Homeopathy I - Potentisation / Vital Force / Provings

Question 1

Potentisation:

Answer 1

Making a substance more potent through succussion and dilution.
* The more a remedy is diluted and succussed, the more xpotent it becomes.
* Homeopathic remedies are potentised to 3 key scales:
‒Decimal scale, dilution ratio of 1:10 represented by X or D.
‒Centesimal scale, dilution ratio of 1:100 represented by C.
‒Millesimal scale, dilution ratio1:1000 represented by M.
* The millesimal scale further branches into Fifty Millesimal scale, dilution ratio 1:50,000 represented by LM.

Question 2

Potentisation: A carrier substance

Answer 2

A carrier substance is required when making a remedy.
* Alcohol is preferred due to its stability (30% alcohol preserves for > 10 yrs).
* Remedies prepared in lactose / sucrose also have good stability.

Question 3

Potentisation: Decimal D ― potencies:

Answer 3

Dilution 1:10, D: decimal, Latin. Decimus ‘the tenth’.
Primary material: e.g., arnica, mother tincture (ø).
* 1D arnica: 1 part arnica ø + 9 parts alcohol, and succussions x 10.
* 2D arnica: 1 part arnica 1D + 9 parts alcohol, and succussions x 10.
* 3D arnica: 1 part arnica 2D + 9 parts alcohol, and succussions x 10.

Question 4

Potentisation: Centesimal C / CH / CK potencies:

Answer 4

Dilution: 1:100, C: centesimal, Latin. Centum ‘hundred’.
CH ― Centesimal Hahnemannian potency.
Primary material: e.g. arnica, mother tincture (ø)
* 1C arnica: 1 part arnica ø + 99 parts alcohol, and succussions x 10.
* 2C arnica: 1 part arnica 1C + 99 parts alcohol, and succussions x 10.
* 3C arnica: 1 part arnica 2C + 99 parts alcohol, and succussions x 10.

Question 5

Potentisation:
Millesimal M

Answer 5

M potencies: Dilution 1:1000.

Question 6

Potentisation:
Fifty Millesimal LM:

Answer 6

LM dilution: 1:50,000, (L=50, M=1000, 50 x 1000 = 50,000).

Question 7

Potencies used in UK and EUR

Answer 7

In England the C potencies are used predominantly, while in Germany and France more D and LM potencies are in use.
* The most common potencies in England are:
‒ 6C, 12C, 30C, 200C (30C & 200C are most suitable for first aid prescribing).
‒ 1000C (1M), 10,000C (XM), 50,000 (50M), 100,000C (CM), 1,000,000(MM).
* Remember: X = 10, C = 100, M = 1000
* Note: Higher potencies should only be prescribed by fully qualified homeopaths.

Question 8

The Vital Force:

Answer 8

‘The energy or spirit, which animates living creatures.’
* Vital= essential, force= energy i.e., energy that is essential for life.
* The Vital Force (Qi, Prana, Life Force) is the energy that enables all living things to self-heal and maintain homeostasis.
* Symptoms of ill health / disease reflect disruption to the Vital Force.
* Homeopathic remedies stimulate and strengthen the Vital Force to promote self-healing.

Question 9

Proving

Answer 9

Proving ―from the German word prufung, to examine or test:
* A homeopathically-prepared substance is given to healthy volunteers ― provers.
* Through recording the effects (health disturbance that the substance induces), a pattern unique to that substance is established and used as the basis of treatment.
* Treatment addresses states of ill-health ― provings induce states of ill-health (Law of Similars).
* Recognising the state of ill-health of an individual and matching it with the state of ill-health induced by a homeopathic remedy is the art of homeopathy.