 drops of 95% alcohol, filling two thirds of a glass vial,
giving a (1 in 500 x 100 = 50,000) solution of the 3c powder. This tube is then
succussed 100 times against a firm but elastic object (the famous leather bound
bible) to create the LM 1 medicating liquid. Hahnemann's comments on this new
method are found in the 6th Edition §270
" .... meticulous experiments have convinced me that this ratio
(1:100) between the quantity of diluent and that of the medicine being
dynamised is far too low to develop the medicinal substance properly and to a
high degree with a large number of succussions unless force is used.
.....Whereas in this much higher ratio (1:50,000), between diluent and
medicinal substance, a large number of succussions of the vial filled
two-thirds with wine spirit can bring about a far greater development of power."
The LM 1 liquid is then poured onto some poppy-seed granules of which a
hundred weigh 1 grain (0.06gm). Although this size is larger than those
granules advocated in Chronic Diseases (200 to a grain) they are still so small
that one drop of the alcoholic LM 1 liquid can completely wet at least 500 of
them. Thus just one granule absorbs at least a 500th of a drop. When this
granule is dissolved in a drop of water, and 99 drops of alcohol are added to
it, the next LM 2 solution contains a 1/500th x 100 = 1/50,000th of the
previous LM 1 liquid. The LM 2 liquid is then succussed 100 times also. The
process is continued in this way simply using the granule as the intermediary
to transfer a 500th of a drop instead of the direct addition of a whole drop,
as is the case with the centessimal 1:100 ratio. Hahnemann's practical
simplicity is masterful as the small granules not only provide a tiny,
manageable dose, for using with patients, but also the smallest practical unit
to effect such large dilution ratio. One could theoretically dilute with one
drop to 50,000 drops (100 drops of 95% alcohol = 3.6mls) but the bottle to be
succussed 100 times would then contain 1.75 litres of alcohol. Not an economic
or practical size for the average human being to work with!
Although the nature of
the 1:50,000 potency created is different from that created by a 1:100 ratio (.
my new method produces medicines of the highest power and the mildest action
.§270)
it is interesting to note the theoretical relationship with the
centessimal scale. Each step of 1:50,000 is a rise of approximately C 2.5 so
that considering we started with a C 3 a LM 1 is just over C 5, LM 6 = C 17, LM
12 = C 31, LM 30 = C 73 (all approximate figures)
So the granules are wetted with the solution and left to dry after which
they are bottled and labelled with the appropriate nomenclature e.g. LM 1, LM 2
or LM 0/1, LM 0/2 etc. the zero signifying the granule, the form in which the
final medicine is stored.
Now we have this highly
dynamised remedy our criteria for how to use them are different from those of
the centesimal scale. Obviously the indicated similar remedy is still chosen on
the same principles as before but choice of potency, up to now our main
variable factor for controlling the response to the remedy, is not such as
issue when using the LM's. Hahnemann's recommendation is to always start with
the lowest degrees (§246). Although not specifically mentioned, this suggests
always starting with LM 1, but is often interpreted, by experienced users of
LM's, as between LM 1 and LM 6. The choice is based on the health/vitality
level, degree of pathology, suppression, sensitivity etc. and provides a
variable on which we can individualize.
With the dissolving in liquid, and subsequent shaking of the bottle
before each dose, the potency is gradually raised, expanded, and intensified to
continually stimulate the vital force at regular intervals. The next potency
level is given when the bottle of the previous potency is finished. No leaps in
potency are recommended (§246) and if one starts with LM 1, for example, then
LM 2 follows and so on. Unless we dissolve a granule directly in 1.75 litres of
water we will never actually reach the next LM level but simply continue
towards the potency level determined by the dilution factor.
After we have chosen
the appropriate remedy to give in LM form, the first choice, after the potency,
is how much of the granule is the patient to take i.e. the dose, how often it
is to be repeated and for how many days are they to be on that particular
potency. These are the areas where the difficulties of the LM's lie and, as
Hahnemann tells us in §278, theorizing is not enough to tell us what the ideal
degree of smallness of the dose is to effect a gentle cure, and that "Only
pure experiment, the meticulous observation of the sensitivity of each patient,
and sound experience can determine this in each individual case".
Control of the dosage
is very similar to the centessimal 'plussing' technique but using the LM
granule, instead of a 30c, dissolved in liquid. The directions for making up
the solutions for patient use are defined quite clearly in the 6th edition §248
footnote. He states that one rarely needs more than one granule although two or
three can obviously be used if a stronger solution is required. The granule is
dissolved in forty, thirty, twenty, fifteen or eight tablespoons of water with
the addition of a little alcohol to preserve it; 10% is a good guide for
solutions designed to last up to two months. The patient takes directly from
the 'stock' bottle" one or, increasing progressively, more coffee or
teaspoons of this as follows: in chronic diseases, daily or every other day; in
acute diseases every six, four, three or two hours...." Eight, ten, or twelve succussions
are given to the bottle before each dose. Again we have here a variable, which
we can use to regulate individual needs if required, twelve shakes giving a
slightly sharper daily rise in potency than eight. Also note the wording 'one
or increasing progressively more teaspoons' which, if appropriate to the case,
can speed up cure by giving increased stimulus from the larger dose as well as
taking the patient through the higher potencies more rapidly.
To help us decide how much liquid to make up let us look at the
appropriate dosages for each of Hahnemann's suggestions.
