The Potency of the Remedy (How Strong?) and the Repetition of the Dose (How often?)
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 2:20 pm
The Potency of the Remedy (How Strong?) and the Repetition of the Dose (How
often?)
by Dr. Luc de Schepper, , MD, PhD, DI Hom., CHom., Lic.Ac.
http://www.drluc.com
Part One: The Potency Selection (how strong?), the greatest confusion among
homeopaths
When it comes to potency selection of the remedy, the homeopathic society
never agreed much about this issue, not in the past and certainly not now!
There always has been a division between two camps: the high and low
potency prescribers. Both parties indeed can demonstrate success but there
has to be some kind of middle path, a clear guideline for homeopath and
patient alike to bring harmony in this world of madness. I intend to bring
enough clarity to unite homeopaths and at the same time to give enough
clarity to the patient who deserves the right information, not based on
passion and dogmatism, but on logical reasoning, not cookbook prescribing
(protocols) but again based on the individuality of the patient. I want to
remind the reader again, that the simillimum is the right remedy, the right
potency, the right dose repeated at individually chosen intervals, not
mechanical repetition. I already discussed the question of dose in Lesson
2, and this lesson will give the reader enough info to bring clarity in the
treatment of his loved ones and himself.
Treatment for Acute diseases
The potency choice for acute diseases (less than 3-4 months old) is simple:
use at least a potency from 30C upwards to 200C and 1,000C. Always use the
watery method by putting two pellets of your chosen remedy and potency in
an 8 oz bottle (Remedy Solution Bottle or RSB), stir well and take one tsp
directly from the RSB. Do not repeat earlier than two hours after first
dose. When you see a similar aggravation in the first hour (in other words
an aggravation of your symptoms during the first hour) this first dose will
cure and no further dose will be needed (A157-A158). If symptoms are not
entirely gone after two hours, you can repeat the same procedure every two
hours after succussing each successive dose (hitting RSB against your palm)
8 times.
Note: We are talking here about the 1001 acute daily diseases that can
occur from colds, to lower back pains, to ear infections, etc. We are not
talking here about URGENT medical care (requires ER visit) like suicidal
tendencies, coma, head trauma with bleeding, seizures, heart attack, etc.
Chronic Disease treatment
The treatment of chronic diseases (>than 3-4 months existing) is very
different. The potency selection (how strong?) will depend on the
reactivity of the patient (the reactivity of the Vital Force, Qi in Chinese
medicine and to some extent the immune system in allopathy). If the
reactivity is good, a stronger potency can be applied. Here are some
general guidelines.
ALWAYS Low potencies (starting with 6C and not higher than 30C) are
indicated and a must in the following conditions (these three conditions
supersede any other indications following further!):
· The patient is a hypersensitive patient: such patient reacts to perfumes,
environmental factors like carpets, bleach, newspaper, etc.) or people who
react strongly to regular doses of medication and vitamins as well as those
that reacted strongly to anesthesia
· The patient has strong pathology: this usually means, he already has
received a medical diagnosis and there is extensive pathology involved like
destruction of tissues (Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson,etc.) , formation of
tumors, deficiency of factors like in diabetes, hyperthyroid or Base Dow
disease, autoimmune disorders with destruction, asthma, etc. Also in
chronic diseases affecting the heart, brain, eyes, pancreas, lungs
· The patient has a chronic skin disease, especially when treated in past
with cortisone: chronic eczema from young age on and psoriasis, just to
name two common diseases. Often the symptoms were controlled by cortisone
intake/creams and in this case the dose should be minimal (drops instead of
tsp) and definitely not higher than 6C potency to start
· Elderly patients: rather start with low potency
Higher Potencies (starting with 30C, then 200C, 1000C, etc.) are indicated
in the following conditions:
· In young children (babies included) as long as the three previous
conditions are not present; the choice of high potency includes ASD, ADHD,
ADD, OCD, etc.
· Adults with functional diseases (no pathology has been shown) like
vertigo, gastrointestinal problems, hypertension with no pathology yet,
inflammatory processes like Bell's palsy, etc. or adults with only
mental/emotional problems such as depression, grief, lack of self
confidence, lack of motivation in life, timidity, loss of meaning of life,
etc.
