Calculation of Potencies in Homeopathy medicines

In our previous post, we read about “Potencies in Homeopathymedicines”.  In this post we’ll see more details about the calculation of Potencies and details about the potency numbers.

Potencies are marked with the signs of X, C and M denoting 10, 100, 1000 in terms of the amount of dilution. Since in our country most of the homeopathy doctors are using X , so we can deal with the sign X  only.

Homeopathy remedies begin with a part of original substance dissolved in alcohol called mother tincture. The mother tincture is then diluted many times using alcohol or distilled water. After each dilution, it is forcefully stirred, then the diluted solution is made into pills, powder, tinctures or creams.

“1x potency” is created by mixing 1 part of the mother tincture and 9 parts of alcohol or distilled water. In each successive number (increasing potency in to 2x, 3x, 6x etc.,) 1 part is taken from previous potency and further diluted to new potency.

Say for example, in a 3x remedy is (3x is mentioned as potency) one part of 2x remedy is mixed with to 999 parts of alcohol or distilled water.

So above, I have given the ways and means of calculation of potencies of a medicine. Generally 3x, 6x, 30x, 100x, 200x are used to treat a patient. But in some cases even 1000 and 2000 potency has to be given according to the seriousness of the illness.

In homeopathy, a solution that is more dilute is considered as having a higher potency. More dilute substances are considered to be stronger and deeper-acting remedies.

Some medicines may work effectively in particular potencies. (Refer in specific posts or book or check with doctor). Now-a-days you may find potencies are marked simply by its numbers say for example take ACONITE remedy it may be mentioned ACONITE 6, ACONITE 200 like that. That means x is understood.

Selection of a remedy

1.      If you selected a correct remedy for the correct symptoms use the higher potency say 30x 60x or so

2.      If you are uncertain in selecting of the remedy select lower potency of the remedy say 6x 3x

3.      In case of higher potenticies, always try initially with less doses and less periods  (say for 4 or 7 days)

So as I already mentioned, in homeopathy treatment, selection of medicine according to symptoms and conditions of a patient and selection of correct potency of the selected medicines are essential.

Now we can move to few selective homeopathy medicines one by one

In the next post, we’ll see a remedy called ACONITE, with its properties and functions etc..

Potency, Potentiation in Homeopathy medicines

Dear friends, In my previous posts we have seen about some illness and remedies, precautions etc., Now we will move to homeopathy medicines. This time we are going to deal with some of the basic homeopathy medicines one by one by its name.

We have already seen the system of homeopathy medicines was introduced by Dr. SAMUEL HAHNEMANN and BIOCHEMIC SYSTEM was gifted to humanity by DR. SCHUESSLER. Before reading about basic homeopathy medicines one by one by name, you must understand the potentiation of medicines in other words it can be called power of medicine.

What is potentiation? Let us see in brief

Homeopathic potentiation is a mathematic & mechanical process for reduction. The primary object of potentiation is to reduce all substances designed for therapeutic use to a state of approximately perfect solution or complete ionization. The greater the dilution, the higher is the degree of ionization.

Homeopathy medicines are prepared by serial dilutions. Mother tinctures are diluted and the medicines are prepared by vigorous shaking and forceful striking on an elastic body which is called potentiation process. (refer Wikipedia on the Potentiation process here). It is stated that this dilution and potentiation increases the power of the medicine’s medical effectiveness.

The potencies are noted as 1x,  2x,    3x,  6x,   12x,  30x, 100x,  200x, 1000x  and so on .But normally  3x,  6x,  30x, 100x, 200X are used for normal patients. But for chronic cases even 1000x, 2000x and above can be used according to the condition of the illness. So, one must select the medicine with correct potency to get better results. 

How the potencies of medicine are calculated?

1x = 1/10^th dilution

Please remember all the names of the medicines with its functions can be found in the reference book is called “homeopathic materia medica”

In the next post let us see some more details of potencies and how they are calculated….