A tablespoon is considered a 20ml measure, a teaspoon 5ml, and a
coffee-spoonful 2.5ml, so a granule dissolved in :-
40 tablespoons = 800ml = 1/800th granule/ml so a 5ml dose
contains a 1/160th of a granule. (160 days supply)
30 tablespoons = 600ml = 1/120th of a granule per 5ml dose
(120 days supply)
20 tablespoons = 400ml = 1/80th of a granule per 5ml dose (80
days supply)
15 tablespoons = 300ml = 1/60th of a granule per 5ml dose (60
days supply)
8 tablespoons = 160ml = 1/32th
of a granule per 5ml dose (32 days supply)
A coffee spoonful will represent a dosage twice as small as the above
i.e. 40 tablespoons = 1/320th of a granule per 2.5ml dose.
As bottles above 300mls are not very practical for patients to use
Hahnemann's practicality introduces the use of a drinking glass to further
dilute the solution and obviate the need for a large amount of water. The
method is given in detail in §248. One granule is dissolved in seven or eight
tablespoons of water and after succussion a tablespoonful is put into a glass
containing eight to ten tablespoons of water. After vigorous stirring a
teaspoon or coffee-spoonful dose is then taken from the glass. Then next dose
is prepared in exactly the same way using a fresh glass of water. This method
represents the following dose,
8 tablespoons (160ml)= 1/8th granule/tablespoon (20ml) diluted x 10
=1/80th per 20ml so a 5ml dose = 1/320th granule which is the weakest dose
Hahnemann recommends
but takes the patient only 8-10 days to finish and be ready for the next
potency up.
Dr Pierre Schmidt used one granule in 100mls of water and a coffee
spoonful as a dose which represented 1/40th of a granule per 2.5ml dose (40
days supply).
Dr Robert Shore and Dr H Choudhury both dose with one granule in 110ml
water putting one tablespoonful in a glass of 110mls of water which represents
1/160th of a granule per 5ml dose (6 days supply).
Other commonly used methods, for preparing weaker solutions, include:
One granule in 150ml stock bottle and a 5ml spoonful in approx.100mls water
in the glass, so one 5ml = 1/600th granule per 5ml dose (30 days supply).
One granule in 10mls water then 10 drops in 100mls water in a glass =
1/260th granule per 5ml dose (20 days supply).
Very sensitive patients who quickly become over stimulated by or prove
the remedy when given in the standard dose can reduce it, next time, by
diluting a teaspoonful from the first glass in a second glass of water thus
reducing the dose by a factor of about 20 for each glass used.
The variations
mentioned above provide much flexibility with different combinations of dose
and speeds of potency increase reaffirming the importance of 'meticulous
observation of the sensitivity of each patient.' §278
Cases published show
Hahnemann used most often the eight-tablespoon stock bottle and glass method in
§248 for dosing patients. This provides a weak solution but takes the patient
through to the next potency level in only 7-8 days. It is important to remember
that the Organon gives many possibilities to tailor dosing to the needs of the
patient and experience will show us what is most appropriate. The beauty of the
versatile LM method is that we can also just choose one or two methods to gain
that experience while still giving our patients the gentle but speedy
improvement they desire.
CASE MANAGEMENT
Many practitioners come
to use LM potencies when treating cases which need more care because of risks
of aggravation e.g. patients who are very sensitive to remedies, those with
very low vitality, cases with severe pathology, history of suppressive
treatments etc. But in theory all cases whether acute or chronic, showing
pathology or not can be treated with LM's and there are many practitioners who
use these remedies exclusively. In practise, however, some patients may need the
qualities of the centessimal remedies to awaken their self-healing process. The
LM 's give us yet another valuable string to our bow to be chosen
appropriately. Alternating periods of treatment with LM's and C's are also
possible remembering that the lowest degrees of potency are to be used with
each new LM even the last remedy was a high centessimal of the same remedy e.g.
Sulphur 10m is followed by the lowest LM (Sulphur LM 1)
Management
of cases with LM potencies is quite simple as long as patient compliance is
good and if a few simple guidelines are followed.
After a suitable
solution has been chosen the patient continues to dose appropriately i.e.
daily, or every other day etc., while there is improvement to the case and the
patient does not show any new symptoms §248. Each dose stimulates a reaction to
the vital force, which moves up a level in health only to be further stimulated
by the following dose, which matches the favourable change in the patient and
remains completely homopathic as regards symptoms and potency level. The
intensity of the potency, determined by the quantity of dose given, is also
regulated to the optimum especially if the doses are increased progressively as
is suggested .e.g. an extra 5ml spoonful each week. However as no dose can ever
be too small then any dosing level will have some effect.
If there is no improvement after a few days then it is either not the
appropriate remedy or there are some environmental maintaining causes blocking
the remedy action §252.
If new symptoms previously not seen before appear, then the remedy is
not the best choice, because the symptoms are not being cured by the remedy, so
dosing is stopped. The new picture is then assessed and another remedy given
starting at the lowest degrees of dynamisation (LM 1) regardless of what
potency level the previous remedy had reached.
Although LM potencies are the most highly dynamised remedies they are
much milder than the centessimals in action. However aggravations still do
occur and are useful guides to remedy reaction as they are with the C scale.