· Patients under stress (worries at work, home, in relationships, etc.)
Part Two: the repetition of the Dose (How often), in chronic diseases
The most important thing to remember is that the repetition of a dose is
determined on an individual basis. This is quite different than when we
take allopathic drugs where your physician tells you to take the drug at a
certain time (3 times a day, every evening, etc.), usually based on weight
and age of patient.
The good homeopath will always let you do a test dose with the watery
solutions. This works as follows:
"The homeopath (who tried to adjust potency and dose individually at the
first consultation) tells you to take the first dose in the evening (most
of the time) and should ask you the third day how you reacted to this first
dose. There are three possibilities:
· Great reaction with better sleep, better emotional feeling, a sense of
well being, more positive outlook, etc (A256), even remembering dreams and
dreams with a better theme. At this point do not repeat and see how long
this dose gives you these good feelings/reactions. Let's say it last for 2
days and the third day your original symptoms come back, then you need to
take the dose changed only by the amount of succussions, every third day!
· Bad reaction with an aggravation of your existing symptoms: this is
called a similar aggravation: no repetition of the remedy!! You must wait
till this aggravation goes away (usually fast after 1-2 days without any
harm), then you get the benefit from it and only when then the original
symptoms come back should the remedy be repeated, this time in a smaller
dose and/or potency, to be determined by your homeopath!
· No reaction: the homeopath can now decide to either adjust dose/potency
or simply with the watery dose method to take the dose every other evening
and check back with him the tenth day to see if the patient is on track!
Notes:
· This method is only possible with the 5th and 6th edition watery methods,
not the 4th dry edition Organon method.
· Never take your dose from the bottle in a mechanical way: do not trust
the homeopath that gives you a bottle with the remedy and tells you to take
it every day and to come back to him when the bottle is finished. Much
damage can be done! A test dose and further guidance is a must!
· NEVER stop your allopathic medication when starting homeopathic treatment
with your chronic patient. Cooperation with your allopathic physician is a
must!
DR. LUC'S BLOG: http://www.homeopathysnc.org/blog.htm
often?)
by Dr. Luc de Schepper, , MD, PhD, DI Hom., CHom., Lic.Ac.
http://www.drluc.com
Part One: The Potency Selection (how strong?), the greatest confusion among
homeopaths
When it comes to potency selection of the remedy, the homeopathic society
never agreed much about this issue, not in the past and certainly not now!
There always has been a division between two camps: the high and low
potency prescribers. Both parties indeed can demonstrate success but there
has to be some kind of middle path, a clear guideline for homeopath and
patient alike to bring harmony in this world of madness. I intend to bring
enough clarity to unite homeopaths and at the same time to give enough
clarity to the patient who deserves the right information, not based on
passion and dogmatism, but on logical reasoning, not cookbook prescribing
(protocols) but again based on the individuality of the patient. I want to
remind the reader again, that the simillimum is the right remedy, the right
potency, the right dose repeated at individually chosen intervals, not
mechanical repetition. I already discussed the question of dose in Lesson
2, and this lesson will give the reader enough info to bring clarity in the
treatment of his loved ones and himself.
Treatment for Acute diseases
The potency choice for acute diseases (less than 3-4 months old) is simple:
use at least a potency from 30C upwards to 200C and 1,000C. Always use the
watery method by putting two pellets of your chosen remedy and potency in
an 8 oz bottle (Remedy Solution Bottle or RSB), stir well and take one tsp
directly from the RSB. Do not repeat earlier than two hours after first
dose. When you see a similar aggravation in the first hour (in other words
an aggravation of your symptoms during the first hour) this first dose will
cure and no further dose will be needed (A157-A158). If symptoms are not
entirely gone after two hours, you can repeat the same procedure every two
hours after succussing each successive dose (hitting RSB against your palm)
8 times.
Note: We are talking here about the 1001 acute daily diseases that can
occur from colds, to lower back pains, to ear infections, etc. We are not
talking here about URGENT medical care (requires ER visit) like suicidal
tendencies, coma, head trauma with bleeding, seizures, heart attack, etc.