The LM aggravation comes towards the end of treatment and is a return of old
symptoms stimulated by the remedy itself. As the curative curve of a particular
remedy comes to an end, the vital force has only the excess artificial disease
stimulus of the remedy to respond to - susceptibility having been satisfied.
The remedy is stopped. If the symptoms disappear in a few days no more medicine
is needed, but if the symptoms persist dosing continues as before to complete
the cure §281.
An aggravation of symptoms at the beginning of treatment, i.e. with low
potencies, is a sign of over-stimulation (too much intensity) and indicates the
dose was too high. To alleviate this the amount taken from the stock bottle is
reduced to a level, which creates no discomfort, and the remedy is continued
using that dosage routine until an increase in dose is appropriate §282. In
practise the use of successive dilutions using the drinking glass is the most
useful method to effect this or by simply reducing the dose given from the
stock bottle e.g. a half-teaspoonful instead of a full one if the medicine is
being dosed directly without the use of glasses. Reduction of dose is similarly
used for so-called sensitive cases that are immediately over stimulated or
prove the remedy during the first days, or hours, of treatment. If treatment is
started with higher potencies e.g. LM 3 and above, then initial aggravations
could also be due to a too higher potency as with the centessimal potencies.
A SUMMARY OF HAHNEMANN'S DIRECTIONS for the use of LM potencies.
1. The remedy must be
homopathic §246
2. The remedy must be
highly potentised i.e. prepared by the LM method §246
3. The remedy must be
given in small doses i.e. dissolved in water before administration to the
patient §246
4. The remedy must be
repeated at suitable intervals §246
5. The potency must be
altered before each dose i.e. raised by succussion §246. The solution is to be
succussed 8, 10, 12x before taking one, or (increasing progressively) more
coffee or tea-spoons daily
6. Potency must start
with the lower degrees (LM 1-6?) and proceed to the higher levels §246 footnote
7. Even long acting
remedies can be repeated §248
8. Dosing is continued
while there is steady improvement and the patient does not experience a symptom
he has not had before. §248
9. If a new set of
different symptoms are seen, then another more appropriate remedy must be
looked for. §248
10. If an aggravation
occurs i.e. an intensification of the original symptoms, at the end of
treatment, then the doses must be reduced in quantity and repeated at longer
intervals, or stopped altogether to see if the
11. No dose of a highly
potentised remedy can be too small that it cannot be stronger than the natural disease,
that it cannot at least partially overcome it and that it cannot start the
process of cure. §279
12. If one is sure that
the remedy is correct, and there is no improvement then it is likely that a
maintaining cause in the patient's way of life or environment is influencing
his progress. This must be removed to bring
13. Aggravations or
ameliorations of the psychic conditions and general demeanour of the patient
are a good indication as to the progress of the remedy. §253
14. If the patient
develops some significant new symptoms or symptoms of the remedy then this is
an unfavourable response. §256
15. Do not make
favourites of certain remedies, as the smaller lesser-used remedies, which
might be more helpful, will be overlooked. §257
16. It is not necessary
to give a patient more than one remedy at a time. §273
17. If the remedy is
homopathically accurate, it becomes increasingly beneficial as its dose
approaches the ideal degree of smallness for gentle action. §277
18. It is only by
experiment, experience and observation of the sensitivity of each patient that
can determine the optimum size of dose to give. §278
19. Dosing continues,
increasing it progressively, until the patient, while feeling generally better,
begins to manifest one or more of the old, original symptoms. §280
20. Return of old
symptoms is a good sign and the medicine is stopped, as this is an indication
that no more is needed as the symptoms are of the remedy. To verify this
the remedy is stopped for a week or two.
If the symptoms are of the remedy
they will disappear in a few days and no more medicine may be needed. If traces
of the original complaint remain then dosing should be continued from where it
was
21. A homopathic
aggravation = intensification of the original complaint, at the beginning of
treatment, is a sure sign that the dose (i.e. the quantity of the dissolved
granule) is too large and must be reduced. §282
22. If the smallest
doses are given the even if the remedy is inappropriate the harm done is
insignificant and the appropriate remedy quickly puts the case in order. §283
23. Very chronic
problems can be speeded up by applying the same solution as that taken by
mouth, externally to the back, thighs and lower legs.
This article has been an attempt to use Hahnemann's
writings to understand the dynamics of potency and, in particular, the LM
potencies. It is interesting to note that their evolution was a long and
gradual one and not such a revolutionary new concept but simply an extension of
where we are now i.e. in centessimal potency (5th edition) philosophy.
Their wide flexibility and safety leave silent many of the old arguments
about repetition and potency choice, allowing us all a very free and individual
approach to their use. It is also a fact that although 6th edition philosophy
is taught and revered, the practical methods given to apply this teaching have
been, over the years, sadly neglected. Thankfully the recent revival has
generated a new enthusiasm for the use of LM potencies giving us a feeling
that, at last, their time has come.
Possible observations after giving the remedy
1. No change - how long
must we wait, how long does a dose take to act?
2. Very slight change -
nothing much, how long to go on for. 2 weeks?
3. Good start then acute
4. Aggravation at the
start - acute and chronics 6/8/10 days?
5. Good start then
relapse.
6. Sensitive patient -
becomes over stimulated or proves everything feels speedy, queer, quick changes.
7. Generally better but some
symptoms remain. OK to increase the dose?
8. OK but shows some
symptoms of the remedy - reduce the dose or increase
interval between them.
9. Symptoms but
generally worse, no improvement.
a. continue a bit longer or
b. partial remedy.
10. Aggravation comes at
the end of 3-4 weeks after improvement.
11. New symptoms come up
not of the remedy with no change generally - new remedy needed.
12. As above but feeling
better, change remedy if picture changes
13. Good improvement but
slowing down after 3 weeks. Increase dose or raise potency to see what happens.
14. Remedy aggravates
initially and remains aggravated. Antidote with new remedy or low potency of
same remedy.
Helios Homopathic Pharmacy
97, Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2QR
0892 537254/536393
DOSAGE INTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING LM POTENCIES
Stir the glass vigorously and take ............ teaspoon/tablespoonful
dose, holding it in the mouth for a few seconds before swallowing.
Discard the remainder of liquid in the glass.
Carry out this procedure
........................................................................
Using a fresh glass of water but SHAKE THE STOCK BOTTLE on a BOOK or THE
PALM of YOUR HAND 8 to 12x before putting the dose into the glass.
DOSAGE INTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING LM POTENCIES
Stir the glass vigorously and take ONE teaspoonful dose, holding it in
the mouth for a few seconds before swallowing.
Discard the remainder of liquid in the glass.
Using a fresh glass of water but SHAKE THE STOCK BOTTLE ON A BOOK OR THE
PALM OF YOUR HAND 8 to 12 TIMES before putting the dose into the glass.
[Deborah Olenev]
LM Potencies vs. Centesimal Scale Remedies
The centesimal scale remedies are the ones you see identified with the
letter C after the number. The dilution
ratio is one part medicinal substance to 99 parts water, with a certain number of
succussions between each dilution (Different texts give different numbers for
the amount of succussions.) The standard interval range for the centesimal
scale remedies is : 6C, followed by 9C, 12C, 15C, 30C, 200C, 1M, 10M, 50M, CM,
DM. I have heard one teacher say that this is a logarathmic scale, meaning that
as you go higher up the scale you need a greater amount of potentization in
order to equal the difference that you get from the interval in the lower
potencies. Some people contest the intelligence of using this scale and have
suggested using the Fibonacci intervals, which is also very interesting and
worth exploring.
Enough of the science, so what is the practical application of how to
work with centesimal scale remedies: The potencies I work with the most are the
30C, 200C and 1M potencies. I very rarely will go higher than these potencies. When
working with remedies of this strength I will give the dose only one time and
not repeat until there is definite evidence that the person has been better and
is now relapsing. I create a base-line chart of their response at seven weeks
from when they took the remedy, which serves as a guide to repetition. I only
repeat if symptoms that have been better move backward for a while.
The way centesimal scale remedies work is that they go in, search for
the symptoms they need to work on, and get to work. Sometimes the effects are
subtle and people may not even notice that there are changes taking place until
they are reminded at the follow up of the symptoms they had before they took
the remedy. They remember that they used to have headaches, back pain, depression
and now they are not experiencing those symptoms. Yes, indeed, their symptoms
have improved.
The remedy will bring up symptoms in the persons health history as a
part of the healing process, in order to
address them. If these old severe were very concerning in the past, the
patient may be alarmed at their reappearance (such as a history or heart pain
or arthritis). It is important not to repeat the remedy when this happens,
because this is
a sign that the remedy is on the job and retracing symptoms from the
past in order to heal them.. These old symptoms usually cycle through within
three to four days.
Symptoms may aggravate or increase in intensity for awhile before they
get better. That aggravation can vary in intensity depending upon the potency of
the remedy taken, how long the symptom has been there, how much suppressive
treatment the person has had, overall health and vitality of the person, and
other factors.
The duration of the aggravation or what I call the initial response time
on the remedy also varies with the potency of the remedy, the age of the
client, how long the symptoms have been present and how deeply rooted they are.
The healing process can unfold over the course of a few days in an acute illness, or over the
course of weeks, or months in chronic cases. The lower potencies will often
have a shorter aggravation period, and the higher potencies often have a longer
aggravation period, but not necessarily so.
How long the single dose centesimal remedy holds also varies with the
potency. A rough estimate of the duration of
action of a remedy is approximately three months for the 30C dose, but I
have seen 30C dose remedies hold a year and a half and longer. They also can
cure the symptoms altogether.
The 200C strength holds on average for six to eight months. For many
people it only holds two to three months, and for others it can hold for four
or five years, and again it can cure. The higher potencies have the potential
to work even longer.
I avoid using very high potency remedies because the aggravations can be
very long lasting and very intense, and they can pull anyone under their
influence, even if they would not be susceptible to that remedy in lower
potency.
Some people prescribe 30C potency and 200C potency remedies daily, and
they claim that they do not see any negative affects from doing this. I never
practice in this manner, not just because it goes against my training, but also
because I feel it is too aggressive. An analogy I have given to many people is
that it is like putting your finger on the light switch and turning it on and
off constantly to keep the light on, whereas all you really needed to do is
flick the switch once and let the light shine. You do not need to flick
the switch again (give another dose of the remedy) until you see that
the light is beginning to dim.
Dr. Farokh Master uses the 5 cup method, which you can look up on
Youtube. This is his method of repeating daily, as he does not have confidence
that the single dose method works. I have thirty years of experience working
with the single dose method and I have seen its effectiveness time and again,
so I do not agree that daily repetition
is preferable, but he gets good results dosing in this manner, and I get
good results dosing the way I do.