Chronic Disease treatment
The treatment of chronic diseases (>than 3-4 months existing) is very
different. The potency selection (how strong?) will depend on the
reactivity of the patient (the reactivity of the Vital Force, Qi in Chinese
medicine and to some extent the immune system in allopathy). If the
reactivity is good, a stronger potency can be applied. Here are some
general guidelines.
ALWAYS Low potencies (starting with 6C and not higher than 30C) are
indicated and a must in the following conditions (these three conditions
supersede any other indications following further!):
· The patient is a hypersensitive patient: such patient reacts to perfumes,
environmental factors like carpets, bleach, newspaper, etc.) or people who
react strongly to regular doses of medication and vitamins as well as those
that reacted strongly to anesthesia
· The patient has strong pathology: this usually means, he already has
received a medical diagnosis and there is extensive pathology involved like
destruction of tissues (Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson,etc.) , formation of
tumors, deficiency of factors like in diabetes, hyperthyroid or Base Dow
disease, autoimmune disorders with destruction, asthma, etc. Also in
chronic diseases affecting the heart, brain, eyes, pancreas, lungs
· The patient has a chronic skin disease, especially when treated in past
with cortisone: chronic eczema from young age on and psoriasis, just to
name two common diseases. Often the symptoms were controlled by cortisone
intake/creams and in this case the dose should be minimal (drops instead of
tsp) and definitely not higher than 6C potency to start
· Elderly patients: rather start with low potency
Higher Potencies (starting with 30C, then 200C, 1000C, etc.) are indicated
in the following conditions:
· In young children (babies included) as long as the three previous
conditions are not present; the choice of high potency includes ASD, ADHD,
ADD, OCD, etc.
· Adults with functional diseases (no pathology has been shown) like
vertigo, gastrointestinal problems, hypertension with no pathology yet,
inflammatory processes like Bell's palsy, etc. or adults with only
mental/emotional problems such as depression, grief, lack of self
confidence, lack of motivation in life, timidity, loss of meaning of life,
etc.
· Patients under stress (worries at work, home, in relationships, etc.)
Part Two: the repetition of the Dose (How often), in chronic diseases
The most important thing to remember is that the repetition of a dose is
determined on an individual basis. This is quite different than when we
take allopathic drugs where your physician tells you to take the drug at a
certain time (3 times a day, every evening, etc.), usually based on weight
and age of patient.
The good homeopath will always let you do a test dose with the watery
solutions. This works as follows:
"The homeopath (who tried to adjust potency and dose individually at the
first consultation) tells you to take the first dose in the evening (most
of the time) and should ask you the third day how you reacted to this first
dose. There are three possibilities:
· Great reaction with better sleep, better emotional feeling, a sense of
well being, more positive outlook, etc (A256), even remembering dreams and
dreams with a better theme. At this point do not repeat and see how long
this dose gives you these good feelings/reactions. Let's say it last for 2
days and the third day your original symptoms come back, then you need to
take the dose changed only by the amount of succussions, every third day!
· Bad reaction with an aggravation of your existing symptoms: this is
called a similar aggravation: no repetition of the remedy!! You must wait
till this aggravation goes away (usually fast after 1-2 days without any
harm), then you get the benefit from it and only when then the original
symptoms come back should the remedy be repeated, this time in a smaller
dose and/or potency, to be determined by your homeopath!
· No reaction: the homeopath can now decide to either adjust dose/potency
or simply with the watery dose method to take the dose every other evening
and check back with him the tenth day to see if the patient is on track!
Notes:
· This method is only possible with the 5th and 6th edition watery methods,
not the 4th dry edition Organon method.
· Never take your dose from the bottle in a mechanical way: do not trust
the homeopath that gives you a bottle with the remedy and tells you to take
it every day and to come back to him when the bottle is finished. Much
damage can be done! A test dose and further guidance is a must!
· NEVER stop your allopathic medication when starting homeopathic treatment
with your chronic patient. Cooperation with your allopathic physician is a
must!
DR. LUC'S BLOG: http://www.homeopathysnc.org/blog.htm