Most people on a centesimal scale remedy that is working well may only
need to repeat the remedy one to three times in a year. Some people may go many
years without needing a repetition.
Many people need more than one remedy to bring about optimum health. One
remedy may address certain symptoms, certain states of being, and then an
underlying state emerges after the first remedy, and they need another remedy
to address that new state. People may cycle through a number of remedy states
even in short amounts of time. Each successive remedy bringing greater health.
LM Potencies
LM potencies are also known as Quin potencies and 50 millesimal
potencies and referred to by Hahnemann as medicine au globule. LM does not stand
for 50,000, but for 950. I learned this from Kim Elias class on the History of
Homeopathy. No one knew about LM potencies until 1921 when the 6th
edition of the Organon of Medicine written by H. was finally published. Prior
to 1921 the 4th edition of the Organon was the one people relied
upon and the centesimal scale is what it advocated. Great teachers such as
James Tyler Kent popularized and explained how to use the centesimal scale
remedies.
The LM potencies are not prepared in the same manner as the centesimal
scale remedies. One grain of a medicinal substance is triturated with 100
grains of milk sugar for one hour, and then a grain of that is triturated with
another 100 grains of milk sugar for an hour, and the process is repeated three
times, so that you have three hours of trituration. Then one grain of that is
dissolved in 500 drops of a mixture of 90 proof grain alcohol and one part
distilled water. A single drop of that is mixed in a vial with another 100
drops of grain alcohol, corked tightly and succussed 100 times.
This is the first degree of dynamization. Then fine sugar globules are
moistened with the liquid, dried on blotting paper, put in a corked bottled and
labeled the LM1 potency. To prepare the next strength a globule of the previous
strength is placed in a new vial with a drop of water to dissolve it, then 100
drops of wine spirit or grain alcohol is added to the vial. The tightly corked
vial is successed 100 times, and the process of moistening sugar globules with
the remedy and labeling it LM2 is completed. This process is repeated for each
subsequent level of dynamization.
Hahnemann felt that in certain chronic cases the LM potencies would
speed up the healing process dramatically. The LM potencies are administered in
water, and doses can be taken daily or at longer intervals. He emphasized that
it was never admissble to repeat the remedy in an exactly identical form. By
shaking or succussing the stock bottle that holds the remedy before taking each
dose, the medicine was slightly altered with each dose.
By using this method of administration the remedy could be repeated at
frequent intervals without any detriment. This is what Hahnemann says about
frequency of repetition for LM potencies in aphorism 248, paragraph 2:
In protracted diseases, give the medicine daily or every second day. In
acute diseases, give the medicine every six, four, three or two hours. In the
most urgent cases, give the medicine every hour or even more frequently. In
chronic diseases, every correctly chosen homeopathic medicine, even one whose
action is of long duration. may be repeated daily for months, with
ever-increasing success [when fifty-millesimal potencies are used].
How do LM potencies work in practice?
In practice I have noticed that LM potencies can be very efficient, but
they can also present challenges when the dosing is not quite right. It often
takes people about 3 - 4 weeks working with the remedy to figure out the best
frequency of repetition and dosing. Some people do very well taking the remedy
daily for months, and other people are very sensitive to the remedy, and have
to be careful with how to take it.
The way I work is that I start with the LM1 bottle, and when that is
finished move to the LM2 bottle, and then the LM3 and so forth. Each successive
bottle is stronger than the previous one, so you move up in potency as you move
to the higher bottles. (Hahnemann, however, says that it is okay to move to the
next higher strength after 7 or 8 doses from the LM1 bottle. I only realized
this after rereading the Organon this week).
LM or Quin Potency Instructions
These directions are constantly evolving. I revise them as I gain more
experience using LM or Quin Potencies. This is my latest revision. My goal is
to make the instructions clear and understandable. It has taken me many years
to understand how to work with LM or Quin potencies safely. I appreciate any
suggestions you have to improve them.
1. Succuss the stock bottle 5x
before each use. You do this by hitting
the bottle against a book. (Note: It is
best to take the remedy at the time of the day when you feel at your best.
Please dont take it at the same time you are eating. Give it about 1 hour away
from meal times).
2. Pour a teaspoon of liquid
from the stock bottle into a cup with 4 oz. of water in it, and stir. (Please see Various Dosage Quantity Examples
below to learn about adjusting the quantity you take to your needs).
3. Drink one teaspoon of the 4
oz. mixture (or the amount recommended by your homeopath).
4. Discard the remainder of the
liquid on the ground, or pour the liquid into a sealed container that you can
dispose of at your convenience. Please prepare the medicine in
the bathroom, so as to avoid exposing other family members to the
remedy, and set aside special cups and a spoon for this purpose. You may also
use disposable cups.
5. Take only one dose and do
not repeat the remedy. Please be in contact with me by sending me weekly
progress reports in the first month of treatment. My goal is to identify two or
three symptoms that we can use as markers that will help us determine when you
should repeat the remedy. A single dose of an LM or Quin potency remedy can
hold many months, and can potentially cure. These remedies need to be repeated
with as much care and caution as when working with centesimal scale remedies.
When repeated too soon, they can
cause severe aggravations of your symptoms, which we want to do our best
to avoid.
When you first begin taking LM potencies I recommend that you take one
dose and evaluate yourself three days later. Do not repeat in the meantime. At
the end of the third day ask yourself if you see improvement in any symptoms.
If you do see improvement, do not repeat the remedy, because the remedy is
working and the healing process is unfolding on that first dose. That one dose you took is capable of holding
for weeks or even months. The only reason to repeat is if you start to see that
the symptoms that you saw an improvement in have been moving backward for
awhile.
It is important that you do not repeat the remedy before clear evidence
of a relapse is evident, because repeating too soon can cause an aggravation of
symptoms that can last awhile.
Another thing to note is that is that if you see an aggravation of
symptoms by day three, that is another
indication that the remedy is on the job and looking for symptoms that it needs
to work on, and bringing them up for treatment. You should not repeat the
remedy while symptoms are aggravating. The aggravation should be followed by an
amelioration. You would only repeat the remedy
if symptoms that got better after the aggravation started to relapse for
a while.
Some people need to take the remedy at frequent intervals and others
need to repeat the remedy very rarely. Here are common intervals at which
people take their LM or Quin potency remedy doses:
Common Intervals at which People Take Their LM Potency Doses
Some people benefit from taking the remedy daily. These people have to
be aware that a point will come when they need to stop. That point is when they
feel an amelioration of symptoms or an aggravation of symptoms. They should
then follow the rules of repetition I have described above.
Some people take the remedy 2x a week.
Some people take the remedy 1x a week.
Some people take the remedy once every two weeks.
Some people take the remedy once a month.
Some people take the remedy at 45, 60, 120, or 180 day intervals and
longer.
Some people need only one dose of the remedy in total.
If you need the remedy frequently, you may need to order more of it.
Here is information on how to order, and going up in potency:
When you come close to the end of the stock bottle, please send me an
e-mail to let me know. You can get the next bottle from Hahnemann Laboratories.
Their phone number is 1-888-226-6483.
You may also purchase the remedy from other reputable homeopathic
pharmacies. Each time you order a bottle
it has to be one strength higher than the previous bottle, so LM1 will be
followed by LM2, and then LM3.
Another thing that is important is that I will ask you not to completely
finish the LM1 bottle, but leave about a teaspoon in the bottom. The reason for
this is that for some people the LM2 from the pharmacy is too strong. In that
case we can prepare an LM2 from the remains of what is in the LM1 bottle. I
will explain how to do that.
Protocol for the Sequence of Bottles:
The LM1 is usually followed by the LM2, the LM3 and so forth, so that
you move up consecutively in the sequence. From my experience, however, I have
found that people may resonate better to certain potency levels than others. I
can often test that intuitively when I see them in person. So for some people
it is more beneficial to go from an LM1 to an LM3 and skip the LM2.
Do We Have to Finish a Bottle Before Going to the Next Level Up?
If you feel that the benefit from the remedy is plateauing, meaning that
you do not experience increasing benefit from continuing with that dose of the
remedy, it is okay to go up to the next level of the LM potency without
finishing the bottle at the level where you are at.
Different people need different dosage quantities depending upon their
sensitivity to the remedy. Here are some examples of various dosage quantities:
Various Dosage Quantity Examples
One teaspoon from the stock bottle into 4 oz. of water in a cup.
Half a teaspoon from the stock bottle into 4 oz. of water in a cup.
Double dilute by taking one teaspoon or half a teaspoon or a quarter of
a teaspoon from the stock bottle and putting it in 4 oz. of water in a cup,
stirring, and then transferring one teaspoon or half a teaspoon or a quarter of
a teaspoon into another cup and stirring. Very sensitive people can also triple
or quadruple dilute.
The important thing is for you to determine how much and how often to
take the remedy to keep the healing process moving forward, while keeping
aggravations to a minimum. Aggravations can be reduced by decreasing the
quantity of remedy used, and by double and triple diluting.
Aggravations on LM or Quin Potencies and What they Mean
People can definitely have aggravations of their symptoms on LM or Quin
potencies equal and even exceeding in intensity to what people have on
centesimal scale remedies. This is why dosage and frequency or repetition have
to be monitored very carefully.
Generally speaking an aggravations of symptoms is an indication that the
remedy has found the symptoms it needs to work on and is working on them. It is
important not to interrupt this process, but allow the aggravation to play itself
out. The aggravation should be followed by an amelioration. The goal of using
LM or Quin potencies is to keep the healing moving forward, while keeping the
aggravations to a minimum.
If you experience a strong aggravation of symptoms it can mean that you
need to decrease the quantity of the dose the next time you take it. For
example: go from 1 teaspoon from the stock bottle down to a 1/4 of a teaspoon
from the stock bottle and triple dilute, transferring only a 1/4 of a teaspoon
from each dilution cup.
If you experience an amelioration of symptoms after taking a remedy, you
should not repeat the remedy until the symptoms that have gotten better have
relapsed for four to five days. Repeating before you are supposed to can
trigger a strong aggravation that can take up to three weeks to recover from,
so be careful.
Here are some ways to decrease the strength of the dose:
a) Give fewer succussions or shakes to the bottle.
b) Dilute twice by taking one teaspoon from the first cup and putting it
in another cup with four ounces of water and then drinking a teaspoon from
that. You can even dilute three or four times, if you are very sensitive
c) Use less than a full teaspoon from the stock bottle.
d) Reduce the frequency of taking the dose.
Here are some ways to increase the strength of the dose:
a) Increase the number of succussions to the bottle.
b) Increase the frequency of taking the dose.
c) Increase the number of teaspoons that you drink from the cup (not the
stock bottle).
The beauty of the LM or Quin potencies is that you can monitor yourself,
preferably with the help of your homeopath, and take your remedy when you need
to. You are not supposed to develop a
dependency on the remedy. It is designed
to bring you to health and independence.
When you no longer have any symptoms you may discontinue
the remedy, and only resume if the symptoms start back up again.
Please call or send me an e-mail if you have any questions about your
response to the remedy, or whether you should start or stop. It usually takes
people about four weeks to figure out exactly how best to take the remedy, so
there is a learning curve. The goal is to keep aggravations to a minimum, while
maintaining the effectiveness of the remedy.
I would be happy to help you with fine tuning the remedy to your needs.
When to use LM Potencies and when to use Centesimal Scale Remedies?
This is the million dollar question?
LM Potencies:
I usually use LM potencies for people who are taking allopathic
medication or are using a few health modalities at the same time that they are
using homeopathy.
I often use LM potencies for people with eczema and other skin
conditions, though I may prefer a centesimal scale remedy..
I often use LM potencies for older clients where I am concerned that
they may have a hard time tolerating an aggravation.
I often use LM potencies for people who are in pain from various causes,
where you want them to have more control over frequency of repetition.
I often use LM potencies when there are tissue changes and you want the
person to have a continuous regular stimulus.
I often use LM potencies for people who tend to have frequent acute
illnesses.
Centesimal Scale Remedies:
I usually use centesimal scale remedies when I feel the person has a
strong vital force, and they are not taking other medications, or using other
health modalities simultaneously.
I will often ask people do you prefer to take a one shot deal dose or a
daily dose, and if they say one shot deal dose, I will give them the centesimal
scale remedies.
Many people just like the convenience of taking the remedy once and not
having to think about it again for a long time.
The decision is often also an intuitive one based on factors that I
would have a hard time enumerating.
Conclusion:
I know I have said way too much, and I should have stopped long ago. I
hope you enjoy a lifetime of good health, aided by homeopathy, or any modality
that works for you when you need it.
[Ashley Hilton Adrian Ross]
https://ir.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/1936
An Evaluation of Hahnemannian quinquagen millissimal potencies using
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Aanalysis and comparison the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of
samples of LM potencies of homoeopathic Sulphur and a lactose-based control
produced according to Hahnemann,
in order to evaluate homoeopathic medicines thus prepared.
Potency - a state of altered remedial activity to which a drug is taken
by means of a measured process of deconcentration and the introduction of
kinetic energy through succussion or trituration.
3 rates of deconcentration are used in preparation of homoeopathic
potencies.
Quinguagenimillesimal - a homoeopathic potency scale, introduced by
Hahnemann, in which the rate of deconcentration at each potency stage is 1:50
000. Deconcentration
is effected in two stages:
the initial being 1:100 (with 100 succussions) and the second being
1:500 (without succussion) [a.k.a. LM).
Succussion - the action of shaking up vigorously a liquid dilution of a
homoeopathic
medicine in its viallbottle, where each stroke ends with a jolt; usually
effected by pounding the hand engaged in the shaking against the palm of the
opposite hand or on a book with soft cover.
Trituration - the act of prolonged grinding with a mortar and pestle to
reduce an insoluble homoeopathic drug to a fine powder while amalgamating it
thoroughly with lactose by rubbing.
The quinquagenimillesimal (LM) potency scale described by Hahnemann
(1986: 196) as "the most nearly perfect of them all". However, this
potency is only rarely employed
in present-day homoeopathic practice and even dismissed by some (Schare,
1990). Barthel (1991) believes that this circumspection is due to failure to
reproduce the clinical results claimed by Hahnemann, due to remedies not having
been prepared according to Hahnemann's directions.
Measurement of the phenomenon of homoeopathic potency poses particular
problems due to the absence of any molecules of the base substance in solutions
above the 12CH, 24DH and LM4 potency levels. In Smith (1989:113), Gaier (1991
:446) and Bol (1997) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy cited as a
valuable method of measurement of structural changes in homoeopathic solutions.
Bamard (1965) demonstrated the formation of giant water polymers by succussion.
Smith and Boericke (1968) confirmed this research and demonstrated that changes
increased as potency increased, and that there was increased interaction
between water structures and the hydroxyl radical of ethanol in ethanolic
homoeopathic solutions. More recently Sacks (1983) used NMR spectroscopy to
demonstrate differences between various remedies and control. Weingartner
(1991) compared CH2, H20 and OH signals in decimal potencies of Sulphur and a
control. More recent still is the research of Demangeat et al. (1992) in which
relaxation times in various centesimal Silicea potencies were compared. No NMR
research has been conducted on quinqaugenimillesimal (LM) potencies
It is within this context that an analysis and comparison of NMR-spectra
of LM potencies of Sulphur and a control, (prepared according to Hahnemann)
assumes great importance. The positive results of such an investigation will
allow for greater understanding of the distinct physico-chemical identity of
such potencies, and.indirectly lead
to more widespread use of this scale where indicated (Schare 1990) as a
result of greater credibility brought about through scientific evaluation.
Likewise a negative result will provide a more objective basis for non-inclusion
of this potency in the practice of the individual homoeopath.
2.1 THE INTRODUCTION
If one assumes that homoeopathic remedies do have specific effects on
the human body and mind, and further, that these effects are due to the very
substance of which they consist then two questions demand an answer:
1. What is the physical or material difference between a homoeopathic
remedy prepared in the prescribed way and the pure solvent or a mere dilution?
2. How are these physical differences transmitted to the human body?
Question 1. is the foundation out of which this investigation is built.
What is the nature of homoeopathic potency? Do all prescribed methods of
preparation produce remedies distinctly different from a mere dilution, or the
pure solvent? How does one best measure these differences if they do exist?
Research has been conducted with a view to addressing these questions, a brief
review follows:
2.2 THE PHENOMENON OF HOMOEOPATHIC POTENCY
Vithoulkas (1980 : 101) states that the technique of homoeopathic
potentisation (producing a homoeopathic 'potency') is Samuel Hahnemann's second
ingenious contribution to medicine (after 'The Law of Similars', a fundamental
law routinely applied in the practice of Homoeopathy). This has its origin in
Hahnemann's attempts at reducing the toxicity of homoeopathic substances by
dilution.
The result was decreased toxicity but also a proportionately reduced
therapeutic efficacy. Somehow Hahnemann came to refine this technique by the
introduction of kinetic energy through succussion +/o. trituration. The
resulting combination of serial dilution and serial succussion (and/or
trituration) brought Hahnemann to the crucial observation that the more a
substance is diluted and succussed the more
effect it has therapeutically, while simultaneously nullifying any toxic
effect. He describes this for the first time in his "Organon" (1831).
The initial scale of deconcentration employed by Hahnemann was 1:100
(Barthel 1991) meaning that each potency is 10-2x that of the previous
potency.(designated 1CH, 2CH etc. as each successive potency is produced).
Avogadro's Constant (6,023 x 1023) is therefore exceeded by the 12CH potency (a
deconcentration of 10-24), meaning that statistically there is no possibility
of any molecule of the original substance existing in the 12CH 'potency.
2.3 MEDIA OF HOMOEOPATHIC POTENTISATION
Homoeopathic potentisation is effected in two different media. The first
medium of potentisation employed by Hahnemann was that of a mixture of ethanol
and water (Barthel 1991). Potentisation of alcoholic plant extracts (mother
tinctures) and soluble mineral substances was effected by serial dilution of
the base substance in a determined percentage ethanol solution, followed by
succussion of the liquid. This medium and method of potentisation was employed
exclusively between 1796 and 1818 (Barthel 1991). The second medium, pure
lactose powder, was introduced into homoeopathy by Hahnemann in 1818. Its use
was predominantly as a vehicle for potentisation of insoluble substances
(previously potentised by liquid-medium dilutions and succussions of alcoholic
suspensions) especially metallic gold (Dellmour 1994).
The method of potentisation in this solid medium was by trituration, by
mortar and pestle, of the insoluble base substance with lactose (as a diluent)
for a determined period of time (one hour). The notion and technique of
trituration was drawn from the writings of Arab physicians in the 12th
Century (Barthel 1991). The preparation of homoeopathic potencies by trituration
became increasingly more routinely employed by Hahnemann. The result of this
trend was that, in 1835, he abandoned entirely the use of mother tinctures, and
prepared all substances'.
sealed tube of water which produced no clinical effects on an electrically
sensitive allergy patient would, after being exposed to a magnetic field at one
of the patient's allergy neutralising frequencies, function as an allergy
neutralising dilution. This induced 'potency' is furthermore, able to maintain
the effect for a period of weeks or months.
An alternative model is provided by Anagnostatos et al. (1991) in which
research suggesting that the therapeutic power of the remedy lies in the
solvent (Barnard 1965) rather than the diluted substance,
is explained by a three step hypothesis.
The model is based on
i)
the
formation of shells of organised hydrogen-bonded molecules of the solvent
(clathrates) around aggregates of a small number of molecules of the base
substance;
ii)
because
of the force of succussion and the different inertial properties, clusters of
base molecules move out of their clathrates, to have new clathrates form around
them. The initial clathrate is now hollow (called a "core clathrate")
and an additional "mantle" forms around this "core";
iii) at the point at
which no base substance is present, the application of succussive force causes
core clathrates to move out of their mantle clathrates and stimulate the
formation of new mantle clathrates. Old "mantle" clathrates become
"core" clathrates and new "mantle" clathrates form around
these.
The notion of hydration shells is supported by Antonchenko and IIyin
(1992) who, elaborate that the structure of water may be viewed as a set of
flickering clusters ("embryos") of possible hydration shell
structures which, upon addition of a· dissolved substance, undergoes
"(relative) fixation of a specific kind of hydration structure
corresponding to the given dissolved substance" (Antonchenko and "yin
1992: 91).
The LM potency scale, is described in Aphorism 270 of the Sixth edition
of Hahnemann's Organon (written 1842), which regrettably, Gaier asserts (1991 :
463), was only published seventy-eight years after Hahnemann's death (ie 1921).
The consequence of this fact is that the potency scale which Hahnemann believed,
at the very end of his life, to be "the most nearly perfect of them
all" (Hahnemann, 1986 : 196) is only rarely employed in present-day
homoeopathic practice (Vithoulkas, 1980: 164) and even dismissed on the basis
of conclusions
Vorwort/Suchen. Zeichen/Abkürzungen. Impressum.